Some scientists warn that ice near the Earth’s Poles may indeed be melting. This “polar meltdown” may be the first sign that the Earth is heating up. We could be in very serious trouble if this trend continues. It is estimated that a meltdown of as little as 10 percent of Antarctica’s ice would raise sea levels around the globe by 4 to 9 meters. Floods would cover low-lying regions and turn coastal cities like New York and New Orleans into real life underwater world.

Scientists first predicted in the 1970s that heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere could cause a polar meltdown. Many now believe that human activities are turning up the heat. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, we add carbon dioxide(CO2) gas to the Earth’s atmosphere. Cutting down trees also makes CO2 levels raise because trees normally soak up CO2 to make food. Scientists say higher CO2 levels strengthen the “greenhouse effect” and could increase the Earth’s temperature. In fact, CO2 levels have risen by 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Over the past three years, satellite measurements have shown a sea level rise of about a quarter inch worldwide. “If nothing is done to reduce fossil-fuel pollution and global warming, sea levels will rise even more.” says geologist Richard Alley.

But even Alley admits that a polar meltdown would take time. The ice in Antarctica and Arctic locks up nearly nine times the volume of water contained in all the world’s rivers and lakes. These are such big “ice cubes” and it would probably take thousands of years to melt them.

Another scientist Charles Bentley doesn’t think a meltdown will happen at all. “Even if warmer temperatures begin to melt polar-ice,” he says, “the excess moisture would most likely be redeposit as snow.” In other words, the melted ice would evaporate into the atmosphere, refreeze, and fall as rain and snow over the Poles.

What consequence of global warming is mentioned in the passage?

A. More tropical storms.       B. More tropical diseases.

C. Changes in farm productivity.   D. Coastal flooding.

Which of the following statements does the second paragraph support?

A. CO2 in the atmosphere cannot keep the heat from escaping into space.

B. The increase of CO2 gas may warm the planet and help to melt polar ice.

C. Cutting down trees helps to greatly reduce CO2 levels.

D. The end of the short-lived age of fossil fuels is already in sight.

Geologist Richard Alley most likely agrees that _______.

A. the sea-level rise can be prevented by cutting back on energy-consuming activities

B. the recent breaking off of ice blocks from Antarctica is just a natural part of a long-term cycle

C. Antarctica temperatures have significantly changed since the Industrial Revolution

D. the polar meltdown may be an accidental change of climate rather than a sign of global warming

Charles Bentley believes that a polar meltdown will not occur because _______.

A. governments around the world are beginning to reduce CO2 levels in the air

B. a melting of the polar ice cannot be achieved with the present technologies

C. the melted ice in the polar areas would change into snow and rain over the Poles

D. the sun’s heat would have no chance of being absorbed by the polar ice

In which paragraph does the author mention the immense quantities of polar ice?

A. In the second paragraph.   B. In the third paragraph.

C. In the fourth paragraph.    D. In the fifth paragraph.

There are over one million superstitions(迷信), and most people believe at least one or two of　them.

Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers.

The number 13 is often considered unlucky. In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan, "4" is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word "four" is pronounced the same as the word "death" .

Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything.

What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and "8" is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8, and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8.

Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people--called numerologist--make a living by giving advice about numbers.

In 1937, when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if "Toyoda" would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that "Toyota" would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive "Toyota" and not "Toyoda" .

There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching(抓痒). There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes.

There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions will tell people how to reverse bad luck.

When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first-bump means their parents will die, but the second bump "erases" the first bump         

To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards.

In the United States, baseball players sometimes wear their caps backwards when their team is losing. It looks silly, but the baseball players do not mind if it helps them win the game.

1.It can be inferred that superstitions about numbers are          .

2.The underlined word "reverse" means          .

3.If a Japanese purposely bumps his head again after an accidental bump, we can be sure that     .  

4.The writer wrote this passage with the purpose of          .

Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when she went to pick up her daughter’s car near an Ohio University building last week.Anderson saw the nickel­gray Toyota Camry and used her daughter’s key to unlock the car，start the engine and drive home.

When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later，he found only an empty parking spot.He first assumed the car had been towed，but when the police couldn’t find a record of it，they took a theft report.

The morning after Anderson took back the car，her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn’t hers.She found Vansant’s name on paperwork in the glove compartment and looked up his phone number on the Website for the university.

When she told Vansant the car was in her driveway，“It sounded real fishy at first，like maybe she wanted to hold the thing for ransom，”Vansant said!

He eventually went to the house with a police officer，where he was reunited with his car.According to a police report，the case was closed “because of the mistaken car identity.”Anderson wasn’t charged.

Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the “thief”．“Her key fit not only my lock，but my ignition as well—so high­five for Toyota，I guess，”he said.

Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said  key technology wasn’t as sophisticated as two decades ago，and there were so many ways to cut a key，making it possible for such a mix­up to occur.He said the company now has a microchip embedded(嵌入)in the keys for 90 percent of its vehicles that allows them to start only with the correct key.

1.We can learn from the story that Kate Anderson____。

2.When Charlie Vansant received the phone call，he___。

3.Who should be responsible for the accident?——

4.According to the passage，it can be learned that____

There are over one million superstitions(迷信), and most people believe at least one or two of　them.
Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers.
The number 13 is often considered unlucky. In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan, "4" is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word "four" is pronounced the same as the word "death" .
Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything.
What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and "8" is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8, and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8.
Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people--called numerologist--make a living by giving advice about numbers.
In 1937, when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if "Toyoda" would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that "Toyota" would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive "Toyota" and not "Toyoda" .
There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching(抓痒). There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes.
There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions will tell people how to reverse bad luck.
When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first-bump means their parents will die, but the second bump "erases" the first bump         
To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards.
In the United States, baseball players sometimes wear their caps backwards when their team is losing. It looks silly, but the baseball players do not mind if it helps them win the game.   
【小题1】It can be inferred that superstitions about numbers are           .