Almost a decade ago, the federal government dropped $10 million for an Earth-monitoring satellite that never made it into space. Today it sits in a closet in Maryland. Cost to taxpayers for storing it: $1 million a year. And that's just what's hiding in one closet. Who knows what's in the rest of them?
Because we think the government should be held to at least the same standards as a publicly traded company, and because as taxpayers, we're America's shareholders, we performed an audit （财务检查）of sorts of the federal books. We're not economists, but we do have common sense. We tried to get help from Congressional staffers from both parties, as well as various watchdog groups and agencies. In the end, we found that the federal government wastes nearly $1 trillion every year.
That's roughly equal to the amount collected annually by the Internal Revenue Service in personal income taxes. Put another way, it's also equal to about one-third of the country's $2.9 trillion total annual budget. And reclaiming that lost trillion could help wipe out the country's annual budget deficit（赤字）, improve education, and provide health insurance for those who don't have it.
So how do you define "waste"? David Walker of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a federal watchdog agency, calls it "the government's failure to give taxpayers the most for their money." For our part, we used the kind of household test you would use on a piece of meat sitting in your refrigerator: If it smells rotten, it's waste. Our government regularly pays for products and services it never gets, wildly overpays companies to do things it could do more cheaply itself, loses money outright due to lax（不严格的）accounting and oversight, and spends money randomly on unnecessary programs.
How exactly does the federal government waste your hard-earned tax dollars? We've identified what we consider ten of the worst ways.
1.The underlined sentence in Paragraph1 really means .
A．there are many other closets B．there are some other satellites
C．there is something else in the closets D．the waste may be quite amazing
2.Which of the following can best describe the feeling of the author?
A．Annoyed. B．Calm. C．Surprised. D．Not concerned.
3.Which of the following statements may be right?
A．The country’s annual budget is usually decided by the public.
B．The government failed in launching the satellite.
C．The government is only wasting money in space experiments.
D．The amount collected annually in personal income taxes is equal to the country’s budget.
4.The best title for the passage would be .
A．Protecting Our Rights!
B．Our Country Is In Danger!
C．The Government Is Wasting Our Tax Dollars!
D．How to Prevent Government from Wasting Money!
5.What might be talked about if the passage is continued?
A．The government’s taking some steps to stop wasting taxes.
B．Presenting people’s feelings against the government’s wasting taxes.
C．Giving suggestion to help the government solve the financial problem.
D．Listing how the government is wasting taxes.
1.D
2.A
3.B
4.C
5.D
【解析】
试题分析：
1.推断题。文章第一段讲到，十年前联邦政府为了一个最终没有进入太空的卫星花费了一千万美金，而如今却躺在了马里兰州的一个小房间里，为了保存好它，每年需花费一百万美金，所以作者觉得这种浪费是惊人的。故选D
2.推断题。从第一段最后一句Who knows what's in the rest of them?
及第二段最后一句及最后一段可看出作者对于政府的做法是愤怒的，故选A。B.答案是镇定的，不对。C.惊讶的。D.漠不关心的，不对。
3.判断题。文中没有讲到每年预算由谁决定，排除A.文中倒数第二段，最后一句讲到政府在一些不必要的项目上随意花钱，可知，并非只浪费在太空实验中。排除C
4.文中主要讲到了waste浪费，故应选与waste有关的答案，故选C.文中并未提到如何来阻止这种浪费，文中并未提到有关的措施，排除D.
5.最后一段We've identified what we consider ten of the worst ways.可知，接下来应列举十种政府浪费行为。故选D.
考点：说明文
点评：文章作者批评了政府浪费纳税人钱的做法，文中题目不难解答此类文章需要把握主旨，理解作者的写作态度，结合细节，在文中找答案。一般问题都不大。
春雨教育同步作文系列答案科目：高中英语 来源： 题型：
―I guess you might have got lost there last Sunday.
―Well, I_______.
