Beautiful pictures of mountains and forests, clear skies, flying birds, wild animals, silly faces — you can find them all in one place. 46 ? On a postcard! Have people always sent postcards? No! Before postcards, people 47 sealed (密封的) letters.

The 48 for the first decorated (装饰的) postcard came to John P. Charlton in 1861. He thought a simple card 49 a border would be a great way to send a note. Then in the late 1800s, postcards which had pictures on them 50 . By law, people had to write their note on the front—on the picture! The back was 51 for the address. Several years later, England allowed a divided-back (背面隔开的) postcard. Then people could write their 52 on the back left side. And they put the address 53 . During the early 1900s, the golden age of postcards, people around the world were more and more 54 picture postcards. In 1908, Americans alone mailed over 677 million postcards.

Today, postcards are the 55 most popular collection in the world after stamps and coins. You can always see or get a lot of newly-designed postcards, especially on New Year's Day.

46. A. How　　 B. When　　　 C. Why　　　 D. Where

47. A. liked　　　 B. hated　　　 C. found　　　 D. lost

48. A. advice　　 B. picture　　　 C. idea　　　 D. card

49. A. above　　 B. with　　　　 C. under　　 D. for

50. A. happened　 B. changed　　　 C. ended 　　D. appeared

51. A. even　　　 B. only　　　　 C. still　　　 D. ever

52. A. note　　　 B. word　　　　 C. address　　 D. letter

53. A. on the front B. on the back　 C. on the left　 D. on the right

54. A. surprised at B. interested in　 C. expected by D. worried about

55. A. first　　　 B. second　　　 C. third　　　 D. fourth

What do people do with their old, out-of-date but still useful computers? Most people don’t know what to do with them. Many old computers are put away in homes. Many more are simply thrown out with the rubbish.　　
Some companies are thinking of ways to bring down the number of old computers. Sony has agreed to help recycle old Sony products. Dell, Hewlett-Packard and other companies now also take back some old computers.　　
In some countries, laws are being passed, too. Computer companies will have to collect and recycle their used products. And 70% of computer waste must be recycled. The idea behind the laws is that computer companies themselves should pay the cost. That will encourage them to make computers that are easier and cheaper to repair and upgrade（升级）.　　
Yet while many people are throwing away good computers, others cannot afford them at all. Hundreds of organizations are working to solve this problem. They collect and repair old computers. Some also teach others how to repair computers.　　
The computers then go to schools, charities and people who need them. Giving a used computer to one of these organizations can turn one person’s rubbish into someone else’s useful things—and cut down on waste, too.　　
【小题1】 How do people usually deal with their old computers?　　
A. They stop using them. B. They give them to others.   C. They fix them up.　　
【小题2】 What do some computer companies do to bring down the number of old computers?　　
A. They don’t do anything about them.　　
B. They take back some old ones.       　　
C. They donate them to some charities.　　
【小题3】According to some countries’ laws, what must computer companies do?　　
A. Collect and recycle most of computer waste. 　　
B. Repair and upgrade old computers.      　　
C. Make much cheaper computers.　　
【小题4】 What may people who can’t afford computers think of the used computers?　　
A. Expensive.        B. Useful.         C. Out-of -date.　　
【小题5】 What is the passage about?　　
A. Repairing old computers.　　
B. Selling old computers.              　　
C. Recycling old computers.