For computer users, there is no bigger excitement than tossing out your old PC and upgrading to a newer, faster and cleaner machine. With hardware designers like Intel, pushing newer, faster products every year, and new software requiring even more powerful machines, companies and consumers have little choice but to go along.
But this rapid turnover is having a serious effect on the planet. Producing a personal computer consumes large quantities of natural resources. A recent study by the United Nations estimates the energy required to produce a single new computer is equivalent to nearly two barrels of oil. And that doesn't include the 22 kg of chemicals or the 1,500 kg of water used in the manufacturing process.
In fact, pound for pound（均等地）, the process for making a car is about 500% more efficient than that for making a computer. That doesn't matter so much 20 years ago when personal computers were few and far between, but times have changed. These days, computers are found nearly everywhere and sales continue to grow. The number of PCs in use topped one billion in 2002.
Waste in production is only half the problem. Old computers, especially the monitors, are full of dangerous substances, which need to be carefully recycled. The problem is sure to expand over the coming years as users replace their boxy CRT monitors with LCD flat displays.
Europe now requires that 70% of parts from old computers be recycled, but the study’s authors say that’s also part of the problem. The solution, they insist, is for governments and companies to encourage people to use their computers longer, and upgrade rather than replace. But considering that much of the world’s recent economic growth has come from spending on computers and information technology, that advice may sound like wishful thinking.
1.What do computer users have to do every few years according to the passage?
A. Push newer, faster products.
B. Produce more powerful machines.
C. Consume large quantities of natural resources.
D. Upgrade to a newer, faster computer.
2.What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?
A. The pound. B. The process.
C. The car. D. The computer.
3.We can infer from the last paragraph that ____.
A. governments and companies will surely encourage people to use their computers longer
B. governments and companies will probably encourage people to replace their personal computers
C. the world's economic has been growing without people's spending on computers and information technology
D. all parts from old computers are now recycled in Europe
4.The purpose of writing this passage is ____
A. to encourage companies to push newer, faster personal computers
B. to encourage people to design more new software
C. to encourage people to save their personal computers
D. to encourage people to spend more money on computers and information technology
Trip 1 Black Bear Count
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: 12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22
Equipment to be needed:
Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
Wear good walking shoes--no high heels.
Wear a hat for day walks.
Dress warmly for night walks.
Children must be with an adult.
Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a
dangerous place.
Bookings:
Bookings for the above trips can be made by telephone (893-4847) or on the
Internet at www. blue-mountaintour.com.
1.Where are these trips?
A. In a large valley. B. In a park in the mountains.
C. In a special kind of zoo. D. In three different countries.
2.On which trip might you see animals that sleep during the day?
A. Black Bear Count. B. Garland Valley.
C. Flashlight Adventure. D. None of the trips.
3.Which of the following is NOT necessary for the three trips?
A. Good walking shoes. B. Plenty of batteries.
C. Food and water. D. A sleeping bag.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Adventure travel in America.
B. Hunting around the Great Mountains.
C. Interesting trips in the East of the USA.
D. Discovery trips in the Blue Mountains.
How would you like an easy way to earn $2,500? All you have to do is to sit around and wait for your meals. There's a catch however. You have to stay in a chicken cage with a stranger for a whole week. There are no books or television or radio for amusement. You can't leave until the week is up. And a camera will be recording your every move.
Two people actually took the job. The idea came from Rob Thompson, a video artist. He wanted to make a film about the way animals are treated. His goal was to raise people's awareness of the living conditions of animals that are raised for food.
He decided to pay $5,000 out of his own savings to two people who were willing to live like chickens for a week.
To Rob’s surprise, quite a few people answered his advertisement. He had interviewed and selected Eric, a 24-year-old restaurant worker, and Para, a 24-year-old chemist. The plan was for them to spend seven days together in a chicken cage that was six feet long and three feet wide. A camera would record their experiences, which would take place in an art museum.
