Ever wonder how this season’s celebrations affect the environment? Guest blogger Krista Fairles takes an amusing look at this very topic:
The holidays are a wonderful, cheerful time when most people wait for Santa to bring them presents. But I’m not like most people. I spend my time wondering just what the environmental impacts of Santa Claus and his reindeer are, and more importantly, how I can calculate those impacts.
Lately I’ve been particularly curious as to whether Santa’s old sled is a clean green flying machine, or if he should be replacing his 8 reindeer with an environmentally-friendly car.
I should mention that, surprisingly, I was unable to find statistics specific to Santa’s magical flying reindeer, so these calculations use numbers from various sources and may not represent actual pollution caused by Santa and his animals. In other words, don’t complain to the government about the damage Santa is causing the environment based on this article.
Santa’s yearly trip around the globe is 44,000km long, twice the average of a North American driver. If we assume that the magic provides the altitude for this trip, then reindeer power only needs to push Santa’s sled forward. To complete the trip in 12 hours, I estimate they must travel at a speed of about 3100km/h. To travel at this speed, for this length of time, the reindeer need to eat an incredible 980 million calories each!!
So the next question is: how much food is in 980 million calories? Well, if they’re eating corn, they’d need to eat 16,500 lbs each — or 1.6 acres of food. Growing 12.8 acres of corn has its own implications for the environment that we’ll leave for another calculation.
We now need to consider that during the global trip the reindeer are “letting out” some of that corn in the form of methane (甲烷，沼氣). A resting cow produces 110 kg of methane per year, so flying reindeer would each let out about 4.8 tons. With methane causing 20 times the global warming damage of CO2, and the altitude increasing that damage by 1000% that another 20 times, we can put Santa’s round-trip emissions at 15,488 tons. This is much more than the 100 tons an environmentally-friendly car would release on the same trip!
Bad Santa.
1. Which aspect does the writer NOT include in her analyses about reindeer’s influence on environment?
A. Distance covered. B. Calories consumed.
C. Tons of waste let out. D. Money spent on food.
2. According to Paragraph 6, how many acres of corn would Santa need to feed 10 reindeer?
A. 1.6. B. 16. C. 12.8. D. 128.
3. Which of the following statements would the writer most probably agree with?
A. Christmas celebrations are really a waste of money.
B. Vegetarians are more likely to survive than meat-eaters.
C. Raising animals has a negative influence on environment.
D. The car industry does less harm to environment than farming.
4. Which of the following words best describes the language style of the passage?
A. Humourous and concerned. B. Cheerful and friendly.
C. Academic and formal. D. Serious and boring.
5. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. Is Santa driving clean and green?
B. Santa, watch where you’re going!
C. Santa Claus is coming to town!
D. Let’s reduce waste on Christmas celebrations!
1.D
2.B
3.C
4.A
5.A
【解析】
試題分析：文章大意：圣誕老人每年旅行44,000公里，那么圣誕老人的駕駛是清潔和綠色的嗎？
1.D細節理解題。根據第文章五、六、七段可以知道提及到Distance covered、Calories consumed和Tons of waste let out.，而D項沒有提及到。故D正確。
2.B細節理解題。根據第六段的第二句Well, if they’re eating corn, they’d need to eat 16,500 lbs each — or 1.6 acres of food.可以計算出10只馴鹿所需要的谷物。故B正確。
3.C細節理解題。根據文章第七段作者提及到馴鹿排放的沼氣可知C項和作者的觀點相符合。 故C正確。
4.A推理判斷題。全文作者以詼諧的口吻講述圣誕老人每年44,000公里的旅程所帶來的污染，體現了作者對環境的關注。故A正確。
5.A主旨大意題。全文作者以詼諧的口吻講述圣誕老人每年44,000公里的旅程所帶來的污染，懷疑圣誕老人是否是清潔和綠色旅行。 故A正確。
考點：考查趣味閱讀
科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
When I was about 12,1 had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings．
Week by week her list grew: I was very thin; I wasn't a good student; I talked too much; I was too proud and so on．I came very angry．1 ran to my father with tears in my eyes．
He listened to me quietly, then he asked, "Are the things she said true or not? Jane, didn't you ever wonder what you're really like? Well, you now have that girl's opinion．Go and make a list of everything she said．and mark the points that are true．Pay no attention to the other things she said．"
I did as he told me．To my great surprise, I discovered that about half of the things were true．Some of them I couldn't change （like being very thin）, but a good number I co-aid and suddenly I wanted to change．For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of myself．
I brought the list back to Daddy．He refused to take it．"That's just for you," he said．"You know better than anyone else, the truth about yourself．But you have to learn to listen, not just closing your ears in anger and feeling hurt．When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you．Don't shut your ears．Listen to other people's opinions, but hear the tmth and do what you know is the right 'thing to do．"
Daddy's advice has returned to me at many important moments．In my life, I've
never had a better piece of advice．
Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
A．Not an Enemy, but a Best Friend
B．The Best Advice I've Ever Had
C．My Father
D．My Childhood
What does "Week by week her list grew" mean?
