Nowadays, the food that you buy comes from many different countries. Have a look in your fridge, cupboard, and fruit bowl and check the origins(来源) of the food. Perhaps there are apples from California, lamb from New Zealand, or potatoes from Egypt? You will probably be surprised how far food travels to get to your plate. This journey, from “field to plate”, is called “food miles”. A food mile is the distance that food travels from the farmer’s field to the person who buys the food. Nowadays, food often travels thousands of miles to get to the consumer(消费者). Why is this, and what are the effects(影响) of these long distances?
Traditionally, farmers sold their food in the local market, so the food didn’t have to travel very far. The consumers also did not travel very far because they want to their local market to buy the food. This was a good system for farmers and consumers. However, there were some disadvantages. For example, consumers could only buy food that farmers produced locally. In addition, they could only get food that was in season. Now, because of modern technology, food comes from all over the world. We do not have to wait for spring or summer to buy strawberries or tomatoes. They are available in winter if we want.
Some countries have to import(进口) most of their food. This is because they have difficult climates. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, gets 85% of its food from other countries. Even food made in the UAE often uses imported materials.
What’s wrong with “food miles”? Is this not a good way of increasing international trade? I believe these miles are worrying for a number of reasons. First of all, because food travels such long distances, we need more planes, lorries, and ships to move the food. This means we use more oil or petrol, so there is more pollution and more global(全球的) warming. In addition, foo that travels a long way is not fresh and usually not very tasty. Tomatoes, for example, are picked early and stored for their long journeys. For this reason, they are usually tasteless when they get to the consumer. Local food has a better taste, and it also reduces the amount of global pollution. We need to buy more local food.
1.The underlined word “available” most probably means ________.
A. easy to get B. not buy
C. willing to talk D. impossible to get
2.Some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, have to import most of their food because of ________.
A. long distances B. difficult climates
C. fresh and tasty food D. modern technology
3.The writer uses the LAST paragraph mostly to encourage readers to ________.
A. buy more local food
B. increase international trade
C. how some countries import their food
D. use imported materials
4.This passage is mainly about ________.
A. how local food travels from field to plate
B. what “food miles” is and its effects
C. how some countries import their food
D. where different kinds of food come from
One day, there was a blind man called John sitting on the bench with a hat by his feet and a sign that read, “I am blind. Please help me.”
A creative publicist(广告员)named Tom was walking by the blind man and stopped to see that the man only had a few coins in his hat. He put a few of his own coins in the hat. Without asking for permission(允许), took the sign, turned it around and wrote a new message. Then he put the sign by the feet of the blind man and left.
Later that afternoon the publicist returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was almost full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized(识别)his footsteps and asked if it was he who had changed his sign. He also wanted to know what the man wrote on it.
The publicist said, “I just wrote the message a little differently.” He smiled and went on his way.
The new sign read, “Spring has come, but I can’t see anything.”
1.Who wrote a new message?
A. The blind man. B. The teacher.
C. The publicist. D. The farmer.
2.How did the blind man recognize the publicist?
A. By his sign. B. By his footsteps.
C. By his voice. D. By his coins.
3.When did the story happen?
A. In spring. B. In summer.
C. In autumn. D. In winter.
4.What can we learn from the passage?
A. Publicists are always friendly and helpful.
B. We can get more money by changing a sign.
C. The blind man is not clever, so he has little money.
D. The power of language is great.
Some top students are giving advice.
Bill, Canada When taking tests, relax. If you’re worried that you’ll fail the test, you’re sure to get a low score. If you have studied for it long enough, you shouldn’t be worried about getting a low grade. |
Lily, America Remember the most important advice to get good grades is very simple; do well on tests to get an A or an A-. Do what your teacher says, and the chances are fairly good that you’ll get an A+. Don’t stress yourself. Act cool! |
Betty, Britain Write good notes. Colored pens are fun to write with if you want to get more creative with your notes, but use them only for parts of your notes that will probably be on a test or that are important. It makes them stand out. Go over your notes before you take the exams. |
Tom, Australia In order to get good grades, try to do your homework immediately after school. Time management is important. If you’re told to do the homework next week, get started the same day you know it. Before you start, you’d better make clear what to do and how to do it. |
1.Who gives advice on homework?
A. Betty. B. Bill. C. Lily. D. Tom.
2.Lily tells us when taking tests.
A. not to worry
B. not to stress ourselves
C. to get more creative
D. to make clear what to do
3.The top students are giving advice on _______.
A. how to get good grades
B. how to start learning
C. what to do when taking tests
D. what to take when going to school
完形填空。
根据短文内容,从A、B、C、D四个选项中选择一个能填入相应空格内的最佳答案,并把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。
What does “self-control” mean? Suppose you have a ticket for an exciting film which you want to see very much, but unluckily you have to study an exam tomorrow. What will you do? See the film study for the exam? If you can give up seeing the film and work hard at your , it means that you have self-control. Self-control is not something that you have at birth. It needs to be cultivated(培养) in your life.
Often, young children are easily when their needs or wishes are not met at once. Almost daily, children see a lot of food, toys and activities that are attractive to them. Many times children do not know how to their frustration(挫折) when they are told “no” or “later”. Also, sometimes young children do not understand they are not allowed to do anything. In order to have positive experiences at home and at school, children need to learn to properly deal with their feelings when they cannot have something. These skills will increase children’s self- control.
Don’t go to bed late because of a nice TV program, or you may go to school and it is a waste of time. Every one of us has some hobbies, a few of which may us from making progress in life. We must use our to become free of them.
1.A. for B. at C. on D. about
2.A. and B. while C. but D. or
3.A. school B. lessons C. films D. listening
4.A. happy B. upset C. tired D. excited
5.A. begin with B. play with C. deal with D. do with
6.A. what B. which C. why D. who
7.A. skills B. lessons C. ways D. strategies
8.A. early B. late C. on time D. slowly
9.A. leave B. make C. keep D. push
10.A. decision B. energy C. knowledge D. self-control
---Thanks for listening to my problem and giving me advice, Lily.
--- _______. That’s what friends are for.
A. My pleasure B. With pleasure
C. Well done D. It’s nice of you
Could you tell me _______ a concert in Shanghai next week?
A. if there was going to be
B. if there is going to be
C. whether is there going to be
D. whether there is going to have
