1 . Hardware in general, and smartphones in particular, have become a huge environmental and health problem in the Global South's landfill sites （垃圾填埋场）.
Electronic waste（ e-waste ） currently takes up 5 percent of all global waste, and it is set to increase rapidly as more of us own more than one smartphone, laptop and power bank. They end up in places like Agbogbloshie on the outskirts of Ghana's capital, Accra. It is the biggest e-waste dump in the world, where 10, 000 informal workers walk through tons of abandoned goods as part of an informal recycling process. They risk their health searching for the precious metals that are found in abandoned smartphones.
But Agbogbloshie should not exist. The Basel Convention, a 1989 treaty, aims to prevent developed nations from unauthorized dumping of e-waste in less developed countries. The e-waste industry, however, circumvents the regulations by exporting e-waste labelled as "secondhand goods" to poor countries like Ghana, knowing full well that it is heading for a landfill site.
A recent report found Agbogbloshie contained some of the most dangerous chemicals. This is not surprising: smartphones contain chemicals like mercury （水银），lead and even arsenic（砷）. Reportedly, one egg from a free-range chicken in Agbogbloshie contained a certain chemical which can cause cancer and damage the immune system at a level that's about 220 times greater than a limit set by the European Food Safety Authority（EFSA） . Most worryingly, these poisonous chemicals are free to pollute the broader soil and water system. This should concern us all, since some of Ghana's top exports are cocoa and nuts.
Some governments have started to take responsibility for their consumers' waste. For example, Germany has started a project that includes a sustainable （可持续的）recycling system at Agbogbloshie, along with a health clinic for workers. However, governments cannot solve the problem alone, as there is an almost limitless consumer demand for hardware, especially when governments green policies are focused on issues like climate change.
Only the manufacturers can fix this. A more economically sustainable and politically possible solution is through encouraging hardware manufacturers to make the repair, reuse and recycling of hardware profitable, or at least cost-neutral.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2？| A．Electronic products need improving urgently. |
| B．Electronic waste is too complex to get fully recycled. |
| C．Electronic waste requires more landfill sites across Ghana. |
| D．Electronic pollution is a burning question in Agbogbloshie. |
| A．Tightens. | B．Abolishes. |
| C．Gets around. | D．Brings in. |
| A．The violation of EFSA's standards. |
| B．The lack of diversity in Ghana's exports. |
| C．The damage to chicken's immune system. |
| D．The threat of polluted food around the world. |
| A．Manufacturers' developing a sustainable hardware economy. |
| B．Governments' adjusting their green policies about e-waste. |
| C．Reducing customers 'demands for electronic products. |
| D．Letting governments take on the main responsibility. |
2 . If humans were truly at home under the light of the moon and stars, we would go in darkness happily, the midnight world as visible to us as it is to the vast number of nocturnal(夜间活动的) species on this planet. Instead, we are diurnal(白天活动的) creatures, which explains what we’ve done to the night: We've engineered it to receive us by filling it with light.
The benefits of this kind of engineering come with consequences—light pollution. Light pollution is largely the result of bad lighting design, which washes out the darkness of night and completely changes the light levels and rhythms to which many forms of life, including, ourselves, have adapted. Wherever human light spills into the natural world, some aspect of life is affected.
In most cities the sky looks as though it has been emptied of stars, leaving behind a vacant haze(霾) that mirrors our fear of the dark. We've grown so used to this orange haze that the original glory of an unlit night—dark enough for the planet Venus to throw shadow on Earth—is wholly beyond our experience.
We've lit up the night as if it were an unoccupied country, when nothing could be further from the truth. Among mammals alone, the number of nocturnal species is astonishing. Light is a powerful biological force, and on many species it acts as a magnet(磁铁). The effect is so powerful that scientists speak of songbirds and seabirds being ''captured'' by searchlights on land or by the light from gas flares on marine oil platforms.
Frogs living near brightly lit highways suffer nocturnal light levels that are as much as a million times brighter than normal, throwing nearly every aspect of their behavior out of joint, including their nighttime breeding choruses. Humans are no less trapped by light pollution than the frogs. Like most other creatures, we do need darkness. Darkness is as essential to our biological welfare, to our internal clockwork, as light itself.
Living in a glare of our making, we have cut ourselves off from our evolutionary and cultural heritage—the light of the stars and the rhythms of day and night. In a very real sense, light pollution causes us to lose sight of our true place in the universe, to forget the scale of our being, which is best measured against the dimensions of a deep night with the Milky Way—the edge of our galaxy—arching overhead.
