1 . About 12% of the total global energy demand comes from heating and cooling homes and businesses. A new study suggests that using underground water to maintain comfortable temperatures could reduce consumption of natural gas and electricity in this section by 40% in the US. The approach is called ATES, short for aquifer thermal energy storage (含水层热能储存).
“We need storage to absorb energy from the sun and wind. It’s crucial to creating affordable, reliable, and deeply environmental-friendly electricity systems. Most people are interested in batteries and other kinds of electrical storage. But we were wondering whether there was any opportunity to use geothermal (地热的) energy storage,” said first author A.T.D Perera. “With ATES, energy can be stored for a long period of time, without adding an additional burden to the grid (输电网).”
ATES is a pleasantly simple concept that takes advantage of the heat-absorbing property of water and the natural geological features of the planet. You simply pull existing underground water up and heat it at the surface in the summer with environmental heat or energy. Then you send it back down. It stays fairly hot because the Earth is a good insulator (绝热体).
“Unlike above-ground tank-based water or ice storage systems, ATES will not need space. It’s also more efficient and can support larger communities in cooling or heating than traditional geothermal heat pump systems that rely on heat moving with the underground soil,” added co-author Hong Tianzhen.
A major beneft of ATES is that it will become more efficient as weather becomes more extreme in the coming years due to climate change. The hotter summers and severer winters could increase the amount of free thermal energy that can be stored with ATES. “It’s very much a realistic thing to do and this work is really about showing its value,” said Perera. “This technology is ready to go, so to speak. We just need to do it.”
1. What do we know about ATES?A.It is technologically demanding. |
B.It is aimed at replacing natural energy. |
C.It mainly relies on batteries to function. |
D.It helps achieve an environmentally friendly society |
A.By giving examples. | B.By discussing results. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By analyzing principles. |
A.Temperature variations. | B.Insulated materials. |
C.The duration of storage. | D.The category of energy. |
A.A Turning Point in Energy Usage |
B.A Solution to Green Cooling and Heating |
C.A Transformation in the US Electricity System |
D.A Discovery About Geothermal Energy Storage |
2 . Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn’t know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain? That the anti-smoking lobby(游说) was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.
There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming. The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth’s atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man-made. The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves. The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, added this key point in the preface to the panel’s report: “Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions.”
Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it’s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late. With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent person would take out an insurance policy now.
Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it’s obvious that a majority of the president’s advisers still don’t take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research — a classic case of “paralysis by analysis”.
To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research. But research alone is inadequate. If the Administration won’t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial supports for private industry, is a promising start. Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.
1. What was an argument made by supporters of smoking?A.Anti-smoking people were usually talking nonsense. |
B.People had the freedom to choose their own way of life. |
C.The number of early deaths of smokers in the past decades was insignificant. |
D.There was no scientific evidence of the correlation between smoking and death. |
A.A protector. | B.A judge. | C.A critic. | D.A guide. |
A.Cautious. | B.Confident. | C.Responsible. | D.Experienced. |
A.Both of them have turned from bad to worse. |
B.The outcome of the latter worsens the former. |
C.A lesson from the latter is applicable to the former. |
D.They both suffered from the government’s neglect. |
1. 活动目的;
2. 活动内容。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4 . Back in 1973, out of concern that many of American native plants and animals were in danger of extinction, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act. The law allows the government to decide species as either “endangered” or “threatened”. Once plants and animals are on the list, they can’t be harmed or harvested, and their living places can’t be changed or damaged in a way that kills, injures or weakens their ability to breed (繁殖), feed or perform other functions necessary for existence.
While environmentalists have thought the law is of great importance in history, mining and the agribusiness (农业综合企业) interests don’t think so. They argue that when an endangered animal is found on public land, the use of the land is strictly controlled, which can prevent farming, and other business use of the land. So, the recent US government has sought to change the way that the law is applied to reduce what it considers overprotection for threatened species.
But a study published in the journal PLOS ONE in January revealed that researchers looked at 31 different populations of ocean animals, and that they found that 78 percent of the mammals (哺乳动物) and 75 percent of the turtles increased their population size after receiving protection under the Act. What was even more impressive was that the number of Hawaiian humpback whales increased from just 800 in 1979 to more than 10,000 in 2005.
