Flying has shrunk the world! It’s now possible to travel around the globe quickly and easily. Jumping on a plane and jetting off on holiday or a business trip is the norm for many of us, and with the rise of budget airlines, the number of people taking to the skies is increasing. But while air travel is costing us less, the cost to the environment is going up.
Climate change is something we’re all aware of now, and aviation companies know that some of the blame for this is being pointed at them. Last year airlines were forecasted to use about 97bn gallons of jet fuel.
But while we could think twice about taking a flight in the first place, particularly a short trip that could be made by train, technology might be the answer to reducing emissions and minimising the environmental damage.
Recent developments have focused on reducing the amount of fuel airliners(大型客机) burn. Making flying green and sustainable was the hot topic at the recent Dubai Air Show. There was talk of advances in engine technology, making them more efficient, and possibly using biofuel to power aircraft.
Rios Galvan, a bioenergy expert and professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, told the BBC that “these have the capacity to reduce the carbon footprint anywhere between 50-80 percent when you compare them to fuels.”
And Phil Curnock, chief engineer of the civil future programme at Rolls-Royce, also suggested that electric hybrid engines (混合动力发动机) could play a part for smaller aircraft, covering shorter distances. He says “it offers the possibility of a carbon-neutral flight for a limited range.”
Of course, aircraft manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to make their planes more fuel efficient. Boeing’s Dreamliner, for example, is already in operation and uses 25 percent less fuel per passenger compared with aircraft of a similar size. Other improvements include better aircraft aerodynamics (空气动力学), changes to ways aircraft taxi (滑行) on runways, and the use of lighter materials.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 1?| A．The earth gets smaller. |
| B．Budget airlines become popular. |
| C．Flying is favorite among passengers. |
| D．Air travel can do harm to environment. |
| A．Lowering. | B．Consolidating. |
| C．Weakening. | D．Increasing |
| A．Boeing’s Dreamliner is a green aircraft. |
| B．Biofuel is a necessity to power airliners. |
| C．Electric hybrid engines have their limitations. |
| D．Ways will be found to reduce fuel consumption. |
| A．By bettering runways. | B．By making smaller aircrafts. |
| C．By using the lighter materials. | D．By using aircraft aerodynamics. |
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【推荐1】We have learned to expect that trains will be punctual. After years of conditioning (习惯), most of us have developed an unshakable faith in railway timetables. Ships may be delayed by storms; flights may be cancelled because of bad weather; but trains must be on time. Only an exceptionally heavy snowfall might temporarily dislocate railway services. It is all too easy to blame the railway authorities when something does go wrong. The truth is that when mistakes occur, they are more likely to be ours than theirs.
After consulting my railway timetable, I noted with satisfaction that there was an express train to Westhaven. It went direct from my local station and the journey lasted a mere hour and seventeen minutes. When I boarded the train, I could not help noticing that a great many local people got on as well. At the time, this didn’t strike me as odd. I reflected that there must be a great many people besides myself who wished to take advantage of this excellent service. Neither was I surprised when the train stopped at Widley, a tiny station a few miles along the line. Even a mighty express train can be held up by signals. But when the train dawdled (慢吞吞地动) at station after station, I began to wonder. It suddenly dawned on me that this express was not roaring down the line at ninety miles an hour, but barely chugging (咔嚓咔嚓地响) along at thirty. One hour and seventeen minutes passed and we had not even covered half the distance. I asked a passenger if this was the Westhaven Express, but he had not even heard of it. I determined to lodge a complaint as soon as we arrived. Two hours later, I was talking angrily to the station master at Westhaven. When he denied the train’s existence, I borrowed his copy of the timetable. There was a note of triumph (胜利) in my voice when I told him that it was there in black and white. Glancing at it briefly, he told me to look again. A tiny asterisk (星号) conducted me to a footnote at the bottom of the page. It said: “This service has been suspended.”
