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2 . Earth Day is on April 22nd. People say thanks to the Earth and learn ways to keep the Earth safe and clean. But saving the Earth is not just for grow-ups. Kids are also taking an active part in it.
The American writer and filmmaker Lynne made a film called Young Voices for the Planet. It lists a lot of stories about different kids who help to keep our environment clean.
Team Marine, USA group of students at Santa Monica High School started an organization called Team Marine. They tell people why plastic bags are bad for sea animals and environment. In 2011, they successfully made lawmakers (立法者) in their city stop people using plastic bags.
Felix, 15, Germany In 2007, a 9-year-old boy, Felix, started a club,Plant for the Planet. It encourages children around the world to plant trees in their own countries. Felix helped plant 25 million trees in Germany and 120 million trees worldwide.
Alec, 17, US When he was 12, Alec set up Kids VS Global (全球的) Warming. It teaches kids about weather change and ways to stop the world getting warmer and warmer. Alec travels widely to encourage people to help stop global warming. He has given more than 70 talks across the country.
Olivia, 13, US When Olivia was 11, she heard about the 2010 oil spill (漏油) in the Gulf of Mexico. She painted 500 pictures of birds to raise money for the clean-up. She raised more than $200,000 to protect (保护) birds and other wild animals.
1. What is the purpose of setting up the “Earth Day” and who can do something for the Earth?A.To keep the earth peaceful and beautiful by adults and kids |
B.To keep the earth balanced by adults only |
C.To keep the earth safe and clean by adults and kids |
D.To keep the earth safe and clean by kids only |
A.a book | B.a TV play |
C.a film | D.a club |
A.Team Marine | B.Felix | C.Alec | D.Olivia |
A.raise money |
B.plant trees |
C.protect wild animals |
D.help stop global warming |
A.kids are saving the Earth |
B.parents are planting trees |
C.students are raising money |
D.grow-ups are using plastics bags |
3 . Melissa Poe was 9 years old when she began a campaign for a cleaner environment by writing a letter to the then President Bush. Through her own efforts, her letter was reproduced on over 250 donated billboards across the country.
The response to her request for help was so huge that Poe established Kids For A Cleaner Environment (Kids F.A.C.E.) in 1989. There are now 300,000 members of Kids FACE worldwide and is the world's largest youth environmental organization.
Poe has also asked the National Park Service to carry out a "Children's Forest" project in every national park. In 1992, she was invited as one of only six children in the world to speak at the Earth Summit in Brazil as part of the Voices of the Future Program. In 1993, she was given a Caring Award for her efforts by the Caring Institute.
Since the organization started, Kids F.A.C.E. members have distributed and planted over 1 million trees! Ongoing tree-planting projects include Kid's Yards – the creation of backyard wildlife habitats (栖息地) and now Kids F.A.C.E. is involved in the exciting Earth Odyssey, which is a great way to start helping.
"Starting the club turned out to be a way to help people get involved with the environment. Club members started doing things like recycling, picking up litter and planting trees as well as inviting other kids to join their club."
"We try to tell kids that it's not OK to be lazy," she explains. "You need to start being a responsible, environmentally friendly person now, right away, before you become a resource-sucking adult."
1. Kids F.A.C.E is _____.A.a program to help students with writing |
B.a project of litter recycling |
C.a campaign launched by President Bush |
D.a club of environmental protection |
A.She was awarded a prize in Brazil. |
B.She donated billboard across the country. |
C.She got positive responses for her efforts |
D.She joined the National Park Service. |
A.established in a national park. |
B.started to protect wildlife |
C.a wildlife- raising project |
D.an entertainment park for kids. |
A.Adults are resource-sucking people |
B.Poe sought help from a youth organization |
C.Kids F.A.C.E members are from the U.S. |
D.Kids are urged to save natural resources. |
This phenomenon happens when pavement, buildings, and other infrastructure (基础设施) replace natural land cover. Large amounts of paved and dark colored surfaces—such as roofs, roads, and parking lots—absorb, rather than reflect, the sun’s heat, causing surface temperatures and overall ambient (周围的) air temperature to rise. Unlike soil, paved areas contribute to runoff, which means that as paved areas increase, the amount of water available for evaporation (蒸发) decreases. Moreover, urban areas have fewer trees and less natural vegetation which help to control the heat by providing shade and blocking solar radiation. The surfaces of leaves also provide water for evaporation which cools the air, further worsening the heat island effect.
In particular, during summer, more energy is required to cool the insides of building and for refrigeration, thereby creating additional heat output. This in turn leads to higher ambient air temperatures, which can also significantly increase the formation of urban smog in an area, degrading local air quality. Such a situation may directly affect public health with individuals more likely to suffer from heat exhaustion and the effects of asthma (哮喘).
1. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means ________.
