1 . The practice of removing best-before dates labels and plastic packaging could prevent 14 million shopping baskets’ worth of food from going to waste, a food waste charity Wrap has recommended. Doing so would make consumers buy the right amount, avoiding buying bigger packets than they need, and judge for themselves when items were still fine to eat.

Wrap’s chairman Marcus Gover called the practice a game-changer in the fight against food waste and plastic pollution. He said they had demystified (使容易理解) the relationship between wasted food, plastic packaging, date labels and food storage.

“It is clear that plastic packaging doesn’t necessarily extend the life of fresh produce, but instead can increase waste,” he said. Around 9.5 million tonnes of food are wasted in the UK every year, according to previous Wrap figures, with more than 85% coming from households and food producers.

Based on an 18-month study into five commonly wasted items — apples, bananas, broccoli, cucumber and potatoes — stored in the original packaging and at different temperatures, Wrap found produce good to eat well after the best-before date, with apples lasting at least two and a half months after if stored at 4℃, and broccoli staying fresh for more than two weeks afterwards. Removing the best-before dates labels could save 100,000 tonnes of household food waste, more than 10,300 tonnes of plastic and 130,000 tonnes of carbon emission a year, Wrap found.

Susan Jebb, chairwoman of the Food Standards Agency, said businesses should use date labels carefully and make it clear when it’s necessary to help shoppers reduce the risk of food-related illnesses. “A best-before date is about quality, which means the food will be safe to eat after this date, even if it may not be at its best,” she said, whereas use-by dates should be reserved for food like meat and salad which can become unsafe more quickly.

1. Why does Marcus call the practice a game-changer?

A．It saves products’ costs.	B．It increases production.
C．It ensures food’s safety.	D．It protects the environment.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 4?

A．Some food is harmless after the best-before date.

B．The best-before date contributes to food storage.

C．The best-before date label reduces the waste.

D．Label-making leads to massive carbon emission.

3. What is Susan Jebb’s attitude to date labels?

A．Optimistic.

B．Indifferent.

C．Cautious.

D．Opposed.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Best-Before Date Is Seldom Unreliable

B．Plastic Packages Can Keep Foods Fresh Longer

C．Food Plastic Packages Are a Double-Edged Sword

D．No Unnecessary Best-Before Dates and Plastic Packages

2 . Our recommended list of environmental books covers a broad range of topics on conservation issues.

The End of Nature

Published in 1989, The End of Nature describes the relationship between nature and humans. It expresses the idea that nature was previously independent of humans but has now been affected by them in every way. According to author Bill McKibben, the idea of wilderness (荒野) is lost, and nature is no longer complete. The book focuses on the concepts of nature and wilderness and the value they have lost.

Silent Spring

Written by Rachel Carson, Silent Spring has been described as a landmark work of environmental writing and has brought an environmental movement into mainstream focus. The book highlights the bad effects of insecticides (杀虫剂) on the environment, especially DDT, which was a very popular insecticide until it was finally banned in 1972. The book eventually changed the insecticide policy in the United States and contributed to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Sixth Extinction

The Sixth Extinction, by Elizabeth Kolbert, describes previous mass extinction events and connects them to many extinctions currently taking place. Kolbert studies the relationships between humans and the environment and finds that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, which is caused by humans.

The Uninhabitable Earth

This book by David Wallace Wells provides a detailed look at how we treat the Earth and how our actions will affect us and the planet’s future. The Uninhabitable Earth argues that current actions will not be enough to prevent the effects of climate change. The author examines the disasters that have already occurred and looks ahead to the year 2100 and what climate change will do if we continue on our current path.

1. Which book led to the establishment of an environmental organization?

A．The End of Nature.	B．Silent Spring.
C．The Sixth Extinction.	D．The Uninhabitable Earth.

2. What is special about the book The Uninhabitable Earth?

A．It deals with the sixth mass extinction.	B．It expresses that nature is not complete.
C．It is the most important environmental work.	D．It mainly discusses future climate change.

3. What can we learn about the authors of the four books?

A．They are experienced environmental conservationists.

B．They disagree on changing the attitudes towards nature.

C．They agreed insecticides are harmful to the environment.

D．They believe mankind caused extinctions of some species.

3 . In recent years, wooden buildings have reached new heights, with rocketing timber (木材) skyscrapers completed or underway in countries like Norway, Switzerland and Australia. Now, real estate (房地产) developer Atrium Ljungberg has announced plans to build the world’s largest “wooden city”, which will be constructed in Sweden’s capital,   Stockholm, from 2025.

