The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina is a wake-up call. It is a call for every American to pay attention to the destruction we risk by allowing human-induced(导致的) climate change to continue. It is impossible to prove that Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming, or even that human activities made the storm more severe. However, a paper published in the scholarly journal Nature reports that the force of dangerous hurricanes has increased by 50% during the last 50 years. It also reports that a global warming-induced rise in temperature near the ocean’s surface has probably contributed to this increase in dangerous storms, and thus to property(财产) damage and human death.

On August 30, the Los Angeles Times summed up(总结) the view of many scientists who agree that if the frequency of hurricanes does not decrease in the next few years, then we will be fairly certain that humans, and not natural storm cycle, are at the root of the problem. I believe there is at least a chance that by reducing U.S. reliance on fossil fuels for energy, we can prevent future tragedies like Hurricane Katrina. Let the change begin now.

There are many ways to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions. My family drives the most fuel-efficient car we can afford, but I prefer to take public transportation whenever possible. My family buys locally grown food instead of produce that was transported thousands of miles on fuel-burning vehicles. We also replaced our incandescent light bulbs(白炽灯泡)with more energy-efficient compact fluorescents(荧光灯). This might sound like a trivial move, but the Union of Concerned Scientists reports that if every household in the United States replaced one incandescent bulb with a compact fluorescent, it would have the same effect on U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions as removing 7.5 million cars from the roads. Now think if every household replaced not just one but all of their incandescent bulbs!

The United States, with just five percent of the world’s population, is responsible for close to one quarter of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, yet our country is doing far less than most European nations to fight global warming. We don’t have to sacrifice our lifestyles; Europeans enjoy the same standards of living as Americans. So what are we waiting for? It is time to act.

Which of the following is a fact?

A. Hurricane Katrina was caused by global warming.

B. Human activities made the storm more severe.

C. The force of dangerous hurricanes has increased by 50 percent during the last 50 years.

D. A global rise in temperature near the ocean’s surface accounts for more dangerous storms.

From Paragraph 2 we can infer that many scientists agree ________.

A. it might be human activities that lead to global warming.

B. natural storm cycles have caused global warming.

C. hurricanes are likely to come more frequently.

D. burning fossil fuels for energy is a better alternative.

If every household in the U.S. replaced all their incandescent bulbs, ________.

A. it would have the same effect as removing 7.5 million cars from the roads.

B. it would save 7.5 million tons of carbon-dioxide from going into the air.

C. this would reduce the total output of CO??emissions in huge amounts.

D. cars will be much more environmentally friendly.

According to the writer,_______in reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emissions.

A. Europe does a better job.   

B. Europe should follow the example of America.

C. he, as an European, wants to see more efforts made by Americans.

D. Europeans should shoulder a greater responsibility.

The U.S. government has repeatedly made it clear that it would welcome China’s entrance into the world arena as a power. However, a series of issues since the beginning of this year, particularly Washington's stance on the U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises and the South China Sea issue, have made the world think: Is the United States ready to recognize China as a power on the world stage?

       It is easier said than done for the United States to adapt itself to China's development. Lip service is far from enough to boost the development of Sino-U.S. relations. If Washington cannot find a way to recognize and accept China's peaceful rise onto the world stage, bilateral(双边的) ties will be like a roller coaster full of ups and downs. However, no one would like to see the negative effects rocky relations would bring to China, the United States and possibly to the world as a whole.

       U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged China to play a greater role in solving the world's economic, environmental and political problems. She said global issues could not be solved by the United States or China alone, but without participation of the two countries, no problems would likely be solved. Washington has realized that the United States' global interest can be maintained only through changing the way it deals with China.

       The Obama administration released positive signals in its relations with China, which have been interpreted as the United States showing its intention to change the traditional strategy of engagement and containment(遏制). As a matter of fact, the general direction of Sino-U.S. relations provides a foundation on which the United States can base its foreign policies and is more complicated than an adjustment in real conditions. Issues such as arms sales to Taiwan, Google censorship, RMB exchange rates as well as finger-pointing about economic responsibility show Washington still seems confused and inpatient about relations with China.

