1 . Around 45% of plastic waste is recycled annually in the UK and is on the increase. However, one of the problems with present plastic recycling methods is that you end up with a lower-quality plastic with worse properties （特性）than the original. This means that plastic drink bottles cannot simply be recycled into new drink bottles continuously, but instead are used for other lower-grade products like park benches.
Now, British scientists have developed a new method of chemical recycling. They use lower temperatures and more environmentally-friendly starting chemicals than previous methods to turn plastics back into their constituent chemical molecules （分子）.In this way, they can be used to make new plastics of the same quality as the original.
"Most plastic is now recycled using mechanical methods, where they are transformed into liquids before being made into something new," said a professor named Matthew Jones. "The problem is, melting plastic changes its properties and reduces the quality. Out method of chemical recycling overcomes this problem. Then plastics can be used all over again without losing any properties?"
The researchers are recycling some kinds of plastics, including plant-based PLA, a plastic used for food packaging and PET, which is used for drink bottles. So far, the technology has only been demonstrated on a small range. However, scientists are now working to produce larger quantities of starting chemicals.
"There is no single solution to the problem of plastic waste — the approach has to be a combination of reducing, reusing and recycling. Our method of chemical recycling could allow carbon to be recycled endlessly rather than digging more up from the ground in the form of fossil fuels, or letting it into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas," said Dr. Paul McKeown from the University of Bath.
1. What is the problem with the present plastic recycling?| A．The quality of recycled plastics declines. |
| B．Plastic drink bottles cannot be recycled. |
| C．The amount of plastic waste is increasing. |
| D．Recycled lower-grade products sell badly. |
| A．By transforming it into fuels. |
| B．By heating it into liquid state. |
| C．By keeping its original properties. |
| D．By changing its molecule structure. |
| A．Fossil fuels are endless resources. |
| B．The plastic waste problem has no solution. |
| C．Recycled carbon leads to greenhouse gases. |
| D．The chemical recycling is environment-friendly. |
| A．Business. | B．Tech & Science. |
| C．Lifestyle. | D．Arts & Culture |
2 . Job Chances in Top Schools
Throughout China
Interested in teaching in a foreign country? Schools all over China are looking for skilled teachers interested in teaching English. There are chances all over the country. Apply today!
Necessary conditions
Native speaker of English
BA Degree or higher (English and Education major preferred)
Teaching experience is preferred, but not required.
Must be a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, or the United Kingdom.
Pay to be offered
From $ 1, 800 to $ 2, 300 a month depending on conditions and experience
Pays differ depending on schools. Benefits differ between employers, but the following benefits must be offered:
FREE apartment with furniture
Overtime pay
10---14 days paid vacation
Medical insurance---generally half provided
Round-trip ticket
How to apply
To apply, only send us the following information:
Resume/Date of Birth/Recent picture
Once we receive your information, we will get you into our job matching lists, when a match is recorded, we will get in touch with you for an interview. Click on the following apply.
Now button to offer your resume and required documentation.
Any questions send us an e-mail at primejobs@ teachers. com.
1. We can learn from the passage that a Japanese ______.| A．can't apply the job |
| B．can apply the job at any time |
| C．can get more benefits from the job |
| D．can get more medical insurance from the job |
| A．be fined | B．not get paid |
| C．be paid as usual | D．be paid with overtime pay |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A magazine. |
| C．A dictionary. | D．The Internet. |
3 . Average age is rising around the world——a demographic （人口统计）change that may pose a significant challenge to efforts to slow down climate change.
Hossein Estiri at Harvard University and Emilio Zagheni of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany, have found that energy use increases as we get older, and not just because we tend to get wealthier. An ageing population could mean a greater proportion of society with higher energy use, their study suggests.
They combined two decades, worth of data from thousands of US households and used this to build a model to reveal how energy use varied across 17 age groups between 1987 and 2009. They found that, on average, children's energy consumption （消耗）climbs as they grow up, before dipping slightly when they leave home. Consumption then rises again when people hit their 30s, before briefly dropping after 55, and then beginning to climb again. The study involved factors such as income, local climate and the age, type and size of a person's home. The increase in energy use at various points in our lifespan （寿命）seems to be the result of life style and how our needs change as we age.
