【推荐1】China is showing the world its great resolve in the global climate campaign with concrete and self-motivated efforts as well as serious commitment.

At the opening ceremony of the Paris climate summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping restated China’s plan made in June to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 60—65 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, and increase non-fossil fuel sources in primary energy consumption to about 20 per cent.

With a large population, China is facing increasing resource limits, severe environmental pollution and a worsening ecosystem, and its citizens are also becoming increasingly aware of environmental problems. Suffering environmental problems and considering the efforts important in order to transform its economic growth pattern, the country will have much at risk if climate change is left unattended.

Actually, climate change efforts have already been included in China’s medium-and long-term program of economic and social development, and ecological efforts are the clear characteristics in China’s 13th Five-Year Plan(2016—2020).

Although it is and will be a developing country for a long time, China has been actively involved in the global campaign against climate change, now topping the world in terms of energy conservation and the use of new and renewable energy.

However, China’s development rights need to be respected. It is unfair to overstress China’s status as one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters and regard it as the major part of responsibilities in the global fight against climate change.

It is worthy of notice that China’s emissions of greenhouse gases per person are far lower than those of developed countries, especially the United States, although rapid economic expansion and its population base have made it one of the biggest producers of the greenhouse gas.

To show its great resolve, China also announced the establishment of an independent South-South cooperation in September, investing RMB 20 billion to help developing countries affected by global warming.

While China is eagerly accomplishing its policy commitment, developed countries should stop questioning China’s commitment to fighting climate change and pointing fingers, and start shouldering their due responsibilities instead.

1. China is self-motivated to fight against climate change in order to 　　　.

A．top the world

B．transform its economic growth pattern

C．solve its population problem

D．respond to pressure from developed countries

2. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 7 refers to 　　　.

A．China	B．the United States
C．economic expansion	D．the population base

3. It can be inferred from the text that 　　　.

A．China will completely use non-fossil fuels by 2030

B．China will carry out its plan by stopping its development

C．Chinese emit more greenhouse gases than Americans on average

D．some developed countries are not taking on their responsibilities

4. Which of the following is a sign of China’s self-motivated fight against climate change?

A．Expanding its economy.

B．Using non-renewable energy.

C．Making the fight against climate change part of China’s 13th Five-Year Plan.

D．Donating money to developing countries.

【推荐3】A new report says plastics are responsible for $13 billion in damage to the oceans and the undersea environment. The findings were announced recently at a United Nations conference.     1    

Plastic thrown away carelessly makes its way into rivers and other waterways.    2    After a while, it collects in the sea. And plastic never goes away. Plastic is not biodegradable — destroyed by bacteria or natural processes. Instead, it just breaks up into smaller pieces over time. The oceans contain a lot of chemicals and other pollutants.    3    That means harmful material may get into our food supply.

    4    Human beings cause pollution and they can take steps to stop it. They can use fewer single use product containers and throw plastics away correctly. Plastic recycling programs also works — where old bottles and other plastics are collected, broken down and used to make new products. We could reuse bottles in our households many times if we wish to, rather than end it after the first use. We could, when we get rid of that plastic, recycle it and reuse it, which replaces the need for raw materials.

The report also calls on companies to improve methods for using plastics.     5    And it calls for information about the way plastic is thrown out or removed from use. By putting a new value on plastic, industry has a special reason to clean up the environment.

But all of the companies must join to deal with the problem.

A．It asks for them to better measure and direct plastic use.

B．But people can make a big difference.

C．Plastics should be gathered together and reused..

D．It is convenient to use plastic bags in everyday life.

E．Then, fish may eat the plastics.

F．The report tells about harm to sea life and what might be done to improve the situation.

G．The plastic eventually reaches coastal areas and ocean waters

【推荐1】Recently, a coalition of business and advocacy groups from around Washington gathered to kick off a campaign to enact a carbon pricing program in the capital. Known as the Climate and Community Reinvestment Act of D.C., the plan would place a new tax on all fossil fuels bought or sold, with the hope of ultimately discouraging the use of these polluting energy sources.

The big-picture goal of this campaign is admirable: to address the ever-deepening crisis of humanity-driven climate chaos by dissuading the continued use of coal, oil and gas, the filthy substances rapidly warming our planet. But unfortunately, the approach — one based in a world of financial markets, trading schemes and enticing new public revenue streams — is deeply and inherently flawed. Simply put, carbon pricing is a false solution to climate change and a distraction from real, effective climate solutions we must urgently pursue.

To date, there is scant(不足的) evidence to indicate that carbon taxes lower greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, the opposite is true. Recently Food & Water Watch reviewed the British Columbia carbon tax program, often cited by advocates as an example of success. From 2009 (the first full year of the tax) to 2014, emissions from taxed sources grew by 4.3 percent. And in the seven years after the carbon tax took effect, total gasoline sales increased by 7.37 percent.

Supporters of such plans like to focus on a deceivingly simple notion that increasing the price of a consumer good will automatically reduce its use. But this just isn’t the case when it comes to the purchase of necessities. People must heat their homes in winter, and they must commute to work, regardless of the cost.

