1 . Shop Sustainably
If you have to name one thing that contributes most to your ecological footprints, you may say the energy you use at home, or your car’s emissions.
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●Avoid unnecessary packing. Buy loose fruit and vegetables instead of pre-packaged produce, and avoid products that contain multiple single packages or double packaging, like grain in a box and a bag. Consider switching from tea bags and coffee pods to tea leaves and ground coffee.
●Go organic when you can. In addition to the benefit organic farming has to insect biodiversity, it’s also considered more sustainable and better for the environment.
●Buy seasonal and native products.
A.Take reusable grocery bags. |
B.Select single-use plastic bags. |
C.It supports local farmers and food producers. |
D.You can also refill your own containers with loose-packed food. |
E.When buying organic products, look for those officially certified. |
F.But it’s what we eat that accounts for up to 60% of our personal demand. |
G.You’ll find it convenient whenever you buy tea or coffee in the supermarket. |
If you’re looking to take part in voluntourism in the area, consider the Lizard Island. It’s a private national park that works
The Great Barrier Reef’s Ocean Park Rangers (巡游者), government workers responsible
Hope that this
One hope of the programme is to inspire
A new book for children
Last Friday, Juniper went to
4 . For the history of life on Earth, organisms have relied on the light of the sun, moon, and stars to find their way and schedule their lives. While the beginning of electric lighting in the late 19th century may have benefited humans, it has caused problems in the natural world. Among the impacts of artificial light at night(ALAN), light pollution lures migrating birds to cities with shocking consequences, contributes to the alarming decline in insect populations, and convinces sea turtle babies to amble(缓行)away from the water instead of towards it.
Now, a new study from the University of Plymouth adds another disappointing finding about how ALAN is affecting the creatures with whom we share the planet: Light pollution from coastal cities can trick corals(珊瑚)into reproducing outside of the optimum times when they would normally reproduce.
Using a combination of light pollution data and spawning(产卵)observations, researchers were able to show for the first time that corals exposed to ALAN are spawning one to three days earlier and closer to the full moon compared to those on unlit corals. “That shift may reduce the survival and fertilization success of gametes(配子)and genetic connectivity between nearby lit and unlit coral systems,” they explain.
“Corals are among the most biodiverse, economically important, and threatened ecosystems on the planet,” write the authors of the study.
“Climate change has led to mass bleaching(褪色)events. Habitat destruction, fisheries, and pollution have reduced corals substantially since the 1950s,” they write, adding, “The complete loss of corals is anticipated over the next 100 years.”
If we want to reduce the harm ALAN is causing, we could perhaps look to delay the switching-on of night-time lighting in coastal regions to ensure the natural dark period between sunset and moonrise when coral reproduction remains undisturbed.
1. Why is the first paragraph written?A.To present the topic of the text. | B.To advocate energy conservation. |
C.To explain a natural phenomenon. | D.To provide background information. |
A.Possible. | B.Appropriate. | C.Flexible. | D.Sensitive. |
A.Extinction. | B.Losing value. |
C.Terrible diseases. | D.Exposure to moonlight. |
A.Creatures Rely on Natural Lights to Schedule Their Life |
B.Night-time Lighting Shortens Natural Dark Period |
C.Coastal Lights Trick Corals into Early Spawning |
D.Light Pollution Leads to Serious Consequences |
5 . Desertification, the process by which fertile (肥沃的) land becomes desert, has severe impacts on food production and is worsened by climate change.
Africa’s Great Green Wall is a project to build an 8,000- kilometre-long forest across 11 of the continent s countries. The project is meant to contain the growing Sahara Desert and fight climate change.
First proposed in 2005, the project aims to plant a forest from Senegal on the Atlantic Ocean in western Africa to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Djibouti in the east.
A.But the project faces many problems. |
B.That is only 4 percent of the programme’s goal. |
C.However, it is difficult to work on the Great Green Wall. |
D.A quarter of Africa is under threat of food shortage. |
E.Some progress has been made in recent years in the east of the continent. |
F.Supporters hope that the project will create millions of green jobs in rural Africa. |
G.The U.N. says up to 45 percent of Africa’s land is impacted by desertification, worse than any other continent. |
6 . Money Daniels spends several hours every week cleaning up cans and bottles in the rivers near his home with other teen environmentalists in Chattanooga, TN. Together, they have collected more than 1 ton of aluminum cans, nearly 1,000 cans a week for a year. In January, he co-founded a club called the Cleanup Kids with his best friend. The project’s mission: to encourage kids to pick up 1 million pounds of trash across the globe before the end of the year.
