1 . 14 million liters of water get wasted every year, just through the water we leave behind in restaurants. Are you shocked? Yes, but what can you do with it? The same question concerned Garvita Gulhati. But unlike the rest of us, who gave a shrug and moved on with our lives, she refused to let the fire in her die down.
She started by setting up Why Waste?, a non-profit organization with the help of four friends in 2016. They worked with restaurants by persuading them to serve half-full glasses of water. The Glass Half Full concept aims to help prevent wastage of water left in glasses while also educating the public as well as restaurants about the need of taking care of the limited water resources.
However, persuading restaurant owners was challenging. Most owners said it was against the basic rules of welcoming guests to keep a half-filled glass at the table where customers sat. But Gulhati refused to give up and came up with new strategies to try to persuade restaurant owners and staff to change their ways. Several campaigns (活动) were organized in public spaces to increase awareness.
“So far, the campaign has been successfully launched by over 80,000 restaurants across India. People have become more aware and this simple step has helped save millions of liters of water across the country,” says Gulhati, adding, “Next time you eat out, make sure your glasses are empty before leaving the food joint.” Gulhati further says, “After launching the Glass Half Full campaign, we wanted to design a module, which would attract more people to save water.”
1. Why did Gulhati come up with the Glass Half Full concept?| A．To publicize water safety. | B．To prevent water pollution. |
| C．To educate people to save water. | D．To help the restaurants recycle water. |
| A．Curious. | B．Angry. | C．Worried. | D．Interested. |
| A．Reuse our waste water. | B．Eat out less to save water. |
| C．Bring our own water when possible. | D．Empty the glasses when eating outside. |
| A．Brave and successful. | B．Responsible and determined. |
| C．Creative and confident. | D．Outgoing and humorous. |
A photography exhibition
The pictures on display are from four photographers—Xie Hong, Li Qiang, Hai Yang and HuGuoqing,
3 . The desire for ivory products causes the killing of an elephant, but as their populations continue to fall, the hungry black market has become creative to satisfy its greed. Now, ivory hunters are setting their sights on everything. One victim of this cruel practice is the hippopotamus(河马). A new study says that arise in demand for hippopotamus’s teeth is threatening them with extinction.
In many ways, it takes a lot of effort to kill an elephant. They are legally well protected in most countries where they range and international regulations are clear. Also, smuggling(走私)large pieces of ivory internationally is easily noticed. Hippos offer a cheaper and easier ivory option. The simple truth is that they are not high on the priority list of the international conservation community. A group of wild-living African elephants will either be tracked with radio collars(项圈) or will be the focus of long-term conservation research, ecotourism or law-enforcement efforts. Not so with hippos. Unlike their famous cousins, they don’t come with a protective environment, meaning hunters can take their time.
Most elephant populations are listed under the highest level (Appendix I) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, but hippos are listed under Appendix Ⅱ of it, meaning some trade impossible. We have created a situation where some hippos can be shot, but we have few effective ways to regulate the trade, leaving it wide open to abuse.
Having lived in Africa and worked in frontline conservation, I have seen the first-hand that in the name of art, no ivory-bearing animal is safe. I have heard the stories and seen the bodies of hippos killed by machine-gun fire, mouths open, bloody and toothless. People are working to stop this and many wildlife authorities do what they can, but until there is a real change in the demand for ivory, the hippo has joined the elephant in being in desperate need of our help.
1. What does the new study find?| A．Black marketers are hunting other animals for ivory. |
| B．Hippos face extinction due to ivory demand. |
| C．The number of elephants is decreasing. |
| D．Ivory demand is rising. |
| A．They wear radio collars. |
| B．They are the targets of ecotourism. |
| C．They live in a less protective environment. |
| D．They are well protected by clear international regulations. |
| A．by process |
| B．by analyses |
| C．by statistics |
| D．by comparison |
| A．Law enforcement. |
| B．The efforts of authorities. |
| C．Raising public awareness. |
| D．Reducing the demand for ivory |
4 . Microbiologists have designed a sustainable way to remove polluting microplastics from the environment by using bacteria. Initial design as it is, it paves the way for sustainably lowering plastic pollution levels and stop the “plastification”.
Bacteria naturally tend to group together and stick to surfaces, and this creates a sticky material called “biofilm”. Researchers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) want to use this adhesive bacteria character and capture microplastics in polluted water to form an easily disposable and recyclable blob(团) .
Sylvia Lang Liu, microbiology researcher at PolyU and lead researcher on this project, together with his team, has engineered a bacterial biofilm, which can fix and absorb microplastics floating around in the water, and make them sink to the bottom of the water. Then the researchers can separate the microplastics from the bacteria traps and get them ready to recycle.
Microplastics are the plastic fragments, usually smaller than 5mm, which are accidentally released into the environment during production and breakdown of grocery bags or water bottles, or during everyday activities such as washing synthetic (合成的) clothes or using personal care products with scrubbing microbeads in them. Microplastics are visually tiny, making it challenging to develop effective solutions to trap, collect, and recycle them.
