High on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
2 . The loss of housing due to floods is an undeniable issue. But now, Japanese housing developer Ichijo Komuten recently unveiled a “flood-resistant house” that can not only remain waterproof during floods, but also float off the ground.
Their new “flood-resistant house” was recently featured on a popular Japanese TV show and it has been getting a lot of attention online ever since. Japan’s TBS TV station recently visited one of Ichijo’s test sites where the company’s new flood-resistant house was being put through a simulated flood. Although it looked just like an ordinary house when the test began, by the time that water started rising around it, viewers could see the structure leave the ground and eventually float a few inches above it.
We’ve all seen floating houses being swept away in severe floods, but Ichijo’s newest invention features a system that prevents just that. The house is connected to a number of thick iron rod(杆)sticking out of the ground with thick cables(缆绳)that ensure it stays in place as the water floods past. When the water recedes, the floating house comes back down in its original position. The “flood-resistant house” also features special vents(通风口))hat close up in the event of flooding, and the plumbing also has special valves that prevent water from getting into the home. Electrical equipment like air conditioning is positioned on the upper half of the building to ensure that water doesn’t reach it.
According to engineers at Ichijo Komuten, most homes flood when water reaches the window level, but because their flood-resistant house can float up to five meters above ground, water is unlikely to reach the windows and everything else is sealed shut.
1. Why does Ichijo Komuten develop the “flood-resistant house”?| A．To make houses waterproof. | B．To get houses off the ground. |
| C．To keep houses forever floating. | D．To secure houses against floods. |
| A．Houses throughout the world are in danger of being flooded. |
| B．Electrical equipment will be safe in Ichijo Komuten’s flood-resistant house. |
| C．Thick iron rods and cables were invented by Ichijo Komuten. |
| D．Ichijo Komuten’s flood-resistant houses have been put into market successfully. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Critical. |
| A．To assess the consequences of floods |
| B．To stress the necessity of a waterproof house. |
| C．To provide guidance on flood control. |
| D．To introduce a new invention and its functions. |
3 . Not even the sea is safe from the glare (强光) of humans’ light at night. Researchers published the first global maps of ocean light pollution. It shows large parts of the sea lit up at night. And that risks confusing or disrupting the behaviors of sea life.
Tim Smyth led a team to research where in the water this glow is strongest. Smyth and his colleagues started with a world map of man-made night-sky brightness that had been created in 2016. Then they added data on the ocean and atmosphere. Some data came from shipboard measurements of man-made light in the water. Others came from satellite images that judge how clear the water is. Particles (微粒) in the water, such as tiny floating plants and animals, can affect how far downward light travels. These factors vary from place to place and may change with the seasons. The team also used computers to copy how different wavelengths of light move through water.
Next, they wanted to know how that underwater light might affect animals. Not all species will be easily affected. The team focused on copepods (桡足亚纲甲壳动物) . These common creatures are a key part of many ocean food webs. They use light as a signal to move all together to the dark deep, seeking safety from other surface creatures. Normally they use the sun or the winter moon as their signal. Too much man-made light can mess up their usual patterns.
Light pollution is strongest in about three feet of the water. Here, man-made light can be strong enough to confuse the copepods. Nearly 2 million square kilometers of ocean get such strong night light. That’s an area about the size of Mexico. Farther down, the light gets weaker. But even 65 feet deep, it’s still bright enough to bother copepods across 840,000 square kilometers of ocean.
The team described its findings December 13 in Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.
1. Which of the following best explains the underlined word “disrupting” in Paragraph 1?| A．Upsetting. | B．Observing. | C．Ensuring. | D．Protecting. |
| A．They are not affected by underwater light. |
| B．They can escape attacks with the help of light. |
| C．They are main eaters of other creatures. |
| D．They can weaken the effect of man-made light. |
| A．By stating opinions. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By raising questions. | D．By giving reasons. |
| A．Light Pollution from Sea Life | B．Living Conditions of Copepods |
| C．Discoveries of Copepods | D．Light Pollution Even in Sea |
4 . Nobody expects a natural disaster to strike. Neither does anyone know the impact it can have on life. The following measures can save your life in an emergency.
