1 . All short-haul flights out of Heathrow were cancelled while Eurostar passengers in London queued around the block. Gatwick Airport is shut and will not reopen until Tuesday. The government has apologized for spoiling so many people's Christmases and the Met Office (气象局) has warned of more snow and ice in parts of the UK overnight.
Heathrow airport officials said no more than a third of all flights would operate until Wednesday and warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations, possibly until Christmas Day. Overcrowding was so bad in some areas that passengers with flights scheduled to depart from terminals 1 or 3 on Monday were told not to travel to the airport. It was said the south runway would remain closed on Tuesday and advised people not to travel to the airport unless their airline had confirmed the booking.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said aviation was a “safety-first business”. And in a statement, Mr. Hammond said rules on night flights would be relaxed for the next four days to help deal with the backlog. This would mean allowing incoming flights to arrive through the night.
Elsewhere in Europe, airports in Frankfurt, Paris, Florence and Amsterdam were severely disrupted (混乱) in addition to disruption to road and rail travel. By Monday evening, problems on the motorways seemed to be easing but BBC Travel was reporting severe disruption on the M25 in Surrey and the M58 in Merseyside.
1. The text is intended to________.| A．warn the readers not to take any trips to Europe due to the bad weather |
| B．inform the readers of how traffic was influenced by snow and ice |
| C．introduce some famous airports in Britain to the readers |
| D．report a research about how bad weather can affect traffic |
| A．complained a lot about the severe disruption |
| B．advised the Met Office to handle the problems |
| C．had to wait for a long time before getting aboard |
| D．cancelled their flights because of bad weather |
| A．A series of hard work. |
| B．Breaking down of some event. |
| C．An accumulation of uncompleted work. |
| D．Measures to prevent something unexpected. |
| A．two thirds of the flights would operate as scheduled |
| B．only one third of the flights could work after Christmas |
| C．they would work hard to handle the problems before Wednesday |
| D．there would be more delays and cancellations before Christmas |
| A．most motorways were less influenced elsewhere in Europe |
| B．except for the M25 and the M58 there was still much disruption |
| C．the terrible weather affected not only Britain but the whole Europe |
| D．using cell phones doesn't make children affected when they are crossing streets |
2 . Chicago is considering firm measures to prevent the Asian carp,a giant fish native to the Far East, from coming into North America’s Great Lakes in large numbers. Such a move could cost up to$18bn, a heavy economic burden to the city.
This species, more than a metre in length, was originally introduced to southern US states three decades ago to control weeds in sewage (污水) treatment plants. But they escaped into the Mississippi River and increased in number quickly, making their way north towards the Great Lakes and threatening the native fish species along the way.
“Dozens of them will often leap out of the water as boats approach.’’ Michael Beecham，a local environmental expert, described how frightening the scene was. “I’ve gone down the river and seen these fish jump up and hit me in the face. It is a big problem for our native species.” he said.
A meeting has been organized to find a technological solution to the carp problem, one of which involves blocking parts of Chicago’s canal system. Listening at the meeting was John Goss, who was worried about the effect that having barriers in the canal system would have on industry. “It would certainly increase the cost of transportation,” he told. “It is currently very cheap and efficient to bring materials and finished goods down the Chicago ship canal.’’
Another cheaper option is to eat the fish out of existence. Dirk Fucik is selling carp burger(鲤鱼汉堡包) at his fish shop not far from downtown Chicago. He thinks the carps are a great resource. “To catch it and throw it away is a waste,” he says. “Eating them helps solve the problem and also provides jobs.” But the idea has not yet caught on．So far, he is the only person in Chicago selling carp burgers.
1. What can we learn about the Asian carp according to the passage?| A．It is very adaptable to the new environment |
| B．It is originally used to control weeds in the Great Lakes |
| C．It has become a new food in many restaurants |
| D．It has caused parts of Chicago’s canal system to be blocked |
| A．can force the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes |
| B．may lead to the increasing cost of industrial products |
| C．will help the canal system work more efficiently |
| D．will bring high profits to the related companies |
| A．The Americans have included the Asian carp in their food list. |
| B．Catching Asian carps has created many jobs in America |
| C．Dirk Fucik is a pioneer in selling carp burgers in Chicago |
| D．Throwing away the caught fish is a waste of the resources |
| A．Chicago goes to war with Asian carps |
| B．The Asian carp escapes from the Great Lakes |
| C．Possible ways to handle non-native species |
| D．The Great Lakes, new home for Asian Carps |
Studies and reports seem to come in everyday talking about the state of the world. Global warming and pollution are threatening the delicate balance of life on Earth. The vast amount of troubles in the world can make anything we do seem unmeaning. But if we can do just a few things to help, the joined efforts can create a huge difference in both the world and in our lives. If you are not sure where to begin here are some simple things that can create a big change.
