Directions: There are 2 passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D ). You should decide on the best choice and mark the corresponding letter on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre.
57、Questions 57-66are based on the following passage.
Fundamentally, the global environment is in a desperate state of decline.Initially the Green Movement was seen to solve the problem of reducing running costs.This in turn has resulted in concern for the depletion(损耗 )of natural resources and finally in concern for the damage being done to the global environment.
Unfortunately the growing numbers of organizations and committees dedicated to saving the environment have only been able to outline appropriate proposals and initiatives.Because there is not a body that has the ability to enforce global legislation, there have not been any treaties or legislation that are globally binding.Cities are able to address social, economic and environmental issues through grassroots planning initiatives.The power of collective will and civic ambition reminds us that human behavior can be shaped as much by our designed environment as by social policy, such as governmental management and legislative control.While such participation can be a powerful catalyst(催化剂)for social change, it is by no means an easy task.It can begin with a simple awareness of our physical environment: What does it consist of now? How does it affect our behavior? What needs to be changed?
The general public needs to be accountable to themselves for the choices they make.By way of their accountability they will be maintaining and recycling not only physical resources, but also cultural resources for the benefit of future generations.Cultural practices traditionally dictate the desire of the society for sur-vival.Decay is inevitable, as it is law of nature and we can only attempt to slow its course of destruction.
Preservation must be geared to preserve the messages and values: emotional values, cultural values and use values.Each is defined by its own terms and in some cases has overlapping identities.With this in mind,why is modern man living in excess of what is environmentally feasible, therefore hampering the efforts to perpetuate society? It is vital to work in conjunction with nature.Humans have the power to change the natural harmony of the earth, but we continue to accept subnormal and double standards.
As will be discussed, there has been some headway made in the last few years regarding the integration of the built environment with green architecture.However, not much has been realized in terms of the integration of historic preservation and green architecture in house.Presently there are examples of historic preservation and green architecture working in conjunction in commercial buildings.
What is the most serious problem in the Green Movement?
A.They provide only suggestions and ideals but never put them into practice.
B.People need pay more attention to the knowledge of environment preservation.
C.Desperate pollution in many areas is to deprive mankind of a good future.
D.Survival of mankind relies on their ability to find new resources.
58、 What does the word "grassroots"in Line 1, Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.The roots of grass.
B.The ordinary people.
C.The leaves of grass.
D.The leaders.
59、 The purpose of the author in Paragraph 2 is to
A.call on the people to go on street for a better proposal
B.let the public catch onto more new ideas
C.show that we can do something for the environm
D.arouse our anger for the destruction of nature
60、 According to the author, what is the correct attitude towards cultural resources?
A.Preservation of cultural resources must be done.
B.Decay of cultural resources is inevitable.
C.The maintenance of cultural resources isn't equally important as natural resources.
D.Double standards should be maintained towards cultural standards.
61、 This passage is mainly concerned with
A.the seriousness of environment decay
B.Green Movement and its influence
C.green architecture
D.people's responsibility to protect environment
62、Questions 62-71 are based on the following passage.
Markets are typically very efficient when it comes to reacting to changed circumstances.But the housing market is unique.It takes a long time to build homes, and they are expensive.It's not like you can just order up another batch quickly from China when you sense the market turning.Apartment and condominium projects, which are in high demand, take years to build.Many of the aggressive builders and lenders went bust in 2008 and 2009.And the survivors have remained cautious, with good reason.
Realtors always tell clients that they should make an offer today because the house might not he there tomorrow.In recent years, that ancient sales tactic has been easy to dismiss as baloney.Today, it's likely to be true.
That's right.After years of a painful oversupply following the housing crash, it appears we now actually have too few houses on the market.This was the real news lurking behind the latest housing numbers, released Tuesday by the National Association of Realtors.The report says existing home sales eased a bit in December from November, but were up 12.8 percent from a year ago.Sales for all of 2012 were up 9.2 percent from 2011, the best year since 2007.But the numbers could have been better."Record low mortgage interest rates clearly are helping many home buyers, but tight inventory and restrictive mortgage underwriting standards are limiting sales," said Lawrence Yun, chief economist at NAR.In other words, not enough houses Consider this telling metric : In December, there were only enough existing homes for sale to last 4.4 months.That's the lowest level of inventory, measured by the monthly sales rate, since the boom; in May 2005, there were just 4.3 months' worth of existing homes on the market.Patrick Newport, U.S.economist at HIS Global Insight, notes that the raw inventory number is the lowest it has been since January 2001.As for new homes--a much smaller market--supply is also down.The Census Bureau says that in November 2012, there were 149,000 new homes for sale, just 4.7 months' worth of supply.By contrast, in November 2011, there were 155,000 new homes for sale, representing 5.7 months' worth of supply.
That should be good news.Excess inventory is a killer.It puts pressure on prices, and means those who really want to sell have to cut prices, sometimes drastically.But two years of steady improvement--rising sales volume, rising prices, declining foreclosures--has subtly changed the equation.A great many homes have been taken off the market--by individuals, and by institutional investors who are buying homes in bulk with the intention of renting them out.
What makes the housing market different from others?
A.The inventory is slow to change.
B.Houses are expensive.
C.Houses take years to build.
D.Both B and C.
63、 What does the expression "went bust" in Line 5, Paragraph 1 mean?
A.Succeeded.
B.Broke.
C.Lost
D.Parted.
64、 According to the passage, which of the following is true about the housing market in 20127
A.The supply is bigger than the demand.
B.The demand is bigger than the supply.
C.Not many changes compared with that of 2011.
D.More people want to buy houses.
65、 Who are most influenced if the inventory of houses is too much?
A.Those who want to buy houses for their own use.
B.Those who want to buy houses as an investment.
C.Those who want to sell their house in a short time.
D.Those who want to sell their houses at a relatively high price.
66、 What is the main idea of the passage?
A.Many investments have gone into the housing market.
B.Inventory might influence the price of house.
C.The inventory of houses is becoming tight.
D.It is right time to buy a house.