高中英语阅读理解

Feeling blue about the world? “Cheer up,” says science writer Matt Ridley. “The world has never been a better place to live in, and it will keep on getting better both for humans and for nature.”
Ridley calls himself a rational optimist—rational, because he’s carefully weighed the evidence; optimistic, because that evidence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good. And this is what he’s set out to prove from a unique point of view in his most recent book, The Rational Optimist . He views mankind as grand enterprise that, on the whole, has done little but progress for 100,000 years. He backs his findings with hard facts gathered through years of research.
Here’s how he explains his views.
1）Shopping fuels invention
It is reported that there are more than ten billion different products for sale in London alone. Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty, our own generation has access to more nutritious food, more convenient transport, bigger houses, better cars, and, of course, more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us. This will continue as long as we use these things to make other things. The more we specialize and exchange, the better off we’ll be.
2) Brilliant advances
One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs—food, clothing, fuel and shelter—have grown a lot cheaper. Take one example. In 1800 a candle providing one hour’s light cost six hours’ work. In the 1880s the same light from an oil lamp took 15 minutes’ work to pay for. In 1950 it was eight seconds. Today it’s half second.
3) Let’s not kill ourselves for climate change
Mitigating(减轻) climate change could prove just as damaging to human welfare as climate change itself. A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village, where the use of fossil-fuel(化石燃料) electricity is forbidden by well- meaning members of green political movements trying to save the world, is just as great a tragedy as a child that dies in a flood caused by climate change. If climate change proves to be mild, but cutting carbon causes real pain, we may well find that we have stopped a nose-bleed by putting a tourniquet(止血带) around our necks.
What is the theme of Ridley’s most recent book?

A．Weakness of human nature.

B．Concern about climate change.

C．Importance of practical thinking.

D．Optimism about human progress.

How does Ridley look at shopping?

A．It encourages the creation of things.

B．It results in shortage of goods.

C．It demands more fossil fuels.

D．It causes a poverty problem.

The candle and lamp example is used to show that__________.

A．oil lamps give off more light than candles

B．shortening working time brings about a happier life.

C．advanced technology helps to produce better candles.

D．increased production rate leads to lower cost of goods.

What does the last sentence of the passage imply?

A．Cutting carbon is necessary in spite of the huge cost.

B．Overreaction to climate change may be dangerous.

C．People’s health is closely related to climate change.

D．Careless medical treatment may cause great pain.

According to the passage, which of the following statements is True?

A．Matt Ridley doesn’t think the world is a good place to live in.

B．Climate change won’t cause a child’s death.

C．Matt Ridley based his unique point of view on his long-term research.

D．People will have more freedom for the development of the world.

As a first –year teacher at a Christian school ,I was expecting my fifth grade students to be prefect , perfect in behavior , in attitude , and I even expected the home-life of each student to be nearly perfect . I found , of course , that these students were not different from the children I taught in public school .These kids had behavior problems , bad attitudes ,and some even had strikingly difficult family lives .
One of my students in particular stands out in my mind .I’ll call him Timothy for safety’s sake. During the first day of class , I noticed that Timothy was different .Not only in physical appearance , but he also spoke strangely , as though a 35-year-old man were trapped inside his tiny , weak body .On many occasions , I heard Timothy speak of hate, how he hated his family .
I observed Timohy for several months and read up on his background and searched for any clue that would lead me closer to understanding this child’s strange behavior .Finally I was directed to Timothy’s older brother’s cheating in an exam and had taken his anger out on Timothy at home .Timothy’s parents , in turn , had contacted the school, blaming them for Timothy’s problems.
I had written a letter to the administration asking that Timothy see a counselor(咨询师). The school was in the process of contacting a counselor when Timothy was transferred to another school. His father hurried around my room collecting Timothy’s things and left. That is the last we have seen or heard from Timothy. I was left with an empty desk and a broken heart. I cried for days afterwards. I felt as though I had done Timothy a disservice …I did not help him when he needed me. I still think about Timothy every day, and pray for him every morning.
What was wrong with Timothy?

