Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings.
The noise that affects sea creatures comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling,and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.
Decibels(分贝) measured in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.
Some scientists have proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have observed that noises at that level can frighten and confuse whales.
A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing. This seriously affected the whales’ ability to exchange information and find their way. Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected.
Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research.
Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they believed. They want to prevent noises from harming creatures in the ocean.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is increasingly dangerous to sea creatures?A.The man-made noises. | B.The noises made by themselves. |
C.The sound of earthquakes. | D.The sound of the ice-breaking. |
A.Different places with different types of noises. |
B.The very human ears sensitive to all types of noises. |
C.The same noise measured differently on land and in the ocean. |
D.The ocean animals’ reaction to noises. |
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【推荐1】Rubbish of all kinds is piling up in landfill and polluting our rivers and oceans. A more recent addition to the list of things we discard is e-waste — electronic items that are broken and not recycled. A UN report claims the 50 million tonnes of e-waste produced every year will more than double to 110 million tonnes by 2050, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the world. Now ways are being found to give it a new life.
There’s a growing trend for repair events and clubs which could be part of a solution to the growing amount of electrical and electronic garbage. The BBC visited a Restart Project in London, which is one of the many found around the world. One of its volunteers, Francesco Calo said, “This project allows you to reduce waste, lengthen the life of objects, and it helps people who cannot afford to get rid of items that have developed a fault. ”
Electronics consist of materials like plastic, metals, chemicals and glass. As many electrical items contain valuable metals, another idea is e-waste mining. An experiment at the University of New South Wales includes extracting (提取) these materials from electronic items. It’s thought that doing this could be more profitable than traditional mining. With phones typically containing as many as 60 components, this could be part of the solution to our appetite for new technology.
These projects make total sense — collections of e-waste for recycling are not progressing or even decreasing according to Ruediger Kuehr of the United Nations University. And in countries where there are no recycling laws, much of it is got rid of. However, the European Union, for example, is trying to settle the problem by insisting business firms have to make appliances longer-lasting and have to supply spare parts for machines for up to 10 years.
1. What does the underlined word “discard” in Paragraph 1 mean?A.throw away | B.take apart |
C.make the best of | D.put together |
A.Collect electronic garbage. | B.Use their electronics longer. |
C.Buy good-quality electronics. | D.Get jobs in recycling companies. |
A.Hard plastic. | B.Precious metals. |
C.Toughened glass. | D.Various chemicals. |
A.Improving recycling process. | B.Replacing spare parts timely. |
C.Using electronics permanently. | D.Making e-waste recycling laws. |
【推荐2】Children from four Buckingham shire primary schools visited Epilepsy Society to plant a hedge (树篱) as part of a Plant-for-the-Planet project. The children from these schools were planting a hedge in the garden of the Queen Elizabeth House at the charity in Chalfont St Peter. Plant-for-the-Planet gives children across the globe the opportunity to learn about the threats of global warming to the environment, and then put their new knowledge into practice as they plant new trees.
The day was organised by Bob Sherren who showed the children how to plant the planet-friendly line of trees in protective chambers (防护室) to shield them from hungry wildlife as they settle in their roots. Bob said, “The day really was ‘Thinking Globally, Acting Locally’ put into action. The children learned about the importance of planting trees as a way of helping to bring about climate justice (正义) for many living in poorer nations and of course enjoyed planting the trees too.” The eventual hedge, which will grow to full size over ten years behind the Queen Elizabeth House, is made up of trees such as oaks, silver birches and so on.
Bob added, “The children were also able to help people living at Epilepsy Society because they will gain some well-needed privacy from the hedge in time. The natural wildlife benefits too from the fruits and nuts that a hedge made from native species can provide as well as the possibility for any number of nesting sites.”
Emma Darlington, Epilepsy Society’s volunteer officer, said, “I think it’s so important to encourage the younger generation that the future is in their hands and that they can make a difference, whether it is through taking part in projects like this or spreading awareness. We hope they learn a little bit about the work we do at Epilepsy Society too — the trees they planted will be enjoyed by everyone here for years to come.”
