Across the world, humans purchase around 1.3 billion single-use plastic water bottles a day. Because only about 9% of plastic is recycled, the vast majority of those bottles wind up in landfills, the ocean, or elsewhere in nature.
When beach-loving Madison noticed those plastic bottles during her family’s trips to California, the 12-year-old “just felt like this needed to change,” she told Smithsonian Magazine.
So as she began thinking about what to do for her school science fair back in 2021, the idea of a project centered on reducing plastic pollution quickly came to her mind: she would design an eatable water bottle called the Eco-Hero.
“One of my biggest ambitions for my project was wanting to help the world,” the confident young inventor said in a video on the website.
To bring her idea to life, Madison built upon the already established method by experimenting with common food materials. She also took inspiration from previous versions of eatable water bottles, though she focused on making hers bigger and more durable. She found that the combination of water, lemon juice, natural gum, and Alginic acid (褐藻酸) resulted in a gel pouch that wouldn’t break, could hold up to 3/4 cup of water, and would last in the fridge for three weeks.
Though she’d like to improve the Eco-Hero by making it able to hold more water, she believes her current version would work well as a replacement for the paper cups used by runners in races. All one needs to do is bite a hole in the water ball, drink the water, and then eat the pouch or throw it away to biodegrade.
Madison hopes the Eco-Hero inspires others to take better care of the planet. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a big way,” she told Smithsonian. “People can still make a difference in the world, even if it’s just in a small way.”
1. What inspired Madison’s design of an eatable water bottle?| A．Her school’s task. | B．Her family’s urge. |
| C．Her love for nature. | D．Her trips to the beach. |
| A．It is a copy of the previous versions. |
| B．It is made from unbreakable materials. |
| C．It is an improvement in size and durability. |
| D．It has a hole and should be disposed once used. |
| A．Ambitious and creative. | B．Talented and determined. |
| C．Courageous and confident. | D．Cooperative and committed. |
| A．A good beginning is half done. | B．Small people make big moves. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. | D．God helps those who help themselves. |
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【推荐1】With all the recent concern about the environment，people want to see their money used to better the planet. Here are four well-known environmental organizations.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The World Wildlife Fund is perhaps one of the best-known organizations for the protection of endangered species and their habitats around the world. They’ve been around for over 45 years. You can donate through their website worldwildlife. org, join their organization as a member, or adopt an animal through their online adoption center.
National Geographic Society (NGS)
National Geographic Society is well-known for their magazine and their specials on TV. The organization itself is one of the longest-running in the world—they’ ve been around since 1888. focus on exploration and conservation of forests, oceans, habitats, species and societies. You chopse to donate through the website nationalgeographic.com，buy something at their online store, or order a magazine subscription.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
Founded officially in 1937, the National Wildlife Federation tries to protect wildlife at all costs. In fact, they believe that having the public educated is the best way to help the environment—-the more you know, the more you can protect the world we live in. Donations to the NWF can be made through their website nwf. org or through other options, like matching gifts, workplace giving, or memorial donations.
Ecology Fund, com
Set up in 1976，Ecology Fund, com is run on user clicks. Advertisers buy ad space on the site every time someone clicks. The money goes to buy endangered wilderness land to protect it from companies that would destroy it. So far, Ecology Fund, com has bought land in many areas. The best thing about this site is that you needn’t donate any money—all you have to do is click.
1. Which environmental organization has the longest history?| A．Ecology Fund. com. | B．World Wildlife Fund. |
| C．National Geographic Society. | D．National Wildlife Federation. |
| A．Knowledge. | B．Management. | C．Money. | D．Patience. |
| A．The size of networks. | B．The way of operation. |
| C．The strength of influence. | D．The degree of popularity. |
【推荐2】Two-thirds of the world’s major rivers have now been disrupted (中断) with more than 50,000 dams in an attempt to store water and provide power. In the US, there are more than 85,000 dams, disrupting large and small rivers and in most cases transforming natural flow. The most famous of these, the Hoover Dam constructed in the 1930’s, is mainly responsible for the fact that the Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean.
