We are all aware of the damaging pollution that’s created by driving petrol and diesel (柴油) vehicles. Many of the world’s cities are blocked with traffic, creating fumes containing gases such as nitrogen oxides. The solution for a cleaner, greener future could be electric vehicles. But how optimistic should we be? There was much excitement last year when the UK government announced it will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030. But is that easier said than done?
The road to global traffic being totally electric is still a long way off. Currently, battery life is an issue — a fully charged battery won’t take you as far as a full tank of petrol. There are also limited numbers of charging points to plug an EV into. Of course, technology is always improving. Some of the biggest tech companies, like Google and Tesla, are spending huge amounts of money developing electric cars. And most of the big car manufacturers are now making them too. Colin Herron, a consultant on low-carbon vehicle technology, told the BBC: “The big leap forward will come with solid state batteries, which will appear first in mobile phones and laptops before they progress to cars.” These will charge more quickly and give cars a bigger range. Cost is another issue that may discourage people switching to electric power. But some countries offer incentive, such as cutting prices by reducing import taxes, and not charging for road tax and parking. Some also provide exclusive lanes for electric cars to be driven on, overtaking traditional cars which might be stuck in jams.
These kinds of measures have made Norway the country with the most electric cars per capita (人均) at more than thirty electric cars per 1000 inhabitants. But Colin Herron warns that “electric motoring” doesn’t mean a zero-carbon future. “It’s emission-free motoring, but the car has to be built, the battery has to be built, and the electricity does come from somewhere.” Maybe it’s time to think about making fewer journeys or using public transport.
1. What can we infer from the question at the end of paragraph 1?| A．We should not be too optimistic about the future. |
| B．Electric vehicles may not solve the traffic problems. |
| C．It’s not a good idea to replace petrol vehicles with electric ones. |
| D．It is not easy to obtain a greener future by means of electric vehicles. |
| A．compensation | B．allowance | C．encouragement | D．privilege |
| A．Electric motoring will create a zero-carbon future. |
| B．Electric cars might not get stuck in traffic jams in the future. |
| C．There are four obstacles on the road to global traffic being totally electric. |
| D．Putting solid-state batteries in electric cars first will be a “great leap forward”. |
| A．Total Electric Traffic: a Long Way to Go |
| B．Electric Vehicles: a Road to a Greener Future |
| C．Electric Power or Petrol: a Tough Decision to Make |
| D．Petrol and Diesel Vehicles: a Main source of Gases |
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【推荐1】Need an airport transfer (换乘) taxi in New Malden? Call New Malden Airport Transfers now to enjoy the New Malden taxi service. We are best known as the specialists in London’s airport transfers. We serve all airports of London with our professional airport transfer service.
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1. What is New Malden Airport Transfers probably?| A．A taxi producer. | B．Airport luggage delivery service. |
| C．A transfer station. | D．A taxi company. |
| A．It charges the lowest price. | B．It can only be booked online. |
| C．It is available around the clock. | D．It can be enjoyed all over London. |
| A．To advertise the New Malden taxi service. | B．To introduce the benefits of different taxis. |
| C．To attract visitors to tour around New Malden. | D．To stress the necessity of airport transfer service. |
【推荐2】Wang Mengshu, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said at a group discussion of the annual session of the National People’s Congress that WiFi should not be provided on high-speed trains, as it might harm communication signals (信号) of trains and would also cost a lot in keeping trains in good condition. He also encouraged passengers to enjoy the views, instead of fixing their eyes on the tiny screens of smartphones and laptops. However,Beijing Youth Dailysaid it should be market demand that decides whether the WiFi is offered on the trains or not.
An increasing number of people, especially young white-collar workers, are addicted to their smartphones rather than face-to-face communications, thanks to the extensive WiFi coverage across the country. ThatjustifiesWang’s disagreement to the offering of WiFi on high-speed trains, because they shouldn’t depend on high-tech devices. It is also obvious that passengers on trains without free WiFi will use their smartphones and other mobile devices less. However, whether the trains should provide a free WiFi service mainly depends on customer demand.
In other words, the China Railway Corp has to obey relevant market rules, and provide technologically possible services to passengers if that is what they want. It cannot turn a blind eye to customers’ wants.
Free WiFi, in fact, is already offered on a lot of buses and coaches. This is a natural response to their competition with trains (especially high-speed ones), which are significantly faster and safer. The bus companies have been forced to improve their services to survive. So it requires proper guidance, not total “no” on the use, to make up for the negative effects of high-end technologies, such as people’s increasing addiction to smartphones.
