1 . “What’s your favorite color?” is a common question, particularly among children. However, there is a new color that might offer a partial solution to global warming by one day reducing the need for air conditioning (AC).
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, AC only causes a part of global greenhouse gas emissions. But that threat will continue to grow as temperatures rise with climate change, and people install (安装) more AC units. Facing this problem, researchers at Purdue University tried to replace the need for conditioning power and invented the world’s whitest paint. It is so white that it could efficiently reflect enough sunlight to cool off buildings.
In 2021, the researchers focused on two key parts of the white paint. The first is that the chemical mixture barium sulfate (BaSO3) can effectively reflect light. The second is that BaSO3 particles change in size allowing the paint to reflect more incoming light. The white paint reflects 98.1% of solar rays and sends out infrared heat (红外线热量) at the same time. Using highly accurate temperature-reading technology, researchers found that the paint kept surfaces 34.2°C cooler, even during the hottest hours of the day.
The white paint can be a suitable choice to replace traditional AC. Air cooling power uses an about 5 kilowatts per 1000 square meter, but the researchers showed that their white paint could double that amount of power. If this innovation (革新) is applied to the outside of buildings, AC will be replaced with paint.
The team is optimistic about getting this paint into the market. They are working with a company at present. The white color can change the way people think about their cooling systems. Instead of installing large AC units that already use a lot of electrical power, people can turn to the world’s whitest paint to do the same job.
1. Why did the researchers develop the whitest paint?| A．To cut the cost of decorating buildings. |
| B．To collect more sunlight to warm up rooms. |
| C．To reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. |
| D．To improve the cooling effect of air conditioners. |
| A．The cooling science behind the paint. |
| B．The process of producing the paint. |
| C．The effect of BaSO3 on global climate. |
| D．The advantages of temperature-reading technology. |
| A．It will control the paint market. |
| B．It will change people’s lifestyle. |
| C．It will help reduce energy consumption. |
| D．It will earn a big profit for the company. |
| A．A Key Solution to Global Warming |
| B．A New Way to Reduce Light Pollution. |
| C．A White Paint Has Been Brought into the Market. |
| D．A White Paint Will Reduce the Need for Air Conditioning. |
To protect the ocean and prevent plastic waste polluting the water, an Italian company has invented River Cleaning,
However, the company had to overcome several
Attached
3 . What might be the global impact of extreme losses of the Amazon rainforest — the world’s largest rainforest? A new study has found that rapid deforestation of the Amazon rainforest could influence the temperature and rainfall over as far away as the Tibetan plateau and Antarctica.
Saini Yang at Beijing Normal University in China and her colleagues analysed global climatological data from 1979 to 2019 to identify correlations in temperature and rainfall between the Amazon rainforest and other areas. Such links are called “teleconnections(遥相关)”.
They focused on the Amazon rainforest in particular because of its significance as a major carbon sink and as a climatic “tipping point(临界点)” that could see forests turn to tropical grasslands beyond a certain limit of warming and human-driven deforestation.
The researchers found that since 1979, warm temperatures in the Amazon was associated with warm temperatures over the Tibetan plateau and the West Antarctic ice sheet; more rainfall in the Amazon was relevant to less rainfall in those regions.
By analysing changing temperatures in the regions between the Amazon and those distant areas, they were also able to trace the path through which energy or materials such as black carbon released in forest fire might propagate through the atmosphere. Their analysis showed the route remained consistent under different future warming circumstances.
The collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet is a known tipping point. Melting snow on the Tibetan plateau is not, but the region is warming more rapidly than much of the rest of the globe, and changes to snow and ice there could have consequences for ecosystems and the billions of people that rely on its snowmelt for water.
“If the Amazon does have an influence on these regions, it could mean there is a higher risk the Amazon tipping point might set others off”, says Jothan at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. “It adds an additional potential domino that can fall.”
