With alarming regularity, we read about oil tankers having accidents near land and the terrible consequences of the oil spills(泄露) on people, nature, and the environment.
Millions of dollars have been used in developing special chemicals to help dismiss the spills and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil. Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea.
Of all of today’s environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious. Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material. In the end, it breaks down naturally. There are, of course, long-term effects, but it is usually more serious in the short term.
Nature by itself works better than chemical materials, but when there is a spill we demand that governments act immediately with as much hi-tech knowledge as possible. In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Sicily Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tones of oil into the ocean. If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened.
Governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage. Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run!
We should be thinking more about reducing our dependency on oil. Governments should be encouraging research into new technologies, such as cars run by solar power(太阳能), electricity, hydrogen, and so on. Much of this research has, in the past, been held back by the oil, gas, and coal.
If the world’s millions of cars were 10% more efficient(高效的) — and the industry could easily produce cars at least twice as efficient — we would need many fewer tankers crossing the oceans each year. If this happened, the risks of oil spills would be reduced, and the air we breathe would be cleaner and fresher, too.
1.What is the passage mainly talking about?
A. Oil tanker accidents. B. What oil pollution is.
C. Oil spills pollution. D. How to reduce oil pollution.
2.How does the author support the idea that oil spills are not as serious as people believe?
A. By giving an example. B. By making an argument.
C. By giving a description. D. By drawing a diagram.
3.What does the underlined word “risk” in Paragraph 5 refer to?
A. Transportation depending more on oil.
B. More environmental damage being caused.
C. Millions of tons of oil spilling into the sea.
D. Poisonous oil breaking down naturally.
4.Which suggestion is made for reducing oil tank accidents according to the passage?
A. We should build safer oil tankers in the near future.
B. Tankers should not be allowed to sail near the coastlines.
C. We should develop new technologies to cut oil use.
D. Countries should build more oil pipelines under the sea.
Volunteers, as an essential part of a successful world exposition, are a major channel for the public to participate in, serve and share the world exposition and a means to showcase the image of the host country and city. The following information is about the volunteer for the World Exposition 2010 Shanghai China.
I. Basic Requirements for Volunteers
l Be willing to participate in voluntary services of Expo 2010;
l Age limit: Expo Site volunteers must be born before April 30, 1992 and Expo City Voluntary Service Station volunteers before April 30, 1994;
l Obey the laws and regulations of the PRC;
l Be able to participate in training and relevant activities before the opening of Expo 2010;
l Possess necessary knowledge and skills needed by the position;
l Be in good health to meet the requirements of corresponding voluntary positions.
II. Further Information for Volunteers
l Source
l Residents of Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, and foreigners can all apply to be the volunteers.
l Signup methods
l Applicants may log in onto the official websites for online signup. They may also consult or connect with the Expo Volunteer Stations.
l Time
l May 1 – December 31, 2009
III. Volunteer Training
Volunteer training includes general training, special training and position training. General training is carried out through the Internet, while special training and position training are provided through classroom lectures and field practice.
IV. Volunteer Types
l Expo Site volunteers refer to those offering voluntary services to visitors and the Organizer in the Expo Site, mainly including information, visitor flow management, reception, translation and interpretation, assistance for the disabled, and assistance in media service, event and conference organization and volunteer management.
l Information booth volunteers are stationed in the Expo’s information booths at key transportation centers, commercial outlets, tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and cultural event places outside the Expo Site. They offer services including information, translation, interpretation and even first aid.
1.What’s the purpose of this writing?
A. To give some basic information of the World Expo 2010
B. To recruit(招募) the volunteers for the World Expo 2010
C. To praise the hard work of the volunteers
D. To attract people to visit the World Expo 2010
2.If you were born in April 1993, where can you be a volunteer?
A. In the Expo Site. B. In the host country.
C. In the Expo City. D. In Chinese mainland.
3.Which of the training will be done on the Internet?
A. General training. B. Position training.
C. Classroom training. D. Special training.
4.Which of the following service is offered by information booth volunteers?
A. Visitor flow management. B. Helping the disabled.
C. Assistance in media service. D. Emergency first aid.
Shopping in the United States changes a lot. About ninety years ago most people shopped in small stores that were owned by one person or a family. Women went from the bakery to the butcher’s to the grocer and on to the fruit and vegetable seller in order to get their food for the week. Then, about sixty years ago, supermarkets were born. In a supermarket, people could get all the different kinds of food they needed without going to different stores.
