1 . August 24, 2023 may be imprinted in history as the day of disaster for the marine environment. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has asked Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean from Thursday, ignoring strong objections from both home and abroad.

It will be a public crime if the discharge goes through and the decision will prove to be extremely unrewarding. The international community can hold Japan accountable indefinitely.

According to Paris-based French TV network France 24, some 1.34 million tonnes of nuclear wastewater, equivalent to almost the water in 540 Olympic pools, will be released into the ocean off Japan’s northeast coast, at a maximum rate of 500 cubic meters per day. The whole process is expected to take 30 to 40 years and cost around eight trillion yen (55 billion USD).

Junichi Matsumoto, the TEPCO executive in charge of the water release, told the Associated Press in July that the company plans to release 7,800 tonnes of treated water for 17 days in the first round. By the end of March 2024, the aim is to release 31,200 tonnes. The pace is expected to pick up later.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong asked the Japanese ambassador to China Hideo Tarumi on August 22 to meet him and make serious representations over the Japanese government’s announcement that it would start releasing nuclear-contaminated water on August 24.

Sun said the Fukushima nuclear accident is one of the world’s most serious nuclear accidents to date, resulting in the release of a large amount of radioactive material, which has far-reaching implications for the marine environment, food safety, and human health.

“The ocean is the blue home that all humanity depends on for survival, and the Japanese side should not dump nuclear-contaminated water at will,” Sun said.

1. Who did Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ask to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean?

A．Spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

B．The TEPCO executive Junichi Matsumoto.

C．Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong.

D．The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

2. Except for the amount released in the first round, how many tonnes of treated water will be released into the ocean by the end of March 2024?

A．1.34 million tonnes.

B．7,800 tonnes.

C．2,3400 tonnes.

D．31,200 tonnes.

3. What does Sun Weidong say about the Fukushima nuclear accident?

A．It has no implications for the marine environment.

B．Has no implications for food safety and human health.

C．It is one of the most serious nuclear accidents in history.

D．It resulted in the release of a small amount of radioactive material.

4. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A research paper.	B．A newspaper report.
C．A business report.	D．A geography textbook.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Most old airports are usually torn down to make way for shiny new developments, although at huge cost, but not Tegel airport, in Berlin, Germany.     1     (cover) an area of 5 million square meters, the disused airport will be transformed into an eco-friendly, green living neighborhood oasis (绿洲), in an     2     (ambition) project that officials hope will become the blueprint for future disused airports.

After the airport     3     (close) down by the government a number of years ago, developers began imagining the high-reaching Tegel Project.     4     (announce) in 2017, the Tegel Project aims to address urban living issues such as car pollution and housing shortages. Vast open green spaces, bike roads, and energy-efficient, affordable housing are just some of the features of the new neighborhood,     5     will provide at least 5,000 homes for more than 10,000 people. Conveniences such as daycare centers, schools, shopping     6     (facility), and green structures will be included in the design. A further 4,000 homes are also planned for     7     surrounding areas.

“We want to let people rediscover the public space, for socializing, playgrounds, and places     8     (relax) and talk,” says Constanze Doll, spokesperson for the project. “Important locations     9     the kindergarten, bakery, school, and supermarket can be     10     (easy) reached on foot.”

3 . Japan has started releasing wastewater into the ocean. But this isn’t the kind of wastewater that flows from city streets into stormwater drains. It’s treated nuclear wastewater used to cool damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, stricken by an earthquake over a decade ago.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has approved the plan by Japan to release more than a million tons of treated nuclear waste water from the destroyed Fukushima power plant into the ocean, believing Japan’s claims that the wastewater would be safe. However, Neighboring countries and other experts say it remains environmentally harmful that will last generations and may affect ecosystems all the way to North America.

Local fishermen, who heavily depend on the ocean’s resources, fear a huge decrease in their marketability. “Japan’s self-interest should not harm the well-being of humanity in the long run.” They said.

The release of the wastewater into the sea is a threat to the ocean environment and will damage Japan’s international image. The amount of money Japan would need to spend in restoring (恢复) its international image will far exceed that required to solve the problem in an eco-friendly way.

1. What kind of water has Japan released into the ocean?

A．Treated nuclear wastewater.	B．Water used to cool Fukushima.
C．Water flowing into stormwater drains.	D．Water polluted by an early earthquake.

