.

Saving the Planet with Earth-Friendly Bamboo Products

Jackie Heinricher’s love with bamboo started in her backyard. “As a child, I remember playing among the golden bamboo my dad had planted, and when there was a slight wind, the bamboos sounded really musical.”

A fishing biologist, Heinricher, 47, planned to work in the industry in Seattle, where she lived with her husband, Guy Thornburgh, but she found it too competitive. Then her garden gave her the idea for a business: She’d planted 20 bamboo forests on their seven-acre farm. 

Heinricher started Boo-Shoot Gardens in 1998. She realized early on what is just now beginning to be known to the rest of the world. It can be used to make fishing poles, skateboards, buildings, furniture, floors, and even clothing. An added bonus: Bamboo absorbs four times as much carbon dioxide as a group of hardwood trees and releases 35 percent more oxygen.

First she had to find a way to mass-produce the plants—a tough task, since bamboo flowers create seed only once every 50 to 100 years. And dividing a bamboo plant frequently kills it.

Heinricher appealed to Randy Burr, a tissue culture expert, to help her. “People kept telling us we’d never figure it out,” says Heinricher. “Others had worked on it for 27 years! I believed in what we were doing, though, so I just kept going.”

She was right to feel a sense of urgency. Bamboo forests are being rapidly used up, and a United Nations report showed that even though bamboo is highly renewable, as many as half of the world’s species are threatened with dying out. Heinricher knew that bamboo could make a significant impact on carbon emissions (排放) and world economies, but only if huge numbers could be produced. And that’s just what she and Burr figured out after nine years of experiments—a way to grow millions of plants. By placing cuttings in test tubes with salts, vitamins, plant hormones, and seaweed gel, they got the plants to grow and then raised them in soil in greenhouses.

Not long after it, Burr’s lab hit financial difficulties. Heinricher had no experience running a tissue culture operation, but she wasn’t prepared to quit. So she bought the lab.

Today Heinricher heads up a profitable multimillion-dollar company, working on species from all over the world and selling them to wholesalers. “If you want to farm bamboo, it’s hard to do without the young plants, and that’s what we have,” she says proudly.

72. What was the main problem with planting bamboo widely?

A. They didn’t have enough young bamboo.

B. They were short of money and experience.

C. They didn’t have a big enough farm to do it.

D. They were not understood by other people.

73. What does Heinricher think of bamboo?

A. Renewable and acceptable                             B. Productive and flexible.

C. Useful and earth-friendly.                                  D. Strong and profitable.

74. The underlined word “renewable” in Paragraph 6 probably means “________”.

A. able to be replaced naturally                B. able to be raised difficultly

C. able to be shaped easily                    D. able to be recycled conveniently

75. What do you learn from the passage?

A. Heinricher’s love for bamboo led to her experiments in the lab.

B. Heinricher’s determination helped her to succeed in her work.

C. Heinricher struggled to prevent bamboo from disappearing.

D. Heinricher finally succeeded in realizing her childhood dream.

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科目：高中英語 來源：2013-2014學(xué)年湖北省高三上學(xué)期12月月考英語試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

It is often said that man has become the enemy of our planet. This is no exaggeration(夸張), for reports show that man’s greed has done much to destroy the earth. Man, in his greedy desire for financial growth, has polluted the air, land and water, and has robbed our valuable natural resources. Man’s industrial plants pour out poisonous waste that pollutes the sea and puts life in the sea under the threat of dying out; at the same time, they release alarming amounts of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other pollutants. Small wonder that the air now is much warmer and more impure than ever before.

Of course, this is not just because of man’s greed—it is man’s pressing need as well. For instance, in developing countries, huge financial foreign debts have forced governments to approve the cutting of forests for agriculture or ranching. As a result, forests are cut down just to meet man’s immediate needs.