A.Due to dark colored roads, urban areas are becoming hotter each year |
B.Dark colored surfaces reflect the sun’s heat, causing air temperatures to rise |
C.Because urban surfaces absorb heat, air and surface temperatures increase |
D.Rising ambient air temperatures lead to urban surfaces absorbing more heat |
A.The lack of trees |
B.The demand for refrigeration |
C.The blocking of solar radiation |
D.The construction of infrastructure. |
A.ignoring | B.improving |
C.highlighting | D.worsening |
A.giving typical examples |
B.following the time order |
C.presenting the effect and analyzing the cause |
D.analyzing a problem and seeking the solution |
Up to 200 families in Didcot now receive the gas via the national gas power system. Head of energy and technology at British Gas, Martin Orrill, said customers wouldn’t notice any difference as the gas is purified (提炼) to the highest standard and has no smell. The gas is produced at a sewage (污物) treatment works plant in Didcot.
The entire process takes only less than three weeks, with the sewage being collected and sent first to settlement tanks. The solid waste material is then fed into digesters, where anaerobic bacteria (厌氧菌) digest the sewage, with the aid of enzymes (酶) to speed up the process. The digestion process produces methane, which can be burned to drive machines to produce electricity, or can be purified and fed into the gas network and piped to homes and businesses. British Gas says supplying the gas rather than electricity is far more efficient since around two-thirds of the energy is lost in producing electricity.
Partners in the Didcot project, British Gas, Scotia Gas Networks, and Thames Water, all hope to expand the process to other towns, and other companies such as Ecotricity and United Utilities have also announced biomethane projects being planned. One of these projects, in Manchester, could be supplying 500 homes with biomethane by mid next year. Another British Gas project in Suffolk will provide gas from digestion of brewery wastes to around 235 families.
The Didcot project cost £2.5m and was influenced by promises of government aids aimed at encouraging companies to develop renewable technologies. An EU directive means the UK must ensure at least 15 percent of its energy is from renewable sources by 2020.
The UK produces about 1.73 million tons of sewage annually. If all sewage treatment works in the UK were fitted with the technology, they could supply gas for up to 350,000 families.
1. Which of the following is true of the biomethane gas?
A.It’s mainly made from rotting plants. |
B.It’s an environmentally friendly gas. |
C.Its production process is too long. |
D.It’s easily recognized by the customers. |
A.To digest the solid waste material. |
B.To help get rid of anaerobic bacteria. |
C.To help purify the biomethane. |
D.To speed up the digestion process. |
A.as the power for the vehicles |
B.for the heating and cooking |
C.to produce the electricity |
D.to drive a variety of machines |
A.UK government supports the biome thane projects |
B.the biome thane projects are very costly |
C.the biome thane projects still face many barriers |
D.the biome thane projects are promising |
A.Computer science. | B.Engineering. | C.Energy. | D.Business. |
Probably not. But that’s what kids in Yemen are experiencing. Experts said Yemen is going to be the first country in the world to run out of water. According to a report, the capital, Sanaa, will run out of drinking water as early as 2025.
Because of the shortage, the government often cuts the water supply. Hannan, an 18-year-old from Lahej, told the Times: “In a good week we’ll have a water supply all week. But then the following week there will be water only for a day or two.”
Hannan said only rich people have enough water to use. They can buy water from the shops or from the water truck. Private companies own the trucks. They travel around the city every day to sell water – at very high prices.
“A lot of people can’t afford it,” she said.
The average person in Yemen uses 100 to 200 cubic meters of water per year. That is far below the international water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters.
The government is thinking of making use of seawater. But it will cost a lot and it may not happen soon enough to help the people of Yemen.
1. The purpose of the text is to _______.
A.tell us what life is like in Yemen |
B.draw our attention to water shortage |
C.remind us how important water is |
D.show us ways of solving problems |
A.buying water from shops |
B.drinking dirty water |
C.suffering from water shortage |
D.washing clothes with used water |
A.what her life is like |
B.how beautiful Lahej is |
C.how people use water fully |
D.how heavy the traffic in Lahej is |
A.has found a practical solution |
B.only cares about rich people |
C.may try to make use of seawater |
D.can do nothing about the water supply |
A.Sanaa will run out of water in 10 years |
B.Hannan is a teenager from a rich family |
C.the capital of Yemen is developing fast |
D.private companies make a lot of money |
Lynn's interest in sustainable living has expanded over the years from simple recycling and wildlife gardening to encouraging others to appreciate nature and do what each can to protect the environment. The creation of Indiana Living Green comes from her belief that most individuals have an inner desire to do what is best for our environment and that each individual act truly does make a difference.