1. What is the purpose of the Plant-for-the-Planet project?A.To help children learn more about society. |
B.To offer children colourful after-school activities. |
C.To raise children’s awareness of global warming. |
D.To teach children how to protect natural wildlife. |
A.Separate. | B.Take. | C.Get. | D.Protect. |
A.Tired. | B.Proud. | C.Discouraged. | D.Peaceful. |
A.She hopes to popularise volunteering work. |
B.She tries to drive the children to study hard. |
C.She expects the children to take positive action. |
D.She believes the younger generation are promising. |
【推荐3】Every winter, Siberian cranes (白鹤) migrate from northeast Siberia in Russia to Poyang Lake in Jiangxi province, China. About 95 percent of the birds spend the season there. However, climate change has endangered the birds’ habitats.
“In some years, the Poyang Lake experiences floods, while in others, it experiences droughts. Both of these create food shortages in the cranes’ habitat,” Qian Fawen, a researcher from the National Bird Banding Center of China, told China Daily.
To help deal with the problem, the local government has built 70 hectares of lotus roots (莲藕) in Nanchang to provide food during the winter for the cranes. The birds’ population has risen from about 3,000 to more than 5,000 over the past 20 years, according to Qian.
Over the years, China has worked hard to protect migratory birds and wetlands. Known as the “Earth’s kidneys (肾脏)”, wetlands play a key role in cleaning water, preventing floods, and helping with biodiversity. The Wetlands Protection Law was introduced on June 1, 2022. It stops building work on important national wetlands and bans activities such as overgrazing (过度放牧) and giving out wastewater.
Thanks to these efforts, China has reported more birds wintering in the nation’s wetlands. In February, black-faced spoonbills (黑脸琵鹭), an endangered species, were seen wintering at Dongting Lake after disappearing for five years. Last December, Shanghai Chongming Dongtan Bird National Nature Reserve recorded more than 2,900 tundra swans up from some 1,000 seen during the winter of 2021.
1. The bird population is rising in Nanchang because ________.A.the city offers more food for birds | B.extreme weather hasn’t hit the city |
C.the city becomes increasingly warm | D.climate change doesn’t affect the place |
A.Saving endangered animal species. | B.Looking after water and biodiversity. |
C.Providing shade for migratory birds. | D.Avoiding overgrazing and water pollution. |
A.when the Wetlands Protection Law was introduced |
B.why the bird population in Nanchang rises quickly |
C.how China deals with water pollution and overpopulation |
D.what China has done to protect migratory birds and wetlands |
A.Migratory birds add biodiversity to China. |
B.New bird species leave China for winter. |
C.China has completed its wetlands protection. |
D.China’s environmental protection is successful. |
【推荐1】In the first test of its kind in Europe, and only the second in the world, Belgian researchers tested 39 brands of straws (吸管) for the group of synthetic (合成的) chemicals known as poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The straws are made from five materials — paper, bamboo, glass, stainless steel and plastic. PFAS were found in the majority of the straws tested and were most common in those made from paper and bamboo. They were not found only in steel straws tested.
PFAS are used to make everyday products, from outdoor clothing to non-stick pans, resistant (抵抗to water, heat and stains. They are, however, potentially harmful to people, wildlife and the environment. They have been related to a number of health problems, including lower response to vaccines (疫苗), lower birth weight, thyroid disease, liver damage, kidney cancer and testicular cancer. They break down very slowly over time and can last thousands of years in the environment, a property that has led to them being known as “forever chemicals”.
A growing number of countries, including the UK and Belgium, have sopped the sale of single-use plastic products, including drinking straws, and plant-based versions have become popular. The PFAS concentrations (浓缩物) were low in them and, bear in mind that most people tend to only use straws occasionally, bringing a limited risk to human health. However, PFAS can remain in the body for many years and concentrations can build up over time.
It isn’t known whether the PFAS were added to the straws by the producer for waterproofing or the PFAS were the result of contamination. Potential sources of contamination include the soil the plant-based materials were grown in and the water used in the production process. However, the presence of the chemicals in almost every brand of paper straws means it is likely that it was, in some cases, being used as a water-resistant coating, say the researchers.
