There is a growing problem of what to do with electronic waste such as old televisions, computers, radios, cellular telephones and other electronic equipment.
Electronic trash, or e-waste, is piling up faster than ever in American homes and businesses. People do not know what to do with old televisions or computers, so they throw them in the trash.
National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA) state programs director Chaz Miller says the large amount of electronic waste Americans produce is not unexpected.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates more than 400 million consumer electronic items are dumped each year, and there is a push by more states to ban the waste from landfills(垃圾填埋场) and create recycling programs. They can be torn apart and sorted for useable parts. Mike Fannon who runs the plant in Baltimore, says, "There are a lot of valuable metals that can be recovered and reused instead of just putting them in the landfill, and in certain components, there are some materials that should not really be in the landfill," Fannon explains.
Fannon says nearly 20 percent of electronic waste is recycled nationwide. Thirteen years ago, it was only about 6 percent. Recycling rates continue to rise as more communities have banned electronics from landfills in an effort to keep e-waste poisons like lead(铅) and mercury（汞） out of garbage dumps.
This year, several states like Vermont imposed a ban on electronic waste in landfills. More than 25 other states have also adopted landfill bans, e-waste recycling programs or both. Chaz Miller says more can be done to boost electronic waste recycling.
"We can do much better," noted Miller. "I think clearly our goal should be to do as well as we do recycling newspapers."Which of the following does NOT belong to e-waste?
| A．Old televisions. | B．Old computers. |
| C．Old cell phones | D．Old newspapers. |
Why is e-waste banned from landfills in many states?
| A．Because it can not be recycled. |
| B．Because it might damage the environment. |
| C．Because it can be shipped to other countries. |
| D．Because the landfills are already full. |
According to Mike Fannon, what might be the best way of dealing with e-waste?
| A．Recycling it. | B．Selling it. |
| C．Burying it. | D．Breaking it. |
What can we learn from the passage?
A. At present, less then 10 percent of e-waste is recycled.
B. Chaz Miller works for EPA.
C. All states in the US have banned e-waste from landfills.
D. Experts are optimistic about the future of e-waste.
A new study finds that more than 13 million deaths could be prevented in China over the next 40 years if the country had stronger anti-smoking measures. But the study's authors say China has not taken many steps to control the use of tobacco. The study was published in the British Medical Journal.
China signed the World Health Organization's international treaty on tobacco control in 2003. But it has not put in place many of the WHO ideas to help people stop smoking. Experts say following these ideas could cut smoking by 40 percent before the year 2050. Without stronger anti-smoking measures, there could be 50 million tobacco-related deaths in the country over that time.The authors of the study used a computer program called "SimSmoke" to make their predictions.
David Levy works at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington, DC. He says China has one third of the world's cigarette smokers. More than half of the men in China smoke. Mr. Levy says people often begin smoking without knowing it will harm their health. He says people in some countries smoke because it makes them feel important.
"Smoking, you know, once it gets established and in many of the low- and middle income countries, you know there's a kind of a prestige initially to smoking."
The WHO plan calls for a ban on smoking in all public places. It also calls for countries to place health warnings on cigarette containers and offer programs to help people stop smoking. And, it says, there should be high taxes on tobacco.
Experts say a 75 percent increase in cigarette taxes could save about 3.5 million lives. They say an end to cigarette advertising could save two million lives. After signing the WHO agreement, China placed a 12 percent tax on cigarettes. But the government did not force Chinese smokers to pay the tax.
