1 . More than half the world’s population live in cities, and by 2050 the UN expects that proportion to reach 68%. This means more homes, roads and other infrastructure. Such a construction
As it happens, Chicago might become part of the
As the AAAs meeting heard this week, wood is one of the most
All this
If building with wood takes off, it does raise concern about there being enough trees to
A.project | B.ambition | C.boom | D.security |
A.expand | B.reform | C.contract | D.survive |
A.rebel | B.outcome | C.answer | D.issue |
A.greener | B.friendlier | C.lighter | D.taller |
A.overbalanced | B.overshadowed | C.overlooked | D.overstated |
A.domestic | B.promising | C.debatable | D.artificial |
A.beauty | B.strength | C.friction | D.dimension |
A.nevertheless | B.instead | C.moreover | D.meanwhile |
A.deliveries | B.checkouts | C.purchases | D.payments |
A.adds value | B.gives credit | C.gives a boost | D.makes a difference |
A.cement | B.timber | C.concrete | D.synthetics |
A.positive | B.negative | C.friendly | D.resistant |
A.go round | B.go away | C.go over | D.go down |
A.advocates | B.strategies | C.forests | D.farmers |
A.imposing | B.visible | C.universal | D.structural |
1. What does Brian Kane do?
A.A truck driver. |
B.A rubbish collector. |
C.A professional climber. |
A.To visit Nepal. |
B.To volunteer on Mount Qomolangma. |
C.To go to the top of Mount Qomolangma. |
A.Extremely upset. |
B.Indifferent. |
C.Very excited. |
A.Brave and hardworking. |
B.Unwise and pointless. |
C.Without common sense. |
3 . The number of fish caught just outside a recently expanded marine (海洋) protected area in Hawaii has risen. It is a sign that quadrupling (四倍) the size of the reserve in 2016 may have shored fish populations in the region.
When the Marine National Monument around Hawaii was enlarged to 1,510,000 square kilometers, marine conservationists around the world rejoiced.
Fishers may have felt differently, however, as fishing inside the area is not allowed. Yet by creating a space for dwindling tuna populations to recover, supporters argued, the reserve would benefit fisheries as well.
As populations inside the reserve boundaries steadily increased, they predicted, the fish would spill (溢出) over into the surrounding areas, increasing the amount of tuna available to catch.
Proving that is tricky, however, as tuna can’t be counted directly. Their numbers may rise or fall for a variety of reasons other than the expansion of a reserve. But the new study, published in Science this week, strongly suggests the number of fish caught just outside the MPA is higher now than it used to be.
Alan Friedlander, chief scientist for the National Geographic Society’s Pristine Seas project, calls the study a “very careful and strict test of spillover from marine protected areas.”
Importantly, says John Lynham, an environmental economist at the University of Hawaii and one of the study’s authors, the increase in tuna catches near the reserve held up even when looking at the average numbers caught by particular fishers. This shows the effect is not due to more effective crews now fishing local waters, he explains. To account for effort, catch numbers were divided by the ever-increasing number of fishing hooks in the area.
Lynham and colleagues found the catch per hook increased over the 10 years of the study. Fishers were catching on average six more yellowfin and five more bigeye tuna per year after the expansion than before.
“That last one, especially, was a surprise,” says Lynham, “because it is economically much more important, and there were fewer indications of an increase.”
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?A.The rising number of fish caught is a sign of a well-reserved area. |
B.Enlarge the size of reserve may contribute to the increasing of fish population. |
C.The number of fish caught has risen to quadrupling (四倍) the size of that in 2016. |
D.Fish catching outside the reserve does good to the expanded marine protected area. |
A.They felt joyful. | B.They felt different. | C.They felt unpleasant. | D.They felt excited. |
A.By figuring the average catch per hook in the area. |
B.By summing up the catch of mare effective crews. |
C.By looking at the numbers caught by particular fishers. |
D.By detecting the number of tuna population in the surrounding area. |
A.Tuna population embraces a boost | B.Marine Protected Areas Help Fisheries |
C.Local fisheries hold a promising future | D.Tuna population can be counted scientifically |
When I was eleven years old, I moved to Tampa, Florida. My parents traveled for a living, so Aunt Emily took care of me while they were away. One rainy morning, there was an old lady who was dressed in a bright orange coat carrying a rubbish bag and a stick. “What’s that old lady doing?” I asked Emily, pointing out of the window to the street in front of the house.
Hearing my question, Emily answered, “She’s picking up rubbish around here for fun.” “Oh,” I answered. “Interesting... Why would someone think picking up rubbish is fun?” For a long time, I often saw that old lady—rain or shine—on my way to school. In the beginning, I thought she was crazy to pick up rubbish. However, I finally smiled and waved at her each time I saw her.
