1 . Beginning 2020, the fifth generation of wireless technology is expected to be widely used throughout the world. The new network, called 5G, promises to give faster speeds and a higher capacity for the use of more devices. However, while some companies are competing to be the first to deliver 5G to the consumer, the environmental influences of the new network are being overlooked.
There is some evidence that the new devices and technologies associated with 5G will be harmful to ecosystems. The main component of the 5G network that will affect the earth's ecosystems is the millimeter waves. The millimeter waves that are being used in developing the 5G network have never been used at such scale(规模)before. Studies have found that there are some harms caused by these new technologies.
The millimeter waves, specifically, had a detrimental effect on birds. In a study, researchers observed that after exposure to radiation from a cell tower for just 5~30 minutes, the eggs of sparrows were disfigured. The disfiguration of birds exposed for such a short amount of time to these frequencies(频率)is significant considering that the new 5G network will have a much higher density(浓度)of base stations(small cells) throughout areas needing connection. The potential dangers of having so many small cells all over areas where birds live could threaten their population's survival.
Additionally, it was found that cellular devices were linked to many disturbances in the ecosystems of bees. In this study, beehives exposed for just ten minutes to 900MHz waves fell victim to colony collapse disorder(蜂群崩坏症候群). Bees are an incredibly important part of the earth's ecosystem. Around one-third of the food produced today is dependent on bees for pollination(授粉), making bees are a vital part of the agricultural system.
The impact that the cell towers have on birds and bees is important to understand, because all ecosystems of the earth are interconnected. If one component of an ecosystem is disrupted the whole system will be affected.
1. What will probably cause the environmental problems with the wide use of 5G network?| A．The lack of the density of base stations. |
| B．The less mature devices and technologies. |
| C．The lower capacity for the use of devices. |
| D．The large amount of use of millimeter waves. |
| A．Important. | B．Unknown. | C．Harmful. | D．Potential. |
| A．They play a key role in food production. |
| B．They can guide some pollinators to work. |
| C．They are likely to reduce unpleasant noises. |
| D．They rid disturbances in the agricultural system. |
| A．Should 5G Be Used in the Future? | B．The Influence of 5G on Ecosystem |
| C．The Research on 5G Technologies | D．How Can Ecosystem Survive 5G? |
2 . Thanks to its harsh environment, Antarctica remained largely untouched by humans for many millennia (千年), allowing a thriving ecosystem to evolve. However, since the 1990s, the last true wilderness on the planet is becoming an increasingly popular destination for adventure-seeking tourists. Now, a new study declares that the visitors may be leaving behind harmful bacteria which could devastate all of the area’s native bird population.
Humans can infect animals with illnesses such as the flu. Researchers, however, believed that the Antarctic animals were immune to the danger due to the continent’s extreme weather. However, microbiologist Marta Cerda-Cuellar was not convinced. She and some colleagues decided to examine waste samples from Antarctic birds for evidence of human bacteria. To ensure the waste was not polluted, the scientists had to collect it from the birds themselves.
The results of their study revealed the presence of several types of human bacteria in the bird waste. This included a common strain (品种) of bacteria that causes food poisoning in humans. The researchers say the bacteria strains were resistant to commonly-used human antibiotics, indicating they were brought in by the visitors, rather than migratory birds.
“These strains, which are a common cause for infections in humans and livestock, do not usually cause death outbreaks in wild animals,” says Gonzalez Solis. “However, the emerging of invasive pathogens (病原体) that arrive to highly sensitive populations could have severe consequences and cause the local collapse and extinction of some populations.” The researcher also fears the presence of these bugs could foreshadow (预示) the arrival of other, more deadly, pathogens as the number of tourists people increases.
Experts believe the only way to prevent the mass destruction of the birds is to impose stricter regulations or, at least, put the ones already in place into effect. For example, while the Antarctica Treaty requires visitors to carry their waste back home to safeguard the pristine (原始纯净的) environment, the regulation is rarely enforced. Fortunately, nowadays some officials are taking steps to save the vulnerable birds before it’s too late.
