Compared to high heels , they don't look dangerous, but flip-flop wearers should think twice before slipping on a pair. The National Health Service spends PS40 million a year treating injuries caused by wearing the casual footwear. More than 200,000 people end up in hospital every year after suffering falls or developing long-term problems. Once worn only at the beach, flip-flops have become the regular summer footwear of choice for women, with two in five women owning at least one pair. But experts are warning the public of the dangers of wearing flip-flops, such as the risk of joint pains. They say flip-flops force people to change the way they walk so that when taking a walk with long steps they put pressure on the outside of their foot, rather than their heel, causing long-term damage. And there is also the risk of serious injury. Frequent complaints include twisted ankles, but some have broken their arms or wrists after falling because their flip-flops caught on uneven ground. Many also suffer aching toes as they constantly wear them. Mike, a spokesman, warned wearers of the damage done by flip-flops. He said, "They land on the outside and then roll the foot inwards putting all the pressure on the big toe." This constant rolling puts pressure on the ankle joint, causing it to weaken. The lack of support of the flip-flop also causes pain on the inside of the foot and lower leg. And if you're not used to wearing them, they can cause blisters , he added. Doctors say flip-flops cause far more damage as they are worn for longer periods of time. Emma Supple, consultant podiatrist , said, "Flip-flops are universally popular. They are easy to put on and easy to wear but women do need to be mindful that wearing on hard flat surfaces can cause considerable foot and leg problems." She encouraged women to wear suitable shoes to help recover from summertime injuries. What is the text mainly about? A) The benefits of wearing high heels. B) The dangers caused by wearing flip-flops. C) The advantages and disadvantages of wearing flip-flops. D) Some advice on how to avoid injuries caused by wearing high heels.
B
Is it ever a good idea admitting a teenager to carry a credit card? My kids watch closely as I swipe the card through the register. They've seen me do it hundreds, thousands of times. Cool. They are _ to swipe it through the machine themselves. When we walk out of the store with our groceries or pet food, or whatever, it's almost as though money has not changed hands, painless, easy. So it shouldn't be shocking to discover that teenagers are becoming card carrying consumers in their own right. The question is, should they? While some argue it's best to teach kids how to use a credit card while still living under the family roof, not everyone agrees. Dave Ramsey, financial expert says getting credit card for your teenager is actually "an excellent way to teach him or her to be financially irresponsible." Now parents are required to co-sign on credit cards for children under 21. "If their name is on the credit card, then the parent may say, Hey, my name is on this. Don't get me into trouble," says Mary Beth Pinto, a marketing professor. "When parents were the co-obligors , the children caused less debt. If the parents are the co-obligors, the tendency is that the parents were explaining how to use the cards." Still, Pinto believes parents should start the process much earlier. "Yes, there has to be teaching going on and it has to start when they're younger. You're not going to get rid of credit cards. They are here to stay. You have to have them. You can't fight progress," Pinto said. Ramsey, however, disagrees. "Throwing teens into a pool of (credit) sharks is a sure way to guarantee a life-time of heartache." he said, "You can make online purchases and rent a car with a credit card. Of course, you must have money in your bank account before you can make a purchase with a credit card. But paying for things with money is what you are supposed to do." What's Ramsey's attitude towards teens' using credit cards? A) He feels it is worth a try. B) He is very supportive. C) He is strongly against it. D) He considers it as a pleasant experience.
C
*Question*
Surfing for hours on the Internet consumes a lot of electricity and is harmful to the environment. However, a new ecological PC saves energy as it operates:it produces about 70 percent less CO2than conventional computers. As a work tool, a leisure activity resource, and a personal assistant, computers seem to be everywhere. Yet the environmental performance for today's computers leaves a lot to be improved: they rapidly become out of date, and typically contain poisonous materials and individual parts that are difficult to recycle. Moreover, they consume plenty of power whose production, in return, causes the release of CO2into the atmosphere. Employees at the MicroPro Company in Ireland, teaming with colleagues at the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM in Berlin, have engineered a wooden--frame computer with reduced environment impact. As the first computer for its class, the"iameco"(pronounced I-am-eco) was awarded the "EU Ecolabel", the European Union's environmental label. "This touch-screen PC has very low energy consumption over the entire lifecycle" explains Alexander Schlosser, scientist at IZM. Over the full product life cycle, it releases 70 percent less CO2than a typical desktop PC with monitor. In addition, it can be easily recycled. Of the materials used, 98 percent can be recycled. Indeed, 20 percent of the computer can be reused immediately--in other words, many parts can be reused for repairing other computers--such as parts of the wooden frame. The wooden frame is used because _ . A) it has better appearance B) it can reduce weight C) it doesn't break easily D) it can be recycled directly
**Answer**
D