Grow your own garden. Growing your own garden can create a tremendous difference. Having fresh fruits and vegetables at your finger tips can not only improve your health, it can also save you money. Spending time each day working in your garden is wonderful exercise and a great way to get plenty of sunshine.
Stop buying chemical cleaners. The special chemicals to clean their house can have bad effect on your health and the environment. Instead of buying more bottles of chemicals and creating more waste，try some of the simple cleaner ideas that you can make yourself. Vinegar and baking soda is one of the simplest, most effective, and cheapest cleaning solutions available. Lemon juice is another safe and effective cleaner that can remove soap scum and whiten clothes as well as many other uses.
Change your light bulbs. Replacing your ordinary light bulbs with low energy bulbs can both _____________ and help the environment. These long lasting bulbs reduce your energy bill and do not need to be replaced as often as conventional bulbs.
Recycle. The tried and true method of helping the environment is recycling. Most cities have recycling centers or recycling pick-up available for people. Plastic, glass, paper, even old phonebooks can be recycled and used for other things.
1. List three appropriate measures you can do to help the environment. (Please answer within 10 words.)2. What is the best title of this passage ? (Please answer within 10 words)
3. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 4 with proper words. (Please answer within 6 words.)
4. Which sentence in the text is the closest in meaning to the following one?
Don’t buy bottles of chemical and don’t make much waste any longer, you can use some simple ways to clean.
5. Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 into Chinese.
4 . Imagine an eco-conscious city where rooftops have been transformed into fertile, green gardens. It's a place where every home is equipped with a system that recycles valuable water resources. In this town, protecting the planet is a way of life. That's how Abby Sharp, 14, Wyatt Peery, 13, and Tom Krajnak, 14, saw their city of tomorrow. The vision won the eighth-graders from Bexley, Ohio, first prize at the 2009 National Engineers Week Future City Competition.
The annual design competition challenges middle school students to use engineering to deal with issues that affect the earth. This year the competition focused on water conservation. Participants had to come up with ways to improve water use in the home. Kids from 38 middle schools across the country competed in the finals. The event took place from February 17-18 in Washington, D.C. More than 30,000 students entered the competition.
Abby, Wyatt and Tom call their winning city Novo Mondum. The name means "new world" in Latin. Novo Mondum sits on the coast of Iceland. The group chose the spot for its wealth of clean energy resources, such as geothermal（地热的） energy and hydropower. Both sources use the power of nature to generate electricity. Geothermal energy draws heat from deep inside the Earth. Hydropower gets energy from flowing water. "Our city is very globally aware," Abby told TFK.
Students team up with a teacher and a volunteer engineer mentor（顾问）to develop their cities. Each group creates a fictional city on SimCity 4 Deluxe, a computer game that allows players to build virtual towns. Then they construct tabletop models of the cities and write essays describing their project. The models must be made using recycled materials and cost no more than $100 to build.
1. What’s the main feature of the city designed by the three winners?| A．Making full use of water resources. | B．Protecting our home — the earth. |
| C．Turning rooftops into green gardens. | D．Costing no money to build |
| A．the main theme of 2009 Future City Competition |
| B．one of the problems that influence the Earth. |
| C．one of the issues for the participants to deal with abroad. |
| D．an easy topic for all the students to design. |
| A．ninth-graders from Bexley, Ohio. |
| B．second prize winners at the 2009 Future City Competition. |
| C．eighth-graders from Washington, D.C |
| D．lucky to get the first prize at the 2009 Future City Competition |
| A．electric power from burning oil. | B．electric power from moving water. |
| C．electric power from deep inside the earth. | D．electric power from burning coals. |
| A．What materials should be used in the competition |
| B．How teachers instruct the students in the competition. |
| C．The process of building virtual towns. |
| D．The process of developing a Future City. |
1. What is the speaker talking about?
| A．Preparation before the earthquake. |
| B．Action during the earthquake. |
| C．Rescue work after the earthquake. |
| A．Kimi's violent barking. |
| B．Her parents’ screaming. |
| C．The sound of breaking glass. |
| A．Mary. | B．Mary' mother. | C．Mary' father. |
6 . Organic foods are produced according to certain production standards, meaning they are grown without the use of conventional pesticides, or chemical fertilizers and that they were processed without food additives. Livestock are raised without the routine use of antibiotics or growth hormones. In most countries, organic produced foods must not be genetically modified. They may also be required to be produced using energy-saving technologies and packaged using recyclable materials when possible.
