"People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that
would help deal with climate change," the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer.
     Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that
people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further.
     Pachauri, who was re-elected the panel's chairman for a second six-year term last week, said diet change
was important because of the huge greenhouse gas emissions (排放) and other environmental problems
associated with raising cattle and other animals. "It was relatively easy to change eating habits compared to
changing means of transport," he said.
     The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation has estimated that meat production ac counts for nearly a
fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. These are produced during the production. For example, ruminants
(反芻動(dòng)物), particularly cows, emit a gas called methane, which is 23 times more effective as a global
warming agent than give off CO₂.
     Pachauri can expect some opposite responses from the food industry to his advice, though last night he
was given unexpected support by Masterchef presenter and restaurateur John Torode. "I have a little bit and
enjoy it," said Torode. "Too much for any person is bad. But there's a bigger issue here: where the meat
comes from. If we all bought British and stopped buying imported food, we'd save a huge amount of carbon
emissions."
     Professor Robert Watson, the chief scientific adviser for the Department for Environment Food and Rural
Affairs, said government could help educate people about the benefits of eating less meat, but it should not
regulate. "Eating less meat would help, there's no question about that," Watson said.
     However, Chris Lamb, head of marketing for pig industry group BPEX, said the meat industry had been
unfairly targeted and was working hard to find out which activities had the biggest environmental impact and
reduce them. "Some ideas were contradictory," he said. "For example, one solution to emissions from cattle
and other animals was to keep them indoors, but this would damage animal welfare. Climate change is a very
young science and our view is ther are a lot of simple solutions being proposed."

1. What is directly related to global warming?

A. Consumption of meat.
B. Growth of cattle.
C. Methane from ruminants.
D. Processing of meat.

2. Who holds a view opposite to the others' in the passage?

A. Rajendra Pachauri.
B. John Torode.
C. Robert Watson.
D. Chris Lamb.

3. It is implied in the passage that _____.

A. we should try to keep away from cattle
B. ruminants should not be left outdoors
C. the meat industry will soon close down
D. we must do our duty to save the earth

4. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A. Less meat, slower global warming
B. More animals, more greenhouse gas
C. Less imported food, better our environment
D. Greater diet change, smaller climate change

                                                        Going soy is the way to go green
     In 1829, U.S. farmers grew soybeans (大豆) for the first time. In the late 1800s, lots of farmers began
to grow soybeans as food for cattle. In 1904, at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, George Washington
Carver began studying the soybean. His discoveries changed the way people thought about the soybean. No
longer was it just a crop for cattle； it provided valuable protein and oil. Now soybean oil is the most popular
source for an alternative fuel.
     Fueling diesel (柴油) engines with vegetable oil started with the inventor Rudolf Diesel. When Diesel
showed his engine at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, it was running only on peanut oil, a kind of biodiesel.
According to the United Soybean Board, biodiesel is a fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats.
     However, over the next 100 years, diesel fuel was made largely from petroleum (石油). Interest was
renewed in biodiesel in the mid-1970s when the energy shortage occurred, and gas prices surged upward
throughout the United States. In spite of these conditions, commercial production did not take place until much
later. In 1999, The National Biodiesel Board reported that 500 000 gallons per day were produced. In 2000,
production increased t0 6. 7 million gallons per day.
     With the continual rising costs of petroleum products in the new century, major corp orations and the
United States government have looked to new markets. Farmers are encouraged to grow soybeans in their
fields, as the demand for soybean fuel increases. They can now get several gallons of fuel per acre of soybean.
     Biodiesel is created by removing a thick liquid called glycerin from soybean oil. It is registered with the
US Environmental Protection Agency as a pure fuel, which is known as B100, or as a fuel additive, which is
called B20, a mixture of 20 percent soy and 80 percent petroleum-based diesel.
     There are many benefits of soybean fuel.
     Studies have shown that biodiesel from vegetable oil reduces petroleum consumption when used in place
of petroleum diesel.
     In addition, the use of biodiesel reduces CO2 in the earth's atmosphere. This is due to the fact that growing
soybeans consumes nearly four times as much CO2 as the amount of CO2 produced from biodiesel waste
gases.
     If you ever want to take a ride in a car or bus powered by soybeans, you can. The Agriculture Research
Center (ARS) National Visitor Center bus, which is used for Beltsville, Maryland farm tours, is running on
biodiesel fuel.
     ARS scientists are conducting biodiesel fuel research, and they are trying to find ways to make fuel from
vegetable oils, animal fats, and used restaurant oils.
     Biodiesel fuel costs more than regular diesel fuel. However, the price may drop if people use it more. We
can look to the future with the hope that clean fuel sources will continue to be widespread in the United States
and even around the world.

