1 . Campaigners have been promoting the idea of purchasing local food recently, with the argument that it can reduce “food miles,” referring to the distance food travels from the producer to the shop owner. The greater the food miles, the higher the carbon emissions. Therefore, buying local food results in a lower carbon footprint and is considered more environmentally friendly.
Nonetheless, the actual situation is more complex than it appears. Importantly, imported food often possesses a lower carbon footprint compared to locally grown alternatives. Consider apples, for instance. Local apples in Britain, bought during winter or spring, have usually been stored in refrigeration for months, consuming substantial energy. In contrast, importing apples from New Zealand during their natural season, in spring, is more energy-efficient. Similarly, producing tomatoes in heated greenhouses in the UK has a greater environmental impact than importing them from Spain, where the climate favors their growth.
Additionally, the mode of transportation plays a significant role. Food transported by air tends to generate higher emissions. However, only a limited selection of items are flown to consumer countries, usually high-value and perishable goods that cannot be locally produced. Even in these cases, the carbon footprint of these foods may not surpass that of locally grown alternatives. For example, beans flown in from Kenya are cultivated in sunny fields using natural fertilizers, in contrast to Britain’s reliance on oil-based fertilizers and machinery.
It is crucial to acknowledge that a product’s journey extends beyond the supermarket. Driving long distances to shop for food can offset any environmental benefits gained from buying locally grown produce. Moreover, opting for local over imported food can negatively impact people in developing countries who rely on selling their produce overseas for their livelihoods.
Some supermarkets have recently attempted to raise awareness about food miles by labeling products to indicate air transportation. However, this message oversimplifies a food’s carbon footprint, which is influenced by various factors. Even if we exclusively purchase locally grown, in-season food, ethical concerns remain, potentially limiting dietary choices and affecting us all.
1. Why might choosing imported apples in the UK during spring be a favorable option?| A．It supports local farmers. |
| B．It minimizes energy consumption. |
| C．It offers cost-efficiency and convenience. |
| D．It significantly reduces carbon emissions. |
| A．Purchasing tomatoes imported from Spain. |
| B．Providing assistance to farmers in impoverished nations. |
| C．Buying beans transported by air from Kenya. |
| D．Undertaking long journeys to buy locally sourced food. |
| A．It facilitates ethical shopping decisions. |
| B．It fails to provide a comprehensive and accurate portrayal. |
| C．It elevates awareness of environmental concerns. |
| D．It offers precise product information. |
| A．To resolve a particular issue. |
| B．To make a forward-looking projection. |
| C．To challenge a prevalent belief. |
| D．To interpret an observed phenomenon. |
2 . Antarctica (南极洲) is a great, icy land, surrounded by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a large area of sea ice, which floats (漂浮) on the ocean’s surface.
Scientists have been measuring the area of the sea ice in Antarctica since 1979. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost not influenced by the changing weather conditions experienced in other parts of the planet. In fact, until recent years, Antartica’s sea ice area mainly set records for growing.
That began to change around 2016. Now, for several years, the area of Antartica’s sea ice has been getting smaller. This year, the US National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported that Antartica’s sea ice reached its maximum on September 10 — almost two weeks earlier than normal. And the sea ice was at a new record low — not just by a little bit, but by a lot.
The last time Antartica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 1.03 million square kilometers less sea ice than in 1986. It’s hard to picture such a large area, but it’s around 1.6 times the size of France.
Scientists are still trying to understand what is driving the change in Antarctica. Ted Scambos, a research scientist at the University of Colorado, says, “Antarctica’s ice levels have always changed some, but the situation this year is pointing towards warmer ocean conditions around the area.”
The new low record has scientists worried. The sea ice is important, because it helps cool the planet. When it’s frozen, sea ice reflects sunlight back out into space. But when the sea ice melts (融化), the water left behind is darker, and takes in and keeps more heat.
