Builders have known for many years that white roofs reflect(反射) sunlight and lower the cost of air conditioning (空调设备). But now scientists say they have found a new advantage: slowing global warming.

    Hashem Akbari believes that whitening 100 of the world’s largest cities could make the influence of the expected emissions (排放物) smaller over the next ten years.

White buildings and surfaces reflect far more sunlight than dark ones. Reflected sunlight does not increase the greenhouse effect (温室效应), unlike the heat energy sent out by dark surfaces heated by the sun.

Dr Akbari, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, also argues that If built-up areas were made white, less heat would stay within them, allowing people to use their air conditioners less, which use a lot of power.

Dr Akbari has found out that making 100 of the largest cities white would increase the sunlight reflected by Earth by 0.03%. He believes it would cancel out (抵消) the warming caused by 44 billion tons of carbon (碳) emissions.

“Roofs are going to have to be changed one by one and to make that effort at a very local level, we need to have an organization to make it happen,”says Dr Akbari.

He argues that while the action would not solve the problem of climate change. it would slow it.

“We can give the environment time to breathe,” he says. “I just don’t see a disadvantage of this idea. It gives everybody advantages and you don’t have to make hard efforts to make it happen. ”

Akbari and his partners say they will try to persuade the United Nations to organize big cities to change the materials of their roofs.

How do white roofs slow down global warming?

A. They reflect sunlight, which makes people use no air conditioner.

B. They reflect sunlight, which doesn’t increase the greenhouse effect.

C. They keep the heat energy within them.

D. They send out no carbon emissions.

We know from Dr Akbari that he        .

A. has changed some roofs into white ones  

B. doesn’t use air conditioners himself

C. has built an organization to make cities white 

D. believes his idea will help slow the climate change

What do Akbari and his partners want to do?

A. They hope the UN will put their idea into action.

B. They want to become members of the UN.

C They want to change the materials of their own roofs.

D. They want to teach people how to change roofs

The passags is written mainly to        .

A. persuade people to paint their roofs white

B. introduce environment friendly paint

C. show white roofs do good to the environment

D. discuss how to slow down global warming

Hope in my arms
Last year, I was invited to participate in a carnival for Tuesday’s Child, an organization that helps children with AIDS.
All the children that had gathered at one particular room could   36  a square on a piece of cloth. Later the squares would be sewn(缝) together to  37  a quilt. The quilt would be  38  to a man who had devoted his life to the  39  and would soon be   40 .
The kids were given paints in bright colors and asked to paint something that would make the quilt  41 . As I looked around at all the squares, I saw pink hearts, blue clouds, orange sunrises and red flowers. The pictures were all bright and  42 . All   43  one.
One boy was painting a heart, but it was dark and lifeless. It  44  the bright colors that his fellow artists had used.I asked why. He told me that he was very   45  and so was his mom. He said that his sickness was not ever going to get better and neither was his mom’s. He looked   46  into my eyes and said, “There is no hope in my life.”
I told him I was sorry and I could understand why he had made his heart a dark color. I told him that   47  we couldn’t make him better, we can give  48 , which can really help when you are feeling sad. I told him that if he would like, I would be   49  to give him one so he could see what I meant.  50 , he crawled into my lap. I thought my own heart would burst for this sweet little boy.
He sat there for a long time. Finally he  51  down to finish his coloring.
As I was getting ready to  52  home, I felt a tug (猛拽) on my jacket. Standing there was the little boy,  53 . He said, “My heart is changing  54 . It is getting brighter. I think those hugs really do  55 .”
On my way home I felt my own heart. It too had changed to a brighter color.

