1 . Scientists visiting Henderson Island in the South Pacific recently made an alarming discovery. Despite being one of the most remote and previously untouched places on Earth, the island was covered in plastic waste. Shockingly, they estimated there were 38 million pieces of plastic, weighing nearly 18 tons, with thousands of new pieces washing up daily.
Plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, meaning that actually all the plastic ever produced still exists in some form. Unfortunately, approximately 95% of plastics are not recycled, and substantial amounts end up in the ocean. Currents collect this waste in large circular systems called “gyres (环流)”. The problem gets worse as plastic breaks down into very small pieces, or “micro plastic”. This is eaten by fish and leads to massive species loss. Humans also eat these fish, and micro plastic has even been found in tap water around the world. The plastic on Henderson Island accounts for just 2 seconds’ worth of global annual plastic production.
However, there are some young minds working to clean up and protect the sea for future generations. Young Boyan Slat decided to dedicate his life to solving this problem. Previously the problem was considered too big to solve; collecting the plastic with boats and nets would be expensive, would harm sea life, and would take thousands of years! But, Boyan thought, why move through the sea when the sea can move through you? To work with the currents and gyres would help collect the waste. So he started The Ocean Cleanup project, which places very long floating barriers in the Pacific. Currents then concentrate the waste naturally so it can be collected and recycled.
Boyan reflects on the broader issue, stating, “Many problems today are side effects of things people didn’t think about in the past. Sea plastic is a symbol of the negative effects of our lifestyle and technology. Our aim should be to create a new lifestyle for this century. Protecting the sea from plastic is a good place to start.”
1. How is the plastic issue on Henderson Island characterized?| A．As a renewable energy source. |
| B．As a severe environmental crisis. |
| C．As a problem belonging to remote islands. |
| D．As a manageable issue with past methods. |
| A．Activities of marine animals. |
| B．Human littering within gyres and inadequate recycling. |
| C．Accumulation of plastic on the seafloor. |
| D．Excessive plastic production near the sea. |
| A．Significant loss of species. |
| B．Increase in fish population. |
| C．Increased accessibility to ocean gyres. |
| D．Reduction in overall plastic accumulation. |
| A．Narrative storytelling. |
| B．Emotional and subjective. |
| C．Expository and informative. |
| D．Persuasive argumentation. |
2 . The well received Neutral Density Photography Awards (ND Awards) is a melting pot of some of the world’s most outstanding and talented souls in the field of photography where recognition and publicity are gained by the winning entry. This is an open invitation. Join us and take part in the competition!
Our judges are all highly respected industry professionals,including gallery (画廊) owners, publishers,editors and famous photographers. Do not miss this rare opportunity to take part in this annual photo contest. Choose your best work, upload photos and give yourself a chance to compete for fame and more than $7,500 award!
Categories are in two sections: Professional and Non-Professional. Winners of each subcategory (子范畴) will be awarded with: Gold Star, Silver Star and Bronze Star awards.
| ●Early Deadline&Entry fee 23 December 2023 Non-Professional — Single image entry fee: $19 Professional — Single image entry fee: $24 | |
| ●Final Deadline &Entry fee 17 January 2024 Non-Professional — Single image entry fee: $24 Professional — Single image entry fee: $29 | |
| ● Frequently-asked questions: | Answers |
| 1.Can I enter one image into multiple categories? | Yes,you may enter the same image into as many categories as you want. Additional fee for next category is $10. |
| 2.Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid? | No, after payment has been made,entries cannot be edited. |
| 3.What should I do if I’m having problems uploading data? | Try to read the instructions on the entry form again. If you are unable to resolve the problem after reading the instructions, send an e-mail inquiry to info@ ndawards.net. |
