At one time, computers were expected largely to remove the need for paper copies of documents 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 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
4.What would be the best title for the text?
A. Computers and Printers B. E-mail and the Business World
C. Internet Revolution and Environment D. Modern Technology and New Markets
In 1918, after four years of war which had left millions of people dead, the people alive began to look for a better and happier world. The cinema supplied an answer. For little money, people could forget their unhappy lives and dream of better ones. In the years between 1918 and 1939, going to the cinema became the most popular family free-time activity.
Hollywood in America, made more films than any other film center in the world. The warm climate and long hours of sunlight meant that film-making was easy and quite cheap. This was also a rich part of America and there were many businessmen who wanted to make money from the film industry. At first short cowboy films were popular because they added excitement and adventure to people’s lives. Later comedy films were made so that people could laugh and forget their troubles.
Charlie Chaplin was probably the most liked of all comedy actors.
1. Cinema became the most popular in people’s free time because ____.
A. it was cheap B. it was safe
C. it could make people happy D. both A and C
2. Which, according to the writer, is true?
A. Hollywood made more films than some film centers in the world.
B. Many businessmen came to Hollywood in order to make films.
C. Hollywood was not the biggest producer of films in the world.
D. No other film center made more films than Hollywood did.
3. Hollywood became a film center because ____.
A. film-making there was cheap and easy B. it enjoyed long hours of sunlight
C. it was a rich part of America D. many businessmen went there
4.A “comedy” is something that is ____.
A. funny B. exciting C. full of danger D. Sad
Televisiozn —— that most widespread and persuasive of modern technologies, marked by rapid change and growth —— is moving into a new era, an era of extraordinary advancement and diversity, which promises to reshape our lives and our world. It is an electronic revolution, made possible by the marriage of television and computer technologies.
The word ‘television’, coming from its Greek ( tele: distant) and Latin ( vision: sight) roots, can literally be interpreted as sight from a distance. Very simply put, it works in this way: through an advanced system of electronics, television provides the capability of changing an image ( focused on a special photoconductive plate within a camera ) into electronic impulses, which can be sent through a wire or cable. These impulses, when fed into a receiver (television set), can then be electronically reorganized into that same image.
Television is more than just an electronics system, however. It is a means of expression, as well as a tool for communication, and as such becomes a powerful tool for reaching other human beings. The field of television can be divided into two categories determined by its means of transmission(播送，中转). First, there is broadcast television, which reaches the masses through airwave transmission of television signals. Second, there is nonbroadcast television, which provides for the needs of individuals or specific interest groups through controlled transmission techniques.
Traditionally, television has been a medium of the masses. We are most familiar with broadcast television because it has been with us for about thirty-seven years in a form similar to that exists today. During those years, it has been controlled, for the most part, by the broadcast networks, ABC, NBC, and CBS, who have been the major providers of news, information, and entertainment. These giants of broadcasting have actually shaped not only television but our understanding of it as well. We have come to look upon the picture tube as a source of entertainment, placing our role in this dynamic medium as the passive viewer.
1. What seems to be the best title for the passage?
A. A Powerful Tool of Entertainment. B. The Means of Transmission of TV.
C. TV: Its Working Rules and Functions. D. A Brief Introduction to the Development of TV.
2. The rapid change and growth of TV is due to the contributions of ____ .
A. computer technologies B. a new means of transmission
C. a powerful vehicle of communication D. TV giants like ABC, NBC and CBS
3. The use of the second means of transmission is to meet the requirements of ____.
A. the people especially interested in nonbroadcast program.
B. certain groups of people.
C. the people with a special interest in cable TV.
D. the people interested in controlled transmission techniques.
4. The underlined “very simply put” in Paragraph 2 means ____.
A. when it is simply put down B. when it is put to simple tasks
C. if it is put to simple uses D. if it is expressed in a simply way
I might be letting my young son watch too much television. I am certainly watching too much many of his programs. They can really be puzzling as they force you to ponder the mysteries of life.
For example, when Franklin (the turtle) wanted a pet, his parents did not want it to be a frog. They felt that frogs belong in a pond. Isn’t that where turtles belong? And why is it that Little Bear’s animal friends can all talk and behave like people, but his friend Emily has a dog that can only bark and fetch? Tell me that isn’t a mystery!