1. Why are PFAS called “forever chemicals”?A.They are commonly seen in daily life. |
B.They bring humans health problems. |
C.They remain in the environment for long. |
D.They can resist water, heat and stains. |
A.By bringing people air pollution. |
B.By polluting humans’ food. |
C.By building up little by little in humans’ body. |
D.By making people addicted to drinking easily. |
A.Pollution. | B.Discovery. | C.Experiment. | D.Development. |
A.More and more countries give up single-use plastic products. |
B.PFAS are widely used in the production of daily necessities. |
C.Certain kinds of new synthetic chemicals were discovered. |
D.Environment-friendly drinking straws are actually harmful. |
【推荐2】Dyson, a company best known for its innovative(创新的) line of vacuums and fans, is apparently also interested in providing urbanites with a convenient way to filter(过滤) air pollution. The company recently applied for a patent (专利) in the UK for a pair of headphones that takes in polluted air through ear cups and directs the filtered product to an integrated mouthpiece. Dyson’s engineers behind the invention describe it as a more convenient alternative to traditional face masks.
“In locations with particularly high levels of air pollution, many people have recognized the benefits of reducing their exposure to these pollutants and have therefore taken to wearing face masks with the aim of filtering out at least a portion of the pollutants present in the air before it reaches the mouth and nose,” the inventors write in the invention summary. “However, as these face masks typically cover at least the users mouth and nose, they can make normal breathing more laborious.”
So how does Dyson imagine this equipment working? As you might have guessed for a company that specializes in innovative ways to move air, the ear cups contain small fans that spin at 12, 000 rotations per minute. This provides enough suction(抽吸) to draw in about 1.4 liters of air per second. The air is then filtered to remove pollutants and pushed to a partially-transparent mouthpiece at the front of the user. As a way to reduce the noise of the fans, the headphones also include adaptive noise canceling with an integrated microphone and speakers.
While it’s unknown whether this patent will ever develop into an actual product, it's unfortunately something that many people could use. In its “state of Global Air 2019” report, the non-profit Health Effects Institute ( HEI) listed air pollution as the fifth leading cause for death worldwide, ahead of malnutrition, alcohol use, and physical inactivity.
So are Dyson’s air-purifying headphones straight out of some dystopian(反乌托邦的) science fiction films? You bet. But it’s increasingly our reality that much of the world is living and breathing in cities where that unthinkable future is already playing out. Necessity in the face of such awful man-made pollution will eventually push something similar to market. Whether humanity takes the hint(暗示) and does something to make them useless is sadly less certain.
1. What is the disadvantage of tradition face masks according to Dyson’s engineers?A.They keep fresh air out. | B.They need regular cleaning. |
C.They make breathing difficult. | D.They take too long to filter the pollutants. |
A.To show the necessity of the new invention. | B.To show its contribution to the new invention. |
C.To explain why people tend to go after new things. | D.To explain why people worldwide have a shorter life. |
A.Air-purifying headphones are not new. | B.Dyson’s invention will be of little use. |
C.Human action should come before the technology. | D.Dyson's engineers got inspiration from sci-fi films. |
A.A pioneer of innovation is in a dilemma. |
B.Risks that could lead to death are still rising. |
C.Air pollution is no longer an age-old problem. |
D.A high-tech product might be needed in smoke-choked cities. |
【推荐3】Delhi has been the centre of a succession of mighty empires and powerful kingdoms in India. Numerous ruins scattered throughout the territory offer a constant reminder of the area's history, which makes the city always be a fascinating place for tourists.
With the development of the city and more and more people moving, the city has expanded several times in size. That is why it is called New Delhi. New Delhi, a city with a population of over 20 million people, has its newest problem: never before has this city met with the worst air problem.
Air pollution in Indians capital surged to its worst levels in years, covering the city in a thick smog that has become an annual public-health emergency despite government vows to solve the problem.
Hundreds of flights were diverted, delayed and canceled over the weekend due to poor visibility, schools and offices were closed Monday and officials rushed to take emergency measures to try to reverse the eroding air quality. Millions of antipollution masks were distributed at schools, colleges, hospitals and markets.
