SINGAPORE - Singapore on Thursday stuck to its I8-year ban on the import and sale of chewing gum (口香糖), which has become an international symbol of the city-state's image as a strict society.
"The government stands by its decision to ban chewing gum. Chewing gum has not been a significant problem since that ban took effect, there have been concerns that lifting the ban on chewing gum could result in chewing gum litter and weaken ongoing efforts to control littering." Maliki Osman, parliamentary secretary at the Ministry of National Development, told parliament.
Osman said as the reason for the imposition (強迫接受) of the ban is still suitable, "the government's position is that the ban shall remain." He was responding to a question in parliament from Denise Phua, a fellow member of the ruling People's Action Party who argued that the ban had been used to criticize its tough governance laws.
"I think this ban ... now needs a re-thinking. Surely Singapore will not consider banning sweets because of sweet wrapper litter or ice-cream stick litter," she said.
Singapore, known worldwide for its high-quality clean image, banned the import and sale of chewing gum in 1992 in a bid to cope with the problem of people sticking the gum on chairs, tables, lifts and other public areas.
One of the key reasons for the ban had been the disturbance of services on Singapore's subway train system because of chewing gum being stuck on the doors and causing delays. Singapore partially lifted the ban in 2004 by allowing the sale of chewing gum used for health reasons, such as dental health gum, after the conclusion of a US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
Australian tourist Hazel Lane, 48, said keeping the ban on chewing gum was sure Singaporeans wouldn't want to spoil their "ridiculous" and she told AFP that she's own environment and their own image. Angel Wong, 34, a tourist from Hong Kong, however, welcomed the news. She said, "I come from a country that doesn't have the ban and there's always chewing gum all over the floor, To me the ban doesn't change my image of Singapore so it’s a good thing because it keeps the environment clean."
1. The ban on the import and sale of chewing gum was started in 1992 ______.
A. when people began to buy the gum everywhere
B. to bid to stop people sticking the gum in the public
C. because the gum delayed the subway
D. when the country was in a bid to show its city-state's clean image
2. What can we learn about the ban according to Maliki Osman?
A. The government will keep it ongoing forever.
B. It will lead to littering the chewing gum everywhere.
C. More and more concerns about the ban will make chewing gum out of control
D. Banning chewing gum is still one of the important jobs of the government now.
3. According to what Denise Phua said in paragraph 4, we can know that she ______.
A. would say yes to the ban
B. would think more about the ban again
C. would like the government to take the ban on second thought
D. argued that the ban should be cancelled
4. It can be inferred from the passage that ______.
A. whether the ban needs changing or not has become a problem to be discussed
B. Singapore's subway train system was delayed by chewing gum
C. chewing gum will soon be banned in many countries
D. only the ban has led to the friendly environment in Singapore
5. What's the main idea of the last paragraph?
A. There is such a ban in China and Australia.
B. Different people have their own ideas about the ban.
C. The ban is either welcomed by China or by Australia.
D. The ban does good to keep the environment clean.
科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
You may know the English letters A, B and C. But do you know there are people called ABC? You may like eating bananas. But did you know there is a “banana person”? How strange! Are these people from “another Earth”? No. They are just Chinese people like you and me.
ABC means American-Born Chinese. An ABC is a Chinese, but was born in the United States. Sometimes, people call an ABC a “banana person”. A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So, when a person is a banana, he or she is white inside—thinking like a Westerner and yellow outside—looking like a Chinese.
Do you know why? Usually, ABCs know little about China or the Chinese language. Some of them don’t speak Chinese.
But if ABCs cannot speak Chinese, can we still call them Chinese people? Yes, of course. They are Chinese. They are overseas Chinese. These people may be citizens(公民) of another country like the US, Canada or Singapore. But they have Chinese blood. Their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were from China. They all have black eyes and black hair.
But they are not Chinese citizens. They are not the people of the People’s Republic of China. For example, we all know the famous scientist C.N. Yang(楊振寧). He got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1957. The Chinese love him, but he is an American citizen.
What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. He wants to tell us something about “ABC”.
B. He wants to show that Chinese are well respected in America.
C. He wants to tell us some knowledge about the English language.
D. He wants to introduce the American culture to us.
Chinese in Western countries are called “banana persons” because ____.
