1 . Going green is good for business. Consumers are often willing to pay more for eco-friendly products than other comparable products on the market, according to market research. But not all environmental claims are created equally. “Greenwashing” is a form of misinformation often used to fascinate an enthusiastic green consumer. Companies promising to be sustainable, or biodegradable sometimes fail to meet the promises they make to consumers.

Greenwashing is particularly common in the fashion industry, says Maxine Bédat, director of The New Standard Institute, a think tank(智库) focused on improving the industry’s environmental standards. Being sustainable is the latest trend and a way for the industry to attract consumers. “I think we’re at the top of green washing in the industry,” she says.”

Retailers(零售商) will mislead consumers by distracting them from a company’s larger issues. For example, a large retailer might roll out a new line of products, such as jeans, that uses less water and therefore theoretically has less of an environmental impact than the other clothes the company sells. “You think ‘Oh that sounds great,’” Bédat says. But that same company might ignore water usage in the rest of their products lines, while doing nothing to address the other ways that their production might be harming the environment.

When it comes to fashion, Bérdat says to rethink shopping habits. After all, buying a new sweater labeled “carbon neutral(碳中和)” still produces more carbon than wearing a sweater already in your closet. She notes, “The most sustainable thing you can do as a consumer is wear the things you have more.”

As more companies look to cash in on sustainable marketing, governments are beginning to take more action to safeguard consumers. In New York, The Fashion Act would require fashion companies operating in the state to obey the Paris Climate Agreement. A new law brought forth by members of the European Union would more strictly regulate environmental claims and sustainability labels slapped on products sold in Europe.

1. What is the purpose of greenwashing?

A．To advocate proper use of water.

B．To introduce green ways to wash clothes.

C．To reduce the impact on environment.

D．To appeal to those eco-friendly customers.

2. What does the example in paragraph 3 present?

A．A new trend in fashion.	B．A new kind of product.
C．A trick of greenwashing.	D．A large issue of a company.

3. What is Bérdat’s attitude towards greenwashing?

A．Doubtful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Disapproving.

D．Tolerant.

4. Why did European Union put forward a new law?

A．To enhance the quality of products.

B．To shelter customers from greenwashing.

C．To raise people’s awareness of going green.

D．To encourage carbon-neutral product lines.

5 . “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” But now scientists have given us another warning: too much play with smartphones or computers makes you dull too.

“Many focus on the benefits of digital devices (设备) in education but ignore the costs,” said Patricia Greenfield from the University of California, “losing the ability to understand the emotions of other people is one of the costs.” Greenfield and her research team did an experiment. They worked with 105 children who spend about 4.5 hours in front of screens on a school day. The students were asked to describe the emotions towards the pictures of people who were happy, sad, angry or scared. Then, half of them attended a five-day nature and science camp. There they had no smartphones, TV, or computers. The other half stayed in school and spent the five days as usual. Five days later, all the children took the test again.

Students who had been to the camp got about 5 per cent more answers correct than they had done before the camp. But the other group of students didn’t show much improvement. The study is not perfect in some ways, said the researchers. But scientists say that the study is still a warning for us.

“Emotional skills develop in practice and the brain develops through real interaction,” said Professor Taylor, a professor at the University of San Francisco.

Researchers talked to 2, 000 parents of children aged 2—16 in the UK about what activities their children could do confidently. The results were surprising: their children could use a tablet (平板电脑) (59%) and work a mobile phone (57%) more confidently than they could tie their shoe laces (鞋带) (53%)! So, spend more time away from mobile phones and computers if you want to be an understanding friend, and not a member of what the Daily Mail called “Generation Helpless”.

1. According to Professor Greenfield, what’s the possible result of using digital media in education?

A．Being in bad terms with family members.	B．Making more mistakes when taking exams.
C．Falling far behind others in all schoolwork.	D．Failing to relate to other people’s emotions.

2. What do scientists think of the results of Greenfields experiment?

A．They are alarming for people.	B．They are far from perfect.
C．They are quite surprising.	D．They don’t need to be improved.

3. What can we know from the text?

A．Too much play with digital devices raised some worries.

B．Students learned how to describe emotions in the experiment.

C．Students living without screens did much better in studies.

