SpoGomi, a combination of “sport” and “gomi” (Japanese for rubbish), is a popular competition in which teams of 3~5 people try to pick up the most trash of the highest quality in a set period of time.
Japan recently announced that it would host the first SpoGomi World Cup in November of 2023, with teams from all over the world searching the streets of Tokyo for trash to pick up. Each team of three players will have 60 minutes to gather the most trash from a designated (指定的) area while trying to sort it correctly into color-coded bags for each type. When the time is up, the trash will be weighed and checked for proper sorting, and the team with the most trash wins. In case of a tie, the winner is determined by the quality of the trash, with points awarded by type.
The SpoGomi World Cup sounds like a great way to encourage people to keep public spaces clean, but in terms of the competitive aspect, there is little incredulity as to which team will win. After all, the Japanese are famous worldwide for cleaning up after themselves everywhere they go.
Participants all wear heavy-duty cleaning gloves that allow them to pick up virtually any type of trash, as well as tongs to pick up trash from a standing position. At the start of the competition, they all yell “Picking up trash is a sport!” before running into their designated areas. At the end of the given time, all participants return to the starting line to have their trash weighed and checked.
Winning teams usually receive a certificate or an award from the organizers, and maybe a small prize from sponsors. But SpoGomi isn’t really about rewards. Participants just enjoy the competitive nature of the sport, working as a group, spending valuable time outdoors and keeping their cities clean.
1. Which aspect about the SpoGomi World Cup does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?| A．Its competition rules. | B．Its significance. |
| C．Its history. | D．Its participation requirements. |
| A．Difference. | B．Meaning. | C．Certainty. | D．Doubt. |
| A．They can strengthen the love for wildlife. |
| B．They can develop better team spirit. |
| C．They can learn to manage their life better. |
| D．They can become more energetic and generous. |
| A．A news report. | B．A book review. |
| C．A diary entry. | D．A research paper. |
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【推荐1】I set up the organization, LitWorld, to provide every child with knowledge to create their own future of independence.
Now the HerStory Campaign, supported by LitWorld, will hold its 2nd anniversary. Teams of women and girls from communities around the world where we work will come to New York City as HerStory Ambassadors. Together, we will spend the week developing community action plans to make positive changes driven by women and girls in their home communities.
The movement will be a happy one, full of storytelling and arts courses, chances to build new friendships and deepen the HerStory network and connect with other changemakers, as well as visits to famous places in New York City.
One of the student leaders in Kenya, Winnie, is the oldest child in her family and has been caring for her family after her mother died five years ago. Though she has faced many difficulties, being part of the HerStory Campaign for the past two years has given Winnie the courage to go ahead and hope for the future. Winnie started “I Read, I Lead”. In her community, there are few ways to get information about women’s health. She understands that education is powerful and teaches girls to make wise choices for themselves.
Winnie is our future. She is learning and working to make her community in Kenya a better place for herself and others. Her story is just starting, but it is one of strength. Through our work, we are proud to make her voice and her spirit strong.
1. Why will women and girls take part in the HerStory Campaign?| A．To learn how to make artwork. | B．To share stories on creating networks. |
| C．To find ways to improve their communities. | D．To learn from some communities in New York. |
| A．By calling on women to learn. | B．By advising women to dream big. |
| C．By encouraging women to be brave. | D．By providing medical help for sick women. |
| A．It has made her world-famous. | B．It has set a good example for others. |
| C．It has proved the importance of LitWorld. | D．It has caused a great change in Kenyan kids. |
【推荐2】A 60-year-old homeless woman named Smokie has been sleeping outside in the dirt a few doors down from a man named Elvis Summers.
Most mornings, she stops by Elvis’s Los Angeles apartment and asks if he has any recyclables for her. Through these conversation, they established a friendship.
One morning, Elvis saw a news article about a man in Oakland who has been making tiny houses out of rejected material. He was inspired to put off paying a few bills so he could buy the lumber(废旧家具) and hardware to make Smokie a brand new shelter. It took him five days to build, and now, for the first time in ten years, Smokie has a place to hang the sign, ＂Home Sweet Home.＂
＂I had nowhere to really build it, so I just built it in the street outside of my apartment,＂ he told Good News Network. ＂The local LAPD cops have been super cool, and have told me they support it — as long as we move it to a different spot every 72 hours.＂
He made a video showing how he did it. The materials, including two locks on the front door and wheels for moving it around, cost him about $500.
