There’s nothing wrong with a tomato that isn’t perfectly rounded or a peach with an extra dimple(凹)or two; they still carry the same benefits and flavors as the versions we’re used to seeing in grocery stores. Farmers throw away these imperfect items, as many grocery chains won’t buy them for fear that they are unsellable. However, a growing group of grocery chains are fighting to make these discarded fruits and vegetables part of consumers’ buying habits.
One such business is Imperfect Produce, a start-up that delivers fresh ugly produce to consumers. Through this service, you can get up to 20 pounds of fruit and veggies for around $20 a week. This is about a 30 percent discount compared to what’s currently sold in stores. Recently, the company had a major breakthrough when Whole Foods accepted their partnership and agreed to sell the misshapen produce.
While this movement might be a new trend here in the US, it’s already gained serious moment um(势头)in Europe. In 2014, the E. U. announced the Year Against Food Waste, with French grocery chain Intermarché launching a very successful campaign called Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables and England’s Waitrose selling “weather blemished” apples. In Portugal, a similar company to Imperfect Produce called Fruta Feia has also taken off.
Buying these unfortunate-looking foods should be appealing to consumers not only because of the affordability, but also because of the support it gives to farmers and the direct impact it has on decreasing food waste and the environmental pollution. It is believed that when the discarded fruits and vegetables decompose they release methane(甲烷), a greenhouse gas that, when released into the atmosphere, is about 86 times as powerful as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Waste is, in fact, the ugliest thing of all.
1. What does the underlined word “discarded” in paragraph one mean?| A．Deserted. | B．Harvested. | C．Consumed. | D．Purchased. |
| A．Make better profits. | B．Sell imperfect produce. |
| C．Get discounts from farmers. | D．Compete with Whole Foods. |
| A．It has more successfully-run food chains. |
| B．It produces less misshaped fruits and vegetables. |
| C．It addresses the problem of misshaped produce earlier. |
| D．It faces a more serious problem of unfavorable weather. |
| A．It pollutes the farms. | B．It gives out a bad smell. |
| C．It contributes to global warming. | D．It produces lots of carbon dioxide. |
相似题推荐
People play lacrosse outdoors. The lacrosse field is seven metres long. At each end of the field there is a net. There are ten players on each team. Each player has a stick called “crosse”. The players hit a ball that is 21 centimetres around and weighs 140 grams. They try to hit the ball into the net as many times as possible. Lacrosse is a very fast game because the players can catch and pass the ball at a high speed with their sticks.
At one time lacrosse was the national summer sport in Canada. It is also popular in Britain and Australia.
1. ________ invented the popular sport — Lacrosse.
| A．The British | B．The Spanish | C．The Indians | D．The Australians |
| A．honour God | B．have fun | C．lose weight | D．train for war |
| A．only one net | B．one net at each end |
| C．two nets at each end | D．four nets at each end |
| A．The team who hit the ball into the net more times |
| B．The team who catch and pass the ball faster |
| C．The team who have many more stronger players |
| D．The team who use sticks to hit the ball farther |
【推荐2】One of the interesting things about China is that they love lists. There are sorts of things through Chinese history that are in list form, such as the Four Great Beauties the Seven Warring States, and the Three Kingdoms. It should come as no surprise that there is such a thing as the Four Great Inventions.
There are literally hundreds of inventions that were originally invented in China before they were introduced anywhere else. However, the Four Great Inventions in particular stands out as having greatly changed not just Chinese civilization, but the entire world.
However, what makes the Four Great Inventions such an odd list for China is that the list was created by someone British.The Four Great Inventions was actually invented by British historian and sinologist Joseph Needham. He spent much of his life travelling in China, collecting and documenting examples of Chinese inventions and technology. He published his first book on Chinese culture in 1954 where he listed many Chinese inventions which were originally thought to be European inventions.
In the 16* century, there was a version floating around called the Three Great Inventions which contributed to the greatness of Europe, or more specifically sometimes Germany. It might have been created by English philosopher Francis Bacon: the printing press, gunpowder, and the compass.
As explorers began more frequently visiting China, they realized that all of those great inventions had been around in China for centuries before they appeared in Europe.So, as part of his work and setting the record straight, Needham created the Four Great Inventions of China, a list that has subsequently gained widespread approval from scholars in China itself.
The four great inventions are the three listed before: the printing press, gunpowder, the compass, and the other being paper-making.
