单选题I was astonished at the news of his escape.

单选题If we leave now, we should miss the traffic

单选题He tried to {{U}}assemble{{/U}} his thoughts.

单选题At first glance, a forest appears to be a {{U}}haphazard{{/U}} collection of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers.

单选题The Vatican is famous for its magnificent church towers.

单选题The proper procedure contributed to the satisfying outcome.A. resultB. assessmentC. estimationD. sources

单选题Taking a Dim View of Solar Energy Despite the bad economy, or maybe because of it, the rooftop-solar industry is booming, as Americans become increasingly intrigued by the idea of turning their roofs into mini power plants and cutting their electric bills. In 2008,33,500 rooftop solar systems were installed in the United States, a 63 percent increase over the amount of capacity installed in 2007. In California. the solar capital of country, the increase was 95 percent. Meanwhile, the outlook for the other side of the solar industry—the large, centralized power plants—isn't so sunny. These megaprojects—acres of desert covered in thousands of solar panels sending electricity—controlled mostly by utility companies that have had a monopoly over the country's electricity grid, were supposed to be the key to the future of the solar industry. So far, they're getting vastly outpaced by the decentralized rooftop approach. According to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's 2006—08 count, consumers added 522 megawatts to the grid: whereas utility companies added just 96 megawatts. The disparity has utilities worried about loosing their grip on the country's energy industry, and the $130 billion residential electricity market. In some cases, utilities are actually taking direct steps to thwart rooftop solar. "There is a tension between distributed solar generation and utilities," says Adaln Browning, executive director of The Vote Solar initiative, a solar advocacy group in San Francisco. They've had the energy pie to themselves for a century, and now facing a future where clean distributed energy will play a large part, they're looking for ways to profit from it and maintain control. People want solar panels on their roofs, so utilities should be working to make that happen rather than getting in the way. "says Browning. " "It's not hard to understand why a big utility might not like the idea of homes and buildings being covered in solar panels. If every building in America is generating its own solar energy, that throws a big wrench into their business model. But as most states have passed renewable-energy standards recently, mandating that a certain percentage of their energy come from renewable sources, utilities have become reluctant players in the solar game because, frankly, they have no choice. However, thanks to state and federal government subsidies, private sector can seize this opportunity to grow.

单选题The room is dim and quiet. A．tiny B．pleasant C．dark D．agreeable

单选题Needlepoint has always been an elegant and costly form of embroidery.

单选题Mary said {{U}}mildly{{/U}} that she was just curious. A. shyly B. gently C. weakly D. wildly

单选题The word “expertise’ ’in line 3 could be best replaced by

单选题Continuous short buzzes on the telephone indicate that the line is busy after you dial the telephone number. A. open B. out of order C. disengaged D. in use

单选题{{B}}第三篇{{/B}} {{B}} More Than a Ride to School{{/B}} The National Education Association claims, "The school bus is a mirror of the community." They further add that, unfortunately, what appears on the exterior does not always reflect the reality of a chosen community. They are right -- sometimes it reflects more! Just ask Lies! Denson. Riding the school bus has been more than a ride to school for Lies!. Bruce Hardy, school bus driver for Althouse Bus Company has been Liesl's bus driver since kindergarten. Last year when Liesl's family moved to Parkesburg, knowing her bus went by her new residence, she requested to ride the same bus. This year Liesl is a senior and will enjoy her last year riding the bus. She says, "It's been a great ride so far! My bus driver is so cool and has always been a good friend and a good listener. Sometimes when you're a child adults do not think that what you have to say is important. Mr. Hardy always listens to what you have to say and makes you feel important." Her friends Ashley Batista and Amanda Wolfe agree. Bruce Hardy has been making Octorara students feel special since 1975. This year he will celebrate 30 years working for Althouse Bus Company. Larry Althouse, president of the company, acknowledges Bruce Hardy's outstanding record: "You do not come by employees like Bruce these days. He has never missed a day of work and has a perfect driving record. He was recognized in 2000 by the Pennsylvania School Bus Association for driving 350,000 accident free miles. Hardy's reputation is made further evident through the relationships he has made with the students that ride his bus." Althouse further adds, "AIthouse Bus Company was established 70 years ago and has been providing quality transportation ever since. My grandfather started the business with one bus. Althouse Bus Company is delighted to have the opportunity to bring distinctive and safe service to our local school and community and looks forward to continuing to provide quality service for many more years to come." Three generations of business is not all the company has enjoyed. Thanks to drivers like Bruce Hardy, they have been building relationships through generations. Liesl's mother Carol also enjoys fond memories of riding Bruce Hardy's bus to the Octorara School District.

单选题This reminds me of{{U}} lots of {{/U}}things

单选题Moral Issues One of the virtues in American culture is to help others. Christmas in America means different things to different people. To some people, Christmas means brightly wrapped packages under a decorated tree. To others, it means family reunions and a wonderful meal together. Christmas also means lending a helping hand to people in need. Along with all the hubbub of shopping for presents and sending Christmas cards, many people in America take time to help others. In America and around the world, Christmas offers many opportunities to spread "Peace on earth, good will toward men". For example, Salvation Army bell ringers are a familiar sight to most Christmas shoppers. They stand outside malls and stores collecting money for the needy. Many churches and other organizations collect toys and clothes as Christmas gifts for poor families. The Christmas spirit encourages people to help each other in many large and small ways. The spirit of helping others isn't limited to Christmas. However, Americans help others year-round. Civic clubs such as the Lion's Club, the Elk's Club and the Rotary Club take part in local community projects. Many organizations exist just to help others. The Make a Wish Foundation gives terminally ill children a chance to have their dream come true. Habitat for Humanity helps poor people build their own houses. And besides supporting worthy causes with their money, thousands of Americans donate their time by serving as volunteers in hospitals, homeless shelters and schools. Another virtue Americans respect is perseverance. Remember Aesop's fable about the turtle and the rabbit that had a race? The rabbit thought he could win easily, so he took a nap. But the turtle finally won because he did not give up. Compassion may be the queen of American virtues. The story of "The Good Samaritan" from the Bible describes a man who showed compassion. On his way to a certain city, a Samaritan man found a poor traveler lying on the road. The traveler had been beaten and robbed. The kind Samaritan, instead of just passing by, stopped to help this person in need. Compassion can even turn into a positive cycle. In fall, 1992, people in Iowa sent truckloads of water to help Floridians hit by a hurricane. The next summer, during the Midwest flooding, Florida returned the favor. In less dramatic ways, millions of Americans are quietly passing along the kindness shown them. In no way can this brief description cover all the moral values honored by Americans. Courage, responsibility, loyalty, gratitude and many others could be discussed. In fact, Bennett's best-seller over 800 pages highlights just l0 virtues. Even Bennett admits that he has only scratched the surface. But no matter how long or short the list is, moral values are invaluable. They are the foundation of American culture and any culture.

单选题It is {{U}}obvious{{/U}} that he will win the game. A. likely B. possible C. clear D. unwilling

单选题A lot of people could fall ill after drinking {{U}}contaminated{{/U}} water.

单选题Illinois has produced writers such as Carl Sandburg, {{U}}gangsters{{/U}} such as A1 Capone, and architects such as Louis Sullivan.