1. What problem is Antarctica facing according to Paragraphs 1&2?| A．The increasing number of birds. | B．The worsening wilderness. |
| C．The replaced native bird species. | D．The spread of infectious illnesses. |
| A．Reject. | B．Protect. | C．Destroy. | D．Benefit. |
| A．There were several types of human bacteria in them. |
| B．Migratory birds brought these strains of bacteria in. |
| C．The strains usually cause death outbreaks in wild animals. |
| D．The invasive pathogens will become more deadly ones soon. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Doubtful. | C．Ambiguous. | D．Optimistic. |
3 . A tiny Alaska village has experienced a boom in tourism in recent years as polar bears spend more time on land than on Arctic sea ice.
More than 2,000 people visited the northern Alaska village of Kaktovik in 2018 to see polar bears in the wild. The far north community lies in an area where increasingly higher temperature has sped up the movement of sea ice, the primary habitat(栖息地) of polar bears. As ice has gradually moved to deep water beyond the continental shelf, more bears are remaining on land to look for food.
Polar bears have always been a common sight on sea ice near Kaktovik, but villagers started noticing a change in the mid-1990s. More bears seemed to stay on land, and researchers began taking note of more female bears making homes in the snow on land instead of on the ice to raise their babies. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists began hearing reports of the increasing number of polar bears in the area in the early 2000s. As more attention was given to the plight (困境)of polar bears about a decade ago, more tourists started heading to Kaktovik.
The village had fewer than 50 visitors annually before 2011, said Jennifer Reed, of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "Today we’re talking about hundreds and hundreds of visitors, many from around the world each year," Reed said. Most tourists visit in the fall, when bears are forced toward land because sea ice is farthest away from the shore. Bruce Inglangasak, a local hunter who sometimes offers wildlife-viewing tours, said been offering polar bear tours since 2004. Most of his clients(客户) are from China and Europe, as well as from the lower 48 U. S. states. Many tourists stay several days in the village, which has two small hotels. The villagers have benefited a lot from that. In turn, they provide more effective protection for polar bears with financial support from tourism development.
1. What causes more polar bears to stay on land in Kaktovik?| A．Food shortage. | B．Climate change. |
| C．Habitats, movement to shore. | D．Their preference for land. |
| A．Excited. | B．Puzzled. | C．Concerned. | D．Shocked. |
| A．Hotels in Kaktovik are in demand in autumn. |
| B．Kaktovik has about 50 visitors annually. |
| C．Inglangasak makes a living as a tour guide. |
| D．Tourism affects the balance of nature. |
| A．The fittest can survive. | B．After a storm comes a calm. |
| C．There is always opportunity in crisis. | D．Every coin has two sides. |
4 . The "30 by 30" campaign to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, supported by more than 70 nations, is known mostly for ambition and few achievements so far. Just 7% of the seas are protected and only 2.7% are highly protected.
Setting aside nearly a third of the oceans, the fishers say, is an idea developing nations in South America and elsewhere can hardly afford. That argument against a large expansion of sea protected areas is heard around the world, and the gap between conservationists and fishers has grown wider as fish population declines and the appetite for seafood grows along with the global population.
Research published recently aims to dramatically change that situation. The study suggests that protecting 30% of the oceans not only could restore biodiversity to ocean habitats, it could also increase the annual global catch by eight million tons about 10% of the catch today. After all, the only way to get more food from the ocean is to protect more. And, as a bonus, it would provide a "cheap, natural solution" to climate change by reducing the amount of seafloor carbon emitted （排放）into the seas by fishing trawlers （拖网渔船）.
In the study, an international team of 26 scientists analyzed the world's unprotected ocean waters to calculate which are threatened by overfishing, habitat destruction, and release of carbon. The team then mapped locations globally where protections would provide the greatest benefits to fish resources, biodiversity and climate.
The findings can be used by nations to address the three related aspects separately or in combination. Fully addressing all three will require that at least 30% of the oceans be protected, but nations can still realize significant protections by focusing on key areas, and global cooperation to strategically locate protected areas can be nearly twice as effective as individual nations working alone.
