In our rush to make life easier, we have decided to go blindly into the future without paying a thought to the severe consequences. The results have been great profits for individuals who have invested their time and money in industries that have improved their (and some others’) quality of life. 1.
But if we can create pollution, we can reduce it too. The problem is time and money. And time and money happen to be the investment that the creators of the pollution claim to have made to make life better for all, which means they have made a mess, to some or a large extent, in all cases.
The United States suffered from problems similar to what China is facing today. 2. The US government finally opened its eyes to the problems and told industries to cut down their polluting emissions（排放）, for which it implemented strict laws requiring clean air and water. All the states in the country follow the regulations, and have added additional requirements that enhance the environmental laws. The end result is cleaner air and water.
3. The answer: the costs for keeping the environment clean eventually became the burden of the people. The equipment needed to create a healthy lifestyle has been added to the cost of making what we want.
The materialistic world that we live in is the cause of most of the pollution. If you wish, you can move away from cities and industrial regions causing the problem. 4. However, you will soon realize how really small the world is when pollution catches up with us through the wind and rain.
It will take time and money to solve the problems the environment faces today. 5. What the Chinese government should do is to immediately implement strict laws that require clean air and water.
A. So who paid for the clean air and water?
B. The results left scars on the land, dirty air and water.
C. If so, you may escape from the commonly known PM2.5.
D. I’m sure you can find places that are yet to be affected by the pollution.
E. The US government created the Environmental Protection Agency to oversee these laws.
F. But the longer we wait, the worse they will become and the more they will cost to solve.
G. However, that has also brought us side effects like polluted air and water we have to endure.
There are a lot of things that happen to me in China but would certainly never happen in the US. One of those things is being called “strong”．
The first time was last December. I was walking across the high school campus in Guangzhou where I taught when a student in a gray scarf waved hello. I smiled and waved back, but then she stopped and called my name. “You're so strong！” She smiled and pointed at what appeared to be my arm.
I looked down at my arms. Let's get one thing clear: I'm a very skinny guy. Once, while rehearsing for a high school talent show, I was told by the teacher in charge that I couldn't participate in the men's shirtless dance routine because my visible rig cage(胸腔) would frighten the audience.
“I'm so what？” “You're so strong！” she repeated. “Um, thanks！” I didn't know what else to say, so we both waved goodbye.
The next morning I stepped into my oral English classroom only to be greeted instantly by a unanimous(异口同声的) “Waaa！” of shock and admiration. “What？” I asked. “You're so strong！” shouted a boy from the back of the class.
“Okay, will someone tell me what that means？” I was curious as to the real reason for such praise. So I turned to the monitor, gesturing for him to speak.
“We just mean, you look very strong today，” he offered earnestly.
“What？！ You mean like this？” I curled my arm like a bodybuilder.
“No! But it's so cold, and you're only wearing a shortsleeve shirt.”
Oh, I got it. My “strength” had less to do with my muscle and more to do with my apparent ignorance of the cold weather.
1.From the passage we can learn that the author is________.
A. a Chinese student
B. an American student
C. a Chinese teacher
D. an American teacher
2.The author used the example of being refused to join in the dance routine to show that________.
A. many people worry about his bad health
B. he is as strong as a body builder
C. actually he isn't physically strong at all
D. being called “strong” often happens to him
3.The underlined word “she” in the 4th paragraph refers to________.
A. the girl he met on the campus
B. the teacher in charge of the dance routine
C. the girl who joined in the rehearsing
D. a stranger he met on the way to work
4.Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. The Chinese Culture or the Western Culture
B. Am I Strong or Do I Need a Sweater
C. How I Can Get Stronger in Winter
D. How We Can Tell Two Different Cultures Apart
Bright red post boxes, the Queen and queuing—what do they all have in common? They are all important parts of British life. At least I thought so.
However, the ability to queue for long periods of time, once believed to be a traditional characteristic of the British, is no longer tolerated by people in the UK, according to a survey done for British bank Barclays.
Once upon a time, queuing was seen as normal. During World War II, everyone had to queue up to receive their daily supply of foods. In fact, if you didn't stand up and wait in line with all the others, it was seen as uncivilized(不文明的)．
The famous English doubledecker buses, with only one entrance, might also help explain why queuing was seen as a part of British line. Almost always, there is a queue to get on.
But perhaps the British are tired of being pushed past by the Spanish, the Italians or the French as they queue up to get a table at a restaurant. The people of these other European countries have more than one entrance to their houses, which explains their more relaxed attitude to the queue.
Two minutes is now the longest time most British people are prepared to stand and wait. But could it be that the Internet, which allows us to carry out tasks quickly, is the main reason why British people are no longer prepared to queue?
“Used to buying without delay, customers are even giving up purchases rather than wait their turn，” says Stuart Neal of Barclaycard. “Shoppers are also less likely to queue for long if the item they are buying is of low value.”
Perhaps I will have to replace “queuing” with “impatience” in my list of things I relate to the British.
1.What can we learn about the tradition of queuing in Britain?
A. It was a product of the slow pace of life.
B. It was a long time tradition as old as the Queen.
C. It was considered a symbol of a civilized behavior.
D. It has made the British different from other Europeans.
2.According to the passage, the British gradually stopped queuing because___.
A. they prefer shopping online
B. they follow the example of foreigners
C. British buses have more than one entrance
D. the Internet has changed their way of life
3.It can be learned from the text that________.
