1 . Climbers at Qomolangma are being asked to clean up after themselves.
Qomolangma has earned the nickname (绰号) the World’s Highest Garbage Dump (垃圾场).
Climbing Qomolangma, the world's highest mountain, just becomes more challenging.
The government of Nepal is telling climbers they cannot leave trash on the trails. Each climber will have to come down the mountain with at the least 18 pounds of garbage. That's the average amount of trash a climber leaves behind on Qomolangma.
Officials say climbers are responsible for their own trash. “We are not asking climbers to pick up trash left by someone else,” said the Nepal Tourism Ministry. “We just want them to bring back what they took up.”
More than 4,000 people have reached the 29,035-foot summit (顶峰) in the past 60 years. Leaving trash along the way helps climbers keep their bags light so they have energy to reach the summit. “The trash problem in Qomolangma is not new.” Burlakoti says. “When the people started to climb the mountain, they started to leave their garbage there.” They have left behind bottles, food boxes and equipment. Last year, climbers carried down a total of four tons of trash.
The new rule came into effect in April, 2014. To make sure it is followed, climbers will have to deposit money (交保证金) before they climb. Once they climb back down the mountain, officials will check climbers at a return camp to make sure they have the required 18 pounds of trash. If they do, their money will be returned to them. If they do not, climbers will not receive their deposit and they will not be given a permit the next time they want to climb Qomolangma.
The goal is to make sure no more litter will be left on Qomolangma. “As we offer Qomolangma to all the people of the world they should take responsibility to clean it.” Burlakoti says, “After seeing the results from this, we will also apply this rule to other mountains.”
1. Why does Qomolangma get the nickname the World’s Highest Garbage Dump?| A．The white snow on it looks like white trash. |
| B．The government of Nepal transported trash onto it. |
| C．There is too much trash left on it by climbers. |
| D．The government of Nepal has used up the resources on it. |
| A．Climbers themselves. |
| B．The government of Nepal. |
| C．The Nepal Tourism Ministry. |
| D．Environmental protection organizations. |
| A．provide guidance for other climbers |
| B．help climbers themselves find their way |
| C．get timely medical rescue when in danger |
| D．reach the summit without too much load |
| A．get the climbing license |
| B．have a large bag |
| C．get the permission from the local people |
| D．bring back the required trash in the last climbing |
| A．Protect our beautiful mountains |
| B．Bring back your litter when climbing |
| C．A new rule of protecting the earth |
| D．Qomolangma belonging to the world people |
The powerful Hurricane Barry weakened but remained a weather nightmare on Tuesday. It
Heavy rains were falling. The Humane Society of Clark County issued an SOS after flooding drowned its recently rebuilt shelter.“SOS!We are flooded.It's on the building! ”the official said in a Facebook post.“We need help! Can any of you keep a dog
Earth Day is a yearly event celebrated on April 22. Various activities
In the 1960s, Americans were becoming aware of the effects of pollution
In 1990, Earth Day went global, with 200 million people in over 140 nations
4 . Blue Planet II's latest episode (情节) focuses on how plastic is having a destructive effect on the ocean and slowly poisoning our sea creatures. Researchers recently also found that sea creatures living in the deepest place on Earth, the Mariana Trench, have plastic in their stomachs. Indeed, oceans are drowning in plastic.
Though it seems that the world couldn't possibly function without plastics, plastics are a remarkably recent invention. The first plastic bags were introduced in the 1950s, the same decade that plastic packaging began gaining popularity in the United States. This growth has happened so fast that science is still catching up with the change. Plastics pollution research, for instance, is still a very early science.
We put all these plastics into the environment, but we still don't really know what the outcomes are going to be. What we do know, though, is disturbing. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by it. One in three leatherback turtles, which often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, have been found with plastic in their bellies. Ninety percent of seabirds are now eating plastics on a regular basis. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to 100 percent.
And it's not just wildlife that is threatened by the plastics in our seas. Humans are consuming plastics through the seafood we eat. I could understand why some people see ocean plastic as a disaster, worth mentioning in the same breath as climate change. But ocean plastic is not as complicated as climate change. There are no ocean trash deniers (否认者), at least so far. To do something about it, we don't have to remake our planet energy system.
This is not a problem where we don' t know what the solution is. We know how to pick up garbage. Anyone can do it. We know how to deal with it. We know how to recycle. We can all start by thinking twice before we use single-use plastic products. Things that may seem ordinary, like using a reusable bottle or a reusable bag-when taken collectively, these choices really do make a difference.