1. What do you think the text is?
| A．An announcement. |
| B．An invitation |
| C．An advertisement. |
| D．An agreement. |
| A．$87. | B．$72. | C．$49. | D．$44. |
| A．Fill in the entry form again. |
| B．Interact with some of the judges. |
| C．Send an e-mail to info@ndawards.net. |
| D．Submit the entry to another category. |
3 . Losing an eye might be an unthinkable thing, especially for a young woman, but not for Xintong. She chose to become an ocularist (义眼师) who makes artificial eyes for herself and people in the same
Nearly 10 years after
She started researching artificial eyes. Beginning in 2019, she dedicated about two years to mastering the production techniques and skills under the
Now when Xintong hears her
| A．age | B．class | C．idea | D．situation |
| A．life | B．property | C．power | D．confidence |
| A．next to | B．instead of | C．apart from | D．ahead of |
| A．selling | B．lifting | C．losing | D．repairing |
| A．shared | B．downloaded | C．saved | D．watched |
| A．waved | B．washed | C．spread | D．touched |
| A．shine | B．alarm | C．close | D．test |
| A．points | B．controls | C．starts | D．changes |
| A．lessons | B．lectures | C．comments | D．dramas |
| A．valued | B．wore | C．decorated | D．sold |
| A．generous | B．attractive | C．kind | D．young |
| A．guarantee | B．guidance | C．arrangement | D．permission |
| A．applied to | B．aimed to | C．led to | D．tend to |
| A．staffs | B．relatives | C．friends | D．customers |
| A．accept | B．comfort | C．dress | D．understand |
4 . Reducing food waste is easy — just ask the students at a school in Wood bridge, America, who have become experts at sorting their lunchtime trash (垃圾). Since the fall of 2019, they have actively participated in a successful food-waste diversion program that not only saves money but also contributes to reducing the amount of trash that heads to landfills.
Actually, this program plays a crucial role in facing up to the challenges of climate change. By reducing food waste,the school minimizes the amount of trash sent to landfills, thereby reducing harmful methane emissions (沼气排放). The school’s program is making a significant impact. Each month, it moves over 1,300 pounds of food waste, resulting in an estimated reduction of 772 pounds in CO, emissions and the production of 180 kilowatt-hours of energy, according to Blue Earth Compost in America.
At school, when students are done eating lunch, they head to an appointed section — a row of desks, garbage cans and containers — where they sort their trash. Leftover liquids, such as juice or milk,are emptied into a big basin on the floor. The juice containers and plastic water bottles are placed into another container to recycle. Additionally, prepackaged, unopened snacks such as bags of carrots as well as produce such as apples and bananas are “rescued” and placed into a big basket with a handwritten “Donations” sign taped to it to send to the town’s senior center.
The benefits extend beyond environmental awareness. The program reduces trash-carrying costs as less weight goes into the trash bins,making it easier for cleaners to manage. The students also find this planet-friendly practice enjoyable and meaningful, considering it a small game that contributes to a bigger cause. This initiative proves that collective efforts, even on a smaller scale, can lead to significant changes, not only in waste reduction but also in educating a generation committed to preserving our planet.
1. What does the food-waste reduction program focus on at the school in Wood bridge?| A．Saving school food. |
| B．Donating unopened snacks. |
| C．Fertilizing the school’s garden. |
| D．Minimizing harmful gases emissions. |
| A．It leads to food cost reducing. |
| B．It helps with energy production. |
| C．It improves waste management. |
| D．It addresses climate change effectively. |
| A．Saved. | B．Frozen. | C．Abandoned. | D．Repurposed |
| A．It is costly but highly effective. |
| B．It is easy to perform and cost-saving. |
| C．It is expensive and difficult to apply. |
| D．It is only accessible in large companies. |
5 . It’s difficult to hope sometimes but there are still a few instances telling us that something better awaits us whether we choose to hold on to it or not. Annie, a 19-year-oldblack Labrador, was given around a month to live when she was placed for adoption in June 2022. Annie’s former owner had given up hope and sent her to a shelter house in Texas because she wouldn’t eat or drink.
Once Siler, 31, discovered Annie’s photo, she knew she had to help. Instead of a month or two, Annie was adopted by Siler and her roommate, Lisa, for an entire year. Siler knew what it took to care for an elderly dog because she had recently lost her own dog, whom she had since college. Siler shared, “I felt mentally and emotionally prepared to take on a dog that wasn’t going to have long.” Siler described Annie as an easygoing dog. Her favorite pastimes included opening mail and sitting outside, watching people and cars pass by, earning her the nickname “nosy neighbour.”
“People kept telling us she was having so much fun and enjoying life and that kept her going, and I hope that was the case. Annie lived almost exactly a year after being adopted by Siler and Lisa. Annie had the life we pray every senior dog we rescue gets to experience. Annie didn’t just live out this past year, she flowered. Annie had an ill stomach. Surgical operation was her only option and that was never something we would put Annie through. Collectively, we made the hardest decision for us but kindest for Annie.” Siler kept in her diary.
