1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Mount Qomolangma is the     1     (high) mountain in the world, but     2     (unfortunate) it is one of the messiest, too. About 4,000 people have climbed Mount Qomolangma since Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay from Nepal first     3     (reach) the summit (山顶) of Qomolangma in 1953. But, unlike Hillary and Tenzing, these tourists have been dumping ( 丢 弃) tonnes of used equipment on the mountain.     4     (bury) under snow in the winter, the rubbish is revealed in the summer when the snow melts.

However, 15 Nepalese artists are taking action. They have worked hard and turned eight tonnes of rubbish into 75 sculptures,     5     are being shown at a hotel in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu.

The rubbish used in the artworks was collected by     6     (climber). It includes old ropes, tent poles, oxygen cylinders, drink cans, and even the remains of a helicopter. Kripa Rana Shahi, the project organizer, was looking for a way     7     (spread) awareness about keeping Qomolangma clean when she had the bright idea of     8     (change) the rubbish into works of art. The sculptures range in price from $15 to $2,300. According     9     the report, a part of the money has been given to the artists and     10     rest to environmental organizations to turn the rubbish into gold.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Global warming is pushing the population on polar bears to     1     (it) limit. According to a new study, they could have     2     (few) than 100 years left before extinction.

Polar bears live by hunting seals in the Arctic Ocean, but as more and more ice     3     (melt) in that region, their habitat continues to shrink. Since amounts began to be     4     (precise) measured at the end of the 1970s, sea ice that lasts for more than a year in the Arctic has decreased at a rate of 13% per decade.

Studies show that     5     (decline) sea ice will lead to a reduction in polar bears. They will be unable to bear the effects of climate change over the next several decades, the scientists believe, and will be wiped out by 2100.

“What we’ve shown is that, first, we’ll lose the       6     (survive) of bear cubs. Although cubs will be born, the female bears won’t have enough body fat to produce milk     7     (bring) them along through the ice-free season,” said Dr. Steven Amstrup, chief scientist of Polar Bears International, to the BBC.

The study comes     8       a conclusion that, even in a situation     9     countries achieve a moderate reduction in greenhouse gases, several populations of polar bears will disappear. But Amstrup said, “The animal can still continue to survive if we have     10     urge to keep climate change little.”

3 . “What if we treat the ocean as if our lives depend on it? Or, what if we don’t?” World-famous marine biologist Sylvia Earle poses her famous “what if” questions to inspire people to reflect on how they can help save the ocean. In 1998, Time magazine named Earle its first “Hero for the Planet.”

Earle’s move to Florida’s west coast at age 12 is what started a lifelong passion. She says, “That’s where I first fell in love with the ocean.” In 1953, using newly developed equipment, the young scientist became one of the first in her field to scuba dive (水肺潜水). Her first long-term exposure to the ocean depths came in 1970 when she led an all-female research team to study the ocean. They lived under the sea in a submersible (潜水器) for two weeks. When they returned to the surface, world-wide cheer and praise were waiting, especially for Dr. Earle.

Sylvia Earle’s career includes many firsts. In 1979 she became the first woman to walk the ocean floor 381 meters below the surface. In 1990, she became the first female chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Through the years, Earle has spent roughly 7,500 hours underwater. During that time, she has become increasingly alarmed by the significant changes she has observed.

The famous scientist fears that the ocean is dying. Climate change, overfishing, the dumping of trash and chemicals and oil spills are just some of the many causes. In order to tackle the problem, Earle formed Mission Blue in 2009. This organization promotes the legal protection and conservation of the world’s oceans. Her plan is to develop “Hope Spots,” protected areas large enough to reverse (逆转) damage and restore the ocean.

1. Why does Sylvia Earle put forward “what if” questions?

A．To call on people to protect the ocean.

B．To stress our dependence on the ocean.

C．To criticize people’s damage to the ocean.

D．To contribute an article to Time magazine.

2. What can we learn about Sylvia Earle?

A．She moved to Florida to learn diving.

B．She was the best in scuba diving.

C．She did not get much attention in 1970.

