1 . 语法填空

Glass recycling has become such a big industry that the amount of glass     1     (recycle) is not meeting the demand for new glass to be produced. Some states in U. S. have attempted to resolve this situation in hopes of encouraging the     2     (produce) of glass over plastic by offering monetary incentives (奖励) for glass. For example, California has a special program     3     you can earn five cents for most glass bottles as well as plastic ones and aluminum cans less than 24 ounces. For items over 24 ounces, you can earn 10 cents each.

2 . As water levels rise, causing severe erosion, many coastal Puerto Ricans are left watching their homes fall into the sea. A small software company in Puerto Rico called Terra Firma, founded in 2019 by island native Alejandro Mieses, is using satellite data to forecast accurate erosion pain points that might help Puerto Rican city planners better protect their island.

Terra Firma is dealing with the challenge of scattered (分散的) environmental data by creating a single database. Their user-friendly software allows scientists, construction professionals, and government agencies to model and predict environmental risks accurately. Similar to a powerful Google Maps, the software collects data from 1941 to the present, enabling users to predict erosion, landslides, flooding, solar exposure, and wind-related risks for up to 30 years.

This technology, once only available to well-funded projects, is now helping communities and individuals to protect their land. Since Hurricane Maria in 2017, Puerto Rico has focused on rebuilding a stronger island. With Terra Firma’s predictive data on flooding and erosion, city planners can better prepare for severe weather events.

One organization collaborating with Terra Firma is Blue Tide, a non-governmental group devoted to oceanic research and promoting the Blue Economy. After Hurricane Maria damaged coral reefs important for coastline protection, Blue Tide asked Terra Firma to design 3D-printed tiles. These unique tiles, made of clay, will help prevent erosion during future storms. They are shaped like cylinders (圆柱体), creating a nesting space for young coral, and over the next ten years, the clay is expected to dissolve (溶解), forming a complete organic coral reef.

This innovative approach aims to help Puerto Rico deal with erosion caused by storms, and Terra Firma plans to come up with more solutions as weather events get worse. According to Mieses, Terra Firma gives hope to Puerto Rico, which often faces hurricanes, by providing insights to better prepare for future storms and protect important infrastructure.

Currently, Terra Firma operates only in Puerto Rico, but they hope to expand to the southern United States in the next few years. Their work shows how technology can help deal with the effects of climate change on vulnerable coastal communities.

1. What do we know about Terra Firma’s software?

A．It depends on Google Maps.

B．It helps predict possible risks.

C．It is used only by governmental groups.

D．It demands specialized technical knowledge.

2. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Terra Firma’s latest product.

B．Terra Firma’s expansion plans.

C．Terra Firma’s promising future.

D．Terra Firma’s partnership with Blue Tide.

3. What does the underlined word “innovative” probably mean in Paragraph 5?

A．Creative.

B．Ordinary.

C．Traditional.

D．Official.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To entertain.

B．To persuade.

C．To inform.

D．To relate.

3 . 目前全球环境变得越来越糟糕。请根据此话题写一篇倡议书。具体内容如下：
1、目前现状(乱扔垃圾、污染等)；
2、采取的措施(两点)；
3、发出倡议。
注意：1. 词数80词左右; 2，适当添加细节，以使行文流畅。
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . In the summer of 2021, an unseasonal event took place. More than 100 miles of Florida’s coast around Tampa Bay became an oxygen-depleted (缺氧的) zone containing dead fish along the nearby shoreline.

Much of the conversation around our climate crisis highlights the emission of greenhouse gases and their effect on warming, sea-level rise and ocean acidification (海洋酸化). We hear little about the effect of climate change on oxygen levels, particularly in oceans and lakes. But water without adequate oxygen cannot support life. For the three billion people who depend on coastal fisheries for income, declining ocean oxygen levels are devastating.

As ocean and atmospheric scientists focus on climate, we believe that oceanic oxygen levels are the next big victim of global warming. To stop the situation from worsening, we need to expand our attention to include the dangerous state of oceanic oxygen levels — the life-support system of our planet. We need to accelerate ocean-based climate solutions that boost oxygen. Examples include nature-based solutions such as those discussed at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow.

Enhanced monitoring of oxygen and the establishment of an oxygen-accounting system are a must. Putting oxygen into the climate story motivates us to do the work to understand the deep systemic changes happening in our complex atmospheric and oceanic systems. We celebrated the return of humpback whales in recent years to an increasingly clean New York Harbor and Hudson River. However, dead fish blocked the Hudson in the summer as warmer waters carried less oxygen.

Ecosystem changes connected to physical and chemical system-level data may point the way to new approaches to climate solutions. It includes an enhanced understanding of the life-support system of our planet. Roughly 40 percent of the world’s people depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. If we do not save marine life from oxygen starvation, we starve ourselves.