A. their bodies are white inside but yellow outside
B. they think like Westerners but look like Chinese
C. they were born in China but go to study in America
D. they like to eat bananas
C.N. Yang is mentioned here to show that ____.
A. American Chinese are great. B. we love American Chinese
C. The Chinese can win Nobel Prizes D. American Chinese are not Chinese citizens
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
In 1957 a doctor in Singapore noticed that hospitals were treating an unusual number of influenzalike cases. Influenza is sometimes called “flu”or a “bad cold”. He took samples from the throats of patients in his hospital and was able to find the virus（病毒）of this influenza.
There are three main types of influenza virus. The most important of these are types A and B, each of them having several sub-groups（亞群）. At the hospital the doctor recognized that the outbreak was because of a virus group A, but he did not know the sub-group. He reported the outbreak to the World Health Organization in Geneva. W. H. O. published the important news together with reports of the same kind of outbreak in Hong Kong, where about 15％～20％ of the population had become ill.
As soon as the London doctors received the package of throat samples, they began to test them. They found that they could reproduce themselves at a very high speed. Continuing their careful tests, the doctor checked the effect of medicine used against all the known sub-groups of type A virus. On this virus, none of them was of any use.
Having separated the virus, the two doctors now made tests on some selected seleceted animals. In a short time the usual signs of the disease appeared. These experiments showed that the new virus spread easily, but that it was not a killer. Scientists, like the general public, called it simply “Asian flu”.
19. The Asian flu mentioned in the passage ____.
A. had something to do with a virus group B
B. was reported to W. H. O in Geneva by a doctor in Hong Kong
C. broke out not only in Singapore but also in Hong Kong
D. was taken from the throats of the patients in a hospital in Singapore
20. London doctors considered ____.
A. Asian flu as a bad cold
B. there were three main types of influenza
C. it was necessary to test the other groups of virus besides group A
D. the influenza called “Asian flu”a new one
21. The Singapore doctor helped the world by ____.
A. making those with Asian flu well again
B. killing the virus that caused Asian flu
C. finding the sub-group of the virus
D. reporting the outbreak of Geneva
22. The Asian flu virus ____.
A. was a killer
B. was very weak
C. could reproduce very quickly
D. died very fast
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科目：高中英語 來源： 題型：閱讀理解
There is a Web site called the “World Database of Happiness”. It combines and __1__ the results of hundreds of surveys from around the world that have been conducted on life __2__. Most of the findings are predictable, but a few are __3__.
The database makes it __4__ that there is not a strong connection between material wealth and general contentment. It is a cliche(陳詞濫調(diào)) to say that money __5__ buy happiness, but the old saying seems to be __6__ by research. Many people still cling to the belief that gaining riches will be the answer to all their problems, yet they are probably __7__.
Studies have been __8__ on people who acquired sudden wealth, such as lottery winners. In most cases, after the initial joy had __9__， people were not left with a sense of lasting happiness. In fact, they __10__ to return to the way they felt before they became rich.__11__ contented people continue to be contented，__12__ those who were miserable in the past sink back into misery.
If material wealth does not bring happiness, then __13__ does? Perhaps happiness has something to do with __14__ you live. The authorities at the World Database of Happiness have surveyed levels of happiness in different __15__. Apparently, people in America, Canada, and Singapore are very happy; people living in India and Russia, not surprisingly, are not happy.
Other surveys consistently point to the importance of relationships. Family relationships，__16__， seem to be the key to long－term contentment. The Web site suggests that __17__ in love and having children are two of the situations that bring the greatest happiness.
Nowadays people look to __18__ as an alternative source of satisfaction. People increasingly spend more time alone watching TV or surfing the Internet __19__ spending time with family. Can technology truly make people happy? It is too difficult to tell, but one thing is sure: If the Web site's research is __20__， time spent with your family is a better investment than time spent making money.
