1 . When Alex Lin was 11, he read an article about electronic waste, or e- waste, and its harmful effects due to toxic substances like mercury and lead (铅). Concerned, he discussed the issue with his classmates from the Westerly Innovations Network (WIN), an organization they formed to solve community problems.
To address the e-waste issue, Alex and his friends began by educating themselves on the chemicals in e- waste and their effects on humans. They then conducted a survey to assess the situation in their town and discovered a significant lack of awareness about e-waste. Disturbed by their findings, including a case of a man dumping old computers in his backyard, they decided to act.
They organized a two-day e-waste collection drive at a school parking lot, collecting over21,000 pounds of e- waste. This included out-of-date computers from the school system. Alex’ team then set up a permanent e-waste drop-off center for the town and found a responsible company to recycle the waste, ensuring it wouldn’t be shipped overseas where it could cause harm.
Understanding that reusing is more efficient than recycling, Alex’s team also focused on refurbishing (翻新) old computers. They persuaded their school to teach students how to refurbish donated computers, and they distributed 260 computers to students in need, making a direct impact on their education and the environment.
To create a lasting solution, Alex and his team advocated for e-waste legislation (立法). After initial setbacks, they successfully lobbied for (游说) a bill that banned the dumping of e-waste, making Rhode Island the fourth state to create such legislation. This achievement marked a significant step in promoting safe treatment of e-waste.
Recognizing e-waste as a global issue, Alex and his friends expanded their project internationally, establishing WIN teams in Mexico and three African countries. They shipped refurbished media centers to schools and centers in need, further spreading the message about safe e-waste disposal.
Alex’ work exemplifies how young individuals can lead community efforts to address environmental challenges, promoting awareness, responsible recycling, and the importance of reusing technology to prevent it from becoming toxic trash.
1. What was the primary motivation for Alex Lin to get involved with the issue of e-waste?| A．A discussion on e-waste with his classmates from the WIN. |
| B．His personal need to recycle his old electronic devices. |
| C．Reading an alarming article about the harmful effects of e- waste. |
| D．A case of a man dumping old computers in his backyard. |
| A．By lobbying for e-waste legislation effortlessly. |
| B．By organizing a collection drive and setting up a drop-off center. |
| C．By conducting more surveys to raise awareness of their neighborhood. |
| D．By persuading the local government to handle the e- waste. |
a. Alex read an article about e-waste. b. They collected e-waste and set up a drop-off center.
c. Alex advocated for a new e-waste bill. d. WIN was formed.
e. They shipped refurbished computers overseas.
| A．d-a-b-c-e | B．a-b-c-d-e | C．a-c-b-d-e | D．d-c-a-b-e |
| A．Curiosity and creativity. | B．Leadership and problem- solving skills. |
| C．Foresight and environmental concern. | D．Technical expertise and innovation. |
2 . Air pollution causes millions of premature deaths around the world every year, according to an estimate by the World Health Organization. And one of the most significant drivers of air pollution in cities is the exhaust (废气) that comes out of tailpipes from cars, trucks and buses.
In an effort to control its air pollution, the city of Hong Kong has applied a system that can sense when a highly polluting vehicle drives by. There are more than 150 sites for the monitoring of vehicle emissions in Hong Kong, so that high-emitting vehicles can be identified quickly and enforced for repair.
John Zhou is an environmental engineer at the University of Technology Sydney. And he’s co-author on a new analysis of the program, in the journal Science Advances. He says the system works like this.
Sensors at road level shoot beams of light across the road, to a reflector. The sensors then measure how much light is absorbed by pollutants, and roughly calculate emissions from passing vehicles. At the same time the systems are reading license plates, and sends notices to big polluters.
Enforcement began in 2014. In the following four years, the program pulled 16,000 vehicles off the road — mostly taxis, but also private cars and buses. Government subsidies (补贴) helped fix up 96 percent of those vehicles, and ensured they passed smog tests.
You know, hopefully, from the publication of this research, we can raise awareness about the effectiveness of getting the heavy-polluting vehicles off the road. The repairs cut pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides from the city’s air. And that spared people from breathing them in. But the repairs had another effect too. By reducing the pollution from the tailpipe, we’re also simultaneously (同时) increasing the performance of fuel combustion in vehicles, indirectly contributing to the reduction of fuel, and therefore, the reduction of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
By cleaning up its air, Zhou says Hong Kong has cut carbon emissions too. That’s a win-win for people in the city — and beyond.
