1 . Before joining the WNBA, Napheesa Collier won a national championship as a key player during the University of Connecticut’s undefeated 2016 season. Collier is also on another team: She’s an Eco Athletes champion. Eco Athletes is a nonprofit launched just over a year ago, with the mission to inspire and coach athletes to lead climate action. In its first year, 34 current and retired professional athletes have joined the team, from a wide range of sports and countries.

“My teammates and I talk about a lot of issues, but we haven’t gotten into it on climate yet,” says Collier. “Two things my teammates do talk about are racial and economic injustice. I know that climate change makes these issues much more difficult to deal with. I hope Eco Athletes can help me bring people’s attention to it and to act on positive solutions. ”

Although there’s a long history of athletes taking a stand on social justice issues, they have been more hesitant to speak out about climate change for a number of reasons, explains Lewis Blaustein, the founder of Eco Athletes. “First, some athletes prefer to not publicly engage in polities, which is common to a range of advocacy work. Second, when it comes to climate, athletes worried about communicating the science poorly. Finally, fears of being labeled a ‘climate fake(冒充者)’also stood in the way. ”

To overcome these challenges, Eco Athletes offers athletes access to a resource center and organizes events for athletes to learn from climate scientists and other climate experts. In turn, athletes can share their passion for the environment with their fans, get involved in more direct action and even advocate for policy change.

“A lot of it is trying to educate our followers and talk about climate change,” says Collier. “Caring about the Earth shouldn’t be a hobby or an identity, but a responsibility that everyone recognizes as their own. Once that happens, sustainability will become a value in everyday decision making and all those actions will add up. ”

1. Why was Eco Athletes set up?

A．To promote eco-friendly sports.

B．To provide a platform for world leaders.

C．To appeal to athletes to take climate action.

D．To inspire coaches to lead climate activities.

2. Which of the following may prevent athletes from engaging in climate issues?

A．High economic pressure.	B．Lack of related knowledge.
C．Poor interpersonal relationships.	D．Worry about breaking sports rules.

3. What will athletes get from joining Eco Athletes?

A．Access to sports skills.	B．Ways to attract followers.
C．Chances to learn climate science.	D．Rights to draft climate policies.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Responsibility falls on climate experts.	B．Greatness comes from small beginnings.
C．The spirits of sports make great athletes.	D．Active engagement makes a difference.