One of the authors of the new study is Teh-we Hu. He is a professor of public policy economics at the University of California Berkeley. Professor Hu says China's culture and society are changing. He says President Hu Jintao supports a ban on smoking in public. The president also wants people to stop giving cigarettes as gifts to officials and employers. Mr. Hu says the most effective anti-smoking measure in China would be a large increase in the cigarette tax. But he does not expect that to happen soon.To prevent people from smoking，which is wrong about the WHO plan？
| A．The WHO plan calls for a ban on smoking in all public places. |
| B．The WHO plan calls for countries to place health warnings on cigarette containers. |
| C．The WHO plan calls for offering programs to help people stop smoking. |
| D．The WHO plan calls for there should be low taxes on tobacco. |
If China has stronger anti-smoking measures, about ________ lives could be saved over the next 40 years.
| A．3.5 million | B．more than 13 million | C．50 million | D．40 million |
What does the underlined phrase “put in place” mean in Chinese?
| A．carry out | B．put something in the correct place | C．stop | D．begin |
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?
| A．After signing the WHO agreement, China placed a 75 percent tax on cigarettes. |
| B．Experts say a 12 percent increase in cigarette taxes could save about 3.5 million lives. |
| C．Experts say using stronger anti-smoking measures could cut smoking by 40 percent before the year 2050. |
| D．After signing the WHO agreement, China has taken many steps to control the use of tobacco. |
The speech by President Obama in Shanghai
Good afternoon. It is a great honor for me to be here in Shanghai, and to have this opportunity to speak with all of you. What I’d like to do is to make some opening comments, and then what I’m really looking forward to doing is taking questions, not only from students who are in the audience, but also we’ve received questions online, which will be asked by some of the students who are here in the audience, as well as by Ambassador Huntsman. And I am very sorry that my Chinese is not as good as your English, but I am looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.
This is my first time traveling to China, and I’m excited to see this great country. Here, in Shanghai, we see the growth that has caught the attention of the world—the high skyscrapers (摩天大楼), the busy streets and entrepreneurial(创业) activity. And just as I’m impressed by these signs of China’s journey to the 21st century, I’m eager to see those ancient places that speak to us from China’s distant past.
Tomorrow and the next day I hope to have a chance when I’m in Beijing to see the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall. Truly, this is a nation that has both a rich history and a belief in the promise of the future.
The same can be said of the relationship between our two countries. Shanghai, of course, is a city that has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China. It was here, 37 years ago, that the Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter（新篇章） of engagement between our governments and among our people. However, America’s ties to this city—and to this country—date back further, to the earliest days of America’s independence.
How many times does President Obama has come to China?
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
What can we infer from the the passage?
| A．the Shanghai Communique plays an important role in maintaining(维持) the relationship between the two countries |
| B．China has a long history |
| C．Shanghai has great meaning in the history of the relationship between the United States and China. |
| D．President Obama is eager to see those ancient places |
Put the following statements in the right order.
a. President Obama will see the Forbidden City and the wonder of the Great Wall.
b. President Obama is in Shanghai.
c. The Shanghai Communique opened the door to a new chapter（新篇章） of engagement between our governments and among our people.
| A．abc | B．cba | C．bca | D．bac |
What can be inferred after the last passage?
| A．It is about the earliest history of the relationship between the United States and China. |
| B．It is about America’s independence. |
| C．It is about the earliest days of America’s independence. |
| D．It is about the earliest history of Shanghai. |
Can't wait for the opening of the Shanghai Disney Resort in 2015? Meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and all their friends at the city's largest Disney exhibition at the Shanghai Super Brand Mall.
The exhibition invites visitors to have a taste of the Disneyland under construction, according to the organizer. Many of the exhibits have been transported from the Walt Disney Family Museum in Los Angeles, like the manuscripts of early animation producers.
The center of the mall's third floor has been transformed into a magic house with a giant Mickey above, greeting visitors. Classic cartoon figures, created by the company and its sub-companies over the past 90 years, are presented, including Winnie the Pooh.
Visitors can enjoy one of Disney's earliest film, Steamboat Willie. The film, which was screened in New York city in 1928, was considered the first fully synchronized sound cartoon. It was also the first time that Mickey and Minnie first appeared.
Visual and audio technologies have been applied to make the exhibition interactive.
In the Snow White section, a magic mirror on the wall astonishes visitors. Like the evil queen in the fairytale, visitors can stand before the mirror and ask: "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" One can see images of Snow White appear in the mirror.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, produced by the company, was considered the world's first full-length animated featured film.
In the Lion King section, stand at a designated position and enjoy the songs from the film in surround sound. The Lion King, Disney's 32nd full-length animated film, was one of the most successful Disney films and was turned into a Broadway opera.
