In the west of the Greek capital Athens, the fish market of Keratsini is busy early in the morning, with trucks waiting nearby to be loaded with fishes. But on his fishing boat, Arapakis sorts out something different—bottles, boots, plastic pipes and fishing nets, all dragged from the bed of the Aegean Sea.
“We are swimming in plastic,” said Arapakis, whose family has fished for five generations. “By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea,” he said, as recent reports noted.
That morning’s plastic catch weighed “about 100 kilograms,” said the founder of Enaleia, a nonprofit that encourages fishermen to collect marine (海洋的) waste caught in their nets. Since its establishment in 2018, it has worked with more than 1,200 fishermen in Greece to raise concern over the degradation of the marine environment.
Active in 42 ports throughout Greece, Enaleia provides fishermen with large bags for marine waste that they can put in garbage cans once back at port. For every kilogram of plastic they deliver, they receive a small amount of money, which is enough for a drink. Since October, fishing crews have dragged out 20 metric tons of plastic and old fishing equipment each month. Nearly 600 tons have been collected over the last five years. The collected plastic is transported to a recycling plant in the industrial area of Megara near Keratsini, to make new products such as socks, swimwear or furniture.
Arapakis said he went about the cleanup project after a trip to Greece’s Cyclades islands, where he saw fishermen throwing the waste gathered by their nets back into the sea.
Arapakis is convinced there has been a “mentality change” among Greece’s fishermen. “Previously we caught large quantities of plastic, but we only kept the fish. All waste was thrown into the sea,” said Mokharam, team leader on the Arapakis family’s boat. “The project brings practical benefits for fishing boats. In the past, the anchor was often caught by waste, especially nets, and the engine would go out. But now things have changed,” he added.
1. What can we learn about Arapakis from the first 2 paragraphs?| A．He was a successful fish trader. | B．He collected waste from the sea. |
| C．He liked swimming in the sea. | D．He had a large family to support. |
| A．Impact. | B．Worsening. | C．Improvement. | D．Research. |
| A．It will be sold at a high price. | B．It will be exchanged for food. |
| C．It will be thrown back into the sea. | D．It will be well dealt with for reuse. |
| A．Fishing is a tough job for fishermen. | B．The sea in Greece is seriously polluted. |
| C．He thinks highly of the cleanup project. | D．He still feels ashamed for fishermen’s behavior. |
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【推荐1】A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women's shoes. Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.
A San Francisco-based company called Rothy's, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Roth Martin is the company's co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for women's feet. They take plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press them through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then bonded together. This is done by a 3-D machine. It is designed to reduce waste while people are making the shoes. The knitted stuff and the inner part of the shoe are then attached to the shoe's outer part called the sole（鞋底）. This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.
Rothy's shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $ 125 or $ 145 per pair, depending on the design. After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them, the demand for the shoes grew. Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We're not going to run out of water bottles any time soon, so we have a limitless supply of material, and I think that is a good sign for our future.” When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled material to make other products.
For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shops in the near future.
1. How are used plastic bottles usually dealt with?| A．They are used to make shoes. |
| B．They are buried or burned. |
| C．They are changed into soft material. |
| D．They are returned to factories for reuse. |
| A．Combined. | B．Fixed. |
| C．Spotted. | D．Repaired. |
| A．The design and color. |
| B．The reasonable price. |
| C．The power of famous people. |
| D．The company's advertisement. |
| A．To advertise a new kind of shoes. |
| B．To describe the process of making shoes. |
| C．To introduce a new way of recycling plastic waste. |
| D．To stress the importance of environmental protection. |
【推荐2】As one of the biggest topics of the last decade, sustainability has become the beacon (灯塔) of hope to protect the planet. From supermarkets taking action on plastic packaging to the zero waste movement that can be practised from your kitchen, changes made by individuals and organizations across the globe have had an impact on the way we think, shop and live.
So what does that mean for the world of technology? You’d be forgiven for thinking that the words “sustainable” and “technology” don’t usually go hand in hand. E-waste is, after all, one of the planet’s biggest contributing waste streams. Not only that, but the materials that go into technology products are also part of the problem.