1. A. gamers B. analyzes C. uses D. collects
2. A. condition B. level C. style D. satisfaction
3. A. surprising B. exciting C. interesting D. annoying
4. A. actual B. true C. real D. clear
5. A. can B. may C. can't D. mustn't
6. A. supported B. carried C. satisfied D. served
7. A. correct B. mistaken C. foolish D. stupid
8. A. carried away B. carried on
C. carried off D. carried out
9. A. worn out B. cut off C. worn off D. cut out
10. A. intend B. tend C. desire D. want
11. A. Especially B. Previously
C. Actually D. Totally
12. A. then B. but C. so D. while
13. A. which B. who C. what D. when
14. A. space B. place C. where D. how
15. A. cites B. countries C. towns D. sections
16. A. in surprise B. in all
C. in fact D. in particular
17. A. dropping B. feeling C. falling D. stepping
18. A. entertainment B. information
C. technology D. study
19. A. other than B. more than
C. or rather D. rather than
20. A. reasonable B. simple
C. adequate D. accurate
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科目：高中英語 來源：2014屆福建省高一上學(xué)期期中考試英語試題 題型：閱讀理解
Some places in the world have strange laws. It’s important for you to know about them before going there.
People who like to chew gum(口香糖) may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum.
Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you’d better make sure you aren’t visiting during Ramadan(齋月). During that time you aren’t allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public.
Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law — no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations – is rather old, and isn’t in use today in France.
In Thailand it’s against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke -- the local police will stop you.
Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100.
Do you often buy things using coins? Don’t do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn’t allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited (受限制的). The shop owner has the right to choose whether to take your coins or not.
Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry.
1.What is mainly talked about in the text?
A. How to make your trip around the world safe.
B. Why there are strange laws in the world.
C. Some strange laws you should know about for your trip.
D. interesting places you can go to around the world.
2.If you are driving a car in Thailand, _____.
A. the police will play a joke on you
B. you should wear your shirt even though it’s hot
C. the police will give you tickets costing about $10
D. you should always keep your headlights on
3. What can we learn from the text?
A. The Singaporean government cares a lot about its environment.
B. Kissing goodbye at train stations isn’t allowed in France today.
C. Tourists in the United Arab Emirates shouldn’t eat in public.
D. You can turn your headlights off in daytime in Denmark.
4.What do we know about the strange law in Canada?
A. It is a newly invented law. B. You aren’t allowed to use dollar-coins.
C. You will be fined if you use coins. D. Shop owners can decide if you can use coins.
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科目：高中英語 來源：2014屆浙江省溫州市高一第一次月考英語題 題型：閱讀理解
You may know the English letters A, B and C. But do you know there are people called ABC? You may like eating bananas. But did you know there is a “banana person”? How strange! Are these people from “another Earth”? No. They are just Chinese people like you and me.
ABC means American-Born Chinese. An ABC is a Chinese, but was born in the United States. Sometimes, people call an ABC a “banana person”. A banana is yellow outside and white inside. So, when a person is a banana, he or she is white inside—thinking like a Westerner and yellow outside—looking like a Chinese.
Do you know why? Usually, ABCs know little about China or the Chinese language. Some of them don’t speak Chinese.
But if ABCs cannot speak Chinese, can we still call them Chinese people? Yes, of course. They are Chinese. They are overseas (海外) Chinese. These people may be citizens(公民) of another country like the US, Canada or Singapore. But they have Chinese blood. Their parents, grandparents or even great-grandparents were from China. They all have black eyes and black hair.
But they are not Chinese citizens. They are not the people of the People’s Republic of China. For example, we all know the famous scientist C.N. Yang(楊振寧). He got the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1957. The Chinese love him, but he is an American citizen.
1.What’s the author’s purpose in writing this passage?
A. He wants to tell us something about “ABC”.
B. He wants to show that Chinese are well respected in America.
C. He wants to tell us some knowledge about the English language.
D. He wants to introduce the American culture to us.
2.Chinese in Western countries are called “banana persons” because ____.
A. their bodies are white inside but yellow outside
B. they think like Westerners but look like Chinese
C. they were born in China but go to study in America
D. they like to eat bananas
3. C.N. Yang is mentioned here to show that ____.
A. American Chinese are great. B. we love American Chinese
C. The Chinese can win Nobel Prizes D. American Chinese are not Chinese citizens
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