A. stem B. dot C. attributable D. exceeded E. overlook F. exposed G. drainage H. emerging I. sinking J. access K. established |
The Mega-City Environment
Mega-cities suffer from a catalog of environmental ills. A World Health Organization(WHO)/United Nations Environment Program(UNEP)study found that seven of the cities-Mexico City, Beijing, Cairo, Jakarta, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Moscow-had three or more pollutants that
According to the World Resources Institute, “Millions of children living in the world’s largest cities, particularly in developing countries, are
Almost all of the mega-cities face major fresh water challenges. Johannesburg, South Africa, is forced to draw water from highlands 370 miles away. In Bangkok, saltwater is invading aquifers(地下蓄水层). Mexico City has a serious
More than a billion people, 20 percent of the world’s population, live without regular
Mega-city residents, crowded into unsanitary slums, are also subject to serious disease outbreaks. Lima, Peru(with population estimated at 9.4 million by 2015)suffered a cholera outbreak in the late 1990s partly because, as the New York Times reported, ”rural people new to Lima...live in houses without running water and use the outhouses(屋外厕所)that
It’s worth looking at some of these
请根据下图用英语写一篇短文。你的短文应包括下列要点:
![](https://img.xkw.com/dksih/QBM/2023/2/21/3179528434196480/3191009622155264/STEM/36e7c1d198a1470f95201d3506cf59dc.png?resizew=276)
1.简要描写图画内容;
2.这一现象产生的原因;
3.发表你对解决此类问题的看法。
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3 . Brazil’s election offers hope for the rainforest
A presidential election in 2022 will offer a chance for Brazil’s government to reverse policies that have
On his watch, environmental enforcement and fines dropped to record lows. Activists say this has encouraged
A greener president would try to crack down on such crimes. Polls
But even an enlightened president will have to battle a
Better leadership in Brazil could jump-start regional efforts to boost enforcement and find sustainable
A.referred | B.contributed | C.amounted | D.related |
A.footprint | B.sink | C.source | D.emission |
A.indeed | B.instead | C.accidentally | D.otherwise |
A.stepped down | B.took office | C.claimed precedence | D.kept watch |
A.seasonal | B.selective | C.illegal | D.professional |
A.involvement | B.attachment | C.limitation | D.existence |
A.advise | B.advocate | C.suggest | D.represent |
A.sustainable | B.economic | C.rapid | D.rural |
A.claim | B.manage | C.create | D.borrow |
A.farmer-friendly | B.warm-blooded | C.pressure-free | D.profit-making |
A.realise | B.normalize | C.publicise | D.legalise |
A.sold | B.explored | C.cleared | D.occupied |
A.election | B.argument | C.appeal | D.decision |
A.main | B.varied | C.final | D.same |
A.replacements | B.transitions | C.alternatives | D.references |
4 . The UN this week launched a report urging companies to stop issuing false net-zero targets that amount to greenwashing.
Greenwashing is a term used to describe situations where companies mislead consumers by claiming to be eco-friendly or sustainable as a marketing plan rather than as a core principle of their business model. Often, these industries spend more money making themselves appear sustainable than they do taking actual sustainable measures into their company.
Cities, financial institutions, and scores of companies have announced plans to reduce their emissions to zero, which, in principle, should help the fight against climate change.
“The problem is that the criteria for these net-zero commitments have varying levels of precision and loopholes (漏洞),” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the launch of the report.
Many net-zero plans contain far-away or unclear targets and often call for the use of unproved technologies like carbon capture and tree planting, which effectively allow companies to continue polluting the atmosphere. Studies show that most of these net-zero plans will do little to stop temperatures from rising. For example, many oil majors have announced plans to reduce emissions from their operations to zero by 2050 that do not take into account the carbon emitted by the fossil fuels they sell, which would allow them to increase production. Far from decreasing, fossil fuel production is going strong.
To close these net-zero loopholes, the UN this week released a report that includes 10 recommendations to ensure that companies, cities, regions, and other non-state actors issue credible and accountable net zero commitments. “Their plans cannot rely on cheap carbon credits instead of immediately cutting their own emissions,” Guterres said.
Financial institutions need to cut down emissions from all their investments and businesses need to bring down the carbon footprint of their supply chain, the report said. The report’s lead author, Catherine McKenna, urged companies to release new net-zero targets within a year. The updated targets must contain concrete actionable details.