New Delhi, is engulfed each year as the weather cools and a thick haze builds up from the pollutants emitted from cars and coal-based power plants, swirling dust from construction sites and roads and smoke from crop stubble burning in neighboring states. Fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali then arrives, leaving Delhi the world's most polluted city.
The city's air quality index, which measures a mix of dangerous pollutants, registered an average score of 494 Sunday. That is the highest 24-hour average since Nov. 6, 2016, when it hit 497, according to data measured by the Central Pollution Control Board.
1. Which of the following is true?A.Diwali, one of the festivals in India, is not important to Idians. |
B.The index of the recent air pollution is not the worst in the history. |
C.Dehli, once a constant reminder of the area’s history, has shrunk. |
D.The government did nothing to protect its citizens against the pollution. |
A.The parents whose children have to stay at home. |
B.The pilots whose planes have been diverted or delayed. |
C.The manufacturers who produce antipollution masks. |
D.The officials who have to work out of their offices. |
A.released | B.polluted | C.purified | D.restricted |
A.Problems Caused by the Development of New Delhi |
B.Farmers in the Neighboring States are to Blame for Burning Crop Stubble |
C.Antipollution Masks Are in Great Need in New Delhi |
D.Dangerous Pollution Envelops New Delhi |
【推荐1】The Apostolic Library in Vatican City is home to ancient writings, rare books and reading rooms. Now, it is opening a small new space to the public where modern-day artwork can be seen next to the library's treasures.
The first show at the space is called Tutti, the Italian word for all. It was suggested by Pope(教皇) Francis' 2020 letter called “Brothers All”. The message appealed for environmental renewal, greater human unity and a more just socio-economic order in the world after the COVID-19 crisis.
Artist Pietro Ruffo of Italy's capital, Rome, was invited to design the first show. Maps and migration (迁徙) are among the common subjects of his work. At the Library, he transformed one room into a forest. In another room, Ruffo designed a modern version of one of the library's ancient maps of the Nile River. He placed both maps side by side.
The leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican City ruler, Pope Francis, opened the Apostolic Library's new space last week. Pope Francis said the world was in need of new maps after COVID-19. He called for a greater sense of brotherhood. “Humanity needs new maps to discover the sense of love, of friendship and the common good,” he said. “We need a new beauty that isn't the usual reflection of power of some but a courageous map of everyone's diversity(多样性).”
The property of former US businessman Kirk Kerkorian paid for the project. Early in Francis' time as pope, he had appealed for the Apostolic Library to open itself up more to the outside world. In 2016, Francis declared the pope's summer home in Castel Gandolfo open to visitors.
The exhibit at the Apostolic Library is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visitors must seek admission through an online request. The price of admission is about $17.
The Apostolic Library is separate from the Vatican Apostolic Archives((档案馆), which is home to all the documentation from pope's headquarters (总部) and embassies. Both the library and the archives are open to researchers upon request.
1. What is among the common subjects of Pietro Ruffo's work?A.Brothers All. | B.Environmental renewal. |
C.Maps and migration. | D.Treasures of modern art works. |
A.Ticket sales. | B.Roman artists' donation. |
C.The Pope's appeal and support. | D.The property of a businessman. |
A.The exhibit at it opens twice a week. |
B.It's outdated and backward. |
C.It's unconditionally open to the audience. |
D.It's owned by the Vatican Apostolic Archives. |
A.To attract more scholars to visit. |
B.To enrich background materials. |
C.To stress the importance of the library. |
D.To further explain the diversity and value of documents. |
【推荐2】Baleen whales (须鲸), such as the blue whale, are huge sea animals. “Baleen” describes a filter-feeding (滤食的) system in their mouths through which they can eat huge numbers of very small ocean animals. But it appears now that whales are not the first sea animals to filter-feed.
Scientists recently reported their findings about the ancient remains of a sea animal called Hupehsuchus nanchangensis that lived 248 million years ago, during the Triassic Period. They say its fossil (化石), which was unearthed in China’s Hubei Province, presents evidence of a filter-feeding system similar to that of baleen whales.
