What do people do with their old, out-of-date(老式的)but still useful computers? 1 people don't know what to do with them.Many old computers are 2 in people's homes.Many more are simply thrown out with 3 .
Finally, some 4 are thinking of ways to bring down 5 old computers.Sony has agreed to help 6 old Sony products.Dell and HP now also take back some old computers.
In some countries, laws are being passed, too.Computer companies will have to pay for 7 and recycling their used products.And 8 of computer waste must be recycled.The 9 behind the laws is that computer companies themselves should pay the cost.That will encourage them 10 computers that are easier and cheaper to repair and upgrade(升级).
Yet while many people are throwing away good computers, 11 cannot afford them at all. 12 organizations are working to solve this problem.They collect and repair old computers.Some also teach others how 13 computers.
The computers then go to schools, charities(慈善机构)and people who need them. 14 a used computer to one of these organizations can turn one person's rubbish into 15 useful thing and cut down waste, too.
Perhaps some people in the world ever write to Big Ben.They even 1 birthday presents.In fact, Big Ben is not a 2 .It's a clock!
Big Ben is the great clock 3 up in a tower of the Parliament(议会)building.This is the building in London 4 laws are made.The people of London like to see Big Ben's four friendly faces.They like to hear the chimes(钟声) 5 15 minutes.They like to hear the bell 6 the hours.Bong! Bong! Bong!
Big Ben's story started in 1834.In that year the old Parliament building burned 7 .Its clock tower crashed to the ground.There 8 to be a new building and a new clock.
Plans were made.They 9 it “King of Clocks, the biggest and best in the world”.So the clock had to be big.And it had to 10 very good time.
In two years the big clock was made.Five more years went by 11 the clock tower was finished.Then the four 12 for the chimes(击钟装置)were brought into the tower.And at last the giant hour bell was put in 13 .It 14 out for the first time on July 11,1859.
This great bell had to have a name.A meeting of Parliament was called to pick 15 .“This clock is the King of Clocks,” one man said.“Let's call the bell Queen of Bells.”
“Then why not Victoria?” said 16 .The talk about names went 1 .Then Benjamin Hall got up to speak.He was a big man that others liked.By this time they were all 18 .Someone shouted, “Why not call it Big Ben and be done 19 it?
Everybody laughed, and the meeting 20 .But from then on, Big Ben was not just the bell but the whole clock.