1 . Many of the world’s islands were previously unexplored places, but over time, people have come to these places with far-reaching effects, including deforestation, over-hunting and the introduction of invasive species.
While the death of many birds since the 1500s has been
Researchers now believe 1,430 bird species — almost 12 per cent — have died out over modern human history since around 130,000 years ago, with the vast majority of them becoming extinct directly or indirectly
The study, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and published in Nature Communications, used statistical modelling to
Lead author Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeler at UKCEH, says:“Our study demonstrates there has been a far higher
Dr Søren Faurby of the University of Gothenburg, a co-author of the study, adds: “These historic extinctions have had a major impact on the current biodiversity crisis. The world may not only have lost many fascinating birds but also their varied
Observations and fossils show 640 bird species have been driven extinct — 90 per cent of these on islands
A.To some extent | B.On average | C.As a result | D.In short |
A.confirmed | B.recorded | C.concealed | D.discussed |
A.distracted | B.disposed | C.dismissed | D.disintegrated |
A.extent | B.context | C.outcome | D.influence |
A.due to | B.other than | C.instead of | D.in spite of |
A.declare | B.illustrate | C.estimate | D.emphasize |
A.climate | B.human | C.environmental | D.natural |
A.connected | B.coped | C.lived | D.competed |
A.trace | B.route | C.change | D.proposal |
A.interactive | B.ecological | C.productive | D.social |
A.in terms of | B.because of | C.except for | D.in addition to |
A.depend on | B.interact with | C.fight against | D.stay away |
A.inhabited | B.removed | C.developed | D.killed |
A.result | B.range | C.suffer | D.date |
A.origin | B.project | C.growth | D.diversity |
2 . The misery of my bike commute in Calgary, Alberta, is the river valley hill. It’s not particularly steep, but at about a mile long, I rarely climbed up without arriving with sweat. Studies have shown the prospect of arriving at work sweaty is one of the biggest
“Pedelec”, or pedal electric-assisted bikes like the one I rode, can end that worry. They look and act like traditional bicycles, but their motors make pedaling much easier when required. Sometimes called the most energy-efficient motorized mode of transportation ever built, they’re also incredibly green. The biggest barrier may be the outdated attitude that sees bikes only as a recreational athletic opportunity rather than a practical
At a time when cities across North America are struggling to combat crippling traffic and reduce climate emissions, e-bikes have the
Many of the barriers to e-bike
Few places on the continent,
Amid these legislative
A.advantages | B.processes | C.barriers | D.complements |
A.riders | B.builders | C.customers | D.volunteers |
A.production | B.communication | C.facilities | D.transportation |
A.routine | B.potential | C.temporary | D.major |
A.make of | B.carry on | C.bring up | D.take off |
A.adaptation | B.adoption | C.adjustment | D.justification |
A.proved | B.alerted | C.banned | D.authorized |
A.however | B.unless | C.meanwhile | D.anyway |
A.originate | B.combine | C.separate | D.satisfy |
A.factors | B.benefits | C.limits | D.damages |
A.proper | B.critical | C.sensational | D.difficult |
A.expensive | B.distinctive | C.sensitive | D.intensive |
A.trouble | B.concern | C.power | D.scale |
A.favored | B.folded | C.referred | D.gifted |
A.appeal | B.address | C.amount | D.advocate |
3 . Global surface temperatures last month were 2.25 degrees warmer than the 20th century average of 60.1 degrees, breaking previous records, from August 2016, by more than half a degree, according to NOAA researchers. “That to me is a really huge
The report
It wasn’t just the land that
“We’ve seen unheard-of warmth in the global ocean, and that’s definitely alarming because its effects
In fact, the report comes after a series of severe natural
“The scientific evidence is
A.distance | B.jump | C.travel | D.flight |
A.confirms | B.emerges | C.quotes | D.argues |
A.holds | B.touches | C.surrounds | D.includes |
A.boiled | B.cooled | C.stricken | D.disappeared |
A.contributed to | B.suffered from | C.resulted from | D.devoted to |
A.slowest | B.lowest | C.highest | D.fastest |
A.enlarge | B.discharge | C.extend | D.undertake |
A.creating | B.saving | C.remaining | D.disturbing |
A.issues | B.debates | C.events | D.proposals |
A.floods | B.disasters | C.storms | D.earthquakes |
A.Though | B.Because | C.Unless | D.When |
A.damage | B.destroy | C.decrease | D.increase |
A.irresistible | B.unchangeable | C.inaccessible | D.unbearable |
A.conveying | B.releasing | C.relieving | D.dismissing |
A.predicted | B.expected | C.doubted | D.determined |
4 . Sea levels along coastlines in the United States will rise about one foot by 2050, with larger increases on the East and Gulf coasts, according to a comprehensive new report by climate scientists.
