1 . There is widespread agreement that climate change threatens our existence. But in our rush to address this challenge, our efforts mustn’t heighten another, more immediate one: the global decline of biodiversity. We are losing species at 1,000 times the natural rate. If we stay on this track, we risk losing up to half of them by the middle of the century.
Sadly, the singular focus on solving climate change has led to people ignoring biodiversity. The alarming result is that many climate efforts unintentionally quicken nature’s destruction. Take the huge need for solar farms for an example. If not located properly, they’ll impact ecosystems and habitats. In Virginia, for example, more than half of solar facilities are being built on forested land rather than areas such as rooftops or parking lots. The state’s push for solar development could lead to the deforestation of nearly 30,000 acres annually.
There is a real risk that badly planned renewable infrastructure (基础设施) will have a greater impact on biodiversity than existing fossil fuel infrastructure. Thus, we need to chart a path that doesn’t address one environmental challenge by creating others.
Indeed, with practical choices, we can do the opposite, using nature to address climate change. Consider carbon removal. Research shows between 2001 and 2019, forests around the world seized more than twice the amount of carbon dioxide that they emitted (排放) — absorbing more than the combined annual emissions of the US and UK. Nature is also critical in setting the adaptation necessary to prepare for increasingly severe weather shocks, such as the role of mangroves (a kind of tree) in absorbing floods.
Governments must think differently, employing better infrastructure planning at all levels. A report from The Nature Conservancy shows careful siting can reduce the effects of the clean energy infrastructure by 70%compared with siting as usual practices. For instance, solar farms can be put on already degraded land.
It would be a tragic irony if, in our efforts to tackle climate change, we end upbringing a big and immediate crisis in the natural world.
1. What is the effect of building solar farms on forested land in Virginia?A.It damages the forest. | B.It boosts local economy. |
C.It reduces human’s living space. | D.It protects the environment. |
A.Increasing funds for clean energy. | B.Using technology to remove carbon. |
C.Locating clean energy projects carefully. | D.Prioritizing renewable energy totally. |
A.climate change will contribute to more severe issues |
B.focus on climate change makes people ignore land use |
C.efforts to solve climate change speed up biodiversity loss |
D.the development of clean energy quickens climate change |
A.Pessimistic and critical. | B.Factual and concerned. |
C.Subjective and dismissive. | D.Humorous and optimistic. |
2 . It might surprise you to learn that there are conservationists on four legs as well as two. In the 1890s, realizing that imported stoats (白鼬) were having a disastrous impact on local birds such as kiwi, conservationist Richard Henry relied upon his pet dog to help translocate birds to a reserve on Resolution Island. From then on, he kept working and contributed to the world’s first government-backed conservation dogs programme established in 1998.
Dogs have many qualities that recommend them for field work, but it’s their nose that puts them ahead of many humans. Damp surfaces trap odour molecules (气味分子), but dog noses are also remarkably sensitive. Add in a set of other adaptations that allow dogs to filter the air they breathe in to a dedicated smelling area at the back of the nose, you’ve got an extremely excellent detective machine.
Worldwide, dogs have helped scientists to track snow leopards, koalas, gorillas and even killer whales, whose muck (排泄物) only floats on the ocean’s surface for a limited time. For their cooperation, the dogs receive their favourite treat. “We reward our dogs for locating the target by playing balls,” says Hartman, a research scientist. She explains that around 98% of the dogs are from rescue shelters, given up by owners who could not match their energy levels. Enthusiastic dogs are a must for the programme, but trainers need to match this with patience curiosity and hard work.
After the muck sniffers (嗅探器), the next most common task for conservation dogs is live animal detection. Many working dogs were first bred to be pest controllers in agricultural settings. Now conservation dogs are used to find introduced rats and stoats on New Zealand’s island safe havens, feral cats in Australia, mongooses in Japan — even mussels and ants in the US that cause destruction and upset ecosystems. It’s just one of the ways dogs are being employed to keep human activity in check.
1. Why is Richard Henry’s story mentioned in paragraph 1?A.To illustrate stoats’ impact. |
B.To tell dogs’ position in animal protection. |
C.To present different kinds of conservationists. |
D.To highlight Henry’s passion for making a reserve. |
A.Loyalty. | B.Smelling. | C.Bravery. | D.Wisdom. |
A.Dogs need training to achieve their potential. |
B.Dogs located their targets by playing balls. |
C.Humans could be as energetic as their dogs. |
D.Dogs from rescue shelters are best for the job. |
A.Be friendly to your pet dog. |
B.Train your dogs to detect wildlife. |
C.Cooperate with dogs for a better living. |
D.Meet the dogs saving some animal species. |
3 . Wondering what you can do to celebrate Earth Day on April 22? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve gathered a comprehensive list of Earth Day activities, both fun and environmentally-conscious, to help raise awareness and make a difference. If you’re ready to learn more about joining the global celebration, initiating real change, and doing your part to save our planet, read on!
