1 . Consumers who want to help the environment can do so most effectively by reducing consumption. Wrapping paper alternatives can reduce the need for various resources to be consumed.
One extremely low-cost wrapping paper alternative is to use the Sunday comics. These are bright, colorful, and fun, and will probably be passed around and read as the receiver opens the gift. Children and adults alike will appreciate this attractive wrapping paper alternative. Clear cellophane (玻璃纸) can also be used over the comics newspaper.
Re-used gift wrap, if not damaged, is another free wrapping paper alternative. Torn edges can be cut off and high-quality ribbon will last through many uses. Newsprint roll ends are often given away by newspaper offices and can be decorated with markers, paints, rubber stamps, or stickers.
Any wrapping paper alternative can be made unique by adding decorations that are readily available.
| A．This will create a smooth, shiny look. |
| B．Children often like to see their artwork displayed. |
| C．Old calendars can be used as a wrapping paper alternative. |
| D．They can also offer a creative and unique presentation for gifts. |
| E．The gift bag will likely be passed on to wrap a gift for someone else. |
| F．Shapes, photos, or words cut from magazines can personalize the gift. |
| G．There are many other ideas for creating a unique wrapping paper alternative. |
2 . A great earthquake happened in southwestern China on May 12,2008, killing thousands of people. The quake struck Wenchuan and other parts of Sichuan Province in the middle of the afternoon and a number of school buildings, shops and homes were destroyed. The number of the dead and missing rose as rescue workers dug through flattened (夷为平地的) schools and homes to find survivors. It was reported that many people were still buried under the ruins in and around Mianyang, a city about 60 miles east of the epicenter (震中). People there spent a second night sleeping outside in the rain. The government ordered people not to return to their homes for safety concerns. Few lights were on in the city, and people ate and chatted by candlelight.
Rescue teams brought people to Mianyang's stadium for food and shelter. Outside the railway station, the police shouted in megaphones (扩音器) telling people where they could get free food. Buses carrying survivors left Beichuan, which is in the northeast of the epicenter and was also flattened by the quake. 1,000 students and teachers were killed or missing at a fallen high school in Beichuan County. At another school in the town of Juyuan, 900 students were buried under the ruins. There was little hope that many survivors would be found under the rubble. But officials asked the people not to give up hope. 20,000 soldiers arrived in the disaster area on the way by plane, train and truck and even on foot.
Thirty-one British tourists who were panda-watching in Wolong National Nature Reserve were safe. And the pandas were reported safe, too.
1. What was the weather like after the great earthquake in Mianyang?| A．Rainy. | B．Windy. | C．Sunny. | D．Cloudy. |
| A．many people went back home to get some clothes and food |
| B．Beichuan County is in the southeast of the epicenter |
| C．some people were brought to a stadium in Mianyang |
| D．the government said people could return home |
| A．Beichuan | B．Juyuan | C．Mianyang | D．Pingwu |
| A．How many people died in the earthquake. | B．The earthquake that happened in China. |
| C．The places which were damaged. | D．How the earthquake happened. |
