1 . The candy we eat, the tea we drink, the lotion we use---they all likely contain ingredients from wild plants. While natural ingredients can be beneficial to buyers, the way those plants are harvested could harm ecosystems. In a recent United Nations report, medicinal plant experts revealed the risks behind several of them, including Brazil nuts, frankincense, goldenseal, gum arabic, and licorice.

Plant derivatives （衍生物） in household products “sit there somewhere in the middle of the ingredients list” on product labels, often going unnoticed, says Caitlin Schindler, lead author of the report. Even if consumers do take note, there’s no information about what’s involved in obtaining or processing the derivatives.

Many of these plants are threatened with extinction from overharvesting, disease and pests, climate change, and habitat loss. The endangered state of more than 20,000 medicinal plant species has never been assessed, which means it’s impossible to know whether their use is sustainable.

Meanwhile, the trade in wild plants is booming. U. S. consumers spent more than $12.3 billion on herbal dietary supplements in 2021---up more than 9 percent from 2020. Wild plants have been used locally for centuries, but today’s global demand puts many at risk. And international customers often have no idea where these products originate.

Should consumers stop buying the products? No. Schindler says, because “the ingredients are really critical to a lot of people’s livelihoods.” Solutions for transforming the trade in wild plants are rooted in awareness. The first step for consumers is to “just notice that you’re buying something that has a wild ingredient,” she says. It’s generally safer to purchase local products and splurge on more expensive ones, if possible.

Consumers can also look for organic and fair-trade certifications. Various programs evaluate wild-plant supply chains for sustainability, and many companies advertise these certifications, either on the product or online. One of the most prominent is Fair Wild, which assesses environmental risks and recommends best sourcing practices. If certifications are missing, Schindler encourages people to challenge companies to do better. “Until businesses get a bit more pressure from consumers, we won’t see any changes happening,” she says.

1. What can we learn about wild plants according to the report?

A．Their current situation is ignored.	B．They are limited on a global scale.
C．They have been evaluated regularly.	D．Their process information is on the label.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined words “splurge on” in paragraph 5?

A．Get rid of.	B．Spend much money on.
C．Pay attention to.	D．Conduct many experiments on.

3. Why are the organic and fair-trade certifications valued?

A．They confirm the quality of the wild plants.

B．They offer consumers rights to assess the products.

C．They ensure the use of wild plants at a steady level.

D．They inspire companies to make more advertisements.

4. What is the structure of the passage?

A．

B．

C．

D．

2 . Letters to customers

Letter 1
Dear Mr Johnson,

Thanks for your long-term trust. We take great pleasure in announcing that our latest product, the 1000-watt home theater system, has come onto the market.

The device comes with five speakers. It is Bluetooth-enabled and has a USB port. The sound quality and picture quality are outstanding.

Grab yours today! Contact us at 999-999-999.

Helen

Letter 2
Dear Miss Turner,

We are grateful for your good review of our printer. To express our thanks, we’d like to give you a special offer. In the upcoming three months, you will get one free cartridge (墨盒) for any three that you buy. It also applies to any paper you buy.

Please show this note to us when you visit our store. It will make sure you can get the offer and a significant discount on other products.

Call us at 333-555-999 if you have any questions.

Nicholas

Letter 3
Dear Mr Davis,

We’d like to congratulate you on the ownership of the new mountain bike. This bike is the first to succeed in all the standard safety tests set by the Cycling Association of America. You can get a free bike repair service within the first month of your purchase.

We also trade in old and new bikes. For more information, call us at 223-334-445.

Bob

Letter 4
Dear Miss Smith,

I am delighted that you are satisfied with the washer and dryer purchased from our store.

If you experience any damage within the first six months of your purchase, we will repair them at no cost. After that, we offer competitive rates to ensure your continued satisfaction.

Please feel free to contact us at 111-222-111 for any further information.

Amy

1. What’s Helen’s purpose in writing to Mr Johnson?

A．To show her trust.

B．To confirm an order.

C．To promote a new product.

D．To seek opinions on their product.

2. What should Miss Turner do to ensure a discount on a new product?

A．Give praise for the cartridge.

B．Bring the note to the store.

C．Buy at least four cartridges.

D．Recommend the printer to others. ‘

3. What do Letter 3 and Letter 4 have in common?

A．Both offer free maintenance.

B．Both stress the safety of products.

C．Both display competitive product rates.

D．Both involve the trade of new and old products.

3 . 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man doing?

A．Asking for some information.

B．Making an explanation.

C．Giving an interview.

2. What insurance is the man likely to buy now?

A．Car insurance.

B．Life insurance.

C．House insurance.

3. What will the man do next?

A．Ask questions.

B．Read some terms.

C．Fill in a form.