Why does demand grow so much in our 30s? “We need more of everything. More space, a bigger TV two fridges," says Estiri. The study found that, in warmer parts of the US, energy use increases in people over the age of 65—probably as a result of increased use of air conditioning, This suggests that there is a feedback effect between climate change and an ageing population that will only make matters worse.
Heat waves have become more common in the US in recent years and are expected to become more frequent due to global warming. More older people using more electrical energy to keep cool as temperatures rise could add to emissions （排放），and thus drive more warming until our energy supply becomes entirely fossil fuel-free.
“This confluence （汇集）of population, ageing and climate change on energy demand is really important to start thin king about," says Estiri. Benjamin Sovacool at the University of Sussex, UK, says the work shows the importance of demographics when it comes to cutting carbon emissions. Most modelling of climate change mitigation （减缓气候变化的模型） assumes people's energy consumption either stays the same or only changes by a small amount over time.
"This study directly challenges that entire body of research by forcing it to fight with the temporality and complexity of the consumption of energy, says Sovacool.
Catherine Mitchell at the University of Exeter, UK, says the research could have an important influence on policy makers. "What the paper says is that there is a lot of work about how buildings use energy, but probably not enough about how the people in them use energy," she says.
1. By saying “not just because we tend to get wealthier" in Paragraph 2, the writer probably means that .| A．poor people can't bring down the high demand for energy |
| B．a comfortable life is not the main cause of in creased energy use |
| C．there are some other reasons leading to the increase in energy consumption |
| D．people being wealthy or not has nothing to do with the rise of energy consumption |
| A．Children consumes more energy when they leave home. |
| B．Energy consumption drops briefly before people hit 55. |
| C．The researchers built a model to study the data from US households. |
| D．Energy consumption varies with the change of lifestyle and demand at different ages. |
| A．Energy will stop increasing when people get older. |
| B．His research could inspire policymakers to change current polices. |
| C．Various factors influencing energy consumption should be considered. |
| D．Old people should use fossil fuel-free rather than electrical energy to keep cool. |
| A．It is expensive and difficult to promote. |
| B．It overestimates the household energy consumption. |
| C．It did not take climate change adaptation into account. |
| D．It regards energy consumption as stable or as only slightly changing. |
| A．More emphasis should be put on people's energy use. |
| B．The government can't do much without the support of the study. |
| C．It is the buildings, not the people in side, that consume the majority of the energy. |
| D．Policymakers have been working on how to cut down people's energy use. |
| A．Health. | B．Environment. |
| C．Human. | D．Technology. |
4 . Germans have a word “wanderlust”, which translated into English would be the desire to wander. Nowadays the opportunity to travel is endless. Thanks to cheap air tickets, travelling all over the world is very accessible and sometimes it’s even cheaper to fly out of the country than to travel within your own．
I have always had this feeling of wanderlust. As a young girl it started from me wanting to explore my local woods at the back of my garden and as I have grown, so has my sense of adventure. And I found my local woods being replaced with the Brazil wetland, Pantanal, where I went last summer in search of jaguars, snakes and crocodiles.
The thing with travelling is always different. Even if you went to the same country, to the same town and stayed in the exact same house, it would be a completely different experience. The people you meet will be different, and they will tell you their own travelling stories; stories of holiday romances, holiday horrors and stories that appear so suspect that you can barely believe them until something ridiculous happens to you and you find yourself becoming one of those people telling your tales. Or maybe the difference is yourself.
When you travel you are forced to be in harmony with a new culture. Whether it’s eating guinea pig, or staying with a family, where neither of you speak a common language and you have to communicate through hand movements and smiles, the experience gives me itchy feet to do it all again. And although wanderlust is originally a German word, the English idiom reflects a similar idea. Someone with that needs to leave or travel. This desire to explore is found not only in language but in us．
1. Why is the Brazilian wetland mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．The author’s garden lies near it. | B．It’s similar to the author’s hometown. |
| C．It’s the desirable place for travel lovers. | D．The author intends to share her nature. |
| A．There are many ridiculous travel stories. |
| B．Travel can change the way people view things. |
| C．The author prefers to go to the same country. |
| D．It’s interesting to know local culture and people. |
| A．She feels the urge to take a tour once more. |
| B．The situation leaves her much discomfort. |
| C．Her feet feels too tired when she is abroad. |
| D．The experience makes her lose confidence. |
| A．Hobbies of the Germans | B．Life around the world |
| C．Fashion on the earth | D．City tours and tips |
By Roald Dahl
Price:＄10.25
Gifted and sweet, Matilda White goes largely unnoticed by her less-than-loving parents. Things only get worse when she goes to school. Luckily, her teacher, Miss Honey, helps Matilda discover how special she is and encourages her to create the life she dreams about.