1. How do the sensors monitor vehicles?| A．They measure the poison of the exhaust. |
| B．They track the pollutants emitted by vehicles. |
| C．They use light beams to measure their emissions. |
| D．They read license plates to record their emissions. |
| A．The number of taxis in Hong Kong decreased. |
| B．The repair subsidies laid a burden on the government. |
| C．Many vehicles were denied access to road permanently. |
| D．Notable achievements were made in reducing pollutants. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Worried. | C．Indifferent. | D．Neutral. |
| A．Hong Kong, a city with polluted air. |
| B．Sensor system, HK’s secret weapon to control the exhaust. |
| C．Reduction of fuel, a good solution to reduce air pollution in HK. |
| D．John Zhou, the creator of the sensor system to control the exhaust in HK. |
3 . Should humans kill members of one bird species to help protect another? That’s the question scientists and conservationists are struggling with right now in the Pacific Northwest.
In a bid to save northern spotted owls from extinction, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has suggested shooting more than 470,000 barred owls over the next 30 years. The proposal — which is still a draft and will remain open for public comment — has drawn criticism from some wildlife conservationists and highlights the difficulties land managers face while trying to maintain the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Spotted owls and barred owls are closely related. But only spotted owls are native to the Pacific Northwest. Barred owls, an alien species, have slowly come to dominate the region over the last century. Their larger size, more generalist nature and faster reproduction rate have prepared them to out compete spotted owls, whose numbers have dropped by roughly 75 percent over the last 20 years, according to the USFWS.
Biologists have long wondered how to keep the barred owl population in check. In 2021, scientists published the results of an experiment that involved killing 2,485 barred owls in five study areas. Over five years, spotted owl survival rates increased by an average of 10 percent at the sites. But to truly recover, spotted owls might need more than five years, because they are slow to reproduce. That’s the driving factor behind the agency’s recently proposed long-term management plan.
Conservationists have mixed feelings about the plan. While they understand that science may support killing barred owls, they worry about the moral inference of killing off members of one species to save another. Bob Sallinger, executive director of the nonprofit Bird Conservation Oregon, says, “We don’t think it’s moral because they are currently doing better in the existing environment.” He describes it as a no-win situation that humans have created for ourselves.
“Rather than choosing to conserve one bird over the other, this is about conserving two species,” says Kessina Lee, supervisor of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office in Oregon. “Spotted owls are fighting for their existence right now. However, even if the service was able to remove that number of barred owls over the next 30 years, that would represent less than 1 percent of the global population of barred owls.”
1. Why is the USFWS proposing the long-term plan?| A．To do biography research on owls. | B．To recover spotted owl’s population. |
| C．To balance the birth rates of two owls. | D．To improve spotted owl’s reproductive ability. |
| A．The relationship between two owls. | B．The outcomes caused by alien species. |
| C．The alarming situation of spotted owls. | D．The physical advantages of barred owls. |
| A．The agency’s proposal. | B．Existing environment. |
| C．Conservationists’ concern. | D．The co- existence of two owls. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Dismissive. | C．Favourable. | D．Doubtful. |
1. What is the woman doing?
| A．Conducting an interview. | B．Reporting some news. | C．Organizing an event. |
| A．That his health condition will become worse. |
| B．That his duties at home and school will be affected. |
| C．That his efforts in the community won’t be recognized. |
| A．By talking to his teacher. |
| B．By quitting the community project. |
| C．By involving his family in community work. |
5 . The question, “What do elephants and fish have in common?” may sound strange but researchers have found that they both have a feature not observed in any other creature.
A team at Georgia Institute of Technology has discovered that elephants use a special form of air suction (吸力) in their trunks to pick up food and handle delicate objects. Animals using suction to handle objects are typically found in water. Many fish perform suction feeding that requires specialised body parts to quickly generate air pressure that can draw nearby food into their mouths.
The researchers have found that an elephant could do the same thanks to its huge nostrils (鼻孔) and lung capacity. The radius (半径) of an elephant’s nostrils can increase by up to 30%, and the volume of air that it can push through its trunk increases by 64%. This allows it to take in air at 30 times the speed of a human sneeze, enabling it to drink 3L of water a second.