＂I’ve met so many homeless people, good people,＂ Elvis said in an email. ＂Since I built Smokie’s, several people asked me to make them a tiny home and it’s turned into much more than just the one house I wanted to build.＂
Although he runs an online retail store that sells EDM clothing, he decided to launch an ambitious project to fund more shelters. He plans to get lighter and cheaper materials — without sacrificing the strength of the house — for the next round. Rick Sassen, the branch manager at supply company Allied Building kindly donated the roof shingles(木瓦板) and cedar siding(雪松壁板) for Smokie’s house, final items Elvis couldn’t afford on his own. Sassen has promised to work out a deal on future building materials for the same cause.
＂I’d like to offer purpose to these people in need and hire them to build the houses with me. I’ve even set an appointment with LA’s Mayor Eric Garcetti to try and get his help,＂said Elvis. ＂The city owns or controls many properties which are just sitting collecting dust and could be used, even temporarily, to help save lives.＂
Because Elvis qualifies for a free phone through the free phone program, he’s given his device to Smokie and helps her keep it charged. She has been using it to contact her family.
＂Now if I could just get her to stop using the radio on the phone so much, it wouldn’t always be dead and need charging so often,＂he said laughing.
1. Where did Elvis’s inspiration to build a tiny house come from?| A．A news report. | B．A science book. | C．A fictional story. | D．An advertisement. |
| A．It’s air-conditioned. | B．It’s very light. |
| C．It can be moved. | D．It has no roof. |
| A．Elvis will get help from poor people. | B．Elvis earns his living by building houses. |
| C．Elvis plans to build stronger houses. | D．Elvis will help more homeless people. |
| A．It can’t be used to listen to the radio programme. |
| B．Smokie often uses it to keep in touch with her family. |
| C．It belongs to Smokie and costs some money to use. |
| D．Elvis has no privilege to use it free at present. |
【推荐3】I received a call today asking if I would be willing to bring food to a family in need. The mother was having a major operation and would be lying down for several weeks. Of course, I responded with an immediate "Yes!". As I planned the meal in my head, I reflected on how many times over the years I had been asked to prepare food. I have done so countless times with a very open heart.
But the truly amazing thing is that I have received double over the course of my life. When my mother passed away, our house was filled with fresh dinners for weeks. A woman from the church of our community stopped by each evening with some food. The gift of food was her small way of trying to ease our pain.
Later in my life, when I was on bed rest during my pregnancy with twins, women from the church again stepped in to help. They arranged babysitting for my two-year-old daughters, and brought lovely dinners to our house. Even when I was in the hospital, my husband would bring cooked meals to my hospital room. How we relied on these dinners to feed my tired husband and young daughters.
Food is all about comfort. It feeds our bodies, but it can also feed our souls. When you hear people talking about their favourite holidays, it usually includes their feelings connected with sharing food. I know that I will have many more opportunities in my life to prepare food for others. It is truly a gift I want to prepare and deliver to someone in need.
1. We can learn from the first paragraph that the author .| A．had to stay in bed for several weeks |
| B．knew the family in need very well |
| C．was glad to be able to lend a hand |
| D．was tired of preparing food |
| A．Her mother died when she was in hospital. |
| B．She didn’t get enough food during her pregnancy. |
| C．She received food as well as comfort in her hard times. |
| D．She thinks offering food is the best way to show love. |
| A．Her family is too poor to buy enough food. |
| B．Her family lives not far from a church. |
| C．Her husband is not good at cooking. |
| D．She has a babysitter taking care of her twins. |
| A．A good beginning makes a good ending. |
| B．Share love and warm others. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. |
| D．Every man has his faults. |
【推荐1】India and China are leading the global greening effort, a latest NASA study said, observing that the world is a greener place than it was 20 years ago.
Data from NASA’s satellites show that human activities in China and India play an important part in this greening of the planet, thanks to tree planting and agriculture. The effect comes mostly from tree-planting programs in China and intensive agriculture (集约农业) in both countries. “China and India account for one-third of the greening,” said lead author Chi Chen of Boston University.
China alone accounts for 25 percent of the global net increase in leaf area with only 6.6 percent of global vegetated (有植被的) area. The greening in China is from forests and farmland, but in India, it is mostly from farmland with minor contribution from forests. China’s great contribution to the global greening trend comes in large part from its programs to protect and expand forests.
“When the greening of the earth was first observed, we thought it was due to a warmer, wetter climate and fertilization (施肥) from the added carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Now with the satellite data, we see that humans are also contributing,” said Rama Nemani, a research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center. “Once people realize there is a problem, they tend to fix it. In the 1970s and 80s in India and China, the situation about vegetation loss was not good. In the 1990s, people realized it, and today things have improved. That’s what we see in the satellite data,” added Nemani.
