Tired of seeing so much garbage along the bank of River Schie in Rotterdam, Dutch artist Tommy Kleyn decided to step up and do something about it. He alone organized a cleanup of the entire bank without leaving any garbage, proving that anyone can indeed make a difference if they want to.
Kleyn would cycle past a part of the Rotterdam riverway and see so much garbage along the bank. The situation troubled him, so he decided to spend 30 minutes every day cleaning the place up, filling one garbage bag a time. And when he posted pictures of his work on Facebook, a few of his friends volunteered to join as well. In five weeks, they had a 100-meter riverbank clean and completely rubbish-free.
Kleyn's action has received great support online, and he has managed to turn it into a small movement. He has set up a Facebook page through which he challenges people to spend 30 minutes a year to fill a garbage bag with rubbish. "It feels great and you'll make a big difference," he wrote. "People are free to share their 'before' and 'after' pictures on the page. The challenge has attracted people in countries. The people came from as far as China to respond with their own photos and stories!"
"I want to show how easy it is to remove rubbish," he added. "Hopefully there will come a time when makers are thoughtful and their goods are no longer wrapped in layers of plastic."
Local officials praised Kleyn's work on the riverbank and helped him raise money for future projects as well. "People can sign up to help me one day a year. For this, they received a coupon, like going to a local restaurant at the lowest price. You can imagine what I've managed to do in 22 days, and what 22 men could do in a day." he said.
1. What happened after Kleyn posted pictures of his work on Facebook?| A．Some of his friends were forced to join him. |
| B．The whole riverbank was completely rubbish-free. |
| C．His pictures received little attention from foreigners. |
| D．His work on the bank of River Schie started to pay off. |
| A．It has influenced many people. | B．It is opposed by local officials. |
| C．It is difficult for Chinese to accept. | D．It has made people stop using layers of plastic. |
| A．collecting rubbish bags | B．taking pictures of River Schie |
| C．cleaning up the banks of River Schie | D．sharing pictures on the Internet |
| A．River pollution in Dutch has been solved by Tommy Kleyn. |
| B．A Dutch eco-hero proves that one man can make a difference. |
| C．Environmental protection needs support from the government. |
| D．Facebook plays an important role in environmental protection. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】As global warming becomes more and more serious, each one of us must take action to help.
First, diet.
Changing what you eat could easily have a significant effect because animal agriculture creates about 14% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (排放).
Second, travel.
Nearly all transport relies on fossil fuels. In the US, driving one mile in an average 2016 car emits 404 grams of CO2 equivalents per mile. But taking nearly any other means of transport will reduce CO2 emissions.
Third, energy.
Fourth, waste.
Think before you buy. The fashion industry creates about 10% of global greenhouse emissions and consumes more energy than flight and shipping combined.
Last but not least, plant a garden.
Plant a garden instead of building a yard out of cement (水泥), the production of which creates 8% of global CO2 emissions a year.
So from a burger to a cyclist, no one thing will have a big influence, but lots of little things can.
| A．Almost every household appliance needs it. |
| B．When you do make a purchase, try to buy it in large quantity. |
| C．Planting a garden helps reduce CO2 emissions and produce oxygen. |
| D．Each of us contributes a particular amount of CO2 into the atmosphere. |
| E．As we all know, the environment around us is getting worse and worse. |
| F．After walking, cycling is the best choice because it almost has no emissions. |
| G．In 2017, beef was found to be one of the most damaging foods to the climate. |
【推荐2】Government in Tibet have denied the permanent(永久的) closure of Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve.
The announcement came after a report went viral online claiming the base camp of the world's highest mountain was "permanently closed due to heavy pollution" and caused a universal misunderstanding.
Mount Qomolangma National Nature Reserve was set up in 1988. Covering an area of more than 33, 800 square km, it is home to one of the world's weakest ecosystems.
Kelsang, deputy director of the reserve administration, said ordinary tourists are allowed to visit areas around Rongpo Monastery, almost 5, 000 meters above sea level. As for travelers who have a climbing permit, they can go to the base camp at an altitude of 5, 200 meters. The mountaineering activities have been permitted by the regional forestry department.
