1 . With climate change continuing to worsen, our situation is beginning to feel increasingly serious.
Techno-optimism is one of the greatest misconceptions when it comes to solutions to ensure our future. It can be defined as a belief that future technologies will solve all of our current problems. This definition reinforces (强化) the idea that there’s no reason to panic or change our current energy-intensive lifestyle. All society needs to do is look to green technology to work its magic.
One of the best examples of this optimistic misconception is the electric car. Despite being highly regarded as an eco-friendly way to get around, electric cars are not the end for the future of transport. Batteries in electric cars use chemical elements which we could be seeing a shortage of by the midcentury.
Techno-optimism puts too much emphasis on technology and not enough on what we can do right this minute. Unfortunately, people seem to like the picture that techno-optimism paints.
A.So where should we look for answers instead? |
B.The modern world’s simple solution is technology. |
C.Moreover, they are more energy intensive to produce. |
D.Is it a trap that many people have fallen into in recent years? |
E.Unfortunately, this is an incredibly dangerous opinion to hold. |
F.Despite any technology, we as a whole are not living sustainably. |
G.Nevertheless, the truth is, we need a widespread change in our lifestyles. |
2 . GREAT BOOKS TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
Here is a shortened list of books sponsored by the magazines TIME and TIME for Kids that are suitable for primary schoolers. To make the list, we considered how age-appropriate the material was, and whether the tone and story line left the reader feeling engaged and empowered rather than anxious or confused.
Experts recommend the youngest kids to read books that explore the beauty and fragility (脆弱) of nature. When developing an appreciation for the world around them, they can switch to books that show the cause and effect of how humans treat our planet, and why it’s important to respect the environment. For older primary school kids, picture books can illustrate how our use of fossil (化石) fuels contributes to global warming. Most of the books on the list also offer lessons about how children, families, schools, and communities can make a difference.
THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET By April Pulley Sayre This photography book shows to us plants, animals and landscapes in vivid colors and descriptions. From up-close images of insects to pictures of mountain ranges, the pages introduce children to the planets’ diversity in a simple but effective way. | THE LORAX By Dr. Seuss Thanks to its rhyme, and whimsical illustration, this classic tale is suitable for young children who can grasp the scarcity of natural resources, and also older kids who can see a danger in valuing profits over long-term environmental harm. |
WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS By Carole Lindstrom A tribute to native tribes that are protecting the planet, this book vividly shows the harms of oil pipelines. Kids will see the value of community action, while adults will recognize the story of the native tribes Standing Rock Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. | POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? By Robert E. Wells This book introduces the greenhouse effect with illustrations showing how sunlight gets trapped. It then explains fossil-fuel energy, and our reliance on it for electricity and transportation. The pages are full of science. |
A.Confusing story line. | B.The tone of anxiety. |
C.The books sponsorship. | D.Age-appropriate content. |
A.They can see the value of community action. |
B.They can know how to protect the native tribes. |
C.They can recognize the story of the native tribes. |
D.They can understand the importance of oil pipelines. |
A.THE LORAX |
B.WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS |
C.POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? |
D.THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号∧,并在其下而写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线划掉\。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下而写出修改后的词。
注意:1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2. 只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Our school held an activity on last Sunday because it was “Earth Day”. Hundred of students took part in it. I am one of them. First, the headmaster gave us a speech about how to protect earth—our home. Then we went hiking, this was about 15km. Although the hiking was very tired, none were left behind. It is no doubt that all of us like the activity. In the future, they will try hardly to protect the environment. We hope we will take part in more activity about caring about the globe.
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2.只允许修改10处,多者(从第11处起)不计分。
I am Liu Ying, a high school student. Our school is built 50 years ago. It is very beautifully as you can find many of tall trees, flowers and green grass here. I am very proud of learn in such a school. However, it’s a pity that there is a lot of rubbishes at some corners. I think we can do anything. First, we must know the important of keeping the school clean. Beside, we should spend some time clean up every corner of the school every day. Last, we must remember that no matter where we find rubbish, it is our duty pick it up and put it into rubbish cans.