Still the most charming star of the exhibition is Mickey Mouse, while the brightest of all is a Mickey Mouse model inlaid with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals.
Four young artists, Yan Wei and Guan Chun from the Chinese mainland, and Dorophy Tang and Kenny Wang from Hong Kong, created different series of Mickey Mouse models with their personal styles.
Besides Disneyland, in 2015, the Walt Disney Company China will open the world's largest Disney Store, which will cover about 5,000 sq m in Lujiazui, Shanghai's financial hub.Which of the following is not true?
| A．Many of the exhibits have been transported from the Walt Disney Family Museum in Los Angeles |
| B．in 2015, the Walt Disney Company China will open the world's largest Disney Store, |
| C．One can see images of Winnie the Pooh appear in the mirror. |
| D．In the Lion King section, stand at a designated position and enjoy the songs from the film in surround sound. |
You will not see_____ in the Disney exhibition.
| A．one of Disney's earliest film, Steamboat Willie.. |
| B．a Mickey Mouse model inlaid with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals.. |
| C．Chinese Classic cartoon figures |
| D．a magic mirror on the wall. |
What type of writing is the article likely to be?
| A．Science fiction | B．A medical report | C．A news report | D．Advertisement |
The purpose of writing this passage is to ________.
| A．compare some Classic cartoon figures and its sub-companies over the past 90 years and decide which one is the best. |
| B．introduce some exhibits for visitors. |
| C．the Shanghai Disney Resort will open in 2015. |
| D．introduce the city's largest Disney exhibition and encourage parents to visit them with their children. |
The city of Taipei, Taiwan is offering its 2.6 million people a fast, low-cost way to travel around the city. City officials have launched a bicycle rental program called YouBike. Many Taiwanese are now using bicycles to go to work and other places. But the growing popularity of the program has led to new traffic problems.
Five years ago, motor scooters competed with taxis and buses for space on Taipei's narrow streets. Then the city supported a plan to start loaning bicycles to people who pay for their temporary use. Taipei followed the examples of places like Kyoto, Japan; the Chinese city of Hangzhou; and Daejeon in South Korea.
Since then, Taipei has loaned bicycles 11 million times, mostly during the past year. Bikers do not pay for the first half-hour of use. Each 30 minutes after that costs less than half of an American dollar.
Hsu Tsai-tung is a 37-year-old office worker. She rides a rented bicycle to parks, a university and her workplace.
She says one good thing about renting is that the first 30 minutes are free. And, she says biking is good because she does not move around much in her office job during the day. Waiting for a bus would mean spending time, which she saves by riding a bike. She calls biking a natural choice.
Ms. Hsu is not alone. Using the one-speed bicycles works well for many Taiwanese. The bikes can be left at any of more than 100 rental stations. The vehicles could also ease air pollution, which is a health problem in many Asian cities.
In China, for example, the city of Shanghai reported record pollution levels in December. The levels were nearly 20 times above the level considered safe by the World Health Organization.
Shen Shu-hung is with Taiwan's Environmental Protection Agency. He wants to know whether bikes have reduced Taipei's pollution. Bad air has been found to endanger commuters and people living on low building floors.
Mr. Shen says Taiwan is studying whether the rental program has reduced air pollution. He is not discussing its effectiveness at present, in case the study finds that bike renters walked or rode public transportation in the past.
And, it appears that the 5,350 bikes on the streets of Taipei today have begun to cause new problems for city traffic. People who bike through the streets have to worry about cars making illegal sudden stops and fast right turns.
Some bikers have stopped riding on the streets and started riding their bikes on sidewalks. But this has angered or frightened many walkers.
Huang Huang-chia works at the Taipei Department of Transportation. He says no one single kind of incident has happened repeatedly. But he says riders need to be better educated.
He says the city's way of dealing with such incidents will be to educate people about every kind of bicycle safety needed in Taipei.