Dams, besides all their attractive benefits, also have negative impacts. Creating a reservoir (水库) means a large area must be flooded. Communities may lose their land houses and cultural relies (遗址). Down stream of a dam, the flow may be reduced so that farmers cannot irrigate their fields.
Environmentally, the new reservoir can be a paradise for wildlife especially birds. However, it can cause greenhouse gas emissions (排放) and poison the water for fish. Also, the dramatic rise and fall of water levels during dam releases is too extreme for plants and animals to cope with, resulting in dead zones around the shores of reservoirs. Fish that lay their eggs in the shallows, for example, may find a few hours later that those sites are high and dry.
Dams don't just block water flow. The flow may be reduced so that farmers will have great trouble getting water for their fields. They also prevent fish migrations and are a barrier to sediment(沉淀物) flows. Instead of rushing downriver, sediments get backed up against the dam wall, which causes the reservoir level to increase over time. However, sediments which are rich in nutrients have become a problem. The fertility of the entire system can be influenced be influenced by soils lost during seasonal rains, not being replaced.
Perhaps the biggest problem can be seen in deltas (三角洲), often host to large cities, which are sinking into the oceans. Groundwater is being extracted to feed the city, causing the urban weight to sink and sediments washed away by the ocean are no longer being replaced. The result is that sea level rises in cities from Shanghai to Alexandria.
1. What effects does creating a reservoir have on people's life?a. People will see fewer birds near the rivers.
b. Farmers below the dam may have less water to irrigate their fields.
c. Visitors can't see some cultural relics anymore.
d. More conflicts and wars over water will break out.
e. All kinds of fish will become extinct in the future.
| A．b c | B．c e |
| C．b e | D．a d |
| A．find more places to lay their eggs |
| B．face a more dangerous living habitat |
| C．feed on more sediments rich in nutrients |
| D．find it easier to deal with the rise of water |
| A．The rainy season will last longer |
| B．Rich soils will be washed away |
| C．Their entire system will be influenced |
| D．They will lie below sea level in the future |
| A．Economic gain of dams | B．Cultural loss of dams |
| C．Environmental benefits of dams | D．Environmental loss of dams |
【推荐3】Top scientists have emphasized the importance of forest carbon sinks as having an irreplaceable role in reducing carbon in the atmosphere and ultimately combating climate change.
Yin Weilun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former principal of Beijing Forestry University, said that forests and grasslands hold a unique position in combating global climate change.
Forest carbon sinks are plants that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fix it in vegetation or soil, thereby reducing concentration of the gas, Yin said.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Forestry and Grassland Carbon Sink Innovation International Forum, which is running parallel to the Zhongguancun Forum held in Beijing from Thursday to Tuesday, the scientist said that good forest management can increase carbon absorption capability.
Yin called for more research in forest management to ensure the sustainability of forests and their carbon sink capacity.
“The growth and development cycle of each tree species is different. For example, poplars (白杨木) reach their peak height in about 20 years. After that, they are unlikely to grow and the tree top will rot away.”
To use land efficiently, forest managers must cut down some rotten trees and replace them with young ones so that the forest system can maintain its ability to reproduce and act as a carbon sink, he said.
Yin also stressed the need for increasing forest reserves, grasslands and wetlands to enhance their ability to absorb carbon.
At the forum, Du Xiangwan, former deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said forests and grasslands can make multiple contributions to climate change mitigation as each cubic meter of wood growth can absorb an average of 1.83 metric tons of carbon dioxide, he said.
In addition, afforestation, grassland and wetland restoration, and desertification control not only protect biodiversity but also provide solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, he added.
Last year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration set up a carbon sink research institute to study the country’s potential for carbon sinks through forests and grasslands.
This research work will assess the spatial distribution of carbon sinks with the aim of understanding how to increase them, the administration said.
