Earlier this year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed a stricter nationwide health standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial benefits to millions of Americans. With a final rule expected by the end of this month, some opponents, mainly from industrial and oil-producing states, are pushing back. They say investments required to produce cleaner air are too expensive and not scientifically justified.
Lisa Jackson, the E.P.A. administrator, needs to stick to her guns. This is only the first of several political tests to come this fall, as she also seeks to tighten rules governing individual pollutants like mercury and global warming gases like carbon dioxide.
The health standard she is proposing covers ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, which is formed when sunlight mixes with pollutants from factories, refineries, power plants and automobiles. Ozone is a major health threat, contributing to heart disease and various respiratory (呼吸道的) problems.
Ms. Jackson’s proposal—to reduce the permitted level of smog in the air from the current 75 parts per billion to between 60 parts per billion and 70 parts per billion—is sensible, no matter what industry’s defenders may claim. It had been recommended by the agency’s independent scientific panel but rejected by the Bush administration, which proposed a weaker standard.
Industry will have to make investments in cleaner power plants, and new technologies may be required. As it is, about half the counties that monitor ozone levels are not yet in compliance with current standards, let alone the proposed standard.
Fears about burdening industry raised by critics like George Voinovich, a Republican of Ohio, and Mary Landrieu, a Democrat of Louisiana, cannot be dismissed out of hand, especially in the middle of a recession (萧条). But the health benefits, E.P.A. says, far outweigh the costs, and the time frame for compliance (服从) is generous.
【小题1】Why are some people strongly against a stricter limitation of smog-caused pollutants?

A.Because they have to live a poorer life.
B.Because they think they have to spend more money.
C.Because they hold different political view.
D.Because they want to make more money.
【小题2】 What does Ms Jackson propose to do?
A.To reduce the permitted smog level as much as possible.
B.To raise the permitted smog level as much as possible.
C.To keep the permitted smog level from 60 to 70 to 75 parts per billion.
D.To lower the permitted smog level from 75 to 60 to 70 parts per billion.
【小题3】What is the attitude of the author to the smog-controlling issue?
A.Objective.B.Subjective.C.Critical.D.Unknown.
【小题4】Which of the following can serve as the best title of the whole passage?
A.Cleaner power plant on the way.
B.Say no to smog pollutants.
C.Lower smog pollutant, better our life.
D.Debate on smog pollutants.


Mexico City is truly one of the most amazing cities in the world with a mixture of both the old and new world. From the moment your plane starts to land in this vast city, you know that your trip will be quite an adventure.
Once in your taxi and the moment you leave the airport, you are amazed at the large amount of slow traffic. The volume of the traffic can be stressful to some.
The "Paseo de la Reforma (改革大道)", running southwest across the city, is one of the major tourist and business areas in Mexico City with many high quality hotels only walking distance from great restaurants and other tourist attractions. The only problem you will have is trying to see all of these sites during your vacation time.
One of the most popular attractions in this area is the National Museum of Anthropology along the northwest part of the street. There are thousands of artifacts on display showing the history of the area and numerous items found from the many Aztec sites in the area. Walking southwest from the museum, you will soon reach the Mexico City Zoo, which is a great place to spend an afternoon.
Across the street from the museum is the Chapultepec Castle, once an important site in the Mexican-American war. It's also a good idea to take the train up the hill to where the castle is located as the hill is steep (陡峭的). It's important to keep in mind that Mexico City is over 7,000 feet above sea level and some feel it difficult to breathe when walking.
You can take a taxi to the Coyoacan market during the evening on a weekend. It's a great place to get some cheap souvenirs to bring back home and to enjoy some traditional Mexican cuisine. However, you must be careful where you eat and that the meat is well cooked.
55.The tourists in Mexico City may not be satisfied with______.
A.the high speed of the traffic                     B.the heavy traffic of the city
C.the polluted air in the city                               D.their safety in the city
56.From the third paragraph, we can learn that______.
A.the number of the city attractions can't meet the needs of the tourists
B.it is convenient for tourists to visit the city from where they stay
C.tourists have problems when visiting the sites in Mexico City
D.tourists often have their three meals in the high quality hotels
57.Which of the following shows the correct positions of the following places?
P =" Paseo" de la Reforma           M =" the" National Museum of Anthropology
C =" the" Chapultepec Castle       Z =" the" Mexico City Zoo

58.Which of the following attractions may interest those who want to study the military (of the army) history of Mexico City?
A.The National Museum of Anthropology.    B.The Coyoacan market.
C.The Chapultepec Castle.                          D.The Aztec sites.

One evening I went out and left my 17-year-old son and his girlfriend in charge of his 8-year-old brother and 4-year-old sister. I left with complete confidence that the older children would do a wonderful job of babysitting the younger children. Later, I discovered that I was completely wrong.
I had decided to return home earlier than planned so that my son and his girlfriend could go out. I called home with this happy news.But instead of hearing his cheerful, grateful voice on the other end of the line, all I heard was the sound of a telephone ringing.
It was, I should point out, after 10 p.m., when the two younger children should have been in bed, and when the two older children should have been answering the phone. “I’ll give him a lesson, ” I said.I decided they must be outside.Why they might be outside at 10:30 on a winter night I had no idea, but it was the only explanation I could come up with.
Finally, in desperation(绝望), I called his girlfriend’s house. His girlfriend answered.“Yes,” she said brightly, “He’s right here.”
He came on the phone.I was not my usual calm, patient.After all, one of the rules of survival for modern parents is that you can’t trust modern teenagers. “Where are the children?” I said. He said they were with him.They had done nothing wrong.My son had taken the younger children over to his girlfriend’s house just for ice cream and cake. Well, it turns out that I shouldn’t have believed it.It was only part of the truth.
The following Saturday evening we were at my parents’ home, celebrating my birthday.My oldest son gave me the children’s gifts --- a series of lovely color photographs of my children, dressed in their best clothes, and wearing their most wonderful expressions. They are pictures to treasure a lifetime, all taken by the father of my son’s girlfriend.
【小题1】The author went out and left her eldest son in charge of the younger children because
_____.

A.she knew that his girlfriend was a good baby-sitter
B.she believed he could take good care of the younger ones with the help of his girlfriend
C.the older children have always loved the younger ones
D.she could not find a baby-sitter on that winter night
【小题2】Shortly after the author left home one evening, she discovered that _____.
A.her son had brought his girlfriend home
B.her son had left home with his girlfriend
C.she shouldn’t have completely trusted her son
D.she should have taken the children along with her
【小题3】“It was only part of the truth.” implies that the children not only enjoyed ice-cream but also _____.
A.had their pictures takenB.received some gifts
C.had a birthday partyD.showed off their best clothes

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