1. What is the result of less ocean oxygen according to the text?

A．A rise in the coastal fisheries.	B．The warming of the atmosphere.
C．The emission of greenhouse gases.	D．An increase in deaths of sea animals.

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 3?

A．Attention to oceans is necessary.	B．Global warming effects are serious.
C．Oceanic oxygen levels are dangerous.	D．Ways to boost oceanic oxygen are urgent.

3. Why does the author mention humpback whales in Paragraph 4?

A．To bring in an oxygen-accounting system in climate.

B．To explain the urgency of oxygen levels in atmosphere.

C．To call for more attention to oxygen starvation in waters.

D．To show the achievements in reducing air pollution.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Save Marine Life.	B．Make Oceans Safe.
C．Let Oceans Breathe.	D．Keep Marine System.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Edgar McGregor, a climate activist, spent hundreds of days straight picking up litter     1     (drop) on the roads in Eaton Canyon, which is part of the Angeles National Forest in southern California.

McGregor was committed to clearing up litter while     2     (post) his progress on Twitter. His Twitter account quickly rose from one     3     (follow) to more than 17,000! McGregor was motivated to start this journey by the news     4     Los Angeles would be hosting the Olympic Games in 2028. He thought the litter-infested (垃圾遍布的) forests would be a “national embarrassment” for the United States. He decided to start with cleaning Eaton Canyon since he lived close to it.

Many people are thankful     5     his work, as this area is now free of waste. Recently, McGregor     6     (public) announced that there was no longer trash to be found in the area. However, his work was not complete. He planned to go back there     7     (maintain) its clean condition.   

When asked about his experience, McGregor said, “    8     it was burning hot or pouring with rain, I would be out there for at least an hour every single day, cleaning up my area.” All of the recyclables he finds     9     (turn) in and the money goes to charity. Up to now, many     10     (organize), such as World Central Kitchen and rural schools in Uganda have received donation from McGregor.

7 . Habitat improvement and a series of protective measures have played a crucial role in the rise of the population of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys(滇金丝猴) , one of the planet’s most endangered animals.

The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, also known as the black-and-white snub-nosed monkey, lives in high-altitude areas at more than 3,000 meters above sea level in Southwest China’s Yunnan province and the neighboring Xizang autonomous region. About 65 percent of its population inhabits the Baima Snow Mountain National Nature Reserve.

“Currently, the reserve is home to about 3,000 Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys,” said Lai Jiandong, head of the Wildlife Protection Station at the Baima reserve. When the reserve was first established in 1983, however, the population numbered a mere 800.

Lai stresses the continuous enhancement of management levels within the Baima reserve, including the adoption of cutting-edge technologies for monitoring and protecting not only the snub-nosed monkeys but also other endangered wildlife species.

“In recent years, using technologies like infrared(红外线) cameras, we have taken pictures of rare and endangered creatures such as leopards, jackals and sambar deer,” Lai noted, emphasizing the important role of such advancements in wild animal protection.

The primary duties of the Wildlife ProtectionStation involve the daily care of the snub-nosed monkeys in the Weixi Lisu autonomous county, as well as the sheltering and rescue of injured animals. “Over the past few years, we have provided assistance to more than 200 wild animals, including Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys, pandas and macaques,” said Lai.

The Yunnan snub-nosed monkey is under China’s national first-class protection and has been listed as an endangered species on the Red List of Threatened Species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They will be better protected.

1. Which isn’t a factor that contributes to the increase of the population of Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys?

A．Rising public concerns.	B．Advanced technologies.
C．Protective measures.	D．Improved living habitats.

2. What do we learn about Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys?

A．They only live in Yunnan province.

B．Their population has dropped sharply since 1983.

C．They are well-protected by the Wildlife Protection Station.

D．Over 200 Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys have been rescued up to now.

3. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．People rescue many injured animals in Yunnan.

B．Infrared cameras have captured images of rare wildlife.

C．Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys increase in high mountains.

D．Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys are the most endangered animals.

4. Where may the passage come from?

A．A textbook.	B．A newspaper.
C．An advertisement.	D．An economic journal.

8 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A awareness       B. clear       C. encourage       D. ignore E. immediate       F. limiting       G. redesigning       H. significantly I. team       J. theme       K. unlikely

Go Recycling

No one looking at the state of Earth in 2023 can be in any doubt that we are facing three serious environmental problems: climate problem, loss of biodiversity (生物多样性) and pollution of air, soil and water. To solve the problems, we increase the use of electric cars,     1     greener eating and reduce plastic use. However, sometimes these solutions can be opposite to the expected goals. For instance, creating space for biofuel crops to give off fewer pollutants and greenhouse gases can, in fact,     2     increase the cutting down of trees. That means in most cases solutions aiming at one problem each time are     3     to be effective. And, what is perhaps lacking is a(n)     4     of how interlinked these problems are.

