1 . With climate change continuing to worsen, our situation is beginning to feel increasingly serious.
Techno-optimism is one of the greatest misconceptions when it comes to solutions to ensure our future. It can be defined as a belief that future technologies will solve all of our current problems. This definition reinforces (强化) the idea that there’s no reason to panic or change our current energy-intensive lifestyle. All society needs to do is look to green technology to work its magic.
One of the best examples of this optimistic misconception is the electric car. Despite being highly regarded as an eco-friendly way to get around, electric cars are not the end for the future of transport. Batteries in electric cars use chemical elements which we could be seeing a shortage of by the midcentury.
Techno-optimism puts too much emphasis on technology and not enough on what we can do right this minute. Unfortunately, people seem to like the picture that techno-optimism paints.
| A．So where should we look for answers instead? |
| B．The modern world’s simple solution is technology. |
| C．Moreover, they are more energy intensive to produce. |
| D．Is it a trap that many people have fallen into in recent years? |
| E．Unfortunately, this is an incredibly dangerous opinion to hold. |
| F．Despite any technology, we as a whole are not living sustainably. |
| G．Nevertheless, the truth is, we need a widespread change in our lifestyles. |
2 . There is hot, and then there is hot! Extreme heat is a period of high heat and humidity with temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least two to three days. Extreme heat is responsible for the highest number of annual deaths among all weather-related hazards (危害).
It’s not your imagination. Summers have been getting hotter and hotter with extreme heatwaves occurring earlier and more frequently. But why is this happening and can we better predict heatwaves in advance to give people time to prepare?
“Climate change is here and it’s already been changing human behavior and causing significant influence in the society. As global temperatures rise, historically excessive (过高的) temperatures are more likely to occur.” says Craig Ramseyer, an assistant professor who studies climate modeling in the department of geography at Virginia Tech.
Ramseyer says heatwaves are the most concerning because of the lack of attention they normally receive. “Hurricanes, tornadoes, and flash floods drive more media attention because of the natural attraction with the visual impact of those types of hazards. However, heat does not tend to be as attractive and it becomes very difficult to communicate the danger to the public,” said Ramseyer. “Around the world, more deaths occur due to extreme heat than from hurricanes, flooding, and drought combined. It impacts the most helpless of our citizens who do not have enough access to air conditioning, water, and other important resources.”
Since the Earth is running warmer than it used to, Ramseyer says that when these heatwave-related weather patterns take place, it results in higher extreme temperatures than we used to experience 30 years ago.
“As a global community, we need to decrease carbon emissions as soon as possible. We have rapidly developing technologies that are going to help advance the process, but the faster the better, there is no time to waste.”
1. What can we learn from the article?| A．Extreme heat is a No.1 death cause. |
| B．People are suffering more extreme heat. |
| C．A 100-degree heat is an extreme heat. |
| D．Extreme heat is getting better over the years. |
| A．Climate change will soon affect human behaviors. |
| B．High temperatures happened frequently in history. |
| C．Air conditioning and water can stop the extreme heat. |
| D．Garbage sorting can less advance the climate change. |
| A．Extreme heat can be stopped by technology. |
| B．People have enough time to solve the climate problems. |
| C．The danger of extreme heat is not easily transferred to the public. |
| D．Heatwave-related weather patterns will decrease in the future. |
| A．Complaints about extreme heat. | B．Prevention of extreme heat. |
| C．Characters of extreme heat. | D．Technologies behind extreme heat. |
3 . The author, Lewis Caroll, describes an amazing creature in the famous fairy tale Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It
Dodo were
As the bird is
Finally, in 1662 the last dodo closed its eyes, and they are thought to have
| A．comes up with | B．looks forward to | C．sets down to | D．lives up to |
| A．Besides | B．Therefore | C．Instead | D．However |
| A．disappointed | B．embarrassed | C．motivated | D．challenged |
| A．faraway | B．blank | C．extinct | D．lost |
| A．special | B．native | C．own | D．independent |
| A．linked to | B．concerned about | C．based on | D．faced with |
| A．gradually | B．finally | C．usually | D．rapidly |
| A．flightless | B．meaningless | C．thoughtless | D．wordless |
| A．bargains | B．chains | C．stores | D．resources |
| A．dare | B．need | C．like | D．long |
| A．Tragedy | B．Comedy | C．News | D．Broadcast |
| A．memory | B．drawing | C．setting | D．record |
| A．raised | B．honored | C．preferred | D．hunted |
| A．painted | B．introduced | C．sheltered | D．found |
| A．places | B．spots | C．nests | D．scenes |
| A．minus | B．decline | C．drawback | D．increase |
| A．died away | B．passed down | C．passed on | D．died out |
| A．discovery | B．adoption | C．recognition | D．realization |
| A．attracting | B．persuading | C．warming | D．denying |
| A．light | B．fatal | C．slight | D．mild |
Gu Ying, who was a well-trained paraglider(滑翔伞运动员).