Ivy & Bean
By Annie Barrows
Price:＄4.59
When Ivy moves in across the street, Bean is sure they won't be friends. They are just too different. However, when Ivy helps Bean get away from her sister, who is trying to get Bean in trouble, a friendship blossoms between the unlikely pair. Kids who enjoy this book can read the whole series over the summer.
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed
By Emily Pearson
Price:＄7.99
When Mary decides to give some fresh-picked wild blueberries to a neighbor, she starts a chain reaction of kindness. After Mrs. Bishop makes and shares newly-made cake, her recipients go on to spread kindness to others they meet. Mary might be a common little girl, but she learns that even children can help make the world a better place.
Frederick
By Leo Lionni
Price:＄14.39
Frederick is a mouse who lives with his family in a large field. During the summer, all of the mice begin to store food to prepare for the cold winter months.All of the mice except Frederick, that is. Instead, Frederick collects things such as rays of sun, rainbows and words.Although the others think he is stupid, they come to learn that everyone's contribution counts.
1. Whose book is mainly about friendship?| A．Roald Dahl’s | B．Leo Lionni’s |
| C．Emily Pearson’s | D．Annie Barrows’s |
| A．＄4.59 | B．＄7.99 |
| C．＄14.39 | D．＄10.25 |
| A．A story book. | B．A lesson plan. |
| C．A book review. | D．A kid's magazine. |
6 . Welcome to the Mercedes-Benz Museum!
Discover at first hand what has been moving the world for over 125 years. Take a fascinating stroll (闲逛) of automotive history.
Carried by lift to a height of 34 meters, you will travel back in time to the year 1886. This is when the Mercedes-Benz legend was born with the pioneering invention by Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz — the automobile.
Be fascinated by the history, present and future of mobility — on 9 levels and 16,500 square meters. Experience the automotive legends in the Legend rooms on level 4 and cross-epochal (划时代的) topics in the Collection rooms on level 3.
Both tours will finally take you to the innovations for the future in the “Fascination of Technology”.
Enjoy with all your senses: take the Mercedes-Benz legend home. The museum shop in the passage on Level 10 offers more than 1,000 products and gifts.
Try our own home-made museum cake or satisfy yourself with regional dishes at the restaurant — before or after your tour through the museum.
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. — ticket desk closes at 5 p. m. Closed on Mondays.
Contact and reservations
Mercedes-Benz Classic Customer Center
Phone: +49(0)711-17 30 000
Fax: +49(0)711-17 30 400
E-mail: classic@daimler. com
Address
Mercedes-Benz Museum, Mercedesstraße 100 70372 Stuttgart, Germany
Restaurant
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a. m. to 7 p. m. Closed on Mondays.
Cafébar
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. Closed on Mondays.
Museum Shop
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. Closed on Mondays.
Online shopping
You can shop online in comfort 24 hours a day at www. mercedes-benz-classic. com/store
1. What can tourists do in the Mercedes-Benz Museum?| A．Experience the history on Mondays. | B．Have dinner after 7 o'clock p. m. |
| C．Watch museum cake making. | D．Enjoy an automotive collection. |
| A．Level 9. | B．Level 10. |
| C．Level 3. | D．Level 4. |
| A．A museum guide. | B．A tourist map. |
| C．A science textbook. | D．A news report. |
7 . In 1992,Teen Talk Barbie was put on the market with the controversial voice fragment(碎片），＂Math class is hard."While the toy's sale met with strong public reaction,this hidden assumption continues,spreading the belief that women do not boom in science,technology,engineering and mathematic(STEM)fields due to biological inadequacies in math talent.
However,in 2019 Jessica Cantlon at Carnegie Mellon University led a research team that thoroughly examined the brain development of young boys and girls and found no sex difference in brain function or math ability.
Cantlon and her team studied the biological sex differences in math ability of young children.Her team used functional MRI(核磁共振）to measure the brain activity in 104 young children（3-to-10-year-old;55 girls)while watching an educational video covering early math topics,like counting and addition.The researchers compared scans from the boys and girls to evaluate brain similarity.In addition,the team examined brain maturity by comparing the children's scans to those taken from a group of adults(63 adults;25 women)who watched the same math videos.
