1 . Directions: After reading the passages below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

A rare hole has opened up in the ozone layer above the Arctic, in     1     scientists say is the result of unusually low temperatures in the atmosphere above the north pole.

The hole has reached record dimensions, but is not expected to pose any danger to humans     2     it moves further south.     3     it extends further south to overpopulated areas, such as southern Greenland, people will be at increased risk of sunburn. However, on current trends the hole is expected to disappear altogether in a few weeks.

Low temperatures in the northern polar regions led to an unusual stable polar vortex (极地漩涡), and the presence of ozone-destroying chemicals such as chlorine (氯) in the atmosphere - from human activities-caused the hole     4     (form) .

It is now too early to say     5     the unusually stable Arctic polar vortex conditions are linked with the climate crisis, or part of normal stratospheric weather variability. Peuch said there were no direct implications for the climate crisis. Temperatures in the region are already increasing,     6     (slow) the destruction of ozone.

    7     a hole over the Arctic is a rare event, the much larger hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic has been a major cause for concern for more than four decades. The production of ozone-destroying chemicals     8     (reduce) dramatically, under the 1987 Montreal Protocol (蒙特利尔协议) , but some sources appear still to be functioning.

New sources of ozone-destroying chemicals were not a factor in the hole     9     (observe) in the Arctic, said Peuch. “However, this is a reminder that one should not take the Montreal Protocol measures for granted, and that observations from the ground and from satellites are central to avoiding a situation     10     the ozone-destroying chemical level in the stratosphere could increase again.”

2 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Is Banning Single-use Plastic the Right Option?

The harmful effects of using plastic are becoming increasingly apparent. Plastic does not decompose, but breaks down into smaller and smaller particles. It threatens our nature as well as our health. One popular solution to the problem is to prohibit single-use plastics. In the UK, supermarkets are being encouraged to set up plastic-free aisles, in which the food is displayed loose, and shoppers are encouraged to make more environmentally-friendly choices in packing and transporting their food.

Such plans are well-intentioned, but it may not be beneficial to eliminate(清除) the use of single-use plastic altogether. One of the fields where single-use plastic has a vital role is the food industry. When food or fresh goods are packed in plastic, they are protected and preserved, helping them remain fresher and keeping them from spoiling. Single-use plastic is also crucial in the medical industry. This is not just because of its low cost. It helps to prevent the spread of infection and that is the biggest benefit of the material in the medical field.

Replacing plastic with other materials is neither simple nor straightforward, mainly due to the challenge of finding an alternative that combines all the most desirable plastic properties. For example, glass products are a potential alternative, but cleaning them would be extremely expensive while increasing the risk to health. Another issue is that alternative materials to plastic are often more environmentally harmful than plastic. Take paper bags, for example. Research by the Northern Ireland Assembly shows four times more energy is required to manufacture a paper bag than a plastic bag. If people respond by simply using other materials, a ban on single-use plastic can end up making the problem worse.

Clearly there is a need to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment. However, simply banning their single use may not be the best option.

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3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。1.

A．Plant ecology.	B．The study of insects.
C．Marine biology.	D．The food chain.

2.

A．The threat of scientific progress.	B．The danger of chemicals pesticides(杀虫剂).
C．The possible causes of cancer.	D．The natural history of the sea.

3.

A．It led to a nationwide ban on the use of pesticides in US.

B．It received positive feedback as soon as it was published.

C．It accused chemical industry of spreading disinformation.

D．It laid the foundation for modern agricultural ecosystem.

4 . To be honest. I’ve been missing the online shopping experience in China since I moved to the US four years ago. So when I noticed Shein becoming mainstream in the US over the past few years, I though, Great! I finally have a Taohao replacement! So I went on my first Shein journey in August 2022.

But somewhere along the way, I started questioning why I enjoy this particular kind of shopping, and also what it means for an e-commerce platform to offer endless deals.

To be fair, there are Shein purchases that I’ve really enjoyed, like a $2 nylon watchband that feels better than my original Apple Watch band. I also think people should be able to choose quantity and price over quality, because the idea of demanding that people only buy premium products feels unrealistic.

