The area of tropical forest destroyed in 2021 was enough to cover the entire island of Cuba, and sent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as India does in an entire year from burning fossil fuels, according to an analysis published on Thursday.
Some 11.1 million hectares (around 43, 000 square miles) of forest was destroyed, mainly by logging (伐木)as well as fires, the analysis by the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch and the University of Maryland found. Some of those fires were deliberately lit to clear land and many were deteriorated by climate change.
The loss was less severe than in 2020, but deforestation (毁林)is still occurring at an alarming rate in the tropics. Of the area lost, 3. 75 million hectares were primary tropical forest at the equivalent of 10 soccer fields every minute, WRI reported.
Primary tropical forests in particular are crucial for the ecological balance of the planet, providing oxygen that supports life and as biodiversity hotspots. They are also rich in stored carbon, and when these forests are logged or burned, they release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
“What’s important to understand is that forests, especially tropical forests, are part of the global climate system,” WRI senior fellow Frances Seymour told CNN. “So they’re not mechanical carbon storage devices. They actually influence the energy transfer and the moisture content of the atmosphere in ways that affect rainfall and global circulation patterns.”
“When deforestation happens, when forests are lost, it not only contributes carbon to the atmosphere, but also disrupts rainfall patterns and increases local temperatures in some ways. For example, it makes remaining forests more vulnerable to fire, and the warmer, drier conditions that come with climate change,” Seymour said.
1. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “deteriorated” in paragraph 2?| A．strengthened |
| B．expanded |
| C．worsened |
| D．extended |
| A．Promoting world economy. |
| B．Balancing the earth’s ecology. |
| C．Predicting severe weather. |
| D．Providing wood resources. |
| A．The consequence of deforestation. |
| B．The cause of forests loss. |
| C．The methods of protecting forests. |
| D．The contributions of forests. |
| A．Logging causes most forests loss |
| B．Analysts are concerned about tropic forests loss |
| C．Primary tropical forests are rich in stored carbon |
| D．Tropical forests are being destroyed at an alarming rate |
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【推荐1】The start of the U.S. Atlantic hurricane season is just over two weeks away and forecasters are expecting particularly high activity this year. With warmer than usual conditions expected in the North Atlantic this summer, meteorologists have predicted that the season could produce eight or more hurricanes.
While forecasters cannot predict how many hurricanes — if any — will make landfall, the potential for dangerous storms to strike the southern and eastern coasts brings an additional problem for authorities already struggling with the COVID-19.
Experts say that the COVID-19 is affecting the capabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other organizations involved in responding to natural disasters.
Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Jeffrey Talley, who now leads global efforts on disaster management at IBM’s Center for the Business of Government, said that with FEMA and other authorities engaged with responding to the COVID-19, resources will be limited if a hurricane strikes.
“When we look at a disaster... I think of it in terms of how we prepare for, respond to and recover from those types of events,” Talley said. “Right now we’re in the middle of the response of COVID-19. None of us are really sure how long it’s going to last and how the response to disasters is going to be different, say, two months from now, six months from now, so on and so forth,” he said.
According to Talley, the COVID-19 could complicate the response to a hurricane by interrupting the flow of emergency supplies to areas where they are urgently needed at crucial moments.
Social distancing and stay-at-home orders will also force authorities along the south and east coast to rethink how they manage people who must leave their homes in the event of a disaster. While many states are already lifting some lockdown restrictions, social distancing will still be important for many months to come.
1. When will the first hurricane possibly arrive in US this summer?| A．In about eight days. | B．In about six months. |
| C．In about two months. | D．In more than two weeks. |
| A．More people will leave home to fight against a hurricane. |
| B．Rescue materials might not reach disaster areas sometimes. |
| C．Lockdown can greatly reduce damage and injury. |
| D．The pandemic makes it harder to predict hurricanes. |
| A．People throughout the country no longer need to stay at home. |
| B．The state governments are confident about tackling hurricanes. |
| C．Authorities along the coasts will stick to the former orders. |
| D．It is necessary to keep social distance in the coming months. |
| A．More Destructive Hurricanes to Be Expected. | B．More Difficult to Forecast Hurricanes Coming. |
| C．COVID-19 to Worsen Hurricane Response. | D．Social Distancing Needed in Coming Months. |
A farmer, Mr. Tan, said that the storm began early in the morning and lasted for over an hour. “I was eating with my wife and children,” he said, “When we heard a loud noise. A few minutes later our house fell down on top of us. We tried our best to climb out but then I saw that one of my children was missing. I went back inside and found him, safe but very frightened.”
Mrs. Woo Mei Fong said that her husband had just left for work when she felt that her house was moving. She ran outside at once with her children. “There was no time to take anything,” she said, “A few minutes later, the roof came down.”
