1 . There is a myth that people can see glass, but birds can’t.
Many people are injured every year. They collide with unmarked doors and windows; embarrassment is the usual result.
Birds can learn to avoid glass. For example, birds in zoo exhibits learn to avoid exhibit walls if the glass is marked for the first few days of their residence.
Birds hit glass because it presents a triple threat. One is that reflections of vegetation or landscape attract birds to collide with glass.
As researchers have begun to understand collisions, they are creating better approaches to reduce impacts on birds. For example, some have documented mortality(死亡) patterns and how they are influenced by lighting, the amount of glass present, the distribution of nearby vegetation, and other variables.
This science has come along way, but many questions remain unanswered. Our efforts on the testing of bird-friendly materials are helping to expand understanding of how birds sec and respond to their environment, and will lead to more effective solutions.
| A．In fact, neither birds nor people can see glass. |
| B．Wild birds can learn about specific pieces of glass. |
| C．Each year up to one billion birds hit glass in the U. S. alone. |
| D．Therefore glass can be the invisible killer of birds in particular. |
| E．So architects and other professionals can design innovative bird-watching buildings. |
| F．Others have looked at the type of structure to identify which poses the most risk. |
| G．Green habitat inside buildings with see-through glass can also trick birds to their death. |
2 . As spring advances across the Midwest, a new study looking at blooming (盛开的) flowers suggests non-native plants might live longer than native plants due to climate change.
The study — led by researchers at Indiana University and Michigan State University — has shown warming temperatures affect native and non-native flowering plants differently, which could change the look of local landscapes (风景) over time. “When a plant flowers determines whether it will be pollinated (授粉) by bees or other insects and how much time it will have to produce seeds. Our data makes me worry that we will have a very weedy (杂草丛生的) world in our future.” said the study’s lead author Jen Lau, an associate professor in Indiana University.
The researchers’ findings suggest non-native plants may be better at shifting their flowering time compared to native plants. These differences are thought to influence a plant’s success both now and in future warmer environments.
Lau and her students simulated (模拟) global warming in fields planted with 45 native and non-native plants. Some areas were warmed by infrared (红外线的) heaters, while other areas were not. Lau’s lab surveyed all plants to determine when they first flowered and how long they flowered.
When plants were grown in warmed plots simulating the climate change expected in the Midwest by the end of the century, the researchers found that non-native plants flowered more than 11 days earlier on average. In contrast, native plants didn’t change flowering times at all when warmed.
They also found earlier-flowering non-native plants had greater geographic spread, suggesting that flowering earlier may help promote successful occupation across large areas.
The findings suggest important differences in how native and non-native plants respond to climate change.
1. What does the new study find about native plants compared with non-native?| A．They have a longer life cycle. |
| B．They are likely to have more flowers. |
| C．They are more adaptable to climate change. |
| D．They may be at greater risk from climate change. |
| A．She’s quite sure that a weedy world is waiting for us. |
| B．Plants may lose the ability to flower in the future. |
| C．The timing of a plant’s flowering is key to its life cycle. |
| D．A plant’s flowering time almost has no effect on its pollination. |
| A．Changing. | B．Postponing. |
| C．Arranging. | D．Predicting. |
| A．How global warming affected plant species |
| B．How the researchers tested their supposition. |
| C．How to keep the warmth of the planted fields. |
| D．How to determine the flowering times of plants. |
3 . Ford is turning McDonald's coffee waste into headlights
Ford is recently including coffee chaff — coffee bean skin that comes off during the roasting process — into the plastic headlights housing (大灯外壳) used in some cars. It has asked McDonald's, which doesn't roast its own coffee, to connect it with suppliers.
In recent years, as consumers become more concerned about plastic pollution and carbon emissions, companies have made sweeping commitments to reduce their impacts on the environment. They've also been developing new, sustainable materials to build consumer products.