1. What did NSIDC find about the sea ice in Antarctica this year?| A．It protected the wildlife in the ocean. | B．It grew and covered a wider area. |
| C．It turned out to be difficult to observe. | D．It reached a new record low level. |
| A．To present the total area of the country. |
| B．To introduce a new topic for discussion. |
| C．To show the sharp loss of Antarctica’s sea ice. |
| D．To explain the position of the wonderful land. |
| A．Low rainfall. | B．Rising temperatures. |
| C．Cold weather. | D．Short summer months. |
| A．It’s key to the earth’s cooling system. | B．It’s just a short-term problem. |
| C．It reminds us to find water resources. | D．It offers humans a bright future. |
3 . China launched a Long March 2F carrier rocket on December 14,2023 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China’s Gobi Desert, sending a reusable experimental spacecraft into orbit. The test vehicle is scheduled to stay in orbit for a certain period of time and then return to its preset landing site in China. During the orbital flight, it has been tasked with verifying (核实) reusable technologies and space science experiments, which will both be used as technical support for the peaceful use of space.
It did not reveal the details of the mission and the spacecraft, such as launch time and specific plans, or publish pictures of the rocket’s liftoff or scenes inside the ground control hall. The mission is the third that China has made public related to reusable experimental spacecraft.
The country’s first orbital test of a trial vehicle took place in September 2020, and the craft was in orbit for just under two days. The second test started in August 2022 and the spaceplane stayed in the Earth’s orbit for 276 days before landing in May 2023．The second test’s success marked a major breakthrough in China’s reusable spacecraft technology, which is aimed at providing a convenient and affordable way to travel between Earth and outer space, the Jiuquan center said after the experimental spaceplane’s landing.
In recent years, advances in science and technology have reignited (重新激起) the space industry’s enthusiasm for reusable spaceships, especially robotic spaceplanes such as the Boeing X-37B that are smaller, cheaper, and less complex in their design, production and operation.
According to experts, reusable spacecraft will have a wide range of applications, including space tours for civilians, transporting astronauts, resupplying space stations, and placing satellites into orbit at a lower cost than through traditional methods.
1. What is revealed about the third test spacecraft?| A．The tasks it performed. | B．The details of its mission. |
| C．The pictures taken of its launch. | D．The scenes in the ground control hall. |
| A．To make outer space travel more available. |
| B．To mark a major breakthrough in flight speed. |
| C．To have the spaceplane stay in the orbit for 276 days. |
| D．To get the spacecraft to return to its preset landing site. |
| A．The reusable products. | B．The potential applications. |
| C．The experimental spacecraft cost. | D．The individual estimate. |
| A．Great Progress in Space Exploration |
| B．Details of the Third Spaceplane Mission |
| C．A Wide Range of Applications of Reusable Spacecraft |
| D．Reusable Spacecraft Launched to Orbit on Experimental Mission |
By Poly Pullar,
Growing up in a remote region of the Scottish Highlands, Polly Pullar’s childhood was pleasant, simple, and peaceful. But the wild beauty formed a backdrop to a series of major family tragedies. This is the story of how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, supported by the natural world around her.
Wildlife WalksBy Charlotte Varela,
Bloomsbury, ￡16.99
Take a walk through the Wildlife Trusts’ nature reserves with this handy guide that showcases some of our nation’s best forests, moors, woodlands and coastal locations. Each walk includes a description of the site, instructions on how to get there, available facilities and the route’s walking time.
Where the Seals SingBy Susan Richardson,
William Collins, ￡20
Having long been fascinated by seals, Susan Richardson sets out to follow their pupping season (繁殖季). As she journeys from Cornwall to Norfolk, she learns more about these mystical creatures, while sharing personal stories about the comforting role they have played during times of grief or anxiety in her own life.
In the Name of PlantsBy Sandra Knapp,
University of Chicago Press, ￡20
Botanist Sandra Knapp digs into the stories behind plant names, exploring the people who have been immortalized (使永生), from Benjamin Franklin to Lady Gaga. The 30 plants inside are accompanied by botanical drawings from the Natural History Museum.
1. Which of the books does not involve a story?| A．The Horizontal Oak: A Life in Nature | B．Wildlife Walks |
| C．Where the Seals Sing | D．In the Name of Plants |
| A．There are probably plants named after Lady Gaga. |
| B．Susan Richardson introduces seals’ life in her book. |
| C．Polly Pullar offers readers a tourist guide of Scottish Highlands. |
| D．You can read Charlotte Varela’s book if you want to visit nature reserves by car. |
| A．A geographic textbook. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A magazine on wildlife. | D．A website about plants. |
5 . Since the beginning of the summer in 2022, China has been sweltering under the worst heatwave in decades. A number of people in Zhejiang, Henan, Jiangsu and Sichuan provinces were diagnosed with thermoplegia (热射病), the most severe form of heatstroke, and some even died of this disease.
