1 . Plastic is everywhere, from the Arctic ice to vital organs in the human body. In fact, previous estimates suggest that the average person swallows a credit card-worth of microscopic plastic particles(颗粒) every week. But new research shows that this could actually be an understatement.

Microplastics are plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, found in industrial waste, beauty products, and formed during the degradation of larger plastic pieces. Over time, they break down into even smaller nanoplastics. These tiny particles can pass through our intestines and lungs into our bloodstreams, reaching vital organs like the heart and brain.

While the idea of eating plastic is unsettling in itself, the major concern here is that these plastic particles contain chemicals that can interrupt our body’s natural release of hormones, potentially increasing our risk of reproductive disorders and certain cancers. They can also carry toxins(毒素) on their surface like heavy metals.

In the past, researchers have shown bottled water can contain tens of thousands of identifiable plastic fragments in a single container. However, until recently, only the larger microplastics were detectable with available measuring tools, leaving the area of nanoplastics largely a mystery.

Using Raman microscopy (显微镜学), capable of detecting particles down to the size of a flu virus, the team measured an average of 240, 000 particles of plastic per liter of bottled water, 90 percent of which were nanoplastics, a revelation 10 to 100 times larger than previous estimates.

These plastics likely originate from the bottle material, filters used to “purify” the water, and the source water itself. “It is not totally unexpected to find so much of this stuff, ” the study’s lead author, Columbia graduate student Naixin Qian, said in a statement. His team hopes to expand their research into tap water and other water sources to better inform our exposure to these potentially dangerous particles. “The idea is that the smaller things get, the more of them I reveal, ” he added.

1. What is the primary focus of the new research?

A．The presence of plastic particles.	B．The use of plastic in everyday products.
C．The detection methods for microplastics.	D．The potential risks of nanoplastics to human.

2. What is the advantage of Raman microscopy?

A．Finding the source of plastic particles.	B．Helping to cure the deadly flu virus.
C．Detecting the smaller plastic particles.	D．Improving the quality of bottled water.

3. Why will the team expand their research into tap water?

A．To focus on areas with higher plastic pollution.

B．To be aware of the dangerous particles in daily life.

C．To further measure the types of particles in tap water.

D．To detect the smaller plastic particles in industrial areas.

4. What is Qian’s attitude towards his research?

A．Skeptical.

B．Objective.

C．Conservative.

D．Positive.

2 . The Grey’s Anatomy doctors are navigating the patients that have kept them on our screens for some 400 episodes of the show. But in this episode, for the first time, the _______ to the drama is the very real issue of climate change. It’s a relatively rare example of the many kinds of climate-related storylines that are typically missing from _______ TV and film worlds. Social scientists argue that climate is a topic that belongs in many kinds of on-screen stories, not just the _______ climate-disaster thriller.

But can seeing the realities of climate change affecting characters on the screen help us relate _______ to the unfolding climate crisis – to cope better, or even change our behavior?

Non-profit storytelling consultancy Good Energy believes it can. It is among a small but growing number of organizations _______ far more TV and film scripts to _______ climate-related storylines. In April 2022, it released its Good Energy Playbook, a set of guidelines for embedding climate change into any on-screen story. It joins other initiatives in drawing attention to the need for film and TV to _______ the numerous ways climate change leaves its mark on our everyday lives.

The Good Energy Playbook’s suggestions are appropriately wide-ranging: characters with climate anxiety and those fighting against injustice; utopian (乌托邦的) narratives that explore climate solutions; storylines that quietly _______ climate references into their characters’ worlds.

The playbook was created by Good Energy founder Anna Jane Joyner, “It started as a personal _______, where I just got on the phone with as many screenwriters as I could,” she says. She quickly learned that writers wanted to talk about climate, but “didn’t really have the support and toolset to be able to do it”.

Many research studies looked at the impact introducing climate stories had on viewers, and found it prompted greater concern about climate change. It also ________ people’s understanding of it and made them more likely to take action to reduce their emissions. ________, science tells us that stories have a power that hard facts often don’t. Research has long established that the human brain finds it easier to understand and remember information delivered as a ________, and has even found that stories can influence behavior.

Climate stories, then, seem like a pretty good idea. But these sorts of narratives have been few and far between. Julie Doyle, professor of media at the University of Brighton in the UK, says climate change has ________ for years to get into any form of fictional film or TV representation. “There’s been a silence around it,” she says.