1. What is most people’s faith in trains?| A．They rarely fail us in their punctuality . |
| B．They trick passengers for various reasons. |
| C．They are just as reliable as ships and flights. |
| D．They never come up to our expectations. |
| A．I wasn’t interested. | B．I wasn’t surprised. |
| C．I was quite annoyed. | D．I was deeply impressed. |
| A．Pleasant. | B．Rewarding. |
| C．Thrilling. | D．Disappointing. |
| A．The railway authorities. | B．The author himself. |
| C．The railway timetable. | D．The station master. |
【推荐2】Do flying cars only exist in dreams of a far-off future? Well, the future may be closer than you think. Let’s take a look at some modes of transport that we could be using in the future.
Flying taxi
Slovakian engineering company AeroMobil has designed the world’s first 4-seater flying taxi. AeroMobil’s AM Next is a hybrid(混合物) —half supercar, half lightweight aircraft. It’s able to transform between the two modes of transport in fewer than 3 minutes as its wings move into the appropriate positions. It is expected to be released in 2027 and will be able to fly a distance of up to 500 miles (about 800 kilometers) between major cities.
Gyroscopic transport
Gyroscopic transport is a revolutionary new mode of transport that is being planned. It is the use of large pods supported by flexible legs that transport passengers over existing roads. These legs can adjust their length according to traffic demands and to allow passengers to board. One of the best elements of this mode of transport is that it can operate over existing infrastructure(基础设施) .
Hyperloop
Hyperloop has created a lot of excitement recently and received backing from many influential people in the tech world. Elon Musk, CEO of Space X, is one of the main advocates of the hyperloop. He has argued it could ease traffic in Los Angeles, US. The hyperloop is a high-speed public transportation system in which passengers travel in autonomous electric pods at about 965 kilometers per hour. Virgin Hyperloop, a US transport technology company, conducted its first human trials of a hyperloop system in November 2020.
1. What do we know about AeroMobil’s AM Next?| A．It will be the world’s first flying car. |
| B．It could be in use in just 2 years’ time. |
| C．It can fly a maximum of 800 miles each trip. |
| D．It can switch between modes within 3 minutes. |
| A．It can travel either above or below ground. |
| B．It can travel independent of traffic flow on the roads. |
| C．It’s quicker and cheaper to build than other vehicles. |
| D．It can hold more passengers than other forms of transport. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Worried. | C．Critical. | D．Positive. |
Plan to get to the airport at least an hour early, or two during holidays and other busy times; this will reduce the stress of the flight. If all goes well, you will have time to relax, shop for last-minute items, or have a meal before the flight.
Flight Delays
Find out why your flight is delayed. Call the free call numbers. Find out if other airlines are experiencing similar delays. If you believe the delay is due to something other than weather or air traffic problems, then mention your suspicion （怀疑） and ask the airline agent to book you on the next available flight, either on the same air-line or a competing one. This is called "Rule 240", and all airlines are required to do it. Use the lingo （行话）; ask, "Can you 240 me?" when speaking with an agent. They will know what you mean.
Flight Cancellations （取消）
If your flight is canceled, then make a reservation on the next flight to your destination（目的地）. Usually, air-line officials will try to book everyone on their next flight out. Often they will put you on a competitor's next flight only if you request it. If on-time arrival is important to you, when you check flights through our reservation system you can make your choices based on their on-time arrival records. Be sure to also check the weather conditions, as they often affect flight schedules.
Getting bumped （不能登机）
To avoid getting bumped, you must be at the loading gate at least 10 minutes ahead of scheduled departure（离开） for a U.S. Flight, 20 minutes to /from Bahamas, Canada, and Mexico and 30 to/ from all other international points. You must be at the loading gate, not the airport entrance.
1. By arriving at the airport earlier, one can _______.
| A．get on the airplane immediately |
| B．reduce the pressure of the flight |
| C．have a good rest in the airplane |
| D．buy what he wants in the airport |
| A．make sure the time for the next plane |
| B．get a ticket for the next flight |
| C．know if other flights are also delayed |
| D．ask about the reason for the plane delay |
| A．arrive at your destination on time |
| B．be put on a competitor’s flight |
| C．make sure the weather is quite fine |
| D．reserve the next flight to your destination |
| A．40 minutes ahead of time. |
| B．30 minutes ahead of time. |
| C．20 minutes ahead of time. |
| D．10 minutes ahead of time. |
【推荐1】It is a big job to take away a city’s rubbish. Most rubbish is made up of things we can’t eat or use. If we kept these things, we would soon have mountains of rubbish.