Oceans have already risen about one foot in the last century, as climate change melts glaciers (冰川) and ice caps around the world. But the pace is
The report gives the most concrete and certain sea level
Sea level rise
The new report adds up all those factors to give
Sea level rise is happening more
William Sweet, a sea level rise expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and one of the authors of the new report, says cities that are not yet flooded should
Beyond 2050, the report makes clear that humans have a
A.dying down | B.paying back | C.holding on | D.speeding up |
A.records | B.extremes | C.predictions | D.solutions |
A.flexibly | B.clearly | C.randomly | D.incredibly |
A.continues | B.impacts | C.multiplies | D.varies |
A.added | B.drained | C.spilt | D.needed |
A.creatures | B.currents | C.ecosystems | D.voyages |
A.stable | B.crucial | C.unlikely | D.worse |
A.national | B.regional | C.apparent | D.approximate |
A.dig | B.turn | C.collapse | D.dive |
A.similar | B.scenery | C.distant | D.diverse |
A.projected | B.obliged | C.permitted | D.noticed |
A.sharply | B.mysteriously | C.unexpectedly | D.slowly |
A.make sense | B.take notice | C.keep pace | D.stay proud |
A.scheme | B.cancel | C.change | D.delay |
A.promise | B.quarrel | C.choice | D.protest |
It is perhaps the most ironic symbol of the life on our planet. The Amazon is the world’s largest and most bio-diverse tropical rainforest and a huge trap for carbon dioxide. The harms of
Gati has spent years
That nightmare situation is the well-known Amazon
Warnings that this is approaching have now taken on extreme urgency. The rate of deforestation has increased sharply and is fast approaching the theoretical
Scientists first began to seriously worry about a potential Amazon tipping point in about 2000, when some studies warned that a combination of climate change and deforestation could cause the rainforest to
A few years later, a team of Brazilian scientists put numbers on it. They
The scientists have since
“Either way, we would be wise not to exceed 20%”, says a scientist, “for the commonsense reason that there is no point in
A.fertilization | B.elimination | C.deforestation | D.frustration |
A.program | B.disaster | C.protection | D.regulation |
A.evolution | B.spotlight | C.condition | D.emergency |
A.measuring | B.observing | C.protecting | D.criticizing |
A.released | B.melted | C.turned | D.supplied |
A.tipping | B.disappointing | C.awarding | D.tapping |
A.build | B.turn | C.cause | D.make |
A.problem | B.prediction | C.aspect | D.limit |
A.base | B.edge | C.surface | D.track |
A.dry out | B.run down | C.pay off | D.rise up |
A.boasted | B.insisted | C.estimated | D.instructed |
A.thirst | B.starvation | C.cold | D.disease |
A.digested | B.revised | C.encouraged | D.previewed |
A.strategy | B.climate | C.average | D.system |
A.diagnosing | B.instructing | C.inquiring | D.discovering |
6 . 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 |
7 . 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 |
8 . Climate experts have warned about the many ways a warming planet can negatively affect human health.
One long-held prediction that appears to be coming true — according to the results of a study recently published in Nature Scientific Reports — is how climate change might enhance
Vibrio vulnificus (创伤弧菌) flourishes in salty or brackish waters above 68℉. Infections are currently rare in the U.S., but that’s likely to change. Using 30 years of data on infections, scientists at the University of East Anglia in the U.K. found that Vibrio vulnificusis
“We’re seeing the core
Based on the latest data on how much the world’s water and air temperatures will rise, the scientists predict that by 2081, Vibrio vulnificus infections could reach every state along the U.S. East Coast. Currently, only about 80 cases are reported in the U.S. each year; by 2081, that could go up to over three-fold, the authors say.
