1 . Plastic, once seen as a revolutionary material for its wide application and convenience, has become a global environmental crisis because it is non-biodegradable. The ubiquity (无处不在) of plastic in our daily lives has led to an increasing amount of plastic waste, causing great harm.

One of the most alarming examples of this crisis is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a floating mass of plastic waste in the North Pacific Ocean. It is estimated to be twice the size of Texas and consists of everything from microplastics to abandoned fishing nets. Marine life often mistakes plastic particles for food, leading to ingestion and death. Additionally, the chemicals used in plastic production can pollute water and soil, and finally threaten marine ecosystems.

Plastic waste is not limited to the oceans; it also impacts the land. Landfills overflow with plastic waste, emitting (排放) harmful greenhouse gases as plastics break down slowly over time. The production of plastics is highly energy-intensive and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change. Furthermore, plastic litter is evident in urban and rural landscapes, destroying the natural beauty of our planet.

Beyond its environmental impact, plastic poses serious health risks to humans. Many plastics contain harmful chemicals, which can be found in food and drinks when plastic containers are used for storage and heating. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health problems, including developmental issues and cancer.

In conclusion, the problem of plastic pollution demands urgent action. A comprehensive strategy for cutting down on plastic is essential to tackle these challenges and safeguard the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

While reducing the consumption of plastic may seem challenging, it is achievable through a combination of policy measures, technological innovations and changes in consumer behavior. Governments must issue laws to ban or heavily regulate single-use plastics and promote alternatives. Businesses should adopt sustainable packaging practices, and individuals can reduce plastic consumption by making conscious choices.

1. What does the example of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch show?

A．Animals rely on plastic waste to survive.

B．Plastic is too widespread to remove.

C．Plastic waste is harming the oceans.

D．Plastic poses health risks to humans.

2. What does the underlined word “exacerbating” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Worsening.

B．Controlling.

C．Recording.

D．Evaluating.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Ways to cut plastic consumption.

B．Problems of handling plastic.

C．Alternatives for plastic products.

D．Some benefits of banning plastic.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Plastic Packaging Is Everywhere

B．Plastic Consumption Should Be Reduced

C．How Should Plastic Be Used

D．How Plastic Products Affect People

3 . 阅读下面材料,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Starbucks will eliminate plastic    1    (straw) from its stores worldwide in 2021 to reduce pollution    2    (cause) by plastic, the company says. The coffee retailer (零售商) will gradually reduce using single-use straws    3    its more than 28, 000 locations, cutting out    4    estimated 1 billion straws each year. Customers will instead be given plastic lids designed for use without a straw or with non-plastic straws. “Not using a straw is the     5    (effective) thing we have ever done for the environment,” said Colleen Chapman, vice-president of Starbucks’ global social impact, in a statement. The announcement came just one week after Seattle, Washington — home to Starbucks’ headquarters — became the first major US city    6    (ban) single-use plastic straws in bars and restaurants.

Starbucks’ pushback against plastic has drawn a mixed    7    (react). M. Sanjayan, CEO of Conservation International, issued a statement saying “500m plastic straws    8    (throw) away every day in the US” and praised Starbucks for its “meaningful action to protect our oceans” . But many consumers    9    (voice) concern for disabled people. “What about those    10    rely on straws due to disability? I often can’t drink or eat without them.” a customer tweeted.

4 . The Art of Recycling

Recycling is not new. Many civilizations have reused objects. However, recycling is more important today because there is more pollution and fewer natural resources.     1     Others use these recycled materials to make art!

    2     Artists use old tires, pieces of metal, cloth, etc. These materials might come from yard sales or swap meets(旧物交换会). In addition, businesses might give used materials to artists.

    3       For example, artists in New York City made a sculpture that looked like a giant white cloud. The sculpture, called “Head in the Clouds”, was more than 40 feet long and 15 feet high! People walked into the cloud sculpture and danced to live music.     4     That’s the number of water bottles that are thrown into the trash every hour in New York City! The artists wanted to show how many water bottles ended up in the garbage.

Many art projects are shown at outdoor art and music festivals. Many cities even have festivals specifically for recycled art.

Museums also exhibit recycled art. A museum in Texas allowed visitors to add to the art on display. The project was called the “Recycle Reef (珊瑚礁).” The background looked like an ocean reef, and people added to the “reef” with the recycled materials provided.       5    

Have you made something using paper towel tubes or water bottles? If so, you’ve made recycled art.

A．Not all recycled art is big, though.

B．Almost anything can be recycled into art.

C．Recycled art often says something about our world.

D．They even recycled the exhibit after the show ended.

E．Some people might recycle cans and bottles at home.

F．Others bring home plastic and cardboard that can be recycled.

G．The artists used over 53, 000 recycled water bottles to make the cloud.

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。

Scientists have exposed that around two-fifths of the world’s plants are at risk of extinction. A top botanist, Professor Alexandre Antonelli, said, “We are living in    1    age of extinction.”