We should realize that a key     5     linking all the three problems is waste. The root cause of global warming is CO₂, a waste gas. The seas are polluted by plastic and other waste products. We     6     forests, among other things, to grow more food — much of which goes to waste.

A shocking figure lies at the heart of our special report on our world — of the more than 100 billion tons of things that humans use each year, hardly 10% is recycled. That makes it obvious a full-range war on waste should be paid     7     attention. The situation requires our speedy moving away from the way of thinking — “take, make, throw” — towards a more recyclable one, which means we should begin     8     the products and when they reach the end of their useful lives, they can be recycled.

Solving the three problems calls for a huge transition with joint efforts. Governments must take the lead by introducing laws with the purpose of rewarding green practices, such as the     9     of waste. Industries can reduce, re-use and recycle wherever possible, and     10     themselves with suppliers and the like-minded to realize recyclable business models.

9 . McCormick Place in Chicago, the largest convention center (会议中心) in North America, is covered in glass that is enjoyable for humans but deadly for birds. On Oct 5, over 1,000 migrating birds died from colliding with (相撞) its glass walls in a single day.

According to data from Cornell University, the number of birds killed there during that one night is roughly equal to the typical yearly bird collision deaths at the building.

One key reason for the accident is the glass. During the day, birds fly toward glass as it reflects a perfect image of the sky and nearby trees. As night falls, the bright light from glass buildings attracts birds who fly according to the location of the moon and stars. The recent collision happened on the night of Oct 5, when the lights in the building were on for an event.

After colliding with a building, many birds will die on the spot from a broken skull. Others may continue to fly for some distance, but they rarely survive for more than a few hours, as Brendon Samuels, who researches bird window collisions at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, told The Guardian.

Every year, nearly one billion birds collide with glass in the US, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In China, bird collisions are not uncommon, either. In the autumn of 2022 and spring of 2023, the National Anti-bird Collisions Action Alliance reported a total of 190 cases of bird collisions, which included several types of birds listed as second-class protected wildlife.

These tragedies (悲剧) could have been avoided if appropriate (合适的) measures had been taken. Many places around the world have already put forward bird-related guidelines on building design. These include reducing the use of glass in building walls and applying bird-friendly materials and visual markers (视觉标记) to the buildings’ walls. Turning off lights at night during migration seasons can also significantly help reduce bird collisions.

Alongside guidelines on bird-friendly building design, people can also do their bit to help birds by putting stickers (贴纸) on glass windows in their homes and closing the curtains at night.

1. What do we know about the bird collision event that happened in Chicago on Oct 5?

A．It happened during the day.

B．About 10,000 birds were killed.

C．McCormick Place closed because of it.

D．The building`s glass is a key cause of it.

2. According to the passage, what happens to the birds after they collide with buildings?

A．Many die instantly or within a few hours due to injuries.

B．They fly back to where they came from.

C．They will be rescued and rehabilitated.

D．Most survive but with minor injuries.

3. What are the typical characteristics of bird-building collisions?

A．Common and harmful to birds.

B．Unavoidable and friendly to birds.

C．Rare and damaged to both birds and buildings.

D．Infrequent and preventable to both birds and buildings.

4. What measure is suggested to help prevent bird collisions?

A．Building taller structures.

B．Painting buildings in bright colors.

C．Increasing lighting around buildings at night.

D．Reducing glass and adding bird-safe materials in buildings.

5. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The effects of closing curtains at night on bird migration.

B．The National Anti-bird Collisions Action Alliance report.

C．The tragedy of bird collision with building glass.

D．The largest convention center in North America.

10 . Tian Wangui and his wife Lu Min are villagers in Qiantian Village, Liaoning Province. They began planting trees over forty years ago. With their hard work, the two barren (贫瘠的) mountains are covered by trees now.

After leaving the army in the 1980s, Tian got back home and began planting fruit trees on the hills. In 1982, the couple got the contract rights (承包经营权) of two mountains. At first, they planted some young fruit trees on part of the land. In order to water them, they had to carry water up to the top of the mountains many times a day by themselves.

Now, the two mountains are covered by more than 50,000 trees of over 20 kinds. More than 2,000 birds live in the trees in the mountains.

“We cared for the mountains and trees as we cared for our children,” said Lu. “Even as we grow old, our children will protect the woods, watch over the birds and keep our dream alive.”

1. What did Tian Wangui do before he began planting trees?

A．He served in the army.

B．He watched over the birds.

C．He cared for the children.

D．He carried water up to the mountains.

2. Which word can best describe the couple?

A．Determined.

B．Friendly.

C．Curious.

D．Brave.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A couple got the contract rights by planting trees.

B．A couple taught their children to plant trees for over forty years.

C．A couple kept planting trees on the mountains for over forty years.

D．A couple helped the villagers plant trees on the mountains for over forty years.