1 . The following are some unsung heroes bringing a unique viewpoint and approach to the global challenge of environmental conservation.
Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg, a young environmental voice from Sweden, has not only caught global attention but transformed it into a powerful movement. Through her “Fridays for Future” initiative, Greta encourages students worldwide to advocate for climate action, calling for the urgency of addressing climate change. Her touching speeches at international forums, coupled with a refusal to accept inaction have made her a symbol of youth-driven environmental advocacy.
Wangari Maathai
The late Nobel Peace Prize winner from Kenya left a permanent mark through her pioneering Green Belt Movement. This grassroots initiative empowered communities, particularly women, to fight against deforestation through tree planting. Maathai’s legacy lives on in the millions of trees planted across Africa, reflecting her belief that sustainable development starts at the grassroots level, with communities actively engaged in preserving their environment
Isaton Ceesay
Isatou Ceesay, an environmentalist from The Gambia, has emerged as a pioneer in the fight against plastic pollution. Recognizing the detrimental impact of plastic waste on local communities and ecosystems, Ceesay founded the “Women’s Initiative Gambia”. Through creative recycling initiatives, she empowers women to repurpose plastic waste, promoting economic independence within communities.
Ma Jun
Ma Jun began his career as an investigative journalist, but has quickly risen to become an outstanding Chinese environmentalist, known for his pioneering work in water pollution control. As the founder of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs(IPE), Ma Jun developed the China Water Pollution Map, an interactive online tool that tracks water quality data and exposes pollution sources across the country.
1. What group of peoples “Friday’s for Future” for?| A．Women. | B．The grassroots. | C．Young students. | D．Poor farmers. |
| A．Preserving trees. | B．Community cooperation. |
| C．Plastic pollution. | D．Addressing climate change. |
| A．Greta Thunberg. | B．Wangari Maathai. | C．Isatou Ceesay. | D．Ma Jun. |
2 . Last Friday, Britain’s Prince William announced the winners of this year’s Earthshot Prize. The prize is meant to encourage new ideas and rapid action to help protect the planet. Below are parts of this year’s prize-winning projects in each category.
Protect and Restore Nature
Kheyti won the prize for protecting and restoring nature with its “Greenhouse-in-a-box” idea. Kheyti is already working with 1, 000 farmers across India, which is one of the most climate-affected countries in the world. The company says the greenhouses allow farmers to use 90% less water and produce seven times as much food. Kheyti hopes to get its greenhouses to 50,000 farmers by 2027.
Clean Our Air
Charlot Magayi won the prize for cleaning the air. Ms. Magayi developed a stove (炉子) that uses a fuel that’s cheaper and pollutes far less than charcoal stoves. Currently, over 200,000 of her Clean Stoves are being used in Kenya.
Build a Waste-Free World
A London-based company called Notpla(for “Not Plastic”)won the prize for building a waste-free world. They’ve created a plastic substitute(替代品)from plants found in the ocean. Unlike most plastic, their products break down naturally with no microplastics. Notpla believes their products can help end the plastic pollution that’s filling landfills and polluting oceans.
Fix Our Climate
The Earthshot Prize for working toward fixing our climate went to a company called 44.01 from Oman. 44.01 has come up with a way to turn polluting carbon dioxide(CO2)into a rock called peridotite. Once the CO2 has been turned into rock, it can no longer be released into the atmosphere again. The method that 44.01 uses is fast, cheap and permanent.
1. What is the aim of the Earthshot Prize?| A．To offer practical advice on global warming. |
| B．To find solutions to the environmental problems. |
| C．To develop a strategic partnership with all parties. |
| D．To encourage literary creations of the British people. |
| A．In India. | B．In Kenya. | C．In the UK. | D．In Oman. |
| A．They want to build a waste-free world. |
| B．Their projects are directly good for farmers. |
| C．Their achievements benefit the air cleaning. |
| D．They use plants from the ocean in their products. |
3 . Time is running out for coral reefs as the climate gets hotter. So scientists are searching the globe for corals that are better at enduring heat, Now, new research shows how those “super corals” can survive: less roommate drama.
