2 . These days, kids seem to spend most of their time on the smart phones or the video games. It’s _________ to be a bit pessimistic (悲观的) about their future. But if you look closely, there are some young minds that are trying to solve_________ world problems.

Jackson _________ away “Blessing Bags” for the homeless in Chicago: snacks, socks and other things. Jackson started his _________ at 9 years old.

In Bali, Melati and Isabel began a campaign to _________ the beaches and keep their country far from plastic pollution in 2008. Bali is now plastic-free. But they don’t _________. They are focusing on the rest of Indonesia.

Ryan was 7 years old when he _________ Ryan’s Recycling. He collected over 200, 000 bottles and cans a year from 50 customers.

In Sierra, Kelvin started bringing _________ and a community radio station to villages by making batteries (电池). He was 13 years old. Most importantly, Kelvin _________ other children that they could make a __________.

So far, teenager Slat has __________ over $ 13 million for his project Ocean Cleanup that uses the ocean’s waves to collect plastic __________.

At age 15, Ann __________ a flashlight that uses body heat for power to keep batteries __________ landfills (填埋).

Kids around the world are raising much money for cancer research and environmental problems __________ by running juice shops, sewing dresses and selling flowers.

3 . The African penguin lives on St. Croix island off the east coast of South Africa. A new study has found that they are leaving their natural environment to escape noisy ship refueling (补给燃料) activities.

The African penguins once mainly raised babies on this island. But the population has dropped sharply since South Africa started permitting ships in the area to refuel at sea six years ago, the study found.

Lorien Pichegru is acting director of the Coastal and Marine Research Institute at Nelson Mandela University, which led the study. She said the organization had found that noise levels in the area had doubled since the refueling activities began. Scientists say high noise levels affect the ability of penguins to find and catch other animals for food. Noise also makes it more difficult for them to communicate with each other and map travel paths. ‌“This year we are at 1,200 breeding pairs at St Croix from 8,500 pairs in 2016,” Pichegru said.

The study recently appeared in the publication Science of the Total Environment. The researchers said the study is the first to explore the effects of ocean traffic noise pollution on a seabird.

Nelson Mandela University’s study collected some data to estimate underwater noise from passing ships. Oil-covered penguins were found in 2019 in Algoa Bay after an oil spill from ship-to-ship refueling. Environmental groups have called for the activities to be banned in the bay.

Pichegru said penguins in the area were already struggling to survive because of a series of issues, including industrial fishing activities. She added that the refueling activities did not kill all the penguins. However, ‌“It was just the thing that made the whole ecology tip over and then the penguins couldn’t cope with that,” she said.

5 . Small eco-friendly(利于环保的) decisions can add up to make a huge difference to our planet. Being eco-friendly doesn’t need to empty your wallet when you travel.     1    

Make flights a little greener if you need to take a flight for a trip. Do you know flying first class can be more than five times as heavy on carbon per person as flying economy class, according to studies? Why not fly economy class?    2    Therefore, you cut down on the weight of the airplane and save fuel and baggage charges.

    3     If possible, choose the train instead of a flight. Those travelers who seek to reduce carbon emissions should seriously consider rail travel, especially for long distances.

Eat and drink locally. Step away from Starbucks and McDonald’s and seek out the best in local produce. Jonathan Engels, from Green Global Travel, recommends seeking out traditional local dishes rather than imported stuff to recreate the same unhealthy food we try to avoid at home.

    4    If you choose a vegetarian diet, it is even better.

Do not disturb. One of the simplest ways you can help the environment is by hanging up a “Do not disturb” sign on your door.     5    You save the electricity needed to vacuum(用吸尘器打扫)，and the water needed to wash sheets and clean bathrooms, not to mention the harmful chemicals used in the cleaning process. Best of all, some hotel chains reward you for choosing not to have your room cleaned.

8 . Plastic, once seen as a revolutionary material for its wide application and convenience, has become a global environmental crisis because it is non-biodegradable. The ubiquity (无处不在) of plastic in our daily lives has led to an increasing amount of plastic waste, causing great harm.