1. Wang Mengshu thought Wifi shouldn’t be offered on the rain because it may ________.| A．make the communication signals harmful |
| B．cause a high cost in keeping trains in good condition |
| C．help people enjoy the beautiful views throughout a journey |
| D．prevent passengers being addicted to their smartphones and laptops |
| A．Gives an explanation. | B．Offers a response. |
| C．Confirms it incorrect. | D．Proves it reasonable. |
| A．compete for more passengers | B．help drivers stay concentrated |
| C．prevent passengers feeling bored | D．encourage passengers to use phones |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Objective. | D．Supportive. |
【推荐3】Americans with small families own a small car or a large one. If both parents are working, they usually have two cars. When the family is large, one of the cars is sold and they will buy a van (住房汽车).
A small car can hold four persons and a large car can hold six persons but it is very crowded.
A van hold seven persons easily, so a family with three children could ask their grandparents to go on a holiday travel. They could all travel together.
Mr. Hagen and his wife had a third child last year. This made them sell a second car and buy a van. Their sixth and seventh seat are used to put other things, for a family of five must carry many suitcases (衣箱) when they travel. When they arrive at their grandparents’ home the suitcases are brought into the two seats and then it can carry the grandparents.
Americans call vans motor homes. A motor home is always used for holidays. When a family is traveling to the mountains or to the seaside, they can live in their motor home for a few days or weeks. All the members of a big family can enjoy a happier life when they are traveling together. That is why motor homes have become very popular. In America there are many parks for motor homes.
1. From the passage, a van is also called _________.| A．a motor car | B．a motor home |
| C．a motorbike | D．a big truck |
| A．a baby | B．much money |
| C．more than two children | D．interest in vans |
| A．to travel with all the family members of holiday |
| B．to do some shopping with all the family members |
| C．to visit their grandparents at weekends |
| D．to drive their children to school every day |
| A．they can take people to another city when people are free |
| B．they can let families travel together and have happier holidays |
| C．some people think motor homes are cheap |
| D．big families can put more things in motor homes |
【推荐1】Top 4 National Parks in the World
Nature’s beauty knows no bounds and there is no better way to spend a holiday than breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the scenery of some of the world’s most magnificent national parks. The following four national parks invite you to truly enjoy the great outdoors.
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park is located in the greenery of Croatia. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it showcases 16 lakes connected by refreshing waterfalls. Make your way along the wooden pathways that wind through the park and witness the waterfalls up close. A feast for the senses, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a true delight for nature lovers and photographers.
Troodos National Forest Park, Cyprus
Cyprus’ hidden treasure, Troodos National Forest Park, invites you to marvel at majestic mountains and the rich vegetation. Home to Mount Olympus, the highest peak on the island, you can enjoy pine-scented forests and pretty villages. Wander across ancient Byzantine churches that are hidden away among the greenery and vegetation displays.
Durmitor National Park, Montenegro
Although Montenegro is often overlooked as a destination, Durmitor National Park is a must for a true Alpine experience. With rough roads, it is home to limestone peaks, thick pine forests and ancient lakes. Wild goats and cattle can always be seen eating grass beside the lakes. One of the deepest canyons (峡谷) in the world, the Tara River Canyon, is a highlight worth seeing. Here you can enjoy lots of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking and white-water rafting (皮划艇).
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Khao Sok National Park in Thailand promises an unforgettable experience where ancient rainforests meet unique wildlife. Walk through one of the oldest rainforests in the world, where you’ll be able to see a range of vegetation and animals. Keep a lookout for playful monkeys, mighty elephants and the tigers pacing back and forth.
1. Which scenery do visitors of Plitvice Lakes National Park mainly expect?| A．The green forest. | B．The waterfalls and lakes. |
| C．The wooden pathways. | D．The deep canyons. |
| A．Its rich plants. | B．The highest peak. |
| C．A good place for hiking. | D．People living there. |
| A．They are both suitable for outdoor sports. |
| B．They both have canyons. |
| C．They both have wild animals. |
| D．They are both in Asia. |
【推荐2】Welcome to the Harvard University Visitor Center
Harvard University established the Visitor Center in 1962 as the front door to the university, where Harvard students greet visitors from all over the world, provide Harvard’s Official Historical Tour, and answer general information questions about the campus.
