1 . There was a time when a trip to the supermarket in the United States often ended with a seemingly simple question from the cashier, “Paper or plastic?” Well, which type of bag would you choose?
While both types of bags have some influence on the environment, it has long been supposed that paper bags are better. They are made from a renewable source, are broken down easily, burn without giving off thick smoke and can be recycled. However, the producing process behind paper bags uses more energy than that of plastic ones. How can this be true?
Studies show that paper bag production requires four times as much energy as plastic bag production. And the amount of water used to make them is twenty times larger. Besides, the influence on forests is very serious. It takes about fourteen million trees to produce ten billion paper bags, which happen to be the number of bags used in the United States yearly. In terms of recycling, the idea that paper bags are more environment-friendly than plastic ones can be quickly discarded. Research shows it requires about 98% less energy to recycle plastic than it does to recycle paper.
Even though paper bags might be more harmful than plastic ones, plastic still seems to be considered as the more harmful of the two by governments. In Ireland, for example, a tax has been introduced to discourage the use of plastic bags. People have to pay 22 cents for every plastic bag, and as a result, their use has dropped quickly.
There’s no doubt that it makes more sense to reuse these bags. However, we don’t seem to be doing that at present. That may be because they fall apart quickly. If so, cloth bags are a better choice, but still, their production also has a bad influence on the environment. So what to do? How should we answer the question of “Paper or plastic?” It seems that we first need to ask ourselves one more general question: “What can I do to help the environment?”
1. Why does the author ask the question at the end of paragraph 1?| A．To express the author’s doubts. |
| B．To tell readers how to save money. |
| C．To show the kindness of the cashier. |
| D．To introduce the point for discussion to arouse readers’ interest. |
| A．need more water to produce | B．require less energy to recycle |
| C．have less influence on forests | D．take more time to break down |
| A．Shared. | B．Discussed. | C．Given up. | D．Put forward. |
| A．Paper or cloth? | B．A new bag or your own one? |
| C．Paper or plastic? | D．A small bag or big one? |
2 . The world’s longest and most demanding competition is underway as competitors adventure 36,000 miles around the planet on sailboats. The race is intense-but it’s not just about winning and glory. The sailors are also part-time citizen scientists competing on boats outfitted with tools that gather data on how climate change is impacting the world’ s oceans.
The sailing competition, called The Ocean Race, started in January. Those competing started in Spain, then raced down the coast of Africa before cutting across the Indian and Southern oceans to reach Brazil. They then headed up the eastern coast of the Americas before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to get to Denmark. This week, the teams will leave Denmark on the final two legs of the race, which ends in late June in Italy.
Each team is working to track how climate change is impacting the oceans, which are rapidly warming from absorbing 90% of the excess (过量的) heat created by planet warming greenhouse gas emissions (排放). Oceans provide about 50% of the oxygen humans breathe, making their health critical to human health.
The boats, which serve as high-speed laboratories, measure everything from sea surface temperatures to oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. The scientists onboard have also detected microplastics in nearly every sample they’ve taken so far. The data they collect is distributed worldwide.
The racers send all the data they collect to a satellite in real time, sharing 25 .000 data points per day. The boats also go where few scientific missions travel, making the data they collect especially valuable. The third leg of the race was a 38-day sail through the Antarctic Ocean.
“I truly think the data is invaluable because it’ s collecting information from parts of the ocean that we rarely have an opportunity to collect data from,” said Jon Hare, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
1. What does the underlined word “outfitted” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Equipped. | B．Supplied. | C．Presented. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．In Spain. | B．In India. | C．In Brazil. | D．In Italy. |
| A．It is related to endangered species. | B．It covers some from remote areas. |
| C．It is analyzed in high-speed labs. | D．It is mainly collected by satellites. |
| A．Training part-time citizen scientists at sea. | B．An exploration of the habitats of sea life. |
| C．Collecting climate data around the world. | D．A sailing competition around the Antarctic. |
3 . Thanks to its cold environment, Antarctica (南极洲) remained largely untouched by humans for thousands of years. However, since the 1990s, the last true wilderness on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists. Now, a new study shows that the visitors may be bringing harmful bacteria (细菌) which could reduce the area’s native bird population.
Researchers believed that the Antarctic creatures were not affected by the danger due to the continent’s extreme weather. However, microbiologist Martà Cerdà-Cuéllar didn’t believe this was true. She and some colleagues decided to examine samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves. This was no easy task. If they missed catching a skua at first go, the bird never came close again.
It took the scientists four years, from 2008 to 2011, to collect fecal (粪便) samples of 666 adult birds from 24 local species. The results of their study showed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste.
“While we should do as much as possible to reduce transmission (传播), it’s hard to believe that we can stop tourism and science at these sites, and so it is hard to believe that humans won’t continue to transmit pathogens (病原体),” said Kyle Elliott.