It’s time to break the climate silence, says Doyle. “Mainstream media has tended to follow rather than lead, and it would be great if mainstream media could lead this.” Day-to-day mentions of climate change in media are especially important because, while blockbuster climate films can have a positive impact on awareness and action, the effect is sadly __________. People can feel inspired to take action in the moment, but the feeling __________ in a matter of weeks.

1.

A．resistance

B．background

C．response

D．application

2.

A．fictional

B．scientific

C．educational

D．theoretical

3.

A．logical

B．moral

C．occasional

D．spiritual

4.

A．differently

B．effortlessly

C．reluctantly

D．systematically

5.

A．depending on

B．referring to

C．identifying with

D．calling for

6.

A．restore

B．feature

C．demonstrate

D．sponsor

7.

A．reflect

B．maintain

C．eliminate

D．strengthen

8.

A．integrate

B．reverse

C．initiate

D．publish

9.

A．transition

B．campaign

C．achievement

D．association

10.

A．transferred

B．promoted

C．shifted

D．underestimated

11.

A．For example

B．As a result

C．On the contrary

D．In addition

12.

A．narrative

B．character

C．plot

D．memory

13.

A．explored

B．competed

C．struggled

D．appealed

14.

A．narrow-minded

B．ever-changing

C．short-lived

D．far-sighted

15.

A．resumes

B．fades

C．deepens

D．increases

3 . Climate experts have warned about the many ways a warming planet can negatively affect human health. ________ global temperatures are predicted to increase by 1.5℃ by the 2030s, that risk is becoming increasingly real.

One long-held prediction that appears to be coming true — according to the results of a study recently published in Nature Scientific Reports — is how climate change might enhance ________ of bacteria that thrive and spread through warm sea waters and cause an infection with a particularly high ________ rate.

Vibrio vulnificus (创伤弧菌) flourishes in salty or brackish waters above 68℉. Infections are currently rare in the U.S., but that’s likely to change. Using 30 years of data on infections, scientists at the University of East Anglia in the U.K. found that Vibrio vulnificusis ________ from its historic Gulf Coast range, with more Northern states reporting infections as waters become warmer.

“We’re seeing the core ________ of infections extending to areas that traditionally have very few and very rare cases,” says Elizabeth Archer, a Ph.D. researcher and ________ author of the study. “But these areas are now coming into the main area of infections.”

Based on the latest data on how much the world’s water and air temperatures will rise, the scientists predict that by 2081, Vibrio vulnificus infections could reach every state along the U.S. East Coast. Currently, only about 80 cases are reported in the U.S. each year; by 2081, that could go up to over three-fold, the authors say.

Such a proliferation could have serious health consequences. Vibrio vulnificus kills approximately 20% of the healthy people it infects, and 50% of those with weakened immune systems. There is little evidence that antibiotics can ________ the infection, but doctors may prescribe them in some cases. People can get infected either by eating raw shellfish like oysters or by exposing small ________ to waters where the bacteria live, which can lead to serious skin infections.

Warming sea temperatures aren’t the only reasons behind the rise of Vibrio vulnificus. Hotter air also draws more people to the coasts and bays, bringing them into closer contact with the bacteria.

“The bacteria are part of the natural marine environment, so I don’t think we can ________ it from the environment,” says Archer. “It’s more about mitigating infections by increasing ________ of the risk.”

To alert people to the growing threat, ________ systems are needed to track when concentrations of bacteria start to rise, similar to currently available pollen and pollution alarm.

Vbrio vulnificus is so ________ to temperature changes that concentrations could bloom after even a day of warmer water, so consistent monitoring and alerts are critical, says Iain Lake, professor of environmental epidemiology at University of East Anglia and senior author of the paper.

Lake says the expansion of Vibrio vulnificus is concerning for public health since the bacteria are now invading waters closer to heavily ________ areas, such as New York and Philadelphia. “Everyone can get a Vibrio vulnificus infection,” he says. “But the more ________ there is between warmer waters and people, the more the bacteria can move into populations ________ the elderly and those with other health conditions, who are more vulnerable to infections.”

1.

A．Even if

B．Except when

C．The instant

D．In case

2.

A．numbers

B．ranges

C．coverages

D．concentrations

3.

A．failure

B．fatality

C．survival

D．acid

4.

A．ranging

B．varying

C．expanding

D．shifting

5.

A．distribution

B．launch

C．community

D．sample

6.

A．principle

B．lead

C．principal

D．hit

7.

A．boost

B．accelerate

C．contain

D．remove

8.

A．harms

B．damages

C．injuries

D．wounds

9.

A．relieve

B．dissolve

C．resolve

D．erase

10.