1. What is probably the best title of the article?| A．Powerful light. | B．Orange Haze. |
| C．Calls of Nature. | D．Disappearing Night. |
| A．The sky. | B．The planet. | C．The world. | D．The night. |
| A．show how light pollution influences animals |
| B．compare the living habits of both species |
| C．explain why certain species has died out |
| D．provide examples of animal protection |
| A．human beings mustn't explore the night |
| B．light pollution harms the world’s eyesight |
| C．man should rethink its position in the universe |
| D．light pollution has destroyed some world heritages |
3 . One of the problems damaging our planet is the number of things we throw away. Rubbish of all kinds is piling up in landfill and polluting our rivers and oceans. A more recent addition to the list of things we chuck away is e-waste — electronic items that are broken and not recycled. Now solutions are being found to give this stuff a new life.
Many millions of tonnes of televisions, phones, and other electronic equipment are discarded each year, partly because it’s cheaper to replace them than fix them, but also because we lack the skills to repair them. A UN report claims the 50 million tonnes of e-waste generated every year will more than double to 110 million tonnes by 2050, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the world.
However, there’s a growing trend for repair events and clubs which could be part of a solution to the growing amount of electrical and electronic junk. The BBC visited a Restart Project in London, which is one of many founded around the world. One of its volunteers, Francesco Calo, said that “this project allows you to reduce waste, extend the life of objects, and it helps people who cannot afford to get rid of items that have developed a fault.”
As many electrical items contain valuable metals, another idea is e-waste mining. An experiment at the University of New South Wales involves extracting (提取) these materials from electronic gadgets. It’s thought that doing this could be more profitable than traditional mining. With phones typically containing as many as 60 element, this could be part of the solution to our appetite for new technology.
These projects make total sense — collections of e-waste for recycling are “stagnating (停滞不前) or even decreasing” according to Ruediger Kuehr, of the United Nations University And in countries where there is no legislation, much of it just gets dumped. However, the European Union, for example, is trying to tackle the problem by insisting manufacturers have to make appliances longer-lasting and will have to supply spare parts for machines for up to 10 years.
1. According to the passage, electronic items are thrown away because ________.| A．they are totally useless |
| B．we have to recycle them |
| C．they will pollute our rivers and oceans |
| D．it’s cheaper to replace them than fix them |
| A．Growing trend for repair events. |
| B．E-waste generating cleaner energy. |
| C．Our being hungry for new technology. |
| D．Mining valuable metals in electrical items. |
| A．E-waste used to be the fastest growing waste stream in the world. |
| B．Tremendous amounts of e-waste are thrown away each year. |
| C．We can’t find the solution to the problem of c-waste. |
| D．Land-filling allows us to reduce e-waste. |
| A．Solving the Problem of E-waste |
| B．How to Stop Damaging Our Planet |
| C．Saying No to Throwing Away Things |
| D．How to Collect E-waste for Recycling |
Scientists found that air pollution may be responsible
The study is a warning to the rest of the world ,
5 . Blue Planet II’s latest episode (剧集) focuses on how plastic is having a devastating effect on the ocean and slowly poisoning our sea creatures. Researchers recently also found that sea creatures living in the deepest place on Earth, the Mariana Trench, have plastic in their stomachs. Indeed, the oceans are drowning in plastics.
Though it seems now that the world couldn’t possibly function without plastics, consumer plastics are a remarkably recent invention. The first plastic bags were introduced in the 1950s, the same decade that plastic packaging began gaining in popularity in the United States. This growth has happened so fast that science is still catching up with the change. Plastics pollution research, for instance, is still a very early science.
We put all these plastics into the environment and we still don’t really know what the outcomes are going to be. What we do know, though, is disturbing. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by it. One in three leatherback turtles, which often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, have been found with plastic in their bellies. Ninety percent of seabirds are now eating plastics on a regular basis. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to 100 percent.
And it’s not just wildlife that is threatened by the plastics in our seas. Humans are consuming plastics through the seafood we eat. I could understand why some people see ocean plastic as a disaster, worth mentioning in the same breath as climate change. But ocean plastic is not as complicated as climate change. There are no ocean trash deniers (否认者), at least so far. To do something about it, we don’t have to remake our planet energy system.
This is not a problem where we don’t know what the solution is. We know how to pick up garbage. We know how to recycle. We can all start by thinking twice before we use single-use plastic products. Things that may seem ordinary, like using a reusable bottle or a reusable bag — taken collectively, really do make a difference.
1. Why is plastics pollution research still a very early science?| A．The plastics pollution research is too difficult. |
| B．Plastics have produced less pollution than coal. |
| C．The world couldn’t possibly function without plastics. |
| D．Plastics have gained in popularity too fast for science to catch up. |
| A．prove the threat of plastic to marine life |
| B．explain reasons for plastic pollution |
| C．describe his own experiences and feelings |
| D．compare the differences between sea creatures |
| A．Climate change is caused by human activities. |
| B．Some people cast some doubts about climate change. |
| C．Climate change is less important than ocean pollution. |
| D．Ocean plastic is more complicated than climate change. |
| A．Plastic is a global issue arousing wide concern. |
| B．The oceans have been seriously polluted by plastic. |
| C．Blue Planet II has left viewers heartbroken. |
| D．Plastics gain in popularity all over the world. |
6 . Delhi has been the centre of a succession of mighty empires and powerful kingdoms in India. Numerous ruins scattered throughout the territory offer a constant reminder of the area's history, which makes the city always be a fascinating place for tourists.