Experts, including González-Solís, believe the only way to prevent the destruction of the birds, is to introduce stricter regulations or, at least, obey the ones already in place. For example, while the Antarctica Treaty states clearly visitors carry their waste back home to protect the original environment, the regulation is rarely obeyed. Hopefully, officials will take steps to protect the easily injured birds as soon as possible.
1. What can be said about scientists finding the waste from the birds?| A．This was not an easy task. | B．This proved their conclusion. |
| C．Their tempers contributed a lot. | D．They found polluted human bacteria. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Difficult. | C．Possible. | D．Delighted. |
| A．Make new strict rules. | B．Take measures as soon as possible. |
| C．Quit the Antarctic Treaty | D．Encourage officials to strengthen cooperation. |
| A．Technology. | B．Life. | C．Art. | D．Science. |
4 . Plastic straws (吸管) have been a major problem in global discussions of environmental damage. Maybe because of their small size, the production cost of straws is low. In many countries, straws are offered freely after buying soft drinks. Therefore, plastic straws are one of the most used plastics and pollutants in the world.
The plastic straw is light and small. Due to their small size, plastic straws are often eaten by sea animals. Environmentalists have shown that the death of many sea animals is caused by eating plastic straws. The other damaging characteristic of plastic straws is that they are made of materials which cannot degrade. That means the materials cannot be changed into small harmless (无害的) ones.
The most effective way of dealing with the environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is the reuse or banning (禁止) the use of plastic straws. Being plastics, the straws can be made new items. Many organizations around the world change used straws into new products. In Africa, local communities collect used plastic straws and use them to make mats and bags. Another way of dealing with environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is placing a ban on their production and use. Experts advise governments to ban using plastic straws to save the environment. A few countries in the world such as Rwanda, Macedonia, China, Kenya have already banned the use of plastic bags and are expected to include plastic straws and bottles. But it will be a long way to do this effectively.
There are few environmentally friendly and biodegradable productions to take the place of plastic straws. These productions include paper straws, bamboo straws. However, such straws are usually expensive as their production cost is high. It’s still a question whether they can entirely take the place of plastic straws.
1. Why can people be free to use plastic straws?| A．They are very cheap. | B．They are light and small. |
| C．They are dangerous. | D．They are easy to use. |
| A．Cut up. | B．Because of. | C．Go on. | D．Break out. |
| A．It’s not difficult to ban using plastic straws. |
| B．Many countries have stopped using plastic straws. |
| C．Experts advise people to stop producing plastic straws. |
| D．Some Africans change plastic straws into new products. |
| A．It is a must to use them. |
| B．It’s not easy to reuse them. |
| C．There are still some problems to be solved. |
| D．There are some other kinds of cheaper straws. |
5 . Wetlands, making up about 6% of Earth’s land surface, are found on every continent except for Antarctica.
Protecting against floods. Wetlands play a crucial role in protecting against floods. The plants and soil in wetlands act as natural sponges (海绵), storing excess water during heavy rainfall or storms.
Purifying (净化) water. Wetlands have exceptional abilities to purify water. Acting as natural filters, the plants, soil and micro creatures in wetlands remove sediments, excess nutrients and pollutants from water sources.
Fighting climate change. Aside from these vital functions, wetlands also play a significant role in fighting climate change.
However, the world’s wetlands are being lost at an alarming rate. Restoration and conservation projects offer hope that these ecosystems can be saved.
| A．Supporting life |
| B．Protecting birds |
| C．This process helps to improve water quality |
| D．The water stored in wetlands can be drunk |
| E．Wetlands play an important role despite their small coverage |
| F．Wetland plants have remarkable carbon storage capabilities |
| G．Thus, wetlands can reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding areas |
6 . “The trees are precious to us,” says Priscilla Hunter. “We believe our ancestors’ spirits are there.”
Hunter is a member of the Pomo Indians in Norther California. She’s also a founder and chairwoman of the Intertribal Sinkyone Wilderness Council (ISWC).
In 1997 the council acquired 3,844 acres of the Sinkyone wilderness, about 200 miles along California’s Lost Coast. It’s “lost” because scenic Highway 1 avoids it, cutting inland to escape the rough coastal terrain (地形). One could also say it’s lost because less than 2 percent of the original old-growth redwoods there survived logging decades ago. Now the 10 tribes that formed the union are working to protect and preserve their sacred land. David Brindley, the interim editor of National Geographic, asked Hunter how they were accomplishing that. “We’re just letting it heal. It takes a long time to heal an area that has been cut and cut,“ ”she told him, “People are saying: ‘What are you guys doing with it?’’ Letting it heal.’”
