1 . CLIMATE CHANGE REQUIRES THE WORLD’S ATTENTION

We have known about climate change for decades. There is little doubt that Earth is getting warmer and warmer (see the graph). A warming ocean and atmosphere along with melting ice and rising sea levels provide evidence of a dramatic change in the global climate.

In 2013, a lot of people were shocked by a news photo of a dead polar bear that was found on Norway’s Arctic island of Svalbard. According to the scientists who found its dead body, all that remained of the polar bear was “skin and bones”. An expert who has studied polar bears for many years said that from the position of its dead body, the bear appeared to have starved and died. Experts claimed that low sea-ice levels caused by climate change meant the bear could not hunt seals as before, so it had to travel greater distances in order to find food. This alarming case showed how the increase in temperature had an impact on Earth’s ecology.

Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature? Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”, which has two common meanings: the “natural” greenhouse effect and the “man-made” greenhouse effect. The “natural” greenhouse effect refers to the fact that heat from the sun enters the atmosphere and warms Earth’s surface as short-wave radiation. The heat is released back into space at longer wave lengths. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as methane and carbon dioxide, trap some of the heat, keeping Earth’s climate warm and habitable. Without this process, Earth could not sustain life. However, the “man-made” greenhouse effect has now become a big problem. When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy is trapped in the atmosphere and causes Earth’s surface temperature to rise quickly.

There is strong and comprehensive evidence that the rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural disasters worldwide, not only causing serious damage, but also costing human lives. Climate scientists have warned that if we do not take appropriate actions, this warming trend will probably continue and there will be a higher price to pay. In fact, news reports are frequently broadcast about extreme rainstorms and heatwaves causing deaths and economic losses.

Continued greenhouse gas emissions will result in further warming and long-lasting changes to the global climate. This requires the attention of people all over the world. Governments need to consider making policies and taking appropriate actions and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We as individuals can also reduce our “carbon footprint” by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce. It is our responsibility to seize every opportunity to educate everyone about global warming, along with its causes and impacts, because this is the most serious issue affecting all of us on this planet. So what will you do to help?

1. What type of writing is this passage?

A．Argumentative writing.	B．Narrative writing.
C．Expository writing.	D．Advertising writing.

2. In which part of a newspaper or magazine may we find this passage?

A．Entertainment.	B．Economy.
C．Education.	D．Environment.

2 . The ebike has become an essential item, and even the King has been spotted riding one. According to the market research company Mintel, sales have almost tripled over the past five years. While ebikes have become increasingly commonplace, they are still undeniably expensive. You can pick up a perfectly adequate push bike for £300, but most ebikes cost nearly £2, 000. Now, Cycling Electric, designed to help consumers choose an ebike, offers the following recommendations.

Best folding bike

Carbo Model X

Price: £2, 799 | Weight: 13. 3kg

Range: up to 34 miles

This is one of the most convenient bikes, from a little-known label. The lightweight Carbo X is the perfect example of convenience thanks to its carbon frame and belt drive, instead of a metal bike chain. This makes it lighter and less likely to get messy than an electric Brompton, with its more traditional, oily chain.

Most stylish

Temple Cycles Classic

Price: from £2, 995 | Weight: 19kg

Range: up to 74 miles

This Bristol-based brand is known for its elegant pushbikes, which are hand-built in the city. This is its electric version. It’s a very sleek and functional commuter option and not too heavy. Temples have fewer proprietary (品牌专卖的) parts and so are serviceable in any bike shop. Stylish as they may be, the VanMoofs and the Cowboys can be a bit more complex to get back-up and service.

The money-no-object option

Riese & Müller Nevo4 GT Vario GX

Price: £5, 380 | Weight: 28. 4kg

Range: up to 93 miles

This is a prime example of the attention to detail delivering a high-quality experience in functionality, comfort and practicality — if you can afford it. It has the capacity to handle 25kg of luggage in a pannier, powerful road lights and a beautifully smooth motor.

1. Which ebike will a consumer probably choose, who cares most about an excellent experience?

A．Carbo Model X.

B．The VanMoofs and the Cowboys.

C．Temple Cycles Classic.

D．Riese & Müller Nevo4 GT Vario GX.

2. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．An online post.	B．A magazine column.
C．A market research report.	D．An official document.

5 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova — not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside the pianist and turn the pages of the score so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“A lot of skills are needed for the job. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr Titterton explained.

Which of the following best describes Titterton’s job on stage?

A．Boring.	B．Well-paid.
C．Demanding.	D．Dangerous.

6 . Special Food Places to Try In Singapore

It’s an unpleasant fact that local food places are usually meant to cater to meat-eaters. It can be difficult to find a tasty food place that caters to meat-free diet. Here are some options to show you don’t need meat for a satisfactory treat.

Vegan Burg

Vegan Burg has a surprisingly diverse range of plant-based burgers. From Hawaiian Teriyaki to Char-Grilled Satay, the menu promises to tempt even the most hardcore meat lovers. And that’s not even getting into the add-ons and sides it offers, such as mushroom fries and barbecue potatoes.

Woods Square Tower, #01-06, Singapore 737737

Genesis Restaurant

This eatery proves that meat-free dishes can be as hearty and flavorful as their meat-based counterparts. Genesis Restaurant is especially known for its juicy dumplings, spring rolls, pork-free noodles and tofu cheesecake.

Havelock Road, #B1-01, Singapore 059763

WellSmoocht Collective

WellSmoocht is a cafe and dessert bar which specializes in plant-based ice cream. Made from brown rice, sugar cane juice and fruits or nut butters, Smoocht’s rice cream, as they call it, comes in a wide variety of delicious flavors such as Earl Grey Lavender,Rose Coconut and Gula Melaka.

Sin Ming Centre, #01-03, Singapore 575628

Green Common

This one-stop plant-based eatery and marketplace has a delicious menu of mouth-watering meat-free dishes, from Japanese cuisine like sushi and miso glazed fillet to Western dishes like fishless tacos and pasta, as well as local favourites such as seafood laksa and even buah keluak rice.

HarbourFront Walk, #169-170, Singapore 098585

Who is the passage intended for?

A．Those who want to lose weight.

B．Those who don’t eat meat.

C．Those who can’t go without meat.

D．Those who prefer home-made food.

9 . Beer Worth Traveling For

One could give to beer the higher status of a universal human truth. Think Irish Guinness or Japanese Sapporo, each culture has a beer all its own. But in recent years, smaller, more local craft breweries (啤酒厂) have been on the rise, necessitating globe-trotting to gain a taste of the regional takes on the classics.

From well-established breweries in South Africa and California, to the growing markets in Southeast Asia, craft beer is worth travelling for.

Szot Brewery

Talagante, Chile

A Californian and Chilean husband-and-wife team established this brewery outside Santiago in 2016. ......

The Dancing Camel Brewery

Tel Aviv, Israel

Located in a converted grain storage facility dating from the 1930s and established in 2005, Dancing Camel is Israel’s oldest microbrewery. ......

Young Master Brewery

Hong Kong SAR, China

As one of the first craft breweries in Hong Kong, Young Master Ales has been a hot spot since 2013. In addition to......

Young Henrys Brewery

Sydney, Australia

In the heart of the city, this brewery is all about the community, including reducing its environmental impact.......

Where does the text probably come from?

A．A travel guidebook.

B．A science magazine.

C．A biology textbook.

D．A wine advertisement.