Traditionally, Ford uses plastic and talc (滑石粉) to make its headlights housing. The coffee version is more sustainable because it's lighter and doesn't use the talc which, as a mineral, isn't renewable. Coffee chaff, on the other hand, is widely available, and much of it goes to waste. Eventually, Ford hopes to use the material for more parts.
Ford decided to work with coffee chaff a few years ago. But it's been experimenting with organic materials for over a decade. The auto company has been using soy-based foam (泡沫) in its cushions since 2011. It also uses waste from wheat, coconut, tomato and other plants in its cars in order to help meet some of its sustainability goals, which include using more renewable materials. Once the Ford team figured out how coffee chaff could be used to build car parts, it reached out to McDonald's because of the restaurant chain's scale and its sustainability goals. Like Ford, McDonald's also wants to bring renewable and recycled materials into its products. The partnership between Ford and McDonald's is an example of how brands with different projects can work together.
“We've conventionally thought of cooperation as within the food industry,” said Lan Olson, senior director of Global Sustainability at McDonald's. “The Ford partnership can help McDonald's see what kind of larger impacts are possible, when it works with a company in another field. This is just scratching the surface of trying to understand what's possible,” Olson said.
1. Why is Ford applying coffee chaff to headlights housing?| A．To work with McDonald's. | B．To do experiments in the lab. |
| C．To save resources and money. | D．To reduce environmental pollution. |
| A．They have the same sustainability goals. |
| B．Ford wants to cooperate with one in the food industry. |
| C．Different brands with different projects can work together. |
| D．Coffee of McDonald's is so popular and has great potential. |
| A．The cooperation is only on the surface. |
| B．Ford has a large influence on McDonald's. |
| C．Cooperation between the two brands just begins. |
| D．Only cooperation within the food industry is welcomed. |
| A．A business report. | B．A science fiction story. |
| C．A food magazine. | D．A project handbook. |
4 . My husband and I had just opened up a pet sitting business earlier that year. Our customers had slowly risen from three to thirty a month. We were busy through those hot summer months, driving between visits. Our work was strictly done at the pet owner’s home. It was almost too busy for the two of us, but we were making good money!
We asked pet owners new to our business to phone two weeks ahead so we had enough time to meet the owners and pets at their homes and make any following meetings before the owner leaves.
One day, we decided to take on a new customer just two days before they would leave. We met the family, filled in a form, and spent some time with their dog, Hercules. He playfully jumped on us and touched our hands and arms using his tongue. The family laughed as he did this, showing us that he was very loving.
Two days later I appeared at the house, alone. I came up to Hercules and said hello happily. I filled up his water bowl and cleaned any messes he made. Meanwhile, he was so lovely sitting beside. I thought this would be the good picture to send to the owners as usual. After the light and “click” sound went off, Hercules rushed at me. I didn’t know what had just happened until I noticed the drops of blood. I ran out and did the only thing — calling my husband.
Then I went to neighbors for help. My husband arrived after ten minutes. The helpful neighbor and my husband led Hercules back into his pen (圈). Then my husband and I took off to the hospital.
I must have looked like I was shot when I walked into the hospital. The nurses quickly moved me to a room. I asked the doctor in a weak but playful manner, “Am I going to die?” he replied, “Finally.”
1. According to the text, the author’s work was _________ .| A．tiring and dangerous | B．easy and free |
| C．well paid | D．done outdoors |
| A．Cleaning the customers’ house. |
| B．Walking the pets outside. |
| C．Bringing the pets to her own house. |
| D．Sending a photo of pets to the owners. |
| A．Hercules feared the sound and the flash |
| B．the author attacked Hercules first |
| C．Hercules was very hungry then |
| D．the author treated Hercules badly |
| A．anger | B．humor |
| C．carelessness | D．patience |
5 . Grasslands need time to rest when cattle and other animals feed on them. Moving animals from one area of pasture （牧场） to another can provide the time needed for new growth. This is called rotational grazing （循环放牧）.
Rotational grazing is good for the land and the animals, and it can save money. This form of grazing can reduce the need for pesticide （农药） treatments by reducing the growth of weeds. And it can limit the need for chemical fertilizers by letting natural fertilizer, animal droppings, do the job. Rotational grazing can even help prevent wildfires by keeping grasslands in good condition.
