1 . In Mumbai, there’s the ceaseless clamor of car homes as drivers edge through traffic. There’s pounding and buzzing from the construction of office towers and apartment blocks. Drumbeats and trumpet melodies spill out from weddings and countless festivals. And it’s all topped off by bellowing (大声吼叫的) street vendors and garbage trucks blasting Bollywood songs. Living in Mumbai requires a huge
When Sumaira Abdulali began campaigning against noise pollution in India’s financial capital two decades ago, friends, acquaintances and even her lawyers insisted it was
But in 2003, Abdulali won a lawsuit seeking to
The World Health Organization warns that noise is a top threat to human
In recent years, the battle against noise has become increasingly
Traffic is a tougher problem. Noise on the road can reach 110 decibels (分贝) — a level that can lead to permanent hearing damage after just 15 minutes of exposure, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Luckily,
Far more important is the longer-term impact of the day-to-day noise, so that’s where Vijay believes activists should focus their energy. “In India we celebrate festivals with lots of noise,” he says. “But our
A.talent | B.potential | C.demand | D.tolerance |
A.encouraging | B.reasonable | C.ridiculous | D.depressing |
A.take advantage of | B.put an end to | C.lay emphasis on | D.throw light on |
A.Therefore | B.Similarly | C.Subsequently | D.However |
A.well-being | B.intelligence | C.interaction | D.behavior |
A.largest | B.busiest | C.loudest | D.richest |
A.difficult | B.successful | C.diverse | D.easy |
A.availability | B.capitalization | C.urbanization | D.convenience |
A.in pace with | B.in contact with | C.in league with | D.in conflict with |
A.recommend | B.justify | C.resist | D.advocate |
A.government | B.technology | C.finance | D.psychology |
A.quiet | B.brave | C.safe | D.alert |
A.trigger | B.satisfy | C.reduce | D.maintain |
A.steps in | B.takes over | C.cuts in | D.takes off |
A.traffic | B.construction | C.ceremony | D.background |
The Real Cost of Travel
Mass tourism is a relatively recent phenomenon. The tourism industry
A voyage to the end of the earth?
A large cruise ship (邮轮) can carry as many as 6,000 passengers and there are upwards of 50 such ships currently
Trash on top of the world
From remote ocean habitats to the world’s highest mountain, our trash is everywhere. Though far fewer people go climbing the Himalayas than on a cruise, their impact
When more is not better
Tourism of a different kind is causing problems in Europe. Construction on the Mediterranean coast has been
91. The Problem of Packaging
A large source of rubbish is packaging material. It often makes up more than 30 percent of the total. To understand why this is true, think of the packaging commonly used for a simple product, such as toothpaste. The packaging includes not only the tube for the toothpaste, but also the box for the tube. This box is put into a plastic wrapper. Then, the boxes are transported in a cardboard container.
Most packaging material ends up in a landfill after it is thrown away. Though necessary, landfills take up valuable space, often stink, and can leak harmful substances into the soil. Landfills not included, the production of packaging material itself is a major source of air and water pollution.
People are now trying to solve the problems caused by packaging materials. In 1991, Germany took the lead by requiring companies to recycle the packaging used for their goods. To do this, the companies set up recycling bins in every neighborhood. Consumers now separate their rubbish into three categories—metal, plastic and paper cartons. They then put it into the appropriate bin. The rubbish sorted, it is transported to recycling company for processing.
The programme worked well at first. However, the amount of rubbish has begun to increase again. One reason for this is that many consumers no longer reduce waste because they think the problem is solved. It seems that to properly deal with the problem of rubbish, everyone must remain alert and do their part.
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如今,随着网购和物流业的发展包装的浪费现象十分严重。请你具体说明包装的浪费现象,并提出建议。你的文章必须包括:
1). 生活中此类浪费现象的具体表现;
2). 你对减少该现象的具体建议。
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5 . COVID-19 lockdowns had strange effects on air pollution across the globe
Ever since the covid-19 spread, many changes have come with the
Researchers found it a strange but
During the lockdown, passenger traffic plumbed, and traffic-related emissions—particularly CO2 and NO2—
A.seemingly | B.absolutely | C.relatively | D.theoretically |
A.criticized | B.issued | C.imposed | D.publicized |
A.suffered | B.witnessed | C.reformed | D.respected |
A.worth | B.busy | C.demand | D.symbolic |
A.rare | B.precious | C.applicable | D.respective |
A.halved | B.growing | C.increasing | D.double |
A.meaningful | B.honorable | C.tough | D.rough |
A.adapt | B.acknowledge | C.accomplish | D.adopt |
A.exchanging | B.reminding | C.persisting | D.concerning |
A.expect | B.treasure | C.test | D.appreciate |
A.relieve | B.settle | C.comfort | D.signal |
A.turned | B.kicked | C.fell | D.crushed |
A.key | B.indirect | C.wide | D.negative |
A.leak | B.collapse | C.lift | D.resist |
A.strike | B.take | C.investigate | D.analyze |
6 . A new report says plastics are responsible for $13 billion in damage to the oceans and the undersea environment. The findings were announced recently at a United Nations conference.
