The problem that the Li River in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region suffered from severe water pollution was caused by many factors such as many tourists frequently
1. 你对低碳生活的理解；
2. 你和家人是如何做的。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The Low-carbon Lifestyle Around Me
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Food accounts for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions(排放量), but it does not yet get the attention it deserves. With global meat consumption on the rise, the truth is, we need to break bad habits before they break us. Plant-based nutrition can deal with climate change in many ways.
Did you know that one of the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint is to eat a plant-based diet? NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus documented his own personal experiment in low-energy living in Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution.
He was able to reduce his personal carbon footprint tenfold, from 20 to 2 tons per year, by some lifestyle changes. Kalmus is a vegan(纯素食者), bikes to work, doesn’t fly, is a keen gardener and hangs his clothes out to dry. He also found living mindfully made him feel happier and even halved his food bill. Kalmus says it’s possible for the average person to cut their emissions easily. The average meat-eater in the US emits 3, 000 kg CO2 per year compared to 1, 000kg for vegans.
Another way to deal with climate change is to grow your own food. “Some of the juiciest strawberries that satisfy my taste buds were grown at home last summer in hanging baskets using organic seeds.” Kalmus said. “As well as plenty of nutritious, cheap and delicious foods, growing my own food has allowed me to get to know my neighbors. We share seeds, wisdom, and tasty soup.” Besides, composting(制作堆肥) leftovers and yard waste diverts green matter from landfills that produce the greenhouse gas and instead can help build healthy soil.
Globally, our meat-and dairy-heavy diet uses around half of habitable land on Earth to produce food. Nevertheless, with plant-based diets, we could feed the world with one quarter of the land, allowing us to return vast areas of land to nature.
1. What is the purpose of eating a plant-based diet according to the author?| A．To handle climate change. | B．To reduce living costs. |
| C．To draw public attention. | D．To record carbon footprints. |
| A．It relieves him of mental stress. |
| B．It slightly cuts the carbon footprint. |
| C．It proves impossible for meat-eaters to follow. |
| D．It benefits individuals and the environment. |
| A．develops | B．redirects | C．sends | D．delivers |
| A．Self-grown food turns out to be of higher quality. |
| B．Producing food has taken up half of the land on Earth. |
| C．Growing food helps strengthen neighborhood relations. |
| D．Greenhouse gas emissions have little to do with food consumption. |
4 . Small batteries are big problems, but nobody really pays attention to where they end up. Researchers at the Cellulose & Wood Materials Laboratory are working to address this problem. Their new research paper describes a water-activated paper battery developed from environmentally friendly materials that could eventually present a sustainable alternative to the more harmful batteries common in low-power devices.
The paper battery has the same key components as standard batteries but packages them differently. Like a typical chemical battery, it has a positively charged side called a cathode, a negatively charged side called an anode, and a conductive material called an electrolyte (电解质) between the two. A traditional battery’s components are enclosed in plastic and metal; in the new battery, the anode and cathode are inks printed onto the front and back of a piece of paper. That paper is filled with salt, which dissolves (溶解) when the paper is dampened with water. The resulting saltwater solution acts as the electrolyte.
Sustainable materials were a precondition for the researchers, who considered only safe and plentiful ingredients to create their device. “We were fairly confident that we would have something that would work in the end, but developing these materials and ink systems is challenging,” says Gustav Nyström, senior author of the study.
After trying hundreds of formulations for the battery components, the researchers settled on a graphite ink to make the cathode, a zinc ink for the anode, and salt-filled paper to create the electrolyte.
When the paper is dry, the battery is shelf-stable. Add just a couple of drops of water, however, and the salt dissolves, allowing electrons to flow. Once the paper is dampened, the battery activates within 20 seconds. The new battery’s operating performance declines as the paper dries. When the scientists re-wet the paper during testing, the battery regained functionality and lasted an hour before beginning to dry out again.