Early consumers interested in organic food would look for non-chemically treated, fresh or minimally processed food. They mostly had to buy directly from growers: “Know your farmer, know your food” was the motto. Personal definitions of what constituted “organic” were developed through firsthand experience: by talking to farmers, seeing farm conditions, and farming activities. Historically, organic farms were relatively small family run farms—which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers’ markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food has had growth rates of around 20% a year. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 12% of food sales worldwide. Currently organic food production is legally regulated. Many countries require producers to obtain organic certification in order to mark food as organic.
Several studies have attempted to examine and compare conventional and organic systems of farming. The general consensus is that, in the short term, organic farming is less damaging for the following reasons:
●Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment—some of which have the potential to harm soil, water and local wildlife.
●Organic farms are better than conventional farms at sustaining diverse ecosystems, i.e., populations of plants and insects, as well as animals.
●Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste.
Another report published in March 2008 by The Organic Centre claims that organic food is on average 25% more nutritious than conventional food.
However, many critics believe that the increased land needed to farm organic food could potentially destroy the rainforests and wipe out many ecosystems. And organic products cost 10 to 40% more than similar conventionally produced products. Processed organic foods in supermarkets are 65% more expensive.
1. Early consumers knew what food was “organic” by________.| A．the “certified organic” label tag | B．firsthand experience |
| C．its packaging | D．examining its organic certification |
| A．in America, organic food can only be bought in small stores or farmers’ markets |
| B．organic food is produced by large-scale farms |
| C．organic food is also available in large supermarkets at present |
| D．organic food is often beautifully packaged |
| A．junk food | B．delicious snacks | C．conventional food | D．green food |
| A．The disadvantages of organic food. | B．The cost of organic food |
| C．The benefits of organic food | D．Organic food and conventional food |
| A．Organic farms are more energy efficient and produce less waste. |
| B．Organic food is generally thought to be more nutritious. |
| C．Organic farms are better than conventional farms at maintaining varieties of plants, insects and animals |
| D．Organic farms do not release synthetic pesticides into the environment. |
7 . Twelve years ago, a young traveler named Rhett Butler from San Francisco, California, visited the Sabah rainforest on Malaysian Borneo. In one area of the rainforest, he watched a bird flying through the trees. The beautiful sight left quite an impression on him. But weeks later, back home, Rhett Butler got the news that trees had been cut down in the area he visited.
That experience led Rhett Butler begin writing a book about rainforests and threats to their existence. But he did not publish the book. Instead, in 1999, he used his research for the book to create a website. The site is Mongabay. Com. His purpose was to inform the public about tropical rainforests. But the subject quickly developed. As a former businessman, he became a respected writer of science and environmental stories.
The popularity of Mongabay. Com attracted advertisers. Small ads on the site pay for its operations. Mongabay.Com has grown and led to other sites. For example, there is a site for children which is called kids. Mongabay.Com. Another one, WildMadangascar.Org, is all about the island nation that Rhett Butler calls his favorite place.
To keep his website going, he travels around the world on several major trips each year. His working tools are a laptop computer, cameras and sometimes diving equipment. He often calls on experts for information. For example, he interviewed Alison Jolly, a top experts on lemurs(狐猴). He interviewed Rodney Jackson, a biologist who established the Snow Leopard Conservancy.
Stories like these have made Mongabay a favorite place on the Internet for researchers, students and teachers. In April, Time.Com named it one of the fifteen top climate and environment websites in the world.
