A. The environment is everything around us, both natural and made by man. A major problem in the world today is the destruction of the natural environment.
This is a complicated problem. We burn fuel, and this causes air pollution. We throw away lastic bags, containing toys and other objects. These stay in the environment, they are not like paper or wood that slowly disappear. We have made thousands of new chemicals. Factories that make or use chemicals always have chemical wastes. These are often poisonous, and they also stay in the environment.
Since 1945 several countries have been testing nuclear bombs in the air and underground. The explosions in the air cause nuclear fallout. The fallout causes cancer and kills animals and people. Nuclear power plants that make electricity also produce dangerous wastes and have accidents that can be very disastrous.
1. What is a big problem in the world today?
A. The development of the population. B. The destruction of the natural environment.
C. Bomb testing. D. Throwing away plastic bags.
2. What is the cause of the air pollution?
A. Fuel burning. B. Smoke from vehicles. C. Toys and other objects. D. Paper or wood.
3. What does the word "these" in the second paragraph refer to?
A. New chemicals. B. Factories. C. Chemical wastes. D. Poisons.
4. The nuclear fallout causes __________.
A. chemical wastes. B. cancer and kills animals and people.
C. water pollution. D. dangerous wastes.
5. What is the benefit of nuclear power?
A. Causing nuclear fallout. B. Producing dangerous.
C. Having accidents. D. Making electricity.
B. Thomas Edison was one of the greatest inventors of the world. He was responsible for more than one thousand inventions including the electric light bulb and the record player. He also created the world's first industrial research laboratory.
Edison was born in 1847 in Ohio, USA. When he was 10 years old, he set up asmall baloratory after he had read a science book his mother showed him. In 1869, he borrowed some money and began to make inventions. In 1876 he built a new laboratory so that he could spend all his time inventing. He planned to turn out minor inventions every ten days and "big trick" every six months. He developed many devices that brought great benefits to people's life. He once said that the value of an idea lay in the using of it. Edison died in 1931, after having aremarkably productive life.
1. Who was Thomas Edison?
→
2. When and where was he born?
→
3. What did he invent?
→
4. Did he build a new laboratory in 1876?
→
5. When did he die?
→
