The world consumes hundreds of billions of single-use plastic bags each year. They are difficult to recycle, wasteful and damage the nature. Environmental activists want to ban plastic bags or---as many communities have done ---charge a fee for them. But the plastic bag industry defends their use, saying people reuse plastic bags, and industry officials argue recycling is a matter of personal responsibility and should not be forced.
City officials say New Yorkers use 5.2 billion plastic bags each year. They are offered free with nearly every supermarket, or convenience store purchase. Many people like them, even if they sometimes feel guilty about using them. But what happens to those bags after they’ve been used in a huge environmental problem. They are found on beaches. They are caught in trees. They are swallowed by marine life.
Plastic bags are made of petroleum products and natural gas, and do not biodegrade (分解). And they are difficult to recycle. So New York City spends nearly $ 10 million dollars a year to send 100---thousand tons of plastic bags to landfills out of state.
In Washington, D.C., a five percent charge on all single-use bags led to about a 60 percent reduction and in Los Angeles County in California , a 10 cent charge on single-use bags led to a 95 percent reduction. With a 10 cent charge on bags, customers are much more likely to stop and think about whether they need a bag or not. And that’s really all that these laws are doing.Who object to the limit of using plastic bags?
| A．Plastic bag makers. | B．Government officials. |
| C．Stores and supermarkets. | D．Most of the consumers. |
Paragraph 2 mainly tells us _____.
| A．the difficulty about dealing with plastic bags |
| B．the popularity of plastic bags in New York |
| C．the great convenience brought by using plastic bags |
| D．the usage and problems of plastic bags in New York |
What measure does the writer introduce to reduce the use of plastic bags?
| A．Reducing the production of plastic bags. |
| B．Charging for the use of plastic bags. |
| C．Offering paper bags instead of plastic bags. |
| D．Making people realize the harm of plastic bags. |
I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (风情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史诗的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat. According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
| A．an international fashion centre | B．an important part of Silk Road |
| C．the focus of the world | D．a vast desert land in Central Asia |
The Fashion Week in Bishkek is supposed to __________.
| A．start a revolution in Kyrgyzstan | B．attract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan |
| C．promote tourism in Kyrgyzstan | D．celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan |
Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage?
| A．Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges. |
| B．Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays. |
| C．The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz. |
| D．The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan. |
What is the most important message the author wants to convey in the passage?
| A．Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road. |
B．Feelings about the ongoin g Fashion Week project in Bishkek. |
| C．The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan. |
| D．The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan. |
With Captain Cash’s help, we’ve put together the BIGGEST and BEST money-saving guide EVER - so what are you waiting for? Start saving NOW! The first step is to sign up to Captain Cash’s fantastic new website.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on car insurance
MAKE sure you give an accurate figure for your annual mileage when you get a quote - if you overestimate, your premium（保费）will rise.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on home insurance
Don’t overinsure your home - by sticking to the rebuild cost (the amount that really matters), you're covered if there’s a disaster. When in doubt see
k independent advice.
Plus, pay your insurance policy in one hit, if you can. Many insurance companies charge higher interest rates when you pay in monthly installments.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on entertainment
BUY the latest CDs online from HMV via Captain Cash for great price deals. For instance, The Friends 15th Anniversary Complete Collection: 40 DVD box set is just £69.99 with free UK delivery - saving £30 on the RRP (Recommended Retail Price).
▲ Captain’s saving tip on utility bills
DON’T be loyal to expensive suppliers - always check out the best deals. Getting gas and electricity from the same company and paying by direct debit instead of cash or cheque also lowers the annual cost of your bills. You can also shave money from bills by turning appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby, and by turning the heating down by a degree or two. What is Captain Cash?
| A．A bookstore | B．An online shop | C．An expert | D．A website |
What’s the RRP of 40 DVD box set of The Friend?
| A．£39.99 | B．£99.99 | C．£59.99 | D．£109.99 |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE concerning Captain’s saving tips?
| A．Paying utility bills in cash is a more economical way. |
| B．Paying the full price when buying a home insurance is a wise choice. |
| C．Accurate estimate of your yearly mileage is key to a car insurance. |
| D．Power off the electrical appliances while they are not being used. |
Japan will hand out its first “Nobel Prize of Manga (国际漫画奖)” for artists in the comic book field abroad. This i
s another step in Japan’s efforts to show the power of pop culture diplomacy.
