South Baltimore is often thought of as a place to avoid—folks are taught to be careful of it. There was a mass shooting this past July, and another in early September.
“People think Curtis Bay is a dangerous place. It’s not. It’s just we’re surrounded by dangerous things,” says Taysia Thompson, 17.
Taysia, is one of the Free Your Voice members, a group of student activists fighting against a very different kind of danger in their neighborhood: air pollution and climate change. Now, the focus of their movement is the mountains of coal. Coal releases a fine, black dust small enough to get into people’s lungs. It makes respiratory (呼吸的) diseases worse, or can even cause disease and premature death. And there are the greenhouse gas emissions after the coal is burned.
The teens of Free Your Voice are taking on a big opponent: the massive goods transportation company CSX, which transported more than 8 million tons of coal through South Baltimore in 2021. The goal is to eventually get the state regulators to deny the permit that CSX needs to operate, or at least require the company to enclose all the coal, or at the very least put water onto all of it so there’s less dust blowing around.
This past summer, Taysia and three other students spent their time gathering evidence to try and get the coal pollution out of their neighborhood. They used sticky paper to gather samples of dust from all over the neighborhood to prove that the dust is from coal. They are also sending dust samples to a scientist in California, who uses an electron microscope to compare the dust that’s in this neighborhood to samples from the piles of coal at the terminal in South Baltimore to see if it matches.
The students now have support from their community. But the responses from officials have not been very satisfying. “Everyone is just breathing the air. And we will keep fighting.” says Taysia.
1. Why do the teens of Free Your Voice take CSX as an opponent?| A．To cure lung diseases. | B．To tackle air pollution. |
| C．To resist mass shootings. | D．To cut premature death rate. |
| A．Scientists will examine the dust samples. |
| B．Officials will refuse CSX the operation permit. |
| C．State regulators will keep fighting against pollution. |
| D．Locals in Curtis Bay will clear the mountains of coal away. |
| A．It isn’t all plain sailing. | B．It will definitely end in victory. |
| C．The teens lack solid evidence. | D．The teens work on it all by themselves. |
| A．Tourists Avoiding Dangerous South Baltimore |
| B．Teens Gaining Support in Environmental Protection |
| C．Student Activists Pushing back against Big Polluter |
| D．17-year-old Girl Combating Coal Pollution in Neighborhood |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The production of the cement (水泥) used in concrete is a major contributor to worldwide CO2 emissions. Since we use it a lot in building things, this is a serious problem. But there’s good news: Scientists have made a new kind of concrete that can trap CO2 instead of letting it out. It is a greener way to build things.
The concrete is made by D Company, cooperating with other companies, and is named G-concrete. Here’s how it’s made: A special cement mixture is placed in a curing chamber (养护室) and CO2 is then pumped into the chamber to be absorbed. The absorbed CO2 is then stuck inside the concrete, and will not be released. Crucially, it’s also just as strong as regular concrete.
“Generally, concrete hardens through a chemical reaction between cement and water,” the company explains. “But in G-concrete, over half the cement is replaced with a material we call γ-C2S. Instead of reacting with water, γ-C2S reacts with the CO2 in the air to harden. After mixing the materials needed to create G-concrete, the concrete can be placed in a location with high CO2 levels so it can absorb the CO2 and harden, trapping the gas inside. For example, a thermal power plant (发电厂) or other facilities that produce carbon-heavy waste gases can redirect the gases into a special chamber, where concrete products made with G-concrete can be placed to absorb the CO2 in the gases.”
Obviously, greener concrete is a good thing in itself. And under the right conditions, this could be used to create net-zero buildings, but if it’s not affordable and practical to produce, it’s not going to be widely adopted.
On that note, signs are actually quite hopeful. A representative of the company told us that the cost of producing G-concrete is about three times higher than standard concrete currently used. Work is being undertaken on further reducing this cost and the company believes it will become a lot more affordable in the near future.
1. What does the underlined word “this” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Cement production. | B．Building construction. | C．CO2 emission. | D．Concrete use. |
| A．It is environmentally friendly. | B．It is produced in thermal power plant. |
| C．It is harder than regular concrete. | D．It is replaced by a cement mixture. |
| A．Practical function. | B．Production cost. | C．Marketing strategy. | D．Gas emission. |
| A．The Chemical Reaction Behind Concrete Hardening |
| B．G-concrete: A New CO2-absorbing Building Material |
| C．The Environmental Impact Of Traditional Cement Production |
| D．The Economic Possibility Of The Building Material—G-concrete |
【推荐2】When you walk on a sandy beach, it takes more energy than walking down a sidewalk—because the weight of your body pushes into the sand. It turns out that the same thing is true for vehicles driving on roads.