D．She became a chief scientist of NOAA in 1990.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Scientists’ fears.	B．Causes of the damage.
C．Efforts Earle made.	D．Bright future for the ocean.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Dr. Sylvia Earle — A Lover of Diving

B．Dr. Sylvia Earle — Pioneer of the Deep

C．The Ocean — A place in Urgent Need of Our Care

D．Scuba Diving — A Fantastic Way to Learn the Ocean

4 . The aftermath (后果) of an earthquake can be horrible, but it is important that you are attentive and focused after an earthquake happens. Fires, gas leaks, and injuries are all dangers you might face after an earthquake.     1     By assessing the safety of your location and following the directions of local authorities, your chances of surviving the aftermath of an earthquake will be much higher.

Check yourself for injuries.     2     If you’re bleeding, lift your injury up and put pressure on it. If your injury is serious, call for help using a cellphone or try to get rescuers’ attention.

    3     Use a cellphone to call for help if you have one. If you can’t use a phone, try knocking loudly on something nearby until rescuers find you.

Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes which follow the main shock of an earthquake.     4     So you should prepare to move to a safe location, like an open outdoor space or a structurally sound building.

Exit the building and go to a safer place once the shaking has stopped. The structure of the building you’re in may have been weakened by the main earthquake.     5    

A．Signal for help if you are trapped.

B．They can cause significant damage.

C．Remain calm as the earthquake occurs.

D．The more prepared you are, the safer you’ll be.

E．Make sure you’re not seriously hurt before you do anything.

F．After the earthquake, you must get medical treatment in time.

G．Therefore, you should leave as soon as possible in case of any aftershocks.

5 . Margot doesn’t have a garbage can. It doesn’t need one because Margot simply doesn’t cause anything to get thrown away. The restaurant doesn’t allow any type of single use plastic. Margot, which opened last year, is one of the small but growing restaurants around the world aiming to avoid not only food leftovers, but also any garbage.

“Food waste has been increasing as an issue for restaurants over the last 10 years,” says Calvin Brown. He runs the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Based in the United Kingdom, the organization helps food business become more environmentally responsible. He says that food waste contributes to releasing the greenhouse gas, so there is strong motivation to reduce waste and help the environment.

In the USA, food waste and packing account for nearly half of the material sent to landfills. Restaurants from McDonald’s to Starbucks are addressing this issue with “no straw Mondays” and limits on single-serving plastic, but a handful of restaurateurs are trying to get rid of rubbish entirely. There’s also economic case to be made for waste reduction. One study shows that restaurants save seven dollars for every dollar invested in anti- waste methods.

Avoiding food waste is the first and perhaps most obvious challenge for sustainable restaurants. Doug McMaster, chef at Silo in London, only serves a set menu. This removes the worry that one particular item won’t sell well, and will spoil in the refrigerator. Compost (堆肥) is a necessity as well. Nolla (meaning “zero” in Finnish) in Helsinki, Finland is giving compost to its suppliers as well as its diners. Nolla also has food- tracking software more commonly used among corporate food service companies to keep track of what sells and what rots.

Sometimes restaurants call themselves environmentally friendly, but they might just be using the label. Calvin offers some pointers on what to look for to make sure a restaurant is truly committed to sustainability.

1. What does Margot feature?

A．Its large size.	B．Its opening hours.
C．Its zero-waste goal.	D．Its plastic garbage cans.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Ways of packaging food.

B．The issue of investing in services.

C．The importance of environmental protection.

D．Efforts of some restaurants to reduce rubbish,

3. Which of the following does Nolla try to do?

A．Only serve a set menu.

B．Hardly use refrigerators.

C．Supply compost to its customers.

D．Keep track of diners’ preferences.

4. What does Calvin think restaurants should do?

A．Expand food business.

B．Use eco-friendly labels.

C．Save money on dealing with kitchen garbage.

D．Contribute to sustainable development of the food industry.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Forests, which cover nearly one-third of the world’s land area, are a vital and    1    (price) gift from nature to humanity. Forests have been regarded as a limitless source of many different types of raw materials since ancient times. From food to cooking wood, from clothing to housing, the forests benefit us directly or indirectly in every way.

In the early 1990s,    2    (approximate) 17% of India’s land area    3    (consider) forest land. However, in 1987, the actual forest cover was 64 million hectares (公顷). In the 1980s, the growing population,    4    is in high demand for forest resources, fueled the destruction of forests. Every year, the topsoil    5    (lose) in forest is estimated (估计) to reach six billion tons.