Reefs depend on a crucial partnership between the corals and the algae (海藻) that live in the corals’ tissue, The algae make food for the corals using sunlight and in exchange, get a nice spot to live. But when oceans heat up, that relationship goes bad, and the corals kick the algae out, Without their roommates, corals can die, turning a ghostly white, bleached (白化) color.
Still, some corals seem to resist bleaching better than others, A new study shows that those corals depend on algae that are better at tolerating heat. Researchers hope that pinpointing these abilities will help develop new conservation tools to preserve the world’s reefs as temperatures rise. About 1/4 of all marine life rely on coral reefs in some way, along with half 1 billion people around the world also depend on reefs for their food and livelihoods.
“Heat stress can kill a lot of corals really fast,” says Kate Quigley, a research scientist at James Cook University and the Minderoo Foundation in Australia. “I hope that nature does have some mechanisms to get us through the next few years while we get our act together.”
While the hope is that those algae could also aid in reef conservation in the future, researcher Patrick Buerger says it’s likely that it wouldn’t help all coral species. And even the toughest corals can only endure so much. Currently, the world is on track for just under 3degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, a level that would wipe out nearly all coral reefs.
“The action has to be on climate change,” he says. “This is a short-term solution that might buy some time for corals to adapt. But the main focus has to be on climate. There’s not a silver bullet to the problem.”
1. What is the feature of super corals?| A．Sun-loving. | B．Long-living. | C．Good-looking. | D．Heat-bearing. |
| A．Habitat. | B．Food. | C．Sunlight. | D．Friendship. |
| A．The population of marine life. | B．The importance of coral reefs. |
| C．The seriousness of global warming. | D．The living conditions of coral reefs. |
| A．It is useless | B．It is the last hope. | C．It is temporary. | D．It is the silver bullet. |
4 . Did you buy too much bread before heading out for a holiday? Did you give up the vegetables that are going bad?
In an effort to help eco-conscious consumers, a Geneva nonprofit is speeding up its plan of street-side, free-access public refrigerators that restaurateurs, at-home cooks and others can use to give away food that’s about to go bad. It’s part of a bigger effort by communities in Switzerland and other European countries to do their part for the environment while helping to cut down on food waste.
The nonprofit Free-Go has placed refrigerators and shelves in Geneva where passersby can get fruit, vegetables, bread and other perishables(易变质食品) to take home for free.The program costs about $40,000 to run each year and enjoys the support from the city government. It began a year ago with a single fridge outside a community center in western Geneva and it now has four fridges, strategically placed around town. A fifth one is planned before year’s end.
Free-Go is experimenting with scheduled pickups at apartment buildings to make it easier for residents(居民) to participate in the program. It has also set up a“hotline”that restaurateurs can use to call for the collection of unused food. Free-Go says giver s of food from the private sector, such as restaurants, must make a promise to ensure the given food is safe to eat.
Free-Go says about 1 billion tons of food go to waste every year around the world—using up energy and other resources in the farming and transportation process. Similar food-sharing activities are in place in the capital, Bern, after the idea was imported from Germany.
According to Foodsharing.de, a community group in Germany that started more than a decade ago, more than a half-million people in Germany, Switzerland and Austria have made “the food-sharing initiative an international movement”and have helped save 83 million tons of food from going to waste.
1. How did the Free-Go program start in the beginning?| A．With two fridges in a local supermarket. |
| B．With a single fridge outside in western Geneva. |
| C．With three fridges distributed in various parks. |
| D．With a large storage facility in central Geneva. |
| A．To promote local restaurants. |
| B．To provide refrigeration services. |
| C．To establish a hotline for food collection. |
| D．To reduce food waste and help the environment. |
| A．To report refrigerators in bad condition. |
| B．For residents to schedule food pickups. |
| C．To provide information about safe food handling. |
| D．For restaurateurs to call for the collection of unused food. |
| A．Critical. | B．Negative. | C．Positive. | D．Indifferent. |
5 . It was around 3 p.m. I was lined up at the train ticket counter to reserve a trip to Nagoya to
I
| A．shoot | B．recommend | C．post | D．appreciate |
| A．ignored | B．noticed | C．missed | D．felt |
| A．mild | B．violent | C．forecast | D．anticipated |
| A．nervously | B．calmly | C．broadly | D．delightfully |
| A．reached | B．made | C．looked | D．rushed |
| A．compulsory | B．effortless | C．challenging | D．entertaining |
| A．unless | B．if | C．though | D．once |
| A．undoubted | B．impossible | C．easy | D．available |
| A．park | B．building | C．subway | D．train |
| A．change | B．crack | C．fall | D．shake |
| A．put forward | B．put down | C．figure out | D．make out |
| A．laughing | B．crying | C．escaping | D．surviving |
| A．yet | B．and | C．hence | D．so |
| A．covered | B．adored | C．thanked | D．admired |
| A．disaster | B．reaction | C．rescue | D．assistance |
6 . In July 2017, Hoh Xil became a world heritage (遗产) site and there live more than 70, 000 Tibetanantelopes. Every year, pregnant (怀孕的) Tibetan antelopes migrate (迁徙) to Hoh Xil between the end of May and early June to give birth and leave with their children around August. Zonag Lake at the heart of Hoh Xil is known as the “delivery room” for the species.