After many statistical comparisons,Cantlon and her team found no difference in the brain development of girls and boys.In addition,the researchers found no difference in how boys and girls processed math skills while watching the educational videos.Finally,boys' and girls' brain maturity were statistically alike when compared to either men or women in the adult group.
Cantlon said she thinks society and culture are likely directing girls and young women away from math and STEM fields."Typical socialization can make worse small differences between boys and girls that can snowball into how we treat them in science and math,"Cantlon said."We need to be aware of these origins to ensure we aren't the ones causing the sex unfairness."
However,this project is focused on early childhood development using a limited set of math tasks.Cantlon wants to continue this work using a broader scope(范围）of math skills,such as spatial processing and memory,and follow the children over many years.
1. What can we infer after Teen Talk Barbie was on sale?| A．Girls are born with poor math abilities. |
| B．Math is difficult for both boys and girls. |
| C．Boys perform no better than girls in math. |
| D．Math is harder than science and technology. |
| A．The result of Cantlon's study. |
| B．The purpose of Cantlon's job. |
| C．The method of Cantion's research. |
| D．The difficulty of Cantlon's work. |
| A．By using a larger variety of subjects. |
| B．By employing a wider range of math skills. |
| C．By raising the difficulty of the math tasks. |
| D．By expanding the number of the children. |
| A．Business. | B．Sports&Health. |
| C．Entertainment. | D．Popular science. |
8 . The Railroad Builders
The Central Pacific Railroad is the first transcontinental railroad in North America, honored by BBC as one of the seven miracles after Industrial Revolution. It had made a great contribution to the US’s economy but it couldn’t be completed without Chinese labors hard work. In order to build the railroad, a lot of workers were imported from China. They had to bear the brunt of the work, deal with the dreadful environment and endure with littler pay. What challenges did they meet? And how did they cope with them?
Join us in the railroad builders to find the answers!
The first Transcontinental Railroad (known originally as the “Pacific Railroad” and later as the “Overland Route”) was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869. By linking with the existing railway network of the Eastern United States, the road thus connected the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States by rail for the first time. It was one of the crowning achievements in the crossing of plains and high mountains westward by the Union Pacific and eastward by the Central Pacific.
Watch Episodes | |
Part 1 The first transcontinental railroad at the time is the most ambitious engineering project ever attempted in the United States. When work started on the most challenging Western section. Chinese labors were brought in, and before long they became brunt of the work. But what did so many Chinese nationals do with the US in mid-19 Century? | Part 2 President Lincoln had a dream that one day a railroad would cross the United States from coast to coast. As the construction of the first transcontinental railroad got underway in the mid-19 Century, large numbers of Chinese labors headed to the US. But would it be the land of fortune they dreamed off? What really awaited them at the end of the long and often difficult voyage from China? |
Part 3 The first group of Chinese labor began to work on the first transcontinental railroad of the United States. To the delight of the new employers, they proved to be excellent workers. But the Sierra Nevada would be a test of their hardness and resolve. How did the Chinese labors cope with the dreadful rain and unfamiliar freezing weather? | Part 4 It was the coldest winter ever known in the American West and thousands of labors from China found themselves having to endure the unfamiliar snow and freezing cold. And yet they managed to build something that 150 years later is still regarded as an engineering marvel. What help did they get from the powerful and highly dangerous explosive? |
Part 5 The Summit Tunnel through Sierra Nevada, every inch of it was built at the cost of the blood of even the lives of Chinese labors. And yet in return, the Chinese labors faced discrimination. The rewards they received were pitiful. How did they respond and what did the Central Pacific Railroad Company do to address their grievances? | Part 6 Paid less, and yet bearing the brunt of the work, the Chinese labors building the Central Pacific Railroad demanded more money. How did the company respond? In Sierra Nevada, they broke through rock and endured harshest winter in their memory. Now in Utah, what fresh challenges awaited them? How did they finally earn the gratitude? |