Stockholm Wood City will feature 7,000 office spaces and 2,000 homes in the city’s southeast, and will offer “a dynamic, urban environment with a mixture of workplaces, housing, restaurants and shops”, according to a press release. Set across 250,000 square meters, it has been described by its developer as the “world’s largest known construction project in wood”. Timber has been championed as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel, with expensive new construction projects using wood besides single-family homes and office buildings.

However, a mixed-use development of such size would be “a historic milestone for Swedish innovation capability”, said Annica Anas, CEO of Atrium Ljungberg.

Although some experts have raised concerns over fire risks posed by wooden buildings, advocates argue that engineered timber burns at a relatively slow and predictable rate, making it safer than many conventional steel structures. Timber is also a “carbon sink”, which means that carbon dioxide removed from the air by trees is stored in the material rather than being returned to the atmosphere. Wooden buildings have been found to enjoy better indoor air quality and can be constructed with significantly lower carbon emissions than those made with conventional materials.

The construction will not be as noisy as it is built from concrete and bricks, adds Ms Anas. This makes wooden buildings particularly suitable for urban redevelopment in general, since putting them up is less likely to annoy the neighbours. It should also be profitable.

The wooden city is supposed to make commute (通勤) easier and shorter. The website for the project describes Stockholm Wood City as a “five-minute city”, meaning that anywhere one would need to go would only be a five-minute walk. The first buildings in Stockholm Wood City are set to be completed in 2027.

1. What is Annica Anas’s attitude towards the “wooden city” developed in Stockholm?

A．Critical.

B．Doubtful.

C．Dismissive.

D．Appreciative.

2. What is the advantage of wooden buildings over concrete and steel ones?

A．They are much greener.	B．They are built on a more solid base.
C．They are more comfortable to live in.	D．They are much stronger to resist heat.

3. Why are wooden buildings more appropriate for urban redevelopment?

A．They are to the taste of all neighbours.

B．Less noise is produced in construction.

C．They will bring owners huge profits.

D．They are cost-effective to construct and mend.

4. What will the future life in the wooden city be probably like?

A．It’s secure.	B．It’s care-free.
C．It’s unbearable.	D．It’s convenient.

5 . Top scientists have emphasized the importance of forest carbon sinks as having an irreplaceable role in reducing carbon in the atmosphere and ultimately combating climate change.

Yin Weilun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former principal of Beijing Forestry University, said that forests and grasslands hold a unique position in combating global climate change.

Forest carbon sinks are plants that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and fix it in vegetation or soil, thereby reducing concentration of the gas, Yin said.

Speaking on Tuesday at the Forestry and Grassland Carbon Sink Innovation International Forum, which is running parallel to the Zhongguancun Forum held in Beijing from Thursday to Tuesday, the scientist said that good forest management can increase carbon absorption capability.

Yin called for more research in forest management to ensure the sustainability of forests and their carbon sink capacity.

“The growth and development cycle of each tree species is different. For example, poplars (白杨木) reach their peak height in about 20 years. After that, they are unlikely to grow and the tree top will rot away.”

To use land efficiently, forest managers must cut down some rotten trees and replace them with young ones so that the forest system can maintain its ability to reproduce and act as a carbon sink, he said.

Yin also stressed the need for increasing forest reserves, grasslands and wetlands to enhance their ability to absorb carbon.

At the forum, Du Xiangwan, former deputy head of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said forests and grasslands can make multiple contributions to climate change mitigation as each cubic meter of wood growth can absorb an average of 1.83 metric tons of carbon dioxide, he said.

In addition, afforestation, grassland and wetland restoration, and desertification control not only protect biodiversity but also provide solutions for climate change adaptation and mitigation, he added.

Last year, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration set up a carbon sink research institute to study the country’s potential for carbon sinks through forests and grasslands.

This research work will assess the spatial distribution of carbon sinks with the aim of understanding how to increase them, the administration said.

1. How does forest carbon sink function ?

A．By reducing carbon in the sky.	B．By absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
C．By absorbing carbon dioxide in vegetation or soil.	D．By reducing the spread of the gases

2. Good forest management is so important because       .

A．it can prevent tree cut.	B．it can ensure land availability.
C．it can maintain forest reproduction.	D．it can increase carbon absorption capability.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that       .

A．Forest carbon sinks can never be replaced in combating climate change.

B．If necessary, some trees must be cut down for the young growth.

