1 . In an effort to fight the “throw-away culture” and promote reuse and repair, the city of Berlin has taken the unique step of opening its own secondhand department store.

This isn’t your grandma’s thrift shop (旧货商店). It resells perfectly good items that would otherwise be thrown away. A pun on the German words for “department store” and “conserving house”, B-Wa(h)renhaus sells a wide variety of products. Far from simply selling old items, the electronic goods have been fixed by expert technicians and come with a year’s guarantee. And, to reach more secondhand shoppers, the store was set up right in the middle of the famous Karstadt department store.

With the success of its initial six-month trial run, the city plans to open four more similar operations in other parts of Berlin. By 2030, it hopes to have at least one location in each of Berlin’s 12 districts. Since 2008, city policies and educational campaigns have reduced average annual household waste by about 25 pounds per resident. It also recycles about 49% of its mineral construction waste. Currently, the city estimates that 8% of abandoned electronic goods and 6% of huge items thrown away can actually be reused. The goal is to expand the market for these items beyond the usual bargain hunters and eco-conscious consumers.

“Three years ago, we started collecting all kinds of used goods,” city spokesperson Dorothee Winden said. “There are lots of things that are well-preserved and functioning but aren’t being used anymore. The goal is to give these things a new life with somebody who can use them.” The store also includes an education center to encourage more sustainable lifestyles — and also gave an award to a project that recycles school uniforms, so that parents don’t have to buy new ones every year.

1. Why has Berlin opened its own secondhand department store?

A．To attract more shoppers.	B．To promote recycling.
C．To foster traditional culture.	D．To expand secondhand market.

2. In which aspect is B-Wa(h)renhaus different from the traditional thrift store?

A．The variety of the goods.	B．The location of the store.
C．The quality of the products.	D．The operation of the store.

3. What can we infer from Paragraph 3?

A．Berlin currently has 4 second-hand stores in construction.

B．Berlin has been successful in cutting its waste since 2008.

C．It is not easy to make the goal to expand the market a reality.

D．It is estimated that Berlin will be a zero-waste city by 2030.

4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the text?

A．To introduce Berlin’s new reuse shop operation.

B．To raise people’s awareness of reasonable shopping.

C．To persuade people to become eco-friendly shoppers.

D．To encourage more people to donate to secondhand shops.

2 . If you were to throw, say, a banana peel out of your car while driving along the motorway, that would be a completely harmless action, due to the fact that it’s part of a fruit — right? Actually, no. A banana peel can take up to two years to be naturally processed, and with a third of motorists admitting to littering while driving, that’s a whole lot of discarded banana peels. An orange peel and a cigarette butt has a similar biodegrading (生物降解) term to that of a banana peel, but tin cans last up to 100 years; and plastic bottles last forever, as do glass bottles.

Despite the fact that longer-lasting materials will serve to damage the environment and its animals for longer, we can’t merely measure the severity of a certain type of rubbish by its lifetime. For example, despite having a fairly short length of biodegrading time, more than 120 tons of cigarette-related litter is discarded in the UK every day.

It’s not a cheap habit either: to keep our streets clean annually costs UK taxpayers £500 million, and when you include our green spaces, that goes up to £1 billion. So, it’s not surprising that if caught fly-tipping you could face a £20,000 fine or even jail time and, if you disposed of something dangerous, the court could give you five years to serve. Regardless of how severe these punishments might seem, however, among the reported cases only 2,000 were found guilty out of 825,000, so we still have some way to go in making sure people obey the rules.

1. What does the underlined word “discarded” in para1 mean?

A．Harmless.

B．Processed.

C．Thrown.

D．Long-lasting.

2. Which of the following has the longest biodegrading term?

A．Glass bottles.

B．Tin cans.

C．Cigarette butts.

D．Banana peels.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The severity of rubbish can be measured by its lifetime.

B．Quite a few people were found guilty of illegally littering.

C．Every year UK taxpayers spend £500 million keeping streets free of dirt.

D．Cigarette-related litter and peels can be ignored for their fairly short lifetime.

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To inform readers of different biodegrading terms.

B．To call for people not to litter illegally.

C．To encourage people to use fewer plastic bags.

D．To stress the importance of good behavior.

3 . It could be said that the northernmost part of our planet holds the secrets of our past as well as our future.

The icy land is，in fact，not a place for the weak. This vast land of wilderness is where people can get up close to nature's extremes. The place is “no joke”，US photographer Mark Mahaney told PLAIN Magazine. “When midnight sun is replaced by polar night，everything's different Eyes to the horizon and it's nothing. And then more nothing，in every direction. ”

One of the most harsh，yet most pristine（原始的）places on Earth，the Arctic has been affected by human activities-exploration，booming tourism and most importantly，global warming-in recent decades.

