1 . Though you may not know it, about half a billion people worldwide depend on the ecosystems created and supported by corals. And with climate change threatening their survival, marine scientist Enric Sala had an idea that might have seemed impossible.
“We wanted to get into a time machine, go back hundreds of years and actually see a coral reef like they used to be everywhere, before we started exploiting (开发) them, polluting them and killing them all over the world,” Sala said.
The idea was, in essence, made possible during an expedition that Sala led in 2009. The team traveled to a corner of the South Pacific Ocean, and found some untouched reefs.
His team presented their findings to officials in the island country of Kiribati. Then the Kiribati government took steps to protect the waters from fishing and other human activities, but between 2015 and 2016, record levels of ocean warming killed half the coral reefs the team had found.
After hearing that news, they lost hope for the health of coral reefs. But the study continued, and last year, they went in for another dive. Despite the reported conditions, Sala and his team found that the reefs had somehow restored themselves, filled with life and color once more. This resurrection (复兴) is something that Sala says can be traced to two key factors.
The first is, thankfully, half of the corals had not died, as was previously thought. Despite the rise in temperatures, there were enough surviving corals left behind to help reproduce the reefs.
The second factor is the Kiribati government’s decision to fully protect those waters. “There are abundant fish species. They eat all the algae that would smother (窒息) the corals, making it possible for the corals to come back,” Sala explained.
“So if some countries want a future for the fisheries, they need to manage their fisheries in a more responsible way around areas that are set aside to help regenerate the rest of the ocean,” Sala said.
For him and his team, the rebirth of the coral reefs in Kiribati is a beacon of hope among so much pessimism (悲观主义) surrounding the future of reefs.
1. What did Enric Sala want to do according to his words in paragraph 2?A.Study some untouched coral reefs. | B.Develop technology for time travel. |
C.Raise awareness about sea protection. | D.Restore coral reefs to their original state. |
A.Habitat destruction. | B.Climate change. |
C.Water pollution. | D.Biodiversity loss. |
A.Fall of ocean temperature. | B.Introduction of new fish species. |
C.Official funding for restoration efforts. | D.Sufficient surviving corals for reproduction. |
A.Killing all the algae in the ocean. | B.Reducing dependence on fisheries. |
C.Protecting the ocean from overfishing. | D.Strengthening cooperation with scientists. |
2 . The good news is that more people bought electric vehicles (EVs) in 2020. The bad news is that sport utility (多用途的) vehicles (SUVs) continued to grow in popularity, too. “The fall in oil consumption due to the first trend was completely canceled out by the second,” said Laura Cozzi, an officer at the International Energy Agency (JEA).
Between 2010 and 2020, global carbon dioxide emissions (排放) from conventional cars fell by nearly 35 billion tons, due to reasons such as fuel efficiency improvements as well as the switch to electric cars. Emissions from SUVs rose by more than 50 billion tons. “While the growth in EVs is encouraging, the boom in SUVs is heart-breaking,” says Peters at the Cicero Climate Research Centre in Norway.
There are many reasons for the growing popularity of SUVs. For example, rising economic boom in many countries means more people are able to afford them. Some people see them as status symbols. Also, SUVs are heavily advertised by car-makers, whose profit is higher on these vehicles. Some countries, including France, have introduced plans under which more taxes are paid on heavier cars. But Peters thinks that people who are rich enough to afford SUVs won’t be deterred by slightly higher taxes. “There are now some electric SUVs available, but I hope one day you will see more electric vehicles brought to the SUV market,” says Peters.
