1 . Animal populations across the world have been reduced by 69% in less than 50 years, according to a new scientific report. The report’s authors are calling for urgent action to restore the natural world.
The Living Planet Report (LPR) is produced every two years by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Zoological Society of London. The most recent report, released on October 13, 2022, shows that almost 70% of the world’s monitored wildlife was lost between 1970 and 2018. The report is based on research from 195 countries around the world. Data was collected from almost 32,000 populations of 5,230 species.
Although the average global loss of wildlife is 69%, the rate is greater in the global south. Latin America and the Caribbean in particular have seen the sharpest fall, having lost 94% of their wildlife since 1970. Across the world, the biggest drop was in freshwater populations of wildlife — including almost 1,400 species of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles — which have decreased by 83%.
The report identifies several causes for wildlife loss, including hunting, farming, the loss of forests, pollution and climate change. However, the report also promotes solutions, such as designing less destructive food production systems, urgently protecting the Amazon rainforest, limiting the use of fossil fuels, and creating new laws to protect our natural environment.
Commenting on the report, Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, called the figures “terrifying”, and said “we need to help nature recover and not simply halt its loss.” In December 2022, world leaders are meeting in Montreal for the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP 15. The authors of the LPR say that this is an opportunity for a global plan to deal with wildlife loss and restore nature. “Government leaders must step up at COP 15,” said Lambertini. “The world is watching.”
1. What does the author mainly want to show by listing the numbers in the first three paragraphs?A.The causes of the urgent situation. | B.The seriousness of wildlife loss worldwide. |
C.The detailed process of the research. | D.The drop in freshwater populations of wildlife. |
A.Stop hunting and farming. | B.Not permit the production of wildlife food. |
C.Replace the fossil fuels with renewable energy. | D.Offer legal protection of natural environment. |
A.Accept. | B.Fear. | C.Stop. | D.Suffer. |
A.Concerned. | B.Indifferent. | C.Positive. | D.Satisfied. |
2 . You may have visited antique stores and found cutting-edge goods in second-hand furniture stores, but have you ever stooping? On the streets of big cities at night, some young people are “looking for something”. Obsessed with the spiritual core of the old thing recycling, they fell in love with it. But what exactly is stooping?
In fact, this English word originally meant “bending over”, and now refers to a way of life of picking up discarded items and renovating and recycling old things, which originally emerged in New York and other foreign big cities.
Since the beginning of last year, the trend of “stooping” has spread to many big cities in China and many young people look for second-hand items such as discarded furniture on the streets, take home and repurpose them with a new look. In order to make the flow of information better, some “stoopers” have also built communities where group members can share “treasures” on the street with each other.
Mikiko, 27, is reportedly one of the first people in China to get involved in practicing stooping. At first, she posted online things that people no longer use, want to throw away, or exchange at home, and slowly hundreds of messages flooded in and since then, stooping has become more and more popular among young people. Mikiko admitted that she was surprised that the concept has become a hit on social media, as older generations often stigmatize picking up things from the street or using second-hand goods. “People like my mom consider stooping as’rubbish-picking’, and people will be looked down upon by doing this.” She even created an app called “Grecycle” where people can give away or take unwanted items for free, hoping people may realize that stooping can also be about doing good and helping others.
This generation of young people has given “new life” to old things, practiced social responsibility in their own environmentally friendly ways in life, and also contributed to the circular economy and sustainable society.
1. What do we know about “stooping” in this text?A.It was developed in England. | B.It equals to rubbish-picking. |
C.It is an expression to show respect. | D.It is a way to turn trash to treasure. |
A.To show off their good use of items. |
B.To argue about the misuse of good treasure. |
C.To share the information of the discarded items. |
D.To make some comments on the abandoned items. |
A.Be skilled at. | B.Be ashamed of. |
C.Be fed up with. | D.Be accustomed to. |
A.Second-hand stores are worth visiting. |
B.Big cities offer more job opportunities. |
C.Young people spend less than older people. |
D.The young have a stronger eco-awareness. |
3 . The following charities advocate protecting our precious environment. It’s a starting place, but don’t stop here.
