The hottest“green”toy in Germany isn't made of organic or recycled materials.This one has a solar panel and only runs if kids remember to insert bright red “energy stones”that power the space station.Germany,a pioneer in many renewable energy initiatives,is also at the forefront of creating environment?friendly toys aimed at making kids think about where energy comes from and how much of it they can use,raising awareness through play.A number of high?tech green toys are on display at this year's Nuremberg toy fair,which runs through Sunday.

Among them,there are hydroelectric?powered(水电动力的)toy cars,and doll houses with wind turbines and rainwater catchers.The bright green “Future Planet”space station features an inner atrium(中庭)with a fan that is powered by a functioning solar cell.Its aim is to get kids to use their imagination about how energy will be created in the future.

Makers and retailers believe such toys will play an increasingly important role in their future—and that of our kids.“Energy is the question of the future and we are definitely thinking about this as we move ahead,”said Judith Schweinitz,a spokeswoman for Playmobil,maker of the solar panel?fitted space station.“It is increasingly being brought into our play concept.”Green toys—which range from those made of sustainable materials to ones like the space station that just raise environmental awareness—make up only a sliver of the $ 84 billion international toy market,but their share is growing,studies indicate.Environmental research firm Earthsense,based in Syracuse,New York,predicts that green toys will account for about $ 1 billion,or 5 percent of U.S.toy sales in the next five years.Parents are smart and they want information about what's in the product.That's what's really driving the market.

1.The hottest “green”toy in Germany is ________.

A. made of rubbish

B. made of organic or recycled materials

C. equipped with a solar panel

D. driven by an advanced motor

2.The purpose of making the green toys is to ________.

A. raise kids' awareness about energy and environment

B. improve kids' imagination

C. give kids the knowledge of technology

D. improve the safety of toys

3.We can infer from the last paragraph that the green toys ________.

A. can help save little energy

B. are not accepted by parents

C. will sell well in the future

D. have not been produced

4.Which of the following BEST describes the opinion of Earthsense about green toys?

A. Doubtful. B. Optimistic.

C. Disappointed. D. Proud.

You may have heard of the book Moby Dick(《白鲸记》),written by the American author Herman Melville.You may also know that Moby Dick is considered one of the greatest novels ever written.However,it might surprise you to find out Herman Melville was not always a highly regarded author.

Melville’s first two novels,Typee and Omoo,were widely read and financially successfully.They were both exciting tales of adventures at sea and experiences with people in foreign lands.Melville became quite famous.However,upon the publication of his third book,Mardi,Melville’s popularity began to weaken.He was no longer interested in telling tales of pure adventure,and his writing took on a style that alienated(使疏远)the general reading public of his time.

Melville published Moby Dick in October of 1851 it was an original novel,combining aspects of sociology and philosophy,which confused readers by its complex symbolism.The book sold poorly.

Melville’s next book,Pierre,was almost completely disregarded by the public.Debt frustration and ill health finally forced Melville to take a low-paying job as a customs inspector.Eventually,Melville abandoned prose(散文)and began to write poetry.

The Civil War is the main subject of Melville’s poetry.He and his brother made a trip to the front line,and he published a book of poems,Battle-Pieces and Aspects of War,based on this experience.

Melville died in 1891 at the age of 72 at this point,his work had been completely forgotten by the public.His talent was to go unrecognized for the next thirty years.Then,in 1920s, his reputation began to improve as critics and readers rediscovered his work.Today Moby Dick is one of the best-known novels ever penned by an American author.

1.What were Melville’s first two novels mainly about?

A. His travel experience.

B. His successful communication skills.

C. Adventurous experiences in the front line.

D. Adventurous voyages and foreign experiences.

2.We can learn from the text that Moby Dick .

A. sold a little better than Pierre. B. was Melville’s favorite novel.

C. was copied from other books. D. made Melville popular again.

3.The text may be taken from .

A. a writing guide B. a literary(文学的)journal.

C. a science magazine. D. a critical book on literature.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. The main works of Melville. B. The skills in Melville’s writing.

C. The ups and downs of Melville. D. The reason for Melville’s failure.

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