【小题1】
A.findB.paintC.cutD.draw
【小题2】
A.foldB.becomeC.spreadD.make
【小题3】
A.presented B.soldC.lentD.thrown
【小题4】
A.educationB.countryC.organizationD.neighborhood
【小题5】
A.dyingB.comingC.visitingD.retiring
【小题6】
A.beautifulB.strongC.newD.comfortable
【小题7】
A.emptyB.puzzlingC.confusingD.inspiring
【小题8】
A.withoutB.besidesC.exceptD.beside
【小题9】
A.neededB.lackedC.containedD.showed
【小题10】
A.curiousB.disappointedC.angryD.sick
【小题11】
A.forwardB.stillC.straightD.even
【小题12】
A.so thatB.as long asC.even thoughD.as though
【小题13】
A.hugsB.smilesC.prizesD.lessons
【小题14】
A.sorryB.happyC.eagerD.relaxed
【小题15】
A.SuddenlyB.QuicklyC.UnwillinglyD.Slowly
【小题16】
A.slowedB.jumpedC.slippedD.fell
【小题17】
A.leaveB.stayC.headD.arrive
【小题18】
A.smilingB.cryingC.dancingD.glaring
【小题19】
A.shapeB.colorC.weightD.form
【小题20】
A.fitB.hurtC.failD.work

It is a dreadful thing to be poor a fortnight before Christmas, said Clorinda, with the mournful sigh of seventeen years.

Aunt Emmy smiled. Aunt Emmy was sixty, and spent the hours she didnt spend in a bed, on a sofa or in a wheel chair; but Aunt Emmy was never heard to sigh.

“The gifts which money can purchase are not the only ones we can give, said Aunt Emmy gently, nor the best, either.

“Oh, I know it's nicer to give something of your own work,” agreed Clorinda, “but materials for fancy work cost too. That kind of gift is just as much out of the question for me as any other.”

“That was not what I meant,” said Aunt Emmy.

“What did you mean, then?” asked Clorinda, looking puzzled.

Aunt Emmy smiled.

“Suppose you think out my meaning for yourself,” she said. “That would be better than if I explained it. Besides, I don't think I could explain it. Take the beautiful line of a beautiful poem to help you in your thinking out: 'The gift without the giver is bare.

“I'd put it the other way and say, 'The giver without the gift is bare,” said Clorinda. “That is my predicament(窘境)exactly. Well, I hope by next Christmas I'll not be quite bankrupt. I'm going into Mr. Callender's store down at Murraybridge in February. He has offered me the place, you know.”

“Won't your aunt miss you terribly?” said Aunt Emmy gravely. “I think she would rather have your companionship than a part of your salary, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “But of course you must decide for yourself, dear.”

“Well, I must say bye-bye and run home.” Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows. But Aunt Mary lived there too--the only relative Clorinda had, for Aunt Emmy wasn't really her aunt at all. Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember.

Clorinda puzzled over Aunt Emmy's meaning for days. Then all at once it came to her. On Christmas Day, Clorinda went over to Aunt Emmy's. Aunt Emmy was lying on the sofa before the fire, and Clorinda sat down beside her.

“I've come to tell you all about it,” she said. “Aunt Emmy, I thought for days over your meaning ... And then one evening it just came to me. At first I didn't think I could give some of them, and then I thought how selfish I was. I would have been willing to pay any amount of money for gifts if I had had it, but I wasn't willing to pay what I had. I got over that, though, Aunt Emmy. Now I'm going to tell you what I did give.”

“First, there was old Aunt Kitty. You know she was my nurse when I was a baby. She is always glad when I go to see her, but I've never gone except when I couldn't help it. She is very deaf, and rather dull and stupid, you know. Well, I gave her a whole day. I took my knitting yesterday, and sat with her the whole time and just talked and talked. She was so pleased and proud; she told me when I came away that she hadn't had such a nice time for years. ”

“Then there was ... Florence. You know, Aunt Emmy, we were always intimate friends until last year. Then Florence once told Rose Watson something I had told her in confidence. I found it out and I was so hurt. I couldn't forgive Florence, and I told her plainly I could never be a real friend to her again. Florence felt badly, because she really did love me, and she asked me to forgive her, but it seemed as if I couldn't. Well, Aunt Emmy, that was my Christmas gift to her ... my forgiveness.”

“I gave Aunt Mary her gift this morning. I told her I wasn't going to Murraybridge, that I just meant to stay home with her. She was so glad--and I'm glad, too, now that I've decided so.”

“Your gifts have been real gifts, Clorinda,” said Aunt Emmy. “Something of you--the best of you--went into each of them.”

