1 . The South Bronx is one of the poorest and most polluted places in America, with smog-choked freeways and smelly wastewater treatment plants.
“We’re a dumping ground,” Omar explains. “All the garbage from the rest of New York City ends up here.”
But Omar started looking at garbage in a different way. “A lot of what people throw away is perfectly good,” he says. “Just look at that stuff from construction sites—doors, sinks, toilets, People will buy those things. It’s only called garbage because somebody threw it away.” Omar was just out of college and working for an environmental group called Sustainable South Bronx when he started considering how to get this “good garbage” to people who could use it. Instead of destroying old things, why not clean them up and resell them? Why not hire people in the community to do the work? Better yet, why not make this business a “cooperative,” which means the people working in the business own it and share the profits?
Out of this, Omar started the first cooperative in the country devoted to reusing construction waste. To start his business, Omar put up advertisements along the trash-filled neighborhood streets, looking for people to work with him. He soon found four other devoted workers. They rented a warehouse and started looking for donations of used materials.
In April 2008, Omar’s cooperative, Re Builders Source, opened its business and began selling construction supplies to neighborhood builders and home owners. With the help of city officials, he also began planning a new training program to help local residents learn the skills to get good jobs that help the environment and even start their own cooperatives. Workers were trained to carefully take buildings apart so that things like doors and windows can be reused instead of being sent off to a landfill. Deconstructing buildings this way could be a huge industry with many good jobs for people who need them.
“If you have a use for something, “Omar says, “it’s no longer waste.”
1. Why is the South Bronx mentioned in the first paragraph?A.To lead in the topic of the article. |
B.To serve as the background information. |
C.To contrast with the other districts. |
D.To introduce a famous place. |
A.To provide jobs for local people. |
B.To deal with dumped rubbish. |
C.To promote harmony among neighbors. |
D.To make money from garbage. |
A.Selfish and realistic. | B.Creative and business-minded. |
C.Practical and self-focused. | D.Devoted and iron-hearted. |
A.Knowledge starts with practice. | B.One good turn deserves another. |
C.Four eyes see more than two. | D.Kill two birds with one stone. |
People in Bangladesh and India are struggling as they face serious flooding caused by early heavy rains. The floods
The flooding
3 . This summer, nearly 65 percent of the United States is experiencing “unusually dry” weather. More than 109 million people are living under drogue conditions.
Most plants require an average of 2 to 4 centimeters of water each week under normal conditions. That need could increase, however, during periods of extreme heat, when the soil dries out more quickly.
Use deeper, less-frequent watering instead of daily sprinkles(洒水)which can be wasteful? Watering deeply also leads to stronger, deeper roots that are better able to support plants when there’s no surface water. So avoid using overhead sprinklers.
Consider using recycled household water, also called gray water, to water plants. Unsalted water left over from boiling eggs or vegetables provides extra nutrients(营养物). Dish and bath water that is not too soapy will not harm plants. And water captured(捕获)while cleaning fruits and vegetables can be used around the garden.
A.So learn how to water plants correctly. |
B.So make good use of water in your house. |
C.You should water newly planted trees regularly. |
D.A lot of them have plants or yards to worry about. |
E.First you should decide which plants need water the most. |
F.Do not offer your plants their weekly water needs all at once. |
G.They wet the leaves and other areas instead of directing water to plant roots. |
4 . Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano, started erupting late Sunday in the U.S. island state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The volcano last erupted 38 years ago. But it is not expected to put people in danger.
At this point, melted(熔化的) rock, called lava, is predicted not to come near populated areas, but officials warned people to be ready to move away. The path of lava flows can change quickly.
Island officials warned people to stay away from the areas where lava is coming out because it can shoot 30 to 60 meters in the air. The gas coming from the eruption is also harmful. At the moment, however, the state said air quality on the island is good.
The eruption is a new experience for many people on the island. There are more than twice as many people living there compared to the last time Mauna Loa erupted. State officials are most concerned about an area about 50 kilometers to the south of the volcano where about 5,000 people live.
There is some concern about a weak area on the southwestern part of the mountain. If lava escapes from that area, it could threaten places where people live in just hours or days. The lava has never come up through that area during past eruptions.