In some cities the rubbish is collected and taken outside of the city to a dump. Often the city dump is placed where the ground is low or there is a big hole. The kitchen rubbish is broken into small pieces and sent into the sewage system. The sewage system takes away the used water from toilets, bathrooms and other places.
To keep mice and flies away, some earth is used to cover the newly dumped rubbish. Later, grass may be planted on the rubbish-filled land. Finally, a house or a school may be built there, and then you’d never know that this was an old rubbish dump before.
In other cities the rubbish is burnt in special places. The fire burns everything but the metal. Sometimes the metal can be used again in factories where things are made of metal. The food parts of rubbish are put in special piles where they slowly changes into something called humus, which looks like black earth. It is rich with kinds of things that feed plants and help to make them grow.
1. The best title of the passage is .| A．Need of Rubbish Collection |
| B．Different Ways to Treat Rubbish |
| C．Reuse Rubbish |
| D．Rubbish, a Big Job |
| A．health | B．pollution | C．washing | D．rubbish |
| A．a history book | B．a TV guide | C．a science book | D．a telephone book |
【推荐2】Universities are doing everything they can to become a green campus. But there are also items students can do to make your campus more eco-friendly.
Recycle everything, especially paper!
There is a large amount of paper a college student goes through every term.
Buy green.
Walk and bike to school.
Most campuses, especially those that are trying to become a more eco-friendly campus,have pretty good public transit (公共交通系统).
A water bottle can be refilled at any water fountain and can easily be drunk in class or while riding a bike. This will protect the environment by decreasing the amount of plastic waste on your campus.
Buy used clothing.
It is usually thought of as something to do to save money.
| A．Carry a water bottle. |
| B．It is also good for the environment! |
| C．Buy as many recycled products as possible. |
| D．Paper made of this kind of wood is much stronger. |
| E．On top of that, almost all universities are pedestrian (步行者) friendly. |
| F．It includes class notes, term papers, student newspapers and so on. |
| G．Universities call on all the students to learn to recycle all the waste paper. |
【推荐3】Farming is destroying the planet. But there could be a much more environmentally friendly way to feed ourselves: using renewable energy to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) into food.
“This is becoming a reality,” says Pasi Vainikka at Solar Foods. The company is building the first commercial-scale factory, near Helsinki in Finland, which will be able to make food directly from CO2.
At the factory, renewable electricity will be used to break down water to produce hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen will be added to large containers, where the bacteria grow, along with CO2 and ammonia(NH3) to provide carbon and nitrogen separately. Some of the CO2 will be taken directly from the air at a visitors’ centre at the factory, Vainikka says, and the rest will come from industrial sources. The end result will be a yellow powder called Solein that is made of bacterial cells and is up to 70 per cent protein. It can be used as an ingredient in all kinds of foods, from meat alternatives to grains and snacks. “We are aiming at replacing animal-sourced proteins, which we think have the highest environmental impact,” says Vainikka.
Solein was approved as a food ingredient in Singapore in October 2022, and Solar Foods is awaiting approval in the UK, the European Union and the US.
Compared with plant crops, Solein will use 100 times less water per kilogram of protein produced, 20 times less land—including the land used for energy production—and produce a fifth as much CO2, according to Solar Foods. Compared with beef, a kilogram of protein can be produced using 600 times less water and 200 times less land, again counting the land used for energy production, while producing 200 times less CO2, says the company.
There are other benefits, too: factories could be situated anywhere in the world and production won’t be affected by weather extremes. “With Solar Foods and other companies scaling up(扩大) their systems, this is truly stepping in a new age of agriculture,” says Dorian Leger at Connectomix Bio in Germany.
