How much paper do you use every year? Maybe you can't answer this question quickly. In 1990, the world's use of paper was about one kilogram for each person in a year. Now some countries use as 50 kilograms of paper for each person in a year. But countries like America, England and Sweden, certainly use more paper than other countries.

　　Paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was made from the hairlike parts of certain plants. Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100. In 1500, a German named Schaeffer found out that one could make the best paper from trees. After that, the forest countries of Canada, Sweden, America and Finland became the most important ones in paper making.

　　When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books and writing-paper. But there are many other uses. Only half of the paper is used for books and magazines. Paper is very good for keeping you warm. You may see some people asleep on a large number of newspapers. They're insulating themselves from the cold. In Finland the temperature is sometimes --40 centigrade（摄氏）. The farmers wear paper boots in the snow. Nothing could be warmer.

　　Each year more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups and plates for a long time. Now we hear that chairs, tables and even beds can be made of paper. With paper boots and shoes, you can wear paper hats, paper dresses and paper raincoats. When you have used them once, you throw them away and buy new ones.

　　People have made paper boats, but they haven't made planes or cars. Just wait--they perhaps will some day.

Choose the best answer.

(1) ________ use more paper than other countries.

［　　］

A．Sweden

B．America

C．England

D．A, B and C

(2) When was paper first made in southern Europe?

[　　]

A．2000 years ago.	B．In 1100.
C．In 1500.	D．In 1900.

(3) Why do farmers in Finland wear paper boots in the snow? Because_______________.

[　　]

A．they are so poor that they can buy only paper boots

B．there are no other kinds of boots there

C．paper boots are warmer than anything else there

D．paper boots are so nice that they don't like other kinds

(4) Paper has been used for making___________.

A．planes	B．cars
C．motorcycles	D．lots of things

(5) When you have used some things that are made of paper once, you_________.

A．throw them away and buy new ones

B．keep on using them

C．give them to your friends

D．wait to use them sometime later

In recent years, the Earth has been getting warmer. Average temperatures have risen. Possibly this is natural, but probably we are causing it．Modern people use a lot of electricity and drive a lot of cars. This puts carbon dioxide into the air and helps to make the planet warmer. When we hear this news, we may smile. No one likes long, cold winters, but, unluckily, there are many bad points about a warmer Earth.

First, the ice at the Poles melts and becomes water. The result is that the sea level becomes higher. Low islands will disappear. Cities on the coast will be in danger from the sea. Will Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Shanghai become like parts of Holland – lower than the sea? Possibly we will have to build walls to keep the water out. Typhoons will become even more dangerous and frightening.

Sadly, the second point is that storms will become bigger. Super-typhoons will be born in the Pacific and do great damage to East Asia. The same will happen to the Eastern United States.

As the weather changes, some places that now have rain will become dry. The farmers will not be able to grow plants. Maybe some dry places will become wet – we don’t know, but we will soon find out, and the change will cause many problems. There might be wars because of it.

1  What will happen to low islands when the Earth gets warmer and warmer?

     A. They will melt and become water.                B. They will be under the water.

     C. They will become higher.                                   D. They will keep out the water.

2   In the last sentence, “it” refers to ________.

     A. the change of weather                           B. the power of the United States

     C. the ice at the Poles                                   D. the average temperature

3  Which of the following sentences is false?

     A. Shanghai will possibly build walls to prevent the water, like parts of Holland.

     B. The farmers will not be able to grow plants because of the dry weather.

     C. Electricity puts carbon dioxide into the air.

     D. The warmer the Earth is getting, the higher the average temperature is.

4   Which is the best title of this passage?

     A. The Earth Is Getting Warmer                     B. Global Warming Problems

     C. We Made the Earth Warmer                       D. How to Protect the Earth