A．He seemed to have deep emotional problems.

B．He seemed not to be getting along well with his classmates.

C．He mainly had behavior problems at school.

D．He wanted to transfer to another school.

What was Timothy like during the first day of class?

A．He looked old in appearance but lively in spirit.

B．He looked common but talked strangely.

C．He spoke strangely and looked weak in body.

D．He acted as if he were as experienced as a 35-year-old man.

The reason why Timothy hated his family included that________.

A．his father treated him differently from his brother.

B．his family didn’t care about what he was doing at school.

C．his father blamed the teachers for his problems.

D．his brother treated him in an unreasonable way.

The underlined word “disservice” in the last paragraph probably refers to_______.

A．something meaningless	B．something harmful
C．something secret	D．something funny.

. From the passage we know that____________.

A．Timothy’s father blamed the author for reading his son’s file.

B．The school didn’t approve Timothy’s seeing a counselor.

C．The author felt guilty for not helping Timothy in time.

D．Students at the Christian school don’t have family problems except Timothy.

A world-famous Canadian author, Margaret Atwood, has created the world’s first long-distance signing device(装置), the LongPen.
After many tiring book-signing tours from city to city, Atwood thought there must be a better way to do them. She hired some technical experts and started her own company in 2004. Together they designed the LongPen. Here’s how it works: The author writes a personal message and signature on a computer tablet(手写板) using a special pen. On the receiving end, in another city, a robotic arm fitted with a regular pen signs the book. The author and fan can talk with each other via webcams(网络摄像机) and computer screens.
Work on the LongPen began in Atwood’s basement(地下室). At first, they had no idea it would be as hard as it turned out to be. The device went through several versions, including one that actually had smoke coming out of it. The investing finally completed, test runs were made in Ottawa, and the LongPen was officially launched at the 2006 London Book Fair. From here , Atwood conducted two transatlantic book signings of her latest book for fans in Toronto and New York City.
The LongPen produces a unique signature each time because it copies the movement of the author in real time. It has several other potential applications. It could increase credit card security and allow people to sign contracts from another province. The video exchange between signer and receiver can be recorded on DVD for proof when legal documents are used.
“It’s really fun”, said the owner of a bookstore, who was present for one of the test runs. “Obviously you can’t shake hands with the author, but there are chances for a connection that you don’t get from a regular book signing.”
The response to the invention has not been all favorable. Atwood has received criticism from authors who think she is trying to end book tours. But she said, “It will be possible to go to places that you never got sent to before because the publishers couldn’t afford it.”
Why did Atwood decide to invent the LongPen?

A．To set up her own company.

B．To win herself greater popularity.

C．To write her books in a new way.

D．To make book signings less tiring.

How does the LongPen work?

A．It copies the author’s signature and prints it on a book.

B．It signs a book while receiving the author’s signature.

C．The webcam sends the author’s signature to another city.

D．The fan uses it to copy the author’s signature himself.

What do we know about the invention of the LongPen?

A．It has been completed but not put into use.

B．The basement caught fire by accident.

C．Some versions failed before its test run.

D．The designers were well-prepared for the difficulty.

How could the LongPen be used in the future?

A．To draft legal documents.

B．To improve credit card security

C．To keep a record of the author’s ideas.

D．To allow author and fan to exchange videos

What could be inferred from Paragraphs 5 and 6?

A．Atwood doesn’t mean to end book tours.

B．Critics think the LongPen is of little use

C．Bookstore owners don’t support the LongPen

D．Publishers dislike the LongPen for its high cost.

