2 . It feels good to recycle. There’s a certain sense of accomplishment that comes from carefully sorting soda bottles, plastic bags and yogurt cups from the rest of the garbage. The more plastic you put in that blue bin, the more you’re keeping out of landfills and the oceans, right?

Wrong. No matter how meticulous you are in cleaning and separating your plastics, most end up in the trash anyway. Take flexible food packages. Those films contain several layers of different plastics. Because each plastic has to be recycled separately, those films are not recyclable. The polypropylene (聚丙烯) in yogurt cups and other items doesn’t usually get recycled either; recycling a hodgepodge of polypropylene produces a dark, smelly plastic that few manufacturers will use.

Only two kinds of plastic are commonly recycled in the United States: the kind in plastic soda bottles, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET; and the plastic found in milk containers — high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. Together, those plastics make up only about a quarter of the world’s plastic trash. And when those plastics are recycled, they aren’t good for much. Melting plastic down to recycle changes its consistency, so PET from bottles has to be mixed with brand-new plastic to make a sturdy final product. Recycling a mix of multicolored HDPE pieces creates a dark plastic good only for making products like park benches and waste bins, in which properties like color don’t matter much.

The difficulties of recycling plastic into anything manufacturers want to use is a big reason why the world is littered with so much plastic waste, says Eric Beckman, a chemical engineer at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2018 alone, the United States landfilled 27 million tons of plastic and recycled a mere 3 million, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Low recycling rates aren’t just a problem in the United States. Of the 6.3 billion tons of plastic that have been discarded around the world, only about 9 percent has gotten recycled. Another 12 percent has been burned, and almost 80 percent has piled up on land or in waterways.

1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

A．To show a lifestyle.	B．To describe a phenomenon.
C．To introduce a topic.	D．To make a proposal.

2. What does the underlined word “meticulous” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Painful.

B．Forgetful.

C．Regretful.

D．Mindful.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Manufacturers don’t want to use recycled plastic.

B．There is an urgent need to reduce plastic waste.

C．More plastic can be dealt with by burning.

D．U.S. is to blame for the plastic problem.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．The causes of plastic pollution.

B．The characteristics of different plastics.

C．The ways that most plastics are recycled.

D．The reasons why many plastics are not recycled.

3 . One summer midnight, standing outside a wooden house in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I looked up. The sight of thousands of stars was almost enough to make me, a non-believer, offer a word of gratitude up into the star-filled sky. But to whom? Perhaps to Johan Eklof, author of The Darkness Manifesto.

A bat scientist, Eklof works in the night shadows in western Sweden. His work requires an absolute kind of darkness unpolluted by light. But this category of darkness is threatened. In the 1980s, Eklof tells readers, two-thirds of the churches in Sweden housed bat caves. Not any longer. “Today, this number has been reduced by a third due to light pollution, because the churches all glow brightly in the night.” he writes.

We have all noticed it when driving through any city at night. Empty places are floodlit. The night sky in Hong Kong is 1200 times brighter than an unlit one. Citizens of some large cities, writes Eklof, have never allowed their eyes to adapt to true night vision. But we are only now beginning to understand the effects.

Too much light is incredibly destructive to the complex eco-systems many animals inhabit. It scares away the bats that Eklof studies; reef fish eggs go unhatched; birds forget to even sing.

So how can we deal with the too much light? In 2019, France passed laws limiting how much light can be sent into the sky. In Vienna, Austria, the city’s lights are turned off at 11 p.m. Some measures, like artificial lights that do not reflect light upward, are already within our grasp. “We could just turn it all off, but I guess we don’t want to, because darkness is not safe for everyone.” said Eklof in a recent interview. “So it’s vital we find a middle way.”

Right now, it’s hard to know what that middle way might look like. In 50 years, every city could be lit by environmentally low-impact lights, or we might have completely forgotten what darkness is — the sky filled with little moons.

1. What do we know about Eklofs work?

A．It reduces light pollution.	B．It focuses on stars and sky.
C．It strengthens people’s belief.	D．It requires a specific condition.

2. What can replace the underlined “it” in meaning in paragraph 3?

A．Darkness.	B．An unlit city.
C．Floodlighting.	D．The night sky.