D．Most of the UK children couldn’t tie their shoe laces.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To warn us to stay away from the Internet.

B．To show screens do harm to emotions.

C．To show a digital world.

D．To explain how people become the Internet addicts.

6 . There was a time when a trip to the supermarket in the United States often ended with a seemingly simple question from the cashier, “Paper or plastic?” Well, which type of bag would you choose?

While both types of bags have some influence on the environment, it has long been supposed that paper bags are better. They are made from a renewable source, are broken down easily, burn without giving off thick smoke and can be recycled. However, the producing process behind paper bags uses more energy than that of plastic ones. How can this be true?

Studies show that paper bag production requires four times as much energy as plastic bag production. And the amount of water used to make them is twenty times larger. Besides, the influence on forests is very serious. It takes about fourteen million trees to produce ten billion paper bags, which happen to be the number of bags used in the United States yearly. In terms of recycling, the idea that paper bags are more environment-friendly than plastic ones can be quickly discarded. Research shows it requires about 98% less energy to recycle plastic than it does to recycle paper.

Even though paper bags might be more harmful than plastic ones, plastic still seems to be considered as the more harmful of the two by governments. In Ireland, for example, a tax has been introduced to discourage the use of plastic bags. People have to pay 22 cents for every plastic bag, and as a result, their use has dropped quickly.

There’s no doubt that it makes more sense to reuse these bags. However, we don’t seem to be doing that at present. That may be because they fall apart quickly. If so, cloth bags are a better choice, but still, their production also has a bad influence on the environment. So what to do? How should we answer the question of “Paper or plastic?” It seems that we first need to ask ourselves one more general question: “What can I do to help the environment?”

1. Why does the author ask the question at the end of paragraph 1?

A．To express the author’s doubts.

B．To tell readers how to save money.

C．To show the kindness of the cashier.

D．To introduce the point for discussion to arouse readers’ interest.

2. Compared with plastic bags, paper bags _________.

A．need more water to produce	B．require less energy to recycle
C．have less influence on forests	D．take more time to break down

3. What does the underlined word “discarded” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Shared.

B．Discussed.

C．Given up.

D．Put forward.

4. Which question does the author probably hope the cashier ask?

A．Paper or cloth?	B．A new bag or your own one?
C．Paper or plastic?	D．A small bag or big one?

7 . In recent years, China has witnessed the growth of luxury (奢侈品) brands. In this market, Chinese consumers are now the largest spenders. It’s clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image. I am a fashionist too, at least in spirit — I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don’t understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that’s a scary thing.

What’s interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn’t lead to happiness. Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don’t suddenly become “happy” people. In fact, a series of studies by Leaf Van Boven at the University of Colorado, US, has shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those who invest it in material things. That’s because experiences are more easily combined with a person’s identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me.

Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things” are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.

It’s natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn’t tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style. You don’t have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.

1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．The author enjoys buying luxury brands herself.

B．The author agrees to overspend money on material things.

C．The author is critical of youths tying their looks to designer labels.

D．The author finds it natural for fashionists to follow fashion trends.

2. Leaf Van Boven’s studies showed that ______.

A．people dislike those who love luxuries

B．traveling changes a person’s identity greatly

C．luxuries have a negative effect on people’s happiness

D．experiences can bring people more happiness than luxuries

3. What is the author’s advice on expressing oneself?

A．Be selective about designer labels.	B．Create your own personal unique style.
C．Choose simple and fashionable styles.	D．Try styles like Mark Zuckerberg’s.

4. The main purpose of the article is to ______.

A．prove how luxury leads to an unpleasant life

B．tell how to express yourself through appearances

C．report on a series of studies about luxuries and happiness

D．persuade readers to invest in experiences instead of luxuries

8 . Imagine being able to go to your local park and pick some tomatoes, potatoes or even bananas to take home for dinner. Sounds too good to be true, right? For residents of Andernach, a German city, it’s not just a Utopian dream — it’s their reality. In 2010, Andernach began its “edible city” project, planting 101 varieties of tomatoes in public green spaces around the city centre. Its 30,000 residents are free to help themselves to whatever grows, as are any other visitors. Every year a new type of plant is introduced. In 2011, 100 types of beans were planted, while 2012 saw the introduction of 20 onion varieties. The town’s motto (座右铭) is, “Picking is encouraged — help yourself!”