Such a proliferation could have serious health consequences. Vibrio vulnificus kills approximately 20% of the healthy people it infects, and 50% of those with weakened immune systems. There is little evidence that antibiotics can
Warming sea temperatures aren’t the only reasons behind the rise of Vibrio vulnificus. Hotter air also draws more people to the coasts and bays, bringing them into closer contact with the bacteria.
“The bacteria are part of the natural marine environment, so I don’t think we can
To alert people to the growing threat,
Vbrio vulnificus is so
Lake says the expansion of Vibrio vulnificus is concerning for public health since the bacteria are now invading waters closer to heavily
A.Even if | B.Except when | C.The instant | D.In case |
A.numbers | B.ranges | C.coverages | D.concentrations |
A.failure | B.fatality | C.survival | D.acid |
A.ranging | B.varying | C.expanding | D.shifting |
A.distribution | B.launch | C.community | D.sample |
A.principle | B.lead | C.principal | D.hit |
A.boost | B.accelerate | C.contain | D.remove |
A.harms | B.damages | C.injuries | D.wounds |
A.relieve | B.dissolve | C.resolve | D.erase |
A.conscience | B.awareness | C.panic | D.alert |
A.monitoring | B.processing | C.managing | D.delivering |
A.sensible | B.vital | C.vulnerable | D.sensitive |
A.populated | B.dense | C.paralleled | D.bordered |
A.reaction | B.interaction | C.intervention | D.relativity |
A.rather than | B.except for | C.such as | D.other than |
9 . The part of the environmental movement that draws my firm’s attention is the design of buildings. Today, thousands of people come to
Home builders can now use materials, such as green paints, that release significantly
Look at it this way: no one
A.commercial | B.green | C.traditional | D.simple |
A.efficient | B.changeable | C.influential | D.effective |
A.relevant | B.indoor | C.flexible | D.forward |
A.revealed | B.displayed | C.exhibited | D.discovered |
A.careful | B.comfortable | C.stable | D.safe |
A.reduced | B.revised | C.delayed | D.defined |
A.destroy | B.deny | C.dissolve | D.depress |
A.Anyway | B.Besides | C.Anyhow | D.However |
A.exactly | B.completely | C.partially | D.superficially |
A.restored | B.regain | C.reused | D.retain |
A.developed | B.stretched | C.researched | D.constructed |
A.sets off | B.sets about | C.sets out | D.sets up |
A.instead | B.because | C.out | D.regardless |
A.adjusting | B.adopting | C.adapting | D.admitting |
A.functional | B.sensible | C.beneficial | D.precious |
10 . After five long years, it appears California’s drought is finally becoming less severe.
The state’s water struggles,
The quick inrush of water has also created a(n)
For now, though, Jones is focused on planning and ensuring the state’s water supply whatever may happen. “We’re halfway through our wettest season, and conditions have been encouraging,” she says. “I would say we’re
A.According to | B.With respect to | C.Thanks to | D.In addition to |
A.official | B.exhaustible | C.unexpected | D.crucial |
A.experienced | B.improved | C.worsened | D.investigated |
A.pollution | B.restrictions | C.pressure | D.cycles |
A.nevertheless | B.therefore | C.meanwhile | D.moreover |
A.accurate | B.plentiful | C.consistent | D.emergent |
A.productive | B.unchangeable | C.progressive | D.unreliable |
A.fell behind | B.broke down | C.came about | D.took off |
A.Or else | B.In other words | C.At that point | D.Above all |
A.Literally | B.Contrarily | C.Historically | D.Consequently |
A.levels | B.formations | C.struggles | D.reserves |
A.random | B.delicate | C.mechanical | D.insensible |
A.heightens | B.assumes | C.minimizes | D.identifies |
A.restorations | B.calculations | C.conditions | D.projections |
A.hopelessly | B.extremely | C.guardedly | D.cheerfully |