1 . As we all know, waste is extremely bad for the environment. Let’s talk about why litter is harmful to our streets and towns, our drinking water, and sea animals.
Waste can have a bad influence on our cities. Cleaning up litter costs US taxpayers (纳税人) and businesses $11.5 billion each year.
As you can see, waste is harmful in many ways.
| A．Everybody wants to breathe fresh air. |
| B．That money could have been spent on parks. |
| C．How do you feel when you see people littering around? |
| D．In the future there might be more waste than fish in the ocean. |
| E．Litter can go into the soil and water and pollute our drinking water. |
| F．We need to stop littering for us, for the environment, and for the planet. |
| G．Did you know every day almost 8 million pieces of litter go into the ocean? |
2 . The amount of plastic pollution in the oceans is rapidly increasing. This is problematic, as at least 700 species of sea animals — including sharks, whales seabirds and turtles — can be trapped in the stuff or mistake it for a tasty snack. While we know that some species seem to eat plastic because it looks like jellyfish or some other food source, less research has been carried out into what sea plastic smells like to sea animals.
But now, a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that the coating of algae and microbes (藻类、微生物) that naturally builds up on ocean plastics causes the rubbish to give off the smell of food.
The researchers took 15 healthy turtles, each around five months old and placed them in a laboratory aquarium (水族箱). They then piped in clean water, clean plastic, turtle food, and plastic that had been down in the sea environment for five weeks. The turtles showed no reaction to the smell of clean water or clean plastic. But when they were exposed to the smells of ocean plastic or turtle food, they exhibited hunting behaviour — like sticking their noses out of the water and showing increased activity.
“This finding is important because it’s the first demonstration that the smell of ocean plastics causes animals to eat them,” said Dr Kenneth J Lohmann, who took part in the study.
“It’s common to find the sea turtles with their digestive systems fully or partially blocked because they’ve eaten plastic materials There also are increasing reports of sea turtles that have been ill and stranded on the beach due to their swallow of plastic.”
“Once these plastics are in the ocean we don’t have a good way to remove them or prevent them from smelling like food” said Lohmann. “The best thing we can do is to keep plastic from getting into the ocean at all.”
1. What does the new research mainly focus on?| A．What has caused the sea plastic pollution. |
| B．What sea plastic smells like to sea animals. |
| C．How dangerous the sea environment is. |
| D．How dangerous the sea plastic pollution is. |
| A．The turtles of 5 months old are the most healthy ones. |
| B．The turtles prefer dirty environments to clean ones. |
| C．The clean plastic has no certain smell to attract turtles. |
| D．The clean plastic is more dangerous than the ocean plastic. |
| A．trapped | B．rescued | C．harmed | D．treated |
| A．Sea turtles and sea environment | B．Sea turtles and their enemies |
| C．Sea turtles and sea food chain | D．Sea turtles and sea plastics |
On April 22nd, the UNEP（United Nation Environment Programme）called for increasing protection of Antarctica,
Since 2019, scientists have travelled around the world, determined
Therefore, it's time that action
4 . Catch your reusable bag and kiss your plastic bags goodbye. Plastic waste is on its way out, thanks to these governmental bans from around the world.
From Indiana to Maine, governments at all levels in the US are forcing bans and improving recycling. People are shopping smarter and companies are doing better to ensure the protection of our environment. Slowly but surely, the world is entering a brighter future as more and more countries follow. But there’s still a lot of work to be done—or undone.
Since the 1950s, researchers say that about more than 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced. And 60% of that waste has ended up in the environment. That number has increased quickly over the years. For example, it was recorded that the world’s plastic production doubled from 1976 (50 million tons) to 1989 (100 million tons). It was highest at 368 million in 2019 before decreasing to 367 million in 2020.
A million tons decrease of plastic production is not enough to deal with the rising pressures plastic puts into the environment. We still do not know how long it takes for plastic to breakdown. It means that about 12 million tons of plastic waste that entered the ocean in 2010 is still breaking into micro plastics and filling up the stomachs of birds and sea animals. The plastic going into our environment is not going away. While recent studies of plastic-eating enzymes and bacteria offer some hope for the future of plastic waste management, the best way to deal with our environmental stress is through decrease.
In 2020, New York City began to ban plastic bags. But this wasn’t the first plastic bag ban in a US state. In fact, the US wasn’t even the first country to introduce this idea. Back in 2002, Bangladesh became the first country to implement a plastic bag ban. Since then, other countries have followed, introducing their own ways to fight with the continuing plastic bags.
