A separate bill by Los Angeles-area Senator Gloria Romero would require high-tech manufacturers to develop programs to recycle so-called e-waste.
If passed, the measures would put California at the forefront of national efforts to manage the refuse of the electronic age.
But high-tech groups, including the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group and the American Electronics Association, oppose the measures, arguing that fees of up to $30 will drive consumers to online, out-of-state retailers.
"What really needs to occur is consumer education. Most consumers are unaware they're not supposed to throw computers in the trash," said Roxanne Gould, vice president of government relations for the electronics association.
Computer recycling should be a local effort and part of residential waste collection programs, she added.
Recycling electronic waste is a dangerous and specialized matter, and environmentalists maintain the state must support recycling efforts and ensure that the job isn't contracted to unscrupulous ( 毫无顾忌的 ) junk dealers who send the toxic parts overseas.
"The graveyard of the high-tech revolution is ending up in rural China," said Ted Smith, director of the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. His group is pushing for an amendment to Sher's bill that would prevent the export of e-waste.
36. What step were Bay Area officials going to take regarding e-waste disposal.'?
A) Rally support to pass the stalled bills.
B) Lobby the lawmakers of the California Assembly.
C) Lay down relevant local regulations themselves.
D) Exert pressure on manufacturers of electronic devices.
37. The two bills stalled in the California Assembly both concern ________.
A) the reprocessing of the huge amounts of electronic waste in the state
B) regulations on dumping hazardous substances into landfills
C) the funding of local initiatives to reuse electronic trash
D) the sale of used electronic devices to foreign countries
38. Consumers are not supposed to throw used computers in the trash because __.
A) this is banned by the California government
B) some parts may be recycled for use elsewhere
C) unscrupulous dealers will retrieve them for profit
D) they contain large amounts of harmful substances
39. High-tech groups believe that if an extra $30 is charged on every TV or computer purchased in California, consumers will _______.
A) hesitate to upgrade their computers
B) abandon online shopping
C) buy them from other states
D) strongly protest against such a charge
40. We learn from the passage that much of California's electronic waste has been _
A) dumped into local landfills
B) exported to foreign countries
C) collected by non-profit agencies
D) recycled by computer manufacturers
Part III Vocabulary (20 minutes)
Directions: There are 30 incomplete sentences in this part. For each sentence there are four choices marked A), B), C) and D). Choose the ONE answer that best completes the sentence. Then mark the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet with a single line through the centre.
41. She gave ________ directions about the way the rug should be cleaned.
A) brisk B) opaque
C) explicit D) transient
42. He had an almost irresistible ________ to talk to the crowd when he entered Hyde Park.
A) surge
B) impulse
C) stimulation
D) instinct
43. She expressed her strong determination that nothing could ________ her to give up her career as a teacher.
A) reduce
B) deduce
C) attract
D) induce
44. By turning this knob to the right you can ________ the sound from the radio.
A) enlarge
B) amplify
C) reinforce
D) intensify
45. A ________ official is one who is irresponsible in his work.
A) slack
B) tedious
C) timid
D) suspicious
46. One witness ________ that he'd seen the suspect run out of the bank after it had been robbed.
