blocking out the sun, blowing out dangerous smoke, and letting out poisonous chemicals into rivers, cars producing harmful waste gas, people throwing out waste in a wrong way and all other kinds of sources that ruin the planet.Facing current environmental problems, people need to do their best to save the earth.

　　You can see many big garbage dustbins in the streets.They're not there for a show, but for you to drop your waste.We should realize that what we do does count.So next time you get that urge to throw gum or a chocolate package out of the car window, or "accidentally" drop as you walk down the street, ask yourself how much waste you've been contributing to the environment with that bad habit going on for years.

　　At home, the first thing we can do to protect the environment is avoid letting water run continuously and make sure that taps(水龙头) are not leaky(漏的), which would help greatly in scrimping(节省)．Another is to use energy­saving lights, and turn them off before you leave the rooms.It is not only energy­saving, but also cuts down electricity costs.

　　Recycling is a method to make items reusable.Many things you want to throw out can be made into new products through the reproducing process.Use your imagination to come up with ways on things that you can use again.

　　Pass the message of simple ways to save the environment on to kids.Starting with kids is a good way of teaching the message early in their lives, in the hope that they can carry it forward as they grow older.

　　With environmental protection awareness in mind, we can do what we can, for the results are to have a big effect on the planet.As long as we do our part, the world is one small step closer to being saved.

　　【解题导语】　本文介绍了一些如何保护环境的方法。

1．In the first paragraph the author uses "steel monsters" to describe________．

A．huge buildings

B．high mountains

C．big factories

D．characters in fairy stories

C　解析：词义猜测题。根据画线词后的"blocking out the sun, blowing out dangerous smoke, and letting out poisonous chemicals into rivers"可知，steel monsters遮挡太阳、排出有害气体并将有毒的化学物质排入河流，由此可知，steel monsters指的就是大工厂，故C项正确。

2．From the fifth paragraph, we can know that ________．

A．protecting the environment begins with small chores

B．protecting the environment should start from childhood.

C．wonderful life comes from environmental protection

D．protecting the environment benefits the country and the people