Microplastics are not easily biodegradable (生物降解的), so they stick around for long and absorb and accumulate poisonous chemicals. They spread into wastewater and into the oceans, endangering marine animals and eventually threatening human health, Microplastics had been found in more than 114 species living in the water and also salt, lettuce, apples, and more in 2018 according to the International Maritime Organization.
“This is an innovative application of biofilm engineering l0 address the plastio pollution crisis,” said Dr Joanna Sadler, researcher at University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in this study. “One of the biggest challenges in dealing with microplastics is capturing such small particles. Liu and co-workers have denmonstrated an elegant solution to this problem, which holds great potential to be further developed into a real-world wastewater treatment technology.”
1. Which of the following best explains the underlined word “adhesive” in Paragraph 2?| A．Floating. | B．Sticky. | C．Diverse. | D．Visual. |
| A．They are visually too small. | B．They are hard to biodegrade. |
| C．They continue to exist for long. | D．They are poisonous chemicals. |
| A．Small particles are essential to address water pollution |
| B．Biofilm bas been widely used to settle plastic pollution. |
| C．Sadler thinks little of the biofilm engineering application. |
| D．Biofilm application is promising for wastewater treatment. |
| A．Microplastic removal. | B．Uses of bacteria. |
| C．Wastewater treatment. | D．Plastic pollution. |
How to Live a Green Life
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6 . On September 29, 2021, the US Fish and Wildlife Service declared it would be removing 23 species from its Endangered Species Act, including the ivory-billed woodpecker, various Hawaiian birds and freshwater fish, not because they had been pulled back from the edge of extinction, but because the USFWS believed these species would never recover, and were most likely extinct, therefore not requiring protection.
In April, 195 countries are getting together in China for a UN conference to discuss global agreements to protect nature and biodiversity, with the hope of finalizing an agreement to safeguard plants, animals, and ecosystems. However, the new strain (毒株) of Covid-19, Omicron, has potentially thrown the plans into a mess, and negotiators may switch to online talks if travel restrictions to China are put in place again.
“We can't go another four months without any progress” said Georgina Chandler, senior international policy officer at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Conservationists are urging the talks to go ahead — online if necessary — as the biodiversity crisis shows no sign of slowing up.
“Nature loss has not gone away and threatens both human lives and the global economy,” said Lin Li, director of global policy at the organization. “With one million species currently in danger of extinction, delaying action is not an option.”
Improving conservation and management of natural areas, such as oceans, forests, and wildernesses is crucial to safeguarding the ecosystems on which humans depend. However, forests are still being devastated, often for farming or commercial use. As trees absorb about a third of planet-warming emissions produced worldwide, stopping deforestation is key. At COP26 in Glasgow last November, world leaders plan to invest $19 billion in public and private funds to protect and restore global forests.
It’s easy to feel disheartened by the disappointing news, but the only way to stop more species suffering the same fate is to pay attention and take actions.
1. Why would the 23 species be removed from the Act?| A．Because they are less endangered. |
| B．Because they have already died out. |
| C．Because more fund is in need to protect them. |
| D．Because nothing can save them from extinction. |
| A．Take immediate actions. |
| B．Put off the conference. |
| C．Have online talks. |
| D．Improve global economy. |
| A．Abandoned. | B．Destroyed. | C．Rearranged. | D．Disturbed. |
| A．To explain why some species have disappeared. |
| B．To recommend ways to protect and restore forests. |
| C．To describe the present situation of global ecosystem. |
| D．To call for attention and action against biodiversity crisis. |
7 . The great increase of waste that you find around the world is hard to ignore. Depending on where they live, people produce between 0.11 and 4.54 kilograms of waste every day. Even more alarming, that number is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050.
Is there anything specific you can do to help the situation? One thing is to shop smart. Buy from companies that promote sustainable (可持续的) business practices and use recycled materials in their products.
Here are some products and companies that hit the mark for being environmentally-friendly.
Wool Runners by Allbirds
These light and comfortable tennis shoes are made from natural wool. The laces (鞋带) are made from recycled water bottles. Other shoe parts are made from bean oil, and the shoeboxes are made with recycled materials.
Women’s 711 Skinny Jeans by Levi’s
It usually takes hundreds of gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. However, Levis Water < Less collection
uses up to 96 percent less water.
Reactive Drawstring Family Tote by Vera Bradley
These pretty bags put recycled water bottles to good use, using 23 of them per bag.
The Sunrise RebornTM Pack by ASICS
ASICS’s new shoes were created with sustainability in mind. The material is dyed (染色), using a special method. The technique uses up to 80 percent less water than regular dyeing methods. The process also uses fewer chemicals and less energy.
