1. How many people are reported to use their phones in public places?
| A．Nearly a half. | B．More than half. | C．Almost everyone. |
| A．Talking in a cafe. |
| B．Walking down the street. |
| C．Spending too much time on phones. |
| A．Listen to music. | B．Check emails. | C．Text. |
| A. increases B. investigated C. comparison D. sustainable E. advertised F. accessible G. process H. footprint I. discourage J. causes K. promote |
Clothing rental is a hot new industry and retailers are demanding to get on board in hopes of attracting green shopper.
But is renting fashion actually more environmentally-friendly than buying it, and if so, how much more? Journalist and author Elizabeth Cline
Take shipping, for example, which has to go two ways if an item is rented-receiving and returning. Cline writes that consumer transportation has the second largest carbon
She writes, “An item ordered online and then returned can send out 20 kilograms of carbon each way, and
Then there’s the burden of washing, which has to happen for every item when it’s returned, regardless of whether or not it was worn. For most rental services, this usually means dry cleaning, a high impact and polluting
Lastly, Cline fears that rental services will increase our appetite for fast fashion, simply because it’s so easily
Renting clothes is still preferable to buying them cheap and throwing them in the dustbin after a few wears, but we shouldn’t let the availability of these services make us too satisfied. There’s an even better step-that’s wearing what is already in the closet.
3 . 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 |
1. What was Prof. Stone’s grandfather afraid of?
| A．Leaving his home. | B．Parting from his son. | C．Taking early retirement. |
| A．Lack of moral support. | B．Loss of self-worth. | C．Change of living habits. |
| A．Public services they ask for. |
| B．Health care available to them. |
| C．Contributions they can make. |
5 . Saving money for the future is one of the great passions of wealthy people. The rich are getting richer because of the way they spend their money.
They are successful at controlling their expenses in order to grow their wealth. One example is Warren Buffett, one of the world’s wealthiest people. He always practices spending money wisely. He is not fond of buying expensive things. He knows the benefits of saving money.
John Poole said, “You must learn to save first and spend afterwards.” If you want to achieve your financial goal, the most important step is to save first. You can’t grow your wealth or money if you don’t start saving first. Did you know that Mark Zuckerberg, one of the youngest billionaires and co-founders of Facebook, is a great saver? During his wedding, the reception was held in his backyard in Palo Alto, California rather than in a fancy five-star hotel. During the couple’s honeymoon in Italy, many people saw them eating in McDonald’s. This guy is still wearing ordinary T-shirts to work every day. I understand why he practices saving. Saving money is important to him to grow his wealth and grow it quickly. He uses extra money to put into other businesses, investments and acquisitions.
Saving money for the future gives you protection for unexpected circumstances. You don’t know what will happen to you over the next days or weeks. And living below your means can give you plenty of room to save. You can use your savings to pay off your mortgage (按揭贷款) early. Also, people who are fond of saving money for the future can retire early.
Saving money for the future is essential. Today will not be the same as tomorrow. You don’t know when the rainy season will come. Every day is full of surprises, and to be ready for uncertainty, save now for your future.
1. What does the example of Warren Buffett explain?| A．The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. | B．Buying expensive things is not a good habit. |
| C．Saving money can bring us a lot of benefits. | D．Controlling our expenses helps to increase our wealth. |
| A．He was not a generous man although he was rich. |
| B．He had to save money for his honeymoon with his wife. |
| C．He wanted to use extra money to expand his business. |
| D．He was practicing the skill of saving money. |
| A．Spending according to your habit. | B．Saving money for tomorrow’s uncertainty. |
| C．Saving money for living better in the future. | D．Spending less than you can afford. |
| A．It makes you feel at safe when an emergency happens. |
| B．It leads you to live a high-quality life. |
| C．It helps you achieve a debt-free life early. |
| D．It allows you to enjoy your retirement early. |
6 . When big news breaks, it’s easy to get caught up in following the story online. The Internet can be a place to find useful information.
Here’s some advice that parents can offer kids to help them be quicker to judge as they consume news online.
Remember, breaking news is often wrong.
Use social media wisely. Some say Twitter is a great source of news in the first few minutes of a tragedy.
Be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. After the Boston Marathon bombing, NBC Sports reported that some runners kept running all the way to the hospital to donate blood for the victims. Not true. There are plenty of websites devoted to exposing false news stories. The Washington Post also has a Fact Checker column that delivers claims made by public officials and politicians.
| A．Be critical. |
| B．Keep it age-appropriate. |
| C．It’s also convenient to express your opinion. |
| D．Visit them to find out if a story is true. |
| E．It also can be the source of misinformation. |
| F．Reporters make mistakes in the rush to cover stories. |
| G．However, after that it just becomes messy and largely inaccurate. |
7 . My granddad often helped me make a tool to catch fish when I was young and we would spend hours along a river. It was lovely for both of us then. Many more of today’s grandparents have a growing sense of adventure. And a trend is catching on: skip-gen travel — grandparents taking fun-filled vacations with grand kids without their parents along.
A survey found that 83% of grandparents put travel with their grand kids as the number one thing when they retire. Skip-gen travel gets popular for good reason. Kids have their lives enriched and learn outside classrooms. This is also a time of talking and sharing ideas.