About 40 female Tibetan antelopes with three young were spotted crossing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Saturday. Experts say that in recent years, the number of young Tibetan antelopes among the migrating groups consisted of between a fifth and quarter of the population.
“In the early stage of migration, Tibetan antelopes face a high risk of falling prey to predators (盗猎者) so the number of young Tibetan antelopes is relatively small, and there may even be none,” said Lian Xinming, an associate research fellow at Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
According to research, the number of Tibetan antelopes that migrate back has been rising. A total of 5, 952 Tibetan antelopes were spotted migrating in 2020, and 233 more in 2021. “This year’s migration season is expected to finish in early September. The population is expected to continue to increase,” Lian said.
Tibetan antelopes are mostly found in Tibet autonomous region, Qinghai province, and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The species is under first-class state protection in China.
In the 1980s, the Tibetan antelope population declined sharply from 200, 000 to 20. 000, due to illegal hunting. It has recovered thanks to the country’s efforts to improve its habitat and crack down on poaching (盗猎).
To make sure the species go back to their habitats safe and sound, the reserve’s management bureau has staff monitor their migration. When they come over in large groups, they temporarily close some sections of the road to make way for the animals and prevent them from having interactions with humans.
1. What can we learn from the text?| A．Tibetan antelopes migrate to Hoh Xil to find mates. |
| B．Baby Tibetan antelopes are born in Zonag Lake. |
| C．Female Tibetan antelopes made up a fifth of the population. |
| D．Migrating Tibetan antelopes’ number is 6,185 in 2021. |
| A．Promising. | B．Concerning. | C．Perfect. | D．Unpredictable. |
| A．To offer delivery place. |
| B．To catch unlawful predators. |
| C．To stop poaching Tibetan antelopes. |
| D．To avoid animals meeting people. |
| A．The Habitats of Tibetan Antelopes |
| B．The Migration of Tibetan Antelopes |
| C．The Methods to Stop Poaching Tibetan Antelopes |
| D．The Measures of Protecting Tibetan Antelopes |
7 . Question: Recently I heard the news that about 5,000 people die in fires a year, and 80 percent of these deaths occur in house fires. Fires kill more people per year in the United States than all the other natural disasters.
Answer: Don’t worry. In fact, most fires can be avoidable and easily prevented. Here are some tips for preventing a fire in your own home.
◆Dispose of all cigarette butts (烟头). Never leave them out where babies or children can reach them.
◆Avoid smoking in bed. In case you fall asleep on the couch while watching television, do not smoke while lying on the couch.
◆Keep all lighters safely out of reach of babies and children.
◆Do not overload electrical circuits, and check electrical appliances regularly for loose connections or damaged cords.
◆
◆Install smoke detectors. Make sure that there is a detector on every level of the house. Also, make sure that there is a smoke detector near every bedroom.
◆Install a rope ladder or fire escape in selected windows upstairs. Make sure that all family members know how to use the ladder.
