阅读理解

(A)

You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature. But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation(撤离)of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland.

During the 20th century, sea level rose 8-12 inches. As a result, Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.

Paani Laupepa, a Tuvaluan government official, reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years. Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.

Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions(排放), which are a main cause of global warming. “By refusing to sign the agreement, the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.

Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries.

Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable(易受影响的)to rising sea levels. Maumoon Gayoon, president of the Maldives, told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.

36. The passage is mainly about _______.

A. rapid changes in earth’s temperature B. bad effects of global warming

C. moving of a country to a new place D. reasons for lowland flooding

37. According to scientists, the direct cause of more and fiercer storms is ______.

A. greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations

B. higher surface water temperatures of the sea

C. continuous global warming

D. rising sea levels

38. Laupepa was not satisfied with the United States because it did not ______.

A. agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions

B. sign an agreement with Tuvalu

C. allow Tuvaluans to move to the US

D. believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real

39. The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is ______.

A. Australia B. New Zealand

C. the Maldives D. the United States

(B)

In a traditional Chinese family, women are expected to do the housekeeping and leave the “other business” to men. However, the appearance of the full-time “househusband” is changing traditional family.

A survey in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen shows that 22 percent, 73 percent, 34 percent and 32 percent of white-collar male workers, aged between 28 and 33, would be prepared to do the housekeeping if the conditions were right.

Yang Wenhui, 32 years old, worked at the office of a company prefer to quit the job. “My job was dull and steady. I was not promoted. My wife, in contrast, really likes her job. So, after our baby was born, I chose to stay at home and take care of the family while my wife works full-time outside the home,” said Yang.

Sociologists have found the full-time househusband emerges in three main situations.

Firstly, if the wife is ambitious, well-paid and has good job prospects, while her husband is paid poorly and has no job prospects, it makes economic sense for the woman to become the main income earner for the household. Secondly, if the wife is tired of household chores and eager to work outside the home, her husband may forfeit his job. Thirdly, if the husband can do his work at home, he may take this choice as it allows him more time to take care of the family.

Influenced by traditional ideas, some families with full-time househusbands prefer others not to know about their arrangement, concerned people would laugh at a husband with “no prospects” or wife who is “too strong”.

Zhou Wei said he has become usual to being a full-time househusband although his relatives doubted this when they gathered during the holidays. “A happy life is the most important thing, not other peoples’ opinions,” added Zhou.

40. The reason for Yang Wenhui quitting his job is that ________.

A. it is too difficult for him to do it B. it is too boring for him to do it

C. he is too old to go on doing it D. his wife wanted him to quit it

41. In which situation is a man unlikely to become a full-time househusband?

A. He can earn enough money to keep family and has a good job prospects.

B. He can earn much less than his wife and will never get promoted.

C. His wife hates housework and is busy with her work outside.

D. His job can be done at home and he would like stay at home.

42. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. A full-time househusband is a man without prospects in life.

B. A full-time househusband is much weaker than his wife.

C. A full-time househusband is willing to share his experience with his relatives.

D. A full-time househusband can also enjoy happiness from housework.

43. The underlined word “forfeit” probably means ________.

A. appreciate B. quit

C. continue D. escape