With the
Air pollution
We should take some measures
2 . Taking in dirty air does great harm to our health. Air pollution lowers the average life spans by a year worldwide and in more polluted parts of Asia and Africa, dirty air shortens lives up to twice that much. Scientists shared their new findings in Environmental Science & Technology Letters. The study used data gathered in 2016 as part of a project known as the Global Burden of Disease and was the first major country-by-country look at the connection between the length of life and what’s known as fine PM.
Air pollution has been linked to many health problems. Most earlier studies had looked at how tiny air pollutants affected rates of illness or death. Joshua Apte is an environmental scientist at the University of Texas at Austin. By looking at life expectancy (预期寿命), his team had hoped to make the threat easier to understand. PM2.5 is what scientists call tiny particles (颗粒) of pollution in the air. Higher levels of PM2.5 can cause health problems and cut months, if not years, from the average length of life. This analysis shows how pollution affects life expectancy in different parts of the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting PM2.5 to 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Apte’s group calculated how holding pollution to this low level would help people. In countries with very dirty air, meeting this standard would lengthen people’s lives. However, in countries whose air already meets this standard, the study shows no gain in life expectancy. In other words, meeting the WHO standard won’t reduce health costs resulting from dirty air because even below 10 micrograms per cubic meter, pollution still causes serious risks. Meanwhile, the scientists compared how other threats including smoking and cancer shorten the length of life across the globe.
1. What is special about the study?| A．It won recognition from a professional journal. |
| B．It discussed health problems caused by air pollution. |
| C．It gathered lots of data for the Global Burden of Disease. |
| D．It analyzed the link between life spans and PM by country. |
| A．Help people better understand air pollution. |
| B．Study life expectancy in different countries. |
| C．Know how small air pollutants affect health. |
| D．Deal with different kinds of health problems. |
| A．People’s life spans will surely increase. |
| B．It will guarantee people clean air. |
| C．People’s health may not be much improved. |
| D．It will be awarded by the WHO. |
| A．How other threats shorten life expectancy. |
| B．How cleaning up the air can lengthen lives. |
| C．How air pollution shortens lives by country. |
| D．How all the countries deal with severe pollution. |
The brightness of light from our cities has reached
Dr. Franz Holker said artificial light is
4 . Scientists say they have found high levels of small plastic particles(颗粒) in Arctic snow. A German-Swiss research team collected snow samples(样本）from the Arctic and other areas. They included northern Germany, the Bavarian and Swiss Alps, and the North Sea island of Heligoland.When the researchers examined the samples in a laboratory, they were surprised to find very high levels of microplastics.
Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic. These plastic particles are generally smaller than 5 millimeters in length. They come from the breakdown of man-made plastic products and industrial waste.
The study found the highest levels of microplastics came from the Bavarian Alps. One snow sample from the area had 154,000 microplastic particles per liter. Samples collected from the Arctic had much lower levels. However, even samples from the Arctic contained up to 14,000 particles per liter.
The study also attempted to explore how some of the material could have been carried in the atmosphere. A limited number of earlier studies did find microplastics in the air of some cities, including Paris, Tehran and Dongguan, China.
Bergmann Melanie co-wrote the report on the new study. She believes the new study clearly shows that “the majority of the microplastic in the snow comes from the air.” The new study suggests that much of the microplastic found in Europe and the Arctic comes from the atmosphere and snow.
While there is growing concern about the effect of microplastics on the environment, scientists are still studying their possible harmful effects on humans and animals. “I hope the new study will lead to more research on this issue. I think microscopic plastic particles should be included in worldwide observations of air pollution levels.We really need to know what effects microplastics have on humans, especially if inhaled with the air that we breathe.” Bergmann said.