Wealth starts with a goal saving a dollar at a time. Call it the piggy bank strategy(策略). There are lessons in that time-honored coin-saving container.
Any huge task seems easier when reduced to baby steps. I f you wished to climb a 12,000-foot mountain, and could do it a day at a time, you would only have to climb 33 feet daily to reach the top in a year. If you want to take a really nice trip in 10 years for a special occasion, to collect the $15,000 cost, you have to save $3.93 a day. If you drop that into a piggy bank and then once a year put $1,434 in a savings account at 1% interest rate after-tax, you will have your trip money.
When I was a child, my parents gave me a piggy bank to teach me that, if I wanted something, I should save money to buy it. We associate piggy banks with children, but in many countries, the little containers are also popular with adults. Europeans see a piggy bank as a sign of good fortune and wealth. Around the world, many believe a gift of a piggy bank on New Year’s Day brings good luck and financial success. Ah, but you have to put something in it.
Why is a pig used as a symbol of saving? Why not an elephant bank, which is bigger and holds more coins? In the Middle Ages, before modern banking and credit instruments, people saved money at home, a few coins at a time dropped into a jar or dish. Potters(制陶工) made these inexpensive containers from an orange-colored clay(黏土) called “pygg,” and folks saved coins in pygg jars. The Middle English word for pig was “pigge”. While the Saxons pronounced pygg, referring to the clay, as “pug”, eventually the two words changed into the same pronunciation, sounding the “i” as in pig or piggy. As the word became less associated with the orange clay and more with the animal, a clever potter fashioned a pygg jar in the shape of a pig, delighting children and adults. The piggy bank was born.
Originally you had to break the bank to get to the money, bringing in a sense of seriousness into savings. While piggy banks teach children the wisdom of saving, adults often need to relearn childhood lessons. Think about the things in life that require large amounts of money--- college education, weddings, cars, medical care, starting a business, buying a home, and fun stuff like great trips. So when you have money, take off the top 10%, put it aside, save and invest wisely.
What is the piggy bank strategy?

A．Paying 1% income tax at a time.

B．Setting a goal before making a travel plan.

C．Aiming high even when doing small things.

D．Putting aside a little money regularly for future use.

Why did the writer’s parents give him a piggy bank as a gift?

A．To delight him with the latest fashion.

B．To encourage him to climb mountains.

C．To help him form the habit of saving.

D．To teach him English pronunciation.

What does the underlined word “something”(Paragraph 3) most probably refer to?

A．Money	B．Gifts
C．Financial success	D．Good luck

The piggy bank originally was _________.

A．a potter’s instrument

B．a cheap clay container

C．an animal-shaped dish

D．a pig-like toy for children

The last paragraph talks about ________.

A．the seriousness of educating children

B．the enjoyment of taking a great trip

C．the importance of managing money

D．the difficulty of starting a business

“Show them the money!” That’s what some people are saying for college athletes. They say students who play sports for their school should receive salaries.
Top athletes should be paid because many of them practice full time, Mark Jameson argues. Rico Cannon, a former college football player, agrees. “Nonathletes can get a job for extra spending money, but many student athletes spend so many hours in training that they don’t have time to work,” he explains. “Shouldn’t athletes be able to earn extra money too?”
The students also make money for their schools when people buy tickets to their games. The players should receive some of that cash, supporter Robbie Pokora reasons.
College athletes are about honor and tradition, but they’re also a business. Thanks to ticket sales, there’s money for schools to build new athletic stadiums and give the coaches high salaries. The cash should be shared with athletes. They’re the ones out on the field or court working hard for their school.
The money matter has others crying foul, though. Kaitlyn Rentala argues that colleges should not pay their athletes. Students are in school to get an education. Playing a sport is an extracurricular(课外的)activity, not a job. If athletes need extra money, they can apply for college scholarships(奖学金). Michael Massett is a middle school teacher and a football and a basketball coach. He agrees. “Athletes should be paid with scholarships, like nonathletes are,” Massett explains.
In addition, if colleges pay their athletes, those students might focus more on sports than on their education. “Most students do not become professional athletes after college. If they focus too much on sports, they may not learn the skills they need to get good jobs,” Kate Macrae reasons. Plus, she says, many athletes have schoolships that help them pay for school.
What is Rico Cannon’s opinion on paying student athletes?

A．They make money for their schools and should receive salaries.

B．Training leaves them no time to work and they should be paid.

C．Playing a sport at school is not a job and they shouldn’t be paid.

