2 . The UK government has promised to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions (排放) by at least 68% by 2030 compared with 1990 levels, marking a significant increase from its current goal.

The new goal comes nine days ahead of the UK hosting a“climate action summit (峰会)”to encourage other countries to declare tougher climate plans, known as Nationally Deter-mined Contributions (NDCs), under the Paris Agreement. Current NDCs will raise temperatures by 3℃. And stronger plans are needed to meet the Paris deal's goal of limiting global warming to 1. 5℃.

"This is the most significant NDCs announcement so far from any major economy," said Richard Black at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, a UK-based think tank, in a statement.

The new goal is exactly in line with what the government's official climate adviser, the Climate Change Committee, called for in a letter published earlier today. The group said 68% would be "“world-leading" compared with existing plans of governments.

The UK had previously promised a 53% cut in emissions as part of a joint (共同的) effort with the rest of the European Union, but the UK is determined to produce a new NDCs. Separately, the UK had also promised a 57% cut by 2032 domestically.

It is clear that far more action will be needed if the UK is to meet the new goal. The government's own analysis last week showed that recent major methods, such as banning newoil-fueled car sales by 2030，had failed to do enough to put the UK on track even for the old goal of 57% by 2032. The new goal obviously widens that gap further.

1. Why did the UK declare its new goal before “climate action summit”?

A．To show its former plans are based on facts.

B．To blame other countries for their low goals.

C．To call on other countries to take bigger steps.

D．To take the lead in controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

2. What is the UK’s new goal for reducing emissions?

A．15%.

B．68%.

C．57%.

D．53%.

3. What's the author s attitude to the UK's new goal?

A．Disapproval.

B．Doubtful.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Subjective.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A new goal will be put forward on“climate action summit"

B．UK came up with a common goal under the Paris Agreement

C．UK's recent major policies are far from its predetermined goal

D．UK sets an ambitious climate goal of 68% emissions cut by 2030

3 . Are you facing a situation that looks impossible to fix?

In 1969,the pollution was terrible along the Cuyahoga River Cleveland, Ohio. It    1    (be) unimaginable that it could ever be cleaned up. The river was so polluted that it    2    (actual) caught fire and burned. Now, years later, this river is one of    3    most outstanding（杰出的）examples of environmental cleanup.

But the river wasn’t changed in a few days    4    even a few months. It took years of work     5    (reduce) the industrial pollution and clean the water. Finally, that hard work paid off and now the water in the river is    6    (clean) than ever.

Maybe you are facing an impossible situation. Maybe you have a habit    7    is driving your family crazy. Possibly you drink too much or don’t know how to control your credit card use. When you face such an impossible situation, don’t you want a quick fix and something to change immediately?

While there are    8    (amaze) stories of instant transformation, for most of us the    9    (change) are gradual and require a lot of effort and work, like cleaning up a polluted river. Just be     10    (patience).