But the impact of these changes is not restricted to the inhabitants of this area alone. In fact, it could be said that the weight of the world relies on this icy region.

The Earth's steady climate depends on the Arctic's sea ice, which acts as a huge white reflector at the top of the planet, bouncing some of the sun's rays back into space. The more Arctic sea ice melts, the less light is reflected, and the more the dark oceans will absorb the sun's radiation. The Arctic also helps circulate ocean currents,   moving cold and warm water around the globe.

With visible changes in the global climate, the Arctic has given us a wake-up call-what happens up in the North doesn't just stay there. It comes with a high cost to the world at large. It's time for us to pay attention to this chilly region and learn more about what's happening there, as well as its past and possible future.

1. What does the underlined sentence "The place is ‘no joke’” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．The weak are unhappy in the Arctic.

B．The natural conditions are poor in the Arctic.

C．Photographers are not allowed to take photos.

D．People are forbidden to make jokes in the Arctic.

2. What has caused the changes in the Arctic?

A．Animals and plants.	B．Global warming
C．The activities of human beings.	D．The scientists' records.

3. What is the function of the Arctic's sea ice?

A．To regulate climate.	B．To keep water clean.
C．To attract the sun's rays.	D．To support the living creatures.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．The Most Harsh Land	B．Changes of the Arctic
C．The Arctic Sending Warning Signals	D．Nature's Extremes Attracting Scientists

4 . Killer whales, or orcas, are known for their severe attacks on sea animals but they have never posed a threat to humans. However, since late July, the normally social animals have been intentionally attacking sailboats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal.

The strange behavior first surfaced on July 29, 2020, when a 46-foot boat was repeatedly attacked for almost an hour by nine orcas, causing the boat to rotate(旋转) 180 degrees and having its engine switched off. Since then, over 30 more similar incidents have been reported. On September 23, 2020, Spain's government banned boats of less than 50 feet in length from sailing in the 60-mile stretch of the Atlantic coastline between Ferrol and the Estaca de Bares Cape, where the attacks have been occurring.

Researchers across the world are trying to explain the orcas' behavior. Some believe it could be a result of the overfishing of the bluefish tuna - the orcas' primary food source -which has left the area's killer whales starving and unable to feed their babies. "I saw them look at boats carrying fish. I think they know humans are somehow related to food shortages, "says Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research in Washington, USA. The environmentalists believe the sudden increase in boat traffic and fishing activities, after months of absence due to restrictions on human activity last spring, could also be contributing to the agitation.

However, Alfredo López, a biology professor in Galicia, Spain, thinks the attacks are defensive measures the orcas adopted to protect themselves against boat injuries. The researcher came to this conclusion after looking at the of the videos of a few incidents and noticing that two of the young killer whales involved had serious injuries. Hopefully, the experts will be able to find a way to restore the harmony between the animals and the humans soon.

1. What do we know about orcas in paragraph 1?

A．They are friendly to humans.	B．They have changed their behavior.
C．They are famous for hunting skills	D．They have met tough living conditions.

2. Who hold(s) the idea that fishing activities caused the incidents?

A．Ken Balcomb.	B．The environmentalists.
C．Alfredo López.	D．Spain's government.

3. What does the underlined word "the agitation" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The attacks.

B．Food shortages.

C．The overfishing.

D．Human activities.

4. What might be a suitable title for this text?

A．How do killer whales attack humans?

B．Why Are Killer Whales attacking Boats?

C．How can we live in harmony with animals?

D．Why are boats banned from sailing on the sea?

5 . In an effort to create more environmentally friendly vacations, Norwegian cruise operator (挪威邮轮公司) Hurtigruten is making a plan to power its ships using dead fish. This doesn’t mean that Norwegian cruise liners will be doubling as fishing ships; the dead fish will come from Norway’s good fishing industry, not as any sort of by-product of the cruise industry. But it s a plan that promises to make use of the leftovers and offcuts of the fishing industry to make shipping less wasteful.

So how do dead fish get transformed into fuel? Organic waste of any kind can be mixed to produce a type of fuel known as biogas (沼气). If it sounds smelly, well…it is, and not just because of the dead fish. Biogas can also have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide, a chemical compound, which can give it a bad egg smell. It’s not a particularly attractive process, but don’ t worry: those smells won’t be given off from your cruise ship’s exhaust. The raw materials in the biogas can be cleaned, which creates liquid biogas.