July 7th, 2017 is the day
5 . GREAT BOOKS TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
Here is a shortened list of books sponsored by the magazines TIME and TIME for Kids that are suitable for primary schoolers. To make the list, we considered how age-appropriate the material was, and whether the tone and story line left the reader feeling engaged and empowered rather than anxious or confused.
Experts recommend the youngest kids to read books that explore the beauty and fragility (脆弱) of nature. When developing an appreciation for the world around them, they can switch to books that show the cause and effect of how humans treat our planet, and why it’s important to respect the environment. For older primary school kids, picture books can illustrate how our use of fossil (化石) fuels contributes to global warming. Most of the books on the list also offer lessons about how children, families, schools, and communities can make a difference.
 THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET By April Pulley Sayre This photography book shows to us plants, animals and landscapes in vivid colors and descriptions. From up-close images of insects to pictures of mountain ranges, the pages introduce children to the planets’ diversity in a simple but effective way. |  THE LORAX By Dr. Seuss Thanks to its rhyme, and whimsical illustration, this classic tale is suitable for young children who can grasp the scarcity of natural resources, and also older kids who can see a danger in valuing profits over long-term environmental harm. |
 WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS By Carole Lindstrom A tribute to native tribes that are protecting the planet, this book vividly shows the harms of oil pipelines. Kids will see the value of community action, while adults will recognize the story of the native tribes Standing Rock Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. |  POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? By Robert E. Wells This book introduces the greenhouse effect with illustrations showing how sunlight gets trapped. It then explains fossil-fuel energy, and our reliance on it for electricity and transportation. The pages are full of science. |
| A．Confusing story line. | B．The tone of anxiety. |
| C．The books sponsorship. | D．Age-appropriate content. |
| A．They can see the value of community action. |
| B．They can know how to protect the native tribes. |
| C．They can recognize the story of the native tribes. |
| D．They can understand the importance of oil pipelines. |
| A．THE LORAX |
| B．WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS |
| C．POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? |
| D．THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET |
6 . Zea Tongeman, a 14-year-old student, who is crazy about the Internet, applied technology to create an application that encourages people to recycle while having fun.
Zea was really inspired when she attended “Little Miss Geek Day”, an event that aims at making technology more accessible and appealing to young women and inspiring them to consider technology careers. Soon after, she entered “Apps for Good”, a competition that encourages students to create positive change through technology. Teaming up with her friend, Jordan Stirbu, she laid the foundations for “Jazzy Recycling”.
The “Jazzy Recycling” application is designed to encourage young people to recycle more, which wins the favor of the youth. It turns waste disposal into a game and helps you find places to recycle. Then you scan what you need to recycle, share it, and get rewards such as shopping vouchers (代金券) and games to be unlocked for what you have recycled.
Tapping into the teen enthusiasm for sharing every little aspect of their daily life on social media like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, recycling efforts can be shared too as a fun game among friends, which makes more people take part in recycling activities.
Zea explains why she is addicted to the Internet and how technology has changed her ideas about the future, “I used to think technology was just fixing computers and using smartphones; I have become very tired from just using what is available. I have discovered another side to it and that I can make technology of my own.”