1. What can we learn about Solein from paragraph 3?| A．It was used as feed for animals at first. | B．Up to 70 per cent of it can be recycled. |
| C．It is made from hydrogen and oxygen. | D．It can be applied to food production. |
| A．It uses 600 times less land than beef. | B．It produces 200 times less CO2 than beef. |
| C．It uses 200 times less water than plant crops. | D．It produces 100 times less CO2 than plant crops. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．CO2 can be recycled to stimulate local economy |
| B．New food strategy reduces big questions on health |
| C．A factory will start making green food from air and electricity |
| D．Campaigners recommend ways to reduce climate impact of farming |
【推荐1】Scientists at the University of Massachusetts(UMass) announced recently that they have worked out how to design a biofilm (生物膜) that collects the energy in evaporation (蒸发) and changes it to electricity. This biofilm, which was announced in Nature, has the ability to change the world of wearable electronics, powering everything from personal medical sensors (感应器) to personal electronics.
“This is a very impressive technology,” says Li Xiumeng, a graduate student in electrical and computer energy, “and unlike other so-called ‘green-energy’ sources, its production is absolutely green.”
That is because this biofilm—which is a sheet of bacterial cells (细菌细胞) and as thin as a sheet of paper—is produced naturally by an improved version of the bacterium Geo. Geo is known to produce electricity and has been used before in “microbial batteries” to power electrical equipment. But such batteries require that Geo be properly cared for and fed a continuous diet. By contrast, this new biofilm, which can supply as much energy as a battery of the similar size, works continuously, because it is dead. And because it is dead, it doesn’t need to be fed.
The secret behind this new biofilm is that it makes energy from the moisture (水分) on your skin. While we daily read stories about solar power (太阳能), at least 50%of the solar energy reaching the earth goes toward evaporating water. “This is a huge, undiscovered source of energy,” says Ye Xun, professor of electrical and computer engineering at UMass, and the paper’s one senior author. Since the surface of our skin is always wet with sweat, the biofilm can make use of it and change the energy locked in evaporation into enough energy to power small equipment. “Our next step is to increase the size of our film to power more smarter wearable electronics,” says Ye, and Li points out that one of the goals is to power entire electronic systems, rather than single equipment.
1. Which can biofilm do according to Paragraph 1?| A．Invent wearable electronics. | B．Get power from evaporation. |
| C．Supply energy to microbial batteries. | D．Produce more electricity than before. |
| A．it is relatively thinner | B．it is environmentally friendly |
| C．it applies a rare energy source | D．it decreases the cost in usage |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Bright. | C．Unclear. | D．Harmful. |
| A．To introduce us to a new biofilm. |
| B．To describe the disadvantages of the biofilm. |
| C．To compare the new biofilm with others. |
| D．To change people’s view on the new biofilm. |
【推荐2】Sunscreen protects our skin from sunburn. But did you know that it is harmful to coral living in the ocean?
Some chemicals in sunscreen, such as benzophenone, can kill coral. Every year, about 4,000 to 6,000 tons of sunscreen will flow into coral areas, according to the US National Park Service.
About one and a half years ago, Zhang Baoxin, 17, who studies at Guangdong Experimental High School, read about this in an article. Then she had an idea — to make an environmentally friendly sunscreen to protect the marine environment.
To make this happen, Zhang read lots of literature and then put forward a new formula. She mixed natural plant oils with safe and commonly — used sunscreen ingredients, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide powder. She tested about 10 kinds of plant oils, including jojoba oil and coconut oil, to figure out whether they can take in sunlight. She then used a microscope to find out if the oil could be mixed with the powder. After trying about 20 formulas, Zhang found a jojoba oil formula that is effective, cheap and easy to make.
Zhang wrote a paper to explain her findings with her experimental process and data. The project made Zhang a nominee of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, an award to celebrate teenagers who help solve major water challenges. She was the only nominee from the Chinese mainland in 2020.
After this successful experiment, Zhang made some samples and printed out flyers for her new formula. She gave them out to people at swimming pools and water parks. “With my formula, anyone can make sunscreen at home. You just need a blender to mix the oil and the powder,” she said.
Zhang wants to study environmental science in college. “I want to use my knowledge to make a better world,” she said.