Letting animals feed continually and intensively （集中地） in the same grazing areas can require costly replanting. Animals eat the most appropriate growth first. When that keeps happening, the roots do not have enough time to recover. As a result, less desirable plants may replace them.
Intensively used grasslands are also harmed as the soil is continually crushed under the weight of heavy animals. And the animals usually avoid their own waste, so that reduces the amount of good grazing space even more.
While rotational grazing can save money over time, it also requires planning. And that starts with a good map to mark fences, water supplies and grazing areas.
Changing methods of grazing also requires time. Farmers may want to put up electric fences to enclose grazing areas, called paddocks. The paddocks will need water. Some farmers design a path for animals from different paddocks to drink from a common watering place. Farmers can start rotational grazing by removing animals from a pasture when the grass is eaten to less than five centimeters. The pasture is then kept empty until the grass grows to more than fifteen centimeters high.
Sheep and goats may require special preparations. They may need stronger fences than other animals. And while they eat the grass, they may need guard animals like camels to protect them from animals that would like to eat them.
1. If you want to carry out rotational grazing, you must do many things EXCEPT ______.| A．reducing the amount of the animals |
| B．making a plan about the electricity and water supply |
| C．building fences |
| D．making a design in advance |
| A．Sheep and goats are fierce and special animals. |
| B．Sheep and goats aren't suitable for rotational grazing. |
| C．Sheep and goats need more management in rotational grazing. |
| D．Sheep and goats are difficult to raise. |
| A．The heavy animals can damage the grasslands. |
| B．Rotational grazing can provide the grass enough time to grow again. |
| C．The grass over five centimeters in a pasture can be used to feed animals. |
| D．During rotational grazing, more pesticidal chemicals are needed. |
| A．How to Keep Grasslands in Good Condition |
| B．Giving Grasslands a Rest |
| C．The Hidden Meaning of Rotational Grazing |
| D．The Drawbacks of Rotational Grazing |
6 . Giant panda Bei Bei celebrated his fourth birthday all the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on August 22, but it was a biter-sweet occasion. For the Zoo’s panda cubs（幼崽）, turning four means an upcoming move to China, where they will join al cooperative breeding program designed to conserve the species.
Bei Bei will leave for Chengdu, China, on Tuesday, November 19. The week leading up to his departure will be dedicated to“all things Bei Bei,” says Michael Brown-Palsgrove, the Zoo’s curator (园长) of giant pandas. From November 11 to 18, the Zoo will host online and on-site events.
A similar celebration took place when Bei Bei’s older sister, Bao Bao, left the Zoo in 2017. The siblings, along with their older brother, Tai Shan, and parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, are a part of at 47-year program committed to panda conservation. The Zoo has a cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association that contributed to the giant panda's shift from endangered to vulnerable species (渐危物种) status.
Bei Bei will officially enter the breeding program when he reaches sexual maturity between 5 and 7 years old. In the meantime, his keepers will help him prepare for travel and adapt to his new home. They will soon place his travel crate (装货箱) in the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat and encourage him to walk through it by giving him treats.
One panda keeper will accompany Bei Bei on his non-stop flight to Chengdu, bringing a supply of bamboo, apples, sweet potatoes and more to keep him comfortable and happy. It is also best for pandas to travel in the cool fall and winter months rather than in the summer heat. The keeper will stay with Bei Bei in China for a short time to make sure the animal is getting used to his new base, then return to the Zoo. Although the staff is sad to see Bei Bei go, they understand that their mission extends beyond individual animals.
“Our giant pandas represent much of what the Smithsonian does best, from conservation to education,” says Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian, in a press release. “As we say goodbye to our beloved Bei Bei, our conservation scientists will continue to work in collaboration to prevent these animals from disappearing, giving them the opportunity to thrive in the wild, inspiring more people to protect them.”
