The Royal Mint has announced plans for a new factory where it will process electronic junk to extract precious metals for coins and gold bars. The factory will be the first of its kind in the world.
The Royal Mint is a Government-owned company that makes coins for the UK and lots of other countries. Most of its coins are made from cheaper metals, but the Mint sometimes makes coins and medals from precious metals like gold and silver. It also makes gold bars. Countries and banks like to keep gold bars because they are very valuable and their price doesn’t tend to go up or down suddenly.
The precious metals used by the Mint are mostly mined from the ground but now it plans to make use of the vast amounts of electronic waste (known as e-waste) that is thrown away in the UK each year. Many electronic devices use small quantities of precious metals such as gold and silver because they are good conductors of electricity. However, it is estimated that just 20% of old electronics are recycled worldwide. This is not just a waste; it can be dangerous, because when e-waste is buried in rubbish dumps, metals and chemicals can leak out and pollute the environment.
Currently, e-waste from the UK is sent abroad to be melted down to recover precious metals. The new factory will use chemical reactions to do the same job much quicker and using far less energy. The process can extract 99% of the precious metals from plastic circuit boards within a few seconds, and could provide the Mint with hundreds of kilograms of gold each year.
“Our new plant will see the Royal Mint become a leader in sustainably sourced precious metals,” said Anne Jessopp, the Mint’s CEO.
1. What does the underlined word “extract” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Obtain. | B.Break. | C.Limit. | D.Add. |
A.Energy shortage. | B.Environmental pollution. |
C.A lack of workers. | D.A waste of gold bars. |
A.Costly. | B.Risky. | C.Promising. | D.Demanding. |
A.Making Use of E-waste | B.Turning Junk into Gold |
C.Building a New Factory | D.Running a Junk Business |
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【推荐1】Four Wild Animal Species Were Endangered
Maybe you can still see them at the zoo. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing alright in the wild.
Tigers
All six tiger species are endangered, with Sumatran tigers and South Chin tigers at a seriously endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are illegal hunting and destroyed habitats(栖息地), as humans clear forests to gather timber(木材)and build roadways. Only about 3890 tigers presently live in the wild.
Ground squirrels
That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin ground squirrel. Native to California, USA, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown , but it could be anywhere between 124000 and 413000.
Giraffes
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.
Asian elephants
The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50000 are left on the entire continent.
1. What is the total population of tigers living in the wild?A.Around 3890. |
B.50000. |
C.124000. |
D.413000. |
A.Tigers. |
B.Giraffes. |
C.Ground squirrels. |
D.Asian elephants. |
A.Illegal hunting. |
B.Disturbed habitat. |
C.Developing tourism. |
D.Unnecessary construction. |
A.Satisfactory. |
B.Optimistic. |
C.Urgent. |
D.Stable. |
【推荐2】Music festivals are highly popular events during the summer months, attracting thousands of festival-goers who camp on-site. However, the question arises as to whether the tents left behind can be recycled.
While some festival organizers claim that they recycle the tents, the answer is not so straightforward. Every year, thousands of tents are abandoned (拋弃) at festivals, and it’s not just post-festival laziness or poor weather that is to blame. According to a recent survey, many festival-goers leave their tents behind because they believe they will be donated to charities. But unfortunately, this is only wishful thinking.
Matt Wedge, the director of Festival Waste Reclamation & Distribution, says that the number of tents left behind is increasing, estimating that around 20% of the tents at this year’s Leeds Festival were abandoned, which amounted to about 7,000 tents. He adds that Reading and Leicester festivals are usually just as bad but twice as big, meaning that 14,000 tents could have been abandoned there.
In terms of addressing this problem, one popular idea is to employ a tent deposit scheme (保证金计划). Under this scheme, festival-goers would pay a deposit to bring their tent to the festival, which would be returned to them if they take their tent home. “A similar thing happens with litter. Some festivals make attendees pay a £10 ‘eco bond’, which will be returned to them if they fill up a bag of rubbish and hand it in at the end of the festival,” he adds.
The shocking images of abandoned tents are more than just a comment on the environmental impacts of the festival itself. They are in fact a dramatic symbol of our throwaway culture. Just as images of clean fields at Glastonbury represent a refreshing sign of hope for what could be, the ultimate (最后的) message is to make it a habit to take your tent home at least. It’s the best thing people can do.