Perhaps unknowingly，man has changed the make-up of the earth's atmosphere. Scientific studies have shown that CFCs used in refrigerators and industrial cleaners are fast destroying the ozone layer—a protective layer in the atmosphere that protects us against the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (紫外線)rays. In fact, documented reports have shown a terrible fact that there are “holes” in the ozone layer over the Antarctic. And they appear to be expanding.

Faced with these environmental problems, world leaders have shown deep concern. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) has arranged international agreements like the Vienna convention of 1985 and the Montreal Protocol of 1989 to preserve the ozone layer by controlling the production, use and trade of destructive chemicals.

There may be some doubt as to how effectual these agreements may be, given that some countries still maintain an “I-don’t-care” attitude. Their attitude is probably due to their failure to grasp the importance of the problem. Then, there is no doubt that environmental education on an international scale（規(guī)模）is greatly needed, so that all countries, great and small—the “haves” and the “have nots”—may realize their responsibilities for our planet.

In the meantime, the UNEP seems to have taken steps in the right direction, and it is hoped that in the not so distant future, all nations of the world will join hands in saving mother earth.

1.Which of the following is a reason for the cutting and burning of forests?

A. To build houses for more population.

B. To have land for agriculture.

C. To export trees to other countries.

D. To build industrial plants. 

2.The holes in the ozone layer are largely due to________.

A. man’s research activities                                B. the greenhouse effect

C. the ultraviolent                                                 D. harmful chemicals

3.Why don’t some countries care about the problem of the environment?

A. They don’t want to put their lives in danger.

B. They just don’t know how to solve the problem.

C. They haven’t realized the seriousness of the problem.

D. They don’t want to break their international commitment.

4.What is the author’s attitude towards the future of the environment?

A. Hopeful.                B. Unconcerned                          C. Doubtful                          D. Objective

 

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科目：高中英語 來源：2014屆江西南昌第二中學(xué)高三第一次月考英語卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

For their nick-of-time acts, Toby, a 2-year-old dog, and Winnie, a cute cat, were named Dog and Cat of the Year by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

As Amy Paul choked(哽住) on a piece of apple at her home, her dog jumped up, landing hard on her chest and forcing the piece in her throat out. When the Keesling family of Indiana was about to be killed by carbon monoxide, their cat clawed at the wife Cathy’s hair until she woke up and called for help.

No one could explain their timely heroics.

Both pets were rescued by their owners in infancy---Toby as a 4-week-old thrown into a garbage bin to die, and Winnie as a week-old orphan hiding under a barn, so helpless that Cathy’s husband, Eric, had to feed her milk with an eyedropper.

As the Keeslings recalled it, a gas-driven pump being used broke down, spreading carbon monoxide through the house. By the time Winnie went to rescue, the couple’s 14-year-old son was already unconscious. “Winnie jumped on the bed and was clawing at me, with a kind of angry sound,” Cathy Keesling said. The state police responding to her 911 call said the family was only minutes from death, judging by the amount of poisonous gas in the house.

Amy Paul’s husband was at his job when she took a midday break from making jewelry and bit into an apple. “Normally I peel them, but I read in Good Housekeeping Magazine that the skin has all the nutrients, so I ate the skin, and that’s what caused me to choke,” she recalled. “I couldn’t breathe and I was in panic when Toby jumped on me. He never does that, but he did, and saved my life.”

Both Toby and Winnie accompanied their owners to the awards luncheon.

1.Why did Amy Paul choke on a piece of apple?

A. She was too young to care for herself.

B. She had a big bite.

C. The apple was too hard.

D. She didn’t peel the skin as usual.

2.Winnie saved the lives of its owner’s whole family in an accident by __________.

A. jumping onto its owner           B. calling for help

C. clawing at Cathy’s hair           D. making some strange noises

3.Which of the following has the similar meaning to the underlined word “infancy” in Paragraph 4?

A. middle age        B. youth       C. babyhood        D. agedness

4.What caused the carbon monoxide spreading through the house?