Rocky Mountain Institute
Rocky Mountain Institute has made notable achievements in its comparatively short history. In2017, it worked with India’s leadership and government to plan for 100% vehicle electrification(电气化) by 2030. They also provided research that resulted in new U. S. fuel-efficiency standards for trucks, which were expected to cut over one billion tons of CO₂ emissions. Its five-year plan to quicken low-carbon energy transition (转变) was published in early 2018.
Greenpeace Fund
Although Greenpeace solves many environmental problems such as deforestation (滥伐森林) and sustainable food, it has worked to address issues with oceans for decades: plastic pollution, offshore drilling, saving the Arctic, and more. Greenpeace has grown from a small group of activists protesting nuclear testing in 1971 to an international organization with offices in over fifty countries.
Center for Biological Diversity
Founded in 1989, the Center for Biological Diversity uses biological data and legal knowledge to obtain new protections for plants, animals, and their habitats. Its story began with some young students, an ancient tree in Mexico, and a spotted owl’s nest. Its first campaign saved both the tree and the owl. And they continue to grow by expanding territory, staff, and outreach (外展服务).
Sierra Club Foundation
The Sierra Club has been working to protect the environment and its people since 1892. It helped pass the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, enabled the creation of many national parks, and worked to move hundreds of coal plants towards clean energy. It also offers environmentally friendly wilderness outings to encourage people to get outdoors. People can take an international trip to study wildlife in Cuba.
1. Which organization has focused on the oceans for many years?A.Rocky Mountain Institute | B.Greenpeace Fund |
C.Center for Biological Diversity | D.Sierra Club Foundation |
A.It aims to expand territory for Mexico. | B.It is targeted at collecting biological data. |
C.Its foundation was inspired by some students. | D.Its symbol contains an ancient tree and an owl. |
A.They both push for the use of green energy. |
B.They both apply the new standard for vehicles. |
C.They both have founded numerous national parks. |
D.They both encourage humans to go outing in the wild. |
4 . Your carbon footprint is the amount of greenhouse gases that you produce as you live your life. In order to hold the global temperature rise to 2˚C or less, everyone needs to average an annual carbon footprint of 1.87 tons by 2050.
Eat low on the food chain. This means eating mostly fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. Meat and dairy is responsible for 14.5 percent of man-made global greenhouse gas emissions.
Use low energy appliances. Replace traditional light bulbs with LED ones. Though LEDs cost more, they use a quarter of the energy and last up to 25 times longer. Make energy efficiency a primary consideration when choosing a new microwave, air conditioning unit, dishwasher, or refrigerator.
Choose green travel. An average car produces about five tons of carbon each year.
A.Don’t buy fast fashion. |
B.Never choose quality clothing. |
C.But people ignore this serious problem. |
D.Making changes in transport matters much. |
E.Here are ways to reduce your carbon footprint. |
F.They are mainly from food production and processing. |
G.Products with the ENERGY STAR sign have better efficiency. |
5 . REDUCING WATER POLLUTION IN THE LI RIVER
The beautiful Li River and its amazing surrounding scenery is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It attracts millions of domestic and foreign visitors each year. However, its reputation as a top destination has had negative effects on the river’s water quality. This report looks at the problem of water pollution and some actions that have been taken to deal with it.
Previously, water quality in the Li River had suffered greatly from an increasing volumeof tourists, many of whom frequently threw garbage into the river. Many tour boats contributed to the problem too. Kitchens on board were using lots of oil, which was often thrown into the water. The growth in tourism also meant the local population rose rapidly, as well as the number of commercial and industrial enterprises. Water pollution levels increased, with more household and commercial waste ending up in the river. In order to feed more people, more chemicals were used to increase crop production. These chemicals led to severe water quality issues, causing a decrease in the number of fish species. Local officials were concerned that the pollution was damaging the natural environment and felt that urgent steps should be taken to restore the river’s original beauty.