Soldiers helped to take people out of the flooded area and the welfare department (福利机构) brought them food, clothes and shelter.
1. How many homes altogether were damaged in the storm?
| A．Fourteen | B．Twenty-one |
| C．Twenty-nine. | D．Thirty-six |
| A．her husband knew there would be a storm |
| B．they were all outside the house when the storm became worse |
| C．she felt the house was moving |
| D．the welfare department helped her |
| A．something to eat | B．something to wear |
| C．somewhere to study | D．somewhere to stay |
| A．A Terrible Storm | B．A Lucky Woman |
| C．Good Soldiers | D．Clever People |
【推荐3】An underwater volcano eruption in Tongaon Saturday (Jan. 15, 2022) was captured as it happened in shocking images from an Earth — watching satellite, showing the great power for the explosive event in the South Pacific. The volcano eruption on the island of Hunga Tonga — Hunga Ha’apai is visible as a spectacular explosion in views from the GOES West Earth — observing satellite operated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
A video of the eruption shows a vast mass of material from the volcano rising high into the atmosphere like a giant mushroom during the eruption as a shockwave extends outward from Hunga Tonga-Hunga Haapai, one of the 170 islands that make up the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga. The eruption spawned a 4-foot tsunami that hit Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa, which is about 40 miles south of the volcano. A deafening noise from the eruption was heard across the Pacific Ocean, reaching as far away as Alaska, according to the Associated Press (AP).
Nuku’alofa was covered in a film of volcanic dust, according to the AP. There have been no official reports of injuries or damage from Tonga’s capital on Jan. 15, 2022, but its Internet access was interrupted by the event, the volcano on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai first erupted on Dec, 20, 2021 and then exploded with a massive eruption on Jan, 13, which was also spotted by GOES West, NOAA officials said in a statement. That eruption on Jan. 13 was seven times more powerful than the December event and sent a huge mass of ash and gas over 12 miles into Earth’s atmosphere.
Saturday’s eruption also sent an ash mass to an altitude of nearly 12 miles, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told the AP. New Zealand officials hoped to send military flights over the volcano to assess its status, followed by aid and supplies for Tonga, where water supplies may be polluted, Ardern added.
1. Which word can be used to describe the eruption in Tonga on Jan, 15?| A．Invisible. | B．Powerful. | C．Common. | D．Beautiful. |
| A．Spread. | B．Captured. | C．Caused. | D．Showed |
| A．The dirty atmosphere of Nuku’alofa. |
| B．The terrible damage in Tonga’s capital. |
| C．Large numbers of injuries in Tonga. |
| D．Other volcanic eruptions in Tonga. |
| A．To remove the polluted atmosphere. |
| B．To provide aid and supplies. |
| C．To stop the ash and gas erupting out. |
| D．To learn more details about the volcano. |
【推荐1】For many centuries, the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands was protected by a defensive wall and canal (运河). But over time, the wall began to fall down. The area was then transformed (转变) into a park surrounding the city center. As for the canal, a plan was set forth to transform it into a new ring road. Since the community reacted strongly against the proposal, the ring road was never built.
In 2002, the local community wished to recover the canal. This began a long-term restoration project for the park and canal, which was designed in partnership with Utrecht’s residents and OKRA Landscape Architects. The specific part of the canal that was under restoration is called the Catharijnesingel. The project was made up of a 1,100-meter-long stretch, and required about 40,000 cubic meters of water to refill the canal.
OKRA’s design for the new layout of the canal and park features three main interventions (干预措施). Firstly, the park forms a buffer (缓冲带) between the residential and commercial areas of the city. It promotes interaction with nature by providing citizens with green and blue spaces that provide relaxation. This includes space to run and exercise in the park and row and paddleboard in the canal. Further, the dock (码头) along the waterfront is the perfect connection between the green and blue zones.
The redesign of the Catharijnesingel also promotes traffic flow. Pedestrians (行人) are the top choice, and they are given their own paths where possible. Meanwhile, a new walking track has been set up along the canal. It leads exercisers through the park, alongside various art installations (雕塑装置) and seating areas, and provides visitors with views of the city. Furthermore, the landscape architects included design elements from the original landscape architect, J. D. Zocher, to create a public space that bridges its historical design with the city center.
In addition, OKRA included strategies to promote biodiversity. By introducing a variety of adaptive plant species, the park has become a home for small animals, birds and insects within the city. Through their interventions, OKRA transformed the historic site into a healthy space where humans and other organisms co-exist peacefully.
