At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents (文件) because they could be stored electronically. But for all the texts that are written, stored and sent electronically, a lot of them are still ending up on paper.
It is difficult to measure the quantity of paper used as a result of use of Internet-connected computers, although just about anyone who works in an office can tell you that when e-mail is introduced, the printers start working overtime. "I feel in my bones this revolution is causing more trees to be cut down," says Ted Smith of the Earth Village Organization.
Perhaps the best sign of how computer and Internet use pushes up demand for paper comes from the high-tech industry itself, which sees printing as one of its most promising new markets. Several Internet companies have been set up to help small businesses print quality documents from a computer. Earlier this week Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a plan to develop new technologies that will enable people to print even more so they can get a hard copy of a business document, a medical record or just a one-line e-mail, even if they are nowhere near a computer. As the company sees it, the more use of the Internet the greater demand for printers.
Does all this mean environmental concerns (环境问题) have been forgotten? Some activists suggest people have been led to believe that a lot of dangers to the environment have gone away. " I guess people believe that the problem is taken care of, because of recycling (回收利用) " said Kelly Quirke, director of the Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco. Yet Quirke is hopeful that high-tech may also prove helpful. He says printers that print on both sides are growing in popularity. The action group has also found acceptable paper made from materials other than wood, such as agricultural waste.
1. The growing demand for paper in recent years is largely due to ________.
A. the rapid development of small businesses
B. the opening up of new markets
C. the printing of high quality copies
D. the increased use of the Internet
2.Environmentalists believe one possible way of dealing with the paper situation is ________.
A. to encourage printing more quality documents
B. to develop new printers using recycled paper
C. to find new materials for making paper
D. to plant more fast-growing trees
3.Hewlett-Packard Co. has decided to develop new technologies because _______.
A. people are concerned about the environment
B. printers in many offices are working overtime
C. small companies need more hard copies
D. they see a growing market for printers
The Americans believe that anybody can become President of the United States. In a recent Hollywood comedy(喜剧), that is exactly what happens.
Dave Kovic, played by Kevin Kline, is a kind-hearted man who runs a business that finds people jobs. He leads a typical(典型的) American way of life, except for one thing－he looks exactly like the President, Bill Mitchell. In fact, the only thing that makes him different from the nation’s leader is that he is very nice!
The president has started using look-alikes during some public appearances. Dave is offered a chance to “serve his country” by becoming one. However, things go wrong. The President becomes very ill and Dave ends up acting as the President forever.
Director Ivan Reitman, who made the popular and successful comedies like Twins, Ghostbusters and Legal Eagles, could have gone for easy laughs by making fun of the American government. Instead, Dave is an attractive comedy about an ordinary man in extraordinary situations. Kevin Kline gives a double performance as Dave and the President, and Sigourney Weaver is at her best as his First Lady. The love story that develops between her role and Dave is a real classic(经典).
The film is 100% American. However, if you’ve ever felt that anybody could do a better job running the country than the people in power, then you’ll enjoy Dave!
1.What is the purpose of the text?
A. To tell the reader about the American government.
B. To discus the Americans’ ideas about the President.
C. To make a comparison between Dave and other films.
D. To introduce a new film to the reader.
2.Who plays the role of the President in the film?
A. Sigourney Weaver. B. Kevin Kline.
C. Bill Mitchell. D. Ivan Reitman.
3.The underlined word “one” in the 3rd paragraph refers to _____.
A. the President B. the director C. an actor D. a look-alike
4.Which of the following is best supported by the text?
A. The author makes fun of the President.
B. The author thinks highly of the film.
C. The author is a fan of Hollywood comedies.
D. The author wishes to become the American President.
Photographs are everywhere. They decorate the walls of homes and are used in stores for sales of different goods. The news is filled with pictures of fires, floods, and special events. Photos record the beauties of nature. They can also bring things close that are far away. Through photos, people can see wild animals, cities in foreign lands, and even the stars in outer space. Photos also tell stories.
Reporting the news through photos is called photojournalism. At times photojournalists tell their stories through a single picture. At other times, they use a group of pictures to tell a story. Each picture is like a chapter in a book, which can do more than record the facts. It can also be a strong force for social change.
Jacob Riis was among the first photojournalists. He took pictures of parts of New York City where the poor lived. Riis believed that poverty caused crime, and he used photos to help him prove his point. A few years later, the photos of small children working in factories by Lewis Hine shocked the public. Hine’s pictures helped bring about laws to protect such children.
Hundreds of pictures may have to be taken in order to get one or two really good photos. It takes science to have the photo come out clearly and art to make a photo that has a good design and expresses feeling. Photojournalists make an actual record of what they see. A photo, however, can be both a work of art and an actual record. It can record an important event as a beautiful or exciting picture.
