2 . Wildfires lit by humans have been found to be sending huge amounts of carbon into our oceans via rivers every year.

When trees and other vegetation are incompletely burned, they release black carbon into the air, which can last for centuries on land and even longer in oceans. Now we have the best global picture of how much of the stuff is making its way to the sea: around a third of all the black carbon produced by fires.

Unlike the two-thirds that stays on the land, the carbon ending up in the oceans will stay there much longer, says Matthew Jones at the University of East Anglia in the UK. “Once it reaches the oceans, it has potential for storage over tens of thousands of years. That’s why we care about it. It’s almost locked up for the distant future,” he says.

Jones and his colleagues looked at 409 measurements of black carbon dissolved in the waters of 34 major rivers globally, plus many smaller rivers, including far more data from the tropics. They then modeled how it would travel to the oceans. “It’s quite breathtaking how long-lived this material is and how much ends up in the environment,” says Jones.

The team found that the amount of black carbon being carried by rivers varies generally around the world, with the rivers in the tropics carrying twice what those in cooler regions do.

When compared with emissions from humanity’s fossil fuel use, the actual amount reaching the oceans is relatively small. However, says Jones, understanding how black carbon is being moved around is important for building better climate models and for our understanding of the global carbon cycle.

The amount being produced by fires has been relatively stable for the past two decades, with forest fires being offset by Savannah being turned into farmland, which reduces the amount of vegetation available to burn. But Jones points out that more fires are expected as the world warms, which will deliver more black carbon into the oceans.

1. What happens to the black carbon produced by forest fires?

A．One third will turn into fires.	B．It will disappear in few years.
C．The ocean covers two-thirds of its total.	D．It has more lasting storage underwater.

2. What can we learn from Paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．The research deals with 409 rivers in all.

B．Black carbon finally ends up in the ocean by rivers.

C．The research focuses on different varieties of black carbon.

D．The rivers in the tropics have less black carbon due to temperature.

3. What does Jones agree with?

A．Better climate models will be built soon.

B．The carbon produced by humans is small.

C．The amount of carbon produced by forest fire is falling.

D．The amount of carbon reaching the ocean won’t be reduced.

4. In which column of a newspaper can we read the passage?

A．Environment.

B．Science.

C．Entertainment.

D．Health.

3 . More attention is being paid to the air issue in London, especially with a continuing investigation into the death of Ella Kissi-Debrah, a 9-year-old girl who lived just meters from one of the capital’s busiest roads. Ella died in February 2013 having suffered from many asthmatic attacks (哮喘发作) and had been taken to hospital for nearly 30 times in the three years prior to her death. She may become the first person in the UK for whom air pollution is listed as the cause of death.

Today low emission (排放) has helped reduce dangerous poisonous air in parts of the United Kingdom capital by 94 percent, according to an annual report from Transport for London (TFL). The transport authority said they had established the defined areas where access by some polluting vehicles is restricted or forbidden in Central London in February, which contributed mostly to the change.

The TFL report showed traffic on roads fell by half during lockdown. Figures showed a big increase in the number of people walking and cycling in London, with journeys made on foot or by bicycle up from 29 percent between January and March 2020 to 46 percent between March and June 2020.

TFL will spend at least 75 million pounds on walking and cycling programs across the capital over the next six months. About 88.5 kilometers of new or upgraded cycle lanes have been built or are under construction.

“This new data shows just how important walking and cycling have been in helping Londoners stay healthy and safe, ” TFL Streetspace delivery manager Helen Cansick said. “That’s why it’s crucial that we continue to invest to support walking and cycling, ensuring that the capital can become a healthier and more sustainable place for everyone.”

1. What does Ella Kissi-Debrah’s death indicate?

A．Air pollution is a big cause of death

B．Children often suffer from asthma.

C．Big cities are polluted more seriously.

D．Air pollution and its effect are severe.

2. What mainly contributed to the reduced poisonous air in parts of London?

A．Policy on lockdown.	B．Change in transport.
C．Low-emission zones.	D．Reduction in economy.

3. What does the TFL report show?

A．Short-distance journeys are more popular.

B．The traffic on roads increases a lot.

C．Walking and cycling are Londoners’ first choice.

D．More Londoners choose to walk and ride.

4. What’s the best title of this text?

A．London’s air is now cleaner.

B．Traffic restrictions take effects.

C．Walking and cycling help stay healthy.

D．Air issue in London is gaining attention.

4 . The Mackenzie River is the second largest river in North America after the Mississippi River and is the largest river system in Canada. It runs from southeast to northwest, from Great Slave Lake into the Arctic Ocean. The break-up of ice begins in late April, early May. The river is free of ice by early June and stays open until November. After flowing past Norman Wells, the river then continues to channels full of wild grasses, until its path is divided by plenty of islands, making the Mackenzie River Delta (三角洲) in Arctic Ocean.