2. Who believes the wastewater will do no harm to the environment?

A．Japanese fishermen.	B．The IAEA.
C．North America.	D．Neighboring countries

3. What does the underlined word “exceed” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．be similar to

B．be more than

C．be smaller than

D．be better than

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the text?

A．Environmental Problem in Japan	B．Fukushima’s Treated Radioactive Water
C．Concerns on Japan’s Wastewater Release	D．Experts’ Response to Japan’s Wastewater Release

4 . Can wine corks(酒瓶塞) be used in architecture? This is the innovation(创新) that Yan Sze Hon, a 31-year-old Hong Kong man, is striving for in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area(GBA).

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Yan came to Guangzhou in 2021 after several years of doing remodeling projects for old houses in Portugal. With the establishment of the GBA, “I saw the great opportunity and market prospects(前景) in the area,” Yan said.

Yan wanted to bring back an innovative idea from Portugal—using wine corks as an environmentally friendly building material.

“I love wine, and Portugal is the largest cork producer in the world,” Yan said. “It occurred to me that by recycling the corks, we can actually use them inside doors and walls to make them more sound-proof, which can provide a quieter private space for people.” According to Yan, he was one of the first to put this idea into practice, and obtained success in Portugal.

“Now I want to be the one that takes the first step in China,” Yan said.

Yan said that companies like his have benefited a lot from the supportive policies of the GBA. Since the establishment of the GBA, Guangdong has built 13 innovation and entrepreneurship bases, providing resources and services for nearly 600 Hong Kong and Macao entrepreneurship teams. He chose Guangzhou’s Tianhe district because it offers cheaper accommodation and office space to Hong Kong and Macao businessmen. “Also, the opening of new ports has made it very convenient for the flow of goods and talented people,” Yan said.

“I’m sure GBA will be the right place for me to start my business on the Chinese mainland,” Yan said. One day, he wants his business to operate in Shanghai, Zhejiang and more places.

1. What innovation is Yan Sze Hon trying to achieve in the GBA?

A．Designing environment-friendly buildings.

B．Using wine corks as a building material.

C．Establishing an architectural enterprise.

D．Remodeling projects for the old houses.

2. What can we know about the wine corks?

A．They are accessible in the world.

B．They can create a soundless place.

C．They do harm to the environment.

D．They have been recycled in Portugal.

3. How have companies like Yan Sze Hon’s benefited from the local support?

A．They have access to cheaper accommodation and offices.

B．They have been able to hire talented people to the GBA.

C．They have been granted loans for innovative projects.

D．They have received financial support from the 13 bases.

4. Which of the following can best describe Yan Sze Hon?

A．Intelligent and humorous.	B．Cautious and far-sighted.
C．Ambitious and creative.	D．Supportive and outgoing.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

According to officials in China, the giant panda is no longer listed as endangered. After working for many years to increase     1     (they) numbers, there are now more than 1800 giant pandas     2    live in the wild. The International Union for Conservation of Nature     3     (remove) the giant panda from the endangered list in 2016. At the time, Chinese officials didn’t agree with the     4     (decide). However, now they do. China has worked for decades to increase the number of these black and white bears because they are regarded     5     national treasures. China has worked to enlarge the pandas’ habitat. They have also made sure that there is plenty of bamboo for them to eat by     6     (plant) more bamboo forests. This has helped increase the number of pandas and stop them from dying out China will continue to support the giant panda population. Alongside efforts     7     (increase) the number of giant pandas in the wild, zoos around the world have breeding programmes. These     8     (design) to help increase the number of giant pandas which in captivity (圈养).     9     (hopeful) the giant panda will have     10    bright future with continued conservation efforts. We certainly hope so. We couldn’t bear to lose them.

6 . Janet, now 37, was playing with her new pet dog, Stitch, who jumped up, grabbed her sleeve, and tore several holes in her sweater with its sharp teeth. Instead of throwing the sweater away, Janet decided to repair it.

She turned to “visible repairing,” an idea of repairing clothes that leaves an obvious fix. She added bright flowers and other small designs to damaged clothes. “Every time you do a repair, it’s like having bought a new piece of clothes,” says Janet.

Actually, repairing is a great opportunity to realize the urgent (迫切的) need to reduce waste. Sadly, we have become used to replacing things instead of repairing them — and the rubbish is piling up. Worldwide, we throw away 92 million tons of cloth every year. Electronic waste is another growing problem: About 50 million tons of it is created each year around the world.

