U.S. Bottled Water Sales Are Booming Again Despite Opposition

Despite organized anti-bottled-water campaigns across the country and a noisy debate about bottled water’s environmental impact, Americans are buying more bottled water than ever.

Why do so many people seem to think they should have any input on what other American’s choose to buy or do?

If they want to buy bottled water, let them.

If they want to eat fast food, let them.

If they want to smoke pot, let them.

— Barackalypse

People just get tired of paying for others’ bad behavior. If many people eat excessive fast food, you pay higher insurance premiums. If many people frequently buy bottled water, your trash bills go up and landfills fill up quickly.www.zxxk.com

It’s about personal responsibility, which really should be a cornerstone of libertarianism.

                                                                            — Bdbr

So? This is the price you pay to live in a free society. You want to control the life of another just so you can save a few bucks? What would you say when someone do the same to you?

                                                                                                                         — Norman619

Defend selfish pricks all you like; I’m just glad there are still people who still believe personal responsibility is a good and decent thing. We make your life cheaper and less bothersome.

                                                                                 — Yoyo

What a waste of money! It’s fine when you’re on the road and you need a cold drink, but people who buy cases of bottled water for home are completely crazy.

                                                                          — Agmlauncher

I wish we all can find a way to improve things and benefit from this. The environment needs a lot of help but businesses will always work on what people would need and demand. Is this part of the balance? Hope we can find better ways.

— Skipweis

1.What can we know about bottled water in America?

A. Americans are consuming more bottled water than tap.

B. US bottled water sales have increased for the first time.

C. Activists in several regions have been fighting against it.

D. Some people worry about its bad effect on the environment.

2.Who would agree with Barackalypse on this matter?

A. Bdbr.             B. Norman619.           C. Yoyo.                        D. Agmlauncher.

3.According to the text, Agmlauncher is _____ bottled water.

A. partly supportive of                                   B. extremely against

C. strongly in favor of                                     D. not concerned about

4.Which of the following statements goes with Skipweis’ opinion?

A. The environment is emphasized too much.

B. It’s impossible for people to find a better way.

C. Business is not totally responsible for the problem.

D. At present we can’t benefit from bottled water at all. 

 

Is it necessary for a young man to have an apartment as a prerequisite（先决条件） for marriage? Housing has become a major obstacle（障碍） for Chinese young men hoping to start a family. China may breed a new group of bachelors, men caught in the trap of unaffordable houses.

Since early 2009, the housing market has once again become a hot pot at boiling point. Even with allowance（津贴） and special government policies, home prices in China's first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are riding the crest（波峰）of a rising wave. According to the "2010 China Marital Status Report" released on Dec 15, 2010, about 70 percent of women interviewed said that housing, a stable income and some savings were the main requirements for marriage.

From the report, we can see that housing is given top priority（优先权） and that women see an apartment as essential(必不可少的) to show that the man is responsible and can provide for his family.

Personality and morals lay outside the top three matrimonial （婚姻的）requirements. Some women and their families hold the traditional position and take it for granted that the home issue should be the man's responsibility, which doesn’t agree with the contemporary independent spirit of women and gender equality. These marriage values reflect the fact that many women consider marriage another form of "social welfare".

Things may be different overseas. Social housing, provided by European authorities, offer the less wealthy people their own piece of real estate. Such housing is usually apartments in tall buildings with 10 or more floors on the outskirts of town, whose main advantage is the low rents.

For many Americans, houses don't pose an obstacle to getting married. They often buy a house after the wedding, because more and more people are reconsidering their real estate worship, and going back to a more rational(理性的) mode of consumption.

In Japan, renting is the custom for newly married young couples. Few young couples can afford to purchase property. Up to 67.1 percent of young couples choose to rent. Generally speaking, renters account for most people younger than 40 in Japan.

Young people should be free to enjoy being young, without the huge pressure of trying to buy property. Society should help create an environment for them to grow up. Don't let the poor bachelor group become a suffering layer（层） of our society.