But with a challenge comes an opportunity, and there’s already some brilliant progress happening — great news for those of us wanting to be more sustainable with our technology. Firstly renewed products are having its moment. While consumers would previously turn their noses up at the idea of a second-hand device, there’s been a huge surge in demand for renewed technology products. The second major step in tackling the problem of e-waste is a change in attitudes from owning a product to subscribing for one. A subscription for a smartphone might sound like a foreign concept, but it’s already gaining momentum. At the forefront of this movement is a London-based technology startup, which offers a subscription service for the latest smartphones. As customers aren’t paying to own the phone at the end of their contract, the monthly price is significantly lower than average.
Studies show that extending a phone’s lifespan from one to four years can decrease its environmental impact by about 40%. So the next time it comes to refreshing your device — whether a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet or something else — consider the more environmentally friendly options that are at your fingertips.
1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To change the way we think, shop and live. |
| B．To introduce the topic of sustainability in technology. |
| C．To tell us what people have done to protect the planet. |
| D．To call on people to do something for the environment. |
| A．High-tech products are in short supply. |
| B．E-waste contributes to the biggest waste streams. |
| C．The two sustainability problems in technology. |
| D．Ignoring sustainable technology is unforgivable. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Unacceptable. |
| C．Sympathy | D．Doubtful. |
| A．By upgrading the old one. |
| B．By subscribing for a smartphone. |
| C．By spending less money on a smartphone. |
| D．By replacing the old one with the latest one |
【推荐3】Madrid has ordered nearly half of the private cars off the roads on Thursday to deal with the worsening air pollution, a first in Spain.
The restriction (限令) will operate between 6.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day. The city government said in a statement: “Vehicles with even-number registration plates (偶数牌照）will be allowed to drive around on even-number days and the rest cars on the rest days.”
The measure works when levels of harmful NO2 in the atmosphere go above 200 microgrammes in every 1 in at least two measuring stations for two days running, and if the air is unlikely to clear soon.
On Thursday, the city environment officer Ines Sabanes said the restriction would not be carried out as pollution levels had dropped by the required amount. Other measures, including a ban on street parking for non-local vehicles and reduced speed limits, will continue. There are exceptions to the restriction, such as for hybrid (混合动力的) cars, those carrying three people or more or used by disabled people. Buses, taxis and emergency vehicles are not encompassed, either. “It’s not about traffic restrictions but about the important issue of public health,” deputy mayor Marta Higueras said. “Lots of people suffer from breathing problems and are very affected by pollution.”
With 3.2 million people and 1.8 million cars, Madrid often suffers from bad pollution. The move to ban half of the cars is Level Three on a series of four measures to prevent pollution. Level Four bans taxis from the city, except those that are hybrid cars.
The previous measures carried out by the city hall draw criticism from the Popular Party(PP) which ruled Madrid for nearly a quarter of a century and governs at the national level. The PP spokesman in Madrid’s local parliament said officials should do more to encourage people to avoid using their cars rather than punish them. The previous measures were carried out by former PP leader Ana Botella just before municipal elections (市政府选举) in Many 2015.
1. According to the statement of the city government, ________.| A．the restriction only works by day |
| B．the restriction only works on private cars |
| C．every restricted car is restricted nearly half a month in a whole month |
| D．Vehicles are restricted depending on the first number of registration plates |
| A．allowed to drive on Madrid’s streets |
| B．included in the new restrictions at all |
| C．restricted if pollution levels drop |
| D．allowed to park on Madrid’s streets |
| A．Punished. | B．Encouraged. | C．Accepted. | D．Included. |
| A．the government will punish more people |
| B．more cars will be kept out of the roads |
| C．new traffic restrictions will be carried out |
| D．more hybrid cars will appear on the road |
【推荐1】Air pollution influences our health in many ways. No air means death. Though we can’t see it, there is air around us. Air is everywhere and it gives a life to every living thing. But bad air makes people ill. In the city, there are a great many people and there are too many cars running on the road. The cars send out bad gases. There are many factories, too. From the chimneys of these factories, we get the smoke usually in black color. Every day we breathe it in and out. This makes us feel sick, when people talk about air pollution ,they are usually thinking about outdoor air pollution. But a lot of air pollution comes from indoor activities such as smoking and cooking. Indoor air pollution can hurt people’s eyes, noses and throats. So air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, can also lead to lung cancer and heart disease.