1. How did the study identify teleconnections?| A．By recording temperature and rainfall. |
| B．By finding the similarities between regions. |
| C．By examining previous data on global climate. |
| D．By analysing climatological data of the Amazon. |
| A．spread | B．absorb | C．launch | D．switch |
| A．It is now at a higher risk of disappearing. |
| B．It indeed has an effect on the two regions. |
| C．Deforestation is caused by human activities. |
| D．The tipping point might cause a chain reaction. |
| A．Changes within the Amazon. |
| B．The Amazon at a tipping point. |
| C．The Tibetan plateau and Antarctica. |
| D．Global impacts of the Amazon deforestation. |
4 . Unusual incidents are being reported across the Arctic. Inuit (因纽特人) families going off on snowmobiles to prepare their summer hunting camps have found themselves cut off from home by a sea of mud. There are also reports of sea ice breaking up earlier than usual, carrying seals beyond the reach of hunters. Climate change may still be a rather abstract idea to most of us, but in the Arctic it is already having great effects — if summertime ice continues to shrink at its present rate, the Arctic Ocean could soon become almost ice-free in summer. The knock-on effects are likely to include more warming, cloudier skies, and higher sea levels. Scientists are increasingly eager to find out what’s going on in the Arctic.
For the Inuit the problem is urgent. They live in unsteady balance with one of the toughest environments on earth. Climate change, whatever its causes, is a direct danger to their way of life. Nobody knows the Arctic as well as the locals, which is why they are not content simply to stand back and let outsider experts tell them what’s happening. In Canada, where the Inuit people are trying hard to guard their hard-won autonomy in the country’s newest land, Nunavut, they believe their best hope of survival in this changing environment lies in combining their ancestral knowledge with the best of modern science. This is challenge in itself.
The Canadian Arctic is a vast, treeless polar desert that’s covered with snow for most of the year. Adventure into this area and you get some idea of the hardships facing anyone who calls this home. Farming is out of the question and nature offers few pickings. Humans first settled in the Arctic a mere 4,500 years ago, surviving by taking advantage of sea fish. The environment tested them to the limits: sometimes the settlers were successful, sometimes they failed and disappeared. But around a thousand years ago, one group appeared that was uniquely well adapted to deal with the Arctic environment. These Thule people moved in from Alaska, bringing dogs, iron tools and the like. They are the ancestors of today’s Inuit people.
1. Which of the following is not likely to be the effect of climate change?| A．Shorter and shorter summertime. | B．Ice-free summer around the Arctic. |
| C．Higher sea levels. | D．More cloudy skies. |
| A．to change their way of life |
| B．to use their ancestral knowledge |
| C．to make the best of modern science |
| D．to use their ancestral knowledge and modern science |
| A．the first settlers in the Arctic survived by taking advantage of sea fish |
| B．it’s hard to farm in the Arctic due to the climate change |
| C．the ancestors of Inuit people stood out among the settlers |
| D．the Thule people from Alaska invented iron tools |
| A．Climate Change and the Inuit | B．Climate Change around the Arctic |
| C．Global Warming around the World | D．The Inuit and Their Ancestors |
5 . Is Your Diet Destroying the Environment?
A vegetarian diet is often praised for its health benefits. Studies have shown that vegetarians usually have lower levels of heart disease and a lower risk of diabetes than people who eat meat. What most people are less aware of, however, are the effects that a vegetarian diet can have on the environment.
Researchers from the Union of Concerned Scientists in the US recently studied how consumer behavior affects the environment. The study showed that meat consumption is one of the main ways that humans can damage the environment, second only to the use of motor vehicle.
Then,how can eating meat have a negative effect on the environment? For a start, all farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep give off methane(沼气)gas by expelling(排出)wind from their bodies. One cow can produce up to 60 liters of methane each day. Methane gas is the second most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. Many environmental experts now believe that it is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide. It is estimated that 25% of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from farm animals.
Another way that meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land. 2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef, whereas 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat. One acre of farmland used for crop production can produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes, 30,000 pounds of carrots, or 50,000 pounds of tomatoes.