D．They can apply for scholarships and should not be paid.

Who supports the idea of paying student athletes?

A．Kaitlyn Rentala	B．Robbie Pokora
C．Michael Massett	D．Kate Macrae

What does the underlined part “crying foul” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Making no progress.	B．Giving up beliefs.
C．having different opinions	D．Taking no interest.

What’s the best title for the text?

A．Pay to play? —— Will it be popular with college athletes?

B．College athletes make a lot of money for their schools.

C．College athletes can apply for scholarships as their salaries.

D．Pay to play?—— Should college athletes be paid?

You and your friends are settling into your seats. The new Spider-Man movie is about to start and you’ve got the snacks: soda and popcorn. Food is part of what makes the movies fun.
Just as the lights go out, you catch a slight smell of … tuna fish?! You turn your head, searching for the source. Then you spot him: A couple rows back, some guy is enjoying a tuna fish sandwich. How’d he get that in here? You wonder. Then you remember how much you paid for your snacks.
What invites the unwelcome outside food is probably the price. Why pay $ 5 for a bag of M&Ms when you can get them for a dollar at the corner store?
Earlier this year, a Michigan man decided to fight for his right to snack. Joshua Thompson is using his local theater after it banned outside food. He argues the ban breaks a Michigan law that prevents businesses from charging extremely high prices. However, most legal experts believe Thompson has little chance of winning his case, though he does have a point: 85 cents out of a dollar of treats a movie theater sells is pure profit(纯利).
The truth is that movie theaters are more in the snack business than the movie business. A huge part of the ticket income goes to the Hollywood studio. This makes sense, since the studios have to pay the costs of movie production and advertising. But that often doesn’t leave much cash for the theater, which also has its own running costs. If customers stopped buying food, owners would have to raise ticket prices even higher.
Of course, there’s another reason to think twice before bringing food into the movies: It’s against the rules. Breaking those rules can have unpleasant consequences too. Some theaters will kick you out if they catch you. Even without the threat of punishment, we should follow rules all the time------out of respect.
Here’s a good idea: Eat before the movie.
What is the topic of the text?

A．The pleasure of enjoying snacks.

B．A Michigan man’s fight for his right.

C．Movie theaters’ ban on outside food.

D．Bad manners in movie theaters.

What do we know about Joshua Thompson?

A．He broke a Michigan law.

B．He is likely to lose the case.

C．He thinks cinema tickets are too expensive.

D．He was forbidden to have snacks at the theaters.

In Paragraph 5, the author mainly explains _________.

A．how movie studios work with movie theaters

B．how movie theaters reduce their operating costs

C．why Hollywood studios must pay high costs

D．why snack sales are important to movie theaters

How does the author feel about bringing outside food into the cinema?

A．It is unacceptable.	B．It is convenient.
C．It is great fun.	D．It is lawful..

Two words rhyme with each other when they have the same ending word, like “think,” ”pink”. The last word in each of the lines of a poem does not have to have a rhyming sound, many of them do. Two lines of poetry that rhyme with each other at the end are call rhyming couplet.
Writing rhyming poetry can be difficult because you need to choose words that not only rhyme but have meaning, too. Even though some poems are short, you have to think extra long at which words to choose. Here is an example of a short poem:
He was only a bug, but he was the king.
She smiled at him when he gave her a ring.
He forgot to be careful of one little thing.
His queen was a bee, and she could sting.
What does it mean when two words rhyme?

A．They have the same ending sound.

B．They have different ending sounds.

C．They must have the same meaning.

D．They must have different meanings.

Which of the following rhyme with each other in the short poem?

A．Ring and thing	B．Bug and king
C．Queen and king	D．Bee and sting

Rhyming poetry is sometimes hard to write because you need to choose___________.

