【推荐2】With solar energy getting cheaper and cheaper, it is expected to become the most common way to produce electricity by 2050. But there is another way to create electricity from the sun. It's called “Concentrated Solar Power ( CSP)”. It works by using many special mirrors , called “heliostats” , to focus the sun's light to produce heat “Solar Thermal". CSP factories focus the light from their mirrors onto specially designed towers that can take the heat and then, usually by turning water into steam, turn it into electricity.

The biggest CSP plant in the world is Ivanpah in the Mojave Desert in California. Spain has several other large CSP factories. The highest temperature reached using concentrated solar power is 565°C. That' s hot enough to make electricity. But to make many common materials, much higher temperatures are needed. An American company called Heliogen has announced a new process that can reach extremely high temperatures using only the power of the sun，which could help clean up some of the world ' s most polluting processes, like making cement (水泥) that is currently responsible for around 7% of the world' s carbon dioxide pollution. Heliogen says its process has reached temperatures higher than 1 ,000°C for many times. At those temperatures, Heliogen ’s system could be used in the making of cement.

The company has been able to improve its process by doing a few things differently. For one . thing, the heliostats it uses are smaller, so they' re cheaper and it’s easier to make them reflect better. Another big improvement is the special computer system that Heliogen developed to watch and adjust the heliostats so that they are always focused continuously.

Heliogen says confidently that in the future it hopes to reach temperatures as hot as 1 ,500°C. At that temperature, it is even possible to create fuel, not causing pollution. Though Heliogen’s process is new and offers several improvements over existing CSP methods, the company is still a long way from putting their system to work in the real world.

1. What do the towers in CSP plants do first?

A．Reflect the mirrors ’light.	B．Hold the heliostats.
C．Produce solar energy.	D．Contain “Solar Thermal".

2. What is special about the Heliogen’s new process?

A．It can slow down climate change.	B．It gets extremely hot by itself.
C．It's more environment-friendly.	D．It can produce solar energy.

3. What can Heliogen’s special computer system do?

A．Lower the cost of the heliostats.	B．Make the heliostats work better.
C．Force the heliostats to take breaks.	D．Stop the heliostats being damaged.

4. What is the author' s attitude towards the Heliogen ’s new process?

A．Curious.	B．Cautious.
C．Confident.	D．Contradictory.

【推荐3】COVID-19(新冠病毒) is a threat to the very people fighting it-nurses, doctors, and other first responders, who are exposed to infected patients. Now, a team has developed two devices(设备) that could reduce their risks by sucking away infectious bacteria: a helmet to be worn by a patient,and a small tent in which a patient could be protected. The inventors hope they'll reduce the deaths among healthcare workers.

Negative-pressure rooms have been used in hospitals since the 1980s to keep airborne bacteria from spreading.But Nathan Haas says such rooms cost about$12,000. He and his colleagues wanted to develop a cheaper way to create a negative pressure environment for patients.The new devices could lower the need for negative-pressure rooms,which are rare in many parts of the world,according to Haas.

The helmet can be used when staff transport patients and the tent can protect the upper body of a bed-bound patient wearing a mask,allowing staff to perform several procedures.

“They represent a really simple solution to potentially helping reduce virus spread and increase the safety of healthcare workers, as well as patient safety,” says Ben Bassin.

When the researchers tested their devices with a healthy volunteer,they saw 97% to 99%fewer bacteria outside the devices than inside.They also tested the devices' ease of use and comfort with seven COVID-19 patients.The response from patients and staff was good, Bassin says.

But Reuben Strayer notes the tests did not prove that these devices work to protect medical staff in real-life situations. He says he wants to see independent effect, “to see if they perform as they are advertised.”

1. The following statements are true EXCEPT      

A．The devices are not complicated to use

B．People have already used the devices widely

C．The effect of the devices remains to be seen

D．Negative-pressure rooms are not common because of the high cost

2. What will most probably be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．The advantages of the devices.	B．Different appearances of the devices.
C．Measures to put the devices into practice.	D．The reasons for inventing the devices.

3. What is the author's purpose in writing the text?

A．To inform readers of the devices.	B．To praise the efforts of the researchers.
C．To stress the importance of the devices.	D．To encourage people to buy the devices.

【推荐2】The Paris climate agreement finalised in December last year indicated a new era for climate action. For the first time, the world’s nations agreed to keep global warming well below 2℃.