     Everglades National Park is the most endangered national park in America. The purpose of making a
national park is to protect the plants and animals that live there. But things that happen outside the park
also affect the life within it.
     Everglades National Park is part of a much larger area known as the Everglades. At one time, water
flowed freely in the Everglades. During the rainy season, water would fill the Kissimmee River. Then it
flowed into Lake Okeechobee. Once the lake became full, water spilled over onto the flatland. From there
a shallow sheet of water moved slowly down the Florida Peninsula. Then it emptied into Florida Bay. This
shallow sheet of water was the Everglades River. It was only a few inches deep. But it was up t0 50 miles
wide and over 100 miles long.
     The Everglades is home to many plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Today, some of
these plants and animals are in danger of disappearing forever.
     The main reason is that the Everglades is no longer a free-flowing river. Canals have been built to drain
(排干) most of the shallow river. People have also built a dam to hold back water from Lake Okeechobee.
Most of the water from the Everglades is trapped in man-made lakes. Cutting off the flow of water into
Everglades National Park has done more harm than good. Now it threatens the wildlife in the park.
     Water pollution is another reason some plants and animals are disappearing. Years ago, large areas of the
Everglades were drained and turned into farmland. Today the fertilizers (肥料) used on crops are polluting
the water. The "river of grass" is slowly disappearing. Many kinds of plants are disappearing. Animals that
depend on these plants for food no longer have anything to eat.
     The problems facing Everglades National Park are very serious. But there is still hope. Work is already
under way to save the Everglades. The federal government, the state of Florida, and several other groups
are all working together to try to undo the damage.

1. Why was a national park built in America? 

A. To protect people.
B. To protect the plants and animals.
C. To provide a fun place for people.
D. To keep animals from going in the park.

2. The second paragraph mainly tells us _____.

A. how water flowed into the Everglades River
B. how big Everglades River was
C. what the Everglades used to be like
D. what happened to Everglades River during the rainy season

3. The main reason for the animals being endangered is that _____.

A. there's no rain there now
B. people cut the plants that the animals feed on
C. large areas of Everglades were turned into buildings
D. the water flowing into the Everglades has been cut off

4. From the end of the passage, we know that _____.

A. nobody takes care of the Everglades
B. some measures are being taken to protect the environment of Everglades
C. the environment of Everglades will be worse and worse
D. the government is worried about Everglades but has no way

     For Americans, a mosquito bite is an itchy (發(fā)癢的) bother. But for many in Africa, a tiny bite can be
deadly. One million people die each year of malaria, a disease spread by infected mosquitoes. Most of these
people live in Africa, and are under age 5.
     Malaria can be prevented and treated. However, many African nations don't have the funds (基金) to
fight it. Nothing but Nets (NBN) hopes to change that. The United Nations Foundation created the campaign
in 2006. The aim is to prevent malaria by covering sleeping areas with nets. Hanging bed nets treated with
insecticide (殺蟲(chóng)劑) is the simplest way to stop mosquitoes from biting at night. The chemicals last four to
five years. For $10, anyone can send a net to Africa and help save a life.
     So far, NBN has raised $19 million and delivered 700 000 nets to seven countries. Families are taught how
to use the nets. Kids also get vaccines (疫苗) and vitamins. "Women line up for miles to get the medicine for
their kids," says NBN director Elizabeth McKee Gore. "They understand the importance." So do kids in this
country. "They get so excited thinking of ways to raise money," says NBN spokesperson and basketball star
Ruth Riley.
     NBN's biggest fund-raiser is Katherine Commale, a seven-year-old girl. She's been spreading the information
about bed nets for the past two years. To show how they work, she and her brother made a video. "We teach
that bed nets can save lives," she said.
     Katherine has raised $ 42 000 for NBN. "She just wants those who need a net to have one," says her morn,
Lynda. "It's pretty simple to her." To find out how you can help, visit nothingbutnets, net.

1. Why don't those African nations do something about malaria?

A. Because the disease cannot be prevented and treated.
B. Because those nations don't know what to do with it.
C. Because those nations don't have the money for it.
D. Because nothing but nets can change it.

2. The underlined word "they" here refers to "_____".

A. bed nets
B. fund-raisers
C. families who are taught to use the nets
D. Katherine and her brother

3. How does Katherine Commale raise money?

A. By visiting nothingbutnets, net.
B. By spreading information about bed nets.
C. By teaching people how to use bed nets.
D. By making video programs.