A．rhyming words without meaning

B．rhyming words with meaning

C．short lines with extra long words

D．meaningful words without rhyming

As a teenager, Simon Weston wasn’t particularly good at his studies, but he was a good football player. He could also be naughty sometimes so his mother decided Simon should join the army when he was sixteen to teach him some discipline(纪律).
She was right; Simon really enjoyed army life and became a well-respected member. However, Simon’s life was changed forever in 1982. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, which belong to Britain, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher declared war(宣战). Simon was on board a ship taking troops to the Falklands when it was attacked and set on fire. In an act of great heroism, Simon tried to save one of his friends from being burnt alive. Sadly, he failed and was seriously burnt himself. At the age of 21, Simon’s life seemed over.
Simon had 70 operations to rebuild his face and body. He was so badly burnt that his mother walked past him in the hospital without recognizing her son. Simon struggled to call out, “Mum, it’s me, Simon.” Hearing his voice, his mother broke down in tears. Many thought Simon would die, but to everyone’s astonishment, he survived. Although he experienced terrible pain, Simon never gave up hope. After months of treatment, Simon slowly started to recover and, although he would be terribly scarred for the rest of his life, he was able to leave hospital.
This was when the real battle started. The physical pain slowly disappeared; however, the emotional pain became worse. Simon started to gout but was wounded by the stares of people who looked at him like he was some kind of freak(畸形的人). He felt like saying, “I wasn’t born like this you know. I was injured defending my country.” It took great courage for Simon to continue to go out.
Eventually, Simon became involved in charity work and met his wife Lucy with whom he has three children. Life has never been the same for Simon but his Bravery is an example to us all.
Simon’s mother wanted him to join the army because ________.

A．he liked the life in the army

B．she wanted him to be fit

C．he was very good at playing sports

D．she felt it would change his behavior.

What can we infer from the text about Simon?

A．He succeeded in saving his friend in danger.

B．he became an excellent professional soldier.

C．he didn’t get along with other soldiers.

D．he found life in the army very terrible

What does the underlined part “the real battle started ” in Paragraph 4 refer to ?

A．Fighting against the physical pain.

B．The struggle to come out of hospital.

C．The misunderstanding by Simon’s mother.

D．Dealing with people’s unfriendly attitudes.

Which of the following can best describe Simon?

A．Aggressive and strong.	B．Calm and kind
C．Brave and generous	D．Strange and selfish.

Young Music Scene Concert Young musicians from all over Germany perform at Young Scene Concert at Berlin’s famous Quasimodo music hall. The concert is part of the Berlin Festival. Time: 15——20 Nov. Place: 45, 18756Berlin, Germany Cost: Various Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

 

Documentary Film Month Cinemas, schools and libraries across France and the French-speaking world take part in November’s Documentary Film Month. About 120, 000 visitors take part each year. Time: 1——20 Mar. Place: 25 Road Pyramids, 75001 Paris Cost: Various Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

 

Craft Show You can come to the show twice a year, in spring and at Christmas. There are hundreds of artisans(手艺人) from across Canada selling jewellery, pottery, glass, ironwork and clothing. Time: 26 Nov. ——7 Dec. Mon.——Fri. 11 am——10 pm Sat. 10 am——8 pm Sun. 9 am——6 pm Place: Direct Energy Centre Cost: $ 10 Phone:　[phone] Email: [e-mail]

 

Canada Blooms Toronto Garden and Flower Show The Canada Blooms Show every year at the Metro Toronto Convention Center is the country’s largest indoor garden show. Time: Mar. 9 am——6pm Sun. 11 am——5 pm Place: Metro Toronto Convention Center Cost: $ 18; under 12 free Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

People can enjoy music at Young Scene Concert from________.

A．1——20 Mar	B．15——20 Nov.
C．26 Nov.——7 Dec	D．1 Mar. ——20 Nov.

You can e-mail ___________if you want to see Documentary Film.

[e-mail]	[e-mail]
[e-mail]	[e-mail]

You can buy ________at the Craft Show.

A．glass, ironwork and clothing

B．different kinds of flowers

C．classic music CDs

D．some books about film

If two adults and two boys of 9 want to see Flower Show and Craft Show, it will cost them ________.

