The hole in the Earth's ozone layer has until now protected Antarctica from the worst effects of global warming. But scientists have warned that as the hole closes up in the next few decades, temperatures on the continent could rise by around 3oC on average, with melting ice contributing to a global sea level increase of up to 1.4 metres. In the past decades the western Antarctic has seen rapid ice loss as the world has warmed, but the other parts of the continent have, _ , been cooling, resulting in a 10% increase in ice in the seas around the region. This is because the hole in the ozone layer has increased cold winds in Antarctica, making much of the continent surface colder than usual. But now that the gasses that cause the ozone hole have been banned, scientists expect the hole to repair itself within the next 50 to 60 years. By then the cooling effect will have faded out and the Antarctic will face the full impact of global warming. This means an increase in average air temperatures of around 3OC and a reduction in sea ice by around a third. The biggest threat to the continent comes from warming seas. Robert Johnson, a scientist who monitors Antarctica ice sheets, said, "The ice sheets in Antarctica are hundreds of metres thick. But once warm ocean waters start flowing underneath, the ice will begin thinning and could break up very quickly. "Thinning ice sheets cause ice to break away from the continent and to melt even faster. Escaping ice from western Antarctica has already resulted in a 10% rise in global sea level in recent decades. Johnson believes that international action to reduce global warming is required immediately or it may be too late. "Everything is connected - Antarctica may be a long way away but it is an important part of the Earth's system," said Johnson. "It contains 90% of the world's ice, 70% of the world's fresh water and that is enough, if it melts completely, to raise sea levels by 63 metres." Even in a worse-case situation scientists don't expect the ice to entirely... What do scientists think is the biggest danger facing Antarctica? A) Rising sea levels. B) Warming sea water temperature. C) Water pollution. D) Growing ice sheets.
B
(Question)
My father' s response to the bank building at 43rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York city was immediate and definite: "You won' t catch me putting my money in there!" he declared, "Not in that glass box. " Of course, my father is a gentleman of the old school, a member of the generation to whom a good deal of modern architecture is upsetting, but I believe that his negative response was not so much to the architecture as to a violation of his concept of the nature of money. In his generation money was thought of as a real commodity that could be carried, or stolen. Therefore, to attract the custom of a sensible man, a bank had to have heavy walls, barred windows, and bronze doors, to make sure of the fact, however, untrue, that money would be safe inside. If a building' s design made it appear strong, the institution was necessarily reliable, and the meaning of the heavy wall as an architecture symbol showed the general attitude toward money. But the attitude toward money has, of course, changed. Except pocket money, cash of any kind is now rarely used; money as a tangible commodity has largely been replaced by credit. The banker no longer offers us a safe: he offers us a service in which the most valuable factor is the creativity for the invention of large numbers. It is in no way surprising, in view of this change in attitude, that we are witnessing the disappearance of the heavy-walled bank. Just as the older bank emphasized its strength, this bank by its architecture is proud of imaginative powers. According to this passage, a modern banker should be _ . A) ambitious and friendly B) reliable and powerful C) sensible and strong D) imaginative and creative
(Answer)
D
Ques: Historians say Harriet Tubman was born in the year 1820.Nobody really knows.But we do know that Harriet Tubman was one of the bravest women ever born in the United States. From a very early age, Harriet knew how slaves suffered.At six years old, she was sent to the fields.Working outside not only made her body strong but also made her learn about the Underground Railroad, through which she helped hundreds of people escape from slavery later.She also learned many things from other slaves, which one day would help her lead her people to freedom.She became more of a rebel . In 1844, at about age 24, she married a free black man named John Tubman.By now, Harriet was sure she wanted to try to escape.Suddenly, the time came.Her owner died.Though opposed by her husband, she decided to escape.With the help of the Underground Railroad, and through a variety of suffering she finally crossed the border into Pennsylvania, where slavery was banned .Later, she told a friend, "I felt like I was in heaven." Now that Harriet was free, she did not forget the hundreds of other slaves back in Maryland.Harriet traveled back and forth eighteen times, helping about 300 slaves escape into free territory.She became an expert at hiding from slave hunter.The people she helped called her Moses.At one time anyone finding Harriet was promised $40,000 for catching her --dead or alive. During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman went into enemy territory to spy for the North.She also served as a nurse.After four years of bloody fighting, the North won the war. After the fighting ended, Harriet Tubman returned to Auburn, New York.She kept working.She traveled and gave speeches to raise money for better education for black children.She also worked for women's rights and housing.Harriet Tubman died in 1913.She was about 93 years old.By that time, she was recognized as an American hero.The United States government gave a funeral with military honors for the woman known a Moses. Which of the following should be the best title for the text? A) Cruel American Civil War B) A history of American black slaves C) A brief introduction to Harriet Tubman D) Information on the Underground Railroad
Ans: C
The term "smog" was first used in London during the early 1900's to describe the combination of smoke and fog. What we typically call " smog" today is a mixture of pollutants but is primarily made up of ground-level ozone . Ozone can be beneficial or harmful depending on where it stays. The ozone staying high above the Earth protects human health and the environment, but ground-level ozone is responsible for the choking, coughing, and painful eyes associated with smog. The ozone in smog also prevents plants growth and can cause widespread damage to crops and forest. Major smog occurrences often are linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds. Weather and geography affect the position and severity of smog. Because temperature regulates the length of time it takes for smog to form, smog can form faster and be more severe on a hot and sunny day. When warm air stays near the ground instead of rising and winds are calm, smog may stay trapped over your city for days. As traffic and other sources add more pollutants to the air, the smog gets worse. Smog is often more severe away from the pollution sources because the chemical reactions that cause smog occur in the atmosphere while the reacting chemicals are being moved by the wind. Smog is a visible example of air pollution. You can look into the distance during the day to see how much smog there is in the air. In addition, most cities measure the concentrations of pollutants in the air and report the results to the public. Environmental Protection Agency sets national standards for pollutants. Areas that fail to meet the standards for at least one air pollutant are called "nonattainment areas. " New measures are being taken by local governments across the country to reduce air pollution in nonattainment areas. These include: banning charcoal barbecues and wood burning in stoves or fireplaces when pollution levels are high; developing programs to encourage carpooling and voluntary "ozone actions" ;... According to the passage, ground-level ozone can _ . A) damage the environment B) benefit human health C) protect crops and forest D) limit the spread of smog
A