1 . In 2022, campaign group Fashion Revolution Chelsea dye a garden for its Chelsea Flower Show presentation. An ancient craft, natural dyeing is a practice whose time has come again, with hand tie-dyed fashion also making a comeback in recent years.
The revival has been encouraged by Covid lockdowns, “which allowed people to explore the craft at home, says natural-dyeing enthusiast and teacher Susan Dye. It’s unlikely, though, that the practice would have caught on in quite the same way if not for a continually growing discomfort about fashion’s heavy footprint. From carbon emissions to animal cruelty, fashion is under considerable inspection. “Put it this way, 97% of dyes used in the industry are petrochemically (石油化学产品) based,” says sustainable fashion consultant Jackie Andrews, who helped advise the UN Ethical Fashion Initiative. We’ve got net zero targets which mean we’re going to have to remove all those petrochemicals from the manufacturing cycle.
Fashion is a huge polluter. According to the UN Environment Program, the industry is responsible for up to one-fifth of all industrial water pollution—due to the fact that most clothes today are produced in poorer countries where regulation is weak and enforcement weaker. Waste water is dumped directly into rivers and streams, poisoning the land as well as the water sources of people and animals who rely on them.
It’s easy to see why someone who cares about people, planet and animals, as well as clothes, might turn to natural plant dyeing. From the beauty of the raw materials—often wild plants-to the property of only bonding with natural fiber like cotton and linen (亚麻布) from the minor footprint of recycling old clothing that has grayed or faded over time to the vibrant and long-lasting dyeing results, plant dyeing feels like a quiet act of rebellion. This is why, while beginners start with simply changing their clothes’ color, new worlds open. Many of today’s natural dyers grow their own dye plants, run local community workshops, and advocate for change in industrialized fashion systems and beyond.
1. What is the main reason for the growing discomfort mentioned in paragraph 2?A.The adoption of petrochemical-based dyes |
B.The disturbing consequences of the fashion industry. |
C.The fashion industry’s focus on luxurious designs. |
D.The challenging net zero targets to be achieved. |
A.By making a comparison. | B.By listing numbers |
C.By giving examples. | D.By introducing a new topic |
A.A protest against turning to natural fiber. |
B.An objection to recycling old clothing |
C.A resistance to vibrant colors in natural dyeing |
D.A struggle for a sustainable fashion industry |
A.The Environmental Impact of Natural Dyeing |
B.The Return of Natural Dyeing with Ethical Appeal |
C.Fashion Revolution’s Dye Garden Presentation |
D.The Petrochemical Dye Industry and Its Challenges |
2 . From airplanes to apartments, most spaces are now designed with sound-absorbing materials that help decrease various sounds of everyday life. But most of the sound-absorbing materials that can cancel out human voices, traffic noise and music are made from plastic foams (泡沫) that aren’t easily recycled or degraded. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have created a biodegradable film (薄膜) obtained from seaweed, which effectively absorbs sounds in this range.
Controlling and optimizing the way sound moves throughout a room is the key to creating functional spaces. Foam sound-absorbing panels are a common solution, and they come in a variety of materials and thicknesses tailored to specific sound requirements. Most of these foams, however, are made from a type of plastic material and other chemical substances that are obtained from natural oil or petrol. To avoid petrochemicals, researchers have explored more renewable sources and biodegradable sound-absorbing alternatives. But many current options are made from plant fibers that don’t effectively decrease noises in the most useful range of sound frequencies, or they are too thick or difficult to produce. So, Chindam’s team wanted to develop a biodegradable material from a plant, which would be simple to produce and could absorb a range of sounds.
The team created films of agar (琼脂), a material that comes from seaweed, along with other additives developed from plants and varied the thickness of the films. After running the materials through a battery of tests, the researchers measured how well the films reduced sound across a range of frequencies. To do this, the team created a sound tube in which a speaker is placed at one end, and the test film is fitted over the other end. Microphones in the middle of the tube measured the amount of sound sent by the speaker and the amount of sound reflected off the film. These experiments showed that the films with many small holes made with the highest concentrations of agar had the greatest sound-absorbing qualities and performed similarly to traditional sound-absorbing foams. The researchers plan to explore ways to change the agar films to give them other desirable properties, such as flame resistance, and will explore other biologically obtained film materials.