“We should celebrate the Act’s track record of reducing the harm from water pollution, overfishing, beach habitat loss and killing. Humans often destroy ocean ecosystems(生态系统), but our study shows that with strong laws and careful administration, we can also help them make a comeback.” said Shaye Wolf, a researcher of the Center for Biological Diversity in Tucson, Arizona.
1. What can we know about the Endangered Species Act in Paragraph 1?A.It mainly focuses on protecting ocean species. |
B.It covers almost all the details of wildlife protection. |
C.It encourages people to raise wildlife in a careful way. |
D.It asks the whole world to work together to protect wildlife. |
A.The Act has limited the economic benefits of land. |
B.Some land has got polluted due to the Act. |
C.Some states refuse to follow the Act. |
D.The Act fails to save enough endangered species. |
A.Quite a lot of ocean animals’ population is still worrying. |
B.The government failed to put some rare species on the list. |
C.The Act turned out to be effective for ocean animal protection. |
D.Whales benefit most from the Act after receiving protection. |
A.More strict rules should be added to the Act. |
B.Overfishing is the main threat to ocean animals. |
C.The damage caused by human activities to the ecosystem is unavoidable. |
D.Proper laws play a powerful role in environmental protection. |
Climate protection strategy is fascinating the globe during the 19th Asian Games, not just athletic talent .
Avoiding fireworks during the opening ceremony promotes environmental awareness. Traditional fireworks displays are fun
The Games Village gave residents a “Low Carbon Account” as part of the green measures. Carbon points
6 . A couple has recently placed their garbage can out for collection for the first time in 14 months, all thanks to their recycling skills. Richard and Louise Arnold have established such an effective routine that they only need to put their garbage can on the side of the street once a year.
Louise explained that making small monthly changes in her life has resulted in her family producing very little waste. She said, “It’s not as difficult as you might think if you start with small steps. We began with soap, switching from bath cream to natural soap without packaging. These bars are large enough that we cut them in half, using one for the sink and the other half for the shower. It’s both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.”
“So it’s actually quite easy. Just go around your house and think of little things you can do gradually, and you’ll start noticing the difference,” Louise added. Currently, the couple takes recyclable waste to the tip, donates clothes to charity shops, and brings soft plastics and batteries to a shop that accepts them.
In 2017, the couple established No Waste Living, which initially started as a weekend stall at the local market and has since developed into a website. Louise regularly writes a newsletter for her hundreds of subscribers. They also started selling eco-friendly products, ranging from non-chemical household cleaning and washing solutions for a “less toxic home” to bamboo washing-up brushes. Louise mentioned, “I started No Waste Living because I wanted to show our achievement s and lead by example.”
Although the family occasionally faces criticism, Louise remains determined. She said, “The main point of contention(争论) for people regarding new waste rules is having to drive their waste to a recycling center, which adds to their already busy lives. However, in the long run, you will create more space in your home, save money, and spend less time dealing with garbage cans.”
1. How did the couple start their waste reduction journey?A.By replacing small soaps with large ones. | B.By using a small amount of bath cream. |
C.By using unpackaged soap bars. | D.By recycling soft plastics and batteries. |
A.To bring eco-products to market. | B.To inspire others to follow in their footsteps. |
C.To treat recyclable waste from the neighborhood. | D.To answer the call of their subscribers. |
A.They mean more work to deal with garbage. |
B.They increase the cost of garbage collection. |
C.They establish a set time for waste management. |
D.They limit the daily amount of garbage for collection. |
A.A business - minded couple. | B.The “less poisonous home” concept. |
C.The global trend in recycling. | D.A planet- friendly lifestyle. |
7 . Lightning (闪电) is a beautiful and inspiring phenomenon, but it can be deadly. Over the past 30 years, lightning has killed an average of 67 people per year in the United States alone.
Find shelter immediately
If you find yourself caught in a lightning storm, never stand under a tree, and avoid being close to power lines as they’re both excellent conductors (导体) of electricity and could potentially cause death, if not serious injury.
Watch out for dangers
Windows provide a direct path for the lightning to travel. Keep windows closed, stay away from them and try to stay within inner rooms of the structure.
