Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph. There is one extra heading which you do not need.
A. Factors that influence reactions to pollutants
B. Possible sources of indoor air pollution
C. Ways to identify diseases with similar symptoms
D. Long-term effects after repeated exposure
E. A commonly-ignored health threat
F. Immediate symptoms and regular treatment
1.Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant health effects. Environmental Protection Agency studies indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend about 90％ of their time indoors.
2.There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
3.Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified. Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity and fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants.
4.The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors. Age and pre-existing medical conditions are two important influences. In other cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.
5.Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution. For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a person is away from the home and return when the person returns, an effort should be made to identify indoor air sources that may be possible causes.
Barack Obama urged congressional leaders on Monday to act quickly to pass a huge stimulus package for the U.S. economy. He met with a bipartisan (concerning or involving two different political parties) group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Later he met individually with Democratic and Republican House and Senate leaders and spoke to a bipartisan leadership gathering. In comments to reporters early on Monday, he emphasized the urgency of finalizing economic legislation (立法). “We have got an extraordinary economic challenge ahead of us,” he said, “We are expecting a sobering job report at the end of the week. Nancy Pelosi and her staff have been extraordinarily helpful in working with our team so that we can shape an economic recovery and reinvestment plan that starts putting people back to work.”
Mr. Obama wants tax cuts for individual Americans and businesses to make up a significant portion of expected legislation. This could involve as much as $300 billion of a bill that is likely to go beyond $700 billion and include aid to cash-poor U.S. states, and money for alternative energy and a range of infrastructure (基础设施) projects. Later, Mr. Obama said he expects to be able to sign legislation as soon as the end of this month, adding that quick action is necessary to “break the drive of the U.S. economic depression”.
Emerging later from bipartisan talks with Mr. Obama, Nancy Pelosi said lawmakers discussed with the president how to pass a stimulus package as quickly as possible. “An economic recovery package that will create jobs immediately and will grow the economy and that is what we talked about today,” said Nancy Pelosi. “How we could do this fast, deliberatively and to act upon it soon.” Just how soon that would be, Pelosi would not say.
How much support Democrats can obtain from Republicans will depend on the details. But the severity of the U.S. economic depression has created considerable bipartisan backing for quick action. Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid said: “There are investments that we need to make on behalf of the American people to turn around this economy. We felt very good about the meeting; we are confident that we can do this and we have to do this.”
“I think the best thing I can do is to decline to comment on what they are going to do going forward,” said Dana Perino. “Obviously, we think that tax cuts were the right way to help our economy get out of the economic depression that this president inherited and we know that tax cuts can stimulate innovation.” Asked by reporters how large the economic stimulus package might be, Senate Majority Leader Reid said Obama indicated that all but one of some 28 economists advising him had said it should range from $800 billion to $1.3 trillion.
1.Barack Obama urged congressional leaders and met with bipartisan leaders to _____.
A．take over the White House
B．end economic decline
C．understand each other better
D．negotiate political issues
2.If the stimulus package is passed quickly and successfully, it can _____.
A．obtain support from Republicans
B．finalize economic legislation
C．enhance America’s international position
D．provide job opportunities
3.What is the bipartisan leaders’ attitude towards this meeting?
A．Uncertain. B．Hopeful. C．Disappointed. D．Indifferent.
4.What can we infer from the passage?
A．The best way out of the economic depression is tax cuts.
B．The Republic Party plays the key role in coping with the economic depression.
C．Democrats and Republicans will team up in the economic depression.
D．When the stimulus package will be passed is known to the lawmakers.
Stewart Island Ferry Services
While most visitors spend at least one night on Stewart Island, it is also readily accessible by ferry as a day excursion from Invercargill and Bluff.
Experience Foveaux Strait in comfort and style on board our express catamarans. During the one-hour crossing between Bluff and Stewart Island keep a lookout for wildlife, especially seabirds. Watching mollymawks (albatross) soaring behind the ferry is a fantastic sight.
Interesting landmarks commonly seen include Dog Island Lighthouse, Ruapuke Island, Titi Islands and Mt Anglem - Stewart Island’s highest point.
? Free tea and coffee on board
? Interpretation handouts are available (English only).
? Wheelchair access available
? Personal baggage is carried free on the ferries - max. two bags per person (one stowed and one small carry-on). Additional baggage is by prior arrangement.
? Vehicle parking available at Bluff (extra cost - reservations recommended)
FERRY TO STEWART ISLAND
Depart Bluff
All year 9:30am
Sep-May 5:00pm
Oct –Apr 11:00am
Jun –Aug 4:30pm
Late Dec –mid Jan8:00am FERRY TO BLUFF
Depart Stewart Island
All year 8:00am
Sep –May 3:30pm
Oct –Mar 6:00pm
Apr 5:00pm
Jun-Aug 3:00pm
Late Dec –mid Jan 9:30am
Other departures as locally advertised
Duration 1hr
Check-in 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. (Check-in and boarding gates are closed 10 minutes prior to times stated above.)
“20% Multi-Purchase REWARD” on Return Ferry Services
Buy 2 or more different excursions and SAVE 20% off all lower priced!
Kids Go FREE on selected departures during NZ School Holidays!
Kids Go FREE for travel 20 April - 5 May 2013.
1.If leaving a car at Bluff, a traveler had better _____.