1. What does paragraph 1 serve as?| A．A plot. | B．A lead-in. |
| C．A clue. | D．A conclusion. |
| A．An expert studying Chinese culture. |
| B．A publisher trying to sell books. |
| C．An explorer searching for treasures. |
| D．A businessman trading with the Chinese. |
| A．Joseph Needham published books to list Chinese landscapes. |
| B．Francis Bacon was the first to create the Four Great Inventions. |
| C．The Four Great Inventions changed Europe, especially Germany. |
| D．Ancient China contributed to scientific development worldwide. |
| A．Who really comes up with the Four Great Inventions? |
| B．How do the Four Great Inventions change the world? |
| C．What makes the Four Great Inventions well accepted? |
| D．Why are the Four Great Inventions important to Europe? |
【推荐3】The year 2017 was marked by some rare scientific events and discoveries.
A rare eclipse（日食）covers the US
Among the rare events of the year was a total solar eclipse visible across the United States on August 21.It had been 99 years since a similar eclipse took place in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country took time to see the moon partly or completely hide the sun. Many went to places like Carbondale, Illinois, Oregon and Charleston to see the total eclipse. Some people cannot see the eclipse, for cloudy weather messed up the view in some places, but many others had clear skies.
Is warming climate making storms worse?
Many scientists are concerned that rising world temperatures will cause more dangerous weather events. And the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva says 2017 could be among the three hottest years on record. Three powerful ocean storms struck Caribbean islands and the southern US in 2017, which brought more attention to the issue. Hurricane Harvey caused unbelievable flooding to the Houston area in the state of Texas. And Hurricanes Irma and Maria left severe damage in Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Climate experts say rising temperatures will make ocean storms—like hurricanes and typhoons—sharper and with higher wind speeds. Rising sea levels could also make ocean storms worse as waves from the sea force water further inland becoming a danger to highly populated coastal cities.
A good reason to believe in UFOs
Fans of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, might be glad to know that the United States Defense Department had a secret program to make research on the unknown secret. From 2007 to 2017, the department spent $ 22 million researching unexplained objects seen in the air, including some reported by military pilots. News reports question whether the search for answers about UFOs continues. Reid, spokesman from the Defense Department, answered reporters on Twitter this way：“The truth is out there. Seriously.”
1. Why was it impossible to watch the 2017 eclipse in some places in the US?| A．The sunshine was unpleasantly bright. | B．It was completely hidden by the cloud |
| C．It happened too far from Earth to watch. | D．The sun was partly hidden by the moon. |
| A．The effects of global warming. | B．The fast rising of the sea level. |
| C．The increase of the wind speeds. | D．The danger of living in coastal cities. |
| A．They are absolutely out there in space. | B．Observation on them is not going on. |
| C．Search for their existence will continue. | D．People’s questions on them are absurd. |
【推荐1】Wetlands occur wherever water meets land. Wetlands exist in every country and in every climatic zone. Healthy wetlands store carbon, regulate the water cycle, and support 40% of the world’s biodiversity.
Jiangxi Poyang Lake Nanji Wetlands
Nanji Wetlands is located in the southern part of the main lake area of Poyang Lake, covering a total area of 33,300 hectares. It is an incredibly valuable ecosystem and serves as a vital habitat for various wetland bird species, including many national first-class and second-class protected animals.
Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve
The Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake wetland, with an area of 33,333 hectares. It is primarily set up as the wintering grounds of rare birds. Within the reserve, there are a total of 142 bird species, including 66 species of migratory (迁徙的) birds. This reserve holds the distinction of being the largest natural wintering ground for the hooded crane (丹顶鹤) population worldwide.
Gansu Yellow River Shouqu Wetlands
The Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve is located within Maqu county. It covers a total area of 203,401 hectares, with 132,067 hectares intended for wetland conservation. The primary objective of this reserve is to protect the highland wetland ecosystem, as well as the habitat of migratory birds, particularly the black-necked crane. In February 2020, it was officially approved as a Wetland of International Importance.
Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve
Established in 2003, Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve covers a total area of 35,679 hectares. In 2015, it was recognized and included in the International Important Wetlands Directory. The main focus of the reserve is to protect the unique underwater natural landscape, the ecosystems of the nearby coastal waters, the important rare and endangered marine (海洋的) animals.