Their efforts have gained attention. Last December the Save the Redwoods League(SRL), an established nonprofit organization, gave the council 523 acres of California coastal forest. The forest, named as Tcíh-Léh-Dûñ-meaning “fish run place” in the Sinkyone language, includes nearly 200 acres of old-growth redwoods. “We were really pleased to have a place that still has some of the ancient trees. So the critters will have a place to be safe-the fish and birds and all that,” said Hunter.
The Sinkyone council is just one example of how indigenous peoples, in communities across the United States and Canada, are taking control of their land, laws, and fate.
Basing on the above, Brindley wrote this month’s cover story “We Are Here”. It explored how native nations are reclaiming their sovereignty and rebuilding their cultures.
1. What can we learn from the text?| A．Hunter is in charge of the ten tribes. |
| B．Tcíh-Léh-Dûñ has become a heaven for wildlife. |
| C．The redwoods represent value and spirit. |
| D．The redwoods heal better with the intervention of humans. |
| A．It has given way to Highway 1. |
| B．It has never been reported by the press. |
| C．It has become unnoticed with the fading of Indian culture. |
| D．It has been seriously damaged for much cutting. |
| A．Rule. |
| B．Reform. |
| C．Trees. |
| D．Creatures. |
| A．Finding a Cover Story |
| B．Uniting the Two Organizations |
| C．Protecting the Sacred Land |
| D．Exploring the Loss of Lost Coast |
Machu Picchu is an ancient city in Peru, South America. It
Machu Picchu is high up in the Andes Mountains of Peru. There are 3,000 stone steps
Millions of people visit every year to see the stone city. The development of nearby towns and damage
Peru is taking
8 . What should you do if there’s an earthquake at school? How can you protect yourself when you are caught in a stampede (踩踏)? March 25 this year provides you with a good chance to learn about safety.
This day is called the National Day of Education on the Safety of Elementary and Middle School Students (NDESEMSS) (全国中小学生安全教育日). The theme of the day this year is to give students more knowledge about safety and make sure their lives safe.
A survey done by the China Youth and Children Research Center showed that school accidents kill more elementary and middle school students than anything else. The main accidents come from stampedes, earthquakes, fires and sports injuries.
What can we do to keep ourselves safe? Staying calm is the first and most important rule when facing accidents. But different accidents have different self-protection advice.
A stampede is possible anywhere. The larger a human crowd gets, the more likely stampedes become. When students around you begin to push, stand still and try to hold onto something, or stay in a corner until the crowd leaves. If you fall down in a moving crowd, cover your head with both hands. Lean to one side, curl up your body and bend your legs.
Earthquakes are common natural disasters. When you feel the ground shake and drop down, take cover under a desk and hold on. You should stay indoors until the shaking stops. If you are outdoors, don’t stay near buildings, trees or power lines.
When there’s a fire, follow the teachers’ instructions, leave the classroom quickly and use a piece of cloth to cover your mouth and nose so that you don’t breathe in smoke.
1. What should you do first when accidents happen according to this passage?| A．Run away. | B．Stand there. | C．Keep calm. | D．Cry loudly. |
| A．Car accidents kill the most elementary and middle school students of all accidents. |
| B．When there’s a fire, you should use cloth to cover your mouth and nose. |
| C．If you fall down in a moving crowd, you can do nothing but wait there. |
| D．When an earthquake happens, you should stay near buildings or trees. |
| A．The happening of accidents. | B．The coming of an earthquake. |
| C．Being far away from accidents. | D．How to protect yourself in accidents. |
| A．The reason for the earthquake. | B．The causes of different fire accidents. |
| C．How to stay away from sports injuries. | D．Some disadvantages of smoking everyday. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Spring has come with all its beauty! Trees have turned green or flowers can be seeing everywhere. Last Friday, my friends and me went on a spring outing. It was such a great fun! We cycled along the streams and down the paths. It didn’t take us long to get the foot of the mountain, that we left our bikes. Then we begin hiking. As we reached the top of the mountain, we were shocking to see many plastic bottle and food bags here and there. All of us started to collect the rubbish and then took it down the mountain. We felt happily to have done our part for the environment.
10 . 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 second-hand 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(双关语) 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 second-hand 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. The following are reasons for Berlin’s opening its second-hand store, EXCEPT .| A．to fight the “throw-away culture” | B．to make more profits |
| C．to reduce varieties of waste | D．to promote recycling |
| A．The category of the goods. |
| B．The location of the store. |
| C．The quality of the products. |
| D．The way of selling the goods. |
| A．Berlin currently has 4 second-hand stores in construction. |
| B．It is estimated that Berlin will be a zero-waste city by 2030. |
| C．The market will be expanded to meet the needs of the bargain hunters. |
| D．Berlin’s environment has benefited from city policies and educational campaigns. |
| A．a news report | B．a blog entry |
| C．a travel guide | D．a social research paper |