1. Why are tents left behind after music festivals according to the recent survey?A.Most of the tents are of poor quality. |
B.Some people are too lazy to take the tents home. |
C.Poor weather makes it difficult to recycle the tents. |
D.Many people mistakenly think they will be donated. |
A.There is an increasing demand for tents. |
B.A large percentage of tents are abandoned. |
C.Tents take a fair amount of energy to make. |
D.Festival tickets are more expensive than tents. |
A.How charities do with the tents. |
B.How landfills improve work efficiency. |
C.Methods to employ more festival volunteers. |
D.Attempts to reduce litter and abandoned tents after festivals. |
A.To stress the importance of music festivals. |
B.To introduce popular music festivals in the world. |
C.To make people pay attention to the quality of tents. |
D.To call on people to protect the environment during festivals. |
【推荐3】Did you buy too much bread before heading out for a holiday? Did you give up the vegetables that are going bad?
In an effort to help eco-conscious consumers, a Geneva nonprofit is speeding up its plan of street-side, free-access public refrigerators that restaurateurs, at-home cooks and others can use to give away food that’s about to go bad. It’s part of a bigger effort by communities in Switzerland and other European countries to do their part for the environment while helping to cut down on food waste.
The nonprofit Free-Go has placed refrigerators and shelves in Geneva where passersby can get fruit, vegetables, bread and other perishables(易变质食品) to take home for free.The program costs about $40,000 to run each year and enjoys the support from the city government. It began a year ago with a single fridge outside a community center in western Geneva and it now has four fridges, strategically placed around town. A fifth one is planned before year’s end.
Free-Go is experimenting with scheduled pickups at apartment buildings to make it easier for residents(居民) to participate in the program. It has also set up a“hotline”that restaurateurs can use to call for the collection of unused food. Free-Go says giver s of food from the private sector, such as restaurants, must make a promise to ensure the given food is safe to eat.
Free-Go says about 1 billion tons of food go to waste every year around the world—using up energy and other resources in the farming and transportation process. Similar food-sharing activities are in place in the capital, Bern, after the idea was imported from Germany.
According to Foodsharing.de, a community group in Germany that started more than a decade ago, more than a half-million people in Germany, Switzerland and Austria have made “the food-sharing initiative an international movement”and have helped save 83 million tons of food from going to waste.
1. How did the Free-Go program start in the beginning?A.With two fridges in a local supermarket. |
B.With a single fridge outside in western Geneva. |
C.With three fridges distributed in various parks. |
D.With a large storage facility in central Geneva. |
A.To promote local restaurants. |
B.To provide refrigeration services. |
C.To establish a hotline for food collection. |
D.To reduce food waste and help the environment. |
A.To report refrigerators in bad condition. |
B.For residents to schedule food pickups. |
C.To provide information about safe food handling. |
D.For restaurateurs to call for the collection of unused food. |
A.Critical. | B.Negative. | C.Positive. | D.Indifferent. |
【推荐1】Do you really care who wins Oscars? On February 24 this year, the Academy Awards were presented to actors, actresses, directors, musicians and many other people. Usually they are the “best” and we the audience, are persuaded that this is true.
This year, the nominations(提名)for Best Picture include Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book. According to many people, these are great movies, as are the performers who bring the stories to life. Whoever wins the award for Best Actor or Best Actress will undoubtedly become a Hollywood star.
However, Leonardo had never won an Oscar before 2016, but that doesn't mean that his films aren't amazing. I only need to mention Titanic and The Wolf of Wall Street and you can clearly see that he is an excellent actor. And of course, let's not forget Romeo and Juliet.
I'm afraid someone may wrongly apprehend my meaning. I am not saying that those who win Academy Awards are not talented people. They most certainly are talented. What I mean is that I don't think we should judge films and actors by how many awards they have. After all, at this year's Golden Globe Awards, Ricky Gervais compared the prizes to a doorstop and told the nominees to remember that no one cared about that award as much as they did.
So let's not judge an actor or actress just based on what(评论家)say. If you want to know how good an actor or actress really is go and watch the film he or she stars in.
