【改编】Feeling blue about the world? “Cheer up,” says science writer Matt Ridley. “The world has never been a better place to live in, and it will keep on getting better both for humans and for nature.”
Ridley calls himself a rational optimist—rational, because he’s carefully weighed the evidence; optimistic, because that evidence shows human progress to be both unavoidable and good. And this is what he’s set out to prove from a unique point of view in his most recent book, The Rational Optimist . He views mankind as grand enterprise that, on the whole, has done little but progress for 100,000 years. He backs his findings with hard facts gathered through years of research.
Here’s how he explains his views.
1）Shopping fuels invention
It is reported that there are more than ten billion different products for sale in London alone. Even allowing for the many people who still live in poverty, our own generation has access to more nutritious food, more convenient transport, bigger houses, better cars, and, of course, more pounds and dollars than any who lived before us. This will continue as long as we use these things to make other things. The more we specialize and exchange, the better off we’ll be.
2) Brilliant advances
One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs—food, clothing, fuel and shelter—have grown a lot cheaper. Take one example. In 1800 a candle providing one hour’s light cost six hours’ work. In the 1880s the same light from an oil lamp took 15 minutes’ work to pay for. In 1950 it was eight seconds. Today it’s half second.
3) Let’s not kill ourselves for climate change
Mitigating(减轻) climate change could prove just as damaging to human welfare as climate change itself. A child that dies from indoor smoke in a village, where the use of fossil-fuel(化石燃料) electricity is forbidden by well- meaning members of green political movements trying to save the world, is just as great a tragedy as a child that dies in a flood caused by climate change. If climate change proves to be mild, but cutting carbon causes real pain, we may well find that we have stopped a nose-bleed by putting a tourniquet(止血带) around our necks.What does “blue” mean in the first paragraph?
| A．Anxious. | B．Depressed. |
| C．Curious. | D．Positive. |
What is Ridley’s recent book about?
| A．Facts about human progress. |
| B．Opinions about climate change. |
| C．Importance of reducing pollution. |
| D．Protection of environment. |
Which is the writer’s opinion?
| A．The earth will no long fit to live on if we don’t take action to protect the earth. |
| B．The more we specialize and exchange, the better off we’ll be. |
| C．The price of everything is growing higher and higher. |
| D．People mustn’t use fossil-fuel for environmental protection. |
According to the writer , One reason why humans live longer is that_____.
| A．people can be treated immediately |
| B．people pay more attention to health |
| C．people can eat better food without spending much money |
| D．climate becomes much warmer |
The author develops the passage mainly by_____.
| A．Topic- Explanation |
| B．Explanation ---Conclusion |
| C．Argument --- Topic ---Conclusion |
| D．Conclusion - Topic |
Elderly adults who regularly drink green tea may stay more agile (敏捷的) and independent than their peers over time, according to a Japanese study that covered thousands of people.
Green tea contains antioxidant chemicals (抗氧化化学物质) that may help stop the cell damage that can lead to disease.Researchers have been studying green tea’s effect on everything from cholesterol (胆固醇) to the risk of certain cancers，with mixed results so far.
They found those who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability”，or problems with daily activities or basic needs，such as dressing or bathing.
Specifically，almost 13 percent of adults who drank less than a cup of green tea per day became functionally disabled，compared with just over 7 percent of people who drank at least five cups a day.
The study did not prove that green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older.Green tea lovers generally had healthier diets，including more fish，vegetables and fruit，as well as more education，lower smoking rates，fewer heart attacks and strokes，and greater mental sharpness.They also tended to be more socially active and have more friends and family to rely on.But even with those factors accounted for，green tea itself was tied to a tower disability risk，the researchers said.
People who drank at least five cups a day were onethird less likely to develop disabilities than those who had less than a cup per day.Those people who averaged three or four cups a day had a 25 percent lower risk.
Although it’s not clear how green tea might offer a buffer (缓冲) against disabilities，lead researcher Yasutake Tomata did note that one recent study found green tea extracts (提取物) seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women.
