1 . People are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Purchasing property that is environmentally responsible is a good investment for those who are
If everything goes according to plan, Dockside Green will be a
Energy efficiency is one of the
Planners of eco-communities such as Dockside Green must take the
Dockside residents will be encouraged to take advantage of a mini transport system and buy into the community’s car share program. Finally, plans are underway for a high-tech heating system that will use
Dockside residents will
A.ashamed of | B.concerned about | C.connected with | D.proud of |
A.scene | B.memory | C.focus | D.diet |
A.harmonious | B.digital | C.crowded | D.self-sufficient |
A.put aside | B.belong to | C.consist of | D.make up |
A.natural | B.mixed | C.historic | D.fancy |
A.animals | B.pesticides | C.consumers | D.conferences |
A.top | B.embarrassing | C.global | D.questionable |
A.convenience | B.advantage | C.protection | D.impact |
A.for fear that | B.so that | C.because | D.although |
A.However | B.In particular | C.Therefore | D.In addition |
A.image | B.future | C.label | D.decoration |
A.emissions | B.accidents | C.unemployment | D.crime |
A.traditional | B.man-made | C.renewable | D.enough |
A.result from | B.refer to | C.contribute to | D.benefit from |
A.desirable | B.reliable | C.recyclable | D.imaginary |
Forests give us shade, quiet and one of the harder challenges in the fight against climate change. Even as we humans count on forests to soak up a good share of the carbon dioxide we produce, we
Thankfully, there is a way out of this trap—but it involves striking a subtle balance. Helping forests flourish as valuable “carbon sinks” long into the future
The state's proposed Forest Carbon Plan aims to double efforts
The need
California plans to treat 35,000 acres of forest a year by 2020, and 60,000 by 2030—financed from the proceeds of the state's emissions-permit auctions. That's only
State governments are well accustomed to managing forests,
A. categorise B. creation C. good D. innovative E. maximum F. packed G. pedestrianise H. processing I. shape J. short-lived K. transformation |
All Change in Curitiba!
Like many other major world cities, Curitiba in southern Brazil has had to deal with issues such as pollution, poverty, and limited public funding. However, the architect and three-times mayor of the city, Jaime Lerner, has introduced some
As part of his ‘Master Plan’, Lerner hoped to make the city more environmentally friendly. He initiated a recycling scheme. In return for delivering recyclable rubbish to specified
Lerner did not win over all the city’s residents immediately, however. When his plans to
Lerner’s determination helped
So, is it all just one big success story? In some respects, Curitiba may have been too successful for its own
In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends.
People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be: Their family ties are not as close as
5 . As humanity has got richer, animal’s roles have changed. People need their services less than before. Fewer wolves and thieves meant less demand for dogs for protection; the internal combustion engine(内燃机)made horses unneeded; modern sanitation(卫生设备)kept rats in check and made cats less useful. No longer necessities, domestic animals became luxuries. Pet-keeping seems to kick in when household incomes rise above roughly $5,000. It is booming.
The trend is not a new one. Archaeologists(考古学家)have found 10,000-year-old graves in which dogs and people are buried together. Some cultures -- such as in Scandinavia, where dogs have long been both working dogs and companions -- have kept pets for thousands of years. But these days the pet-keeping urge has spread even to parts of the world which have no tradition of sinking into a comfortable chair with a furry creature.
The pet business is growing even faster than pet numbers, because people are spending more and more money on them. No longer are they food - waste - recyclers, fed with the remains that fall from their masters’ tables. Pet - food shelves are full of delicacies crafted to satisfy a range of appetites, including ice cream for dogs and foods for pets that are old, diabetic or suffer from sensitive digestion; a number of internet services offer food, tailored to the pet’s individual tastes.
In the business this is called “pet humanisation” -- the tendency of pet owners to treat their pets as part of the family. This is evident in the names given to dogs, which have evolved from Fido, Rex and Spot to -- in America -- Bella, Lucy and Max. It is evident in the growing market for pet clothing, pet grooming and pet hotels.
People still assume that pets must be working for humanity in some way, perhaps making people healthier or less anxious. But the evidence for that is weak. Rather, new research suggests that dogs have evolved those irresistible “puppy - dog eyes” precisely to affect human emotions. It has worked. The species that once enslaved others now works very hard to pay for the care of its pets. Sentimental(多愁善感的)Americans often refer to themselves not as cat-owners but as the cat’s “mommy” or “daddy”. South Koreans go one further, describing themselves as cat “butlers”. Watch an unlucky dog-walker trailing “his” hound(猎犬), plastic bag in hand to pick up its mess, and you have to wonder: who’s in charge now?