1. What is the disadvantage of plastic foams?A.They take up, too much space. | B.They cannot absorb sounds effectively. |
C.They cannot meet specific sound requirements. | D.They have difficulty achieving sustainable use. |
A.One obtained easily and effectively. | B.One produced toughly and tiredly. |
C.One developed from petrochemicals. | D.One made from plant fibers. |
A.The purpose of film research. | B.A series of tests on the new material. |
C.A tool of measuring the film thickness. | D.The difficulty of searching the new material. |
A.An Eco-friendly Sound-absorbing Material from Seaweed |
B.Plastic Foams: the Worst Choice of Absorbing Sounds |
C.A Tube for Measuring the Amount of Underwater Sounds |
D.Seaweed: a Better Sound-absorbing Underwater Plant |
3 . Chaudhary weaves (编织) together lengths of rope and grass collected from the nearby riverbank in her village, skillfully shaping the materials into a gift box while instructing a group of women to follow suit.
The ropes being used were once the lifeline for mountain climbers tackling Nepal’s mountains and were then cast away. Diverse measures to remove such discarded materials have rocketed since 2019, when the government launched Clean Mountain Campaign.Around 140,000 tons of waste were collected on Mt. Everest alone, which were handled accordingly, either securely buried or recycled.
Some waste is now finding fresh life, transformed by skilled hands like Chaudhary’s into items to sell, thanks to an initiative led by Acharya, an owner of a waste processing business and an advocate for sustainable waste management. She has been working with the cleaning campaign, aiming at mountains like Mt. Everest.
“Metal waste goes through the recycling process, but we weren’t capable of recycling these ropes and cooking gas cans,” Acharya says. It didn’t occur to her that the waste which couldn’t be recycled could be reused until she met Rai at an art exhibition and a solution emerged.
Rai, a businessman dealing in craftworks, helped connect Acharya with Chaudhary and her team of craftswomen in hopes of unlocking the economic value of the mountain waste. With flexible hours, the project gives the craftswomen an opportunity to earn money even as they maintain their household responsibilities.
“While this seems insignificant compared to waste in the mountains, it’s a start. We can’t supply sufficient raw material with waste sorting and cleaning processes taking plenty of time and money,” Acharya says, desperate to expand the program to involve more women and treat more waste. But progress has been slow. “We need investment to mechanize the cleaning and processing of waste in the initial phase to provide the crafting team with enough materials to meet their demand,” she adds.
1. What were the ropes mentioned in paragraph 2 initially intended as?A.Tools for tying up weeds. | B.Villagers’ basic necessities of life. |
C.Raw materials tor unique artworks. | D.Life-saving devices for mountaineers. |
A.A journey to the rural area. | B.An encounter with a trader. |
C.Information from a product launch. | D.Attendance at an academic conference. |
A.Train more senior technicians. | B.Obtain a better reputation. |
C.Drop waste washing procedures. | D.Bring in advanced equipment. |
A.Chaudhary: An Eco-Minded Folk Artist |
B.Nepali Women Are Turning Garbage into Crafts |
C.Clean Mountain Campaign Has Already Taken Effect |
D.A Headache: Mt. Everest Is Heavily Littered with Waste |
4 . It may come as a surprise that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, especially when it comes to carbon emissions and water usage.
Actually, there are other ways to practice sustainable habits. Of course, the best way to limit waste is to not buy any new clothes. For example, saving up to buy more sustainable clothes and then wearing them for many years is healthier for the environment and your wallet.
With ever-changing fashion trends moving at breakneck speed, consumers are easily persuaded into buying latest designs to stay stylish and sustainable.
A.The reality is frightening. |
B.However, trend is hard to keep up. |
C.They have no choice but to follow suit. |
D.They can’t, and moreover, they don’t have to. |
E.A similar resolution is to own some basic pieces. |
F.Sustainable fashion has been on the rise in recent years. |
G.Industrial development is pursued at the price of pollution. |
5 . The carbon footprint shows how much carbon dioxide a person emits(排放)in everyday life. It measures the amount offossil(化石)fuels and electricity someone uses up as well as the carbon footprint of the products they buy. When we use our cars or heat our homes with carbon dioxide,various other gases are set free.
