2 . Beach cleanup efforts around the world are common and well worth praising. However, we ______ get to see what actually happens to the trash that’s been ______. It’s even rarer for the gathered waste to be turned into ______. One company called Ocean Sole hosts cleanups to pick up ______ on the beaches and waterways of Kenya (肯尼亚) every year. They then give these abandoned objects a second ______ with the help of the artists from local ______, turning them into colorful sculptures of all sizes.

The story of Ocean Sole ______ when Julie Church, founder of the social enterprise, noticed children creating toys out of abandoned flip-flops (人字拖). ______ the versatility (多用途) of the material, she then ______ the children’s mothers to collect, wash, and cut the flip-flops, which they then could ______ new products that could be ______ at local markets as a(n) ______ source of income.

“Ocean Sole was founded with the aim of cleaning our oceans and waterways while ______ artists from high impact communities in Kenya,” Joe Mwakiremba, head of sales said. Today, the company ______ over 1,000 Kenyans through the collection of flip-flops and direct employment. This includes providing steady income to nearly 100 ______ Kenyans. According to Mwakiremba, one of their collectors has been ______ to put one of his kids through college; others even have been able to ______ land.

The ______ effects can also be seen in the ______. “We aim to recycle a million flip-flops per year, recycle over one tonne of plastic a month, and save over five hundred trees a year,” the company states on its website. “We ______ over 10-15% of our profit to beach cleanup and spend another 10% on other public welfare and charity, like educational programs and conservation efforts.”

Facial recognition technology,     1     has been widely used in identifying an individual’s identity, is now moving beyond human faces.

At a digital monitoring center of the Yellow River Delta national nature reserve in Dongying, Shandong province, a variety of data is on display on a large screen, showing the real-time situations of     2     (it) biodiversity. In the past, the vast nature reserve with a diverse bird population     3     (pose) lots of challenges for scientists in tracking the biodiversity and conducting on-site monitoring. Today staff members at the reserve can monitor and record the biodiversity situation in real time     4     (simple) through an intelligent monitoring platform.

The monitoring platform takes advantage of information technologies such as big data, remote sensing and artificial intelligence     5     (establish) an integrated sky-to-ground monitoring network. After terminal collection devices send data to the cloud via a well-covered 5G network, AI performs real-time identification and annotation (注释), presenting results on the monitoring platform while     6     (conduct) a series of data analyses.

The use of science and technology plays     7     significant role in the biodiversity conservation. It helps the reserve with intelligent species recognition and provides real-time monitoring without too much human involvement, effectively enhancing conservation management and the efficiency of     8     (decide) making and problem solving. Seeing     9     disturbing, guarding without interfering (干涉) — that is the     10     (great) respect humankind can show nature.

5 . It takes almost two years to grow a pineapple before it’s ripe and ready for harvest. For rubber trees, it can take at least six years before latex (橡胶) can be collected. So you could imagine the frustration and heartbreak of seeing the fruits of a farmer’s patience and dedication destroyed in a matter of minutes. This has been the cruel reality for those living around Kui Buri National Park, where some of Thailand’s largest populations of Asian elephants hang out.

For years, these farmers have worked hard to make a living from their crops, only to witness it all damaged under the footsteps of the wild giants. But the elephants are not to blame; with their usual feeding spots now changed into farmland, there is little left for them to eat — except the massive fields of tempting, easily accessible juicy fruits, all lined up like a continental breakfast buffet.

While she felt angry about her damaged crops, farmer Nichakan Pongsarikit saw an opportunity that the mighty creatures offered. Embarking on a journey to become a local guide, she began learning more about the animals and their behavior, movement, and habitat, along with foreign language skills, with the support of the Kui Buri Conservation Association and WWF-Thailand.

“I used to never want to encounter the elephants,” she said, now entering her seventh year as a guide. “Now I want to see them every day.”

Like her, other affected farmers have also found innovative ways to embrace the situation. Some are now making handmade souvenirs from elephant-related products, such as natural dye (染料) and ‘poo poo’ paper from elephant dung (粪便), and selling them to tourists who come to visit the elephants in their natural habitat. While it does not come without challenges, this transformation demonstrates the economic benefits that conservation could bring to communities, and the vital role communities play in conservation.

7 . Four Natural Wonders

Poás Volcano, Costa Rica

Sitting more than 2,707 metres above sea level, Poás Volcano has been active for hundreds of years. Visitors can still get up close and personal with it at the national park where it’s located (with a reservation).

Tips: Dress warm and bring an umbrella, as rainfall is common at the top of the mountain due to unpredictable weather conditions.

Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora

Mount Otemanu is the main attraction on Bora Bora, an island first made popular during World War I. The massive mountain, which stands 727 metres above the lagoon of Bora Bora, is now the perfect backdrop for dreamy Tahitian sunsets. A few of the luxury resorts on the island which offer great views of the mountain have become hot spots for honeymooners.

Grand Canyon, USA

Arizona has no shortage of impressive mountains and sweeping views, but the Grand Canyon is hands down one of the most diverse geological wonders in the state. Visitors have several options to experience the beauty here: adventure seekers can enjoy an aerial view from a helicopter ride through the canyons or go whitewater rafting down the Colourado River.

Cappadocia, Turkey

You may have seen fascinating photos of colourful hot air balloons against a magical landscape of rugged cliffs, valleys and towers carved into the rocks. It’s hard to believe this place is real but it is and it’s in Cappadocia! For a good position overlooking the landscape of this natural wonder, check out Uchisar Castle or ride during sunrise in a hot air balloon.