“The weight of the vehicles creates a very shallow indentation in the pavement—and it makes it such that it's continuously driving up a very shallow hill,” said Jeremy Gregory, a scientist at M. I. T...He modeled with his teammates how much energy could be saved-and greenhouse gases avoided—by simply hardening the nation's roads and highways.
And they found that hardening 10 percent of the nation's roads every year could prevent emissions equal to 440 megatons of carbon dioxide over the next 5 decades—that amount is equal to how much CO, you'd spare the planet by keeping a billion barrels of oil in the ground or by growing 7 billion trees for a decade. It reduces 0.5% of projected transportation emissions over that time period.
As for how to harden roads, Gregory says you could combine small amounts of certain fiber with high technology into paving materials. Or you could pave with specially-made concrete, which is harder than ordinary construction materials.
This system could also be a way to shave carbon emissions without some of the usual barriers. “Usually, when it comes to reducing emissions in the transportation department, you're talking about changing policies related to vehicles and also driver behavior, which involves millions and millions of people—as opposed to changing the way we design and preserve our pavements. That's just on the order of thousands of people who are working in transportation agencies.” And when it comes to improving our streets and highways-those agencies are where you might say the rubber meets the road.
1. How does the author develop Paragraph 3?| A．By giving examples. | B．By making classification. |
| C．By listing figures | D．By analyzing causes. |
| A．Mixing fiber with special concrete. | B．Changing regular paving materials. |
| C．Creating hi-tech computer models. | D．Using ordinary building materials. |
| A．It reduces construction costs. | B．It profits transportation agencies. |
| C．It regulates driver behavior. | D．It avoids involving too many people. |
| A．Walking Down Beaches or Sidewalks? | B．Hardening Roads Helps Save Energy. |
| C．How to Cut Down Carbon Emissions | D．A System of Hardening Roads. |
【推荐3】Old Problem, New Approaches
While clean energy is increasingly used in our daily life, global warming will continue for some decades after CO₂ emissions(排放) peak. So even if emissions were to begin to decrease today, we would still face climate change. Here I will stress some smarter and more creative examples of climate adaptation.
When it comes to adaptation, it is important to understand that climate change is a process. We are therefore not talking about adapting to a new standard, but to a constantly shifting set of conditions. This is why, in part at least, the US National Climate Assessment says that: “There is no ‘one-size fits all’ adaptation.” Nevertheless, there are some actions that offer much and carry little risk or cost.
Around the world, people are adapting in surprising ways, especially in some poor countries. Floods have become more damaging in Bangladesh in recent decades. Mohammed Rezwan saw opportunity where others saw only disaster. His not-for-profit organization runs 100 river boats that serve as floating libraries, schools and health clinics, and are equipped with solar panels and other communicating facilities. Rezwan is creating floating connectivity (连接) to replace flooded roads and highways. But he is also working at a far more fundamental level: his staff show people how to make floating gardens and fish ponds to prevent starvation during the wet season.
Elsewhere in Asia even more astonishing actions are being taken. Chewang Norphel lives in a mountainous region in India, where he is known as the Ice Man, The loss of glaciers there due to global warming represents an enormous threat to agriculture. Without the glaciers, water will arrive in the rivers at times when it can damage crops. Norphel’s inspiration came from seeing the waste of water over winter, when it was not needed. He directed the wasted water into shallow basins where it froze, and was stored until the spring. His fields of ice supply perfectly timed irrigation(灌溉) water. Having created nine such ice reserves, Norphel calculates that he has stored about 200,000 m³of water. Climate change is a continuing process, so Norphel’s ice reserves will not last forever. Warming will overtake them. But he is providing a few years during which the farmers will, perhaps, be able to find other means of adapting.
Increasing Earth’s reflectiveness can cool the planet. In southern Spain the sudden increase of greenhouses (which reflect light back to space) has changed the warming trend locally, and actually cooled the region. While Spain as a whole is heating up quickly, temperatures near the greenhouses have decreased. This example should act as an inspiration for all cities. By painting buildings white, cities may slow down the warming process.
