1 . Priscilla Ouchida’s “energy efficient” house turned out to be a horrible dream. When she and her engineer husband married a few years ago, they built a $100,000 three-bedroom home in California. Tightly sealed to prevent air leaks, the house was equipped with small double-paned windows and several other energy-saving features. Problems began as soon as the couple moved in, however. Priscilla’s eyes burned. Her throat was constantly dry. She suffered from headaches and could hardly sleep. It was as though she had suddenly developed a strange illness.

Experts finally traced the cause of her illness. The level of formaldehyde gas in her kitchen was twice the maximum allowed by federal standards for chemical workers. The source of the gas? Her new kitchen cabinets and wall-to-wall carpeting.

The Ouchidas are victims of indoor air pollution, which is not given sufficient attention partly because of the nation’s drive to save energy. The problem itself isn’t new. “The indoor environment was dirty long before energy conservation came along,” says Moschandreas, a pollution scientist at Geomet Technologies in Maryland. “Energy conservation has tended to accentuate the situation in some cases.”

The problem appears to be more troublesome in newly constructed homes rather than old ones. Back in the days when energy was cheap, home builders didn’t worry much about unsealed cracks. Because of such leaks, the air in an average home was replaced by fresh outdoor air about once an hour. As a result, the pollutants generated in most households seldom built up to dangerous levels.

1. It can be learned from the passage that the Ouchidas’ house ________.

A．is well worth the money spent on its construction

B．is almost faultless from the point of energy conservation

C．failed to meet energy conservation standards

D．was designed and constructed in a scientific way

2. What made the Ouchidas’ new house a horrible dream?

A．Poor quality of the air inside.	B．Poor quality of the construction.
C．Gas leakage in the kitchen.	D．The newly painted walls.

3. The word “accentuate” (Para. 3) most probably means “________”.

A．relieve

B．accelerate

C．worsen

D．improve

4. Why were cracks in old houses not a big concern?

A．Because indoor cleanliness was not emphasized.

B．Because energy used to be inexpensive.

C．Because environmental protection was given top priority.

D．Because they were technically unavoidable.

5. This passage is most probably taken from an article entitled ________.

A．Energy Conservation	B．House Building Crisis
C．Air Pollution Indoors	D．Traps in Building Construction

2 . Omar Vazquez grew up in poverty on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. He watched his single mother struggle to put food on the table, and today the memory inspires him to help those in need. When an invasive (入侵的) seaweed called sargassum showed up on Mexico’s Caribbean beaches, Omar looked past the matter of it all and saw an opportunity to help others.

Sargassum is not dangerous, but it has an unpleasant smell and can become so thick that it keeps people from entering the water. Mexico has experienced record-setting amounts of the seaweed in recent years, and it has made its way to Florida’s beaches as well. Experts say there could be as much as 100 tons of sargassum blocking Mexican shorelines in 2023.

With tourism dollars at risk, officials and locals alike were eager to remove the seaweed, but only Omar saw its true potential. The professional gardener organized a beach cleanup that provided jobs for about 300 local families, but he knew there was more to do. Since people’s attitude towards the seaweed reminded him of his own life experiences, he decided to become an agent (推动者) for change.

When sargassum started arriving, everyone was complaining. “I wanted to make something good out of something everyone saw as bad,” Omar explained.

In 2018, Omar found a way to turn sargassum into building blocks that he calls Sargablock. He creates these blocks by mixing 40% sargassum with other materials like clay, then putting them in a block-forming machine and baking them in the sun for days. The end result is an organic, sustainable, and ecologically friendly building material that experts say could last for 120 years.

To date, Omar’s company, Bluegreen Mexico, has used 700 tons of sargassum to build low-income housing for those in need. Omar said he would take on more projects, and donate more houses to single mothers like his own mom.

1. What can be learned from paragraph 1?

A．Omar’s family often assisted people in need.

B．Sargassum originated on the Caribbean beaches.

C．Omar’s experience in childhood has influenced him much.

D．Omar has met a lot of generous people since he was young.

2. How did most people react to the increasing sargassum?

A．They didn’t take it seriously.	B．They were anxious to clear it up.
C．They viewed it as new materials.	D．They were excited to see a grand scene.

3. Which words can best describe Omar?

A．Honest and ambitious.	B．Strong-willed and confident.
C．Quick-thinking and humorous.	D．Sympathetic and innovative.

