1 . October 19th marks the beginning of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights which is marked by colorful but harmful fireworks across India. But this year, the country's top court has moved to carry out a complete ban (禁令) on the sale of fireworks in and around New Delhi. The decision is intended to help improve the Indian capital's poor air quality, but will it work?
It is reported that air pollution led to 1.1 million deaths in India in 2015. New Delhi, considered among India's worst cities in terms of air quality, is on the front line in fighting the harmful effects. But at present, the government's pollution policy largely appears after pollution rather than before pollution. The smog-reducing measures, which include banning trucks from the city's roads and closing coal-fired power plants, are only carried out during periods of extreme pollution.
Air quality measurements provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee record smog levels across the city in real time. Those levels are based on the amount of PM 2.5, which are considered particularly harmful because they are small enough to get deep into the lungs and pass into other organs (器官),causing serious health risks.
The sale of fireworks was illegal last November following the situation of dangerously high PM 2.5 levels immediately after Diwali. However,the Indian Supreme Court thought a complete ban would be an extreme step. As a result,that order was reversed (撤销) this month. It is believed by the public that the government is unlikely to provide a lasting solution.
Fireworks aren't the only reason behind New Delhi's smog. In fact, New Delhi's pollution is also affected by its unfortunate geography. Sitting in a natural bowl and Surrounded by industrial and agricultural centers, the city keeps much of the pollution.
1. What is known about Diwali in India according to the passage?A.It is a festival of fireworks. |
B.It is celebrated nationwide. |
C.It usually lasts for half a year. |
D.It is the main cause of the pollution. |
A.reacted properly and quickly |
B.has made effective policies |
C.is working hard against pollution |
D.does a poor job in reducing air pollution |
A.They consist of smog and dust. |
B.They spread very slowly in New Delhi. |
C.They are measured every week in New Delhi. |
D.They are small enough to get into humans' organs. |
A.Effective. | B.Improper. |
C.Important. | D.Harmful. |
A.Its climate. | B.Its industries. |
C.Its geography. | D.Its population. |
2 . Pre-school children who spend time together take on one another's personalities, a new research has found. The study shows that environment plays a key role in shaping people's personalities. While genetics still forms the central part of the human psyche (心理), the research finds that personality traits (特征) are "contagious" (传染的) among children. "Our finding flies in the face of common assumptions that personality can't be changed," said Dr. Jennifer Neal, co-author of the study.
The researchers studied the personalities and social networks of two pre-school classes for a full school year. One of the classes was a set of three-year-olds, and the other a set of four-year-olds. Children whose friends were hard-working or outgoing gradually took on these personality traits over time. Psychology expert Dr. Emily Dublin said kids are having a far bigger effect on each other than people may realize.
The new study is not the first to explore the contagious effects of personality traits. A 2015 psychology study found that rudeness at work can be contagious as it travels from person to person "like a disease". The study found that seeing a boss being rude to an employee was enough to cause people to be rude to those around them.
The researchers questioned 6,000 people on the social "climate" in their workplaces, which included offices, hotels and restaurants. They found 75 percent of those who took part said they had been treated rudely at least once in the past year. And the study also suggests that merely seeing other people being subjected to rudeness made it more likely that a person would treat their colleagues in the same way. Rudeness could include leaving someone off an invite to a company event, sending unkind emails, finding fault with others or failing to give praise.
Dr. Torkelson believes companies need to be more aware of the harm that rudeness in the workplace can do as it can damage the working environment. She said better training could help to fight against the problem.
1. What does the underlined part "flies in the face of" in Paragraph1mean?A.Leads to. | B.Results from. |
C.Goes against. | D.Agrees with. |
A.Their parents. | B.Their friends. |
C.The researchers. | D.The psychologists. |
A.Ignoring the faults of co-workers. |
B.Not sending emails to workmates. |
C.Seeking praise from colleagues and bosses. |
D.Not inviting a colleague to a company party. |
A.One's personality is hard to change. |
B.One's personality is shaped by genes. |
C.One's personality traits can spread to others. |
D.One's personality traits can change overnight. |
A.a science report | B.a study guide |
C.a school textbook | D.a technical journal |