While green tea and its extracts are considered safe in small amounts，they do contain caffeine and small amounts of vitamin K，which means it could affect drugs that prevent blood clotting (凝固)．What does the underlined word “peers” mean in the first paragraph?
| A．Fathers. |
| B．Brothers. |
| C．People of the same age. |
| D．People living in the same neighborhood. |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Antioxidant chemicals can lead to disease. |
| B．Those who often drink green tea can’t develop “functional disability”． |
| C．“Functional disability” is related to problems with daily activities or basic needs. |
| D．People who drink at least five cups a day are not likely to become functionally disabled. |
What does the fifth paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．How the study was proved. |
| B．Why green tea lovers can keep agile. |
| C．What healthier diets include. |
| D．How to lower the disability risk. |
What has the researcher Yasutake Tomata discovered?
| A．Those who drank green tea can’t develop “functional disability”． |
| B．Green tea alone kept people agile as they grew older. |
| C．How green tea might offer a buffer against disabilities. |
| D．Green tea extracts seem to increase leg muscle strength in older women. |
From the passage we can infer that________.
| A．vitamin K is contained in caffeine |
| B．vitamin K is good for our blood |
| C．vitamin K is bad for our health |
| D．vitamin K has influence on some drugs |
There was a sweet smell of incense (香) in the air as the wellmuscled man moved his legs into a position well behind his head.It was something that the human body really should not be able to do.But what else would you expect at the First World Yoga Championships?
On September 25，the world’s leading yoga experts arrived in the US to find out who was the best.But the real prize was to turn yoga into a proper Olympic event.
“Yoga is a combination of bodybuilding，Miss World，Mr Universe and gymnastics，” said championship organizer Bikram Choudhury.“There are some 70 people from more than 20 countries competing in this event.Why not have yoga at the Olympics？”
The public cannot decide whether or not Choudhury’s dream will come true.But he is right about one thing：yoga has become popular with young and old people all over the world.In the US alone,15 million people practise yoga.Everyone is at it，including Madonna and Ricky Martin.
Yoga started in India more than 5,000 years ago.The name means “to join together”．That is to bring the body and mind together into one pleasing experience.The whole system of yoga is built on three things：exercise，breathing and meditation (沉思)．
The yoga that we know today is mostly physical yoga.It’s seen as a type of exercise，but is different from sports like football or running.When we do yoga，we move our body into positions that stretch the muscles and joints，making them stronger.
One of the best things about yoga is the fact that everyone can do it.To women，it means a flat stomach，more shapely legs and a graceful body.To men，it is a way of becoming stronger and more athletic.
There are also speciallydesigned yoga classes for pregnant women or children suffering from mental disabilities，such as autism (孤独症)．As for teenagers，meditation and simple breathing exercises can help them learn to calm down，relax and concentrate better.But teenagers under 16 are not supposed to do the body exercises as it could have a bad effect on their natural growth.What does the first paragraph mainly tell us?
| A．Something sportsmen should not do in practising yoga. |
| B．Basic skills that are required in performing yoga. |
| C．The performance of the sportsmen at the First World Yoga Championships. |
| D．The unique setting where yoga is performed. |
What is Choudhury’s dream in the passage?
A．Turning yoga into a proper Olympic event.
B．Making all Americans practise yoga.
C Winning the First World Yoga Championships.
D．Getting the public support for promoting yoga.Why does the author mention Madonna and Ricky Martin in the fourth paragraph?
| A．To compare the differences between the young and the old. |
| B．To describe the extensive popularity of yoga in the US. |
| C．To emphasize the importance of practising yoga. |
| D．To explain the strong influence of public figures in the US. |
Which statement is NOT true about yoga?
| A．It is a type of exercise which benefits the body and mind. |
| B．It makes muscles and joints stronger by stretching. |
| C．It contains exercise，breathing and meditation. |
| D．It is similar to the sports like football or running. |
According to the passage，who does not need to pay special attention in practising yoga?
| A．Women to be mothers. | B．Teenagers under 16. |
| C．Adult men. | D．Children with autism. |
There are many older people in the world and there will be many more.A limeknown fact is that over 60 percent of the older people live in developing countries.According to the World Health Organization，by 2020 there will be 1 billion，with over 700 million living in developing countries.