The International Manga Award, which was compared by manga lover Foreign Minister Taro Aso to a “Nobel Prize” when he first proposed it, will be given to an artist working abroad whose work best contributes to the spread of the manga form worldwide.
Manga, a name used for Japanese style comic books, often combines stories with drawing styles that differ from the overseas superhero comics and cartoon, particularly in their frequent emphasis on cuteness.
The winner will receive a certificate and a cup at an award ceremony, and will spend 10 days in Japan meeting with local comic book artists and publishers.
“Manga has been spreading overseas and are selling quite well,” Aso said when announcing the award to the public. “I want to further improve the communicative power of these so-called ‘pieces of pop culture’.”
Aso has argued that warm feelings for Japanese comics and cartoon can translate into warm feelings for Japanese foreign policy.
He has proposed sending cartoon artists overseas as cultural ambassadors and the government has named some officials to advise ways to promote Japanese cartoon and culture to foreign audiences.
The award committee, consisting of manga artists and publishers, is expected to make its selections quite soon.
According to a ministry official Nobuyuki Watanabe, the prize carries no money reward. The cup’s design has yet to be finished, but it will be something “appropriate”. The International Manga Award will be presented to ____________.
| A．a Japanese who has achieved a lot in creating new methods of drawing |
| B．an artist who makes contributions to introducing manga to the other foreign countries |
| C．the person who is expert at comics and cartoon |
| D．a foreign artist who has contributed to the development of manga |
Which statement is NOT true about manga?
| A．Manga is different from the overseas comic books. |
| B．Manga is popular not only in Japan but also overseas. |
| C．Manga refers to international comics and cartoon. |
| D．There are stories and pictures in manga. |
What has the Japanese government done to show its support?
| A．To propose “Nobel Prize of Manga”. |
| B．To name officials to advise ways of spreading manga overseas. |
| C．To hand out its first “Nobel Prize of Manga”. |
| D．To send cartoon artists overseas as cultural ambassadors. |
The passage is mainly about ____________.
A．Nobel Prize of Mang a |
B．the characteristics of manga |
| C．a brief introduction of manga | D．the development of manga |
I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (风情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史诗的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat. According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
| A．an international fashion centre | B．an important part of Silk Road |
| C．the focus of the world | D．a vast desert land in Central Asia |
The Fashion Week in Bishkek is supposed to __________.
| A．start a revolution in Kyrgyzstan | B．attract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan |
| C．promote tourism in Kyrgyzstan | D．celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan |
Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage?
| A．Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges. |
| B．Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays. |
| C．The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz. |
| D．The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan. |
What is the most important message the author wants to convey in the passage?
| A．Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road. |
B．Feelings about the ongoin g Fashion Week project in Bishkek. |
| C．The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan. |
| D．The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan. |
With Captain Cash’s help, we’ve put together the BIGGEST and BEST money-saving guide EVER - so what are you waiting for? Start saving NOW! The first step is to sign up to Captain Cash’s fantastic new website.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on car insurance
MAKE sure you give an accurate figure for your annual mileage when you get a quote - if you overestimate, your premium（保费）will rise.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on home insurance
Don’t overinsure your home - by sticking to the rebuild cost (the amount that really matters), you're covered if there’s a disaster. When in doubt see
k independent advice.
Plus, pay your insurance policy in one hit, if you can. Many insurance companies charge higher interest rates when you pay in monthly installments.
▲ Captain’s saving tip on entertainment
BUY the latest CDs online from HMV via Captain Cash for great price deals. For instance, The Friends 15th Anniversary Complete Collection: 40 DVD box set is just £69.99 with free UK delivery - saving £30 on the RRP (Recommended Retail Price).
▲ Captain’s saving tip on utility bills
DON’T be loyal to expensive suppliers - always check out the best deals. Getting gas and electricity from the same company and paying by direct debit instead of cash or cheque also lowers the annual cost of your bills. You can also shave money from bills by turning appliances off, rather than leaving them on standby, and by turning the heating down by a degree or two. What is Captain Cash?
| A．A bookstore | B．An online shop | C．An expert | D．A website |
What’s the RRP of 40 DVD box set of The Friend?
| A．£39.99 | B．£99.99 | C．£59.99 | D．£109.99 |
Which of the following is NOT TRUE concerning Captain’s saving tips?
| A．Paying utility bills in cash is a more economical way. |
| B．Paying the full price when buying a home insurance is a wise choice. |
| C．Accurate estimate of your yearly mileage is key to a car insurance. |
| D．Power off the electrical appliances while they are not being used. |