You can measure your carbon footprint by using a calculator that you can find on various websites.
A.Many people travel between cities and suburbs every day. |
B.The carbon footprint is usually measured in tons of CO2 per year. |
C.These emissions lead to a thicker atmosphere and global warming. |
D.It is also vital to persuade others to take the same steps that you do. |
E.There are many actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. |
F.The websites also provide carbon storage tools and methods for individuals. |
G.Buying local food is another way of restricting emission into the atmosphere. |
6 . Cities are diverse ecosystems. In addition to visitors from the wild, a large number of species share our urban areas. As our cities spread, we need to think about what it is like for other species to have human neighbors.
Cities are built for humans.
There are also structures built with the aim of bringing wildlife into the city. The Beijing Olympic Forest Park is a good example. The park used native plants and created open, natural spaces for wildlife. The result is a zone in Beijing with over 160 species of birds. In many ways, the park is the opposite of a zoo.
If we learn to share our space, we can become better neighbors to the wildlife around us.
A.They would feed water plants. |
B.Our actions sometimes help other species. |
C.If we do not, more species will become extinct. |
D.Now, they have come to value their winged neighbors. |
E.Therefore, they do not always provide suitable habitats for wildlife. |
F.Instead of being kept in cages, wildlife can move about freely. |
G.It’s intended to protect birds and fight pollution at the same time. |
7 . Two thirds of the ice in the glaciers (冰川) of the Alps is doomed! These glaciers will melt by the end of the century as global temperatures rise, according to a recent study.
Scientists claim that half the ice held in some 4,000 Alpine glaciers will disappear by 2050 due to global warming through the effect of past emissions. After that, even if carbon emissions drop to zero, two-thirds of the ice will still have melted by 2100. If emissions continue to rise at the current rate, the ice tongues will have all but disappeared from Alpine valleys by the end of the century. The most pessimistic prediction tells us that the Alps will be mostly ice-free by 2100. Only isolated ice patches would remain at high altitudes, representing five per cent, at most, of the ice volume seen today.
The researchers warn that the loss of these glaciers will mean much less water is available for farming and hydroelectricity, especially during droughts. It would also affect nature and tourism.
In February, a study found that a third of the huge ice fields in Asia’s towering mountain chains were also under threat for the same reasons. This will lead to serious consequences for almost two billion people who live downstream. Glaciers along the Hindu Kush and Himalayan range are at higher, colder altitudes. If global carbon emissions are not cut, however, two-thirds of their ice could be gone by 2100.
The latest research combined computer models with real-world data to forecast the fate of the glaciers. It used 2017 as its starting point. Unlike previous work, these models included how the glaciers move down the mountains. Applying this approach to other glaciated mountain chains could improve ice loss forecasts there.
Cutting the emissions from fossil-fuel burning, deforestation and other polluting activities is the biggest factor in minimizing the melting of the ice. The future of these glaciers is indeed at risk, but there is still a possibility of limiting their disappearance.
1. What does the underlined word “doomed” mean in paragraph 1?A.Polluted. | B.Discovered. | C.Endangered. | D.Abandoned. |
A.Emissions have much to do with the ice melting. |
B.The Alps is expected to lose all its ice by 2100. |
C.Ice loss will be avoided with emissions prevented. |
D.Large ice pieces will just exist at the mountain top. |
A.To explain how glacier melting came about. |
B.To imply pollution is a worldwide problem. |
C.To show what consequences ice melting will cause. |
D.To indicate the Alps is not alone to face ice melting. |
A.Objective. | B.Optimistic. | C.Critical. | D.Doubtful. |
8 . Humankind has tried to improve its standard of living since the very beginning of civilization. Back then, as well as today, providing food and security was the basic task for a person.
Industrial manufacturing leads to the constantly increasing energy consumption.
For these reasons, bringing about economic growth without resulting in any environmental damage is impossible.