Plastic thrown away carelessly makes its way into rivers and other waterways. The plastic eventually reaches coastal areas and ocean waters. After a while, it collects in the sea. And plastic never goes away. Plastic is not biodegradable — destroyed by bacteria or natural processes. Instead, it just breaks up into smaller pieces over time. The oceans contain a lot of chemicals and other pollutants.
The report also calls on companies to improve methods for using plastics.
A.But people can make a big difference. |
B.Plastics should be gathered together and reused. |
C.Then, fish may eat the plastics. |
D.It is convenient to use plastic bags in everyday life. |
E.It asks for them to better measure and direct plastic use. |
F.The report tells about harm to sea life and what might be done to improve the situation. |
7 . A recent study published in the journal Science Advances has revealed that the United States ranks as high as third among countries contributing to coastal plastic pollution. The new research challenges the once-held assumption that the US is adequately “managing” its plastic waste. A previous study using 2010 data that did not account for plastic waste exports had ranked the US 20th, globally, in its contribution to ocean plastic pollution.
Using plastic waste generation (产生) data from 2016 — the latest available global numbers — scientists calculated that more than half of all plastics collected for recycling (1.99 million tons of 3.91 million tons collected) in the US were shipped abroad. Of this, 88% of exports went to countries struggling to effectively manage plastics; and between 15-25% was low-value or contaminated (受污染的). It means it was unrecyclable. Taking these factors into account, the researchers estimated that up to 1 million tons of US-generated plastic waste ended up polluting the environment beyond its own borders.
Using 2016 data, the paper also estimated that between 0.91 and 1.25 million tons of plastic waste generated in the US was either littered or illegally dumped into the environment domestically. Combined with waste exports, this means the US contributed up to 2.25 million tons of plastics into the environment. Of this, up to 1.5 million tons of plastics ended up in coastal environments. This ranks the US as high as third globally in contributing to coastal plastic pollution.
“The US generates the most plastic waste of any other country in the world, but rather than looking the problem in the eye, we have outsourced it to developing countries,” said Nick Mallos, senior director of Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas program and a co-author of the study. “The solution has to start at home. We need to create less, by cutting out unnecessary single-use plastics; we need to create better, by developing innovative new ways to package and deliver goods; and where plastics are inevitable, we need to greatly improve our recycling rates.”
“Previous research has provided global values for plastic input into the environment and coastal areas, but detailed analyses like this one are important for individual countries to further assess their contributions,” said Dr. Jenna Jambeck, Distinguished Professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Engineering and a co-author of the study. “In the case of the United States, it is critically important that we examine our own backyard and take responsibility for our global plastic footprint.”
1. Compared with the previous study, the new one ________.A.covers data more comprehensively |
B.excludes plastic waste shipped abroad |
C.is contrary to the latest global numbers |
D.challenges the recycling way of plastics |
A.Over half of it ended up polluting the environment outside the US. |
B.Most of its exported plastic waste wasn’t worth recycling. |
C.Less than half of it was actually recycled domestically. |
D.More of it is littered or illegally dumped than exported. |
A.plastic pollution in developing countries is more serious |
B.US has been irresponsible in dealing with its plastic waste |
C.US should cooperate with others to handle its plastic waste |
D.innovative means are needed to eliminate single-use plastics |
A.Plastic Pollution Great Risk to Marine Life |
B.US Top Contributor to Coastal Plastic Pollution |
C.Plastic Waste Major Source of Coastal Pollution |
D.Recycling Effective Way to Address Plastic Waste |
8 . Beijing is hardly alone in its air pollution problems. The world Health Organization has said that roughly half of the world’s urban population is exposed to pollution at least 2.5 times higher than it recommends.
While it may take years to fix this global problem, innovative minds in the Asia region have come up with creative solutions for living with air pollution.
DIY Purifier
Thomas Talhelm started worrying about the air inside his Beijing home during “airpocalypse” in 2013 when Beijing’s air quality index skyrocketed to a terrifying 755.
The scholar couldn’t afford the luxury of an expensive air purifier. “Fillers are actually very simple— a high efficient filter is all you need to get over 96% of the PM2.5,” he said.
