1 . Wheat and corn are used to make bread, pizza and other delicious foods, but in a few years they could also power your car. Renewable biofuels could soon replace the harmful fossil fuels that we’re used to using. It’s now well established that fossil fuels are incredibly harmful to our health and the environment and they’re not renewable, either. When so many people rely on petrol and diesel (柴油) to power vehicles, it makes sense to develop a renewable alternative that’s easy to use.

That’s where biofuel comes in. The most common biofuel produced globally is ethanol (乙醇), and it’s used frequently in Brazil and the US, while biodiesel is more popular in Europe. However, first-generation biofuels like ethanol have got issues that need fixing before they can go mainstream. It curently takes more ethanol than gasoline to produce the same amount of energy, for instance. Production is expensive, and several parts of the process sometimes use fossil fuels, which means that some biofuels aren’t actually carbon-free.

Some environmental campaigners also say that it would be more useful to grow crops for food rather than biofuel, and that growing crops for biofuel can cause problems with soil loss and deforestation. Using land for fuel rather than food can lead to an increase in food prices, too, and can affect natural habitats.

Crop and fat-based biofunels may not be perfect, but those aren’t the only biofuels available. Some organisations are creating biofuels with algae (海藻) instead. This process uses water and land that often isn’t suitable for many other situations, so it doesn’t take up space that’s useful for food production, and it often has better yields (产量) than other types of biofuel components.

There’s plenty of development beyond algae, too. Some companies even use seaweed. Scientists are also working on plans that will be able to abstract biofuels from household waste, wood chips and other junk — a move that could massively increase the material that’s viable for biofuel production. These second-generation biofuels could make biofuel far cheaper and more accessible, and help cut emissions down.

1. Why are biofuels supposed to replace fossil fuels?

A．Fossil fuels are difcult to produce.

B．Fossil fuels are harmful to vehicles.

C．Biofuels are economical and attainable.

D．Biofuels are eco-friendly and sustainable.

2. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The potential of gasoline.

B．The advantages of biofuels.

C．The popularity of ethanol in Europe.

D．The problems with first-generation biofuels.

3. Why is algae used to create biofuels by some organisations?

A．It can reduce soil loss.

B．It is often more productive.

C．It occupies no land to grow.

D．It helps to lower food prices.

4. What does the underlined word “viable” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Stable.	B．Durable.
C．Workable.	D．Flexible

2 . 观察下列三幅图，写一篇短文向英语报社投稿。
内容要点如下：
1. 图画内容；
2. 你的感受。
注意：
1. 标题自拟；
2. 词数：80词左右；
3. 可以适当增加一些细节，以使行文连贯。

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3 . A big United Nations climate report brought attention to Africa’s potential for renewable kinds of energy production.

The report said renewable energy projects could reduce the effects of global warming and support Africa’s economic development. Many African nations are increasing efforts to use more renewable energy such as solar and wind energy. They are moving away from dependence on fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas. A change to clean energy is also “economically attractive” in some situations. The UN estimates that Africa’s increased use of renewable energy will create more than 12 million new jobs.

However, Africa has received just two percent—$ 60 billion—of the $ 2. 8 trillion invested in renewable energy worldwide in the last 20 years. It also accounts for only three percent of the world’s current renewable energy capacity. More renewable energy programs, such as Kenya’s Lake Turkana Wind Power, launched in 2019, are needed. That project is estimated to make up 18 percent of the country’s energy production. The company’s chief, Phylip Leferink, said large projects like these can be copied, but difficulties remain.

Since 2012, M - Kopa Solar Company has provided services to over 225,000 homes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania using solar power not connected to power lines. Kenya has also been expanding its geothermal (地热) and bioenergy use for several years. These projects are a step in the right direction, said report writer and energy expert Yamina Saheb.

The report said Africa has a world-leading potential for solar power projects. Plans are also underway to explore geothermal energy in the East Africa’s Great Rift Valley system. Other African nations, such as Angola, Sudan and Zambia, are investing in wind and hydropower from big dams.

