Rachel Carson was an American author and environmental protection scientist. “Silent Spring” was her most famous book. The idea for the book developed from a suggestion from a friend. Rachel’s friend owned a protected area for birds. An airplane had flown over the area where the birds were kept and spread a powerful chemical called DDT. Many songbirds and harmless insects were killed by the DDT.
Miss Carson and other scientists were very concerned about the harmful effects of DDT and other insect-killing chemicals called pesticides. Rachel Carson tried to get many magazines interested in publishing a report about the subject. However, none would agree to publish anything about such a debate subject. They said no one wanted to hear that industrial companies could cause great ecological damage.
Miss Carson believed the public needed to know about this important issue. She decided to write a book about it. In her book “Silent Spring”, Miss Carson questioned the right of industrial companies to pollute without considering the effects on the environment. Miss Carson argued that this kind of pollution would result in ever-decreasing populations of birds and other wildlife. She said this would lead to the loss of the wonderful sounds of nature. The chemical poisoning of the environment, she said, would cause a silent spring.
The chemical industry felt threatened. Industry spokesmen and other critics said the book was non-scientific and emotional. They misunderstood the message of the book. Miss Carson did not suggest that all pesticides be banned. She urged that control of these substances be given to biologists who could make informed decisions about the risks involved.
Support for the book increased. By the end of 1962, there were more than forty bills in state laws proposing to control pesticides. Finally, in November, 1969, the United States government ruled that the use of DDT must stop in two years.
Rachel Carson did not live to see how her book influenced the government’s decision to ban DDT. She died of breast cancer in 1964.
1.What gets Rachel Carson to write the book?
A.The area of protection.
B.A powerful chemical called DDT.
C.Killed songbirds and insects.
D.The advice given by Rachel’s friend.
2.No magazines agreed to publish the harmful effect of DDT because ______.
A.it was an unimportant subject for them
B.they were afraid of being involved in the quarrel
C.they had no environmental consciousness at all
D.DDT was necessary for industry development
3.Industry spokesman’s attitude towards the book is that of ______.
A.tolerance B.criticism
C.unconcern D.praise
4.What does the passage mainly tell about?
A.The influence of the book “Silent Spring”.
B.Rachel Carson’s book“Silent Spring”.
C.Environmental protection.
D.Why DDT is forbidden.
5.What does the topic of the book “Silent Spring” imply?
A.DDT was forbidden to be used in spring.
B.Wildlife would disappear by and by.
C.Miss Carson enjoyed silence in spring.
D.If only it could be silent in spring.
“Well, I made it,” says Greg Daniels with a smile.
Recently there have been news reports and television shows reporting on the quality of school lunches. According to federal guidelines, French fries count as a serving of vegetables. Many parents and others are upset that a salty, deep-fired food is replacing healthier options like carrot sticks. As a result, the potato — what French fries are made of — has been getting a bad rap.
“The problem is not the potato,” insists Greg. “Potatoes are very healthy. But any food, even carrots or lettuce (生菜), will be less healthy if it’s cooked in grease(油脂).”
Two months ago, Greg decided to eat nothing but potatoes for 60 days. As a high school science teacher and son of a potato farmer, he wanted to do something to draw attention to potatoes as a healthy food and a good choice as part of anyone’s regular meals.
“It’s been an interesting experience,” Greg said. “For a while, I wasn’t sure I would make it. I was pretty tired of eating potatoes after a few weeks.”
But for Greg there were some benefits that he hadn’t expected. He’s lost 15 pounds and he feels better than he has in years. “I have so much more energy,” he says. “I’ve been running and playing on a local basketball team, and I feel like I’m playing as well as I did when I was in high school.”
And Greg has gotten a lot of attention, much more than he expected. “It’s been fantastic. Thousands of people have read my blog. I’ve been sharing recipes and talking about the experience. Every day I get to tell people what a great idea it is to eat potatoes.”
Greg is glad to be back to a normal diet, but he still eats potatoes at least 5 or 6 times a week. “Everyone should!” he says with a smile. “Potatoes are healthy and taste great!”
1.What does the underlined part “getting a bad rap” in Paragraph 2 mean?
A.Receiving little attention.
B.Obtaining an unfair judgement.
C.Getting more and more popular.
D.Becoming good for people’s health.
2.Why did Greg decide to eat potatoes only?
A.Because potatoes are cheap.
B.To draw attention to himself.
C.To prove that potatoes are healthy.
D.Because he loves potatoes very much.
3.After eating potatoes for a few weeks, Greg________.
A.gave up his plan.
B.put on some weight.
C.became less healthy.
D.was sick of potatoes.
4.After eating potatoes for 60 days. Greg________.
A.became a little weak.
B.became much healthier.
C.could not eat potatoes any more.
D.decided to keep eating potatoes only.
5.Which word can best describe Greg?
A.Intelligent. B.Humorous.
C.Determined. D.Courageous.
One academically excellent young person went to apply for a position in an international company. The director ______ him.
He asked, “Was it your father who ______ for your education?” The youth answered, “My father ______ when I was one year old. It was my ______ who met the expenses.” The director asked, “What’s her ______?The youth answered, “She has been earning her living by ______ clothes since my father died of illness.” The director asked again, “Have you ever ______ her wash clothes before?” The youth answered, “______. She wanted me to study and read more books.”
The director said, “I have a ______. When you go back today, go and clean her ______, and then come back and tell me your feelings tomorrow morning.”
When the youth got home, he ______ to wash his mother’s hands. His mother felt ______ at first. Happy but with mixed feelings, she then showed her hands to him. The youth washed his mother’s hands ______. His tears fell ______ he did that. It was the first time he had noticed that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled.
Next morning, the youth went to the director’s ______. He said, “I cleaned my mother’s hands as requested and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes.”
The director asked, “What have you ______?”
The youth said, “Now I know what ______ is. Without my mother, I wouldn’t have finished my studies. By helping my mother, I realize how difficult it is to get something done. I’m really grateful to my mother for what she has done.”
The director said, “I’m ______ to hear that. I want to employ a person who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the ______ of others to get things done, and a person who would not put money as his only goal in life. You are ______.”
1.A.tested B.instructed C.refused D.interviewed
2.A.ran B.sent C.paid D.hoped
3.A.died B.retired C.resigned D.drowned
4.A.aunt B.sister C.mother D.grandma
5.A.age B.job C.religion D.background
6.A.designing B.making C.trading D.washing
7.A.let B.seen C.helped D.noticed
8.A.Sometimes B.Always C.Seldom D.Never
9.A.request B.question C.concern D.method
10.A.face B.hands C.room D.clothes
11.A.hoped B.hesitated C.promised D.demanded
12.A.warm B.strange C.content D.nervous
13.A.slowly B.happily C.skillfully D.briefly
14.A.if B.as C.until D.before
15.A.club B.home C.office D.factory
16.A.learned B.informed C.heard D.told
17.A.love B.motivation C.sympathy D.movement
18.A.sorry B.glad C.shocked D.confused
19.A.ways B.decision C.sufferings D.determination
20.A.hired B.trusted C.involved D.respected
All the preparations for the task ___________, and we’re ready to start.
A.were completed B.have been completed
C.had been completed D.complete
None of the naughty boys would escape _________ by Mr. Jacob if they didn’t obey his orders.
A.to punished B.punishing
C.to be punished D.being punished
In some places women are expected to earn money _______ men work at home and raise their children.
A.while B.though
C.because D.but