Unlike blue whales, Hupehsuchus was not large. The animal measured about one meter long. Its mouth was narrow and toothless. Its lower jaw was loosely connected to the rest of the head bone. This permitted the animal to open its mouth wide to take in a large amount of water and the animals it carried. The structure traps little sea animals but lets the seawater flow out.
From two new fossils with well-kept head bones the scientists found evidence along the jaws suggesting the presence of soft tissue s that could have served as baleen. “We were amazed to discover the adaptation in such an early sea animal,” said Fang Zichen of the Wuhan Center of China Geological Survey.
Paleontologist Mike Benton said, “Altogether, this points to a soft pocket of skin around the mouth and throat, as in modern baleen whales, and some kind of filtering device hanging from the jaws, like baleen.” But, he added, the baleen and skin were not fossilized.
According to scientists, Hupehsuchus’ feeding style would match that used by baleen whales. This feeding structure is an example of a phenomenon in which distinct organisms independently evolve similar features—like the wings of birds and bats—to adapt to similar environments.
1. Why are baleen whales mentioned in the first paragraph?A.To present another sea animal. | B.To awaken curiosity about huge whales. |
C.To draw attention to their current state. | D.To introduce their unique feeding pattern. |
A.How it filter-fed. | B.Its lower jaw's function. |
C.Why it grew toothless. | D.Its physical characteristics. |
A.Baleen surrounded the jaws. | B.It could feed and live in the sea. |
C.It developed a filter-feeding system. | D.Two undamaged head bones were found. |
A.Hupehsuchus Proving to Be a Filter-feeder |
B.Hupehsuchus Appearing Earlier than Whales |
C.Scientists Unlocking the Secrets of Hupehsuchus |
D.New Evidence Telling Hupehsuchus'Evolution |
【推荐3】Despite heavy illegal hunting of rhinos, South Africa’s Kruger National Park is still a natural paradise. One of the largest remaining lion populations in Africa lives there. Yet there is something the local animals fear even more than the big cats.
Liana Zanette of Western University in Ontario and her colleagues were able to show that animals react most strongly to human voices and flee in response. For their experiment, the team placed camera traps and loudspeakers at water holes in the national park, which allowed the researchers to influence and record the behavior of a total of 19 mammal species. They played the animals sounds of normal conversations of humans in four South African languages, dogs barking, gunshots and lion sounds.
The study group found that animals were twice as likely to flee and yacated an area faster when they heard human voices than when they heard lions or gunshots. This was true for 95 percent of the animal species observed, including giraffes, leopards, hyenas, zebras, kudu, warthogs, impalas and rhinos. Only elephants were significantly more likely to run from lions than from humans.
The same was true of the time that animals spent at water holes: they usually stayed longer when lion sounds were played to them than when human voices were heard. Wild dogs, leopards and buffalo were the only animals who stayed at water holes longer when they heard humans, and the difference was not statistically significant for these species. “There is a notion that animals get used to humans when they are not being hunted. But we’ve shown that’s not the case,” Clinchy says. “Fear of humans is deeply rooted and common, so we need to seriously address it for conservation reasons.”
The team is now investigating whether its customized sound systems can be used to help endangered species, such as the southern white rhino, away from known poaching(偷猎) areas in South Africa. Initial tests of keeping rhinos away from such areas through the use of human voices have been successful.
1. What can we know about South Africa’s Kruger National Park?A.Rhinos are effectively protected in the park. |
B.Lions are the biggest threat for local animals. |
C.Human voices cause fear in the local wildlife. |
D.It is a natural paradise without illegal hunting. |
A.Occupied. | B.Left. | C.Encountered. | D.Filled. |
A.Elephants are more afraid of humans than lions. |
B.Giraffes react most strongly to lions or gunshots. |
C.Rhinos were more likely to run from lions than gunshots |
D.Wild dogs stayed at water holes longer when hearing humans |
A.Human Voices: a surprising deep-rooted fear in wildlife |
B.Lions: the primary source of threat for the local animals |
C.Lion Sounds: the potential use for wildlife protection |
D.Humans: the impact on decreasing rhino population |