In a warming world, the hazards of heatwaves are increasing. According to a study, the number of deaths caused by heatwaves in China has increased rapidly since 1979, from 3,679 persons per year in the 1980s to15,500 persons per year in the 2010s.
“Over the past four decades, the main drivers of the large increase in heatwave-related deaths in China are the rapid increase in the frequency of heatwaves, followed by population growth, population aging, and rising baseline mortality(基线死亡率),”said Prof. Huang Cunrui, a researcher from Tsinghua University.
High temperatures would accelerate the loss in soil moisture (水分) and hurt the growth of corn, cotton, trees and fruits. What’s more, each additional degree of warming will increase crop losses to insects by 10-25 percent, threatening food security for billions of people. China has witnessed a range of extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, flooding, tornadoes and record heatwaves this year. Meteorological officials said the country had an average temperature of 21. 3 degrees Celsius in June, 0. 9 degrees Celsius higher than the same period on average, and the highest record for the same period since 1961.
Experts say that while extreme summer heat is not entirely new, these sorts of occurrences could be something that becomes a standard part of life, requiring people to start learning how to cope with heatwaves that may continue for the rest of summer and well into the future.
Remember that even healthy, young athletes can be harmed by extreme heat, so every activity, indoors or outdoors, should be evaluated when extreme heat hits. There are some ways to stay safe during extreme heat events, such as drinking plenty of water, looking for shade or remaining in shade when outside, and avoiding cooking large meals that can add heat to your indoor environment.
1. What does the underlined word “hazards” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Discussions. | B．Studies. |
| C．Causes. | D．Dangers. |
| A．The aging of the population. |
| B．The larger amount of outdoor workers. 4 |
| C．The increasing frequency of heatwaves. |
| D．The rise in the number of the total population. |
| A．Rural areas suffer more from heatwaves than cities. |
| B．China has witnessed the worst climate ever in 2022. |
| C．High temperatures have negative effects on agriculture. |
| D．Climate change contributes to the decline in insect species. |
| A．Ways to deal with extreme heat. |
| B．The trend of heatwaves in the future. |
| C．The importance of keeping healthy in summer. |
| D．Influences of global warming on the environment. |
6 . A report issued on the eve of the first major U.N. conference on water in more than 45 years says 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lacks access to basic sanitation (卫生). The U. N. World Water Development Report 2023, released Tuesday, painted an unpleasant picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet U.N. goals to ensure all the 8 billion people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over the last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate through to 2050, mainly driven by population growth in urban areas.
With agriculture using 70% of all water globally, Richard Connor, editor in chief of the report, said, irrigation (灌溉) for crops has to be more efficient. As a direct result of climate change, an increase in intensity or frequency of droughts and “heat extremes” can be expected in most regions. On average, “10% of the global population lives in countries with high or critical water stress” — and up to 3.5 billion people live under conditions of water stress at least one month a year, said the report.
As for water pollution, Connor said, the biggest source of pollution is untreated wastewater. “Globally, 80% of wastewater is released to the environment without any treatment,” he said, “and in many developing countries it’s pretty much 99%.”
These issues will be discussed during the three-day U. N. Water Conference opening Wednesday. There are 171 countries, including over 100 ministers, on the speakers list along with more than 20 organizations. The meeting will also include five “interactive dialogues” and dozens of side events.
1. How many people lack safe drinking water according to the report?| A．About 0.8 billion. | B．About 2 billion. |
| C．About 3. 6 billion. | D．About 6 billion. |
| A．It has been increasing steadily every year. |
| B．It contributes to environmental pollution. |
| C．It is highly efficient in agricultural irrigation. |
| D．It is stressful for 3.5 billion people throughout the year. |
| A．Comparing opinions. | B．Analyzing causes. |
| C．Introducing policies. | D．Offering solutions. |
| A．It has caused regional conflicts. | B．It will be eased in most countries. |
| C．It has attracted worldwide attention. | D．It can be managed by treating wastewater. |
7 . When it comes to unlikely friendships, wildlife never stops to amaze. And a giant 450-pound gorilla (大猩猩) sharing a heart-warming moment with a 0.5-pound wild bushbaby (灌丛婴猴) is definitely an unusual sight to be seen.
