1 . Lego is considering a brick rental plan in an attempt to cut down on plastic waste. The Danish toymaker has promised to make all its bricks from sustainable sources by 2030 and is investing significant resources into finding alternatives.
Tim Brooks, vice-president responsible for sustainability, said the company was “totally open” to the idea of a product rental plan but admitted that lost pieces could produce a significant problem. He said the rental scheme was "possible" but admitted there were some "technical barriers", one of which is the complexity of some Lego sets, many of which contain thousands of pieces. "What are the chances of giving them to an eight-year-old child and getting them all back again?" Mr Brooks added.
Lego has come under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint among growing international alarm about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. Lego reportedly gives off around a million tons of carbon dioxide each year, with about three-quarters coming from raw materials that go into factories. It produces 19 billion pieces per year—36,000 a minute—that are made of plastic and much of the inner packaging is also plastic.
So far, the only breakthrough has been the development of a line of bricks made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. The green trees, plants and flowers were first included in Lego sets late last year but account for only one-two percent of the total amount of plastic elements produced.
Henrik Ostergaard Nielson, a production administrator in Lego's factory, told the New York Times last year, “We need to learn again how to do this. The company has invested more than €100, 000,000 and hired 100 people to research non-plastic alternatives. It is aiming to keep all of its packaging reusable by 2025.”
1. What is the aim of Lego’s brick rental plan?| A．To cut down on its costs. | B．To reduce plastic waste. |
| C．To seek alternative resources. | D．To deal with technical barriers. |
| A．Negative. | B．Confident. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Objective. |
| A．Listing figures | B．Making comparisons | C．Giving examples | D．Giving definition |
| A．Lego will not make new products after 2025. | B．Lego has already bought non-plastic alternatives. |
| C．Lego is making efforts for eco-friendly products | D．Lego's green technology is relatively backward. |
1.介绍社团活动；
2.鼓励大家入社；
3.告知报名时间、方式。
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize
David Beasley, WFP Executive Director, said the
Mr. Beasley also noted that the Nobel Peace Prize was not
Mini-Biographies Help Clinicians Connect with Patients
Bog Hall was recovering from yet another surgery in March 2014 when a volunteer walked into his hospital room.
The volunteer wasn't there to check on his lungs or breathing. Instead, she asked Hall
The interview was part of a program
When the story is finished, it
Today more than 2,000 patients at the Madison VA
Project organizers say it could change the way providers interact with patients.
5 . Many cities in the world are benefiting from the nocturnal(夜间活动的）activities of a group of people who call themselves guerrilla(游击队的）gardeners.Armed with trowels(铲子），spades and a van full of flowers and plants, guerrilla gardeners turn abandoned urban land into a blaze of color. In city centre locations where there was mud,weeds and empty plastic bottles, residents often wake up to find that the wasted area has been transformed
In most British cities, local governments and police turn a blind eye to the exploits of the gardeners,whose activities are always carried out under cover of nightfall. And so far, there has been nothing but praise from the astonished and delighted local residents when they find their neighborhood transformed in such a striking fashion.
Not only do the guerrilla gardeners beautify neglected places, they also return regularly to water the plants and weed the flower beds. They also make sure that at least some of the plants they bring are evergreens,which means that the area doesn't loo dismal(凄凉的）in the winter months.
The first guerrilla gardener in London was Richard Reynolds, whose day job was at an advertising agency. Mr.Reynolds, a graduate of Oxford University, began his efforts two years ago when he moved to a flat in a tower block in South London. From his balcony, he could see several empty concrete pots,placed by the local governments to contain plants but never used. He went out after midnight and filled the pots with plants,and then planted more flowers in the path leading to the entrance to the block.
He then set up a website to explain his plan and called upon more gardeners to join him. Cash donations flooded in and,more importantly, volunteers rushed to be part of the campaign. Within six months,there were five hundred people in London prepared to come out at very short notice to revitalize(恢复活力）neglected parts of the urban landscape.There are now unofficial but carefully-organized groups in many cities in Britain and North America and there is also a website where would-be urban gardeners can find out the location of the next expedition.