Dog lovers can be reassured (less worried or frightened) by Kipper and his friends. These dogs are very human. However, the only time they wear clothes is when they put on bathing suits to go swimming. I am confused! Speaking of dogs, could Pluto ever be Goofy’s pet? I don’t get it! What did the great Mr. Disney have in mind?
And this is unfair! The other day we watched a very nice little pig setting up a picnic. One of the foods was a big ham. Could it have been a soybeam ham? Is there such a thing? I hope so! Another thing that really bothers me: what if Elmo(one of my son’s favorite cartoon stars) isn’t real? He can’t be a mere puppet(木偶)! He’s got a better attitude than most people. I just keep wondering.
I think we will turn off the TV and go out for a walk. Maybe we will run into that mouse who dresses well but certainly doesn’t speak as clearly as the average bear.
1. The underline sentence “ponder the mysteries of life” in the first paragraph means ____.
A. avoid the mysteries of living things.
B. remember the mysteries of all kinds of life style.
C. consider the mysteries of living things.
D. discover the mysteries of all kinds of life style.
2. The author thinks it is “unfair” when ____.
A. a pig has a picnic because pigs are dirty animals
B. a pig eats soy beans because soy beans give pigs gas
C. a pig eats ham because ham is too expensive for farmer animals
D. a pig eats ham because ham is made from pigs.
3. The author probably ____.
A. believes that Elmo is a real creature
B. wishes that Elmo were a real live creature
C. feels that Elmo is very annoying creature
D. won’t let is son watch Sesame Street
4. The author is implying that ____.
A. there is a TV mouse that should speak more clearly
B. TV mice should not wear good clothes
C. bears can really speak more clearly than mice
D. watching television isn’t better than playing outdoors
Years ago while lying in my hammock (吊床) and drinking JB from the bottle, I 21 my dog dragging something under the fence. 22 looking at it carefully, to my 23 , I realized it was the next-door neighbor’s 10-year-old daughter’s rabbit. For years I 24 her come home from school and 25 straight out to its cage, 26 it and play with it in the yard. I know today 27 be no different. 28 for our dog, I had to think fast.
The rabbit died and was quite dirty, as if it had 29 quite a struggle, so I washed it off with the plastic 30 , combed it with the dog brush and blew it 31 with the leaf blower (吹风机) . Upon finishing its grooming (刷洗), I jumped the 32 and put it back in its cage hoping its 33 would be accepted as “ natural causes”.
34 to the hammock and JB. Within the hour the neighbor’s car 35 as usual and out came the little girl, 36 as usual she headed straight for the cage. Only this time did she stop about six feet away and 37 “ D-A-D-D-Y-!!”
Her father, 38 , stood looking at the cage. Being the good neighbor, I rushed to the fence and asked if there was anything I could do.
Her father 39 than calmly shouted, “What kind of 40 person would dig up a little girl’s dead rabbit and put it back in its cage?”
1. A. noticed B. watched C. enjoyed D. stopped
2. A. Without B. Before C. Upon D. Once
3. A. interest B. excitement C. joy D. disappointment
4. A. watched B. was watching C. used to watching D. had watched
5. A. head B. went C. leave D. hurried
6. A. hide B. bury C. cover D. free
7.. A. would B. shouldn’t C. should D. couldn’t
8.A. Feared B. Fear C. Fearing D. To fear
9. A. put on B. put up C. put off D. put out
10. A. water B. pipe C. shampoo D. soap
11. A. drying B. dryly C. dried D. dry
12. A. door B. hammock C. neighbor D. fence
13.A. look B. death C. story D. rabbit
14. A. Again B. Up C. Back D. Prior
15. A. pulled in B. pulled down C. pulled up D. pulled off
16. A. but B. or C. and D. so
17. A. scared B. cheered C. screamed D. laughed
18. A. pleased B. frightened C. Delighted D. satisfied
19. A. more B. less C. no more D. no longer
20. A. sick B. nice C. humorous D. Interesting
It’s said that this old building has __________ for more than five hundred years.
A. existed B. been built C. come into being D. Appeared