Over 300 rescued animals live at Ape Action Africa, Cameroon — a sanctuary (鸟兽保护区) for endangered animals like gorillas, chimpanzees and monkeys. Bobo, a western lowland gorilla, is among the first residents at the sanctuary. The huge male arrived at the sanctuary when he was only two, after losing his mom due to poaching (偷猎). And back then, Bobo was far from the strong male he’s now.
Even though he’s such a fearless animal, Bobo is nothing but a gentle giant. And recently, his gentleness even blew away the caretakers at the sanctuary. While on their morning checks, the caretakers could not believe their eyes when they saw Bobo sharing a lovely moment with his newest and most unusual friend —a wild bushbaby.
It’s quite amazing to watch the tiny animal interacting in such a friendly manner with its giant neighbor. “The bushbaby showed no fear of Bobo,”said Elissa O’Sullivan, spokesperson for Ape Action Africa. “He moved around Bobo’s body and spent his time jumping around in an open grassy area, before choosing to return to Bobo.”
Wild bushbabies are normally nocturnal animals, so watching a bushbaby hanging with a group of gorillas in full daylight was even more amazing for the caretakers. “It is very uncommon to see a bushbaby during the day,” a staff member said. “We have never seen a wild animal interacting with a rescued one at the sanctuary.”
The other gorillas —three females and three young males, soon became very interested in Bobo’s new friend. However, Bobo suddenly became overprotective towards his tiny companion and he kept his group away from it. “Bobo’s group-mates were extremely curious, but he kept them all at a distance, making sure that no one disturbed (打扰) his new friend,” another staff member said. “The little bushbaby was happy to play in Bobo’s arms.”
1. What do we know about Bobo?| A．He lost a family member at age two. |
| B．He was born at a large sanctuary. |
| C．He protected his mother from poaching. |
| D．He was the first gorilla at Ape Action Africa. |
| A．Bobo made a surprising new friend. |
| B．A bushbaby was lying beside Bobo. |
| C．Bobo jumped around with his friends. |
| D．A bushbaby returned to care for Bobo. |
| A．The animals that live in the bushes. |
| B．The animals that like to hunt alone. |
| C．The animals that hang with large animals. |
| D．The animals that rest during the daytime. |
| A．Unselfish. | B．Unfriendly. | C．Uncaring. | D．Unclear. |
8 . As newer, more advanced technologies come out, huge amounts of electronics (电子产品) are thrown away, instead of being reused. These goods often end up in landfills, where the chemicals inside them may be a danger to the environment. Electronics can contain harmful materials. If these materials get into the ground or water, the pollution can cause serious problems. Most electronics require metals. These metals must be mined from the Earth. Often the mining process creates serious pollution.
A group known as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum is trying to make people more aware of the problems of e-waste. Recently, the WEEE Forum asked researchers from the United Nations (UN) to study a kind of e-waste that’s often not noticed because people don’t consider the goods to be electronics. The WEEE Forum calls this kind “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste.
The UN study shows that about 1/6 of all e-waste is “unable-to-be-seen”. Though it’s “unable-to-be-seen”, it’s certainly not a small amount. The “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste weighs about 9 billion kilograms. The WEEE Forum says that if this e-waste were put into 40-ton trucks and the trucks were then lined up, the line of trucks would be about 5,630 kilometers long.
The surprising kind leading the “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste group was toys. Worldwide, roughly 7.3 billion electronic toys are thrown away each year. These include goods like car racing sets, electric trains, and musical toys. They also include toys with electronic parts, like dolls that speak or games with electronic timers. In all, toys make up about 35% of “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste. But the problem is far larger than just toys. The report also shows that other everyday goods like home alarms, smoke alarms, power tools, and computer cables (电缆) are also big sources of “unable-to-be-seen” e-waste.
The WEEE Forum is hoping that as more people and governments become aware of e-waste, they will make a much greater effort to make sure electronics get reused.
