Having long been underrated(低估) and ignored, the penny is one of America's most enduring failures. But a recent proposal to ban the penny by some US congress members seeks to put the coin to sleep — permanently.
Representative Jim Kolbe from Arizona is the man who proposed the bill to stamp out penny. He says the coin has outlived its usefulness. With metal prices soaring, Kolbe says it costs 1.23 cents to produce a penny. Producing the coins will amount to a $20 million waste each year.
It is not simply about the cost of production. Centuries of inflation have made the penny—first put into circulation in 1787—close to worthless.
Many Americans don’t even view pennies as currency any more. They take them only reluctantly in change and then put them in jars or desk drawers at home. An estimated $10.5 billion in pennies, or $93.75 per household, sits idle in piggy banks and behind sofas.
Anti-penny advocates argue that 1-cent coins cost US companies more than $300 million a year in lost productivity. This comes mostly from the time and effort spent counting and putting pennies into paper rolls for bank deposits.
Jim Kolbe suggests that all cash transactions be rounded to the nearest nickel. For example, items that cost 11 or 12 cents would be rounded down to 10, 13- and 14-cent items would be rounded up to 15. People paying by credit or bank card, however, would likely continue to pay exact amounts.
But plenty of Americans oppose the ban. Some say eliminating the penny would cause significant hardship to a wide range of people.
US economist Raymond Lombra says that moving to the 5-cent nickel would cost consumers $ 3 billion over five years. The poor suffer more since they tend to buy with cash instead of credit cards.
Penny supporters point out that the penny is the only coin carrying the image of America’s much respected president Abraham Lincoln. Some major charities are also alarmed by talk of a penny ban. They often base fund-raising campaigns on donations of pennies and other coins. One such campaign is called “Pennies for Patients”. They have raised more than $68 million through coin collections since 1994.
A recent US Today poll found that 55 percent of adults want to keep the penny. They may not value pennies as currency like before, but they remain attached to them as an old, familiar friend.
“The penny has been a necessary part of the American experience---whose childhood would be complete without penny candy and other small purchases?” read a post supporting the penny on a forum.
It shapes US superstitions. “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day you will have good luck.” “A penny saved is a penny earned.” And little girls are sometimes called “as pretty as a penny”.
Title: Ban 1 Or Not?
2 :
They have long been underrated and ignored.
Reasons for the ban:
● The coin has outlived its usefulness.
● 3 to produce coins are rising fast.
● Centuries of inflation have made the penny close to worthless.
● Large amount of 4 is wasted counting and putting pennies into paper rolls for
bank deposits.
5 :
● All cash transactions are rounded to 6 .
● People paying by credit or bank card would continue to pay exact amounts.
Reasons against the ban:
● Eliminating the penny would cause significant hardship to a wide range of people.
● Rounding to the 5-cent nickel would cost consumers $3 billion over five years.
● The penny is the only coin carrying the image of America’s much respected president___7 .
● 8 base fund-raising campaigns on donations of pennies and other coins.
● 55 percent of adults regard it as a necessary part of 9 .
● The penny shapes 10 .
There is a saying in French—“Si vieillesse pouvait, si jeunesse savait”—which means roughly “if age had the ability, if youth had the knowledge.” I was reminded of this saying the other day when I saw an interview with a distinguished Asian neurosurgeon(神经外科医生), now retired, about the impact of computer technology on modern surgery.
He was referring to the difficulty people of his age had in using the new techniques, but also to the fact that younger surgeons, who are more comfortable with the technology, lack some of the wisdom of experience.
It struck me that this problem is not just confined(局限于) to specialized fields such as medicine, but is widespread in modern life. There are many areas where the rapid growth of technology has widened the generation gap.
Young people are at ease with modern technology and propose all sorts of ways for using and developing it. But they often lack the experience needed to see further into the future to the possible dangers that a particular development may cause.
Older people see all sorts of difficulties and dangers, but are sometimes ignored, or even accused of being against progress, if they point out potential problems. Equally, they may see potential uses, but not have the technical skills to put them into practice themselves or the trust in the younger generation to do so.
Enthusiasm and inexperience come into conflict with caution and arrogance, usually with unsatisfactory results for both sides.
What is needed is the development of a partnership, based on mutual respect, which can deliver real progress by combining enthusiasm and caution in a constructive way, rather than in conflict with each other. The old need to give the younger generation the time, the resources and, above all, the authority to develop new ideas and use their skills. In exchange, the young need to turn more actively to the older generation to seek their advice and exploit their greater experience of the world in foreseeing and overcoming potential problems.
1.The passage is mainly about ________.
A．the impact of computer technology on modern surgery
B．an interview with a distinguished Asian neurosurgeon
C．new generation gap between the old and the young
D．a conflict between knowledge and experience
2.The French saying in the first paragraph is used to ________.