Although the researchers demonstrated that their battery could power an alarm clock, the paper batteries are unlikely to replace standard ones on store shelves. Nyström envisions a future where these paper batteries could make their way into products within the next two to five years. “The performance that you see on this device, I think, is enough for a lot of other applications already,” he says. It is mostly a matter of increasing production and integrating the batteries into systems such as diagnostic tests and environmental sensors.”
1. How is the paper battery similar to the standard battery?| A．The key components are environmentally friendly. |
| B．They are both packaged in plastic and metal. |
| C．They both have two charged sides and an electrolyte. |
| D．Both batteries can operate for only an hour. |
| A．Heating the salt | B．Charging the electrons |
| C．Drying out the battery | D．Wetting the paper |
| A．major technological breakthrough will be made in the near future |
| B．all home appliances will be powered by paper batteries |
| C．the future for a wide application of paper batteries is not far off |
| D．paper batteries will have longer shelf life than traditional ones |
1. 讲座主题：The World Wildlife Day；
2. 时间、地点及讲座内容。
注意：1. 词数为 80左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Notice
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Student Council
March, 1
6 . Growing up in Mauritius, I love nature. Behind my house, there is a mountain named Le Pouce, where I spent much time
When I was about 10, this started to change. I began learning about the
Gradually, I realized how much humans
Diving plays a big part in my life now, and I work to
Protecting the ocean is very
| A．exploring | B．transforming | C．extending | D．constructing |
| A．shifted | B．appeared | C．stretched | D．stopped |
| A．destroyed | B．surrounded | C．covered | D．represented |
| A．scared | B．excited | C．addicted | D．disappointed |
| A．progress | B．threat | C．opportunity | D．image |
| A．avoiding | B．counting | C．highlighting | D．considering |
| A．then | B．yet | C．thus | D．moreover |
| A．lead | B．follow | C．recognize | D．prevent |
| A．efficiency | B．awareness | C．memory | D．confidence |
| A．paid back | B．adapted to | C．depended on | D．kept up |
| A．mood | B．imagination | C．hobby | D．experience |
| A．turn down | B．hold back | C．add up | D．contribute to |
| A．introduction | B．influence | C．advertisement | D．prediction |
| A．risky | B．impractical | C．shocking | D．crucial |
| A．join | B．respect | C．teach | D．guide |
7 . Cities, covering less than 2% of the earth ’s surface, greatly influence climate change, consuming almost 80% of the world’s energy and producing more than 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, net zero emissions (净零排放) by 2050, a target set at the COP26 conference, could be achieved faster using digital twins cities, according to a recent research.
Looking and behaving identically in their real—world physical environments, digital twins can help track, manage and reduce environmental damage rapidly. These replicas (复制品) link to networks of sensors that collect data from buildings, transport, air quality, and energy use, to see where emissions can be cut and efficiency improved. Similar technologies have been in use since NASA ’s Apollo moon mission in 1969, where computers and machine replicas were used to test and monitor spacecraft.
Research shows that digital twins can save cities more than $ 280 billion globally by 2030 through more efficient urban planning. Digital twin provider Cityzenith believes that net zero deadlines could be achieved 15 years earlier if the world ’s 100 biggest cities use the technology to decarbonize. “They are the perfect tool for managing and speeding up the energy transformation,” said CEO Michael Jansen. “We could get to net zero globally by 2035. ”
Over the past decades, big tech companies around the world, including GE Digital and Siemens, have developed software for replicating cities, including a district of Berlin, the island nation of Singapore, and the entire city of Shanghai in China. In the US, the Digital Twin Consortium is working to standardize how digital twins are built and share data. Technology company MX3D built the world ’s first 3D-printed stainless steel bridge and co-created its digital twin. CEO Gijs van der Velden believes twins will give us precise control over the built environment.