With three of his friends, Talhelm created Smart Air, an air purifier consisting of a basic household fan with a high efficient filter attached to it.
It works as efficiently as the big brands selling for thousands of dollars, removing more than 90 percent of PM 2.5 in your room, according to Talhelm’s research.
Invisible Mask
Infipure’s “nose mask” claims to cut 99% of PM2.5 without the trouble of a surgical face mask.
The filters, made from special materials, are inserted into your nose and aim to be undetectable.
“People care about their health, but don’t want all the downsides that come with a traditional face mask.” Infipure co-founder Francis Law explained.
Plant Backpack
Taiwanese artist Chui Chih has designed a survival device for an apocalyptic world.
Named Voyage on the Planet, a potted plant is housed inside a clear backpack hooked up to two tubes to bring fresh to a face mask. It’s a bold, abstract idea from an oxygen tank.
Smog Vacuum
Daan Roosegaarde has been working on a smog vacuum that will suck pollutants from the sky to the ground like a vacuum, making way for clean air.
A byproduct of this smog vacuum, namely The Smog Free Tower, is the “smog ring”—a piece of jewelry made from smog particulates.
“The pollution we suck up, the small particulates, we don’t throw them away. We put them under pressure for a couple of weeks and they crystallize, creating something like a diamond,” Roosegaardc explains.
1. Thomas Talhelm invented Smart Air for all the following reasons except ________.A.the high price of the big brands | B.the help from three of his friends |
C.the poor quality of the indoor air | D.the simple principle behind the device |
A.Smart Air. | B.Infipure’s nose mask. |
C.Voyage on the Planet. | D.The Smog Free Tower. |
A.DIY Purifier. | B.Invisible Mask. | C.Plant Backpack. | D.Smog Vacuum. |
9 . Climate change is caused by the extremely high levels of dangerous chemicals in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). It is estimated that average global temperatures will rise between two and six degrees by the end of this century. We all know the effects could be disastrous, but are we aware of the possible solutions?
Solution one: _______?_______
Crazy as it sounds, a group of academics from British universities is making a plan to build a 12-mile pipe, held up by a huge balloon, that would let enormous quantities of poisonous chemicals, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2), go into the atmosphere. Surprisingly, there is good science behind the idea. The chemicals would form a protective layer around the earth that would reflect sunlight and so cool the earth, much like the effects of a volcanic eruption.
Cost: around $10 billion a year.
Benefits: this plan would produce almost instant results.
Risks: volcanoes have almost wiped out humanity in the past through the poisonous chemicals released in the atmosphere, and the same thing could happen again with this plan.
Solution two: stir up the oceans
Intellectual Ventures, a company that invests in projects to combat global warming, has proposed building a million plastic tubes, each about 100 metres long, and using them to stir up the ocean. Why, you might be wondering, would we want to do this? Again, the answer is scientifically valid. The bottom of the ocean is almost freezing and by stirring it up, cold water would come to the surface and absorb heat and CO2, and so cool the planet.
Cost: tens of millions of dollars.
Benefits: this plan is relatively cheap and technically possible now.
Risks: the tubes would disrupt and possibly destroy sea life, and the plan may not work.
Solution three: stop burning fossil fuels
This is undoubtedly the best solution but is it really like to happen in the near future?
Cost: unknown, but in the short term it would probably involve global economic collapse.
Benefits: it’s a simple and effective plan.
Risks: it may already be too late. Without real action, this plan could just mean “do nothing”.
1. Solution one is most likely to be ________.
A.pump even more chemicals into the atmosphere |
B.form a protective layer with volcanic eruptions |
C.build a pipe to get rid of poisonous chemicals |
D.draw as much sunlight as possible |
A.It needs more valid scientific experiment. |
B.It aims to cool the warm surface water in the ocean. |
C.It may do harm to animals and plants living in the sea. |
D.It is much more expensive to carry out than solution one. |
A.It is effective because it will benefit world economy. |
B.Whether it will come true remains to be seen. |
C.Putting it into practice may cost nothing. |
D.Action has been taken to carry it out. |
A. constituents B. ultimately C. exhausts D. economical AB. conventional AC. electricity AD. approximately BC. contributes BD. extent CD. substances ABC. generates |
Driving an electric car
The study was carried out by the University of Minnesota. The researchers estimated how levels of fine particulate matter (细颗粒物) and ground-level ozone — two important
It was no surprise that electric cars whose batteries were recharged with power from wind, solar or hydro-electric sources came out to be virtually free from harmful
Biofuels also caused more health problems than petrol. But diesel, which often
Overall, the study shows that electric cars are cleaner than those traditional vehicles only if the power used to charge then is also clean. That is hardly a surprise, but the