To protect the environment surrounding Mount Qomolangma, China carried out three major clean-ups at an altitude of 5, 200 meters and above last spring, collecting eight tonnes of household wastes, human wastes and mountaineering trash. This year, the cleanup will continue, and the remains of mountaineering victims(受害者) at above 8, 000 meters will be centrally dealt with for the first time. Meanwhile, the number of people who stay at the base camp will be kept under 300.
Recently, there are 85 wildlife protectors in the reserve, and 1, 000 herders have part-time jobs going around and cleaning up garbage.
These measures aim to strike a balance between various demands such as environmental protection, local poverty relief, mountaineering and education, said Wang Shen, county chief of Dingri at the mountain foot.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined words "went viral" in Paragraph 2?| A．spread wildly | B．blocked out | C．gave away | D．shot up |
| A．Most tourists are allowed to visit the base camp. |
| B．A permit is a must for visitors going to the base camp. |
| C．The mountaineering activities are not allowed these days. |
| D．The areas above 5, 200 meters are open to everyone. |
| A．To provide a much easier path for mountaineers. |
| B．To keep mountaineering activities going smoothly. |
| C．To remove the remains of mountaineering victims. |
| D．To protect the environment of Mount Qomolangma. |
【推荐3】Bees are essential for the pollination of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Sadly, over the past 15 years, the global population of the hardworking insects has been dropping worldwide at alarming rates due to loss of food and habitat. Now, Dutch cities are coming up with creative ideas to help stem the population decrease of these all-important insects.
In Amsterdam, bees can live for free in specially built “hotels” — tall wooden structures — across the city. While they may not look like much to the untrained eye, they provide perfect homes for members of the over 200 known species of solitary bees. As the name indicates, the insects spend their lives alone. The smart insects nest inside holes like the ones provided by the insect hotels, marking their occupancy by covering the entrance with a mud “door”. Though unable to produce honey, solitary bees are excellent pollinators and perform an essential role in many ecosystems.
Additionally, city officials are also educating people on the use of harmful chemicals and are providing prize money to encourage developers to build green roofs and populate them with local plants. In 2015, they set a goal to change some plants in public green spaces to native plants. Geert, one of eight ecologists working for the city, says, “Our idea is when we design a park, we use native species but also the species that give a lot of flowering and fruit for bees.” Many people, with help from the government, are replacing the sidewalks outside their homes with small gardens featuring flowers.
In Utrecht, bus stop roofs are gradually being turned into beautiful, living gardens designed to attract varieties of bee species. The green roofs, which naturally collect both rainwater and dust, are also beneficial for the environment.
These cities’ collective efforts seem to be working. A recent study found that the variety of bee species there has increased by an astonishing 45 percent since 2000.
1. What does the underlined word “stem” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Review . | B．Stop. | C．Monitor. | D．Improve. |
| A．They’re not social insects. |
| B．They make high-quality honey. |
| C．They like to nest together in woods. |
| D．They’re scared of other species of bees. |
| A．Collect rainwater for future use. |
| B．Plant flowers for enjoyment. |
| C．Draw bees to them. |
| D．Clear dust away. |
| A．Protecting the environment. |
| B．Importance of bees in ecosystems. |
| C．Design ideas of insect hotels and bee stops. |
| D．Dutch cities’ attempts to restore bee population. |
【推荐1】A musical, School of Rock, which is played at the Winter Garden Theatre, is based on the 2003 hit movie starring Jack Black and opens on Broadway(百老汇).
“The central message of the story,” the show’s composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, said recently, “is about the driving force of music.” Lloyd Webber, who is behind such Broadway hits as Phantom of the Opera and Cats, runs a music education foundation. He is allowing schools to license the musical while it’s still on Broadway.
School of Rock tells the story of Dewey Finn, an ambitious rock star played by Alex Brightman. When Finn’s musical career hits a dead end, he gets a job as a teacher. While in the classroom, he encourages his fifth graders to form a rock band.