The lava could flow toward the city of Hilo, which has about 45,000 people. That could take about a week. Scientists say they hope the lava flows like it did in 1984, when it moved slowly.
Hawaii mayor is Mitch Roth. He said the eruption “will be remarkable”, but he does not think it will cause problems for people visiting Hawaii. He said many people come to Hawaii to see volcanoes, but they have to travel a long way to a national park. Now, they can see an eruption much more easily. “You can just look out your window at night and you’ll be able to see Mauna Loa erupting,” he said.
1. Why did officials give people a warning?A.The way lava flows is uncertain. | B.Air quality on the island isn’t good. |
C.The lava can shoot 60 meters at least. | D.The lava will reach where people live. |
A.It is near populated places. | B.No lava has come up through it. |
C.Many people live there. | D.It can stop eruptions. |
A.People had better leave Hawaii soon. |
B.The eruption is a possible danger to visitors. |
C.It is convenient to watch an eruption in Hawaii. |
D.The eruption is a once-in-a-century natural wonder. |
A.People in Hawaii Are Ready to Escape |
B.Volcanoes in Hawaii Always Attract Visitors |
C.Damage of Volcano in Hawaii Is Not Clear |
D.World’s Largest Active Volcano Erupts in Hawaii |
5 . With greater climate disasters lying ahead, it is natural for us to make every effort to stop a series of floods, unusual snowstorms, and alarming reports from scientists. For many of us, part of that means running out to buy reusable drinking tubes, organic cleaners, and packaging-free products.
However, before you are joyful of your “green” purchases, take a second to consider a principle that should be obvious: simply consuming less is better for the planet. After all, every new item a factory pumps out requires some resources to produce. But in the confusing stream of environmental news, this simple truth can get lost. Take plastic bag bans for instance. If your city is getting rid of single-use shopping bags, it can be tempting to pay for that fashionable organic cotton bag hanging in the check-outline of supermarkets. However, experts who have analyzed the data on environmental impact insist that growing cotton is actually no better for the Earth than producing the conventional plastic bag. Any bag you already own is your best bet for carrying your groceries if you care about sustainability.
It is not just the Earth that will be happier if you buy less. You will feel more contented too. There is a common view that green buying patterns mean people are going green. However, it doesn’t seem to be that way. Reduced consumption has positive effects on increased well-being, but you don’t see that with “green” consumption.
Many studies have shown that materialism in general makes us unhappy and lonely. It is perfectly possible to be a materialist and an environmentalist at the same time. Lusting (欲望) for every new “green” product on the market might make you feel good about yourself but it presents the same emotional traps as lusting for whatever the Joneses next door are buying. If you relieve yourself of that burden of ownership, most people report feeling a lot better and freer.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 1?A.To introduce the topic. |
B.To send a warning. |
C.To offer practical advice. |
D.To advocate green purchases. |
A.To promote cotton bags. |
B.To call for less consumption. |
C.To ban the using of plastic bags. |
D.To reveal the harm of using plastic bags. |
A.Buying less does benefit to the Earth. |
B.Green consumption increases well-being. |
C.Buying green indicates a green awareness. |
D.Being green gives rise to more consumption. |
A.Green Products Win Popularity |
B.Don’t Be Lost in Environmental Passion |
C.Buying Green Is Never a Final Solution |
D.Buying Less Beats Buying Green |
Early in February some volunteers in the United States posted dozens of
From
Since the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens received reports of Ya Ya’s poor health condition, the relevant authorities
A source says that if the procedures go
1.北极熊的生存现状(全球温度升高,冰面变小)
2.你的建议(至少两点)。
注意:1. 词数80左右;
2. 可适当增加细节,使行文连贯;
3. 开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
Dear WWF,
My classmates and I have been doing some research ca endangered animals.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I hope you will support us in our fight to save polar bears.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
8 . Earthquakes are a terrible natural disaster that will cause lots of danger and damage. In the last few years, we have seen some of the worst earthquakes in history.
Dogs have been known to warm their owners that dangerous weather was coming. We can take the ways our dog reacts (反应) in certain situations to give us a hand in predicting when something like an earthquake may be about to happen.
