1 . A recent study published in the journal Science Advances has revealed that the United States ranks as high as third among countries contributing to coastal plastic pollution. The new research challenges the once-held assumption that the US is adequately “managing” its plastic waste. A previous study using 2010 data that did not account for plastic waste exports had ranked the US 20th, globally, in its contribution to ocean plastic pollution.
Using plastic waste generation (产生) data from 2016 — the latest available global numbers — scientists calculated that more than half of all plastics collected for recycling (1.99 million tons of 3.91 million tons collected) in the US were shipped abroad. Of this, 88% of exports went to countries struggling to effectively manage plastics; and between 15-25% was low-value or contaminated (受污染的). It means it was unrecyclable. Taking these factors into account, the researchers estimated that up to 1 million tons of US-generated plastic waste ended up polluting the environment beyond its own borders.
Using 2016 data, the paper also estimated that between 0.91 and 1.25 million tons of plastic waste generated in the US was either littered or illegally dumped into the environment domestically. Combined with waste exports, this means the US contributed up to 2.25 million tons of plastics into the environment. Of this, up to 1.5 million tons of plastics ended up in coastal environments. This ranks the US as high as third globally in contributing to coastal plastic pollution.
“The US generates the most plastic waste of any other country in the world, but rather than looking the problem in the eye, we have outsourced it to developing countries,” said Nick Mallos, senior director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program and a co-author of the study. “The solution has to start at home. We need to create less, by cutting out unnecessary single-use plastics; we need to create better, by developing innovative new ways to package and deliver goods; and where plastics are inevitable, we need to greatly improve our recycling rates.”
“Previous research has provided global values for plastic input into the environment and coastal areas, but detailed analyses like this one are important for individual countries to further assess their contributions,” said Dr. Jenna Jambeck, Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Engineering and a co-author of the study. “In the case of the United States, it is critically important that we examine our own backyard and take responsibility for our global plastic footprint.”
1. Compared with the previous study, the new one ________.| A．covers data more comprehensively |
| B．excludes plastic waste shipped abroad |
| C．is contrary to the latest global numbers |
| D．challenges the recycling way of plastics |
| A．Over half of it ended up polluting the environment outside the US. |
| B．Most of its exported plastic waste wasn’t worth recycling. |
| C．Less than half of it was actually recycled domestically. |
| D．More of it is littered or illegally dumped than exported. |
| A．plastic pollution in developing countries is more serious |
| B．US has been irresponsible in dealing with its plastic waste |
| C．US should cooperate with others to handle its plastic waste |
| D．innovative means are needed to eliminate single-use plastics |
| A．Plastic Pollution Great Risk to Marine Life |
| B．US Top Contributor to Coastal Plastic Pollution |
| C．Plastic Waste Major Source of Coastal Pollution |
| D．Recycling Effective Way to Address Plastic Waste |
2 .
Trees are so important that some people have made it their goal to protect them. We can call these people “tree hugger”. It describes people who support the protection of forests. Today, the term “tree hugger” describes a person who is an environmentalist.
However, calling someone a “tree hugger” is not always seen as a praise.
Some tree huggers do go to extremes to protect trees. Take, for example, an American woman named Julia Lorraine Hill. For 738 days from December 10, 1997 and December 18, 1999, Hill lived in Luna, a Redwood tree in northern California’s Humboldt County. Luna is huge, measuring nearly 61 meters tall and about 12 meters across, which has stood in Humboldt County for more than 1,000 years.
| A．Trees give so much to the world. |
| B．Human beings should all protect trees. |
| C．In earlier times, in fact, it was used as an insult(辱骂). |
| D．And I’m sure that she would consider that the highest of praises. |
| E．They want to protect nature and the environment - but not just the trees. |
| F．Nowadays, the environmental problems are more serious than in the history. |
| G．But that did not stop the Pacific Lumber Company from wanting to cut it down. |
3 . Kenya has been at the forefront of the global war on plastic since 2017, when officials outlawed plastic bags. In 2020, the government raised the demand with a ban on single-use plastics. Unfortunately, tons of industrial and consumer plastic waste continue to get poured into landfills daily. However, if 29-year-old Nzambi Matee has her way, the unsightly plastic garbage mountain will soon be transformed into colorful bricks.
The materials engineer’s search for an effective solution to controlling plastic pollution began in 2017, when she set up a small lab in her backyard. It took her nine months to produce the first brick and even longer to convince a partner to help build the machinery to make them.
She says, “I wanted to use my education in applied physics and materials engineering to do something about plastic waste pollution. But I was very clear the solution had to be practical, sustainable and affordable. The best way to do this was by channeling the waste into the construction space and finding the most efficient and affordable material to build homes.”