“I didn't forget you, Aunt Emmy,” she said, as she unpinned the paper.

There was a rosebush. Aunt Emmy loved flowers. She put her finger under one of the roses and kissed it.

“It's as sweet as yourself, dear child,” she said tenderly. “And it will be a joy to me all through the lonely winter days. You've found out the best meaning of Christmas giving, haven't you, dear?”

“Yes, thanks to you, Aunt Emmy,” said Clorinda softly.

1.Clorinda felt anxious before Christmas because___________.

A. She had to leave Aunt Mary

B. She didn’t know what kind of Christmas gifts she should buy

C. She had not enough money to buy Christmas gifts

D. She had no time to make a proper decision

2. Which of the following sentences can best explain the line “The gift without the giver is bare.”

A. A gift is valued by the mind of the giver.

B. Forgiveness is a gift for the giver and the receiver.

C. You cannot buy love or respect with expensive gifts.

D. Think twice before you give gifts to somebody

3.What is the gift that Clorinda gave to old Aunt Kitty?

A. Passion?? ????????????? ????????????? B. Sympathy?? ????????????? ????????????? C. Kindness?? ????????????? ????????????? D. Company

4.What does the underlined phrase “in confidence” mean?

A. respectfully??? ????????????? B. confidently??? ????????????? ????????????? C. secretly??? ????????????? ????????????? D. willingly

5. Which two words can best describe Aunt Emmy?

A. cute and joyful??????????????????? ????????????? B. kind-hearted and emotional

C. optimistic and wise???????????????? ????????????? D. gentle and timid (羞怯的)

6.Which of the following is the best title?

A. A Special Christmas?????????????????? B. Clorinda’s Gifts

C. Aunt Emmy????????????????????????? D. Clorinda’s Choice

 

 When I turned 40, my husband secretly planned a surprise party for me. I'll never forget my feeling   1  I entered the restaurant and saw loving friends among flowers and music and a large display of photos. I hurried from one table   2  the next, greeting each guest. Then suddenly at the back of the room I caught sight of a gentle, smiling man with snow-white hair and a kind, blue-eyed woman on his arm.

“Mom, dad,” my   3  became wide. They had flown to Los Angeles from Chicago just hours before. I burst into tears at the sight of these two who, more than   4  else, had taught me that being there for another person is the   5  gift we can give.

A year later, my husband and I were invited to an unusual wedding. The night before the wedding, I decided to   6  my friends and beg off. “Kathy, this is Karen.”

“You're   7 , aren't you?” she broke in, almost begging (乞求). I   8  and at that moment the sight of my parents at my 40th-birthday party came into my mind.

“Yes, of course,” I said. “We'll be there.”

So we   9  And I was grateful we did. We weren't in our seats a minute before Kathy came up, happy but with   10  She told me how much our presence meant to her. Kathy's parents didn't make it as well as her son. I saw   11  in her eyes.

I see now that one's presence   12  be a duty. It is, in fact, something that we owe one another, whatever the   13  To be there—in person—for the sad or happy events of our friends and dear ones makes   14 .

When we are truly   15  for other people, important things happen to them and to us. We are renewed in love and friendship.

1.

A.though

B.when

C.if

D.since

 

2.

A.to

B.in

C.at

D.on

 

3.

A.nose

B.forehead

C.eyes

D.ears

 

4.

A.everybody

B.nobody

C.somebody

D.anybody

 

5.

A.heaviest

B.cheapest

C.smallest

D.greatest

 

6.

A.call

B.help

C.visit

D.join

 

7.

A.driving

B.coming

C.going

D.returning

 

8.

A.resisted

B.prayed

C.hesitated

D.refused

 

9.

A.had

B.went

C.waited

D.were

 

10.

A.tears

B.surprise

C.smiles

D.pride

 

11.

A.puzzle

B.comfort

C.hurt

D.honor

 

12.

A.must

B.can

C.may

D.would

13.A.prize           13.wage     C.bill           D.cost

14.A.a problem      13.an opportunityC.a difference   D.an impression

15.

A.present

B.happy

C.thankful

D.eager

 

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