1. What made the plan to change the canal into a road fail?| A．Shortage of money. |
| B．Its possible harm to nature. |
| C．The disagreement from the community. |
| D．The difficulty in preserving its historic features. |
| A．It is human-centered. |
| B．It features traditional local culture. |
| C．Mechanical equipment is widely used. |
| D．Eco-friendly materials are used. |
| A．Costly. |
| B．Debatable |
| C．Commercial. |
| D．Successful. |
| A．To promote harmony between man and nature. |
| B．To introduce a restoration project. |
| C．To show ways to transform a city. |
| D．To tell the history of a canal. |
【推荐2】A city in Netherlands will become the first in the world to ban meat advertisements from public spaces in an effort to reduce consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The ban also covers holiday flights, fossil fuels and cars that run on fossil fuels. The ban is delayed until 2024 due to existing contracts with companies that sell the products.
Haarlem, which lies to the west of Amsterdam and has a population of about 160,000, will bring the ban into effect from 2024 after meat was added to a list of products deemed to contribute to the climate crisis. Advertisements will not be allowed on Haarlem’s buses, shelters and screens in public spaces, prompting complaints from the meat sector that the government is “going too far in telling people what’s best for them”.
Recent studies suggest global food production is responsible for one-third of all planet-heating emissions, with the use of animals for meat accounting for twice the pollution of producing plant-based foods. Forests that absorb carbon dioxide are cut down for the food of animals while fertilisers used for growing their feed are rich in nitrogen (氮), which can contribute to air pollution, water pollution and climate change. Livestock also produces large quantities of methane (甲烷), a powerful greenhouse gas.
Zlggy Klazes, a councillor from the GroenLinks party, said she had not known the city would be the world’s first to enforce such a policy when she proposed it. She told the Haarlem105 radio channel: “We are not about what people are baking and roasting in their own kitchen; if people want to continue eating meat, it’s fine. We can’t tell people there’s a climate crisis and meanwhile, encourage them to buy products that are part of the cause. Of course, there are a lot of people who find the decision shocking and unreasonable, but there are also a lot of people who think it’s fine.”
1. What does the meat sector think of the ban?| A．Neutral. | B．Disapproving. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Positive. |
| A．Meat consumption causes more pollution. |
| B．Methane mainly comes from livestock. |
| C．Nitrogen is harmful to the environment. |
| D．People cut down trees for human habitation. |
| A．She is the first to ban meat advertisement. |
| B．She emphasizes the advantage of eating meat. |
| C．She is in favor of banning meat advertising. |
| D．She cares about what people cook in the kitchen. |
| A．Fossil fuels are banned in Dutch city. |
| B．A city in Netherlands decreases meat production. |
| C．Greenhouse gas emissions are limited in Dutch city. |
| D．A city in Netherlands bans meat advertisements in public. |
【推荐3】Does using an eco-friendly paper straw (吸管) give you a good feeling because you’re doing something for the environment? It is said that straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic.
PFAS chemicals, infamous for their longevity and potential harm, can adversely affect humans, wildlife and the environment.
For a more in-depth analysis, a research team conducted a test.
On the whole, the PFAS concentrations (浓度) are low and, considering that most people only use straws occasionally, cause a limited risk to human health.
| A．They purchased 39 different brands of drinking straws. |
| B．PFAS was not detected in any of the five types of steel straws. |
| C．So many people choose to use straws made from plant-based materials. |
| D．However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that could be discredited. |
| E．However, PFAS can remain in the body for many years and concentrations can build up over time. |
| F．The presence of PFAS in paper and bamboo straws shows they are not necessarily biodegradable. |
| G．They biodegrade (生物降解) very slowly over time and can persist over thousands of years in the environment. |
【推荐1】Taylor Swift added another great honor this year—the first-ever Taylor Swift Award—at the 64th yearly BMI Pop Awards.
Held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the ceremony honored the writers and publishers of the most-performed pop songs during the past year. The Taylor Swift Award was a recognition（认可）of both Swift’s musical influence and creative gift.
In her acceptance speech, Swift said that she was happy to get the award named after her. “It is really a relief that BMI decided to give me the Taylor Swift Award, because if they had chosen somebody else to give it to, I’d be like kind of angry about it.” the singer joked.
This eponymous（同名的）award marked only the second time in BMI’s history that the organization has presented an award in an artist’s name. Michael Jackson, a legendary（传奇的）artist, was the first to get that honor in 1990.
“Taylor Swift is one of the most popular singers in US. She has shown pop culture through her songs,” said Barbara Cane, BMI’s Vice President of Writer/ Publisher Relations, “She has had a deep influence, not only musically, but also through her personal belief and commitment to create a standard that values and respects music for everyone. We felt it suitable to award Taylor with an honor that is an special as she is.”
