A new report says sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected. American scientists say the ice is melting even faster than computer programs had estimated.

Scientists know that climate change has a major effect on the Arctic Ocean partly because sea ice is disappearing. They also know that areas of open seawater are expanding. Such areas are known to take in sunlight and increase temperatures. Scientists say this has helped to cause the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover.

For the study, the American scientists compared eighteen computer programs with observations made by satellites and other instruments. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change used the computer programs to prepare its 2007 estimates of climate change.

The computer programs gave estimates of the amount of ice in the Arctic Ocean in the month of September. September is when the Arctic has the least ice, after the warm, summer months. The computer estimates suggested an ice loss of two and a half percent for every ten-year period between 1953 and 2006.  

Newer studies of the Arctic have used information gathered by aircraft, satellites and ships. This information showed a loss of September ice cover of almost eight percent for every ten-year period between 1953 and last year. This means the ice is disappearing about thirty years faster than the computer programs estimated.

The scientists say the programs might not have recognized the full effect of increased carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth’s atmosphere. They say their study suggests the gases may have more of an effect than had been thought.

It is reported that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected mainly because _________.

A. climate change                        B. sea ice’s disappearance  

C. seawater’s expansion              D. the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover

How did the scientists draw the conclusion that sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is melting more quickly than expected?

A. The scientists have been observing the Arctic Ocean for many years.

B. The scientists have compared the computer programs with observation made by satellites and other instruments.

C. The scientists have figured out many numbers with the help of computer.

D. The scientists have found that the seawater take in sunlight and increase temperatures.

If the ice melts at the present speed, by the end of this century the ice loss in the Arctic Ocean will be _________ according to newer studies.

A. 22.5%                B. 35%          C.72%         D. 100%

Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. The figures of the computer estimates are wrong.

B. Scientists study climate change through studying sea level.

C. Newer studies show gases may have more effect on sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.

D. The ice is melting even faster than satellites have estimated.

This report mainly warns human to _________.

A. prevent the sea ice in the Arctic Ocean from melting any more

B. pay more attention to the loss of the Arctic’s ice cover 

C. take necessary steps to protect the environment of our earth

D. stop summer sea ice in the Arctic from disappearing so fast

Tired of living in the same location but don’t want to leave the house you love? That wouldn’t be a problem if architect Felipe Campolina had his way.

The Brazilian architect has designed a concept for a home tower consisting of portable, stackable (可叠起堆放的) apartment units, which he says opens up new possibilities for ways of living in the city.

His design would allow owners to take their home with them when they travel — whether for a weekend away or for longer periods, he said.

The mobile home tower project is at the concept stage, and it could be years before it is built, if ever at all.

But if it is realized, it would offer an eco-friendly solution to living in urban areas, Campolina said.

“We have enough technology to build with fewer materials and minimize (使减至最小) the impact on nature,” he said.

His vision would call for units with a green roof and walls and a system for recycling water.

The tower, whose first floor would be built nine meters above ground, would also make it possible to save space in thickly populated areas.

“It is designed to facilitate (使便利) its application in dense urban centers, where space is very limited,” he said.

Still just a concept, Campolina — who designed the building for architecture journal eVolo’s Skyscraper Competition — said with enough public interest, it just might become a reality one day.

1.We can learn from the first four paragraphs that the tower _____.

A．is now being built

B．is intended for people in the countryside

C．will be made up of mobile living units

D．was designed by a US architect

2.Which of the following is TRUE about the home tower?

A．All its walls will be painted blue.

B．It will have a waste paper recycling system.

C．It will be made of recycled rubbish.

D．It will do little harm to the environment.

3.The building’s first floor would be built high above ground _____.