The land area used to grow crops is comparable in China and India, and has not changed much since the early 2000s. Yet both countries have greatly increased both their annual total green leaf area and their food production. This was achieved through multiple cropping practices, by which a field is replanted to produce another harvest several times a year. Production of grains, vegetables, fruits and more has increased by about 35% — 40% since 2000 to feed their large populations.
1. Where did the greening mainly come from in India?| A．Croplands. | B．Tree planting. |
| C．Forests and farmland. | D．A warmer and wetter climate. |
| A．Carbon dioxide causes global warming. |
| B．Man can actively change the environment. |
| C．In India and China, vegetation loss has been solved. |
| D．Climate has little to do with the greening of the earth. |
| A．India and China are guiding the global greening. |
| B．Human activities change the global climate. |
| C．Climate change contributes to the global greening. |
| D．The land area for crops in China and India has changed much. |
【推荐2】Kayaking(皮划艇) is an activity enjoyed by many people of all ages. It requires little or no experience and nearly anyone of any skill level can participate. It’s most popular as a summertime sport, but it is also a great activity during the winter. Kayaking also seems relatively friendly to the environment, more so than speed boating or water skiing. Because a kayak doesn’t create large or frequent waves, require fuel, or let off polluted air, it is indeed a fairly safe activity for humans and wildlife alike.
Kayaking on freshwater lakes and streams creates little turbulence and therefore does not disturb fish or other aquatic life. Actually, the gentle paddling and movement of the kayak helps to bring seaweed to the surface, making for convenient snacking to the fish. However, there is a drawback to the all-you-can-buffet for your fishy friends. In addition to bringing food to the surface, kayaking also stirs up litter that’s been hiding beneath the waters. Some aquatic animals will mistake it for food. This could cause the animals to choke on the indigestible litter, leading to death. As hazardous as this sounds, it isn’t very likely for such an event to take place. Most litter in lakes and streams is found along the shoreline and settles in the sand and dirt, and isn’t likely to drift away to the main body of water. Unlike boats operated by motor and fuel, kayaks pose little or no harm to the fish swimming beneath. And because kayaks do not have a motor, fish have no risk of getting caught underneath the boat.
One potential hazard that results from kayaking is human waste. This depends solely on where you plan to kayak, and if there are resources available (such as campsites) along the shoreline. When there are no facilities in sight, you’re paddling in the middle of a lake, and nature calls, then often you are given no choice but to expel your waste in the middle of the water. While human waste is considered biodegradable, it can be harmful when swallowed by fish. The only preventative measure is to avoid using the water as a restroom. Some public lakes and streams have taken steps to preserve the quality of the water by requiring permits for kayaking. This won’t ease the human waste problem, but does help regulate entry into the lake and prevent it from becoming overcrowded.
An important factor to remember when kayaking is that you are a guest in someone else’s home. You may not be greeted by anyone or be able to kick up your feet and watch TV, but the water is home to many aquatic animals and wildlife. Just as you would not throw trash on the floor or destroy the home of another, you shouldn’t do it outdoors either. Keep all trash with you in your kayak and properly dispose of it after you return to shore. By doing your part, you will help keep kayaking a safe and enjoyable activity for yourself and the environment.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Kayaking according to the passage?| A．Young people’s enjoyment of kayaking exceeds that of other people. |
| B．Water skiing has more negative effects on the environment than Kayaking. |
| C．Usually, kayaking is only practiced in the summer. |
| D．Whether you can kayak depends on resources available along the shoreline. |
| A．Providing aquatic animals with an all-you-can-buffet. |
| B．Stirring up litter to the surface of the water. |
| C．That aquatic animals choke to death because of eating the litter. |
| D．That most litter in lakes and streams is found along the shoreline and settles. |
| A．Recycled. | B．Environmentally harmless. | C．Poisonous. | D．Sustainable. |
| A．preserving the quality of the water there | B．stopping the waters from becoming too crowded |
| C．solving the problem of human waste | D．helping regulate entry into those waters |
| A．The environmental impacts of kayaking—is it dangerous? |
| B．The most popular water sports—kayaking |
| C．Advantages and disadvantages of kayaking |
| D．How to keep kayaking a safe and enjoyable activity? |
【推荐3】The Greek historian Herodotus is said to have made one of the earliest lists of Seven Wonders of the World. These were man-made structures, including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. More recent times saw natural alternatives to these wonders of classical architecture proposed: waterfalls, mountains, canyons, reefs. Dramatic landscapes, features and wildlife, and the pleasure and excitement they offer to visitors, are basics of tourism.
