1 . The campaign to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, supported by more than 70 nations, is known mostly for soaring ambition and scant achievement so far. In fact, just 7 percent of the seas are protected and only 2.7 percent are highly protected. “It is very optimistic to think we’ll reach ‘30 by 30’,” says Patricia Majluf, a Peruvian fisheries scientist who has worked to create a deep-sea protected area off Peru in the face of strong resistance from the fishing industry. Peru has protected less than half a percent of its offshore waters.
Setting aside nearly a third of the oceans, the fishers say, is an idea developing nations in South America and elsewhere can ill afford. And the gap between sea-protection and fishing interests has grown wider as fishing stocks decline and the appetite for seafood grows along with the global population.
However, research published today in Nature aims to dramatically change that narrative. The study suggests that protecting 30 percent of the oceans not only could restore biodiversity to ocean habitats, but it could also increase the annual global catch by eight million tons—about 10 percent of the catch today. And, as a bonus, it would provide a “cheap, natural solution” to climate change by reducing the amount of seafloor carbon emitted into the seas by fishing trawlers(拖网渔船).
“The only way to get more food from the ocean is to protect more,” says lead author, Enric Sala, a marine ecologist and explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, which in part underwrote the study. “The catch has been declining since the mid-1990s and this would provide a benefit forever.”
1. What does the underlined word “scant” mean in the first paragraph?| A．Crucial. | B．Little. | C．Remarkable. | D．Significant. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Optimistic. | C．Indifferent. | D．Opposed. |
| A．We should ban the catch totally. |
| B．Ocean plays an important part in our life. |
| C．The decreasing of catch can be good in some ways. |
| D．The more we protect the ocean, the more food we can get. |
| A．Fishing or Protecting |
| B．Fishing is harmful to ocean |
| C．Ocean-protecting is in an urgency |
| D．Protecting the ocean—never too late |
2 . April 22nd every year marks the beginning of Earth Day. Started in the year 1970, it is now celebrated in more than 190 countries each year. Every year, the event is celebrated under a different theme. The theme for 2016 is “Trees for the Earth”.
However, Earth Day is not just an event to be celebrated on one specific day. It is primarily a reminder for all to do our rightful duty every day to save our planet. Below, we have made a list of four things you can do to celebrate Earth Day (apart from planting trees).
Leave your cars at home. Cars, being the greatest source of air pollution, can be left at home this weekend. Travelling via public transport is the better option. Ride a bike or walk if your workplace is not that far away from your home.
Be a little dirty. We don't mean it “that” way. We simply mean to say, don't take a bath. A day or two without a bath won't harm you, but it will certainly do a lot of good for our planet. A daily shower isn't a matter of health; it's a matter of comfort.
Volunteer yourself. This is one of the best things you can do. It will do you good too. Join other like-minded individuals in a common task, such as planting trees, cleaning a park or simply coming up with ways you can preserve mother Earth.
Green-up your home. This is one of the most common things that people do, that is, switch off your lights. However, this is not something you should do just for a day and for only an hour. Switch off all power electricity points whenever they are not in use.
You know what the best way to celebrate Earth Day is? Extend your celebrations. That's right! Do something every day that will improve your surroundings to make the planet a better place to live in. Always remember that every step, every action counts.
1. Why is Earth Day started?| A．To help people live a healthier life. | B．To call on people to plant trees. |
| C．To help protect the environment. | D．To use less natural recourses. |
| A．To save water. | B．Never to take a bath. |
| C．Don't shower on Earth Day. | D．Showering daily is bad to health. |
| A．To go to work on foot. | B．To be a volunteer. |
| C．To save electricity. | D．To do small things daily. |
| A．An environmental magazine | B．A science report |
| C．A geography text | D．A travel advertisement |
3 . Madrid has ordered nearly half of the private cars off the roads on Thursday to deal with the worsening air pollution, a first in Spain.
The restriction (限令) will operate between 6.30 a.m. and 9 p.m. every day. The city government said in a statement: “Vehicles with even-number registration plates (偶数牌照）will be allowed to drive around on even-number days and the rest cars on the rest days.”
The measure works when levels of harmful NO2 in the atmosphere go above 200 microgrammes in every 1 in at least two measuring stations for two days running, and if the air is unlikely to clear soon.
On Thursday, the city environment officer Ines Sabanes said the restriction would not be carried out as pollution levels had dropped by the required amount. Other measures, including a ban on street parking for non-local vehicles and reduced speed limits, will continue. There are exceptions to the restriction, such as for hybrid (混合动力的) cars, those carrying three people or more or used by disabled people. Buses, taxis and emergency vehicles are not encompassed, either. “It’s not about traffic restrictions but about the important issue of public health,” deputy mayor Marta Higueras said. “Lots of people suffer from breathing problems and are very affected by pollution.”