Even if it happens, switching to electric SUVs isn’t a good solution. Due to their size and bigger batteries, it takes more resources to build electric SUVs, and they consume around 15 percent more electricity. That means higher emissions unless the electricity comes entirely from renewable sources, and higher electricity demand makes it harder to green the electricity supply.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?A.Scientists should devote themselves to improving fuel efficiency. |
B.The popularity of SUVs destroys some efforts to protect the environment. |
C.Electric vehicles will certainly take the place of sport utility vehicles. |
D.The emission of carbon dioxide of motor vehicles has hit a new low. |
A.Encouraged. | B.Removed. |
C.Discouraged | D.Connected. |
A.SUVs are discounted heavily. |
B.SUVs consume fewer resources than other vehicles. |
C.SUVs are often advertised by car producers. |
D.SUVs are taxed at a lower rate in some countries. |
A.More electric SUVs don’t necessarily mean “environment-friendly” . |
B.The electric SUVs are a good guarantee for less pollution. |
C.The electric SUVs should be made smaller and lighter. |
D.Future electric SUVs will be powered with completely green energy. |
请你写一篇报告,内容要点如下:
1.写明家乡空气污染的原因;
2.建设绿色家乡,建议采取什么措施;
3.倡议大家行动起来。
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Earth Day was founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental problems, and Earth Day 2020
Denis Hayes, a young activist who had served as student president at Stanford University,
The first Earth Day was effective at raising
5 . Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World—Katherine Hayhoe’s new book, proposes to fight climate change through better communication. It is a follow-up to her awesome TED talk in 2018, when she declared the most important thing any individual can do to fight climate change is to talk about it.
Of many refreshing aspects of this book, one is that Hayhoe recounts both her successes and her failures to communicate, through which she has gathered evidence about what works and what does not. Much of the book’s advice is common sense, all backed up not just by Hayhoe’s experience but also with convincing research by psychologists and social scientists.
Hayhoe advises against trying to engage with a small minority, the “Dismissives”, who angrily reject the idea that human-caused climate change is a threat. Hayhoe pays special attention to Dismissives early on, noting that their aggressive posture online may create the impression that they’re everywhere. However, she argues, Dismissives account for only 7% of all American adults. The other 93% are more receptive by degree.
The book includes amusing examples of her encounters with the “Dismissives”, including an engineer who was unconvinced about the evidence but with whom she was able to establish mutual (相互的) respect through a shared passion for knitting (打毛线衣). It is also packed with inspiring accounts of how she has won over even the crowds who are the most suspicious. Her motto is “bond, connect and inspire”, which represents her approach of always looking for point s of common ground.
She also tells of a man who approached her after an event in London in 2019. Inspired by her TED talk, he had started to speak to everybody he could in his neighborhood of Wandsworth. He showed her details of 12,000 conversations that had taken place, claiming that they had helped to convince the council to declare a climate emergency and to switch investments from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
And so, while it may feel difficult to influence the outcome of the COP26, Hayhoe’s uplifting book makes a persuasive case that we can all do our bit to bring about success just by talking about the issue.
1. What does the book mainly focus on?A.Explaining critical talking through literature. |
B.Teaching communication skills with TED talks. |
C.Sharpening people’s insight into climate change. |
D.Sharing communication-centered tips for climate problems. |
A.Serious and challenging. | B.Well-based and workable. |
C.Approachable but one-sided. | D.Practical but unacknowledged. |
A.By upgrading their social position. |
B.By seeking shared interests or hobbies. |
C.By changing their fundamental beliefs. |
D.By offering more facts about climate change. |
A.Turning to clean energy is inevitable. |
B.We should raise people’s awareness of the climate crisis. |
C.Conversations have an impact on climate decision-making. |
D.A shy man began to speak to everybody motivated by Hayhoe. |
6 . Look, let’s be honest-there’s no such thing as a “green” vacation. You’ll leave a carbon footprint, no matter what.
Is it a B Corp?
B Corps are businesses that meet a strict set of standards by the nonprofit B Lab. They include requirements for governance, workers, customers, community and the environment.
Does the company have any other environmental certifications?
Third-party certifications from Green Key, LEED and WELL can be signs that a travel company means business about the environment. Transportation companies may also offer verified certifications from organizations like Terrapass or the Gold Standard Foundation.
If the company claims to be green, don’t just take its word for it. Listen to what it says. If you see nothing but models on its Instagram channel or ads for online discounts on its site, perhaps it’s a shade of fake green. “A company’s social media strategy is generally a reflection of its current ethos and goals,” explained Julia Carter, founder of Craft Travel.
How deep is its commitment to the environment?
A.But your trip can be green-ish. |
B.What’s the company saying to everyone? |
C.How can we find a reliable company online? |
D.Don’t trust anything the company says to the public. |
E.These certifications aren’t a guarantee the company is green. |
F.Look for reliable reports on sustainability from a travel company. |
G.You can search the directory of these forward-looking companies online. |
7 . On December 16,2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened, which runs between Campeche and Cancun, carrying up to 231 passengers across 290 miles and stopping at 14 train stations.
Built as an ambitious effort to promote tourism and boost Mexico’s economy, the rail system connects the major cities and tourist regions of the Yucatan Peninsula -from Cancun’s beaches to Tulum’s archaeological wonders. Once the project is completed, the entire rail system will link tourist destinations across five states. However, environmentalists and archaeologists argue that the train route will cause great damage to the environment and ancient Mayan sites.
The Maya Train passes through six UNESCO World Heritage sites and thousands of archaeological sites. One particular area of concern is the Calakmul reserve, which is home to many endangered species, such as jaguars and over 500 other animal species. The train lines, more than 60 meters wide, could act as artificial barriers that may make it difficult for these animals to move around and access food and water sources.
Opponents also express safety concerns. Certain sections of the rail system will be built right on top of the aquifer’s (地下水层的) weakest points of contact with the surface. “It’s like wanting to build over eggshells.” says Guillermo Christy, a water treatment consultant. “Putting trains weighing thousands of tons on top could cause the underground caves to crash down.” To construct the train infrastructure (基础设施) also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this weak ecosystem and leads to water shortages.
In the ongoing debate of Maya Train, it is crucial to consider the delicate balance between economic development and environmental preservation. While Maya Train may provide economic benefits, we must not ignore the potential environmental and cultural losses, as well as the safety risks it may bring. Achieving harmony between progress and conservation may be a significant challenge for the project, but we must take into account the long-term consequences of our actions.
1. What is the purpose of the Maya Train project?A.To help protect the environment. | B.To promote Mexico’s economy. |
C.To connect tourist regions across states. | D.To give easy access to Mayan sites. |
A.The movement of species may be limited. | B.Animals may have communication barriers. |
C.The living habitats of species may be reduced. | D.The reserve may have food and water shortages. |
A.To prove the urgency of protecting the ecosystem. |
B.To illustrate the difficulty of constructing the rail lines. |
C.To explain the reasons for water shortages along the railway. |
D.To stress the potential harm of Maya Train to aquifer system. |
A.Cautious. | B.Opposed. | C.Favorable. | D.Indifferent. |
8 . In the past week almost 120 global leaders have resolved to triple (使增至三倍) the world’s renewable energy capacity before 2030 in an attempt to reduce the global consumption of fossil fuels. As the second half of the Cop28 UN climate conference in Dubai unfolds , more countries may join the calls for a global target of 11 TW (太瓦) of renewable power by the end of the decade, three times higher than the 3.629 TW in place at the end of 2022.
Renewable energy really could be tripled in this decade, but it won’t be a breeze, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) .
Based on the rate of growth for wind and solar power, the world is on track to meet this target. But the global energy watchdog (监察人) has warned that “stronger policy actions by governments” will be required to overcome challenges, such as rising costs, uncertain supply chains and grid (电力网) bottlenecks, which are considered essential to hit the goal of limiting global heating to within 1.5C of preindustrialised levels.