1. What does “greenwashing” refer to?A.A green technology. | B.A misleading statement. |
C.A business model. | D.A spending target. |
A.To prove oil majors are really responsible. |
B.To set some good examples for other companies. |
C.To show some net- zero commitments make no sense. |
D.To indicate the benefit of net zero plans to climate change. |
A.Dissatisfied. | B.Guilty. | C.Shocked. | D.Confused. |
A.Plant more trees. | B.Share more supply chains. |
C.Depend on cheap carbon credits. | D.Make concrete actionable targets. |
5 . The part of the environmental movement that draws my firm’s attention is the design of buildings. Today, thousands of people come to
Home builders can now use materials, such as green paints, that release significantly
Look at it this way: no one
A.commercial | B.green | C.traditional | D.simple |
A.efficient | B.changeable | C.influential | D.effective |
A.relevant | B.indoor | C.flexible | D.forward |
A.revealed | B.displayed | C.exhibited | D.discovered |
A.careful | B.comfortable | C.stable | D.safe |
A.reduced | B.revised | C.delayed | D.defined |
A.destroy | B.deny | C.dissolve | D.depress |
A.Anyway | B.Besides | C.Anyhow | D.However |
A.exactly | B.completely | C.partially | D.superficially |
A.restored | B.regain | C.reused | D.retain |
A.developed | B.stretched | C.researched | D.constructed |
A.sets off | B.sets about | C.sets out | D.sets up |
A.instead | B.because | C.out | D.regardless |
A.adjusting | B.adopting | C.adapting | D.admitting |
A.functional | B.sensible | C.beneficial | D.precious |
6 . The world is wasting the opportunity to “build back better” from the Covid-19 pandemic, and faces disastrous temperature rises of at least 2.7°C if countries fail to strengthen their climate commitments, according to a report from the UN.
Tuesday’s publication warns that countries’ current commitments would reduce carbon by only about 7.5% by 2030, far less than the 45% cut, which scientists say is needed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃, the aim of the Cop26summit that opens in Glasgow this Sunday.
António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, described the findings as a “thundering wake-up call“ to world leaders. while experts called for action against fossil fuel companies.
Although more than 100 countries have promised to reach net zero emissions around mid-century, this would not be enough to avoid climate disasters, according to the UN emissions report, which examines the shortfall between countries’ intentions and actions needed on the climate. Many of the net zero commitments were found to be unclear, and unless accompanied by strict cuts in emissions this decade would allow global heating of a potentially disastrous extent.
Guterres said: “The heat is on, and as the contents of the report show, the leadership we need is off. Far off. Countries are wasting a massive opportunity to invest Covid-19 finance and recovery resources in sustainable, cost-saving, planet-saving ways. As world leaders prepare for Cop26, this report is another thundering wake-up call. How many do we need?”
Inger Andersen, the director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said: “Climate change is no longer a future problem. It is a now problem. To stand a chance of limiting global warming to 1.5℃, we have 8 years to almost halve greenhouse gas emissions: 8 years to make the plans, put in place the policies, carry them out and deliver the cuts.The clock is ticking loudly.”
Emissions fell by about 5.4% last year during Covid lockdowns, the report found, but only about one-fifth of the economic recovery spending goes towards reducing carbon emissions. This failure to ”build back better“ despite promises by governments around the world cast doubt on the world’s willingness to make the economic shift necessary to settle the climate crisis, the UN said.
In the run-up to Cop26, countries were supposed to submit national plans to cut emissions - called nationally determined contributions (NDCs) - for the next decade, a requirement under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. But the UNEP report found only half of countries had submitted new NDCs, and some governments had presented weak plans.
