Plastics are considered one of the most serious pollutants causing environmental problems. The garbage containing plastics end up in the waterways that eventually flow into the oceans. Accumulation (聚集)of plastic in the ocean endangers marine life and pollutes the water.

Does a plastic continent exist? Yes, a plastic continent does exist and was discovered by Captain Charles Moore a decade ago. The plastic continent is twice the size of Britain and it is the region between the Hawaii Islands and California in the central Pacific Ocean.

One of the causes of the lack of marine life in this region is due to pollution and pollutants are none other than plastics. Captain Charles Moore believes plastic waste started accumulating in the 1950s.

The plastic continent is the man-made continent of floating plastic waste. The fisher men and the sailors have avoided this region for years. The reasons are:

1. There are no fish here because of the lack of nutrients.

2. The zone also lacks the wind that is essential for sailing.

To do research on the ocean pollution, Captain Moore founded Algalita Marine Research Foundation. Other organizations such as Greenpeace supported his cause. The reports of The United Nations Environment Program show that millions of seabirds and marine animals are dying due to the invasion(入侵)of plastics. The waste plastics can be recycled, but in fact they are being thrown into the oceans. The marine animals mistake these for food and eat them. This leads to their death that affects the marine food chain.

To save the oceans from the plastic continent you need to reduce the use of plastics, reuse plastic bags and recycle plastics.

1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?

A．A plastic continent does exist in the Pacific Ocean

B．Endangered marine life is well protected.

C．Plastics are one of the main causes of water pollution.

D．Plastics should be forbidden in people’s daily life.

2. What is the direct influence of the plastic continent?

A．Local fishermen have to fish in other areas.

B．The water becomes shallow and fish have to move away.

C．The wind is too strong there and it makes sailing more difficult.

D．It makes people realize the importance of protecting the environment.

3. It is implied that the work of plastic recycling proves to be ______.

A．effective

B．expensive

C．a difficult task

D．not good enough

4.What can we learn from the passage?

A．Many marine animals are dying due to the broken marine food chain.

B．Captain Moore founded Greenpeace to do research on the ocean pollution.

C．The marine animals have no choice but to eat plastics for lack of food.

D．There are three ways to prevent the oceans from becoming a plastic continent.

 

Drinking a lot of water does not do any good to the body, according to two experts in the United States. In fact, they warn, drinking too much water could be, in certain cases, harmful.

In a study, Dr Stanly Goldfarb and Dr Dan Negoianu, both of the Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension Division at the University of Pensylvania, the United States, have denied the popular belief that drinking a lot of water clears body toxins（毒素）better, improves skin, and helps reduce weight.

Dr Goldfarb and Dr Negoianu say that they found little proof to back the public opinion that drinking 8 glasses of water every day benefits health. At the same time, they fond little proof of harm in drinking 8 glasses of water every day.

It is widely believed that in some cases-such as athletes, people who live in hot, dry environments, and those with certain medical conditions-drinking a lot of water indeed helps, but no studies have been done to prove the benefits of this practice in average, healthy people, the website medheadlines.com reports.

The study at the University of Pennsylvania also examined reports that some people experienced increased headaches when their consumption（消耗）of water was low. In one small study, which the doctors reviewed, the group drinking the most water reported fewer headaches than the control group, “but the difference in the number of headaches was o small between the two groups as to be considered unimportant.”

The researchers concluded that there is no scientific proof to support that average, healthy people need to drink at least 8 glasses of water each each day.

The website medheadines.com says that, according to an Indian doctor, drinking too much water is harmful. If water enters the body more quickly than it can be removed, problems can occur.

1.What’s the key message delivered in the passage?

A．Drinking too much water might bring harm.

B．Whether to drink enough water makes no difference.

C．Drinking too much water may cause headaches.

D．Average, healthy people should drink more water.

2.We can learn from the passage that 8 glasses of water every day_______ .

A．proves good for the body	B．has scientific proof of harm
C．is sure to reduce headaches	D．is generally considered necessary

3.Who may agree that drinking lots of water helps to lose weight?

A．The two experts.	B．The Indian doctor.
C．The general public.	D．The website.

4.According to the passage, we know that_______.

A．the website medheadlnes.com is developed by an Indian doctor

B．the study was carried out by two experts with an Indian doctor

C．the two experts performed the study at the University of Pennsylvania

D．drinking 8 glasses of water every day can cure certain diseases

 

Shelly Nielsen sees students fall asleep in class at least twice a week. “When I see teens asleep in my class, I wonder if I am really that boring”, said Nielsen, a teacher. “I also wonder why they are so tired.” Neilson first tried to wake up sleeping students quietly. If the snoozing (呼噜声) continues, she may call a student’s parents to find out how much sleep the students is getting at night and why.

According to a research, teens need at least nine hours of sleep to function properly during the day. And more than 90 percent of teens say they are sleeping less than that each night.

Forgetting homework, yawning in class, losing concentration --- these are the signs of a sleep-deprived (被剥夺睡眠的)student, said Dr. Carl Lawyer, a specialist. “The big problem is the social demand for homework, video games and friends. Teens don’t understand how important sleep is.”

Rebecca Lucas, another teacher agrees. “Teens are busy,” she said, noting many activities most teens are involved in during the day force them to get home pretty late.” When I see teens sleeping in my class, I feel sad, like they are not sleeping enough,” she said. “I also feel frustrated because I have so much to teach in such a short amount of time and teens sleeping in the class slows me down.”

Not sleeping the needed number of hours can affect your day very much. The effect is on school, work and driving and is very frustrating to teachers when students don’t do their best because of being so tired, Lawyer said.