Typhoon
Typhoons occur in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly in exposed regions like the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, and Japan. The best place to hide during a typhoon is a secure basement or a bathroom with no windows. A must-have device is a battery-powered weather radio, through which you will hear evacuation orders or in other cases, instructions on how to survive in your shelter and learn about the weather situation.
Flood
Floods occur more often than any other natural disaster and change the landscape dramatically. They are usually caused by intense rainfalls lasting for days. Don’t try to be the bravest person around and stay in your house. Once you hear the evacuation warning, leave for safer higher grounds with your important papers in a waterproof container.
Avalanche
An avalanche can hit when you are enjoying Alpine skiing in a dreamlike location. It is very fast and disastrous, burying everything in its way under tons of snow. When an avalanche starts, try to move to the side of the slope as fast as you can. If you get buried in the snow, dig an air pocket to be able to keep breathing. Wait for the rescue team to find you and don’t waste your energy shouting or digging frantically. Call out when you hear the team approaching.
Wildfire
Wildfires spread at an amazing speed and destroy everything in their way. If you are caught in a wild fire, use a wet cloth to cover your nose and mouth to ensure that you can breathe. Try to stay upwind of the fire at all times and get close to a pond or river. Stay low and cover yourself with wet clothing, a blanket, or soil until the fire passes.
1. Among the four natural disasters, which one requires people to hide indoors?| A．Typhoon. | B．Flood. |
| C．Avalanche. | D．Wildfire. |
| A．Get to a basement or windowless bathroom. |
| B．Find something solid to hide under. |
| C．Leave the place where they are. |
| D．Get a torch in case of a blackout. |
| A．Typhoons occur only in the exposed regions in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. |
| B．Floods cause the most frequent damage among the disasters mentioned. |
| C．Those who meet with avalanches are advised to call out the minute they’re trapped. |
| D．Getting clean air matters most in the case of wildfires, despite the difficulty. |
5 . The African penguin lives on St. Croix island off the east coast of South Africa. A new study has found that they are leaving their natural environment to escape noisy ship refueling (补给燃料) activities.
The African penguins once mainly raised babies on this island. But the population has dropped sharply since South Africa started permitting ships in the area to refuel at sea six years ago, the study found.
Lorien Pichegru is acting director of the Coastal and Marine Research Institute at Nelson Mandela University, which led the study. She said the organization had found that noise levels in the area had doubled since the refueling activities began. Scientists say high noise levels affect the ability of penguins to find and catch other animals for food. Noise also makes it more difficult for them to communicate with each other and map travel paths. “This year we are at 1,200 breeding pairs at St Croix from 8,500 pairs in 2016,” Pichegru said.
The study recently appeared in the publication Science of the Total Environment. The researchers said the study is the first to explore the effects of ocean traffic noise pollution on a seabird.
Nelson Mandela University’s study collected some data to estimate underwater noise from passing ships. Oil-covered penguins were found in 2019 in Algoa Bay after an oil spill from ship-to-ship refueling. Environmental groups have called for the activities to be banned in the bay.
Pichegru said penguins in the area were already struggling to survive because of a series of issues, including industrial fishing activities. She added that the refueling activities did not kill all the penguins. However, “It was just the thing that made the whole ecology tip over and then the penguins couldn’t cope with that,” she said.
1. What has the new study found about penguins?| A．They have difficulty in raising babies. | B．They can get used to noisy ships easily. |
| C．Their population is on the increase. | D．They are forced to leave the natural environment. |
| A．The value of Lorien Pichegru’s job. | B．The importance of ship refueling activities. |
| C．The ability of Penguins to find food. | D．Bad effects of noises on Penguins. |
| A．The penguins should be put in control. |
| B．Fishing activities should be greatly encouraged. |
| C．Refueling activities should be strictly managed. |
| D．The penguins should develop their survival abilities. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. | C．A textbook. | D．A magazine. |
6 . Plastic pollution is growing rapidly across Earth’s ecosystems and its threat to humanity and wildlife is too. Outcomes for health and the environment will be severe unless we address it, says a United Nations (UN) report. But the discovery of microplastics in human blood means immediate action is needed.
Researchers found tiny plastic particles (微粒), less than one-thousandth of a millimeter in size, in almost 80 percent of 22 people they tested. Such small plastics can travel through the body and could stick in our vital organs. These tiny pieces could damage cells and tissues, causing many diseases like cancer.