It's a very    2     (worry) picture of risk and urgent need for action. We’re losing the race against time as species are disappearing faster    3    we can find and name them. Many of them could hold important clues for solving some of the most pressing    4     (challenge) of medicine and even perhaps of the emerging and current pandemics we are seeing today.”

There    5     (be) positive signs in the past few years. More than 4, 000 species of plants and fungi (菌类)     6     (discover) in 2019, among which are potential future foods that could be a lifeline to millions of people on Earth suffering from    7     (poor) and food insecurity. Professor Antonelli stressed    8     (firm) the importance of protecting these and all plant life on Earth. He said, “We would not be able    9     (survive) without plants and fungi — all life depends on them. Every time we lose a species, we lose an opportunity     10    humankind.” Leading scientists will demand that the world leaders act against biodiversity loss.

7 . Moran works at the California Academy of Sciences, which is capped by 2.5 acres of living roof where nearly 1.7 million plants, insects and birds flourish. The building has been painstakingly designed to be among one of the most environmentally-friendly in the world. Solar panels that surround the living roof provide 5% of the building’s energy, while water flowing through pipes in the bathrooms also generates power. Automatic skylights open and close to help regulate the temperature inside the building while natural sunlight is used to light the building as much as possible. During his 15 years at the academy (研究院), Moran has helped design, build and now maintain the building’s green systems.

Constructing new environmentally-friendly buildings like the one Moran works in is expected to generate more than 6.5 million jobs by 2030, according to predictions by the International Labor Organization. Next to energy, it will be the second fastest growing sector for green jobs in the coming decades. This jobs growth comes from a growing need for buildings that can deal with multiple problems: meeting tough climate-change targets; rising energy costs, water shortages and an increased risk of extreme weather conditions. This is driving a movement known as green building.

In 2000, just 41 new construction projects were officially rated as green buildings in the US. Last year, that figure had grown to more than 65,000. Elsewhere in the world there have been similar increases and it is a trend that is expected to continue. In China the government has set an ambitious goal as part of its five-year plan that require 50% of all new urban buildings to be green certified.

Moran sees green building as requiring new skills that have not featured much in the building sector in the past. “It takes a different skill set to look after a living roof compared to normal landscaping,” he says. “You need to understand the environment, how the direction of the sun and wind will affect it. But we are also seeing technology being integrated into everything.”

1. How was the building of the academy planned?

A．Rigidly.

B．Effortlessly.

C．Thoroughly.

D．Strategically.

2. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Constructing new buildings.	B．Generating more jobs.
C．The growing need for houses.	D．The International Labor Organization.

3. Why do many countries begin to construct green buildings?

A．To develop a large market.	B．To satisfy humans’ ambitions.
C．To solve different challenges.	D．To control the new movement.

4. What does Moran possibly think of his present job?

A．Challenging.

B．Risky.

C．Traditional.

D．Urgent.

8 . The convenience plastic offers has led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side. Many of its products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a service life of mere minutes to hours.     1    

Plastic has been the biggest threat to ocean life for decades. Sunlight, wind and wave action break down plastic waste to a certain extent, but it only succeeds in reducing it to smaller pieces.

    2    They spread throughout the water and have been found in every corner of the globe, affecting nearly 700 species, including endangered ones.

    3    They range from birds to fish and to other marine animals. Most of the deaths to them are caused by starvation. Small pieces of plastic have been found in more than 100 marine species, including fish, shrimp, and some seashells. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through their stomachs.     4    Stomachs so packed with plastic reduce the urge to eat, making them die eventually.

Tests have also confirmed cell damage and trouble with animals’ reproductive systems caused by plastic-eating. Some species, such as oysters, produce fewer eggs if they wrongly take too much plastic.

Fortunately, solutions are being found. Many scientists agree the top priority is to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and seas.     5    Better product design also should be taken into account, as well as the reduction in producing unnecessary single-use plastic products.

A．Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics.

B．This makes plastic waste even harder to notice.

C．Millions of animals are killed by plastic every year.

D．Some pieces have even been found blocking their organs.

E．Half of all plastics ever produced have been made in the last 15 years.

F．It could be done with improved waste management systems and recycling.

G．However, they may remain in the environment for hundreds of years and cause a lot of harm.

9 . 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。

Ecotourism is the opposite of mass tourism. People travel to remote areas and visit faraway places without destroying the environment.Ecotourism is intended     1     small groups of tourists who want to learn more about nature in a certain area and help people who live there. Eco-tourists travel to places     2     plants and animals are the main attractions. They want to know more about how people live side by side in     3     natural habitat.

Ecotourism makes people recognize how beautiful the land and the countryside are. Local tour guides show     4     (visit) how important our environment is. They know how the region has developed over time. Tourists stay in small local houses,as opposed to big hotels in mass tourism regions.

Ecotourism started out in the 1980s as an alternative to mass tourism. Today it is one of the     5     (fast) growing sectors of the tourism industry because more and more people are     6     (gradual) realizing the importance of the environment. As a result,some countries are using ecotourism     7     (gain) profits. In some areas,it     8     (operate)by foreign investors who are only interested in     9     （they) own profits. However，     10     (bring) too many people to the remote place could damage local culture.