1. Which of the following best describes guerrilla gardeners according to the passage,?| A．The residents' advice | B．The local governments |
| C．The nature of their work | D．The local culture |
| A．to look after these plants. |
| B．to enjoy these beautiful flowers. |
| C．to help plants live through winter months. |
| D．.to change the types of these plants. |
| A．Making the neighborhood more beautiful | B．Agreeing with his own job |
| C．Advertising some products in his agency | D．Killing his spare time |
| A．They are mainly from the United Kingdom |
| B．They will later get well paid |
| C．They are still not accepted by the local people |
| D．They become more and more organized |
6 . The nine women of Bella Mondo win over yet another audience. The group is one of just a handful of all-women ensembles (乐队) in Ivory Coast.
It all started in 2007, Prisca Allou was a music student. A music producer came to see her. He said he wanted to make an all-female ensemble to keep a promise to his late mother.
Allou got on board and was charged with recruiting (招募) other members. “It wasn’t easy at first. Some parents were against it. You know, in Africa, the place of women is often seen as being either in an office or at home. That was the fixed image.” Allou spread the word and took out ads in local papers. Most of the girls she found were not professional players. “I just played some tamtam. I learned to play drums when I joined Bella Mondo.” The girls spent the next four years learning to play their instruments. Many gave up along the way, but eight of them soldiered on with Allou, and Bella Mondo was founded.
The band plays original songs and covers. Their music spans a wide range of styles: funk, reggae, pop music. They released their first album in 2013... and have performed in Paris, Dakar, Cotonou and, of course, here at home in Abidjan.
You can see them nearly every Thursday at this bar, the same place that gave the band its start years ago. “Oh yes, I was surprised at first. A woman singing, you see that every day, but an entire band, playing all the instruments and everything? It was extraordinary. I was dumbstruck. Bella Mondo is a great band.” The women are now working on their second album.
1. Why did the music producer want to found a female ensemble?| A．To sponsor music students. | B．To comfort his mother. |
| C．To carry out his promise. | D．To win over an audience. |
| A．Most women couldn’t afford. | B．Parents didn’t want to break tradition. |
| C．All parents disapproved of it. | D．Women weren’t willing to leave home. |
| A．The band has travelled a lot. | B．The band has gained its popularity. |
| C．The band has released albums. | D．The band seems to be united as one. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Determined. |
| C．Amused. | D．Astonished. |
Shanghai Culture Square(SCS)on March 24 announced the plans for the performing year 2021, which will begin with the presentation of four
SCS is celebrating its 10th birthday this year. According to its artistic director, the theater
This year, the theater plans to take six of its musical productions on a nationwide tour, three of
A series of revolutionary—themed
The theater
Its outdoor stage,
SCS has also announced its new partnership with Modern Sky, the leading music label in China and organizer of outdoor music festivals. It is declared that the company will take its live show series Ziran Xing
8 . The process of finding your best fit in a retirement community has improved dramatically over the past decade. Below are some options that will have you get going on a retirement lifestyle that makes every day seem like a vacation.
Saddle Brooke
Saddle Brooke is an Active Lifestyle Community with excellent restaurants and a Mountain View course for golfers. Saddle Brooke’s Arts Center offers various shows and performances. Fitness centers, basketball and volleyball courts, and swimming pools are just around the corner!
Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch comprises residential villages, parks, educational institutions, town centers, and a center specializing in brain research and cancer care. For three years running, it’s been the fastest-selling, all-ages community in America.
Dataw Island
Dataw Island provides beautiful mansions (公寓楼)，independent shops and restaurants. There are two golf courses, eight tennis courts, world-class grasslands, and plentiful social clubs. Residents can also enjoy deep sea fishing in minutes.
The Forest at Duke
In the covid-19 era, it’s easy to get lost in separation. But that’s hardly the case at The Forest at Duke, where residents continue to enjoy socially distanced chats with neighbors, the satisfaction of activity in nature, and find belonging in their new home.