Al Taylor, a teacher says sleeping is not allowed in his class. “When I see a teen sleeping in my class, I feel bad that they didn’t get enough sleep but they need to correct the issue at home,” Taylor said. “I’ve raised teenage boys myself. Teenagers like to wait to the last minute to do their homework so they often stay up late trying to finish it.”

72. What does Shelly first do when she finds students sleeping in class?

A. She wakes them up with no punishment.

B. She blames herself for giving a boring lesson.

C. She asks them to stand outside.

D. She reports it to their parents.

73. Students always feel tired and sleep in class because they __________.

A. have to stay up late to do their homework.

B. are attracted by many activities.

C. are not interested in the lessons

D. are too busy to have enough sleep

74. From the last paragraph, we can infer that Al Taylor __________.

A. can easily lose his temper

B. was a father of teenage boys

C. has no sympathy for sleeping students

D. finds a good way of giving teens more sleep

75. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. Why sleep is important

B. Why teens are so tired

C. How students get enough sleep

D. How teachers manage sleeping students

 

As the United States nears the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed more than 3,000 people, President Obama announced Sunday night that the al Qaeda（基地组织） leader and mastermind of that horrific day, Osama bin Laden, has been killed.

CNN reports that a senior government official confirmed that bin Laden was shot by a small team of U.S. soldiers while in a mansion with family members outside Islamabad（伊斯兰堡）. His body is now in American custody（拘押） and is being handled according to Islamic customs. Three other adult men were killed in the firefight, including a son of bin Laden's, who was a senior member of the terrorist organization.

"Justice has been done," the president announced, saying that the operation he ordered after receiving intelligence information is "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda."

The immediate reactions ranged from cautious to ecstatic. Crowds cheered outside the White House. But officials said a "worldwide caution" would be set for Americans in case of al Qaeda retaliation（报复）.

Will bin Laden's death be the justice Americans have sought for nearly a decade?

Gordon Felt, president of Families of Flight 93, said it does bring comfort.

"This is important news for us, and for the world. It cannot ease our pain, or bring back our loved ones. It does bring a measure of comfort that the mastermind of the September 11th tragedy and the face of global terror can no longer spread his evil," Felt said.

President Obama says this victory does not close the book.

"His death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain cautious," he noted.

1.The underlined word “ecstatic” most probably means _________.    

A. scared              B. extremely happy and excited

C. doubtful            D. amazed

2.The author mentions all of the items listed below EXCEPT_________. 

A. Four people were killed in the firefight.

B. Families of the victims in the 9/11 attacks celebrated together.

C. President Obama thought highly of the Anti-Terrorist Military Action

D. Obama thought that al Qaeda will continue attack against the United States.

3.It can be inferred from the text _________. 

A. The 9/11 attacks happened on September 11, 2001.

B. Osama bin Laden has three sons.

C. Some soldiers were injured in the firefight.

D. More than 3000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks.

4.From the last paragraph we can learn that _________.  

A. Osama bin Laden’s death will put an end to terrorism.

B. President Obama doesn’t think bin Laden's death is a victory.

C. The United States will make efforts to defeat the al-Qaeda

D. The al Qaeda has a new leader now.

 

This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

China has recently been faced with serious issues of product safety. Some cases have brought attention internationally to the increased use of imported ingredients to make food and medicine.

In Panama, medicine made with a poisonous chemical killed or sickened more than one hundred people. A Chinese company had identified it as diethylamide glycol （[化]乙二醇）, a low – cost substitute commonly used in automobile antifreeze（防冻剂）.

Some countries have banned Chinese-made toothpaste containing diethylamide glycol. China has now told companies to discontinue its use, even though it says the toothpaste is safe. Another industrial chemical, melamine（三聚氰胺）, was found in wheat flour used to make pet food in North America. Thousands of dogs and cats became sick.

The United States has restricted some imports of Chinese seafood because they contained banned substance. And questions have been raised about other products, including children’s toys covered with lead paint.

Chinese officials promised to provide the European Union, the biggest trading partner, with detailed reports on enforcement efforts against unsafe goods.

Meglena Kuneva, commissioner (理事) for consumer protection of the European Union said China should have kept its promise.

China recently closed three companies linked to the Panama and the pet food scare. And itdismissed the former head of its food and drug administration. He was found guilty of corruption (腐败) for approving unsafe drugs. This week, a conference of the State Council approved a proposed special measure on the supervision of food safety. The Xinhua News Agency said it calls for stronger controls over producers, greater responsibilities for government and more serious punishment for illegal activities.

But Chinese officials have accused some foreign media of overstating problems with goods made in China. They say food imports from the United States also fail inspection sometimes. Next Week, American and Chinese food safety officials are planning to hold 5 days of meetings in Beijing to discuss cooperation.

And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report. I'm Mario Ritter.

1.How many cases with safety problems are mentioned in the passage?

A．Six

B．Five

C．Four

D．Three

2.How was Panama case dealt with afterwards?

A．Three companies linked to it were closed down.

B．The former head of food and drug administration was removed from his position.

C．More serious punishment was conducted for leaders linked to it.

D. Both A and B.

3.It can be inferred but not clearly stated that ________.

A．Chinese- made toothpaste is safe

B．the safety of “made in China” is doubted

C．there are safety problems with one more Chinese products.

D．stronger control over Chinese products is in need

4.The passage is mainly about ________.

A．China is facing product safety problems

B．more controls are taken of Chinese goods

C．overstated problems with Chinese goods

D．China is losing its trade partners