3. What are paragraphs 4 and 5 mainly about regarding light pollution?

A．Cause and damage.	B．Effect and solution.
C．Consequence and disadvantage.	D．Analysis and potential.

4. What is the writer’s attitude toward lighting management?

A．Balanced.

B．Negative.

C．Unclear.

D．Conservative.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

To stop plastic waste reaching the ocean, an Italian firm has invented     1     seems to be a perfect tool to pick up litter before it gets there. Almost 80 percent of ocean waste comes from 100 of the world’s     2     (large) waterways. So, stopping waste at source is a solution that can be     3     (whole) workable.

The company had to get over a few     4     (difficult) before it could test out the invention properly. For example, its device had to allow boats to easily pass through while being able to run 24/7 with no influence     5     the river’s environment. The result is River Cleaning.     6     (attach) to the river bed, River Cleaning is a series of buoys (浮标) that spin on axles (轴) powered by the natural flow of the river, with the ability     7     (collect) different kinds of waste. River Cleaning,     8     about 100 percent scalable (可缩放的), low-cost and low-impact solution, can collect 85 percent of the waste     9     (pass) by it. So, if it is used in all the right places, up to 85 percent of rubbish     10     (prevent) from entering the ocean in the near future.

5 . Most stars are invisible against the overhead glare from city lights. At best, there is only a bit of the Milky Way to see: the combined radiance of a hundred billion stars dims (暗淡) to near-nothingness by bright streetlamps and storefronts.

This is light pollution-human-generated light cast up into the heavens-causing the sky itself to glow and washing out the stars. Astronomers have known for years the situation is bad for observing stars, but it also has real and negative effects on the well-being of many living things-plants, animals and even human beings. More than 80 percent of humanity is affected by light pollution, their view of the skies being stolen away.

All this extra light at night has a large effect on the life under it. Researchers have shown that it has negative impacts on many animals and plants; light pollution disturbs the great migrations of birds, the delicate blossoming of flowers, and even the courtship (求偶) of fireflies, etc. It affects humans as well, possibly causing insomnia (失眠) among many other health problems.

So what can we do about our brightening skies? There is a lot already happening. Groups like the International Dark Sky Association, or IDA, advocate not for more lighting but for more intelligent lighting; smarter street lights that concentrate their light downward is one example. Because these lights offer more efficient light, they save energy, too, eventually paying for themselves. The IDA offers advice on how to contact local authorities to fix better equipment and create ordinances to lower pollution. Many cities in the United States and other countries are certified Dark Sky Communities (DSC), ones that have shown “exceptional devotion to the preservation of the night sky” by discouraging wasteful lighting practices.

Many people don’t even know that they-and their children-are losing this cosmic (宇宙的) experience just over their heads. We need the dark night sky, and it’s up to all of us to make sure it’s still there every time the sun goes down.

1. How does the author organise Paragraph 3?

A．By listing figures.	B．By giving examples.
C．By following the order of time.	D．By analyzing cause and effect.

2. What does the underlined word “ordinances” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Surveys.

B．Jobs.

C．Wonders.

D．Regulations.

3. What is stressed in the last paragraph?

A．The importance of the dark night sky.

B．The urgency of having cosmic experience.

C．The necessity of solving the problem of light pollution.

D．Our children’s responsibility to fight light pollution.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Light Pollution Is Dimming Our View of the Sky

B．IDA Is Advocating Much Smarter Street Lights

C．DSC Has Shown Devotion to Preserving the Night Sky

D．The Applications of Intelligent Lighting Are Worldwide

6 . A new study suggests that pollution of all kinds kills nearly 9 million people worldwide each year. Air pollution from industrial processes and the expansion of cities accounted for about 75% of the deaths, researchers found. The study was based on examinations of worldwide death rates and pollution levels.

The study separated traditional pollutants from modern pollutants. Examples of traditional pollutants are indoor smoke or wastewater. Modern pollutants include air pollution from vehicles or industrial activities and poisonous chemicals. The researchers found that deaths from traditional pollutants are dropping worldwide. But they remain a major problem in Africa and some other developing countries. In some countries, state programs to cut indoor air pollution and improvements in sanitation (卫生) have helped reduce death rates. In Ethiopia and Nigeria, for example, such efforts cut deaths by two-thirds between 2000 and 2019, the study found.