This is vital for climate-vulnerable nations. Fewer than 4% of countries are responsible for more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In a study published in Nature Scientific Reports, we reveal just how deep this injustice runs.

Developed nations such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and European countries are essentially climate “free-riders”: causing the majority of the problems through high greenhouse gas emissions, while paying few of the costs such as climate changes impact on food and water. In other words, a few countries are benefiting enormously from the consumption of fossil fuels, while at the same time contributing disproportionately to the global burden of climate change.

On the other hand, there are many “forced riders”, who are suffering from the climate change impacts despite having scarcely contributed to the problem. Many of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, the majority of which are African or small island states, produce a very small quantity of emissions. This is much like a non-smoker getting cancer from second-hand smoke, while the heavy smoker is fortunate enough to smoke in good health.

The Paris agreement has been widely considered as a positive step forward in addressing climate change for all, although the details on addressing “climate justice” can be best described as incomplete.

The goal of keeping global temperature rise “well below” 2℃ deserves to be praised but the emissions reduction promises submitted by countries leading up to the Paris talks are very unlikely to deliver on this.

More than $100 billion in funding has been put on the table for supporting developing nations to reduce emissions. However, the agreement specifies that there is no formal distinction between developed and developing nations in their responsibility to cut emissions, effectively ignoring historical emissions. There is also very little detail on who will provide the funds or, importantly, who is responsible for their provision. Securing these funds and establishing who is responsible for raising them will also be vital for the future of climate-vulnerable countries.

The most climate-vulnerable countries in the world have contributed very little to creating the global disease from which they now suffer the most. There must urgently be a meaningful mobilization of the policies outlined in the agreement if we are to achieve national emissions reductions while helping the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.

And it is clearly up to the current generation of leaders from high-emitting nations to decide whether they want to be remembered as climate change tyrants (暴君) or pioneers.

1. The author is critical of the Paris climate agreement because ________.

A．it is unfair to those climate-vulnerable nations

B．it aims to keep temperature rise below 2℃ only

C．it is beneficial to only fewer than 4% of countries

D．it burdens developed countries with the full responsibility

2. Why does the author call some developed countries climate “free-riders”?

A．They needn’t worry about the food and water they consume.

B．They are better able to cope with the global climate change.

C．They hardly pay anything for the problems they have caused.

D．They are free from the greenhouse effects affecting “forced riders”.

3. What does the author say about the $100 billion funding?

A．It will motivate all nations to reduce carbon emissions.

B．There is no final agreement on where it will come from.

C．There is no clarification of how the money will be spent.

D．It will effectively reduce greenhouse emissions worldwide.

4. What urgent action must be taken to realize the Paris climate agreement?

A．Encouraging high-emitting nations to take the initiative.

B．Calling on all the nations concerned to make joint efforts.

C．Pushing the current world leaders to come to a consensus.

D．Putting in effect the policies in the agreement at once.

【推荐3】阅读下面短文，根据题目要求回答问题。

“One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” That’s a common expression, but the next time you throw something away, think about a twist on the old saying. What if your trash could become your own treasure? Many creative, thrifty, and environmentally minded people have come up with a way to make that happen. It’s called upcycling. Our world would be a better place if everyone would begin upcycling.

Upcycling is the practice of taking an unwanted item and turning it into something useful. For example, how about that pair of jeans with a hole in one knee? It could become a new pillow for your bedroom. How about the old T-shirts you never wear anymore? It could be sewed together to make a picnic blanket. All of these are examples of upcycling.

Upcycling is not the same as recycling. Upcycling is actually much better for the environment. Recycling takes an item made of glass, paper, metal, or plastic, breaks it down to its base material, and then uses that material to make another product. This requires a great deal of energy. On the other hand, when you choose to upcycle, the only energy you use is your own. And upcycling not only reduces the amount of trash that goes into our landfills, but it also protects natural resources, such as oil and gas. Recycling is good for the environment, but upcycling is even better.

Upcycling also makes a family’s budget stretch further. Before you run to the store to buy something, look around your house. Old teacups can be transformed into candles. And an old ladder can even become a bookshelf. Of course, the idea of reusing items to save money is not new. During the Great Depression in the 1930s, many families lived on a tight budget. People had to use what they already had in order to meet their needs. Flour sacks were used to make clothes, and a broken door became a new table. Today we should follow the examples of our great-grandparents and save money by upcycling.