In Peru, local farmers around a mountain with a glacier that has already fallen victim to climate change have begun painting the entire mountain peak white in the hope that the added reflectiveness will restore the life-giving ice. The outcome is still far from clear. But the World Bank has included the project on its list of “100 ideas to save the planet”.
More ordinary forms of adaptation arc happening everywhere. A friend of mine owns an area of land in western Victoria. Over five generations the land has been too wet for cropping. But during the past decade declining rainfall has allowed him to plant highly profitable crops. Farmers in many countries are also adapting like this—cither by growing new produce or by growing the same things differently. This is common sense. But some suggestions for adapting are not. When the polluting industries argue that we’ve lost the battle to control carbon pollution and have no choice but to adapt, it’s a nonsense designed to make the case for business as usual.
Human beings will continue to adapt to the changing climate in both ordinary and astonishing ways. But the most sensible form of adaptation is surely to adapt our energy systems to emit less carbon pollution. After all, if we adapt in that way, we may avoid the need to change in so many others.
1. What is special with regard to Rezwan’s project?| A．The project receives government support. |
| B．Different organizations work with each other. |
| C．His organization makes the best of a bad situation. |
| D．The project connects flooded roads and highways. |
| A．Storing ice for future use. | B．Protecting the glaciers from melting. |
| C．Changing the irrigation time. | D．Postponing the melting of the glaciers. |
| A．White paint is usually safe for buildings. |
| B．The global warming trend cannot be stopped. |
| C．This country is heating up too quickly. |
| D．Sunlight reflection may relieve global warming. |
| A．adapt to carbon pollution | B．plant highly profitable crops |
| C．leave carbon emission alone | D．fight against carbon pollution |
| A．Setting up a new standard. | B．Reducing carbon emission. |
| C．Adapting to climate change. | D．Monitoring polluting industries. |
【推荐1】When Frank Herbert ordered pizza from Pizza Huts, he was surprised that Judit, at such an old age, worked as a delivery driver. That's when the 89-year-old man first came into the sight of the Herbert family. Judit Newey started delivering pizza in Roy, Utah, to help pay the bills, as his social security benefits (社会保障金) weren't enough to live on. From the moment the Herberts heard him say, “Hello, are you looking for some pizza," Judit found his way into their hearts!
Ever since that day, whenever they place an order, they ask for Judit personally. It didn't take long for them to begin recording their sweet meetings and share them on TikTok, which is how thousands of other people fell in love with Judit. Still, his fans couldn't help but wonder why someone at his age was working so hard—question the Herbert family was asking themselves too. They spoke with Judit, and when they found out he works 30 hours a week to make ends meet, they decided to collect donations to make his life easier. They figured anything would help, but the total sum which is up to $12,000 really surprised them!
In September, the couple decided to switch things up by showing up at Judit's door with a couple of gifts. First, they surprised him with a cute cartoon shirt of himself holding a pizza box. Then they revealed the surprising act of generosity that brought him to tears! They explained that they had rallied their TikTok community to support him, and while he's not entirely sure what the platform is, he couldn't be more thankful.
“How do ever say thank you? I don't know what to say, "he told them. "I don't know what to say, except thank you." The Herberts insisted they were just the messengers. It was his fans who made the wonderful gift possible. Plus, the way they see it, they're just repaying Judit for his kindness.
1. What did Judit Newey mean by saying "Hello, are you looking for some pizza,"?| A．He was selling pizza. | B．He was delivering pizza. |
| C．The Herberts were making the order. | D．The Herberts lost some pizza. |
| A．To help people in need. | B．To raise money for the poor. |
| C．To volunteer in a charity. | D．To make his living. |
| A．The money the Herberts raised was beyond their expectations. |
| B．The Herberts asked TikTok for help to record their meeting. |
| C．Judit was very thankful because of the support from TikTok. |
| D．Judit worked 30 hours a week to afford his social security benefits. |
| A．Helpful and warmhearted. | B．Optimistic and wise. |
| C．Generous and hardworking. | D．Kind and talented. |
【推荐2】One night, a seriously injured patient was transferred to hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu, from Anhui province. The patient was hearing-impaired, so it was difficult for medical workers to communicate with him.
