People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed. Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads. Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs. But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works.

Brisbane City Council receives more complaints about noise than all other problems put together. So it conducted a survey and found that about half its residents are upset by noise in one form or another –traffic, mowers, pool pumps, air conditioners or loud parties. This inspired the Council to bring together more than 100 citizens one evening to talk through a range of options.

    The meeting found the present regulatory system bizarre. Depending on the problem, responsibility for noise can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police. So complainants often feel they are getting the run-round. When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first port of call for all complaints.

    The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners. This even makes economic sense, as noise is a waste of energy and money. Other measures the meeting supported were wider buffer (缓冲) zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas.

    But there are obvious conflicts. Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don’t want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night. Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don't’ want the problem of road noise.

    I was most interested by the proposals aimed at behavioral change. There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycle ways and footpaths, even charges for road use. Many people optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate the production of quieter appliances. It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be alleviated (减轻) if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings.

1.According to the recent public meeting in Brisbane, what was the first step to take in order to reduce noise pollution?

         A．Produce quieter air conditioners.

         B．Provide better sound barriers around major roads.

         C．Establish a noise complaints system.

         D．Make stricter laws to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs.

2.It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

         A．the Brisbane residents were satisfied with the present noise regulatory system

         B．many people in Brisbane preferred to live near a pub to which they have easy access

         C．nearly all the inhabitants in Brisbane were bothered by noise in one form or another

         D．noise pollution is the most serious among pollution complaints in Brisbane

3.Brisbane City Council brought together citizens to talk through solutions to the noise problem mainly due to        .

         A．the result of the survey carried out by itself

         B．a noise complaints system that works

         C．people asking for tougher laws on noise

         D．requirements of an effective noise complaints system

4.What does the word “run-round” (Para. 3) mean?

         A．Unfair treatment.                                        

         B．Quick response.

         C．Delaying action in response to a request.        

         D．Full attention.

5.How could noise from building sites be alleviated if Brisbane adopted daylight saving?

         A．If daylight saving was adopted, the daytime would be prolonged and the night would become quieter.

         B．If daylight saving was adopted, the working hours during the daytime would be shortened

while the night would be extended and thus quieter.

         C．If daylight saving was adopted, the night would be shortened and thus quieter.

D．If daylight saving was adopted, both the daytime and the night would be shortened and the

noise would be reduced.

 

 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。

Richard’s father died when he was five. Later on he lost his mother. An old woman felt sorry for the poor boy and often helped him. Of course he had no money to go to school. He had to work for a rich farmer. The man paid him nothing except food and clothes.__ 1._ He found some old books near the school and taught himself to read and write.

_2.__It connected the village and the town. One morning people found there was a big stone on it. It stopped them from going to town. They had to move it away, or they had to cross the mountain if they had something to do in the town. But the stone weighed thirty tons at least and the strongest young men couldn’t do that.  _3.__

Richard looked at it carefully for a while and said, “I have a way to move it away.” But few men believed him. __4.__ Night fell and people went home. Only the boy stayed there. To their surprise, the villagers found the stone was gone the next morning. They didn’t know which spirit had moved it away.__ 5.__

“How could he?” the rich farmer called out. “He’s only fifteen! He couldn’t move it at all!”

“He dug a big hole beside the stone”, said the old woman, “And then he could easily push it into the hole!”

Looking at each other, the farmers couldn’t say a word.

A. The old woman said Richard had done it all.

B. There seemed to be nothing strange in village.

C. There was a narrow path between two mountains.

D. They discussed for a long time, but nobody knew what to do.

E. The boy hoped he could do something for the villagers some day.

F. Some farmers even laughed at the boy.

G. But the boy didn’t lose heart.

 

I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was ___1___ and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad ___2___ a step and fell, sending my new suitcases ___3___ down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew ___4___ was ahead. Whenever Dad’s face turns red, ___5___.

How could I ever ___6___ him to finish unloading the car ___7___ screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the ___8___ of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out(探出), as Dad walked ___9___ close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) ___10___ start.

“__11___ the room, quickly,” I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But ___12___, would there be a chair in Room 316? Or would it be a(n) ___13___ room?

___14___ I turned the key in the lock and ___15___ the door open, with Dad ___16___ complaining(抱怨) about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the ___17___. But to my ___18___, the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and seven paintings on the walls.

And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new ___19___, dressed neatly, greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she ___20___ the music and looked over at ___21___, “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber,” she said ___22___. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly ___23___ before he could bring out a “yes”.

I knew ___24___ that Amy and I would be ___25___ and my first year of college would be a success.

1. A. helpless  B. lazy    C. anxious      D. tired

2. A. took       B. minded      C. missed       D. picked

3. A. rolling   B. passing       C. dropping    D. turning

4. A. suffering       B. difficulty    C. trouble       D. danger

5. A. go ahead       B. look out     C. hold on      D. give up

6. A. lead       B. help    C. encourage   D. get

7. A. after      B. without      C. while  D. besides

8. A. best       B. beginning   C. end     D. rest

9. A. with difficulty      B. in a hurry   C. with firm steps   D. in wonder

10. A. fresh    B. in a hurry   C. bad     D. unfair

11. A. Search  B. Find   C. Enter  D. Book

12. A. in fact  B. by chance   C. once more  D. then again

13. A. small    B. empty C. new    D. neat

14. A. Finally B. Meanwhile C. Sooner or later   D. At the moment

15. A. knocked      B. forced C. pushed       D. tried

16. A. yet       B. only    C. even   D. still

17. A. worst   B. chair   C. best    D. tea

18. A. regret   B. disappointment  C. surprise      D. knowledge

19. A. roommate    B. classmate    C. neighbour   D. companion

20. A. turned on     B. turned down      C. played D. enjoyed

21. A. Dad     B. me      C. the door     D. the floor

22. A. questioning  B. wondering  C. smiling      D. guessing

23. A. red       B. less pale     C. less red      D. pale

24. A. soon     B. there   C. later    D. then

25. A. sisters   B. friends       C. students      D. fellows

I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was ___1___ and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad ___2___ a step and fell, sending my new suitcases ___3___down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew ___4___was ahead. Whenever Dad’s face turns red, __5___!