·Walk or ride your bike.
·Use a refillable water bottle.
Consider going with a stainless-steel refillable bottle for a super long-lasting option.
·Plant a tree.
Pick a tree species that’s native to where you live. If you’re unsure, ask an employee at your local nursery or garden department. Choose the best planting spot to meet the tree’s needs, dig a properly sized hole, and water the tree well to give it a good start.
·Visit a local farmer’s market.
Eating locally grown food is much better for the environment. For example, locally-grown food doesn’t have to be transported long distances to end up on grocery store shelves.
·
See if your community is holding an environmental fair. If your community doesn’t have one planned, consider starting one yourself! It’s the perfect day to get together for a fun and educational celebration of the Earth. Any money raised can go towards a local environmental restoration project or group.
A.Attend a local Earth Day event. |
B.Educate your community on environmental awareness. |
C.Going car-free for the day will reduce harmful carbon emissions. |
D.That means your money won’t be wasted on unnecessary spending. |
E.If physically doing this is unrealistic for you, there are other choices! |
F.Normally, plastic water bottles end up in garbage cans after a single use. |
G.You’ll also be giving back to your community by supporting local farmers. |
4 . When Tom Blake was a young boy, watching a jet (喷气式飞机) streak across the sky, he knew flying was what he wanted to do when he grew up.
After five years’ training, he finally
By this time Mr Blake had become increasingly
Yet with the COVID-19 pandemic grounding aircraft, Mr Blake decided to quit his flying
Giving up his dream job was a
Mr Blake is now a climate activist.
1.A.quitted | B.changed | C.completed | D.landed |
A.waiting | B.preparing | C.working | D.looking |
A.concerned about | B.puzzled at | C.engaged in | D.experienced in |
A.goal | B.conflict | C.solution | D.approach |
A.political | B.economical | C.environmental | D.technical |
A.regrets | B.debts | C.pressures | D.troubles |
A.schedule | B.dream | C.ambition | D.career |
A.discovering | B.selecting | C.searching | D.visiting |
A.salary | B.honor | C.award | D.fame |
A.accustomed to | B.faced with | C.addicted to | D.trapped in |
A.remove | B.ignore | C.meet | D.create |
A.issue | B.introduce | C.imagine | D.handle |
A.tough | B.wise | C.reasonable | D.positive |
A.saving | B.struggling | C.investing | D.contributing |
A.covered | B.stimulated | C.eased | D.driven |
China has set a new record for creating sustained high temperatures after the “artificial sun” ran five times
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST),
The extreme heat
Scientists around the world have been trying for decades to develop nuclear fusion. They say it is the best way
“The recent operation lays
1. 你所在城市的一个环境问题。
2. 该环境问题产生的原因。
3. 解决该环境问题所采取的措施。
注意: 1. 词数80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
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My name is Nassra, a second-year student at Tanzania Institute of Accountancy as well as an artist of 22 years old. My journey through art has led me to become
What we usually consider waste may be useful when we think about it in a different light. Discarded (丢弃的) or waste items provide plentiful but largely
In my hands, glass bottles, plastic bags, and other waste items that would otherwise end up
People
8 . The impact of fast fashion on the environment is significant. Recently Zara, one of the largest fast-fashion retailers (零售商) in the world, put forth a concept that only sustainable fabrics are used in clothing production. But how can Zara ever be sustainable? They produce around 450 million garments (衣服) a year and release 500 new designs a week, about 20,000 a year. Zara’s fast-fashion model has been so successful it has inspired an entire industry to follow them.
Clothing production doubled from 2012 to 2022. The average consumer bought 60 percent more clothing in 2022 than in 2012, but kept each garment half as long. And less than one percent of all clothing produced globally is recycled.
I spend a lot of time reading the corporate social responsibility reports of large brands and interviewing micro-to-small sized enterprises to see how they approach sustainability. The largest significant difference between them is culture.