5 . With brand new products constantly emerging, it can be hard to keep track of what things to sell in 2023. The secret to selling new popular products is to find winning products before they become mainstream. So if you’re looking for the best new products of 2023 before your competitors discover them, read on.

Smart temperature sensors   

   

With most countries having four seasons in a year, smart temperature sensors will surely attract customers from around the globe. People can use the sensor to check the temperature, humidity level, etc. Then, they can share this data with other smart devices that regulate the temperature in their room (smart heaters, curtains, etc.). The rich functionality makes it one of the best products to sell in 2023.

Biomagnetic ear stickers     

We’d never imagined a day when earrings would help you improve blood circulation (循环), but that day has come. Biomagnetic ear stickers put pressure on your ears and stimulate blood flow. It’s said that magnets can also help with weight loss. However, be sure not to make any claims about how much weight your customers will lose. Not making definitive claims is a common practice in fitness and health care to avoid legal action.

Reusable straws     

Reusable straws make a great product, especially if you have an eco-friendly product store. You can position the product as good for the environment while protecting marine life from plastic waste. Remember: a business that makes the world a better place is the best kind of business.

1. What makes smart temperature sensors get popular?

A．Being self-operating.	B．Being eco-friendly.
C．Being multi-functional.	D．Being money-saving.

2. Why might people choose biomagnetic ear stickers?

A．To monitor health.	B．To boost blood flow.
C．To sharpen hearing.	D．To lower blood pressure.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Product designers.	B．Storekeepers.
C．Fashion customers.	D．Environmentalists.

6 . Changing the wording about expiration dates (保质期) on food items of easily going bad — which is currently unregulated (缺乏监管) and widely variable — could help reduce food waste, according to a new Cornell University study.

This work results from the “wild west” landscape of food date labels which is expected to be driven, to a large extent, by manufacturers’ (制造商) strong wish to sell more products. It is important for both the government’s decisions regarding date labels and the market impacts of reducing food waste.

A survey of consumers found that certain wording — “best by,” as opposed to “best if used by,” for example — had the possibility to reduce food waste, but that result differed depending on the type of food in question. The easier food is to go bad, the more likely it is to be thrown away.

“There are no practical rules about food date labels in the U.S. If you go into the yogurt section at a U.S. grocery store, you would see various date labels — ‘use by’, ‘best by’, ‘best if used by’, ‘fresh by’, or ‘sell by’, etc. Some consumers might smell the food to see if it is still good, while others might just look at the date label and drop it,” said Rickard, leader of the study team. “And the truth is that these date labels are not food safety dates; they’re just food quality dates.”

The 15 food items selected for the survey, including bread, cookies, chicken, packaged salad greens and canned soup, all typically use date labels with different wording variations. Survey results showed an increase in throwing intentions with the “use by” and the “sell by” date label, inferring that food with these date labels was more often thrown and replaced. So they think that the word “use” spoke more directly to the food safety impact of consuming food past the date listed on the package, and could therefore lead to an increase in food waste. However, the wording “best by” seemed to refer only to food quality beyond a certain date and led to less waste.

1. What is probably the main reason for so many date labels in the U.S.?

A．The government wants to monitor the market.

B．The producers intend to increase the food sales.

C．The sellers tend to meet the needs of consumers.

D．The manufacturers hope to ensure the food quality.

2. Which wording on the date labels may help reduce food waste?

A．“Best by”.

B．“Sell by”.

C．“Use by”.

D．“Best if used by”.

3. Why is the yogurt section at a grocery store mentioned?

A．To solve a problem.	B．To give a warning.
C．To offer some advice.	D．To prove a fact.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Similar Date Labels Mislead Shoppers

B．Words Matter in Food Safety Messaging

C．The Correct View of Consumption Is Important

D．The U.S. Is Taking Measures to Reduce Food Waste

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What do we know about the shop?

A．It has a car park.

B．It is often crowded.

C．It is near a bus station.

2. Why does the woman suggest going to the supermarket?

A．Because it will get crowded later on.

B．Because it is close to their home.

C．Because there is a lot of paint to choose.

3. What did the speakers discuss last night?

A．Where to buy the paint.

B．What color paint to buy.

C．Whether to buy the paint.

4. What will the speakers do first?

A．Shop for food.

B．Have dinner.

C．Buy the paint.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why was the new piece of furniture so cheap?

A．It was very dirty.

B．All the legs were weak.

C．The back had a small problem.

2. What color is the old sofa?

A．Yellow.

B．Green.

C．White.

3. What does the man say about the woman?

A．She is not very neat.

B．She doesn`t like the white color.

C．She often finds things at discounted prices.

10 . What does the man want to buy?

A．A suit.

B．A shirt.

C．A tie.