1. Why did scientists collect samples from so many places in paragragh 1?| A．To make the research convincing. |
| B．To attract people to explore there. |
| C．To measure the length of microplastics . |
| D．To examine the samples easily in the lab. |
| A．The risks of microplastics. |
| B．The transport of microplastics. |
| C．The breakdown of plastic products. |
| D．The description of microplastics. |
| A．Many people threw them away at the Alps. |
| B．They were delivered to remote areas through air. |
| C．They could be caught sight of in the air. |
| D．They had no great effect on the environment. |
| A．Scientists are worried about the the influence of microplastics. |
| B．We have found a practical solution to the environment problem. |
| C．The effect of microplastics on human must be urgently researched. |
| D．There is no need to change observations of air pollution levels. |
5 . Vitamin B could help lessen the effects of the most dangerous type of air pollution，according to a new study published recently. In the first study of its kind，a team of international researchers looked at the damage caused by one of the pollutants that has the most severe impact on health: PM2.5.
Particulate matter，or PM，is a type of air pollutant consisting of small particles of different sizes. PM2.5 has a diameter of fewer than 2.5 micrometers，about 30 times smaller than a human hair. These particles are so small that they can go into our respiratory system (呼吸系统), resulting in lung and systemic inflammation (炎症) and stress.
The team found that something as simple as a daily vitamin B supplement could potentially reduce the impact of the tiny particles on the human body，although they stressed that the research was in its early stages and the sample size was small.
For this study，10 volunteers were initially exposed to clean air and given a placebo (安慰剂) to check their responses. The group then took another placebo for four weeks before being exposed to heavily polluted air from downtown Toronto，where an estimated 1，000 cars pass every hour. The bad air was delivered to the volunteers through an “oxygen－type” face mask. The experiment was then repeated，with each volunteer taking a vitamin B supplement daily made up of 2.5 mg of folic acid，50 mg of vitamin B6，and 1 mg of vitamin B12. B6 can be found in liver，chicken and nuts，and B12 in fish，meat，eggs，milk and some cereals.
The researchers found that four weeks of vitamin B supplements reduced the damage of PM2.5 exposure by 28%－76%. The results highlight how prevention at an individual level could be used to fight the harmful effects of PM2.5.
1. Why is PM2.5 harmful to our health?| A．It pollutes and poisons the air. | B．It is too much to be got rid of. |
| C．It carries viruses and diseases. | D．It is easily breathed in and damages our body. |
| A．The process of the research was not scientific. |
| B．This kind of research has been done many times. |
| C．Further studies are needed to confirm their findings. |
| D．Vitamin B is hard to obtain in people’s daily life. |
| A．International researchers have a new finding. |
| B．Vitamin B could reduce the damage of PM2.5. |
| C．Particulate matter does great harm to our health. |
| D．Emission control and regulation are badly needed. |
| A．in a science journal | B．on a government website |
| C．in a fashion magazine | D．in a medical textbook |
6 . Light pollution is blocking a starry view of the night sky for more than half of people across England, a research has found.
Fifty-seven percent of stargazers(观星者)struggled to see more than 10 stars, while just 2% of participants said they experienced a truly dark sky enabling them to count more than 30, according to the research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England(CPRE). People in the countryside were encouraged to count how many stars they could see with eyes within the constellation(星座)of Orion, which is visible only in the winter months.
Campaigners said the results of the star count, supported by the British Astronomical Association, showed the problem of light pollution and how it affected one of the countryside's most magical sights-a dark, starry night sky. They said the results of the research to map England's night skies suggested more could be done by the government, local councils and the general public to lessen the negative effects of artificial light from streets and buildings.
Emma Marrington, dark skies campaigner at the CPRE, said, “We're hugely grateful to the people who took the time to get out and take part in our star count. But it's deeply disappointing that the vast majority were unable to experience the natural wonder of a truly dark sky blanketed with stars. Without intervention, our night sky will continue to be lost under a covering of artificial light, ruining the health of the natural world.”
She added, “The star count results show just how far-reaching the light from street lights and buildings can be seen. Light doesn't respect boundaries, and careless use can see it spread for miles from cities.”