Modern kinds of pollution are rising in most countries, especially developing ones, the researchers said. Deaths caused by modern pollutants — heavy metals, agricultural chemicals and carbon emissions—are “skyrocketing,” said study co-writer Rachael Kupka. She heads the New York-based Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. Kupka said deaths linked to modern pollutants had risen 66% since 2000.

“Nine million deaths is a lot of deaths,” Philip Landrigan told The Associated Press about the study’s results. He is director of the Global Public Health Program at Boston College in Massachusetts. “The bad news is that it’s not decreasing,” Landrigan added. “We’re making gains in the easy stuff, and we’re seeing the more difficult stuff, outdoor industrial air pollution and chemical pollution, still going up.”

The study makes several suggestions for ways to cut the number of deaths. These include creating better recording and reporting methods and stronger government policies to reduce pollution linked to industrial activities and vehicle emissions.

“We absolutely know how to solve pollution problems,” said the study co-author Richard Fuller. “What’s missing is political will.”

1. What can be learned from the study about pollution?

A．Air pollution killed 9 million people last year.

B．Cutting indoor air pollution is the best policy.

C．Traditional pollution is very serious in Nigeria.

D．Traditional pollutants cause less death than before.

2. What does the underlined word “skyrocketing” probably mean in paragraph 3?

A．Improving.

B．Increasing.

C．Reducing.

D．Worsening.

3. What can be inferred from Philip Landrign’s words?

A．It is easy to fight modern pollution.	B．Outdoor air pollution is decreasing.
C．Modern pollution still concerns people.	D．It is hard to tell the reasons for pollution.

4. What might be talked about in the paragraph that follows?

A．Methods to reduce pollution.	B．Government’s response to pollution.
C．Suggestions for industrial activities.	D．The damage caused by vehicle emissions.

7 . The African penguin is expected to go extinct in the wild in just over a decade, given its current population decline. The main reason is a lack of food caused by disturbance to ocean conditions from global heating and competition from the commercial fishing industry. According to a study, scientists have identified a possible additional cause, one that is an entirely new threat and that further prevents the penguins from finding food: noise pollution from marine (海洋的) ships in a bay.

Since 2016, a new shipping practice has started at Algoa Bay. The bay offers ship-to-ship refueling for ships anchored offshore. Since the start of this practice, marine traffic in the bay has doubled. The number of bulk carriers (散货船) pulling into the bay has increased by ten times as much. Thus the noise levels in the area had doubled and the population of penguins has dropped sharply. High noise levels affect the ability of marine animals to find food, communicate or navigate properly.

Researchers used data from ship identification tools to estimate underwater noise from passing ships. They also attached underwater microphones and accelerometers (感应器) to some of the penguins. Recording the noise will tell researchers what the penguins are hearing, if they’re talking while hunting, if they’re changing their movements in response to noise, and if the noise is drowning out their hunting conversations. This will allow researchers to determine whether the sound disturbance is a direct cause of the penguins’ ongoing difficulties in finding sufficient food.

The study is the first to explore the effects of ocean traffic noise pollution on seabirds and the consequences of offshore shipping activities on underwater noise levels. Experts are considering proposing various global best-practice approaches to reduce some of the impacts of noise pollution, such as policies that limit the number and size of ships allowed into a bay of this kind. “We also need more scientific monitoring of noise, before these measures are put in place and afterward, so that we have a proper understanding of what works.” a researcher said.

1. What is caused by the noise pollution?

A．The penguins’ lack of food.

B．The penguins’ proper navigation.

C．People’s communication disability.

D．The commercial competition.

2. Why did scientists attach microphones to penguins?

A．Because they wanted to study the way of relieving marine traffic pressure.

B．Because they could determine and analyze the source of ocean noise pollution

C．Because it helped to calculate underwater noise levels caused by different ships.

D．Because the impact of ocean on penguins’ hunting behavior could be found.

3. How can the noise pollution be reduced?

A．By exploring the real effects of ocean traffic.

B．By restricting the ships to go into the bay.

C．By banning all the offshore shipping activities.

D．By increasing ship-to-ship refueling activities.

4. What will researchers probably do next?

A．Evaluate the risk of the noise.

B．Establish a monitoring system.

C．Put the measures in place.

D．Try to understand what happens.