1. For whom is this text written?| A．Officials. | B．Retirees. | C．Teachers. | D．Travelers. |
| A．Dataw Island. | B．Saddle Brooke. |
| C．Lakewood Ranch. | D．The Forest at Duke. |
| A．They provide sports facilities. |
| B．They offer art performance. |
| C．They feature nature activities. |
| D．They suit shopping convenience. |
9 . After a long period of lockdown(隔离), now it is time to relax. Head out to find surprising holiday decorations to warm your heart and make your summer bright. Come on, light shows are waiting for you.
Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk
Take a walk by the ocean and experience a holiday light display along the Long Beach Boardwalk, dusk to p.m. daily and weekends through mid-June, from Long Beach to Park Avenue.
Free, 516-432-6000. You can also check the stores along Park Avenue for more holiday lights.
Town of Islip Holiday Light Show
Bring the family to see the lights from the comfort and safety of personal vehicles as you drive through the 1/8-mile light display on the grounds of historic Brookwood Hall. Decorations have been given by Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Public Works staff.
Cheap, 516-433-6742. From 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 22; Brookwood Hall Park.
Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show
The Suffolk County’s drive-through display features two miles of holiday-themed lights; opens from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. through June 30. Closed June 24-25. Tickets will be sold at the gate and payment can be made with credit cards only, no cash, $25; $22 on June 30.
Monday through Friday; 631-543-6622.
Fairy Tale House
Indoor family-friendly walk through holiday experience, highlights include a dream room: 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through June. Guests must wear masks, maintain social distancing and purchase tickets with assigned arrival time in advance online.
$30 for adults, $25 for kids aged 10 and younger, 631-591-0455.
1. Which light show is free of charge?| A．Fairy Tale House. | B．Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk. |
| C．Town of Islip Holiday Light Show. | D．Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show. |
| A．516-432-6000. | B．516-433-6742. |
| C．631-543-6622. | D．631-591-0455. |
| A．Visit the dream room. | B．Take the family members. |
| C．Book tickets ahead of time. | D．Buy tickets with credit cards. |
10 . On January 22nd, 2021, China said it has established a new monitoring and research center for greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality(碳中和) in order to contribute more to fighting climate change. The official announcement of the Monitoring and Assessment Center for GHGs and Carbon Neutrality (温室气体及碳中和检测评估中心), located in Beijing, was made by the China Meteorological Administration. It is expected to play a vital role in providing both technical and scientific support for researchers. The center will gather top scientists in the field from both home and abroad. Apart from providing ways to achieve carbon neutrality, it will also be helpful to make technological breakthroughs in the next three to five years.
The center is tasked with creating a system to evaluate the effectiveness of the country’s efforts to fight climate change. The recruitment (招募) of staff members is expected to be finished in the next two months. A scientific steering committee will also be started in April to guide the center’s operation.
China is determined to peak(达到峰值) its carbon dioxide emissions(排放) before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. One of the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is that humankind must pursue a green development path and green lifestyle. China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by more than 65 percent from the 2005 level and increase its share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25 percent. By 2030, China will also increase its forest stock by 6 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level, and bring its total installed capacity (装机容量) of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts.
The establishment of the center proves China’s determination to pursue a green development road. It’s a concrete action that China has taken to fight the climate challenge. Carbon neutrality, or a net-zero carbon footprint, means reading a balance between carbon emissions and removing pollutants through carbon sinks and other offset (补偿).
China has sped up research and development of equipment to monitor greenhouse gases and carbon neutrality and achieved encouraging results. However, there is still a long way to go to reach the top world standard.
1. Why did China start the Center?| A．To produce more greenhouse gases. |
| B．To gather more scientists worldwide. |
| C．To contribute more to fighting climate change. |
| D．To introduce top scientists in carbon neutrality. |
| A．In January. | B．In March. | C．In April. | D．In May. |
| A．In 9 years. | B．In 16 years. | C．In 39 years. | D．In 65 years. |
| A．China’s new contribution to climate battle. |
| B．China peaks its carbon dioxide emissions. |
| C．The Center’s recruiting new members. |
| D．Installed capacity of wind and solar power. |
