Prince Charles yesterday promised to reduce the royal impact on the environment through sweeping changes to his personal lifestyle and official schedule.The prince will replace carbon-heavy private jets and helicopters with scheduled flights and train services.
The move came as Prince Charles urged business leaders to publish the environmental pact of their activities.
He said, “Few accountants and business decision-makers ask, ‘How much of our critical natural resource is left? How many miles of polar ice cap has our business helped melt this year? By how many inches have we raised sea levels? How many species have we put at risk? How many homes will be flooded, how many people will die of thirst or starvation because of our activities? ’ These are not comfortable questions, but, by God, they need to be asked.”
He added, “At the moment these costs do not appear in anyone’s books… Yet they are real, they are incurred now and in a relatively short time, the damage being caused may be beyond remedy.” He said the world was “running up the biggest global credit card debt in history, but with little or no thought for how the bill will ever be paid”.
Flanked by the prime minister and business and community leaders at St James’ Palace, the prince said his new “accounting for sustainability” project would give consumers the power to choose products that caused less damage to the planet.
Duchy Originals, the prince’s food company, is taking steps to work out how much carbon dioxide and other green-house gas are emitted in growing, processing and distributing its products.The changes to the prince’s travel arrangements announced yesterday are part of a wider review of the carbon footprint associated with activities at all three of his residences.Clarence House in London, Highgrove and Birkhall on the Balmorals estate(庄园), as well as the activities of his 21 personal and 105 full-time staff.Measures include a review of electricity use, commuter and other staff travel and are intended to identify further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.The review will report in June , when Clarence House will announce annual targets to reduce carbon emission.
1.One of the moves Prince Charles will take to reduce the royal impact on the environment is ______.
A.taking private jets that are not carbon-heavy
B.taking helicopters instead of private jets
C.taking trains instead of scheduled flights
D.taking scheduled flights instead of helicopters
2.How does Prince Charles feel about business leaders in terms of environmental protection?
A.Dissatisfied. B.Disappointed. C.Doubtful. D.Impatient.
3.In response to Prince Charles’ calls, Duchy Originals will ______.
A.make as much green food as possible
B.cut down its cost
C.figure out its greenhouse gas emission
D.continue its greenhouse gas emission
4.The underlined phrase in paragraph 4 probably refers to ______.
A.the great amount of waste produced by industry
B.the great damage caused to the environment
C.the great amount of debts of the royal family
D.the high cost of industry in their producing process
5.What would be the best title for the passage?
A.Prince Charles promised Greener Royal Lifestyle
B.Better Late than Never
C.Prince Charles and His Concern for Environment
D.The Royal Family Has a Role to Play in Environment Protection
科目:高中英语 来源:活题巧解巧练·高二英语(上) 题型:050
阅读理解
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A,B,C和D)中选出最佳选项。
The producer appeared behind the recording studio window and smiled and waved to me like an old friend. And after I had read out a little test piece, he said,“That's fine, wonderful, Your voice is perfect, lovely, wonderful.”Then I read a longer passage in English about the delights of touring in Britain, and another about the delights of visiting
London, and both were“excellent”and“just right”, and I began to consider a job in radio. To be honest, I was fairly sure of myself though I lacked experience. Across the room in the Hamburg News Agency where we both worked, a friend named Peter Turner called to me, “I say, Mike, a man on the phone here wants someone to do a recording in English, and I'm booked up. Would you read something to him in English as a sort of test?”I did, and they said,“Perfect, lovely, wonderful…”Would I cane round?
It was after reading their passage in English in the studio that they noticed my vowel pronunciations were not altogether King's English, or even Prince Philip's, there was a larger silence than usual, then the voice said,“Fine, lovely, but you said the word ‘castle’with a short ‘a’. Could we have the passage again, please? But this time say ‘carsele’.”
This was easy. But then he noticed other differences in my pronunciation.
“It's my northern English accent,”I said, angry, because I had to apologize for it.
“Oh, I see…but Mr. Jamieson, we'll have to get it right, I'm afraid. The recording is for teaching English to German schoolchildren, and it must be spoken in the way it is taught in German schools.”
I read the passage again and again. But of course you cannot change the pronunciation of a lifetime in an hour. The studio men were in the state of having lost hope and underlined the vowels which caused me to feel angry, so that I'd remember them. Few, really. But because I had to concentrate(集中) on them, I made a lot of mistakes in my reading. Everyone got somewhat angry, so we all went out for a beer.