1. Why will Bei Bei move back to China?| A．Because the cooperative program comes to an end. |
| B．Because Bei Bei will enter a cooperative breeding program. |
| C．Because Bei Bei has better habitats in China. |
| D．Because Bei Bei has to reunite with her family. |
| A．The staff’s sadness to see off Bei Bei. | B．Bei Bei’s diets on the way back to China. |
| C．The staff’s commitment to Bei Bei. | D．The habitable surroundings of Bei Bei. |
| A．Nervous. | B．Positive. | C．Concerned. | D．Risking. |
| A．National Zoo waves farewell to Bei Bei | B．Bei Bei’s breeding programme ends |
| C．Bei Bei celebrates his fourth birthday | D．Smithsonian does best to make pandas thrive |
7 . For companies around the world and across industries, sustainability(可持续发展) has rapidly gone from a nice-to-have to a must-have. Some famous companies have announced ambitious plans to remove single-use plastics, reduce carbon release and otherwise shrink their environmental footprint in various ways.
Newlight Technologies hopes to speed up that process. The company has spent more than a decade developing a material called AirCarbon, which functions exactly like plastic but is completely biodegradable(可生物降解的). Newlight developed the material using microorganisms found in the ocean that feed on methane and carbon dioxide-two-greenhouse gases among the biggest contributors to climate change. The organisms turn those gases into a natural polymer(聚合物) that can be shaped just like plastic.
“We call that AirCarbon because it's air and carbon that can mix with and become part of water,” CEO Mark Herrema said. “We have this pure white powder that we can then melt and form in all kinds of parts and pieces.” The company's new production facility is filled with large saltwater tanks that recreate ocean conditions, allowing the organisms to make the polymer from which AirCarbon can be obtained.
Newlight recently began rolling out its first set of products made from the material, launching two-brands. Its foodware brand, Restore, sells biodegradable straws, knives, forks and spoons, while its fashion brand Covalent sells handbags, wallets and sunglasses. And because the process of developing AirCarbon uses gases from the atmosphere, the products are carbon negative, meaning they take out more pollutants than they produce. Newlight has received carbon negative certifications from several organizations for its products.
Newlight’s current products are costlier than some traditional products available on the market, since the company has just one facility, which makes it hard to keep prices down. At present, Newlight’s AirCarbon products can remove 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. But Herrema's goal is to build more facilities as quickly as possible and eventually increase that number to 20 billion pounds, which he says is how much plastic ends up in the ocean each year.
1. What is the advantage of AirCarbon?| A．It is more flexible than plastic. |
| B．It can partially break down. |
| C．It helps reduce greenhouse gases. |
| D．It is an artificial polymer like plastic. |
| A．Its products are of good quality. |
| B．Its products are energy-saving. |
| C．It develops two sustainable brands. |
| D．It removes more carbon than it releases. |
| A．Limited production. | B．Low profits. |
| C．Few customers. | D．Poor marketing. |
| A．New technology that reduces carbon release. |
| B．Greenhouse gases that can be used for products. |
| C．Ocean microorganisms that feed on greenhouse gases. |
| D．A plastic alternative that might help solve climate change. |
8 . Beijing: Beijing is to spend up to US $20 billion to change the Chinese capital into a 21st century one for the 2008 Olympics.
The government managed to host the 2008 games. The general aim is for Beijing to have the same environmental standards as Paris, London or Washington by 2008.
Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent to pipe natural gas to the city’s homes, taking away dirty coal burning gradually while 60,000 buses will be changed to liquefied gas.
The money also will be used for relocating the polluting factories and building green areas. By 2008 around 90 percent of Beijing’s waste will be treated, compared to only 40 percent at present.
Olympic officials realize the city has a long way to go to match the environmental standards of such cities as Paris, Toronto, Istanbul and Osaka.
City officials have already announced that around 50 large projects are being dealt with to improve traffic jam and cut down pollution. They include construction of Beijing’s first light railway, a 40.5 kilometer line which is expected to be completed in 2005.