A. A pump breaking down.          B. A driver breaking into the house.

C. The burning gas.                D. The poisonous gas.

5.What would be the suitable title for the passage?

A. So Smart Animals Are

B. Dog and Cat Honored for Saving Their Masters

C. Unforgettable Experiences

D. Great Honors for Cat and Dog

 

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科目：高中英語 來源：2014屆江蘇南京高三9月學(xué)情調(diào)研英語卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

 

 

The Green Microgym in Portland，Oregon has all the usual stuff you'd expect-sweaty people，loud music，smooth exercise equipment-but it has some extras as well. Everywhere you look，there are power wires. And these aren't the typical kind that let you surf the Web while you ride a spin cycle-although. you can do that too．The gym uses special exercise equipment that captures（捕獲）the energy you create while riding, converts（轉(zhuǎn)換）it into electricity and channels it into the power outlets（插座）．

The idea of using exercise equipment to produce electricity is not new. A gym in Hong Kong has been doing this since 2007. But clean (and healthy）energy is just now starting to catch on in U. S. gyms·"We have seen a significant increase in interest in the past six months，which is a good sign that fitness centers are ready to spend money on green technologies，” says Mike Curnyn，co-founder of the Green Revolution，a Connecticut-based firm that wires bikes into a central battery that can store energy.

The Green Microgym，first opened in 2008，has more than 200 members and is doing so well that owner Adam Boesel opened another one five miles from the original．Although membership costs about the same as ordinary gyms，customers can earn gift certificates from local businesses for watts produced while exercising．An average workout creates 37. 5 watt hours，which is enough to power a phone for a week．

Boesel uses spin bikes made by Resource Fitness，a Seattle company he co-owns，that captures energy produced from the flywheel. Wires send the converted AC current（交流電流） into any standard wall outlet-for this reason，the product line's name is Plug Out-and the energy created is used before the building draws power from the grid（電網(wǎng)）．Unlike the Green Revolution equipment，Plug Out machines cannot store extra energy. A third company，the Florida-based ReRev，is adding converters to a specific brand of spin bikes. But since the converters add＄1，000 to the price of the equipment，the ReRev and Green Revolution machines are at a disadvantage．

Resource Fitness，by contrast，sells its equipment for the same＄1，200 price as non- electricity-producing machines，removing the question of how long it will be until the energy savings pay for the cost of the unit．The company can afford to do this because its designs don’t call for the extra wiring needed for battery packs and large converters．It is also trying to price competitively with standard equipment so more gyms-and gym goers-will make the switch．

1.Members of the Green Microgym earn gift certificates for_______．

A .using the man-powered exercise equipment

B. saving electricity for local businesses

C. producing green electricity to power their phones

D. paying higher membership fees

2.The spin bikes made by Resource Fitness are different from those by Green Revolution in that_______.

A. they are easier to ride

B. they are more expensive

C. they don't have wires connected

D. they can not store extra electricity

3.What might prevent the green exercise equipment from getting more popular？

A .People's unwillingness to go green．

B. The high cost of making it.

C. Safety problems concerning electricity.

D. Lack of certificates．

4.The underlined words“make the switch”in the last paragraph most probably mean_____.

A. change to a different gym

B. use green exercise equipment

C. switch on the spin bikes

D. add a battery to the machine

 

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科目：高中英語 來源：2014屆山東省高二10月學(xué)情調(diào)查英語卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day. “I was a clothes addict,” he jokes. “I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled.” Today David wears casual clothes—khaki pants and sports shirt—to the office. He hardly ever wears a necktie. “I’m working harder than ever,” David says, “and I need to feel comfortable.”

More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work. In the United States, the change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual. In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday, but only on Friday. This became known as “dress-down Friday” or “casual Friday”. “What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing.” said business consultant Maisly Jones.

Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes? One reason is that it’s easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code. “A lot of young people don’t want to dress up for work,” says the owner of a software company, “so it’s hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code.” Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes. In a study conducted by Levi Strauss Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale（士氣）. Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative effect on productivity. Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money. “Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,” one person said. “For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes.”