It is a surprising fact that the population ageing is particularly rapid in developing countries.For example，it took France 115 years for the proportion of older people to double from 7 percent to 14 percent.It is estimated to take China a mere 27 years to achieve this same increase.
What are the implications of these increased numbers of older folk？One of the biggest worries for governments is that the longer people live，the more likelihood there is for diseases and for disability.Attention is being paid to the need to keep people as healthy as possible，including during old age，to lessen the financial burden on the state.
Another significant problem is the need for the younger generations to understand and value the older people in their society.In some African countries，certainly in Asia，older people are respected and regarded as the ones with special knowledge.Yet traditions are fading away daily，which does not ensure the continued high regard of older people.As society changes，attitudes will change.
Much needs to be done to get rid of age discrimination (歧视) in employment.Lifelong learning programs need to be provided to enable older people to be active members in a country’s development.
Social security policies need to be established to provide adequate income protection for older people.Both public and private schemes are vital in order to build a suitable safety net.
To achieve equality in such matters will take considerable time and effort.One thing is sure：there is no time to be lost.The proportion of older people________.
| A．is bigger in developed countries than in developing countries |
| B．is oneseventh of the population in developing countries |
| C．will increase much faster in China than in France |
| D．will be sixty percent in developing countries by 2020 |
According to the passage，which of the following are governments most worried about?
| A．The diseases and disability of older people. |
| B．The longer life and good health of people. |
| C．The loss of taxes on older people. |
| D．The increasing respect for older people. |
It is stated directly in the passage that older people should________.
| A．be treated differently in different cultures |
| B．enjoy a similar lifestyle |
| C．be ignored as society changes |
| D．be valued by the younger generations |
Which of the following measures is NOT mentioned to solve the population ageing problem?
| A．Getting rid of age discrimination in employment. |
| B．Ensuring adequate income protection for older people. |
| C．Providing free health care for sick older people. |
| D．Supplying lifelong learning programs to older people. |
The author concludes in the last paragraph that________.
| A．governments have spent lots of time in solving the ageing problem |
| B．population ageing is a hard problem，but it needs to be solved urgently |
| C．people are too busy to solve the population ageing problem |
| D．much time and effort will be lost in solving the ageing problem |
University of Maryland student Ben Simon and his friends couldn’t stand to see good food thrown out on their campus.“We basically noticed that some of the extra food from the dining hall was going to waste at the end of the day.And we met with the dining services and asked them whether it would be okay if instead of throwing out the food we would donate it.And they were on board，” he said.
So 18 months ago，the students began what they call the Food Recovery Network.Each night，volunteers would show up at a campus dining hall to pick up leftovers and deliver them to area shelters and food banks.So far，they have donated more than 23 000 kilos of food that would otherwise have been thrown out.
Nationwide，$165 billion worth of food is wasted each year，according to the National Resources Defense Council.Spokesman Bob Keefe says that is about 40% of the country’s entire food production.“If we can reduce our waste in this country by 15%，we can feed 25 million hungry Americans.That is a huge benefit.That is what programs like this Food Recovery Network are doing，” he said.
Christian Life Center is one of the beneficiaries (受益者) of the students’ efforts.Ben Slye，the senior pastor (牧师)，said，“It has been just amazing to see these students take their own time，their own vehicles and own gas money and be able to make an effort like this.Each week we are able with this food probably to feed over hundred people.”
The University of Maryland’s Food Recovery Network now has 200 volunteers and the program has expanded to 18 schools across the country.“I want to grow 18 chapters to a thousand chapters within five years.And once we get to the Food Recovery Nation being at every college campus in America，we want to expand to restaurants and farms.” said Simon.