Campus Tours
Official Historical Tour of Harvard
These tours begin at the Smith Campus Center. The tour is student-led and comprises an outdoor walk (please dress appropriately) through Harvard Yard, providing a history of the university, general information, and a unique view on the student's individual experience. Tours are capped at 35 attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. No exceptions can be made.
See tour calendar for details
Western Ave. Arts Walk
The Western Ave. Arts Walk is a project chronicling public art along the Western Ave. corridor in Allston, and includes both permanent and temporary works of art on view at the Harvard Business School and Harvard Ed Portal, as well as works affiliated with Zone 3. Student-guided walking tours take approximately one hour. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
See tour calendar for details
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Harvard
If you are interested in touring the campus on your own, you may want a self-guided walking tour. Tour pamphlets — offered in nine different languages — and campus maps can be purchased from our office for a minimal charge.
Hours & Location
Hours of operation
Monday-Saturday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
Sunday: Closed
We are closed for certain holidays, which are noted on the calendar.
Address
Smith Campus Center
1350 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
Contact
visitor_center@ harvard, edu
617-495-1573
1. What does the passage mainly talk about?| A．Harvard University Visitor Center. |
| B．Different ways of visiting Harvard University. |
| C．Brief introduction about the campus. |
| D．Critical comments on Harvard University. |
| A．The guide won't start until there are 35 visitors in his/her group. |
| B．Visitors can make an appointment online in advance. |
| C．Those who arrive earlier will visit first. |
| D．Visitors should wear comfortable clothes. |
| A．They are all student-led. |
| B．They are all by walking. |
| C．They all have time limit. |
| D．They all have the limit to the number of visitors. |
【推荐3】If you start a sentence with, “If I were you...” or find yourself scratching your head over a decision when the answer is crystal-clear, there’s a scientific reason behind it. Our own decision-making abilities can become exhausted over the course of the day causing indecision or poor choices, but choosing on behalf of someone else is an enjoyable task that doesn’t suffer the same difficulties.
“The problem is decision fatigue, a psychological phenomenon that causes harm to the quality of your choices after a long day of decision making,” says Evan Polman, a leading psychologist.
Physicians on the job for several hours, for example, are more likely to prescribe antibiotics (抗生素) to patients when it’s unwise to do so. “Presumably it’s because it’s simple and easy to write a prescription and consider a patient case closed rather than investigate further,” Polman says.
But decision fatigue goes away when you are making the decision for someone else. When people imagine themselves as advisers, they feel less tired and rely less on decision shortcuts. “By taking upon the role of adviser rather than decision maker, one does not suffer the consequences of decision fatigue,” he says. “It is as if there is something fun about making someone else’s choice.”
“Getting input from others not only offers a fresh perspective and thought process, it often also includes riskier choices. While this sounds undesirable, it can be quite good. When people experience decision fatigue, when they are tired of making choices, they have a tendency to choose to go with status quo,” says Polman. “But it can be problematic since a change in the course of action can be important and lead to a positive outcome.”
To achieve a successful outcome or reward, some level of risk is almost always essential. “People who are susceptible to decision fatigue will likely choose to do nothing over something,” he says. “That’s not to say risk is always good, but it is related to taking action, whereas decision fatigue assuredly leads to inaction and the possible chagrin (懊恼) of a decision maker who might otherwise prefer a new course but is unfortunately hindered.”
“Just because you can make good choices for others doesn’t mean you’ll do the same for yourself,” Polman cautions. “Research has found that women negotiate higher salaries for others than they do for themselves,” he says, adding that people slip in and out of decision roles.
1. What does the author say about people making decisions?| A．They tend to make decisions the way they think advantageous to them. |
| B．They may become exhausted making too many decisions for themselves. |
| C．They show considerable differences in their decision-making abilities. |
| D．They are more cautious in making decisions for others than for themselves. |
| A．When they take decision shortcuts. |
| B．When they have advisers to turn to. |
| C．When they have major decisions to make. |
| D．When they help others to make decisions. |
| A．They avoid trying anything new. |
| B．They turn to physicians for advice. |
| C．They tend to make risky decisions. |
| D．They adopt a totally new perspective. |
| A．It will enable people to be more creative. |
| B．It will more often than not end in regret. |
| C．It is vital for one to reach the goal desired. |
| D．It is likely to bring about serious consequences. |