1. What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?| A．The wide support for the campaign. |
| B．The challenges of protecting the oceans. |
| C．The worldwide efforts to resist illegal fishing. |
| D．The achievements in reducing ocean pollution. |
| A．It keeps sea species stable. |
| B．It improves the global climate. |
| C．It helps to increase fish population. |
| D．It removes carbon from the seafloor. |
| A．To discuss the methods of fishing sustainably. |
| B．To stress the importance of biological balance. |
| C．To appeal for building ocean protected areas globally. |
| D．To introduce the background of the "30 by 30" campaign. |
| A．Environment. | B．Geography. | C．Travel. | D．Economy. |
China
The future of space exploration remains bright.
6 . Heritage on the Edge
In an effort to preserve some of the world’s most famous landmarks，Google has announced a new project to transform a few of the most endangered by climate change into interactive 3D models，just in case one or all is irreparably(不能恢复地)damaged in the coming decades.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle comprises 27 buildings on top of an extinct volcano. It was home to many kings and queens. But old roofs and rainwater management systems will become insufficient as they will be unable to deal with the level of storm water associated with extreme weather events. Besides，if temperatures continue to rise，the rate of decay(腐烂)will increase further.
Kilwa Kisiwani
Kilwa Kisiwani was a regional center of the medieval trading civilization along the East African Coast. Its permanent architecture included ports，Muslim buildings，and the unique“stone houses”. However，the drier weather and subsequently heavy rainfall is threatening the stability of the ruins，causing the worsening of this exposed heritage site.
Mosque City of Bagherat
The Mosque City of Bagherat was once a lost city. It has many Muslim buildings，bridges，roads and palaces. A recent report stressed the increasing impacts of sea level rise and changes in salinity(盐度)on this community. Increased salinity not only makes much of the water undrinkable but damages structures.
Chan Chan
Chan Chan was the capital city of Chimu empire，stretching for nearly a thousand kilometers along the coastline. The city planning reflects a strict political and social strategy. But site managers today face challenges in rainfall and droughts due to El Nino events and climate change that threaten to gradually wash the ancient city away.
1. What do we know about Edinburgh Castle?| A．It was built along the coast. | B．It is the largest castle in the world. |
| C．It is in danger of being washed away. | D．It used to be the home of royal families. |
| A．Water pollution. | B．Water’s becoming salty. |
| C．Water shortage. | D．Water’s being overused. |
| A．Temperature rises. | B．Volcanic eruptions. |
| C．Sea water. | D．Environmental damage. |
In 1991, Beijing musician Wang Wei went on a tour, when he became fascinated by the shakuhachi, a kind of Japanese bamboo flute (笛子). Later, he found out that the shakuhachi,
During the past three
He also gathered a group of musicians to form the country’s first bamboo orchestra. While
8 . When we think of bicycles, we think of fun and the outdoors. Bicycles give riders the freedom to explore and enjoy the environment and its surroundings.
Most people know that riding bicycles is environmentally friendly.
Bikes are becoming more and more popular across the world. In fact, they are becoming more than just a fun pastime (娱乐).
Some South American cities, such as Bogota in Colombia, have a weekly car-free day.
It seems that the bike is a force for good, providing solutions for cleaner cities without leaving a serious environmental footprint.
| A．Riding bicycles is a healthy, cheap activity and good exercise. |
| B．Cities are taking this love and demand for bicycles seriously. |
| C．People are encouraged to buy bicycles to go to and from work. |
| D．Daily use of a bicycle has very low effect on the environment. |
| E．It is cheap and convenient to travel around the world on bicycles. |
| F．They are also used as a daily transport to work, school or shopping. |
| G．More than 2 million people bicycle, skate, or jog along the closed roads. |
9 . In 1960 the Aral Sea was one of the world’s largest inland water bodies, covering an area of approximately 68,000 square kilometers (26,000 square miles). By the year 2000 the area covered by the Aral Sea had become less than half its 1960 size, its volume reduced by 80 percent. By about 2010 all that will remain will be three shallow remnants.
