Sunny countries are often poor. A shame, then, that solar power is still quite expensive. Eight19, a British company by Cambridge University, has, however, invented a novel way to get round this. In return for a deposit of around $10 it is supplying poor Kenyan families with a solar cell able to generate 2.5 watts of electricity, a battery that can deliver a three amp(安培)current to store this electricity, and a lamp whose bulb is a light-emitting diode(二极管).The firm thinks that this system, once the battery is fully charged, is enough to light two small rooms and to power a mobile-phone charger for seven hours. Then, next day, it can be put outside and charged back up again. 

The trick is that, to be able to use the electricity, the system's keeper must buy a scratch card—for as little as a dollar—on which is printed a reference number. The keeper sends this reference, plus the serial number of the household solar unit, by SMS to Eight19. The company's server will respond automatically with an access code to the unit.

Users may consider that they are paying an hourly rate for their electricity. In fact, they are paying off the cost of the unit. After buying around $80 worth of scratch cards—which Eight19 expects would take the average family around 18 months—the user will own it. He will then have the option of continuing to use it for nothing, or of trading it in for a bigger one, perhaps driven by a 10-watt solar cell.

In that case, he would go then through the same process again, paying off the additional cost of the upgraded kit at a slightly higher rate. Users would therefore increase their electricity supply steadily and affordably.

According to Eight19's figures, this looks like a good deal for customers. The firm believes the average energy-starved Kenyan spends around $10 a month on oil—enough to fuel a couple of smoky lamps—plus $2 on charging his mobile phone in the market-place. Regular users of one of Eight19's basic solar units will spend around half that, before owning it completely. Meanwhile, as the cost of solar technology falls, it should get even cheaper.

1.What should the user do when the electricity in the battery is used up?

A.Recharge it outside.                     B.Buy another solar cell.

C.Return it to the company.                 D.Buy a scratch card.

2.How much would users pay for the cell and scratch cards before they own a 2.5-watt solar cell?

A.Around $10.       B.Around $80.       C.Around $180.      D.Around $90.

3.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.

A.Kenyan families would find it difficult to afford the solar cell

B.the company will make a great profit from selling solar cells

C.few Kenyan families use mobile phones for lack of electricity

D.using the solar cell would help Kenyan families save money

4.What might be the most suitable title for the passage?

A.Solar Energy: Starting from Scratch.

B.Eight19: a creative British Company.

C.Kenyan Families: Using Solar Energy for Free.

D.Poor Countries: Beginning to Use Solar Energy.

 

We use an average of 158 liters of water a day in Britain, for which we pay a bargain price of 28p a liter, but much of this is just cash down the drain, according to water companies.

Most are campaigning to cut the amount we use. And the frontline weapon in their campaign is the water meter (计量器). They want us all to have one and one company is seeking powers to make this compulsory.

The Government is anxious for us to use less water, too. Elliot Morley, the Environment Minister, says he is impressed by the savings when a meter is installed. In most homes, consumption drops by 20 percent.

He also thinks consumers get a good deal from meters. He said, “Most people would find that they would either be exactly the same or better off with water meters and it is a fairer way of paying for water.”

At present, only 25% of households have meters and most of those are in East Anglia. They are installed by water companies, and households then have about £43 added to each bill to cover the cost of installing and reading the meter.

Barrie Clarke, a spokesman for Water UK, said, “We want everyone to be more water wise—to think about the amount of water they use. But with our climate change and different weather patterns, over time it will make economic and environmental sense to think how we use water. This may mean meters.”

Mr. Clarke believes the easiest way to save water is to use less in the garden. In one hour, a sprinkler uses the same amount of water as the average family of four uses in a day—about 632 liters. He said that gardeners should water in the evening so that it dose not evaporate in the heat of the day and that every household should have a water butt to collect rainwater for use in the garden.

1.Which of the following is NOT the advantage of installing water meters?

A.Water consumption drops.

B.It’s fairer to pay for water.

C.They’re installed for free.

D.People are more water wise.

2.The passage implies that ________.

A.water meters are welcome by British people

B.people will be better off with water meters

C.everyone has become wiser to use water now

D.saving water is both good to economy and environment

3.How many liters of water does an average family of four use in a day after installing a meter in Britain?

A.about 126 liters                        B.about 158 liters

C.about 506 liters                         D.about 632 liters

4.The underlined word “evaporate” in the last paragraph means _________.

A.change into steam and disappears

B.absorb the heat of the day

C.sink into the soil

D.turn into ice

5.According to Mr. Clarke, some good ways to save water are as follows EXCEPT ________.

A.using less on the garden

B.using a sprinkler

C.watering in the evening

D.gathering rainfall for garden use

 

 

When you see homework covering the kitchen table and toys are piling up around the sofa, you probably wish there was a bit more space. You are not alone. Nearly a third of parents say they feel squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move to a bigger property, a report reveals today.

Twenty-nine perc

ent say “their property is too small to fit the size of their family—rising to 40 percent for those 34 and under”. One in four children is ‘forced to share’ a bedroom, according to the Finda-Property. Com website. Property analyst Samantha Baden said: “Afford-ability remains a key issue for families, with the average cost of a three-bedroom home around £193,000.”Very few can afford to buy or to rent a property of the size they want and in the area they desire to live in, according to Miss Baden.

A recent report, from investment firm LV, also found that many ‘space-starved parents’are pushed into a two-bedroom home which was perfect when they were a young couple, but has no space for three or so children. Grown-up children who cannot afford to leave homo are also adding to the problem facing families in Britain’s ‘big squeeze’.

For a home to be the correct size, which means it is not overcrowded, parents must have their own bedroom. Children under ten can share, as well as same-sex children between ten and 20.Anyone over 21 also needs their own room.