Daniels says he first developed a passion for wildlife when he was 3. “As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved animals,” Daniels says. Marine life especially interests him. When he began discovering trash on walks along the river with his family, he immediately thought of his favorite sea creatures.
His mission now is saving the earth’s rivers, which he points out are even more polluted than the world’s oceans. “Eighty percent of the ocean’s trash comes from rivers,” he says. In 2019, he adopted the name Conservation Kid on Instagram, and started posting about things like how something as simple as a deserted face mask can entangle (缠住), choke, and kill turtles, birds, and fish. Mask waste has increased an estimated 9,000% since the pandemic(疫情) began.
Although he mostly speaks to other teens, Daniels has found that adults are often persuaded by his argument that cleaning up, recycling, and ridding plastic ought to be a selfish act for humanity: when plastics break down, they can wind up in our drinking water. He has met with the mayor of his city, and his experiences speaking with influential grownups has convinced him that adults can change their habits.
But, in truth, the burden to save the planet has landed on children like him. “Kids may be a small percent of the population, but we’re 100% of the future,” he says. “And we can save the world.”
1. What led to the birth of Daniel’s project?A.The inspiration from his best friend. |
B.The goal to make a role model for kids. |
C.The concern for the ocean life. |
D.The idea of other teen environmentalists. |
A.The ocean’s trash has grown rapidly. |
B.The river pollution requires less attention. |
C.Many animals are infected in the pandemic. |
D.River waste contributes most to the ocean’s trash. |
A.Optimistic and creative. |
B.Caring and responsible. |
C.Considerate and generous. |
D.Courageous and devoted. |
A.Grownups’ selfish behaviors for humanity. |
B.A teenager’s contributions to saving the waters. |
C.A youngster’s responsibility to protect the world. |
D.Teen environmentalists’ efforts to clean the oceans. |
7 . Say No to Non-electric Cars
Most modern cities have taken action to reduce traffic jams and improve air quality. But if they want to become more livable, they should think about more ambitious goals.
Amsterdam has set a good example. As from 2030, driving a gas vehicle there will not be allowed. The Dutch capital wants its citizens to become healthier and happier.
The advantages of such plans are clear.
Saying no to non-electric cars or even all cars is hard.
A.But will everyone support such plans? |
B.The government should advocate the use of electric cars. |
C.Traffic jams waste huge amounts of fuel and time each year. |
D.Electric cars not only are energy-saving but produce little noise. |
E.But let’s think seriously about our well-being and that of our planet. |
F.People who drive electric car maybe given discount son parking fees. |
G.One way to do is to encourage them to switch to electric cars or give up driving altogether. |
8 . Animal and plant species are disappearing at frightening rates. The problem has led to efforts to “rewild” places where such life existed before human development, pollution and climate change forced it out. The American city of Detroit is an example of how human actions can increase rewilding, which generally means helping natural systems in damaged locations, removing dams or building tunnels to reconnect animal pathways cut by roads.
Detroit’s population reached a high of 1. 8 million in the 1950s. Then the population began dropping. By 2000, there were fewer than one million people living in the city. Thousands of houses and other buildings were left empty over the years. Some structures were destroyed, leaving empty areas that plants and animals regained as habitats. Nonprofit groups have also planted trees and community gardens in these areas. Bald eagles found their way back as bans on DDT and some other insect poisons were put in place nationwide. Anti-pollution laws and government-supported cleanups made nearby rivers better for fish and native plants.
Now, Detroit is home to 300 bird species and is a busy visiting place for ducks and others during migration. Additionally, this city offers a special way to study plants and animals in urban settings. Unlike most big cities, its population is decreasing but its streets and buildings remain in place. And there are many kinds of habitats, including large lakes, rivers and human neighborhoods. Detroit’s parklands are so quiet that people don’t even know they’re in the city.