A comprehensive initiative was started, with a number of measures that addressed the issues. The construction of waste water treatment facilities improved the water quality and water conservation. The collection and transport of household waste was also improved. Dozens of polluting enterprises were closed or moved. The local government set up strict regulations regarding further industrial development. New rules were also introduced regarding tour boat routes and garbage disposal methods. Furthermore, the local authorities began to use the media to spread environmental awareness and encourage greater use of clean energy. At the same time, they started to carry out inspections regularly and fine tourist organisations for abuses. With these measures, it is believed that the beauty of the Li River will be preserved for generations to come.
In addition, the ambitious “Water Ten Plan” is also now tackling water pollution across the country. Other initiatives, such as the “River Chief System”, hold senior officials responsible for reducing water pollution. With such campaigns in effect, China’s waterways are heading towards a clean and sustainable future.
Paragraph 1 | Paragraph 2 | Paragraph 3 | Paragraph 4 |
Introducing the topic | Describing the | Presenting some | Presenting further |
Ben Drake, an expert on air pollution, is being interviewed on the radio. He said that smog was a severe problem in the early 20th century in Britain. At that time, Britain was experiencing a boom in industry. Factories and homes used lots of coal, which created smog. He also mentioned the heavy smog in London was particularly bad and caused over 4000 deaths in 1952. Later the UK government restricted burning coal in homes and forced factories to move away from city centers. As smog is harmful to everyone, the expert advised us to replace coal with cleaner forms of energy, use new energy-efficient vehicles and further develop green technology.
1. The expression “2. Smog became a severe problem in Britain because people at that time burnt lots of
3. The worst smog in British history happened in London in 1942.
4. The Great Smog of London claimed 5,000 lives.
5. Later, the UK government ordered people not to burn
7 . The Himalayan mountains are increasingly filled with mounting waste left by mountaineering activities over the years. There is no official data, but Nepal’s Department of Tourism estimates(估计)that on Qomolangma alone, there is nearly 140,000 tons of waste.
Now some of that material is finding its way to local craftswomen(女工艺师), thanks to a new plan led by Shilshila Acharya. Acharya owns Avni Center for Sustainability, a waste processing business in Kathmandu. She has been working with the cleaning activity since 2019, targeting mountains such as Qomolangma, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Ama Dablam and Annapurna.
“Metals go through the recycling(回收利用)process, but we were not able to find a way to recycle these ropes and small cooking gas cans,” she says. It occurred to her that the non-recyclable waste could be reused, but it wasn’t until she met Maya Rai at an event that a solution was born. Rai, helped connect Acharya with Sunita Chaudhary and her team of Tharu craftswomen in the hope of turning the mountain waste into economic opportunity.
“People like me, who are far from the mountains but belong to the local Tharu community, are using our traditional skills to change this waste into something entirely new,” Chaudhary says.
Finished crafts are sold at craft exhibitions. The craftswomen are paid according to how many items they make and sell, earning an average of 400 Nepali Rupees per half-day’s work. With flexible hours, the project gives women an opportunity to earn money even as they keep their household responsibilities.
1. What is the trouble for the Himalayan mountains according to paragraph 1?A.No true data about waste. | B.Tons of mounting waste. |
C.Mountaineering activities. | D.Lack of funds for environment. |
A.The recycling process. | B.Meeting Rai at an event. |
C.A cleaning activity in 2019. | D.A visit to Chaudhary’s house. |
A.They learn new skills. | B.They receive fixed pay. |
C.They sell crafts at exhibitions. | D.They explore the Himalayan mountains. |
A.Mountaineering Adventures in the Himalayas |
B.Exploring Traditional Skills of Local Craftswomen |
C.Crafting Economic Opportunities from Mountain Waste |
D.Promoting Tourism in Kathmandu |
Adopting a highway is not like adopting a pet. When a highway is adopted, only part of the highway is cared for by a group of people. The group agrees to work every week to keep its part of the highway clean. Each group gets its own sign that has the name of the group printed on it. The sign is put up at the side of the road. This sign lets drivers know who is keeping that area of the road clean.
The Adopt-a-Highway Program is a great way for people to help their environment look nicer. Also, the government does not have to send out as many road workers. This saves money. Finally, people may try harder to keep roads clean if they see people, especially teenagers like us, cleaning them up.