A．$40

B．$56

C．$76

D．$112

Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A．Young musicians from all over Germany perform at Quasimodo music hall.

B．Cinemas, schools and libraries across France take part in Documentary Film Month.

C．People can enjoy the Craft Show from 9 am to 6 pm on Sunday.

D．Toronto Garden and Flower Show is the world’s largest garden show.

“Human beings are ruder today because they are rushed and more ‘time poor’ than ever before,” says Patsy Rowe, “ Manners have fallen off the radar(雷达).” Due to our strong attraction to electronic equipment it is a wonder more people don’t wake up each morning and greet the singing birds with a complaint（抱怨）about the noise. Here are some examples of rudeness.
Some people prefer to do almost everything over the internet. To them, dealing with an actual human is like an evolutionary step backward. It feels very slow because humans don’t work at 4G speeds. When you have dinner with friends, you will often notice someone paying more attention to his mobile phone. We have programmed ourselves to think that every new message brings life-changing news, so taking calls and checking our texts are more important than talking to the people we are with. What is worse, some people even tend to send anonymous（匿名的） rude messages by email.
However, rudeness is never acceptable, Don’t assume it is OK to be rude if the person you’re in touch with won’t recognize you. If you have something awful to say, have the courage to face the person and say it, write a letter or email and sign it, or forget it. Upsetting people with unsigned messages is cruel and disgusting.
We shouldn’t blame technology for our shortcomings.Technology is here to help us, but we should not allow it to take over our lives. An important step ia acknowledging our shortcomings.People spend a lot of time pointing out bad manners but it would be even more help if we′d publicly acknowledge good manners when we see them.
What can be inferred from the underlined sentence in Paragraph I?

A．People can tell good from bad behavior.

B．Radar is able to observe human behavior.

C．People care little about their behavior.

D．Radar can be used to predict human behavior.

Some people are less willing to deal with humans because

A．they are becoming less patient

B．they are growing too independent

C．they have to handle many important messages

D．they have to follow an evolutionary step backward.

What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．We should applaud good behavior.

B．Technology can never be blamed

C．We should keep pointing out mistakes.

D．Technology will take over lives one day.

When 19-year-old Sophia Giorgi said she was thinking of volunteering to help the Make-A-Wish Foundation (基金会)，nobody understood what she was talking about .But Sophia knew just how important Make – A –Wish could be because this special organization had helped to make a dream come true for one her best friends .We were interested in finding out more ,so we went along to meet Sophia listen to what she had to say .
Sophia told us that Make – A –Wish is a worldwide organization that started in the United States in 1980.”It’s a charity(慈善机构)that helps children who have got very serious illnesses. Make – A –Wish help children feel happy even though they are sick, by making their wishes and dreams come true ,” Sophia explained .
We asked Sophia how Make – A –Wish had first started .She said it had all begun with a very sick young boy called Chris ,who had been dreaming for a long time of becoming a policeman .Sophia said lots of people had wanted to find a way to make Chris’s dream come true ----so, with everybody’s help , Chris, only seven years old at the time ,had been a “policeman” for a day .” when people saw how delighted Chris was when his dream came true, they decided to try and help other sick children too ,and that was the beginning of Make – A –Wish,” explained Sophia
Sophia also told us the Foundation tries to give children and their families a special, happy time. A Make-A-Wish volunteer visits the families and asks the children what they would wish for if they could have anything in the world. Sophia said the volunteers were important because they were the ones who helped to make the wishes come true. They do this either by providing things that are necessary, or by raising money or helping out in whatever way they can.
Sophia found out about Make-A-Wish because her best friend had   .

A．volunteeredtohelpit	B．benefitedfromit
C．dreamedaboutit	D．toldtheauthoraboutit

According to Sophia,  Make-A-Wish        .

A．isaninternationalcharity

B．wasunderstoodbynobodyatfirst

C．raisesmoneyforverypoorfamilies

D．startedbydrawingtheinterestofthepublic

What is said about Chris in Paragraph3?

A．He has been a policeman since he was seven.

