A heated debate is currently going on in our town.Should we allow the cinema to be constructed in the Havenswood Shopping Center? There is just one large lot left to build on,and the theater would use up all of that space.Some people are excited at the idea of finally having our own movie theater.Others would rather travel ten miles to the nearest theater to keep our quiet town the way it is.They say it is enough to have Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals.After all,Marvin’s store keeps thousands of the latest videos.

There are certainly benefits to renting videos.For one thing,you can plan your own schedule when it is convenient for you.You can relax on your sofa,and take a break whenever you need one.You can also talk to others without bothering any strangers seated nearby.In additional,it is a less expensive way to view a movie compared to going to a theater.

On the other hand,seeing a movie in a theater is an experience all its own.First,you can see the movie on wide screen as the filmmaker intended.To be viewed on a television screen,a film must be changed in some way to make it smaller.One is the “pan-and-scan” method,which involves removing some of the details in the picture.The other way,called “letterboxing”,keeps the image the way it is on the big screen,with one annoying exception; because the big-screen version is wide,the same picture on a television screen must be long and narrow.

Another problem is sound.The sound from a television cannot compare to the sound system in a theater.Your experience of a movie improves when you can clearly hear all of the sounds.Furthermore,at home,viewing companions often talk during a movie,which makes you miss out on what’s happening in the film.

Besides,having a movie theater will not mean that you can’t still go to Marvin’s! You will just have a choice that you didn’t have before.Isn’t it time for Havenswood residents to enjoy a little progress?

1.The underlined word “lot” in Paragraph 1 means “__________”.

A. a great number B. a complete group

C. an area of land D. a result of chance

2.How does the author mainly state his point?

A. By using examples. B. By making a comparison.

C. By carrying out a survey D. By presenting different people’s view.

3.Why do some people think it is enough to have Marvin’s Movie Video Rentals?

A. Marvin’s store stocks lots of recent videos.

B. It’ very convenient to go to Marvin’s store.

C. the owner of the store is friendly and helpful.

D. It is more comfortable to see films at home than in the theater.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards building a new cinema?

A. Cautious. B. Approving. C. Doubtful. D. Worried.

Pollution’s serious effects on the environment have become more obvious in recent years.Most scientists agree that efforts are necessary to protect our environment from further harm.

As we know,the construction industry consumes a large quantity of energy and resources and creates a huge amount of pollution.So green buildings are in great need.

The environmental benefits of building green include the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity(生物多样性),improved air and water quality,less waste flowing into streams and the protection of natural resources.Green buildings can also result in lower operating costs because they typically use less energy and fewer materials and improve indoor air quality,improving the health of people who live there.

The process of building green includes technical and artistic planning with nature protection in mind.Building designs often reflect the surrounding environment and natural resources and use renewable building materials such as bamboo and straw.In addition,recycled resources found locally are used for green buildings,reducing the cost and air pollution associated with transporting materials long distances.

Careful site selection is important to minimize(最小化)human effect on the surrounding environment.For example,placing a structure in an area that allows it to take advantage of cool breezes(微风)and sunlight can reduce energy use and expenses.More energy and expense are needed for larger buildings as well,so it is important to build small.

Green roofs are another feature of green houses that reduce energy use and cost.These roofs are partially or completely covered with plants,which helps to keep heating and cooling costs low,prevent water running off and deal with pollutants.

Other features of green buildings often include energy and water protection,recycling and waste reduction.In addition,renewable energy sources such as solar power,waterpower and wind power are used for heat and electricity, which greatly reduces costs and decreases the influence on the environment.

1.What can we know about green building?

A. Producing no waste. B. Only using clean energy.

C. Being made of new materials. D. Environmental friendly.

2.What is a green building probably like according to the fifth paragraph?

A. Large. B. Small.

C. Green. D. Low.

3.What is the purpose of using green roofs?

A. To fit the environment. B. To keep warm.

C. To collect nature water. D. To lower costs.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A. Promoting energy efficiency. B. Environmental benefits.

C. Building green. D. Ecosystems and biodiversity.

Now a group of scientists, including ones from CalTech, MIT and the LIGO Scientific Collaboration finally found the gravitational waves(引力波).They announced they were able to see ripples(波纹) in the structure of spacetime.

What are these gravitational waves? Well, imagine throwing a rock into a pond. When the rock hits the flat surface of the water, it creates ripples. Spacetime is like the surface of the water. So gravitational waves are like the ripples moving out from where the rock hits the water.

It was Einstein who said these gravitational waves should be observable. But these are not huge waves. They are smaller than the size of an atom, which is why it took so long to find them.

Since 2002, scientists have been watching for these gravitational waves, using a giant scientific tool called LIGO. They have been watching two black holes in another galaxy(星系) faraway. The two were spinning around each other, moving closer and closer together. When they finally crashed into each other, gravitational waves were caused. With great power and force, they rang throughout the universe, like a giant bell. Those waves, traveling at the speed of light, finally reached the Earth, some 1.3 billion years later. The National Science Foundation said that each of the black holes was 29 to 36 times the mass of our sun.

This discovery means our understanding of the heavens has changed greatly.

1.The author explains the gravitational waves by ________.

A. presenting recent research findings

B. drawing a vivid picture

C. comparing them to something familiar

D. using proper examples

2.According to the author, finding the gravitational waves means ________.

A. there is a better way to deal with physics problems

B. we have a better understanding of the universe

C. we have reached a new level in earth studies

D. there exists another galaxy in the universe

3.What does the word “they” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A. The black holes.

B. The gravitational waves.

C. The scientific tools.

D. The galaxies.

4.This passage mainly talks about ________.

A. a new theory of gravitational waves opposite to Einstein’s

B. a description of the scientific research on black holes

C. the relationship between black holes and gravitational waves

D. the discovery of gravitational waves Einstein believed observable

MONTREAL(Reuters)—Crossing the US-Canada border to go to church on a Sunday cost an American $10,000 for breaking Washington’s strict new security rules.

The expensive trip to church was a surprise for Richard Albert, who lives right on the Canadian border. Albert often crosses the border like the other half-dozen people of Township 15. The nearby Quebec village of St. Pamphile is where they shop, eat and go to church.

There are many such situations in these areas along the largely unguarded 5,530-mile border between Canada and the US, which in some cases actually runs down the middle of streets or through buildings.

As a result, Albert says he did not expect any problems three weeks ago when he returned home to the US after attending church in Canada, as usual. The US customs station in this area is closed on Sundays, so he just drove around the locked gate, as he had done every weekend since the gate appeared last May, following a tightening of border security. Two days later. Albert was told to go to the customs office, where an officer told him he had been caught on camera crossing the border illegally.

Ottawa has given out special passes to some 300 Americans in that area so they can enter the country when Canadian customs(海关) stations are closed, but the US stopped a similar program last May. That forces the people to a 200-mile detour along hilly roads to get home through another border checkpoint.

Albert has requested that the customs office change their decisions on the fine, but he has not attended a Sunday church since. “I feel like I’m living in a prison,” he said.

1.We learn from the text that Richard Albert is            .

A. an American working in a Canadian church

B. a Canadian living in a Quebec village

C. a Canadian working in a customs station

D. an American living in Township 15

2.Albert was fined because he              .

A. broke the American security rules

B. failed to obey traffic rules

C. worked in St. Pamphile without a pass

D. damaged the gate of the customs office

3.What would be the best title for the text?

A. A Cross-country Trip B. An Expensive Church Visit

C. An Unguarded Border D. A Special Border Pass

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