In an experiment at Atlanta zoo, the researchers looked at how an elephant would pick up a small crispy (酥脆的) pancake, which was only 0.5 mm thick. The force required to break the pancake was less than 1% of the trunk’s weight (about 100kg). The elephant was found to either use suction at a fixed distance from the pancake to “raise” the object in the air and hold it, or gently press the tip of its trunk against the pancake and apply suction to pick it up. At no time during the experiment did the elephant break the pancake.
The researchers believe that the findings could help technology companies develop better machines that use air to do their jobs, as suction has long been used in robotics to grab objects.The fascinating part of the study for robotics is that elephants can use air suction both on ground and in water. The researchers are so impressed that they suggest the elephant’s suction technique could help improve robotics technology.
Nature never ceases to surprise. Indeed, it is thought that over four-fifths of living species on earth remain undiscovered. That is a reminder of how little we know of our planet, and that we are not the only creatures with hidden complexities.
1. According to the researchers, what is the ability shared by both elephants and fish?| A．Surviving low air pressure. | B．Using air suction technique. |
| C．Observing other creatures. | D．Adapting to new environments. |
| A．It drinks water 30 times faster than man. | B．It lets out 64% more air when sneezing. |
| C．Its lung capacity is smaller than we think. | D．Its nostrils can get 30% bigger in radius. |
| A．Its tip can sense the thickness of objects. |
| B．Its weight affects its movement. |
| C．It breaks the food before holding it. |
| D．It picks up delicate objects in different ways. |
| A．underwater robots | B．nature reserves | C．transport vehicles | D．fish farming |
| A．To promote a new technology. |
| B．To recommend a research team. |
| C．To introduce a scientific discovery. |
| D．To explain a historical phenomenon. |
1. What kind of dog does Carol want?
| A．A smart one. | B．A kind one. | C．A large one. |
| A．A day ago. | B．A month ago. | C．A year ago. |
| A．Steve’s neighbors. | B．Carol’s sister. | C．Steve. |
| A．Spot will get sick. | B．Spot will bite it. | C．Spot will make it dirty. |
A golden cat was shot by an infrared (红外线的) camera in the forests in Gansu province in early September. This was the first time that an image of this rare animal
8 . Which animal do you think is the number one pet: cats or dogs? “My cats are incredibly smart and understand things just like humans do,” said Ma Li, owner of two cats aged 13 and 16 in Beijing. “Every time I returned home after work, they would wait at the door to welcome me, easing my work pressure and making me feel wanted,” she said.
Facing heavy work pressure in an urban environment, Ma is among those who find comfort in raising pets, especially cats — a trend that has led to a surge in house cat ownership in recent years.
Liu Lang, deputy head of the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association, confirmed this trend, noting that people born in the 1980s and 1990s may prefer cats over dogs due to their lower maintenance requirements.
“The necessity of walking dogs discourages many urban citizens, especially young and middle-aged people with demanding work schedules. However, those burdened by heavy workloads often seek companionship. In this context, cats emerge as a better choice because they require less space to walk and fewer baths,” Liu explained.
In recent years, the number of pet cats has gradually surpassed that of pet dogs. According to Petdata. cn, a pet industry market observer, the number of pet cats in China reached 69. 8 million in 2023, marking a 6. 8 percent year-on-year increase and surpassing the number of pet dogs by 18. 05 million.
Zhang Haiqiang, secretary-general of the China Small Animal Protection Association, attributed this shift to the different living habits of pets, as the emotional value brought by raising cats and dogs is almost the same.
Chen Haoxing, who owns three cats and a dog, observed that potential pet owners now have more options with cats, as restrictions on raising dogs have tightened due to well-publicized biting incidents. Chen also highlighted the availability of hairless cats as an option for those allergic to animal fur.