People have become more interested in    6    (conserve) since they realized deforestation threatened (威胁) not only the ecology but also livelihood in a variety of ways. The Chipko Movement is the most famous activist movement of all. In India, local women decided to fight the government in order to save the forests. If a sporting goods company attempted to cut    7    ash trees in their district, the    8    (woman) of Chamoli District, declared that they would “stick to” trees. Since 1973, it    9    (spread) and developed into an ecological movement, inspiring similar actions in other forest areas.    10    movement has slowed deforestation, raised environmental awareness, and showed people’s power.

7 . New York-based Ecovative has been creating environmentally friendly packaging made from mushrooms and agricultural waste since 2009. Now, the company wants to bring their amazing material into homes and offices with a new line of compostable (可堆肥的) furnishings that are grown using just three materials: mycelium (the vegetative part of mushrooms), hemp (麻类植物), and salt.

While creating hard material from mushrooms might sound magical, the company’s CEO Eben Bayer says it is a relatively low-tech process and compares it to “making bread”. The company begins by adding a few mycelium cells to damp hemp or other agricultural waste.

The mycelium that grows like little hairs is allowed to twist with the waste until everything is ”glued“ together. The combination is then mixed again and placed into the desired mold (模具) where it continues to grow and harden. The resulting material is then baked in the oven. In addition to making it as strong as wood, the heat also kills the mycelium, thus giving the compostable material a similar shelf life to wood.

Also, though the table tops of the stylish Tafl and King’s tables released at the recently held Biofabricate 2016 conference in New York City resemble marble, they are far from it. The perfectly carved blocks are made of a material grown by a North Carolina-based company named bioMASON using grains of sands and bacteria.

As you have probably guessed, this waste-free furniture does not come cheap. Customers can expect to pay anywhere from $249 USD for the Tafl to $699 USD for the King’s table, both of which are only available in limited quantities. Those that cannot afford those prices can choose cheaper GIY (grow it yourself) ones made of various products ranging from Christmas tree decorations to lamp shades.

1. Why did Eben compare making hard materials to making bread?

A．Their raw materials are the same.	B．Their product appearances are alike.
C．Their production processes are simple.	D．Their production costs are relatively low.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The method of making mushrooms hard.	B．How to make mushroom furniture materials.
C．What are needed to make mushroom furniture.	D．The difficulties of making mushroom furniture.

3. What can we learn about Tafl and King’s tables?

A．They are in limited supply.	B．They are offered in GIY forms.
C．They consist mainly of marble.	D．They are designed by bioMASON.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Invention of New Kinds of Furniture

B．The First Sale of Furniture Made of Mushrooms

C．Scientists Found New Material to Make Furniture

D．Future Furniture May Be Grown from Mushrooms

8 . As Plastic Chokes the Ocean, Technology Can Help

Some 8 million tons of non-recyclable (不可回收的) plastic end up in the ocean each year. At an alarming rate, the seas may have more plastic than fish by the middle of the century.     1    

Require a global solution to a global problem.     2     The developed countries and most of developing countries show their leadership in this process by setting goals, encouraging other member states, and offering support for poor countries.

    3     Although they are helpful to protect clean water and air, as it is known, non-recyclable plastic is widely used in the markets. Therefore, non-recyclable plastic still can be bought in our daily life. Its disappearance needs much more time and efforts.

Pay more attention to the new studies on plastic and technologies. Some of researchers are aiming to make replacements for plastic.     4     For example, “interceptors” can remove river pollution before it reaches the ocean.

Expect more responsibility from manufacturers.     5     As a start, they should be encouraged to simplify complex packaging. And their working with world governments will support poorer nations to improve waste collection and landfill (垃圾场) management.

The world doesn’t have enough time in trying to solve the problem. The sooner these efforts start, the better.

A．Strengthen the connection between countries.

B．Others are doing more research on new technologies.

C．Nearly 200 countries agreed to ban plastic pollution.

D．Establish production limits for non-recyclable plastic.

E．They should care about different laws on plastic in the poorer countries.

F．They are well aware of how to reduce the harms their products cause.

G．Thus it’s necessary to take immediate action to stop that.

9 . I’ve just asked Julie Gray, a biologist at the University of Sheffield, which species she thinks would be the last ones standing if we don’t take transformative action on climate change. “I don’t think it will be humans. I think we’ll go quite early on,” says Gray. Humans probably won’t be among the survivors, partly because humans produce young extremely slowly and generally just one or two at a time.

