Going Zero Waste means more than just managing the rubbish we create．It means reducing it too．While it might seem like a difficult thing to do, it's well worth it．And what better time to start than Christmas?
We need to copy the way Nature wastes nothing．Many things are created by human society that we know will soon become useless and be thrown out．How many plastic bottles or even PCs end up in the rubbish bin? Instead，we should design products that can be more easily repaired，reused and recycled．
Kamikatsu, a Japanese village，has already gone Zero Waste．The 2，000 villagers compost their leftovers，and recycle everything else．There are 34 different boxes at the re-cycling centre! Residents grumble about the inconvenience，but they also see the benefits．
People who live Zero Waste lives are careful about what they do．They never take more than they need．Reusing plastic bags at supermarkets is a great way to reduce waste．And those who plan before they shop avoid having to throw food out later．Also，it’s best not to go food shopping when you’re hungry：You’ll be sure to buy too much!
Let’s think about how to enjoy a Zero Waste Christmas．By sending recyclable cards，we can help our friends and family reduce waste．And what better way to enjoy the spirit of Christmas than with a real tree that can be replanted in the spring?
Going Zero Waste requires us to think more about what happens before and after we act．It takes ambition，and it's not always easy．But just think how good it would be，both for ourselves and for the environment, if we never had to waste anything．
1.When is this passage probably written?
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A．After a Christmas． |
B．Before Zero Waste starts． |
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C．Before a Christmas． |
D．When Zero Waste is very popular． |
2.What should we do to reduce waste according to the passage?
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A．To stop using plastic bottles or even PCs． |
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B．To create more things that can be repaired quickly． |
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C．To avoid sending cards on Christmas． |
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D．To copy the way Nature wastes nothing． |
3.If we want to live Zero Waste lives we should do the following except .
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A．taking no more than we need |
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B．reusing plastic bags |
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C．not going food shopping when we’re hungry |
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D．not making a plan before we shop |
4.What’s the main purpose of this passage?
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A．To enjoy a clean Christmas． |
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B．To complain about the pollution． |
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C．To educate people to behave well． |
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D．To call on people to attend Zero Waste． |
Small talk is meaningless conversation in terms of content，but is often seen as socially important in certain situations，or context．In many English-speaking countries，it can be viewed as rude or unfriendly not to make small talk.
Discussing the weather with people who you don’t really know is an example of small talk that many of us are very familiar with on a daily basis．We may chat about the weather with the cashier at the supermarket or with the attendant at the gas station．Small talk may also be related to the situation such as waiting in line．People in the line may comment to others about how slow it is in the post office or bank that day，for instance．We also engage in small talk with people we may see every day but don’t really know such as those we share the elevator with in our office building．
Small talk is common at parties when guests may know the host but not each other．It is considered rude not to mingle and speak with other guests at social functions，so small talk can break the ice and get guests chatting．Compliments(赞美)may be a type of small talk such as one woman at party complimenting another on her dress．
Some people like small talk because they find silence uncomfortable and／or they enjoy communicating verbally．Others enjoy meeting new people and use small talk to start conversations. When making small talk，especially with strangers or those you don’t know very well，it’s important to observe certain socially acceptable conventions．First，small talk should be general and not personal or about controversial topics. Second，while compliments are acceptable，they shouldn't refer to the person’s body or sound like a pick-up line．
1.What do people usually talk about in small talk?
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A．Light topics． |
B．Personal topics． |
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C． Meaningless things. |
D．Controversial affairs． |
2.Who do we usually have small talk with?
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A．Close friends． |
B．People we don’t really know． |
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C．Family members． |
D．Our seniors． |
3.At parties，it’s considered rude to ．
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A．speak to one guest only and not speak with other guests |
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B．speak to several guests at the same time |
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C．compliment a woman on her dress |
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D．have small talk with the host |
4.We can infer from the last paragraph that ．
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A．compliments are the most acceptable in small talk |
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B．we should refer to a person’s body when complimenting in order to sound sincere |
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C．there are some rules in making small talk |
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D．some people use small talk to make new friends |
A few months earlier I had been painting two portraits for each of my parents．I'd planned to give them the portraits as Christmas gifts．This would be a 36 for everyone，as I had not studied 37 ．
While painting one day, I was surprised by a knock on the door. Quickly having put all my 38 materials out of sight, I opened the 39 . To my astonishment, my father came in .
Immediately I wanted to show him the paintings, but I was 40 to destroy his Christmas surprise. Yet something 41 me to share the gifts with him. After making him promise to keep it secret, I 42 he keep his eyes closed until I had the portraits set on easels(画架). “Okay, Daddy. Now you can 43 !”
He appeared dazed at first. Finally , he said, “I don’t believe it. The eyes are so 44 that they follow you everywhere—and look how 45 your mother is. Will you let me have them 46 ?”
Excited with his response, I happily volunteered to 47 them to the frame shop the next day. Several weeks passed. Then one night the 48 rang—my father had a stroke(中风). He died the next day, and it seemed all 49 escaped from the life of my mother and me .
I finally remembered to 50 about the framed portraits. I was surprised when the shopkeeper told me my father had visited the shop, 51 for the framing and had them gift-wrapped.
52 we had lost our loved people, everyone gathered on Christmas Day making an effort to be 53 . As I looked into my mother’s sad eyes and unsmiling face, I decided to give her Daddy’s and my 54 . After she saw it, with a wide smile, she quickly said, “I knew Daddy would be with us on Christmas Day!”
I glanced at the gift card written in my father’s 55 . “ Mother—Our daughter reminded me why I am so blessed. I’ll be always looking at you.—Daddy.”
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It was extremely dark in the passage so he___________a match.
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A．burnt |
B．hit |
C．crashed |
D．struck |
—Do you know the reason why he failed ?
—No, he’s a hard-working man___________, he failed finally.
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A．Somehow |
B．Anyhow |
C．Anyway |
D．Somewhat |
—Honey, I’d like to watch the NBA game this Christmas.
— You must help me with the decoration of the house.
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A．Go ahead. |
B．That’s great! |
C．Forget it! |
D．Why？ |
