The climate change has become an issue that no one can escape from. If the world wants to limit climate change, water shortage and pollution, we all need to choose “flexitarian” diets, say scientists.
This means eating mainly plant-based food, which is one of three key steps towards a sustainable future for all in 2050, they say. Food waste will need to be halved and farming practices will also have to improve, according to the study. Without action, the impacts of the food system could increase by up to 90%. Fast on the heels of the landmark report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) comes this new study on how food production and consumption impact major threats to the planet.
The authors say that the food system has a number of significant environmental impacts including being a major driver of climate change, providing freshwater and reducing pollution through over use of nitrogen (氮) and phosphorus (磷).
The study says that thanks to the population and income growth expected between 2010 and2050, these impacts could grow between 50%~90%. This could push our world beyond its geographic boundaries. So when it comes to climate change, the authors looked at what they called a “flexitarian diet”.
“We can eat a range of healthy diets but what they all have in common, according to the latest scientific evidence, is that they are all relatively plant-based,’’ said lead author Dr. Marco Springmann from the University of Oxford.
“You can go from a diet that has small amounts of animal products; some might call it a Mediterranean-based diet; we call it a flexitarian diet. We tried to stay with the most conservative one of these which in our view is the flexitarian one, but even this has only one serving of red meat per week,” he added.
If the world moved to this type of diet, the study found that greenhouse gas emissions (排放) from agriculture would be reduced by more than half.
1. What benefit will the new diets bring to the world?| A．The animals will be saved. | B．People will need more water. |
| C．The climate change will stop. | D．The pollution will be controlled |
| A．Eat animal products every meal. |
| B．Eat plant-based vegetables every meal. |
| C．Eat mainly vegetables and never eat animal products. |
| D．Eat plant-based meal mainly and animal products sometimes. |
| A．The climate will become warmer. | B．The food consumption will increase. |
| C．People will have less greenhouse gas. | D．People will produce more food waste. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Opposed. | D．Indifferent. |
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【推荐1】For some people, walking or running outdoors is a great way to work out. What may not be so pleasant is seeing trash all over the ground. Well, some people are doing something about it. They are logging!
“Plogging” began in Sweden. The name combines the Swedish word “plocka” which means to pick up, and the word “Jogging”, which means to run slowly. A Swedish man named Erik, started the movement in 2016. On the World Environment Day website, Erik says that he moved to Stockholm from a small community in northern Sweden. Each day he would ride his bike to work.
Concerned about the amount of trash and litter he saw each day on his way to work, he took matters into his own hands.
Flogging, by that term, may have officially begun in Sweden. But many people who exercise outdoors have been doing this for years. Take Jeff Horowitz, for example. He is a personal trainer in Washington D.C. He often picks up trash while running outside. He even has turned it into a game. He will try to pick up the trash without stopping. “I didn’t know it was a thing really. This is just my personal ethics (道德标准) where I go for a run and if I happen to see a piece of garbage lying around and it’s within reach — it is a kind of a little test for me to see if I can grab it and throw it in a near trash can without stopping. And that way, I think, it gives me a little exercise and a little focus for my run. And it helps clean up the neighborhood,” he announced.
Today, logging is an official activity, one that is becoming increasingly popular. Cities around the world now hold plogging events. “I would just hope people would think twice before dropping a garbage on the ground. We have containers…seems on every block. So, it’s easy to put your garbage in the trash cans. I just think people should think about it a little bit more. I do hope one day there will not be a need for logging.” said an interviewee.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase “took matters into his own hands”?| A．began to pick up the trash. | B．appealed to people to go green |
| C．called on people to join him. | D．had the collected trash recycled |
| A．deliberate | B．automatic | C．arbitrary | D．temporary |
| A．Jogging is truly beneficial. | B．Trash cans should be within reach. |
| C．Communities should be kept clean. | D．Littering is not acceptable. |
| A．New Exercise Trend Also Helps Environment |
| B．New Exercise Enjoys unbelievable popularity |
| C．Plogging — a Fashionable Way to clear waste |
| D．Plogging — an Exercise Originating in Sweden |
【推荐2】Humans have moved species of plants and animals around, introducing them to new habitats, for as long as we’ve been on Earth. Many of these introduced species have been beneficial, such as European honeybees that have proved to be excellent pollinators (传粉者) in the US. But that’s not the case for European beachgrass introduced to sand dunes (堆) on the coast of California. Beachgrass was planted to stabilize the ever-shifting dunes and it worked well. But the beachgrass is usually the only species living on dunes where there once were a large variety of native grasses and wildflowers.