1. What do we know about plastic waste?| A．We have completely cleaned it up | B．It is hardly increasing all over the world. |
| C．We have done nothing to deal with it. | D．There is a long way to solve the problem of it. |
| A．More than 8.3 billion tons. | B．About 5 billion tons. |
| C．About 100 million tons. | D．Less than 368 million tons. |
| A．It doesn’t take long to breakdown it | B．Sea animals can be eating most of it. |
| C．Some enzymes and bacteria help a lot. | D．Cutting plastic waste down is still the best way. |
| A．Carry out. | B．Keep up. | C．Look at. | D．Take away. |
5 . Human activity is changing the surface and temperature of the planet. But new research shows it is also changing the sound of the earth’s oceans. Scientists say the changes in the sounds of our oceans affect many underwater animals—from very small fish to huge whales.
Sound travels very far underwater. For fish, sound is probably a better way to sense their environment than light. Sound helps fish and other underwater animals survive. They use sound to communicate with each other. Sound also helps some ocean animals find food and avoid their hunters. However, the research suggests that increasing noise from humans is making it harder for these animals to hear each other.
The noise is coming from shipping traffic, fishing ships, underwater oil and gas exploration, offshore construction and other noisy human activities.
Experts explain the term “masking” on its website. “Masking” happens when one or more noises in the water block sound important to underwater animals' existence.
The Red Sea is one of the world's most important shipping passages. It is full of large ships traveling to Asia, Europe and Africa. Some fish and other animals now avoid the noisiest areas.
Scientists use underwater equipment to record fish sounds. These sounds are in the same low frequencies as shipping traffic noise. Experts state that “masking” is the most noticeable when a noise is at the same frequency and loudness as biologically important sounds.
Experts say that effects of noise on underwater animals are not well understood. However, some studies suggest that noise may cause hearing loss. The stress from human noise might also affect the immune system—an animal's natural defense system—as well as reproductive health or behavior.
Sound pollution may be easier to deal with than other ocean threats. It’s not like plastics and climate change, which are much harder to deal with.
1. What does the research show about the effect of noise on ocean animals?| A．It affects their eyesight. | B．It disturbs their hearing. |
| C．It prevents them traveling around. | D．It destroys their food for survival. |
| A．They are fitting in there. | B．They stay away from them. |
| C．They insist on staying there. | D．They develop ways to stand them. |
| A．It is difficult to record. | B．It is the most harmful pollution. |
| C．Its full effects remain to be seen. | D．It’s harder to avoid than other pollution. |
| A．Humans Are Making Oceans Too Noisy | B．Underwater Noise Pollution Is Improving |
| C．Sea Noise Pollution Receives Little Attention | D．Ocean Animals Face Survival Dangers Frequently |
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 struggled to see more than 10 stars, while just 2% of participants said they experienced a truly dark sky making them be able 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 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 reduce 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 any action, 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 systems and part-night 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 causes the light pollution according to the text?| A．More and more buildings. | B．Less and less outdoor activities. |
| C．The overuse of artificial light. | D．The spread of light in the countryside. |
| A．Disappointed. | B．Surprised. | C．Regretful. | D．Appreciative. |
| A．Using street lights wisely. | B．Turning off lights at night. |
| C．Spreading light further. | D．Changing the streets' design. |
7 . Imagine a mass of floating waste is two times the size of the state of Texas. Texas has a land area of more than 678,000 square kilometers. So it might be difficult to imagine anything twice as big. All together, this mass of waste flowing in the North Pacific Ocean is known as the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch (太平洋垃圾带). It weighs about 3,500,000 tons. The waste includes bags, bottles and containers-plastic products of all kinds.
The eastern part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch is about 1,600 kilometers west of California. The western part is west of the Hawaiian Islands and east of Japan. The area has been described as a kind of oceanic desert, with light winds and slow moving water currents (流，流动). The water moves so slow that garbage from all over the world collects there.
In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the floating garbage and its effect on sea creatures and human health. Scientists say thousands of animals get trapped in the floating waste, resulting in death or injury. Even more die from a lack of food or water after swallowing pieces of plastic. The trash can also make animals feel full, diminishing their desire to eat or drink.
The floating garbage also can have harmful effects on people. There is an increased threat of infection (感染) of disease from polluted waste, and from eating fish that swallowed waste. Divers can also get trapped in the plastic.
Its existence first gained public attention in 1997. That was when racing boat captain and oceanographer Charles Moore and his crew sailed into the garbage while returning from a racing event. Five years earlier, another oceanographer learnt of the trash after a shipment of rubber duckies got lost at sea. Many of those toys are now part of the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch.
In August, 2017, a team from the University of California, San Diego became the latest group to travel to it. They were shocked by the amount of waste they saw. They gathered hundreds of sea creatures and water samples to measure the garbage patch’s effect on ocean environment.