A.It’s certain that economic growth contributes a lot to our society. |
B.The traditional energy sources, which are commonly used nowadays, are considered to be the greatest polluters to the environment. |
C.However, nowadays the range of required goods has expanded significantly. |
D.There are certain aspects of economic growth which affect the environment. |
E.Weather conditions, on the contrary, remains the same. |
F.Consequently, the pressure balance that is brought about by this current will be affected. |
G.What’s more, to produce economically practical energy, people unavoidably have to transform natural site. |
9 . A couple has recently placed their garbage can out for collection for the first time in 14 months, all thanks to their recycling skills. Richard and Louise Arnold have established such an effective routine that they only need to put their garbage can on the side of the street once a year.
Louise explained that making small monthly changes in her life has resulted in her family producing very little waste. She said, “It’s not as difficult as you might think if you start with small steps. We began with soap, switching from bath cream to natural soap without packaging. These bars are large enough that we cut them in half, using one for the sink and the other half for the shower. It’s both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.”
“So it’s actually quite easy. Just go around your house and think of little things you can do gradually, and you’ll start noticing the difference,” Louise added. Currently, the couple takes recyclable waste to the tip, donates clothes to charity shops, and brings soft plastics and batteries to a shop that accepts them.
In 2017, the couple established No Waste Living, which initially started as a weekend stall at the local market and has since developed into a website. Louise regularly writes a newsletter for her hundreds of subscribers. They also started selling eco-friendly products, ranging from non-chemical household cleaning and washing solutions for a “less toxic home” to bamboo washing-up brushes. Louise mentioned, “I started No Waste Living because I wanted to show our achievement s and lead by example.”
Although the family occasionally faces criticism, Louise remains determined. She said, “The main point of contention(争论) for people regarding new waste rules is having to drive their waste to a recycling center, which adds to their already busy lives. However, in the long run, you will create more space in your home, save money, and spend less time dealing with garbage cans.”
1. How did the couple start their waste reduction journey?A.By replacing small soaps with large ones. | B.By using a small amount of bath cream. |
C.By using unpackaged soap bars. | D.By recycling soft plastics and batteries. |
A.To bring eco-products to market. | B.To inspire others to follow in their footsteps. |
C.To treat recyclable waste from the neighborhood. | D.To answer the call of their subscribers. |
A.They mean more work to deal with garbage. |
B.They increase the cost of garbage collection. |
C.They establish a set time for waste management. |
D.They limit the daily amount of garbage for collection. |
A.A business - minded couple. | B.The “less poisonous home” concept. |
C.The global trend in recycling. | D.A planet- friendly lifestyle. |
10 . Damon Carson calls himself a matchmaker (媒人) of the never-ending waste of American society, trying not to pair people with people, but things with people.
In the late 1990s, Carson was on break from business school in Vail, Colorado, when he discovered the vast world of waste. He began thinking about creating a secondhand store that would sell old materials and keep them out of being wasted. As a result, in 2010, his company, Repurposed Materials appeared.
For nearly ten years, his company, Repurposed Materials, has not been looking to recycle the waste he gets — breaking it down to make something new — but rather finding new homes for thrown-away goods in their original forms.
Carson, a husband and father of three adult children, is far from wasteful. Frugal is how he describes himself. The clothes he’s wearing all came from a charity shop; his truck was bought with 290, 000 kilometers driven.
“Why break something down, why melt something down, if it still has value?” he asks. An old oil-field pipe might be melted down and turned into a car bumper, but it still takes an amount of power to finish the complete change. Why not leave it as a steel pipe? Why not turn it into a fence post on a farm? The only cost is transport.
American industrial facilities create and throw about 7.6 billion tons of unwanted industrial materials every year. For the moment, Carson’s unique business finds new lives for millions of kilograms of industrial waste every year.
1. What is paragraph two mainly about?A.Carson’s school lessons. |
B.Carson’s journey to Colorado. |
C.The start of Carson’s business. |
D.The serious waste of materials. |
A.Marketing wastes to people in need. |
B.Breaking down the wasted goods. |
C.Manufacturing industrial products. |
D.Recycling the thrown-away stuffs. |
A.Economical. | B.Poetic. | C.Tough. | D.Risky. |
A.Well began, half done. |
B.Innovative thinking counts. |
C.One is never too old to learn. |
D.Hard work will pay back. |