1 . Microbiologists have designed a sustainable way to remove polluting microplastics from the environment by using bacteria. Initial design as it is, it paves the way for sustainably lowering plastic pollution levels and stop the “plastification”.
Bacteria naturally tend to group together and stick to surfaces, and this creates a sticky material called “biofilm”. Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) want to use this adhesive bacteria character and capture microplastics in polluted water to form an easily disposable and recyclable blob(团) .
Sylvia Lang Liu, microbiology researcher at PolyU and lead researcher on this project, together with his team, has engineered a bacterial biofilm, which can fix and absorb microplastics floating around in the water, and make them sink to the bottom of the water. Then the researchers can separate the microplastics from the bacteria traps and get them ready to recycle.
Microplastics are the plastic fragments, usually smaller than 5mm, which are accidentally released into the environment during production and breakdown of grocery bags or water bottles, or during everyday activities such as washing synthetic (合成的) clothes or using personal care products with scrubbing microbeads in them. Microplastics are visually tiny, making it challenging to develop effective solutions to trap, collect, and recycle them.
Microplastics are not easily biodegradable (生物降解的), so they stick around for long and absorb and accumulate poisonous chemicals. They spread into wastewater and into the oceans, endangering marine animals and eventually threatening human health, Microplastics had been found in more than 114 species living in the water and also salt, lettuce, apples, and more in 2018 according to the International Maritime Organization.
“This is an innovative application of biofilm engineering l0 address the plastio pollution crisis,” said Dr Joanna Sadler, researcher at University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in this study. “One of the biggest challenges in dealing with microplastics is capturing such small particles. Liu and co-workers have denmonstrated an elegant solution to this problem, which holds great potential to be further developed into a real-world wastewater treatment technology.”
1. Which of the following best explains the underlined word “adhesive” in Paragraph 2?| A．Floating. | B．Sticky. | C．Diverse. | D．Visual. |
| A．They are visually too small. | B．They are hard to biodegrade. |
| C．They continue to exist for long. | D．They are poisonous chemicals. |
| A．Small particles are essential to address water pollution |
| B．Biofilm bas been widely used to settle plastic pollution. |
| C．Sadler thinks little of the biofilm engineering application. |
| D．Biofilm application is promising for wastewater treatment. |
| A．Microplastic removal. | B．Uses of bacteria. |
| C．Wastewater treatment. | D．Plastic pollution. |
2 . The following properties which the World Heritage Committee has decided to include on the List of World Heritage are in danger according to Article 11 (4) of the Convention (公约).
Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Virunga National Park, covering an area of 790,000 ha., includes an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes (沼泽和平原) to the snowfields. Mountain gorillas are also found in the park.
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan)
The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley stand for the artistic and religious developments which from the 1st to the 13th centuries characterized ancient Bakhtria. The area contains a number of Buddhist monastic ensembles (佛教寺院), as well as strong buildings from the Islamic period.
Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The reserve contains threatened species of primates and birds surviving in the wild. It also has some amazing scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters.
Historic Center of Vienna (Austria)
Vienna developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It played an important role as a leading European music center, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century.
1. Which of the following world heritage sites is located in Afghanistan?| A．Virunga National Park. | B．Historic Centre of Vienna. |
| C．Okapi Wildlife Reserve. | D．Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley. |
| A．It’s closely related to Buddhism. | B．It has some fascinating natural scenery. |
| C．It has an outstanding variety of habitats. | D．It plays an important role as a leading music center. |
| A．They are all in danger. | B．They are open to the public. |
| C．They are inhabited by local people. | D．They are to be removed from the World Heritage List. |
3 . Queen Elizabeth National Park is a place of outstanding beauty and extreme biodiversity. On a previous underwater assignment with my wife and photographic partner, Jennifer Hayes, we’d documented healthy coral reefs surrounded with fish, sharks, and crocodiles. We knew that time, increased tourism and climate change could make the park different—so 15 years later, we returned to see how it was going.
