1 . If you wear contact lenses (隐形眼镜), you might not know the best way to deal with old ones. Washing them down the sink or flushing them down the toilet is not the way to go. Yet one in five people who wear contact lenses do just that. However, the plastic in their lenses can linger (存留), polluting both water and land.
Rolf Halden, an engineer at Arizona State University in Tempe, and his team created an online survey. More than 400 contact lens wearers took part. The questions asked how many got rid of their lenses inappropriately. About 20 percent — one in five — sent their used contact lenses down sink drain or toilet. Assuming all contact lens wearers in the U. S. do that at the same rate, the researchers then calculated how much plastic would be flushed away each year. Their estimate: 6 to 10 metric tons! That's about the weight of two to three adult African forest elephants. Contact lenses are a tiny part of the world's plastic pollution. But the unique plastic used in contact lenses could make them a big concern.
To figure it out, researchers exposed contact lenses to the microbes (微生物) used to clean wastewater in water-treatment plants. These microbes made the plastics begin to fall apart, but they weren't fully broken down. Instead, they created a lot of tiny pieces called microplastics.
Halden worries that these small plastic bits will cause trouble in the food chain. In water, the plastics from contact lenses sink. Animals could view these tiny bits as food. But because the plastic won't provide them with nutrition, this could threaten the health of animals who dined on it.
And that's already happening. Many studies have shown that corals, larval fish and shellfish are mistaking microplastics for food. Over time, they risk accumulating even higher levels of plastic in their bodies. Also the pollution has already shown up in bottled water, sea salt and fish sold for human consumption.
1. Rolf Halden's survey shows that ________.| A．contact lenses have won popularity with Americans |
| B．contact lenses have caused a huge part of plastic pollution |
| C．some contact lens wearers throw away their old lenses improperly |
| D．many contact lens wearers don't wear their lenses in the proper way |
| A．They could be broken down completely. |
| B．They could be processed properly there. |
| C．They couldn't be affected by microbes. |
| D．Some of them became microplastics. |
| A．Tiny pieces are entering oceans. |
| B．Sea creatures are eating microplastics. |
| C．Animals are causing plastic pollution. |
| D．Contact lenses are damaging the environment |
| A．People's eyesight is getting worse and worse. |
| B．Contact lenses must be banned immediately. |
| C．Animals in the sea are lacking in nutrition. |
| D．The impacts microplastic pollution has on human health. |
2 . Calculated every year by Global Footprint Network（GFN），Earth Overshoot Day（地球生态超载日）is the day when human has used up all the natural resources—produce,meat,fish,water and wood.This means we use up them ahead of time before the end of the year.
It is just like spending your entire years' money by August and then borrow money from friends,knowing fully well you cannot pay back. GFN says the same thing happens in the case of the earth."Because we give out more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than our oceans and forests can take in,and we harvest forests more quickly than they can regrow,"he said.
In a perfect world,we should only spend what we have.This means Earth Overshoot Day would fll on 31 December or perhaps in the following year. Unfortunately,the day has been climbing up quickly since 2014 when it fell on 19 August.In 2015,it was 13 August,and this year, the earliest so far—8 August!
According to GFN,Australia tops the list,with the United States coming in a close second.If the world's population started to live like either of these countries,we would need more resources to meet our needs.
Fortunately,experts say the situation isn't as bad as it sounds. Many countries have already taken measures to reduce carbon emissions（释放）by using wind or solar energy.People can also help by eating less meat, walking, cycling or taking public transportation,as well adopting the three Rs: Reduce,Reuse&Recycle.If we work together,we can help push back Earth Overshoot Day to December 31 or even beyond.
1. How does the author explain Earth Overshoot Day?| A．By giving us some data. |
| B．By comparing it to personal money. |
| C．By describing the process of waste. |
| D．By introducing the present situation of the earth. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Negative. | C．Skeptical. | D．Positive. |
| A．Earth Overshot Day falls on different days every year. |
| B．Earth Overshoot Day falls on 8 August. |
| C．Earth Overshoot Day falls on 31 December. |
| D．Earth Overshoot Day is put forward year by year. |
| A．To warn people to plan for their future. |
| B．To tell people the importance of nature. |
| C．To teach people how to protect the earth. |
| D．To call on people to care about the earth. |
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：takeout food 外卖食品
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4 . The populations of common animals are just as likely to rise or fall in number in a time of accelerating global warming as those of rare species, a study suggests.
Until recently, scientists were still accumulating data on how animal populations were shifting over time globally across the different regions of the planet.
Making use of the newly available data, a team of University of Edinburgh researchers studied nearly 10000 animal populations recorded in the Living Planet Database between 1970 and 2014 to provide a new perspective on animal population change. These include records of mammals, reptiles, sharks, fish, birds and amphibians.