Recently, OpenAI also made advances in this field. On February 15, the company revealed its latest groundbreaking tech—Sora to the world. Sora is a text -to -video generative AI model. It can generate videos that matches the text prompt (文本提示) given to it in a few seconds. Experts believe Sora is likely to be applied in science and national defence in the future.
1. How does the author show the influence of cities on climate change?| A．By listing data. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By comparing opinions. | D．By quoting research findings. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Doubtful. | C．Indifferent. | D．Objective. |
| A．Sora has been used in scientific research and military. |
| B．Gijs van der Velden has little faith in digital twins ’future. |
| C．Digital twins technology is developing rapidly around the world. |
| D．Few tech companies are involved in the study of replicating cities. |
| A．Big Cities Are to Blame for the Severe Environment Pollution |
| B．Digital Twins Can Save Cities Much Money Globally by 2030 |
| C．Digital Twin Cities Can Reduce the Pollution Impact of Large Cities |
| D．The Target of Net Zero Emissions Could Be Reached 15 Years Earlier |
8 . Imagine a world where nothing ends up in landfill. Instead, everything can be reused and recycled, creating products that never reach their “end of life”. According to a recent report by the Circle Economy Foundation, only 7.2% of all used materials are being cycled back to be reused and recycled without creating waste.
An Italian company aims to change this by creating furniture products made from a plastic-like biomaterial, which is fully organic and biodegradable (可生物降解的), and can be used over and over again. Using fruit peel, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy, the company can redistribute products to the same businesses for use in their offices, instead of furniture made from common plastic. If, by mistake, any of the material ends up in the ocean, it doesn’t produce any microplastics.
Each product is made through a four-step process. First, the food waste is dried and crushed into a very fine powder. Then, the powder is mixed with a biodegradable plastic alternative known as polyhydroxybutyrat (PHB), with the fruit waste making the PHB more study (坚固的). The material is then turned into a filament (细丝) and, using a spool, put into a 3D printer.
Because a lot of food waste would be buried and incinerated in the landfill, which would produce lots of carbon dioxide, Reusing fruit peel and coffee grounds decrease carbon dioxide from the production of plastic, according to the director of operations in the company. He adds that the biomaterial is as sturdy as wood, and won’t begin to break down unless it’s touched by water, bacteria or acidity.
Despite its eco-friendly benefits, the biomaterial is expensive. It costs probably six times more than common plastic, and it is a very difficult and expensive process, so this is why many companies aren’t doing it.
However, the director is hopeful that in a few years, as-more consumers and businesses are forced to face the damage that unsustainable plastic is doing to the planet, the biomaterial will be much more widely used. “We really believe this is the material of the future,” says the director. “Little by little, a step at a time.”
1. What is a problem faced by the current world according to paragraph 1?| A．Pollution is becoming milder. |
| B．The rate of recycling is too low. |
| C．Plastic poses a threat to the ocean. |
| D．New material needs to be improved. |
| A．It is of benefit to the environment. |
| B．It is cheaper than common plastic. |
| C．It is given a welcome by businesses. |
| D．It has gradually replaced common plastic. |
| A．Damaged. | B．Burned. | C．Selected. | D．Recovered. |
| A．New Material: One Way To Regain Fruit Peel |
| B．From Landfill To Furniture: The Journey Of Furniture |
| C．Sustainable Material: The Future Of Eco-Friendly Furniture |
| D．Italian Businesses Using New Strategies To Manage Industrial Waste |
9 . In the eyes of many environmentalists, the world appears to be getting worse. They believe, the natural resources are running out and the air and water are becoming ever more polluted. But if we check the facts, things look different. Energy has become more abundant, not less so. Fewer people are starving. What seems to cause this gap between perception and reality?
One factor is the prejudice in scientific research. Scientific funding goes mainly to areas with many problems. That may be wise policy, but it will also create an impression that there are more potential problems than actually exist.
Secondly, environmental groups seek attention from the mass media. They also need to get continuous financial support. Understandably, perhaps, they sometimes exaggerate (夸大) their arguments. In 1997, for example, the World Wide Fund for Nature issued a statement titled: “Two thirds of the world’s forests lost forever”. The truth turns out to be near 20%.