1. The first paragraph is written to ______.| A．lead in the topic of the text | B．inspire readers’ imagination |
| C．develop readers’ interest in Texas | D．talk about reasons for water pollution |
| A．Increasing. | B．Determining. | C．Weakening. | D．Reserving. |
| A．Sports and entertainment. | B．Media and culture. |
| C．Environment and society. | D．Science and technology. |
| A．warn people of the danger to travel in the pacific |
| B．analyze what caused the waste patch in the pacific |
| C．give advice on how to recycle waste in the ocean |
| D．introduce the Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch |
8 . The plan had been made to create a beautiful nature park with a large man-made lake on the outer parts of the city of Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province. However, thanks to a terrible trick played by nature, what the officials have ended up with, is a natural sandy mess!
The government wanted to create a beautiful place where people of this busy industrial city could come to relax. But things did not quite turn out that way---shortly after digging up thousands of tons of sand, the underground water dried up. As a result, the dry sand has changed into a Sahara-like desert. While official reports show that the sand is piled up to 10 meters high, some people say that it is ten times more or about a 100-feet high in certain areas.
If that is not bad enough, the sand hills that now spread across an area the size of four football fields, have influenced the environment. What’s worse is that on windy days, the dry sand moves into the city center, making it almost impossible to drive and forcing people to wear face masks and protective eyewear to prevent the sand from getting into their eyes, nose, and mouth.
In an act of trying to keep the sand and provide the illusion(幻想) of green fields, the officials have even tried covering it with a green plastic netting. However, that has not done much to improve the terrible situation!
As you can imagine, many of Zhengzhou’s residents are upset by the disaster. They think that desert wasteland that looks nothing like the green landscape they were promised, has resulted in polluting their pleasant city environment. Some think it is even stopping businessmen from coming to the city.
1. The author may agree that it is_________ to build a large man-made lake.| A．possible |
| B．impossible |
| C．great |
| D．interesting |
| A．the weather in Zhengzhou is too dry |
| B．there are enough trees in Zhengzhou |
| C．they haven’t finished digging the lake |
| D．there is no underground water |
| A．Light pollution. | B．Water pollution. |
| C．Air pollution. | D．Sound pollution. |
| A．Scary. | B．Small. |
| C．Helpful. | D．Great. |
9 . Damage to Ozone layer Gets Worse
In the middle of winter, when snow is falling in many parts of the United States, scientists have sounded a warning to people who plan to spend many hours in the sun this summer. The warning is: The sun’s summertime rays are more dangerous than once thought.
A team of scientists from 80 nations recently reported to the United Nations that a layer of ozone (臭氧层) in the atmosphere, which protects humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet (紫外线) radiation, will be thinner over the United States this summer. The thinner layer allows more ultraviolet rays from the sun to reach Earth. The extra amount of ultraviolet radiation could cause an increase in the number of cases of skin cancer.
Scientists first became concerned about the ozone layer in the mid-1980s when a hole was discovered in the layer above Antarctica during the winter. The hole was caused by chemicals used in refrigerators and air conditioners. When these chemicals are sent out into the atmosphere, they produce gases that destroy the ozone.
Concern about the protective ozone layer rose more recently when data (数据) from satellites and ground stations showed that ozone levels were dropping over areas other than Antarctica. Low ozone levels were recorded in the spring and summer over the United States and over other populated areas in the world.
Although many countries have already begun stopping the use of ozone destroying chemicals, the new findings are expected to advance the timetable for a total ban (禁止) of the chemicals.
1. The scientists have observed the ozone layer ________.| A．since 1980 | B．since last winter |
| C．for more than 30 years | D．for about one year |
| A．do a lot of good to human beings in many ways |
| B．protect humans from diseases caused by bad weather |
| C．do a lot of harm to human beings in the summer-time |
| D．protect humans from harmful levels of ultraviolet radiation |
| A．above Arctic during the winter in the mid-1980s |
| B．above Antarctica during the winter in the mid-1980s |
| C．over somewhere in the north of the equator in 1980 |
| D．over the U.S.A in the summertime in the mid-1980s |
| A．the changeable weather |
| B．ozone-destroying chemicals |
| C．chemicals from refrigerators |
| D．chemicals from air conditioners |
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。
When I was a child, I hoped to live in the city. I think I would be happy there. Now I am living in a city , but I miss my home in countryside. There the air is clean or the mountains are green. Unfortunately, on the development of industrialization, the environment has been polluted. Lots of studies have been shown that global warming has already become a very seriously problem. The airs we breathe in is getting dirtier and dirtier. Much rare animals are dying out . We must found ways to protect your environment. If we fail to do so , we‘ll live to regret it .