It’s true that not all non-native species become invasive, but those that do adapt to the local environment, spread rapidly and outcompete native wildlife, often due to the absence of natural enemies that can keep their population in check. The spread of invasive species leads to the extinction and biodiversity loss on Earth, causing financial and ecological damage, according to the leading scientists.
Some campaigns have been launched to eradicate invasive species, including pesticides spray, manual removal and biological controls. Interestingly, a growing number of chefs and conservationists even have a far simpler idea: Eat them to beat them. Apart from providing favorable habitats for local species, perhaps the best way to fight invasive species is to prevent them from occurring in the first place. When boating, clean the boat thoroughly before transporting it to a different body of water. Don’t “pack a pest” when travelling, for fruit and vegetables, plants, insects and animals can carry pests or become invasive themselves. If you plan to own an alien pet, do your research and plan ahead to make sure you can commit to looking after it instead of releasing it into the wild. When you transfer an organism, you can also transfer its neighbors. Think before you move an animal or plant around!
1. What phenomenon does the author describe in paragraph 1?| A．Introduced species may cause unexpected results. |
| B．The beachgrass led to the biodiversity on the dunes. |
| C．Humans have a long history of working with nature. |
| D．The honeybees were forced out of Europe by humans. |
| A．The balanced ecosystem. | B．The competitive native wildlife. |
| C．The absence of natural enemies. | D．The extinction of invasive species. |
| A．Increase. | B．Introduce. | C．Wipe out. | D．Take over. |
| A．Release organisms into the wild. | B．Provide favorable habitats for them. |
| C．Mind the acts of transferring species. | D．Keep the wildlife population in check. |
【推荐3】Around the World
Here is big news from Around the World.
Science Fiction Museum opens
Chengdu, China
The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum has opened its doors to the public. China’s newest museum—a star-shaped building on a lake was built in 12 months. Technology sped up the design and construction of the 635,070-square-foot museum, which has galleries, educational spaces, and cafés.
Day of the Dead is celebrated
Mexico
Thousands of people lined the streets of Mexico City to watch its annual Day of the Dead parade. The holiday was observed from October 31 to November 2 to remember and celebrate loved ones who have died. During this time, the dead are believed to return to the world. Families welcome them back with offerings, such as their favorite food.
Modern art at ancient pyramids
Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
A modern art exhibit at the Pyramids of Giza, titled Forever Is Now, has returned for a third year. This year’s show is the biggest yet and features works by 14 artists. The free event aims to celebrate ancient Egyptian culture with modern skills. Artists were careful not to harm the 4,500-year-old World Heritage Site.
Schools close due to heavy air pollution
Delhi, India
Elementary schools in Delhi are closed for at least one week because of the city’s poor air quality. The amount of harmful materials in the air has reached nearly 100 times the acceptable limit. Delhi is often very polluted in November because that is when many farmers burn their remaining crops. To reduce the smog, officials in the city have banned polluting vehicles, construction work, and the use of fireworks.
1. Where can you visit a museum on the lake?| A．In Chengdu, China. | B．In Mexico City. |
| C．At the Pyramids of Giza. | D．In Delhi, India. |
| A．To build the newest museum. | B．To hold a modern art exhibit. |
| C．To celebrate the Day of the Dead. | D．To avoid the harm caused by air pollution. |
【推荐1】Have you ever wondered what wild animals do when no one is watching?
Low cost, dependable and small modern cameras offered a big help. Cameras placed in hard-to-reach places have shot everything from small desert cats to larger snow-lowing cats in the northern Rocky Mountains. Scientists have been able to document the “private” moments of wildlife with leading technology.
Grant Harris is a government biologist with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In his words, “there’s no doubt that these wild cameras are important tools to learn new information on wildlife.” Harris said some images help scientists see the influences of climate (气候) change.
Researchers with the Wyoming Migration Initiative, or WMI, are among those using wild cameras along with global positioning systems, or GPS. But WMI director Matthew Kauffman says as those devices (设备) are limited (有限的), so is the amount of information they can gather. However, cameras can be left in very wild areas for days, weeks or even months. They can provide information on how many animals are moving over a given period of time.
Putting those cameras in place requires careful planning. Wild video can show details about animal behavior. However, wild cameras have their problems too. Animals such as wolverines and bears sometimes attack (袭击) them. Scientists do not know if the attacks are the result of anger or interest. Also, the devices have become popular tools to help hunters look for animals. Some people argue that it is unfair to use the cameras that way.
Even with such problems, wild cameras are clearly an important scientific tool in researching wild animals.