1. How does forest carbon sink function ?| A．By reducing carbon in the sky. | B．By absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. |
| C．By absorbing carbon dioxide in vegetation or soil. | D．By reducing the spread of the gases |
| A．it can prevent tree cut. | B．it can ensure land availability. |
| C．it can maintain forest reproduction. | D．it can increase carbon absorption capability. |
| A．Forest carbon sinks can never be replaced in combating climate change. |
| B．If necessary, some trees must be cut down for the young growth. |
| C．The climate change is undergoing the worst situation in China. |
| D．More researches are needed to do for the forest management. |
【推荐1】Jane Goodall is walking in Tanzania, searching carefully for chimpanzees (黑猩猩). Her love for chimps began when she was just a baby. Her father had bought her a toy when she was a year old, and Jubilee—as her chimp was called, became her constant companion.
Jane Goodall was fascinated with animals and she dreamed of becoming a naturalist in Africa. But with not enough money to even attend college, she found herself working as a waitress to pay her bills.
One day in 1956, a letter arrived from a childhood friend in Kenya, inviting her for a visit. The young Jane Goodall finally bought a ticket to Mombasa.
When 26-year-old Jane Goodall set foot in Tanzania’s Gombe Stream Reserve, not much was known about chimps. Jane did not even have an undergraduate degree, but what she did have was a deep love for the forest, patience and a thirst for learning.
Jane’s findings changed humans’ opinion of chimpanzees in many ways. One of her primary discoveries that have since been observed in other species was the presence of emotion in animals. She also discovered that different from previous belief, chimps are not vegetarians. While their diet is mostly made up of fruits, nuts, and seeds, she observed them hunting and eating the meat of small monkeys.
When Jane published her first book, In the Shadow of Man, she received a lot of criticism (批判). There were complaints that she had named her chimps rather than giving them fixed numbers. She was told that she could not assume that chimps had personalities or emotions. She was also criticized for using feeding stations to attract chimps for observation.
However, on the whole, the contributions that Jane has made to science, not only as a researcher but as a conservationist, are invaluable. She challenged ideas nobody had ever thought to question and her work continues to shape research today.
1. What do we know about Jane?| A．She was born in Kenya. | B．She majored in animal science at college. |
| C．She loved chimps from a very young age. | D．She learned about animals from her father. |
| A．Animals have their own languages. | B．Animals have emotions. |
| C．Chimps only eat plants. | D．Chimps can use tools. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Concerned. | C．Doubtful. | D．Appreciative. |
| A．Jane: A champion of chimps! | B．What separates us from chimps? |
| C．How to make friends with chimps. | D．Jane still fights for endangered chimps. |
【推荐2】This is my son Matthew’s last night at home before college. I know that this is good news. I feel proud that Matthew will go to a great school. I know that this is the finest hour. But looking at the suitcases on his bed sends me out of the room to a hidden corner where I can’t stop crying.
Through the sorrow, I feel a rising embarrassment. “Pull yourself together!” I tell myself. There are parents sending their kids off to battle zones. How dare I feel so shocked and upset?
One of the great gifts of my life has been having my boys, Matthew and John Owen. Through them, I have explored the mysterious, complicated bond between fathers and sons. As my wife and I raised them, I have discovered the love and loss between my father and me. After my parents’ divorce, I spent weekends with my dad in Ohio. By the time Sunday came around, I was unable to enjoy the day’s activities because I was already afraid of the goodbye of the evening.
Now, standing among Matthew’s accumulation of possessions, I realize it’s me who has become a boy again. All my sadness and longing to hold on to things are back, sweeping over me as they did when I was a child.
His bed is tidy and spare. It already has the feel of a guest bed. In my mind I replay wrapping him in his favorite blanket. That was our nightly routine until one evening he said, “Daddy, I don’t think I need a blanket tonight.” I think of all the times we lay among the covers reading. I look at the bed and think of all the recent times I was annoyed at how late he was sleeping. I’ll never have to worry about that again, I realize.
For his part, Matthew has been a rock. He is treating his leaving as just another day at the office. And I’m glad. After all, someone’s got to be strong. I’m proud that he is charging into the first chapter of his adult life with such confidence.