4. What does the author mainly want to tell us through Omar’s success?

A．It’s never too old to learn.	B．Love shines every dark corner.
C．Solutions can be obtained from problems.	D．Heroes arise from humble beginnings.

3 . There are hundreds of great national nature reserves in China. Now feast your eyes on the following amazing ones.

Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve

Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake in Qinghai Province, is a key body of water for lots of animals and birds. As an important stopover, migratory birds (候鸟) would rest in this area during their movement trip every year. The reserve became a national nature reserve in the year of 1997.

Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve

The only Bayanbulak Wetland, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, which makes itself suitable for migratory birds. Bayanbulak means “rich spring water” in Mongolian, meaning that the area is rich in water. Every year, swans (天鹅) from different places fly here for nesting, which became a national swan reserve in 1986.

Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve

As one of the largest wintering places for swans in China, this reserve in Shandong Province mainly protects whooper swans (大天鹅), which make it different from other nature reserves. In 2007, it was changed into a national nature reserve. Now every year, thousands of whooper swans arrive here to spend the winter, making it an important resting and wintering place for themselves.

Sanya Coral Reef (珊瑚礁) National Marine Nature Reserve

This reserve focuses on protecting coral reefs and their living environment in Sanya City, Hainan Province. In 1990, it became a national nature reserve. This reserve is on the coast, so the area of the reserve has good water quality and many kinds of creatures,

1. What do the first reserve and the second reserve have in common?

A．The area of wetland.	B．The geography of them.
C．The year of becoming the national reserve.	D．The friendly environment for migratory birds.

2. What makes the Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve special?

A．Its saltwater lake.	B．The whooper swans.
C．Its rich spring water.	D．The warm climate.

3. Which place best suits coral lovers?

A．Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve.	B．Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve.
C．Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve.	D．Sanya Coral Reef National Marine Nature Reserve,

4 . Around the world, people are realizing the significant problems caused by plastic waste. In the last 65 years, we have become increasingly dependent on plastic. It’s easy to understand why: it’s cheap to produce, light — therefore easy and cheap to transport — and incredibly strong and durable.     1    

One popular solution to the problem is to prohibit single use plastics. In the British supermarkets, shoppers are encouraged to make more environmentally-friendly choices in packing and transporting their food.     2     Some governments have even promised to ban the use of single-use plastic altogether by the not-too-distant future.

However, such plans may not be beneficial to eliminate (消除) the use of single-use plastic altogether.     3     This is not just because of its low cost. It’s also because infection and cross-contamination (交叉感染) are minimized. Plastic packaging is also crucial in the food industry. It ensures that food is safe for consumers.

Another issue is that alternative materials to plastic are often more environmentally harmful than plastic. Take paper bags, for example.     4     The process requires cutting trees, the emission of greenhouse gases and the production of poisonous chemical waste. Even more pollution is created when paper bags break down.

Clearly there is a need to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment.     5     Industries that rely on single-use plastics for people’s health and safety must be considered. Moreover, alternative materials must be evaluated strictly regarding their own environmental impact.

A．But it’s these advantages that also make it so harmful.

B．They are very fragile and rarely reusable, unlike plastic.

C．One of the fields where single-use plastic has a vital role is medicine.

D．However, simply banning their single use may not be the best option.

E．It also boosts the local economy and save costs in managing littering and waste.

F．Bans on single-use plastic items like drinking straws are also coming into place.

G．According to a research, they require four times more energy when produced than a plastic bag.

5 . More than 45，000 years ago，by the shore of present-day Tasmania，a local person picked up a large piece of thick，dark brown seaweed．And he realized that this giant piece of seaweed could be used to make a watertight bag．And 45，000 years later on mainland Australia，people are again turning to seaweed to solve pressing problems．Today，it is used to address the world's climate crisis．

Winberg，a marine ecologist at the University of Wollongong，has spent decades studying seaweed．She believes seaweed's fast growth rate and ability to absorb vast amounts of carbon dioxide can help fight climate change，de-acidify（降低酸度）the oceans，and change the way we farm，not just in the oceans but also on land．

“If we used the infrastructure we have in the ocean and created seaweed islands，we would actually get rid of many climate change issues we have today，” says Winberg．Realizing seaweed's potential as a climate solution，Winberg opened Australia's first land-based，commercial seaweed farm in 2013．On her farm in New Wales，Winberg produces seaweed extracts（提取物）that are used in food，cosmetics and medicines