1. Which wetland covers the largest area?| A．Nanji Wetlands. |
| B．Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve. |
| C．Shouqu Wetlands. |
| D．Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve. |
| A．To preserve natural landscapes. |
| B．To house rare birds in winter. |
| C．To reproduce hooded cranes. |
| D．To store freshwater. |
| A．Highland wetland ecosystem. | B．Marine ecosystems. |
| C．Underwater animals. | D．Bird habitats. |
【推荐2】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 man- aged 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．A job lasting 22 days. |
| B．A kind of plastic garbage. |
| C．A piece of printed discount paper. |
| D．A fund for supporting future projects. |
| 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. |
【推荐3】Cleaning the ocean of plastic
These days, we’re all well aware of the plastic problem the world’s facing. Although we all realize what a serious issue plastic pollution is, it’s different when you actually see the overwhelming results of it for yourself.
A team of researchers recently published a study on the so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch in the journal Scientific Reports. According to the study, the patch, which is located off the coast of California in the US, is made up of 79,000 tons of plastic waste. At 1.6 million square kilometers, it’s over four times the size of Japan, or almost 100 times the size of Beijing.
“I’ve been doing this research for a while, but it was depressing to see the patch in person,” Laurent Lebreton, lead author of the study, told The Guardian. “There were things you just wondered how they made it into the ocean. There’s clearly an increasing influx of plastic into the garbage patch.”
It’s believed that eight million tons of plastic ends up in the sea each year, and a lot of it ends up collecting near large ocean currents around the world, forming “islands” of plastic. This causes problems not only for sea creatures, but also for humans. The swirling ocean currents eventually break down some of the plastic, with a lot of it ending up in the stomachs of fish and birds. As a result, it’s believed that plastic has worked its way up the food chain directly onto our plates - not to mention the countless creatures that choke on plastic waste, or are poisoned by the chemicals in it.
So what can we do about this? Lebreton is a member of the Ocean Cleanup Foundation, a group that’s developed technology to collect plastic waste from the ocean. This is a huge project. The group claims it will take around five years just to clean up half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch alone. But rather than discourage people from using plastic altogether, Lebreton believes that we should simply be more careful of how we use it. “In my opinion, plastic is very useful ... But I think we must change the way we use plastic, particularly in terms of single-use plastic and those objects that have a very short service lifespan,” he told the BBC.
1. What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch made up of?2. Why does plastic also cause problems for humans?
3. Please paraphrase the following sentence.
It’s believed that the eight million tons of plastic ends up in the sea each year, and a lot of it ends up collecting near large ocean currents around world, forming “islands” of plastic.
4. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Laurent Lebreton thinks that plastic is very useful, but we have to stop using plastic completely to protect the ocean.
5. Please provide at least two suggestions on what we can do to change the way we use plastic. (about 20 words)
【推荐1】Chinese sword play
Learn Chinese swordsmanship and practice Chinese sword play under the instruction of a professional in Ditan Park every Sunday afternoon.
Fee: 60 yuan(US$ 7.2)
Time/Date: 2 pm --- 3:30 pm, October 10.
Place: Meet at the south gate of Ditan Park, across the overpass north of the Lama Temple, Chaoyang District.
Tel: 8457-2772
See Lu Xun’s former residence
Visit the museum and former residence of Lu Xun, the father of Chinese modern literature, and learn about this period of Chinese history, from 1910 to the late 1930’s.
Fee: 50 yuan(US$ 6)
Time/Date: 2:30 pm --- 4:30 pm, October 16
Place: Meet in front of Lu Xun’s Museum, Fuchengmennei Dajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6432-9341
Hike on Heifengkou Great Wall
Heifengkou Great Wall is about one and a half hours’ drive north of Beijing. The hike starts from the village at the foot of the mountain where the Great Wall meanders to the top.
Fee: 150 yuan(US$ 18) for adults, 100 yuan(US$ 12) for kids under 12.
Time/Date: 8:30 am —5:30 pm, October 16
Pick-up: Meet at 8:30 am in front of the Big Easy, at the South Gate of Chaoyang Park, returning by 5:30 pm.
Contact Lucy at lucy @ highclub. cn, or 6553-3920 for signing up.
Tai Chi class
This is a beginner’s level of Chen-style Tai Chi class, instructed by Paul Wang, who speaks excellent English and has a lot of experience teaching Westerners. He is the 12th generation master of Chen-Style Tai Chi, Tai Chi Sword, and Shaolin Temple longquan.