1. What does the writer mean by “Pull yourself together!”?| A．Get up. | B．Cheer up. |
| C．Pull up. | D．Wake up. |
| A．the writer is accustomed to sleeping early |
| B．Matthew doesn’t get on well with his father |
| C．Matthew is ready for his new life |
| D．the writer wasn’t brave enough to face his parents’ divorce |
| A．Worried. | B．Grateful. |
| C．Relieved. | D．Bittersweet. |
| A．Unavoidable Goodbye | B．Sweet Memories |
| C．Glorious Moment | D．Unconditional Love |
【推荐3】Born in Shiqian county in Guizhou province, 34-year-old Sun Xiaojun used to be the naughtiest student in class. This changed after he broke an ankle and was diagnosed with osteomyelitis (骨髓炎) at the age of 9. His right leg later had to be amputated. His family spent all of their money for the operation. The young man then made the decision to study hard.
In 2006, Sun was admitted to the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei province, majoring in material forming and control engineering. In 2009, he won the opportunity to continue his studies at Japan’s Tohoku University. “I started to wear a prosthesis (假肢) two years after I began studying in Japan. I had never worn one before, so it took quite a long time to get used to it.” he said.
The experience wasn’t very comfortable. He would sometimes fall over when he tried to walk fast, which made him feel awkward. In 2013, he came up with the idea of creating a smarter prosthetic that used robotics. In 2018, he founded BionicM in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, to create inventions to help those with a disability. Sun won the Red Dot Best of the Best award in 2020 because of his robotic prosthetic knee.
“I myself use a prosthetic limb, and I’m also a researcher. There are about 4 million people in China with amputated lower limbs,” he added. “The cost of an ordinary prosthesis is around 60,000 to 100,000 yuan, unaffordable for most.” Sun said most prosthetics are produced in Europe. “I didn’t start my company for the money, but to make a product that is useful to society. Amputees have a basic need to walk,” he said. According to Sun, the robotic knee his company produces is priced at around 300,000 yuan per pair, while similar products sold elsewhere average around 800,000 yuan. Admitting that this is not ideal, he said that his robotic knees are still in small-scale production. He hopes that by raising more money, he’ll be able to expand production and make his devices more affordable.
1. What does the underlined word “amputated” probably mean in Para. 1?| A．attended | B．cured | C．repaired | D．removed |
| A．Science and Technology were his majors. |
| B．His robotic prosthetic knee earned him reputation. |
| C．He was the naughtiest student in class at the age of 34. |
| D．He wore his first prosthesis right after he went to Japan. |
| A．Earning more money. | B．Mass production. |
| C．Lowering the price. | D．Helping more people. |
| A．Cold-hearted. | B．Talkative. | C．Caring. | D．Stubborn. |
【推荐1】Once my husband was diagnosed (诊断) with stage 4 cancer, I didn’t go back to work and my life became about being the best caretaker and wife I could possibly be. After my husband was gone, it felt like my entire future had been ripped out from under me. All my hopes and dreams had involved the two of us together. But life took on new meaning.
I went to the quiet beach in Hawaii that my husband and I discovered together the first morning of our honeymoon and spread his ashes (骨灰) in the ocean. I once wished a heart attack would strike me dead, but something about having to be alone and carry the pain made me stronger than before. I realized that I could rely on myself and be my own friend.
Pretty soon, I went to Florida and saw my dad for the first time in 6 years. I went to Australia by myself and made many lasting friends from all over the world. I started to experience things that challenge myself and live life to the fullest. After many trips to other countries, I returned to work. But this time instead of working really hard like before, 1 made a promise to myself to work less and experience more.
Since my husband’s death, I have travelled to over 20 countries. The lesson I could learn from my travelling experiences was that we should live in the moment. We can’t know what will happen in the future, or even control much of it but I don’t want to wait to follow my dreams and check things off my bucket list (遗愿清单). I hope you don’t either.
