1 . Climate Acts Must Focus on Youth

Children and young people are bearing the burden of climate change. However, they are consistently overlooked in the design and content of climate policies and related measures. The rights of the youth need to be put in a central place in a country’s climate change plan as extreme weather events are threatening their lives and destroying the infrastructure critical to their well-being.

The scientific community has sounded the alarm that climate change is a global emergency, and the risks of deadly drought, frequent floods, heat waves, extreme weather, and poverty will significantly worsen.

Over half a billion children live in high flood zones and nearly 160 million live in areas of extremely high drought, said a report released in 2015 by the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF. Polluted air has a huge impact on children’s brain development. It is estimated about 2 billion children live in areas with air quality that is well above international pollution standards. Air pollution, lack of safe water, undernutrition is strongly linked to pneumonia, a leading cause of death among children, killing nearly 2, 400 children a day. The increase of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever has the greatest impacts on children, for example, 90 percent of the disease burden that is attributable to climate change is born by children under the age of five. The UNICEF report said all these challenges are exacerbated by climate change.

Through the intergovernmental cooperation on climate change, the UN has made it clear the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in raising. Actively responding to climate change is not only imperative, but also key to sustainable development for generations to come as children and young people are the future of mankind.

We are all glad to see children and young people are encouraged to play a key role in addressing climate-related risks by promoting environmentally sustainable lifestyles and setting an example for their communities.

1. What’s the author’s main purpose in the first paragraph?

A．To give a summary.	B．To give some evidences.
C．To express his emotions.	D．To put forward his view.

2. How does climate change impact young children?

A．It harms children’s health.	B．It has a huge impact on children’s education.
C．It reduces births of new babies.	D．It leads to the change of children’s lifestyle.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards the issue?

A．Approving.

B．Intolerable.

C．Concerned.

D．Indifferent.

4. Who are probably the intended readers of the text?

A．Engineers.

B．Environmentalists.

C．Sports fans.

D．Music lovers.

3 . When Alex Lin was 11 years old, he read an alarming article in the newspaper about e-waste. The article said that people were throwing away their e-waste in places it should never go. This was dangerous, the article said, because e-waste contains poisonous chemicals and metals like lead. These harmful substances (物质) can leak into the environment, getting into crops, animals, water supplies — and people.

Alex showed the article to a few of his classmates. They were worried too. But what could they do about this problem with e-waste? How would they even start? “The first thing we did,” Alex says, “was to learn more about the problem.” Alex and his friends spent several weeks gathering information about the chemicals in e-waste and their effects on humans. They learned how to dispose (处理) of e-waste properly and how it could be recycled. “Then,” he says, “we had to find out what the situation was in our town. So we sent out a survey.”

What they found shocked them: Of the people who answered the survey, only one in eight even knew what e-waste was, let alone how to properly dispose of it. Alex and his friends went into action. They advertised in the local newspaper and distributed notices to students, asking residents to bring their unwanted electronics to the school parking lot. The drive lasted two days, and they collected over 21,000 pounds of e-waste.

The next step was to set up an e-waste drop-off center for the town and to find a responsible company to recycle the waste. That was when Alex and his friends learned another scary fact about e-waste — some irresponsible recycling companies don’t break down the e-waste and dispose of it safely themselves. Instead, they ship it overseas to countries such as China and Nigeria, where local environmental laws are not applied. “We checked carefully online to make sure the company we chose didn’t do this,” Alex says.

Because of the work of people like Alex and his team, more and more people are getting the message about safe disposal of e-waste. As Alex says, “Today’s technology should not become tomorrow’s poisonous trash.”

1. What can we learn about Alex from paragraph 1 and paragraph 2?

A．He was curious about chemistry experiments.

B．He possessed a strong sense of responsibility.

C．He set out to solve the problem individually.

D．He formed the habit of reading newspapers.

2. What does the underlined word “drive” mean?

A．Campaign.

B．Imagination.

C．Performance.

D．Technology.

3. Why did some companies transport the e-waste to other countries?

A．Lack of available space was the reason for shipping.

B．Recycling was totally banned in their own country.

C．They were running their companies on a tight budget.

D．They were not charged with insecurely disposing it.

4. What’s the suitable title for the text?

A．Reusing School Computers	B．Recycling Electronic Waste
C．Meeting a challenge	D．Doing Scientific Experiment

4 . Eleven years ago, Ms. Liivand moved to Miami, Florida, where she continued swimming in the ocean. In one training session, she nearly wound up swallowing (吞) some plastic that was floating in the sea.