1.Broadcasting did not make Mike nervous ________.
[ ]
A.although he had never done any before
B.because he worked in a news agency
C.although the passage was long
D.because he was used to talking on the phone
2.What happened after Mike had done the recording a second time?
[ ]
A.They said nothing.
B.They could not understand one of the words.
C.They began to discuss Prince Philip's English.
D.They made him repeat it.
3.They wanted Mike to change his pronunciation because ________.
[ ]
A.German schoolchildren didn't like a northern accent
B.German schoolchildren were taught through recordings
C.it was different from the English taught in German schools
D.it was different from the English spoken in Germany
4.Why did Mike's reading of the passage get worse?
[ ]
A.He could not learn so many new sounds.
B.He was trying hard to get certain sounds right.
C.He needed a drink to clear his throat.
D.He was trying to do the recording in an hour.
查看答案和解析>>
科目:高中英语 来源:2015届四川省高二上学期期中考试英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
Now, it’s time for some brief news items.
Teens Go Online
Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen’s “Net-rating”. The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids spend on line and keep them away from chat rooms.
Chat to the magic Mum
British author J. K. Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August.
School Soldiers
Russian school students will have to do basic military training in their final year of school, the government has decided. The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country.
Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas (睡衣) and go to class in their own bedrooms, Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state’s only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra (代数), American government, chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes.
1.In the first news item, which country is NOT covered in the research?
A. Britain. B. France. C. Sweden. D. Spain.
2.What is the second news item mainly about?
A. J. K. Rowling will have an Internet interview.
B. Children will meet Harry Potter’s mother.
C. The Harry Potter book will be available on the Internet.
D. The Harry Potter book will arrive in China in early June.
3.Why will Russian school students have basic military training?
A. To get ready for a military parade.
B. To learn to protect themselves.
C. To gain some military knowledge.
D. To develop their love for the country.
4.The news from Florida can be given a title “____________”.
A. Get up Late B. Online School C. Magical Computers D. No Teachers
查看答案和解析>>
科目:高中英语 来源:2012届广东省高三上学期第三次月考英语试卷(解析版) 题型:阅读理解
1685 was a very good year for German composers. Within the space of a month, two of the greatest were born: Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel.
Handel’s father was a barber and surgeon, which sounds like a strange combination today, but back then those occupations went hand in hand. Even though Handel was very interested in music, his father didn’t think that was a good way to earn a living, so he wanted his son to be a lawyer. The story goes that Handel smuggled a quiet piano into the house so that he could practice in secret.
One day, Handel went along when his father went to shave a duke. While his father was working, Handel sat down and played the duke’s organ. The duke was so impressed that he convinced Handel’s father to let his son study music, and Handel finally got to learn how to compose.
Handel soon discovered that what he liked most was opera. In fact, he was so passionate about opera that he even fought a duel (决斗) over it with one of his friends. Since Italy was the place to learn about opera composing, Handel went off to Italy to study. When he got home, he got a job as court composer for a German prince.
Having landed such a wonderful job, Handel immediately asked his boss for time off. He wanted to go to England, where he’d heard that there weren’t nearly enough composers to satisfy the British taste for Italian opera.
After great success writing opera in London, Handel came back to Germany. Then fate played a funny trick on Handel and his boss. The Queen of England died, and it just so happened that the prince Handel worked for was next in line to the British throne. When he arrived in London as King George, followed Handel, his court composer in Germany.
In addition to serving the King, Handel became one of the most successful opera composers of his time. And he also produced them and traveled all over Europe to hire the best singers. There are stories of battles with rival opera producers and of fights between rival singers. Handel apparently had quite a temper.
If you ever go to London, look for Handel’s grave in Westminster Abbey, where there’s a wonderful monument to him.
1.How did Handel begin to learn to compose?
A.His father was sure of his future success. |
B.His performance impressed a duke. |
C.He begged his father to send him to Italy. |
D.He practiced hard and taught himself music. |
2.What does the underlined word “smuggled” mean in the passage?
A.bought secretly |
B.took secretly |
C.carried in advance |
D.possessed personally |
3. Why did Handel later settle down in Britain instead of Germany?
A.Because he could find better jobs in London. |
B.Because he enjoyed greater fame in London. |
C.Because his boss became King of Britain and brought him along. |
D.Because London was a wonderful place to learn about opera. |
4.Which of the following words can NOT be used to describe Handel, as shown in the passage?