A．Week by week, my shortcomings grew more serious．
B．She had written down a list of my shortcomings arid kept on adding new ones to it,
C．I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on．
D．Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out．
Why did her father listen to her quietly?
A．Because he believed that what her daughter's enemy said was mostly true．
B．Because he had teen so angry with his daughter's shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while．
C．Because he knew; that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment．
D．Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth．
What did the father:．do after he heard his daughter's complaint?
A．He told her not．to．pay any attention to what her "enemy" had said．
B．He criticized （批評）her and told her to overcome her shortcomings．
C．He told her to write down all that her "enemy" had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true．
D．He refused to take-the list and have a look at it．
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him. He had tripped (絆倒) and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with some clothes, a baseball bat and a glove.
Mark knelt (跪) down and helped the boy pick up the things. Since they were going the same way, he offered to carry some things for the boy.
As they walked, Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill. He loved video games, baseball and history, but he was having trouble with some of his subjects.
They arrived at Bill’s home first. Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with some laughs and talk. Then Mark went home.
They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both graduated from junior school.
Three days before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.
Bill reminded (提醒) Mark of the day years ago when they had first met. “Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill.
“You see, I took away all my things from school. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills (安眠藥). I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time talking and laughing, I realized that if I had died, I would have missed so many good times. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more._____________________”
When Bill fell down on his way home, Mark ________.
A. didn’t notice that
B. went away quickly
C. helped him pick up the things
D. carried all the things for him
Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Mark was a warm-hearted boy.
B. Bill was good at all of his subjects.
C. Bill and Mark were in the same school.
D. Bill loved video games, baseball and history.
At Bill’s home, they didn’t ________.
A. drink some Coke B. watch TV
C. have a pleasant talk D. play video games
What would Bill probably say at last?
A. I should die. B. You saved my life.
C. You did a good job. D. You helped me a lot.
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科目：高中英語 來源：2012-2013學年河南省河南大學附屬中學高一上學期期中考試英語試卷（帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解
When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings. Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like ? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”
I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could—and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it.“That’s just for you,” he said.“You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.
【小題1】What did the father do after he had heard his daughter’s complaint?
| A．He told her not to pay any attention to what her “enemy” had said. |
| B．He criticized (批評) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings. |
| C．He told her to write down all that her “enemy” had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true. |
| D．He refused to take the list and have a look at it. |
| A．Because he believed that what her daughter’s “enemy” said was mostly true. |
| B．Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wanted to show this by keeping silent for a while. |
| C．Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment. |
| D．Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth. |
| A．Not an Enemy, but the Best Friend |
| B．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had |
| C．My Father |
| D．My Childhood |
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科目：高中英語 來源：2012年全國普通高等學校招生統一考試英語（浙江卷帶解析） 題型：閱讀理解
Below is a selection about Guinness（吉尼斯） World Records.
Top 6 Unusual Guinness World Records
? Fastest 100 m running on all fours
The 2008 Guinness World Records Day was, according to CWR, their biggest day of record-breaking ever, I- h more than 290.000 people taking put in record attempts in 15 different countries. Kenichi Ito's record attempt was port of this special day. He is just another example of Japanese with "super powers". His "super power" is to run with great speed on all fours. Kenichi Ito ran 100 m on all fours in 18.58 seconds. The Japanese set this record at Setagaya Kuritsu Sogo Undojyo, Tokyo, in 2008.
? Most people inside a soap bubble
The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, Califomia celebrated this year the 15th anniversary of the Bubble (泡泡) Festival. A bubble's math principles and science were presented and demonstrated at the three-week-long exhibition. The intriguing Bubble Show was also part of the program. Fan Yang and Deni Yang impressed the audience with their awesome skills for bubble making. The Yang family cooperated with the Discovery Science Center to set a new Guinness World Record for mow people inside a scup bubble and they succeeded.
