1 . There are two distinctive types of electric buses making their way along Nanjing Xi Lu, one of Shanghai’s busiest roads. The first is a fleet of blue trolleybuses that serve bus route number 20, a line set up by a British-run transport company in 1928. They use poles to receive electricity from wires overhead and have kept the route running in this way for nearly a century. But while the historic electric buses are a reminder of Europe’s past technological innovation, the new buses traveling alongside them are symbols of China’s contemporary net-zero ambition. These modern electric buses powered by lithium batteries (锂电池) , were introduced in Shanghai in 2014. They offer a smoother ride, especially during starts and stops. Widely used across China, these buses are key to the country’s EV transition and are influencing the global shift towards green transportation.
The most recent data available shows that China in 2018 was still the second largest source of carbon dioxide emissions in the global transport sector, responsible for 11%, and behind only the United States, which accounted for 21%. After around two decades of government support, China now boasts the world’s largest market for e-buses, making up more than 95% of global stock. At the end of 2022, China’s Ministry of Transport announced that more than three-quarters (77% or 542, 600) of all urban buses in the country were new energy vehicles. The speed of this transition was remarkable.
So far, however, the Chinese cities with the most successful e-bus introduction — such as Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai — all have moderate weather and are relatively flat. To take its e-bus campaign to the next level, China faces challenges. For one thing, it is difficult to bring fleets to cities such as Hong Kong, which — like London — have double-deckers. These two-storeyed vehicles are “very hard” to electrify, because they are heavier, use more energy, and so need bigger batteries, reducing the number of passengers they can carry. Cold weather is a problem, too, as it can make a battery’s charging time longer and its range shorter. The reason China has not achieved 100% electrification for its buses is its northern regions, which have cold winters, says Xue Lulu, a transportation expert at the World Resources Institute China.
1. How does the author describe the two types of electric buses in the first paragraph?A.By contrasting their historical significance and technological advancements. |
B.By highlighting their roles in protecting the environment and lasting use. |
C.By focusing merely on their technical details and performance. |
D.By explaining their operational challenges and requirements. |
A.The global impact of carbon dioxide emissions. |
B.The progress of China in reducing CO2 emissions. |
C.The different emission levels of China and the USA. |
D.The need for more government support in e-bus market. |
A.Poor winter weather conditions. | B.Lack of transportation experts. |
C.Short charging time of the battery. | D.Heavier and bigger bus bodies. |
A.Worklife. | B.Culture. | C.Travel. | D.Earth. |
2 . Wildlife Preservation Volunteer Programs
Elephant Preservation Volunteer Program in Nepal
This program is suitable for active volunteers who love animals and want to care for the well-being of elephants. No experience is needed as you’ll be working closely with placement staff. The elephant shelter takes in elephants that have medical issues and require care.
Volunteers are accommodated in a local hotel. You should expect to share a room with one other volunteer.
Marine (海洋的) Preservation Volunteer Program in Croatia
This program is suitable for physically fit volunteers who are experienced divers (潜水员). You will use your diving skills to collect marine waste from the bottom of the seabed. You will work within a team on sorting waste out and handing it to the recycling centre.
Volunteers will be accommodated in a hotel. Local workers will clean the accommodation throughout the week.
Victoria Falls Wildlife Volunteering in Zimbabwe
This program is suitable for animal-loving volunteers who want to contribute to protecting amazing creatures and their habitats. Activities include animal tracking, camping out on the reserve and supporting other partner organizations.
Volunteers are accommodated within private rooms at the preservation centre. The accommodation has an open-air area where volunteers can socialize.
Amazon Jungle Preservation Volunteer Program in Peru
This program is suitable for volunteers who care about the environment, like working hard and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. It’s a great opportunity if you’re looking to reset your life by getting out of your comfort zone. You’ll also be developing personally and professionally.
Volunteers are accommodated in local people’s houses. There are running showers but you can expect water to he cold.
1. What do the programs in Nepal and Zimbabwe have in common?A.They need experienced volunteers. |
B.They are suitable for animal lovers. |
C.They include dirty work in the field. |
D.They require camping out on the reserve. |
A.They work on the seabed all the time. |
B.They help to keep the environment clean. |
C.They are taught diving skills after arrival. |
D.They lead a team to explore the marine creatures. |
A.Elephant Preservation Volunteer Program. |
B.Marine Preservation Volunteer Program. |
C.Victoria Falls Wildlife Volunteering. |
D.Amazon Jungle Preservation Volunteer Program. |
3 . The Yellow River is the cradle of China’s civilization. And flood control and prevention have always been key to the well-being of the people living along it. Now, scientists can better work on these issues by giving the river a digital twin.
The digital twin of the Yellow River uses various technologies, including big data, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things. Devices (设备) set up along the river collect and transmit information to the center. Based on the information, a 3D model of the river is presented on the computer screen. It’s like the Yellow River has a twin that reflects its real conditions.
