1 . There are many potential sources of clean energy out there: solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen-based energy, and more. One of the less-known sources of clean energy is wave energy. Now the energy is being put to use in an almost funny way, turning seawater into drinking water by Oneka, a Canadian startup.
In general, there are two traditional kinds of desalination (脱盐) technology. In the first technology, seawater is heated till the water changes into steam, leaving the salt behind, and then the steam is cooled, turning into water, and made available for use. In the second one, seawater is pushed through a see-through thin material, separating the salt and the water, which consumes relatively less fuel compared with the first technology. Whichever technology is used, however, most desalination plants run on non-renewable energy.
Desalination equipment is traditionally powered by fossil fuels, but the world has certainly reached a vital point where it’s necessary to move away from fossil fuel-powered desalination. This is where Oneka’s unique desalination technology comes in. Oneka uses floating desalination machines, attached to a kind of floating device which then absorbs energy from the ocean waves, and changes it into mechanical forces, to pump the water through the see-through thin material system. The fresh water is then pumped to land, through the power of the waves.
The waste from conventional desalination plants contains high concentrations of salt which is discharged into the sea, creating a zone where sea life dies off. Oneka’s technology steers clear of this, because the water that streams back into the ocean only has a 30 percent increase in the salt concentration, and is quickly spread by the waves.
This innovative technology shows us that sometimes the solutions to complicated problems don’t have to be complicated at all. Sometimes all you need are the ocean waves.
1. Which can best describe the first technology in paragraph 2?| A．It is labor-intensive. | B．It is energy-hungry. |
| C．It separates salt via cooling. | D．It outperforms the second one. |
| A．It’s slightly complicated. | B．It leaves little salt behind. |
| C．It reshapes fresh water storage. | D．It’s mechanically driven. |
| A．Relieves. | B．Facilitates. | C．Envelops. | D．Achieves. |
| A．Eco-driven Desalination Machines | B．Ocean Waves: The New Energy Solution |
| C．Wave-powered Green Desalination | D．Desalination: The Future of Fresh Water |
2 . Cathy Winston is a sports nutritionist. Among her regulars are athletes. Cathy thrives on the variety, with each new sport providing new challenges and a renewed appreciation of her chosen field of expertise. In her view, dealing with athletes from various sport backgrounds helps her become seasoned, which is a key part of being a successful nutritionist. “You have to understand nutrition and people, and then you can begin to work in this field,” she says. “Besides, in tennis you must learn to be reactive, because you don’t know how long the match lasts. However, it’s 90 minutes in football so you know what you’re fueling for.”
Regardless of the sport, Cathy’s attitude remains the same: Any athlete failing to respect nutrition is one who is failing to fulfill their potential. It’s a key part of the training process. It’s not just something that you take casually. She advises her athletes to hold nutrition in the same regard as they do their most crucial bit of equipment. “Just as you wouldn’t forget to put your shin pads (护腿板) or your boots in your kit bag, don’t forget to put in your drinks and your snacks. That informs how well you train, because you can’t get out if you haven’t put in.”
Nutritionists are sometimes unfairly represented as militant (斗志昂扬的) types telling what athletes can and can’t eat. But Cathy insists that when to eat is more important than what. “It’s about when’s the right time to have it in,” she says. It’s a message that Cathy says can take a while to sink in. “A lot of boxers say, ‘but bananas make you fat, right?’, and there’s this inherent belief that we mustn’t eat those kinds of things. But it’s not about what to cut out. It’s about making sure that you’ve got the foundation right for health and performance. It’s that one size fits one. It’s what works for you. To be an excellent athlete, you really need to be an exceptional eater.”