A．introduce the topic
B．show the difference between French and English
C．make readers confused
D．prove the writer’s wisdom
3.What did the retired neurosurgeon probably mention in his interview?
A．Old people’s enthusiasm in obtaining new technology.
B．Old people’s difficulty in using computers.
C．Young surgeons’ bad manners in working.
D．Young surgeons’ difficulty in getting experience.
4.In the writer’s view, what advantage do the older generation have?
A．They are happy with modern technology.
B．They are easy to learn new techniques.
C．They can foresee the future of the young generation.
D．They are rich in work experience.
5.What conclusion can be drawn from the last paragraph?
A．The young and the old should respect and learn from each other.
B．The young should teach the old modern technology.
C．The old should maintain their authority in every field.
D．The young and the old should work independently.
Christmas, Easter and Birthday parties can be difficult times for grandmothers and parents as they rush around trying to arrange the perfect celebration or making everyone as happy as possible! What’s better than a birthday party that makes your grandchild smile throughout or a celebration that impresses relatives and close friends?
That is why Granny Look has supplied in this section, one of the most comprehensive guides to making these special occasions that happen perhaps once a year a real success.
From a selection of Advent calendars to party planning or Christmas-stocking fillers we have all the possibilities covered so that your children and grandchildren will really have a memorable time with attractive gifts and original ideas.
Bring that festive spirit to all those traditional days, and ensure you are always ready for any possibility. Granny Look’s extensive links are bound to make every special occasion an entirely different experience from the year before and allow everyone to feel entertained and content.
CHRISTMAS-STOCKING FILLERS
LOOK no further!! Granny Look helps the family to prepare in time for FATHER CHRISTMAS. Give SANTA CLAUS some ideas. He can fill all the children’s Christmas-stockings with goodies! Unique Christmas gifts for children - stocking fillers.
A Granny Look favorite!
ADVENT CALENDARS
All children love the build-up to CHRISTMAS! What is better than choosing one of Granny Look’s selection of Advent Calendars! Here you will find a list of websites to buy traditional or fun Advent calendars for children at Christmas time.
A Granny Look favorite!
BIRTHDAYS
LOOKING for a SPECIAL BIRTHDAY GIFT? Explore Granny Look’s selection of PRESENTS, PARTYPLANNING, PARTY TOYS and PARTY GAMES for your Children and Grandchildren’s BIRTHDAYS.
Plan and organize the KIDDIE’S PARTIES ahead of time!!
Don’t forget the PERSONALISED INVITATIONS!
CHRISTMAS
LOOK and BOOK now!! Granny Look’s selection of CHRISTMAS GIFTS for children.
Some guides to “What’s on in your area” … for the kids. PANTOS, SHOWS, THEATRES … at Christmas time!
UNIQUE Christmas gifts for Children. Spend QUALITY TIME with your Children’s Children this FESTIVE SEASON!
1.From the text, we know that “Granny LOOK” is __________.
A．a person who guides you to make your yearly celebration a real success
B．a magazine that helps the family to prepare for special occasions
C．a company that sells all sorts of products on the Internet
D．a website that helps you to prepare for special occasions
2.The purpose of the text is _________.
A．to make children have a memorable holiday
B．to show you how to shop on the Internet
C．to give you some information about Granny Look
D．to introduce some goods
3.If you want to send some invitations to your daughter’s classmates, where will you search for the information?
A．At Birthdays. B．At Advent Calendars.
C．At Christmas-stocking fillers. D．At Christmas.
4.You will fail to find any information at Christmas when you need _________.
A．Christmas cards B．fun Advent calendars
C．Christmas gifts D．tickets for theatres
5.If your son wants a traditional Advent calendar, you should search _________.
A．Birthdays B．Advent Calendars
C．Christmas-stocking fillers D．Christmas
Aggressive pedestrians are in fact as dangerous as careless drivers. They cause traffic accidents, injury and death.
These dangerous walkers can be seen in any big city over the world. About 69% of last year’s pedestrian deaths in the US occurred in urban areas. They cross streets ignoring “DON’T WALK” signals, suddenly appear without warning from behind parked vehicles, walk slowly at crossroads with cell phones attached to heads, blocking traffic.
These pedestrians and drivers share a common disregard for the rules of the road, both for selfish reasons. The drivers believe in the power of their machines. If their machines can go faster, they believe they have the right to go faster. If their machines are bigger, they believe they have the right to push smaller vehicles aside. Aggressive pedestrians, on the other hand, believe in the primacy(首位) of the individual, the idea that they are first in any environment, under any circumstances, even when they are on foot in a roaring tide of steel and rubber.