The media can add to confusion too. People tend to be more curious about bad news than good. Newspapers and broadcasters are there to provide what the public wants. That, however, can lead to significant misinterpretations. For example, when a natural disaster happens, the media usually highlights the negative parts, giving more attention to the disaster’s details and what happens afterward. This flood of bad news can make people think that such events are more frequent or serious than they actually are. Consequently, people may develop a sense of insecurity, despite statistically low probabilities of similar events happening to them.
Another factor is people’s poor perception. People worry that vaccines can cause severe side effects or long-term health problems. Despite extensive scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness, some individuals remain hesitant due to unfounded fears.
It is crucial that we look at the facts if we want to make the best possible decisions for the future. It may be costly to be overly optimistic – but more costly still to be too pessimistic.
1. What aspect of scientific research does the writer worry about in paragraph 2?| A．The need to produce results. | B．The selection of research areas. |
| C．The lack of financial support. | D．The desire to solve research problem. |
| A．To show how influential the mass media can be. |
| B．To show how effective environmental groups can be. |
| C．To show how the mass media can help groups raise funds. |
| D．To show how environmental groups overstate their claims. |
| A．educate readers | B．mislead readers |
| C．meet readers’ expectations | D．encourage readers’ feedback |
| A．Making decisions based on reality. | B．Balancing optimism and pessimism. |
| C．Being optimistic to avoid costly mistakes. | D．Addressing the environmental crisis gradually. |
10 . Do you know cultivated meat? Typically, making this sort of meat starts with cells from domestic animals. The cells are grown in bioreactors full of nutrient-rich liquid, and then harvested, and eventually become products such as steak or chicken. In a homely kitchen of Eat Just, a startup, a slice of such meat was fried and then served with peppers. The first mouthful of it was extraordinary because the meat was grown in a lab, rather than on an animal. Meanwhile, it was also dull, because the texture, taste, look and smell of the meat was almost identical to that of chicken.
In June, Eat Just and Upside Foods became the first two companies to win regulatory approval to sell cultivated meat in America. A handful of other firms are trying to bring cultivated meat to market. But the hope is fading owing to continued high costs and troubles with mass production.
The UN reports meat and dairy production already accounts for 12% of humanity’s greenhouse-gas emissions. Demand for meat is skyrocketing among the growing middle classes of Africa and Asia. Lab-grown meat could help meet that demand without the world breaking its carbon budget. By contrast, two-fifths of Americans claim to restrict their meat consumption either for ethical (伦理的) reasons or environmental ones. Lab-grown meat may seem less ethically worrisome than eating animals. And the early success of plant-based meat alternatives gave investors hope. Beyond Meat, one such firm, went public in 2019, and saw its value shoot to $14 billion.
Though lab-grown meat offers an alternative to farm-grown meat, questions have been raised about how climate-friendly it can be. A study published earlier this year found that in some circumstances cultivated meat could be more polluting than the conventional stuff because the bioreactor is in great need of power to control its temperature. Consequently, only if renewable energy is used in the production process will cultivated meat cut the carbon footprint of the meat industry.
Whether this effort can make lab-grown meat attractive and cheap enough to attract consumers remains to be seen.
1. What about cultivated meat does the author focus on in paragraph 1?| A．Its characteristics. | B．Its health benefits. |
| C．Its cooking methods. | D．Its similarities to artificial meat. |
| A．Most Americans tend to skip meat. | B．Asians prefer lab-grown meat. |
| C．Beyond Meat is facing financial collapse. | D．Cultivated meat may have a growing market. |
| A．Demand for a good climate. | B．Cultivated land occupation. |
| C．Greenhouse-gas emissions. | D．Use of conventional bioreactors. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Favorable. | C．Uncaring. | D．Reserved. |