Time/Date: 10 am — 11:30 am, October 12, 19
Fee: 60 yuan(US$ 7.2)
Place: In front of Jintai Gallery, inside the West Gate of Chaoyang Park, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6432-9341
Contact Gina at linshujuan@chinadaily. com. cn.
1. The underline word “residence” in the second text possibly refers to ______ .| A．a work | B．a famous person | C．a park | D．a house |
| A．Ditan Park at 2 pm — 3:30 pm, October 10 |
| B．Fuchengmennei Dajie at 2:30 pm — 4:30 pm, October 16 |
| C．the South Gate of Chaoyang Park at 8:30 am |
| D．Chaoyang Park at 10 am — 11:30 am, October 12, 19 |
| A．learn Chinese sword play |
| B．hike on Heifengkou Great Wall |
| C．visit the museum and former residence of Lu Xun |
| D．take the Tai Chi class |
【推荐2】There are many classical cultures in China. All of them have a very long history. Here we introduce four of them.
 | Chinese Handwriting Chinese handwriting is a special art to Asian cultures. Brush handwriting is much loved around the world. Wang Xizhi is very famous for his handwriting. He made a great difference to the development of Chinese handwriting. |
 | Chinese Folk Music Chinese folk music has a long history. It is connected with Chinese ancient stories. One of the classics, Shijing, includes some folk songs in 15 different areas from the West Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period. Traditional Chinese musical instruments include guqin, guzheng, pipa, erhu, xiao and so on. |
 | Chinese Painting Chinese painting is one of the oldest traditional painting forms in the world. Most of the Chinese paintings in ancient China were done on paper or silk. Traditional Chinese painting includes mountains and water, figures (人物), flowers and birds. The paintings show different features during the different historical periods. |
 | Weiqi Weiqi, called “yi” in ancient China, is a smart board game between two players with a history of over 3, 000 years. The game can be treated as the beginning of all ancient chess games. It was introduced to Korea about 2, 000 years ago and was popular among the higher classes. |
| A．piano | B．violin | C．pipa | D．guitar |
| A．mountains and water | B．figures |
| C．flowers and birds | D．dogs |
| A．It is a game between two people. |
| B．It is only popular in China. |
| C．It has a history of over 2, 000 years. |
| D．It was introduced to Korea about 3, 000 years ago. |
【推荐3】The Friends of Charles Dickens
Dickens was born in 1812. His father, a clerk in the navy pay office, was thrown into debtors' prison. The miserable treatment of children and the institution of the debtors' jail became topics of several of Dickens, novels。.
Wilkie Collins (1824-1889)
Although twelve years younger than Dickens Wilkie Collins became one of Dickens best friends. Collins was a popular novelist who developed the mystery novel style. The Moonstone is one of his best. He and Dickens wrote The Frozen Deep . Wilkie was the son of the painter William Collins. He was born in London and lived in Italy and France as a child.
John Elliotson (1791-1868)
Elliotson was Dickens's family doctor for many years and thus they became good friends. Elliotson was an early advocate for the use of the stethoscope (听诊器). He also believed in the use of acupuncture (针灸).
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)
Poe was an American author best known for his poems and short fiction. The Fall of the House of Usher and The Murders in the Rue Morgue are two of his most popular works Dickens and Poe's friendship began in Philadelphia while Dickens was on his first tour of the United States. They talked about literature and seemed to enjoy one another's company However，two years later Poe broke off the relationship because he was angry about an article on American poetry. The article was written by Thackeray, but Poe believed that Dickens was behind the article.
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863)
William Makepeace Thackeray was a novelist His best known work is Vanity Fair. He was also a friend of Charles Dickens. While Dickens and Thackeray were friends, the relation ship wasn't always smooth. They had several serious quarrels. One quarrel involved Dickens siding with Edmund Yates after Yates insulted Thackeray.
1. Who had taken care of Dickens' health for years?| A．Collins. | B．Poe. | C．Elliotson. | D．Thackeray. |
| A．A traffic accident. | B．Their ideas on running companies. |
| C．A poem written by Dickens. | D．An article written by Thackeray. |
| A．Vanity Fair. | B．The Moonstone. |
| C．The Fall of the House of Usher. | D．The Murders in the Rue Morgue. |