A．conscience

B．awareness

C．panic

D．alert

11.

A．monitoring

B．processing

C．managing

D．delivering

12.

A．sensible

B．vital

C．vulnerable

D．sensitive

13.

A．populated

B．dense

C．paralleled

D．bordered

14.

A．reaction

B．interaction

C．intervention

D．relativity

15.

A．rather than

B．except for

C．such as

D．other than

4 . All over the world, people admire the beauty and grace of butterflies. Butterflies come in every color imaginable, and their_________display an incredible variety of patterns. The largest butterfly, Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing, has a wingspan (翼展) of up to 280 millimeters and lives in Papua New Guinea. The smallest, the Western Pygmy Blue in the southern U.S., has a wingspan of only 12 millimeters. Sadly, some of these beautiful creatures are now _________.

Estimates indicate that between 15 and 20 thousand species of butterflies exist around the world. A number of these species are endangered, over 20 in Japan_________. Although that number may seem small, losing even one species would be_________. Nowadays scientists even look to butterflies as a _________of the environment’s health, since they are _________ to environmental changes. Many environmentalists around the world are eager to protect the endangered butterflies from extinction. The American Museum of Natural History in New York, for example, has an unusual butterfly exhibit. This exhibit _________ the important role that butterflies play in our environment.

In recent years, environmental groups have made significant progress in _________endangered butterfly populations. Governments throughout Asia have passed laws to help protect endangered wildlife, including butterflies. An area called Butterfly Valley in Assam, India, has become the focus of conscious _________ to protect the butterflies’ habitat (栖息地). Other projects in Serbia, Japan, and Canada are also hoping to __________. Some of these efforts are already starting to work. The population of the El Segundo Blue Butterfly in California, for instance, has increased by 8 percent since 2010.

Finding a cure for the butterfly crisis is, __________, not just for environmental groups. __________citizens can plant butterfly gardens to support and enjoy these gentle creatures. A group of female prisoners in Belfair, Washington, are helping to rescue an endangered species called Taylor’s Checkerspot. They recognize how__________ seemingly insignificant creatures can be. The world cannot afford to lose any butterflies. As environmentalist John Muir once__________, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it __________ to everything else in the Universe.”

1.

A．colors

B．bodies

C．wings

D．feelers

2.

A．out of control

B．in great danger

C．on the fly

D．out of date

3.

A．nearby

B．though

C．besides

D．alone

4.

A．predictable

B．possible

C．imaginable

D．terrible

5.

A．factor

B．picture

C．measure

D．display

6.

A．exposed

B．accustomed

C．sensitive

D．resistant

7.

A．highlights

B．changes

C．replaces

D．finds

8.

A．preserving

B．controlling

C．observing

D．recognizing

9.

A．projects

B．efforts

C．steps

D．groups

10.

A．set an example

B．keep the promise

C．make a difference

D．take the time

11.

A．however

B．furthermore

C．otherwise

D．therefore

12.

A．Distinguished

B．Leading

C．Senior

D．Ordinary

13.

A．graceful

B．significant

C．pitiful

D．mysterious

14.

A．proposed

B．commented

C．promised

D．recommended

15.

A．restricted

B．adapted

C．contributed

D．recommended

5 . The Good of Gardening

Do you have a hobby that helps you relax and unwind? For some people, there is no better way to relieve pressure than spending time in the garden. This small private area of green space can be their place of calm.

    1     A survey conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society, found that 82% of people in the UK said that gardening makes them happier. It also found that 70% of them, given the choice, would prefer to spend their working day in the garden with just 9% opting for an office.

For those with green fingers, the pleasure of gardening comes from getting out in the fresh air, in all weathers and communing with nature — even if there are a few too many worms! It can also be seen as a sort of digital-detox — time away from technology.     2    

Dr Christopher Lowry, a neuroscientist at the University of Colorado, injected a bacterium commonly found in soil into mice to see what affection this would have on them.     3     When we dig in soil we absorb this bacterium through our lungs or cuts in our so Br Lowry concluded that since the mice seemed happier when treated with soil bacteria, it’s likely we would be, too.

    4    There’s evidence that recovering alcoholics who have been given the opportunity to plant, grow, and even sell their produce, have managed to stop their addictive habits. Scot Stephenson, for example, got dismissed from school and started a vocational qualification in gardening. He says, “got my NVQ level 2 which is my first qualification and enjoyed it ever since.”

Whatever the reason, there are many therapeutic benefits to getting your hands dirty, doing some physical hard work and then watching your garden grow. Does this sound like your idea of fun?