Many people now see the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet, not just for health reasons, but also because it plays a vital role in protecting the environment. However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian, or vegan diet. They believe a vegan diet, which excludes all products from animal sources, such as cheese, eggs, and milk, can be short of many necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need.
Today, many people know it’s important to take better care of their bodies and to use the earth’s resources more efficiently. As this understanding spreads, more people may realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive, more of us will need to become vegetarians.
1. The underlined word “it” in Para.3 refers to ________.| A．methane gas | B．carbon dioxide |
| C．expelling wind | D．greenhouse gas |
| A．growing tomatoes has the highest production |
| B．crop production is better than meat production |
| C．meat production consumes too much water and land |
| D．farm animals are the main producer of the methane gas |
| A．Doctors suggest switching to totally vegetarian diets. |
| B．It takes more water and land to produce a kilo of crops. |
| C．Farm animals give off methane gas and pollute the environment. |
| D．Carbon dioxide is more responsible for global warming than methane gas. |
| A．Our diet is destroying the surroundings. |
| B．Raising farm animals affects the environment. |
| C．A vegetarian diet helps to protect the environment. |
| D．More and more people are becoming strict vegetarians. |
6 . I fell in love with Yosemite National Park the first time I saw it, when I was 13. My parents took us there for camping. On the way out, I asked them to wait while I ran up to E1 Capitan, a huge rock of 3,300 feet straight up. I touched that giant rock and knew
About 15 years ago I started seeing a lot of
I tried
As a rock-climbing guide, I knew
Each year volunteers come for the cleanup from everywhere. In 2007 alone, 2,945 people picked up 42,330 pounds of trash and
I often hear people
| A．immediately | B．finally | C．gradually | D．recently |
| A．imagining | B．painting | C．describing | D．climbing |
| A．garden | B．home | C．lab | D．palace |
| A．material | B．resources | C．waste | D．goods |
| A．beyond | B．against | C．over | D．within |
| A．more | B．most | C．less | D．least |
| A．throwing away | B．picking up | C．breaking down | D．digging out |
| A．satisfied with | B．delighted in | C．tired of | D．used to |
| A．something | B．anything | C．everything | D．nothing |
| A．demand | B．receive | C．accomplish | D．overcome |
| A．plan | B．visit | C．contact | D．difference |
| A．crossed | B．measured | C．covered | D．designed |
| A．talk | B．complain | C．argue | D．quarrel |
| A．method | B．explanation | C．example | D．research |
| A．although | B．if | C．when | D．unless |
7 . The Keeper of the River
An old man had been working for many years for a town. His job was to clear away natural waste from the pool water in the hills, which made up the lovely river flowing through the town nearby. Quietly and
Years passed. One evening the town committee met. As they reviewed the budget, one man’s eye caught sight of the salary figure being paid to the seldom seen keeper of the river. He asked, “Who is the old man? Why do we continue to employ him? No one in town ever see him. For all we know, the strange keeper of the hills isn’t doing his job. His position isn’t necessary any longer. ” Then they voted to
For several weeks, nothing changed……
By early autumn, the trees began to
Quickly, the embarrassed town committee called a special meeting. Realising their huge error in
Never ignore the seeming smallness of a task, job, or life. They may all make a
| A．regularly | B．suddenly | C．naturally | D．actually |
| A．carried | B．poured | C．changed | D．blocked |
| A．beyond | B．with | C．in | D．after |
| A．find | B．fire | C．support | D．forget |
| A．lose | B．miss | C．fall | D．grow |
| A．pulling | B．speeding | C．slowing | D．pushing |
| A．deeper | B．cooler | C．warmer | D．darker |
| A．sound | B．smell | C．wave | D．taste |
| A．arrangement | B．assignment | C．judgement | D．amusement |
| A．suggestion | B．difference | C．progress | D．decision |
Housed in a small container and measuring just 0.5cm long, the weevil (象鼻虫) doesn’t look very
The weevil I saw in
The weevils were first used in the wild in the UK last winter. Now more will
9 . More than 100 streets in New York City’s five boroughs (行政区) will go car-free to celebrate Earth Day. For the fifth year in a row, the city will mark the occasion by closing streets to vehicles, according to a news release from the NYC Department of Transportation. The closings will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, 2022, the day after Earth Day is observed around the world.