What others see as a problem, we see as a resource and a solution, said Daniel Skjeldam Hurtigruten chief executive. “By introducing biogas as fuel for cruise ships, Hurtigruten will be the first cruise company to power ships with fossil-free (无化石的) fuel”

Biogas is certainly cleaner than heavy oil, but it’s not exactly carbon-free. So while the plan might be a creative way of making use of organic waste, as well as helping to get rid of fossil fuels, it’s not a perfect solution. However, it’s at least a step in a better direction. And the company will also be stopping single-use plastics on its 17 cruise ships. It’s good to see change happening in a dirty industry.

1. What kind of dead fish will be used in the plan?

A．Those from tourists.

B．Those from restaurants.

C．Those from the cruise industry.

D．Those from the fishing industry.

2. What is the limitation of the plan?

A．Biogas is smellier than heavy oil.

B．The making of biogas isn’t cost-saving

C．Biogas burning produces chemicals containing carbon.

D．The raw materials are not enough to cover the needs.

3. What does the author think of Hurtigruten’s plan?

A．It is all talk.

B．It will be of some help.

C．It is daring.

D．It will cause a debate.

4. What would be the best title for this text?

A．Dead fish will soon make power

B．Norway’s fishing industry meets a challenge

C．Smelly biogas has caused new problems

D．Hurtigruten points out the world resource issue

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。

California burns every year, but 2020 is the worst year yet. In a study, more than 77,600 fires    1    (burn) over 2.5 million acres of land so far this year. Unfortunately, the season still has months to run. Over the past decade, the state has spent    2    average of $ 3.7 billion a year    3    (fight)fires. Although smaller than this year's, the 2018 fire season was    4    (particular) destructive, killing 100 people and burning tens of thousands of buildings.

The reason for the burs is a double hit of climate change and development. Pricy housing has pushed people onto    5    (cheap) land close to the wilderness. Meanwhile, climate change is extending the dry season, which stores up fuel for fires.

So    6    can be done to prevent the spread of burns? Clever designs can help make buildings fight against fires that spread 10 neighboring buildings.    7    (material) such as concrete, adobe or stucco are a better bet than walls in a flammable wood, some of    8    promise to hold back the flames for two hours or more. Besides, opening agricultural lands can be a useful measure, too. Australia, which also suffers    9    wildfires, has experimented with bunkers (掩体) specially    10    (design) to hold back fires for an hour or more.

7 . It should be one of the main goals in today’s society to reduce plastic consumption. Though many of us believe that recycling will solve the problem, and continue using plastic, it’s actually the opposite. In 2013, 254 million tons of trash was produced in the U.S. alone, and only around 30% was recycled. This means that the rest ended up in a landfill and will stay there for up to 1000 years.

Recently, China has stopped importing trash from all over the world. Before this, over 30% of the world’s waste would end up in China, causing a popular belief that Asian countries are those responsible for creating the majority of the waste in the world. Now, Asian countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, are looking for new ways to avoid plastic. One of those ideas was a new, eco-friendly way to pack their goods by avoiding plastic packaging.

One of the Perfect Homes Chiangmai’s team members noticed a creative way to reduce plastic that a supermarket called Rimping Supermarket was using and decided to take photos of   their shelves with his phone. Little did he know that people from all around the world would absolutely love this idea. “I just popped in to get a few items while we were waiting to sign some contracts(合同) with our lawyer, who was delayed. When I noticed the vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and simply liked the idea, I took a few pictures and posted them online” he said.

With more than 3.5 million views and over 17 thousand shares, the idea became something people can encourage more supermarkets to implement(贯彻).

Some have noticed that not everything on the shelves is completely plastic-free, to which the supermarket responded that they are taking one step at a time, but it’s not that easy. Many products come to the supermarkets pre-packaged and many companies are interested in wrapping their produce in plastic since it is the cheapest and the easiest option.

It’s now up to the shoppers to show the supermarket which they prefer. If every one opts for the banana leaf packaging, they will stop stocking the items in plastic.

1. What can we infer about recycling from paragraph 1?

A．The author thinks highly of recycling

B．The US did a great job in recycling in 2013

C．Recycling has failed to solve the plastic problem

D．Recycling helps a lot in reducing plastic consumption

2. Why did the man go to Rimping Supermarket ?

A．To take photos of their shelves

B．To meet with their lawyer there

C．To buy some items

D．To sign some contracts with the supermarket.

