The air pollution was so bad in Harbin, in China, on October 21,2013 that the city had to close roads and schools, and cancel* hundreds of flights from its airport.

News reports said the smog (a mixture of smoke and fog) was so thick that people couldn’t see more than 10 or 20 metres in front of them.

It is also said that people could not even see the person standing next to them. The city’s website said: “You can’t see your own fingers in front of you.”

The local people said there was a “burning” smell in the air. Many people covered their noses and mouths with scarves or masks*.

The pollution was caused on several factors* including: farmers burning off old corn stalks* and crop stubble*; coal*-fired heating systems; and low winds that allowed the smoke to remain over the city.

The smog had been building up for several days. It became worse when the city turned on the public heating system, which uses coal to heat millions of homes and offices in the city.

Harbin has a population of more than 10 million people. It lies in northeastern China, where cold winter weather can last up to six months. The main fuel* there is coal, because it is cheaper than other types of fuel.

Air pollution from burning coal can cause health problems like heart disease. During the smog crisis* in Harbin, the number of people taken to the hospital with breathing problems was 30% higher than usual.

The city government is trying to reduce its use of coal by adding more insulation* and better roofs and windows to buildings to reduce heating needs. It has also used cleaner fuel for cars and factories.

1.The roads and schools in Harbin had to be closed on October 21, 2013 because of  ____

A. the heavy rain   B. the strong wind  C. the serious smog  D.  the terrible snow        

2.There are many reasons for the air pollution EXCEPT____________.

A. farmers burn off old corn stalks and crop stubble                   

B. people use coal to heat millions of homes and offices

C. The smoke remains over the city   because of low winds

D. Many buses and cars use cleaner fuel and so do factories.

3. What is the government trying to do when the air pollution get worse?

A. To offer cars new fuel.                          

B. To give people more masks.

C. To reduce its use of coal.               

D. To ask people to stay at home.

4.What does the passage mainly tell us?

A. The serious air pollution in China   

B. Coal-fired heating systems

C. The population crisis in Harbin      

D. The reasons for heart disease

Linda and David have traveled by air from London to Sydney, Australia． Linda has promised（答應(yīng)）her mother that she will ring her to let her know that they have arrived safely． This is something she had done ever since she was a child． David thinks it is not a good idea to ring so far, to spend too much ,and to say so little．

"If there were an accident．" He says, “they’d know soon enough ． Bad news travels fast．”

But Linda has promised that she would ring ． "However," she says, "it doesn’t cost much when you just think that it′s the other side of the world．It’s only six pence per second (每秒六便士)。"

　"If you′re on that telephone for less than one minute, I’ll eat my hat, David says," And one minute’s nearly four pounds(英鎊)．"

　"That‘s no more than you’d pay for a new hat," Linda answers．

　She has asked the man at the hotel (旅館) desk to get her the number ． The telephone rings．Linda picks it up．

　"Hello, Mum ．Is that you ?" She says．

　"Six pence per second ," David reminds(提醒) her．

　“Hello, love．” It is Mrs Lee, Linda’s mother, speaking from London． "I can hear you very clearly just like you are in the next room ．It′s a better line than when you called me from your office． Do you remember? I shouted at that time ,and still you couldn’t hear me sometimes．"

　"Yes ,Mum ．"Linda puts in．． "I just wanted to ring to ……．"

　"I remember how you rang when you went to Betty‘s house to eat , when you were a little girl．And then when you …" Mrs Lee is a great talker

　"Nearly four pounds．" says David．

　Linda tries to tell her mother that it is time to say goodbye．

　"Yes, all right, "says Mrs Lee ," But you will write, won′t you, as you did when you were at work …"

Once again, Mrs Lee talks about the pass．a(chǎn)nd there is no stopping her．

“Four pounds fifty,”says David．

　At last, Linda cuts her mother short, promises to write, and rings off．

"There! That wasn′t long, was it ?"
　　" Four pounds, ninety pence．" David answers． " And you didn’t even say that we′ve arrived．"

1．Linda is telephoning home to ________．

A．tell her mother some bad news

B．say that she and David have arrived safely

C．report an accident to her mother

D．say that she and David have left London

2．Linda does not think it expensive to ring , because _____．

A．it only costs four pounds and ninety pence

B．it is even more expensive to buy a new hat

C．she had telephoned home since she was a child

D．she will speak from one side of the word to the other

3．David says, “Nearly four pounds , ”because ______．

A．he wants to remind Linda of the cost of the cost of the call

B．he wants to buy himself a new hat

C．Linda has not told her mother they have arrived

D．he wants Mrs Lee to know how much the call costs

4．Mrs Lee goes on talking for so long because _______．

A．she likes to hear all about the past ．

B．she likes talking

C．Linda had not told her that she has arrived

D．she is going to pay for the telephone call

5．Linda tries to stop her mother by ________．

A．telling her how much the call is costing

B．writing a letter as she has promised to do

C．telling her that they have arrived safely

D．promising to write, and ringing off