5 . The Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo is a
Just recently, scientists
In 2018, scientists used laser imagery from airplane to
Bringing just a tape measure (卷尺) and climbing equipment, an
In an interview, Jami talked about his
A.shelter | B.hell | C.paradise | D.nightmare |
A.researched | B.designed | C.planted | D.discovered |
A.width | B.height | C.length | D.depth |
A.came across | B.led to | C.set aside | D.left out |
A.unsurprisingly | B.unhappily | C.unbelievably | D.unfortunately |
A.remove | B.transport | C.measure | D.surround |
A.modern | B.unusual | C.effective | D.strange |
A.clean | B.cut | C.plant | D.spot |
A.assess | B.arrange | C.check | D.identity |
A.traditional | B.crazy | C.ridiculous | D.awkward |
A.educated | B.experienced | C.admired | D.approved |
A.draw | B.prevent | C.put | D.prove |
A.decorated | B.climbed | C.trimmed | D.protected |
A.easily | B.fearfully | C.surely | D.clumsily |
A.reached | B.observed | C.calculated | D.judged |
A.arrival | B.approach | C.flight | D.journey |
A.top | B.distance | C.middle | D.bottom |
A.sunshine | B.air | C.wind | D.view |
A.work | B.sleep | C.lie | D.eat |
A.habitats | B.heritages | C.wonders | D.resources |
6 . “It’s alarming that5 0 percent of species could go extinct in the UK in the near future,” Harvey, 18, told Rustic Pathways, “To fight the ecological crisis, we have to start restoring.” That’s why he and his friend Tom founded the organization Celtic Reptile & Amphibian to breed(培育)endangered native species as to reintroduce them back into the wild.
Harvey’ inspiration was sparked by a trip to a rewilded farm in Devon. Here famous expert Derek has successfully reintroduced beavers(海狸), previously extinct in the UK, and is also breeding wild pigs and cats.
This visit has inspired Harvey to start restoring wild animal populations. But why reptiles and amphibians? Harvey put it simply, “The fact of the matter is, they are food, especially frogs and lizards.” Reptiles and amphibians are food for birds and various other species. They are working on restoring 10 different types of species as to provide food in support of the ecosystem.
During 2020, staying at home due to the pandemic, Harvey and Tom used their weekends and evenings and sometimes all night to build a reptile facility in their backyard. They now do different tasks to better run the facility, including feeding the animals and holding meetings with wildlife biologists.
Harvey has introduced a set of guidelines of International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)for reintroduction and migration. The guidelines ensure that the reintroduction is as successful as possible, based on a science-based approach.
Now Harvey is taking a gap year before his university education. He wants to get the business to a more self-sustainable level. “Although it’s a small piece of rewilding, we hope the message that Celtic Reptile & Amphibian holds is that we can rewild the world. We must rewild the world and we must do it now,” Harvey added.
1. What inspired Harvey to establish Celtue Reptile & Amphibian?A.A successful rewilded farm. | B.The global environmental crisis. |
C.His interest in beavers in the UK. | D.A well-known expert’s encouragement. |
A.Many of them are close to extinction. | B.They are easier to breed than other species. |
C.They feed on birds and many other species. | D.They play an important role in the ecosystem. |
A.Harvey’s vision for their business. | B.The background of IUCN guidelines. |
C.Challenges of running the organization. | D.The team’s efforts in reintroducing species. |
A.Creative and humorous. | B.Kindhearted and modest. |
C.Diligent and responsible. | D.Independent and cautious. |
7 . University of Colorado Boulder researchers have developed a new tool that could lead to more efficient and cheaper technologies for capturing (捕获) heat-trapping gases from the atmosphere and turning them into beneficial substances, like fuel or building materials, meanwhile limiting global warming and avoiding disastrous impacts of global climate change.
The tool predicts how strong the bond will be between carbon dioxide and the molecule (分子) that traps it. It allows researchers to identify suitable molecular candidates to capture carbon dioxide from everyday air.
The goal of carbon capture and storage technology is to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it safely for thousands of years. But while it has been in use in the USA since the 1970s, it currently captures and stores a mere 0.1% of global carbon emission (排放) annually. To help meet the goal of carbon emission laid out by the IPCC, carbon capture and storage would have to rapidly increase in scale by 2050.
