Located in Erdos, North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Kubuqi Desert is the
It was once known
Historically. Kubuqi was a rich city filled with water and grass. But due to climate change and over-exploitation from humans, the farmlands
Controlling desertification was the only way out for people still living in Kubuqi. With the first highway going through the desert
Over three decades, tree planting technology saw continuous
The 102,000 residents in the desert have enjoyed the benefits of managing desertification. Meng Keda,
2 . Satellites are already in use for so many purposes today — from weather forecasting to communications, GPS, and more. Since the late 1970s, satellites have also been used to monitor changes in the Arctic sea ice. Data suggests that sea ice is thinning over time due to climate change. Over the last forty years, the extent of Arctic ice cover has been declining at a rate of 13%per decade. However, existing ways of measurement do not provide a clear and continuous picture of the state of sea ice.
This September, scientists developed a new method that combines computer modeling and satellite data to predict ice thickness all year round. Over the years, scientists have proposed several methods to measure ice thickness. These include flying planes over the Arctic Ocean or collecting field measurements.
Neither of these methods provides a full picture of Arctic melt, making year-long data collection difficult. Continuous data across the entire region from satellites is a great way for scientists to understand how climate change is playing out in the Arctic.
These satellites use special radar or laser-based altimeter instruments. Sea ice thickness is then calculated as the difference between the height of the ice and the top of the water(ice level — sea level). This method works well during the winter months — September to May.
Unfortunately, satellite-based sea ice thickness measurements are inaccurate during the summer months: the time of the year with the greatest melting. This melting creates a pool of liquid water on the surface. As a result, the simple calculation (ice level — sea level) does not work as radar systems are unable to differentiate between ocean water and ice, thus rendering measurements inaccurate.
New research led by Jack Landy, a scientist, seeks to tackle this age-old issue. The team used machine learning and deep learning methods to distinguish between seawater and ice.
The researchers built a model of the radar system’s predicted data and cross-referenced these values to those collected by a satellite. This model allows the researchers to obtain accurate, year-round Arctic sea ice thickness data.
1. Why are satellite-based sea ice thickness measurements not accurate?A.The ice melts in summer months | B.The radar system doesn’t work in winter. |
C.The liquid water turns ice in cold days | D.The ocean water comes onto the ice surface. |
A.The changeable climate change | B.The incorrect ice measurements. |
C.The constantly flowing ocean water. | D.The great amount of melting ice. |
A.By using satellites to collect data. | B.By collecting field measurements |
C.By flying planes over the Arctic Ocean. | D.By using machine learning and deep learning methods. |
A.A new device to measure ocean water | B.A new stage for the application of satellites |
C.A new way to monitor Arctic sea ice changes | D.A new finding about the rising sea level |
濒危原因 | 比例 | 例子 |
物种自身发展不适被淘汰 | 10% | 大熊猫等 |
栖息地遭破坏 | 20% | 鱼类、鸟类等 |
人类乱捕滥猎 | 50% | 兽类、鸟类等 |
工农业生产污染环境 | 10% | 鸟类、鱼类等 |
自然灾害 | 10% | 1998年南方洪灾等 |
注意:1.词数 120—150
2. 文章的开头已给出,但不计入总词数。
Recently a survey about the reasons for the animals’ dying out has been carried by a wildlife protection organization.
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Most people associate the company Michelin with car tyres, guide books and stars for quality restaurants. However, the French tyre maker is now helping ships to be more environmentally friendly. The company has tested giant sails that it hopes will make shipping greener. Shipping
Michelin is using the ancient technology of sails to tackle the most urgent problem
5 . Everglades National Park is located in the state of Florida. It is the largest wilderness in the entire country and makes up 25% of the wetlands in the state. The Everglades is home to several rare and endangered species. It is also the third largest national park in the US, after Death Valley National Park and Yellowstone National Park. Each year, about 1 million tourists visit the park. On a global level, it has been announced as a World Heritage Site.
Unlike most other national parks, Everglades National Park was created to protect an ecosystem (生态系统) from being damaged. In 1947, President Harry Truman spoke at the official opening of Everglades National Park, saying the goal of creating the park was to protect forever a wild area that could never be replaced.