As environmental consciousness has risen, attitudes to such sightseeing have changed. Yes, it is exciting to visit remote forests or spot rare species. But travelling to distant destinations is carbon-intensive (碳密集的) when flights or long road journeys are involved, and conservation can be made more difficult as well as assisted by sightseers. There is a balance to be struck, and some governments and businesses around the world try to increase the benefits while reducing the harm. Colombia, for example, recently introduced laws aimed at promoting sustainable tourism. Based on this, its economy got prosperous (繁荣的) as well as the tourism.
Most of us understand better than ever that there are costs as well as benefits associated with exploring. One of the commitments made by an environmental campaign launched last month, “The Jump”, is to “holiday local”, taking short flights once every 3 years and long flights very rarely. Fortunately, the UK’s 15 national parks, 86 areas of outstanding natural beauty, and countless other landscapes that are without formal status, but still beloved, mean that there is no shortage of special places for domestic nature tourists to visit, while a lot of European beauty spots are accessible by rail.
One recent survey found that Windsor Great Park and Kew have become Britain’s most popular attractions. Visitor numbers at wildlife trusts are high, with waiting lists for beaver-spotting. Some companies that formerly ran foreign trips have adapted to the pandemic by taking people to watch dolphins and other marine life off British coasts instead.
As we face an environmental emergency that grows ever more dangerous, it is essential to develop appreciation for nature that surrounds us. In a small way, holiday outings to watch dragonflies, kingfishers or seals, or be surrounded by trees that are coming into leaf, could help us to focus on what matters.
1. Why are the lists of Seven Wonders mentioned?| A．To bring natural wonders into focus. |
| B．To show changes in architectural styles. |
| C．To reveal the rising popularity of tourism. |
| D．To compare historic and modern structures. |
| A．It made efforts to conserve rare species. |
| B．It banned sightseers from going to remote forests. |
| C．It introduced laws to increase the income of tourism. |
| D．It tried to make its tourism develop healthily and stably. |
| A．Relaxed. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Nature tourism: “travel local” |
| B．Discovery of European beauty spots |
| C．International tourism: wait before setting out |
| D．Sightseeing leads to environmental emergency |
【推荐1】Still dressed in their sleepwear, Dian Turner’s kids couldn‘’t wait to get outside. But they didn’t go far — they stopped at the footpath outside their Melbourne home, armed with a box of chalks.
Max, seven, and Lenny, four, have been away from their friends since coronavirus physical-distancing rules came into force and the Victorian school holidays were brought forwards a week. They’re just two of the many children who have been spending their shutdown time drawing rainbows (彩虹) and encouraging messages like “We’re all in this together” across Australia. “It was something for the kids to make them feel connected to other people, because obviously they’re feeling a little bit uncertain about staying at home and what this means, and not being able to go to the playground and the park,” Ms Turner said.
Ms Turner first saw the idea when she was added to a Facebook group called the Rainbow Trail, which documents children and their parents drawing rainbows for others to spot. Ms Turner, a lawyer who has been spending much of her time working from home amid the shutdown measures, said it was “something positive to talk about” with the family. “You’re not breaking any of the social-distancing rules but it’s something that you can do and you can be happy and show that there’s a connection.”
University of Melbourne public health researcher Lisa Gibbs said it was important to provide children with age-appropriate ways to make them feel active and capable during the pandemic. “It’s easy in times of danger, which essentially this is, to be so concerned with protecting children, which obviously is of great importance,” Professor Gibbs said. “But in protecting children we can sometimes treat them as vulnerable (脆弱的), which makes them feel useless. So these sorts of activities are really helpful in providing a sense of agency in children that they can make a contribution to others.”
Professor Gibbs said in times of disaster, two patterns were very common — community mobilization, where people banded together, and community deterioration (恶化), where social supports fell apart. “So what these activities from children are doing is really contributing to social mobilization,” she said. “And people respond really positively to children’s messages, because they spread joy.”