61. Which of the following is Not True according to the text?

   A. Home prices have been extremely high since early 2009.

   B. In the modern society, women don’t want to be independent.

   C. Chinese government has already done something to control home prices.

   D. Lots of Chinese young men couldn’t get married because of their economic capability.

62. What does the underlined word “outskirts” probably mean?

   A. urban areas       B. rural areas（乡下）       C. suburbs                 D. downtown areas

63. Why do many women take housing as one of the main requirements for marriage?

   A. Because they can’t afford a house.

   B. Because they enjoy their social welfare.

   C. Because their families want them to marry men with houses.

   D. Because they think it’s a symbol of the men’s sense of responsibility.

64. The author uses the examples of European countries, America and Japan to show that __________?

   A. new couples in those countries like to rent houses

   B. the situation is different in some foreign countries

   C. it’s better to live in those countries than live in China

   D. their governments have done more than Chinese government

65. The last paragraph is mainly about the author’s hope that __________?

   A. the society can develop rapidly

   B. young people can lead a happy life

   C. all the young people can afford houses

   D. the poor bachelors can become rich and enjoy their life

Is it necessary for a young man to have an apartment as a prerequisite（先决条件） for marriage? Housing has become a major obstacle（障碍） for Chinese young men hoping to start a family. China may breed a new group of bachelors, men caught in the trap of unaffordable houses.

Since early 2009, the housing market has once again become a hot pot at boiling point. Even with allowance（津贴） and special government policies, home prices in China's first-tier cities such as Beijing and Shanghai are riding the crest（波峰）of a rising wave. According to the "2010 China Marital Status Report" released on Dec 15, 2010, about 70 percent of women interviewed said that housing, a stable income and some savings were the main requirements for marriage.

From the report, we can see that housing is given top priority（优先权） and that women see an apartment as essential(必不可少的) to show that the man is responsible and can provide for his family.

Personality and morals lay outside the top three matrimonial （婚姻的）requirements. Some women and their families hold the traditional position and take it for granted that the home issue should be the man's responsibility, which doesn’t agree with the contemporary independent spirit of women and gender equality. These marriage values reflect the fact that many women consider marriage another form of "social welfare".

Things may be different overseas. Social housing, provided by European authorities, offer the less wealthy people their own piece of real estate. Such housing is usually apartments in tall buildings with 10 or more floors on the outskirts of town, whose main advantage is the low rents.

For many Americans, houses don't pose an obstacle to getting married. They often buy a house after the wedding, because more and more people are reconsidering their real estate worship, and going back to a more rational(理性的) mode of consumption.

In Japan, renting is the custom for newly married young couples. Few young couples can afford to purchase property. Up to 67.1 percent of young couples choose to rent. Generally speaking, renters account for most people younger than 40 in Japan.

Young people should be free to enjoy being young, without the huge pressure of trying to buy property. Society should help create an environment for them to grow up. Don't let the poor bachelor group become a suffering layer（层） of our society.

61. Which of the following is Not True according to the text?

   A. Home prices have been extremely high since early 2009.

   B. In the modern society, women don’t want to be independent.

   C. Chinese government has already done something to control home prices.

   D. Lots of Chinese young men couldn’t get married because of their economic capability.

62. What does the underlined word “outskirts” probably mean?

   A. urban areas       B. rural areas（乡下）       C. suburbs                 D. downtown areas

63. Why do many women take housing as one of the main requirements for marriage?

   A. Because they can’t afford a house.

   B. Because they enjoy their social welfare.

   C. Because their families want them to marry men with houses.

   D. Because they think it’s a symbol of the men’s sense of responsibility.

64. The author uses the examples of European countries, America and Japan to show that __________?

   A. new couples in those countries like to rent houses

   B. the situation is different in some foreign countries

   C. it’s better to live in those countries than live in China

   D. their governments have done more than Chinese government

65. The last paragraph is mainly about the author’s hope that __________?

   A. the society can develop rapidly

   B. young people can lead a happy life

   C. all the young people can afford houses

   D. the poor bachelors can become rich and enjoy their life