Regarding their future footwear lines, ASICS has made a promise. Over 95 percent of their new running shoes will be made from recycled materials. The technology behind Sunrise Reborn puts ASICS one step closer to reaching their sustainability goals. The company has promised to leave a lighter environmental footprint for future generations.
1. What do the data in Paragraph 1 show?| A．The danger caused by waste materials. | B．The existing problem ignored by people. |
| C．The serious problem of increasing waste. | D．The growing amount of poisonous waste. |
| A．They only use recycled materials. | B．They’re made from natural materials. |
| C．The techniques behind them are very special. | D．Their companies share the sustainability goals. |
| A．In a life magazine. | B．In a fantasy book. |
| C．In a research paper. | D．In a business report. |
8 . With greater climate catastrophe (气候突变) on Earth, it is natural for us to make every effort to stop the potential floods, snowstorms, and alarming reports from scientists. For many of us (myself included), part of that means running out to buy reusable straws, organic cleaners, and packaging-free products.
However, before you are delighted at “green” purchases, take a second to consider the results of a new study from Arizona University. By comparing the shopping habits, mental health and environmental impact of young people, the researchers reconfirmed a principle: Buying less beats buying “green” stuff without effort. And that is true whether you are looking at the impact that your purchases have on the Earth or on your own happiness.
It should not come as a shock that simply consuming less is better for the planet. After all, every new item a factory yields requires some resources to produce. Take plastic bag bans for instance. If your city is getting rid of single-use shopping bags, it can be attractive to pay for a fashionable organic cotton bag hanging in the check-out line of your local supermarket. However, experts insist that growing cotton is actually no better for the Earth than producing the conventional plastic bags. Then what is your best bet for carrying your groceries if you care about sustainability? Any bag you already own.
It is not just the Earth that will be happier if you buy less. You will feel more contented too, according to the new study. “People believe that they might well be self-satisfied about becoming environmentally conscious through ‘green’ buying patterns, but it doesn’t seem to be that way”, said the lead researcher Sabrina Helm. “Reduced consumption has effects on increased well-being, but we don’t see that with ‘green’ consumption.”
“Owning every new ‘green’ product on the market might make you feel contented, but if you relieve yourself of that burden of ownership, most people report feeling a lot better,” said Helm.
1. Why does the writer mention “green” shopping habits?| A．To call on a green lifestyle. | B．To praise people’s green efforts. |
| C．To introduce a social trend. | D．To present a half true “green” truth. |
| A．The plastic bag bans are of no effect. | B．Using any bag you have is the best bet. |
| C．Reduced consumption is better for the Earth. | D．Growing cotton is far worse for the Earth. |
| A．The sense of achievement. | B．The sense of happiness. |
| C．The sense of relief. | D．The sense of security. |
| A．Less is More | B．The Greener, The Happier |
| C．Happiness Guarantee | D．What Are Green Products? |
9 . Every year, more than 13 billion plastic bottles are sold in Britain. All of them
Some think plastic bottles should be banned (明令禁止).
10 . Every year, billions of bars of partially used hotel soap are thrown away around the world. Those bars of soap finally end up in landfills, when they could be saving lives.
Worldwide, approximately 1.8 million people in underserved communities—including 1 in 4 children—die annually because of lack of access to soap and clean water. These heartbreaking statistics are what drove Hilton to launch a first-of-its-kind soap-recycling program.
The soap-recycling process starts with discarded soap that is collected from hotels and donated to a soap recycling center where it’s made into new bars and then donated to communities around the world. Not only are these new soap bars eco-friendly, but they also help prevent diseases and reduce death rates. Just one bar of recycled soap provides an estimated 180 handwashes.
Today, to mark Global Handwashing Day (October 15), Hilton is further expanding our life-saving program: Soap recycling will now be a brand standard in selected regions, with the program extending to include over 5,300 properties in more than 70 countries and territories.
Hilton’s role as a leader in soap recycling started back in 2009. Hampton Inn by Hilton in Orlando International Airport became the first hotel to donate discarded soap to Clean the World, which has since become the company’s largest soap-recycling partner. More of our hotels caught wind of the program’s success and began to recycle soap themselves.
As our founder, Conrad Hilton, once said: “To achieve big things, you must first dream big.” At Hilton, we are leading by example and making our dream of a cleaner world, a “greener” hotel industry and a more sustainable future a reality.
1. What was the purpose of Hilton to start recycling soap?| A．To meet the need of the hotels. | B．To clean the polluted water. |
| C．To reduce the waste of resources. | D．To add financial benefits. |
| A．Thrown-away. | B．Cleaned. | C．Gathered. | D．Discovered. |
| A．They wanted to be the leader of hotel industry. | B．They were motivated by Hilton’s success. |
| C．They wanted to learn from Conrad Hilton. | D．They were determined to clean the world. |
| A．Recycling Soap—a Way to Save the Earth | B．Hilton—a Leader of Recycling Soap |
| C．Hilton—the Example of Hotel Industry | D．Recycling Soap—a Trend in Hotel Industry |
