1 . The idea of turning recycled plastic bottles into clothing is not new. During the last five years, a large number of clothing companies, businesses and environmental organizations have started turning plastics into fabric to deal with plastic pollution. But there’s a problem with this method. Research now shows that microfibers could be the biggest source of plastic in the sea.

Dr. Mark Browne in Santa Barbara, California, has been studying plastic pollution and microfibers for 10 years now. He explains that every time synthetic clothes go into a washing machine, a large number of plastic fibers fall off. Most washing machines can’t collect these microfibers. So every time the water gets out of a washing machine, microfibers are entering the sewers and finally end up in the sea.

In 2011, Browne wrote a paper stating that a single piece of synthetic(合成的) clothing can produce more than 1, 900 fibers per wash. Browne collected samples from seawater and freshwater sites around the world, and used a special way to examine each sample. He discovered that every single water sample contained microfibers.

This is bad news for a number of reasons. Plastic can cause harm to sea life when eaten. Studies have also shown that plastic can absorb other pollutants.

Based on this evidence, it may seem surprising that companies and organizations have chosen to turn plastic waste into clothing as an environmental “solution.” Even though the science has been around for a while, Browne explains that he's had a difficult time getting companies to listen. When he asked well-known clothing companies to support Benign by Design-his research project that seeks to get clothes that have a bad effect on humans and the environment out of the market, Browne didn’t get a satisfying answer. Only one women’s clothing company, Eileen Fisher, offered Browne funding.

1. What has happened during the past five years?

A．Fabric has become much stronger.	B．Plastic pollution has been less serious.
C．Many plastic bottles have been reused.	D．Microfibers have been greatly improved.

2. What does Browne think of washing synthetic clothes?

A．It is adding microfibers to the clothes.

B．It is worsening environmental problems.

C．It is making synthetic clothes last longer.

D．It is doing great damage to washing machines.

3. What can be inferred about Browne’s Benign by Design research project?

A．It has achieved great success.	B．It hasn’t got anything done.
C．It is known to very few people.	D．It is facing some difficulties.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．It’s important to learn to recycle

B．It’s never easy to solve pollution problems

C．Recycled plastic clothing: solution or pollution?

D．Are human beings moving forward or backward?

2 . Not all natural disasters can be prevented. However, the impacts can be lessened with proper planning systems. Only by managing land and water resources can cause higher costs in property damage. Planning requires the cooperation of a network of state and local officials working with federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assess risks and implement changes where necessary.

According to FEMA, floods are the most common natural disaster. Effects of floods are complicated by weather patterns such as drought, which hardens soils and increases the possibility of flash flooding. The amount of impervious (不受影响的) surfaces (like roads and parking lots) in developed areas can contribute to floodwater.

One way to reduce the impacts of flooding is to restore and maintain river flood plains and wetlands. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that restoration of the Upper Mississippi’s 100-year flood zone could have contained the estimated 39-million-square acre-feet of floodwater that caused the Great Flood of 1993 in this area.

A reduction in impervious surfaces is another measure to prevent a natural disaster. The EPA estimates that a single acre of wetlands can store up to 1.5 million gallons of floodwater. Replacing wetlands with impervious surfaces sets the stage for a flood event. By reducing the amount of impervious surface through city and local planning, flash flooding can be prevented or at least lessen impacts.

Natural disaster prevention also relies on the individual. The American Red Cross provides training for individuals to prepare for natural disasters. Having an emergency preparedness kit in your home is important, since some natural disasters can occur without warning. A well-stocked kit will include a complete first aid kit, a few days’ supply of drinking water and canned goods, and other necessities such as batteries, matches and flashlights. While having the kit will not prevent the disaster, it will give you the peace of mind of being prepared.

1. What may cause flash flooding?

A．Long droughts.	B．Hardened soils.
C．Enlarged parks.	D．Developed fields.

2. How can people manage land to reduce floods?

A．Preserving plains and wetlands.	B．Building dams to restore water.
C．Getting rid of impervious surfaces.	D．Trying to change weather patterns.

3. Why should you have an emergency preparedness kit at home?

A．To help you make good planning systems.	B．To help you prepare for natural disasters.
C．To help you prevent some natural disasters.	D．To help you share the national responsibility.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The functions of FEMA.	B．The impacts of national disasters.
C．Ways to prevent severe natural disasters.	D．Disaster prevention and individual preparation.

3 . After the earthquake hit northeast Japan on March 11, 2011, many touching stories that I saw with my own eyes happened around me.          