What caused the Aral Sea to evaporate over the past 40 years? As recently as 1965, the Aral Sea received about 50 cubic kilometers (12 cubic miles) of fresh water per year. By the early 1980s this number had declined to nearly zero. The reason was that the waters of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya had been diverted to supply a major expansion of irrigated agriculture in this dry realm.
The intensive irrigation has greatly increased agricultural productivity, but not without significant costs. The deltas of the two major rivers have lost their wetlands, and wildlife has disappeared. The once thriving fishing industry has been eliminated, and the 24 species of fish that once inhabited the Aral Sea are no longer there. The shoreline is now tens of kilometers from the towns that were once fishing centers.
The shrinking sea has exposed millions of acres of former seabed to sun and wind. The surface is covered with salt and agrochemicals brought by the rivers. Strong winds routinely pick up thousands of tons of newly exposed materials every year and deposit them throughout the region. This process has not only contributed to a significant reduction in air quality for the region’s population, but has also appreciably reduced crop yields due to the deposits of salt-rich sediments on farmable land.
The shrinking Aral Sea has had a noticeable impact on climate. Without the moderating effect of a large water body, there are greater extremes of temperature, a shorter growing season, and reduced local precipitation. These changes have caused many farms to switch from growing cotton to growing rice, which demands even more diverted water.
1. Why have crop yields been reduced on the land surrounding the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya?| A．The Aral Sea no longer provides the land with fresh water for irrigation. |
| B．The farmers have stopped using chemical fertilizers. |
| C．The salt content of the soil has increased. |
| D．Erosion due to wind has increased. |
| A．forcefully |
| B．necessarily |
| C．unfortunately |
| D．regularly |
| A．Rice requires less water. |
| B．Rice is cheaper to grow. |
| C．Rice needs a shorter growing season. |
| D．Rice has less impact on climate. |
10 . A student-led push to get solar panels installed at a middle school in Tacoma is receiving national recognition from a clean energy nonprofit organization called Generation 180. The girls involved are advocating and fundraising for the project.
Sammy Firkins, Gwen Newport and Annie Son will talk about their idea to generate solar electricity at Jason Lee Middle School in a panel discussion organized by Generation 180. In 2019, the three of them teamed up with their science teacher, Kathy Hall, to push for solar panels to be installed. Hall, who uses solar power at her own house, said it’s long been a dream of hers. The school would be the first in the Tacoma district to use solar energy.
The girls presented their idea to Gov. Jay Inslee’s STEM Education Innovation Alliance meeting in early 2019 and received enthusiastic support. They then spoke to the Tacoma school board and obtained buy-in from the district, though they were told the district did not have the roughly $ 200,000 for the 277 solar panels and that they would have to fundraise. They’ve since raised more than half that amount through grants and individual donations.
Gwen Newport said she’s always cared a lot about environmental issues and that she’s troubled that climate change does not get the attention it deserves. “At this point, I feel like it’s kind of been given to my generation almost as our responsibility now and so being able to be a part of this project and take action is really important to me,” she said.
The solar panels have not been installed at the school yet. But Hall said she estimates that the project will reduce the school’s power costs by about $ 14,000 a year, and that it also will serve an educational purpose. “We will have live data always streaming available so that people can see how the panels are working and how they relate to the amount of electricity we’re using, and it will be an incredible learning tool,” she said.
1. What is Generation 180?| A．It is the name of the girls’ team. |
| B．It is a project to use solar power. |
| C．It is a nonprofit environmental group. |
| D．It is a student-led push to install solar panels. |
| A．The girls raised enough money for the project. |
| B．The Tacoma school board rejected the project. |
| C．The girls made great efforts to fulfill the project. |
| D．The district covered the expenses of solar panels. |
| A．Confident. | B．Concerned. | C．Relieved. | D．Content. |
| A．To advocate for donations. |
| B．To serve as a learning tool. |
| C．To protect the environment. |
| D．To cut down the school’s expenses. |