A. mostly did B. nearly had
C. almost had D. almost did
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：重庆第三十七中学校2009-2010学年度高二下学期期中考试（英语） 题型：阅读理解
The economy of the United States after 1952 was the economy of a well-fed, almost fully employed people. Despite occasional alarms, the country escaped any postwar depression and lived in a state of boom. An economic survey of the year 1955, a typical year of the 1950’s, may be typical as illustrating the rapid economic growth of the decade. The national output was value at 10 percent above that of 1954 (1955 output was estimated at 392 billion dollars). The production of manufacturers was about 40 percent more than it had averaged in the years immediately following World War 2. The country’s business spent about 30billion dollars for new factories and machinery. National income available for spending was almost a third greater than it had been it had been in 1950. Consumers spent about 256 billion dollars; that is about 700 million dollars a day or about twenty-five million dollars every hour, all round the clock. Sixty-five million people held jobs and only a little more than two million wanted jobs but could not find them.
Only agriculture complained that it was not sharing in the room. To some observers this was an ominous echo of the mid 1920’s. As farmer’s share of their products declined, marketing costs rose. But there were, among the observers of the national economy, a few who were not as confident as the majority. Those few seemed to fear that the boom could not last and would eventually lead to the opposite-depression.
72. What is the best title of the passage?
A) The Agricultural Trends of 1950’s
B) The Unemployment Rate of 1950’s
C) U.S. Economy in the 50’s
D) The Federal Budget of 1952
73. In Line 4, the word “boom” could best be replaced by______.
A) nearby explosion
B) thunderous noise
C) general public support
D) rapid economic growth
74. Which of the following were LEAST satisfied with the national economy in the 1950’s?
A) Economists
B) Framers
C) Politicians
D) Steelworkers
75. The passage states that income available for spending in the U.S. was greater in 1955 than in 1950. How much was it?
A) 60％
B) 50％
C) 33％
D) 90％
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：全国通用2010年北大清华冲刺王高考押题卷英语（一） 题型：阅读理解
TUVALU, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean, has asked for help as it will be swallowed up by the sea.
Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and none of Tuvalu’s nine little islands is more than five meters above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country’s drinking water supply, as well as damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetable. Without urgent help, the country’s days are numbered.
But Tuvalu is not the first place to face sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24cm over the past 100 years. Experts say that it will have sunk another 20-50cm by 2050. A century ago, St. Mark’s Square, the lowest point city, flooded about nine times a year. Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times. While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on which it stands, global warming causes Tuvalu’s rising sea level.
The average global temperature has increased by almost 0.5 centigrade degrees over the past century; scientists expect it rise by extra 1-3 degrees over the next 100 years.
Warmer weather makes glaciers (冰川) melt, and adds more water to the ocean. The warmer temperatures also make water expand, so it takes up more space, causing the sea level to rise. The sea level has risen about 10-25 cm in the last 100 years.
The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal, oil and gas, people have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2. This adds to the power of the greenhouse effect, making the planet even warmer.
Many scientists believe that, if the warming is not stopped, there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one meter this century.
Should this come true, the sea will swallow up millions of homes and the world will be flooded with “climate refugees” looking for somewhere to live.
68. We can infer from the second paragraph that .
A. Tuvalu is in danger of being swallowed up by the sea
B. all Tuvalu’s islands are about five meters above the sea level
C. drinking water in Tuvalu has been destroyed
D. Tuvalu is often flooded by storms and waves
69. Put the following events in the right order.
a. Glaciers began to melt. b. People burn coal ,oil and gas.
c. The greenhouse effect is growing. d. The earth is getting warmer and warmer
e. The sea level is rising. f. More CO2 is produced.
g. Many places are sinking into the sea.
A. d,f,b,c,a,e,g B. b,f,c,d,e,a,g C. f,c,b,d,a,e,g D. b,f,c,d,a,e,g
70. What does “climate refugees” mean?
A. Climate changes. B. Climate effect.
C. People forced away from their homeland by climate.
D. Rare animals moving from place to place for climate changes.
71 Which of the following is False according to the passage?
A. The sea level has risen about 10-25 cm in the last 100 years for warmer temperatures.
B. The average global temperature has risen by 1-3 centigrade degrees over the past 100 years.
C. The warmer temperature causes the sea level to rise.
D. There will be huge climate changes unless the warming is stopped
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：江西省赣州十一县（市）2010届下学期高三期中联考（英语） 题型：阅读理解
Let's do some sleep math. You lost two hours of sleep every night last week because of a big project due on Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, you slept in, getting four extra hours. On Monday morning, you were feeling so bright-eyed, and you only had one cup of coffee, instead of your usual two. But don't be cheated by your energy: You're still carrying around a heavy load of sleepiness, or what experts call " sleep debt "win this case something like six hours, almost a full night's sleep.
Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep you should be getting and the amount you actually get. It's a deficit (赤字)that grows every time we skim some extra minutes off our nightly sleep. "People accumulate sleep debt gradually without being noticed," says psychiatrist William C. Dement, founder of the Stanford University Sleep Research Centre. Studies show that such short-term lack of sleep
leads to a foggy brain, worsened vision, and trouble remembering. Long-term effects include obesity, insulin(胰岛素) resistance, and heart disease. A survey by the National Sleep Foundation reports that we're losing one hour of sleep each night —more than two full weeks of sleep each year.
The good news is that, like all debt, with some work, sleep debt can be repaid. Adding an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up. For the long-term lack of sleep, take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern. Go to bed when you are tired, and allow your body to wake you in the morning (no alarm clock allowed). You may find yourself catatonic (有紧张感的)in the beginning of the recovery cycle: Expect to have ten hours' shut-eye per night. As the days pass, however, the amount of sleeping time will gradually decrease.
So earn back that lost sleep —and follow the orders of your inner sleep needs, and you'll feel better. "When you put away sleep debt, you become superman." Says Stanford's Dement, talking about the improved mental and physical capabilities that come with being well rested.
72. The example of sleep math is used to show .
A. in what case you build up a sleep debt
B. why you need six hours' sleep every night.
C. why you are full of energy even when lacking sleep.
D. you should drink coffee to keep energetic
73. The author begins Paragraph 2 with .
A. an example B. a definition C. an order D. a story
74. By saying the underlined sentence in the last paragraph, Dement means .
A. a superman always needs a lot of sleep
B. you can become superhuman after you repay your debt
C. you will be in a good state with enough sleep
D. you will become superhuman if you don't make up for sleep debt
75. What might be the most suitable title for the passage?
A. How can you keep energetic? B. Can you have a good sleep?
C. What is sleep debt? D. Can you catch up on sleep debt?
查看答案和解析>>
科目：高中英语 来源：2009年全国各省市高考命题动态信息卷（辽宁专用） 英语（三） 题型：阅读理解
D
BBC(May 11,2008) - Edinburgh Zoo makes plans to bring a pair of giant pandas from China to Scotland.Zoo representatives recently returned from China,where they signed a letter of intent(意向书) making a promise to bring giant pandas to Edinburgh.
It's been suggested that a breeding pair should be on loan(暂借) to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland(RZSS) for 10 years.It is hoped that they would give birth to cubs during that time.Edinburgh Zoo would be only the eighth Zoo in the Western hemisphere(半球) to care for the species if the project goes ahead.
Zoo chiefs said that looking after the endangered animals could benefit conservation.David Windmill,chief executive of RZSS,said,"Working with giant pandas means so much more to us than introducing a new species to our collection.It's an opportunity to work on a global level with other conservationists to gain a better understanding of giant pandas,the threats they face,and what we can do to ensure their survival."
At present there're only around 1,500 giant pandas in the wild.RZSS has been working on the project for almost a year,and hopes to have giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo by 2009 ,the year of the society's centenary(一百周年纪念日).
Mr.Windmil said that the project had received strong support from the UK and the Scottish government and that this must continue if the zoo was to reach an agreement with the Chinese.As part of the proposed agreement with the Chinese government,Edinburgh Zoo will collaborate(合作) on research projects benefiting conservation in the wild.
RZSS will also provide considerable money to support giant panda conservation projects in the wild.Giant pandas live in a few mountain ranges in central China and feed almost only on bamboo,which makes up 99% of their diet.
68.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Edingburgh Zoo does research into giant pandas.
B.Giant pandas live happy at Edinburgh Zoo.
C.Edinburgh Zoo expects giant pandas from China.
D.Scotland supports giant panda conservation.
69.If Edingburgh Zoo can borrow giant pandas,what will happen?
A.RZSS will have a better understanding of living habits of giant pandas.
B.RZSS will celebrate its centenary in 2009.
C.Scotland will be the eighth country to have giant pandas.
D.Edinburgh Zoo will be the eighth zoo to have giant pandas in the world.
70.At present what seems to be the key factor for giant pandas to successfully go to Edinburgh Zoo?
A.RZSS's attitude.
B.The Scottish government's attitude.
C.Edinburgh Zoo's support.
D.The Chinese government's attitude.
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