“Earth Day is when we can all devote ourselves to protecting our Earth and one way we can do that is by repurposing our roadways,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, according to the release. “Car-Free Earth Day is a growing tradition that allows New York City’s car-free streets to come alive,” said Rodriguez.
During the celebration, usually busy streets will be used for a variety of public programs including music, dance, art, biking and education, according to the transportation department. Twenty-two public plazas and over 1,000 miles of bike network will be accessible.
In New York City, motor vehicles release 28% of the total emissions of nitrogen oxide, which can cause acid rain and contribute to pollution, according to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Steps have been taken to limit the environmental impact of motor vehicles. In 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation (法规) setting a goal for all new passenger cars and trucks sold in New York to be zero-emissions by 2035.
“When we open streets to pedestrians (行人) and cyclists, they become community spaces for our neighborhoods and a benefit to our local small businesses,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams, according to the new release. “I’m glad this program has already experienced so much success, and I hope that this initiative grows to include more spaces, especially in our outer boroughs.”
1. When did New York begin to close streets to vehicles to celebrate Earth Day?| A．In 2017. |
| B．In 2018. |
| C．In 2019. |
| D．In 2020. |
| A．It will take place on April 22 in New York. |
| B．All the streets will be closed to motor vehicles. |
| C．It makes New York’s car-free streets come to life. |
| D．All the public plazas will be used for public programs. |
| A．Negative. |
| B．Pessimistic. |
| C．Concerned. |
| D．Positive. |
| A．New York will take an initiative to protect the Earth. |
| B．Many York City streets will be car-free for Earth Day. |
| C．How to celebrate Earth Day in New York City’s boroughs. |
| D．How to limit the environmental impact of motor vehicles. |
10 . We see a woman swimming at night in a dark sea. Suddenly, she is pulled underwater. She surfaces, cries in fear, then disappears forever. This is the opening scene from the 1975film Jaws, showing a shark attack. It was a great success, attracting huge audiences and winning many awards. It also strengthened people’s long-held idea of the great white shark.
People have always been scared of sharks, but Jaws made things worse. Many people who saw the film started to believe that sharks were dangerous animals that ate humans. Some started fishing for sharks, killing as many as they could. At that time, nobody cared if sharks were killed, or how many were killed.
After 1975, the number of large sharks fell quickly. This was not only due to fear of sharks, but also finning. Finning is a type of fishing where sharks are caught and their fins(鳍) cut off to be used in shark fin soup. Finning kills millions of sharks a year.
Finning would have an unexpected effect upon Peter Benchley, the man who wrote the book the film Jaws was based on. In 1980, Benchley came across an awful sight in an area where fishermen were finning, leaving the sea floor covered with dead sharks. Benchley saw sharks being killed and this caused a deep change in him. He came to see people as a danger to sharks, rather than the other way round. From that day on, he fought to protect sharks. He admitted that his book was wrong about sharks’ behavior. “Sharks don’t target humans,” he said.
Fortunately, not everyone who watched the film Jaws became afraid of sharks — some became interested in understanding them. Today, as we learn more about sharks, more people than ever want to protect them from extinction.
1. The passage begins with a scene of the film Jaws to ________.| A．introduce the topic of sharks | B．show the success of the film |
| C．describe how evil the shark is | D．attract people to watch the film |
| A．Sharks were believed to be endangered animals. |
| B．Sharks wouldn’t have been killed without the film Jaws. |
| C．People had no idea how scary sharks were if not for the film. |
| D．Misunderstanding towards sharks was deepened due to the film. |
| A．He became more interested in shark movies. |
| B．He no longer saw sharks as a threat to humans. |
| C．He decided to protect sharks by rewriting his book. |
| D．He admitted being responsible for the deaths of sharks. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Unsure. | C．Mixed. | D．Unconcerned. |