A．He found the bacterium had a similar effect on the mice as an anti-depressive drug might.

B．Soil bacteria not only benefit people but also benefit animals.

C．Gardening can also be used as a way of treating addiction.

D．It’s no wonder some of us turn to gardening as a form of therapy.

E．Alcohol can make people behave peculiarly and dangerously in gardening.

F．Some experts actually believe that getting outside to dig and plant things acts as a “natural excitement”.

6 . 语法填空

A male mako shark (灰鲭鲨),    1     (name) Hell’s Bay, travelled a distance of half the globe, or 13,000 miles, in less than two years. According to researchers, it is the longest track recorded in the Atlantic Ocean by a tagged mako shark.

The scientists began monitoring the shark in 2015. In the first year, he travelled north along the east coast of the US before     2     (return) to the tagging site off the coast of Ocean City, Maryland. In 2016, the shark made several round-trip journeys throughout the Atlantic, travelling east past Nova Scotia and as far south     3     Bermuda.

The researchers say Hell’s Bay’s journeys have allowed them     4     (recognise) clear seasonal patterns. The mako shark spends the winter and early spring far offshore and     5     rest of the year on or near the continental shelf.

While Hell’s Bay     6     (certain) deserves an award for the impressive mileage, the researchers say one of the     7     (reason) why he can swim so far is that he is still alive.

Mako sharks, one of the     8     (fast) sharks in the ocean, can swim at speeds of 45 miles per hour. Their rapid pace enables them to attack humans without warning,    9     is why the sharks are so dangerous.

The scientists say that between 70-100 million sharks     10     (kill) by humans each year. Many species are already on the endangered list.

7 . It took brave European explorers less than 300 years, between 1420 and 1713, to establish that all the seas of the world formed an enormous and continuous ocean. This discovery encouraged them to _____ into areas which hadn’t been charted until then. With the discovery of new lands, new trade routes were _____. In many parts of the world, colonies and settlements were established and many odd-looking products were brought back to _____, arousing great interest and _____ wealth.

It was probably the irresistible desire for wealth that _____ persuaded Europeans of the fifteenth century to _____ their legendary dangers and explore further out into the open seas. They were also _____ by the love for their countries. Many explorers wanted to serve their kings and countries as well as gain personal _____ from their exploring.

The most effective way of gaining wealth was through _____. Silk, gold, silver and ______ stones, and more importantly spices, such as gingers and peppers, were the most profitable trade goods in Europe. Spices were of the greatest ______ because they enabled the Europeans to make their winter diet of salted meat more delicious. These items were ______ mostly from the East by a difficult overland route. The Italian ______, who bought goods from the Arabs of Alexandria, controlled the trade along this route. Other countries of the Mediterranean ______ the wealth which this trade generated and they were ______ to discover new routes which would allow them to share in it.

1.

A．sail

B．walk

C．fly

D．drive

2.

A．set back

B．set off

C．set up

D．set against

3.

A．the East

B．the Mediterranean

C．Europe

D．Italy

4.

A．inheriting

B．creating

C．saving

D．losing

5.

A．frequently

B．hardly

C．frankly

D．eventually

6.

A．recognize

B．risk

C．realize

D．foresee

7.

A．discouraged

B．praised

C．forced

D．inspired

8.

A．business

B．benefit

C．fame

D．rights

9.

A．trade

B．war

C．conquering

D．bargaining

10.

A．precious

B．rough

C．hard

D．smooth

11.

A．interest

B．efficiency

C．value

D．practice

12.

A．exported

B．imported

C．robbed

D．occupied

13.

A．soldiers

B．explorers

C．pioneers

D．merchants

14.

A．lost

B．won

C．possessed

D．envied

15.

A．disappointed

B．available

C．anxious

D．reluctant

8 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. advances               B. colonize               C. concerns               D. eventually            E. extremely F. face                      G. spread                  H. stop                    I. surface               J. survive   K. visit

Living in Space

Stephen Hawking, one of the world’s most important scientists in history, believed that to survive, humans must move into space: “Once we     1    out into space and establish independent colonies, our future should be safe,” he once said.

Today, the European Union, India, China, Russia, and Japan are all planning to send astronauts back to the earth’s closest neighbor: the moon. Some of these countries want to create space stations there between 2020 and 2030. These stations will prepare humans to     2    and later live on Mars or other earthlike planets.