It’s a community effort, as local citizens are encouraged to help plant and maintain the gardens. This offers an opportunity to socialize as well as to learn about planting, cultivating and harvesting food. “I often drop by to pick some herbs that I’m missing at home. Everything is easily accessible. There aren’t any fences. You just take what you need. The only thing is you have to be quick once the fruits are ripe or they’ll all be gone!” said a local historian.

Andernach may be the first, but it isn’t the only edible city. It’s part of the Edible Cities Network, an EU-funded project connecting green urban food initiatives (倡议) around the world. Other edible cities include Carthage in Tunisia, Havana in Cuba and Šempeter-Vrtojba in Slovenia. In February 2022, the first Edible Cities Network Conference took place. Dr. Ina Säumel, Principal Investigator of the Edible Cities Network, called it, “a unique opportunity to invite researchers and practitioners (从业人员) of Edible City Solutions to the same table and unite theory with practice”.

Ultimately, the Edible Cities Network aims to create “greener, more edible and, above all, more livable cities”. It is a response to the pressures of climate change, and a cause for hope.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A．The process of Andernach’s growth.

B．The green food project in Andernach.

C．Methods of planting vegetables in Europe.

D．The popularity of Andernach’s city design.

2. What is the attitude of the local historian mentioned in paragraph 2 towards the project?

A．Doubtful.	B．Indifferent.
C．Positive.	D．Negative.

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 3?

A．Green urban food has drawn more attention.

B．German rural areas will follow the trend too.

C．Asia will join the Edible Cities Network soon.

D．Edible cities hold meetings on a regular base.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Start a Green Food Campaign Now

B．Gain Easy Access to German Food

C．Quick Response to Climate Change

D．An Incredible “Edible City” Initiative

9 . Technology use seems to be the new wave of addiction hitting people of all ages. Its extreme use can be compared to the use of drugs, which is called Plug-in Heroin.

The next time you’re in a crowded public place, look at the people around you. It’s hard to find someone who isn’t glued to the tiny screen, fingers moving at lightning speeds, texting their friends, emailing co-workers or listening to music. It may seem ridiculous that someone is that addicted to such a small object. I’ve seen people who seem to be at their wits’ end (不知所措) if their phone or iPad has been taken away, lost or left at home.

Some people may ask, “What’s wrong with technology use? It’s a way for people to communicate.” While this is true, the overuse of technology isn’t always appropriate in certain settings. Schools are becoming stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms. Various workplaces have signs hanging on their walls warning employees that “Cell phone use is not permitted ”or “Cell phones are forbidden.”

Electronics may be a way for people to communicate and stay in touch with each other, but the disadvantages may outweigh the benefits. People are losing the ability to hold face-to-face conversations with others. However, it’s hard to avoid electronics in this day and age because almost everything is turning into an electronic format. Books, originally meant for paper design, are now being transferred (转存) to electronic forms. Photo albums, and even yearbooks, can now be viewed via the internet. With this growing trend, future generations are bound to become even more addicted to technology.

Is there a cure for electronic addiction? Simply turning electronics off for an hour or two a day may help to an extent, but it will not completely rid electronic addiction. There only seems to be one cure left, and it may be the hardest: self control.

1. What is Plug-in Heroin?

A．The growing popularity of electronics.

B．The serious consequences of technology use.

C．The future possibility of technology development.

D．The unreasonable dependence on electronics.

2. The second paragraph is intended to ________.

A．prove electronics are harmful to people	B．show people’s addiction to electronics
C．persuade people to quit electronics	D．tell people it is ridiculous to use electronics

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A．Cell phones can be used in all kinds of work situations.

B．Cell phones and iPads can be freely applied in schools.

C．Overuse of electronic products should be limited.

D．There’s nothing wrong with using technology, because it’s the only way people communicate.

4. In the author’s opinion, what is the best way to cure electronic addiction?

A．Turn off the electronics for an hour or two.

B．Cell phones are forbidden in the workplaces.

C．Be stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms.

D．Learn to control yourself.