3 . Artificial cloud technology could soon be used in the fight against environmental damage. Researchers in Australia have used machines to spray salt water into the air, and noted that the reflective qualities of these artificial clouds helped protect the Great Barrier Reef from sun bleaching (漂白).

The so-called cloud brightening project works by thickening existing clouds and reducing sunlight exposure to protect the reef. No artificial chemicals make it into the clouds in the sky. When water droplets steam, they leave only small salt crystals that float up into the atmosphere. This provides a larger surface area for water vapor to be liquids around them, forming thicker clouds.

The past two years have seen uncommon forest fires and droughts triggered by the climate change emergency, meaning that widespread use of this technique may become more commonplace if carbon emissions are not checked.

Drones, unmanned flying vehicles, have also entered the cloud controlling picture, used in the United Arab Emirates, a country desperately in need of more rainfall, to deliver electrical shocks to clouds in order to facilitate rainfall. Zapping (击打) clouds to produce a positive or negative charge within clouds can cause water droplets to form together. The greater the charge, the larger the droplets, which is vital for ensuring that as much rain as possible reaches the surface before steam gives off all the hard-won moisture (水分).

Even if one waves aside climate change, global waterfall shortages are still an increasing concern, given the planet’s booming population. More people means more mouths to feed, and the demand for water in agriculture for animals and crops further increases urgency for cloud controlling technology. An increase in rain also leads to positive economic growth in many countries, as large harvests stabilize financial systems and living standards in all climates.

Increasingly, scientists are looking to our skies in providing solutions to protect our environment. Cloud controlling technologies have promise. However, for this field of science to become practical economically, more research needs to be done in making this process a practicable option in protecting our environment.

4 . A couple has spent the last 25 years buying 300 acres of deserted farmlands and changed it into wildlife forest. They want to build the land to a real rainforest for elephants, birds and other endangered animals. Up to now, they’ve _______more than 300 kinds of birds as well as many_______animal species (种类).

_______, this was not the image in 1991 when they came to this part of the country. “When we came here, it was a_______. The owner wanted to sell it_______, because he could not _______coffee beans (咖啡豆) or anything else here, says Anil, who ran restaurant business in the US_______moving to India. “But for me and my wife, this was what we were_______of in our life.”

The couple had a special love for_______from their childhood. When they came to India, the pollution________them. “At that moment, we________to do something to explore the forests in India,” says Anil. “We were not looking for________. In the beginning, we________that shortage of fresh water will be a(n)________concern in India, so we must take care of its origin,” explains Anil.

They sold properties (财产) they owned in America, bought the first 55 acres and began to grow the first________. Soon, they got the land nearby as well. “Many of the local farmers considered it________to get money from the wasteland,” says Anil.

Stopping hunting was a big________and often the locals did not________what this couple was doing, so it required a lot of talking to build up the idea of ________. They worked with the forest department to set up camera traps and keep hunters away. “There are times we have to________with hunters. We were even in great danger once,” says Anil. “We hope what we are doing now will make a difference to animals.”

Last week, after learn a lot about recycling and other ways to help with the earth, our class decided to teach people around about Earth Day. First, we borrow 500 big brown paper bags from a local food store. Then, we decorated the bags Earth Day messages and pictures. Later, we returned the bags to a store so that shoppers which used the bags to take home our groceries could know about Earth Day. The earth is humans’ only home, as we need to try our best to protect it. Actions speak loud than words. It is time for us to do anything to save the planet.

7 . One evening, Catherine was at home as usual. As her____swung between what she was going to do with her life and their dinner plans for the evening, she was unexpectedly ___by an urgent call from her sister “Get over here! Turn on NBC and check these guys out. They are just like you…” One Facebook message and a phone interview later, Catherine____herself on a bus with 8 strangers in the middle of the sweltering desert heat of Utah, picking up trash and ___awareness about zero-waste and climate change.