As historical and artistic documents(文献), photos can become more important over time. Today photojournalists still have their pictures appear in newspapers and magazines. They also publish them in books and on the Internet.
1.The underlined word “They” in the first paragraph refers to .
A. beauties B. photos C. goods D. events
2.The photos of the small children by Hine show us that photos .
A. are also works of art B. are popular ways of reporting news
C. often shock the public D. can serve as a force for social change
3.What can we learn from the passage?
A. News with pictures is encouraging.
B. Photos help people improve their life.
C. News photos mean history in a sense.
D. People prefer reading news with pictures.
4.The text is mainly about .
A. telling the story through picture B. decorating the walls of homes
C. publishing historical papers D. expressing feeling through pictures
In the 1930s, a lot of people in the USA were out of work. Among these people was a man named Alfred Butts. He always had an interest in word games and so, to fill his time, he planned a game which he called ‘Lexico’. However, he was not completely satisfied with the game, so he made a number of changes to it and, in time, changed its name from ‘Lexico’ to ‘Alph’ and then to ‘Criss Cross’. He wanted to make some money from his new game but he didn't have any real commercial success.
In 1939, Butts happened to meet a man called Jim Brunot who showed an interest in the new game. The two men worked together on developing the game and in 1948 it was offered for sale in the United States under its new name — ‘Scrabble’.
At first, it didn't sell very well. In the first year it sold just 2,250 sets and by 1951 it had only reached 8,500 sets a year.
Then, in 1952 the manager of Macy's department store in New York, Jack Strauss, happened to play ‘Scrabble’ while he was on holiday. He thought it was a wonderful game and, when he went back to work after his holiday, he insisted that Macy's should stock（储备）the game and make an effort to call the public's attention to it.
As a result, ‘scrabble’ became a big success in the United States and it soon spread to Australia and then to other English-speaking countries.
1.The text is mainly about .
A. ‘Lexico’ B. three men C. a word game D. Alfred Butts
2.Alfred Butts invented the game ‘Lexico’ .
A. to make himself famous
B. to make spelling simpler
C. when he was out of work and looking for a job
D. when he was playing word games to pass the time
3. Who made ‘Scrabble’ popular?
A. Alfred Butts. B. Jack Strauss.
C. Alfred Butts and Jim Brunot. D. Jack Strauss and Jim Brunot.
4.When did Alfred Butts first put his game on the market?
A. In 1939. B. In 1948.
C. Before 1939. D. Between 1939 and 1948.
A woman in her sixties lived alone in her little cottage with a pear tree at her door. She spent all her time taking care of the tree. But the children nearby drove her 16 by making fun of her. They would climb her tree and then run away with pears, 17 “Aunty Misery” at her.
One evening, a passer- by asked to 18 for the night. Seeing that he had an 19 face, she let him in and gave him a nice 20 . The next morning the stranger, actually a sorcerer (巫师), thanked her by granting (允准) her 21 that anyone who climbed up her tree 22 not be able to come back down until she 23 it.
When the children came back to steal her 24 , she had them stuck on the tree. They had to beg her long 25 she gave the tree permission to let 26 go. Aunty Misery was free from the 27 at last.
One day another man 28 her door. This one did not look trustworthy to her, 29 she asked who he was . “I am Death, I’ve come to take you 30 me.” said he.
Thinking fast Aunty Misery said, “Fine, but I’d like to 31 some pears from my dear tree to remember the 32 it brought to me in this life. But I am too 33 to climb high to get the best fruit. Will you be so 34 as to do it for me?” With a deep sigh, Mr. Death climbed up the tree 35 and was immediately stuck to it. No matter how much he warned or begged, Aunty Misery would not allow the tree to let Death go.
1.A. hopeless B. painful C. dull D. crazy
2.A. calling B. shouting C. announcing D. whispering
3. A. stay B. live C. hide D. lie
4.A. interesting B. honest C. anxious D. angry
5.A. gift B. kiss C. treat D. smile
6.A. suggestion B. demand C. permission D. wish
7.A. could B. should C. might D. must
8.A. permitted B. promised C. answered D. declared
9. A. branch B. food C. tree D. fruit
10.A. after B. while C. since D. before
11.A. it B. them C. him D. her
12.A. trick B. question C. trouble D. difficulty
13.A. stepped into B. left for C. stopped at D. walked around
14.A. so B. but C. although D. because
15.A. with B. off C. upon D. for
16. A. choose B. pick C. shake D. hit
17.A. honor B. pleasure C. hope D. excitement
18.A. light B. short C. old D. thin
19.A. proud B. kind C. fine D. smart
20.A. disappointedly B. cheerfully C. unwillingly D. eagerly
–How does a simple meal like this cost so much?
--We have____ in your bill the cost of the teapot you broke just.
A. added B. included C. obtained D. charged
