Cotton farmers in some Indian villages are busily buying Coca-Cola and Pepsi, believing that the sugar in the fizzy(有 泡 沫 的 ) drinks kills pests.
Farmers say scientists advised them to mix pesticides with a sugary juice to control pests, and they found the mixture cheaper and more effective than pure chemicals— although soft drink makers and scientists dismissed the remarks. N. Hamunayya, who has become a famous person in his village in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh, said his crop survived an attack of pests which had resisted other pesticides. “We found that all the colas had uniform effect on pests. The pests became dead and fell to the ground, ”he said. He said the drinks had all the elements they needed : they were cheaper, sticky, fizzy, and attracted ants, which ate the young of the pests. But Thinupathi Reddy, assistant director of the Regional Agri-Research Station, Guntur, says tests had proved such results wrong. “We conducted some field trials on cotton crop at our research station. There was no obvious productivity or destruction of pests, ”he says.
Statements from Pepsi and Coca-Cola said there was “ no scientific basis” for this practice. But their dealers are enjoying increasing sales. Mantan Wall, who sells soft drinks in 17 villages in the region, said sales rose up, thanks to the farmers. “ For the 10 days between August and September I had successful business. Instead of just 30 cases( each containing a dozen one-litre bottles) of cola, I started selling almost 200 cases, ”he said. “ We expected the sales to drop after the news over pesticide residues(残 留 ) in the cola drinks. Now I have to keep extra supply for the cotton farmers, ”he said.
In February, an Indian environment group made a report saying drinks made by Coca-Cola and Pepsi contained pesticides and called for tougher safety standards. The U. S firms strongly rejected the findings of the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment and said their products were safe.
1.The writer’ s purpose of writing this passage is to .
A. tell an interesting incident
B. warn people that some drinks might be dangerous to health
C. suggest using Coca-Cola to kill pests.
D. announce a new discovery of Coca-Cola
2.The drink makers would not accept the fact that their drinks could kill pests because .
A. they thought it went against science
B. they believed that the farmers didn’t tell the truth
C. they might fear that it could bring harm to their business
D. they insisted that no poison was left in their products
3.The underlined part in Para. 3 “ this practice” probably refers to .
A. testing the mixture
B. selling more drinks in India
C. mixing the drinks with the pesticide
D. attracting ants to eat the young pests
4.The drinks can kill pests because .
A. there is some pesticide left in them
B. they are sticky and fizzy
C. they have elements that kill pests
D. they made the pesticide more effective
The Tropical Paradise Holiday
Welcome to St Anna, our tropical paradise just off the coast of Latin America. You can spend two weeks in our luxury four-star hotel. The cost of your flight is included in the holiday, and you can be picked up from your home by our special airport bus. On your arriving, our coach will be waiting to take you to the hotel. All flights leave from Heathrow on a Monday morning.
The Cowrie Hotel is built right on the beachfront, and many rooms have wonderful ocean views. If swimming and surfing are not enough for you, the hotel also offers horse rides on the island, and a discount membership of the golf club.
The Rain Forest Adventure Holiday
Every year Broughton holidays offer twelve days of unforgettable adventure in a tropical rain forest. You may have a choice of Borneo, Malaysia, Indonesia, or even to the greatest rain forest of them all, the mighty Amazonian forest.
You will fly to our special base camps at the edge of the forest, where you will be given five days of survival training, and talks on the local wildlife.
Then you take a bus into the forest. You will have to walk the final five miles to the camp sites to avoid disturbing the local ecology. All of the camp sites have been carefully built to cause the minimal amount of disturbance to the local wildlife.
Remember that these adventure holidays take you deep into the wilderness, and they are not suitable for families with young children. Also remember that no more than two dozen guests can stay at any camp at one time, so if you want to go on one of these very special holidays, you will need to book early!
1.What can we learn about the rain forest holiday?
A. Travelers will learn to talk with wild animals.
B. Different means of transportation will be used.
C. The holiday will end with a survival training.
D. Booking early, travelers will get a discount.
2.What kind of people will probably choose the rain forest holiday?
A. People loving water sports.
B. People travelling with children.
C. People preferring comfortable hotels.
D. People concerned with environment and wildlife.
3.Which of the following is mentioned in both holidays?
A. Transportation. B. Price.
C. Reservation. D. Departure time.
When Abraham Lincoln was young, he worked in a store. One day a woman came into the store and bought some things. They added up to two dollars and six and a quarter cents.
The bill was paid, and the woman was entirely satisfied. But the young storekeeper, not feeling
quite sure as to the accuracy of his calculations, added up the things again. To his surprise he found that it should have been but two dollars.
“ I’ve made her pay six and a quarter cents more, ”said Abe, disturbed.
It was an unimportant thing, and many clerks would have forgotten it, but Abe was too conscientious for that.
“ The money must be paid back, ”he decided.
At night, he closed the store, and walked to the home of his customer. He explained the matter, paid over the six and a quarter cents, and returned satisfied.
Here is another story of young Lincoln’s strict honesty. A woman entered the store and asked for half a pound of tea. The young clerk weighed it out. This was the last sale of the day.
The next morning, when beginning his duties, Abe discovered a four-ounce weight on the scales. It flashed upon him at once that he had used this in the sale of the previous night, and so, of course, given his customers short weight. I am afraid that there are many country merchants who would not have been much worried by this discovery. But Abe weighed out the balance of the half pound, shut up the store, and carried it to the defrauded customer. I think my young readers will begin to see that the name so often given, in later times to President Lincoln, of “Honest Old Abe, ”was well deserved. A man who begins by strict honesty in his youth is not likely to change as he grows older, and mercantile honesty is some guarantee of political honesty.
1.We know from the text that Abe .
A. charged less for the woman
B. tricked the woman on purpose
C. was careful and responsible
D. was confident of his calculations
2.From the underlined sentence, we can see that the author .
A. speak highly of Abraham Lincoln
B. learns how to succeed in the political field
C. comes to understand the importance of honesty
D. hopes to give readers some personal suggestions
3.What does the author mainly intend to tell us?
A. Better late than never.
B. Honesty is the best policy.
C. A good name is better than gold.
D. Where there is a will there is a way.
4.The author develops his idea mainly .
A. by reasoning B. by making comparisons
C. by giving examples D. by recalling what he had seen
假如你是星光中学高三一班班长李华，外教将组织你班学生参加一次社会实践活动，作为班长的你为了动员大家积极参加，开了一个以“The Importance of Social Practice”为主题的班会，请根据以下提示准备一份英语发言稿。1. 社会实践活动越来越流行；2. 有些人认为社会实践并不重要； 3.你的观点
注意：1.词数100左右；2．发言稿的开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Our school will set a voluntary service club on April 22nd. The main purpose of it is to call on and organize students to serve for society better and develop our ability to cooperate to others.
The volunteers are required to work at weekends to visit the elderly in the nursing homes in our city, keep public places clean and offer some guidances to the passengers in some stations and so on. The students which are healthy, patience, warm-hearted and willing to help others are welcome to join the club. Whether you are interested and want to become a member of it, please you’re your application to the Students’ Union before March 15th. The office of the Students’ Union will contact the choosing candidates for a interview in a few days.
March 8th The Students’ Union
“Remember, your father is only one year 1. (old) than you.” That was Mum’s usual excuse when Dad said the wrong things or did something 2. (fool).
Dad quitted drinking exactly one year before I was born. He joined a group of other people. He said they 3. (stop) drinking, too. I loved my dad 4. I hated the way his weekly meetings took him away 5. me. It seemed that they were more important to him than I was. But with my birthday coming up I thought Dad would make an 6. (except). “Can’t you miss it just this time? Saturday is my birthday!” I begged him but 7. (refuse). He said I am chairing the meeting this Saturday. We will have your party on Sunday.”
Saturday evening I sat on my bed, 8. (feel) sorry for myself. Dad started to leave, then paused and said, “Why not
come with me together tonight? It’s an open meeting. All are welcome”. 9. would I do at a meeting? But maybe I needed to see why something Dad every week mattered so much.
After we arrived, Dad announced the theme of the meeting was going to be gratitude. He told his story about giving up smoking. Later, a man 10. (call) Dave also told his story. Only then did I know it was Dad that saved his life from drinking. Showing up week after week and meeting with people, Dad was changing lives. Shame washed over me.