That experience made her think of all the sea animals facing similar pollution every day. She decided she wanted to work to make people more aware of plastic pollution.

She began swimming with a special single swimming fin attached to both of her feet. This rubbery “monofin” (单鱼鳍) allows her to swim by kicking both of her legs together. “Swimming without using my arms is similar to how dolphins swim,” says Ms. Liivand. She believes that swimming with a monofin “sends a bigger message”.

Ms. Liivand first set the world record for swimming with a monofin in 2019 off the coast of California. In 2020, she broke the record again in Miami, Florida. A year later, she set a new Guinness World Record again in Florida. For the last year, Ms. Livand has been getting up at 4 every day, putting on her monofin, and going swimming. To help improve her strength, she sometimes even pulled other people in the water.

On May 7, Ms. Liivand broke the record once more, this time swimming the length of a full marathon. It took her 11 hours and 54 seconds to swim 26. 2 miles. The water was rough, and she ran into a few problems, but she didn’t stop. “I got hurt by jellyfish,” she said, “And kept telling myself that it was not the time to cry.”

To keep her energy up, a friend followed her in a kayak (皮艇) and gave her food and water from time to time. Along the way, Ms. Liivand picked up all the trash she found and put it in the kayak. By the end of her marathon, the kayak held three bags full of trash.

1. What inspired Ms. Liivand to swim with a monofin?

A．Her own experience.	B．Her love for dolphins.
C．The increasing water pollution.	D．The sight of painful sea animals.

2. Which word best describes Ms. Liivand?

A．Generous.

B．Determined.

C．Intelligent.

D．Tolerant.

3. What can we infer about Ms. Liivand from the text?

A．She intended to be a top swimmer.

B．She committed herself to protecting the sea.

C．She got world recognition for sea protection.

D．She proved to be an absolute perfectionist.

4. What did Ms. Liivand do in the swim on May 7?

A．She got some treatment.	B．She had a break in the kayak.
C．She pulled others in the water.	D．She picked up rubbish in the sea.

5 . People today are not unfamiliar with term such as "going eco-friendly" and "sustainable lifestyle". However, there exists a group of sceptics（怀疑论者）who believe that going eco-friendly is merely a fad（一时的风尚）. I disagree with this viewpoint, Going eco-friendly is not merely a fad and it does, in fact, change the beliefs and attitudes of people.

The long-term presence of environmental organisations shows the efforts that people have made towards going eco-friendly. Organisations such as World Wildlife Fund advocate people to go eco-friendly. The high involvement of the organisations and the participants is thus a strong indicator that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad but a trend that can last decades.

Another strong indicator is the emergence of sustainable products in many industries, such as organic produce and electric vehicles. The consumer demand, coupled with eco-conscious（环保意识的）businesses, is behind the sharp increase in such products. This shows a shift in the beliefs and attitudes of people towards adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, it seems quite certain that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad.

While some people who broadcast their eco-friendly practices are criticised for just hoping to project an eco-conscious image, there are a number of celebrities who have been practising the zero-waste lifestyle for years. For those who do so for years, and not mere days or months, it is indeed a commitment that can only come with a true change in beliefs and attitudes towards caring for the earth.

The call to save the earth looks set to stay. With the development of technology and the appearance of many platforms advocating going green, people are more willing to change their beliefs and attitudes when they can learn about and appreciate the positive impact of the work of different environmental organisations and individuals. It is hoped that these effects will go a long way in ensuring that our planet will remain a suitable place to live in.

1. Why does the author mention World Wildlife Fund?

A．To appreciate its environmental efforts.

B．To encourage people to go eco-friendly.

C．To evidence the universal recognition of going green.

D．To highlight the difficulty in changing people's attitudes.

2. What does the underlined word "emergence" mean in paragraph 3?

A．Sudden disappearance.	B．Sharp increase.
C．Gradual development.	D．Limited application.

3. What does the author expect of technology development?

A．It may discourage people from sustainable lifestyle.

B．It may boost the business of organic produce.

C．It will be used to project an eco-conscious image.

D．It will promote environmental awareness.

4. What is the author's purpose in writing this text?

A．To prove going eco-friendly a lasting trend.

B．To popularize the eco-friendly products.

C．To offer strategies to go eco-friendly.

D．To advertise for eco-friendly platforms.