B．He gave people the idea of starting Make-A-Wish

C．He wanted people to help make his dream come true.

D．He was the first child Make-A-Wish helped after it had been set up.

Which of the following is true about Make-A-Wish volunteers?

A．They are important for making wishes come true.

B．They try to help children get over their illnesses.

C．They visit sick children to make them feel special.

D．They provide what is necessary to make Make-A-Wish popular.

Using too much water or throwing rubbish into our rivers are clear ways that humans can put our water supply in danger ,but we also affect our water supply in less obvious ways .
You may wonder how paving(铺砌) a road can lead to less useable fresh water . A major part of the water we use every day is groundwater . Groundwater does not come from lakes or rivers .It came from underground . The more roads and parking lots we pave ,the less water can flow into the ground to become groundwater .
Human activity is not responsible for all water shortages(短缺). Drier climates are of course more likely to have droughts(干旱) than areas with more  rainfall  ,but in any case, good management can help to make sure there is enough water to meet our basic needs .
Thinking about the way we use water every day can make a big difference ,too. In the United States ,a family of four can use 1.5tons of water a day ! This shows how much we depend on water to live ,but there’s a lot we can do to lower the number .
You can take steps to save water in your home .To start with ,use the same glass for your drinking water all day .Wash it only once a day .Run your dishwasher (洗碗机)only when it is full 。Help your parents fix any leaks in your home . You can even help to keep our water supply clean by recycling batteries instead of throwing them away .
.Which of the following is most likely to lead to less groundwater ?

A．paving parking lots .	B．Throwing batteries away .
C．Using river water	D．Throwing rubbish into lakes .

What can be inferred from the text ?

A．All water shortages are due to human behavior .

B．There is much we can do to reduce family size .

C．It takes a lot of effort to meet our water needs .

D．The average family in America makes proper use of water .

The last paragraph is intended to               .

A．show us how to fix leaks at home

B．tell us how to run a dishwasher

C．prove what drinking glass is best for us

D．suggest what we do to save water at home

The text is mainly about            .

A．Why paving roads reduces our water

B．how much we depend on water to live

C．why droughts occur more in dry climates

D．how human activity affects our water supply

A Healthy Habits Survey（调查）shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1.How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
·Finding：A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
·Step：Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2.How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
·Finding：Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30%wash their hands only 4 times a day-half of the number doctors recommend.
·Step：We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs（病菌）to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
·Finding：Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
·Step：Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge（海绵）that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for  10 seconds.
What is found out about    American seniors?

A．Most of then have good habits.

B．About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day

C．All of then are fighting germs better than expected .

D．Nearly 30%of then bathe three days a week .

Doctors suggest that people should wash their hands          .

A．eight times a day	B．three times a day
C．four times a day	D．twice a day

Which of the following is true according to the text ?

A．We should keep from touching our faces .

B．There are less than 300 types of bacteria in the mouth .

C．We should wash our hands before touching a door handle .

D．A kitchen sponge can carry more germs than a toilet .

The text probably comes from             .

A．a guide book	B．an official document
C．a book review	D．a popular magazine

Now Hear This
What do former American president Bill Clinton and rock musician Pete Townshend have in common? Both men have hearing damage from exposure to loud music, and both now wear hearing aids as a consequence. As a teenager, Clinton played saxophone in a band. Townshend, who has the more severe hearing loss, was a guitarist for a band called the Who. He is one of the first rock musicians to call the public's attention to the problem of hearing loss from exposure to loud music.
Temporary hearing loss can happen after only 15 minutes of listening to loud music. One early warning sign is when your ears begin to feel warm while you listen to music at a rock concert or through headphones. One later is that an unusual sound or a ringing is sometimes produced in your head after the concert.
"What happens is that the hair cells in the inner ear are damaged, but they're not dead," says a physician and ear specialist Dr. Sam Levine. According to Dr. Levine, if you avoid further exposure to loud noise, it's possible to recondition the cells somewhat. However, he adds, "Eventually, over a long period of time, hair cells are permanently damaged." And this is no small problem.
What sound level is dangerous? According to Dr. Levine, regular exposure to noise above 85 decibels (分贝) is considered dangerous. The chart below offers a comparison of decibel levels to certain sounds. Here's another measurement you can use. If you're at a rock concert and the music is so loud that you have to shout to make yourself heard, you' re at risk for hearing loss. That's when wearing protective devices such as earplugs becomes critical.
The facts are pretty frightening. But are rock bands turning down the volume? Most aren't. "Rock music is supposed to be loud," says drummer Andrew Sather. "I wouldn't have it any other way. And neither would the real fans of rock. "
Continued exposure to loud music and the failure to wear earplugs can lead to deafness, according to Dr. Levine. He states, "There's no cure for hearing loss. Your ears are trying to tell you something. That ringing is the scream of your hair cells dying. Each time that happens, more and more damage is done. "