1. Why did the author say “life took on new meaning” in the first paragraph?| A．She moved in a new direction in life. |
| B．She decided to help patients with cancer. |
| C．She rethought whether to go back to work. |
| D．She wanted to realize her husband’s un-finished dream. |
| A．She was in bad health. |
| B．She fell in love with Hawaii. |
| C．She felt worried about her future. |
| D．She learned to be more independent. |
| A．her desire to make friends |
| B．her efforts to find a suitable job |
| C．her methods to deal with anxiety |
| D．her ways to enjoy a meaningful life |
| A．It turned her into a kind person. |
| B．It helped improve her communication skills. |
| C．It made her develop a positive attitude to life. |
| D．It allowed her to experience different cultures. |
| A．The magic of travelling | B．More travel, more friends |
| C．Keeping happy by travelling | D．The importance of relaxing activities |
【推荐2】Some years ago in the departure lounge (休息室) of a flight from New York’s LaGuardia airport to O’Hare in Chicago, I found a young boy in tears and his mother at his side also appeared upset. I walked to them and invited them to our VIP lounge.
As it turned out, the boy, Miles and his mom were returning to their home in Kansas City. Miles has had some health problems. Though he had received more than thirty operations in a Jewish Hospital in New York, he would be back for more.
Miles enjoyed spending his time in our VIP lounge looking at the entire wall filled with the pictures of many celebrities (名人) who often came to our office. We soon added Miles’ picture to the wall among those celebrities. Among the celebrities, Miles liked the country singer Garth Brooks best. Miles would just sit and stare at Garth’s picture.
One day, Mr. Brooks was waiting in the lounge for his flight. As he looked at the collection of photographs, Garth asked about the youngster with the big smile. We told him about Miles. We also told him how much Miles loved and respected him. He nodded and left.
About six months later, Garth was going to perform in Kansas City and he asked our workers to help him get in touch with the family. He wanted Miles to be his guest. That evening, not only did Miles sit in the front row, but he and Garth also had a private meeting after the performance.
Although Miles would receive many more treatments after that special evening, his smile greeted us with every following visit. The face of a sick boy was changed by the joy of a stranger.
1. How was Miles’ mother when the author saw them?| A．Sad. | B．Moved. | C．Confused. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．Playing with his mother. | B．Singing with his favorite singer. |
| C．Talking with the author. | D．Admiring pictures of famous people. |
| A．Proud and brave. | B．Creative and generous. |
| C．Kind and helpful. | D．Powerful and considerate. |
| A．Miles has completely recovered. |
| B．The author knew Garth very well. |
| C．Garth’s kindness encouraged Miles greatly. |
| D．Garth got in touch with Miles through the author. |
【推荐3】My daughter Kelly is a cautious person. She needs to warm up to situations’ and is hesitant to try new things. When with close friends, she becomes a leader who laughs loudly and chants, “Girls rule, boys drool.” But when that comfort zone is not around her, she is shy and nervous.
This has been challenging for me at times. “Shy”’ is not a word that I think has ever been used to describe me. But this has been a year of firsts for my girl that has filled her with a new sense of confidence. This year she moved to lap lane in swimming where she was preparing for a swim team. This year she learned to ride a bike without training wheels. And this year she completed her first kids’ triathlon (三项全能).
On Saturday, with a thunderstorm coming soon and my son’s birthday party later in the day, we all went out in the dark of the morning for Kelly to participate in her first triathlon. We practiced transitions from swim to bike to run with her, we got all the equipment she’d need, and we kept talking about the race. But as we waited the two hours for the older kids to finish before her turn, she held my leg a little harder and told me she loved me a few too many times. She was nervous but trying to keep it together.
And then it was her turn. From the second she jumped into the water, my heart soared. My daughter transformed into the most confident human being I had ever seen. She dominated that swim, crushed that bike ride and ran to the finish with the biggest smile on her face.
I can honestly say that I never felt so proud of someone in my entire life. It wasn’t because she did a sport or anything like that. It was because she was afraid of something and conquered that fear with confidence and a fire I hadn’t seen before.
All day I would find myself just looking over at her and smiling. She might be wearing the finalist medal but I felt like I won that day. I won the chance to see my girl shine.
Shine on, sweet baby.
1. Kelly is nervous when ________.| A．boys are around her | B．she changes into a leader |
| C．she is away from her mom | D．situations are new to her |
| A．the race began in the early morning | B．the whole family gave Kelly support |
| C．Kelly was eager for her turn in the race | D．Kelly prepared for her brother’s birthday party |
| A．overcame the fear | B．expressed love to her |
| C．won the gold medal | D．took part in the sport |
