C

Strange Baby-Naming Laws

Germany 

Parents are banned by law from using last names and the names of objects and products as first names. A child’s first name must clearly show his or her sex, and all names must be approved by the office of vital statistics(人口統(tǒng)計(jì)) in the area in which the child was born.

Iceland 

The country’s naming committee consults the National Register of Persons to determine if a name is acceptable. If parents prefer a name which is not on the list, they must apply for approval and pay a fee, and the name must contain only letters in the Icelandic alphabet.

New Zealand 

The country’s Births, Deaths, and Marriages Registration Act of 1995 doesn’t allow parents to choose a name that “might cause offense to a reasonable person; is unreasonably long; or is, includes, or is similar to an official title or rank,” including, apparently, Adolf Hitler and Yeah Detroit—both names recently rejected.

Denmark 

If Danish parents prefer a name not on the list of 7,000 preapproved baby names, they must get permission from local church and government officials. 15 to 20 percent of the 1,100 reviewed names—including creative spellings of common names, last names as first names, and unusual names—are rejected each year.

28. You can tell whether a baby is a girl or a boy according to the first name in ________.

A. Germany  B. New Zealand C. Iceland D. Denmark

29. In Iceland, the names should ________.

A. be on the name list without exception

B. be paid a large amount of money for

C. contain only letters in the Roman alphabet

D. be accepted by the National Register of Persons

30. In New Zealand the naming law ________.

A. used to forbid the use of the name of Adolf Hitler

B. allows names similar to an official title or rank

C. is considerate as to how other people feel about the names

D. doesn’t allow using last names as first names

31. It can be learned from the text that ________.

A. each year about 160-220 reviewed names are rejected in Denmark 

B. babies’ names should be allowed by the office of vital statistics in Iceland 

C. Adolf Hitler is a name that is banned in all the European countries

D. parents must give up babies’ names if the names are not on the list in Ireland

D

On October 11, NASCAR announced the car of tomorrow after a seven-year design program. People used to believe that science would promise a future of endless spare time and very cheap electricity. Nowadays the scientists’ predictions are a great deal less optimistic: the world is challenged by climate change and decreasing resources. 

In fact, the car of tomorrow is a symbol of hope. The emission of carbon dioxide has contributed to global warming, but the car producers are waking up to their responsibilities. Investment in new technology to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental damage is not only improving the car industry’s act but also setting an example to other industries. 

It is said that most cars of today run about 15 percent efficiency, which does highlight the potential for improvement. Get it right, and we could continue to enjoy the freedom that comes with owning a car, without the worries. 

Of course, many advances have already been made. There’s evidence that the public is eager to buy cleaner and greener cars. And with petrol prices increasing there is no doubt that the cars with economical, efficient engines are going to be in great demand. 

The good news is that we can all drive the car of tomorrow today, without having to worry about the purchase cost. By choosing our holiday hired cars wisely we can cut down on our fuel costs and experience an eco-friendly drive. Hire a green car and you’ll make a difference to the environment. 

Designers will always enjoy catching our imagination with “concept cars” that look more like miniature(微型) spaceships than anything you see on the highway. Whether these creations will eventually become family cars remains to be seen. However, for the moment, there’s no doubt at all what the car of tomorrow will be, and it’s here today: something familiar and friendly that does its job with considerably less trouble and much greater efficiency than the car of yesterday. 

32. The writer of the text intends to ________. 

A. suggest   B. inform C. approve D. instruct

33. According to the text, people’s present worry about developing the car industry is that ________. 

A. the production is beyond its need B. it’s not environmentally friendly

C. the competition is very fierce D. the economic situation affects it a lot

34. It can be learned from the fourth paragraph that ________. 

A. fewer cars will be produced in the future

B. new cars cost less to maintain 

C. cleaner and greener cars are in great demand

D. no measures have been taken to improve car quality 

35. What is the author’s attitude towards the cars of tomorrow?

A. Indifferent.    B. Negative.    C. Doubtful.   D. Supportive.
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