Her company, Gjenge Makers, now hires 112 people and produces over 1,500 bricks a day, which are made using a mix of plastic products that can’t be reprocessed or recycled. The collected plastic is obtained directly from factories or picked by hired locals from landfills and mixed with sand, heated at very high temperatures, and compressed (压缩) into bricks that vary in color and thickness. The resulting product is stronger, lighter, and about 30 percent cheaper than traditional concrete (混凝土) bricks. Most importantly, it helps repurpose the lowest quality of plastic.
Matee, recognized as one of the Young Champions of the Earth 2020 — the United Nations’ highest environmental honor — is far from done. Her dream is to reduce rubbish by increasing production and expanding her offerings. She says, “The more we recycle plastic, the more we produce affordable housing…the more we create more employment for the youth.”
1. Which word best describes Kenyan government’s measures against plastic?| A．Temporary. | B．Effective. | C．Fruitless. | D．Unreliable. |
| A．She turns knowledge into actual products. |
| B．Her company’s funded by the government. |
| C．She produces brick-making machinery herself. |
| D．Her bricks are made from recyclable plastic waste. |
| A．Its low cost. | B．Its wide range of uses. |
| C．Its economic benefit. | D．Its environmental value. |
| A．Matee’s achievement. |
| B．Matee’s greater ambition. |
| C．Multiple challenges Matee faces. |
| D．Innovative solutions to plastic waste. |
4 . Amphibian (两栖动物) species are disappearing at an alarming rate across the globe due to habitat loss, pollution, and disease. FrogWatch trainings cover the importance of amphibians in the environment, how monitoring our local frog population helps to protect them, factors to consider in choosing a site to monitor, how to identify frog species by their calls and how to report findings to FrogWatch USA. Become a citizen scientist with FrogWatch USA, and help save our frogs!
Date: Saturday, June 4, 1:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m.
Price: $10household (includes up to 2 adults and 2 children age 8+)
Training instruction:
FrogWatch trainings cover the importance of amphibians in the environment. The instruction focuses on how to:
1. monitor our local frog population to protect the species;
2. determine factors when choosing a site to monitor;
3. recognize frog species by their calls;
4. report findings to FrogWatch USA.
After passing a test on identifying frog calls at the end of the training, certified volunteers then commit themselves to monitoring a local amphibian habitat (such as a pond or lake) approximately once a week for about 15 minutes, and collecting /submitting data on what they hear. Data collected will be added to a national FrogWatch USA database. In 2020, Rhode Island FrogWatch citizen scientists followed 80 sites almost 900 times! In those 900 observations, FrogWatchers, heard more than 1,220 frog choruses.
Questions: Contact Programs@rwpzoo.org or call (401)785-3510 ext. 358.
Please note: FrogWatch trainings will cover a large amount of information and protocols (规程). While FrogWatching is a great after-dark family activity for all ages, the trainings are designed for interested older children and adults.
1. How can you tell frog species apart?
| A．By their colors. | B．By their shapes. | C．By their voices. | D．By their sizes. |
| A．To collect data about frogs. | B．To set up a database for frogs. |
| C．To take a test on frog knowledge. | D．To guard frog habitats once a week. |
| A．Frogs need to be watched by a family. |
| B．It is dangerous to watch frogs at night. |
| C．Small children aren’t suitable for trainings. |
| D．People have to take notes about frog information. |
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 . 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. |
7 . Environmental pollution and other human activities are leading to thousands of deaths among seabirds, a new study has warned.
Ecological experts tracked the behavior of British and Irish seabirds. They used satellites to track hundreds of the creatures to find out where they went to catch fish at sea. The study can help assess potential impact from human activities and where protected areas of the seas should be.
Lightweight GPS tags were fitted to more than 1,300 adult birds from 29 different colonies around the UK and Ireland, including kittiwakes, shags, razorbills and guillemots. Results from the five-year study show the large areas of sea the four seabird species use. They found it was at least 600,000 square miles, an area three times the size of Spain. It shows how far they travel from their nests in search of food for their chicks. And it shows the use of the seas by all four species concentrated in the coastal waters of Scotland, highlighting the importance of conservation measures there.
The four species studied require conservation help, with kittiwake numbers declining 71 percent in the past 25 years and shag populations down 61 percent. This means both seabirds are "red listed" and need urgent protection. Razorbills and guillemots are "amber listed", which means they are considered to need conservation action.
Dr. Ewan, lead author of the research, said, “Many seabirds are at the top of the marine food web. They feed on some small fish but that prey is declining because of human pressures, including climate change. The result is that thousands of sea baby birds are dying each year because their parents can't feed them. For the first time, this study provides us with a full map for the feeding areas for some of our most important seabird species.”
The analysis provides critical data to inform marine management, the experts said.
