1 . A team of scientists has come up with a plan to help rebuild the Arctic (北极) ice cap.
Usually, the sea ice gets thicker and spreads further each winter, but this hasn't happened for the past few years.
Last month, the ice cap had reached its smallest size since scientists began keeping a record of it 38 years ago. The weather in the Arctic has been unusually warm this winter. Some days, temperatures have been 20 degrees Celsius higher than before at this time of year. With less ice, the Arctic would warm up even more quickly, and more ice would melt (融化). Without sea ice, many animals would lose their natural homes.
Dr Steven Desch and a group of scientists from Arizona State University in the United States think they can help to build up Arctic sea ice again. They want to fix wind-powered pumps (抽水机) on the sea ice. During the winter, the pumps would spread water from the ocean over the surface of the ice where it would freeze and form a new layer of ice. The scientists say that in 10 years, this could add a metre of ice to the ice cap.(The Arctic ice cap is about two to three metres thick right now.)
The plan would require about 10 million pumps and it would be very expensive—about $655 billion. Some other scientists are wondering if the pumps would actually work in cold Arctic conditions. They are also worried about how the project might affect the environment.
Dr Desch and his team hoped their plan would get more people interested in looking for a solution to the problem of melting sea ice. He said the only plan people have right now is to try to cut greenhouse gas emissions (温室气体排放) from cars and other man-made sources. He and his team don't think that will be enough to save the sea ice, but hope it will get everyone moving in the right direction.
1. What does Paragraph 3 mainly tell us?A.The changes of Arctic weather. |
B.The history of the Arctic ice cap. |
C.The influence of the weather on the Arctic. |
D.The importance of sea ice to Arctic animals. |
A.By thickening the Arctic ice. |
B.By cutting pollution in the Arctic. |
C.By pumping sea water to the land. |
D.By making the Arctic attractive to wildlife. |
A.Hopeful. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Uncaring. | D.Surprised. |
A.It will surely work. |
B.It needs discussing. |
C.It is better than the present method. |
D.It will encourage others to take steps. |
2 . Many companies today hold meetings to discuss their new plans.As people are paying more attention to the environment problems,more companies are looking for ways to reduce their bad influence on the environment.Many of them achieve this by using web meeting.
With web meeting,all participants can attend the meeting at their own desks.
Materials for the meeting are e-mailed to all the participants before it begins.
As a meeting hall is not used,the only power for a web meeting is the power that is used by the computers.Besides,organisers don’t have to pay for food and accommodation (住宿) for the participants.
In a word,web meeting is a cheaper,greener,and more friendly way of hosting and attending a meeting.
A.Web meeting is a technology that allows people to communicate better over the Internet. |
B.All these mean that less energy is used. |
C.Then participants can just read them on the screen. |
D.Companies that hold web meeting are willing to work hard for a better environment. |
E.They can be printed (打印) by the receivers. |
F.They don’t need to drive a car to travel to and from the meeting. |
G.Web meeting is quite popular now. |
3 . China has made great improvements in environmental protection during the past 70 years.
In recent decades, a series of wildlife-protection movements have been carried out by the central government.
The giant panda used to have a population of 1,114 in the 1970s. It now totals 1,864 thanks to 52 protection areas.
A.As environmental damage has increased, signs of change have appeared around the world. |
B.Another species was once thought to be extinct. |
C.Scientists have worked to feed pandas and then release them into the wild. |
D.People call for immediate protection of the remaining species. |
E.The protection of several species in danger of extinction has made impressive progress thanks to the methods. |
F.China will continue its efforts of the wildlife protection. |
G.Protecting wildlife is, without doubt, an important part. |
4 . For many people who live in cities, parks are an important part of the landscape. They provide a place for people to relax and play sports, as well as a shelter from the often severe environment of a city. What people often overlook is that parks also provide considerable environmental benefits.
One benefit of parks is that plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, which humans need to breathe. According to one study, an acre of trees can absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide that a typical car emits in 11,000 miles of driving. Parks also make cities cooler. Scientists have long noted what is called the Urban Heat Island Effect: building materials such as metal and concrete (混凝土) absorb much more of the sun's heat and release (释放) it much more quickly than organic surfaces like trees and grass. Because city landscapes contain so much of these building materials, cities are usually warmer than surrounding rural areas. Parks and other green spaces help to lessen the Urban Heat Island Effect.
