New Zealand will create one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, spanning an area of 620,000 sq km. The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will be one of the world's most significant fully protected ecosystems, the prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, told the UN General Assembly in New York. The sanctuary is in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 km north-east of New Zealand, and expands a marine reserve that surrounds some small islands. The area is considered important in terms of biodiversity, featuring nearly 35 species of whales and dolphins, 150 types of fish and three of the world's seven sea turtle species. It is also geologically significant, including the world's longest chain of underwater volcanoes and the second deepest ocean trench, into 10 km underwater -- deeper than Mount Everest's height. The scale of the sanctuary will dwarf any previous New Zealand's protected area, spanning twice the size of the country's mainland. It will cover 15% of New Zealand's economic zone. Commercial and recreational fishing will be completely banned, as will oil, gas and mineral prospecting , exploration and mining. Key's government aims to pass legislation establishing the sanctuary next year. "The sanctuary is a world-class, unspoiled marine environment and New Zealand is proud to protect it for future generations,"Key said."New Zealanders value our coasts and oceans, which are an important part of our culture, economy and environment and we are committed to managing them sustainably. Creating protected areas will support not only our own fisheries, but those of our Pacific neighbors, adding to New Zealand's efforts to help grow Pacific economies through the responsible management of their ocean resources." Nick Smith, New Zealand's environment minister, said the sanctuary might impose a cost upon the mining industry but that it is important to protect the ocean before exploration takes place."New Zealand needs to use its vast ocean resources for jobs and exports in industries like fishing,... What can we infer from what Nick Smith said? A) New Zealand should develop its marine industry in special areas. B) The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary may affect New Zealand's mining industry. C) New Zealand hasn't figured out how to make full use of its ocean resources. D) Measures should be taken immediately to protect the ocean after explorations.
B
(Question)
Beijing's markets will soon be flooded with more and cheaper colorful fruit such as orange, mangos and green durian all year round. Thanks to a new free trade agreement signed last Monday between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN),more and more tropical Southeast Asian fruit will enter the country. The agreement means that from July 1,2005, China and ASEAN countries will begin to cut tariffs. There are about 7,000 products included in the cuts. As global communication develops, countries are trading more and more goods with each other. When products are sold across national borders, countries put a tax on them. This type of tax is called a tariff. Just like removing an obstacle from the path of these goods, the reduction of tariffs will encourage trade between China and ASEAN countries. It means more products and lower prices. The agreement will bring real benefits for Chinese customers, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman. "In the Beijing markets you will easily find more tropical fruit like durian, which used to very, very, very expensive. Now they will be cheaper." The current tariff rate on durian is 22 per cent but will fall to zero in 2005. In the first 10 months of this year China did US$84.6 billion of trade with ASEAN countries. Experts believe this may reach US$100 billion next year. Founded in 1967, ASEAN now includes Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Viet Nam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Which of the following statements about the agreement is NOT true? A) It will result in an increase in trade between China and ASEAN countries. B) In might cause the prices of ASEAN products to fall. C) It may greatly benefit the Chinese customers. D) It won't bring any benefits to producers of ASEAN countries.
(Answer)
D
Ques: In some urban centers, workholism is so common that people do not consider it unusual: they accept the lifestyle as normal. Government workers in Washington D. C., for example, frequently work sixty to seventy hours a week. They don't do this because they have to; they do it because they want to. Workholism can be a serious problem. Because true workaholics would rather work than do anything else, they probably don't know how to relax. Is workholism always dangerous? Perhaps not. There are, certainly, people who work well under stress. Some studies show that many workaholics have great energy and interest in life. Their work is so pleasurable that they are actually very happy. For most workaholics, work and entertainment keep them busy and creative. Why do workaholics enjoy their jobs so much? There are several advantages to work. Of course, it provides people with paychecks, and this is important. But it offers more than financial security. It provides people with self-confidence; they have a feeling of satisfaction when they've produced a challenging piece of work and are able to say, "I made that." Psychologists claim that work gives people an identity through participation in work, they get a sense of self and individualism. In addition, most jobs provide people with a socially acceptable way to meet others. Perhaps some people are compulsive about their work, but their addiction seems to be a safe-even an advantageous-one. The passage indicates that workaholics _ . A) just know work but nothing else B) are willing to work hard for long hours without pay C) find their work provide them more satisfaction and self-confidence than how much they are paid D) has the work with more responsibility than others
Ans: C
Though joke-lovers in many countries joyfully fool friends on April Fool's Day, no one knows exactly when or why, or even where, this tradition began. Practical joking seems to have coincided with the coming of Spring since the time of Ancient Romans and Celts, Some trace April Fool's Day back to Roman mythology , particularly the story of Ceres ,Goddess of the harvest, and her daughter, Proserpina. Pluto, God of the Dead, cheated Proserpina and took her to live with him in the underworld, The girl called out to her mother, but Ceres could only hear the echo of her daughter's voice. Such 'fool's errands ' became a popular practical joke in Europe in later centuries. The most widespread theory of the origin of April Fool's day the switch from the old Julian to the Gregorian calendar in the late 16thcentury. Under the Julian calendar, it was celebrated during the week between March 25 and April 1, but under the Gregorian calendar, it was moved to January1. Those who weren't informed of the change, or stubbornly kept to the old tradition, were often laughed at and had jokes played on them or around the old New Year. In France, this took the form of practical joker sticking fish on the backs of those who celebrated the old custom, earning the victims of the joke the name Poisson d' April, or April Fish. In Scotland, the butts of April Fool's jokes were known as April "Gowks", another name for a cuckoo bird. In more recent times, radio stations, TV programs and Web sites have set up gullible readers and listeners. One of the most famous jokes was a 1957 BBC program of the annual spaghetti harvest in Switzerland. Were so fooled they wanted to find out how to get a spaghetti bush of their own. Many listeners So while you're surfing the web or watching TV today, be aware of what you see and read, or you should end up an April Fool ! The text is mainly to _ . A) explore the origin of April Fool' Day. B) warn readers against being cheated C) show versions of the origins of April Fool' Day. D) introduce the real tradition of April Fool's Day
C