The next big change in shopping in the United States was the shopping mall. A shopping mall is a group of stores under one roof. Because malls allowed people to shop without worrying about the weather, they soon became very popular. The mall became a place for people to socialize in addition to shopping. If you walk through a mall, you will see older people sitting, chatting and drinking coffee. Malls are places for teenagers to hang out. Many teens will often just “go to the mall” and spend time with their friends.
The recent change in American shopping was the superstore. Large chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Office Depot and Toys“R”Us have been built all across the United States. Because they are so large, they can buy goods at a great discount and sell them much cheaper than smaller stores. Sometimes, when they are built near small towns, many of the small town stores have to close. They just cannot compete with their giant neighbors.
And now, online shopping is becoming more and more popular all over the States. People are too busy to go to the physical stores, so they go shopping over the Internet. Online shopping has lots of advantages. For instance, online stores are usually available 24 hours a day. Searching or browsing online shops can be faster than browsing the physical stores. While, online shopping also has its disadvantages. People are at higher risk of being cheated on the part of the merchant than in a physical store. And privacy of personal information may be let out.
1.Which of the following shows the right order of shopping development in the United States?
①small stores ②superstores ③shopping malls ④shopping online ⑤supermarkets
A. ①②③④⑤ B. ①⑤②③④ C. ②③④①⑤ D. ①⑤③②④
2.Which is the place for people to spend time with others according to the passage?
A. Small stores. B. Shopping malls. C. Supermarkets. D. Superstores.
3.Why can the superstores sell products at much lower prices?
A. Because they can buy goods at a reduction in price.
B. Because they are across the United States.
C. Because they sell all kinds of products people need.
D. Because they are built near small towns.
4.What’s the disadvantage of online shopping according to the passage?
A. Wasting time. B. Fixed prices.
C. Leaking personal information. D. No chance to do physical activities.
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
One day I visited an art museum while waiting for my husband to finish a business meeting. I was expecting a quiet 36 of the splendid artwork.
A young 37 viewing the paintings ahead of me 38 nonstop between themselves. I watched them a moment and decided the lady was doing all the talking. I admired the man’s 39 for putting up with her 40 stream of words. 41 by their noise, I moved on.
I met them several times as I moved 42 the various rooms of art. Each time I heard her continuous flow of words, I moved away 43 .
I was standing at the counter of the museum gift shop making a 44 when the couple approached the 45 . Before they left, the man 46 into his pocket and pulled out a white object. He 47 it into a long stick and then 48 his way into the coatroom to get his wife’s jacket.
“He’s a 49 man,” the clerk at the counter said. “Most of us would give up if we were blinded at such a young age. During his recovery, he made a promise his life wouldn’t change. So, as before, he and his wife come in 50 there is a new art show.”
“But what does he get out of the art?” I asked. “He can’t see.”
“Can’t see! You’re 51 . He sees a lot. More than you and I do,” the clerk said. “His wife 52 each painting so he can see it in his head.”
I learned something about patience, 53 and love that day. I saw the patience of a young wife describing paintings to a person without 54 and the courage of a husband who would not 55 blindness to change his life. And I saw the love shared by two people as I watched this couple walk away, their arms intertwined.
1.A. touch B. view C. wander D. stare
2.A. lady B. man C. couple D. clerk
3.A. chatted B. argued C. screamed D. yelled
4.A. attempt B. independence C. wisdom D. patience
5.A. vivid B. constant C. casual D. vague
6.A. Adopted B. Adapted C. Conducted D. Disturbed
7.A. through B. to C. towards D. from
8.A. anxiously B. urgently C. quickly D. sensibly
9.A. comment B. decision C. purchase D. profit
10.A. entrance B. exit C. front D. queue
11.A. plugged B. held C. reached D. bent
12.A. made B. lengthened C. brought D. broadened
13.A. led B. found C. forced D. tapped
14.A. brave B. rough C. smart D. generous
15.A. wherever B. whatever C. whichever D. whenever
16.A. wrong B. silly C. equal D. unique
17.A. describes B. draws C. shows D. decorates
18.A. kindness B. pride C. enthusiasm D. courage
19.A. support B. sight C. expectation D. confidence
20.A. get B. hope C. allow D. cause
To save the drowning child, the boy plunged into the icy water without hesitation, ____ his own safety.
A. despite of B. regardless of C. unaware of D. because of
—It’s the office! So you ________ know eating is not allowed here.
—Oh, sorry.
A. must B. will C. may D. need