10,000 different islands make up Everglades National Park. There exists natural wildlife on each of these islands. The Everglades is home to about 30 species that are endangered. In addition, more than 350 bird species and 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish live within the park. The Everglades is also home to 40 species of mammals (哺乳动物).
There are many ways to explore the Everglades. Visitors can see alligators (短吻鳄) while hiking the Anhinga Trail. The Everglades is one of the few places on Earth where freshwater alligators and saltwater crocodiles live in the same area. Visitors using airboats are likely to see large groups of birds. Some visitors might enjoy riding bicycles through Shark Valley. Others may want to move slowly through the water where they can see insects and wildlife closely.
According to experts, changes to the Everglades are becoming a danger to several different kinds of wildlife. They say it is a result of actions the US government began more than 50 years ago, and settlers began even earlier.
1. What does the first paragraph mainly talk about?A.Florida is famous for its large wetlands. |
B.There are three important national parks in the US. |
C.Visitors think highly of Everglades National Park. |
D.Everglades National Park is very valuable. |
A.By giving examples. |
B.By listing figures. |
C.By giving a definition. |
D.By making a comparison. |
A.Visitors can explore the Everglades in many ways. |
B.Visitors are not allowed to stay in the water in the park. |
C.President Harry Truman first suggested setting up the park. |
D.Everglades National Park is the largest national park in the US. |
A.How the endangered wildlife lost their lives. |
B.What settlers have done to save the wetlands. |
C.How the park’s environment was badly changed. |
D.What the government has done to protect the park. |
6 . Denmark is only about half the size of South Carolina, but it produces more of its electricity from wind than any other country in the world. Denmark now gets 47%of its electricity from wind, and there will be more to come, thanks to a combination of history and policy.
Paul la Cour was a scientist and inventor who experimented with early wind power machines at the start of the 20th century. So it's not surprising that Denmark invested in building wind power the earliest. Since the 1970s,Denmark has been investing in wind energy all over the country. In the 1980s,due to a strong movement opposing nuclear power plants, Denmark increased its production of clean energy even before many other countries considered it.
Even back in 2002,Denmark took climate change warnings seriously. They drew up policies, aiming to cut fossil-fuel emissions by 20%,which they did via renewable energy investment. Some of the world's largest companies in the field—including Vestas, which builds turbines(涡轮机),and Orsted, which specializes in offshore wind projects—are Danish, so the country has an impact beyond its borders.
The huge impact of Denmark’s wind industry is important. But Denmark is a small country, so while almost 50%of its electricity from wind is admirable, it's also minor in terms of entire global impact.
While Denmark gets half its electricity from 5,758 megawatts (MW) of capacity, Spain's 23,000 MW covers just 18 percent of its electricity supply as it’s a much bigger country. China is the leader in wind energy at 221,000 MW, and the U.S.is the second in the world at about 96,000 MW.
At the end of 2019,lawmakers in Denmark set a new goal: increasing the share of electricity coming from renewable power to 100%.
1. What can we know about Demark?A.It is a leader in solar energy. | B.It is a pioneer in clean energy. |
C.It is a victim of climate change. | D.It is an advocate of nuclear energy. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Ambiguous |
C.Positive. | D.Opposed. |
A.Denmark. | B.China. | C.The U.S | D.Spain. |
A.Almost Half of Denmark’s Electricity Comes from Wind Power |
B.Denmark's Government Pushes ahead with Fossil-fuel Projects |
C.Denmark Has a Great Effect on World's Wind Power Equipment |
D.Denmark Has a Long History of Developing Renewable Power |
7 . For environmental reasons, Britain will ban all new petro-and diesel-powered vehicles from its roads beginning in 23 years, a government report says.
The plan, expected Wednesday, aims to start removing petrol and diesel engines in 2040. It follows a similar official statement in France and comes after the British government was ordered by the High Court to develop new plans to reduce NO2 in the air. Judges ruled that previous clean-air plans were not enough to meet European Union pollution limits in the coming years.
Britain’s government has said the poor air quality has an unnecessary and avoidable negative effect on citizens’ health, and costs up to $ 3.5 billion in annual lost productivity.
Part of the new plan involves an offer of $ 260 million to local governments to change rules where vehicle emissions(排放) are over EU standards. Ideas so far include changing road layouts, reprogramming traffic lights and charging a fee for the oldest and most polluting cars on the road.