But as it turns out, I’ve finally started to see through the illusion (错觉) of Shein-like platforms. To get these occasional incredible deals, you are encouraged to shop much more than is necessary or even reasonable. This illusion has worked for a long time and for a lot of people, including me! But it’s become harder and harder to ignore the environmental consequences of my purchases, and the ways in which platforms trick people into buying more and more.

And I don’t think I’m the only one experiencing that awakening. Broadly speaking, I think society is slowly but surely shifting toward recognizing the climate impact of mass-produced cheap goods. While these conversations have yet to happen as widely and furiously in China, companies like Taobao and Shein will inevitably have to answer the question of whether their business model is sustainable for everyone—or only for themselves. So where are they beading from here? There’s certainly a lot of soul-searching for the industry to do.

And I’m doing some soul-searching of my own.

1. Why does the author mention a “$2 nylon watchband”?

A．To compare it with her original band.

B．To persuade readers to buy it.

C．To show her satisfaction with Shein.

D．To show its cheapness.

2. What does the underlined word “premium” mean in the third paragraph?

A．High-quantity.	B．Expensive.
C．High-quality.	D．Original.

3. What do the customers tend to do with the illusion of Shein-like platforms?

A．They get incredible products on sale.

B．They often buy much more than what they need.

C．They ignore the environmental impacts.

D．They are tricked into buying more and more reasonable products.

4. What is a consequence of endless deals in e-commerce platforms?

A．Environmental harm.	B．Price reduction.
C．Energy shortage.	D．Worldwide starvation.

5 . Huizhou Architecture Comes to Life

Huizhou has a long history. When successful Huizhou businessmen got old,they often went back to their hometown and built houses to spend their remaining years.    1    Now, walking along the bluestone streets there,visitors can appreciate the distinctive Huizhou-style houses,featuring white walls,dark tiles (瓦片) and layered horse-head roofs, and feel like they are lost in a traditional Chinese ink painting.

Huizhou architecture, with its long tradition and great diversity, occupies an important place in Chinese architectural landscape, says Zhang Wangnan, director of the China Huizhou Culture Museum in Huangshan. Huizhou houses tend to be built on the natural places, since Huizhou is a mountainous area with few flat areas of land, according to Zhang. Moreover, daylight is valued in Huizhou houses, reflected in the building of open interior courtyards, allowing sunshine to enter the rooms. “Huizhou businessmen also believed that water symbolizes wealth.    2    It stands for keeping windfall profits,” says Zhang.

Huizhou is famous for its stone, wood and brick carvings, which are widely used to decorate local houses. “    3    In this way,they integrate their aesthetic (审美) values and emotions into the buildings,making them more beautiftul and educating their children through the meanings contained in the patterns,” says Zhang.

    4     “If you look at the outside of a Huizhou house, it seems simple, enclosed by walls, but the insides are open and broad, with complicated decorations. It is just like Huizhou people, who are often reserved toward strangers but friendly when you get to know them.” says Zhang. He also says that Ming houses differ from those of the QingDynasty in many aspects, for example, having fewer horse-head roofs and less complicated carvings.

A．When it rains, water falling on the roof soon flows to the courtyard.

B．Many of their houses are well-preserved today, especially in Xidi and Hongcun.

C．To talk about Huizhou culture, we must first understand Huizhou.

D．People carved beautiful patterns and historical stories on the walls, windows and wooden posts of their houses.

E．Features of Huizhou houses display the characteristics of local people.

F．Huizhou people have established many schools in the field of culture.

6 . The world is wasting the opportunity to “build back better” from the Covid-19 pandemic, and faces disastrous temperature rises of at least 2.7°C if countries fail to strengthen their climate commitments, according to a report from the UN.

Tuesday’s publication warns that countries’ current commitments would reduce carbon by only about 7.5% by 2030, far less than the 45% cut, which scientists say is needed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃, the aim of the Cop26summit that opens in Glasgow this Sunday.

António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, described the findings as a “thundering wake-up call“ to world leaders. while experts called for action against fossil fuel companies.

Although more than 100 countries have promised to reach net zero emissions around mid-century, this would not be enough to avoid climate disasters, according to the UN emissions report, which examines the shortfall between countries’ intentions and actions needed on the climate. Many of the net zero commitments were found to be unclear, and unless accompanied by strict cuts in emissions this decade would allow global heating of a potentially disastrous extent.