I had to walk home since all the _______ had stopped after the quake. On my way home I _______an old Japanese lady at the bakery shop who was giving out free bread, which made my heart _______. A middle-aged Japanese man was holding a sign that said, “Please use our _______.” He was _______ his house for people to go to the restroom. My friend wanted to _______ others. He stood in the cold with a sign “If you are okay with a motorcycle, I will _______ you to your house.” And then I saw him take one gentleman home, all the way to faraway place! Then the next day I drove to _______ my car with gas. There was a _______of gas now and many gasoline stations were either closed or had very ________ lines. I got ________, since I was behind 15 cars. Finally, when it was my ________, the man smiled and said, “________this situation, we are only giving $ 30 worth gas per person. Is that alright?” “Of course, I’m just glad that we are all able to ________,” I said. His smile gave me so much ________.

I saw a man at the evacuation (疏散) center ________ when people brought food to him. It was the first time in three days that food has been brought to their center. However, after he wiped the tears, his next ________ surprised me. “I am very ________ that we are provided with food. But people in the city next to us haven’t ________ any food at all. Please go to that centre as well.” And when hearing that, I realized there is a bright future on the other side of this ________.

1.

A．traffic

B．rescue

C．communication

D．businesses

2.

A．missed

B．caught

C．noticed

D．heard

3.

A．hungry

B．soft

C．broken

D．warm

4.

A．toilet

B．hotel

C．hospital

D．house

5.

A．advertising

B．opening

C．repairing

D．decorating

6.

A．encourage

B．save

C．charge

D．assist

7.

A．drive

B．follow

C．lead

D．send

8.

A．start

B．fill

C．check

D．wash

9.

A．plenty

B．lack

C．variety

D．diversity

10.

A．direct

B．straight

C．long

D．short

11.

A．worried

B．lucky

C．excited

D．annoyed

12.

A．time

B．turn

C．duty

D．decision

13.

A．Apart from

B．Together with

C．Because of

D．Instead of

14.

A．share

B．offer

C．tolerate

D．transform

15.

A．comfort

B．pleasure

C．trouble

D．entertainment

16.

A．waiting

B．grabbing

C．sleeping

D．crying

17.

A．promises

B．roles

C．actions

D．remarks

18.

A．upset

B．grateful

C．surprised

D．proud

19.

A．bought

B．supplied

C．prepared

D．received

20.

A．city

B．center

C．lesson

D．disaster

4 . To help the environment, many Americans have made the change from paper and plastic bags to reusable grocery bags. But a report by a Florida newspaper says that reusable grocery bags sold by some supermarkets contain high levels of lead(铅). Lead is a metal that can be harmful to humans, especially young children, Now, Senator Charles Schumer is asking the US government to investigate(调查) the use of lead in reusable shopping bags.
“When our families go to the grocery store looking for safe and healthy foods to feed their kids, the last thing they should have to worry about is poisonous bags.” Schumer said, “A quick investigation will allow everyone to make informed, timely decisions.”   Schumer added.
Lead in the bags is not likely to rub off (因摩擦而粘在……上面)on food. But over time, paint on the bags can chip and the bags can wear out. When this happens, lead can be released(释放).
The Tampa Tribune newspaper said certain bags sold at Publix and Winn-Dixie supermarkets had lead levels that were a concern to health officials. The affected bags were found in Florida. But Publix has more than 1,000 stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Sough Carolina and Tennessee. Publix says that all of its bags are under current laws about lead content, but that they have asked the makers of the bags to reduce the lead levels in the product.
The bags with the highest levels of lead had fancy designs and many pictures. Plain reusable bags without decoration were found to contain little lead. Consumers worried about lead levels in reusable bags can change to cloth or string bags. Paper bags are also a good choice, since paper can be recycled(回收).
Since 2007, Publix supermarkets have sold more than 13 million reusable bags. The store says because shoppers have made the change to reusable bags, it has saved more than 1 billion paper and plastics bags.
1. The shopping bags containing high levels of lead ______.

A．have been reported by a newspaper

B．have been stopped by the government

C．have stopped people from using reusable bags

D．have caused serious health damage to customers

2. From Schumer’s words we can learn that ______.

A．reusable bags do little harm to kids’ health

B．people have shown much concern for the reusable bags

C．people will be informed of the facts about the reusable bags

D．people should refuse to buy things from supermarkets

3. It can be inferred from the text that Publix might believe that the bags they sold are ______.

A．dependable

B．convenient

C．harmful

D．popular

4. Customers are advised to choose bags ______.

A．with colorful designs	B．with fancy pictures
C．made of plastic	D．made of paper

5. From the last paragraph we know that the use of reusable bags has ______.

A．caused Publix a lot of trouble	B．saved Publix much money
C．cost Publix plenty of money	D．been proved a wrong decision