C

As is known to us, Washington University in St. Louis became the first college in the United States to ban (禁止) selling bottled water in 2009. Since then, more than a dozen small colleges and schools have done the same. The ban isn’t because the schools don’t want students to have easy access to water. Instead, the goal is to encourage students to bring reusable bottles to save money and, more importantly, to save the environment.

Many people believe that producing and using bottled water not only wastes money but also harms the environment. They say that bottled water is unnecessary because public water supplies in the U.S. are among the best in the world. These people believe that water fountains and reusable bottles with easy access to filling stations are a better choice.

But the makers of bottled water argue that plastic bottles make up a small portion of the nation’s total waste. They say it’s unfair to single out (单独挑出) their product when so many other items are packaged (包装) in plastic containers, and what’s more, water is a healthy choice compared to some sodas and juices that are also sold at school.

What do you think: Should sales of bottle water be banned from schools? We want to hear your opinion. Write a 200-word response. Send it to tfkasks4you@timeforkids.com. Your response may be published in a future issue of Time For Kids. Please include your grade level an contact information for your parent or teacher if you want your response to be published. The deadline (截止时间) for responding is August 31, 2012.

1. Some colleges and schools ban selling bottled water in order to .

A. save water B. encourage students to bring water from home

C. reduce pollution D. keep students away from bottled water

2. The main disadvantage of bottled water is probably that .

A. it is too expensive B. it is not fresh

C. it’s not convenient to carry D. Its bottle can’t be reused

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

A. Bottled water is healthier.

B. Sodas and juices are of great harm.

C. Students think it unfair to ban selling bottled water.

D. The makers of bottled water are against banning selling bottled water.

4. The purpose of the passage is to .

A. ask for students’ opinions

B. tell people a piece of news

C. call on students to save the environment

D. wish more schools to ban selling bottled water

D

Pets are no strangers to the White House. Many of America’s Presidents have been animal lovers. In recent times, White House pets have been tame (温顺的) dogs and cats. Long ago, however, presidential pets, like our nation itself, were wild!

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson lived in the White House. Passersby often caught sight of his pet bears. Explorers had discovered these fierce (凶猛的)bears, caught a pair of small ones, and sent them to Jefferson. While the President was excited about his bears, his enemies in Congress constantly laughed at his pets, calling the White House “The President’s Bear Garden”.

By 1825, the bears were long gone from the White House scene. The building was home to President John Quincy Adams and his crocodile (鳄鱼). The green beast actually belonged to General Lafayette, a French hero who had helped the United States win the Revolutionary War. When Lafayette asked Adams to keep the crocodile for him, the President couldn’t refuse.

When President Martin Van Buren moved into the White House in 1837, he brought his tigers with him. At least, Van Buren said the tigers were his. The Sultan of Oman had sent the tigers when Van Buren was elected, so Congress argued(争辩说)that the cats belonged to the American people. A fight over the tigers continued for months. In the end, Congress sent someone to seize the tigers and put them in a zoo.

Twenty years later, President James Buchanan received another valuable gift when he was in his first year in the White House. This time the King of Siam sent several elephants! Buchanan had no desire to share his building with the big creatures, so he sent them to the zoo. Buchanan did, however, keep another gift — a pair of birds. They were a fitting symbol of presidential power.

1.According to the passage, we can infer that .

A.the pets the Presidents raised were all huge ones

B.the pets the presidents owned were all their favorite ones.

C.the Presidents kept the pets not only at home but in the zoo

D.the Presidents’ pets were not only cared about by their families