1. Why do people need pets?| A．To meet emotional needs. | B．To avoid loneliness. |
| C．To improve work efficiency. | D．To follow the trend. |
| A．Confidence | B．Necessity | C．Increase | D．Restriction |
| A．Because of their current availability. | B．Because of their potential popularity. |
| C．Because of their same mental value. | D．Because of their distinct living habits. |
| A．Features of dogs and cats as pets. | B．Advantage of cats over dogs as pets. |
| C．Significance of dogs and cats as pets. | D．Comparison between dogs and cats as pets. |
9 . The Antarctic, a continent encircled by ocean, faces far- reaching threats from global warming, often underappreciated due to its remoteness and perceived stability. However, this perception is changing as the continent shows alarming signs of significant melting, with serious global consequences. As Antarctica melts, the gravitation al pull of its shrinking ice weakens, causing sea levels elsewhere to rise faster, disproportionately (过度地、不成比例地) affecting North America, Australia, and Oceania.
Melting ice sheets do more than raise sea levels; they alter atmospheric circulation, impacting weather in regions like the Sahel and Amazonia. Additionally, the Southern Ocean, a major carbon sink , absorbs 40% of the oceans’ carbon dioxide annually. Warming reduces this absorption, further affected by the flowing of trillions of tonnes of freshwater from melting ice, which alters ocean currents.
Despite these urgent issues, some countries are cutting Antarctic research budgets, a shortsighted move that restricts critical measurement and modeling of ice sheets. Addressing this deficiency (缺乏) is essential for understanding and easing the escalating crisis. The implications of the worsening situation need to be properly appreciated and planned for, requiring swift action to improve the study of ice sheets, atmosphere, and ocean currents.
If the Antarctic continues to melt, the consequences will extend far beyond rising sea levels. It will cause shifts in atmospheric circulation that affect weather patterns globally and reduce the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide, worsening climate change. This underlines the urgency of increasing investment in Antarctic research to better predict and manage the impacts of global warming.
The need for comprehensive measurement and modeling of ice sheets is critical, as current understanding is outdated behind the study of the atmosphere and ocean currents. Governments must prioritize and fund Antarctic research to address these challenges effectively and ensure global preparedness for the changes already underway.
1. What does the melting of Antarctic ice primarily impact?| A．Local ecosystems. | B．Ocean temperature. |
| C．Global sea levels. | D．Atmospheric pressure. |
| A．It enhances the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. |
| B．It disturbs ocean currents and lowers carbon dioxide absorption. |
| C．It stabilizes ocean currents and increases carbon dioxide absorption. |
| D．It leaves the Southern Ocean’s carbon absorption capacity unchanged. |
| A．They must be expanded to manage the crisis. |
| B．They might be adequate to respond to the crisis. |
| C．They should be minimized to a smaller amount. |
| D．They can be less crucial for climate understanding. |
| A．A science- themed book. | B．A policy- focused report. |
| C．A climate- oriented proposal. | D．A marine- centred curriculum. |
10 . Every May, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts Air Quality Awareness Week with the goal of sharing information on air quality and how it affects health, as well as encouraging people to apply knowledge of air quality to their daily lives. Here are some events that may help you be air aware and prepared.
Asthma (哮喘) and the Impacts of Climate ChangeIn honor of World Asthma Day, EPA Asthma Program welcomes Jenna Riemenschneider, the Director of Advocacy and Special Projects at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. She will present the event and talk about the cause of Asthma and how to prevent it.
When: October 3, 2: 00 pm
Where: Click here to join the meeting
Screening of UnbreathableThe District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environmental Air Quality Division will cooperate with multiple universities to host a screening of Unbreathable. The event will include a screening of the movie and a discussion of academic experts and advocates.
When: November 13, 2: 00 pm
Where: Click here to join the meeting
Sun Tran Transit WorkshopA Transit Workshop will be led by Sun Tran for downtown employees and residents to learn about bus, shuttle (班车) and street car options for travel. Other travel reduction resources will also be available.
When: November 25, 2: 10-2: 50 pm
Where: Basement Conference Room C, 201 Stone Avenue, Tucson
Change is in the Air: A Community ConversationThe program is designed to discuss on some questions. What challenges have asthma patients faced? How to prevent? What is unjust about the air quality in my community? How are air sensors used to inform the public and engage with public health and local government?
When: December 4, 2: 00-5: 00 pm
Where: The Cleveland Public Library, 525 Superior Avenue, Cleveland
1. When can you attend the Screening of Unbreathable event?| A．October 3. | B．November 13. | C．November 25. | D．December 4. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．See a movie concerning air quality. | B．Talk about the usage of air sensors. |
| C．Know about travel reduction methods. | D．Acquire some knowledge of climate change. |
