Many people think the search for cleaner energy leads only to renewable resources like sun, wind and water. But it also leads to a fossil fuel. Natural gas is considered the cleanest of the fossil fuels, the fuel created by plant and animal remains over millions of years. Burning it releases fewer pollutants than oil or coal. The gas is mainly methane (甲烷). It produces half the carbon dioxide of other fossil fuels. So it may help cut the production of carbon gases linked to climate change.
Russia is first in what are called "proved reserves" of natural gas. The United States is sixth. Over the years, big oil and gas companies recovered much of the easily reached supplies of gas in America. They drilled straight down into formations where gas collects. As these supplies were used up, big drillers looked for similar formations in other countries.
But now the industry is taking a new look. Companies are developing gas supplies trapped in shale (页岩) rock two to three thousand meters underground. They drill down to the shale, then go sideways and inject high-pressure water, sand or other material into the rock. This causes the rock to fracture, releasing the gas. Huge fields of gas shale are believed to lie under the Appalachian Mountains, Michigan and the south-central states. Gas shale exploration is being done mainly by small to medium sized companies. Eric Potter, a program director, says more than half the gas in the United States is now coming from these new reserves.
But hydraulic (液压的) fracturing can also produce debate and anger over the risk of groundwater pollution. This method of drilling is not federally supervised under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Some in Congress want to end that exemption (豁免) from the law.
Natural gas provides Americans with about one fourth of their energy. And, unlike oil, most of it is produced in America. Gas producers invested heavily in reaching new supplies when prices were high. But prices are down sharply now because the depression cut demand for energy. So energy expert Eric Potter says it is too early to know how the changing market prices will affect the market for gas shale exploration.
68. We can learn from the first paragraph that ________.
A. natural gas releases methane and carbon dioxide
B. natural gas is considered as the cleanest energy
C. natural gas is more environmentally friendly than other fossil fuels
D. natural gas is a renewable source of energy
69. The word “fracture” in Paragraph 4 probably means _______.
A. create B. break C. change D. decrease
70. Gas shale exploration may cause disagreement because ______.
A. it may cause water pollution B. it brings too high profits
C. it breaks the law D. it is out of states’ control
71. According to Eric Potter, the new gas shale exploration ______.
A. will provide America with about one fourth of their energy
B. will increase demand for energy
C. will make gas producers invest a big sum of money
D. may be influenced by the changing market prices
It’s not uncommon in America for a person to belong to some kind of volunteer group. Donating one’s time and services is very much a part of the American way of life. Most charitable(慈善的) activities are organized by churches and groups around the nation and even encouraged by the government. The helping hand is extended to the poor, the homeless and the disabled. Some people work to teach youngsters how to read. Others open up soup kitchens to feed the homeless. Volunteers also take care of the disabled by making reading tapes for the blind and working in orphanages（孤儿院）to help children without parents.
High school students are often encouraged to become volunteers and many school club activities center around volunteer services. Students may work with disabled children during a summer program, or participate in a club activity which helps to bring meal to senior citizens who are shut-ins. With their sense of idealism（理想主义）students are often eager to donate their spare time. They see such activities as a way of participating in the community and the adult-world. Social action for them becomes as important as their academic studies.
In a like manner，throughout the year，fund raising drives are also conducted by schools and community groups to raise money for a worthy cause. They may respond to a recent earthquake in a foreign country, a flood somewhere within their own, or another natural disaster which has left people destitute and homeless. They may organize drives to collect food, clothing and medicines to serve an immediate need. Today even the Halloween custom of ‘trick or treat’ has become an occasion to collect money for a charitable cause.
This call to help those less fortunate than themselves arises from the humble（谦卑的） origins of the American nation. Those immigrants（移民）who were poor and downtrodden（受压迫的）became dependent on the kindness of their neighbors to make a new life for themselves.
American volunteers work throughout the world in less developed countries. They volunteer by serving as a champion of goodwill（声誉）both at home and abroad, which no doubt enriches both his life and those whom he serves.Which of the following charitable activities is not mentioned in the passage?
| A．Some people open up soup kitchens to feed homeless people. |
| B．Some students bring meals to old people who can’t go out easily. |
| C．Some people collect money to help a foreign country with a recent earthquake. |
| D．Some students donate books to children in mountainous areas. |
Why are American high school students eager to do voluntary work?
| A．Because they want to participate in some social activities. |
| B．Because they want to go to better universities. |
| C．Because they can get higher scores at school. |
| D．Because they can realize their dream sooner. |
The underlined word “destitute”in Paragraph 4 probably means .
| A．lifeless | B．penniless |
| C．useless | D．valueless |
What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．The Call from the Poor |
| B．Voluntary Work in the US |
| C．Ways to help the Poor |
| D．American Volunteers Around the World |
How can you help kids deal with stress（压力）? Proper rest and good nutrition can improve coping skills, so can good parenting. Make time for your kids each day. Whether they need to talk with you or just be in the same room with you, make yourself available.