The volunteers are committed to making that happen.The dining services in University of Maryland________.
| A．threw out good food on the campus |
| B．supported the volunteers’ job |
| C．enjoyed the talk with the students |
| D．donated their leftovers to the poor |
Volunteers from the Food Recovery Network________.
| A．started the Food Recovery Network two years ago |
| B．delivered leftovers as well as money to shelters |
| C．helped to solve the hunger issues in America |
| D．donated leftovers to avoid food waste |
Ben Slye’s attitude toward the volunteers’ effort was that of________.
| A．unconcern | B．doubt |
| C．appreciation | D．opposition |
We can learn from the text that________.
| A．over 40% of the country’s entire food is wasted each year |
| B．altogether 25 million Americans suffer from hunger nowadays |
| C．Simon aims to expand the program to restaurants and farms |
| D．every college has started the Food Recovery Network |
What can be the best title for the text?
| A．College Students Rescue Leftover Food |
| B．Battles Against the Problem of Hunger |
| C．How to Pick up Leftovers on College Campuses |
| D．Waste Problems in University of Maryland |
The forces that make Japan one of the world’s most earthquakeprone (有地震倾向的) countries could become part of its longterm energy solution.
Water from deep below the ground at Japan’s tens of thousands of hot springs could be used to produce electricity.
Although Japanese hightech companies are leaders in geothermal (地热的) technology and export it，its use is limited in the nation.
“Japan should no doubt make use of its resources of geothermal energy，” said Yoshiyasu Takefuji，a leading researcher of thermalelectric power production.
The disastrous earthquake and tsunami on March 11,2011 caused a reaction against atomic power，which previously made up 30 percent of Japan’s energy needs，and increased interest in alternative energies，which accounted for only 8 percent.
Artist Yoko Ono has called on Japan to explore its natural energy，following the example of Iceland which uses renewable energy for more than 80 percent of its needs.
For now，geothermal energy makes up less than 1 percent of the energy needs in Japan，which has for decades relied heavily on fossil fuels and atomic power.
The biggest problem to geothermal energy is the high initial cost of the exploration and constructing the factories.Another problem is that Japan’s potentially best sites are already being developed for tourism or are located within national parks where construction is forbidden.
“We can’t even dig 10 cm inside national parks.” said Shigeto Yamada of Fuji Electric，adding that regulations protecting nature would need to be relaxed for geothermal energy to grow.
Researcher Hideaki Matsui said，“Producing electricity using hot springs is a decadeslong project.We also have to think about what to do for now as energy supplies will decline in the short term.”
The Earth Policy Institute in Washington，US，believed Japan could produce 80 000 megawatts (兆瓦) and meet more than half its electricity needs with geothermal technology.
Japanese giants such as Toshiba are already global leaders in geothermal technology，with a 70 percent market share.In 2010，Fuji Electric built the world’s largest geothermal factory in New Zealand.What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Alternative energies in Japan |
| B．World’s largest geothermal plant |
| C．Japan takes the lead in geothermal technology |
| D．Japan thinks of geothermal energy |
What percentage of Japan’s energy needs is geothermal energy?
| A．About 8%. | B．Below 1%. |
| C．Around 30%. | D．Over 80%. |
According to Shigeto Yamada，the growth of geothermal power in Japan needs________.
| A．a change of rules | B．financial support |
| C．local people’s help | D．high technology |
Geothermal energy is considered as a longterm program by________.
| A．Yoshiyasu Takefuji | B．Hideaki Matsui |
| C．Shigeto Yamada | D．Yoko Ono |
It can be learned from the last two paragraphs that________.
| A．the world’s biggest geothermal plant was built by America |
| B．Japan will not export its geothermal technology |
| C．the potential of Japan’s geothermal energy is great |
| D．it is hard to find geothermal energy in Japan |
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