“How grandparents talk to children is different from how parents talk to them. Actually, I feel on a more equal footing with my grandchildren than I do with my own children,” Annie Collins, a travel architect and also part of the trend, says. “Kids away from their parents are more open to ideas and willing to express themselves. It’s not just kids gaining from traveling. Who gets the most out of this? You might think it’s them but it’s us.” According to a study by the Cleveland Clinic, grandparents who help watch and spend time with grand kids may actually live longer than their peers（同龄人）.
It’s also important to recognize that grandparents often have more time to travel. Unlike their children, who may still be in the pursuit of a personal career that offers limited time off, grandparents are often retired and likely have a different viewpoint on life, prioritizing experiences and family. So knowing the kids are in great hands, moms and dads will have a bit of time to themselves — some much-needed leisure time alone to rest and recharge their batteries.
However, skip-gen travel is not for every grandparent. After all, grandparents are worn out with years and not so energetic. They surely treasure the chance to form close ties with their grandchildren, but it’s wiser to say no when only the youth could enjoy themselves, for the travel should be a win for everyone involved.
1. Why does the author mention fishing experiences with his granddad?| A．To lead in the trend of skip-gen travel. | B．To share the pleasure in going fishing. |
| C．To stress the importance of family ties. | D．To show the growing interest in adventure. |
| A．Many parents are too strict with children. |
| B．Grandparents benefit more from skip-gen travel. |
| C．Spending time with grandparents is better for kids. |
| D．Children become mature when away from parents. |
| A．They enjoy the moment to relax. | B．They feel less anxious and stressed. |
| C．They miss their kids very much. | D．They look forward to their own trip. |
| A．Get kids involved in travel planning. | B．Strengthen the bond with grandchildren. |
| C．Reduce skip-gen travel appropriately. | D．Make decisions in both sides’ interests. |
Buying tickets for museums easily may become a history. Nowadays, people feel it hard
One of the reasons is a growing interest
Many museums have issued archaeological blind
Another happiness museum-goers can experience is through ice cream bars in
The public's love for museums reflects cultural self-confidence. Only by
9 . Mobile phones have become a problem for middle schools. Some middle schools in Australia have prevented students from carrying mobile phone during school hours.
Mobile phone use among children has become a problem for the school this year. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas gifts, and more students will want them.
Mary Bluett, an official, said mobile phone use is a distraction(悲伤的事) to students during school hours and it also gives teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to cheat during exams.
She said some schools had tried not to let students use mobile phones at school. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t get in touch with their children.
Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school, but if there was a good reason, they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said there were many reasons why the students should not have mobile phones at school. They were easy to lose and were a distraction from studies.
Many people say that they understood why parents would want their children to have mobile phones, but they think schools should let the students know when they can use their mobile phones.
1. Middle schools are prevented from carrying mobile phones ________ .| A．because they often talk with their friends | B．when they are free from homework |
| C．when they are at school | D．because they cheat in exams |
| A．by telling lies to their parents | B．by making trouble in class |
| C．from their parents and friends | D．from some mobile phone users |
| A．No school in Australia has done anything about the mobile phone use among students. |
| B．Teachers don’t allow the students to leave their mobile phones at school offices. |
| C．Some students had their mobile phones stolen at school. |
| D．Parents give their children mobile phones for no good reason. |
| A．students shouldn’t have mobile phones at school except for some special reasons |
| B．it is impossible to stop students from using mobile phone at school |
| C．some parents felt unhappy because they couldn’t use their phones at school |
| D．parents should teach their children how to use mobile phones during school hours |
10 . You’ve heard that plastic is polluting the oceans — between 4.8 and 12.7 million tonnes enter ocean ecosystems every year. But does one plastic straw or cup really make a difference? Artist Benjamin Von Wong wants you to know that it does. He builds massive sculptures out of plastic garbage, forcing viewers to re-examine their relationship to single-use plastic products.
At the beginning of the year, the artist built a piece called “Strawpocalypse,” a pair of 10-foot-tall plastic waves, frozen mid-crash. Made of 168,000 plastic straws collected from several volunteer beach cleanups, the sculpture made its first appearance at the Estella Place shopping center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Just 9% of global plastic waste is recycled. Plastic straws are by no means the biggest source (来源) of plastic pollution, but they’ve recently come under fire because most people don’t need them to drink with and, because of their small size and weight, they cannot be recycled. Every straw that’s part of Von Wong’s artwork likely came from a drink that someone used for only a few minutes. Once the drink is gone, the straw will take centuries to disappear.
In a piece from 2018, Von Wong wanted to illustrate (说明) a specific statistic: Every 60 seconds, a truckload’s worth of plastic enters the ocean. For this work, titled “Truckload of Plastic,” Von Wong and a group of volunteers collected more than 10,000 pieces of plastic, which were then tied together to look like they’d been dumped (倾倒) from a truck all at once.
Von Wong hopes that his work will also help pressure big companies to reduce their plastic footprint.
1. What are Von Wong’s artworks intended for?| A．Beautifying the city he lives in. | B．Introducing eco-friendly products. |
| C．Drawing public attention to plastic waste. | D．Reducing garbage on the beach. |
| A．To show the difficulty of their recycling. |
| B．To explain why they are useful. |
| C．To voice his views on modern art. |
| D．To find a substitute for them. |
| A．Calming. | B．Disturbing. |
| C．Refreshing. | D．Challenging. |
| A．Artists’ Opinions on Plastic Safety |
| B．Media Interest in Contemporary Art |
| C．Responsibility Demanded of Big Companies |
| D．Ocean Plastics Transformed into Sculptures |