◆Come up with an emergency escape plan.
| A．However, I don’t know how to prevent house fires. |
| B．Have a designated meeting area outside the home. |
| C．Have fire extinguishers in high-risk areas of your home. |
| D．Keep candles where they will not be accidentally knocked over. |
| E．Discuss it with the family and have everyone practice using the escape routes. |
| F．If you smoke, get into the habit of properly disposing of your butts immediately. |
| G．Check your smoke detectors monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year. |
Eco-wildlife tours are becoming increasingly popular with tourists. The opportunity to see whales and dolphins swimming in their
A recent study has shown that the behaviour of whales and dolphins
Perhaps the best way to protect these animals is
9 . With all the recent concern about the environment, people want to see their money used to better the planet. Here are four well-known environmental organizations.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
The World Wildlife Fund is perhaps one of the best-known organizations for the protection of endangered species and their habitats around the world. It’s been around for over 60 years. You can donate through their website worldwildlife.org, join their organization as a member, or adopt an animal through their online adoption center.
National Geographic Society (NGS)
National Geographic Society is famous for their magazine and their specials on TV. The organization itself is one of the longest-running in the world — It’s been around since 1888. They focus on exploration and conservation of forests, oceans, habitats, species and societies. You can donate money through the website nationalgeographic.org, buy something at their online store, or take out a subscription to the magazine.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
Founded officially in 1937, the National Wildlife Federation tries to protect wildlife at all costs. In fact, they believe that having the public educated is the best way to help the environment — the more you know, the more you can protect the world we live in. Donations to the NWF can be made through their website ref.org or through other options, like matching gifts, workplace giving, or memorial donations.
EcologyFund.com
Set up in 1976, EcologyFund.com is run on users’ clicks. Advertisers buy ad space on the site every time someone clicks. The money goes to buy an endangered wilderness to protect it from companies that would destroy it. So far, EcologyFund. com has bought land in many areas. The best thing about this site is that you needn’t donate any money —all you have to do is click.
1. Which environmental organization has the shortest history?| A．National Geographic Society (NGS). | B．National Wildlife Federation (NWF). |
| C．World Wildlife Fund (WWF). | D．EcologyFund.com. |
| A．It protects societies as well as nature. |
| B．You need to be expert in protecting wildlife. |
| C．You can adopt an animal through its online adoption center. |
| D．It believes that education is the most important in helping the environment. |
| A．By giving money through its website. | B．By clicking on its online articles. |
| C．By subscribing to its magazines. | D．By buying ad space on the site. |
10 . The essence (本质) of fast fashion is to make clothes inexpensively and quickly, to get new trends and styles into stores and online as soon as possible, and it comes at a high social and environmental cost. Keeping production costs low means they can make their clothes cheap, using cheap labour in unsafe working conditions, and in countries with bad environmental regulations.
Throw-away culture is deeply rooted in our society; three in five of our clothing pieces are thrown out within a year. Fast fashion brands keep the consumers hungry and feeling like they need more by attracting them with newness and convincing the consumers that they need what they’re selling. This only results in increasing textile waste as people no longer want but throw it away.
Criticisms of the fast fashion industry include its negative environmental impact: water pollution, the use of toxic (有毒的) chemicals and increasing levels of textile waste. Textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of clean water globally, after agriculture. Fast fashion companies rely on their products being made cheaply and quickly, so they avoid talking when it comes to being aware of their impact on the environment. Greenpeace’s recent Detox Campaign showed that many brands use toxic and dangerous chemicals in their supply chains, and many of the chemicals are either banned or strictly controlled in lots of countries.
In conclusion, the fast fashion industry has a bad effect on our environment through fast fashion brands’ ecological practices and only continues to make the problem last for a long time in the future through extreme consumerist culture. In order for change to happen, the common people need to open their eyes and take measures to prevent the fast fashion from growing.
1. What’s one of the characteristics of fast fashion?| A．Causing a lot of anxiety. | B．Making people buy old clothes. |
| C．Selling most clothes through stores. | D．Producing clothes quickly. |
| A．They are mainly sold online. | B．They are made in unsafe countries. |
| C．They are made by cheap labour. | D．They save the cost of advertising. |
| A．Natural. | B．Surprising. | C．Absurd. | D．Puzzling. |
| A．Changing fast fashion brands’ working conditions. |
| B．Changing clothes stores’ sales model. |
| C．Introducing stricter laws for factories. |
| D．Raising public awareness of preventing fast fashion. |