1. Why were the findings described as a “thundering wake-up call” in Para. 3?A.Because the world has failed to deliver on its current promises. |
B.Because the serious problems were brought about by global fossil fuels. |
C.Because a global temperature rise of at least 2.7°C would be a disaster. |
D.Because the opportunities presented by covid-19 have been wasted. |
A.New plans will be made to protect the environment. |
B.Measures will be taken to reduce emissions in the coming ten years. |
C.Transitions will be made in response to the global climate crisis. |
D.Global sustainable environmental resources will be greatly developed. |
A.To show the number of alarm clocks required. |
B.To inquire the number of the countries attending the meeting. |
C.To explain the reason for the world’s wasting chances. |
D.To stress the need to save energy and reduce emissions. |
A.Few countries have submitted plans to reduce the emissions. |
B.Most of the countries work under the Paris Climate Agreement. |
C.Plans to cut emissions of many countries are far from satisfactory. |
D.Much progress in reducing emissions has been made these years. |
Uber Eats pilots reusable container scheme
From today (Tuesday 18 April, 2023) Uber Eats customers in Central London will be given the option to order their takeaway in reusable containers and easily return them in an attempt
The trial will run for six months and will be managed by Again, which operates a network of packaging cleaning facilities
A.To fight against violent action. |
B.To explore new ways of studying animals. |
C.To stop animal being used for medical research. |
D.To highlight the protection of endangered animals. |
A.It might be the most efficient way to free animals |
B.The damage done in this case might not be so terrible. |
C.It might not be such a serious crime in the eyes of the law |
D.The cost of setting up the lab might discourage the firm from doing so. |
A.Evidence was found that no actual animal cruelty did happen |
B.Evidence was found that the scientists didn’t obey certain rules. |
C.The scientists couldn’t afford to find animals again for the research |
D.The scientists were believed to have been involved in illegal action. |
A.It is not their original intention. |
B.It does bring them much trouble. |
C.It has made their life difficult. |
D.It is what they apologise for. |
9 . More than half the world’s population live in cities, and by 2050 the UN expects that proportion to reach 68%. This means more homes, roads and other infrastructure. Such a construction
As it happens, Chicago might become part of the
As the AAAs meeting heard this week, wood is one of the most
All this
If building with wood takes off, it does raise concern about there being enough trees to
A.project | B.ambition | C.boom | D.security |
A.expand | B.reform | C.contract | D.survive |
A.rebel | B.outcome | C.answer | D.issue |
A.greener | B.friendlier | C.lighter | D.taller |
A.overbalanced | B.overshadowed | C.overlooked | D.overstated |
A.domestic | B.promising | C.debatable | D.artificial |
A.beauty | B.strength | C.friction | D.dimension |
A.nevertheless | B.instead | C.moreover | D.meanwhile |
A.deliveries | B.checkouts | C.purchases | D.payments |
A.adds value | B.gives credit | C.gives a boost | D.makes a difference |
A.cement | B.timber | C.concrete | D.synthetics |
A.positive | B.negative | C.friendly | D.resistant |
A.go round | B.go away | C.go over | D.go down |
A.advocates | B.strategies | C.forests | D.farmers |
A.imposing | B.visible | C.universal | D.structural |
10 . Building good transportation is a good idea. To have environmental value, new transportation has to sufficiently replace or eliminate driving to cut energy consumption overall. That means that a new traffic system has to be supported by reduction in car use. Traffic lanes should be eliminated or converted into bike or bus lanes. Ideally, these should be combined with higher fuel taxes, and parking fees. Needless to say, I have to struggle to make myself extensively understood. But they’re necessary, because you can’t make people drive less, in the long run, by taking steps that make driving more pleasant, economical, and productive.
Lengthy commuting (通勤) time is a forceful factor which can slow the growth of suburbs. The farther people live away from cities, the longer commuting time they need, which means more pollution their cars produce. If, in a misguided effort to do something of environmental value, governments take steps that make long-distance car commuting faster or more convenient—by adding lanes, building bypass, employing traffic-control measures that make it possible for existing roads to accommodate more cars with fewer delays—we are actually encouraging people to live still farther from their jobs, stores, and schools. As a result, governments are forced to further extend road networks, water lines, and other facilities. If you cut commuting time by 10 percent, people who now drive fifty miles each way to work can find reason to move five miles farther out, because their travel time won’t change.
Traffic congestion (拥堵) isn’t an environmental problem; traffic is. Relieving congestion without doing anything to reduce the total volume of cars can only make the real problem worse. Highway engineers have known for a long time that building new car lanes only temporarily reduces congestion, because the new lanes add additional driving. Widening roads makes traffic move faster in the short term, but the improved conditions eventually attract additional drivers, and congestion reappears. With more car on the roads, people think about widening roads again. Moving drivers out of cars and into other forms of transportation can have the same effect, if existing traffic lanes are kept in service: road space stimulates road use.
One of the arguments that cities inevitably make in promoting transportation plans is that the new system, by relieving automobile congestion, will improve the lives of those who continue to drive. No one ever promotes a transportation system by arguing that it would make travelling less convenient—even though, from an environmental perspective, inconvenient travel is a worthy goal.
1. In the first paragraph, the author gives us the hint that his recommendations are ______.A.not widely supported | B.costly to carry out |
C.generally recognized | D.temporarily beneficial |
A.Drivers will become more productive employees. |
B.Mass transportation will be extended farther into suburban areas. |
C.Drivers will be more willing to live farther from their working place. |
D.Mass transportation will carry fewer passengers and receive less government funding. |
A.They are environmentally beneficial and should be carried out immediately. |
B.They are well intentioned but ultimately lead to environmental harm. |
C.They will definitely arouse people’s awareness of environmental protection. |
D.They will only work if they can make driving more economical and productive. |
A.support the claim that efforts to reduce traffic actually increase traffic. |
B.oppose the belief that improving mass transportation systems is good for the environment. |
C.provide a balance between suburban expansion and traffic congestion. |
D.indicate that making driving less agreeable is a way to reduce negative effects of traffic. |