       The relationship between China and the United States is the most important and complicated bilateral relationship in the world this century. The development of Sino-U.S. relations will affect world peace and stability, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Ian Bremmer, an American political scientist specializing in U.S. foreign policy, said, "America and China will have more than ever to gain from closer political and commercial ties, and must take steps to avoid a Cold War, or worse."

       In that circumstance, the United States needs both wisdom and determination to recognize and accept China, a country that is totally different from its own, as a power on the world stage.

The underlined word stance in the first paragraph probably means       .

       A.information     B.opinion     C.ignorance  D.criticism

Why does the US have to change the way it deals with China?

       A.The US welcomes Chin’s entrance into the world arena.

       B.The US hopes that China will get more powerful.

       C.Only in this way can China meet all of its demands.

       D.Only in this way can its global interest be maintained.

Ian Bremmer thinks both America and China will benefit more from       .

       A.a cold war.       B.keeping patient C.better cooperation    D.developing economy

Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

       A.Is it Clear that China has become world power?

       B.Is US ready to recognize China as world power?

       C.Is US still the most powerful country in the world?

       D.Is Sino-U.S. relationship the most important and complicated in the world.

NEW YORK - People who keep doing some work in their field after they retire may enjoy better physical and mental health than those who stop work completely or switch to another area of work, according to a U.S. study.
Researchers from the University of Maryland said the findings suggest that prospective retirees should consider moving into so-called "bridge employment" as a transition to full retirement.
"In essence, if someone is in a field where part-time work or self-employment is possible, he or she should consider it as they plan for retirement," researcher Dr. Mo Wang, an assistant professor of psychology, told Reuters Health.
For their study, Wang and his colleagues used data on more than 12,000 workers in a U.S. health study begun in 1992. Participants, who were between the ages of 51 and 61 at the outset, were surveyed every two years over a six-year period.
Overall, Wang's team found, people who went into some form of bridge employment reported lower rates of major diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and arthritis during the study period than their counterparts who went straight into full retirement.
The findings were not explained by older age or worse initial health among people who opted for full retirement, the investigators report in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
On top of their better physical health, "bridge" workers also tended to report fewer mental health problems, such as depression.
The same mental health benefits were not seen, however, when retirees took part-time work in other fields -- possibly, Wang said, because many of these people may have taken those jobs out of financial need rather than choice.
He noted that the lack of benefit could also stem from the fact that these retirees had to adjust to an unfamiliar job position or had to make lifestyle changes.
Bridge work, particularly in one's accustomed field, may benefit physical and mental health for a number of reasons, according to Wang.
In general, he explained, such work may help older adults maintain the active lifestyles they had during their careers and decrease any stress they might feel from the transition into retirement.  wwwWang said when it comes to mental health, for instance, bridge work may help by allowing people to keep some of the "role identity" that they have formed over their careers.
Staying active in general, not only through work, can also benefit retirees' physical health, Wang noted. He added, however, that any mental health benefits are likely to depend on the type of activity -- whether it is something that the person truly enjoys, and that helps ease any stress of moving into retirement.
"These findings," Wang said, "suggest that for retirees and prospective retirees, carefully considering whether to engage in bridge employment -- and if so, what types of bridge employment -- is quite important."
【小题1】 What does the underlined phrase “at the outset” mean?__________

