It was once thought that air pollution affected only the area immediately around large cities with factories and/or heavy automobile traffic. Today, we know that although these are the areas with the worst air pollution, the problem is literally worldwide. On several occasions over the past decade, a heavy cloud of air pollution has covered the entire eastern half of the United States and led to health warnings even in rural areas away from any major concentration of manufacturing and automobile traffic. In fact, the very climate of the entire earth may be affected by air pollution. Some scientists feel that the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide in the air resulting from the burning of fossil fuels(coal and oil) creating a greenhouse effect-holding in heat reflected from the earth and raising the world’s average temperature. If this view is correct and the world’s temperature is raised only a few degrees, much of the polar ice cap will melt and cities such as New York, Boston, Miami, and New Orleans will be under water.

Another view, less widely held, is that increasing particulate matter in the atmosphere is blocking sunlight and lowering the earth’s temperature-a result that would be equally disastrous(灾难的). A drop of just a few degrees could create something close to a new ice age, and would make agriculture difficult or impossible in many of our top farming areas. At present we do riot know for sure that either of these conditions will happen(though one recent government report prepared by experts in the field concluded that the greenhouse effect is very likely). Perhaps, if we very lucky, the two tendencies will offset each other and the world’s temperature will stay about the same as it is now.

As pointed out at the beginning of the passage, people used to think that air pollution ______.

       A.caused widespread damage in the countryside

       B.affected the entire eastern half of the United States

       C.almost brought worldwide effect

       D.existed merely in urban and industrial areas

As far as the greenhouse effect is concerned, the author _____________.

       A.shares the same view with the scientists

       B.is uncertain of its occurrence

       C.rejects it as being ungrounded(无根据的)

       D.thinks that it will increasingly destroy the world soon

It can be inferred from the passage that                    .

       A.raising the world’s temperature a little would not do much harm to life on the earth

       B.lowering the world’s temperature a little would lead to agricultural disasters

       C.almost no temperature variations have occurred over the past decade

       D.the world’s temperature will remain stable forever

This passage is primarily concerned with              .

       A.the greenhouse effect in the world

       B.the measures to adjust the climate

       C.the potential effect of air pollution

       D.the measures to protect the environment

A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below l6℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover,these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere,warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns,potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years,humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources(资源):land for crops,wood for paper and other products,land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example,a lot of carbon dioxide in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly,when people cut down trees,generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly,cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now,but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However,fewer than l%of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
【小题1】Rainforests can help to adjust the climate because they      .

A.reflect more heat into the atmosphere
B.bring about high rainfall throughout the world
C.rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than l6℃
D.reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth
【小题2】What does the word “this” underlined in the third paragraph refer to?
A.We will lose much more than we can gain.
B.Humans have begun destroying rainforests.
C.People have a strong desire for resources.
D.Much carbon dioxide comes from burning rainforests.
【小题3】It can be inferred from the text that      .
A.we can get enough resources without rainforests
B.there is great medicine potential in rainforests
C.we will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land
D.the level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns
【小题4】Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A.Losing the rainforests has caused natural disasters all over the world.
B.Cutting rainforests will help increase the world’s wood supply in the future.
C.Rainforests can’t provide medical cures for diseases at all
D.Rainforests helps to control the temperature and adjust climate for humans.
【小题5】What might be the best title for the text?
A.How to Save Rainforests
B.How to Protect Nature
C.Rainforests and the Environment
D.Rainforests and Medical Development

Australia -a huge island continent that lies to the south of Asia. Australia-more than two hundred years old, a nation that is still growing.

Its big cities lie on the southeast coast, this is where most Australians live. Australians prefer to own their own houses, though some live in apartments. Australians are a suburban(郊区的) people. The suburbs surround the cities for many miles, and so efficient transport is of great importance. As the economy grows, so do its industries- a higher level of production, a wider range of products.

   The Australian works hard, but he likes his leisure. The climate makes outdoor activities the most popular.

   Canberra, the capital of Australia, is a planned modern city located inland. Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy(议会民主). The representatives of other countries have their embassies here. Australia wants to strengthen relations with her neighbors.

Australia is a strange land, a land of vast expanses- fertile valleys, snow fields and deserts- also a land with unique animal, many that can not be found on any other continent in the world today.

Much of the continent is dry, but man has utilized the land, made it productive, with its tools, with its technology. This is the driest continent of all, and water is a precious possession, more precious than all other natural resources. Large dams are built to collect the water, there to irrigate the fields of pastures(牧场) and crops.

But Australia is changing. The land of wool and wheat is now a land of large-scale industry and mining. The costs of developing the new mineral discoveries are enormous, but the rewards are great too.

Australia — a young and developing nation. Australia — a nation that wants to communicate with its neighbors.

1.Australia is an island located ______ of Asia and its big cities lie ____ of the coast.

A. to the south; on the southeast             B. to the north; on the southwest

C. to the east; on the northeast          D. to the east; on the southwest

2.We can infer from the passage that the Australian likes outdoor activities for the _____ climate.

A. dull and wet    B. fine and shiny  C. gloomy and rainy                 D. wet and cold

3.____ is the most precious source in Australia.

A. Mineral resource                       B. Animal         C. Desert                  D. Water

4.Which of the following statements about Australia is wrong?

A. Australians are a suburban people

B. Australia is governed by a parliamentary democracy.

C. Australia prefers to live in the downtown of big cities.

D. Wool and wheat used to be the main products of Australia.

 

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