1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．The amount of electronics. | B．The development of electronics. |
| C．The ways of reusing electronics. | D．The pollution of electronics. |
| A．People’s interest in electronics’ character. |
| B．People’s impression on electronics’ package. |
| C．People’s misunderstanding of electronics. |
| D．People’s struggle to adapt to electronics. |
| A．By showing numbers. | B．By providing examples. |
| C．By making a summary. | D．By making a comparison, |
| A．Designing advanced electronics. | B．Making electronics get reused. |
| C．Stopping giving away electronics. | D．Reducing electronics’ production. |
9 . An elderly couple in the UK claimed that they were held hostage by a pair of seagulls nesting on the roof of their home. Every time they tried to leave, the birds would become aggressive and attack them.
One time, when Roy Pickard, the 71-year-old husband, decided to take his chances and go outside, he was hit so hard on the back of the head that he had to be taken to the hospital for help. Local authorities have installed a gazebo outside the couple’s home, which should offer some protection. That’s the best they can do for now.
“The whole thing has been terrible,” Roy old reporters. “I’ve not been able to go out of the front door. If I try to get out of the door, the two adult birds are right there, and I’ve got no chance. It’s really frightening. My wife isn’t well at the moment, so we’re relying on me to get out.” Luckily, the Pickards’ garage is connected to their house and he can get out through there when he needs to do some shopping, but he doesn’t dare get out of the car to close the garage door, so he always leaves it open until he comes back.
Roy has complained about the situation to both the local authorities and animal organizations like the RSPCA and RSPB, but their solutions have not been very helpful. The Wyer Council says that seagulls are protected while nesting, so all they can do is try to make the couple’s life bearable by installing a gazebo and making arrangements so that the 77-year-old wife, Brenda, can reach her private appointments safely. Unfortunately, animal organizations wouldn’t help the Pickards either. For now, all they can do is wait for the chicks to fly away. “The RSPCA and RSPB have been no help whatever. They seem to put the rights of these birds above those of people , which is ridiculous,” Roy said.
1. What is the problem facing the Pickards?| A．The door of their garage can’t be closed. | B．They can’t walk out because of the seagulls. |
| C．Their pet birds often attack them aggressively. | D．A flock of birds nested on the roof of their house. |
| A．Tell them to wait until the birds fly away. | B．Build a gazebo to provide some protection. |
| C．Send people to guard them outside the home. | D．Make arrangements for them to have appointments. |
| A．It wants to protect the seagulls. | B．It is looking for an ideal solution. |
| C．It will help Roy do some shopping. | D．It hopes the couple can lead a simple life. |
| A．The RSPCA and RSPB are useless. | B．Birds are more valuable than humans. |
| C．It is ridiculous for people to help others. | D．Roy is disappointed with the authorities’ actions. |
10 . Getting rid of(丢弃) old tyres(轮胎) has long been a problem. Every year many tyres are thrown. Some of the ways might be better than getting rid of them, but they are not especially green.
Energy recovery(回收利用) is one common way. This includes burning tyres to produce electricity, or as a way to provide heat for other industrial processes. But that produces planet-warming pollution. Tyres can be whole or broken in construction projects, such as repairing roads. There are, however, worries about chemicals from the tyres coming out and polluting the ground.
So some companies have begun exploring another pleasing idea. Since tyres are mostly made from hydrocarbons(碳氢化合物), it should be possible in principle to turn old tyres into environmentally friendly materials which can be used to run some cars they came from. One of the most thoughtful companies is based in Oslo, Norway. Later this year the company will start building a huge tyre-reused factory in Sunderland in northeastern England. In a couple of years, when the factory is fully operational, it will be able to turn 8 million old tyres into new products.
The process works by dividing a tyre into its three main parts. One is steel, which is used to support the structure of a tyre and which can be easily reused. The second is powder used to improve the continuous use of the tyre. The third is rubber. Some of that will be natural rubber from the rubber trees. The carbon black can be reused to make new tyres. That is of interest to tyre makers because it helps efforts to become carbon neutral(碳中和).
1. What is the disadvantage of energy recovery of tyres mentioned in the text?| A．It is unpractical. | B．It produces pollution. |
| C．It costs a lot. | D．It produces less electricity. |
| A．By giving an example. | B．By making questions. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By comparing differences. |
| A．Costly. | B．Useful. | C．Dangerous. | D．Short-lived. |
| A．Tyres can be divided into three parts |
| B．A company built a tyre-reused factory |
| C．Energy recovery can deal with old tyres |
| D．Old tyres can become environmentally friendly materials |