Being near water is extremely dangerous during a lightning storm, so move away from the body of water. If you are fishing, swimming or on a boat, get out of the water immediately and hurry back to the bank.
Stay inside
Stay inside at least 30 minutes after the last strike. Don’t go out just because the rain is starting to let up. There is still a significant risk of lightning strikes from a departing storm.
Lightning is dangerous but you can minimize your risk. The advice is simple: increase the awareness of avoiding danger and master proper knowledge to protect yourself from a thunderstorm.
A.Get away from the water |
B.Prepare enough water |
C.Go to hospital quickly |
D.Don’t touch anything metal or electrical |
E.Find shelter near or under a stony shelter |
F.Wait for news that the danger has passed |
G.Fortunately, most lightning-related deaths are preventable |
8 . On December 20, in Newdale, a series of huge waves caused by an undersea Earthquake raced across the ocean near Goldshore. Worse still, it
The day began like any other on Goldshore Beach. People were walking, running or simply sitting on the sandy beach,
Sabrina was
A.caused | B.trapped | C.affected | D.suffered |
A.bury | B.survive | C.challenge | D.quit |
A.knowledge | B.impression | C.strength | D.detail |
A.making up | B.breathing in | C.focusing on | D.checking out |
A.wind | B.sunshine | C.whistle | D.wave |
A.dead | B.powerful | C.strange | D.attractive |
A.narrow | B.adventurous | C.clean | D.calm |
A.signs | B.damages | C.types | D.results |
A.awkward | B.confused | C.annoyed | D.frightened |
A.stress | B.development | C.danger | D.credit |
A.cheating | B.debating | C.helping | D.joking |
A.under control | B.in sight | C.on its way | D.on schedule |
A.actually | B.anxiously | C.quickly | D.curiously |
A.escaped | B.seen | C.recognized | D.cleared |
A.slid | B.crashed | C.divided | D.tapped |
1.说明创建低碳校园的必要性;
2.列举具体的做法;
3.呼吁大家行动起来。
注意:
1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
What Can We Do To Build A Low-carbon Campus?
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 . Drive through any suburb in the U. S. today, and it’s hard to miss the recycling bins that have become companions to America’s trash cans. Recycling has become common, as people recognize the need to care for the environment. Yet most people’s recycling awareness extends (延伸) only as far as paper, bottle, and cans. People seldom find themselves facing the growing problem of e-waste.
E-waste rapidly increases as the techno-fashionable frequently upgrade to the most advanced devices, and the majority of them end up in landfills (填埋). Some people who track such wastes say that users throw away nearly 2 million tons of TVs, VCRs, computers, cell phones, and other electronics every year. Unless we can find a safe replacement (替代品), this e-waste may get into the ground and poison the water with dangerous toxins (霉素), such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. Burning the waste also dangerously contaminates the air.
However, e-waste often contains reusable silver, gold, and other electrical materials. Recycling these materials reduces environmental problems by reducing both landfill waste and the need to look for such metals, which can destroy ecosystems.
A growing number of states have passed laws to ban (禁止) getting rid of e-waste. Still, less than a quarter of this waste will reach lawful recycling programs. Some companies advertising safe disposal (处理) in fact merely ship the waste to some developing countries, where it still ends up in landfills. These organizations prevent progress by unsafely disposing of waste in an out-of-sight, out-of-mind location.
However, the small but growing number of cities and corporations that do handle e-waste responsibly represents progress toward making the world a cleaner, better place for us all.
1. What can we know from the first paragraph?A.E-waste cannot be put into trash cans in the U. S. |
B.Many Americans now have access to recycling bins. |
C.Most Americans have realized the dangers of e-waste. |
D.Most of America’s trash cans are made of recycled material. |
A.Pollutes. | B.Heats. | C.Attacks. | D.Reduces. |
A.Much e-waste is still not properly handled. |
B.Some developing countries welcome e-waste. |
C.Laws have played a major role in getting rid of e-waste. |
D.The e-waste buried in the landfills won’t destroy ecosystem. |
A.To tell us how to recycle &waste. |
B.To talk about the future of e-waste. |
C.To discuss if it’s necessary to, recycle e-waste. |
D.To encourage people to deal with e-waste properly. |