She suggested better-designed lighting, street light dimming(暗淡)systems and partnight lighting where some street lights are turned off during the small hours should provide an opportunity to limit the damage caused by light pollution, reduce carbon emissions and save money.
1. What effect does the light pollution bring about to England?| A．It leads the stars to disappear. |
| B．It makes the countryside dim. |
| C．It makes the environment terrible. |
| D．It prevents the people seeing stars. |
| A．The overuse of artificial light. |
| B．More and more buildings. |
| C．Less and less outdoor activities. |
| D．The spread of light in the countryside. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Surprised. |
| C．Appreciative. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．Changing the streets' design. |
| B．Turning off lights at night. |
| C．Spreading light further. |
| D．Using street lights wisely. |
7 . 50 kilometers outside the capital of Malaysia, in the middle of a palm plantation (种植园), mountains of plastic waste lie abandoned. Much of it has come from wealthy countries in Europe and North America.
Local residents are suffering the consequences. “Tons of non-recyclable plastic is just dumped (倾倒) here every day, and then workers burn it in the backyard of this factory. So, those harmful smog actually already caused many health problems to the residents.” People living around the factory showed great anxiety.
In 2017, China banned the import of plastic waste, sending the global industry into turmoil. “Wealthy countries are exporting their own plastic waste overseas”, says Greenpeace. “They have a good collection of facilities to recycle their own plastic waste. However, they are still sending half of their collective waste to other countries.” Before the ban, they just ran to China for recycling. And now they just find other new places to send their recyclables to.
The Greenpeace report says more than half of that waste, three million tons a year, is being redirected (转向) toward Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. The problem is that these countries have no ability to handle such a large amount of imported foreign waste, which can easily cause pollution to the local environment. In response, many Southeast Asian countries are putting more restrictions on plastic waste imports, forcing the rubbish into less controlled markets, such as Indonesia and India.
At a United Nations conference, 180 countries are discussing a suggestion that plastic waste exporters should ask for permission in advance from the countries that will receive the waste. But ecologists from the University of Texas stated, “Changes can’t come soon enough.” They added, “‘We are killing ourselves by using too much plastic.’ ‘We are too dependent on plastic…’ ‘Please manage and handle your own rubbish.’ Such voices would not stop in the near future…” Greenpeace also concludes that the best solution does not lie in improving, recycling, but in greatly reducing plastic production and consumption worldwide.
1. What made the local residents anxious? ______| A．Health problems caused by plastic waste. |
| B．The abandoned palm plantation. |
| C．The burning backyard of the factory. |
| D．Tons of non-recyclable plastic. |
| A．Boom. |
| B．Disorder. |
| C．Development. |
| D．Promotion. |
| A．Developing countries lack enough facilities. |
| B．Developed countries will take action soon. |
| C．The situation of plastic waste is very terrible. |
| D．There are practical ways to handle plastic waste. |
| A．Plastic waste caused serious results. |
| B．People are too dependent on plastic. |
| C．China banned importing plastic waste. |
| D．Plastic waste is a concern of the world. |
8 . Plastic is used to make a large number of products we use every day， such as drink and food containers，trash bags and grocery bags，cups and children's toys，and bottles for everything from mouthwash and shampoo to glass cleaner and dishwashing liquid. And that's not even counting all the plastic that goes into furniture， appliances， computers， and automobiles.
As the use of plastic has increased over the years，it's become a large part of America's solid waste﹣growing from less than 1 percent in 1960 to more than 13 percent in 2017. As an example of how and why plastic waste is increasing， the International Bottled Water Association reports that the US consumed 9. 67 billion gallons of bottled water in 2017， compared to 9.1 billion gallons the year before. The United States is the world's leading consumer of bottled water. A good first step in reducing plastic waste is switching to a reusable water bottle.