1. What’s the main idea of the passage?| A．How Rhett Butler made his website popular. |
| B．Rainforest on Malaysian Borneo. |
| C．How Rhett Butler protected rare animals. |
| D．Rhett Butler and his website. |
| A．making websites earns more money than writing books |
| B．he wanted to use the information to create a website |
| C．the book was not about rainforest protection |
| D．he didn’t want to become a writer |
| A．Rhett Butler made a lot of money from it. |
| B．It attracted many advertisers. |
| C．At least two related websites grew from it. |
| D．It was set up in 1999. |
| A．kept visiting the rainforest |
| B．made a great number of advertisements |
| C．raised rare snow leopards |
| D．traveled around and interviewed experts |
| A．Rodney Jackson was once a businessman |
| B．kids. Mongabay.Com. has many stories written by kids |
| C．WildMadagascar.org is better known than Mongabay.Com |
| D．Mongabay.Com was loved by researchers as well as students |
8 . Who doesn’t love sitting beside a cosy fire on a cold winter’s night? Who doesn’t love to watch flames (火苗)curling up a chimney? Fire is one of man’s greatest friends, but also one of his greatest enemies. Many big fires are caused by carelessness. A lighted cigarette was thrown out of a car or a train window or a broken bottle lying on dry grass can start a fire. Sometimes a fire can start on its own. Wet hay(草)can begin burning by itself. This is how it happens: the hay starts to rot(腐烂)and begins to give off heat which is trapped inside it. Finally, it bursts into flames. That’s why farmers cut and store their hay when it’s dry.
Fires have destroyed whole cities. In the 17th century, a small fire which began in a baker’s shop burnt down nearly every building in London. Moscow was set on fire during the war against Napoleon. This fire continued burning for seven days. And, of course, in 64 A.D.a fire burnt Rome. Even today, in spite of modern fire-fighting methods, fire causes millions of pounds’ worthy of damage each year both in our cities and in the countryside.
It has been wisely said that fire is a good servant but a bad master.
1. The writer considers it ________ to sit beside a fire on a cold winter night .| A．unhappy | B．dangerous |
| C．nice | D．painful |
| A．wet hay becomes dry --- gives off heat --- burns |
| B．wet hay begins to rot --- gives out heat --- starts to burn |
| C．dry hay gets too much heat from the sun --- gives out heat --- starts to burn |
| D．dry hay gives off heat --- starts to rot --- starts to burn |
| A．by cigarettes | B．by their own |
| C．by people’s carelessness | D．by dry grass |
| A．One | B．Two |
| C．Three | D．Four |
| A．Fires still cause much damage now although there are modern fire-fighting methods |
| B．Fire can be man’s good friend and also great enemy |
| C．One should be careful not to throw a lighted cigarette everywhere |
| D．Fires cause less damage in the country than in the city |
9 . Imagine a mass of floating waste is two times the size of the state of Texas. Texas has a land area of more than 678,000 square kilometers. So it might be difficult to imagine anything twice as big.
All together, this mass of waste flowing in the North Pacific Ocean is known as the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch. It weighs about 3,500, 000 tons. The waste includes bags, bottles and containers—plastic products of all kinds.
The eastern part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is about 1,600 kilometers west of California. The western part is west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of Japan. The area has been described as a kind of oceanic desert, with light winds and slow moving water currents (流, 流动). The water moves so slow that garbage from all over the world collects there.
In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the floating garbage and its effect on sea creatures and human health. Scientists say thousands of animals get trapped in the floating waste, resulting in death or injury. Even more die from a lack of food or water after swallowing pieces of plastic. The trash can also make animals feel full, diminishing their desire to eat or drink.
The floating garbage also can have harmful effects on people. There is an increased threat of infection (感染) of disease from polluted waste, and from eating fish that swallowed waste. Divers can also get trapped in the plastic.
Its existence first gained public attention in 1997. That was when racing boat captain and oceanographer Charles Moore and his crew sailed into the garbage while returning from a racing event. Five years earlier, another oceanographer learnt of the trash after a shipment of rubber duckies got lost at sea. Many of those toys are now part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.
1. The first paragraph is written to .| A．lead in the topic of the text |
| B．inspire readers’ imagination |
| C．develop readers’ interest in Texas |
| D．talk about reasons for water pollution |
| A．Increasing. | B．Determining. |
| C．Weakening. | D．Reserving. |
| A．It gives rise to various diseases. |
| B．It does great harm to sea animals. |
| C．Causes of it still remain unknown. |
| D．Efforts to clear it have been made. |
| A．To warn people about dangers of diving in the ocean. |
| B．To explore the future of the North Pacific Ocean. |
| C．To call on people to protect ocean environment. |
| D．To display some facts about floating waste. |
1. What issue are the scientists working on?
| A．Climate change. | B．Electric vehicles. | C．Public transport. |
| A．Luxembourg. | B．Germany. | C．The United States. |
| A．In July 2019. | B．In January 2020. | C．In March 2020. |