Everyone should help to fight against air pollution. In order to keep us healthy, we have to go out to the countryside to breathe more fresh air. Or we can climb up hills to get more fresh air.
1. what is this article about?| A．air pollution |
| B．water pollution |
| C．noise pollution |
| D．environment pollution |
| A．Many factories |
| B．Bad air |
| C．The cars |
| D．Going out to the countryside |
| A．bad gas from he cars |
| B．black smoke from the chimneys of these factories |
| C．smoking and cooking |
| D．air pollution |
| A．No air means death. |
| B．air pollution can lead to lung cancer and heart disease. |
| C．Only scientist should help to fight against air pollution. |
| D．we have to go out to the countryside to breathe more fresh air. |
| A．A Little air pollution comes from indoor activities such as smoking and cooking |
| B．Bad air never makes people ill. |
| C．Air pollution influences our health in few ways |
| D．we can climb up hills to get more fresh air. |
【推荐2】In the past several months, Apple, Google and Samsung have all launched their newest smartphones and other products. But in the process, this may also be adding to a growing problem: electronic waste.
The limited lifespan of many tech gadgets(设备)has caused the issue of e-waste to increase over the years. “People tend not to realize that all these seemingly insignificant things have a lot of value, especially in large amounts, ”Pascal Leroy, director general of the WEEE Forum, said in a statement
How to solve the problems of e-waste is much more than just cleaning out space in your junk drawers. Actually, large amounts of e-waste are shipped to developing countries that lack the power to refuse and safely recycle these imports. The WHO warned that children, with their smaller hands, are often used to deal with mountains of e-waste in developing nations in search of valuable elements such as copper, silver, palladium and so on. The WHO said the health of more than 18 million children are being affected negatively as they are employed in this informal e-waste processing industry.
Personally, what can you do to reduce the e-waste burden? Find an e-waste disposal(处理) service. The impact of recycling e-waste can be staggering. For every 1 million cellphones that are recycled, 35, 000 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium can be recovered. Meanwhile, environmental advocates say the most important step to deal with the mounting e-waste problem is simply to try to use your electronics for as long as possible
1. What might come along with companies launching new e-products?| A．More electronic waste. |
| B．Few optional tech gadgets. |
| C．Limited lifespan of the devices. |
| D．Important things for consumers. |
| A．Developed countries can’t recycle e-waste safely. |
| B．E-waste mountains are places for children to play. |
| C．Many valuable elements can be found on e-waste mountains. |
| D．Children are hired in the informal e-waste processing industry. |
| A．Interesting. | B．Surprising. | C．Annoying. | D．Challenging. |
| A．What is the source of e-waste? | B．E-waste—a serious problem? |
| C．E-waste—a processing industry? | D．What to do with your e-waste? |
E-waste, the world’s largest and fastest growing type of waste, doesn’t only come from computers but other electronics as well.  |
In 2019, the world produced 53. 6 million tons of e-waste.  |
The world’s e-waste will reach 74.7 million tons by 2030. That’s almost a doubling of e-waste in just 16 years.  Today, only 15-20 percent of all e-waste is collected and recycled. |
Why should we recycle e-waste? E-waste has many valuable things in it, such as gold, silver and copper(铜). One smart phone battery can pollute 600,000 liters(升)of water. |
What can we do? ●Try to repair your electronics instead of buying new ones. ●Check for recycling organizations and give away your broken electronics. ●Remove any batteries (电池) because they need to be recycled separately. ●Tell others to recycle e-waste. |
1. In___________, the amount of e-waste reached about 37.3 million tons.
| A．2014. | B．2019. | C．2022. | D．2030. |
| A．E-waste only comes from computers. |
| B．In 2019, 53.6 million tons of e-waste was recycled. |
| C．We need to recycle batteries with other electronics. |
| D．We should consider repairing rather than buying new electronics. |
| A．instruction | B．novel | C．newspaper | D．comic book |
【推荐1】Casablanca, Sep. 24
A flash flood swept across the coastal plain about 100 miles southwest of here, killing hundreds of Moroccans in a market place yesterday morning.
Reports from the area said 218 bodies had been counted, and many of the people were missing.
The flood followed heavy rains, which filled the coastal plain and dried river beds and caused them to overflow. The flood crest, several feet high, hit the village of Khemis Nagua at midmorning yesterday as farmers from the surrounding area joined town people in an open market place.
