1 . In the late 19th century Yellowstone became the first great National Park, described as America’s “best idea.” But the park was devastating for the Native Americans who had lived or hunted within their borders and who were displaced.
The U. S. has taken one small step to compensate by returning the National Bison Range to its Native owners as a first step. Next, at the 2021 UN Biodiversity Conference, the government should ensure new conservation plans support Indigenous (本土的) and local communities for their conservation achievements.
In 2016 biologist Edward responded to the biodiversity crisis by calling for half of Earth to be left to wilderness, birthing the“30×30”campaign to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land and sea surface by 2030. Backed by many scientists, major conservation organizations, the target is likely to be adopted by the CBD.
Critics argue that the “30×30” initiative, aimed at conservation, could become a tool for exploitation (剥削). They claim it may unjustly burden those least responsible for environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. There’s concern that powerful entities could use the proposal as an excuse for seizing land from disadvantaged groups. Indigenous territories, which host 80% of Earth’s remaining biodiversity, are particularly at risk of being targeted in the name of protection. Tragically, the very communities that bravely protect nature against exploitation could face displacement, with estimates suggesting up to 300 million people could lose their homes.
There is a way to do global conservation right. Indigenous communities are as good as or better than governments at protecting biodiversity and already conserve a quarter of Earth’s land surface. The CBD needs to ensure that they get secure rights to their territories, as well as the resources to defend them.
The National Park could lead the way in this effort by helping rescue nature and its most passionate defenders from the militarized (军事化) conservation model it pioneered one and a half centuries ago. That is a crucial step toward a relief for the incredible life forms that share our planet, as well as their Indigenous guardians.
1. What does the underlined word “devastating” in paragraph 1 mean?A.innovative | B.beneficial | C.promising | D.disastrous |
A.A biologist’s advocate to conserve nature. |
B.CBD’s ambition to empower Indigenes. |
C.The compensation made by the United States. |
D.An excuse to seize land from dominant groups. |
A.Precautions against reducing Pygmy people to poverty and misery. |
B.Relying on the governments to displace locals from their homeland. |
C.Militarized conservation model pioneered by the United Sates. |
D.Returning the land in the care of the Indigenous communities. |
A.Conservation or Modernization? |
B.Where Is the Next Yellowstone? |
C.Protect Biodiversity’s Protectors. |
D.Government as Nature’s Guardian. |
2 . Following a sustainable diet, also known as a “planetary health diet”, includes whole grains, fruits, nuts, green vegetables, and olive oil, can be a win-win for your health and the planet, according to a new research.
The new research conducted by scientists from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health has revealed that people who eat more environmentally sustainable food have a 25percent lower risk of mortality (死亡) compared to those with a less sustainable diet, like eggs, the red and processed meat. The findings show that the participants with a good planetary health diet had a reduced risk of all causes of death measured in the study.
The study involved over 100,000 participants in the USA, with a 30-year check-up period. According to Linh Bui, the PhD candidate at Harvard, the research team integrated data on the health outcomes of specific foods and their environment al impact, creating a Planetary Health Diet Index (指数), and gave the participants scores based on their diets. Using this, they assessed the relationship between the scores and the participants’ health outcomes. “The results confirmed our previous hypothesis (假设) that a higher Planetary Health Diet score was associated with a lower risk of death,” said Bui. The people with the highest Planetary Health Index scores had a 25per cent lower overall risk of death than those with the lowest scores.
The environmental impact of the foods was evaluated by factors such as water use, land use, package, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers hope that the eco-index can be used as a simple tool for policy makers and public health services to improve human health and tackle the climate crisis.
However, they acknowledge that the index does not take into account certain challenges that people may have in following a sustainable diet, such as health conditions of the subjects and what cultures they come from. They hope that further research will address these barriers, as well as relationships between foods and diseases tailored to particular countries.
1. What did the new research find about a sustainable diet?A.It is a double-edged sword. |
B.It can reduce the risk of death. |
C.It is mainly composed of greens. |
D.It is less friendly to the environment. |
A.The approaches adopted in the study. |
B.New confirmation about the results. |
C.Supporting evidence for the theory. |
D.Potential benefits of the research. |
A.By analyzing their elements. | B.By measuring their nutrition. |
C.By examining their packaging. | D.By assessing their eco-footprint. |
A.Individual preferences. |
B.Prospective food access. |
C.Culture-based healthy food. |
D.Sustainable food alternatives. |
3 . On Friday, students around the world will walk out of their classrooms and gather in joint protests to highlight the global crisis created by climate change. The goal? To get elected officials and industry leaders to actually act to stop the coming disaster.
Climate change poses a terrible threat to humanity, and politicians aren’t doing enough to find solutions, protest organizers wrote on the Global Climate Strike website. Greenhouse gas emissions (排放) are a primary driver of global warming, but leaders have been irresolute about abandoning fossil fuels, even as global temperatures continue to climb.
Strikes and protests by students in more than 2,500 locations aim to show that the younger generations won’t stand easily by while their future — and their planet — hang in the balance. The strike follows a summer of extreme weather linked to climate change: strange global heat waves, wildfires and ice loss from glaciers (冰川). In July, three studies found that the global climate is changing more quickly than it has in the past 2,000 years.
Sixteen-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is currently visiting New York City, is one of the strike’s key organizers. Thunberg will speak at a Friday demonstration at Foley Square there at 12 p. m. local time, after which protesters will march to Battery Park. Thunberg will also address the UN Climate Action Summit on September 23. The emergency meeting is being organized so that world leaders can present “concrete, realistic plans” for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the goal of reaching zero emissions by 2050, according to a UN statement.
Thousands of protests are planned for Friday — just three days prior to the summit—and collectively, they will be the biggest climate action in history.
1. Why will students gather together?A.To make their voice heard by leaders. |
B.To call on moves to protect the earth. |
C.To celebrate the newly elected officials. |
D.To organize a big protest for civil rights. |
A.Hesitant. | B.Concerned. | C.Decisive. | D.Thoughtful. |
A.Electing new leaders of the summit. |
B.Reorganizing the UN department. |
C.Reaching zero emissions by 2050. |
D.Protecting the whole human beings. |
A.Global Students Mobilize for Climate Action |
B.Why Not Join the Students for a New Planet? |
C.Organize a Climate Talk for the Only Earth |
D.A New Strike Will Be Staged Worldwide |
4 . The oceans play a crucial role in lightening global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions. However, in a study conducted by the University of Texas, researchers found that the oceans’ capacity to absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) would reach its maximum by 2100 and decrease to half of its current efficiency by 2300, based on a climate simulation (模拟) that was set for a worst-case emissions scenario (设想).
The decline happens because of a surface layer of low-alkalinity (碱度) water that can hinder the ability of the oceans to absorb CO₂. Alkalinity affects how much CO₂ can dissolve in seawater. Although the emissions scenario used in the study is unlikely because of global efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the findings reveal a previously unknown tipping point that if activated would release an important brake on global warming.
“We need to think about these worst-case scenarios to understand how our CO₂ emissions might affect the oceans not just this century, but next century and the following centuries. Climate simulations had previously shown that the oceans slow their absorption of CO₂ over time, but none had considered alkalinity as an explanation. We recalculated pieces of a 450-year simulation until we hit on alkalinity as a key cause of the slowing.” said Megumi Chikamoto, who led the research at the University of Texas Institute.
The effect begins with extreme climate change, which slows ocean currents. This leaves the surface of the oceans covered in a warm layer of fresh water that won’t mix easily with the cooler, more al kaline waters below it. That means more of it is left behind in the atmosphere. This in turn produces faster warming, which sustains and strengthens the low-alkalinity surface layer. Co-author, Pedro DiNezio, said that the discovery was a powerful reminder that the world needs to reduce its CO₂ emissions to avoid crossing this and other tipping points.
1. What may happen after the year 2300?A.More CO₂ will be absorbed by the oceans. |
B.The oceans will lose all their current efficiency. |
C.The world will face even more severe warming. |
D.The oceans will be less crucial to global warming. |
A.Improve. | B.Weaken. | C.Protect. | D.Control. |
A.Finding why they slow CO₂ intake is hard. |
B.Their ability to absorb CO₂ is at their maximum. |
C.They will decide on the future of human beings. |
D.They will slow down CO₂ absorption very quickly. |
A.A biology textbook. | B.A government report. |
C.Science fiction. | D.An environmental journal. |
1. Where did the speaker move things from the yard?
A.Into the garage. | B.Into the basement. | C.Into the storeroom. |
A.Some flashlights. | B.A radio. | C.Food and water. |
A.About 80 miles an hour. |
B.About 90 miles an hour. |
C.About 100 miles an hour. |
A.She listened to the news on the radio. |
B.She looked after her husband. |
C.She stayed in the bathroom. |
6 . A flood can develop slowly, over time or rapidly, as in the case of flash floods which can develop in just a few minutes and without signs of rain.
Create an evacuation plan in case you have to evacuate your home. Pay attention to the safe areas you can go to. Prepare food kits for natural disasters that you can easily take with you if you have to leave your house.
If there is a possibility of a flash flood, leave your home and move to higher ground at once. Do not wait for instructions to move. Evacuation may also cause a shortage in the food supply.
While evacuating, avoid walking through moving water. Even six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving.
Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon (舍弃) the car and move to higher ground, when water is not moving or not more than a few inches deep.
A.They don’t know where to look for shelter. |
B.You and the car can be swept away quickly. |
C.Use a stick to check the ground in front of you. |
D.Be aware if the area you’re at is at risk of a flood. |
E.There is no telling when another flood may happen. |
F.It would help to store food for emergency situations. |
G.During these conditions, hunger becomes a very real problem. |
7 . Back in 2007, Uruguay had a serious problem with no obvious answer: The economy was growing very fast, but there wasn’t enough energy to power the rapid
Then Ramón Méndez Galain, a physicist, started
Méndez Galain’s plan was built around two simple
To solve the problem of how to pay for all those wind farms, Méndez Galain came up with a variation on a(n)
The strategy worked
A.decline | B.growth | C.consumption | D.program |
A.building | B.blocking | C.repairing | D.seeking |
A.rely on | B.find out | C.refer to | D.give up |
A.risk | B.power | C.pollution | D.benefit |
A.facts | B.theories | C.answers | D.principles |
A.water | B.light | C.wind | D.ice |
A.tended | B.undeveloped | C.protected | D.limited |
A.break | B.put | C.send | D.turn |
A.tool | B.software | C.image | D.approach |
A.responsible | B.weak | C.private | D.profitable |
A.public | B.opposite | C.rich | D.powerful |
A.managing | B.selling | C.abandoning | D.starting |
A.hardly | B.relatively | C.unexpectedly | D.rarely |
A.forgotten | B.achieved | C.apologized | D.approved |
A.income | B.food | C.supply | D.electricity |
8 . Going Zero Waste means more than dealing with the rubbish we create. It means reducing it, too. People who go Zero Waste are careful about what they do. They never take more than they need, they reuse plastic bags, and they make good plans not to buy more than necessary before going shopping.
Kamikatsu, a Japanese village, has already gone Zero Waste. The 2,000 villagers recycle (循环利用) everything possible. There are 34 different boxes at the recycling center! The villagers sometimes just feel unhappy about what they have to do, but they also see the good side.
Let’s think about how to enjoy a Zero Waste Christmas. By sending recyclable cards, we can help our friends and family reduce waste. And wouldn’t it be better to enjoy the spirit of Christmas with a real tree that can be re-planted in spring?
Going Zero Waste requires us to think more about what happens before and after we act. It is not always easy. But just think how good it would be, both for ourselves and for the environment, if we never had to waste anything.
1. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 1 refers to .A.a plastic bag | B.the rubbish |
C.a difficult thing | D.going Zero Waste |
A.Planting trees at Christmas. |
B.Using plastic bags when shopping. |
C.Sending recyclable cards for Christmas. |
D.Buying food when you are very hungry. |
A.To persuade people to reduce waste. |
B.To teach people how to enjoy Christmas. |
C.To introduce the life of Japanese villagers. |
D.To tell people how to deal with difficulties. |
A.Topic—Examples—Discussion |
B.Examples—Argument—Topic |
C.Topic—Explanation—Argument |
D.Examples—Explanation—Discussion |
9 . In the midst of an already record-breaking heat wave, Phoenix, Arizona, set a particularly eye-popping record: the temperature only dropped to 97 degrees Fahrenheit overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, setting an all-time record high for a nighttime low. When temperatures stay high overnight, they place a particularly heavy burden on the body, raising the risk of heat illness and death.
The U.S. —and the world—has seen a spate of extreme heat so far this year, including the planet’s hottest-ever June and hottest week on record during the first week of July. Rising global temperatures from burning fossil fuels are the main driver of more frequent and more intense heat waves. And an El Niño event is also boosting global temperatures this year.
A heat dome has been in place for weeks over the U.S. Southwest and Texas, and it has fueled many heat records. Phoenix has now seen 20 days in a row with a daytime high of 110 degrees F or higher, a record that is likely to continue for several more days. A heat dome is an area of high pressure that parks over a region. High-pressure ridges, as they are also called, feature sinking air, which compresses and heats up. These ridges’ typical clear skies also allow the sun’s rays to beat down on the ground, further raising temperatures.
Prolonged heat extremes pose a major public health threat because heat is the number-one weather-related killer in the U.S.; it causes more human deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined. Heat can cause dehydration, which leads the blood to thicken and makes the heart pump harder. That organ and others can be damaged by too much exposure to heat.
The soaring, triple-digit high daily temperatures grab the headlines, and they definitely are a concern—but when temperatures only drop into the 80s and 90s at night, the body doesn’t get a chance to cool down. This is particularly a concern for those who lack air-conditioning, including unhoused populations. And heat is especially a health risk for the very young, the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
1. What can be inferred from the first two paragraphs?A.Extreme temperatures can cause damage to our hearts. |
B.Burning fossil fuels contributes to the hottest-ever June and July. |
C.El Nino is the dominant cause of soaring global temperature. |
D.The temperature at night has reached a record high in Phoenix, Arizona. |
A.It’s a weather phenomenon that contributes to high temperatures. |
B.It’s a peak that the low pressure should reach. |
C.It’s the damage caused by too much exposure to heat. |
D.It’s the extra heat trapped in the sinking air. |
A.It is the top one killer in America. | B.Exposure to heat contributes to heart diseases. |
C.Human organs might be impaired. | D.People accommodate to 80s and 90s Fahrenheit at night. |
A.Soaring temperatures are hitting the headlines. | B.Anew eye popping overnight low record is set. |
C.Hot overnight temperatures threaten human health. | D.Global heat waves are causing concerns. |
A civilian rescue team of named Ramunion from Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province is expected to arrive in Turkey on Wednesday, with an advance team
The advance team is equipped with
Deng Boqing, vice chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA),said in an interview that Chinese government
China announced 40 million yuan ($5.8 million) of emergency assistance to Turkey and the dispatch of a rescue and medical team. It will also provide Syria
Chinese
More than 4,000 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 people injured after two