With 3.2 million people and 1.8 million cars, Madrid often suffers from bad pollution. The move to ban half of the cars is Level Three on a series of four measures to prevent pollution. Level Four bans taxis from the city, except those that are hybrid cars.
The previous measures carried out by the city hall draw criticism from the Popular Party(PP) which ruled Madrid for nearly a quarter of a century and governs at the national level. The PP spokesman in Madrid’s local parliament said officials should do more to encourage people to avoid using their cars rather than punish them. The previous measures were carried out by former PP leader Ana Botella just before municipal elections (市政府选举) in Many 2015.
1. According to the statement of the city government, ________.| A．the restriction only works by day |
| B．the restriction only works on private cars |
| C．every restricted car is restricted nearly half a month in a whole month |
| D．Vehicles are restricted depending on the first number of registration plates |
| A．allowed to drive on Madrid’s streets |
| B．included in the new restrictions at all |
| C．restricted if pollution levels drop |
| D．allowed to park on Madrid’s streets |
| A．Punished. | B．Encouraged. | C．Accepted. | D．Included. |
| A．the government will punish more people |
| B．more cars will be kept out of the roads |
| C．new traffic restrictions will be carried out |
| D．more hybrid cars will appear on the road |
4 . As the world’s recent water shortage has reminded us all, water is the most valuable resource on our planet. We need it to drink, clean our bodies, grow our crops, and even build cars. Luckily, there’s a new technology that might allow us to produce water from moisture (湿度) in the air.
You might be aware that our planet’s atmosphere holds plenty of water moisture. It’s this moisture that causes rain, wet, and clouds. Using Atmospheric Water Generation, or AWG, scientists have figured out how to actually take that moisture out of the air and turn it into water that is clean enough to drink. Although different forms of AWG exist, the simplest is similar to an air conditioner. By cooling the air, these machines are able to make the moisture in the air condense (密度) to form droplets on a collecting surface.
Like all developing technology, AWG is a work in progress. Improvements are still being made so that AWG can be cheaper and more efficient. But for now, the best way we have to avoid another water shortage is to make sure we avoid wasting it.
From easy everyday things lo larger lifestyle changes, there are plenty of ways each of us can help conserve water. One of the easiest options for saving water is to take shorter showers. Another way to save water is to use a rain tank. Finally, a surprisingly way you can save water is consuming less meat. In fact, producing only one kilogram of pork uses close to 6,000 liters of water!
It goes without saying that water is essential to our everyday lives. Whether it’s with new technology or by making simple changes in our daily life, everyone should make sure we always have enough water. That way, water shortages like the most recent one can be avoided.
1. What is Atmospheric Water Generation?| A．It is an invention that can put water droplets back into Earth’s atmosphere. |
| B．It is a company that has invented a new technology to clean the air we breathe. |
| C．It is a technology to remove moisture from the air and turn it into clean water. |
| D．It is a machine that can make the moisture in the water droplets go into the air. |
| A．Mature. | B．Improvable. | C．Convenient. | D．Contradictory. |
| A．Being bathed in short showers. |
| B．Purchasing much bottled water. |
| C．Eating less meat and vegetables. |
| D．Using facilities with new technology. |
| A．Using a Kind of New Technology AWG to Solve Water Shortage |
| B．Saving Water from Easy Daily Things to Larger Lifestyle Changes |
| C．Shouldering the Responsibility to Deal with World Water Shortage |
| D．Conserving Water through New Technology and Lifestyle Changes |
5 . Appalachian Mountains have one of the richest and most diverse seasonal forests on earth. However, it also has a darker, decades-long history of coal-mining that had done almost great damage to local ecosystems, leaving hundreds of barren and bald hills.
In 2002, after years of telling coal companies to pack rubble (碎石) and plant grass on the remains of mountaintop explosion and opencast mining sites, Angel, an officer of Surface Mining Enforcement, noticed that the big trees—the life-giving forces of Appalachia—were not returning to the area.
When Angel went to the University of Kentucky to pursue a Ph. D. , there he met Chris Barton ,a young forestry professor who was studying how regrowing forests could solve frequent flooding problems. In 2004, Angel, Barton, and others created the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative-trees should be planted on mines. Regulators from all levels of government, scientists, environmentalists, and even coal miners agreed. The native had the power of spirit to turn over a new leaf and begin working to remove years of environmental degradation.