Even as kids get older, quality time is important. It’s really hard for some people to come home after a tiring day of work, get down on the floor, and play with their kids or just talk to them about their day -- especially if they’ve had a stressful day themselves. But expressing interest in your kids shows that they’ re important to you.
Help your child deal with stress by talking about what may be causing it. Together, you can come up with a few solutions. For example, he should cut back on after-school activities, spending more time talking with his parents or teachers, developing an exercise plan or keeping a journal.
You can also help by predicting potentially stressful situations and preparing kids for them. For example, let a child know ahead of time, but not too far ahead of time, that a doctor’s appointment is coming up and talk about what will happen there. Keep in mind, though, that younger kids probably won’t need too much advance preparation. Too much information can cause more stress.
Remember that some level of stress is normal, Let kids know that it’s OK to feel angry, scared, lonely, or anxious and that other people share those feelings, too.
When kids can’t or won’t discuss these problems, try talking about your own concerns. This shows that you’re willing to handle tough topics and are available to talk with when they’re ready. If a child shows symptoms that concern you and is unwilling to talk, consult a counselor (顾问)or other mental health experts.
Most parents have the skills to deal with their children’s stress. The time to seek professional attention is when any change in behavior continues to exist, when stress is causing serious anxiety, or when the behavior is causing significant problems in functioning at school or at home.What is the purpose of the text?
| A．To share the author’s ideas on proper parenting. |
| B．To persuade parents to spend more time with their kids. |
| C．To advise parents how to help their kids deal with stress. |
| D．To seek different ways to help solve kids’ problems. |
Why do some parents feel it difficult to spare quality time for their kids?
| A．Their kids are growing so fast. |
| B．They have too much housework. |
| C．Their kids are losing interest in them. |
| D．They are tired out after work. |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．Normal people share the same feelings. |
| B．It is normal for kids to have some stress. |
| C．Kids should get rid of the negative feelings. |
| D．Everybody feels angry, scared, lonely or anxious. |
There are some new drivers going back to school. Teens who have recently gotten their driver's licenses may be taking the wheel to drive to school this fall. However, parents fear when their teen starts driving. And it turns out that such parental fears are justified—so it's worth reviewing how to keep your teen safe while he or she is behind the wheel.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in US teens. Drivers 16 to 19 years old are at the greatest risk for crashes. In fact, their risk is 4 times greater than for older drivers. The teens at the greatest risk are those who are male, those carrying other teenage passengers in the car, and those still in their first year of driving. Nearly 50 percent of teen deaths related to automobile crashes happen on Fridays ’ Saturdays ’ or Sundays between the hours of 3 p. m. and midnight.
Why are teens at higher risk for motor vehicle crashes?
Development. Teens haven’t completely matured mentally and have greater risk-taking behaviors, possibly because they tend to underestimate（低估）the risk associated with a particular behavior. Teens also have a greater tendency to speed and to drive too close to the cars in front of them.
No seatbelts. Teens have the lowest rate of seatbelt use among all driving groups.
Alcohol. At least 25 percent of motor vehicle deaths in teens are related to alcohol use.
Technological distractions (分散注意力).Cell phones, texting，MP3 players, and the like can all distract drivers greatly.
