In the early days of nuclear power, the United States make money on it. But today opponents (反对者) have so complicated its development that no nuclear plants have been ordered or built here in 12 years.

The greatest fear of nuclear power opponents has always been a reactor “meltdown”. Today, the chances of a meltdown that would threaten U.S. public health are very little. But to even further reduce the possibility, engineers are testing new reactors that rely not on human judgment to shut them down but on the laws of nature. Now General Electric is already building two advanced reactors in Japan. But don't expect them even on U.S. shores unless things change in Washington.

The procedure for licensing nuclear power plants is a bad dream. Any time during, or even after, construction, an objection by any group or individual can bring everything to a stop while the matter is investigated or taken to court. Meanwhile, the builder must add nice–but–not–necessary improvements, some of which force him to knock down walls and start over. In every case when a plant has been opposed, the Nuclear Regulation Commission has ultimately granted a license to construct or operate. But the victory often costs so much that the utility ends up abandoning the plant anyway.

A case in point is the Shoreham plant on New York's Long Island. Shoreham was a virtual twin to the Millstone plant in Connecticut, both ordered in the mid-60s. Millstone, completed for ＄101 million, has been generating electricity for two decades. Shoreham, however, was singled out by antinuclear activists who, by sending in endless protests, drove the cost over $5 billion and delayed its use for many years.

Shoreham finally won its operation license. But the plant has never produced a watt power. Governor Mario Cuomo, an opponent of a Shoreham start-up, used his power to force New York’s public-utilities commission to accept the following settlement: the power company could pass the cost of Shoreham along to its consumers only if it agreed not to operate the plant. Today, a perfectly good facility, capable of servicing hundreds of thousands of homes, sits rusting.

67. The author’s attitude toward the development of nuclear power is ____.

A. negative           B. neutral                     C. positive                   D. questioning

68. What has made the procedure for licensing nuclear power plants a bad dream?

A. The inefficiency of the Nuclear Regulation Commission.

B. The enormous cost of construction and operation.

C. The length of time it takes to make investigations.

D. The objection of the opponents of nuclear power.

69. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that ____.

A. there are not enough safety measures in the U.S. for running new nuclear power plants

B. it is not technical difficulties that prevent the building of nuclear power plants in the U.S.

C. there are already more nuclear power plants than necessary in the U.S.

D. the American government will not allow Japanese nuclear reactors to be installed in the U.S.

70. Governor Mario Cuomo’s chief intention in proposing the settlement was to ____.

A. stop the Shoreham plant from going into operation

B. urge the power company to further increase its power supply

C. permit the Shoreham plant to operate under certain conditions

D. help the power company to solve its financial problems

In the early days of nuclear power, the United States make money on it. But today opponents (反对者) have so complicated its development that no nuclear plants have been ordered or built here in 12 years.

The greatest fear of nuclear power opponents has always been a reactor “meltdown”. Today, the chances of a meltdown that would threaten U.S. public health are very little. But to even further reduce the possibility, engineers are testing new reactors that rely not on human judgment to shut them down but on the laws of nature. Now General Electric is already building two advanced reactors in Japan. But don't expect them even on U.S. shores unless things change in Washington.

The procedure for licensing nuclear power plants is a bad dream. Any time during, or even after, construction, an objection by any group or individual can bring everything to a stop while the matter is investigated or taken to court. Meanwhile, the builder must add nice–but–not–necessary improvements, some of which force him to knock down walls and start over. In every case when a plant has been opposed, the Nuclear Regulation Commission has ultimately granted a license to construct or operate. But the victory often costs so much that the utility ends up abandoning the plant anyway.

A case in point is the Shoreham plant on New York's Long Island. Shoreham was a virtual twin to the Millstone plant in Connecticut, both ordered in the mid-60s. Millstone, completed for ＄101 million, has been generating electricity for two decades. Shoreham, however, was singled out by antinuclear activists who, by sending in endless protests, drove the cost over $5 billion and delayed its use for many years.

Shoreham finally won its operation license. But the plant has never produced a watt power. Governor Mario Cuomo, an opponent of a Shoreham start-up, used his power to force New York’s public-utilities commission to accept the following settlement: the power company could pass the cost of Shoreham along to its consumers only if it agreed not to operate the plant. Today, a perfectly good facility, capable of servicing hundreds of thousands of homes, sits rusting.