3. What does the underline phrase“ opts for ”in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Doubts

B．Discusses

C．Dislikes

D．Chooses

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Leaf Packaging Goes Viral

B．Reducing Plastic Consumption

C．Recycling Avoids Plastic Packaging

D．A Good Option Makes A Difference

8 . 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。

On 8 November 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan swept through the Philippines. All of a sudden, a whole city lay in     1    （ruin）. 70 to 80 percent of the buildings were     2    （destroy）. The people were so     3    （frighten）that they felt as if the world were coming to     4     end. However, hope was not lost. Many countries and     5    （organise）came to the rescue. Slowly, the city began to breathe again.

9 . After an earthquake most survivors can be expected to recover over time, particularly with the support of family and friends. Some families will be able to return to their normal life quickly, while others will have to contend with the destruction of their homes, medical problems, and injury to family members. Children especially will need time to recover from the loss of a loved one or a pet or from the closing down of their school.

Children often turn to adults for information, comfort and help. Parents should try to remain calm, answer children’s questions honestly and remain understanding when they see changes in their children’s behavior.

Children react differently to an earthquake depending on their ages, developmental levels and former experiences. Some will respond by withdrawing (不与人交往), while others will have angry outbursts (爆发). Parents should remain sensitive to each child’s reactions. Parents should spend time talking to their children，letting them know that it’s OK to ask questions and to share their worries. Although it may be hard to find time to have these talks, parents can use regular family mealtimes or bedtimes for them. They should answer questions briefly and honestly and be sure to ask their children for their opinions and ideas. Issues may come up more than once and parents should remain patient when you answer the questions again. For young children, parents, after talking about the earthquake, might read a favorite story or have a relaxing family activity to help them calm down. Parents should also tell children they are safe and spend extra time with them. They could play games outside or read together indoors. Most importantly, be sure to tell them you love them.

1. The underlined phrase “contend with” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by “________”.

A．deal with

B．make up

C．put off

D．turn back

2. When children ask the same question again, parents should ________.

A．read a favorite story to comfort them

B．ask them to help do some housework

C．be patient and answer the question again

D．take them out to play games

3. Which of the following pieces of advice is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．Keep a close watch on children’s behavior.

B．Tell the children they are safe.

C．Tell the children you love them.

D．Ask educational experts for help.

4. What can we know from the passage?

A．All people will recover from an earthquake quickly.

B．Children may need a longer time to recover after an earthquake.

C．Children should turn to their classmates for help after an earthquake.

D．Children react in the same way as adults do to an earthquake.

10 . There are many ways to deal with the plastic pollution. Tom Szaky’s way may be one of the bravest. He has gone back to an old way-using reusable containers. The idea was used in the last century. It was introduced to the world by Coca-Cola in the early 1920s, when Coke was sold in expensive glass bottles that needed returning. They asked for two cents, about 40 percent of the full cost of the soft drink，and got about 98 percent of their bottles back, to be reused 40 or 50 times. Bottle deposit programs remain one of the most effective methods.

Ten months ago, Szaky started Loop, an online delivery service that uses strong reusable containers. The biggest part of his risk is that Loop pushes far beyond the common reusable bottles. From food packaging to washing powder packaging, the containers are in different sizes and made from different materials. One of his products is Haagen-Dazs ice cream that is packed inside a special box to keep the ice cream from melting.

17 years ago, Szaky founded TerraCycle, a small waste management company. He thought up a way to deal with plastics, cigarette wastes, and a long list of other wastes. Gradually, he became more interested in thinking of how to recycle different kinds of waste in the best way.

Loop is part of the reappearance of the reusable packaging as a best choice to plastic waste. The food and drink companies are more likely to use reusable bottles. A company said they have started the United States’ first state-wide reusable beer system. More obviously, Szaky’s idea of reusable packaging for products has attracted more and more companies to pay attention to the reusable packaging.

1. What do we know about Tom Szaky from paragraph 1?

A．He invented Coke bottles.	B．He recommended using reusable containers.
C．He invented a new kind of container.	D．He asked people for deposit.

2. Why does Szaky keep the ice cream in a special box?

A．To help keep its temperature.	B．To make it easy to eat.
C．To make it sweeter.	D．To help it melt quickly.

3. What can we infer about the reusable packaging in the future?

A．It will solve plastic waste completely.	B．It will bring about a lot of new waste.
C．It will attract more and more attention.	D．It will make Loop lose a lot of customers.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Different New Ways to Deal with Plastic Pollution	B．The Story of a Creative Inventor
C．The World’s Attitude to Plastic Pollution	D．An Old Idea of Fighting against Plastic Pollution