“It used to be that you had to go to some remote location to get exposure to nature,” said John Hartig, a professor of University of Windsor. “Now that’s not the case. Like it or not, rewilding will occur. The question is how we can prepare communities and environments to anticipate the presence of more and more wildlife. After all, many city people have lost their tolerance to live with wildlife. To really make a difference in dealing with the biodiversity crisis, you’re going to have to have people on board. ”
1. What might have happened in Detroit at the beginning of 21st centuryA.The city was overpopulated. | B.More community gardens were built. |
C.Many buildings were deserted. | D.The environment was badly damaged. |
A.It’s government-supported efforts that really matter. |
B.Humans’ efforts can make a difference in rewilding. |
C.Humans are to blame for the worsening environment. |
D.It’s hard to humans and wildlife to live in harmony. |
A.It is a big city crowded with tourists and bird species. |
B.Tourists don’t show any interest in the quiet surroundings. |
C.It’s turned into a place where people can get close to nature. |
D.It’s become a center for those who study animals and plants. |
A.Protect. | B.Expect. | C.Imagine. | D.Delay. |
9 . While bringing global change may take some time, these companies and individuals have already developed various ways to reduce plastic pollution.
Plastic Bank
According to its founder David Katz, “The only way to stop ocean plastic is to show the value to the collectors.” The company does this by rewarding people who collect ocean plastic with cash, goods, or services. The garbage collected is recycled and sold to companies that pay above-market prices to help the cause.
Liter of Light
Since 2011, Liter of Light has been transforming plastic bottles into light sources (光源). There are millions of people who have no access to electricity. The company attaches plastic bottles filled with water and bleach to roofs. They reflect sunlight into the dark, windowless homes during the day. When the sun sets, a micro solar panel (太阳能电池板) helps power an LED bulb (灯泡).
The Ocean Cleanup Foundation
In 2013, 18-year-old Boyan Slat dropped out of college to start The Ocean Cleanup Foundation. The young inventor developed the first operational cleanup system in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The system is designed to collect the surface garbage as it floats past. The accumulated plastic will be brought to land for recycling. Slat believes his invention will allow us to clean 50 percent of the patch within five years.
1. What does Plastic Bank mainly do to help reduce plastic pollution?A.They invent various ways. | B.They reward the collectors. |
C.They found a recycling company. | D.They call on the public to plant trees. |
A.By reflecting sunlight. | B.By producing electricity. |
C.By working with a solar panel. | D.By being made into LED bulbs. |
A.Learned and ambitious. | B.Devoted and dutiful. |
C.Hard-working and optimistic. | D.Determined and creative. |
10 . The impact of the man-made climate crisis on Antarctica is scientifically undeniable: stable ice shelves are retreating, air temperature increased by 3 degrees Celsius. krill(磷虾)numbers are declining, melting ice is contributing to sea level rise, and polar bears and seals are getting displaced. “Antarctic biodiversity could decline substantially by the end of the century if we continue with business as usual.” Jasmine Rachael Lee, lead author of the University of Queensland study says.
Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study finds population declines are likely for 65% of the continent’s plants and wildlife by the year 2100. The most vulnerable(脆弱的)species is the Emperor penguins. In October 2022, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed Emperor penguins as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act(ESA), as experts predict the flightless seabird will see a 26% to 47% dip in its population by 2050. “This listing reflects the growing extinction crisis and highlights the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before population declines become irreversible(不可逆转).” said Service Director Martha Williams at the time.
Aside from Emperor penguins, other Antarctic specialists, like the Adélie penguin and dry soil nematodes, were also highly vulnerable. We urgently need a combination of global and local conservation action to best conserve Antarctic species. Global action and global voices to help relieve climate change—because the biggest threat to Antarctica is coming from outside of it. And then we need local actions to help protect biodiversity against local threats and give them the best chance of adapting to climate changes. This will help to save our iconic(代表性的)species like the Emperor penguins and all of Antarctica’s unique and highly adapted inhabitants. It will also help humankind, as we rely heavily on the priceless services the Antarctic provides in regulating our climate and capturing sea level in its ice sheets.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?A.The impact of climate crisis is usually denied. |
B.Conservation efforts are badly needed. |
C.Air temperature on Antarctic increases 3℃ annually. |
D.Sea level rise results in seabirds losing their habitats. |
A.To serve as a call to protect wildlife on Antarctic |
B.To reflect the growing population of wild species. |
C.To prove the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act. |
D.To highlight the severe impact of rising temperature. |
A.Reducing the chances of making a trip to Antarctic. |
B.Making joint efforts to relieve climate change. |
C.Attempting to provide essential nutrients to the ecosystem. |
D.Continuing to carry forward the Endangered Species Act. |
A.Plants and Wildlife on Antarctica Will Decline Quickly |
B.Antarctic Species Are Vulnerable to Human Threats |
C.More Action Should Be Taken to Protect Wildlife on Antarctica |
D.The Best Conservation Strategy Will Be Carried Out Soon |