The team found that 15 percent of all populations declined during the period, while 18 percent increased and 67 percent showed no significant change. Amphibians were the only group in which population sizes declined, while birds, mammals and reptiles experienced increases. The overall decline in amphibians makes them a priority for conservation efforts, researchers say, as their loss could have knock-on effects in food chains and wider ecosystems.
Gergana Daskalova, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, who led the study, said, “We often assume that declines in animal numbers are prevalent everywhere. But we found that there are also many species which have increased over the last half of a century, such as those which do well in human-transformed landscapes or those which are the focus of conservation actions.”
Dr. Isla Myers-Smith, also of the School of GeoSciences, who co-authored the study, said, “Only as we bring together data from around the world, can we begin to really understand how global change is influencing the biodiversity of our planet.”
1. With the global temperature rising, what happens to the animals?| A．Rare animal species tend to decline. |
| B．Common animal species tend to increase. |
| C．Global wanning is accelerating with the loss of animal species. |
| D．The population of common animals changes just like rare ones. |
| A．By analyzing existing information. | B．By studying animals，behavior. |
| C．By comparing different studies. | D．By recording the data of animals. |
| A．Sharp. | B．Common. | C．Steady. | D．Relative. |
| A．Objective. | B．Optimistic. | C．Subjective. | D．Pessimistic. |
5 . Saving the environment is a hot topic right now, and most companies are thinking of ways to “go green”, that is, to reduce pollution and save electricity.
How do you reduce energy use in your home？How do you make your home eco-friendly?
One of the main reasons that we use so much power in our homes is to heat or cool them. “Green” houses are very well insulated (隔热的), keeping the temperature inside fixed.
| A．Used plastic, paper, and rubber are included. |
| B．The answer might be to build a “green” house. |
| C．Most importantly, solar energy or wind power is clean energy. |
| D．Finally, “green” houses are built largely from used materials. |
| E．Not only large buildings but also small family houses are “green”. |
| F．In the construction industry, this practice is also becoming popular. |
| G．As a result, we can reduce the need for a lot of power to heat or cool them. |
6 . Reducing, reusing and recycling is a way of life in Sweden. Recycling is required by law and garbage is sorted at home before it goes to a recycling center. Recyclables are sorted into seven categories and recycling stations are within just 300 meters of all residential areas. “Recycling almost everything is a must in Sweden now. It actually feels very uncomfortable when you visit another country and can't find easy ways to recycle,” said Owen Gaffney, an expert at Stockholm Resilience Centre and Future Earth.
But not all of its garbage is recycled. Sweden uses alternatives that include burning garbage to make electricity instead of using fossil fuels to heat 1.2 million homes. About half of household garbage is sent to one of the 33 waste-to-heat plants. Sweden is importing garbage from other countries to keep these plants running. Sweden is also a world leader in turning food waste into eco-friendly biogas. It has made food waste collection compulsory beginning in 2021. There is a food waste biogas plant, which allows biogas to be used to run public buses and to heat apartment buildings.
Sweden now wants to deal with those remaining items that cannot be recycled by using a circular(循环论证的)economy approach. It means that products can be reused and only recycled when absolutely necessary. The Swedish government formed an advisory group to find a new way of making this part of its environmental policy.
This will not work effectively unless people are taught to change their behavior. Now the government is reforming its tax code so that people could get cheaper repairs or buy used things. The large Swedish clothing retailer(零售商)H&M operates a recycling program that gives customers discounts when they bring back old clothing.
Sweden is fighting climate change by doing all the right stuff. Waste recycling and the plans to switch to a circular economy will go a long way in reducing its carbon footprint and will help stop global warming.
