Tuvalu, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean, has asked for help as it fears it will be swallowed up by the sea.
Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu's nine little islands is more than five metres above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country's drinking water supply, as well as damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetable. Without urgent help, the country's days are numbered.
But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24 cm over the past 100 years. Experts say that it will have sunk another 24 cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark's Square, the lowest point in the city, flooded about nine times a year. Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times. While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands, Tuvalu's rising sea level is caused by global warming.
The average global temperature has increased by almost 0. 5 centigrade degrees over the past century, scientists expect it to rise by extra 1.3 degrees over the next 100 years.
Warmer weather makes glaciers(冰川) melt, adding more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen 10.25 cm in the last 100 years.
The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal, oil and gas, people have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2. This adds to the power of the greenhouse effect, making the planet even warmer.
Many scientists believe that, if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one meter this century.
Should this come true, the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with "climate refugees" looking for somewhere to live.
1. We can infer from the second paragraph that .
A. Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea
B. all Tuvalu's islands are about five metres above the sea level
C. drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed
D. Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves
2.The author uses Tuvalu and Venice as examples in order to explain .
A. they are the first places sinking into the sea
B. they are both sinking into the mud where they stand
C. they will disappear in the future
D. their trouble is caused by global warming
3.What does "climate refugees" mean?
A. People who are forced away from their homeland by climate.
B. Climate changes.
C. Rare animals.
D. Climate effect.
4.Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Tuvalu's nine little islands are less than five meters above the sea level.
B. The average global temperature has risen by 13 centigrade degrees over the past 100 years.
C. The warmer temperature causes the sea level to rise.
D. There will be huge climate changes unless the warming is stopped.
Long-time exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain and cause trouble in learning and memory, and even anxiety. This is suggested by the results of new research on mice.
While other studies have shown the harmful effects of polluted air in the lungs and heart, this is the first to show the negative effect on the brain.
The team of Laura Fonken, Randy Nelson, from the Ohio State University, USA, has spread to the brain a previous line of research which found that fine particulate (微粒) matter floating in the air mainly because of air pollution caused by humans, causes swelling in much of the body, and may be related to high blood pressure problems, and some other diseases.
In the research Fonken and his colleagues exposed mice to polluted air for six hours each day, five days a week, over a period of 10 months, almost half the average life length of mice.
Polluted air contains fine particles created by cars, factories and natural dust. Fine particles of this kind are tiny, about 2.5 micrometers in diameter, or about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair. These particles can go deep into lungs and other organs.
The concentration of this particulate material to which they exposed mice is equal to the concentration at which people can be exposed in some polluted urban areas.
After a period of 10 months, the researchers got the animals to have a series of behavioral tests. Both the behavior of mice and the results of neurological(神经的) tests done to them show that those within the polluted air had more problems in learning and memory, and higher levels of anxiety.
The results suggest that long-time exposure to polluted air can have measurable negative effects on the human brain and can cause a variety of mental health problems. This could have important consequences for those living and working in polluted urban areas.
1.The results of new research on mice first suggest that polluted air mainly does harm to ________.
A. normal organsB. lungs and heart
C. mental healthD. blood pressure
2.The bad effects of tiny particles in polluted air are those except ________.
A. high blood pressure problems
B. making human hair thinner
C. different kinds of diseases
D. swelling in much of the body
3.From the last sentence we can infer that people living in polluted urban areas ________.
A. are likely to suffer from mental problems
B. can measure the negative effect on them
C. show little concern for air pollution
D. can be exposed to polluted air longer
4.Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
A. Long-time Exposure to Air Pollution
B. Evidence and Concern of Air Pollution
C. Measurable Effect on Human Brain
D. Mental Problems Caused by Air Pollution
最近，你校不吃早餐的人越来越多，请你以“Do not skip our breakfast”为题给校报英语专栏写一篇短文，呼吁大家改动这一不良习惯。
Do not skip our breakfast
Recently, the number of the students in our school who skip breakfast has increased greatly.
After David’s daughter was born, he decided to make one million dollars. He thought in this way his daughter would live 1. happy life.
In order to achieve his goal, David devoted most 2. his time to his business. While other fathers 3. (play) with their kids outside, he was working. While other fathers were reading stories to their kids, he was hanging out with his clients(客户). His little daughter 4. (name) Jane hardly saw him.
Time flew fast. One day, when David returned home from work, he saw Jane 5. (sit) in the living room. When she saw him, she ran to him and asked him to play with her for a while. “Sorry, Jane, but I’m 6. (terrible) busy tonight. I have a lot of work to do.” He was about to leave 7. he heard Jane crying. So he stopped and asked why. “You’re always working. You have no time for me at all. You’re not a good dad,” said Jane. David was 8. (lose) in thought after hearing that. He remembered why he worked so hard — he wanted Jane to live a happy life. However, things go contrary to his wishes. He 9. (teach) a good lesson that day. Therefore, he made a 10. (decide) to spend a lot more time with his daughter.
1.受霍乱威胁的普通人 ordinary people __________ __________ cholera
2.看来水是罪魁祸首。It seemed that the water was __________ __________.
3.他在太阳系的中心放了一个固定不动的太阳。
He placed a __________ sun at the centre of the solar system.
4.地球绕着太阳转时本身也在自转。
The earth was __________ as it went round the sun.
5.令人庆幸的是这是和平实现的。
Happily this was accomplished __________ __________.
6.英国国旗集合了三个国家的国旗。
The Union Jack flag __________ the flags of three countries.
7.她担心时间不够。
She is worried about the time __________.
1.你能弄懂这位作家在讲什么吗？
Can you __________ _________ of what this writer is saying?
2.我只有找到工作才能有足够的钱继续大学的学业。
Only if I get a job _________ ________ have enough money to continue my studies at college.
3.值得赞扬的是，杰克一直都没将那个秘密告诉任何人。
To _________ _________, Jack never told anyone that secret.
4.他在2000年写的那本书仍然很受欢迎。
His book __________ in 2000 is still popular.
5.我发现很难明白当地村民说的英语。
I found it hard to understand the English language __________ by the native villagers.
6.在我昨天购物的时候，我的摩托车被偷了。
When I went shopping yesterday, I __________ my motorbike __________.