1. Which is one of the purpose of the study?| A．To find out where to catch more fish. |
| B．To judge which sea should be protected. |
| C．To know the seabirds’ impacts on human beings. |
| D．To study the behaviour of British and Irish seabirds. |
| A．With the help of satellites. | B．With help of the fishermen. |
| C．By observing human activities. | D．By tying GPS tags on the ship. |
| A．France. | B．Ireland. | C．Spain. | D．Scotland. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Doubtful. | C．Positive. | D．Disappointed. |
8 . Margot doesn’t have a garbage can. It doesn’t need one because Margot simply doesn’t cause anything to get thrown away. The restaurant doesn’t allow any type of single use plastic. Margot, which opened last year, is one of the small but growing restaurants around the world aiming to avoid not only food leftovers, but also any garbage.
“Food waste has been increasing as an issue for restaurants over the last 10 years,” says Calvin Brown. He runs the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Based in the United Kingdom, the organization helps food business become more environmentally responsible. He says that food waste contributes to releasing the greenhouse gas, so there is strong motivation to reduce waste and help the environment.
In the USA, food waste and packing account for nearly half of the material sent to landfills. Restaurants from McDonald’s to Starbucks are addressing this issue with “no straw Mondays” and limits on single-serving plastic, but a handful of restaurateurs are trying to get rid of rubbish entirely. There’s also economic case to be made for waste reduction. One study shows that restaurants save seven dollars for every dollar invested in anti- waste methods.
Avoiding food waste is the first and perhaps most obvious challenge for sustainable restaurants. Doug McMaster, chef at Silo in London, only serves a set menu. This removes the worry that one particular item won’t sell well, and will spoil in the refrigerator. Compost (堆肥) is a necessity as well. Nolla (meaning “zero” in Finnish) in Helsinki, Finland is giving compost to its suppliers as well as its diners. Nolla also has food- tracking software more commonly used among corporate food service companies to keep track of what sells and what rots.
Sometimes restaurants call themselves environmentally friendly, but they might just be using the label. Calvin offers some pointers on what to look for to make sure a restaurant is truly committed to sustainability.
1. What does Margot feature?| A．Its large size. | B．Its opening hours. |
| C．Its zero-waste goal. | D．Its plastic garbage cans. |
| A．Ways of packaging food. |
| B．The issue of investing in services. |
| C．The importance of environmental protection. |
| D．Efforts of some restaurants to reduce rubbish, |
| A．Only serve a set menu. |
| B．Hardly use refrigerators. |
| C．Supply compost to its customers. |
| D．Keep track of diners’ preferences. |
| A．Expand food business. |
| B．Use eco-friendly labels. |
| C．Save money on dealing with kitchen garbage. |
| D．Contribute to sustainable development of the food industry. |
To change bad habits is never easy, even with many
Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature? Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”,
10 . Innovation has pretty much finished with car tires (轮胎) right, I mean, what’s left to change? How about the whole “air” part?
Michelin Company’s attempt to tackle tire rubbish around the world witnessed them roll out puncture-proof “airless” tires, which they say should help reduce the 18% of all world tires that are abandoned early due to punctures (轮胎漏气). Deserted tires arc a huge worldwide waste problem — the US produces 260 million abandoned tires per year, many of which end up in landfills or on the sides of the freeway where they release harmful gases and microplastic pollutants as they break down.
Michelin Company's Unique Puncture Proof Tire System or “UPTIS” is designed using 46% recycled material, and made from a plastic matrix (母体) mixed with glass fibers that provide a flexible outer layer with a strong inner one. “The truly distinctive structure of the Michelin UPTIS prototype (原型), or its “strangeness” as we have often heard it called, really attracted the eye of many visitors and left a lasting impression on them,” stated Cyrille Roget, Michelin Group Technical and Scientific Communications Director. “It was an unusual experience for us, and our greatest satisfaction came at the end of the demonstration when our passengers, who were undoubtedly a little alert (警觉) at first, said they felt no difference compared with conventional tires.”
Michelin Company believes airless tires will improve everyone's lives. Maintenance (保养) costs for company’s vehicle fleets will be less expensive, and inexperienced car owners won’t accidentally ruin their rubbers when driving them because they are over-or under-inflated (充气). Although they are still in development stage and using at a large scale within years is unlikely to be available, Michelin Company is not in the least doubtful about their tires’ future.
1. Why does the author ask questions in the first paragraph?| A．To explain a strange phenomenon. | B．To clarify a difficult concept. |
| C．To present a well-known fact. | D．To introduce a new topic. |
| A．The new tire runs more smoothly. |
| B．The world greatly needs airless tires. |
| C．Traditional tires threaten the environment. |
| D．Michelin Company battles the issue of wasted tires. |
| A．Its structure distances visitors. | B．It only uses recycled materials. |
| C．It combines plastic and glass fibers. | D．Its comfortableness beats ordinary tires. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Positive. | C．Mixed. | D．Objective. |