With a deep____of the environment and a desire to make a __ , Catherine, Davey, and a group of self ___“environmental pick-up artists” went on a coast to coast road side trash pick-up. As they walked, sometimes only______0.9 miles in an entire day, they ____ and steadily made their way across the United States for three years, picking up a total of 201,678 pounds of trash.

Catherine and Davey____with us wonderful stories of hope and inspiration that fueled their___to continue their journey. After spending weeks silently______how she would have enough _____to fly home for their two-week spring break, Catherine found a blank, unidentified envelope____with $850 cash in the desert. Just enough to get her home and back. After their bus____outside of Denver, they unexpectedly got ____ and arrived in Yosemite National Park three weeks later, just in time for the “Yosemite Facelift” where____ from all over the state came together with a______of cleaning up trash all over the park.

Being at the right place at the right time became almost normal, and they realized that much of what they ____was more than just a coincidence. Together, their team learned to simply ____themselves to their task, and surrender to the journey.

8 . SYDNEY —Australian scientists have designed a system which uses microwaves to break down plastic into an environmentally friendly by-product.

Head of Electrical Engineering at Australia’s James Cook University, Prof. Mohan Jacob revealed on Thursday that by using microwaves, plastic waste can be converted into biochar(生物炭), charcoal that can be used as a soil conditioner.

“We are developing a processing room, which could process many kinds of plastic materials, up to 5 kilograms of waste,” Jacob said. “It will be a typical example system for the development of biochars from different types of plastics under various conditions.” Jacob explained that microwave energy is used to heat the plastic waste above 600 degrees centigrade within the custom-made room, where it ends up as a biochar, which can then be used to improve the properties of soil.

Currently underway is step one of the project, testing the room, after which, step two will involve improving the energy efficiency of the system and maximizing the yield of by-products. If all goes to plan, step three will be to construct a medium scale waste processing system which is customizable and can be installed remotely.

Jacob said that with the average person using 130 kg of plastic every year, there is an urgent need for developing better ways of processing it.

“Perhaps contrary to popular opinion, plastic is an indispensable material in modern life. It is cheap, competent, lightweight, and has many benefits like maintaining food quality and safety and preventing waste,” he said.

However, “abandoned plastics endanger our marine wildlife, and have begun to enter the food chain. There is an urgent need for developing technologies to recover plastic waste.”

9 . Help Hermit Crabs

Hermit crabs are nature’s recyclers. They eat waste and help keep oceans and shores clean. Unlike other crabs, the hermit crab has a thin outer shell over its soft tail. This makes the hermit crab easy prey for hungry predators. Hermit crabs stay safe by living in old seashells. A hermit crab is picky; it tries on many shells until it finds one that fits just right. In recent years, however, many hermit crabs have had trouble finding their perfect homes. What is the problems There are not enough shells to go around!

One reason for the seashell shortage is that ocean water is not as clean as it once was. This has caused chemical changes to sea water. Some sea animals, like snails, are affected by these changes. Now there are fewer snails making shells. People visiting the beach often take shells home as souvenirs. This is another problem. Other people even take shells for their own pet hermit crabs! They do not realize that hermit crabs in the wild need those shells too.

Now people are working to solve this hermit crab housing shortage. They are teaching beach-Boers to leave seashells where they belong — at the seashore! Some people even make fake seashells that they hope the hermit crabs will like. For example, a group called Project Shelter invited people who visited their website to create different designs for hermit crab shells.

These designers had a lot to consider. What kind of material should be used to build a seashells. The material must be light enough for the hermit crab to carry, but strong enough to protect the crab from predators. The man-made shells could not contain glue or any other substance that might harm a hermit crab. Another challenge with building a hermit crab home was the opening to the shell. Too big would mean the crab would not feel safe. Too small would be uncomfortable, and the crab would not want to move in.

The Project Shelter shells are placed in the wild for hermit crabs to find. Lucky hermit crabs can move into these new dream homes.