6 . A country that is carbon neutral is basically no longer giving off, or “emitting”, the dangerous greenhouse gases, simply called “carbon emissions”.

Carbon emissions are closely tied to the burning of “fossil fuels”, like coal, oil, and gas. To become carbon neutral, it’s necessary to stop creating power and heat in ways that pollute, and instead use more “renewable” methods, such as getting energy from the sun, wind, and water. New Zealand already gets about 80% of its energy from renewable sources. From the government’s point of view, to become carbon neutral, that is not enough. So it plans to increase this. Additionally, it aims to begin using more electric cars and trucks. It will also be spending $14. 5 billion to make it easier for people to get around by walking, biking, or using public transportation. Meanwhile, it has a goal of planting 1 billion trees.

Methane (甲烷) is one of the worst greenhouse gases. Surprisingly, methane from cows and sheep makes up about 34% of New Zealand’s polluting gases. However, New Zealand’s plan to go carbon neutral doesn’t cover methane from cows and sheep. It aims to reduce this kind of pollution, too, but not so much. The plan calls for cutting back on the gas by 24% to 47% by 2050. The leader of New Zealand’s Green Party, James Shaw, was responsible for much of the plan. He was clearly successful: it passed 119 votes to 1.

New Zealand has progressed from debating whether climate change is real to discussing what to do about it and is one of the few countries where going carbon neutral has become the law. Scientists say more of this sort of action is still needed right away. A report has been released by 11, 000 scientists, and they believe more countries will face the climate emergency positively. This is the first time that such a large group of scientists have used the word “emergency” to describe climate change.

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

A．Planting more trees.	B．Using greener energy.
C．Stopping fossil fuels.	D．Making more vehicles.

2. What can be learnt about New Zealand’s carbon neutral plan?

A．It’s controversial.

B．It’s impractical.

C．It’s imperfect.

D．It’s eventful.

3. What does the author convey about climate change in the last paragraph?

A．Some still do not take it seriously.	B．Many countries don’t doubt about it.
C．The ways have been found to rid it.	D．It might stop being carbon neutral.

4. What’s the text mainly about?

A．Some ways of carbon emissions.	B．Global climate change emergency.
C．New Zealand’s low-carbon lifestyle.	D．New Zealand’s being carbon neutral.

7 . The Royal Mint has announced plans for a new factory where it will process electronic junk to extract precious metals for coins and gold bars. The factory will be the first of its kind in the world.

The Royal Mint is a Government-owned company that makes coins for the UK and lots of other countries. Most of its coins are made from cheaper metals, but the Mint sometimes makes coins and medals from precious metals like gold and silver. It also makes gold bars. Countries and banks like to keep gold bars because they are very valuable and their price doesn’t tend to go up or down suddenly.

The precious metals used by the Mint are mostly mined from the ground but now it plans to make use of the vast amounts of electronic waste (known as e-waste) that is thrown away in the UK each year. Many electronic devices use small quantities of precious metals such as gold and silver because they are good conductors of electricity. However, it is estimated that just 20% of old electronics are recycled worldwide. This is not just a waste; it can be dangerous, because when e-waste is buried in rubbish dumps, metals and chemicals can leak out and pollute the environment.

Currently, e-waste from the UK is sent abroad to be melted down to recover precious metals. The new factory will use chemical reactions to do the same job much quicker and using far less energy. The process can extract 99% of the precious metals from plastic circuit boards within a few seconds, and could provide the Mint with hundreds of kilograms of gold each year.

“Our new plant will see the Royal Mint become a leader in sustainably sourced precious metals,” said Anne Jessopp, the Mint’s CEO.

1. What does the underlined word “extract” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Obtain.

B．Break.

C．Limit.

D．Add.

2. What’s a problem with the old electronics if not recycled?

A．Energy shortage.	B．Environmental pollution.
C．A lack of workers.	D．A waste of gold bars.

3. What does Anne Jessopp think of the new plant?

A．Costly.

B．Risky.

C．Promising.

D．Demanding.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Making Use of E-waste	B．Turning Junk into Gold
C．Building a New Factory	D．Running a Junk Business

8 . I first came to Berwickshire for a job-to be the Ranger for the Berwickshire Marine Reserve.I was then Senior Ranger for St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve and I set up my own business, In Our Nature, offering wildlife journeys,walks,talks and courses in 2020. There’s so much I love about Berwickshire.Its stunning scenery. Its variety of landscapes and habitats and range of amazing wildlife, both above and below the water. Its friendly people. In places you can feel like you are a million miles from anywhere, when in reality you’re just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh.