Be aware of your teen ’ s driving practices and discuss safe driving habits when opportunities present themselves. Check out the applications and devices now available for restricting your teen’s use of technology while driving. Some applications alert you to when your teen is texting while the vehicle is moving. Another device blocks incoming and outgoing texts when the car is running—incoming messages get an automatic reply ( e. g, " I ’ m driving right now")，and phone calls go directly to voicemail. You can also get notifications if your teen tries to shut off the program. There are also GPS programs that let you know your new driver' s whereabouts（下落） at all times. All in all, you can't be too cautious when teaching your teen how to be safe on the road.What factor is least related to the teen drivers’ high risks of crashes?
| A．Driver age | B．Passenger gender(性别) |
| C．Driving experience | D．Driving time |
Teens probably turn away their attention from driving when they are_____.
| A．using no seatbelts | B．drinking water |
| C．carrying passengers | D．answering cell phones |
According to the passage, which should be prevented during teens' driving?
| A．Texting | B．GPS programs |
| C．Automated replies | D．Voicemail |
The author writes the last paragraph in order to_____.
| A．offer parents practical suggestions |
| B．summarize teen' s driving practices |
| C．advocate different driving habits |
| D．establish examples for the future |
People and the sources of air pollution are found in the same places. This means that cities with large populations have the biggest problem of dirty air. Air pollution is caused by many different things. A major source of air pollution is the gas fumes from cars. Statistics show that 93 percent of all auto trips are within cities. Another major source of dirty air is the burning of coal and oil for energy. This energy is needed to make electricity. Of course, much more electricity is used in the city than in the country.
On the average, we throw away more trash and garbage than the year before. The burning of garbage contributes to air pollution. Many major industries are also responsible for the dirty air in the around cities. The fumes from iron, steel, chemical, and petroleum production add particles to the air.
The effects of air pollution range from mild headaches to death. The levels of pollution found in heavy for traffic may cause headaches for loss of clear vision. Wherever coal and oil are used for fuel, fumes（气体）may kill trees and plants and cause metal to corrode. In some of the larger cities, these fumes endanger the live of human beings by contributing to lung diseases and causing early death.The main idea of the passage is that _________.
| A．the cause of air pollution is people |
| B．the causes and the effects of air pollution are found in cities |
| C．the effects of air pollution range from headaches to death |
| D．air pollution is caused by dirty air |
What is the purpose of this passage?
| A．to persuade people to stop polluting the air |
| B．to tell the causes of air pollution |
| C．to tell why cities are bad places to live |
| D．to describe why cities are bad places to live |
Why is air pollution more serious in the city than in the country?
| A．Because there are larger populations in cities. |
| B．Because the air in the city is dirty. |
| C．Because there are more cars in the city. |
| D．Because there are much more gas fumes, burning of coal and oil |
for energy.In larger cities, the fumes from coal and oil may contribute to ___________.
| A．heart disease | B．lung diseases |
| C．loss of clear vision | D．serious headache |
We often see wind-horse flags in Tibetan areas. They are long cloths on which pictures of horses and scriptures（经文）are printed. People often put these flags on top of houses, or leave them where a vehicle accident happened. They prevent evil spirits from injuring people again.
A wind-horse flag can be white, yellow, red, green or blue. These five colors symbolize the five elements that form the world; earth, water, fire, wind and sky. Another explanations that red is the sun, green is the grassland, yellow is the earth, blue is the sky, and white is the cloud.
The wind-horse flag originated with a monk who obtained a scripture from India. When he crossed a river, he carelessly dropped the scripture into the water. He quickly saved the scripture and spread it out on a big rock to dry as he sat in meditation（默想）. Suddenly violent thunder sounded like drums. The monk felt liberated（解放的）from all of his sadness, and when he opened his eyes he saw that the scripture had been blown into the sky by a strong wind. Finally, he went straight to heaven.
In order to honor the spirit of the monk and the Buddhist scripture, people printed the scripture on a piece of cloth and hung it up between the sky and the earth as though the scripture was flying in the sky.
We also know why people put the wind-horse flag on the top of mountains and houses. The Tibetan ancestors had a very great idea about chanting scripture. They thought people not only could chant scripture, but also the five elements. The wind-home flag is a good example of how they use the wind to blow the flag, which means that the wind also chants scripture.The second paragraph is mainly about the wind-horse flag’s ________.
| A．colors | B．styles |
| C．materials | D．functions |
What happened when the monk meditated?
| A．He felt very sad about his mistake. |
| B．The scripture was blown into the sky. |
| C．He was punished by the gods. |
| D．Many wind-house flags were flying. |
According to the passage, the origin of the wind-horse flag is based on ________.
| A．a historical event | B．an ancient custom |
| C．a religious tale | D．a vehicle accident |
Why do people put wind-horse flags on the top of mountains and houses?
| A．The wind-house flags are safer there. |
| B．The wind-house flags can be nearer to the sky. |
| C．People can see the wind-house flags more clearly. |
| D．People believe the wind can also chant scripture. |
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