1. What does Cathy think about her job?| A．It hardly faces new challenges in every competition. |
| B．It mainly focuses on the duration of matches. |
| C．It merely needs to understand nutrition and people. |
| D．It highly values experience and flexibility. |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By analyzing a phenomenon. |
| C．By telling a story. | D．By providing data. |
| A．Focusing on the timing of the diet. |
| B．Cutting out specific foods from the diet. |
| C．Following a strict and militant diet plan. |
| D．Increasing the variety of foods. |
| A．Food has a say in the sports field. |
| B．Nutritionists act as unsung heroes behind athletes. |
| C．Nutrition determines the results in the competition. |
| D．A good eater is a great athlete. |
3 . NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon
Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024, for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon! Starting in North Brooklyn, the route offers stunning waterfront views and passes under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Experience the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, from Fulton Street & Flatbush Avenue to the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, and finish in Prospect Park.
Registration:
Fees for NYCRUNS members are $135 if registered by December 13th. Non-members pay $150. Register early to secure your spot in this unforgettable race! NYCRUNS members can enjoy a $10 discount on the registration fee. Additionally, up to 50% of the race fee can be covered using Race Credit.
Amenities:
NYCRUNS is known for putting on running events of the highest quality. After the race, celebrate your achievement with the official race shirt and an incredible medal with pride! When you finish, enjoy fresh Brooklyn bagels, NYS apples and more!
Awards:
Top finishers in various age groups will be recognized. Prize money will only be awarded to athletes who complete the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon in a gun time faster than the qualifying time. Athletes may be subject to drug testing to ensure a fair and equal field.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Non-profits interested in group volunteering, please contact us.
Transportation:
Public transportation recommended.
Closest stations: L train to Bedford Avenue, G train to Metropolitan Avenue.
Register today and be a part of this unforgettable Brooklyn experience!
1. What is the starting point of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon?| A．Prospect Park. | B．North Brooklyn. |
| C．Williamsburg Bridge. | D．Manhattan Bridge. |
| A．$75. | B．$135. | C．$150. | D．$200. |
| A．A shirt and a finisher’s medal. | B．Prize money based on the age. |
| C．Free transportation services. | D．A gift from NYS Apple Stores. |
4 . Kruger National Park is, in a word, life-changing. One of the top attractions in South Africa, and one of the largest national parks in the world, Kruger National Park is a must for any wildlife lover.
Kruger National Park Animals
Nothing will prepare you for the huge volume of wildlife that you’ll be able to see in Kruger National Park. The park is home to 114 different species of reptiles; more than 500 species of birds; and 147 mammals. Not only will you have the opportunity to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino), but you’ll see tons of other mammals like zebras, giraffes, hyenas, hippos, impalas, and many more.
When is the Best Time to Visit Kruger National Park?
The driest months being June, July, and August are the best time of year to visit the park, when the days are sunny and warm and the nights are cooler. Many trees and shrubs have lost their leaves, and water sources dry up, making it easier to spot game around the remaining waterholes.
Driving in Kruger National Park
What makes Kruger National Park unique from other parks is that it is accessible via self-drive. Many people who come to the park come with their own vehicle because it’s considerably more affordable than taking a guided tour. Doing a self-drive safari (游猎) also gives you more flexibility with your timing.
1. How does the writer show the diversity of animals in Kruger National Park?| A．By making comparisons. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By using illustrations. | D．By classifying facts. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．It has unique animals. | B．It offers a flexible time. |
| C．It allows self-drive. | D．It charges fairly low. |
5 . Jump to It
Jumping rope is an activity that contributes to a healthy lifestyle and helps meet your fitness and wellness goals. Here’s how jumping rope benefits you.
It burns calories. How many calories does jumping rope burn? While this depends on your pace on average, you may burn about 100 calories jumping rope for 10 minutes.
It’s easy to do. You can jump rope almost anywhere, making it a great option for on-the-go or when you’re traveling. Some people keep the habit of working out in the open air.
It builds bone density (骨密度). Your bone density decreases as you age. Luckily, jumping rope helps keep your bones strong.
It improves your heart and lungs. Jumping rope strengthens your heart and lungs by raising your heart rate quickly. Those who do rope-jumping exercise have better vital capacity.