A．refer to the handouts first
B．use wheelchair access
C．make a reservation
D．park it 30 minutes before departure time
2.John, who went to Stewart Island on Dec. 28th, got to the ferry dock at 7:55am. When did he most probably leave Bluff?
A．At 8:00a.m.. B．At 9:30a.m.. C．At 11:00a.m.. D．At 3:00p.m..
3.Which of the following is false about the ferry services?
A．Tea and coffee are free for passengers.
B．Children go free for travel for about 15 days.
C．Travelers are sure to see some seabirds during the crossing.
D．Passengers have to pay extra cost for extra pieces of luggage.
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men aboard were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. Not knowing what else to do, the two survivors agreed that they had no alternativethan to pray to God.
However, to find out whose prayers were more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its fruit. But the other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man became lonely and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon thereafter the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food. The next day, like magic, all of these things were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could leave the island, and in the morning he found a ship docked at his side of the island.
The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island, considering the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he doesn’t deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”
“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers would be answered.”
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us. So what you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself.
1.The first man’s wife is _____.
A．a swimmer who got to the island by accident
B．an angel sent by God to keep him company
C．a survivor from another wrecked ship
D．a native person on the desert-like island
2.The underlined word “barren” in Paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to _____.
A．isolated B．unproductive C．fertile D．dry
3.Which of the following is true about the second man?
A．He didn’t deserve any blessing from God.
B．None of his prayers was answered by God.
C．He is not brave enough to tell God his needs.
D．His prayer helped his companion get out of trouble.
4.What’s the moral of the story?
A．Never judge a person by appearance.
B．Don’t lose heart in trouble.
C．Helping others is helping ourselves.
D．Greed is the root of all evil.
Large companies need a way to reach the savings of the public at large. The same problem, on a smaller__1__, faces practically every company trying to __2__ new products and create new jobs. There can be little prospect of raising the sort of sums needed from friends and people we know. While banks may agree to provide short-term finance, they are generally __3__ to provide money on a permanent basis for long-term projects. So companies turn to public, inviting people to lend them money, or take a share in the business in __4__ for a share in future profits. This they do by __5__ stocks and shares in the business through the Stock Exchange. By doing so they can put into circulation the savings of __6__ and organizations, both at home and overseas.
When the saver needs his money back, he does not have to go to the company with whom he originally placed it. __7__, he sells his shares through a stockbroker to some other saver who is seeking to __8__ his money.
Many of the __9__ needed both by industry and by each of us are provided by the government or by local authorities. Without hospitals, electricity, telephones, railways, this country could not __10__. All these require __11__ spending on new equipment and new development if they are to serve us properly, requiring more money than is raised through taxes alone. The government, local authorities, and nationalized industries __12__ frequently need to borrow money to finance major capital spending, and they, too, come to the Stock Exchange.
There is __13__ a man or woman in this country whose job or whose standard of living does not __14__ the ability of his or her employers to raise money to finance new development. In one way or another this new money must come from the savings of the country. The Stock Exchange __15_ to provide a channel through which these savings can reach those who need finance.
1. A．level B．extent C．scale D．basis
2. A．programme B．provide C．develop D．prepare
3. A．unexpected B．unwilling C．unbelievable D．uncertain
4. A．search B．exchange C．value D．comfort
5. A．issuing B．allowing C．producing D．acquiring
6. A．immigrants B．investigators C．inheritors D．individuals
7. A．Indeed B．In fact C．In addition D．Instead
8. A．eliminate B．reflect C．invest D．profit
9. A．properties B．appliances C．foundations D．services
10. A．function B．experience C．share D．launch
11. A．invisible B．continuous C．limited D．economical
12. A．therefore B．however C．nevertheless D．otherwise
13. A．definitely B．almost C．hardly D．probably
14. A．turn down B．depend on C．take over D．put off
15. A．releases B．forces C．leaves D．exists
Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. concentrated B. possible C. revised D. applications E. figures
F. connect G. benefits H. global I. contribute J. tops
More than two million people in Europe now have fiberbroadband（光纤宽带）direct to their home, suggests a survey. The latest __1__ on superfast broadband delivered by fiber to the home (FTTH) show 18% growth over the last survey compiled in late 2008.
The continued growth suggests that the __2__ economic decline has not hit plans to build fiber networks. Sweden __3__ the list of nations applying the technology, with 10.9% of its broadband customers using fiber. Karel Helsen, president of Europe’s Fiber-To-The-Home Council, said the growth matched predictions that were __4__ when the credit crisis started to make itself felt. “The numbers in 2009 are in line with the latest forecasts,” said Mr. Helsen.
By 2012, the FTTH Council expects that 13 million people across 35 European nations will have their broadband delivered by fiber. Such services would start at a speed of 100 megabits per second (mbps), said Mr. Helsen. Around Europe more than 233 projects were underway to lay the fibers that would __5__ homes or buildings to the net, said Mr. Helsen. Many of those, he said, were being operated by local governments or smaller net firms. Local governments were interested in FTTH because of the economic and social __6__ it brought in its wake, said Mr. Helsen.
The low delay in high-speed fiber networks made __7__ new uses of broadband, he said. “No delay is very important,” he said, “specifically if you talk about __8__ that are time-dependent such as personal communications, conference calls or video calls where delays cause a lot of trouble.” While early FTTH services were __9__ in cities, said Mr. Helsen, many more were reaching out to rural areas for e-health and e-learning projects.