With the development of the city and more and more people moving, the city has expanded several times in size. That is why it is called New Delhi. New Delhi, a city with a population of over 20 million people, has its newest problem: never before has this city met with the worst air problem.
Air pollution in Indians capital surged to its worst levels in years, covering the city in a thick smog that has become an annual public-health emergency despite government vows to solve the problem.
Hundreds of flights were diverted, delayed and canceled over the weekend due to poor visibility, schools and offices were closed Monday and officials rushed to take emergency measures to try to reverse the eroding air quality. Millions of antipollution masks were distributed at schools, colleges, hospitals and markets.
New Delhi, is engulfed each year as the weather cools and a thick haze builds up from the pollutants emitted from cars and coal-based power plants, swirling dust from construction sites and roads and smoke from crop stubble burning in neighboring states. Fireworks and firecrackers to celebrate the Hindu festival of Diwali then arrives, leaving Delhi the world's most polluted city.
The city's air quality index, which measures a mix of dangerous pollutants, registered an average score of 494 Sunday. That is the highest 24-hour average since Nov. 6 , 2016 , when it hit 497, according to data measured by the Central Pollution Control Board.
1. Which of the following is NOT true?| A．Diwali is one of the most important festivals in India. |
| B．The government did little to protect its citizens against the serious pollution. |
| C．Such a serious air pollution in New Delhi appears on a regular basis. |
| D．The index of the recent air pollution is not the worst in the history. |
| A．The parents whose children have to stay at home. |
| B．The pilots whose planes have been diverted or delayed. |
| C．The manufacturers who produce antipollution masks. |
| D．The officials who have to work out of their offices. |
| A．Sent out. | B．Sent up. |
| C．Sent in. | D．Sent on. |
| A．Problems Caused by the Development of New Delhi |
| B．Dangerous Pollution Envelops New Delhi |
| C．Antipollution Masks Are in Great Need in New Delhi |
| D．Farmers in the Neighboring States are to Blame for Burning Crop Stubble |
7 . Thanks to Earth, we have fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink and warm sunshine to enjoy. But it seems that we may have taken these things for granted and not realized that our planet is getting “sick”.
Among those environmental challenges, climate change sits at the top. Global average temperatures have risen by more than 0.5℃ since 1992.
Scientists say that we are experiencing the sixth mass extinction (物种大灭绝) in history. More than two-thirds of the world’s wildlife could be gone by the end of the decade if action isn’t taken soon.
However, we have made some progress by making the hole in the ozone (臭氧) layer smaller. That’s because we gradually stopped using chemicals that can break down ozone, a gas that protects Earth.
| A．A half-degree temperature rise is a big deal. |
| B．But this is not the only problem people are facing. |
| C．In fact, scientists have recently given us a warning. |
| D．Scientists also point out that global warming will continue for centuries. |
| E．All the countries in the world should take action on behalf of future generations. |
| F．The Amur leopard and cross river gorilla are some of the most endangered animals. |
| G．This progress shows that we can make positive changes when we act, the letter says. |
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
These days, breaking traffic rules and littering were not uncommon, causing serious harms to life and the environment. That requires lots of effort to change this situation on the part of everyone. As for me, I should start from little things and it won’t be long since I acquire good habits. If I ride a bike, I’ll always keep to the right but never cross a road until the traffic light turns green. If I walk, I’ll never forget use the pedestrian crossing. Meanwhile, I will regard it as my duty to help keep our environment clean and health. Not only will I keep myself on littering and spitting, I will also help clean up the roadside litter whenever be possible. I hope my behavior will make the difference.
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。
Two years ago, when I went to the kitchen for a cup of milk, a magazine lay open on the table drew my attention. An article about environmental protection written by an university professor was on this page. That was a popular magazine which was sold well at that time. From the article, I got plenty of informations. I learned about some problems the earth was faced with and got some suggestions on what they could do to save our planet in an effectively way. From then on, I had been applying myself to protect the environment. While the problem of pollution is universal and we are likely to run out some natural resources, it's time that everybody took action.
10 . Main Types of Water Pollution
When we think of Earth’s water resources, we think of huge oceans, lakes, and rivers.
Surface water and groundwater are the two types of water resources that pollution affects.
Sometimes pollution that enters the environment in one place has an effect hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
| A．Besides, we think of bottled water. |
| B．This is known as transboundary (跨界的) pollution. |
| C．Not all of Earth’s water sits on its surface, however. |
| D．Water resources like these are called surface water. |
| E．There are also two different ways in which pollution can occur. |
| F．Pouring oil from your car down a drain can lead to water pollution. |
| G．Another example of point source pollution is an oil spill from a tanker. |