1. What do we know about Sweden?| A．Sweden imports household garbage for biogas. |
| B．Everything is recycled after being used in Sweden. |
| C．Half of garbage in Sweden is used to produce heat. |
| D．It is convenient to recycle things in Sweden. |
| A．Teach people how to save fossil fuels. | B．Conduct a survey about the local economy. |
| C．Make sure the citizens recycle wisely. | D．Offer advice on environmental policy. |
| A．It provides various recycling programs. | B．It cuts down taxes on new products. |
| C．It offers lower prices for repairs. | D．It gives discounts to regular buyers. |
| A．A book on city environment. | B．A news report on local environment. |
| C．A science report on public health. | D．A travel guide on Sweden. |
7 . Lots of people have trees to look at from their bedrooms, but my perspective（视角）is different. My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been living at the top of a tree
Stretching out below me is one of Tasmania's last areas of ancient forest---in an area that was proposed for World Heritage protection, yet remains under the
People often ask me what I do up here all day. It's busier than you would imagine. Like an office job, but with a splendid
Life in the treetops can be
| A．lengthening | B．measuring | C．weighing | D．topping |
| A．why | B．when | C．how | D．where |
| A．danger | B．alarm | C．threat | D．pressure |
| A．keep | B．help | C．bear | D．lose |
| A．sold | B．protected | C．hunted | D．gone |
| A．grew out | B．fell short | C．ran out | D．let go |
| A．sight | B．view | C．scenery | D．landscape |
| A．extinction | B．preservation | C．creation | D．harmony |
| A．refreshing | B．alarming | C．challenging | D．rewarding |
| A．get around | B．get away | C．give in | D．give up |
| A．confused | B．upset | C．lonely | D．sorry |
| A．Despite | B．Without | C．Beyond | D．Unlike |
| A．return | B．stop | C．stay | D．hide |
| A．long | B．soon | C．distant | D．nearby |
| A．particularly | B．finally | C．immediately | D．safely |
1.低碳生活方式的必要性;
2.“低碳减排、绿色生活”的几点建议;
3.希望大家一起行动。
注意:
1.词数100左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3.开头语和结束语已给出,不计入总词数。
Dear Jack,
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Yours,
Li Hua
9 . It should be one of the main goals in today’s society to reduce plastic consumption. Though many of us believe that recycling will solve the problem, and continue using plastic, it’s actually the opposite. In 2013, 254 million tons of trash was produced in the U.S. alone, and only around 30% was recycled. This means that the rest ended up in a landfill and will stay there for up to 1000 years.
Recently, China has stopped importing trash from all over the world. Before this, over 30% of the world’s waste would end up in China, causing a popular belief that Asian countries are those responsible for creating the majority of the waste in the world. Now, Asian countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, are looking for new ways to avoid plastic. One of those ideas was a new, eco-friendly way to pack their goods by avoiding plastic packaging.
One of the Perfect Homes Chiangmai’s team members noticed a creative way to reduce plastic that a supermarket called Rimping Supermarket was using and decided to take photos of their shelves with his phone. Little did he know that people from all around the world would absolutely love this idea. “I just popped in to get a few items while we were waiting to sign some contracts(合同) with our lawyer, who was delayed. When I noticed the vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and simply liked the idea, I took a few pictures and posted them online” he said.
With more than 3.5 million views and over 17 thousand shares, the idea became something people can encourage more supermarkets to implement(贯彻).
Some have noticed that not everything on the shelves is completely plastic-free, to which the supermarket responded that they are taking one step at a time, but it’s not that easy. Many products come to the supermarkets pre-packaged and many companies are interested in wrapping their produce in plastic since it is the cheapest and the easiest option.
It’s now up to the shoppers to show the supermarket which they prefer. If every one opts for the banana leaf packaging, they will stop stocking the items in plastic.
1. What can we infer about recycling from paragraph 1?| A．The author thinks highly of recycling |
| B．The US did a great job in recycling in 2013 |
| C．Recycling has failed to solve the plastic problem |
| D．Recycling helps a lot in reducing plastic consumption |
| A．To take photos of their shelves |
| B．To meet with their lawyer there |
| C．To buy some items |
| D．To sign some contracts with the supermarket. |
| A．Doubts | B．Discusses | C．Dislikes | D．Chooses |
| A．Leaf Packaging Goes Viral |
| B．Reducing Plastic Consumption |
| C．Recycling Avoids Plastic Packaging |
| D．A Good Option Makes A Difference |
10 . The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short trip from camp. On the plain (平原), we can just see many wild animals. This is why we're here to observe Tibetan antelopes.
Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet,Xinjiang and Qinghai.Watch them move slowly across the green grass. I'm attracted by the lovely animals.I'm also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being killed for their valuable fur.
My guide Zhaxi works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a place for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, protesting the wildlife is a way of life."We're not tying to save the animals.” he says,"Actually, we're trying to save ourselves."
Between the 1980s and 1990s, the population of the Tibetan antelope dropped by over 50 percent. People were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their living places were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.
In order to save the animals, the Chinese government placed them under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.
The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015.the Tibetan antelope was removed from the list of animals in danger. The government, however,does not intend to stop the protection programs, since the threats (威胁) to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.
Much is being done to protect wildlife but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. We can stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet only when we learn to exist in peace with nature.
1. The author went to Tibet in order to .| A．breathe fresh air in Tibet | B．enjoy the scene in Tibet |
| C．learn the history of Tibet | D．observe Tibetan antelopes |
| A．In Tibet. | B．In Xinjiang |
| C．In Qinghai. | D．In Sichuan |
| A．Tibetan antelopes were well protected. |
| B．Tibetan antelopes population dropped |
| C．Tibetan antelopes lived in peace with people |
| D．Tibetan antelopes destroyed new roads and railways, |
| A．Useless | B．basic | C．successful | D．simple |
| A．To kill the Tibetan antelope. | B．To study the Tibetan antelope. |
| C．To watch the Tibetan antelope. | D．To protect the Tibetan antelope. |