1. What does the underlined word “document” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Remind. | B．Enrich. | C．Produce. | D．Record. |
| A．They cannot be left in the wild over a long period. |
| B．They cannot be placed in hard-to-reach areas. |
| C．They provide limited information. |
| D．They might be stolen by people. |
| A．It is difficult to fix the cameras. |
| B．It helps hunters find animals easily. |
| C．It is hard to achieve careful planning. |
| D．It makes animals interested in the cameras. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supporting. | C．Uncertain. | D．Uninterested. |
【推荐2】As soon as you meet, or even see, a person, you form an impression of him based on his postures, gestures and facial expressions. This is why it is important to make a good first impression on the person who will be interviewing you. Within the first 60 seconds of meeting you, the interviewer will have formed an impression about what type of person you are and what kind of employee you would become, and 55% of this will be based only on your body language. Here are some tips to make that impression a good one.
First of all, relax. Think positive thoughts and you are more likely to come across as a positive, confident person during the interview. Dress smartly, as your appearance is one of the first things an interviewer will notice you. Stand up straight, and walk in with your shoulders back and your head up. Try to avoid slowing down as you walk into the room because this suggests fear and uncertainty. Shake hands with the interviewer firmly. You should have a positive handshake and a warm smile. Opening your coat or jacket as you sit down shows that you, too, are open.
Posture is important. You should be sitting well back in your seat. Sit up straight and lean forward slightly, but not too much. Sitting at too much of an angle expresses discomfort and distrust. Two of the most common defensive（防卫的）signals are crossing your arms and legs, so try to avoid them.
Another important issue is eye contact. Looking someone in the eye shows confidence in yourself and trust in the other person. However, don’t overdo it, as too much eve contact or staring will make the other person uncomfortable. Use more eye contact when listening than when talking, and when you look away, look down. Looking up at the ceiling will make you seem bored or rude.
1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to tell readers .| A．what a good first impression is |
| B．how to make a good first impression |
| C．how long it takes to make a first impression |
| D．the importance of making a good first impression |
| A．Cross your arms or legs. |
| B．Open your coat or jacket when sitting down. |
| C．Go into the room more slowly than usual. |
| D．Avoid looking at the eyes of the interviewer directly. |
| A．you are very thrilled | B．you are really comfortable |
| C．you don’t trust others | D．you don’t have confidence |
| A．In a newspaper. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a chemical paper. | D．In a fiction novel. |
【推荐3】A full-time nanny is employed by the parents to provide high quality childcare for their children and to undertake all tasks related to the providing of that care. Nannies provide childcare in the family's private home.
Full-time nannies with parents meet the physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs of the children. They typically do the children's laundry, keep the children's areas neat and clean, and prepare meals and snacks for the children. Depending on the age of the child and the family's needs, the nanny may be responsible for bathing the child, transporting the child to activities and assisting the child with homework.
Since nannies work in the private home and serve as caretakers, and educators, nannies must be trustworthy. Nannies are often hired so that parents can fulfill their personal and professional tasks. For this reason, nannies must be dependable and reliable.
Full-time nannies work on average 40 to 60 hours per week and may live with the family as live-in nannies. For parents who hire a live-in nanny, at minimum they should provide a separate bedroom and bathroom and all meals and snacks. One of the benefits of nanny care is that the parents set the nannies weekly schedule. Nannies are typically required to have some scheduling flexibility.
Nanny employers must pay what is commonly referred to as the nanny tax, which includes social security taxes and medicare taxes, total about 7.65% of the nanny's wages. The other federal tax is referred to as FUTA. It is the Federal Unemployment Tax. State unemployment taxes may also apply and vary from state to state.
In addition to nanny employer taxes the nanny is responsible for her share of the FICA taxes. Nannies are responsible for paying their own income tax payments, however many employers agree to manage the payments for them.
1. What does a full-time nanny usually do?| A．She must avoid dealing with her private secrets. |
| B．She should provide excellent care for the family. |
| C．She must be able to communicate well with parents. |
| D．She should do all the tasks connected with childcare. |
| A．The nanny should stop the kid from eating snacks. |
| B．The parents must prepare every meal for the nanny. |
| C．The nanny should be a person with education. |
| D．The parents must take responsibility for the nanny. |
| A．Work at most 8 hours a day. | B．Get your private space. |
| C．Work seven days a week. | D．Have no time of your own. |
| A．The nanny must pay such a tax according to her wages. |
| B．The tax almost covers one-fifth of the nanny's wages. |
| C．The employers should pay the nanny tax for nannies. |
| D．The tax is said to be the highest of all walks of life. |