Unfortunately, many cities cannot easily create more parks because most land is already being used for buildings, roads, parking lots, and other essential parts of the urban environment. However, cities could benefit from many of the positive effects of parks by encouraging citizens to create another type of green space: rooftop gardens. While most people would not think of starting a garden on their roof, human beings have been planting gardens on rooftops for thousands of years. Some rooftop gardens are simple container gardens that anyone can create with the investment (投资) of a few hundred dollars and a few hours of work.
Rooftop gardens provide many of the same benefits as other urban parks and garden spaces, but without taking up the muchneeded land. In the summer, rooftop gardens prevent buildings from absorbing heat from the sun, which can significantly reduce cooling bills. In the winter, gardens help control the heat that materials like brick and concrete release so quickly, leading to savings on heating bills. Rooftop vegetable and herb gardens can also provide fresh food for city settlers, making their diets healthier. Rooftop gardens are not only something everyone can enjoy, they are also a smart environmental investment.
1. The underlined word “emits” in the second paragraph probably means “________”.A.carries away | B.takes up |
C.gives out | D.breathes in |
A.More building materials. |
B.More trees and grass. |
C.More parking lots. |
D.More rooftop gardens. |
A.They make people much happier. |
B.They provide more benefits than urban parks. |
C.They help to save money and keep a healthy diet. |
D.They have become very popular in recent years. |
A.Sceptical. | B.Supportive. |
C.Critical. | D.Objective. |
5 . Earth Day falls on 22 April and it began in 1970. It has grown into a global event recognized by over 192 countries. Devoting a special day to helping Earth is a way to demonstrate how much we care about the future of our planet. If you like, there's always a way for you to get involved in Earth Day celebrations. But you don’t have to wait for Earth Day to show your love for the planet we call home.The following are what you can do for our mother Earth.
Learn more about the environment.
Earth Day is a good time to make a commitment to learning more about the environment and how you can help to protect it. Read articles to get up to date on the current issues affecting the environment,like pollution, water shortage and climate change. Or, learn about a region you’ve never thought about before, like the Arctic, the deserts or the rainforests. Not sure where to start? Check out your local news sources for information about environmental issues in your own backyard.
Join an environmental group.
Think about the issues that concern you the most and if you haven't done so already, join a local group that undertakes activities to help protect the environment in your area. Earth Day is a great day to start getting involved In almost any community, you'll find local groups that do the following.
Host clean-ups of local rivers, lakes or seashores.
Plant trees and grow flowers or vegetables in community gardens.
Protect wildlife habitats under threat.
Spread the word
Everyone who has environmental knowledge can share with others. It's a good way to talk about the environment with people who may not think about it that much. Talk to your parents, friends,teachers, siblings, and anyone else you'd like to know about the issues you care about most.
1. The underlined word"demonstrate"in paragraph 1 can be replaced by “______”.A.display | B.make sure | C.lead to | D.throw light on |
A.checking out local news |
B.planting trees in community gardens |
C.sharing environmental knowledge with others |
D.using public transport like buses |
A.tell us what we can do to protect Earth |
B.inform us of the information about Earth Day |
C.tell us the background of Earth Day |
D.tell us the significance of Earth Day |
Earlier 2019,the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development published
This is a bad
The answer is that the Himalaya, for example, long defined by
7 . More than one million single-use straws (吸管), most of them plastic, are used in the United States each day. They end up in waterways, harm sea animals, and break down into micro-plastics. Quantities of places have passed plastic-straw bans as a way to start handling the global plastic waste problem.
Straw materials: advantages and disadvantages
1. Metal
Made of stainless steel, aluminum, or even titanium, metal straws have become popular. They draw some criticism for having a metallic taste and conducting heat from a hot drink, but they’re strong and can be reused.
2. Paper
Paper drinking straws, which date from the late 1800s, often absorb liquid over time and can leave a taste or fibers in drinks. They’re the most popular throwaway choice in places with plastic-straw bans.
3. Glass
Though glass straws may be more breakable and thus less portable than reusable straws of other materials, they hold up well to washing and reuse. Some straws are made to look artistic, with colors and blown-glass designs.
4. Bamboo
This natural material can be sustainably produced and is a plant-based replacement of plastic straws. Bamboo straws are easily disposed of and turned into fertilizer. They are reusable but can be hard to clean completely and may absorb flavors.