How could I ever ___6___ him to finish unloading the car ___7___ screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the ___8___of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out(探出), as Dad walked ___9___ close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) ___10___start.

“___11___the room quickly,”I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But ___12___, would there be a chair in Room316? Or would it be a(n) ___13___ room?

___14___I turned the key in the lock and ___15___ the door open, with Dad ___16___ complaining (抱怨) about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the ___17___. But to my ___18___, the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and seven paintings on the walls.

And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new ___19___, dressed neatly. Greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she ___20___ the music and looked over at ___21___. “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber, she said 　　　 ___22___. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly ___23___ before he could bring out a “yes.”

I knew ___24___ that Amy and I would be ___25___ and my first year of college would be a success.

1. A. helpless B. lazy C. anxious 　 D. tired

2. A. took 　　 B. minded C. missed 　　 D. picked

3. A. rolling 　 B. passing C. dropping 　 D. turning

4. A. suffering 　　 B. difficulty C. trouble 　　 D. danger

5. A. go ahead 　　 B. look out C. hold on 　　 D. give up

6. A. lead 　　 B. help C. encourage D. get

7. A. after 　　 B. without C. while D. besides

8. A. best 　　 B. beginning C. end 　 D. rest

39. A. with difficulty 　 B. in a hurry C. with firm steps D. in wonder

10. A. fresh 　 B. late C. bad 　 D. unfair

11. A. Search 　　　 B. Find C. Enter D. Book

12. A. in fact B. by chance C. once more 　　　 D. then again

13. A. small 　 B. empty C. new D. neat

14. A. Finally B. Meanwhile C. Sooner or later D. At the moment

15. A. knocked 　　 B. forced C. pushed 　　 D. tried

16. A. yet 　　 B. only C. even D. still

17. A. worst B. chair C. best D. tea

18. A. regret B. disappointment C. surprise 　 D. knowledge

19. A. roommate 　 B. classmate C. neighbour D. companion

20. A. turned on 　 B. turned down C. played 　　 D. enjoyed

21. A. Dad 　 B. me C. the door 　 D. the floor

22. A. questioning B. wondering C. smiling 　　 D. guessing

23. A. red 　　 B. less pale C. less red 　 D. pale

24. A. soon 　 B. there C. later D. then

25. A. sisters B. friends C. students 　 D. fellows

I climbed the stairs slowly, carrying a big suitcase, my father following with two more. By the time I got to the third floor, I was ___1___ and at the same time feeling lonely. Worse still, Dad ___2___ a step and fell, sending my new suitcases ___3___down the stairs. “Damn!” he screamed, his face turning red. I knew ___4___was ahead. Whenever Dad’s face turns red, __5___!

How could I ever ___6___ him to finish unloading the car ___7___ screaming at me and making a scene in front of the other girls, girls I would have to spend the ___8___of the year with? Doors were opening and faces peering out(探出), as Dad walked ___9___ close behind. I felt it in my bones that my college life was getting off to a(n) ___10___start.

“___11___the room quickly,”I thought. “Get him into a chair and calmed down.” But ___12___, would there be a chair in Room316? Or would it be a(n) ___13___ room?

___14___I turned the key in the lock and ___15___ the door open, with Dad ___16___ complaining (抱怨) about a hurting knee or something. I put my head in, expecting the ___17___. But to my ___18___, the room wasn’t empty at all! It had furniture, curtains, a TV, and seven paintings on the walls.

And there on a well-made bed sat Amy, my new ___19___, dressed neatly. Greeting me with a nod, she said in a soft voice, “Hi, you must be Cori.” Then, she ___20___ the music and looked over at ___21___. “And of course, you’re Mr. Faber, she said 　　　 ___22___. “Would you like a glass of iced tea?” Dad’s face turned decidedly ___23___ before he could bring out a “yes.”

I knew ___24___ that Amy and I would be ___25___ and my first year of college would be a success.

1. A. helpless B. lazy C. anxious 　 D. tired

2. A. took B. minded C. missed 　　 D. picked

3. A. rolling B. passing 　C. dropping 　 D. turning

4. A. suffering 　　 B. difficulty C. trouble D. danger

5. A. go ahead B. look out C. hold on D. give up

6. A. lead B. help C. encourage D. get

7. A. after B. without 　C. while D. besides

8. A. best B. beginning 　C. end D. rest

9. A. with difficulty B. in a hurry C. with firm steps D. in wonder

10. A. fresh B. late C. bad D. unfair

11. A. Search B. Find C. Enter D. Book

12. A. in fact B. by chance 　C. once more D. then again

13. A. small B. empty 　C. new D. neat

14. A. Finally B. Meanwhile 　C. Sooner or later D. At the moment

15. A. knocked B. forced C. pushed D. tried

16. A. yet B. only 　C. even D. still

17. A. worst B. chair C. best D. tea

18. A. regret B. disappointment C. surprise D. knowledge

19. A. roommate B. classmate C. neighbour D. companion

20. A. turned on B. turned down C. played D. enjoyed

21. A. Dad B. me 　C. the door D. the floor

22. A. questioning B. wondering C. smiling D. guessing

23. A. red B. less pale C. less red D. pale

24. A. soon B. there C. later D. then

25. A. sisters B. friends C. students D. fellows