The family that has been working with soap bubbles for 27 years created a huge soap bubble and got 118 people inside it. The record was set or. April 4, 2011.
? Longest ears on a dog
A bloodhound from Illinois has the longest ears ever measured a dog. The right ear is 13.75 inches long and the left one 13.5 inches. The dog named Tigger earned this title in 2004 and is owned by Christina and Bryan Flessner.
Mr. Jeffries is the previous record holder of this title. Each of his ears measured approximately 11. 5 inches long. His grandfather used to hold this amazing world record, but when he died Mr.Jeffries look over.
? Most living generations
Did you ever wonder what is the Guinness World Record for most living generation in one family? Seven is the answer.
The ultimate authority on record-breaking mentions on the website that the youngest great-great- great-great grandparent of this family was Augusta Bung "aged 109 years 97 days, followed by her daughter aged 89, her granddaughter aged 70, her great grand-daughter aged 52, her great-great grand-daughter aged 33 and her great-great-great granddaughter aged 15 on the birth of her great-great-great-great grandson on January 21, 1989".
? Most T shirts worn at once
Believe it or not, there is a record also for this category. Krunoslav Budiseli set a new world record on May 22, 2010 for wearing 245 T-shirts at the same time. The nun from Croatia was officially recognized as the new record bolder by Guinness World Records after he managed to put on 245 different T-shirts in 1ess than two hours. . The T-shirts weighted 68 KG and Budiseli said he began struggling around T-shirt No. 120. He dethroned the Swedish Guinness record holder who wore 238 T-shirts.
?Heaviest pumpkin
Guinness World Records confirmed on October 9. 2010 that a gigantic pumpkin （南瓜） grown in Wisconcin was officially the world’s heaviest. It weighed 1,810 pounds 8 ounces and was unveiled by Chris Stevens at the Stillwater Harvest Festival in Minnesota. Stevens' pumpkin was 85 pounds Javier than the previous re I, another huge pumpkin grown in Ohio. The proud farmer said his secret is a precise of rain, cow mature, good soil, sea grass and fish emulsion. Some of the world's heaviest pumpkins, including the record bolder, were on public display at the Bronx Botanical Gardens in New Yost for a dozen days.
【小題1】Why is Kenichi Ito described «s a man with a "super power"?
| A．He set a good example to all Japanese. |
| B．He made record attempts in 15 different countries. |
| C．He set a new record for "Fastest 100 m running on all fours". |
| D．He participated in the 2008 Guinness World Records Day activities. |
| A．the owner of the dog with the longest ears |
| B．the grandfather of the dog with the longest care |
| C．the present holder of the record for "Longest care on a dog" |
| D．the former holder of the record for " longest care on a dog' |
| A．68. | B．120. | C．238. | D．245. |
| A．The record for "Most people inside a soup bubble". |
| B．The record for "Most living generations'". |
| C．The record for "Most T-shirts worn at once". |
| D．The record for " Heaviest pumpkin". |
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科目：高中英語 來源：2015屆山東省濟寧市高一下學期3月月考英語試卷（解析版） 題型：單項填空
When I was 11, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺點). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn’t a good student, I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as I could. In the end, I became so angry that I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.
He listened to me quietly, then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn’t you ever wonder what you’re really like? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.” I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could—and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.
I brought the list back to Dad. He refused to take it.” That’s just for you,” he said.
“You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don’t shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.”
Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.
1.What did the father do after he had heard his daughter’s complaint?
A．He told her not to pay any attention to whatever”enemy”had said.
B．He criticized (批評) her and told her to overcome her shortcomings.
C．He told her to write down all that her” enemy” had said about her and pay attention only to the things that were true.
D．He refused to take the list and have a look at it.
2. What does “Week by week her list grew” mean?
A．Week by week, my shortcomings grew more serious.
B．She had made a list of my shortcomings and she kept on adding new ones to it so that it was growing longer and longer.
C．I was having more and more shortcomings as time went on.
D．Week by week she discovered more shortcomings of mine and pointed them out to me.
3. Why did her father listen to her quietly?
A．Because he wasn’t quite sure which girl was telling the truth.
B．Because he had been so angry with his daughter’s shortcomings that he wantedto show this by keeping silent for a while.
C．Because he knew that his daughter would not listen to him at that moment.
D．Because he believed that what her daughter’s “enemy” said was mostly true.
4. Which do you think would be the best title for this passage?
A．The Best Advice I’ve Ever Had
B．Not an Enemy,but the Best Friend
C．My Father
D．My Childhood
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