One big breakthrough in the river’s digital governance (治理) is “smart stones”. According to Wang Qin, a lead researcher at the Information Center of Yellow River Henan Bureau, a smart stone is a water-proof stone-shaped device with chips, a battery, and a signal transmitter. They are buried in important dike (堤坝) locations to record and report the movement of dike stones. “Upon feeling movement of the dike stones, the smart stone sends an alarm to the center for quick response,” Wang said.
“In the past, researchers had to learn the conditions of the dike on the spot by themselves, putting their lives at risk,” said Zhao Xiao from the bureau. “Now the smart stones can do this for us, more safely, quickly, and accurately.”
And in the sky, drones (无人机) are flying. On the routes designed by engineers, the drones become expert patrollers (巡逻员) of the river, looking at its dikes and flood prevention projects. According to Shen Lin from the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, thanks to the drones, researchers at the command center can get first-hand photos and information. “Researchers then update the 3D model according to the changes the drones reported. The newly updated model helps us test our floodwater release plans in case we ever need to batten down the hatches (未雨绸缪), ”said Shen.
Under the water and up in the sky, intelligence systems are helping to protect the Yellow River Basin on all fronts. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, in the future, we can expect to see the construction of an even more comprehensive digital system for this important river.
1. What is the main purpose of creating a digital twin of the Yellow River?A.To conduct historical research. |
B.To create a virtual tourist attraction. |
C.To raise public awareness of river protection. |
D.To improve flood control and prevention efforts. |
A.They record water quality. |
B.They improve the river’s beauty. |
C.They monitor and report dike movements. |
D.They serve as markers for important locations. |
A.Entertaining tourists. | B.Collecting information on dike conditions. |
C.Patrolling and take wildlife photos. | D.Testing water quality. |
A.Complete. | B.Basic. | C.Beautiful. | D.Natural. |
4 . On 20 December, 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 Gold shore Beach. People were walking, running or simply sitting on the sandy beach,
Sabrina was
A.brought | B.left | C.affected | D.led |
A.survive | B.recognize | C.revive | D.quit |
A.impression | B.knowledge | C.wisdom | D.detail |
A.taking in | B.making up | C.focusing on | D.checking out |
A.sunshine | B.wind | C.whistle | D.wave |
A.unique | B.powerful | C.attractive | D.strange |
A.narrow | B.adventurous | C.calm | D.distant |
A.damages | B.signs | C.effects | D.results |
A.confused | B.embarrassed | C.frightened | D.annoyed |
A.stress | B.development | C.credit | D.danger |
A.cheating | B.debating | C.joking | D.helping |
A.under control | B.on hand | C.on schedule | D.on its way |
A.actually | B.anxiously | C.curiously | D.immediately |
A.revived | B.warned | C.cleared | D.reminded |
A.crashed | B.slid | C.divided | D.tapped |
Wetlands are the link between the land and the water. They are transition zones where the flow of water, the cycling of nutrients and the energy of the sun meet to produce
The National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands in Guangdong Province was established in 2003. It
The main focus of the reserve is to protect the unique underwater natural landscapes, the ecosystems of the nearby
Researchers have discovered 1,308 marine species in the area, including 772
I didn’t sleep well for several days, worrying about the wildfires in several parts of Chongqing, my hometown. Like most people from Chongqing, I felt I must help stop the fires spreading, especially after I smelt heavy smoke in my house
Clearly, the powerful fire was getting very close. Although forest firefighting forces from three provinces arrived, our government needed
Many people
I asked
7 . You are sitting in a restaurant and a server brings over a glass of water and drops a plastic straw (吸管) next to the glass. Any idea how many plastic straws are thrown away in the US everyday? Around 500 million! Plastic straws were the seventh most common type of litter found during beach cleanups this year! Last year, a diver diving in Australia collected 319 plastic straws in just 20 minutes. The next day, she returned to the same location and found another 294 straws.
Very few single-use plastic straws are recycled. They break down into tiny bits of plastic, and are eaten by sea life. Luckily, thousands of people have gotten involved (参与) with the cause, including kids!
In 2011, 9-year-old Milo Cress made an interesting observation after ordering a drink of juice in a restaurant, “I noticed the servers automatically placed a plastic straw by my drink.” Milo thought this was a real waste and thought there had to be something he could do about it. Milo talked with plastic producers to get an estimate of just how many straws we use. He learned that 500 million plastic straws are used every day! This inspired him to start a project called Be Straw Free. Milo encouraged restaurants not to hand straws out so freely. “Actually,” remembers Milo, “businesses liked the idea as it would save them money.”
Milo was one of many kids to become involved with the cause. Earlier this year, a group of third-and-fourth-graders from Seattle, Washington, spoke with local lawmakers about the harm plastic straws have on sea life and our environment. The group, calling themselves the Straw Kids, would like cities to ban their use, and would like other kids to rethink the use of single-use plastic straws. Megan O’Reilly, 9, says, “We are making a website, strawkids.org, which will help us get the word out that plastic straws are bad, and help us get more supporters.”