Recycling plastic reduces the amount of energy and resources （资源） needed to create plastic. Research shows that a bottle of water requires about 2，000 times as much energy to produce as the same amount of tap water. Recycling plastic products also keeps them out of landfills（垃圾填埋）and allows the plastic to be reused in making new products. Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves 7. 4 cubic yards of landfill space. And let's face it，a lot of plastic ends up directly in the environment，breaking down into tiny pieces ， polluting our soil and water.
Today，80 percent of Americans have easy access to a plastic recycling program. A universal numbering system for plastic types makes it even easier. According to the American Plastics Council， more than 1，800 US businesses handle plastic waste. In addition， over 200，000 grocery stores now serve as recycling collection sites for plastic waste.
1. What message does the first paragraph mainly intend to convey？| A．Plastic products are quite common. |
| B．Plastic is widely used in our daily life. |
| C．What functions plastic has. |
| D．Why humans make use of plastic. |
| A．plastic waste is on the rise in America |
| B．Americans prefer bottled water to tap water |
| C．plastic waste is the leading type of waste in America |
| D．using reusable water bottles doesn't help reduce plastic waste |
| A．It helps cut down on pollution. |
| B．It helps to make soil more rich. |
| C．It makes plastic easily broken down. |
| D．It produces new energy and resources. |
| A．Americans suffer a lot from plastic waste. |
| B．Americans are good at recycling plastic. |
| C．Recycling plastic is convenient in the US. |
| D．Recycling plastic brings great profits in the US. |
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。
It can be seen from the picture Mr. Liu，who wears a mask. was walking his dog. Interestingly，his dog which also wears a mask.
In recent year，air pollution has become more and more serious in some areas，which have led to severe consequences. To solve this problem，firstly of all，we should raise the public awareness of protecting the environment. Secondly，the government ought to punish the illegal acts as polluting the environment severe. Thirdly，we must do our best to protecting the environment in our daily life. Only in this way can human beings and animals share a pleasant planet or live a happy life.
10 . You can see a sea turtle named Herman, an octopus ( 章鱼) called Octavia, and a seal named Lidia at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C. Rather than real animals, they are actually artworks made out of plastic trash from the ocean.
These artworks are part of a traveling exhibit called “Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea”. The Washed Ashore project, led by the artist called Pozzi, works to raise awareness about plastic pollution in Earth’s oceans.
More than 315 billion pounds of plastic litter the world’s oceans today. Most of the plastic is garbage from towns and cities, as well as trash that people leave on beaches. Rainwater, winds, and high tides bring the trash into the ocean or into rivers that lead to the ocean. Once it is under the waves, the plastic begins to break up into smaller and smaller pieces.
Thousands of sea animals die each year from eating plastic bags and other things. Each year, millions more pounds of plastic end up in the ocean. A recent study found that if that continues, by 2050 the total weight of plastic will be more than that of all the fish in the ocean.
The Washed Ashore project is working to stop that from happening. Since 2010, Washed Ashore volunteers have collected 38,000 pounds of plastic trash from more than 300 miles of beaches. They helped Pozzi create more than 60 artworks of sea creatures harmed by plastic pollution.
“These artworks are a powerful reminder of our personal role and global responsibility in preserving biodiversity (生物多样性) on land and in the sea,” says Dennis Kelly, director of the National Zoo.
1. What is the purpose of the artworks shown at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo?| A．To let people know about animals in the ocean. |
| B．To introduce one way of recycling plastic trash. |
| C．To warn people of plastic pollution in the ocean. |
| D．To show Pozzi’s great gift for creating artworks. |
| A．Garbage from towns and cities. | B．Trash left on beaches by people. |
| C．Plastic bags broken up by waves. | D．Litter created by human activities. |
| A．plastic pollution will be more serious in the ocean |
| B．more and more artworks of sea creatures will be made |
| C．the Washed Ashore project has made great achievements |
| D．volunteers can solve the ocean pollution successfully by 2050 |
| A．Worried. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．Turning Trash into Art | B．Working for Washed Ashore |
| C．Collecting Plastic Trash | D．Stopping Environmental Pollution |