Beijing, besides, plans to build an 82.25-kilometer-long subway to add to the existing 53 kilometers. Nine major roads will be rebuilt or widened.
Beijing also plans to build a 70-meter-wide green area along the waterways to protect water quality as well as increase the green areas.
1. The government will pipe natural gas to the city’s homes in order to ________.| A．solve the problem of being short of fuel | B．bring down the cost of daily life |
| C．reduce the pollution of our capital | D．keep up with the development of modern society |
| A．removing | B．pulling down | C．rebuilding | D．dealing with |
| A．The environment of London is better than Toronto. |
| B．In the first paragraph “a 21st century one” refers to a modern and advanced capital. |
| C．Beijing is badly polluted mainly by coal burning. |
| D．Liquefied gas is more expensive than petrol. |
9 . A dog is man’s best friend. That common saying may contain some truth, but a dog is not the only animal friend people like.
People enjoy the friendship of cats. Cats love to keep close to their owners.
They love to run after balls or play with anything hanging from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are playing the game with them. Just like a dog, cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks.
Cats are polite members of a family.
One of the most attractive features of cats as house pets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. So their owners only need to spend time cleaning their litter boxes. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because cats usually clean themselves. Cats are more3particular about personal cleanliness than people are.
| A．Cats are generally quite playful. |
| B．It’s a good hobby to keep a pet at home. |
| C．For many people, a cat also is their best friend. |
| D．Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make loud noises. |
| E．People with small living space or less time love to raise cats. |
| F．However, sometimes, cats may spread some diseases to the owners. |
| G．In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. |
10 . In the small village of Goss in Austria, a century-old brewery tradition had a novel transformation towards Sustainability (可持续性), Göss in home to the Gösser Brewery, the world’s first large scale zero-carbon brewery.
Owned and operated by the Heineken Group, the world's third-largest beer maker, the Gösser Brewery was relaunched as a zero-carbon facility in June. The brewery produces 1.4 million bottles of beer every day using a mix of entirely renewable energy sources, including hydropower, biogas and waste heat. This has brought its carbon emissions (排放) down from 3, 000 tons a year to zero.
Andreas Werner, brew master at Gösser Brewery said, “Our Cöss brewery may be in a small town but our goal was to make a big influence. I am proud of what we have achieved for the Heineken Group and want to help our other breweries and the wider brewing industry makes renewable energy part of their energy mix, just as we have done.”
The brewery is helping Heineken achieve its commitment to a 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from production by 2022, which is kept in the company’s Brewing a Better World stability strategy.
To power its production, the Gösser Brewery uses 100 percent hydropower sources for eletnicity-35 percent from biomass for heating, 10 percent from biogas from waste water, 3-5 percent from a solar plant, and 50 percent from biogas generated from the spent grain fermentation (发酵) tank.
For this creative move towards sustainability, the brewery won the EU Sustainable Energy Award and Citizens Choice Award in June. The awards cognize creative projects in energy efficiency and renewability in Europe. “The Goss brewery is the stand-out example of this work and our commitment to sustainability,” Roland Verstappen, Heineken’s director for public and movement affairs said.
1. What is special about the Gösser Brewery?| A．It’s the world’s third largest zero-carbon brewery. |
| B．No carbon will be given off during its production. |
| C．It can produce 1.4 million bottles of beer annually. |
| D．The Heineken group newly opened it to produce more beer. |
| A．The resources of making beer. |
| B．The production of beer bottles. |
| C．The examples of sustainable energy. |
| D．The composition of hydropower sources. |
| A．It has won two international awards for its creativity. |
| B．It has helped more industries turn to renewable energy. |
| C．It has led to the draft of Heineken’s Brewing a Belter World strategy. |
| D．It has played an important role in Heineken’s achieving its goal of CO2 reduction. |
| A．A brewery’s creative move to achieve sustainability. |
| B．Profits gained from the transformation of an old brewery. |
| C．The brewery industry’s responsibility for protecting the environment. |
| D．A small business making a big difference by mixing various sources. |