We were photographing some jellyfish. Jennifer, her back to me, was focused on something above her. Out of the corner of my viewfinder, I saw a sizable crocodile coming. As I began to take its photograph, I realized that the crocodile was going to swim directly between Jennifer and me. I started to make loud noises through my regulator and moved towards Jen, firing a burst of flash-lit shots to warn her that we had company. She quickly detected my signal and turned to meet our visitor.
She gave me a quick thumbs-up, nodded OK, and said “Hello, handsome” as she bent closer to take its photos. I admired her for treating the crocodile with respect, calm curiosity, and absolute joy. She didn’t feel threatened. She was familiar with this kind of crocodile in this particular place—and she had a big underwater camera housing that could double as a mighty shield (盾牌) if needed. After a few pictures the crocodile, unimpressed with us, swam downstream on its way to do other crocodile things. We continued our search for jellyfish.
There is always risk in our line of work. But this encounter highlighted the good news that we saw all around us here. The crocodile is an indicator animal, a symbol of a healthy ecosystem that can support top predators (捕食性动物). The easing of travel restrictions is bound to bring more tourists—so it’s vital to maintain a balance among ecotourism, exploration, and conservation. That’s possible if visitors adopt the same philosophy that we hold toward that curious crocodile. We enter Earth’s oceans on their terms, not our own.
1. What was the author’s purpose in returning to Queen Elizabeth National Park?| A．To enjoy its beauty. | B．To assess a document. |
| C．To check its ecosystem. | D．To photograph jellyfish. |
| A．She met it before. | B．She trusted her husband. |
| C．She could protect herself. | D．She longed for its company. |
| A．Explore nature with curiosity. |
| B．Respect nature while exploring it. |
| C．Study nature while developing tourism. |
| D．Protect nature through biological research. |
| A．A Narrow Escape | B．A Risky Job |
| C．An Underwater Assignment | D．A Chance Meeting |
4 . Having been born along the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, Rahmina Paulette said she has witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change leading to great difficulties like drought and floods.
The 15-year-old Kenyan teenager said East Africa is highly dependent on Lake Victoria, but high pollution has led to poisoning of the water, soil erosion and health problems in people living around the lake.
As Paulette grew older, she realized she was slowly turning from being a witness to a victim of lake degradation. So, she decided to take action and save the lake in her own little way.
“Being an Indigenous person from Lake Victoria, I would like to help restore the ecosystem for my community that has an ancestral connection to the lake and also for the future generations to enjoy the cool breeze, good smells and see the biodiversity within Lake Victoria,” Paulette said.
In her efforts to end pollution in the lake, Paulette started an environmental organization called Kisumu Environmental Champions.
The young environmental champions carry out their activities during the weekends, and the group focuses on environmental conservation, climate change awareness and wildlife conservation.
The group, with about 200 members so far, has taken up the removal of the invasive plant hyacinth from the lake to make eco-friendly products. This project has earned Paulette international recognition. The group has made furniture, paper, cards, folders, document holders, bags and carton boxes from the water hyacinth.
With help from her mother, Paulette is trying to increase activities as she urges all Kenyans to incorporate eco-friendly ways in their day-to-day lives.
Apart from activists like Paulette, other organizations are casting the net wider in their attempt to save the lake. One such group is nonprofit Osienala in western Kenya. The organization has been cooperating with international partners such as those from China to save Lake Victoria.
1. What causes the problems of Lake Victoria?| A．Soil erosion. | B．Drought and flood. |
| C．Poisoning water. | D．Climate change and pollution. |
| A．Disappearance. | B．Expansion. | C．Damage. | D．Restoration. |
| A．By planting more hyacinths. | B．By removing the hyacinths with her mother. |
| C．By building a factory to make products. | D．By setting up an organization. |
| A．It casts some nets over the lake. | B．It makes money while protecting the lake. |
| C．It seeks foreign cooperation to save the lake. | D．It’s another organization founded by Paulette. |
The first-ever online marketplace for allotments(菜地), AllotMe, has unveiled plans for rapid
Known as the “Airbnb for Gardens”, AllotMe has grown in popularity, with more than 100 hosts
“AllotMe
Conor adds that AllotMents 2.0 will focus on encouraging hosts to think about how the platform can enable
With few trees left to slow the wind in southern Madagascar, red sand is blowing everywhere: onto fields, villages and roads, and into the eyes of children
“There’s nothing to harvest. That’s
The world’ s fourth
7 . Every day we make choices that affect the environment and people living on the earth. From the clothes on our back and the food we eat to how we travel to work, every decision we make has an effect on the planet.