Like plants on land，seaweed absorbs CO₂ and grows biomass（生物量）．Coastal marine systems can absorb carbon at rates up to 50 times greater than forests on land，according to Emily Pidgeon，senior director of strategic marine initiatives at Conservation International．Globally，seaweeds are thought to absorb nearly 200 million tons of CO₂ every year - as much as New York State's annual emissions．And when the seaweed dies，much of the carbon locked up in its tissues is transported to deep oceans．

By raising pH levels in the ocean，seaweeds also improve growing conditions for shellfish such as oysters and mussels，whose shells become more fragile（脆弱的）in acidic environments．

The potential for seaweed cultivation doesn't stop in the oceans．Winberg has found there are benefits to doing it on land too．She believes that seaweed farming offers “huge potential” to not only address the climate crisis，but also feed a growing population in a sustainable way．According to Winberg，one hectare（公顷）of a seaweed farm can produce more protein than the same amount of land used for cattle．“We're sitting on undiscovered，renewable，sustainable resources，” she says．

1. What is mainly introduced about seaweed in paragraph 1？

A．Its use．	B．Its history．
C．Its origin．	D．Its appearance．

2. Why is seaweed spoken highly of according to the text？

A．It lowers the ocean temperature directly．

B．It contributes to shellfish's growing speed．

C．It produces the same amount of protein as cattle．

D．It grows fast and can absorb carbon at a high rate．

3. What is Winberg's attitude towards seaweed？

A．Unclear．	B．Favorable．
C．Critical．	D．Doubtful．

4. What is the best title for the text？

A．CO2，a Killer of Climate Change

B．Pollution，the World's Climate Crisis

C．Seaweed，a Potential Climate Solution

D．Infrastructure，a Way of Eliminating Climate Issues

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

Nick was riding his bike along the Arching River when he noticed something     1     (usual) in the water. He took a closer look and saw a pair of fin-like things circling above the river’s surface.     2     (confuse) by what he had seen, Nick took a video and posted it on the Internet. Days later, some researchers confirmed that he     3     (spot) two dolphins— the first cetacean (鲸目动物) sighted in this river since 2017—and this suggested the efforts to restore the health of the river were paying off.

7 . Made out of thin air

The world has experienced a lot of extreme weather this year due to climate change, which carbon emissions are believed to be most responsible for.     1    

Meat made from air

It is hard to imagine that food consisting of protein could be produced from CO2, but that is exactly what Solar Foods is working on. To create the protein, the company uses renewable energy to split water cells into hydrogen and oxygen.     2     This is fed to microbes(微生物), which in turn create an eatable food, according to science website Futurism. This process makes alternative protein 100 times more climate- friendly than other sources of protein, the company said.

    3    

What about wearing a pair of shoes made of carbon emissions? On Running, a Swiss sports shoe brand, is trying to make foam(泡沫) for its shoed from captured carbon. In November, it announced it was teaming up with US-based company LanzaTech to make ethanol(乙醇) out of waste CO2, which would otherwise be burned, releasing CO2. On Running hopes to produce its first pair of shoes made wholly from carbon sometime next yeat.     4    

Turning CO2 into perfume

What is the smell of a perfume made from CO2? New York-based startup Air Company is selling perfume made from CO2. Perfume has an alcohol base. When mixed with a bit of water and fragrance(芳香) oil, it becomes perfume. Ethanol is widely used in perfume production because it has a neutral smell. This means you only smell the oil.     5     And with the addition of water and fragrance oil, you get perfume made mainly from air.

A．Running on foam

B．Stepping on carbon

C．This kind of fragrance oil is made from CO2 by Air Company.

D．Then it mixes the hydrogen with CO2 and adds other nutrients.

E．They are expected to not cost much more than a regular pair of shoes.

F．To solve the problem, capturing and reusing CO2 is an option for tech companies.

G．What Air Company is able to do is transform CO2 into a very pure form of ethanol.

8 . Since the age of 5, Laura Lee has had what most would consider an odd habit-she collects toilet rolls. At that time, she didn’t know this habit would eventually become a nationwide recycling campaign.

In December 2018, as a 16-year-old student of Nanyang Girls’ High School in Singapore, Lee founded ToiletRollSG, a national project that aims to collect 1,000 kilograms of cardboard cylinders — or about 150,000 pieces. As of February of 2021, Lee, who was studying at Hwa Chong Institution, had collected 860 kg of toilet rolls, reported Singapore Today. Slightly later, she was awarded Singapore’s National Environment Agency’s Ecofriend Awards, which recognizes individuals for their contributions to the environment, under the Youth and Students category.