Renewable energy sources tripled, the global demand for coal power would be cut in half by 2030, according to estimates. “This is crucial for 1.5C,”said Dave Jones, the global insights lead for climate think-tank Ember. “The tripling goal would take renewables to the next level, with solar and wind reaching 40% of global electricity generation by 2030.”
The goal has won the support of 118 countries. In practice, not every country will triple its renewable capacity to meet the global target. Some countries starting from a lower level would need to more than triple their wind and solar power, while for others with a high share of renewables already, it would not be practical to triple their capacity again.
The prospect of having demand for coal is a goal worth struggling for, but governments must stay the course. Increasing capacity may have been simple in recent years with low interest rates and government support schemes, but the sector’s progress for the rest of the decade is less certain.
1. What does the underlined word “breeze” mean in paragraph 2?A.A demanding mission. | B.An effortless task. |
C.A dreamy vision. | D.A fruitless effort. |
A.The road to the top is full of twists and turns. | B.A good beginning is half done. |
C.No pains, no gains. | D.Rise from the fall, and you’ll rise high. |
A.Indifferent. | B.Neutral. | C.Cautious. | D.Optimistic. |
A.Drawbacks of power generation using coal. |
B.Ways to triple the output of sustainable energy. |
C.Specific difficulties in the future and solutions. |
D.Joint achievements made by nearly 200 countries. |
9 . The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s longest reef, measuring 2,027 km. Running parallel(平行的) to the coast of Queensland, Australia, the reef is home to many species of fish.
The Great Barrier Reef took thousands of years to form, and has existed for thousands of years, but in just a few short decades we humans have made remarkable progress in killing it. The balance of this ecosystem is being destroyed. Poisonous coastal pollution, overfishing and unsustainable tourism all contribute to the damage done. However, the biggest threat of all is climate change, which causes coral bleaching (珊瑚白化) and other problems.
Coral bleaching is a process that causes coral to turn white in color when exposed to certain stressors, such as changes in temperature or light. As water temperatures rise due to climate change, the algae (海藻) living inside coral becomes poisonous and is expelled from the coral, causing it to lose its color and a major source of food. Not only do the algae produce coral’s color, they also provide 90%of the coral’s energy. Thus, without the algae, most corals will die.
Unfortunately, coral bleaching events are now occurring at an alarming rate. Mass coral bleaching events in the Great Barrier Reef have been recorded in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2016, 2017 and 2020, and they are now expected to become an annual occurrence. The Great Barrier Reef is believed to have lost over 50% of its corals since 1995 and as global warming continues, this number will continue to increase rapidly.
In 2015, the Australian government formed a plan for the protection and preservation of the Great Barrier Reef until 2050. While the plan contains many great aims to improve water quality and restore the reef, there are no measures to deal with the root cause of the issue-climate change.
Solving the most important problem of our generation will require many solutions, such as supporting the use of renewable energy, keeping fossil fuels in the ground, protecting forests, reducing plastic production and preventing unsustainable business practices.
Repairing the damage done to the Great Barrier Reef—and other ecosystems around the world—will be no easy job, but we believe that individuals, businesses and governments will make a change and then there will be hope in the future.
1. What can we know about the Great Barrier Reef?A.It is a lifeless coral reef structure. |
B.It has the most preserved ecosystem. |
C.It is a threat to the survival of human. |
D.It has been affected by various factors. |
A.Taken out. | B.Given away. | C.Driven out. | D.Washed away. |
A.Coral reefs are experiencing growth. |
B.The loss of corals is expected to decrease. |
C.Coral bleaching takes place more frequently. |
D.The government has taken steps to stop coral bleaching. |
A.Positive. | B.Negative. | C.Doubtful. | D.Indifferent. |
Researchers and wetland protectors in Wuhan, Hubei Province, are stepping up efforts to allow more wildlife to survive in their natural habitat.
In 2012, Baer’s pochard, the blue-headed duck,
In 2019, the Wuhan Bird Watching Society started researching and rescuing the habitats of the duck. They found that the ducks feed on