Guterres said: “The heat is on, and as the contents of the report show, the leadership we need is off. Far off. Countries are wasting a massive opportunity to invest Covid-19 finance and recovery resources in sustainable, cost-saving, planet-saving ways. As world leaders prepare for Cop26, this report is another thundering wake-up call. How many do we need?”

Inger Andersen, the director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said: “Climate change is no longer a future problem. It is a now problem. To stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5℃, we have 8 years to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions: 8 years to make the plans, put in place the policies, carry them out and deliver the cuts.The clock is ticking loudly.”

Emissions fell by about 5.4% last year during Covid lockdowns, the report found, but only about one-fifth of the economic recovery spending goes towards reducing carbon emissions. This failure to ”build back better“ despite promises by governments around the world cast doubt on the world’s willingness to make the economic shift necessary to settle the climate crisis, the UN said.

In the run-up to Cop26, countries were supposed to submit national plans to cut emissions - called nationally determined contributions (NDCs) - for the next decade, a requirement under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. But the UNEP report found only half of countries had submitted new NDCs, and some governments had presented weak plans.

1. Why were the findings described as a “thundering wake-up call” in Para. 3?

A．Because the world has failed to deliver on its current promises.

B．Because the serious problems were brought about by global fossil fuels.

C．Because a global temperature rise of at least 2.7°C would be a disaster.

D．Because the opportunities presented by covid-19 have been wasted.

2. According to the author, in what circumstances is global warming avoidable?

A．New plans will be made to protect the environment.

B．Measures will be taken to reduce emissions in the coming ten years.

C．Transitions will be made in response to the global climate crisis.

D．Global sustainable environmental resources will be greatly developed.

3. What is the author’s purpose in saying “How many do we need?” in Para.5?

A．To show the number of alarm clocks required.

B．To inquire the number of the countries attending the meeting.

C．To explain the reason for the world’s wasting chances.

D．To stress the need to save energy and reduce emissions.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Few countries have submitted plans to reduce the emissions.

B．Most of the countries work under the Paris Climate Agreement.

C．Plans to cut emissions of many countries are far from satisfactory.

D．Much progress in reducing emissions has been made these years.

7 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize in no more than 60 words the main idea of the passage and how it is illustrated. Use your own words as far as possible.

Kangaroos can “talk” to us

Kangaroos can “talk” to people, according to a new study. The report is the first research of its kind to be done on marsupials—a type of creature whose young get carried in skin pockets on their mother’s body. It suggests kangaroos are cleverer than previously thought.

Researchers from the University of Roehampton in the UK and the University of Sydney in Australia tested kangaroos at the Australian Reptile (爬行动物) Park, Wildlife Sydney Zoo and Kangaroo Protection Co-operative. The scientists put food in a box that the kangaroos could not open, and waited to see what the animals would do. Rather than giving up, 10 out of the 11 kangaroos actively looked at the person who had put the food in the box and then looked at the box. The researchers said this could be interpreted as the kangaroos requesting help to open the container.

Dr Alexandra Green, a co-author of the study, told The Guardian newspaper that some of the kangaroos actually approached the person and started scratching (挠) and sniffing (嗅) him, then looked back at the box. “So they were really trying to communicate,” Green said. This behaviour is not uncommon in animals. However, it is usually only seen in domesticated animals, such as pets or farm animals. The lead author of the study, Dr Alan McElligott, explained, “Through this study, we were able to see that communication between creatures can be learnt and that the behaviour of looking at humans to access food is not related to domestication. “Indeed, kangaroos showed a very similar pattern of behaviour we have seen in dogs, horses and even goats, when put to the same test,” he added.

It is hoped that the study will give people a more positive attitude towards kangaroos, which are sometimes seen as harmful creatures that damage farmers’ crops.

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8 . Greening the blue

Is there a “natural” way to enhance the potential of the oceans to lock away climate-warming CO₂? Planting more trees on land can help draw down more CO₂ from the atmosphere—the basis of many plans for carbon credits that companies buy to offset their emissions (抵消其排放).     1     Seaweed forests and saltmarshes (盐碱滩) are common examples.