Within just a few years, almost all new mines in the Mountain were reforested upon completion t rather than seeded with grass.
Now 70 years old, Angel has been the driving force behind a re-greening of coal country. With joint efforts, 187 million trees have been planted over 275 ,000 acres of former mines.
Angel and Barton, s journey hasn't been easy, as tree planting is much-less profitable than mining. The slow work of reforesting the area continues by the sweat of people from the mountains who understand the beauty and importance of their forested homes.
1. What caused damage to the forests in Appalachian Mountains?| A．Lack of water. | B．Frequent flood. |
| C．Government policy. | D．Years of coal-mining. |
| A．Worsening. | B．Conservation. |
| C．Restoration. | D．Pollution. |
| A．Mining requires less sweat. |
| B．The initiative receives less support. |
| C．It is easier to pack rubble and plant grass. |
| D．Tree-planting is less financially rewarding. |
| A．Promise little, but do much. |
| B．Many hands make light work. |
| C．The tree is the guardian of water. |
| D．Green the land to make people rich. |
6 . The title of Unit 5, Book5 is A delicate world. Chinese President Xi Jinping once said “clear waters and lush mountains are as valuable as gold and silver”. Please write a short speech to show your understanding about the quote(引用) with at least one example.(80 words or so)
注意：1.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；2.开头语和结束语已为你写好，不计入总词数。
Good morning, everyone! It’s my great pleasure to give a lecture here on behalf of our school.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________That's all. Thank you for your listening!
7 . Most of us like visiting the hills during the holiday season. The pure air, the greenery, and the simple living of the people in these regions is what attracts us. While the increase in the number of tourists visiting the hills has done wonders for the local economy, the pollution levels, especially the plastic waste, is also increasing rapidly.
In an attempt to maintain the beauty and the greens in the Himalayan region, Pradeep Sangwan started an organisation, which he named ‘Healing Himalayas’.
While in college, Pradeep took an interest in long hiking, and that was the beginning for him. He says, “Movies of Bollywood plays a huge role in making the hills popular. Movies of friends going on holidays to hike and finding themselves on these adventures have inspired many to come here. But when we arrived at Himalayas, things were different”.
Along with a group of volunteers, Pradeep set out with jute bags (麻袋) to return with piles of waste. He says, “A few months ago, we found that we had collected around 4,00,000 kilos of waste. This number would have gone up now.” The waste that is collected is sent to two recycling plants in the state, where electricity is produced.
Healing Himalayas conducts special activities, mass clean-ups and events in the community and schools to create awareness about the maintenance and restoration of the environment.
His quest is to ensure that people enjoy the place as it is, without spoiling it. In an interview, he offers a few tips to travellers, such as carrying your own bottle of water and completely avoiding using straws.
1. What inspired Pradeep to go adventure in Himalayas?| A．Indian films | B．Serious pollution |
| C．Adventurous books | D．Beautiful scenery |
| A．living things with leaves and roots | B．factories or buildings |
| C．useful and scientific methods | D．advanced machines |
| A．Pradeep calls on people not to climb Himalayas. |
| B．The number of waste has decreased due to their work. |
| C．Tourists made few contributions to local economy. |
| D．It is vital to raise people’s awareness of protecting environment. |
8 . Are Baiji Dolphin Extinct?
Does the Yangtze River still have baiji, the graceful, grey dolphin with tiny eyes and a long narrow beak?
Since November 6, a team of scientists from China, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Japan have been searching for any sign of the freshwater dolphin on the middle and lower sections of the river. After six weeks, they came back empty-handed.
Wang Ding, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is the head of the team, said he has seen a sharp decline in the baiji population over the past few decades. However, he is still unwilling to call the species extinct, and adds, "We will try every effort to save them as long as they are not found to be extinct."
The baiji is shy and nearly blind and is one of the world's oldest dolphin species. It dates back some 20 million years and is found only in the Yangtze. It's listed as one of the 12 most endangered animal species in the world.
Around 400 baiji were believed to be living in the Yangtze until the 1980s. A 1997 survey spotted 13. Two years later their numbers were down to two.
The rapid disappearance of this dolphin over the past two decades coincided with (与……同时) the rapid expansion of economic development along the river. Research on some dead baiji collected in recent years showed that more than 90 percent of the deaths were caused by human activities.
One reason is that over-fishing has cut the dolphin's food sources. Dams built along the river and neighboring waterways have also kept them from swimming into and out of their habitats. Meanwhile, waste discharge(排放) has seriously polluted the river. And heavy river traffic has greatly reduced their living space.