All of the actors play their own instruments during the performance. “If you say that you can do it, and you work hard enough, then you can do it,” said Evie Dolan, who learned to play bass for the role of Katie.
While the musical is very similar to the movie, lyricist Glenn Slater added new songs, including You’re in the Band and Stick It to the Man.
“I really love You’re in the Band,” said the musical’s director, Laurence Connor, “I love that moment when the audience sees the children pick up their instruments for the first time and really play, and find rock music for the first time.”
Bobby Mackenzie, who plays Tomika, said that the experience of expressing herself through music has been a pleasing one. When asked what advice she has for ambitious musicians, she said, “If it is really what you want to do, go for it. Work as hard as you can.”
1. What is the central message of the story about?| A．The driving force of music. | B．The development direction of Broadway. |
| C．The music composers’ interest. | D．The school education of music. |
| A．A rock star. | B．A teacher. | C．An actor. | D．A director. |
| A．Dewey Finn. | B．Evie Dolan. | C．Laurence Connor. | D．Bobbi Mackenzie. |
| A．Phantom of the Opera | B．School of Rock | C．You’re in the Band | D．Stick It to the Man |
【推荐2】In September 2017, villagers found a tiny elephant wandering around alone in Burkina Faso, West Africa. They named the baby elephant Nania and brought it to a local wildlife base. The caregivers there saw promising signs-the young elephant remained physically healthy and didn't seem depressed. Experts predict the elephant was discovered within a day or two of being separated from her family, or she wouldn't have survived.
Fortunately, Nania grew well with her caregivers, who acted as her parents playing with her for 6-8 hours a day. Several months later, Nania was ready to start the process of returning to wild elephant group. As is known to us, turning wild animals into adopted ones is actually a process the animals can do naturally. Most animals including nonrelatives act like family. However, helping an elephant rejoin the wild is no simple task. Will it be able to find food for itself, avoid danger, and eventually have its own children?
Meanwhile, scientists began the search for her mother using DNA matching technology. They began collecting wastes samples from the 40 wild elephant tribes that passed through the area and analyzed the elephant wastes for DNA in a lab. Then one day, the lab found a surprising result: the DNA was a match. One of the sampled elephants was not just a family member of Nania, but almost surely her mother. Most importantly, through the DNA, the scientists discovered that Nania is a forest elephant. Forest elephants are endangered, which makes the importance of saving Nania much greater.
“What you really hope for is that there’s some connection that can be remembered when she finds her own species,” Katie Moore, vice president for animal rescue, said. “And that it just happens. To Nania, it will not feel lonely any more.”
1. What do we know about the tiny elephant from paragraph 1?| A．It seemed well although it was lost. | B．It was frightened of being left alone. |
| C．It had been missing for a long time. | D．It felt quite frustrated for loneliness. |
| A．It was impossible for it to find its family. |
| B．It was hardly able to join other species family. |
| C．It was unwilling to leave and go back to the wild. |
| D．It might be hard for it to survive back in the wild. |
| A．Nania forgot the animals in wildlife base. | B．Nania managed to get used to its former life. |
| C．Nania could be recognized by other elephants. | D．Nania had almost forgotten her family members. |
| A．The Endangered Forest Elephants | B．A Lost Elephant Finding Its Mother By Itself |
| C．A Rescued Elephant’s Returning To The Wild | D．An Amazing DNA Matching Technology |
【推荐3】A newly discovered planet looks just right for life as we know it, according to an international group of astronomers. Orbiting a star about 500 light-years away, the planet called Kepler-186f is about the same size as Earth. It orbits its star at the right distance for liquid water on the surface. That is a necessary condition for life as we know it.
But it is not exactly like Earth, NASA planetary scientist Elisa Quintana said. "It's more of an Earth's cousin. It's not an Earth's twin. It shares the same characteristics as Earth, but their parent stars are very different," said Quintana.