     With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone (克隆) the animal and
save the endangered species (物種). That's a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have
been undertaking for the past five years in a project called "Noah's Ark".
     Noah's Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos (胚胎), semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing
them in liquid nitrogen. If certain species should become extinct, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A &
M's College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the
species in the future.
     It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100
years. The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.
     This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into
the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.
     The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.
     "The nuclear transfer (核子移植) of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available panda eggs
could be a major problem," Kraemer believes. "They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result
in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it's difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science
if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort," adds Kraemer, who
is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A & M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog.
     "They are trying to do something that's never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah's Ark.
We're both trying to save animals that face extinction. I certainly appreciate their effort and there's a lot we can
learn from what they are attempting to do. It's a research that is very much needed."

1. The aim of "Noah's Ark" project is to _____.

A. make efforts to clone the endangered pandas
B. save endangered animals from dying out
C. collect DNA of endangered animals to study
D. transfer the nuclear of one animal to another

2. According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _____.

A. available panda eggs
B. host animals
C. qualified researchers
D. enough money

3. Which of the following should be the best title for the passage?

A. China's Success in Pandas Cloning
B. The First Cloned Panda in the World
C. Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas
D. China -the Native Place of Pandas Forever

4. From the passage we know that _____.

A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog
B. scientists try to implant a panda's egg into a rabbit
C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches
D. about two thousand of species will probably die out in a century

     How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments-mostly for
entertainment purposes-is fair and respectful? Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However,
most zoos remain "collection" of interesting "things" rather than protective habitats (棲息地).
     Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.
     Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having leamed
anything meaningful about the animals' natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small
spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species' name, diet, and natural range.
     The animals' normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don't usually take care of the animals' natural
needs. The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and
physical exercise. This results in unusual and self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A world-wide study
of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed
that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears
spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
     Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding (圈養(yǎng)繁殖) of endangered big
cats, Asian elephants, and other species has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot
about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species (物種) dying
out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven't we seen enough competitions to name
baby animals?
     Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons people
kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals' natural habitats.

1. How would the author describe the animals' life in zoos?

A. Dangerous.
B. Unhappy.
C. Natural.
D. Simple.

2. In the state of zoochosis, animals ____ according to the passage.

A. remain in cages
B. behave strangely
C. often attack other animals
D. enjoy walking around

3. What does the author try to argue in the passage?

A. Zoos are not worth the public support.
B. Zoos fail in their attempt to save animals.
C. Zoos should treat animals as human beings.
D. Zoos use animals as a means of entertainment.

4. The author tries to persuade readers to accept his argument mainly by ____.

A. pointing out the faults in what zoos do
B. giving examples of animals in the wild
C. questioning the way animals live
D. discussing the advantages of natural habitats

5. Although he is against zoos, the author would still admit that ____.

A. zoos have to keep animals in small cages
B. most animals in zoos are endangered species
C. some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos
D. it's acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats

     Dirty Britain Before the grass has thickened on the roadside and leaves have started growing on the trees is
a perfect time to look around and see just how dirty Britain has become. The sidewalks are stained with
chewing gum that has been spat out and the gutters (排水溝) are full of thrown away fast food cartons. Years
ago I remember traveling abroad and being saddened by the plastic bags, waste bottles at the edge of every
road. Nowadays, Britain seems to look at least as bad. What has gone wrong?
     The problem is that the rubbish created by our increasingly mobile lives lasts a lot longer than before. If it is
not cleared up and properly thrown away, it stays in the bushes for years; a semi-permanent reminder of what
a dirty little country we have now. Firstly, it is estimated that 10 billion plastic bags have been given to shoppers. These will take anything from 100 to 1,000 years to rot. However, it is not as if there is no solution to this. A
few years ago, the Irish government introduced a tax on non-recyclable carrier bags and in three months
reduced their use by 90%. When he was a minister, Michael Meacher attempted to introduce a similar
arrangement in Britain. The plastics industry was against that, of course. However, they need not have
bothered; the idea was killed before it could draw breath, leaving supermarkets free to give away plastic bags.
     What is clearly necessary right now is some sort of combined action, both individual and collective, before
it is too late. The alternative is to continue going downhill until we have a country that looks like a vast rubbish
tip (廢物場(chǎng) ). We may well be at the tipping point. Yet we know that people respond to their environment. If
things around them are clean and tidy, people behave cleanly and tidily. If they are surrounded by dirt, they
behave dirtily. Now, much of Britain looks pretty dirty. What will it look like in five years?