Taipei plans to complete its program with a total of 162 rental stations by the end of this year.The following cities applied a plan to start loaning bikes to people EXCEPT________.
| A．Taipei | B．Kyoto | C．Daejeon | D．Shanghai |
According to the passage，we know that__________.
| A．If you borrow a bike less than 30 minutes, you needn’t pay for it. |
| B．Each day costs less than half of an American dollar. |
| C．Taipei has a total of 162 rental stations or so now. |
| D．You must return your bike where you borrowed it. |
Which of the following problems is caused by bicycle riders?
| A．Waiting for a bus would mean spending time. |
| B．The rental program has reduced air pollution. |
| C．Some bikers have started riding their bikes on sidewalks. |
| D．Bad air has been found to endanger commuters |
What is the main idea of the passage？
| A．Bicycles riding can reduce air pollution. |
| B．Bicycles solve some problems in Taipei but create others. |
| C．Rental stations appears in Taipei. |
| D．City officials have launched a bicycle rental program. |
Where does this text probably come from ?
| A．A news report | B．Science fiction |
| C．An advertisement | D．A health report |
In the middle of a hot July afternoon, when the stifling air came with rippling waves of heat, I became a thief of some sort—a thief of music.
For the first time, I had created an original piano arrangement of one of my favorite songs. Not once had I looked for the help of premade sheet music or video tutorials on YouTube. Using only my ears and iPod, I had transformed a mix of intermingling sounds and intricate melodies into the tones of a single instrument; I had created complex harmonies and voices into something I could perform with only two hands. No help, no guide: I had done it on my own.
I’ve been a pianist since before my hands were big enough to reach an octave: with a musician and composer for a father, I was all but born on the piano bench. For many years, my musical identity was defined by the notes that others had written in centuries past.
This was why, when I added the finishing touches to my piano version of a modern rock song, I was proud of myself : this arrangement was mine. What I’d done seemed magical: an ability to take what had already existed—to “steal” a song from my favorite band—and to change it into something different and all my own. I was a thief, but I was also an artist.
In music, as in other aspects of life, I believe that trueoriginality rarely exists. Almost everything has, in one form or another, been done before. The most romantic novel may very well be a slightly changed version of a play by Shakespeare, which is likely to be borrowed from the works of Ancient Greece: same themes, different characters, different circumstances. But, the novel is no less deserving of praise just because its uniqueness is compromised. Adaptation is not a symbol for failure.
The gift of creativity is the ability to do what I did on the piano: to find something beautiful, to analyze and twist it and lose yourself in the mystery of its composition, and then to make it new. Such an act is not copying; it is finding inspiration and having the strength and the innovation to use it as fuel for your own masterpiece. The world is nothing more than collections of preexisting parts—scattered and often lost in the chaos of everyday life. I believe it is my job, as an artist, to rearrange this world into what I imagine it to be.
I refuse to live as if I were trapped within the walls of a museum: looking but never touching, afraid to ruin the so-called perfection of the artifacts inside. Therefore, I will embrace my ability to be a thief, because if I don’t steal what the world has to offer, I’ll never have the tools to share with others a creation of my own.
My life is my own arrangement, and because of that, anything is possible.
Which of the following can be the best title ?
| A．The passion to create music |
| B．Changes from a thief to an artist |
| C．A music thief |
| D．My piano arrangement |
According to the passage , which statement is true ?
| A．Actually ,there was originality only in music |
| B．The author created the original piano arrangement all by himself . |
| C．He was born on the piano bench . |
| D．The author was once a thief who stole music from his favorite band. |
Which word has the closest meaning with the underlined word “embrace”?
| A．accept | B． describe | C．adopt | D．quit |
The reason why the author felt proud of himself was that ___.
| A．he became a real artist without others’ help. |
| B．he could play the piano before he was shorter than the piano bench. |
| C．he has a father who was a musician and composer. |
| D．he changed one of his favorite songs into a piano arrangement on his own.. |
From the passage we can learn that the writer______
| A．is more of a follower than a leader. |
| B．likes to recreate songs whenever it is possible . |
| C．would like to lead his life the way he likes |
| D．is a stubborn person . |
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