1. Why is Leonardo mentioned in the passage?A.He is one of the writer's favorite film actors. |
B.He is one of the actors who starred in many films. |
C.He is the leading actor in many award-winning films. |
D.He is a good actor who didn't win an Oscar until 2016. |
A.Express. | B.Understand. | C.Change. | D.Show. |
A.To see if he has won an Oscar. |
B.To read what critics say. |
C.To judge him by watching his acting. |
D.To see how many awards he has won. |
【推荐2】China announced the establishment of the first — ever five national parks during the COP15 biodiversity summit.
Sanjiangyuan National Park
Located on the Qinghai — Tibet Plateau, the Sanjiangyuan area is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze. Yellow and Lancang rivers, which help to raise billions of lives. The glaciers and snow mountains are beautiful and animals such as snow leopards and blue sheep are tough. In Sanjiangyuan National Park, ecological protection and development of animal — farming areas are carried out.
The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park
The Siberian tiger and the Amur leopard are endangered speciesunder global protection. The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park is important for the survival of these animals and restoring and keeping stable populations. Tigers and leopards can walk around freely in the mountains.
The Giant Panda National Park
The Giant Panda National Park on the borders of Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces is home to 1,339 wild pandas, 70 percent of China's total. As an umbrella species, countless creatures which share the habitat with the pandas also gain a better living environment. Rare animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys and takins also thrive in the area.
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Hainan black — crested gibbons, listed as the world’s most endangered primate (灵长类的) species, are found only in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. To preserve the tropical rainforest ecosystem, the people in the core area moved out to leave an undisturbed environment for ecological restoration.
Wuyishan National Park
UNESCO described Wuyi Mountains as the most outstanding area for biodiversity conservation in southeast China. It is a lotus land of rare wildlife, with many species only found in China. For the past one hundred years, biologists from China and abroad have researched and discovered more than 1,000 new species in the mountains.
1. In which park can you see glaciers and snow mountains?A.The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. | B.Sanjiangyuan National Park. |
C.The Giant Panda National Park. | D.Wuyishan National Park. |
A.Blue sheep | B.The Amur leopard. |
C.Black — crested gibbons. | D.snub — nosed monkeys. |
A.They moved away from their original living places. |
B.They defended the animal — farming areas. |
C.They set up areas for animals to walk around freely. |
D.They helped scientists research and discover new species. |
【推荐3】My husband came across the program from his father’s high school graduation 90 years ago. It was the Class of 1928 and their class motto was, “Build for character, not for fame. ”
I’m pretty sure society has done quite the opposite to that one. These days, we have people who are famous for simply being famous. They haven’t done anything particularly impressive, but they do take great selfies (自拍照). We are all crazy about fame these days, mainly thanks to social media. All we want is for people to follow us, friend us, like us or share our posts. We are nearly mad about fame.
“Build for character, not for fame.” is based on the belief that one is looking up and ahead. That’s an encouraging idea, especially today, when most of us have our heads down, looking at the screens of our smartphones. Looking ahead and building for character takes thought and intentionality. One can be intentional in building for fame as well, but fame often relies heavily on the right timing and connections as well as the creation of a base of fans and supporters. Character isn’t decided by the ideas of others. Character is built with self-discipline and a willingness to learn from difficulties. Character grows inside and needs no praise.
Fame depends on people looking at you, while character is who you are when no one is looking. Fame often comes with jealousy (嫉妒)-a feeling that time is running out or that someone better than you is coming to steal your fans. Character is marked by feeling fulfilled and being generous . There is satisfaction that comes with the reward of achievements, but at the same time, good character willingly holds the door open for others who are also hoping to achieve.
This graduation season, speakers will tell new graduates to get out there and build a better world. The best way is to build character, the kind that runs deep and can carry you through lifers storms. Build character with courage, justice and strength. Build character by respecting yourself and others . Build character with kindness, hope and love. Build for character and you will build a better world.
1. What does the author think of people nowadays?A.They’re mad about achievements. | B.They want to be famous very much. |
C.They’re trying to build for character. | D.They like doing everything impressive. |
A.content | B.Confident | C.famous | D.comfortable |
A.It inspires people to achieve more. | B.It enables us to build a better world. |
C.It allows graduates to get a good job. | D.It helps us again respect from other people. |