The week was long and difficult. They slept on a hard wooden floor. They couldn't stand up without hanging their heads. They ate vegetables and drank water from a garden hosepipe. Their only privacy was a toilet surrounded by a curtain. There were no sinks, mirrors, or toothbrushes in the cage. Their only inspiration was the two framed checks that hung on the wall outside the cage. Visitors who came here were warned, “Do not feed the humans.”
Finally it was over, and Para and Eric appeared from their cage. They had survived the week, and they each had a $2,500 check in their hands. When Rob Thompson opened the cage, Eric came out, changed into clean clothes, and ate a chocolate bar right away. “It's great to be able to stand up,” he said. Para just changed her clothes and left. After a week of visitors and reporters watching her, she
didn't want to talk to anyone.
1.What kind of person is Rob Thompson?
A. He is curious about people's personal life.
B. He is kind-hearted to animals.
C. He hates people around.
D. He likes to help poor people.
2.The underlined word “catch” probably means _____.
A. unsolved problem B. surprising wonder
C. unbelievable fact D. hidden difficulty
3.Rob offered the money because he wanted _____ .
A. to see if there were any people who would like to live in a cage
B. to show the public how terrible animals' life could be
C. to make more money by publishing the recorded videotapes
D. to improve housing conditions of working people like Eric
4.Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. Easy Way to Earn $ 2,500. B. Do Not Feed the Humans.
C. Living Like a Chicken. D. Getting Along Well Anyway.
It was an afternoon in the winter, some friends and I were talking at a restaurant. We talked and talked and soon swimming became the __26___. Suddenly I hit upon an idea. “ Wouldn’t it be ___27_ if we went swimming? Others went swimming in winter, and __28__ couldn’t we? Besides, we could be ___29__ if we did. ” I told them about this and they all said it was a good idea indeed.
Early in the morning, three days _30____, we four were standing at the bus stop, with bags in our hands, ___31__ for a bus to take us to the __32__. The sky was clear, the sun was shining, but all the same, it was very cold, __33__ our heavy overcoats were not enough to keep us ___34__. We all felt that we should go back, but no one wanted to __35__.
We soon reached the sands. There was nobody there, but we were not to be discouraged. _36__ we were proud that we were the __37___ ones that dared to challenge the weather. Besides, the sun could keep us warm. So we __38__ ourselves quickly.
But things were not going to be so nice as we thought. The sea wind was blowing, we felt _39___ cold and we shook from head to feet. At last we decided to ___40__ the sea water. We put our feet in first, only to take them back___41___. The water was unbelievably cold. __42___ I suggested that we should all jump in at the same time. We all went back ten steps. I gave the order and we all rushed forward. We jumped. That feeling I had when I was in the water I shall never __43 . I was up and rushed again to the seaside. So _44___ my friends. We put on our clothes as quickly as possible and went home.
We four did not go to school the next three days, for we all _45_ a bad cold. We missed the lessons, but we had this unforgettable experience.
1.A. topic B. object C. center D. opinion
2.A. lucky B. interesting C. surprising D. happy
3.A. how B. what C. why D. that
4.A. ill B. worse C. better D. stronger
5.A. past B. later C. before D. since
6.A. meeting B. asking C. looking D. waiting
7.A. sands B. swimming pool C. river D. lake
8.A. though B. only C. since D. even
9.A. warm B. cold C. cool D. hot
10.A. talk about B. speak out C. think over D. shout at
11.A. Instead B. For C. Unless D. Sometimes
12.A. lucky B. only C. happy D. younger
13.A. enjoyed B. helped C. changed D. dressed
14.A. a little B. such C. a bit D. very
15.A. go into B. go down C. take off D. jump into
16.A. quickly B. carefully C. finally D. bravely
17.A. Next B. Last C. Then D. When
18.A. forget B. remember C. tell D. believe
19.A. do B. did C. had D. were
20.A. felt B. became C. caught D. turned
Who would you rather ________ the watch?
A. have to repair B. have fixed
C. get repaired D. get to repair
__ Alice, do you like traveling?
__ Sure．I _____ to Beijing last year, but I _____ anywhere since then．
A．went; didn’t go B．have gone; haven’t gone
C．went; haven’t gone D．went ; hadn’t gone