1. What did Max and Lenny do during the shutdown time?| A．They held a party. |
| B．They drew rainbows in pencil. |
| C．They gave their neighbors a lift with art. |
| D．They played some sports games on the footpath. |
| A．It is beneficial. |
| B．It is time-wasting. |
| C．It should be further developed. |
| D．It may break social-distancing rules. |
| A．They are safe. |
| B．They are careless. |
| C．They are helpless. |
| D．They are valuable. |
| A．They help to build social connection. |
| B．They are hard to understand. |
| C．They will cause pollution. |
| D．They lack creativity. |
【推荐2】A group of wandering wild elephants have become an overnight Internet sensation in China and globally.
While the original group is made up of 16 elephants, two decided to return home after a week. The rest have continued their journey northward, stopping only for a short break in November 2020 to allow a newly-born elephant and its mother to recover.
Since leaving the reserve, the elephants have walked over 500 kilometers. Along the way, they have entered farms for food and water, walked through urban streets, and even paid a visit to a car dealership and a retirement home. No animals or people have been hurt. However, they have destroyed more than $1 million worth of crops.
Researchers are not sure why the elephants decided to leave or where they are headed. While they are known to leave their habitats in search of food, this is the longest migration of wild elephants recorded in China. Because of the extreme distance traveled, some guess that the elephants may be lost. Elephant expert Chen Mingyong said that the herd's leader possibly "lacks experience and has led the whole group off track."
However, other scientists think the elephants were forced to move due to deforestation（砍伐森林）, Successful conservation efforts have almost doubled the elephant population in the Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and the surrounding regions. However, their natural habitat has been greatly reduced to make room for agricultural development.
"As their populations increase, they search for more food for the growing herd," Becky Shu Chen said. "You could say that the increase in agricultural land and plantations in their region is, for elephants, like finding a big sweet shop, right on their doorstep.”
The wandering herd's search for a suitable home has not gone unnoticed by the millions of locals That eagerly follow their daily movements on social media. Adam Chang, assigned to deliver food to the elephants, says, "Before this meeting, I just felt curious about animals. Now. I think I would volunteer in animal rights groups to preserve those giant creatures."
1. Why did the wild elephants stop temporarily in November 2020?| A．To look for food and water at a farm. | B．To enjoy the beauty of the urban streets. |
| C．To have a rest after travelling over 500 kilometers. | D．To wait for a baby elephant and its mom to recover. |
| A．The reduction of their habitats. | B．The loss of direction sense. |
| C．The poor conversation measures. | D．The development of agriculture. |
| A．They are helped by locals to find a suitable home. | B．They are annoyed by being followed each day. |
| C．They raise people's awareness of animal protection. | D．They have the rights to move around freely. |
| A．China's Wild Elephants Are Always on the Move | B．China's Wild Elephants Are Touring Through Cities |
| C．China's Wandering Wild Elephants Attract the World | D．China's Wandering Elephants Are Losing Their Way |
【推荐3】China will have the most 5G connections of any nation by 2025, according to a new study, while Europe will fall behind Korea, the United States and Japan in terms of 5G penetration(渗透)by that year.
5G is the fifth generation of network technology. It is expected to bring unbelievable speeds to Internet users, with some operations running 10 times faster than on 4G networks. 5G is also expected to unlock the potential in a lot of new services, including artificial intelligence, science of robots self-driving cars, and the Internet of things.
The GSMA said that China's three major mobile operators-China Unicorn, China Mobile, and China Telecom-are already moving ahead with 5G networks. While most nations will have 5G by updating existing foundations, the study noted that China plans to build part of its 5G networks.
One of the most distinguishing(显著的) factors between Chinese mobile operators and those in the rest of the world is the intention to erect the new and independent 5G networks. That is, China is determined to build a completely advanced 5G. The high cost underlines China's seriousness about paying whatever it takes.
Korea will lead the world in terms of 5G penetration in 2025, when 66 percent of the nation's total connections will be 5G, according to GSMA. This compares to 50 percent in the US, 49 percent in Japan, 36 percent in China, 30 percent in Europe, and a global average of 18 percent. Out of the five economies leading on 5G, Europe will have the lowest participation in 2025, as the area is moving more slowly in having its 5G networks.
1. What will 5G bring?| A．A completely new pattern for daily life. |
| B．Excellent networks and national safety. |
| C．Amazing speeds for public transportation. |
| D．Realizing the potential in many new services. |
| A．It will develop rapidly. | B．It may be lack of government support. |
| C．It will move forward slowly. | D．It may fall behind Europe. |
| A．bring up. | B．set up. | C．turn up. | D．pick up. |
| A．More than half Koreans use 5G in 2025. | B．Chinese cannot own 5G in 2025. |
| C．Only five countries will have 5G in 2025. | D．Europe will pay little attention to 5G in 2025. |
