1. Where did Tom get the idea of becoming a businessman?
| A．From his college friends. |
| B．From his high school teachers. |
| C．From the grown-ups around him. |
| A．6%. | B．18%. | C．50%. |
| A．Seller and buyer. |
| B．Interviewer and Interviewee. |
| C．Employer and employee. |
2 . One million species face extinction, more than ever before in human history, according to a UN report released in May. And humans should be responsible.
The researchers based the assessment (评估) on some 15,000 sources considering the causes and results of environmental changes over the past 50 years.
The findings are clear and alarming. The researchers have found that about 25 percent of the world’s plants and animals are at risk of extinction. These include sea and land animals. Even the domesticated (驯养的) animals are at risk: Over 9 percent of the domesticated animal species used for food and agriculture might have been lost.
There are some big problems. This rapid decrease of the natural world endangers global food safety and quality of life. For example, about 4 billion people rely on natural medicines, produced by the disappearing species, for their health care.
The researchers identified five drivers responsible for the bad news. They think at the top of the list is the change of land and sea use. The change in ecosystems towards agriculture, aquaculture and other human developments has led to changes in the natural living space of species. It is followed by the direct overuse of creatures (harvesting crops, cutting down the trees, hunting and fishing) and climate change, including rising sea levels and increasing extreme-weather events, wildfires, floods and droughts. The final causes of species extinction are pollution, especially plastics, and the spread of non-native species that can kill native plants and animals. In fact, good ecosystems can promote the growth of species.
The researchers say it is time for humans to act. They think maybe a new global way to save food and refuse waste in our life can turn the tables. Whether that is possible is an open question.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic of the text. | B．To introduce the schedule of the report. |
| C．To introduce humans’ sense of responsibility. | D．To introduce the history of human development. |
| A．The reliability of the findings. | B．The species of animals worldwide. |
| C．The seriousness of species’ reduction. | D．The risky experiences of the researchers. |
| A．Narrow. | B．Interdependent. | C．Competitive. | D．Unrelated. |
| A．Change the situations. | B．Ask the open questions. |
| C．Pollute the environments. | D．Turn the tables upside and down. |
3 . Ecofriendly replacement products for single-use plastics are appearing everywhere. But have you heard of edible (可食性的) straws? Now EQUO, a new eco-friendly company in Vietnam has come up with a natural edible solution to plastic or paper straws.
The edible straws are completely plastic free, nontoxic, chemical free, and 100 percent biodegradable according to a company press release.
“It’s well known that plastic straws are harmful to the environment. Most of the 500 million used every day in America end up in oceans where they pollute water and harm marine life. Currently over eight billion straws pollute the world’s beaches,” said Marina Tran-Vu in the press release. “Although there are some plastic and paper straw alternatives on the market, most are environmentally harmful, and we were also unsatisfied with the quality and lasting of paper straws.”
All of the materials are locally from regions that support sustainable farming according to the company’s website and they struggle to have zero-net influence by” using the power of mother nature”. The name of the company was created by combining “ECO” — meaning environmentally friendly — with “STATUS QUO” — meaning the existent state. EQU stands for creating products that have minimal influence on the environment. The company was first shown on Kickstarter on May 18 and hit their funding goal in only 30 days.
Many countries are banning single-use plastics. The EU banned 10 single-use plastic products including straws that will take effect in 2021. Other items that will no longer be made of plastic include cutlery (餐具), and balloon sticks. These 10 items make up a large percentage of ocean waste that harms marine life.
So do your part, use biodegradable cutlery — you can carry your own , edible straws, and reusable water or coffee cups. These small items can contribute to reducing plastic waste.
1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?| A．The popularity of plastic straws. |
| B．The harm of plastic straws. |
| C．The pollution of beaches. |
| D．The necessity of change. |
| A．It means the original aim. |
| B．It means the existent state. |
| C．It means how to create products. |
| D．It means being good for the environment. |
| A．Plastic straws will be forbidden. |
| B．Edible straws will be sold cheaply. |
| C．Ocean waste can be rid completely. |
| D．Single-use plastic products will disappear. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Objective. | C．Tolerant. | D．Approving. |
4 . A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below16℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources: land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example, a lot of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
1. Why can rainforests help to adjust the climate?| A．They reflect more heat into the atmosphere. |
| B．They bring about high rainfall throughout the world. |
| C．They reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth. |
| D．They rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃. |
| A．There is great medicine potential in rainforests. |
| B．The level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns. |
| C．We can get enough resources without rainforests. |
| D．We will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land. |
| A．Rainforests and Medical Development | B．Rainforests and the Environment |
| C．How to Save Rainforests | D．How to Protect Nature |
5 . Nuclear pollution is a serious global
When nuclear accidents occur in coastal areas, the
Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, efforts to cool the reactors by pumping in seawater resulted in the
This
| A．change | B．opportunity | C．concern | D．possibility |
| A．caused | B．posed | C．created | D．increased |
| A．resulted in | B．led to | C．brought about | D．caused |
| A．terrestrial | B．aquatic | C．marine | D．atmospheric |
| A．balancing | B．regulating | C．considering | D．stabilizing |
| A．heightened | B．raised | C．decreased | D．lifted |
| A．minor | B．slight | C．substantial | D．insignificant |
| A．accumulation | B．storage | C．deposition | D．buildup |
| A．Therefore | B．Despite | C．However | D．Hence |
| A．from | B．by | C．of | D．in |
| A．residents | B．citizens | C．inhabitants | D．dwellers |
| A．issue | B．measure | C．release | D．disposal |
| A．web | B．chain | C．network | D．system |
| A．urgent | B．immediate | C．pressing | D．critical |
| A．address | B．tackle | C．solve | D．resolve |
1.比赛目的；
2.比赛过程；
3.比赛反响。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.提示词：保护生态环境，建设绿色家园 Protecting the Eco-environment；Building a Green Homeland
An English Speech Contest
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.
Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.
Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”
Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.
Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”
Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”
1. What can we say about the new research?| A．It started in 2013. | B．It is the first of its kind. |
| C．It was carried out by AIS. | D．It covers the whole Atlantic. |
| A．Rapid population growth. |
| B．Rising global temperatures. |
| C．The huge increase in shipping. |
| D．The disappearance of marine life. |
| A．Shipping plays an important role in the local economy. |
| B．Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment. |
| C．Noise pollution is closely related to human activity. |
| D．Marine areas should be monitored more carefully. |
| A．New waterways across the Atlantic |
| B．The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic |
| C．New research opens windows into life under the water |
| D．Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping |
8 . Animals deserve to live a safe and healthy life as much as humans do.
Spread awareness. One way to protect endangered animals is to create awareness about them.
Drive carefully in forest areas. It is important to watch the road when you are going through roads in forest areas. Many animals die while trying to cross the road because people do not pay attention to them.
Avoid plastic items. Do you know what happens to a plastic bag thrown into a river?
| A．Change your regular routine. |
| B．So, we highly suggest careful use of water. |
| C．Spend time rescuing animals in your locality. |
| D．Sadly, this does not have universal acceptance. |
| E．So we can save their lives by being more careful. |
| F．It is probably eaten by an adult turtle, choking it to death. |
| G．You can create local community groups that work for this cause. |
9 . Rainwater in cities causes more troubles than wet feet. It carries away waste from rooftops and streets as it washes through cities. European scientists are now trying to work out how to deal with flooding rainwater.
In the city of Wetteren, Belgium, researchers are experimenting with seashells. Millions of shells from the nearby North Sea are used to collect and treat rainwater from a shopping-mall roof and a parking lot. The shells are laid below a surface drain (下水道) through which dirty water is carried away. With a 70% empty space that allows them to store rainwater, they’re also a natural cleaning station, which is then used to water community gardens.
The experiment is part of a project called StopUP whose goal is to prevent rainwater from carrying pollutants into lakes and rivers. The project’s focus is to make sure that such wastewater, which can include everything from plastics to heavy metals, gets treated.
Thomas Jeffery, head of the College of Environmental Engineering in Germany, said a big knowledge gap can exist between the popular perception of rainwater and its true content. “Rainwater seems to be very clean, but when it washes the streets and roofs, it becomes full of dust and other harmful pollutants,” said Thomas.
In Europe, 38% of surface waterbodies have different forms of pollutants, which run deep in the ground and damage soils, plants and animals, according to Julie Rosalie, director of the European Environment Agency. Human health depends on clean water for drinking, bathing and cooking, and now we arc at risk because plants and animals are affected by chemicals in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
“StopUP technologies and methods could provide tools to reduce rainwater pollution.” Rosalie said. “It has a positive effect on the quality of our common environment.”
1. What are the seashells in the experiment used for?| A．Clearing the polluted rainwater. | B．Repairing a shopping mall. |
| C．Making gardens more attractive. | D．Carrying away waste in cities. |
| A．Promoting the use of seashells. | B．Reusing plastics and heavy metals. |
| C．Experimenting ways to treat rainwater. | D．Encouraging people to stop water pollution. |
| A．Understanding. | B．Custom | C．Style. | D．Tendency. |
| A．More tools are needed to reduce water pollution. |
| B．StopUP helps to improve the environmental quality. |
| C．38% of surface water in Europe is free from pollutants. |
| D．Human beings are in danger because of a lack of water. |
10 . A report from the UN 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 COP26 summit (峰会).
Antonio 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 (净零排放) around mid-century, this would not be enough to avoid climate disasters, according to the UN emissions report, which examines the shortfall (差额) 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.
Gutierrez 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, that 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 (前期) to COP26, countries were supposed to submit (递交) 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. 2?| A．Because the world has failed to live up to its current commitments. |
| B．Because the opportunities presented by covid-19 have been wasted. |
| C．Because the world is falling behind in slowing down temperature rises. |
| D．Because the serious problems were brought about by global fossil fuels. |
| A．strict measures are taken to reduce emissions |
| B．current commitments of many countries remain unchanged |
| C．huge gaps are bridged between previous and present proposals |
| D．global sustainable environmental resources develops significantly |
| A．To show the number of alarm clocks required. |
| B．To explain the reason for the world’s wasting chances. |
| C．To ask for the number of the countries attending the meeting. |
| D．To stress the need to make the most of resources and reduce emissions. |
| A．Few countries have submitted plans to reduce the emissions. |
| B．Many countries’ plans to cut emissions are far from satisfactory. |
| C．Most of the countries work under the Paris Climate Agreement. |
| D．Much progress in reducing emissions his been made these years. |
