More than 1.5 billion people around the world live without electricity. Finding better ways to bring light to the poor is the goal of researchers like Professor Irvine. In the late 1990s, he was working in Nepal when his return flight was canceled. A delay gave him time to take a fourteen-day hiking trip in the Himalayas.
One day he looked in the window of a school and noticed how dark it was. This is a common problem for millions of children around the world. Many families use kerosene oil (煤油) lamps. There are many problems with these lamps. They produce only a small amount of light. They are dangerous to breathe. And they are a big fire danger, causing many injuries and deaths each year. Kerosene costs less than other forms of lighting, but it is still costly in poor countries. Professor Irvine says many people spend over 100 dollars a year on the fuel.
When he returned to Canada, he began researching ways to provide safe and clean lighting. He began experimenting with light-emitting diodes (发光二极管), LEDs, at his lab. As a professor of renewable energy, he already knew about the technology. Light-emitting diodes are small glass lamps that use much less electricity than traditional bulbs (灯泡) and last much longer. He used a one-watt bright white LED made in Japan. He found it on the Internet and connected it to a bicycle-powered generator (发电机). He remembers thinking it was so bright that a child could read by the light of a single diode.
In 2000, after much research and many experiments, he returned to Nepal to put the systems into homes. Now the homes of 25,000 people in 51 countries have been equipped with it. “The one-time cost of our system which basically lives forever, as well as the solar panel — is less than one hundred dollars. So, one year of kerosene would pay for a solid-state lighting system,” he said. Now his aim is to develop a lower-cost lighting system. In January, Irvine is leaving the University of Calgary. He has also decided to start his own company in India.
1.We can learn from the second paragraph that kerosene oil lamps ______.
A. cost more than other forms of lighting
B. have damaged children’s eyesight
C. have wasted only a little fuel
D. have a lot of disadvantages
2.Irvine connected a white LED to a bicycle-powered generator to prove ______.
A. whether it can work without electricity
B. whether it can work well with less electricity
C. whether it can last longer than a generator
D. whether it is brighter than a traditional bulb
3.We can learn from the text that Irvine ______.
A. likes India rather than Nepal
B. is good at making new kinds of bulbs
C. is giving up his job in the university
D. is to earn much money from his company
I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts. I know they call it a lot of fancy names these days, like (36) and straightforward. And it's still what （37）a man a good citizen. This is my secret, and I try to live by.
I've been in the taxi business for thirty-five years, (38) there is a lot about it that is not so good. Taxi drivers have to be rough and tumble(乱作一团) fellows to be able to take it in New York. You've got to be (39) to fight the New York traffic eight hours a day.
Because taxi drivers are tough, people get the (40) impression that they are bad. Taxi drivers are just like other people. Most of them will act as (41) fellows. You read in the papers almost every week (42) a taxi driver turns in money or jewels or like that people leave in their (43). If they weren't honest, you wouldn't be reading those stories in the papers. One time, I found an emerald（翡翠的） ring in my car. I remembered helping a lady with a lot of suitcases that day, so I went back to where I had (44). It took me almost two days to wait for her in order to return her (45) to her. I didn't get as much as “thank you.” (46), I felt good because I had done what was right. I think I felt better than she (47).
I was born and raised in Ireland until I was nineteen years old. I came to this country in 1913 where I (48) several jobs to earn a few dollars before joining the army in World War I. After being discharged(退伍), I bought my own car and have owned one ever since. It hasn't been too easy (49), but my wife takes care of our money and we have a good bit (50) for a rainy day(一时之需). In all my years of driving a taxi, I have never had (51) with the public, not even with drunks. Even if they get a little headstrong(顽固的) once in a while, I just agree with them and then they behave themselves.
People ask me about tips. As far as I know, (52) everyone will give you something, because most Americans are (53) generous. I always try to be nice to everyone, whether they (54) or not. I believe in God and try to be a good member of my parish（教区）. I try to act toward others like I think God wants me to act. I have been trying this for a long time, and the (55) I try, the easier it gets.
1.A.dishonor B. dishonesty C. upright D. faithful
2.A. takes B. becomes C. makes D. has
3.A. know B. known C. knew D. knowing
4.A. generous B. tough C. mild D. warm-hearted
5.A. right B. proper C. bad D. wrong
6.A. rude B. honest C. good D. tough
7.A. when B. what C. which D. where
8.A. houses B. cars C. pockets D. rooms
9.A. picked her up B. dropped her off C. dropped her down D. pull her down
10.A. ring B. suitcase C.car D. emerald
11.A. So B. Still C. But D. Though
12.A. was B. did C .has D. is
13.A. made B. put C. held D. took
14.A. at one time B. some time C. in no time D. at times
15.A. put off B. put up C. put on D. put away
16.A. trouble B. difficult C. word D. anything
17.A. especially B. specially C. particularly D. practically
18.A. never B. seldom C. rather D. fairly
19.A.tip B. advised C. suggested D. ask
20.A. longer B. harder C .better D. shorter
— It’s reported in the local newspaper that the murderer was caught in a small town.
— ______
A. Justice has long arms. B. Lies have short legs.
C. One false move may lose the game. D. Kings go mad, and the people suffer for it.
Unemployment in some western countries is on the crease. A growing number of young people, ______, are finding themselves out of work.
A. in case B. in short C. in particular D. in total
— How long have you been here?
— Only about five minutes. Henry and Simon ______ here with me.
A. walk B. have walked C. walked D. had walked
The worse working conditions we are looking forward to ______ must have attracted the local government’s attention.
A. see improved B. seeing improved
C. see improving D. seeing to improve