Later, when I moved to college, I’d see rubbish in the grass and feel really angry about it. I’d think, “Why isn’t anyone picking up rubbish? People are so unconcerned!” But shortly after that, I said to myself, “Why do I think picking up rubbish is someone else’s duty?” And I couldn’t walk past trash without feeling guilty (内疚的).
So while walking in the college, I began picking up rubbish and made sure the campus was in better shape than I previously found it. My behavior influenced some students. They started to help me out.
Like me, they also picked up rubbish whenever they noticed it. And our college became more beautiful. Seeing that, I began to think, “If I can pick up rubbish outside the college—in other places of the town, it may make a big difference to the town.”
But picking up rubbish in front of many people outside the college needs courage. It could be embarrassing. But it was the right thing to do. I decided to try it.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
So one day I called up all my courage and collected rubbish on a nearby street.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I thought if more students took part in the voluntary activity, things would be much better.
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5 . Goodish News of Climate Change
Emissions of carbon dioxide (related to energy production) have stabilized, for now.
Is it a peak, a stutter or just a brief pause? Time will tell. But whatever it is, on February 11th the International Energy Agency (IEA), an intergovernmental
Energy-related emissions, which include those (produced by electricity generation), heating and transport,
As a result of this the CO₂-intensity of electricity generation—a(n)
This is not the first time energy related emissions have plateaued (保持稳定). Between 2013 and 2016 they hovered around 32.2bn tonnes a year, before rising again in 2017 as the use of coal to
A.circumstance | B.environment | C.contribution | D.organization |
A.available | B.similar | C.related | D.referred |
A.call for | B.account for | C.stand for | D.allow for |
A.decline | B.increase | C.promotion | D.recovery |
A.product | B.idea | C.measure | D.result |
A.floating | B.falling | C.disappearing | D.remaining |
A.outcome | B.change | C.effect | D.achievement |
A.fuel | B.regulate | C.handle | D.expand |
A.frequent | B.previous | C.natural | D.disastrous |
A.tips | B.plans | C.warnings | D.comments |
A.booming | B.dynamic | C.strong | D.depressed |
A.In addition | B.By contrast | C.In consequence | D.In fact |
A.accidentally | B.absolutely | C.historically | D.correctly |
A.prospect | B.ability | C.need | D.decision |
A.anger | B.hope | C.devotion | D.surprise |
Throughout the world, only 15% of the material that are used to make clothing is properly recycled, according to the Alle SacUrthur Club, an organization in Liverpool, UK, that boosts the circular economy. Most clothing waste—an
A change in the manufacturing process is being applied to the textile-waste problem by Essen, a start-up in Seattle, Washington.
Although there are abundant technical challenges, the main barrier
A. abandoned B. challenge C. colored D. demonstrate E. ensures F. initiatives G. innovation H. pilot I. purchased J. recycled K. tailors |
Lego: One Step Closer to Being Sustainable
The Lego Group is one step closer to reaching its goal of making all its products from sustainable materials by 2030.
The Danish toymaker revealed a prototype (雏形) brick made from
“The biggest
It will be “some time” before bricks made from used materials can be
“Experimentation and failing is an important part of learning and
The move follows last year’s announcement that the company was making a $400 million investment over three years into sustainability
8 . At the United Nations COP27 climate conference in Egypt, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres claimed that the world is on a “highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator (油门)”. To keep temperature from rising 1. 5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels by 2100, we need to pull a stop on greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, we’d basically have to bring the runaway truck to a complete and immediate stop. Now is the time for us to pull back before it is too late.
The climate pledges (承诺) made by nations at last year’s COP26 conference felt like a positive step in the right direction, but there’s very little doubt that the average temperature rise on Earth will pass the 1. 5-degree mark in the coming decades. Can we limit this overshoot? And how might we do that?
A study, released Thursday in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, tried to answer those questions by modeling 27 different emissions reduction pathways of varying ambition. It came to an unsurprising conclusion:Countries need to act by increasing the ambition of their climate pledges. And they need to act now.
The 1. 5-degree rise has long been seen as a critical mark in the fight against climate change. Since the signing of the Paris Agreement at COP21 seven years ago, scientists have studied how this level of warming above preindustrial temperatures would affect the Earth. The models they’ve built show we are likely to see more extreme weather events, in addition to glacial melt, sea level rise that threatens many low-lying Pacific nations and significant loss of biodiversity once temperatures push past an increase of 1.5 degrees.
Though the 1. 5-degree target is practically dead, the situation isn’t hopeless. Now more than ever, there’s reason to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting more ambitious goals. However, ambition alone is not enough.We also need action -— investing in renewables and technologies like carbon capture and rapidly transforming our energy systems.