Kepler-186f orbits a star that is smaller and cooler than our sun. But, writing in the journal Science, the astronomers say the planet appears to be a closer relative than most of the hundreds of others discovered so far. Some are massive gas-covered giants with thick, crushing atmospheres. Others orbit too close to their stars and are too hot for life.
Two planets discovered last year are in the right orbit and might be good candidates for life, Quintana says, but they are a bit bigger than Earth. "For the first time, we can actually say we now have a planet that is both Earth-sized and orbits in its star's habitable zone," she said.
It may be the first time, but it probably is not the last, says Massachusetts Institute of Technology astrophysicist Sara Seager. "We've been waiting decades to understand how common habitable planets might be, and it's looking like they're really common. And this gives us excitement and motivation to take the next step," said Seager.
The next step would be to look for signs of life in the atmospheres of these distant worlds. That would take a more sophisticated (高端的；复杂的) space telescope. But budget cuts threaten that mission, says University of California at Los Angeles astrophysicist Ben Zuckerman, "In principle, we could do this in the next few decades. But in practice, because there's no money, it's not gonna happen. It's not gonna happen in my lifetime, for example."
Leaving earthbound concerns behind, NASA's Elisa Quintana believes that when the next-generation space telescope is launched, it will find that we are not alone in the universe.
1. What does the underlined word "That" (Paragraph 1) refer to________| A．The right distance. | B．Liquid water. |
| C．The right size. | D．A star. |
| A．is more of an Earth's cousin than an Earth's twin |
| B．has a lot in common with Earth, including their parent stars |
| C．is a lot bigger than Earth |
| D．is smaller and cooler than our sun |
| A．Where there is water, there is life |
| B．A planet exactly like Earth found |
| C．Life discovered on Kepler-186f |
| D．New Earth-size planet found |
【推荐1】One day a poor man was begging with an old wallet in his hand. As he felt sad at his own bad luck, he kept wondering why some wealthy people were never satisfied and were always wanting more.
“Here,” said he, “is the master of this house—I know him well. He is a wealthy businessman. He should have turned over his business to others, and then he could have spent the rest of his life happily, but he didn’t. Instead, he sent his ships to sea to trade with foreign lands. However, there were great storms on the water, so his ships were destroyed and his treasure disappeared in the sea. As for me, if I had only enough to eat and to buy clothing, I would not want anything more.”
Just at that moment, Fortune came down the street. She saw the poor man and stopped. She said to him, “Listen! I want to help you. Hold your wallet, and I will pour this gold into it, but only on this condition: all that falls into the wallet shall be pure gold, but every piece that falls upon the ground shall become dust. Do you understand?”
“Oh, yes,” said the poor man.
“Then be careful,” said Fortune. “Your wallet is old, so do not load it too heavily.”
The beggar was so glad that he quickly opened his wallet, and a stream of yellow dollars poured into it. The wallet grew heavy.
“Is that enough?” asked Fortune.
“Not yet.”
“Isn’t the wallet cracking （裂开）?”
“Never fear.”
The beggar’s hands began to tremble. Ah, if the gold would only pour forever!
“You are the richest man in the world now!”
“Just a little more, add just a handful or two.”
Another piece was added, and the wallet cracked. The treasure fell upon the ground and turned to dust. The beggar had nothing now but his empty wallet. He was as poor as before.
1. What happened to the wealthy businessman?| A．He was robbed of his money. | B．His ships sank at sea. |
| C．His treasure turned to dust. | D．He gave his money to the poor. |
| A．She wanted to make the poor man the richest in the world. |
| B．She had too much gold already. |
| C．She wanted to teach the poor man a lesson. |
| D．She liked the way the poor man spoke. |
| A．weak | B．happy |
| C．wise | D．greedy |
| A．The poor man and Fortune |
| B．The poor man and the businessman |
| C．The poor man and his wallet |
| D．The poor man and the gold |
【推荐2】The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[BMGF] said this week it will provide up to $100 million to support action against the 2019 novel coronavirus. It says the money will help strengthen efforts to test people for the virus, separate healthy individuals from the sick and find treatment for them.