Swift also claimed four of the year’s most-performed songs to earn the honor of Pop Songwriter of the Year.
1. What do we know about the Taylor Swift Award?| A．The Taylor Swift Award can only be given to Taylor Swift herself. |
| B．The Taylor Swift Award is the only one that is named after an artist’s name. |
| C．Taylor’s creativity in music is one of the reasons that helps her get the award. |
| D．Barbara Cane decided to give the award to Taylor this year. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Unbelievable. |
| C．Angry. | D．Unexpected. |
| A．To prove that Michael Jackson is legendary. |
| B．To show that Taylor’s getting this award is a great honor. |
| C．To show that Taylor is not better than Michael Jackson. |
| D．To express that Michael Jackson set a good example to others. |
| A．The BMI Pop Awards is held twice a year. |
| B．This is the first time that Taylor has got an award this year. |
| C．Barbara Cane thought highly of Taylor’s music. |
| D．Taylor Swift is considered as the most popular singer in US. |
【推荐2】More than 10,000 people were made homeless in Ternang when the Sungai Mas overflowed its banks yesterday after six days of continuous heavy rain.
The wooden bridge across the river has been washed away. The town is cut off by flood waters. At the fifth mile, Jalan Tengkn, the water is two meters deep. It is closed to all traffic. Flooding first happened at mid-afternoon yesterday along the river banks. People trying to get to higher ground were just in time to escape the destroying of the flood. Most of the flood victims(受害者) had to leave all their things behind.
The National Flood Relief(救济) Center was reported to give its help and by early evening the whole town was moved out, helped by the army, police, Red Cross Society and volunteers(志愿者).
The flood victims are now housed in different simple relief centers in the nearby town of Ternang. “Everything possible is being done to help the unlucky people,” a government spokesman said, “In fact, money, food and clothing have begun to come in from public organizations and helpful people. A Disaster Relief Fund(救灾基金会) will be started as soon as possible.”
According to the latest reports it is still raining heavily at Ternang. The whole town is expected to be wholly covered by the water. So far no deaths have been reported.
1. This passage is probably taken from ______.| A．a storybook | B．a textbook |
| C．a magazine | D．a newspaper |
| A．the banks were too low | B．the wooden bridge is solid (坚固) |
| C．the river was too narrow | D．they had had wet days for some time |
| A．though the town was flooded, you could still go there by bus |
| B．as soon as the water flowed over the banks, people began to go to higher lands |
| C．the government and the whole society are taking great care of the flood victims |
| D．the flood hasn't brought a large loss to the town as nobody died in the flood |
| A．A Big Flood | B．Ternang Is destroyed |
| C．Over 10,000 People Are Homeless | D．Rescue Team Arrived |
【推荐3】WeChat, the Chinese social media smartphone app, saw an increase in user numbers of 41 percent year on year to 500 million at the end of last year, in a sign that parent company Tencent is extending its reach for the mobile Internet. As one of the largest Internet integrated service providers in China and one of the most Internet users in China, Tencent’s profit grew 24 percent to RMB 20.98 billion per year, slightly higher than forecasts, driven mainly by online gaming profits. It is unclear how much WeChat contributed to Tencent’s profits but the app’s growth is a strong indicator of the company’s long-term health as it tries to adjust its business to be more suitable for mobile devices.
“We extended our leadership in games and online media, and made breakthroughs in emerging platforms such as online security and mobile payments.” Ma Huateng, Tencent chairman, said in a statement. WeChat is the second highest ranked social app in China, behind QQ, Tencent’s another chatting app, which claimed to have 815 million registered monthly users at the end of 2014.
Tencent has been unwilling to earn money through WeChat by flooding it with advertising, which could influence the users’ experience. But this is expected to change. Some analysts anticipated(预期) that advertising would be introduced on a large scale later this year. Early attempts to test ads on the service have not always gone smoothly. After a BMW ad was introduced on some users’ feedbacks in January, many users who were not targeted by the brand’s marketing complained of “discrimination” by Tencent’s data mining algorithm(数据挖掘算法). They claimed it unfairly treated them as not wealthy or successful enough to view the BMW ad.
1. What can we learn from the passage?| A．WeChat is ranked behind QQ in China. |
| B．Tencent wants to earn more through QQ. |
| C．WeChat contributed most to Tencent’s profits. |
| D．More advertising would not be introduced later this year. |
| A．Uninterested. | B．Untouched. |
| C．Unhappy. | D．Unlucky. |
| A．WeChat, a Popular APP in China |
| B．WeChat, a Smartphone APP in China |
| C．WeChat, a Profitable APP of Tencent |
| D．WeChat, a Nonprofit APP of Tencent |