1. What did Antonio Guterres try to do in the first paragraph?A.Make a request. | B.Issue a warning. |
C.Provide a solution. | D.Offer a suggestion. |
A.What’s done cannot be undone. |
B.Setting a goal is what matters. |
C.Action speaks louder than words. |
D.Failing to plan is planning to fail. |
A.To show the consequences of rising temperatures. |
B.To predict the problems with extreme weather events. |
C.To find the solutions to controlling global warning. |
D.To tell the importance of protecting the environment. |
A.By sharing confidence and inspiring. |
B.By expressing concern and criticizing. |
C.By voicing doubts and making complaints. |
D.By spreading hope and appealing for action. |
9 . As seabird biologist Bonnie Slaton slides off a small boat and walks through high water, the brown pelicans (鹈鹕) spread their wings overhead until she reaches Raccoon Island. The narrow island is a small piece of land separating the American state of Louisiana from the Gulf of Mexico. During the seabird breeding (繁殖) season, the placer, one of the few remaining places of safety for the pelicans, is full of noise.
Twelve years ago, there were 15 low-lying islands with breeding areas for Louisiana’s state bird. However, today, only about six islands in southeastern Louisiana have brown pelican nests and the rest have disappeared underwater.
Slaton and other scientists set u cameras to observe pelican nests on the island. The cameras show that in recent years the pelicans have faced some natural disasters. The main killer of them is flooding, which can wash away all the nests, as happened in April 2021. The disappearing islands are the location of a story of successful conservation. For many years, scientists have worked to bring the pelicans beck from tally dying off.
Mike Carloss is a state wildlife biologist in Louisiana. He said he never saw brown pelicans as a child in the 1960s. Their populations had been killed by the use of DDT, a kind of farm chemical. It thinned eggshells and prevented pelicans from giving birth to young birds. The beloved birds were completely gone from Louisiana, only appearing on the state flag. But a long-running effort to save them led to the birds’ return. After DDT was stopped in the U.S. in 1972, biologists brought young pelicans from nearby Florida to let them inhabit empty islands across the Gull of Mexico again. More than 1,200 pelicans have been set free in southeastern Louisiana over 13 years.
The brown pelicans can live more than 20 years. So, the final effect of disappearing breeding areas is uncertain and it will sill take time to become clear. And the future for pelicans is uncertain on the islands.
1. What is a killer of brown pelicans?A.The island movement. | B.The underwater noise. |
C.The increase of human population. | D.The disappearance of breeding areas. |
A.To stop illegal hunting. | B.To watch pelicans’ home. |
C.To predict serious flooding. | D.To record the number of pelicans |
A.Live on. | B.Focus on. | C.Break into. | D.Look into. |
A.Unconcerned. | B.Doubtful. | C.Curious. | D.Proud. |
10 . The San Diego County Water Authority has an unusual plan to use the city’s scenic San Vicente Reservoir (水库) to store solar power so it’s available after sunset. The project could help unlock America’s clean energy future.
Perhaps ten years from now, if all goes smoothly, large underground pipes will connect this lake to a new reservoir, a much smaller one, built in a nearby valley about 1100 feet higher. When the sun is high in the sky, California’s abundant solar power will pump water into that upper reservoir. It’s a way to store the electricity. When the sun goes down and solar power disappears, operators would open a valve (阀门) and the force of 8 million tons of water, falling back downhill through those same pipes, would drive machines capable of producing 500 megawatts of electricity for up to eight hours. That’s enough to power 130, 000 typical homes.
“It’s a water battery!” says Neena Kuzmich, Deputy Director of Engineering for the water authority. She says energy storage facilities like these will be increasingly important as California starts to rely more on energy from wind and solar, which produce electricity on their own schedules, without considering the demands of consumers.
Californians learned this during a heat wave this past summer. “Everybody in the state of California got a text message at 5:30 in the evening to turn off their appliances,” Kuzmich says. The sun was going down, solar generation was disappearing, and the remaining power plants, many of them burning gas, couldn’t keep up with demand. The reminder worked:People stopped using so much power, and the grid (电网) survived.
Yet earlier on that same day, there was so much solar power available that the grid couldn’t take it all. Grid operators turned away more than 2000 megawatt hours of electricity that solar generators could have delivered, enough to power a small city. That electricity was wasted. There was no way to store it for later, when operators desperately needed it.
1. What is the function of Paragraph 2?A.To present the importance of a reservoir. | B.To recall a situation in recent ten years. |
C.To introduce the usage of solar energy. | D.To explain a way to store electricity. |
A.The reservoir serves to store energy. | B.Californians need little solar energy. |
C.People used to waste too much energy. | D.New storage ways are environmentally friendly. |
A.To stop people working. | B.To warn people of danger. |
C.To tell people the sunset time. | D.To remind people of lack of energy. |
A.Scenic San Vicente Reservoir | B.San Diego County Energy Plan |
C.Water Batteries to Store Solar Power | D.Machines to Store Water in California |