1.David Smith refers to himself as having been “a clothes addict,” because __________.

A．he often wore khaki pants and a sports shirt

B．he couldn’t stand a clean appearance

C．he wanted his clothes to look neat all the time

D．he didn’t want to spend much money on clothes

2.David Smith wears casual clothes now, because __________.

A．they make him feel at ease when working

B．he cannot afford to buy expensive clothes

C．he looks handsome in casual clothes

D．he no longer works for any company

3.According to this passage, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A．Many employees don’t like a conservative dress code.

B．Comfortable clothes make employees more productive.

C．A casual clothes code is welcomed by young employees.

D．All the employers in the U.S. are for casual office wear.

4.According to this passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．Company workers started to dress down about twenty years ago.

B．Dress-down has become an everyday phenomenon since the early 1990s.

C．“Dress-down Friday” was first given as a favor from employers.

D．Many workers want to wear casual clothes to impress people.

5.In this passage, the following advantages of casual office wear are mentioned except ______.

A．saving employees’ money

B．making employees more attractive

C．improving employees’ motivation

D．making employees happier

 

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科目：高中英語 來源：2011-2012學(xué)年江蘇省高三第一學(xué)期期中考試英語試題 題型：閱讀理解

Recently there was a major discovery in the scientific research—the mapping of all DNA in a human gene（基因）is complete. Couple of years ago, this seems an impossible task for scientist to accomplish. All this progress in science leads us to believe that the day, when the human being will be cloned, is not far away. Human cloning has always been a topic of argument，in terms of morality or religion.

Taking a look at why cloning might be beneficial, among many cases, it is arguable that parents who are known to be at risk of passing a genetic limitation to a child could make use of cloning. If the clone was free of genetic limitations. Then the other clone would be as well. The latter could foe inserted in the woman and allowed to ripen to term. Moreover，cloning would enable women, who can’t get pregnant, to have children of their own.

Cloning humans would also mean that organs could be cloned, so it would be a source of perfect transfer organs. This, surely would be greatly beneficial to millions of unfortunate people around the world that are expected to lose their lives due to failure of single(or more) organ(s）.It is also arguable that a ban on cloning may be unlawful and would rob people of the right to reproduce and limit the freedom of scientists.

Arguments against cloning are also on a perfectly practical side. Primarily, I believe that cloning would step in the normal “cycle”of life. There would be a large number of same genes., which reduce the chances of improvement，and, in turn, development-the fundamental reason how living things naturally adapt to the ever-changing environment. Life processes failing to do so might result in untimely disappearance. Furthermore, cloning would make the uniqueness that each one of us possesses disappea. Thus, leading to creation of genetically engineered groups of people for specific purposes and, chances are, that those individuals would be regarded as “objects” rather than people in the society.Scientists haven’t 100 percent. guaranteed that the first cloned will be normal. Thus this could result in introduction of additional limitations in the human “gene-pool”.

Regarding such arguable topics in “black or white” approach seems very innocent to me personally. We should rather try to look at all “shades: of it. I believe that cloning is only legal if its purpose is for cloning organs, not humans. Then we could regard this as for “saving life” instead of “creating life”. I believe cloning humans is morally and socially unacceptable.

1.Which of the following is true according to the passage？

    A. Genetic limitation will be beneficial for some women

   B. A large number of genes will prevent us from developing

   C. Prohibition of cloning might limit the freedom of scientists

   D. First cloned humans might be normal according to scientists

2.What’s the author’s opinion on cloning?

   A. Cloning should be entirely banned

   B. Cloning should be used in creating life

   C. Cloning will take away the right to reproduce

   D. Cloning is acceptable if it is used for cloning organs

3.Where can you read this article?

   A. In a story book. B. In a magazine.   C. In a science fiction D. In a brochure

4.Which of the following shows the structure of the passage

 

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