C．The climate change is undergoing the worst situation in China.

D．More researches are needed to do for the forest management.

6 . The UK is blessed with some 1,000 ancient woods, which are free to visit today. Here are just four of the most appealing.

Quick Fact

1. Duncliffe Wood, Dorset       Age: 900+years old

This splendid ancient woodland sits on Duncliffe Hill and can be seen for miles around. Lots of butterflies, birds and wildflowers are dotted among the huge tree trunks.

2. Martinshaw Wood, Leicestershire   Age: 900+years old

The vast, picturesque Martinshaw Wood is steeped in history and packed with wildlife. You could see a host of rare and interesting insects. Birds are also plentiful here, including woodcock and mistle thrushes. This wood can be traced back to at least the 13th century, when it was part of a large deer park. Historical features include banks, earthen dams and a wide sunken track that appears to lead to ancient places where large quantities of stones are dug out of the ground.

3. Aversley Wood, Cambridgeshire     Age: 10,000 years old

This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has breathtaking views, plentiful birdlife and wild flowers. Wildlife species include the silver-washed fritillary butterfly, treecreeper and great crested newt. Much of Aversley Wood is ancient, which has been wooded since before the Middle Ages-some areas even since the Last Ice Age.

4. Dering Wood, Kent        Age: 1,400+years old

Dering Wood is an impressive showcase for wildlife and history. You’ll discover distinctive features including well-preserved woodbanks and agricultural drainage(排水)systems.

Protecting Together

There’s no better way to ensure ancient woods can benefit future generations of both wildlife and people than by becoming a member of our organization. You’ll help keep living history safe, plant more trees to keep our planet healthy, and make sure more than 1,000 of our woods-like the ones mentioned here-remain open for everyone to enjoy. Visit woodlandtrust.org.uk to join us today.

1. How is Martinshaw Wood different from the other woods?

A．It once belonged to a park.	B．It has signs of human activity.
C．It has plentiful kinds of birds	D．It dates back to the 13th century.

2. Where can you visit the oldest wonder?

A．In Kent.	B．In Cambridgeshire.
C．In Dorset.	D．In Leicestershire

3. Why does the author write the text?

A．To attract visitors to the website.	B．To raise funds for UK woodland.
C．To popularize some ancient woods.	D．To appeal for woodland conservation.

7 . Deforestation in tropical (热带的) regions of Asia, Africa and the Americas has reduced the cooling effects of trees. “The temperature change associated with deforestation over the 15-year study period is equal to a century of global warming, happening almost instantly, at these locations,” says Luke Parsons at Duke University in North Carolina.

Now, by using data from population surveys and mapping tree cover loss over a 15-year period, Parsons and his colleagues have estimated the effect of deforestation on outdoor workers across 41 countries. He says climate change has already pushed tropical locations right to the edge of what would be considered safe for heavy outdoor labour and that deforestation causes those locations to be even more precarious.

Parsons and his colleagues used land surface temperature measurements from satellites, and collected humidity (湿度) data, to estimate how hot an average day felt to outdoor workers in regions which either lost or maintained tree cover between 2003 and 2018. “The study focuses on what you would think of as a ‘feels-like’ temperature. It takes into account how well you can cool yourself by sweating, which is affected by humidity, as well as the temperature,” says Parsons.

The researchers then turned to population surveys to estimate the number of outdoor workers in these areas. This revealed that some 2.5 million outdoor workers in Asia lost at least half an hour of safe work per day, between 2003 and 2018, due to increased temperatures in deforested regions. Nearly 200,000 outdoor workers in the Americas and some 31,000 people in Africa lost this amount of safe work time each day. Regions that maintained forest cover generally stayed cool, and less work time was lost.

It is important to remember that, due to the scale (规模) of the study, the team didn’t measure actual worker hours on the ground across the entire tropics, says Parsons. This means the assessment of lost worker hours is based on theoretical considerations rather than direct observations of behaviour.

1. Why does Parsons make a comparison at the beginning?

A．To explain the causes of global warming.	B．To state the challenges of tropical regions.
C．To show the consequence of deforestation.	D．To emphasize the high rate of deforestation.

2. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “precarious” in paragraph 2?

A．Poor.

B．Unsafe.

C．Destructive.

D．Inaccessible.

3. What did the researchers find about deforestation?

A．It hit places in Asia the hardest.	B．It was more common in tropical areas.
C．It affected daily lives severely.	D．It decreased safe outdoor working hours.

