“Energy independence” and its rhetorical (修辞的) companion “energy security” are, however, slippery concepts that are rarely though through. What is it we want independence from, exactly?
Most people would probably say that they want to be independent from imported oil. But there are reasons that we buy all that old from elsewhere.
The first reason is that we need it to keep our economy running. Yes, there is a trickle(涓涓细流)of biofuel(生物燃料)available, and more may become available, but most biofuels cause economic waste and environmental destruction.
Second, Americans have basically decided that they don't really want to produce all their own oil. They value the environmental quality they preserve over their oil imports from abroad. Vast areas of the United States are off-limits to oil exploration and production in the name of environmental protection. To what extent are Americans really willing to endure the environmental impacts of domestic energy production in order to cut back imports?
Third, there are benefits to trade. It allows for economic efficiency, and when we buy things from places that have lower production costs than we do, we benefit. And although you don't read about this much, the United States is also a large exporter of oil products, selling about 2 million barrels of petroleum products per day to about 90 countries.
There is no question that the United States imports a great deal of energy and, in fact, relies on that steady flow to maintain its economy. When that flow is interrupted, we feel the pain in short supplies and higher prices, At the same time, we derive massive economic benefits when we buy the most affordable energy on the world market and when we engage in energy trade around the world.
61. What does the author say about energy independence for America?()
A.It sounds very attractive.
B.It ensures national security.
C.It will bring oil prices down.
D.t has long been everyone's dream.
62. What does the author think of biofuels?()
A.They keep America's economy running healthily.
B.They prove to be a good alternative to petroleum.
C.They do not provide a sustainable energy supply.
D.They cause serious damage to the environment.
63. Why does America rely heavily on oil imports?()
A.It wants to expand its storage of crude oil.
B.Its own oil reserves are quickly running out.
C.It wants to keep its own environment intact.
D.Its own oil production falls short of demand.
64. What does the author say about oil trade?()
A.It proves profitable to both sides.
B.It improves economic efficiency.
C.It makes for economic prosperity.
D.It saves the cost of oil exploration.
65. What is the author's purpose in writing the passage?()
A.To justify America's dependence on oil imports.
B.To arouse Americans' awareness of the energy crisis.
C.To stress the importance of energy conservation.
D.To explain the increase of international oil trade.
Have you noticed the courage buried in the word encourage? To create a culture in which innovation flourishes takes courage. Determined innovators are always courageous enough to establish a culture in which innovation is greatly encouraged and rewarded. Here are three ways to do that.
Put innovation at the heart of strategy, and persist it in every message. Think of innovation strategy as a pyramid: big bets at the top, a few projects in development in the middle, and a broad base of continuous improvements, lasting contributions, and early-stage new ideas at the bottom.
Define jobs around innovation. Make it a job prerequisite. Consider 3M’s move to become one of the first companies to tell professionals that they could spend 15 percent of their time on projects of their own choosing. Now many high-tech companies know that they can’t get the best talent without providing this kind of flexibility. And some of those self-selected, self-organized projects might even result in a blockbuster product or line of business. For 3M, it was the Post-it note.
Recognize innovation in every part of the company. To build a culture of creativity and innovation, Gillette developed an innovation fair in which every unit could show off its most promising new concepts. It shows that everyone has a role to play in a culture of innovation.
To go from idea to successful innovation requires a great deal of support and collaboration. When people are surrounded by constant communication and encouragement, they can find the courage to try, fail, redo, and try again.
What is necessary in creating innovation culture__1__?
A.communication
B.courage
C.immitation
How does 3M create its innovation culture__2__?
A.Put innovation at the heart of strategy, and persist it in every message.
B.define jobs around innovation.
C.Recognize innovation in every part of the company.
The word prerequisite in “Make it a job prerequisite” means __3__.
A.required as a prior condition
B.going after
C.prior to request
How does Gillette create its innovation culture__4__?
A.Put innovation at the heart of strategy, and persist it in every message.
B.define jobs around innovation.
C.Recognize innovation in every part of the company.
The formation from idea to innovation needs __5__.
A.discussion and revise
B.failure and courage
C.support and cooperation
A.So far as
B.As long as
C.In case
D.Meanwhile
A.what does the sentence mean
B.what means this sentence
C.what this sentence means
D.what is the meaning of the sentence
A、The husbands died when their favorite sports season came.
B、The husbands were killed during the sports.
C、The husbands neglect their wives during their favorite season.
D、The husbands couldn’t bear their wives any more, so they divorced the wives during their favorite season.
I’m like a migratory bird that has lost its sense of timing and direction, my wings flapping against season.
So what makes me fly against the tide of snowbirds? The answer has a lot to do with my reluctance to give up the things that define who I am. Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has dipped into the range of 40 to 50 degrees, I begin to long for the sight and crackling sound of a wood fire. I also long for the bright display o£ colors — first in the fall trees, and then in the limits around homes and at Rockefeller Center. Floridians decorate too, but can’t create the special feel of a New England winter.
I suppose the biggest reason why I return is to celebrate the holidays with people I haven’t seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or watching neighbors’ children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? Even the first snowfall seems special. I especially enjoy seeing a bright red bird settling on a snow-covered branch (My wife and I spend winters at a retirement community in Ridge, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to shovel.)
While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasons why I come back. Who says you can’t go home?
(1) What does the underlined word "snowbird" in Paragraph 1 refer to?()
A.A person spending winter in a warmer climate.
B.A bird seen chiefly in winter.
C.A person permanently living in a foreign country.
D.A bird flying to the south in winter.
(2)What’s the difference between Florida and Long Island?()
A.Winters in Long Island are milder.
B.The snowbirds in Long Island are rarer.
C.Weather in Long Island is severer.
D.Long Island is nearer to the ocean.
(3) What did the author miss most when he was in Florida?()
A.The colorful light display.
B.The family gathering.
C.The cold temperature.
D.The winter landscape.
(4)Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?()
A. The author enjoyed living in Florida .
B. The author had a good time in Florida.
C. The author owned a home in Florida.
D. The author did not like mild weather.
(5)What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?()
A.To praise the beauty and warmth of his hometown.
B.To describe his dream to be a free bird.
C.To explain the reasons for moving from his hometown.
D.To express his feeling of missing his hometown.
1.According to a study, what do green spaces do to people()
A、Improve their work efficiency.
B、Add to their sustained happiness
C、Help them build a positive attitude towards life.
D、Lesson their concerns about material well-being.
2.What do people usually do to make themselves happier()
A、Earn more money.
B、Settle in an urban area.
C、Gain fame and popularity.
D、Live in a green environment.
3.What does Dr. White try to find out about living in a greener urban area()
A、How it affects different people.
B、How strong its positive effect is.
C、How long its positive effect.
D、How it benefits people.
4.What did the research reveal about people living in a green environment()
A、Their stress was more apparent than real.
B、Their decisions required less deliberation.
C、Their memories were greatly strengthened.
D、Their communication with others improved.
5.What should the government do to build more green spaces in cities()
A、Find financial support.
B、Improve urban planning.
C、Involve local residents in the effort.
D、Raise public awareness of the issue.
“God knows, …I'm not myself—I'm somebody else—…and I'm changed, and I can't tell what's my name, or who I am.”
Questions:
46.Identify the work and the author.
47.The speaker says he is changed.Do you think he is changed, or the social environment has changed?
48.What idea does the quoted passage express?