1. Which of the following trends is NOT TRUE according to the passage?A.People’s needs for animal services are decreasing. |
B.Both the pet number and the pet business are growing. |
C.Pets are increasingly making their owners less anxious. |
D.Pet foods are more various and customized than before. |
A.The names given to pets in American families nowadays. |
B.Pet’s inbuilt ability to affect emotions of their owners. |
C.Human beings ever rising urge for pet-keeping. |
D.Pet’s roles as both working staff and companions. |
A.Pets should be treated as equals of their human masters. |
B.Human beings are getting much benefit from their pets. |
C.Pet-keeping is still restricted within certain parts of the world. |
D.Some pet owners spend too much money on their pets. |
A.The Changing Roles of Animals | B.The Urge for Pet-keeping |
C.Who Owns Whom | D.Love Me, Love My Dog |
6 . At ten o’clock on the morning of May 25, 2009, Nasir Uddin was standing outside his mud house. He noticed that the river next to his house was higher than
Floods happen when a river or the sea rises and covers dry land. Unfortunately, Bangladesh often experiences floods. This is because the majority of its land is less than 15 feet (5 meters) above sea level. The sea level is rising because of global warming. As it rises, it
Coastal flooding is also very destructive because it
Bangladeshis are facing many challenges from flooding. Yet this is a nation of strong people. They are finding solutions. Bangladeshi farmers now grow special rice
So, when Uddin lost his home that day, he did what most Bangladeshis do: He rebuilt. This time, however, he built his house out of wood, not mud. He wants his home to
A.normal | B.past | C.visible | D.necessary |
A.Incredibly | B.Safely | C.Decisively | D.Quietly |
A.harmonious | B.fortunate | C.vulnerable | D.outstanding |
A.floods | B.transfers | C.employs | D.declines |
A.lose | B.contribute | C.involve | D.bring |
A.engages | B.addicts | C.combines | D.ruins |
A.lives | B.stays | C.extends | D.impresses |
A.surprisingly | B.conveniently | C.constantly | D.shortly |
A.near-sighted | B.underfed | C.short-handed | D.overcrowded |
A.interpreted | B.adapted | C.decoded | D.activated |
A.In addition | B.As a result | C.By contrast | D.For instance |
A.shelter | B.trap | C.raise | D.cultivate |
A.eyewitnesses | B.subjects | C.victims | D.targets |
A.count on | B.live up to | C.look into | D.decide on |
A.survive | B.guard | C.protest | D.defend |
7 . In Mumbai, there’s the ceaseless clamor of car homes as drivers edge through traffic. There’s pounding and buzzing from the construction of office towers and apartment blocks. Drumbeats and trumpet melodies spill out from weddings and countless festivals. And it’s all topped off by bellowing (大声吼叫的) street vendors and garbage trucks blasting Bollywood songs. Living in Mumbai requires a huge
When Sumaira Abdulali began campaigning against noise pollution in India’s financial capital two decades ago, friends, acquaintances and even her lawyers insisted it was
But in 2003, Abdulali won a lawsuit seeking to
The World Health Organization warns that noise is a top threat to human
In recent years, the battle against noise has become increasingly
Traffic is a tougher problem. Noise on the road can reach 110 decibels (分贝) — a level that can lead to permanent hearing damage after just 15 minutes of exposure, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Luckily,
Far more important is the longer-term impact of the day-to-day noise, so that’s where Vijay believes activists should focus their energy. “In India we celebrate festivals with lots of noise,” he says. “But our
A.talent | B.potential | C.demand | D.tolerance |
A.encouraging | B.reasonable | C.ridiculous | D.depressing |
A.take advantage of | B.put an end to | C.lay emphasis on | D.throw light on |
A.Therefore | B.Similarly | C.Subsequently | D.However |
A.well-being | B.intelligence | C.interaction | D.behavior |
A.largest | B.busiest | C.loudest | D.richest |
A.difficult | B.successful | C.diverse | D.easy |
A.availability | B.capitalization | C.urbanization | D.convenience |
A.in pace with | B.in contact with | C.in league with | D.in conflict with |
A.recommend | B.justify | C.resist | D.advocate |
A.government | B.technology | C.finance | D.psychology |
A.quiet | B.brave | C.safe | D.alert |
A.trigger | B.satisfy | C.reduce | D.maintain |
A.steps in | B.takes over | C.cuts in | D.takes off |
A.traffic | B.construction | C.ceremony | D.background |
The First Space Cat
In a few weeks, space scientists will celebrate a remarkable event — the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first cat into space, an astronautical success that has never been repeated.
In the early 60s, dogs and monkeys were the animals usually used by scientists to find out exactly
A total of 14 street cats
Then,
“In the 60s,
9 . 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
But can seeing the realities of climate change affecting characters on the screen help us relate
Non-profit storytelling consultancy Good Energy believes it can. It is among a small but growing number of organizations
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
The playbook was created by Good Energy founder Anna Jane Joyner, “It started as a personal
Many research studies looked at the impact introducing climate stories had on viewers, and found it prompted greater concern about climate change. It also
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
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
A.resistance | B.background | C.response | D.application |
A.fictional | B.scientific | C.educational | D.theoretical |
A.logical | B.moral | C.occasional | D.spiritual |
A.differently | B.effortlessly | C.reluctantly | D.systematically |
A.depending on | B.referring to | C.identifying with | D.calling for |
A.restore | B.feature | C.demonstrate | D.sponsor |
A.reflect | B.maintain | C.eliminate | D.strengthen |
A.integrate | B.reverse | C.initiate | D.publish |
A.transition | B.campaign | C.achievement | D.association |
A.transferred | B.promoted | C.shifted | D.underestimated |
A.For example | B.As a result | C.On the contrary | D.In addition |
A.narrative | B.character | C.plot | D.memory |
A.explored | B.competed | C.struggled | D.appealed |
A.narrow-minded | B.ever-changing | C.short-lived | D.far-sighted |
A.resumes | B.fades | C.deepens | D.increases |
Lovely Team Members
I fell in love with rhinos when I worked in a zoo in the 80s, and spent much of the next 20 years as the keeper of the largest captive (圈养的) group of rare black rhinos.
Being aggressive and stupid is
In the past few years, the number of rhinos has dropped dramatically, during
A couple of weeks before their planned release, the sky was filled with smoke and the flames were blowing over it.
That we and the rhinos had escaped unscathed (未受伤的) was a miracle. The relationship we had built with those lovely animals proved crucial.