1 . A new study by scientists at Utrecht University concludes that about half of global wastewater is treated, rather than the previous estimate of 20%. Despite this promising finding, the authors warn that treatment rates in developing countries are still very low.

Humans and factories produce vast quantities of wastewater per day. If not properly collected and treated, wastewater may severely threaten human health and pollute the environment.

The authors use national statistics to estimate volumes of wastewater production, collection, treatment and reuse. “Globally, about 359 billion cubic metres of wastewater is produced each year, equivalent to 144 million Olympic-sized swimming pools,” says Edward Jones, PhD researcher at Utrecht University. “About 48 percent of that water is currently released untreated. This is much lower than the frequently announced figure of 80%.”

While the results show a more optimistic outlook, the authors stress that many challenges still exist. “We see that particularly in the developing world, where most of the future population growth will likely occur, treatment rates are falling behind,” Jones explains. “In these countries, wastewater production is likely to rise at a faster pace than the current development of collection and treatment basic facilities. This poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.”

The main problem, especially in the developing world, is the lack of financial resources to build basic facilities to collect and treat wastewater. This is particularly the case for advanced treatment technologies, which can be extremely expensive. However, the authors highlight potential opportunities for creative reuse of wastewater streams that could help to finance improved wastewater treatment practices.

“The most obvious reuse of treated wastewater is to increase freshwater water supplies,” Jones states. Treated wastewater reuse is already an important source of irrigation water in many dry countries. However, only 11% of the wastewater produced globally is currently being reused, which shows large opportunities for expansion.

“But freshwater increasing is not the only opportunity,” says Jones. “Wastewater also has large potential as a source of nutrients and energy. Recognition of wastewater as a resource, opposed to as ‘waste’, will be the key to driving improved treatment going forward.”

However, the authors stress the importance of proper monitoring of wastewater treatment factories, accompanied by strong legislation (法律) and regulations, to ensure that the reuse of wastewater is safe. The authors also acknowledge public acceptance as another key barrier towards increasing wastewater reuse.

1. According to the author, the meaning of treating wastewater lies in ________.

A．encouraging new scientific findings

B．estimating volumes of wastewater production

C．ensuring human health and protecting the environment

D．measuring how much wastewater is produced globally per day

2. The underlined word “equivalent” in the third paragraph is close in meaning to ________.

A．equal

B．harmful

C．useful

D．friendly

3. We can infer from the passage that ________.

A．treated wastewater can’t be used as irrigation water

B．wastewater production in developing countries is falling

C．the treatment of wastewater is more serious than estimated

D．public recognition plays an important role in wastewater reuse

2 . Places You Should Visit in China in Summer

There are definitely some places in China that add romance to the days and nights. We have listed the best places that are especially brought to life by summer. All our tours can be customized (定制). We will create a trip for your summer vacation according to your requirements.

Yunnan Province — a Colorful Fairyland

Yunnan has a year-round spring-like climate. You will have a cool summer trip here. Start from Kunming to see the wonderful Stone Forest, enjoy a relaxing tour along the lakeshore of Erhai in Dali, visit the Old Town of Lijiang, and take a cable car ride to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Finally, immerse yourself in mysterious eastern atmosphere of Shangri-La and Pudacuo National Park.

Recommended Tours：

8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour

7-Day Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour

6-Day Lijiang to Shangri-La Tour

Inner Mongolia — Vast Grasslands

Inner Mongolia has vast grasslands where you can enjoy horse riding and hiking. During the short summers, grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. It is also the best time to take a desert hiking tour. The 2021 Summer Naadam Festival is scheduled to take place in Xilamuren Grassland from July 23 to July 30, 2021. Our 5-Day Inner Mongolia Grass & Sand Tour is a great way to attend this grand event.

Recommended Inner Mongolia Tours:

5-Day Inner Mongolia Grass & Sand

4-Day Authentic Mongolian Nomad Experience Tour

Chengdu — Meet Cute Pandas

The lovely giant pandas are the No. 1 reason to come. If you want a deeper panda experience, you can join in a giant panda volunteer program. See our 2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour.

Jiuzhai Valley, with cool weather, is the best time to see its waterfalls and green lakes.

Mount Emei is one of the most well-known summer destinations thanks to its pleasant weather, the inspiring natural scenery and the influence of the Buddhist culture.

Recommended Tours：

7-Day Chengdu, Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Tour

5-Day Chengdu, Leshan and Mount Emei Tour

2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour

1. What can you do in Yunnan?

A．Visit an old town.	B．Ride a horse and hike.
C．See waterfalls and green lakes.	D．Enjoy mysterious dragon culture.

2. Which would be the best choice for a visitor who wants to get close to pandas?

A．2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour.

B．8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour.

C．4-Day Authentic Mongolian Nomad Experience Tour.

D．7-Day Chengdu, Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Tour.

3. The main purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．recommend coolest places in summer

B．attract tourists to customize tour service

C．introduce characteristics of China’s cities

D．report China’s multicultural development

3 . 阅读短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写一个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

We all have responsibilities. Parents have the responsibility to look after their children, making sure that they     1     (bring) up healthily. Responsibilities are an essential part of life.     2     is important for us to make this world a safe and pleasant place for everyone. Responsibilities aren't fun,     3     we can make the burden lighter by sharing them. If everyone considered how their actions would affect other people de world would be a better place.

4 . In the high risk world of military service, Army National Guard member Nick flew helicopters and sent wounded soldiers to safety. He served for nearly a year, seeing too many deaths and _______.