4. What is the limitation of the study?

A．It is just proven true in theory.	B．It ignores regional variations.
C．It lacks systematic assessment.	D．It is based on a random sample.

8 . In many parts of the world there may not be much rainfall, but there is a fair amount of water vapor (水蒸气) in the air — particularly at night. An experimental new device draws in that vapor, and uses it to water eatable plants.

Known as SmartFarm, the small device designed by a team at the National University of Singapore, led by assistant professor Tan Swee Ching aimed to help address two of the world’s biggest problems — water shortage and food shortage. It’s a transparent (透明的) box that has vegetable plants growing in soil on the bottom — on top, a hydrogel (水凝胶) panel lies beneath a solar-powered motorized cover.

The hydrogel is very absorbent, readily drawing water vapor from the cool night air while the cover is open. An integrated timer closes it at daybreak, with the sun’s rays subsequently heating the hydrogel through the clear cover material. The gel responds by releasing its stored water in the form of vapor, which turns into liquid on the inside of the cover. When that cover periodically slides open throughout the day, the liquid gets wiped off along the inside edges of the box and runs into the soil.

According to scientists, the gel can absorb up to 300 times its weight in water at night. During the day, it releases that water at an hourly rate of 2.24 grams of water per gram of gel. And what’s more, the released water meets World Health Organization standards for drinkability.

Tan said, “The SmartFarm concept greatly reduces farms’ demand for water and is suitable for urban farming techniques such as rooftop farming. This is a significant step forward in easing water and food shortage.” He believes the SmartFarm device can be further improved with additional functionalities before it moves to mass and commercial production. For example, it can include wireless networking capability to enable users to monitor and control the process using smartphones.

1. Why is the new device designed?

A．To make use of water in the air.	B．To deal with water problems.
C．To collect rainwater for farms.	D．To support the growth of plants.

2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．Why the hydrogel is used.	B．What the hydrogel looks like.
C．How the SmartFarm device works.	D．Where the SmartFarm device comes in.

3. Which words can best describe SmartFarm?

A．Complex but worthwhile.	B．Self-contained and effective.
C．Practical but unproductive.	D．Water-saving and sustainable.

4. What does Tan say about the device in the last paragraph?

A．It needs further testing.	B．It has come on the market.
C．It shows great promise.	D．It opens up urban farming.

9 . Damon Carson must have one of the most interesting inboxes in the world. On any given day, in his office in Denver in the western US state of Colorado, he will field numerous inquiries from people looking to unload things. We’re not talking about someone trying to dispense with an old refrigerator or some out-of-fashion clothing, but companies.

Picture large companies looking to unload massive amounts of waste that would otherwise go to the landfill.

For example, Carson got a request from a battery company to deal with 22 tonnes of barium sulfate (硫酸钡) used in lead-acid batteries. A load of plastic garbage cans from a discount store were just waiting for him to repurpose them. And a recreation company wanted to know if Carson was interested in 360 kilograms of blue ropes, which they no longer needed to make the handles on coolers.

“They don’t want to just throw the waste away,” he explains. “Nor should they. Because it has value.” He is a matchmaker of the never-ending waste stream, trying not to pair people with people, but things with people. For nearly a decade, his company, Repurposed Materials, has been involved in this business. He’s not looking to recycle the things he gets-breaking them down to make something new-but rather finding a second life for cast-off goods in their original forms.

Once working in construction, Carson was familiar with an almost everyday phenomenon. “You’d open up one of these big construction dumpsters (大垃圾桶) and things would start falling out,” he says. He would find perfectly good windows still covered with plastic from the factory. “You can’t wrap your mind around how wasteful America is until you run a waste company,” he says. He began thinking about creating a sort of secondhand hardware store that would sell unwanted materials and keep them out of the waste stream. Then, in 2010, a business was born.

1. What does the underlined phrase “dispense with” in the first paragraph mean?

A．Make use of.	B．Look forward to.
C．Get rid of.	D．Come back to.

2. Why are some examples mentioned in paragraph 3?

A．To prove Carson’s tough work.	B．To indicate Carson’s “big business”.
C．To appeal for waste management.	D．To explain the source of the material.

3. How does Carson deal with the waste?

A．By creating something new.	B．By selling them to companies.
C．By recycling them to save energy.	D．By getting others to use them.

4. What inspired Carson to set up his company?

A．His disappointment at America.	B．His love for secondhand hardware.
C．His exposure to too much waste.	D．His experience in a waste company.