At the same time, Chen Xin was studying at the library. He is a senior student of architectural engineering technology in Nanjing Polytechnic Institute. The 20-year-old is also a sign language interpreter. He immediately rushed to the hospital, which is next to his college, after receiving an urgent call. Chen helped the patient communicate with medical staff until the patient was released from the hospital.
“In many cases, some hearing-impaired people have to delay seeking medical treatment for various reasons, which brings health risks and property losses to the group,” said Chen.
Chen knew some deaf friends, but they can only communicate with each other by typing on the mobile phone. This encouraged Chen to learn sign language. In 2018, Chen, then a senior high school student, attended a program by Nanjing Normal University of Special Education to learn from professionals and was certified (认证) as a sign language interpreter.
“Finger flexibility is a key,” Chen said,“I couldn’t make precisely harmonious movements of my fingers at first.” So Chen took part in activities for deaf people to practice more.
Every kind of language has its own grammar system. So does sign language, “Its word order is different from Chinese or English,” Chen said. For example, if you want to say “I love you”, you need to sign “I you love”. “I spent a lot of time getting used to such differences,” Chen said.
After mastering sign language, Chen built close relationships with hearing impaired people and offered to help them.“Many of them turn to me when they go to see a doctor," Chen said.
Recalling another volunteer experience, Chen said he was very nervous at that time. “We knew little about COVID-19 in February 2020. I was wondering how to explain the virus,” Chen said,“I was afraid of mistakenly translating the term.”
After his graduation, Chen plans to be a professional sign language interpreter and offer services for more hearing impaired people.
1. What inspired Chen to learn sign language?| A．A medical emergency he suffered. | B．A program related to sign language. |
| C．The support from some professionals. | D．The way his deaf friends communicate. |
| A．He often confused the gestures of words. |
| B．He had trouble explaining some concepts. |
| C．He found it difficult to memorize the gestures. |
| D．He had to improve his finger flexibility. |
| A．Creative and patient. | B．Humorous and tough. |
| C．Warm-hearted and thoughtful. | D．Talented and modest. |
| A．Lending helping hands | B．Becoming an interpreter |
| C．Learning sign language | D．Offering services to people |
【推荐3】Most teenagers are still trying to find their passion and purpose in life. However, not Gitanjali Rao. The 15-year-old girl at STEM School Highlands Ranch has been coming up with innovative solutions to worldwide problems since she was ten. It is, therefore, not surprising that the youngster was selected from 5, 000 equally impressive nominees (被提名者) — aged 8 to 16 — for TIME Magazine’s first-ever “Kid of the Year.”
The young girl, who knew she wanted to bring change and positivity to her community since third grade, was just ten years old when she heard about the lead-tainted (含铅的) water in Flint, Michigan, in 2015. After spending two months researching how the area’s drinking water became polluted, Rao began designing a device called Tethys, which attaches to a cellphone and informs the resident via an APP if their drinking water contains traces of the noxious metal. The prototype (模型) earned her the Young Scientist Challenge Award in 2017. A start-up businessman is-working with scientists and medical professionals to test Tethys’ potential and hopes the device will be ready for commercial use.
In 2019, Rao took on another social issue drug abuse. The apps he designed won the Pillar Prize at the Innovation Student Challenge, which helps to catch drug addiction in young adults before it’s too late. Rao said. “I wanted to come up with a way to diagnose such addiction at a nearly stage so you can take action earlier.”
More recently, the teenager has created another inspiring app. “I started to label some words that could be considered bullying, and then the computer search engine took those words and identified words that are similar. You type in a word or phrase, and it’s able topic kit up if it’s bullying, and it gives you the option to edit it or send it the way it is.” Rao told editor Angelina in an interview. “The goal is not to punish. Instead, it gives you the chance to rethink what you’re saying so that you know what to do next time around.”
1. What led to Gitanjali Rao’s being selected as “Kid of the Year”?| A．She has passion for STEM courses. |
| B．She is the founder of a popular magazine. |
| C．She addressed world problems creatively. |
| D．She beat 5, 000 candidates to enter a school. |
| A．Precious. | B．Harmful. | C．Rare. | D．Polluted. |
| A．To give a punishment for bullying. | B．To guide users to send proper words. |
| C．To withdraw bullying messages. | D．To help find more accurate expressions. |
| A．Responsible and productive. | B．Generous and aggressive. |
| C．Emotional and cautious. | D．Flexible and dynamic. |
