Question

    Since the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans have gotten a lot “greener” toward the environment. “We didn’t know at that time that there even was an environment, especially we didn’t know that there was a problem with it,” says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA.

But what began as nothing important in public affairs (公共事件) has grown into a social movement. Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots (草根) Americans are taking part in the movement. “The understanding has increased many, many times,” says Gaylord Nelson, the former governor from Wisconsin, who thought up the first Earth Day.

According to US government reports, emissions from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 million tons. The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced (减少) from 40 to 9. Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with, the world is a safer and healthier place. A kind of “green thinking” has become part of practices.

Great improvement has been achieved. In 1988 there were only 600 recycling programs; today in 1995 there are about 6,600. Advanced lights, motors, and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution.

Twenty-five years ago, there were hardly any education programs for environment. Today, it’s hard to find a public school, university, or law school that does not have such a kind of program. “Until we do that, nothing else will change!” says Bruce Anderson.

1.According to Anderson, before 1970. Americans had little idea about ________.

A.the social movement B.recycling techniques

C.environmental problems D.the importance of Earth Day

2.Where does the support for environmental protection mainly come from?

A.The business men. B.Common people.

C.Government officials. D.University professors.

3.What have Americans achieved in environmental protection?

A.They have cut car emissions to the lowest.

B.They have solved their environmental problems.

C.They have lowered their CO levels in forty cities.

D.They have reduced pollution by taking active actions.

4.What does the underlined word “emissions” mean in the passage?

A.热量 B.尾气 C.燃油 D.污染

5.What is especially important for environmental protection according to the last paragraph?

A.Education. B.Planning. C.Green living. D.Green thinking.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.B

5.A

【解析】

本文介绍了自从1970年第一个地球日成立以来，美国的环境问题有了很大的改善。以前在公共事物中无足轻重的环境问题现在成了一项社会关注的问题，从科学家到大学教授到贫民百姓都有了环保意识。此外作者还指出教育在这种变化方面也起着非常重要的作用。

1.细节理解题。根据“We didn’t know at that time that there even was an environment, especially we didn’t know that there was a problem with it”可知，1970年之前。美国人对环境问题几乎一无所知。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据“Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement.”可知，对环境保护的支持主要来自于美国民众。故选B。

3.推理判断题。A项：他们把汽车尾气排放量降到了最低；B项：他们已经解决了环境问题；C项：他们降低了40个城市的二氧化碳水平；D项：他们采取积极行动减少了污染。根据“According to US government reports…Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with…”和“Great improvement has been achieved.”可知，美国采取措施取得了很大的进步，但是问题仍然存在，ABC三项表述不正确。故选D。

4.词句猜测题。根据其后“from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 million tons”可知，汽车和卡车的尾气排放量从每年1030万吨下降到550万吨。故选B。

5.推理判断题。根据“Twenty-five years ago, there were hardly any education programs for environment.”可知，25年前，几乎没有任何环境教育项目，所以最后一段主要是强调教育对环境保护尤为重要。故选A。