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, let alone that there was a problem with it,” says Bruce Anderson, president of Earth Day USA.

But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement. Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots 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 (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 tons. The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced 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. environmental problems

C. recycling techniques

D. the importance of Earth Day

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

A. The business circle              B. Government officials

C.The grass–roots level            D. University professors

3.What have Americans achieved in environmental protection?

A. They have cut car emissions to the lowest.

B They have reduced pollution through effective measures.

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

D. They have settled their environmental problems.

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

A. Planning             B. Education

C. Green living         D. CO reduction

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：文章主要介绍了美国在环境保护方面取得的成就。第一个“地球日”开始于1970年，在此之前，美国民众对环境一点也不了解，更别说知道环境问题的存在了。

1.We didn’t know at that time that there even was an environment, let alone that there was a problem with it”可知，在1970年以前，人们不知道环境的存在，更别说知道环境问题了。说明美国人在1970年以前对环境问题不了解，故选B。

2.Business people, political leaders, university professors, and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement.”可知，环保行动主要得到了普通的美国民众的支持，grass-roots意为“平民百姓”，故选C。

3.emissions (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 tons. The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9”可知，车辆排放的废气已经降到了每年5.5吨，超出一氧化碳排放标准的城市减少到了9个，说明美国采取措施减少了环境污染，故选B。

4.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.”可知，现在，关于环保的教育项目几乎无处不在，最后一段主要讲的是教育对环保的影响，故选B。

考点：环保类短文阅读