Current industrial facilities around the world rely on capturing carbon dioxide from a concentrated source, such as emissions from power plants. While these methods can bind (凝结) a lot of carbon dioxide quickly and efficiently using large amounts of certain chemical binders, they are also extraordinarily energy- intensive. This method is also quite expensive at scale to take carbon dioxide and turn it into something else useful, such as carbonates, according to Luca, fellow-elect of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI). Using the tool would free carbon capture facilities from being tied to concentrated source, allowing them to exist almost anywhere.
Being able to easily estimate the strength of chemical bonds also enables researchers to identify which binders will be best suited and offer a cheaper alternative to the traditional method for capturing and converting carbon into materials or fuel according to Haley Petersen, co-lead author of the study.
1. What can the new tool be used to do?A.Stop climate change. | B.Capture oxygen from air. |
C.Help deal with climatic issues. | D.Divide the molecule of carbon. |
A.The atmosphere. | B.The material from carbon. |
C.The goal of carbon emission. | D.The carbon capture and storage technology. |
A.Its disadvantages. | B.Its functions. |
C.Its working principle. | D.Its practical application. |
A.Art. | B.Science. | C.Fashion. | D.Culture. |
8 . Ada Smith, chairwoman of a non-profit organization Protect the Earth, wore green for a special event with school children in New York on Wednesday. The 40-year-old woman stood against the cool weather in a long green coat that has been in her wardrobe (衣柜) for years.
She wore the coat for the first time in 2019 during her husband Bill Smith’s tour to a national environmental conference, and she put on it again in her classic sustainable (可持续的) style. Ada’s recycled outfit was perfect for the occasion, all about the environment.
Ada and Bill headed to the Central Park, where they spent time brainstorming ideas with students on how to deal with environmental issues. Ada said, “Education is such an important part of protecting our planet. We must inspire the next generation with the optimism, confidence and enthusiasm to chase those solutions and continue building a more sustainable future.”
Ada and Bill helped the students generate more than 60 ideas to help the environment. Ada said, “Young children already identify the climate as one of their biggest worries, and our organization aims to educate them that we can find the answers by working together.”
Their visit came ahead of an award ceremony, in which five winners will be announced in the first round of the environmental prize pioneered by Ada. Ada and Bill will appear at the ceremony on the next weekend, when they will walk the “green carpet” with activists committed to environmental causes.
Though their time with the children was part of a larger initiative, environmentalist Steve Johnson said, “They didn’t come there for a photo, but to sit, talk to and listen to kids. It is from the heart and people get that.”
1. Why did Ada wear green?A.To show a different dressing style. | B.To make herself more attractive. |
C.To make herself match the event. | D.To fight against the cool weather. |
A.Teaching young children to participate in it. |
B.Asking young children to study together. |
C.Building the confidence of the next generation. |
D.Inspiring more students to wear green clothes. |
A.Go to visit some students. | B.Attend an award ceremony. |
C.Set up a non- profit organization. | D.Receive an environmental prize. |
A.It’s costly. | B.It’s suspect. | C.It’s interesting. | D.It’s genuine. |
9 . Tropical rainforests are disappearing at an alarming rate, and according to a new report by Rainforest Foundation Norway, humans are to blame. The world’s dependence on coal, farming, soy, palm oil and mining has resulted in two-thirds of Earth’s tropical rainforests being completely destroyed, and the remaining ecosystems being put closer to a tipping point (临界点).
Tropical rainforests once covered 14.5 million square kilometers of Earth’s surface, but now, just one-third of that remains undamaged. Of the original area tropical rainforests once occupied, 34% is completely gone and 30% is suffering from degradation. All that remains is roughly 9.5 million square kilometers, and 45% of that is in a degraded (恶化的) state, the report says.
Researchers blame human consumption for the loss. While agriculture has always been a driving factor of rainforest loss, the report said that energy consumption, international trade and the production of soy and palm oil, logging and mining have been the largest threats over the past century. A significant number of U. S. products rely on resources from tropical rainforests. The country heavily relies on palm oil, rubber and cocoa, all of which come from forests around the world. Oftentimes, these resources are harvested from illegally deforested lands.