Those backing the D.C. carbon pricing plan like to note that revenue from the new tax would go toward investment in clean energy sources. But only 20 percent of the generated funds would be allocated in this manner. The rest would be divvied(分摊) up in tax breaks for businesses and rebates(回扣) for consumers, another factor undercutting the notion that increased costs up front would change consumer behavior in the long run.

Meanwhile, fossil fuel giants such as ExxonMobil are increasingly coming out in support of carbon pricing. This should be cause for alarm for anyone concerned with stamping out the use of the dirty energy sources these corporations profit from. Exxon knows that carbon taxes will do little to change the business-as-usual dependence on oil and gas that it relies on to continue operating and enriching shareholders. Furthermore, corporations such as Exxon rightly view carbon pricing schemes as a means of diverting energy and interest from tougher regulations that might actually encroach on(侵犯) their business plans and bottom lines.

Despite what many well-intentioned activists and community leaders want to believe, there is no convenient, market-friendly solution to our dire climate condition. There is only the hard truth that we must tackle the problem at its source: We must stop using fossil fuels, and soon. The latest science indicates that in order to avoid the worst effects of deepening climate chaos, society must transition completely to clean, renewable energy by 2035.

1. Food &Water Watch found that _______ .

A．carbon taxes could limit greenhouse gas emissions

B．taxing carbon emissions did not reduce pollution

C．carbon emissions grew at a lower rate than gasoline sales

D．British Columbia carbon tax program achieved lasting effect

2. Which of the following is true, according to Paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．Consumers will use less of a good when its price increases.

B．Carbon taxes will benefit the development of clean energy.

C．Increased cost will do little to change the use of necessities.

D．The dependence on fossil fuels will decrease automatically.

3. Fossil fuel giants _________.

A．are expressing dissatisfaction with carbon pricing schemes

B．are reducing their dependence on dirty energy sources

C．view clean renewable energy as their future source of profits

D．see carbon pricing as distraction from tough rules against them

4. The most suitable title for this text would be __________.

A．The Carbon Tax Fallacy(谬论)	B．The Climate Change Myth
C．The Call for Clean Energy	D．The Causes of Climate Chaos

【推荐2】The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication means. Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago, but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest problems is pollution. To pollute means to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear it.

Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in one place, man moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world.

Air pollution is still the most serious. It’s bad for all living things in the world, but it is not the only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us angry more easily.

Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from putting dirty smoke into the air.

Pollution by SO2 is now the most dangerous kind of air pollution. It is caused by heavy traffic. We are sure that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution.

The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must take care of the rise in pollution at the same time.

1. Hundreds of years ago, life was ________ it is today.

A．much easier than	B．as easy as
C．much harder than	D．as hard as

2. Pollution comes in many ways. We can even hear it. Here “it” means ________.

A．rubbish	B．noise pollution
C．air pollution	D．water pollution

3. Air pollution is the most serious kind of pollution because ________.

A．it makes much noise	B．it makes us angry more easily
C．it makes our rivers and lakes dirty	D．it’s bad for all living things in the world

4. There are rules people make to fight against pollution except _______.

A．stopping people from burning coal.

B．stopping people from pouring dirty water into the ocean.

C．stopping people from moving to other places.

D．stopping people from putting dirty smoke in the air.

5. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．Many countries are making rules to fight pollution.

B．The pollution of the earth grows as fast as the world population does.

C．The problem of pollution is not so serious because there are not so many people living on the earth.

D．If people could go to work by bus or bike instead of car or motorbike, it would be helpful in fighting against the problem of SO2.

【推荐3】We all have an idea about the common types of environmental problems.     1    But, the fact is, it does affect mankind, other living forms and the environment as a whole.

What is light pollution?     2    The obvious cause of light pollution is the use of outdoor lighting products improperly. It can be office lighting, car headlights, station lights, streetlights and many more.

    3    Upon studies, it is found that obvious effects are observed in the behaviour of night animals, for bright light at night makes it difficult for these animals to hunt, wander and perform their regular activities. light pollution is directly or indirectly responsible for causing several plant diseases. Its effects are related to disturbance in the physical rhythm, which contributes to risks of developing cancer cells. So, it’s nothing less than a threat to human health.

You have already seen the negative effects of light pollution on creatures. Apart from this, the actual cost of misused light is about millions of dollars every year. It also leads to the release of greenhouse gases and global warming    4    

While outdoor lighting and using man-made lighting products are part of our modern lifestyle, some simple ways will surely help in reducing light pollution. For example, while installing outdoor lighting, make sure that they are pointed downwards    5     Believe it or not, many people living in the urban areas cannot view clear sky and stars at night. Let’s contribute our part in reducing the pollution.

A．Light pollution is harmful to both animals and plants.

B．It presents all forms of misused man-mad light.

C．After all, fuels are used for producing electricity

D．Also, use only the required lighting equipment for both home and offices.

E．Citizens should be forbidden to install outdoor lighting

F．Light pollution affects animals’ normal activities in the daytime.

G．However, light pollution may be a new term to many of us.