1. What’s Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The types of renewable energy.	B．The benefits of renewable energy.
C．The increasing employment in Africa.	D．The restriction on the use of fossil fuels.

2. Where does the biggest problem facing Africa lie now?

A．Finance.

B．Technology.

C．Sales.

D．Labor.

3. What’s Yamina Saheb’s attitude toward the prospect of renewable energy in Africa?

A．Doubtful.

B．Pessimistic.

C．Conservative.

D．Favorable.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Africa a Possible Center for Renewable Energy

B．Renewable Energy a Solution to Global Warming

C．The Potential Advantages of Renewable Energy

D．The Complicated Problems of Traditional Energy

4 . Zhang Fan, 36, a movie visual effects designer who returned to Beijing from New Zealand for work last year, was surprised by the improvement to the city’s air quality. “I remember the smell in the air and the frequent smoggy days before I left in 2013, after getting a job offer from a film company in New Zealand, ” he said. Last year, a Chinese company offered Zhang a more promising position, so he returned, saying that he could find more opportunities in his line of work in Beijing than elsewhere. In addition to rapid economic development in the Chinese capital, he said the most impressive change is the local air quality. “People discussed air pollution a lot when I was in Beijing previously. Now, it seems that the topic has disappeared completely, as every day is good in terms of air quality,” Zhang said. “The sky in Beijing these days is so clear. ”

On Jan. 4, the municipal authorities in Beijing announced a comprehensive success in improving air quality, with the city’s annual average concentration of PM2. 5 in the air, falling to 33 micrograms per cubic meter, and ozone (臭氧) concentration dropping to 149 mcg per cu m last year.

Yu Jianhua, spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Ecology and Environment Bureau, said at a news conference, “This is a milestone for Beijing’s hard work in fighting air pollution and also means that the city has met its air quality target outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan(2021-25) ahead of schedule. Beijing has demonstrated to the world over the past 20 years that a mega city with a rapidly increasing GDP, vehicle count, population and energy consumption can move forward to cut air pollution effectively. The PM2.5 reduction over the past few years has surpassed that of developed countries during the same period.

According to the Bureau, the city’s average concentration of PM2.5 dropped by 63 percent last year from 2013, an average annual reduction of about 8 percent. The city experienced 288 days of good air quality last year—up from 112 days in 2013—and just eight days of heavy air pollution. This achievement is clear to see and exciting, but it has not been easy work.

1. Why did Zhang Fan returned to Beijing?

A．He was tired of his life abroad.	B．He has a deep affection for the city.
C．The city’s air quality has improved.	D．A golden chance was offered to him.

2. How do the municipal authorities show the improvement to the city’s air quality?

A．By using examples.	B．By using figures.
C．By offering experimental findings.	D．By citing personal experience.

3. What does the underlined word “mega” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Huge.

B．Rich.

C．Civilized.

D．Noted.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Business.

B．Fashion.

C．Environment.

D．Entertainment.

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The world’s largest green initiative turned 40 years this year. The national voluntary tree-planting campaign,     1     (launch) in China in 1981, has seen volunteers plant 76 billion trees across the country since then.

March 12 has been a green-letter day,     2     trees are planted and other activities are held nationwide, boosting the campaign. According to satellite monitoring results, the increase of vegetation in China accounted     3     25 percent of the world’ s total new greenery.

The national campaign has made outstanding     4     (contribute) to the global response to climate change, low carbon development and emission (排放) reduction. It has strengthened desert control and ecological governance. The campaign has become an important way for the Chinese     5     (promote) the concept of ecological progress, boosting common understanding and joint efforts.

However, despite the progress, China is still a country with a low forest cover. Though the green initiative     6     (increase) the forest cover from 12 percent to 23. 04 percent so far, it is still far from     7     (create) the beautiful ecological environment that people are demanding today.

This year marks the beginning of a new journey toward the second centenary goal of     8     ( full) building a modern socialist country in all aspects. Green development and ecological progress     9     (be) the focus of the modernization drive. Therefore, in the 14th Five－Year Plan (2021－2025) period, the campaign will continue to build     10     beautiful China and benefit all humanity.