A.bad-tempered |
B.talented |
C.enthusiastic |
D.optimistic |
5. Which of the following statements is WRONG according to the passage?
A.Handel was born in the same year with Bach. |
B.Many people worked both as a barber and a surgeon. |
C.Handel quit his job to learn about opera in Italy. |
D.Handel was buried in London and was built a monument. |
查看答案和解析>>
科目:高中英语 来源:0910年黑龙江省高二下学期期末考试 题型:其他题
第二节(共5小题;每小题2分,满分10分)
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
I was in Tokyo last spring, walking in the street and talking with my dear friend Kirsten. 71 It turned out to be a group of four very hip Japanese college students playing their music instruments for anyone who would listen.
72 In the middle of the second song, an old homeless man broke through the crowd and started shouting at the band. The musicians did their best to ignore him but the man would not go away. It seemed he was angry about the loud noise.
I remember there were probably two dozen people watching this. 73 I was also helpless because first, I couldn’t speak much Japanese, and second, the homeless man was starting to get more and more violent. At one point, he picked up a stick and started banging on the drum set.
This was more than the young drummer could take. He stopped playing, stood up and pushed the old man to the ground.
74 He knelt down next to the old man, took hold of his hands and asked him if he was alright. I couldn’t understand what was being said, but I will never forget the way this young man helped bring the fallen man to his feet. And I will never forget the way he carefully placed his arm around the old man’s shoulders and quietly walked him away.
75 Maybe this old man was a prince in disguise. And maybe he was waiting to see someone act, just once, with beauty and courage.
A.I couldn’t help but wonder. |
B.All of them went away at once. |
C.Suddenly, we heard the sound of a jazz band. |
D.Everybody became angry with the old man. |
E.But no one knew what they could or should do.
F.However, not everyone was enjoying the music.
G.At that time, a young Japanese man went through the crowd quietly.
查看答案和解析>>
科目:高中英语 来源:0910学年广东省揭阳市毕业班第一学期期末会考 题型:阅读理解
Statuses are marvelous human inventions that enable us to get along with one another and to determine where we "fit" in society. As we go about our everyday lives,we mentally attempt to place people in terms of their statuses. For example,we must judge whether the person in the library is a reader or a librarian,whether the telephone caller is a friend or a salesman,whether the unfamiliar person on our property is a thief or a meter reader,and so on.
The statuses we assume often vary with the people we encounter, and change throughout life. Most of us can, at very high speed, assume the statuses that various situations require. Much of social interaction consists of identifying and selecting among appropriate statuses and allowing other people to assume their statuses in relation to us. This means that we fit our actions to those of other people based on a constant mental process of appraisal and interpretation. Although some of us find the task more difficult than others,most of us perform it rather effortlessly.
A status has been compared to readymade clothes. Within certain limits, the buyer can choose style and fabric. But an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince. We must choose from among the clothing presented by our society. Furthermore, our choice is limited to a size that will fit, as well as by our pocketbook . Having made a choice within these limits we can have certain alterations made, but apart from minor adjustments, we tend to be limited to what the stores have on their racks. Statues too come ready made, and the range of choice among them is limited.
51. In the first paragraph,the writer tells us that statuses can help us ______.
A. determine whether a person is fit for a certain job
B. behave appropriately in relation to other people
C. protect ourselves in unfamiliar situations
D. make friends with other people
52. According to the writer,people often assume different statuses ______.
A. in order to identify themselves with others
B. in order to better identify others
C. as their mental processes change
D. as the situation changes
53. The underlined word "appraisal"(Para.2) most probably means "______".
A. involvement B. appreciation C. judgment D. presentation
54. In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the pronoun "it" refers to "______".
A. fitting our actions to those of other people appropriately
B. identification of other people’s statuses
C. selecting one’s own statuses
D. constant mental process
55. By saying that "an American is not free to choose the costume of a Chinese peasant or that of a Hindu prince" (Para.3), the writer means _______.
A. different people have different styles of clothes
B. readymade clothes may need alterations
C. statuses come ready made just like clothes
D. our choice of statuses is limited
查看答案和解析>>
湖北省互联网违法和不良信息举报平台 | 网上有害信息举报专区 | 电信诈骗举报专区 | 涉历史虚无主义有害信息举报专区 | 涉企侵权举报专区
违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com