1. The writer says that it is a good time to see Britain before the trees have leaves because_______.

A. Britain looks perfect.
B. you can see Britain at its dirtiest.
C. you can see how dirty Britain is now.
D. the grass has thickened on the roadside.

2. According to the writer, the major problem is that __________.

A. rubbish can not be cleared up
B. rubbish lasts longer than it used to
C. our society is increasingly mobile
D. people in Britain are dirty

3. What can be learned about Michael Meacher?

A. He followed the Irish example with a tax on plastic bags.
B. He failed in his attempt to introduce a tax on plastic bags.
C. His attempt to follow the Irish example with a tax on plastic bags was welcomed.
D. He had problems with the plastics industry who weren't bothered about the tax.

4. What does the writer state in the last paragraph?

A. It's too late for people to take immediate action.
B. There is more than one solution to the problem.
C. Britain will become an extremely dirty country in five years.
D. People tend to behave according to what they see around them

     Trees are useful to man in three very important ways: they provide him woods and products; they give
him shade; and they help to prevent from droughts and floods.
     Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, man has not realized that the third of these services is the
most important. In his eagerness to draw quick profit from the trees, he has cut them down in larg
e numbers, only to find that without them he lost the best friends he had.
     Two thousand years ago, a rich and powerful country cut down its trees to build warships, with which
to gain itself an empire. It gained the empire, but without its trees its soil became hard and poor. When the empire fell to pieces, the country found itself faced with floods and starvation.
Even when a government realizes the importance of a plentiful supply of trees, it is difficult for it to
persuade the villagers to see this. The villagers want wood to cook their food with; and they can earn
money by making charcoal or selling wood to the town man. They are usually too busy or too careless to
plant and look after new trees. So, unless the government has a good system of control or can educate
the people, the forests will slowly disappear.
     This does not only mean that the villagers' sons and grandsons have fewer trees. The results are even
more serious: for where there are trees, their roots break the soil up-allowing the rain to sink in-and also
bind the soil, thus preventing its being washed away easily; but where there are no trees, the rain falls on
hard ground and flows away on the surface, causing floods and carrying away with it the rich top-soil, in
which crops grow so well. When all the top-soil is gone, nothing remains but worthless desert.

                                                          Title: 1.______

     If you're training for a marathon , a proper plan for water intake (攝入) is important. Of course,
there's the risk of dehydration (脫水).But athletes now know they can also get into trouble by drinking
too much. Too much water intake can lower levels of sodium (鈉) in the blood .The death of a 28-year
-old woman following the Boston Marathon caught the attention of many runners and led to new research.
     Experts advise long distance runners to replace the liquids they sweat out. Their goal is to try to keep
someone from not getting dehydrated by more than 2 percent of their body weight.
     One technique for deciding how much water you need is to get the exact numbers. Runners have to
weight themselves before and after a run to determine how much water they've lost. If their weight drops
by more than 2 percent, they have not drunk enough water.
     Hyponatremia occurs when runners drink so much water that blood salt levels drop off. A study
published last year tested 488 runners who completed the Boston Marathon and found 13 percent of
them had dangerously low blood salt levels. The first sign that runners may notice is slightly swelling in the
hands. They can't get their rings off, and then they might feel sick. They may not remember where they
are. In fact, most runners get enough salt to get back to normal levels by eating just one meal after a run.
Contrary to the old advice that runners should drink as much as they can to prevent dehydration , the
new research has shown that the body is a remarkable machine that actually tells you via thirst when you
need water .

1.The author of this passage is primarily concerned with            .

A. the signs and treatment for dehydration
B. the long distance runners who need help
C. how to manage water intake during a marathon
D. a 28-year-old woman who died after a Boston Marathon

2. Why do runners have to weigh themselves before and after a run ?

A. They can improve their performance in a run.
B. They can learn how much salt there is in the blood.
C. They can know the quantity of water they've lost during a run.
D. They can decide what kind of water they should take during a run.

3.What conclusion can we draw from the passage ?

A. Taking much salt during a run can avoid swelling in the body.
B. Either too much or too little of water intake is harmful.
C. A rich meal is helpful to our performance in a run.
D. We should take enough salt during a run.

4. According the passage, which of the following statements is correct ?

A. Too much water intake→blood sodium levels ?→dehydration.
B. Too much water intake→blood salt levels ?→hyponatremia .
C. No water intake→blood sodium levels↑→hyponatremia .
D. No water intake →blood salt levels ?→hyponatrenmia .