Robert Zubrin, a rocket scientist, thinks humans should     3    space. He wants to start with Mars. Why? He thinks sending people to Mars will allow us to learn a lot — for example, about the ability of humans to live in a very different environment. Then we can     4    create new human societies on other planets. In addition, any     5     we make in the fields of science, technology, medicine, and health will also benefit us here on the earth.

However, not everyone thinks sending humans into space is a smart idea. Many say it’s too expensive, even if it’s just a short journey. A one-way trip to Mars, for example, would take about six months. People travelling this kind of distance     6    many health problems. Also, these first people would find life     7    difficult out in space. On the moon’s     8    , for example, the sun’s rays are very dangerous. People would have to stay indoors most of the time.

Despite these     9    , sending people into space seems certain. In the future, we might see lunar cities or even new human cultures on other planets. First     10    : the moon.

9 . The part of the environmental movement that draws my firm’s attention is the design of buildings. Today, thousands of people come to ________ building conferences, and the idea that buildings can be good for people and the environment will be increasingly ________ in years to come. Back in 1984 we discovered that most manufactured products for decoration weren’t designed for ________ use. The “energy-efficient” sealed commercial buildings constructed after the 1970s energy crisis ________ indoor air quality problems caused by materials such as paint, wall covering and carpet. So for 20 years, we’ve been looking for ways to make these materials ________   for people and the planet.

Home builders can now use materials, such as green paints, that release significantly ________   amounts of chemical compounds, which people believe don’t ________ the quality of the air.   ________, our basic design strategy is focused not simply on being “less bad” but on creating ________ healthful materials that can be either safely returned to the soil or ________ by industry again and again. For example, the world’s largest carpet manufacturer has already ________ a carpet that is fully and safely recyclable.

Look at it this way: no one ________ to create a building that destroy the planet. But our current industrial systems are basically causing these conditions, whether we like it or not. So   ________ of simply trying to reduce the damage, we are ________ a positive approach. We’re giving people high-quality, healthful products and an opportunity to make choices that have a ________   effect on the world. It is not just the building industry, either. Entire cities are taking these environmentally positive approaches to design, planning and building.

1.

A．commercial

B．green

C．traditional

D．simple

2.

A．efficient

B．changeable

C．influential

D．effective

3.

A．relevant

B．indoor

C．flexible

D．forward

4.

A．revealed

B．displayed

C．exhibited

D．discovered

5.

A．careful

B．comfortable

C．stable

D．safe

6.

A．reduced

B．revised

C．delayed

D．defined

7.

A．destroy

B．deny

C．dissolve

D．depress

8.

A．Anyway

B．Besides

C．Anyhow

D．However

9.

A．exactly

B．completely

C．partially

D．superficially

10.

A．restored

B．regain

C．reused

D．retain

11.

A．developed

B．stretched

C．researched

D．constructed

12.

A．sets off

B．sets about

C．sets out

D．sets up

13.

A．instead

B．because

C．out

D．regardless

14.

A．adjusting

B．adopting

C．adapting

D．admitting

15.

A．functional

B．sensible

C．beneficial

D．precious

10 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

In 1976, the crew of a US Navy boat near Hawaii witnessed something truly amazing. As they pulled up the anchor from the sea floor some 200 metres below, they were surprised to see that a 4.5-metre shark had swallowed it and was being lifted onto their boat. The crew were fascinated by this wonderful creature,     1    no one had any idea what species the shark belonged to.

Scientists later examined the shark and concluded that     2    was a completely new species. The shark was then given the name “megamouth”—a very suitable name, given its extremely large jaws.

Since this discovery only thirty—six more megamouth sharks     3    (sight). This is one of the newest species of fish     4    (discover), and many things about it are still a mystery.

When we think of sharks, usually we think of predators like great whites. Great whites, at 3.7 metres in length, are     5    (feared)animals in the sea, preying on small whales, seals, other sharks and sometimes even people. They demonstrate incredible power and speed when     6    (hunt). However, not all sharks are dangerous. For example, sharks such as the megamouth live off plankton and other small fish, and will never attack humans. Indeed, there are actually more than 360 species of shark, from the whale shark     7    can reach 14 metres in length, to a much smaller shark which measures only 21 centimetres from head to tail.

Despite their differences, all sharks     8    have some things in common. For example, sharks do not have bones, but have flexible cartilage instead which makes them very good swimmers. Also,     9    most fish, many species of shark hatch their eggs inside their bodies, giving birth to live baby sharks.     10    scientists have learnt a lot in recent years, there are still many things about both sharks and the deep blue sea which we do not understand.

Who knows? There may be many other species of marine life even stranger than the megamouth, still unknown and waiting to be discovered.