8 . 阅读下面短文，根据题目要求用英文回答问题。

Mussels in Port Phillip Bay are taking in microplastics used in cosmetics(化妆品). The microplastics travel from bathroom sinks to the ocean, where they are easily confused with seaweeds. Because the mussels cannot tell the difference, they take in the plastic along with their normal diet of seaweeds.

According to researcher Dr Charlene Trestrail, the plastic doesn’t affect mussels directly, but it does reduce their ability to digest the real food. It means they miss out on energy and nutrients, which affects their ability to grow and reproduce.

“Besides being a tasty treat for humans, mussels play an important role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy,” Dr Trestrail said. “And because of the reduced ability to grow and reproduce, we could see a drop in mussel populations, with knock-on effects for other marine wildlife.”

While environmental campaigners have worked hard to reduce the amount of plastic in the oceans from easily visible items such as shopping bags and packaging, most people are not aware of the impact of microbeads and other hidden plastics in products including toothpaste or bath scrubs.

“We know lots about how plastics affect animals externally—we’ve all seen photos of birds and turtles twisted in plastic—but this is the first study to investigate how tiny plastics affect animals’ stomachs,” Dr Trestrail said.

There has been a push in recent years to reduce microplastic pollution. But while the Government has supported phasing out(淘汰) microbeads, some cosmetics industries stopped short of banning their use.

We need to take pollution from microplastics seriously. Because they’re so small, once they’re in the ecosystem they are impossible to remove. The only solution is not to use them in the first place.

mussel
1. Why do mussels eat microplastics?
________________
2. What will eventually happen to mussels if they eat microplastics mistakenly?
________________
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
       The first thing to solve microplastic pollution is not to use microplastics and some cosmetics industries agreed to stop using microbeads.
________________
4. Please briefly present your own solutions to the plastic pollution problem in your daily life. (In about 40 words)
________________

9 . According to US national park researchers, microplastic particles (微粒) equal to as many as 300 million plastic water bottles are raining down on the Grand Canyon.

In a survey of 11 remote western places, also including the Great Basin and Craters of the Moon national parks, researchers discovered more than 1000 tons of microplastic particles that had traveled through the atmosphere via rain or water particles.

Most microplastics are from larger pieces of plastic. Since plastics don’t degrade (降解), plastics that end up in waste piles or landfills break down into microparticles and make their way through the Earth’s atmosphere, soil and water systemics.

Janice Brahney, lead researcher at Utah State University, said, “Plastics could be deposited (沉降), readmitted to the atmosphere again, transported for some time…who knows how many times, and who knows how far they’ve traveled?”

Brahney’s team found that so-called wet microplastics, named for the way they are transported, are most likely disturbed by a storm and swept up into the atmosphere, having originated in larger urban areas. By comparison, the spreading patterns of dry microplastics is the same as dust and can travel long distances, often across continents.

Brahney warned that new findings show an urgent need to reduce plastic pollution. Although their full effects on the human body are still unknown, scientists are starting to raise public health concerns over microplastic particles: They’re small enough to stay in lung tissue, causing damage and, in some cases of routine exposure, can lead to asthma and cancer.

Scientists have also found that microplastic particles affect the temperature adjustment function of the soil, leading to losses in plant life.

Brahney believes that her research is just the beginning of understanding how microplastics move through ecosystems.

“Learning about plastics and how they don’t degrade seems like, ‘Oh my God, we should have been expecting this: they’ re just made into these tiny sizes, they could certainly be carried by the wind,” Brahney said.

“We’ve just been missing it,” she added.

1. The direct cause of the microplastic rain is that_________.

A．small pieces from plastics become degradable

B．microplastic particles travel into the atmosphere

C．plastic particles end up in waste piles or landfills

D．plastic water bottles are transported to the water systems

2. What did Janice Brahney and her team find out?

A．The structure of microplastic particles.

B．The distance that microplastics can travel.

C．The way that microplastics are transported.

D．The different types of microplastic particles.

3. What does the author mainly want to tell us with the text?

A．Microplastics have affected the ecosystem.

B．Plastic particles have serious effects on human health.

C．Methods to degrade plastics could be developed soon.

D．Researchers have missed the best time to study plastics.

4. What’s the attitude of Brahney towards the microplastic move according to the last two paragraphs?

A．Favorable.	B．Uncaring.
C．Doubtful.	D．Worried.