Twenty-five years ago if you made a trip to the local library and searched for articles on globing warming, you’d probably come up with a few from the leading magazines in the world. As an Internet search on global warming now shows, the subject has become as rooted in people’s mind as Madonna or microwave cooking.
With the possible exception of another world war, a giant planet, or an incurable disease, global warming may be the largest danger to our planet. For decades human factories and cars have sent billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the climate has begun to show some signs of warming. If steps are not taken soon to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere, the result could terribly affect human life. We have already seen growing destruction, such as drought and death in Sudan, flooding in Asia, bush fires in Indonesia, and fierce winter storms in central Europe.
The Republic of Maldives is barely above sea level. Its 250, 000 citizens are scattered across 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean. A strong typhoon could spell the end for the entire country, as sea levels could continue rising. The entire population would have to be moved away as the country disappears under the sea.
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps our planet at a comfortable temperature averaging 60°F. Since the mid-nineteenth century, however, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased nearly 30% because of the increased use of fossil fuels to run cars, heat homes and power factories. Without controlling, the amount of carbon-dioxide by 2100 may increase by 30%-150% and could lift the average global temperature by up to 2.5° F the next 50 years.
【小题1】.
With the first paragraph, the author intends to       .

A．can only affect the earth in an unfavorable way

B．is something easy to control

C．is caused by human act

D．will be good to us if it remains at a proper level

Twenty-five years ago if you made a trip to the local library and searched for articles on globing warming, you’d probably come up with a few from the leading magazines in the world. As an Internet search on global warming now shows, the subject has become as rooted in people’s mind as Madonna or microwave cooking.
With the possible exception of another world war, a giant planet, or an incurable disease, global warming may be the largest danger to our planet. For decades human factories and cars have sent billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the climate has begun to show some signs of warming. If steps are not taken soon to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere, the result could terribly affect human life. We have already seen growing destruction, such as drought and death in Sudan, flooding in Asia, bush fires in Indonesia, and fierce winter storms in central Europe.
The Republic of Maldives is barely above sea level. Its 250, 000 citizens are scattered across 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean. A strong typhoon could spell the end for the entire country, as sea levels could continue rising. The entire population would have to be moved away as the country disappears under the sea.
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps our planet at a comfortable temperature averaging 60°F. Since the mid-nineteenth century, however, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased nearly 30% because of the increased use of fossil fuels to run cars, heat homes and power factories. Without controlling, the amount of carbon-dioxide by 2100 may increase by 30%-150% and could lift the average global temperature by up to 2.5° F the next 50 years.
【小题1】.
With the first paragraph, the author intends to       .

A．can only affect the earth in an unfavorable way

B．is something easy to control

C．is caused by human act

D．will be good to us if it remains at a proper level

Twenty-five years ago if you made a trip to the local library and searched for articles on globing warming, you’d probably come up with a few from the leading magazines in the world. As an Internet search on global warming now shows, the subject has become as rooted in people’s mind as Madonna or microwave cooking.

With the possible exception of another world war, a giant planet, or an incurable disease, global warming may be the largest danger to our planet. For decades human factories and cars have sent billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and the climate has begun to show some signs of warming. If steps are not taken soon to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide sent into the atmosphere, the result could terribly affect human life. We have already seen growing destruction, such as drought and death in Sudan, flooding in Asia, bush fires in Indonesia, and fierce winter storms in central Europe.

The Republic of Maldives is barely above sea level. Its 250, 000 citizens are scattered across 1,200 islands in the Indian Ocean. A strong typhoon could spell the end for the entire country, as sea levels could continue rising. The entire population would have to be moved away as the country disappears under the sea.

The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon that keeps our planet at a comfortable temperature averaging 60°F. Since the mid-nineteenth century, however, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased nearly 30% because of the increased use of fossil fuels to run cars, heat homes and power factories. Without controlling, the amount of carbon-dioxide by 2100 may increase by 30%-150% and could lift the average global temperature by up to 2.5° F the next 50 years.

1..

With the first paragraph, the author intends to        .

A. scold people for not paying enough attention to global warming

B. draw people’s attention to global warming

C. how to search for the articles on global warming

D. point out the serious effect of global warming

2..

 Global warming could affect human life in the following ways EXCEPT        .

A. producing more greenhouse gases               B. causing more floods

C. making winter storms fiercer                   D. starting more bush fires

3..

 The Republic of Maldives        .

A. has moved away their citizens

B. will be more likely to be destroyed by a strong typhoon than by the rising sea level

C. is mostly likely to be destroyed by the rising sea level

D. will have to move away most of their population

4..

. Why is the Republic of Maldives especially mentioned in the passage?

A. Because smaller countries are easier to be affected by global warming.

B. Because seaside countries are in danger of disappearing.

C. Because it’s necessary to rescue a country before the sea level rises.

 D. Because the serious result of global warming could end a whole country.

5..

. From the last paragraph, we can infer that greenhouse effect        .

A. can only affect the earth in an unfavorable way

B. is something easy to control

C. is caused by human act

D. will be good to us if it remains at a proper level

New Zealand

The Maoris

When the Maoris first arrived in New Zealand, they lived in villages and were excellent fishermen, hunters and farmers. About 50 years ago many Maoris started to live and work in the large cities and took jobs in government, industries, medicine and education. They are proud of their culture and are determined to keep many of the customs which are part of their way of life.

Who can you meet?  Most people live on North Island. Eighty-five percent of New Zealanders are “pakeha” (“white men”), which means their “great grandfathers” came from Europe. Ten percent are Maoris. The Maoris came to New Zealand from the Polynesian islands probably around the tenth century. The “pakeha” started to arrive in New Zealand from Europe about 200 years ago as farmers and traders.                                                                   

Fact box: New Zealand

Position: South of the Equator ;  Nearest neighbor: Australia, 1600 km away.

Size: Two main islands — North Island and South Island: together they are 268.680           sq. km.

Population: 4 million

Capital: Wellington

Languages: English and Maori   

56. Which of the following is a fact about New Zealand?

   A. 20% of the population being Maoris.

   B. Four million white people.

   C. About 1600 km south of the Equator.

   D. Nearly 1/3 of the country being plains.

57. The country’s population is mainly made up of  _________.

   A. the white people and the Polynesians

   B. the white people and the “pakeha”

   C. the Maoris and the white people

   D. the Maoris and the Polynesians

58. When did the white people begin to live in New Zealand?

  A. 1000 years ago.                   B. 200 years ago.

  C. 85 years ago.                     D. 50 years ago.

59. What do the Maoris value most in life?

  A. Living in small villages.            B. Developing farming skills.

  C. Keeping their own culture.          D . Taking up government jobs.