What if we could replace oil with a fuel which produced no pollution and which everybody had equal access to? The good news is that we can. In fact, we are swimming in it--- literally.

Hydrogen is one of the building blocks of the universe. Our own sun is basically a big, dense cloud of the stuff. And hydrogen can be used to create electricity for power, heat and light.

The problem is that hydrogen is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It does not exist as a material on its own, but is always part of something else. So it has to be separated before it can be used.

Most commercial hydrogen in use now is created from natural gas. As oil will start to run out in around the year 2030, it makes sense to produce as much hydrogen as possible as soon as we can. But natural gas supplies will also begin to run out soon after. Another source is needed.

Researchers are now using electricity to make water into hydrogen. Companies are working on the problem in their own areas. The first commercial hydrogen “fuel cells” for computers and mobile phones have already come on to the market. Auto companies have also invested over US $2 billion in the production of hydrogen fuelled cars.

The nations of a hydrogen fuelled planet would not fight over energy recourses. There would be a great reduction in pollution. The only by-product of creating hydrogen is pure drinking water--- something that is very scarce in many parts of the world. But that is not where the good news ends. Once the costs of producing hydrogen have been brought down, it will possibly provide power for a third of the Earth’s population that has no electricity.

And electricity creates wealth. In South Africa over the last decade there has been a large programme of electrification. Thanks to the programme, people do not have to spend their days looking firewood to burn for heat. And with electric light, they can work long into the night.

Some scientists see radical changes in the way the human race co-operates. Hydrogen creates electricity, and is also created by it. With dual use fuel cells, everyone who consumes energy could also produce it. Late at night, a man drives home in London and connects his car into the “world-wide hydrogen web,” which it supplies with electricity. A few hours later, a man in Beijing uses that electricity to power the hydrogen cell in his car. Hydrogen could be the first democratic energy source.

Like all dreams of the future, it seems very far away. But the threat of war and terrorism in the Middle East has made governments and businesses more aware of the need to end oil dependency and spend more time and money on hydrogen resource. So maybe the threat of war is not a completely bad thing for the future of the human race.

1.What does the underlined word “it” in the last but one paragraph refer to?

A. wealth                            B. hydrogen                         C. electricity                       D. fuel

2.What is the problem with using hydrogen as energy?

A. It has by-products.

B. It has to be separated from other materials.

C. It will make energy too cheap.

D. It is too far away from us.

3.Why does the author give the example in the last but one paragraph ?

A. To tell us that we produce energy while using hydrogen power.

B. To tell us that hydrogen power does not produce pollution.

C. To show hydrogen power can stop war.

D. To show hydrogen power is cheap.

4.What is the author’s attitude about the future?

A. skeptical                            B. negative              C. indifferent              D. positive

5.What is the passage mainly about?

A. war and energy                                          B. the future of hydrogen as an energy resource

C. the disadvantages of oil                        D. How to end war

 Can you explain ______ the OPEC can have such total control over the price of oil?

A. how is it that         B. that how         C. how it is that   D. what is it

On April 24^th, another natural disaster—the oil spill(泄露) in the Gulf of Mexico, happened．Millions of dollars have been used to help stop the spill and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil．Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea．
But governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage．Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run.
Of all of today's environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious．Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material．In the end, it breaks down naturally．In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Scilly Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tons of oil into the ocean．If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened．      
However, we should be thinking more about reducing our dependency on oil．Governments should be encouraging research into new technologies, such as cars run by solar power（太阳能）, electricity, hydrogen, and so on．Much of this research, in the past, was stopped by the oil, gas, and coal．
If the world's millions of cars were 10% more efficient（高效_{高☆考♂资♀源?网}的）,we would need many fewer tankers crossing the oceans each year．If this happened, the risks of oil spills would be reduced, and the air we breathe would be cleaner and fresher, too．
【小题1】What is the passage mainly talking about?

You can be proud of yourselves, even if you can only make one or two of these green changes. The goal here is to limit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are closely associated to the big problem of global-warming.
Strategy 1: Bring your own cup to Starbucks
You’ll get a 10 cent discount, and it’s one less paper cup to end up in a landfill. While you’re there, pick up some free bags of spent coffee grounds to use as ‘‘green’’ fertilizer in your garden.
The payoff: The store won’t create more waste when they throw away a cup.
Strategy2: Turn off your computer
When in standby mode, your PC is still using energy. In fact, 75percent of electricity used in your home comes from electronics that are turned off.
The payoff: Turning off a monitor for 40 hours a week may only save $5 a month, but it reduces CO2 by 750 pounds
Strategy 3: Reuse plastic bags
Instead of throwing away 100 billion plastic bags a year, try and get a second, third, or tenth use out of them. Better yet, next time you shop, try a reusable bag.
The payoff: You’re reducing pollution. The amount of oil it would take to make just 14 plastic bags would run your car for one mile.
Strategy4: Use recycled paper in the bathroom
Most of the toilet paper we use is made from trees found in forests previously untouched by humans.
The payoff: If every household replaced one roll of toilet paper with a recycled one, 424000 trees would still be standing. Look for eco-paper towels too.
Strategy5: Buy energy-efficient appliances（电器）
Replace the old fridge with an Energy Star appliance and you’ll use 15 percent less energy. It might be a little expensive to buy, but you’ll save money on your electricity bills and help the environment.
The payoff: If we all used one Energy Star appliance at home, it would be like planting 1. 7 million acres of new trees.
Strategy 6: Plant a tree
Adding green to your garden is beautiful and earth-pleasing.
The payoff: Just one tree will help make cleaner air and save the environment from 5000 pounds of hot carbon dioxide each year.
54. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Ways to save money at home
B. Ways to be earth-friendly
C. Ways to end global-warming
D. Ways to limit carbon dioxide
55. What benefits do these strategies have in common?
A. They all help reduce the use of energy like electricity.
B. They all cut down the amount of the paper.
C. They all result in producing less greenhouse gases.
D. They all help to preserve our trees and forest.
56．Which strategies suggest recycling or reuse of things?
A．Strategies 1&3    B．Strategies 2&5 
C．Strategies 3&6    D．Strategies 4&5.

On April 24^th, another natural disaster—the oil spill(泄露) in the Gulf of Mexico, happened．Millions of dollars have been used to help stop the spill and to clean up the animals, beaches, and land spoiled by the oil．Unfortunately, when many of these chemicals are used, more damage is caused to the environment, especially to lives in the sea．

But governments seem to accept the risk of transporting millions of tons of oil by ship every day so that we can fill up our cars and drive around and cause even more environmental damage．Interestingly, the biggest companies in the world produce cars, and the next biggest supply the gasoline to make them run.

       Of all of today's environmental disasters, an oil spill may actually be one of the least serious．Although oil is poisonous, it is a natural material．In the end, it breaks down naturally．In 1967 the tanker Torrey Canyon sank off the Scilly Isles near the coast of England and spilled 120,000 tons of oil into the ocean．If you go there today, you will find it hard to see any sign that it ever happened．      

       However, we should be thinking more about reducing our dependency on oil．Governments should be encouraging research into new technologies, such as cars run by solar power（太阳能）, electricity, hydrogen, and so on．Much of this research, in the past, was stopped by the oil, gas, and coal．

       If the world's millions of cars were 10% more efficient（高效_{高☆考♂资♀源?网}的）,we would need many fewer tankers crossing the oceans each year．If this happened, the risks of oil spills would be reduced, and the air we breathe would be cleaner and fresher, too．

What is the passage mainly talking about?

       A．Oil spills pollution．             B．What oil pollution is．

       C．Oil tanker accidents．            D．How to reduce oil pollution.

How does the author support the idea that oil spills are not as serious as people believe?

       A．By giving a description．          B．By making an argument．

       C．By giving an example．           D．By comparing．

Which suggestion is made for reducing oil tank accidents according to the passage?

       A．We should build safer tankers in the near future．

       B．We should develop new technologies to cut oil use．

       C．Tankers should not be allowed to sail near the coastlines．

       D．Countries should build more oil pipelines under the sea．

Where can you read this article?

       A．In a story book．           B．In a science magazine．

       C．In a novel．              D．In a travel guide．