Sustainability doesn’t have to require huge, life-changing decisions.
Living sustainably simply requires a little more thought about our diets, what kind of toiletries and cosmetics(化妆品) we use, and how much waste we create in general.
One of the first things people tend to focus on when they first decide to live more sustainably is single-use plastic. Plastic bottles, bags, coffee cups and fresh produce wrappers are all non-recyclable.
Living sustainably brings many benefits. The most obvious one is that you’re less responsible for causing daily damage to the environment. Sustainable living also provides a handy opportunity to live healthier. In short, sustainable living is healthier and cheaper.
| A．Once we're aware of these things |
| B．Sustainable living is certainly possible |
| C．Although it may seem like a harmless act |
| D．And it's the most responsible choice for the planet |
| E．Since we know that having a positive effect on the planet is important |
| F．The present generations are the most environmentally conscious in history |
| G．It means reducing our demand for natural resources by making a few small daily changes |
8 . Mosquitoes see red when they look at your skin, and that brings them in for a bite, according to new research showing that these insects find certain colors more attractive.
The findings mean that what you wear can reduce your chances of being bitten, but there’s little you can do in terms of your skin. That’s because everyone’s skin gives off a strong red-orange signal that’s highly attractive to mosquitoes.
“I used to say there are three major signals that attract mosquitoes: your breath, your sweat and the temperature of your skin,” said senior study author Jeffrey Riffell, a professor of biology at the University of Washington in Seattle. “In this study, we found a fourth signal: the color red, which can be found not only on your clothes, but also in everyone’s skin. The shade of your skin doesn’t matter; we’re all giving off a strong red signal.”
Researchers found that when a common species of mosquito called Aedes aegypti detects carbon dioxide (CO2) from our breath, it then looks for specific colors—including red, orange and black—to find its meal of blood. But it ignores colors such as green, purple, blue and white.
“Mosquitoes appear to use smell to help them distinguish what is nearby, like a host to bite,” Riffell said.
“When they detect specific compounds, like CO2 from our breath, that smell stimulates the eyes to scan for specific colors and other visual patterns, which are associated with a potential host, and then they head to them.”
That process is similar to when a person smells something good. “Imagine you’re on a sidewalk and you smell pies,” Riffell said. “That’s probably a sign that there’ s a bakery nearby, and you might start looking around for it. Here, we started to learn what visual elements (要素) mosquitoes are looking for after smelling their own version of a bakery.”
Knowing which colors do or don’t tempt mosquitoes may lead to better repellents (驱虫剂), traps and other methods to prevent mosquitoes.
1. What does Jeffrey Riffell’s study find?| A．Mosquitoes tend to have a preference for bright colors. |
| B．Mosquito biting has something to do with your clothes. |
| C．The more you sweat, the less likely you will be bitten by mosquitoes. |
| D．Your skin color reduces your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes. |
| A．Hearing. | B．Sight. | C．Smell. | D．Touch. |
| A．appeal to | B．frighten away | C．calm down | D．wipe out |
| A．Education. | B．Entertainment. | C．Fashion. | D．Science. |
9 . Findings of an international team of researchers from Japan and China suggest that geese might have been the first poultry species to have been domesticated (驯养) by humans—as far back as 7,000 years ago.
Scientists have long held different opinions on the history of the domestication of birds, with a belief that it was chickens that were the first to be domesticated. In 2014, Chinese researchers reported ancient DNA taken from the earliest archaeological chicken bone discovery in China, suggesting chickens were domesticated in northern China as early as 10,000 years ago.