But why did she choose toilet rolls? “They are convenient to collect and also one of the purest forms of waste to recycle because they are made of only one material,” Lee told Singapore Today. “Project must be economically practical too. For example, it’s more difficult to recycle pens because they are made up of too many different materials like rubber casings, metals and plastics which require more resources to separate.”

Lee went into a partnership with the waste management firm Veolia, which gives her five cents for every 1 kg of toilet rolls collected.

She organized “toilet roll challenges” within Nanyang Girls’ High School and worked with cleaners to collect used toilet rolls from school toilets. She also conducted talks about ToiletRollSG. But due to COVID-19, she has been unable to conduct physical talks, so she raises awareness about different social causes through her Instagram Live series called On A Roll.

One of the biggest challenges Lee has faced has been others doubting her due to her young age. “I always have to use my actions as well as the different things I’ve done to prove that I’m passionate and know about this,” she told The Straits Times.

Lee will donate the money collected to a social cause that is focused on community health.

1. Why did Lee found ToiletRollSG?

A．To develop some good habits.	B．To be honored by Ecofriend Awards.
C．To recycle toilet cardboard cylinders.	D．To make contributions to her high school.

2. Lee’s mention of pens in Paragraph 3 is to ________.

A．show toilet rolls are more important	B．prove it difficult to recycle pens
C．illustrate the process of recycling pens	D．explain Lee’s opinion on recycling

3. What is the biggest challenge Laura is faced with?

A．The failure to conduct talks.	B．The ineffective cooperation.
C．The small amount of money.	D．The mistrust of others.

4. Which of the following words can best describe Lee?

A．Humorous.

B．Responsible.

C．Emotional.

D．Curious.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What’s the purpose of the campaign?

A．To remind people of garbage sorting.

B．To encourage people to make more friends.

C．To engage more people in environmental protection.

2. What will be the task on the second day?

A．Planting trees.

B．Designing posters.

C．Collecting garbage.

3. What can the teachers do to help in the campaign according to Peter?

A．Design decorations for the classrooms.

B．Stop driving private cars to school.

C．Hang some posters on the school board.

10 . GREAT BOOKS TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

Here is a shortened list of books sponsored by the magazines TIME and TIME for Kids that are suitable for primary schoolers. To make the list, we considered how age-appropriate the material was, and whether the tone and story line left the reader feeling engaged and empowered rather than anxious or confused.

Experts recommend the youngest kids to read books that explore the beauty and fragility (脆弱) of nature. When developing an appreciation for the world around them, they can switch to books that show the cause and effect of how humans treat our planet, and why it’s important to respect the environment. For older primary school kids, picture books can illustrate how our use of fossil (化石) fuels contributes to global warming. Most of the books on the list also offer lessons about how children, families, schools, and communities can make a difference.

THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET By April Pulley Sayre This photography book shows to us plants, animals and landscapes in vivid colors and descriptions. From up-close images of insects to pictures of mountain ranges, the pages introduce children to the planets’ diversity in a simple but effective way.	THE LORAX By Dr. Seuss Thanks to its rhyme, and whimsical illustration, this classic tale is suitable for young children who can grasp the scarcity of natural resources, and also older kids who can see a danger in valuing profits over long-term environmental harm.
WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS By Carole Lindstrom A tribute to native tribes that are protecting the planet, this book vividly shows the harms of oil pipelines. Kids will see the value of community action, while adults will recognize the story of the native tribes Standing Rock Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline.	POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? By Robert E. Wells This book introduces the greenhouse effect with illustrations showing how sunlight gets trapped. It then explains fossil-fuel energy, and our reliance on it for electricity and transportation. The pages are full of science.

1. To make the book list for kids, what should be considered first?

A．Confusing story line.	B．The tone of anxiety.
C．The books sponsorship.	D．Age-appropriate content.

2. What can kids learn from the book “WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS”?

A．They can see the value of community action.

B．They can know how to protect the native tribes.

C．They can recognize the story of the native tribes.

D．They can understand the importance of oil pipelines.

3. Which book explains how the greenhouse effect come into existence?

A．THE LORAX

B．WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS

C．POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING?

D．THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET