Question

    Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues, and Earth Day 2020 occurs on Wednesday, April 22—the holiday’s 50^th anniversary. The holiday is now a global celebration that’s sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green living.

By the early 1960s, Americans were becoming aware of the effects of pollution on the environment. Rachael Carson’s 1962 bestseller Silent Spring pointed out the dangerous effects of pesticides(杀虫剂) on the American countryside. Later in the decade, a 1969 fire on Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River shed light on the problem of chemical waste disposal. Until that time, protecting the planet’s natural resources was not part of the national political plan. Only a small portion of the American population was familiar with environmental issues—let alone practiced-recycling.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1962, Senator(参议员) Gaylord Nelson was determined to convince the federal government that the planet was at risk. In the fall of 1969, Nelson, considered one of the leaders of the modern environmental movement, announced the Earth Day concept at a conference in Seattle and invited the entire nation to get involved. He later recalled: “The response was electric. Telegrams, letters and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had an opportunity to express their concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air.”

The first Earth Day was effective at raising awareness about environmental issues and changing public attitudes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), “Public opinions polls(投票) indicate that in May 1971, 25 percent of the U.S. public declared protecting the environment to be an important goal, a 2,500 percent increase over 1969.”

Earth Day kicked off the “environmental decade with a bang,” as Senator Nelson later put it. During the 1970s, a number of important environmental laws were passed, among them the Clean Air Act, the Water Quality Improvement Act and the Endangered Species Act, etc. Another key development was the establishment of the EPA in December 1970, which was tasked with protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment—air, water and land.

1.What do we learn about the circumstances in America before Earth Day was founded?

A.The overuse of pesticides had little impact on the American countryside.

B.The fire on Cuyahoga River was caused by improper chemical waste disposal.

C.The government highly valued protecting the natural resources on this planet.

D.Only a few Americans were familiar with environmental issues and practiced-recycling.

2.It can be inferred from the third paragraph that ________.

A.Nelson convinced the federal government that the planet was at risk.

B.Nelson organized the modern environmental movement all by himself.

C.The Earth Day successfully aroused the public’s interest in environmental issues.

D.The electric power supply had been cut off due to numerous telephone inquiries poured in.

3.The EPA was set up to_______.

A.collect public opinions. B.kick off the environmental decade.

C.change public attitudes. D.protect human beings and nature.

4.What do you think the author will talk about later?

A.Earth Day celebrations have grown and spread around the globe.

B.EPA protect human health and our natural environment.

C.The environmental laws come into effect.

D.Senator Nelson’s remarkable achievements.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

本文是篇说明文，主要介绍地球日的起源及发起初期的历史。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中的Later in the decade, a 1969 fire on Cleveland’s Cuyahoga River shed light on the problem of chemical waste disposal. 在这十年的后期，1969年克利夫兰凯霍加河的一场大火为化学废物处理问题提供了线索。由此可知Cuyahoga River大火是化学废物处理不当造成的。故选B。

2.

推理判断题。根据第三段中的He later recalled: “The response was electric. Telegrams, letters and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally had an opportunity to express their concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes and air.” 他后来回忆说:“反响是热烈的。电报、信件和电话咨询从全国各地涌来。美国人民终于有机会表达他们对土地、河流、湖泊和空气所发生的事情的担忧。”由此可知地球日成功地唤起了公众对环境问题的关注。故选C。

3.

细节理解题。根据最后一段Another key development was the establishment of the EPA in December 1970, which was tasked with protecting human health and safeguarding the natural environment—air, water and land. 另一项重要进展是1970年12月设立了环境保护署，其任务是保护人类健康和保护自然环境- - -空气、水和土地。由此可知环保署的任务是保护人类健康和保护空气、水和土地等自然环境。故选D。

4.

推理判断题。分析文章可知，前面几段重点介绍了地球日的起源及发起初期的历史，接下来作者应该以此为主线，继续谈论地球日庆祝活动在世界各地不断发展壮大。故选A。