In fact, Zea Tongeman has taken the idea of recycling seriously and hopes all her fellow beings would give it a serious thought. This teen girl from the United Kingdom has made use of computer programming to create her own app that would encourage people to go recycling for a better world.
1. What is “Little Miss Geek Day” intended to do?| A．To inspire students to go recycling. | B．To encourage students to create more. |
| C．To introduce some famous young ladies. | D．To get girls interested and involved in technology. |
| A．It combines recycling with fun. | B．It offers money to those who recycle. |
| C．It raises their awareness of waste disposal. | D．It provides varieties of convenient services. |
| A．Considerate. | B．Generous. | C．Creative. | D．Modest. |
| A．Teenagers have a talent for creating apps. |
| B．Technology plays a significant role in education. |
| C．Competitions inspire teenagers to achieve success. |
| D．Youngsters can make a difference in their own ways. |
7 . Some parents may have had trouble getting their kids away from electronics and outside this summer. But for one Virginia family, this wasn’t the case. Josh and Cassie Sutton recently completed a full-length hike of the Appalachian Trail with their son, Harvey.
At just 5 years old, Harvey, who earned the nickname “Little Man” from fellow hikers, is one of the youngest people known to have completed the roughly 2, 100-mile trail that stretches across 14 states in 209 days.
When Harvey was 2 years old, his parents began training him for hiking by going on mini walks. They slowly increased their mileage day by day—eventually making him adapt to his big adventure. “A lot of people are surprised at how well he did. They’re like, ‘How did you get your 5-year-old to do that because my 5-year-old won’t even walk half a mile without com-plaining?’” Mom Cassie Sutton said.
The Suttons said that while the adventure of the 2, 100-mile hike was fun as a family, it did have its challenges—especially when it came to keeping Harvey entertained. “We learned that he is gifted in hiking, but as long as we’re playing make-believe with him all day long, then he moves quickly and hikes a lot faster than a lot of us imagine,” Josh Sutton said.
While the Suttons have plans for more hikes and family adventures ahead, the family is getting adjusted to life at home again as Harvey begins his latest adventure: kindergarten.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?| A．A 5-year-old hiked 2, 100 miles in about 7 months. |
| B．Josh earned the nickname “Little Man” because of his son. |
| C．Harvey is the youngest person to cover the 2, 100-mile trail. |
| D．One Virginia family had trouble getting away from electronics. |
| A．Playing make-believe. | B．Keeping him amused. |
| C．Hiking fast enough. | D．Having meals as a family. |
| A．Negative. | B．Naughty. | C．Talented. | D．Normal. |
| A．To have more games. | B．To get adjusted to family life. |
| C．To have more hikes with his family. | D．To receive pre-school education. |
8 . The UK’s planned ban on sales of new petrol, diesel (柴油) or hybrid (混合动力) cars could start as early as 2032, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said. Last week, the government raised industry concern after bringing the date forward from 2040 to 2035 in order to hit zero-carbon emission targets. But Mr. Shapps told BBC Radio 5 live it would happen by 2035, “or even 2032,” adding there would be consultation.
The main car trade body had previously said the 2035 figure was “concerning”.
The government is setting out its proposals in a United Nations climate summit in November. A Department for Transport spokesperson said, “We are consulting on a range of possible dates to bring forward the end to the sale of petrol and diesel cars.”
“The proposal for this is 2035 — or earlier if a faster transition appears reasonable — as well as including hybrids for the first time.” The UK has set a target of emitting zero carbon by 2050. Experts warned that the original target date of 2040 would still leave old conventional cars on the roads 10 years later. Once the ban comes into effect, only electric cars will be available. Hybrid vehicles are now included in the proposals, which were originally announced in July 2017.
Despite this, Royal Automobile club spokesman Simon Williams said, “While the government appears to be constantly moving forward for ending the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, drivers should not be worried about choosing a hybrid car now.” “They are potentially the perfect stepping stone for those who want to go electric but have concerns about range (续航), as they aren’t as expensive as a battery electric vehicle. At the moment, they give drivers the best of both worlds.”