A．to save space in crowded cities             B．to make the building attractive

C．to build the house solidly                 D．to fix its units more easily

When first entered ,Vanak Restaurant does not look like much of a restaurant, but once the pleasant smells of kabob（烤羊肉串）hit the senses ,you are incapable of calling it anything less.
Owned by a local couple, this Persian restaurant has an inviting, homelike atmosphere that many restaurants lack.
The space is small with only a few dining tables and nearly no decoration, but the environment is truly charming.
Lying in a hardly noticeable street corner, the restaurant still attracts all customers, especially those experienced in the delights of Middle Eastern cooking.
A common sight is that of old Persian men sitting in the corner talking loudly about world topics, watching news events on TV, drinking a black tea known as Persian chai, and reading local Persian newspapers all the while trying to finish off their plate piled with food.
The variety of food at the restaurant is limited, but the amount of each dish is fairly large. Most of the meals can serve two people and are under $10,so not only is it affordable but practical as well.
The food, especially appeals to health-conscious eaters because each dish is very healthy, made with limited fat and oil and served straight off the grill（烤肉架）.
The main dish that the restaurant is popular for is its kabobs, which are different style of grilled meat.
One delicious and extremely healthy dish is the Joojeh Kabob, which is made of grilled chicken pieces served with either rice or bread. Another great kabob is the Chelo Kabob, kabob consisting of grilled beef.
Although the restaurant is small, the atmosphere and the food is delicious. It is a place that should not be overlooked

1. 1.

   When first entering the restaurant, one can find that it______.

   1. A.
      is splendidly decorated
   2. B.
      has pleasant smells of kabobs
   3. C.
      is crowded with dining tables
   4. D.
      looks like a common restaurant
2. 2.

   What activity is also mentioned apart from dining in the restaurant?

   1. A.
      Watching news events on TV
   2. B.
      Drinking a kind of black coffee
   3. C.
      Reading local English newspapers
   4. D.
      Discussing world topics in low voices
3. 3.

   The food of the restaurant______.

   1. A.
      is served in small amounts
   2. B.
      is rather expensive
   3. C.
      is rich in variety
   4. D.
      is very health
4. 4.

   It can be inferred from the passage that the restaurant______.

   1. A.
      occupies a large space
   2. B.
      owns a favorable location
   3. C.
      is popular for its special food
   4. D.
      has a quiet environment inside

The accident that happened at an oilfield           the southeast coast of the USA has caused great damage to the environment.

    A. away         B. from             C. beyond           D. off

Ask someone what they have done to help the environment recently and they will almost certainly mention recycling. Recycling in the home is very important of course. However, being forced to recycle often means we already have more material than we need. We are dealing with the results of that over-consumption in the greenest way possible, but it would be far better if we did not need to bring so much material home in the first place.

The total amount of packaging increased by 12% between 1999 and 2005. It now makes up a third of a typical household’s waste in the UK. In many supermarkets nowadays food items are packaged twice with plastic and cardboard.

Too much packaging is doing serious damage to the environment. The UK, for example, is running out of it for carrying this unnecessary waste. If such packaging is burnt, it gives off greenhouse gases which go on to cause the greenhouse effect. Recycling helps, but the process itself uses energy. The solution is not to produce such items in the first place. Food waste is a serious problem, too. Too many supermarkets encourage customers to buy more than they need. However, a few of them are coming round to the idea that this cannot continue , encouraging customers to reuse their plastic bags, for example.

But this is not just about supermarkets. It is about all of us. We have learned to associate packaging with quality. We have learned to think that something unpackaged is of poor quality. This is especially true of food. But is also applies to a wide range of consumer products, which often have far more packaging than necessary.

There are signs of hope. As more of us recycle, we are beginning to realise just how much unnecessary material are collecting. We need to face the wastefulness of our consumer culture, but we have a mountain to climb.

1.The author uses figures in Paragraph 2 to show _______.

A．the tendency of cutting household waste

B．the increase of packaging recycling

C．the rapid growth of super markets

D．the fact of packaging overuse

2.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?

A．Unpackaged products are of bad quality.

B．Supermarkets care more about packaging.

C．It is improper to judge quality by packaging.

D．Other products are better packaged than food.

3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Fighting wastefulness is difficult.

B．Needless material is mostly recycled.

C．People like collecting recyclable waste.

D．The author is proud of their consumer culture.

4.According to the text, recycling ______.

A．helps control the greenhouse effect

B．means burning packaging for energy

C．is the solution to gas shortage

D．leads to a waste of land

5.What does the underlined phrase “over-consumption” refer to?

A．Using too much packaging.

B．Recycling too many wastes.

C．Making more products than necessary.

D．Having more material than is needed.