Although the signs of a dog sensing an earthquake aren’t very clear, dogs who sense earthquakes will show certain signs before the event actually happens.
On the other hand, dogs will instinctively look for shelter when they sense bad weather or they feel like they are in danger.
A.Many dogs can tell smelly gas. |
B.Your dog may run off or hide under a bed. |
C.Using dogs to predict earthquakes is not new |
D.If there is a coming earthquake, your dog will act strangely. |
E.They will also often bark for what seems to be no right reason. |
F.Earthquakes generally come with no warning and are hard to predict. |
G.There may be other reasons dogs may act this way or appear afraid for seemingly no reason. |
9 . Reducing the use of plastic is a balance between what you can afford and what you can get. I’ve
I’ve found that living plastic free is a great way to
Besides, I’ve slowly
Of course, there are certain situations where plastic is the most
Life without plastic doesn’t take place overnight. Devote yourself to making a few
A.heard | B.benefited | C.received | D.suffered |
A.record | B.rebuild | C.reduce | D.recall |
A.promote | B.consider | C.prevent | D.experience |
A.hardly | B.disappointedly | C.unfortunately | D.carefully |
A.purchase | B.print | C.repeat | D.power |
A.repurpose | B.abandon | C.reward | D.remember |
A.abroad | B.indoors | C.online | D.locally |
A.sold | B.offered | C.developed | D.donated |
A.eager | B.embarrassed | C.annoyed | D.sad |
A.smaller-sized | B.faster-moving | C.better-shaped | D.longer-lasting |
A.strange | B.suitable | C.dangerous | D.difficult |
A.discovered | B.designed | C.ruined | D.needed |
A.solutions | B.visits | C.roads | D.exceptions |
A.fit | B.pay | C.cut | D.sent |
A.comments | B.notes | C.changes | D.stops |
10 . The Banaue Rice Terraces (梯田) in Ifugao Province in the Philippines offer a great sight. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also rich in history and features how human creativity can produce amazing outcomes. Through hard work, the Ifugao native managed to survive by flattening the mountain’s surface layer by layer and using them as farmlands. This practice of more than two thousand years has put together a well-known wonder.
There are several rice terraces in the Ifugao region but the Banaue Rice Terraces are the most popular tourist spot. The photos of this area are often used in printed materials like textbooks magazines and postcards. After getting a good look at the rice terraces, I was reminded of the first time that I saw their pictures in our textbook during my elementary days. I already found them amusing as a kid and seeing their beauty as an adult got me more amazed.
The tourism officer told us that we were lucky to catch them in their greenest form. If you plan to visit this tourist spot as well, you should take note that we got there last June 1. You can also take into consideration that the rice planting cycle is typically 3 to 6 months.
Unlike the other terraces, the local government created a platform that makes it easy for everyone to get a closer look at the rice terraces. The platform has four stone statues that they refer to as rice protectors.
It’s sad that the younger generation of Ifugaos are slowly abandoning the rice terraces. According to tour guide Alvin, the part of the rice terraces where people can see thick bushes and trees were former rice fields. But the children who inherited (继承) those decided to give up farming and work in big cities instead. I hope that a new farming method with modern equipment will encourage the Ifugaos to continue their rice terraces farming tradition to protect this cultural treasure.
1. What can be learned about the Banaue RiceTerraces?A.They are most known for their history. |
B.They were made to mainly draw tourists. |
C.The locals created them with great wisdom and effort. |
D.Many mountains and lakes were turned into farmlands. |
A.To show the Banaue Rice Terraces are really attractive. |
B.To show Ifugao Province is heavily dependent on tourism. |
C.To show the Banaue Rice Terraces are more suitable for kids to visit. |
D.To show advertisements for the Banaue Rice Terraces spread rapidly. |
A.Tell us some facts about rice planting. |
B.Encourage more people to go to Ifugao. |
C.Raise public awareness of local traditions. |
D.Share the proper time to visit the Banaue Rice Terraces. |
A.Worried. |
B.Positive. |
C.Confused. |
D.Curious. |