2 . On December 16, 2023, the first section of Maya Train officially opened, which runs between Campeche and Cancún, 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 Yucatán Peninsula —from Cancún’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 biosphere 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 limit the movement of these animals within the reserve making it difficult for them 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(含水层的) most fragile 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 also requires driving long piles deep into the ground, which poses a big threat to this fragile 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 overlook 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.

Global warming is pushing the number of polar bears to     1     (it) limit. According to a new study, they could have fewer than 100 years left before     2     (extinct).

Polar bears live     3     hunting seals in the Arctic Ocean, but as ice melts in that region, their habitat continues to shrink. Amounts measured at the end of the 1970s show sea ice that lasts for more than a year in the Arctic has decreased at a rate of 13% per decade.

Studies show that     4     (decline) sea ice will lead to a reduction in polar bears. They will be unable to bear the effects of climate change over the next several decades. The scientists believe polar bears will be     5     (thorough) wiped out by 2100.

“What we’ve shown     6     (be) that, first, we’ll lose the survival of bear cubs (幼熊). Although cubs will be born, the female bears won’t have enough body fat to produce milk     7     (bring) them along through the ice-free season,” said Dr. Steven Amstrup, chief scientist of Polar Bears International, to the BBC.

The study estimates that, even in a situation     8     countries achieve a moderate (适度的) reduction in greenhouse gases, several     9     (population) of polar bears will disappear. But Amstrup said, “We can make     10     difference if we have an urge to keep climate change little.”

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    (throw) garbage into the river, lots of oil     2     was used by kitchens     3     board often thrown into the water, and more household and commercial waste as well as chemicals used to increase crop production ending up in the river.

    4    (fortune), local officials took urgent steps to restore the river’s original beauty. A comprehensive initiative was started to address the issues. With     5     construction of waste water treatment facilities, the water quality, water     6    (conserve) and the collection and transport of household waste were also improved. Polluting enterprises were closed     7     moved. Strict regulations regarding tour boat routes, garbage disposal methods and further industrial development were set up. Furthermore, the media     8    (use) to spread environmental awareness and encourage greater use of clean energy. The local authorities also carried out inspections regularly and fined tourist organizations for abuses. In addition, the     9    (ambition)“Water Ten Plan” is also now tackling water pollution across the country. With all these measures, it is believed that the beauty of the Li River will be preserved for generations     10    (come).

6 . 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.”

Notice

The Student Council

March, 1

8 . Growing up in Mauritius, I love nature. Behind my house, there is a mountain named Le Pouce, where I spent much time ______ he forest as a kid. However, my instinct (天性) for exploration

________ at the water’s edge. Even though Mauritius is an island country ________ by the Indian Ocean, the thought of entering the ocean made me ________.

When I was about 10, this started to change. I began learning about the _______ climate change presented to island countries, and I started developing an interest in protecting the environment. I watched nature documentaries, ______ the steps I could take to change the world, _______ I still didn’t know how to effectively achieve it. Later, I took the National Geographic Society’s Exploring Conservation courses, which set me on a path to helping start and ________ The Oceanic Project, an organization dedicated to helping people understand the ocean and enhancing people’s _____ of protecting the ocean.

Gradually, I realized how much humans ______ the ocean for its natural resources and that it was not as dangerous as I had imagined. My fear was rooted in a(n) ______ of falling into a river in my childhood. Determined to overcome it, I became a certified diver last year.

Diving plays a big part in my life now, and I work to _____ the protection of the underwater environment. I got encouraged by the ________ of the activity when a parent told me her son insisted on replacing plastic items in their home with bamboo alternatives after returning home.

Protecting the ocean is very _______ and I’ll keep devoting myself to it. And I sincerely hope more people will ________ me. Only with everyone’s effort can we make the world a wonderful place for human beings.