Every year more and more plants and animals disappear and they will never to be seen again.Strangely, it is the most intelligent but most thoughtless animal that is causing most of the problems-man.Nature is very carefully balanced and if this balance is disturbed, animals can disappear alarmingly fast.Every day, thousands of species of animals draw closer to extinction.There are countless numbers of species which may become extinct before they are even discovered.
In many lakes the fish are dying.Fishermen are worried because every year there are fewer fish and some lakes have no fish at all.Scientists are beginning to get worried too.What is killing the fish?
The problem is acid rain.Acid rain is a kind of air pollution.It is caused by factories that burn coal, oil or gas.These factories send smoke high into the air.The wind often carries the smoke far from the factories.Some of the harmful substances in the smoke may come down with the rain hundreds of miles away.The rain in many places isn't natural and clean any more.It's full of acid chemicals.When it falls in lakes, it changes them too.The lakes become more acidic.Acid water is like vinegar or lemon juice.It hurts when it gets in your eyes.It also kills the plants and animals that usually live in lake water.That is why the fish are dying in lakes.
But dead fish may be just the beginning of the problem.Scientists are finding other effects of acid rain.In some large areas trees are dying.Not just one tree here and there, but whole forests.At first scientists couldn't understand why.There were no bugs or diseases in these trees.The weather was not dry.But now they think that the rain was the cause.Acid rain is making the earth more acidic in these areas.Some kinds of trees cannot live in the soil that is very acidic.
Now scientists are also beginning to study the effects of acid rain on larger animals.For example, they believe that some deer in Poland are less healthy because of acid rain.If deer are hurt by the rain, what about people?This is the question many people are beginning to ask.No one knows the answer yet.But it is an important question for us all.
(1)
Scientists think acid rain ________.
[ ]
A.
is killing people
B.
helps kill bugs
C.
is killing trees
D.
fertilizes the soil
(2)
What happens to thousands of species of animals every year?
[ ]
A.
People hunt for their meat.
B.
They die out on the earth.
C.
Most of them starve to death in the winter.
D.
They had to migrate to other places.
(3)
Which of the following is true?
[ ]
A.
Dead fish in lakes is the only problem caused by acid rain.
B.
If we don't make an attempt to stop acid rain, we may never see some animals again.
C.
Scientists are sure that acid rain is not harmful to mankind.
D.
There's no reason to worry about several trees that died of some unknown disease.
(4)
What is NOT mentioned in the text?
[ ]
A.
Coal, oil or gas form dangerous combinations after being burnt.
B.
Fish are unable to live in the water containing acidic chemicals.
C.
Acid rain is capable of dissolving some rocks and stones.
D.
If some animals can be affected by acid rain, people may be in danger.
The China National Opera(CNO)will give a concert to celebrate its 50th birthday.
Different generations of CNO vocalists, like Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei, will present the concert which will feature both songs from famous Chinese operas like “The White-haired Girl” and “The Hundredth Bride”, as well as, arias of such Western opera classics as “Madame Butterfly”, “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto”.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 7, 8
Location:Tianqiao Theatre
Tel:6551-4787, 8315-6170
Tickets:60-500 yuan(US $7.2-60.2)
Folk music
A concert will be held to feature some recently composed traditional Chinese music works.
The concert, given by the Folk Orchestra of the China Opera and Ballet Theatre, will include such pieces as “Memory of Childhood ”, “Memorial Ceremony for God ”and “Wine Song”.
Time/date:7∶30pm, September 13
Location:Concert hall at the National Library of China
Tel:6848 –5462, 6841-9220
Tickets:30-200 yuan(US$3.6-24.1)
Moon music
A concert of traditional Chinese music will be given on the eve of the Moon Festival which falls on September 21st this year.
The concert will feature a number of famous pieces centred on the theme of the moon, such as “Moonlight”, “Spring night on a Moonlit River” and “Lofty Mountain and Flowing River.”
A number of established traditional Chinese music performers like Zhou Yaokun and Fan Weiqing, will play solos as well as collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
Time/date:7∶30 pm, September 21st
Location:Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities
Tel:6606-8888, 6606-9999
(1)
If you want to buy tickets for listening to the music “Memory of Childhood”, you will dial _________.
[ ]
A.
6551-4787
B.
6848-5462
C.
8315-6170
D.
6606-9999
(2)
Which statement is right according to the passage?
[ ]
A.
Li Guangxi, Yao Hong and Ma Mei stand for the same generation of CNO vocalists.
B.
“Rigoletto” is a famous piece on the theme of the moon.
C.
“Lofty Mountain and Flowing River” is a traditional Chinese music.
D.
Zhou Yaokun will play solos and Fan Weiqing will collaborate with the folk music orchestra.
(3)
“Madame Butterfly” is ________.
[ ]
A.
a Chinese opera
B.
a Western opera
C.
a piece of music
D.
a song
(4)
In which column of a newspaper will the article be published?