One of the most alarming examples of this crisis is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating mass of plastic waste in the North Pacific Ocean. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and consists of everything from microplastics to abandoned fishing nets. Marine life often mistakes plastic particles for food, leading to ingestion and death. Additionally, the chemicals used in plastic production can pollute water and soil, and finally threaten marine ecosystems.

Plastic waste is not limited to the oceans; it also impacts the land. Landfills overflow with plastic waste, emitting (排放) harmful greenhouse gases as plastics break down slowly over time. The production of plastics is highly energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. Furthermore, plastic litter is evident in urban and rural landscapes, destroying the natural beauty of our planet.

Beyond its environmental impact, plastic poses serious health risks to humans. Many plastics contain harmful chemicals, which can be found in food and drinks when plastic containers are used for storage and heating. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems, including developmental issues and cancer.

In conclusion, the problem of plastic pollution demands urgent action. A comprehensive strategy for cutting down on plastic is essential to tackle these challenges and safeguard the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

While reducing the consumption of plastic may seem challenging, it is achievable through a combination of policy measures, technological innovations and changes in consumer behavior. Governments must issue laws to ban or heavily regulate single-use plastics and promote alternatives. Businesses should adopt sustainable packaging practices, and individuals can reduce plastic consumption by making conscious choices.

When     1     (ask) by a TV reporter to talk about air and water quality in his hometown, Qi Mu noted, “The air is great now and we can take more walks and enjoy     2     (be) outdoors again.” He felt quite pleased because the villagers were living     3     (harmonious) with nature once more. However, he could not forget about an earlier time     4     his village had been struggling with a serious air quality problem.

In the 1990s, usually, garbage from a nearby city     5     (bring) to the village. “How can we make use of this?” the villagers wondered. Soon they found that garbage could be used     6     (feed) pigs. “Over the next few years, dozens of pig farms were set up,” Qi recalled.But then nobody in the village wanted to open their windows. “The smell from the garbage and pig waste was making us sick,” Qi said. The numbers of mosquitoes and     7     (fly) were also horrifying. “    8     such circumstances, no single women wanted to marry anyone in our village and movehere,” Qi sighed.

The villagers could no longer tolerate the situation. So an initiative was launched and     9     “clean-up” campaign was added to the government agenda, including restricting large vehicles from passing through the village. Garbage from the city was no longer disposed of in the village, and more trees were planted. “We can all     10     (breath) more freely now that the natural beauty of our village has been restored,” said Qi.

10 . In recent years, Ethiopia has become a regional leader in solid waste management. Last year, the country transformed the landfill (垃圾填埋场) in Addis Ababa into a new waste-to-energy plant, the first such project on the continent. The plant incinerates up to 1, 400 tonnes of waste every day, about 80 percent of the city's rubbish, supplying the capital with 25 percent of its household electricity needs.

However, despite these important steps, challenges remain in Ethiopia. Although the country has permitted the Basel, Stockholm and Rotterdam conventions, laws and policies for environmentally sound management of hazardous (有害的) wastes are still not effective in pre- venting littering waste illegally.

To help Ethiopia meet these challenges, the Chemicals and Waste Management Program is supporting the country with a three-year project to enhance its capacity for sound management of hazardous wastes.

In the initial stages, a project management unit will be formed, made up of many representatives from government departments and private organizations. This unit will be responsible for reviewing and assessing Ethiopia's current legal system, which, despite numerous advances in recent years, does not specifically target the recycling of hazardous waste. Once legal gaps are identified, the project will seek to update existing policies and strategies.

Many people in Ethiopia are not aware of the possible effect of environmental damage and the need to report such crimes to the police. To resolve this pressing issue, Ethiopia will be conducting a series of capacity-building activities, including creating awareness-raising programs, training trainers and providing equipment.

Ethiopia will also work to establish a national mechanism for chemicals and waste management by engaging government departments and civil society groups. Authorities will also make budgetary provisions (预算拨款) in national, regional and institutional planning to ensure funding for these activities is sustainable even after the project's completion.