“I was shocked but not surprised. We already knew that microplastics have been found in human organs. The body finds it hard to break these particles down, which associate them with chronic (长期的) disease,” said Jo Royle, the CEO of Common Seas—a social enterprise looking to stop plastic pollution. “It’s clear that the best way to battle with microplastics and prevent health problems is to make sure they don’t end up being deserted in our environment in the first place,” added Royle. “This is why we need leaders and businesses to take responsibility for plastic trash along its lifecycle.”
Some oil and gas companies that supply plastic products plan to expand plastic output and double production in the next 20 years. But analysts say that would backfire on people, governments, and industries rejecting plastic to protect the environment. Big brands are reducing plastic packaging and changing to alternatives. Plastic is seen as a threat as large as climate change and a UN treaty against pollution is the result.
Natural products like plant materials and even silk offer plastic alternatives, especially in food and product packaging. But the UN believes we cannot simply recycle our way out of the problem. An immediate reduction and industry transformation are needed. As the blood microplastic study suggests, that transformation must be rapid. Because the rate at which we absorb plastic into our bodies is faster than the rate we remove it. And that needs a planet-wide response.
1. What is the best way to solve microplastics problems according to Royle?| A．Medical treatments for microplastics. |
| B．Restrictions on throwing plastic waste. |
| C．Developing natural alternatives to plastic. |
| D．Raising personal awareness of microplastic. |
| A．Go against. | B．Apply to. | C．Depend on. | D．Respond to. |
| A．Recycling plastics proves to be not effective at all. |
| B．Rapid transformation in plastic industry is needed. |
| C．Most natural materials can be alternatives to plastics. |
| D．The rate of bodies’ absorbing plastics is uncontrollable. |
| A．Plastic Pollution Is Transforming Humans’ Lifestyle |
| B．Increasing Updated Plastics Have Enjoyed Popularity |
| C．Microplastics in Blood Highlight Health Emergency |
| D．Practical Solutions to Plastic Waste Are Approaching |
7 . Tips for Green Travel with Kids
Travelling doesn’t mean letting go of all the eco-friendly choices we work so hard to achieve in our daily life. Here are a few tips for green travel with kids.
Booking nonstop flights whenever possible will reduce carbon emissions (碳排放). If the closest local airport doesn’t have nonstop flights to a certain place, check with other local airports to see if nonstop flights are available.
It’s easy when travelling to pull in to fast food restaurants for snacks.
| A．Walking is good for your health. |
| B．Try to cut back to save water and energy. |
| C．But you can pack healthy food from home. |
| D．Travelling is a great chance to introduce your kids to the world. |
| E．Reusable water bottles are easy to bring along wherever you travel. |
| F．Save energy by turning off the hotel room lights when you head out for the day. |
| G．You might have to drive a bit farther, but saving on carbon emissions makes it worthwhile. |
8 . The green movement is catching on in many pockets of the world. This is especially true in the construction industry. Today's buzz words, which include global warming and zero emissions（排放）, are causing everyday people to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Purchasing an environmentally-friendly home is a good investment for those who care about their own health and the well-being of our planet. Based on this trend, entire districts, known as eco-communities, are being designed with the concept of green in mind. One of these communities is Dockside Green in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its goal is to become the world's first zero-emission neighborhood.
Dockside Green is a mostly self-sufficient community along the harbor front of Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia. The community is home to around 2,500 people and it includes a variety of environmental features, some of which can't be found anywhere else.
The planners and builders of Dockside Green have the environment in mind with every choice they make. They ensure proper ventilation （通风） and guarantee residents clean air indoors. Building materials, such as paints and wood, are natural and green.
Energy efficiency is attached great importance to in eco-communities like Dockside Green. Not only do energy-efficient appliances reduce the environmental impact of heating, cooking and lighting, they also save residents money. Dockside Green claims that home owners use 55% less energy than the average Canadian.
Eco-communities also take the future into account by recycling waste and reducing carbon emissions. At Dockside Green, waste water is treated and reused on-site for flushing toilets, and a gas plant changes waste wood into a renewable form of gas for hot water systems, stoves and gas heaters. The community also reduces carbon emissions by using local suppliers for all their transport and maintenance（维修） needs, and residents are encouraged to join the community's car share program.