Last year, an estimated 5,220 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. Some 69,000 pedestrians were injured. On average, that worked out to one pedestrian killed in a traffic crash every 101 minutes, and one injured every eight minutes.
The good news is that the accident rate is dropping. For example, the number of pedestrians killed last year was 24 percent less than the number killed in traffic accidents a decade earlier. The bad news is that the basic causes of pedestrian deaths remain pretty much the same----disregard for traffic signals, inattention and crossing roads under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol, in fact, was involved in 46 percent of the traffic accidents that resulted in pedestrian deaths. Of those, 31 percent of the pedestrians were found to be drunk.
The bottom line is that the pedestrians must do more to protect their lives as well as the lives of other road users. They can start by obeying traffic signals, using marked cross-walks and calling a cab when they’ve had too much to drink.
1.The passage is mainly about __________.
A．how aggressive pedestrians cause traffic accidents
B．why so many Americans were killed on roads last year
C．what the traffic rules of the road about pedestrians were
D．who are to blame for pedestrian deaths, drunk drivers or the aggressive pedestrians
2.What is the pedestrians’ selfish reason for traffic jams?
A．They know all drivers are skilled and with great care.
B．They believe individuals are always first.
C．They think traffic rules have nothing to do with them.
D．They guess all vehicles will slow down at crossroads.
3.What was NOT the basic cause of pedestrian deaths in the US a decade ago?
A．Disregard for traffic signals B．Paying no attention to surroundings.
C．Crossing roads drunk. D．Overspeeding driving.
4.As one of all the road users, what should we students do on busy roads?
A．Obey traffic signals at crossroads.
B．Run as fast as possible at crossroads.
C．Talk on your cell phone if necessary.
D．Always watch out for big trucks.
5.What word can best describe the author’s attitude to the traffic accidents caused by pedestrians?
A．Excited. B．Cold. C．Concerned D．Inconnected.
My first roller coaster experience was not pleasant. It was in the summer of 2009, in Six Flags, Massachusetts, the US. I went 1. with a group of friends. We were all very excited about roller coaster 2. waited anxiously for the ride to begin. As the roller coaster got up higher and higher, however, my heart started to beat 3. hard that I even could see my shirt move up and down. I could feel the wind getting stronger and brushing through my hair. Then the big drop came. I closed my eyes and told 4. that it would be over in two seconds, but it felt like forever. I was pushed up from my seat as if I 5. to be thrown out of the car. 6. the time I finished the ride, I could barely stand up or speak. So when my friends asked me 7. I thought of the ride, I just answered with silence. No matter how hard I tried, I could not make 8. sound.
Everyone wants to win a first-place blue ribbon, to be the best in something. Even kids in Kindergarten want that blue ribbon. In sports, I was never a blue-ribbon person. In a race, I was always 36 . In baseball I was likely to be 37 on the head or drop the ball. During the spring of my kindergarten year, our class had a field trip to a park in a town about twenty miles away. Making that drive now is no big 38 but when you’re six and you’ve lived in a town of 300 people all your life, going to a big town of a couple of thousand people is really something.
I don’t remember too much about it. But there was one that I will never forget —the __39__ race. The parents tied our feet together. One little boy got me for a 40 . He was the second most 41 boy in our class so he usually won at everything and I knew that with me tied to him he didn’t have a chance. And I’m sure he knew he was in trouble. The gun sounded and we were off. Some couples were falling and stumbling all around us, 42 we stayed on our feet and made it to the other side. 43 , when we turned around and headed back for home, we were in the lead! Only one couple had a chance to win, and they were a good several yards behind us.
A few feet from the finish line, disaster struck: I tripped and fell. We were 44 enough that my partner could have easily dragged me across the finish line and won. But he didn’t. Instead he stopped, 45 down and helped me up — just at the other couple crossed the finish line. As a result, we received a small red ribbon for coming in second.
I still remember that moment when the young boy decided that helping a friend get on her feet was more important than winning a blue ribbon. And 13 years later, I still have that little ribbon because it’s a 46 that a friend like this boy is one who really 47 .
1. A．last B．first C．quick D．successful
2. A．touched B．felt C．hit D．beaten
3. A．question B．event C．one D．deal
4. A．one-legged B．two-legged C．three-legged D．four-legged
5. A．partner B．helper C．supporter D．competitor
6. A．tallest B．youngest C．athletic D．handsome
7. A．but B．therefore C．however D．and
8. A．Obviously B．Unbelievably C．Secretly D．Undoubtedly
9. A．strong B．brave C．clever D．close
10. A．lay B．slowed C．moved D．reached
11. A．warning B．reminder C．gift D．notice
12. A．depends B．counts C．supports D．worthy