1. What probably inspired Zhang to make a new kind of sunscreen?| A．Her desire to protect the species in the sea. |
| B．Her wish to study environmental science. |
| C．A book published by the US National Park Service. |
| D．A project at Guangdong Experimental High School. |
| A．Features of the new sunscreen Zhang made. | B．Differences between different ingredients. |
| C．The process of developing the new sunscreen. | D．Difficulties Zhang met inventing new sunscreen. |
| A．She was accepted into a famous university. | B．She won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. |
| C．She popularized the way to make the sunscreen. | D．She continued to improve her sunscreen. |
| A．Curious and cheerful. | B．Helpful and sociable. |
| C．Diligent and cautious. | D．Creative and responsible. |
【推荐3】Queen Elizabeth II in her Christmas Day message shared the pain she felt after the death of her husband as she encouraged people everywhere to celebrate with friends and family, despite the grief caused by a pandemic(流行病) now stretching into its second year.
Saying she understood the difficulty of spending the holiday season “with one familiar laugh missing,” the queen delivered her address beside a photograph of Prince Philip, who died in April at age 99. “Although it’s a time of great happiness and good cheer for many, Christmas can be hard for those who have lost loved ones,” the queen said in the prerecorded message broadcast when many British families were enjoying their traditional Christmas dinner. “This year, especially, I understand why.” She added the country still has the great future.
Despite her own loss, the queen said her family was a “source of great happiness”, noting that she had welcomed four great-grandchildren this year. “While COVID again means we can’t celebrate quite as we may have wished, we can still enjoy the many happy things, be it the singing of carols—as long as the tune is well known—decorating the tree, giving and receiving presents or watching a favorite film where we already know the ending,” she said. “It’s no surprise that families so often treasure their Christmas routines.”
As the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant(新冠病毒变种奥密克戎) spreads rapidly across the U.K., the 95-year-old queen has decided not to spend Christmas at Sandringham, the royal estate in eastern England where she traditionally spends the festive season with family. The palace said Monday that the queen would spend the holidays at Windsor Castle, west of London, where she has remained throughout most of the pandemic.
1. Who does “one familiar laugh ” in the text refer to?| A．Prince Philip. | B．Prince Charles. |
| C．A friend of the queen. | D．A great- grandchild of the queen. |
| A．Delighted but anxious. | B．Confident but upset. |
| C．Painful but hopeful. | D．Helpless but calm. |
| A．It is considered as a treasure. | B．It is their tradition to do so. |
| C．It is familiar to British people. | D．It is a famous film around the country. |
| A．At Sandringham. | B．At Windsor Castle. |
| C．In Southern England. | D．In East of London. |
【推荐1】On the roof of an apartment building in one of Gaza’s most crowded cities live two baby lions. One is male, the other female. They walk among the water tanks and eat chicken for food. Children play with the animals and some take selfies (自拍) with them. The baby lions have become pets for a 27-year-old bakery owner Naseem Abu Jamea. They have become popular playthings for many people in the neighborhood.
However, as children in his family and from the neighborhood played with the animals, Abu Jamea had little concern about the risks. “When you raise them as babies”, he said,“a harmony will grow between both of you.” This harmony, he added, would keep the lions from hurting him and others.
Abu Jamea said he got the baby lions from a local zoo but would not give more details. He did, however, share a dream of his.“It is my hobby. I was attached to them and I love to have them,” he said. He added he hopes one day to have his own zoo.
One animal doctor, Amir Khalil, has a different opinion. He has led several trips to Gaza with the animal welfare organization Four Paws to rescue mistreated zoo animals. “I advise the Gaza authorities to take away those lions,” he said. “At the age of six months a lion becomes more dangerous as his size gets bigger and his muscles become stronger.” Khalil also fears for the baby lions’ own welfare. He said lions raised in a home may not get the food and medical care they need. This could result in long-term health problems, especially difficulties with muscles, joints, and bones.
During the COVID-19 outbreak, zoos in Gaza have experienced a drop in the number of visitors. Without paying visitors, they are struggling to feed and care for the animals. Hassan Azzam is an official with Gaza’s agriculture ministry. When asked about the baby lions, he said the ministry does not know about any public objections to the animals. But he said the ministry would investigate.