As responsible citizens, we should all be concerned with protecting our environment and budgeting our resources. Upcycling is a fun and creative way to help. The next time you go to toss something into the trash can, stop and think about what it could become. Chances are, there’s a brand-new item in your hand just waiting to be upcycled.

1. What is upcycling according to the passage?
2. Why is upcycling much better for the environment than recycling?
3. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 4 mean?
4. The Spring Festival is coming. Figure out one thing to upcycle. Explain what you will do with it and how it will help with the celebration of the festival. (about 40 words)

【推荐1】Washington, April 4----- The United States has more than 90 million families for the first time, but each contains fewer people on average than ever, the Census Bureau(统计局) reported today.

The 90,031,000 families in the United States averaged 2.64 members each as of last July 1.“The reason is, in effect, changes in the age structure,” explained Campbell Gibson, a population researcher for the bureau. Most Americans born in the great explosion of births are now in their 20’s and 30’s when they most likely to set up families, he said.

The fact that many are doing so increased the number of families from 80.4 million in 1980 to 88.8 million in 1986 and past the 90 million mark last summer.

At the same time, the average number of people per family dropped from 2.75 in 1985 to 2.65 in 1986 and then to 2.64, Mr Gibson said.

By comparison, the 1970 Census found the average family contained 3.14 people. Families averaged more than four people in 1939 and more than five in 1880.

The growing number of ever---- smaller families is still going on, but Mr Gibson pointed out that family growth was not the same as population increase in the 1970’s.

The same age factors that are increasing the number of families also happened then, but in the 1970’s the proportion(比例) of families in each age group was also growing.

That hasn’t continued in the 1980’s for a number of possible reasons, Mr Gibson said. For example, in the 1980’s more young people have chosen to remain home with their parents instead of setting up housekeeping on their own, as many did in the 1970’s.

This could be caused by the increasing cost of housing, he said. Delays in marriage while young people go to work and school, have also been widely reported as a factor, but it was not the only factor for the family changes.

1. The smaller figure of families reported here is _________.

A．1980

B．80,400,000

C．2.64

D．90 million

2. What’s the reporter’s attitude towards the present situation?

A．People should get married at later age.

B．The average number of family members should be 2.64.

C．It’s not clear in the report.

D．Young people should set up housekeeping on their own, as many did in the 1970’s.

3. From the last paragraph we may infer that________.

A．delay in marriage will not help the number of the families

B．delay in marriage is the major factor of the family changes

C．the writer felt sorry that many young people now delay their marriages

D．there must be some other factors which have led to the slower growth in the 1980’s

4. The underlined word “factor” in the passage means_________.

A．reason

B．something that proves be true

C．advantage

D．something that helps to bring about a result

【推荐2】The Daily News

By Robert Woodhouse Monday, 27 December 2004

The most powerful earthquake in the past 40 years caused a tsunami(海啸)that crashed into coastlines across Asia yesterday, killing more than 6,500 people in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, and at least four other countries. Fishermen, tourists, hotels, homes, and cars were swept away by huge waves caused by the strong earthquake that reached a magnitude of 9.0. The undersea quake struck around 7:00 a.m., Sunday off the west coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island. In that area alone, at least 1,870 people were killed.

In Sri Lanka, some 1,600 kilometres west of the quake centre, the number of deaths stood at 2,498, and one million more were affected by the tsunami, government officials said. Indian officials said as many as 1,900 had been killed along the southern coast. Another 254 were found dead in Thailand and 54 in three other countries. In southern Thailand, 1,900 people were hurt and many more were missing, local officials said. “I was having breakfast with my three children when water started filling my home. We had to leave everything and run to safety,” said Chandra Theeravit, a local Thai woman.

Thousands of people are still missing, and the number of deaths is expected to grow even higher over the next few days. Foreign aid is being organised for the tsunami-hit countries. However, dangerous conditions and damaged roads will make it difficult to deliver food and supplies.

1. When did the tsunami happen ?

A．On 25 December 2004.	B．On 26 December 2004.
C．On 27 December 2004.	D．On 28 December 2004.

2. What caused the tsunami ?

A．A powerful earthquake.	B．Water pollution.
C．Global warming.	D．Human behaviour.

3. Why would it be difficult to deliver food and supplies ?

A．Because the aid from foreign countries was not enough.

B．Because the number of deaths was expected to grow higher.

C．Because more work was needed to search for missing people.

D．Because the condition was dangerous and roads were damaged.