Some names have special meanings in popular American expressions. One day, an average Joe was walking down the street. An average Joe is a common person — either male or female. He did not know where he was going. So average Joe asked John Q. Public for directions to the nearest bank. John Q. Public is also a common person — male or female. “Jeez Louise,” said John Q. Public. This is an expression of surprise. “Don’t you know that all banks are closed today? It is Saturday.”

“For Pete’s sake.” said average Joe. This is also an expression used to show a feeling like surprise or disappointment. “I do not believe you,” said he. At that moment, Joe Blow was walking down the street with a woman. Joe Blow is also an expression for a common person. Now this Joe Blow was not walking next to a plain Jane. A plain Jane is a woman who is neither ugly nor pretty. The woman with Joe Blow was a real Sheila — a beautiful woman.

Average Joe asked the woman if all banks were closed on Saturday. “No way, Jose,” she answered. This is a way of saying “No.” “No way, Jose. Many banks are open on Saturdays.”

Average Joe did not know either of these two people from Adam. That is, he did not know them at all. But he followed their directions to the nearest bank.

When he arrived, he walked to the desk and said: “I am here to withdraw some money so I can pay my taxes to Uncle Sam”. This represents the United States government. The banker produced some papers and told him to sign his John Hancock at the bottom. A John Hancock is a person’s signed name — a signature. Historically, John Hancock was one of the signers of the United States Declaration of Independence. Hancock had a beautiful signature and signed his name larger than all the others.

The main idea of this text is that ______.

A. some popular American names have special stories

B. some popular American expressions have some special names

C. some popular American names have special meanings

D. some popular American expressions are interesting

Which of the following refers to an ordinary-looking woman?

A. An average Joe         B. John Q. Public         C. Joe Blow           D. A plain Jane

The name “Jeez Louise” is ______.

A. an expression of surprise                    B. a feeling like disappointment

C. an expression for a common man              D. a woman who is neither ugly nor pretty

   Imagine a mass of floating waste is two times the size of the state of Texas. Texas has a land area of more than 678 000 square kilometers. So it might be difficult to imagine anything twice as big.

    All together, this mass of waste flowing in the North Pacific Ocean is known as the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. It weighs about 3 500 000 tons. The waste includes bags,bottles and containers—plastic products of all kinds.

    The eastern part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is about l 600 kilometers west of California. The western part is west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of Japan. The area has been described as a kind of oceanic desert,with light winds and slow moving water currents. The water moves so slow that garbage from all over the world collects there.

    In recent years,there have been growing concerns about the floating garbage and its effect on sea creatures and human health. Scientists say thousands of animals get trapped in the floating waste,resulting in death or injury. Even more die from a lack of food or water after swallowing pieces of plastic. The trash can also make animals feel full,lessening their desire to eat or drink.

    The floating garbage also can have harmful effects on people. There is an increased threat of infection of disease from polluted waste,and from eating fish that swallowed waste. Divers can also get trapped in the plastic.

    Its existence first gained public attention in l997. That was when racing boat captain and oceanographer Charles Moore and his crew sailed into the garbage while returning from a racing event. Five years earlier,another oceanographer learned of the trash after a shipment of rubber duckies got lost at sea. Many of those toys are now part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.

    In August,2009,a team from the University of California,San Diego became the

latest group to travel to it. They were shocked by the amount of waste they saw. They gathered hundreds of sea creatures and water samples to measure the garbage patch’s effect on ocean environment.

How did the writer introduce the topic of the passage?

   A. By giving an example.         B. By listing the facts.

   C. By telling a story.             D. By giving a comparison.

What do we know about the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?

   A. It is made up of various kinds of plastic products.

   B. It is a solid mass of floating waste materials.

   C. It lies l60 000 kilometers east of California.

   D. It is described as a kind of oceanic desert.

Why do people pay attention to the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch?

   A. Because it may prevent the flow of ocean water.

   B. Because the polluted plastic articles will move up the food chain.

    C. Because it may be from an island in the pacific.

    D. Because ships may be trapped in the floating waste.

Which column can you find the passage on a newspaper?

    A. Sports and entertainment.            B. Media and culture.

    C. Environment and society.             D. Science and technology.

The purpose of writing this passage is to____________.

    A. warn people of the danger to travel in the pacific

    B. analyze what caused the waste patch in the pacific

    C. give advice on how to recycle waste in the ocean

D. introduce the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch

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