Controlling the epidemic: The donation will help speed development of the “tools to bring this epidemic under control,”the chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation; Mark Suzman said.
Worldwide emergency:The Gates Foundation is giving money and working with other donors to help the World Health Organization (WHO), Chinese medical workers and others worldwide.It noted the need for an organized international effort to fight the virus.
Increased efforts to find and treat the coronavirus:The foundation promised $20 million right away to hurry the process of identifying those who are sick, keeping them separate, and helping them get better. The goal is to stop the disease from spreading to more people and places. Money is also going to public health officials in China and other countries with coronavirus patients to help them pay the start-up cost of medical workers and supplies.
Protecting at-risk groups in Africa and South Asia:Recent epidemics, such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009, have had a big effect on people living in extreme poverty. Most of those people live in African countries south of the Sahara Desert or parts of South Asia. Another $20 million is going to public health officials in these areas to improve their emergency operations and to treat confirmed cases. One partner is the African Field Epidemiology Network, a non-profit service that currently operates in more than 30 African countries.
Developing Vaccines:Of the total donation, $60 million will go to speed the process of making vaccines to protect against the novel coronavirus. One organization working on developing the anti-coronavirus vaccines is the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations with Chinese public- and private-sector researchers; trying to find ways to stop the spread of the virus.
1. The money donated by the BMGF will be used in the following aspects except| A．to test people for the virus | B．to separate the healthy from the sick |
| C．to build a new hospital in China | D．to find treatment for the virus -infected |
| A．One | B．Five | C．Two | D．Countless |
| A．The money is specially donated to China’s public health department. |
| B．Another $20 million will be used to help African people suffering from starvation. |
| C．The African Field Epidemiology Network is a non- profit medical service organization only in western Africa. |
| D．Most of the donated money will be put into the developing and innovating vaccines. |
| A．a news report | B．a magazine | C．a text book | D．a poster |
【推荐3】Summer Camp Jobs
Looking to have the best summer experience ever? Our camps employ staff (员工) for a number of roles, including camp counselors (顾问), water and sports specialists, and arts, theatre and outdoor adventure specialists. It would be better if you have any experience in working with children! JCUSA (Jewish Camps USA) will work with you to find the most suitable role and camp for you.
What you are going to do
This is a job like no other; we personally get to know you and our most important thing is to make sure that you go to a camp that suits all of your situations.
★The right overnight camp-you can select this kind of camp to have a start. Don’t worry, you will feel comfortable and right at home.
★The correct role-At camp there are many different roles and we will decide together from your application and interview what will suit you best. We will look into your previous experiences and focus on what you need for your future to give you the chance to do something you love every day.
★Camp ready-you will have specific training for your role at camp so you will go fully prepared for your job. You will be part of a group going to camp and will know everyone before going.
What we offer
★You will get paid in your first year between $1,650 and $2,400 upon completion of your camp task.
★The chance to go with a group of JCUSA staff and to meet them before you arrive at your own camp.
★Travel around the USA for up to 60 days!
What we ask
★At least finished high school-you must be 18 by 2020.
★You are someone who is energetic, outgoing and looking for a cultural summer experience.
★You do not need to be Jewish to apply to work at a Jewish summer camp.
1. Which of the following experience is an advantage for an applicant to get the job?| A．Having a night job. | B．Working with kids. |
| C．Studying abroad. | D．Being a gardener. |
| A．A new specific training card. |
| B．A salary of more than $2,400 a month. |
| C．A chance to travel around the world for 60 days. |
| D．A chance to work with a group of JCUSA staff. |
| A．They must be 18 or older by 2020. |
| B．They should at least graduate from high school. |
| C．They need to be Jewish for a Jewish summer camp. |
| D．They should be outgoing and willing to camp. |
Fun day To celebrate the Year of the Pig Organized by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High school Date：2 January 2019 Time：10 am – 5 pm Place：Kwun Tong Playground Fee: $ 20 (buy three get one free) Programme：drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun day! Free Soft Drinks. All are welcome! Note: ★Ticket are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Centre. ★For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity. |