But the researchers behind the latest findings say that the 2014 study lacks firm evidence. In the new study, the team unearthed the archaeological site of Tianluoshan, a 7,000-year-old rice cultivation village in the lower Yangtze River valley in what is today known as East China’s Zhejiang province. They found a total of 232 goose bones at the site. The inhabitants of the village were hunter-gatherers.
The researchers used multiple approaches to study the bones, and found evidence of domestication.
Four bones were from goslings (幼鹅) ranging from eight to 16 weeks old, suggesting they hatched near the site. Geese were domesticated from wild geese. These migratory birds fly to northern Siberia to breed (繁殖) after the spring and then fly south for the winter, according to researchers from the Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. They said the goslings were too young to have flown in from elsewhere. At the time, Tianluoshan did not have the conditions to be a natural breeding place for wild geese, so it follows that the goslings were born after domestication.
The researchers also analyzed the chemical makeup of adult goose bones, which contained evidence of the water they drank. Their analysis indicated that the adult geese also seemed to have been locally bred, for they were all roughly the same size. Carbon dating also showed that the bones belonged to geese that lived about 7,000 years ago.
Researchers say ancient DNA analysis is required in further studies to investigate which species were bred to become local geese populations.
1. Where did the researchers find the goose bones?| A．In Tianluoshan. | B．In northern China. |
| C．In northern Siberia. | D．In the upper Yangtze river valley. |
| A．Their parents were wild geese. |
| B．They were probably raised by humans. |
| C．They flew to Tianluoshan for winter. |
| D．They were too young and had to stay. |
| A．The result of the study. | B．The importance of the study. |
| C．The process of domestication. | D．The evidence of domestication. |
| A．To show how geese were domesticated by humans. |
| B．To prove that chickens were not the first to be domesticated. |
| C．To show a new study on the history of the birds’ domestication. |
| D．To introduce how the geese were domesticated from wild geese. |
10 . It is a well-known fact that plastic bottles, which take hundreds of years to rot, are harmful to our environment. However, efforts by environmentalists to encourage consumers to switch to alternatives, like water fountains or reusable bottles, have not been very effective. The U.S. alone uses over 50 million plastic bottles annually, 80% of which end up in landfills.
To try to stop that, Rodrigo García González, Pierre Paslier and Guillaume Couche from the Imperial College London have been working on a revolutionary solution — water wrapped inside an eatable container made mostly from seaweed. All the customer has to do to relieve his/her thirst is pop the entire drop into the mouth.
The inventors, who have been working on the Ooho bubble since 2014, use a simple two-step cooking process called spherification (球化) to create the delicate container. They begin by dipping a frozen ball of water or juice into a chemical solution (溶液). This helps form a layer around the liquid. The ball is then absorbed in a solution made from seaweed extract. This creates a second layer, helping strengthen the structure so that the water or juice does not leak. In addition to saving our environment, the biodegradable (可降解的) packaging costs just two cents each, making it cheaper to produce than plastic.
After three years of perfecting the design, the inventors, who recently raised over 1 million USD from a financial activity, are ready to bring the Ooho bubble to local market. However, there are a few challenges that still need to be overcome before the product’s launch. In addition to getting accustomed to the taste of the covering, each eatable container contains just a mouthful of water, requiring consumers to drink multiple bubbles to relieve their thirst. There is also the issue of finding an eco-friendly packaging to transport the bubbles so that they remain clean and do not burst. Hopefully, the inventors will find ways to handle the issues so that we can reduce, or perhaps even remove, plastic bottles.
1. Why was the Ooho bubble created?| A．To test a newly-designed material. | B．To change consumers’ drinking habit. |
| C．To reduce pollution caused by plastic. | D．To take a share of drinking water industry. |
| A．Solve some specific problems of the product. | B．Collect more money to expand production. |
| C．Distribute the Ooho bubble to global market. | D．Advertise the advantages of the Ooho bubble. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Doubtful. | C．Confident. | D．Opposed. |
| A．Scientists Work out a New Kind of Water |
| B．Plastic Bottles Will Be Replaced by the Ooho Bubble |
| C．Environmental Pollution is Expected to Be Solved |
| D．The Ooho Bubble Aims to Remove Plastic Bottles |