The plan also includes $1.3 billion for government purchase of extreme-low-emission vehicles, nearly $ 130 million to improve infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations and $ 378 million for remodeling existing vehicles.
Climate change is also a reason for the plan to get these vehicles off the road. “We can’t carry on with petrol and diesel cars,” Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. “It’s important we all prepare for a significant change which deals not just with the problems of health caused by emissions, but the broader problems caused in terms of accelerating climate change.”
Gove added that local communities are partly responsible for coming up with ways to limit emissions, including possible limitations on commuters(上下班往返者) and the addition of cleaner mass transportation options. Local leaders are called on to draw up “appropriate plans” to deal with climate challenges related to emission, he said.
1. Why does the British government decide on this ban?A.To focus on its citizens’ health. | B.To respond to the court’s request. |
C.To promote solar energy in transport. | D.To follow in France’s footsteps. |
A.To follow in France’s footsteps. |
B.Removing old and high-emission vehicles. |
C.Spending some money on electric vehicles. |
D.Changing the way roads are arranged. |
A.Convenient public transportation is badly needed. |
B.United efforts are required to achieve the plan. |
C.Vehicle emissions are the key factor in climate change. |
D.Petrol and diesel cars may hold back economic progress. |
A.Practical ways to reduce vehicle emissions |
B.The EU forces Britain to improve the poor air quality |
C.Britain plans to take petrol and diesel engines off roads |
D.Relationship between vehicle emissions and climate change |
1、活动目的;
2、活动内容(清除湖边垃圾,宣讲垃圾分类的好处……);
3、你的感想。
参考词汇:垃圾分类garbage-sorting
注意:1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My Happy Weekend
Last weekend, the volunteers from our school did something very meaningful.
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1. What did the woman watch?
A.A soap opera. | B.A documentary. | C.A news program. |
A.President Barack Obama’s schedule. |
B.The release of CO2 by power plants. |
C.A plan to fight against global warming. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Positive. | C.Negative. |
A.Go to have supper. | B.Go to have a drink. | C.Keep talking at home. |
10 . James Rainey reads trees like most people read signposts. The senior ecologist is using a small hand camera to identify a lichen (地衣) that is surrounding the base of wild pines (松树) in a deep narrow valley on the west coast of Scotland. He is looking for ecological clues of species associated with the ancient Caledonian Forest, which once covered most of the Highlands.
Wild pines have been growing in Scotland continuously since the ice age, offering a globally unique ecosystem supporting rare wildlife. But now less than 2% of the original growth survives, with just 14 individual Caledonian pinewood sites now officially recognized. “To meet the demand for more wood, many wild pines in Highlands have been removed to make room for commercial forestry,” says Rainey. “This was often done in ancient woodlands and was really damaging to the remaining trees.”
But restoration is still possible, especially since some old trees still survive along with the ancient woodland soil and seedbank—seeds stored in the soil, which can grow once the heavy shade of commercial conifers (针叶树) is removed.
The ecological investigator uses three clues of evidence to discover where these pinewoods first stood. “First there’s the historical evidence, like old maps and texts. Then comes the landscape context: is the pine associated with planting around a big house, or is the setting more natural? And finally I use the ecological evidence: wild pine usually grow alongside old birch trees, which indicates ecological continuity,” explains Rainey.
Rainey has identified 23 pines in this area, all rooted in places least accessible. Their needles have been taken for genetic testing to confirm their family trees. “This would have been filled with trees but is now empty — these are the most critical areas in need of regeneration and we want the whole of the ancient woodlands to recover, not just the pines,” he said.
1. Why are the wild pines considered to be so significant?A.They act as a signpost for the highland. | B.They are an indicator of an ancient forest. |
C.They are an alternative to commercial forestry. | D.They provide a shelter for certain species of lichen. |
A.The existence of ancient seeds. | B.The presence of commercial conifers. |
C.The awareness of the forest protection. | D.The application of the advanced technology. |
A.By locating big houses. | B.By consulting historians. |
C.By referring to digital maps. | D.By making the most of surroundings. |
A.To confirm the genes of the pine. | B.To restore the old-growth woodlands. |
C.To explore the unfrequented places. | D.To enrich the diversity of the wild pines. |