1. What is going to take place on 2 January, 2019?
| A．A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. |
| B．A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. |
| C．A party for close friends to meet and have fun. |
| D．A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students. |
| A．$20 | B．$40 | C．$60 | D．$80 |
| A．Tickets are sold in Kwun Tong High School. |
| B．It’s unnecessary to take soft drinks with you. |
| C．Free digital cameras are provided for everybody. |
| D．Students can have festival food as much as they can. |
【推荐2】Here are four homes for sale around the U. S. with links to past presidents, as well as their close families.
John F. Kennedy’s Weekend Retreat
A modest farm near Middle burg, Virginia, was built by John F. Kennedy and his wife in the early 1960s. The former first lady designed it herself. The four-bedroom property is currently back on the market for $5.95 million, decreased by $10.99 million when it was first put up for sale in 2013.
Jackie Kennedy’s Summer House
Another Kennedy-linked property for sale is the “Lasata” estate in the Hamptons, designed by architect Arthur C. Jackson and built in 1917. Set on more than seven acres of land near the ocean, it includes a ten-bedroom house that was restored in 2007, including a three-car garage building. It’s on the market for $38.995 million, a little bit higher than last year.
Chester A. Arthur’s Summer White House
Chester A. Arthur, who became the 21st president in 1881, spent some of his down time here. The three-story, six-bedroom Victorian mansion, which was built in 1796 and has been recently restored, is for sale with a $14.2 million price tag. Features include a library with fireplace, a formal dining and living room and a family room overlooking the garden and the swimming pool.
Barack Obama’s Summer Rental
This Martha’s Vineyard home which was built in the late twentieth century served as the summer White House to former President Obama. It is currently for sale for $19.125 million, down from $22.5 million in July 2015. Set on nine-and-a-half acres of land and with its own private road, this property no doubt acts as a perfect summer hideaway for those who didn’t want his every movement seen. In addition to privacy, other features include a heated pool, a half-basketball court, outdoor terraces and a two-bedroom guest cottage.
1. Which house has the longest history?| A．Barack Obama’s Summer Rental. |
| B．Jackie Kennedy’s Summer House. |
| C．Chester A. Arthur’s Summer White House. |
| D．John F. Kennedy’s Weekend Retreat. |
| A．Privacy. | B．Architecture. | C．Location. | D．Price. |
| A．Their prices are going down these years. |
| B．They have connections with U. S. presidents. |
| C．They have a history of more than a century. |
| D．They have more than 5 bedrooms in the house. |
【推荐3】We all long for friendship, but how to make a friend? "The best time to make a friend is before you need one," Joy Steven said. The following are some tips for you.
Friends are from strangers.
Friends usually begin with strangers. Getting in touch with other people is the first step to make a friend. Friends can’t be made in empty air. Best friends take time to make.
Friends understand friends.
Friends understand each other when talking. Many unpleasant personal quarrels can be avoided if you will take time to understand othersˈ feelings and points of view.
Friends touch friends.
Touching is a warm form of communication between friends. When you see best friends communicating, you will notice they stand close together, touch each other comfortably and listen to each other carefully. Sometimes a friendly touch is more powerful than words.
Friends praise friends.
Praise is a powerful tool to make a friend. Honest praise can affect your friendsˈ lives. So try to praise your friends, including your general ones.
Friends can be loyal and trustworthy.
Trust and loyalty go hand in hand for friends. Friends can share secrets with you, because good friends never break confidence and are loyal forever.
1. The first step to make a friend is _________.| A．touching other people. | B．standing close to other people. |
| C．getting in touch with other people. | D．sharing secrets with other people. |
| A．praising your friends. | B．understanding your friends. |
| C．getting in touch with people. | D．quarreling with your friends. |
| A．when to make a friend. | B．how to praise a friend. |
| C．how to develop friendship. | D．how to communicate with a friend. |