The disappearance of the baiji would be the first instance of a large aquatic mammal(水生哺乳动物) being driven to extinction since hunting killed off the monk seal (僧海豹)around 1952.
1. Baiji dolphin used to live in ________ of the Yangtze River.| A．upper sections | B．middle sections |
| C．middle and lower sections | D．lower sections |
| A．dissatisfaction with our government | B．eagerness to write the passage |
| C．anger for not having a baiji | D．love of baiji |
| A．England. | B．India. |
| C．Japan. | D．America |
| A．400 | B．At most 2 | C．13 | D．2 |
| A．Over-fishing. | B．Dams built along the river. |
| C．Heavy Road Traffic | D．Waste discharge. |
9 . New international research reveals the far-reaching impacts of forest cover loss on global biodiversity. The study, led by the University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews, investigated the impacts of forest loss on species and biodiversity over time and around the world, revealing both losses and gains in species.
Focusing on biodiversity data spanning(跨越) 150 years and over 6,000 locations, the study, published in Science, reveals that as tree cover is lost, plants and animals are responding to the transformation of their natural habitats.
Bringing together over 5 million records of the numbers of different plants and animals with information on both historic and contemporary peaks in forest loss, the researchers discovered both immediate and delayed effects of forest loss on ecosystems.
The pace at which biodiversity responds to forest loss varies from a few years, as is the case for light-loving plants and insects, to decades for long-living trees and larger birds and mammals. Gergana Daskalova, a Ph.D. student in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh and lead author of the study, said, “Changes in the biodiversity of the planet’s forests matter because they will reflect how these landscapes look, the types of species they support and the benefits that forests provide for society like clean air and water.”
Maria Dornelas, a co-senior author from the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, continued, “Humans are undoubtedly changing the planet. Yet, global analyses of how biodiversity is changing over time are revealing biodiversity changes are nuanced(有细微差别的) and variable.”
She added, “With a better understanding of the different ways, both positive and negative, in which forest loss influences biodiversity, we can improve future conservation and restoration of global ecosystems.”
1. What did the international research find?| A．Species suffer losses as tree cover is lost. |
| B．Historic and contemporary peaks in forest loss vary. |
| C．Forest loss cannot impact ecosystems immediately. |
| D．Plant and animal species are reacting to forest cover loss. |
| A．Effects of forest loss are difficult to notice. |
| B．Insects adapt to forest loss quite slowly. |
| C．Species respond to forest loss at different paces. |
| D．There are different degrees of forest loss in history. |
| A．They make no difference. |
| B．They worsen the landscapes. |
| C．They have a great effect on society. |
| D．They cause damage to types of species. |
| A．call on people to change nature |
| B．find ways to make global analyses |
| C．pay attention to the negative effects |
| D．improve protection of global ecosystems |
Studies and reports seem to come in everyday talking about the state of the world. Global warming and pollution are threatening the delicate balance of life on Earth. The vast amount of troubles in the world can make anything we do seem unmeaning. But if we can do just a few things to help, the joined efforts can create a huge difference in both the world and in our lives. If you are not sure where to begin here are some simple things that can create a big change.
Grow your own garden. Growing your own garden can create a tremendous difference. Having fresh fruits and vegetables at your finger tips can not only improve your health, it can also save you money. Spending time each day working in your garden is wonderful exercise and a great way to get plenty of sunshine.
Stop buying chemical cleaners. The special chemicals to clean their house can have bad effect on your health and the environment. Instead of buying more bottles of chemicals and creating more waste，try some of the simple cleaner ideas that you can make yourself. Vinegar and baking soda is one of the simplest, most effective, and cheapest cleaning solutions available. Lemon juice is another safe and effective cleaner that can remove soap scum and whiten clothes as well as many other uses.
Change your light bulbs. Replacing your ordinary light bulbs with low energy bulbs can both _____________ and help the environment. These long lasting bulbs reduce your energy bill and do not need to be replaced as often as conventional bulbs.
Recycle. The tried and true method of helping the environment is recycling. Most cities have recycling centers or recycling pick-up available for people. Plastic, glass, paper, even old phonebooks can be recycled and used for other things.
1. List three appropriate measures you can do to help the environment. (Please answer within 10 words.)2. What is the best title of this passage ? (Please answer within 10 words)
3. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 4 with proper words. (Please answer within 6 words.)
4. Which sentence in the text is the closest in meaning to the following one?
Don’t buy bottles of chemical and don’t make much waste any longer, you can use some simple ways to clean.
5. Translate the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 into Chinese.