1. Which of the following is Not true about the Central Pacific Railroad?
| A．It was built by more than one railroad company working together. |
| B．It was constructed by Chinese labors solely. |
| C．It is an engineering marvel recognized even today. |
| D．It was completed with blood, sweat and tears. |
| A．handle the difficulty | B．deserve the credit |
| C．suffer the main part | D．come under attack |
| A．Before the construction of Pacific Railroad began, there was no railroad in America |
| B．Pacific Railroad was intended to realize President Lincoln’s dream after he died |
| C．The Chinese labors earned a lot by building Pacific Railroad at the cost of their health and even |
| D．It took people much longer to travel from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast in America before 1869 |
| A．a television channel | B．a railroad company |
| C．BBC documentaries | D．a journal on rail building |
9 . Physical activity calorie equivalent(相等的)( PACE) labels could improve on labels that identify only calories and nutrient content, according to a new scientific review.
Under the proposed system, a small bar of chocolate would carry a label informing consumers that it would take 23 minutes of running or 46 minutes of walking to bum off the 230 calories it contains. The large-scale application of PACE labels could, on average, cut calorie consumption by up to 200 calories per person per day, according to researchers.
Amanda Daley, lead researcher from the University of Loughborough, said that PACE labels would present the information in a more accessible way to consumers than the existing calorie and nutrient content labels. She told CNN that the current labeling system “hasn't made a huge difference to obesity in the UK.”
She and her team looked at data from 14 studies that examined the effectiveness of PACE labeling in reducing calorie consumption. Researchers caution that the number of studies included in the review was small, and most took place in controlled environments rather than real-world settings, but still conclude that PACE labeling is worth trying. A reduction of about 100 calories per day, combined with a sustained increase in physical activity, could reduce obesity rates, according to Daley. She called PACE a “really simple and really straightforward” strategy, and suggested it could be used on food and drink packaging, supermarket labels and restaurant menus.
However, Nichola Ludlam-Raine, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, flagged some issues with PACE labels. Ludlam-Raine said PACE “ could be extremely problematic” for those with eating disorders as it suggests that food needs to be “burnt off”. It also promotes the idea that calories, rather than nutrients, are the main consideration when it comes to food, she added. “Remember, you cannot out-run a bad diet,” said Ludlam-Raine, explaining that exercising doesn't mean you can live off chocolate and fizzy drinks.
1. What does Daley think of the existing labeling system?| A．It contains physical activity calories. |
| B．It affects calorie consumption greatly. |
| C．It's not effective enough against obesity. |
| D．It can be applied to other fields widely. |
| A．Pointed out. | B．Left out. |
| C．Objected to. | D．Jumped at. |
| A．PACE labeling causes eating disorders. |
| B．Calories matter more than nutrients. |
| C．Having a good diet is more important. |
| D．Taking exercise is not necessary at all. |
| A．Fashion. | B．Health. |
| C．Sports. | D．Technology. |
10 . 2020 Journalism Workshop
Learn print,radio,television,digital
Washington,DC area high school students are invited to apply to the Washington Association of Black Journalists' annual Urban Journalism Workshop. WABJ has been guiding the next generation of journalists since 1986 through this program. UJW was started by longtime Chicago Tribune and St. Louis Times Dispatch reporter George Curry and former Washington Post reporter Athelia Knight. During the workshop, students learn the fundamentals of print, radio, TV and digital journalism. Current and former professional journalists with The Washington Post，NPR and other media companies volunteer to teach participants. A scholarship is offered for qualifying seniors.
● Sessions are held for eight continuous Saturdays from 29 February—18 April；9 am—4 pm.
● Scholarship criteria includes an essay, stories produced in the workshop, class attendance and participation in all eight sessions.
● High school students, all classifications, in the greater DC area are encouraged to apply.
Students should contact UJW Coordinator Trina Williams at ujwdc @ aol. com for details or check with their high school advisers.
To download an application, read more about available scholarships or learn about the Urban Journalism Workshop, visit www. ujwonline. org, or contact: UJW Coordinator Trina Williams at ujwdc @ aol. com.
Applications and required materials must be received by Friday, 31 January 2020.
1. What can be learned if the students join the workshop?| A．The management of the UJW. |
| B．The basic skills of digital journalism. |
| C．The classification of electronic devices. |
| D．The qualities of environmental journalists |
| A．Saturday, 11 April. | B．Wednesday, 18 March . |
| C．Wednesday,29 January. | D．Saturday,22 February. |
| A．Sports. | B．Education. |
| C．Science. | D．Entertainment. |