1. What is known about the baby lions from the text?| A．They are taken good care of. |
| B．They are of opposite sexes. |
| C．Their lives are in danger. |
| D．They enjoy life with people. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Upset. | C．Suspicious. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．The two baby lions being kept as pets. |
| B．The two baby lions being taken away. |
| C．The two baby lions being mistreated in the zoo. |
| D．The two baby lions living in harmony with humans. |
| A．Provide financial assistance for the local zoos. |
| B．Require the zoo to take back the baby lions. |
| C．Make a survey about the local citizens’ reactions. |
| D．Publish a statement to express their sorry and concern. |
【推荐2】Citizen Science is a term used to describe non-specialist research and data collection carried out by private individuals, foundations and organizations using the power of the Internet to cooperate around the globe. Here we offer some remarkable examples of programs.
Rozalia Project
The Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean is devoted to connecting people of all ages to their underwater world, to inspire them to be part of the plastic pollution solution by using underwater robots and sonar（声呐）as well as nets to locate and remove marine debris（废弃物）. Rosalia Project is committed to accurate data collection and working with sailors, fishermen, boaters, concerned citizens, schools, authorities and more to clean up and progress solutions to the marine debris crisis.
Surfrider Foundation
Among its many citizen science initiatives, Surfrider has a chapter-run program called the Blue Water Task Force, a water testing program designed specifically to fill in the data gaps left by agency programs to help with resource distribution in areas with the biggest concerns for public health risk. The Blue Water Task Force citizen science program tests approximately 25 surf spots and streams that discharge onto popular recreation sites.
Hearts in the Ice
Hearts in the Ice is an innovative（创新的）project launched in 2018 that will create global dialogue and social engagement around climate change in the Polar Regions. In August of 2019, citizen scientists Hilde Falun Strom and Sunniva Sorby moved into a 20-square-meter cabin（小屋）known as Bamsebu. The goal of the project is to show rapid climate change and what we can do to reduce the effects. Life at Bamsebu was broadcast and published via Iridium satellite through social media to scientists, school children, adventures, and interested citizen from around the world.
1. For what purpose is Rozalia Project launched?| A．To help people live a green life | B．To warn people of climate change |
| C．To deal with ocean plastic pollution | D．To inform people of the underwater world |
| A．Rozalia Project | B．Surfrider Foundation |
| C．Blue Water Task Force | D．Hearts in the Ice |
| A．They are all state-funded projects | B．They help to improve public health |
| C．They mainly focus on marine life protection | D．They contribute to environmental protection |
【推荐3】Katie always wanted to be a performer. She, the youngest of, the three kids from Cleveland, was crazy about musicals and Disney movies from an early age and would often watch them singing with her mom, Karen. However, Katie’s happy childhood took a turn when her mother was diagnosed(诊断)with cancer. When the doctor informed the family that Karen’s disease was terminal, they decided to make a trip to Disney World.
The family spared no expense for their once-in-a-lifetime vacation and stayed at Disney’s hotel for eight nights. They spent their days in the parks, seeing the sights, greening characters, all the while pushing Karen in her wheelchair and watching her face light up with joy. They all shared in the merriment of experiencing the parks for the first time with Karen. The trip to Disney World at the height of Karen’s battle with cancer slowed them to escape into a world of magic and laughter. This was the day Katie decided she wanted to work for Disney.
Sadly, Karen lost the battle and died later, but the whole family remembered her every day and often thought of that Disney vacation Katie went on to go after her dream. After she received her degree in musical theater, she struggled for years, working as a waitress and trying to be a performer. Her hard work finally paid off when she was hired to work for Disney.
As a Disney performer, Katie is aware that many other families visit the parks and have similar stories to her own. She encourages everyone, especially children, who may be experiencing a hard time. “Every moment -is meant for you, even the painful ones.” she says. “It’s just like in your favorite Disney movie: There is always some kind of conflict or hardship or pressure. Remember to celebrate those moments, too, because they are taking you to whatever your version of a happy ending is.”
1. What made Katie decide to work for Disney?| A．The dream that she wanted to live a lire full magic. |
| B．The memory that she watched Disney movies as a kid. |
| C．The great joy the Disney vacation brought to her family. |
| D．The great courage her mother showed in fighting cancer. |
| A．Kind and curious. | B．Patient and helpful. |
| C．Strict and independent. | D．Tough and determined. |
| A．Sweet is pleasure after pain. | B．Experience must be bought. |
| C．Many drops make a shower. | D．Good medicine tastes bitter. |