1. Why is plastics pollution research still a very early science?| A．The plastics pollution research is too difficult. |
| B．Plastics have produced less pollution than coal. |
| C．Plastics have gained popularity too fast for science to catch up. |
| D．The world couldn't possibly function without plastics. |
| A．By citing quotes from leading experts. | B．By making a comparison and contrast. |
| C．By listing examples from his own experience. | D．By presenting solid statistics. |
| A．We reap what we sow. | B．The shortest answer is doing. |
| C．All things are difficult before they are easy. | D．Actions speak louder than words. |
| A．The oceans become choked with plastic. | B．Ocean plastic is a global issue. |
| C．Blue Planet II has left viewers heartbroken. | D．Plastics gain in popularity all over the world. |
5 . A 23-year-old British woman has invented a product that she hopes will one day take the place of single-use plastic. The new product is made by combining fishing waste and algae （藻类）.
Lucy Hughes created the material, called MarinaTex, for her final year project at the University of Sussex. She continued her research after she left the university.
On November 13, the James Dyson Foundation announced that Hughes was the international winner of the 2019 James Dyson Award for design.
MarinaTex is edible, meaning it can be eaten without danger. Hughes says it also is strong and stable. But unlike plastic, MarinaTex breaks down in four to six weeks under normal conditions and does not pollute the soil.
The inventor said she is concerned about the growing amounts of plastics in ocean waters. She noted one report that there would be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by the year 2050. The United Nations estimates that 100 million tons of plastic waste has already been left in the oceans.
Hughes also was investigating ways to reduce the amount of waste from the fishing industry. The industry produces an estimated 50 million tons of waste worldwide each year, UN officials say.
Hughes told Reuters that she was "trying to work out how I could use the waste stream and add value to that waste." Examining fish parts left over from processing helped to give her the idea for a material that was useful and did not harm the environment.
To create a strong material, Hughes added the molecule chitosan, which comes from sea creatures like crabs, and agar, a material from red algae.
After months of testing, Hughes produced a strong, flexible sheet that forms at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius.
Inventor James Dyson said that MarinaTex is "stronger, safer and much more sustainable" than the plastic polyethylene. It is also easier to break down than other possible replacement products for polyethylene, the material that single-use plastic bags are made of.
Hughes will receive about $41,000 in prize money as the first place winner of the James Dyson Award. She told Reuters that she plans to use the money to better develop the product and ways to mass produce it.
1. When did Lucy Hughes create MarinaTex?| A．At university. | B．After graduation. |
| C．Before going to university. | D．After winning the James Dyson Award. |
| A．It is delicious. | B．It is environmentally friendly. |
| C．It is a type of plastics. | D．It exists for a long time in nature. |
| A．Observing the process of fishing. |
| B．Studying different parts of a fish. |
| C．Checking waste from the fishing industry. |
| D．Examining left-over fish parts after cooking. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Education. |
| C．Lifestyle. | D．Technology. |
6 . Rescue workers and thousands of volunteers are not the only ones who have won hearts and minds for their heroic efforts in the search for survivors after Tuesday's powerful earthquake in
Mexico. Fifteen dogs from the navy's canine（军犬）unit have assisted this week in the rescue efforts at the sites of collapsed buildings across Mexico City, where more than 50 people have been pulled alive from the ruins.
Of the canine heroes none is more famous or loved than Frida, a six-year-old white Labrador who in her distinguished service has won praise for her ability to detect people who have been trapped by various natural disasters. Over her admirable career she has found 52 people including 12 survivors in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
This week, Frida and Evil and Echo—two Belgian Shepherds that have also been specially trained for rescue efforts一were sent to the site of the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen School in southern Mexico City.
Equipped with goggles that protect her eyes from dust and smoke, boots to prevent damage to her paws while she climbs over rough ruins, Frida took to her work looking every bit the part of the ruins.
If Frida detects the presence of a survivor, she is trained to bark to alert rescue workers but if she detects a corpse she stops suddenly before proceeding, her handler explained.
Eleven children were rescued from ruins at the school but this time human rescue workers rather than the dogs were the ones who located them.
However, that hasn't stopped Frida from becoming a social media star and reaching a new level of fame this week. Videos and other social media posts that highlight the work of Frida and her impressive record of detecting people trapped by natural disasters spread quickly online.
While she has yet to detect anyone trapped in the ruins this week, she and other rescue dogs are continuing to work tirelessly, searching through spaces that humans cannot reach. With the possibility that there are still people trapped alive, time will tell whether she adds to her rescue record.
1. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?| A．Severe earthquakes in Mexico | B．Undertaking rescue work. |
| C．People waiting for rescue | D．Special rescuers in Mexico. |
| A．Her rescue records and tireless work. |
| B．Her cooperation with the rescue team. |
| C．Her cool appearance with some special devices. |
| D．Her ability to search spaces beyond humans' reach. |
| A．An article of clothing. | B．An unconscious animal. |
| C．A dead person. | D．A special signal. |
| A．Frida will achieve nothing |
| B．Frida will probably work miracles |
| C．more dogs will be sent to the area |
| D．the rest of the rescue will be done by dogs |
How Do Avalanches Happen
If you’re ever skiing in the mountains, you’ll want to be aware of avalanches. An avalanche is a sudden flow of snow down a slope, such as a mountain. The amount of snow in an avalanche
Avalanches
Avalanches usually occur during the winter and spring,
(occur). When over a foot of fresh snow falls, experts know to be on the lookout for avalanches. Explosives can be used in places
When deadly avalanches do occur, the moving snow can quickly reach over 80 miles per hour. Skiers caught in such avalanches can be buried under dozens of feet of snow.
If you get tossed about by an avalanche and find yourself
Experts suggest that people caught in an avalanche try to dig around you
8 . Lego is considering a brick (积木) rental plan in an attempt to cut down on plastic waste. The Danish toymaker has promised to make all its bricks from sustainable (可持续的) sources by 2030 and is investing significant resources into finding alternatives.
Tim Brooks, vice-president responsible for sustainability, said the company was “totally open” to the idea of a product rental plan but admitted that lost pieces could produce a significant problem. “What are the chances of giving them to an eight-year-old child and getting them all back again?” Mr. Brooks added.
“There is a lot of technical thinking that needs to be done. We are right at beginning of that.” Mr. Brooks said Lego was exploring several ideas with a view to producing the highest value from products while consuming the least amount of resources. He said many would “probably never see the light of day” and there was no current plan to try out a rental plan.
Lego has come under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint among growing international alarm about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. It produces 19 billion pieces per year—36, 000 a minute—that are made entirely of plastic while much of the inside packaging is also plastic.
So far, the only breakthrough has been the development of a line of bricks made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. The green trees, plants and flowers were first included in Lego sets late last year but make up only 1%-2% of the total amount of plastic elements produced. Henrik Nielson, a production supervisor (主管) in Lego’s factory, said last year: “We need to learn again how to do this.”
Lego reportedly releases around a million tons of carbon dioxide each year, with about 75% coming from raw materials that go into factories. The company has invested more than 100, 000,000 euros and hired 100 people to research non-plastic alternatives. It is aiming to keep all of its packaging out of landfill by 2025.
1. Lego is making great efforts to ________.| A．promote its brick rental plan | B．raise its production efficiency |
| C．explore ways to reduce plastic waste | D．develop new products |
| A．is well under way | B．has a long way to go |
| C．is totally useless | D．goes against Lego’s interest |
| A．figures | B．examples |
| C．comparison | D．classification |
| A．Defensive. | B．Determined. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Doubtful. |
9 . Let's take a minute to think about the water we use. The human body is 60% water and we need to drink lots of water to be healthy. When we are thirsty we just go to the kitchen and fill a glass with clean water.
The truth is that we are lucky enough to have clean water whenever we want，but this is not the case for many people around the world.
| A．We use water indirectly too. |
| B．Every system in our body depends on water to function. |
| C．It is to inspire people to learn more about water-related problems |
| D．If children walk many hours a day to get water，they can't go to school. |
| E．Did you know that around 750 million people do not have clean water to drink？ |
| F．In 1993 the United Nations decided that March 22nd is the World Day for Water. |
| G．In this way，they know how it feels to walk a long distance carrying heavy bottles. |
Lower Oxygen Levels Threaten Marine Life
Oxygen in the oceans is being lost at an alarming rate, with “dead zones” expanding rapidly and hundreds more areas showing oxygen dangerously exhausted, putting sharks, tuna, marlin and other large fish species at particular risk. Dead zones, where oxygen is effectively absent, have quadrupled(翻两番) in extent in the last half-century, and there are also at least 700 areas where oxygen is at dangerously low levels, up from 45 when research was undertaken in the 1960s.
The reasons behind this environmental collapse are multiple. Among all, pollutants generated by the industrial world have been the most destructive force to cause the unbalance, including a rising tide of plastic waste, as well as other pollutants. Seas are about 26% more acidic than in pre-industrial times because of absorbing the excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, with damaging impacts on shellfish in particular.
Low oxygen levels are also associated with global heating, because the warmer water holds less oxygen and the heating causes stratification(分层), so there is less of the vital mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor layers. Oceans are expected to lose about 3-4% of their oxygen by the end of this century, but the impact will be much greater in the levels closest to the surface, where many species are concentrated, and in the mid to high latitudes.
Another major cause for lower oxygen is intensive farming. When excess artificial fertilizer from crops, or wastes from the meat industry, runs off the land and into rivers and seas, it feeds algae(藻类) which bloom and then cause oxygen consumption as they die and decay.
The problem of dead zones has been known about for decades, but little has been done to tackle it. Now is high time to take actions and help the oceans function better.
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