“I can’t help but think that Annie would be so proud. She was one special dog whose story will live on through those who adopt seniors. She left a giant, giant hole in my heart…but times, where everyone who loved her can come together in her honor,will help start mending my broken heart.” Siler wrote in her post.
1. Why was Annie placed for adoption in June 2022?| A．Because she was too old for her owner to care for. |
| B．Because her owner had given up hope for her refusal to eat or drink. |
| C．Because Annie’s owner was moving and couldn’t take her along. |
| D．Because she had a medical condition that required extensive care. |
| A．Siler wanted a guard dog for her house. |
| B．Siler’s roommate insisted on adopting a dog. |
| C．Siler was an advocate for senior dog adoption. |
| D．Siler sought company after losing her previous dog. |
| A．She experienced enormous joy. |
| B．She was miserable and lonely. |
| C．She was constantly sick and in pain. |
| D．She didn’t interact with people or other dogs. |
| A．Annie’s story would be forgotten easily. |
| B．Annie’s story would encourage seniors to hunt. |
| C．Annie’s story would inspire senior dogs adoption. |
| D．Annie’s story would only be remembered for its sadness. |
6 . Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.
As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).
With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.
The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.
“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.
“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”
1. Why do polar bears move further south?| A．To create hybrids. | B．To expand territory. |
| C．To relieve hunger. | D．To contact grizzlies. |
| A．Broader habitats. | B．More food options. |
| C．Climate preference. | D．Improved breeding ability. |
| A．A rare chance. | B．A critical stage. |
| C．A positive factor. | D．A constant change. |
| A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change. |
| B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change. |
| C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming. |
| D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming. |
7 . It was around 3 p.m. I was lined up at the train ticket counter to reserve a trip to Nagoya to
I
| A．shoot | B．recommend | C．post | D．appreciate |
| A．ignored | B．noticed | C．missed | D．felt |
| A．mild | B．violent | C．forecast | D．anticipated |
| A．nervously | B．calmly | C．broadly | D．delightfully |
| A．reached | B．made | C．looked | D．rushed |
| A．compulsory | B．effortless | C．challenging | D．entertaining |
| A．unless | B．if | C．though | D．once |
| A．undoubted | B．impossible | C．easy | D．available |
| A．park | B．building | C．subway | D．train |
| A．change | B．crack | C．fall | D．shake |
| A．put forward | B．put down | C．figure out | D．make out |
| A．laughing | B．crying | C．escaping | D．surviving |
| A．yet | B．and | C．hence | D．so |
| A．covered | B．adored | C．thanked | D．admired |
| A．disaster | B．reaction | C．rescue | D．assistance |
8 . As a mother and a professional working full time, I spent all of my 30s saying yes. Saying yes to things I wanted to do, but a lot of the time saying yes to things I disliked. This was a people-pleasing technique that would affect people’s opinion of me: the woman who could do it all, so that I can obtain a nice fame in their mind.
Little did I know that I was also developing an autoimmune(自身免疫的) disease, which I have to believe was my body’s way of telling me to slow down. I had severely swollen joints and brain fog but I pushed through so that I could look in the mirror at the end of the day and feel “accomplished”. The only things I was accomplishing were bad health and bed habits.
And then a series of events changed everything: serious medical issues and losing my job. It took all that to help me see how intensely burnt out I was. I spent a lot of time thinking about where I had to be next instead of being present in the moment. But now, I wake up each day knowing that everything on my schedule has been purposefully agreed to.
Looking back, I had the capability to suffer the pressure to say yes. I also felt it necessary to say yes, from driving people to the airport to seeing family every Friday night. I always wanted to solve everyone’s problems and offered sound and immediate solutions. It was one big “yes” to everything.
I was everyone’s cheerleader, but forgot how to cheer for myself along the way. But saying no is being my own cheerleader. And it’s not saying no to caring for family and friends. Instead, it’s a minor change in mindset, taking a pause before automatically agreeing. I take a breath, do a quick count of my energy and ability before jumping in.