The roaring water swept the village’s living places, the market sheds (棚子), shoppers, cattle and farm tools for miles across the plain..
The flood was over almost as soon as it started, the reports said, as the crest swept out to sea. Rescue workers quickly moved into the area from Sari, about 25 miles further south.
1. It can be learnt from the text that _____.| A．the news report is from Khemis Nagua | B．the flood didn’t last long |
| C．hundreds of Moroccans were saved | D．Casablanca is a city in Africa |
| A．how the flood swept the coastal plain | B．why the terrible flood took place |
| C．the flash flood in the fall | D．a rescue attempt |
(KN="Khemis" Nagua C="Casablanca " S=Safi)
A． | B． | C． | D． |
【推荐2】A young girl was rescued from the ruins of an apartment block in the southern Turkish city of Adiyaman on Monday, 178 hours after a terrible earthquake shook the area. The girl was six years old and rescuers were also close to reaching her older sister. It’s one of several amazing rescues that are still taking place following an earthquake that killed more than 37,000 in Turkey and Syria last Monday.
Rescuer Aksoy told reporters he was searching through the ruins of the building when he heard a child’s shout. He then asked for silence and later found where the girl was. The girl waved at him, told him her name and said that she was okay, Aksoy said.
One member of the rescuers said, “My colleague and I looked at each other like ‘Did you hear that, too?’ We listened again. There was a very weak voice saying something like ‘I’m here. ‘ Then we shut everything down, the machines, and started listening again. And there really was a voice coming from a small space next to a dishwasher.”
Health ministry officials said the girl was in good condition but would be kept under observation. A 13-year-old boy was also rescued on Monday after being trapped for 182 hours. Footage from a news agency shows the teenager being rescued from a collapsed building in the southern Turkish province of Hatay. He held his rescuer’s hand as he was put on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance.
UN aid deputy Martin Griffiths said during a visit to the disaster area in Syria on Monday that the rescue phase was “coming to an end”, with assistance next turning to shelter, food and clothing.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The rescuers are taking care of the girl. |
| B．The rescuers saved the girl and her mother. |
| C．The rescuers have sent many people to hospital. |
| D．The girl’s older sister may not have been rescued. |
| A．How they found the girl. | B．When they got the girl out. |
| C．Why they shut everything down. | D．What they did to save the girl’s sister. |
| A．He held the doctor’s hand on a stretcher. |
| B．He was the six-year-old girl’s elder brother. |
| C．He was trapped longer than the six-year-old girl. |
| D．He and the girl were trapped in the same place. |
| A．Trying to save those trapped. | B．Providing necessities for the survivors. |
| C．Digging out survivors and burying the dead. | D．Offering earthquake knowledge to the survivors. |
【推荐3】Here's the nine o'clock news.
Prime Minister Abdul Krim of Syria (叙利亚) has said that the danger of war in the Middle East is greater now than in the past two years. His country does not want war, he says, but the Syrian people have waited too long for an end to the troubles with their neighbours. If war comes, says Mr Krim, Syria will be ready.
Ben Kitson, the writer of stories and plays for children, died at his home in California. Mr Kitson was 82. His most famous book of stories, The Gentleman’s House, sold all over the world, in more than twenty-five languages.
Policemen in New York have stopped work. Their leader, Mr Paulo Angeli, says that they will return to work only when they receive more money for working long hours and doing what Mr Angeli calls “the most dangerous job in the city”.
It has been a good year on the farm. The warm, wet spring and the fine summer have been very good for all kinds of food plants. This means that fruit and vegetables will cost less in the shops this year.And now it's time for“Morning Music”.
1. Abdul Krim has said that ______.| A．there is no danger of war in the Middle East. |
| B．it is more possible for war to happen now. |
| C．the danger of war passed two years ago. |
| D．there has been a danger of war for the past two years. |
| A．a book Mr Kitson wrote in many languages. |
| B．the name of Mr Kitson’s house in California. |
| C．the name of Mr Kitson’s most famous book. |
| D．a play that Mr Kitson wrote for children. |
| A．the most dangerous policeman in New York. |
| B．a policeman who receives more money for working longer hours. |
| C．the head of the police in New York. |
| D．a policeman who leads the strike. |