It makes you feel good. Did we mention it’s fun? After exercise, your body will release a special chemical, which can help with depression. Therefore, if you get anxious sometimes, being active can also help calm ourselves down.
| A．Others prefer to work at home. |
| B．But what if it’s raining outside? |
| C．So, skip ahead to the good stuff. |
| D．It is actually a load-bearing activity. |
| E．It refers to the amount of air you can breathe out after taking a deep breath. |
| F．Therefore, as a well-rounded exercise, jumping rope helps with weight loss. |
| G．However, bend your knees slightly to avoid injuries to ankles and bones when you land. |
1. What is the aim of the first app?
| A．To make your body flexible. |
| B．To strengthen your muscle. |
| C．To burn your body fat. |
| A．You have to read the instructions. |
| B．You do the same exercise every day. |
| C．You must be fit enough to use it. |
| A．Hard. | B．Boring. | C．Inconvenient. |
| A．Daily Fit Club. | B．Superfit in Ten. | C．Burn the Fat. |
7 . Summer Day Camps
Join the Environmental Learning Center this summer for adventure in the outdoors! We can’t wait to be part of your summer!
Young Experimenters | June17-21 | $200 |
Participate in hands-on experiments from environmental disciplines of science. By using the scientific method, recording data and running experiments, students will study and connect with the natural world. | ||
The Wildness Week | June 24-28 | $220 |
Do you know how to catch a fish, where to find frogs or how to copy the call of a red wing black bird? Do you want to learn how to find pure water and build a temporary living place? We’ll give you the outdoor skills to is cover the hidden wonders of nature. | ||
Animal Antics | July 8-12 | $230 |
From the common squirrel to the mysterious wind scorpion, the ELC is home to an abundance of wildlife. We’ll spend the week studying them through exploration, observation and experimentation. | ||
Outdoor-ologists | July 22-26 | $260 |
Ever wonder what it takes to spend a career out in nature? This week of camp will focus learning about on all the different sorts of people who work outside. | ||
Refund Policy | ||
Cancellations made on or prior to March 20 will be refunded at 100%. Cancellations made between March 21 and April 17 will lose the $50 deposit. Ater April 17 and up to two weeks prior to the first day of camp, a 50% refund will be given. After two weeks prior, no refunds will be given. | ||
| A．To interpret the singing of birds. | B．To experiment on wild animals. |
| C．To get along with wild animals. | D．To survive well in the wild. |
| A．Outdoor-ologists. | B．Animal Antics. |
| C．The Wildness Week. | D．Young Experimenters. |
| A．$230. | B．$180. | C．$115. | D．$50. |
8 . Growing up in Kenya, Lesein Mutunkei, together with his family, always celebrated significant occasions by planting trees, which motivated him to protect the environment. It’s what the now 18-year-old soccer player treasures, especially since Kenya has an ongoing problem with deforestation.
Mutunkei follows in the footsteps of the late Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai who founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977. This initiative has resulted in the planting of over 51 million trees to date.
In 2018, Lesein decided to start a movement of his own. He started by planting one tree for every goal he scored during a football match. He called it Trees4Goals, and it has grown so much that he now plants 11 trees, one for each member of his team, every time he scores. Through this, he wants to inspire young people, specifically his fellow athletes, to follow in his footsteps, take nature conservation seriously, and promise to plant trees every time they score. As a result, some of them have adapted this practice for their sports. “Seeing that they’re taking that responsibility because of the project I started, for me, that is the biggest achievement,” he said.
The initiative has caught the attention of English football club Arsenal and Kenya’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, which he now works with regularly and gets advice from.
Like Green Belt Movement, Trees4Goals, which has planted 5,500 trees so far, has made it. While Lesein has received some recognition for his initiative, he sets his sights on making it a worldwide phenomenon. “Football is a universal game, and climate change is a universal problem,” he explains. “It has the power to unite, educate and inspire my generation to create a safer and greener future.” This is why he wants to work with the world’s biggest football federation FIFA.
As for what others can do to fight deforestation or other environmental concerns, the teenager says it’s important to just get involved in some way, no matter how small.