1. Why did the author say yes to things she disliked?| A．To please her boss. | B．To prove her profession. |
| C．To push herself to the limit. | D．To earn herself a good reputation. |
| A．She got rid of bad habits. | B．She thought little of them. |
| C．She slowed down her life pace. | D．She paid more attention to her health. |
| A．Purposeful. | B．Stubborn. | C．Reflective. | D．Encouraging. |
| A．Find a cheerleader. | B．Evaluate her situation. |
| C．Breathe in some fresh air. | D．Seek help from her friends. |
9 . People are often surprised by my fear of blood and needles. Working in a public health unit, I probably have more daily interaction with syringes (注射器) than the average person. But the truth is, having my blood drawn scares me.
When I was 9, I had an extremely high temperature. A nurse rudely stuck the needle into my arm, causing a sharp pain. I avoided having blood taken from my body for the next years. A few months before I turned 30, my doctor ordered a blood test as part of my physical exam. I am frightened. Sensing my fear, she gently suggested I see a psychiatrist (精神科医生). “Dr. M helped my other patients with the same fear,” she said.
When Dr. M called to set up an appointment, I hesitated. Talking about personal problems to a medically licensed stranger was uncommon in my family. “A psychiatrist?” Mother asked. “He’ll just put you on drugs. Can’t you get over this yourself?” I almost listened. But I went to Dr. M’s clinic finally. “Phobias (恐惧症) are pretty easy to treat,” he said. I wasn’t convinced of his words. But despite my doubts, I was running out of options.
We started with basic exposure treatment. I watched videos of blood being drawn every day. As I started to feel more at ease with needles, Dr. M suggested drawing blood. As he gently pressed the needle into my flesh, I felt dizzy and breathed deeply. After a few minutes, I looked at the needle. It wasn’t so bad. I didn’t pass out.
I still find it unpleasant getting blood drawn, but thanks to several months of treatment, I’m less scared. I hate to admit it, but Dr. M is right — phobias can be treated. Sometimes, we have to leave our comfort zone and face our fears. And this can lead to freedom in the end.
1. What caused the author’s phobia?| A．Her sensitivity to pains. |
| B．Her bad blood drawing experience. |
| C．Her anxiety about the physical exam. |
| D．Her regular contact with syringes. |
| A．Positive. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Negative. | D．Objective. |
| A．It cost the author a great deal of money. |
| B．It eased the author’s pain totally. |
| C．It centered on watching videos. |
| D．It was smoother than expected. |
| A．Bravery brings us a happier life |
| B．Walk toward what scares us |
| C．Ups and downs make one strong |
| D．Nurse our mental health carefully |
10 . Four Interesting Festivals Around the World
Noosa Festival of Surfing, Australia
Noosa is one of the world’s best surfing destinations. Big waves crash onto the sunny and expansive beaches, backed by bars, cafes and the Noosa National Park, attracting talents even from the world’s greatest surf spots like Hawaii, California and New Zealand. Lighthearted activities such as art shows, live music and dog surfing competitions accompany the more serious competitions.
Hangout Music Festival, Alabama, the USA
For a celebration of some of the finest creators reaching the highest position in the music charts, head to the coast of Alabama for the start of the summer festival season. The annual music festival on the white-sand beaches of the city of Gulf Shores in the southeastern US state is an all-out musical feast, with some huge names in the music world singing live.
Cartagena International Film Festival, Colombia
As the oldest film festival in Latin America, Cartagena International Film Festival will enter its 64th year in 2024. The colourful streets of the Caribbean coastal city, Cartagena, come to life with screenings. The city becomes an attraction for fans every year during the festival. Celebrating creative freedom and expression, the film festival is the best opportunity to dive into filmmaking culture.
Copenhagen Photo Festival, Denmark
The Danish capital hosts the largest photo festival in Northern Europe, showing international photography of present day in a surprising setting at the water’s edge in an urban coastal wilderness, formerly an industrial shipyard site. The 10-day festival appeals to photographers around the region, with the 2023 festival turning the lens(镜头)to the idea of “rewilding”.
1. Which festival is likely to attract an adventurer?| A．Noosa Festival of Surfing. | B．Cartagena International Film Festival. |
| C．Hangout Music Festival. | D．Copenhagen Photo Festival. |
| A．Learn about the surfing culture. |
| B．Enjoy live music performances. |
| C．Appreciate amazing photography. |
| D．Watch an excellent creative movie. |
| A．They last more than ten days. |
| B．They attract the sports lovers. |
| C．They are related with art shows. |
| D．They take place in coastal areas. |