The good news is that fixing things can help deal with the waste problem. There are some solutions. Due to information online, the popular how-to site iFixit.com , a database (数据库) with nearly 100,000 repair brochures for everything from electronics to clothing, has promoted more than 100 million repairs. In addition, since the first Repair Café opened in2009 in Amsterdam, more than 2,700 cafés have been set up to offer in-person fix-it help in various countries. Organizers set up events, and volunteers with repair knowledge bring their tools. They will try to fix whatever people bring in, for free, and teach visitors how to do repairs themselves.

Fixing things is part of a larger change toward a circular economy —the idea that instead of throwing away things once they are broken or out of date, we reuse or repair them, keeping them out of the landfill (垃圾填埋场) for as long as possible. According to a 2023 report from Circle Economy, a Netherlands-based NGO, if the world changed to a circular economy, we could lower the amount of waste by a third.

1. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Janet?

A．To praise her way of protecting pets.

B．To introduce special clothing designs.

C．To call for attention to repairing things.

D．To market the products of fixed clothes.

2. What can we learn from the numbers in paragraph 3?

A．The action of replacing things is wise.

B．The behaviour of repairing things is popular.

C．The need for reducing clothes is urgent.

D．The problem of producing waste is serious.

3. How do people deal with the waste problem according to paragraph 4?

A．By teaching volunteers repair knowledge.

B．By sharing tips on opening repair cafés.

C．By providing information to the repair database.

D．By offering online and off line help to encourage repairs.

4. Which of the following behaviours contributes to the circular economy?

A．Jim threw away a used bike.	B．Jackson mended a torn sofa.
C．Sue replaced a worn carpet.	D．Windy removed a broken vase.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Wildlife protection is     1     global issue, as illegal hunting and habitat loss continue to threaten the balance of ecosystems (生态系统). The decrease in species has caused concerns among individuals and organizations all over the world.     2     (recognize) the serious need for actions, people are making efforts to raise awareness to fight     3     these harmful practices.

To deal with the threats faced by wildlife, building reserves and habitats plays an important role. These areas provide a safe place for various species to survive, allowing     4     (they) to live and grow without the effect of human activities. By     5     (create) these protected spaces, we can ensure the     6     (preserve) of their natural habitats and protect their populations for future generations to enjoy. However, the challenge     7     (lie) in keeping the balance between conservation and economic development. Practical practices, such as responsible tourism and the promotion of environment-friendly industries, can create income without doing harm to the well-being of wildlife and their habitats. By carrying out these practical practices, we can develop a     8     (harmony) relationship between human activities and the natural world.

    9     (true), wildlife protection is a necessary issue     10     requires efforts from governments, organizations, and individuals. By rising awareness and applying stricter management, we can reduce the threats faced by endangered species.

8 . McDonald’s customers are sharing their excitement over an eco-friendly change making its way to select US restaurants. McDonald’s eaters across the globe are used to collecting their burgers in paper wrapping, their fries in cardboard, and their drink in a plastic cup — even if they’re dining inside a McDonald’s restaurant. However, this may become a thing of the past. One American diner said there were reusable containers available at their local McDonald’s for dine-in meals only.

Plastic containers and cups have an environmental cost: Plastics are made using fossil fuels like oil and natural gas. And when these materials are heated to mould (浇铸) plastic, poisons are again released into the air.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, about 100 million tons of plastics are produced on an annual basis — releasing an estimated 850 million tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. “Generally, when those plastics go to landfill, they take hundreds of years to break down and slowly release substances into the environment,” Dr. Thornton said.

It is reported in the industry research that about 27 percent of customers at fast food establishments eat at the restaurant. This means McDonald’s could potentially remove a quarter of its packaging waste through a reusable container system. “If you’re comparing the single-use with the reusable, the reusable take a lot more combined in terms of resources, and energy and water and so on. If you use them a sufficient number of times, that’s when they start to become better environmentally.”

Currently, most of the fast-food outlets use paper containers. But in order to truly be sustainable(可持续的), Dr. Thornton said these items should be made of recycled materials — and only distributed to customers on a need-to-use basis. “Don’t use new resources. That’s probably one of the most important things to say,” he said. “Close the loop in terms of recycling, and make sure that they only provide packaging or the amount of packaging as needed.”

1. What is the eco-friendly change in some of the US McDonald’s?

A．Recycled plastic cups for drinks.

B．Cardboard packagings for fries.

C．Reusable containers for dine-in meals.

D．Selected paper wrappings for burgers.

2. How much packaging waste could MeDonald’s remove with reusable containers?

A．25%.

