Unit 9 Reading

D( 2005全国卷3)

You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation（撤离）of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.

During the 20th century ,sea level rose 8—12 inches. As a result .Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.

Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damagingtorms.

Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions（导致温室效应的气体排放）,which are a main cause of global warming . “By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.

Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries .

Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable （易受影响的）to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.

54．The text is mainly about .

A．rapid changes in earth’s temperature B．bad effects of global warming

C．moving of a country to a new place D．reasons for lowland flooding

55．According to scientists ,the DIRECT cause of more and fiercer storms is .

A．greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations

B．higher surface water temperatures of the sea

C．continuous global warming

D．rising sea levels

56．Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not .

A．agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions

B．sign an agreement with Tuvalu

C．allow Tuvaluans to move to the US

D．believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real

57．The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is .

A．Australia B．New Zealand C．the Maldives D．the United States

54---57 BBAC

B (2002全国卷)

LONDON (Reuters) - Organic fruit, delivered right to the doorstep. That is what Gabriel Gold prefers, and he is willing to pay for it. If this is not possible, the 26-year-old computer technician will spend the extra money at the supermarket to buy organic food.

"Organic produce is always better," Gold said. "The food is free of pesticides (农药), and you are generally supporting family farms instead of large farms. And more often than not it is locally (本地) grown and seasonal, so it is more tasty." Gold is one of a growing number of shoppers buying into the organic trend, and supermarkets across Britain are counting on more like him as they grow their organic food business. But how many shoppers really know what they are getting, and why are they willing to pay a higher price for organic produce? Market research shows that Gold and others who buy organic food can generally give clear reasons for their preferences - but their knowledge of organic food is far from complete. For example, small amounts of pesticides can be used on organic products. And about three quarters of organic food in Britain is not local but imported (进口) to meet growing demand. "The demand for organic food is increasing by about one third every year, so it is a very fast-growing market," said Sue Flock, a specialist in this line of business.

60. More and more people in Britain are buying organic food because________.

A. they are getting richer B. they can get the food anywhere

C. they consider the food free of pollution D. they like home-grown fruit

61. Which of the following statements is true to the facts about most organic produce sold in Britain?

A. It grows indoors all year round. B. It is produced outside Britain.

C. It is grown on family farms. D. It is produced on large farms.

62. What is the meaning of "the organic trend" as the words are used in the text?

A. growing interest in organic food B. better quality of organic food

C. rising market for organic food D. higher prices of organic food

63. What is the best title for this news story?

A. Organic food-healthy, or just for the wealthy?

B. The making of organic food in Britain

C. Organic food-to import or not?

D. Good qualities of organic food

60---63 CBAA

C(2001全国卷)

Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted. Careless methods of production and lack of consumer demand for environment friendly products have contributed to the pollution problem. One result is that millions of tons of glass, paper, plastic, and metal containers are produced, and these are difficult to get rid of.

However, today, more and more consumers are choosing “green” and demanding that the products they buy should be safe for the environment. Before they buy a product, they ask questions like these: “Will this shampoo damage the environment?” “Can this metal container be reused or can it only be used once?”

A recent study showed that two out of five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product before they buy it. This means that companies must now change the way they make and sell their products to make sure that they are “green”, that is, friendly to the environment.

Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds. Some supermarket products carry labels (标签) to show that the product is green. Some companies have made the manufacturing (生产) of clean and safe products their main selling point and emphasize it in their advertising.

The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business. No longer will the public accept the old attitude of “Buy it, use it, throw it away, and forget it.” The public pressure is on, and gradually business is cleaning up its act.

64. It becomes clear from the text that the driving force (动力) behind green products is________.

A. public caring for environment B. companies’ desire for bigger sales

C. new ways of doing business D. rapid growth of supermarkets

65. What would be the best title for the text?

A. Business and People B. Business Goes Green

C. Shopping Habits Are Changing D. Supermarkets and Green Products

66. The underlined word “it” in the fourth paragraph refers to________.

A. a selling point B. the company name

C. a great demand for health D. the manufacturing of green products

64---66 ABD