1. The data in paragraph 1 is used to show ______.A.divers enjoy doing beach cleanups | B.restaurants always provide plastic straws |
C.plastic straws are causing an environmental problem | D.Australia’s environment is getting worse and worse |
A.It was unacceptable. | B.It was difficult to carry out. |
C.It was quite effective. | D.It was favorable to their business. |
A.Intelligent and sensitive. | B.Caring and humorous. |
C.Creative and responsible. | D.Courageous and demanding. |
A.One good turn deserves another. | B.One is never too young to change. |
C.Kids can also make a difference. | D.Kids should be prepared for the future. |
8 . The wildfires damaging parts of Australia can be seen from space in new satellite images released by NASA. Australia's capital, Canberra, was enveloped in a smoky haze Sunday and air quality at midday was measured at 10 times the usual dangerous limit. The damaging fires have killed at least 24 people in Australia and destroyed almost 2,000 homes. The early and damaging start to Australia’s summer wildfires, fed by drought and the country's hottest and driest year on record, has also been catastrophic (毁灭性的) for the country's wildlife, likely killing nearly 500 million birds, reptiles and mammals in New South Wales alone, Sydney University ecologist Chris Dickman told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Under such extreme conditions, the fires have been generating enough heat to create their own weather systems, including fire-generated thunderstorms and fire tornadoes. Thousands of firefighters continued to fight the flames that have burned millions of acres in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, an area twice the size of Maryland. In New South Wales, the rural fire service (RFS) said as of Sunday there were 150 fires active in the state, 64 of them uncontrolled.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that, for the first time in Australian history, 3,000 army, navy and air force reservists (后备军人) will battle against the fires. He also committed $14 million to hiring fire-fighting aircraft from overseas. On Sunday, cooler temperatures and lighter winds brought some relief to threatened communities, a day after thousands were forced to escape as flames reached the suburban areas of Sydney. Thousands of firefighters fought to contain the fires, but many fires continued to burn out of control, threatening to wipe out rural townships and causing almost incalculable damage to property and wildlife.
1. What does the underlined phrase “fed by” mean ?A.get food from someone | B.be strengthened by something |
C.be destroyed by something | D.under control of something |
A.Because the fires generated thunderstorms and tornadoes. |
B.Because there was rainy weather. |
C.Because the fires generated enough heat to create extreme weather. |
D.Because the weather systems is easy to change. |
A.Many soldiers will fight against the fires as they have done before. |
B.Fires were controlled due to cooler temperatures and lighter winds. |
C.A lot of people moved out of the suburban areas. |
D.Damage to property and wildlife is limited. |
A.Australia's destructive wildfires | B.Soldiers fought against the fires |
C.Wildlife died form the fires | D.Australia’s wildfires was under control |
9 . How to Protect Wildlife
Wildlife faces threats from habitat destruction, pollution, and other human actions. Although protecting wildlife may seem too hard at times, even small actions can help protect many different animals.
● Create wildlife friendly areas. When trying to make your garden more beautiful, choose plants that can provide food and shelter to native wildlife. This will also help cut down on pollution.
●
● Buy products that are wildlife-friendly.
● Limit family size. Population growth is one of the major factors in habitat destruction. With the rapidly growing population, more and more habitats for wildlife are occupied by humans.
A.Live a greener life. |
B.Donate money to organizations. |
C.Each family should be limited to one or two children. |
D.Avoid products that are made from endangered animals. |
E.Protecting wildlife from being endangered is every family’s duty. |
F.Here are some tips on how to protect wildlife through small actions. |
G.Build bird houses to your garden or yard to attract and shelter these species. |
10 . Afroz Shall, a lawyer in Mumbai, hasn't had a weekend off in four years. But he hasn't spent this time preparing for
His mission? Saving the world's oceans from
It's a calling he found in 2015 after moving to a community in Mumbai called Versova Beach. He had played there as a child and was
“The whole beach was like a
In October 2015, shall began
For Shah, the work has always been a
He's now spent 209 weekends on this mission,
“This world talks too much. I think we must talk
A.teaching | B.housework | C.court | D.cleaning |
A.plastic | B.soil | C.river | D.oil |
A.upset. | B.confused. | C.delighted | D.hesitant |
A.grown | B.changed | C.reserved | D.protected |
A.pure | B.golden | C.shiny | D.visible |
A.curtain | B.carpet | C.painting | D.photograph |
A.temporary | B.permanent | C.ugly | D.pretty |
A.sticks to | B.keeps off | C.gives back | D.ends up |
A.killer | B.cleaner | C.guest | D.decoration |
A.sweeping | B.attacking | C.visiting | D.beautifying |
A.pulling | B.thinking | C.picking | D.looking |
A.came | B.failed | C.went | D.spread |
A.involved | B.lived | C.stuck | D.paid |
A.easy | B.tough | C.personal | D.general |
A.known | B.regarded | C.decided | D.honored |
A.cause | B.case | C.position | D.fame |
A.requiring | B.rejecting | C.inviting | D.inspiring |
A.originally | B.finally | C.politically | D.theoretically |
A.fewer | B.less | C.better | D.worse |
A.honor | B.beauty | C.hope | D.love |