B．50%.

C．75%.

D．100%.

3. What does Dr. Thomton suggest on fast-food chains’ sustainability?

A．Use paper containers for dine-in meals.

B．Reduce the food waste in their establishments.

C．Make reusable containers out of new materials.

D．Provide necessary recycled packaging to customers.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The impact of McDonald’s on the environment.

B．The cost of plastic containers and cups in McDonald’s.

C．The disadvantage of plastic packaging in fast-food establishments.

D．The significance of sustainable practices in the fast-food industry.

9 . A small group of Cuban dive instructors have started a project to grow coral (珊瑚) and replant it. The divers hope to restore part of Cuba’s barrier reef (堡礁). And they are working with limited financial support and using materials recovered from the coast.

Luis is one of the project’s leaders. The 44-year-old fisherman grew up on Cuba’s north coast. He said, “It’s incredible to see the loss of coral in the past 30 years.” He added, “Our dream is to make the parts of the barrier reef that have lost their coral grow again.”

To make that happen, Luis worked with other dive instructors and neighborhood schoolchildren with the support from Cuba’s environmental organizations. They began collecting pieces of coral spread across the ocean floor after large storms three years ago. The pieces were then hung on branches of underwater “trees” made from old plastic pipes and supported by fishing lines recovered from the coast. They were then “replanted” on the coral reef, fixed by nails driven into the rock. In a year, most survive and grow enough to repopulate the part of the barrier reef between 60 to 80 meters in length.

Like many coral reefs around the world, the ones in Cuba are threatened by changing water temperatures, destructive plants and animals, pollution and over-fishing. It is reported that the world has already lost 30 to 50 percent of its coral reefs.

Karine is a French diver who just visited Cuba for the first time. She said the reef looked better than others she had seen on dives elsewhere in the world, including in Africa. “The coral needs to be protected,” she said after two dives on a recent trip to nearby Varadero. She said, “It’s good to see that in Cuba they take care of what they have, and that it is still not too affected by too much tourism.”

1. What can we infer from the recovery of the Cuba’s barrier reef?

A．It is just a new project to start.

B．It is a slow and difficult process.

C．It is mainly carried out by schoolchildren.

D．It is greatly supported by the government.

2. How do the dive instructors fix the pieces of coral on the reef?

A．They are fastened to the rock by fishing lines.

B．They are supported by the trees on the ocean floor.

C．They are placed firmly by nails driven into the rock.

D．They are hung by old plastic pipes collected on the coast.

3. What does the underlined word “destructive” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Endangered.

B．Beneficial.

C．Plentiful.

D．Harmful.

4. What is Karine’s attitude towards the Cubans’ effort to recover the coral reef?

A．Doubtful.

B．Concerned.

C．Positive.

D．Disappointed.

10 . The holiday season is a time for celebrating with friends and family, when people give gifts or decorate their homes. Unfortunately, this can all lead to a lot of waste. However, there are ways to reduce the amount of waste you create.

Use reusable bags for gifts

Gift bags or wrap that can be reused are recommended on the list. You can reuse them the next time you give a gift. You can also wrap gifts in old maps, pages from magazines, and art paper. The person receiving the gift could use the wrap for something else. The Chinese traditional cloth-wrapper is popular wrapping cloth, which is pretty and strong. It can be used for other things, like a colorful scarf or tablecloth, rather than just thrown away.

Choose electronic cards

For many people, sending holiday cards is a tradition. Now people are increasingly accepting electronic holiday cards. “There are so many digital options now, and people get just as much joy out of it,” some people said. These cards offer a range of benefits. With the increasing popularity, electronic cards have become a preferred choice.

Buy a real tree from a local farm

For decorating the home, real trees have become first option rather than plastic ones. Some trees are grown for the purpose of being cut, and new ones are typically replanted every year. So, the cycle continues. Buying local trees means that it doesn’t use much fuel. After the holidays, trees are picked and processed into usable products, like small wood pieces for the garden. What’s more, you can’t beat the smell of a fresh-cut tree.

1. What makes Chinese cloth-wrapper popular?

A．Its fresh smell.

B．The multiple uses.

C．Various digital options.

D．Its original birthplace.

2. What is the benefit of buying local trees for decoration?

A．They match the gardens.

B．They are easier to cut

C．They have better quality.

D．They are environmentally friendly.

3. Where is this passage probably taken from?

A．A novel.

B．A textbook.

C．A magazine.

D．A journal.