Levels of Common Noises Normal conversation                            50 — 65 dB Food blender                                  88 dB Jet plane flying above a person standing outside      103 dB Rock band during a concert                      110 — 140 dB

From Paragraph 1, we can learn that        .

A．loud music is a major cause of hearing loss

B．famous people tend to have hearing problems

C．teenagers should stay away from school bands

D．the problem of hearing damage is widely known

In Paragraph 3, the underlined word "recondition" means           .

A．not to be seen	B．to fill with sound
C．to become larger in size	D．to make good again

The purpose of the chart at the end of the article is to show           .

A．a list of harmful sounds

B．the effect of rock concerts

C．the noise levels of familiar sounds

D．relationship between daily activities and hearing loss

Which of the following statements will Dr. Sam Levine probably agree?

A．When your ears feel warm, your hair cells are dead.

B．Drummer Andrew Sather gives good advice.

C．Many are taking the risk of losing hearing.

D．Doctors know how to cure hearing loss.

Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life. You don’t need statistics to understand the Dane’s happy lot. Walk around any Danish town and you’ll experience some of the most harmonious civic spaces anywhere. Their intimate scales and perfect transport systems combine the rich history and bold modern lines of the built environment to delight the eye, and the locals’ manners and sense of humor is refreshing.
Denmark’s capital Copenhagen is a remarkable city with well-preserved medieval streets, renowned art galleries, Michelin-starred restaurants and a healthy business center. Finding something to do is never a problem and if all else fails, just admiring the streets with a hotdog in hand is an enjoyable way to spend a few hours .
Beyond the capital and the bigger cities, Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside, medieval churches , Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages.
The coastline of Denmark with its sand dunes and greenery is a sight that always attracts visitors. So, no matter what time of year you’re in Denmark, you shouldn’t miss out on a trip to the nearest beach .
It’s hard , in short , to find fault with the place. The visitor’s most heartfelt complaint is usually the cost of visiting Denmark. True, it is not a cheap destination , but no more so than the UK, and which nation’s public transport system would you rather use?
Cheer yourself up by thinking of the country’s remarkable organization and clockwork railway timetable as being financed by the extremely high taxes paid by your hosts. When viewed in this way , this first-rate destination seems like good value, and you get the fairy tales thrown in for free: the Danish royal family is genuinely loved and respected by the vast majority of its citizens, not least handsome Prince Frederik , his beautiful Australian-born princess-bride, Mar, and their young family.
Which of the following words can best describe Danes ?

A．Polite and humorous .	B．Happy and romantic.
C．Kind and friendly.	D．Out-going and humorous .

The writer implies in the last two paragraphs that __________ .

A．Visiting the U.K. will cost less than travelling in Denmark .

B．The transport system in the UK can’t equal that in Denmark .

C．People in Denmark pay high taxes to welcome visitors .

D．The Danish royal family plays an important role in politics .

How does the passage mainly develop ?

A．By providing examples.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By giving descriptions.	D．By following time order.

What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage ?

A．To introduce Danish culture .

B．To show the attractions of Denmark .

C．To share experiences of travelling in Denmark .

D．To describe the happy life people live in Denmark .