It may seem like just a thought experiment. But discussing which species are able to survive climate change is disturbingly concrete. As a report stated recently, one in four species currently faces extinction, which is closely linked to climate change. While the seriousness of climate change is undeniable, we can make some educated guesses about which species will have a better shot at going far.

According to Jen Lau, a biologist at University Bloomington, heat tolerant and drought resistant plants, like those found in deserts, are more likely to survive. So are plants whose seeds can be spread over long distances, for example by wind or ocean currents. Plants that can adjust their flowering times may also be better able to deal with higher temperatures.

We can also look to history as a guide. Cockroaches adapted to an increasingly dry Australia tens of millions of years ago, by starting to dig holes in soil to hide. Cockroaches also tend to not be picky eaters. Having broad diets means that climate change will be less of a threat to them.

Furthermore, species called “mobile generalists” by experts can move and adapt to different environments and are more likely to last long in face of climate change. For example, deer in the US are common in suburban areas and manage to live where forests have been removed or are regularly disturbed.

Certainly, some animals would also survive if they could find a buffer: an area that is relatively protected from climate change’s consequences, such as deep sea canyons, underground caves.

1. What does the author probably think of the answer given by Gray?

A．Ridiculous.

B．Unreasonable.

C．Upsetting.

D．Exciting.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined part in Paragraph 2?

A．Peacefully wait.	B．Quickly die out.
C．Greatly change.	D．Possibly survive.

3. Which of the following species is likely to survive climate change?

A．Trees growing in the rainforest and flowering at fixed time every year.

B．Animals good at digging holes and not particular about food.

C．Creatures mainly living in trees and spending most time sleeping.

D．Fishes that do not enjoy deep diving and like to stay in a bay.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．How Climate Will Change in the Future

B．What Species May Survive Climate Change

C．Why Some Species Have Broader Diets

D．Where Species Can Hide in Climate Change

10 . Soil creates life from death. The production of more than 95% of the food we eat relies on soil. But this precious resource is eroding (侵蚀) at a global average of 13.5 tons per hectare per year. Instead of nourishing crops, fertile topsoil is washed and blown away, ending up in inconvenient places such as ditches and oceans.

Jo Handelsman and Kayla Cohen try to make readers care about soil in A World Without Soil. Their prologue (前言) takes the form of a letter to the government. With the letter, they hope to make soil management a federal priority. The following chapters cover the basic science of soil as well as the causes and consequences of its erosion. In the last part of the book, the authors turn to possible solutions—many of them simple, and some centuries old. They describe about traditional soil management techniques, including planting diverse crops in rotation (轮种), increasing organic content, ploughing as little as possible, etc. With these techniques, farmers are able to produce rich agricultural production while maintaining deep banks of fertile soil.

Why, then, is fertile soil being allowed to be washed and blown away? The answer, not surprisingly, rests in global capitalism. Farmers' profit is thin, forcing farmers to plant the highest-profit crop from field to field every season. To ensure food security, Handelsman and Cohen urge the world to demand a real top-down change in how agricultural production is managed. "The burden of protecting soil cannot be shifted to farmers and environmental activists," they note. Governments must begin to move towards a model in which farmers are less independent business people growing and selling food, and more government-supported land workers managing both food production and soil protection. This should be the core of agriculture.

Our land and soil are too precious to be destroyed by the market price of crops. We must invest deeply and thoughtfully in our farmers so that they can invest deeply and thoughtfully in the land. This is the future of farming.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The gradual process of losing soil.

B．The worrying situation of soil erosion.

C．The alarming decrease of food output.

D．The great significance of soil protection.

2. What do we know about the book A World Without Soil?

A．It targets federal officials as its main readers.

B．It puts forward some practical solutions to soil loss.

C．It advocates changing traditional farming techniques.

D．It blames governments for not taking care of farmlands.

3. What do Handelsman and Cohen suggest farmers do?

A．Invest in the most profitable crops.

B．Grow and sell food all by themselves.

C．Shoulder the burden of protecting soil.

D．Work the land with government support.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．A Call to Save Soil	B．Tips to Reshape Agriculture
C．Ways to Enrich Farmland	D．An Appeal to Guarantee Food Supply