1. Who are likely to buy an environmentally-friendly home?| A．People interested in investment. | B．Those looking for carbon footprint. |
| C．Those concerned about their health. | D．People caring about their community. |
| A．an eco- community with over 2,500 people | B．a good investment for planners and builders |
| C．the world’s first zero-emission neighborhood | D．a self-sufficient community in British Columbia |
| A．Recycling waste and reducing carbon emissions | B．Encouraging people to join the car share program |
| C．Calling on people to reduce their carbon footprint | D．Equipping people with energy-efficient appliances |
| A．Climate scientists. | B．Natural gas companies. |
| C．Coal mining investors. | D．Architects and interior designers. |
9 . As seabird biologist Bonnie Slaton slides off a small boat and walks through high water, the brown pelicans (鹈鹕) spread their wings overhead until she reaches Raccoon Island. The narrow island is a small piece of land separating the American state of Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico. During the seabird breeding (繁殖) season, the placer, one of the few remaining places of safety for the pelicans, is full of noise.
Twelve years ago, there were 15 low-lying islands with breeding areas for Louisiana’s state bird. However, today, only about six islands in southeastern Louisiana have brown pelican nests and the rest have disappeared underwater.
Slaton and other scientists set u cameras to observe pelican nests on the island. The cameras show that in recent years the pelicans have faced some natural disasters. The main killer of them is flooding, which can wash away all the nests, as happened in April 2021. The disappearing islands are the location of a story of successful conservation. For many years, scientists have worked to bring the pelicans beck from tally dying off.
Mike Carloss is a state wildlife biologist in Louisiana. He said he never saw brown pelicans as a child in the 1960s. Their populations had been killed by the use of DDT, a kind of farm chemical. It thinned eggshells and prevented pelicans from giving birth to young birds. The beloved birds were completely gone from Louisiana, only appearing on the state flag. But a long-running effort to save them led to the birds’ return. After DDT was stopped in the U.S. in 1972, biologists brought young pelicans from nearby Florida to let them inhabit empty islands across the Gull of Mexico again. More than 1,200 pelicans have been set free in southeastern Louisiana over 13 years.
The brown pelicans can live more than 20 years. So, the final effect of disappearing breeding areas is uncertain and it will sill take time to become clear. And the future for pelicans is uncertain on the islands.
1. What is a killer of brown pelicans?| A．The island movement. | B．The underwater noise. |
| C．The increase of human population. | D．The disappearance of breeding areas. |
| A．To stop illegal hunting. | B．To watch pelicans’ home. |
| C．To predict serious flooding. | D．To record the number of pelicans |
| A．Live on. | B．Focus on. | C．Break into. | D．Look into. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Doubtful. | C．Curious. | D．Proud. |
10 . There was no need to consult my smart-watch to know that we had climbed to an altitude of more than 4,500 meters.
After a four-hour journey, our coach
As the air pressure
I
Cracks could be seen meandering across the walls of the room, a warning sign of the quake’s destruction and a
It certainly hadn’t. At about midnight, a magnitude 4.8 quake
We scrambled for our clothes and shoes and argued about whether we had enough time to run outside. Before we had reached agreement, the shaking had stopped. The street our room overlooked was quickly
The older man and I stared at each other and then decided to creep back to our beds, but we kept our pants on, just
| A．Bodily | B．Heart | C．Verbal | D．Eye |
| A．pulled out | B．stopped by | C．pulled over | D．pulled into |
| A．lengthened | B．worsened | C．lessened | D．weakened |
| A．fell | B．rose | C．increased | D．applied |
| A．pressure | B．contents | C．water | D．cap |
| A．sight | B．type | C．style | D．scene |
| A．signed up | B．walked into | C．checked up | D．checked into |
| A．several | B．flights | C．few | D．steps |
| A．survive | B．save | C．use | D．waste |
| A．note | B．reminder | C．view | D．site |
| A．came | B．broke | C．struck | D．scared |
| A．awake | B．sleepy | C．quiet | D．ill |
| A．credited | B．accompanied | C．flooded | D．covered |
| A．danger | B．discomfort | C．disbelief | D．destruction |
| A．in comfort | B．in relief | C．in case | D．in vain |
