54. It can be inferred from the passage that         .

A. most of the people in Modbury continue to use plastic bags

B. fewer and fewer plastic bags will be used in the world

C. San Francisco is the first city to ban plastic bags in the world

D. most countries in the world have passed laws to ban plastic bags

53. The underlined word “disposable” in the passage probably means        .

A. acceptable              B. valuable       C. environmentally-friendly            D. long-lasting

52. What was Rebecca Hosking?

A. A photographer.          B. A woman scientist.          C. A sailor.        D. A lawyer.

51. Which of the following must the skydivers make sure of according to the passage?

A. Taking a record book               B. Donating some money

C. Having suitable weather            D. wearing normal underwear

                                         D

    A small town in southwest Britain is banning (禁止) plastic bags in an attempt to help the environment and cut waste－a step that environmentalists believe is a first for Europe.

       Shopkeepers in Modbury population 1,500, agreed to stop handing out disposable plastic bags to customers on Saturday. They said paper sacks and cloth carrier bags would be offered instead.

       Last month, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban plastic grocery bags. Internationally, laws to discourage the use of plastic bags have been passed in parts of South Africa and Ireland, where governments either tax shoppers who use them or fine companies that hand them out. Bangladesh already bans them, and so do at least 30 remote Alaskan villages.

       Modbury, about 225 miles southwest of London, has also declared a bag ammesty (宽限期), allowing local people to hand in plastic bags that have piled up at home. They will be sent for a recycling.

       The Modbury ban was the idea of Rebecca Hosking, who saw the effect of bags on marine life while working in the Pacific as a wildlife camerawoman. She said response in the town so far had been “really positive”.

       “Modbury is quite an old-fashioned town and a lot of people have wicker(柳条) baskets to go out shopping anyway,” Hosking told Sky News Television.

The World Watch Institute, an environmental research agency, states that 100 billion plastic bags are thrown away each year in the United States alone. More than 500 billion are used yearly around the world.

50. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? ___________

A. The successful diving is a good way to celebrate Ms Budge’s 31st birthday.

B. This skydiving has set a new national record.

C. Ms Budge has managed to contribute all her money to charities.

D. As a wonderful experience, this skydiving is recommended to other people.

49. It can be known from the passage that _____.

A. High and Wild is a new British adventure travel company

B. the aircraft took the jumpers to a height higher than the Himalayas

C. Ms Budge used to be an extreme sports enthusiast.

D. the three skydivers succeeded in landing at the top of the highest mountain.

48. The three skydivers jumped out of the plane at an altitude of about _____.

A. 3765 meters          B. 8993 meters          C. 12,350 meters       D. 29,500 meters

47. What’s the purpose of the passage? ________________

A. To attract more tourists.   

B. To describe some beautiful beaches.

C. To tell us the most beautiful places in UK are beaches.

D. To tell us where to spend summer.

                                                               C

   “It was amazing, just impressive,” Holly Budge, a 29-year-old British woman, said after making a safe landing at a spot 12,350 feet (3,765 metres) above sea level ― the highest “drop zone” achieved by a parachutist (跳伞者). “We had one minute of freefall and while we were above the clouds you could see Everest and the other high mountains popping out of the top,” she said.

Ms Budge and her two fellow daredevils, Wendy Smith, from New Zealand, and Neil Jones, from Canada, jumped out of an aircraft at about 29,500 feet, just higher than the peak of the world’s highest mountain. They fell at speeds reaching 140mph, past the highest ridges of the snow-covering Himalayas, before each released a parachute (降落伞). The jumpers wore oxygen masks to keep their lungs working as they fell. Wearing neoprene underwear（内衣） was compulsory ― to prevent them from being frozen to death.

The adventure, advertised by its organizers as “a feast for those who seek to stimulate all their senses to the full”, appeared to have lived up to its billing. “I had never seen so many mountains before,” Ms Smith said. “To be on top of the world was simply stunning（令人晕倒的）.”

The expedition also offered a way by which to celebrate her 30th birthday later this month, she said. Besides, her jump raised funds for charities in Britain and Nepal, including more than £10,000 for the Hampshire Autistic Society.

In the next few days the feat will be repeated by about 30 others, weather permitting. Each has paid at least £12,675 to High and Wild, the British adventure travel company behind the project. Ms Budge said: “It was worth the money. It is something that has never been done before.”

46. If you want to know more information about Branscombe, which website can you refer to? ______

A. www.fayreness.com                           B. www.masonsarms.co.uk

C. www.glenburnhotel.com                        D. www.sandpipershotel.com

45. Which beach is the most wonderful place for summer bathing? _______________

A. COMPTON BAY.                            B. BRANSCOMBE.

C. KINGSGATE BAY.                          D. RINGSTEAD BAY.