A. the British get impatient with queuing for long
B. the British have to queue to receive food
C. the British like to eat in foreign restaurants
D. the British prefer to take doubledecker buses
4.The author's main purpose of writing the passage is______.
A．to tell us the influence of the Internet on the British ways of life
B．to compare the cultural difference between Britain and other countries
C．to talk about the changes in the attitude to queuing in Britain
D．to report his research on the British ways of life
If you were a pilot flying a plane, and suddenly the engine failed, would you eject(跳出), or stay in? For a pilot, the choice is very difficult. If he ejects, he is safe, but the plane crashes. If he stays in the plane, he risks his life.
Recently, Chinese Air Force pilot Li Feng, 38, faced this choice during a training exercise. It was March 7 and he was flying a Jian-10 (Fighter-10) at 4,500 meters. A warning appeared on the plane’s computer screen. He realized the plane might fail at any moment.
Li Feng did a quick check of the engine and asked the base if he could return. When the fighter was 7 km away from the airport, however, the engine stopped working. The plane began to fall at a speed of 25 meters a second at an altitude of 1,160 meters.
Under Air Force rules, fighter pilots may eject if their aircraft loses engine power below 2,000 meters and can't be restarted. Before Li lost contact with the control tower, the commander in the air base asked him to eject. But Li Feng insisted on having another try.
“I knew where the deadline (to give up the aircraft) was and was prepared for the ejection, but I decided not to give up unless the fighter was totally out of control,” Li recalled during a recent television interview.
After 104 seconds, Li was able to bring the fighter to a safe landing. The plane only suffered slight damage.
“You are a hero! Congratulations!” Li's teacher, Xu Yongling wrote in a text message to him after the landing. He said Li was a cool-headed pilot and very professional.
Li's brave and calm act not only saved the 200 million yuan aircraft but also gave him invaluable first-hand experience of dealing with an engine emergency.
For his outstanding performance, the Air Force recently awarded him a gold medal.
1.When the engine stopped working, Li Feng .
A. was flying a Jian-10 at 4,500 meters
B. saw a warning appear on the plane's computer screen
C. decided not to give up the plane
D. was asked to stay in, but he ejected
2.When the fighter plane loses engine power below 2,000 meters .
A. pilots must restart it as soon as possible
B. pilots should repair it as soon as possible
C. pilots may eject for safety
D. pilots should bring it to a safe landing
3.According to the passage, what kind of person is Li Feng?
A. He is cool-headed.
B. He is confident.
C. He is fearless and cool under pressure.
D. All of the above.
4.What is the best title for the passage?
A. Flying the Fighter Correctly
B. When to Give up the Aircraft
C. How to Deal with an Engine Emergency
D. Bring the Fighter to a Safe Landing
The Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is a palatial park on the central California coast and a National Historic Landmark．It was designed by architect Julia Morgan for William Randolph Hearst from 1919 until 1947．In 1957 , the Hearst Corporation donated thefortune to the state of California．Since that time it has been maintained as a state historic park where the estate and its considerable collection of art and antiques are open for public tours．Despite its location far from any urban center, the site attracts roughly one million visitors per year．
Guided Tours
There are several tours which highlight various parts of the castle and gardens．
●Tour One is recommended for first time visitor．It now includes the movie, Hearst Castle Building the Dream．
●Tour Two gives visitors a closer look at the main house's upper floors, Mr. Hearst's private suite, the libraries, and the kitchen．
●Tour Three looks at the Castle's North Wing, guest rooms and guest house Casa Del Monte．
●Tour Four features the impressive gardens and grounds, the largest guesthouse, the wine basement, and the Hidden Terrace．
●The evening tour is a special tour that allows visitors to experience the Castle at night as one of the Hearst's own visitors might have．
Ticket Prices
Hearst Castle accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover．Free day use parking is available for automobiles, motorcycles, tour buses and recreational vehicles．
TOURS | ADULT | Ages 6 – 17 |
Experience Tour | $24 | $12 |
Tours 2, 3 or 4 | $ 24 | $ 12 |
Evening tour | $30 | $15 |
* Children under 6 are free when accompanied by a paying adult．
Reservation Information
While tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Center upon arrival, tour reservations are strongly recommended and may be reserved online now or by calling 1 - 800 - 444 - 4445, see below for times．
Reservation Call Center Hours | ||
Dates | Monday-Friday | Saturday-Sunday |
March-September | 8AM to 6PM | 8AM to 6PM |
October-February | 9AM to 5PM | 9AM to 3PM |
Visit www. Hearstcastle. org for more information．
1.If you are quite interested in wine, which tour will you choose?
A．Tour One． B．Tour Two．
C．Tour Three． D．Tour Four．
2.If a young couple take Tour One with their 5-year-old son, how much will they pay for the tickets?
A．36． B．60． C．48． D．75．
3.Which of the following is the available time to book tickets by phone?
A．At 8 AM on Monday in February．
B．At 9 AM on Sunday in March．
C．At 7 PM on Friday in September．
D．At 6 PM on Saturday in October．
假设你是李华。请根据写作要点用英语写一篇周记，记述你周末或在假期中帮助家人做家务的一次经历。
写作要点：
1.做家务的理由；
2.做家务的过程；
3.你的感受。
注意：
词数不少于100字；
开头已给不计入总词数；
不可写真实姓名。注意时态。
I am an 18-year-old middle school student. _________________________
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