We will need helpers to care for our adopted highway. If you want to feel great and keep our roads clean,please come with your parents to the meeting next week. We will meet in Mrs. Lake’ room on Wednesday at 6:00 P.M. At the meeting, we will talk about which roads are the dirtiest as a result of people's unkind acts. Then we' ll try to pick an area to adopt and clean.
I look forward to seeing you at the meeting. Remember to keep our roads clean!
1. What is the purpose of this speech?
A.To introduce the traffic system. |
B.To tell a story about adopting a pet. |
C.To show drivers how to drive safely. |
D.To encourage students to join the program. |
A.Giving names to the highways. |
B.Picking up litter along the roads. |
C.Drawing pictures of highways. |
D.Putting up signs near the roads. |
A.Go to a meeting on Wednesday. |
B.Pick a spot to care for. |
C.Write a letter to their parents. |
D.Call Mrs. Lake next week. |
A.Adopt-a-Pet | B.Ways to Protect the Environment |
C.Adopt-a-Highway | D.Volunteers on Roads |
9 . When high temperatures are around the country, some things also go up.Here are four things expected to rise along with our desire to stay indoors and beat the heat.
1.Sales of goods that keep you cool
Malls are high on the list of places where people often go for free air conditioning outside home in summer.
2.
Pests like stink bugs(椿象)grow fast during summer heat waves,and many agriculture experts are expecting a repeat of last year's outbreak that harmed fruit and crops,particularly on the East Coast.
3.Energy bills
4.Violence
Heat waves may cause violence,right? "Not necessarily,"says Richard
Larrick,a researcher.He took a unique look at the relationship between violence and heat through baseball.Larrick and his research team examined 57,294 Major League Baseball games taking place between 1962 and 2017 and found that while heat may increase violence,there always has to be a motive."
A.Pest population |
B.Air pollution |
C.Rising heat is the expected response in any summer. |
D.As more energy is used,air quality problems may occur. |
E.More and more people are worried about their expenses. |
F.Heat does not directly lead to more violence in general. |
G.So it's not a surprise that some sales jump during heat waves. |
10 . The softshell turtle species is officially listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Scientists long thought softshell turtles were extinct in the Cambodian part of the Mekong River until they discovered some stragglers (掉队者) in the early 2000s.
The species had quite a wide historical range across Asia, but much of that range is now completely gone. Much of the turtle’s habitat in Southeast Asia have disappeared due to urban and industrial development along the Mekong River. The sand where turtles multiply is routinely carried away for use in construction projects, while fishing nets lift up hatchlings. People also take turtles and their eggs to sell for food.
Initial surveys in 2003 and in 2007 found two small populations of the softshell turtles along a 30-mile stretch (水域) of the Mekong River. Since then, conservation groups have worked with local communities and officials to increase the wild population of these endangered turtles, including a program to hire former egg collectors to help search for and protect nests instead of harvesting the eggs.
For the last decade, WCS, Conservation International, the Turtle Survival Alliance and local groups have worked to protect turtle nests. Their goal is to ensure eggs will multiply and hatch, and that baby turtles grow strong enough to eventually take care of themselves in the wild.
A team recently released 150 hatchlings back into their natural habitat, bringing the total to more than 7,700 baby turtles in the past 10 years.
1. What can we learn about softshell turtles from Paragraph 2?A.Few of them lived in Asia before 2003. |
B.They were officially recognized as endangered. |
C.Human activities greatly damaged their habitats. |
D.They could hardly find food in the Mekong River. |
A.To lead a program. | B.To harvest turtle eggs. |
C.To protect turtle habitats. | D.To take care of baby turtles. |
A.A great many nests have been built. |
B.A lot more eggs have hatched safely. |
C.Some organizations have been formed. |
D.Their population has increased to 7,700. |
A.Endangered species should be kept in the wild. |
B.Local groups help to protect endangered species. |
C.Softshell turtles are increasing at an alarming speed. |
D.Conservation groups bring hopes to softshell turtles. |