1. What is the major problem with plastic straws?A.Function. | B.Flavor. |
C.Weight. | D.Pollution. |
A.Metal straw. | B.Paper straw. |
C.Glass straw. | D.Bamboo straw. |
A.It can become fertilizer. | B.It is easy to clean. |
C.It is portable and bendable. | D.It has different designs. |
8 . Greening the Kubuqi Desert
China has seen great achievements in improving the environment and green development over the past 70 years. Solid efforts have been made to fight pollution and continuously improve the environment.
As President Xi Jinping has said, clear waters and green mountains are invaluable assets(资产).
A series of campaigns have been carried out by the central government to improve the environment.
In Kubuqi, a desert in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Elion has greened 600,000 hectares of land and helped lift more than 102,000 people out of poverty through the development of solar energy and tourism, as well as planting herbs for traditional Chinese medicine.
In addition, the group’s techniques have also been used in many ecological(生态的)programs, including Yangtze River Ecological Park and Qilian Mountain National Park.
“
A.Once the environment gets better, we will live a happier life. |
B.For example, in 1998, China started the Natural Forest Protection Program. |
C.Desertification was a serious problem in the 1990s. |
D.Another example of the campaign is the Elion Resources Group. |
E.Pollution is getting worse and worse nowadays. |
F.Efforts to create “green” areas have played a crucial role in the country’s fight against desertification. |
G.We will come up with new ways to improve our ability to control the sand. |
9 . How to Be Eco-friendly
If you’d love to be more eco-friendly but don’t know where to begin, start with a few small changes.
Lowering Your Energy.
Turn off lights and unplug power strips (电源插板) that you’re not using.
Using public transportation.
Say no to unnecessary plastic straws, lids, and bags and stop using plastic wrap and plastic containers for food storage. Instead, you can use reusable water bottles made of sustainable material like glass, bamboo, and ceramic.
Considering growing a plant.
They add more oxygen to the air, which means a less polluted air. If you don’t have a green thumb, choose some plants that are rather easy to look after.
A.Reduce your gas consumption and carbon emissions by walking, biking, or taking the bus. |
B.Here are some suggestions for you to live an eco-friendly life. |
C.Use less energy during the hot summer months and cold winter season. |
D.This is an easy way to reduce energy use. |
E.Using items more than once. |
F.Cutting Back on Plastics and Waste. |
G.“Lucky Bamboo” is especially good for that, since it demands nearly no attention. |
10 . Lego is considering a brick (积木) rental plan in an attempt to cut down on plastic waste. The Danish toymaker has promised to make all its bricks from sustainable (可持续的) sources by 2030 and is investing significant resources into finding alternatives.
Tim Brooks, vice-president responsible for sustainability, said the company was “totally open” to the idea of a product rental plan but admitted that lost pieces could produce a significant problem. “What are the chances of giving them to an eight-year-old child and getting them all back again?” Mr. Brooks added.
“There is a lot of technical thinking that needs to be done. We are right at beginning of that.” Mr. Brooks said Lego was exploring several ideas with a view to producing the highest value from products while consuming the least amount of resources. He said many would “probably never see the light of day” and there was no current plan to try out a rental plan.
Lego has come under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint among growing international alarm about the impact of plastic waste on the environment. It produces 19 billion pieces per year—36, 000 a minute—that are made entirely of plastic while much of the inside packaging is also plastic.
So far, the only breakthrough has been the development of a line of bricks made from plant-based plastic sourced from sugarcane. The green trees, plants and flowers were first included in Lego sets late last year but make up only 1%-2% of the total amount of plastic elements produced. Henrik Nielson, a production supervisor (主管) in Lego’s factory, said last year: “We need to learn again how to do this.”
Lego reportedly releases around a million tons of carbon dioxide each year, with about 75% coming from raw materials that go into factories. The company has invested more than 100, 000,000 euros and hired 100 people to research non-plastic alternatives. It is aiming to keep all of its packaging out of landfill by 2025.
1. Lego is making great efforts to ________.A.promote its brick rental plan | B.raise its production efficiency |
C.explore ways to reduce plastic waste | D.develop new products |
A.is well under way | B.has a long way to go |
C.is totally useless | D.goes against Lego’s interest |
A.figures | B.examples |
C.comparison | D.classification |
A.Defensive. | B.Determined. |
C.Disapproving. | D.Doubtful. |