阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意, 然后从1-25各题所给的四个选项中, 选出一个最佳答案。

　　     Visitors to Britain are always complaining about English food. But they don't really know 1 they are talking 2 because they rarely get 3 chance to eat it. Most of the 4 in large towns have foreign 5 who serve foreign food. 6 visitors are invited to eat 7 an English home, their hosts 8 feel they must offer them 9 foreign and exotic (异国风 味).

　　     Those of us who 10 know English food are aware that at its best it can be 11 very good. On the other 12 it is true to say that it is sometimes 13 . 14 of the problems is that we are not really interested in 15 - we eat to live, we 16 live to eat. So we don't generally 17 the necessary time and efforts (努力), which are needed to cook really good meals. We 18 food that is simple and 19 to cook, 20 ready- prepared food which only needs 21 up before eating.

　　     You can find the best English food in the country 22 the largest towns, where life is slower and people are not 23 such a hurry. But 24 , most visitors come from London. They come 25 they are interested in shopping and sightseeing. They do not come to taste the food. So why should they complain about it?　　

 What I must _______ here is _______, whatever great achievements we have made, there’s no reason for us to become self-content.

A. point out; /                                                  B. point it out; /

C. point it out; that                                    D. point out; that

We should show respect to everybody, especially our elders because they are ahead of us — in age, in wisdom and maturity, in experience and education. Our   36   have done a lot for us, directly or indirectly and most of us   37   everything to their kindness and love.

When we   38   them respect, whether it is by bowing to them, or   39    them with a smile, or offering them any help they need, it is one way of   40   our own love and gratitude to them.   41  , elders have also been through all the years you are   42   and know a little more about the world than you do.

      It is   43   that you do not agree with the belief of your elders, but this is nothing new. All younger generations have always   44   with their elders and it is these differences that bring changes in human   45  . However much you disagree with them, give them credit for their   46  .

      With changing times and   47   influences, youngsters no longer know what is interpreted as disrespect to elders. Youngsters should   48   express their views and if there are arguments, they should not   49   their voices.

If there is no space on sofas or chairs, children will immediately   50   their places, and sit on the carpet. In buses and trains, youngsters are   51   to give up their places to older people. This is not a   52   of who has more rights. It is simply that those who are younger have the strength to bear   53  , or tolerate unpleasantness, so it is natural to show consideration to those who are older and perhaps at a   54   disadvantage.

When you do simple things as a mark of respect, elders become   55   that youngsters care for them, and they respond with affection and kindness.

1.A. youngsters B. elders      C. parents          D. juniors

2. A. devote    B. owe          C. pay              D. contribute

3.A. show       B. explain        C. exhibit            D. point

4. A. greeting      B. receiving        C. declaring    D. showing

5. A. expressing   B. describing        C. sending          D. suggesting

6.A. However    B. Therefore       C. Besides          D. Though

7. A. experiencing with                     B. going through       

C. suffering from                      D. worrying out

8.A. maybe      B. likely       C. possible       D. probably

9.A . quarreled B. dealt   C. lived        D. disagreed

10. A. community    B. organization  C. society     D. public

11.A. experience    B. reality      C. emotion      D. information

12. A. cultural     B. special      C. environmental    D. position

13.A. quietly       B. slightly C. silently     D. coldly

14. A. rise     B. raise        C. support      D. force

15.A. give away B. get rid of   C. give up      D. send out

16. A. expected B. forced   C. needed       D. reminded

17.A. doubt     B. question C. wonder       D. challenge

18. A. suffering    B. upset    C. trouble      D. discomfort

19.A. serious       B. light        C. heavy            D. slight

20.A. aware     B. alive        C. knowing      D. sensible

After about one hour of the play between China and Korea, the ______ was 3-2 in our ______.

A. score; favour                  B. score; side                       C. point; favour                   D. point; side

Skeptics are a strange lot. Some of them refuse to admit the serious threat of human activities to the environment, and they are tired of people who disagree with them. Those people, say skeptics, spread nothing but bad news about the environment. The “eco-guilt” brought on by the discouraging news about our planet gives rise to the popularity of skeptics as people search for more comforting worldviews.

Perhaps that explain why a new book by Bjorn Lomborg received so much publicity. That book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, declares that it measures the “real state of the world” as fine. Of course, another explanation is the deep pockets some big businesses with special interests. Indeed, Mr. Lomborg’s views are similar to those of some Industry-funded organizations, which start huge activities though the media to confuse the public about issues like global warming.

So it was strange to see Mr. Lomborg’s book go largely unchallenged in the media though his beliefs were contrary to most scientific opinions. One national newspaper in Canada ran a number of articles and reviews full of words of praise, even with the conclusion that “After Lomborg, the environmental movement will begin to die down.”

Such one-sided views should have immediately been challenged. But only a different review appeared in Nature, a respected science magazine with specific readership. The review remarked that Mr. Lomborg’s “preference for unexamined materials is incredible (不可信的)”。

A critical (批判的) eye is valuable, and the media should present information in such a way that could allow people to make informed decisions. Unfortunately, that is often inaccessible as blocked by the desire to be shocking or to defend some special interests. People might become half-blind before a world partially exhibited by the media. That’s a shame, because matters concerning the health of the planet are far too important to be treated lightly.

1. According to the passage, which of the following may be regarded as “skeptics”?

A. People who agree on the popularity of “eco-guilt”.

B. People who disbelieve the serious situation of our planet.

C. People who dislike the harmful effect of human activities.

D. People who spread comforting news to protect our environment.

2.Which of the following can be a reason for the popularity of Lomborg’s books?

A. Some big businesses intend to protect their own interests.

B. The book challenges views about the fine state of the world.

C. The author convinces people to seek comforting worldviews.

D. Industry–funded media present confusing information.

3.The author mentioned the review in Nature in order to_____.

A. voice a different opinion

B. find fault with Lomborg’s book 

C. challenge the authority of the media

D. point out the value of scientific views.

4.What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?

A. To encourage the skeptics to have a critical eye.

B. To warn the public of the danger of half–blindness with reviews.

C. To blame the media’s lack of responsibility in presenting information.

D. To show the importance of presenting overall information by the media.