In the 13th century, the famous Italian traveler, Marco Polo, traveled a long way to China. During his stay in China, he saw many wonderful things. One of the things he discovered was that the Chinese used paper money. In western countries, people didn’t use the paper money until 15th century. However, people in China began to use paper money in the 7th century.
A Chinese man called Cai Lun invented paper almost 2,000 years ago. He took the wood from trees and made it into paper. He then put these pieces of paper together and made them into a book.
Now paper still comes from trees. We use a lot of paper every day. If we keep on wasting so much paper, there will not be any trees left on the earth. If there are no trees, there will be no paper. Every day, people throw away about 2,800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper. This means that we are cutting nearly 48,000 trees every day. Since it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow, we must start using less paper now.
So how can we save paper? We can use both sides of every piece of paper, especially when we are making notes. We can use cotton handkerchiefs and not paper ones. When we go shopping, we can use fewer paper bags. If the shop assistant gives us a paper bag, we can save it and reuse it later.
Everyone can help to save paper. If we all think carefully, we can help protect trees. But we should do it now, before it is too late.
1. When he was in China, Marco Polo ____________.
A. discovered Cai Lun invented paper B. learned to make paper
C. saw many wonderful things D. read a lot of books
2. Which of the following is not a way of saving paper?
A. To use both sides of every piece of paper
B. To use fewer paper bags when shopping
C. To use cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones
D. To grow more trees
3. Which of the following is not true?
A. If we keep on wasting paper, we will have no paper to use one day.
B. The Chinese used paper money much earlier than people in western countries.
C. About 48,000 trees can be used to make 2,800 tons of paper.
D. It is never too late to plant trees for paper.
4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Saving Paper B. The History of Paper
C. Cotton Handkerchiefs Back Again D. Cai Lun, the Inventor
My uncle has a very beautiful umbrella. He has had it 16 and he is very careful with it. It still looks as good as new. ‘That umbrella must have 17 you a great deal of money, Uncle,’ I said to him one day. ‘No,’ he replied, ‘ 18 .’ ‘Was it a present?’ I asked again. ‘No,’ said he. ‘Then how did you get it?’ I asked.
‘Well,’ he answered, ‘it is a strange true story. About ten years ago I was walking along a quiet London street one evening 19 it suddenly rained. I had no 20 and no umbrella. No buses 21 that street and there were no taxis in sight. As I was on my way to a party I didn’t want to get 22 . So I stood in a doorway and waited for the rain to stop. By and by it grew quite 23 , there wasn’t a person around, and still it rained and rained. 24 a young man came to the place where I was standing, 25 a large umbrella over his head. As I hoped he would 26 me to walk to the next corner with him, 27 I could have got a taxi, I stepped 28 the dark doorway where I had been standing, and said, 29 , where are you going with that umbrella?
30 by my sudden appearance, the young man 31 the umbrella which I am afraid, he had just stolen, ran away, and 32 into the darkness. I picked up the umbrella and 33 my walk. I knew it would be 34 in this big city to try and discover the owner and so I’ve kept it 35 .’
1.
A. for months B. for years C. since childhood D. since then
2.
A. used B. cost C. taken D. spent
3.
A. very little B. only a few pounds C. not a penny D. not a great deal
4.
A. when B. then C. before D. as
5.
A. car B. hat C. raincoat D. friend
6.
A. moved through B. ran through C. went across D. passed across
7.
A. tired B. back C. wet D. away
8.
A. dark B. wet C. late D. helpless
9.
A. At once B. At last C. Strangely D. Secretly
10.
A. raising B. carrying C. holding D. lifting
11.
A. allow B. let C. agree D. promise
12.
A. there B. where C. from which D. in which
13.
A. into B. out of C. towards D. from behind
14.
A. By the way B. Pardon C. Excuse me D. Sorry
15.
A. Encouraged B. Forced C. Warmed D. Frightened
16.
A. shut B. took C. dropped D. forgot
17.
A. disappeared B. wandered C. marched D. came
18.
A. stopped B. started C. continued D. delayed
19.
A. endless B. interesting C. exciting D. hopeless
20.
A. ever since B. forever C. long enough D. in the end
Many people agree that __________ knowledge of English is a must in _____ international trade today.
A. the, an B. a, / C. the, the D. /, the
It is a great concern that the school is now ____ for experienced teachers.
A. badly in need B. badly off C. better off D. struggling
-- The cars give off a great deal of waste gas in the streets.
--- Yes. But I’m sure something will be done to ___ air pollution.
A. reduce B. remove C. drop D. warn
Every classroom in this modern school is _______ with a new computer.
A. equipped B. exchanged C. fixed D. placed