How attached are British people to their petrol vehicles? How long until conventional cars go the way of steam engine cars and horse coaches?
1. What is the car industry's attitude towards the ban on the sale of conventional cars?| A．Ambiguous. | B．Indifferent. | C．Worried. | D．Approving. |
| A．To remove the concern of main car trade body. |
| B．To hold back the development of pure battery electric cars. |
| C．To hold a United Nations climate summit in November. |
| D．To meet the zero carbon emission target as planned. |
| A．It's still a wise choice to choose a hybrid car nowadays. |
| B．Battery electric cars should be widely used immediately. |
| C．Drivers should consider about range when choosing a car. |
| D．People should abandon petrol vehicles as soon as possible. |
| A．They will fall out of use some day. | B．They are as important as horse coaches. |
| C．They will remain as a family necessity. | D．They may increase your daily expenses. |
9 . Being caught in a flood is incredibly dangerous. Like many other natural disasters, floods can occur with little to no warning.
● If a flood warning has been issued, seek shelter immediately,
● Watch out for damaged areas.
●
● Stay inside a car trapped by fast-moving water. Only get out if the water begins to flood the car itself. then move to the roof of the vehicle.
● If trapped within a flooding building. move to the highest floor. Do not go into the attic, as it is possible to become trapped there without a way to escape. Only relocate to the roof if necessary.
● Avoid power lines, as they are often damaged or knocked down during strong storms and flooding. A downed power line can cause surrounding water to become charged. leading to electrocution.
| A．Roads and other paths will have been destroyed. |
| B．Sit down with your family to establish a plan of action. |
| C．Listen to emergency broadcasts for further instructions. |
| D．Once there, signal for help, such as drawing SOS on it. |
| E．Here are some tips on how to survive a flood. |
| F．If you have to go through water, bring a stick. |
| G．Never attempt to walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. |
10 . Somalia, Kenya, and now Ethiopia are warning of a serious drought (干旱)that affects millions of people in Eastern Africa. In Ethiopia’s Somali area, people have seen the failures of what should have been three straight rainy seasons. Droughts do come and go over the years. However, the lack of rainfall has led to the driest conditions in 40 years in parts of Somalia and Ethiopia.
UNICEF is the United Nation’s children’s agency. Local Zaynab Wali told a visiting team with UNICEF that she and her seven children had never seen a drought like this. She said the government gave out food for animals during the last drought five years ago. “This time, we even don’t have enough food for our family.”
Children walk among the bodies of dead animals, which died from lack of food and energy. Somalia Consortium works to improve international aid for Somalia. It said in a separate statement that in Somalia, more than 7 million people need emergency help. It is asking international organizations to give much more to the country.
“We are just one month into the long dry season, and I have already lost 25 goats and sheep,” Hafsa Bedel in Ethiopia’s Somali area told UNICEF. She also lost four camels, a large desert animal, as well. She said there was nowhere for her animals to eat. She added that there was not enough food for her own family, including her six children.
UNICEF thinks that more than 150,000 children in such areas of Ethiopia have dropped out of school. They are needed to help find the limited amount of water and help their families with other work.
One young boy was seen supporting an animal, a donkey. The donkey was once important for carrying goods. But now, it had become too weak to walk on its own.
1. Why did Zaynab Wali mention the last drought?| A．To show the need to protect animals. | B．To express her disappointment this time. |
| C．To prove the high frequency of drought. | D．To praise the government for its timely help. |
| A．Get more foreign help. |
| B．Warn people of the risk of drought. |
| C．Offer more education to the children there. |
| D．Make clear the number of people in need. |
| A．The sweet picture of the boy and the animal. |
| B．The functions of animals in farming. |
| C．The importance of taking care of the weak animal. |
| D．The seriousness of the drought. |
| A．Drought in Eastern Africa Leaves Animals in Danger |
| B．Drought Makes People of Eastern Africa Leave Their Home |
| C．UN Officials Care for Children Affected by Drought |
| D．Millions Face Risk as Drought Affects Eastern Africa |