Small brands focus on creating a culture of sustainability by using strategies like producing made-to-order, so they are not making more than what is sold. Most small brands are opting to work under, an “anti-fashion calendar”. They choose not to follow the intense seasonal calendar that fashion functions under. They do this because waste is one of their biggest concerns. They also design clothing to be of the highest quality, ensuring durability and longevity, so you may keep it longer.
Fast fashion is a “grow or die” business, and the fast-fashion growth model used by all large companies is predicated on limitless growth. Large global corporate retailers are not seeking to change their fundamental business model or create cultures of sustainability. That would require re-working their entire business structure and ultimately hurt their bottom line.
I would start to believe Zara and other large fashion brands had good intentions to fight climate change if they started to look at how to move away from their continuous offerings of weekly new products. They need to introduce alternative sustainable business model practices. One small step could be to offer repair or tailoring services. Tailoring creates clothes that fit perfectly, subsequently increasing their emotional value, so that we love them and keep them longer.
1. What does the author intend to show with the numbers about Zara in paragraph 1?A.Zara is not eco-friendly. | B.Zara is popular with consumers. |
C.Zara is a large fast-fashion retailer. | D.Zara is a success in fashion industry. |
A.Designing clothing as needed. | B.Designing clothing seasonably. |
C.Producing clothing as needed. | D.Producing clothing seasonably. |
A.The fast-fashion retailers. | B.The profits from fast fashion. |
C.The culture of sustainability. | D.The relationship with consumers. |
A.How to make consumers love their clothes. |
B.How to make consumers buy less clothing. |
C.How large fashion brands offer weekly new products. |
D.How large fashion brands improve their services. |
Two disabled Chinese citizens who have planted trees
The vote
Jia Wenqi and Jia Haixia, both of
“I am his hands; he is my eyes,” says Haixia. “We are good partners.”
Fully
Despite their disabilities, they form a great team that makes a huge
10 . Let’s say you’re in the far future and you’re looking for evidence of previous civilizations. Where would you look? The first place would be in the rocks. Rocks keep time. Recently, the discovery of rocks made from plastic debris (碎片) in Brazil’s volcanic Trindade Island is sparking alarm. Melted plastic has become twisted with rocks on the island, which researchers say is evidence of humans growing influence over the Earth’s geological cycles.
Plastic rocks have been previously found in various parts of the world. Researchers documented plastiglomerates-rock, sand and other debris fused together by melted plastic-in Hawaii in 2014, for instance. Another human-made and plastic-based rock is pyroplastics. Described in 2019 from the shores of Cornwall in southwest Britain, pyroplastics form from burned plastic waste. In laboratory experiments with white or colored plastic pieces, if burned, the plastic melts and forms a gray or black mass. resembling at first glance a rocky pebble. According to geophysicist Douglas Jerolmack, “all around the world where there’s trash being openly burned in mass quantities, you can imagine there are even larger melted plastic deposits” where plastiglomerate could form.
Plastic pollution making its way into the formation of rocks suggests humans are having an effect on what was previously considered a natural occurrence, said Santos, who along with others is continuing research into plastic pollution on Trindade Island. “This is new and terrifying at the same time, because pollution has reached geology, ”Santos told Reuters. The finding of plastic rocks also suggests, some experts say, that a new geological epoch has begun: The Anthropocene epoch. Regardless of whether this represents a new epoch, Santos said, “the pollution, the garbage in the sea and the plastic dumped incorrectly in the oceans are becoming geological material preserved in the Earth’s geological records.”
The researchers are yet unsure of the environmental impacts of plastic rocks. Burned plastic can contain high concentrations of potentially toxic elements, like lead and chromium, derived from the pigments used to dye the plastic material. Buried in the ground, plastic has the potential to survive millions of years and even enter the geological record.
1. Why does the writer raise a question in the first paragraph?A.To introduce the text topic. | B.To test the readers’ knowledge. |
C.To present a study finding. | D.To raise the readers’ awareness. |
A.They are rarely seen in the rocks. |
B.They look like rocky pebbles if burned. |
C.They are white or coloured plastic pieces. |
D.The more trash is burnt, the more they will be. |
A.Plastic pollution has greatly changed the formation of rocks. |
B.The impacts that plastic rocks bring still need some further study. |
C.Geological materials preserve human’s irresponsible behaviour to environment. |
D.Buried plastic in the ground is unlikely to survive after entering the geological record. |
A.Plastic Rocks: The Root of the Environmental Impacts |
B.Plastic Rocks: The Geological Record of Human Development |
C.Plastic Rocks: The Markers We’re Laying Down in Deep Time |
D.Plastic Rocks: The New Geological Materials We’re Unsure of |