Lynn has been instrumental in bringing her green consciousness to Indiana by way of Indiana Living Green magazine over the past two years. Indiana Living Green is the only local publication solely focused on green living and sustainability. In addition, Lynn’s pioneering efforts also provide public educational forums via "Green Scenes" — a series of three hour events, each focusing on specific topics teaching Hoosiers how to lead greener lifestyles. She is a sought-after speaker, delivering topics such as "Greening Your Outdoor Space," "Updating Your Home to Green" and "Greening Your Lifestyle" to various businesses and organizations throughout Central Indiana. In addition, Lynn has appeared regularly on Indianapolis Fox 59 morning show’s "Living Green" segment, discussing various topics of interest ranging from grilling green and green baby buys to composting and recycling.
In addition to her role as publisher of Indiana Living Green magazine, Lynn is also a Habitat Steward Host for National Wildlife Federation, editor of Hoosier Organic Gardener, the newsletter of the Indiana Organic Gardeners Association, and a member of Garden Writers Association.
Lynn Jenkins deserves to be publicly recognized for all that she is and all that she has done and continues to do to educate and empower each of us to improve our individual lives, communities and our Earth.
1. Which of the following is NOT true of Lynn Jenkins?
A.She is the publisher of the magazine Indiana Living Green. |
B.She is a member of Garden Writers Association. |
C.She won the award the Heart of Green Local Hero. |
D.She encourages people to love and protect nature. |
A.a book on modern life style | B.a magazine on fashion |
C.a journal on travel | D.a magazine on green living |
A.It is a scene set in a three-hour film. |
B.It is a series of events focusing on green life. |
C.It is a film set in Central Indiana. |
D.It is a forum focusing on green lifestyle. |
A.simply | B.mainly | C.earnestly | D.seriously |
A.To call on readers to protect the environment and live green. |
B.To nominate Lynn Jenkins for the Heart of Green Local Hero. |
C.To introduce the readers to the Heart of Green Local Hero. |
D.To advertise for Indiana Living Green and its publisher. |
Travel in the Everglades is difficult. You cannot walk through shallow water because the sawgrass will cut you. The water is too shallow for regular boats. So, we use an airboat. An airboat is a flat, open boat. Like an airplane, it has a big propeller to move it. The propeller is fixed on the rear of the boat. It makes a tremendous noise, but it does the job. The boat skims along the water’s surface. Although we can still get lost in an airboat, at least we are above the alligators(短吻鳄).
While hundreds of different kinds of animals live in the Everglades, the most famous is surely the alligator. Once endangered, alligators are now protected within Everglades National Park. Visitors are likely to see them both on land and in water.
For a long time, dangers have threatened the Everglades. Around 1900, some people felt this precious wetland should be drained (排干). They said it was just a big swamp and not good for anything. In the 1920s, there was a land boom in Florida. People wanted to build homes everywhere, including in the Everglades. They built canals, levees (防洪堤), and other water systems that stopped the rivers flowing into the Everglades. Factories were built near rivers that flowed into the wetland. These factories dumped poisonous waste that damaged the Everglades ecosystem.
People are now working to preserve the Everglades National Park for the future. Right now, one big problem is the paperbark tree. This tree is an invader from Australia.
Paperbark trees soak up a lot of water. In the early 1900s, people brought them to Florida because they thought they would help drain the Everglades. However, the invaders adapted too well. Paperbark trees have taken over hundreds of thousands of acres of the Everglades and killed other trees. Scientists are cutting down these invaders or spraying them with herbicides (除草剂) to kill them.
1. Which helps to explain why it is difficult to travel in Everglades?
A.Airboats may make a very big noise. |
B.You may get lost when passing through. |
C.Paperbark trees soak up too much water there. |
D.Many different kinds of animals are to be protected. |
A.They have big propellers to move them faster than alligators. |
B.The propeller makes loud noise so as to scare alligators. |
C.Their flat bottom can skim along the water surface. |
D.They can watch alligators without hurting them. |
A.built canals and levees to stop the rivers flowing into Everglades |
B.built factories near rivers that flowed into the wetland |
C.brought Paperbark to soak up water in Everglades |
D.are cutting down these Paperbark trees |
A.that moves in from another place |
B.that enters and takes control |
C.that has been brought in |
D.that is in danger |
Apparently, we are safe neither at home nor in the business office. We use water in both places, but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects. These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house. They are released(set free)from water by daily actions like water running out of tap, spraying from garden pipes,or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines. As the water is moving, these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.
Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell,” which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通风), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.
These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.
We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up), the factory work environment (an endless list of potentially dangerous substances), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home.”
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
A.The air we breathe in is harmful. |
B.The water in everyday use is unsafe. |
C.Chemicals are added to the drinking water. |
D.Chemicals are released in the running water. |
A.bathing should be done with caution |
B.homes and offices should be aired often |
C.any pollution should be taken into consideration |
D.we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us |
A.To call on us to guard our water |
B.To show us that no place is like home. |
C.To make us aware of the pollution around us. |
D.To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe. |