Note: 1gigawtt = 1000 megawatts

SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is cleaning up its manufacturing operations in China to reduce the air pollution caused by the factories that have assembled (装配) hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads during the past eight years.

The world's most valuable company is working with its Chinese suppliers to eventually produce 2.2 gigawatts of solar power and other renewable energy.

The commitment announced Wednesday represents Apple's latest attempt to prevent the popularity of its devices and digital services from increasing the carbon emissions that are widely believed to change the Earth's climate.

Apple Inc. estimates (估计) 20 million tons of greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided as more of its suppliers rely on renewable energy between now and 2020. That's like having four million fewer cars on the road for a year.

Panels capable of generating (生产) about 200 megawatts of solar power will be financed by Apple in the northern, southern and eastern regions of China, where many of its suppliers are located. The company is teaming up with its Chinese suppliers to build the capacity for the remaining 2 gigawatts of renewable energy, which will be a mix of solar, wind and hydroelectric power.

Foxconn, which runs the factory where the most iPhones are assembled, is pledging to contribute 400 megawatts of solar power as part of the 2-gigawatt commitment. The solar panels to be built by 2018 in China's Henan Province are supposed to produce as much renewable energy as Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory consumes while making iPhones.

Apple has made protecting the environment a higher priority since Tim Cook replaced the late Steve Jobs as the company's CEO four years ago.

"Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now," Cook said in a statement. "The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose."

Apple just completed projects in China that generate 40 megawatts of solar energy to cover the power required by its 24 stores and 19 offices in the country. All of Apple's data centers, offices and stores in the U.S. already have been running on renewable energy.

"When you look at all the air pollution in China, all the manufacturing that is done there has a lot to do with it, so this is a significant step in the right direction," said Gary Cook, a senior analyst for Greenpeace, a group devoted to protecting the environment.

Apple also has a financial motivation to help make China a better place to live. The greater China region is Apple's second biggest market behind the U.S. Tim Cook has made it clear that he wants the company to make even more progress as rising incomes enable more of China's population to buy smart phones and other gadgets.

Apple can easily afford to go green. The company had $203 billion in cash at the end of June. This story has been reflected to correct that Apple and its suppliers haven't set a timetable for producing the 2.2 gigawatts of renewable energy in China.

1.The commitment announced Wednesday shows that ______.

A. Apple wanted to change its public image eagerly

B. Apple wanted to contribute to protecting the environment

C. Apple wanted to cut down its expenses by using renewable energy

D. Apple wanted to stop the popularity of its product from polluting the environment

2.It is estimated that with Apple's new commitment, ______.

A. There will be four million fewer cars on the road for a year

B. 20 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided

C. Much of its greenhouse gas pollution will be avoided between now and 2020

D. China will become Apple's second biggest market behind the US

3.Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A. Apple has enough cash in store for switching to renewable energy supply.

B. The 2 gigawatts of renewable energy will be a mix of solar, wind and electric power.

C. Apple's data centers, offices and stores already have been running on renewable energy.

D. Apple will eventually produce 2.2 gigawatts of solar power and other renewable energy.

4.What is Gary Cook's attitude towards Apple's commitment?

A. Optimistic B. Supportive

C. Doubtful D. Indifferent

5.Where is this passage probably taken from?

A. A science report. B. A textbook.

C. An advertisement. D. A newspaper.

I love charity shops and so do lots of other people in Britain because you find quite a few of them on every high street. The charity shop is a British institution, selling everything from clothes to electric goods, all at very good prices. You can get things you won't find in the shops anymore. The thing I like best about them is that your money is going to a good cause and not into the pockets of profit-driven companies, and you are not damaging the planet, but finding a new home for unwanted goods.

The first charity shop was opened in 1947 by Oxfam. The famous charity's appeal to aid postwar Greece had been so successful that it had been flooded with donations. They decided to set up a shop to sell some of these donations to raise money for that appeal. Now there are over 7,000 charity shops in the UK. My favorite charity shop in my hometown is the Red Cross shop, where I always find children's books, all 10 or 20 pence each.

Most of the people working in the charity shops are volunteers, although there is often a manager who gets paid. Over 90% of the goods in the charity shops are donated by the public. Every morning you see bags of unwanted items outside the front of shops, although they don't encourage this, rather ask people to bring things in when the shop is open.

The shops have very low running costs, and all profits go to charity work. Charity shops raise more than £110 million a year, funding medical research, overseas aid, supporting sick and poor children, homeless and disabled people, and much more. What better places to spend your money? You get something special for a very good price and a good moral sense. You provide funds to a good cause and step lightly on the environment.

1.The author loves the charity shop mainly because of ______.

A. its convenient location

B. its great variety of goods

C. its spirit of goodwill

D. its nice shopping environment

2. The first charity shop in the UK was set up to ______ .

A. sell cheap products

B. deal with unwanted things

C. raise money for patients

D. help a foreign country

3. Which of the following is TRUE about charity shops?

A. The operating costs are very low.

B. The staff are usually well paid.

C. 90% of the donations are second-hand.

D. They are open twenty-four hours a day.

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