1. What made Lesein get interested in environmental protection?| A．The influence of his family. |
| B．Wangari Maathai’s huge assistances. |
| C．The demand of the football team. |
| D．His fellow athletes’ encouragement. |
| A．To gain Kenya’s support. |
| B．To set an example for others. |
| C．To catch Arsenal’s attention. |
| D．To show his achievements. |
| A．Promoting football’s development. |
| B．Going global with the help of FIFA. |
| C．Beating climate change completely. |
| D．Getting beyond Green Belt Movement. |
| A．Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
| B．A youth is to be regarded with respect. |
| C．Positive thinking and action result in success. |
| D．Success means getting personal desires satisfied. |
9 . Nobody knows yet what the best way of removing all that carbon will be, but scientists around the world are developing a new method. The Swiss company Climeworks is building big extractor (抽油烟机) fans to remove carbon.
But other scientists are looking to nature’s carbon cycle for inspiration. They’re looking for ways to improve it, speed it up and help it take more carbon out of the air permanently.
One of those scientists is Professor Luke Mackinder, a plant biologist at the University of York. His research into carbon removal is inspired by ocean algac (海藻). “About half of carbon absorption takes place in the ocean,” he says. “Algae are extremely efficient at absorbin g it.”
In order to do this, his team has studied the genetic code (基因密码) of algae to work out which genes play a vital role in carbon absorption. He believes they have now figured this out. “Now we have a list and we can start thinking about how to bring them together in different living things,” he says. “We place the genes into those of other plants. It’s genetic modification.”
Mackinder anticipates adding them to a range of crops and trees. The resulting increased production could be good for food security. Alternatively, they could help to enhance the influence of climate change. It all depends on what we do with the carbon once it’s trapped in those plants. Eating them would quickly return it to the atmosphere. But if instead we find ways to store it, we could keep it out of the atmosphere for good.
Dave Hillyard, chief administrator of the Carbon Technology Research Foundation that is funding Mackinder’s research, says that it is important to fund work on a wide range of carbon removal methods, because “some will not get the results they’re looking for and some will succeed. There are a lot of opportunities here but very little funding and research going into it.”
1. What is discussed in the first paragraph?| A．An approach to carbon removal. | B．A way to improve big extractor fans. |
| C．A means of joining a company. | D．A method of doing scientific research. |
| A．It is secure. | B．It is effective. | C．It is sufficient. | D．It is accessible. |
| A．They bring about great side effects. | B．They are useless for carbon absorption. |
| C．They help increase food production. | D．They have been put into other plants. |
| A．The government’s permission. | B．More scientists’participation. |
| C．Increasing experimental chances. | D．The input into the research. |
10 . Winter vacations don’t have to be about snow. From scenic coastal journeys to wildlife watching, we have found a trip for every type of winter wanderer. Here’re some hot spots.
Road-trip down Oregon’s scenic coast
One of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, this 363-mile stretch of coastline is filled with landscapes, waves, headlands, and winter storms. There’s no shortage of stops on the scenic route from Astoria to Brookıngs. Visit coastal communities, spot sea lions at Shore Acres State Park, watch dancing lellyfish at the Oregon Coast Aquarıum, and explore 79 state parks.
Enjoy the light show in San Antonio, Texas
From late November to early January, millions of twinkling lights decorate the San Antonio River Walk in an eye-catching display. Riverboats carrying diverse mix of bell choirs, folk groups, and Latino bands fill the air with carols on evenings through late December.
Soak in New Mexico’s natural hot springs
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, five national forests, and 17 national parks and monuments, New Mexico is a paradise(乐园) of outdoor adventure. After an active day, loosen up your muscles in comfortable mineral springs.
Celebrate New Year’s Day with the mummers in Philadelphia
On New Year’s Day, thousands of brightly costumed people take to the streets of Philadelphia for the annual Mummers Parade, the oldest continuous folk parade in the U. S. The people line the streets of the City of Brotherly Love from JFK Boulevard down Broad Street to watch the mummers (哑剧演员) flood the city in an explosion of color, music, and dance.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to explore coastal life?| A．Oregon. | B．San Antonio. | C．New Mexico. | D．Philadelphia. |
| A．October 26. | B．November 1. | C．December 16. | D．February 4. |
| A．A history book. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A course plan. | D．An art journal. |