The report comes as official figures, published yesterday by the Land Registry, revealing house prices are falling sharply in every region except London. The worst – hit area is the North East where average house prices have fallen to below £100, 000 for the first time in seven years. However, they remain unaffordable for millions. 1.According to Paragraph 1, the report reveals         .

A. children like to do homework in the kitchen

B. some families can’t afford a bigger property

C. only a few families have housing problem

D. people are satisfied with their living condition

2.What Miss Baden said in Paragraph 2 means         .

A. most families don’t have enough money yet

B. no family could afford a three - bedroom home

C. it is common to live in a three - bedroom home

D. the price of a bigger property is still acceptable

3.The report from the investment firm LV shows         .

A. young couples should live in a two - bedroom home

B. families with three or so children couldn’t afford a home

C. parents should buy houses for their grown - up children

D. some grown - up children couldn’t afford a separate home

4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A. House prices are falling down everywhere.

B. People are able to buy a home of correct size.

C. The house prices in London has not fallen down.

D. The North East is now an area suitable to live in.

 

How good are U.S. drivers?

The CBS TV “National Drivers Test” showed that many U.S. drivers have a lot to learn. Here’s why:

CBS picked 1,799 samples(被实验者) to take the test in TV studios in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles. More than two out of five of the drivers failed the test. And the average score was the lowest passing mark-51 points out of a possible 80.

Chicago drivers did best with an average of 53 points. Los Angeles drivers came next with 52 points. New York and Philadephia drivers tied(得同样的分数) with 50 points-a failing score. Drivers with 50 points or less were rated(被评价为) “poorly informed” by the judges.

Here are some of the test results:

(1) Are men better informed drivers than women?-Yes. Men averaged 52 points. Women got average of 49.

(2) Are older drivers better informed than younger drivers?-No. Drivers under 26 averaged 52 points. Drivers from 27 to 45 averaged 51. Driver over 45 failed with 48 points on average.

(3) Does education make a difference?-Yes. College graduates averaged 52 points. High school graduates averaged 50. Those without high school diplomas(文凭) got 48. And people who had taken driver education courses scored an average of 53 points-three more than those who hadn’t.

(4) Does driving experience make a difference?-Yes. Drivers with three or more years’ experience averaged 51 points. Drivers with less experience averaged 49.

Here are some surprising facts brought out by the test:

(1)More than one out of three drivers did not know that a blinking(闪烁) red light means a full stop. (2)Three out of ten drivers did not know that an octagonal (eight-sided) sign means stop.

(3)More than two of three drivers did not know what to do when being “tailgated”(危险地,紧接另一辆驶) The answer: slow down, drive to the right, and let the driver behind pass.

The results of the test were turned over to the National Safety Council. They will help future safety planning.

1.The author’s purpose is to ___________.

A.prove that men are better drivers than women

B.give you safe driving tips(提示)

C.tell you the results of a national drivers test.

D.urge you to get an education.

2.From the information in this article, you could say that _________.

A.older drivers are better informed than younger drivers

B.experience makes difference among drivers

C.most drivers failed the test

D.most people don’t know what a blinking red light means

3.Which of the following as a group was rated “poorly informed” by the judges?

A.Men.

B.High school graduate drivers.

C.Drivers from 27 to 45 years of age.

D.Drivers with 3 or more years’ experience.

4.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A.Men are better informed than women.

B.Education makes no difference in the pass rate of the drivers.

C.Chicago drivers are the best informed drivers in America.

D.The test results will be used as a guide for future safety planning.

 

There are two methods by which hydrogen (氢) can be used to power cars. The first way is to use hydrogen to drive the engine, in much the same way as many cars use gas. The second method is to use the reaction of hydrogen with oxygen in a battery, making the car a kind of electric one.

The dream of producing hydrogen in the car while driving along by electrolyzing(电解)water is a long way off, so we are still at the period of batteries and filling the tank with hydrogen gas. This is the difficulty for potential car users and producers. There are only sixteen hydrogen filling stations in Los Angeles and none in 99% of other cities worldwide.

Indeed, some of the big name automobile producers have pulled out of the race to put the first practical hydrogen car on the streets. Ford and GM have announced that they are pulling out in America and so has Renault in France.

However, the Japanese companies are pressing on. In fact, Honda introduced its first hydrogen fuel cell car in 1999. They are now producing second generation hydrogen car known as the FCX Clarity. Guess where they are available for sale? In only one city because of its filling stations.

Honda thinks that they could go into full-scale production of the FCX Clarity by 2020 if the world is prepared for them by then.

Then there are hydrogen-powered buses in several European cities including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg, London, Luxembourg and Madrid. Lotus, the makers of London taxis, have announced that they propose to manufacture hydrogen-powered taxis in time for the London Olympics.

So, the hydrogen vehicle is out there and the numbers will be growing fairly soon. The buses go back to their bus station, where an electrolyzing machine changes water into fuel for them to fill up on and the same will be the case for many of London’s taxis.

Unfortunately, getting fuel is not the only difficulty for the average motorist, a number of these vehicles cost about $300,000 each.

1.According to the text, hydrogen-powered buses ________.

A.can easily be filled up with gas.

B.are likely to sell well in the future.

C.are mainly used in the United States

D.won’t be used in the London Olympics

2.What does the underlined word “them” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A.Japanese companies

B.Hydrogen buses

C.The FCX Clarity

D.Filling stations

3.Where are hydrogen cars currently available for sale?

A.In Barcelona

B.In Hamburg

C.In London

D.In Los Angeles

4.We can learn from the text that ________.

A.there are sixty hydrogen filling stations all over the world

B.hydrogen vehicles fueled by water will be very expensive

C.Honda will mass-produce the FCX Clarity by 2012

D.Honda produced its first hydrogen car in 1989

 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网