A.at leastB.at leastC.at the beginningD.at last
【小题2】 People who went into some form of bridge employment have less chances to get the following diseases, EXCEPT___________.
A.arthritisB.heart diseaseC.diabetesD.low blood pressure
【小题3】Which of the following statement is WRONG?_________
A.As long as retirees move into “bridge employment”, they must be healthier than those who do not.
B.The participants in the study were between 51 and 61 years old.
C.The bridge workers are also less likely to get depression.
D.Staying active is beneficial to the retirees’ physical health.
【小题4】What can we infer from the passage?________
A.The study was begun in 1992 and lasts for two 6-year periods
B.If a bridge worker is older than 61 years old, it does not mean that he will get a better health than others who enjoy full retirement.
C.Only by moving into “bridge employment” can the retirees enjoy better health both physically and psychologically.
D.Any activity can benefit the retirees’ mental health.
【小题5】Which is the best title of the passage?
A.A US study
B.Bridge Work
C.Working after retiring can be good for your health
D.Stay active

Alaska Inside Passage Craises

Most cruises(游船) are seven nights long and typically begin an4 end in either Vancouver or Seattle.This "roundtrip" travel plan makes this a very popular cruise vacation because of the convenient flight schedules and affordable roundtrip airline tickets into and out of Vancouver and.Seattle.Longer 10-night and 11-night Inside Passage Cruises are available from California.Depending on your ship and your plan, a typical Alaska Inside Passage Cruise spends the first day cruising the famed Inside .Passage, a narrow waterway nestled between towering mountains, waterfront communities, and the Pacific Ocean.

Alaska Glacier Cruses.

Alaska Glacier Cruises are also known as Gulf of Alaska Cruises.Every cruise line has a different name for it, but they all mean the same thing —they are cruises that sail one-way through the Gulf of Alaska where you'll find the greatest number of glaciers(冰川), mountains, wildlife and scenery.

Unlike an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise, an Alaska Glacier Cruise does not do a U—turn back to the; departure port.Alaska Glacier cruises are one way journey that sail from.North to South (Southbound Glacier Cruises) or South to North (Northbound Glacier Cruises).These routes allow you to spend more days in Alaska ports or National Glacier Parks as there are fewer days at sea compared to other cruises.If you only have a week and want wonderful glacier viewing and time on land, this is your best choice for an Alaska Cruise Vacation.

Regent Home Alaska Cruises

For a close and personal contact with the Great White North, step aboard the All-inclusive, 700-guest Seven Seas Mariner.You can watch seabirds perform beautiful dances or a group of playful whales swim by as you're eating breakfast in your private room. 

1.What is "Inside Passage" according to the text? 

    A.It's the name of a typical cruise ship.                 B.It's a popular hiking route in Alaska.

    C.It's the name of a famous tourist company.              D.It's a body of water with beautiful scenery.

2.If you are interested in sightseeing on foot, which cruise might be a better choice than others?

    A.Alaska Inside Passage Cruises.                          B.Gulf of Alaska Cruises.

    C.Regent Home Alaska Cruises.        D.None of the above.

3.Which of the following cruises repeat its routes?

    A.Alaska Inside Passage Cruises.                          B.Southbound Glacier Cruises.

    C.Northbound Glacier Cruises.                             D.Seven Seas Mariner.

4.What's the purpose of this passage?

    A.To explore the natural beauty of Alaska.

    B.To introduce the ways of traveling in Alaska.

    C.To attract tourists to cruise vacations in Alaska.

    D.To offer advice to people traveling in Alaska.

 

阅读下面短文,根据以下要求:1)汉语提示;2)首字母提示;3)语境提示, 在每个空格内填入一个适当的英语单词,所填单词要求意义准确、拼写正确。

It was an honor to have been selected to go on a study tour to Britain.        

On the morning of March27, we arrived at the airport          we                  76. _____

were w       welcomed by our home-stay families. Soon we went to              77. _____

different families and we had          (传统的) English food and                   78. _____

        (聊天) happily. Later we went to a college. A professor                  79. _____

       us a vivid and interesting introduction and we learned a lot about        80. _____

the college. In the f      days we visited some famous scenic                         81. _____

s        . On the last day we had a farewell party at which students               82. _____

from China and Britain put          fantastic performances                           83. _____

        (包括) songs and dances. From the study tour, we have got               84. _____

a better u          of the British culture.                                                         85. _____

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