Tropical rainforests are home to more than half of the Earth’s biodiversity and have more carbon in living organisms than any other ecosystem. Along with supporting significant animal life, tropical rainforests are also essential to slowing down global warming. “These highly specialized ecosystems are suffering from constant abuse, through our bottomless appetite for land and resources,” said Anders Krogh, who authored the report. “We expect that upcoming UN climate and biodiversity summits provide specific targets and measures to protect tropical rainforests.”
The researchers also believe that the loss of tropical rainforests puts the whole world at risk of future pandemics. “Massive deforestation (毁林) is violating nature’s natural virus protection systems.” Krogh said. “The consequences of COVID-19 should bring rainforest protection to the top of the agenda of all policy makers and world leaders concerned about preventing the outbreak of new pandemics.”
1. Why are the data listed in paragraph 2?A.To show the serious loss of tropical rainforest. |
B.To present the process of rainforest degradation. |
C.To stress the role of rainforests in the ecosystem. |
D.To explain the reason for the disappearance of rainforests. |
A.The traditional method of fanning. |
B.Global imbalance of international trade. |
C.The world’s much dependence on clean energy. |
D.Human unreasonable consumption of rainforest resources. |
A.The loss of rainforests will destroy future generations. |
B.Immediate action should be taken to protect rainforests. |
C.The disappearance of rainforests was caused by global warming. |
D.Politicians are concerned about preventing the outbreak of new pandemics. |
A.Tropical Rainforests Are Declining |
B.Rainforests Slow down Global Warming |
C.Humans Are to Pay for the Loss of Rainforests |
D.World Leaders Are Acting to Protect Rainforests |
10 . What would you think if someone suggested pulling down Big Ben to make way for a car park? It would be ridiculous, right? But when it comes to devastation (毁灭) of the natural world, we aren’t so easily shocked. But we should be...or we’ll be in a lot of trouble.
Nature is shrinking by the day. Ancient forests are destroyed. Wetlands are becoming dry. Woodland is disappearing. And all in the name of progress. This is bad in itself, but it’s devastating for biodiversity.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of plants, animals and other living things which are all inter-connected. The ecological services provided by biodiversity are vital to everyday life. The air we breathe is a product of photosynthesis (光合作用) by green plants. In fact, all life on earth exists thanks to the benefit of biodiversity. More than 90 percent of the calories consumed by people worldwide are produced from 80 plant species. And 30 percent of medicines are developed from plants and animals. Maintaining a wide diversity of species in each ecosystem is necessary to preserve all living things.
The loss of biodiversity could be devastating. “It is wrong to think that biodiversity can be reduced indefinitely without threatening humans,” said Harvard University biologist Edward O. Wilson, known as “the father of biodiversity”. He warned, “we are about to reach a critical point beyond which biodiversity loss will be unavoidable.”
But what can we do? The problem is that the concept of biodiversity is so vague. People might care about giant pandas, but it is much harder to excite them about the fate of tiny sea creatures which are being boiled to death in the cooling systems of power stations along coastlines. The Guardian newspaper is trying to help. It has started the Biodiversity 100 campaign to try to convince governments around the world to take action to deal with the widespread concerns about biodiversity. This includes persuading the UK government to create a series of marine reserves to reverse the decline in sea-life caused by industrial fishing, banning the fishing sharks by the Japanese fishermen and stopping the killing of dingoes in Australia, among many other things.
There is a lot to do. And we’d better get a move on if we don’t want to end up with a planet that can’t support life!
1. What does the author want to tell us by the comparison in paragraph 1?A.It is unreasonable to pull down Big Ben. | B.People take devastation of nature for granted. |
C.The differences between Big Ben and nature. | D.The great trouble we have been faced with. |
A.It doesn’t matter to reduce biodiversity. | B.People have done enough to preserve biodiversity. |
C.The situation of biodiversity is very serious. | D.Biodiversity loss has become unavoidable. |
A.The UK government. | B.The concept of biodiversity. |
C.The action to deal with problem. | D.The Guardian newspaper. |
A.Biodiversity Battle | B.Biodiversity Loss | C.Planet Conservation | D.Planet Changing |