Some regard the potential for this “blue carbon” as huge, although as yet there is no mechanism for integrating it into carbon offsetting plans. John Virdin of Duke University in North Carolina says, “    2    ” He adds, “You have to go out and measure all the carbon that’s there, you have to show that it’s not going to be lost, you have to keep monitoring it.” Virdin and others have proposed extending an existing land-based plan called REDD + (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) to the ocean, but that is an idea whose ship has yet to sail.

    3     In March, the UK government’s climate adviser, the Climate Change Committee, found that restoring and creating seagrass and saltmarsh ecosystems in the country would only lock away a small amount of CO₂, removing “well below” 1 million tonnes a year. Nonetheless, these are efficient carbon stores according to the committee.     4    

A．Using the oceans as a solution to climate change is hardly a new idea.

B．There is still some doubt about how big the marine offsetting effect might be.

C．It’s really hard to turn blue carbon conservation and restoration into carbon credits that you can sell.

D．Something similar might work in the oceans, by stimulating the growth of marine and coastal ecosystems.

E．And conserving them is important given how much fishing and other activities have degraded them.

F．The big objection to all these plans is the possibility of negative environmental side effects.

9 . After five long years, it appears California’s drought is finally becoming less severe. _______ a recent string of storms, more than a third of the state has now welcomed healthy precipitation (降水量), and California’s snowpack—a(n) _______ source of water as the year progresses—has reached nearly twice its seasonal average in some parts of the Sierra Nevada. That’s a dramatic improvement over last summer, when literally every inch of the state _______ drought conditions. It’s also welcome news for Californians, who have faced a series of water _______ since Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in early 2014. Farmers have been forced to spend heavily to maintain production.

The state’s water struggles, _______, are far from over. For one, nobody knows for sure how long these rains will last. Although recent precipitation has been _______—in some places more than 80 inches—the accuracy of storm forecasting remains _______ beyond a week. Californians know this all too well: last year, experts projected a “Godzilla” El Niño that would bring record levels of precipitation. It never _______. “Will six weeks from now be wet?” asks Jeanine Jones, California’s interstate water-resources manager. “The skill in that kind of forecasting is just not there.”

_______, a storm slowdown is a very real possibility—and it could leave California without enough water to make it through the dry summer. ________, when that happens, the state has turned to groundwater stored in natural rock formations deep beneath the earth’s surface. But those ________ remain used up after years of drought; restoring them could take years in some places, says Jones.

The quick inrush of water has also created a(n) ________ balancing act for water managers. Keeping surface reservoirs (水库) filled to the edge protects against the possibility of a sudden dry spell, but it also

________ the risk of flooding if and when future storms hit. To that end, water managers opened the Sacramento Weir floodgates earlier this month to pour reservoir water into nearby fields after ________ showed local water levels would likely continue to rise. That’s a calculation that will be made across the state in the coming months.

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 ________ optimistic.”

1.

A．According to

B．With respect to

C．Thanks to

D．In addition to

2.

A．official

B．exhaustible

C．unexpected

D．crucial

3.

A．experienced

B．improved

C．worsened

D．investigated

4.

A．pollution

B．restrictions

C．pressure

D．cycles

5.

A．nevertheless

B．therefore

C．meanwhile

D．moreover

6.

A．accurate

B．plentiful

C．consistent

D．emergent

7.

A．productive

B．unchangeable

C．progressive

D．unreliable

8.

A．fell behind

B．broke down

C．came about

D．took off

9.

A．Or else

B．In other words

C．At that point

D．Above all

10.

A．Literally

B．Contrarily

C．Historically

D．Consequently

11.

A．levels

B．formations

C．struggles

D．reserves

12.

A．random

B．delicate

C．mechanical

D．insensible

13.

A．heightens

B．assumes

C．minimizes

D．identifies

14.

A．restorations

B．calculations

C．conditions

D．projections

15.

A．hopelessly

B．extremely

C．guardedly

D．cheerfully

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。1.

A．They are describing a new dustbin

B．They are discussing the protection of environment.

C．They are collecting used batteries.

D．They are looking forward to attending a lecture.

2.

A．To make full use of the metals left.

B．To protect the resources from being destroyed.

C．To call for stopping using plastic meal-boxes.

D．To awaken people to the environmental problem.