One day, a little dog just ran up to Nick. The dog apparently had no family in the war zone, and Nick prepared a _______ for his newfound friend. And the dog became a companion of Nick. “It brought great _______ to me” Nick said.

While the dog depended on Nick for her food and shelter, kick leaned on her as well. She _______ his spirits and let him have hope during the time of the dark war,

The friendship with the dog meant everything to Nick. They couldn't be _______. When his tour of duty was over, he had to leave the _______ behind.

After months of separation, the dog soon made her way to the U.S. with the help of the organization which supported the transport of hundreds of animals out of war ones. The news station broadcast the event on live television and Nick _______ his friend there. He was afraid that the dog would not _______ him. Waiting anxiously at Tampa International Airport, it turned out that Nick had nothing to worry about. As the dog left her cage, she ran to Nick and felt so excited that she _______ buried her face in Nick's arms.

“I didn't think I was going to get her home. She remembers!” Nick said. Nick __________ that the dog would stay safe and live a more comfortable life.

1.

A．changes

B．divisions

C．arguments

D．wounds

2.

A．home

B．rule

C．present

D．speech

3.

A．pleasure

B．pressure

C．sympathy

D．opportunity

4.

A．controlled

B．lifted

C．damaged

D．challenged

5.

A．troubled

B．concerned

C．separated

D．affected

6.

A．helicopter

B．soldier

C．war

D．dog

7.

A．missed

B．searched

C．caught

D．found

8.

A．follow

B．welcome

C．recognize

D．like

9.

A．curiously

B．joyfully

C．quietly

D．patiently

10.

A．guessed

B．decided

C．doubted

D．responded

5 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写一个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Cunningham was a world-famous fashion photographer. But he led a simple life. He lived in a small apartment. A simple restaurant was the place     1     he usually had the same meal. He always used cheap cameras and all his pictures     2     (take) on the streets of New York. Cunningham liked to photograph ordinary people in poor areas. He found inspiration in everyday scenes. These things were real, and it was within their reality that he saw both     3     (beautiful) and potential.

6 . Following the Famous Silk Roads

The Silk Roads were a network of ancient trade routes that extended from East Asia all the way to the Mediterranean. A key section of the Silk Roads is the Chang’an-Tianshan corridor（走廊）, which stretches over a distance of around 5,000 kilometres through China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, covering a total of 8,700 kilometres of trade routes. The three countries jointly pursued an application for UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) status which contained detailed research on the 33 sites along the corridor. This made history as the first successful multinational World Heritage application.

The starting point of the corridor and the entire Silk Roads network is Xi’an, in Shanxi Province. Further west on the Silk Roads, the geography gradually changes from wild deserts to high, snow-capped mountains to vast grasslands as the routes pass through the Tianshan Mountains and emerge in the valleys of Central Asia. Although the Chang’an-Tianshan corridor of the Silk Roads ends here, the network continues westwards until it reaches the Mediterranean.

The corridor began to develop in the 2nd century. Assigned by the emperor, the ambassador Zhang Qian journeyed from Chang’an to Central Asia, seeking to build bridges between the Han Dynasty and the Western Regions. Following Zhang’s efforts, trade routes took shape and relationships were strengthened between the major powers of the time, with the routes network reaching as far as the Roman Empire.

Economic activities along the routes network were not limited to trade in silk. They contributed many other items to the marketplace of goods. The routes were busy with camels carrying loads of goods and businessmen selling everything imaginable. China’s exports included silk, porcelain, ironware and tea, while horses, jewellery, spices and grapes were all imported over vast distances from the West.

In addition to trade exchange, the network served as a bridge for cultural exchange which shaped the evolution of science, art, technology and many other areas in societies along the network. Astronomy and mathematics were introduced to China from India and Arabia; important Chinese inventions such as papermaking and printing were brought to the West.

All of these activities contributed to a great age of expansion as trade and cultural exchanges gave people access to new goods, knowledge and ideas. These routes connected Eastern and Western civilizations, which achieved a shared development. The addition of the Chang’an-Tianshan corridor to the UNESCO World Heritage List is a milestone in recognition of the Silk Roads as a crucial part of humanity’s common heritage.

1. The key section of the Silk Roads is________.

A．the Mediterranean	B．Xi’an, in Shanxi Province
C．Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan	D．the Chang’an-Tianshan corridor

2. The underlined word “stretches” in Paragraph 1 is close in meaning to________.

A．stands

B．spreads

C．moves

D．flies

3. Zhang Qian travelled from Chang’an to Central Asia to________.

A．export silk, porcelain, ironware and tea

B．purchase horses, jewellery, spices and grapes

C．seek help from the most powerful western countries

D．build bridges between his country and other countries

4. What was the role of the Silk Roads according to the passage?

A．It helped to change the wild deserts to grasslands.

B．It was recognized by the UNESCO as China’s heritage.

C．It speeded up the development of the countries involved.

D．It started a trade competition between countries along the way.

7 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

My brother was my personal guardian, a friend, and a mentor. Although we were 6 years apart in age,     1     is considered a large gap between kids, my brother and I often played together. During difficult times, my brother never     2     (fail) to give me his attention and help. Whenever I had trouble with school work, he would make     3     (he) available to help. When I was in 5^th grade, I couldn’t make sense of the music teachings of my teacher. My brother took the time to study music in order to teach me the notes and scales. I was not able to understand anything through my teacher     4     everything made sense and the logic of music became apparent through my brother.