Shopping green can make an important contribution to protecting the planet and conserving its resources.
Today’s consumer faces a wider range of choices than ever before, Add to that the steady stream of sales campaigns, and shopping smart only gets harder. To buy economically and reduce waste, safeguard health and protect the environment, you’ll need to follow some basic principles and have a clear idea of what you want.
1. Do Your Homework
Before making any major purchase, take the time to research it. Plentiful resources are usually available online. Avoid buying in a hurry, and don’t be persuaded by overenthusiastic salespeople. Sleep on it if necessary—you won’t regret giving yourself some extra time to think.
2. Take the Long View
Consider the running costs as well as the initial price of any item you buy. Many environmentally friendly products cost more to buy, but save you money in the long run. Choose items that are made to last. For example, pick a sofa that has a hardwood or steel frame rather than one made of softwood, which may break easily.
3. Skip the Disposable Option
Buy reusable products like washable cloth towels, handkerchiefs, serviettes（餐巾）and cleaning cloths rather than paper, single-use varieties. Avoid other disposable supplies like cups, glasses, and chopsticks, too.
4. Take the Local Route
Buy local products that are in season. It’s usually cheaper and fresher and has less harm to the environment. Markets and roadside stands are good sources. Some supermarkets also buy from local producers. Support it if you have one.
5. Avoid Wasteful Packaging
Better not buy products that have too much packaging. It’s estimated that approximately 10 percent of every shopping bill is actually paying for packaging—which you normally just throw away! Moreover, significant amounts of energy are used in the production of packaging. Purchasing refillable and renewable containers can also help cut this kind of waste.
1.What could be the best title for this passage?
A. Protection of the Planet
B. Green Shopping Principles
C. Environmentally Friendly Products
D. Resource Conservation
2.The underlined phrase “sleep on it” has the similar meaning with .
A. think it over B. forget about it
C. set it aside D. put it into action
3.Why does the author advise us to buy lasting products?
A. Because they are less expensive to buy.
B. Because they save money in the long run.
C. Because they will never break.
D. Because they are local products.
4.Which of the following can be considered green shopping?
A. Following the stream of sales campaigns.
B. Buying disposable chopsticks.
C. Focusing on packaging.
D. Purchasing from local markets.
In 1883. John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However, bridge building experts throughout the world thought this was an impossible mission and told Roebling to forget the idea, but Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.
The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to walk or talk or even move.
"We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams.'' "It's foolish to chase wild visions." Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built. In spite of his handicap, Washington was never discouraged.
One day he was lying on his bed in hospital, seeing the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment with the sunlight streaming through the windows, and a gentle breeze bowing the flimsy white curtains apart when an idea hit him. He decided to make the best use of the only finger he could move. Thus, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.
He touched his wife's arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.
For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife's arm until the bridge was finally completed.
1.Which of the following is true of Washington and his father?
A. They are hardworking and courageous.
B. They are stubborn and bold.
C. They are creative and persistent.
D. They are curious and modest.
2.In the third paragraph, the underlined phrase ''wild vision" refers to______.
A. the tragic accident
B. the building of the bridge
C. the brain damage
D. the discussion and persuasion
3.From the passage, we know that _______ when Roebling proposed building the bridge.
A. people all over America supported him
B. almost no bridge experts in the world supported him
C. his friends were strongly in favor of his idea
D. many people considered it would be a great project
4.The passage suggests that______.
A.NO pains, no gains.
B. Many hands make light work.
C. A lighted heart is a good medicine.
D. Passion creates wonder.
Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to link the brain with computers. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines.
Recently, two researchers, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, demonstrated a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts.
In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts.
“Our brain has billions of nerve cells. These send signals through the spinal cord (脊髓) to the muscles to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the muscles.” Tavella says. “Our system allows disabled people to communicate with external world and also to control devices.
The researchers designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp (头皮) and sends them to a computer. The computer interprets the signals and commands the motorized wheelchair. The wheelchair also has two cameras that identify objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain.
Prof. Millan, the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that interprets brain signals and turns them into simple commands. “The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two categories: communication, and controlling devices. One example is this wheelchair.”
He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can benefit from. And the other is to guarantee that they can use the technology over long periods of time.
1.BCI is a technology that can ________.
A. help to update computer systems
B. link the human brain with computers
C. help the disabled to recover
D. control a person's thoughts
2.How did Tavella operate the wheelchair in the laboratory?
A. By controlling his muscles.
B. By talking to the machine.
C. By moving his hand.
D. By using his mind.
3.Which of the following shows the path of the signals described in Paragraph 5?
A. scalp→computer→cap→wheelchair
B. computer→cap→scalp→wheelchair
C. scalp→cap→computer→wheelchair
D. cap→computer→scalp→wheelchair
4.Which of the following would be the best title for the text?
A. Switzerland, the BCI Research Center
B. New Findings About How the Human Brain Works
C. BCI Could Mean More Freedom for the Disabled
D. Robotic Vehicles Could Help to Cure Brain Injuries
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并从答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
I had been playing hockey（冰球）for about 10 years. I was always the one sitting at the end of the bench, and got into a game. I went to all the and showed up even when it was so that your ‘breath froze’ and when the other players had decided to stay home. I felt I had enough and thought of quitting.
I finally decided to the news to my mom that I was leaving the team. My mom may have looked like a tiny and quiet lady but on my words, she said, “Remember, ‘A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.’ Your mother didn’t raise , so think about yourself in a way and see yourself as a winner!” So I worked harder than ever at getting in better shape, my shot accuracy and changing my .
Once in a match, we our first game badly. What’s worse, one of our best players got hurt. I was sitting at my place, at the end of the bench, when the coach came over and told me I was going , I was nervous, excited and terrified all at the same time.
The opposing team was fast and I had to admit I was a little . But my mom’s words out in my head like a church bell. Instead of being afraid, I was “pumped” and I very quickly found that all my work was paying off. I was as fast a skater as anyone else on the ice, and I seemed to get the to score. The crowd went quiet. All the time I spent on the ice when everyone had gone home had _____ me for this moment.
Won! I won!
The lesson I learned from my mom’s has stayed with me over the years. I hear them whenever I am faced with a challenge, or whenever I myself.
1.A. once B. seldom C. usually D. even
2.A. meeting B. shows C. matches D. practices
3.A. cloudy B. wet C. cold D. windy
4.A. suffered B. explained C. planned D. escaped
5.A. write B. tell C. read D. report
6.A. noticing B. gathering C. hearing D. analyzing
7.A. talkers B. dreamers C. attackers D. losers
8.A. positive B. familiar C. brief D. convenient
9.A. testing B. improving C. questioning D. affecting
10.A. aim B. taste C. habit D. attitude
11.A. lost B. controlled C. practiced D. continued
12.A. usual B. safe C. secret D. private
13.A. off B. in C. by D. up
14.A. annoyed B. nervous C. delighted D. bitter
15.A. ran B. gave C. stood D. rang
16.A. delicate B. extra C. creative D. casual
17.A. chance B. message C. order D. note
18.A. spared B. requested C. prepared D. sent
19.A. actions B. reasons C. words D. promises
20.A. judge B. express C. comfort D. doubt
It is shown that men have as women do on average while driving according to recent statistics.
A. twice as many serious accidents
B. serious accidents as twice many
C. twice serious accidents as many
D. serious accidents as many twice
Not until the train pulled into the station that his suitcase was gone.
A. did he find B. had he found C. he had found D. he found