The thing that supports everything on the Berwickshire Coast is its varied and fascinating geology(地质).The jewel in the crown is Siccar Point. With its world-famous non-conformity(均变)，it’s considered the birthplace of modern geology. The geology not only shapes the landscape, but it also impacts on the wildlife, forming varied habitats from steep sheltered valleys and towering cliffs to sheltered sandy bays.

There’s nothing I like more than being out in nature and sharing my passion with others, so starting up In Our Nature was a no brainer. In the warmer months I offer tours on land and sea to help folk enjoy the amazing wildlife and scenery of the Berwickshire Coast. In the darker months my online courses help people learn about wildlife in the hope that it will increase their enjoyment of the marine and coastal environments they spend time in.

My favourite spot on the Berwickshire Coast has got to be a place called Petticowick. The views up the coast and inland to the Mire Loch are second to none. It’s a place where you can marvel at geology which covers unimaginable periods of time. You can listen to and watch thousands of seabirds that return to the cliffs to breed each spring. Or witness all the amazing activity of the breeding seal colony on the beach below during the early winter.

1. Why did the author go to Berwickshire?

A．To do sightseeing.

B．To make friends.

C．To work in a reserve.

D．To study wildlife.

2. What do the underlined words “The jewel in the crown" mean?

A．The highest part.

B．The most attractive part.

C．The valueless part.

D．The advanced part.

3. How does the author help people get to know wildlife in darker months?

A．By providing online courses.

B．By sharing her experiences.

C．By offering tours on land.

D．By organizing trips to the sea.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Modern geology needs further study.

B．Petticowick should be well preserved.

C．People should not take advantage of nature.

D．The author is enthusiastic about Berwickshire.

9 . Meat is crucial for feeding the planet, leading scientists have said, as they warned it is not more environmentally-friendly to go vegan (素食).

Prof. Geoff Simm, Director of Global Academy Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Edinburgh, said, “I think livestock (家畜) farmers do feel they are being demonized (妖魔化).” Often the argument is made that going vegan would minimize land use, but the modelling studies that have been done demonstrate that’s not the case. We feel that while livestock production has a range of economic, social and environmental costs and benefits, the costs have perhaps been receiving far more attention recently than some of the benefits. Meat has massive social benefits. It’s an important source of dietary protein, energy, highly bioavailable micronutrients (微量营养素), even small amounts of animal-sourced food have a really important effect on the development of children, in the developing world on their cognitive and physical development and they are really important.

Prof. Mike Coffey, from Scotland’s Rural College, added, “It’s completely unnecessary to go vegan. If everybody went vegan it would be devastating for the UK environment. Animals bred for food help boost biodiversity.”

Researchers are currently attempting to breed more environmentally friendly cattle, which grow faster and eat less, which could further reduce the sector’s carbon footprint by reducing the amount of methane (甲烷) released by cows.

Prof. Coffey said that the difference in methane emissions from best and worst cattle was about 30 percent and that if all UK farmers used the most efficient animals this could reduce carbon emissions by nearly a third. But Prof. Coffey said the next stage will be trying to measure the methane given off by different breeds of cattle to find which are the lowest emitters. Prof. Coffey said that soon shoppers could be able to check meat labels to find out how much environmental impact their food has had. He added, “My expectation is that at some point in the near future there will be product labels that relates to the efficiency or carbon impact of the food.”

Professor Andrea Wilson, also of Edinburgh University, said more research was needed into the impact of veganism (绝对素食主义). She added, “We know a lot about the livestock sector because people have looked at it. We actually know very little about the vegan sector. The danger is we demonize one and jump too quickly to the other.”

1. Why are livestock farmers being demonized?

A．Because livestock production has huge costs.

B．Because livestock meat contains harmful protein.

C．Because livestock need more land and emit polluting gases.

D．Because livestock meat negatively affect children’s development.

2. What’s the writer’s purpose of mentioning labeling different breeds of cow?

A．To state a fact.	B．To make a prediction.
C．To present a solution.	D．To explain a phenomenon.

3. What is the author’s attitude towards veganism?

A．Supportive.

B．Intolerant.

C．Indifferent.

D．Doubtful.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Going vegan is not greener.	B．Consuming meat is harmful.
C．Raising cows is environmentally friendly.	D．Criticizing livestock farmers is not wise.