59. The author’s attitude toward the development of nuclear power is ________.

A. negative           B. neutral                     C. positive                   D. questioning

60. What has made the procedure for licensing nuclear power plants a bad dream?

A. The inefficiency of the Nuclear Regulation Commission.

B. The enormous cost of construction and operation.

C. The length of time it takes to make investigations.

D. The objection of the opponents of nuclear power.

61. It can be inferred from Paragraph 2 that ________.

A. there are not enough safety measures in the U.S. for running new nuclear power plants

B. it is not technical difficulties that prevent the building of nuclear power plants in the U.S.

C. there are already more nuclear power plants than necessary in the U.S.

D. the American government won’t allow Japanese nuclear reactors to be installed in the U.S.

62. Governor Mario Cuomo’s chief intention in proposing the settlement was to ________.

A. stop the Shoreham plant from going into operation

B. urge the power company to further increase its power supply

C. permit the Shoreham plant to operate under certain conditions

D. help the power company to solve its financial problems

Their grandmothers fought for the vote, and their mothers have battled to have it all. Now the upcoming generation of girls have decided to turn the clock back and stay at home with their babies.
According to a survey of more than 5,000 teenage girls in Britain, their main ambition (追求的目标) is to complete university then stay at home. More than nine out of ten of the girls believe it should be up to their husbands to provide for them. And although 43 percent of those questioned believe they should continue with their education until they have achieved a university degree, one in four say getting married is the most important thing for them.
The supposedly super-modern, “fun comes first” teenage generation has proved to be very traditional in every area of their beliefs, with over 50 percent saying they would not dream of having children before seeing a ring on their finger.
The desire to have children is beginning earlier too. On average, teenage girls plan to have their first child at 26, and most plan to have one or two more children over the following four years. The national average now is 1.64 children per couple.
“This survey doesn’t show that the battles of feminism (女权运动) have been lost,” said author Claire Rayner, “Feminism was never opposed (反对) to marriage or children. On the contrary, feminism was about to equal opportunities for women to do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, and this is exactly what these girls are choosing to do.”
【小题1】The passage is mainly about ________.

A．the result of the battles of feminism

B．women’s struggle for independence in the society

C．the girls’ desire to stay at home after they graduate

D．women’s social status in the modern society

【小题2】Girls prefer to be housewives rather than independent women because _______.

A．it’s hard for women to find jobs

B．men would rather their wives look after babies at home

C．girls want to live a more comfortable life

D．women have a low salary

【小题3】. From the last paragraph we can see that Rayner thinks ________.

A．women should stay at home with their babies

B．women should find jobs and support the family

C．women should be offered more job opportunities

D．women should live the life they like

 

Their grandmothers fought for the vote, and their mothers have battled to have it all. Now the upcoming generation of girls have decided to turn the clock back and stay at home with their babies.

According to a survey of more than 5,000 teenage girls in Britain, their main ambition (追求的目标) is to complete university then stay at home. More than nine out of ten of the girls believe it should be up to their husbands to provide for them. And although 43 percent of those questioned believe they should continue with their education until they have achieved a university degree, one in four say getting married is the most important thing for them.

The supposedly super-modern, “fun comes first” teenage generation has proved to be very traditional in every area of their beliefs, with over 50 percent saying they would not dream of having children before seeing a ring on their finger.

The desire to have children is beginning earlier too. On average, teenage girls plan to have their first child at 26, and most plan to have one or two more children over the following four years. The national average now is 1.64 children per couple.

“This survey doesn’t show that the battles of feminism (女权运动) have been lost,” said author Claire Rayner, “Feminism was never opposed (反对) to marriage or children. On the contrary, feminism was about to equal opportunities for women to do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, and this is exactly what these girls are choosing to do.”

1.The passage is mainly about ________.

A. the result of the battles of feminism

B. women’s struggle for independence in the society

C. the girls’ desire to stay at home after they graduate

D. women’s social status in the modern society

2.Girls prefer to be housewives rather than independent women because _______.

A. it’s hard for women to find jobs

B. men would rather their wives look after babies at home

C. girls want to live a more comfortable life

D. women have a low salary

3.. From the last paragraph we can see that Rayner thinks ________.

A. women should stay at home with their babies

B. women should find jobs and support the family

C. women should be offered more job opportunities

D. women should live the life they like