The Mackenzie River Delta is the shape of a vast fan of low-lying islands. The delta is covered with black spruce (云杉), which is a type of tree that is large enough to be used for building and is widely used for cooking food or warming.

The Mackenzie River Delta, with many islands and wet land, provides a perfect environment for birds. Birds, including snow geese and swans, visit the river and delta every year and spend the summer months in the delta. In the spring, the delta is also a breeding (繁殖) ground for fish and whales. 44 species of fish are found in the river, many of which move in groups among the Mackenzie River and its branches (分支). Those which move from the sea to fresh water in order to lay eggs travel some of the farthest distances. The fish in Arctic Ocean, for example, travels from the delta up the Mackenzie River and into the Liard River.

However, climate changes and pollutants become the greatest concerns to the health of plants, animals, fish in and along the Mackenzie River and people there. Dangerous results from climate changes are already found along the Mackenzie River, including unusual floods and thinner ice roads. There are concerns that waste from oil and gas will pollute local environments. Levels of pollutants in fish, an important food source for local people, have greatly increased since the mid-1980s.

1. What do we know about the Mackenzie River?

A．It begins in the Arctic Ocean.

B．It is larger than Mississippi River.

C．It is the second largest river in Canada.

D．It stays free of ice for about half a year. .

2. Why does the Arctic fish travel to the Liard River?

A．To look for more food.	B．To avoid being killed.
C．To give birth to its young.	D．To search for their groups.

3. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The fish in the Mackenzie River is less than before.

B．The ice of the Mackenzie River is thinner and thinner.

C．The Mackenzie River is facing environmental problems.

D．The Mackenzie River causes more floods to local people.

4. In which section of a newspaper may the text appear?

A．Environment.	B．Culture.
C．Education.	D．Technology.

5 . On average, we each eat more than 20 kilograms of fish per year. Worldwide, between 1961 and 2016, fish consumption increased faster than meat consumption, and grew twice as fast as the human population. All of these fishy dinners have reduced marine fish stocks to a point where a third of global fish stocks are now classed as "overfished". Fishing also has negative impacts on non-food species in the ecosystem, and pollutes the waters with fishing waste. Temporary fishing bans may help, but what if we banned fishing altogether?

One thing is for sure: the ocean would hopefully become a better place for marine species. Recent years have seen plastic products much less used as the public has woken up to the effects of marine plastics. But few people realize the contribution that fishing makes. Pieces of abandoned fishing tools account for about 10 percent of all marine litter, and according to a 2018 study, 86 percent of the big pieces of plastics floating in the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". Without fishing, we'd also wipe out emission from fishing boats. One 2014 study claimed that fishing industry was actually highly fuel-consuming, like lobsters, with some boats using 20,000 liters of fuel to catch a single ton.

However, what we must not forget is that our planet is highly dependent on fishing in various ways. Around the world,40 million people earn their living directly from catching wild fish, while another 19 million are employed in relevant industries. A total ban on fishing would make it hard for them to put food in their families' mouths. Moreover, seafood is a major source of protein across Southeast Asia and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. So while in Europe or the US people could eat more meat or soy products to make up for lost protein, there could be food shortage in communities with little land-based farming.

Though not a realistic choice, a total fishing ban is an interesting thought experiment, which may throw light on how man can get along with marine species. After all, the damage fishing does to the entire ecosystem and the pollution it brings about are becoming so enormous that it's time we did something to change it.

1. Why would the ocean become a better place if we banned fishing altogether?

A．Because there would be less pollution to the ocean.

B．Because the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" would disappear.

C．Because lobster fishing boats would consume less fuel.

D．Because people would realize the effects of using plastics.

2. What could happen to humans if fishing were completely banned?

A．Some would suffer from a lack of food.

B．Some would change their diet and eat less meat.

C．Some communities would start developing land-based farming.

D．Some workers would have to find jobs in fishing-relevant industries.

3. What is the author's attitude towards a total fishing ban?

A．Favorable.

B．Objective.

C．Disapproving.

D．Concerned.

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．The Urgent Need of a Total Fishing Ban.	B．The Harmful Effects of Fishing industry.
C．A Newly Launched Policy on Fishing Industry.	D．An Assumption of a Complete Fishing Ban.

6 . The World Health Organization warns that millions of people are dying every year from indoor air pollution. Nearly three billion people are unable to use clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating as well as lighting.

These findings show that the use of deadly fuels in inefficient stoves, space heaters or lights is to blame for many of these deaths.

WHO officials say indoor pollution leads to early deaths from stroke, heart and lung disease, childhood pneumonia and lung cancer. Women and girls are the main victims. These diseases can often result from the burning of solid fuels. These fuels include wood, coal, animal waste, crop waste and charcoal.

The United Nations found that more than 95 percent of households in sub-Saharan Africa depend on solid fuels for cooking. It says huge populations in India, China and Latin American countries, such as Guatermala and Peru,are also at risk.

Nigel Brace is a professor of Public Health at the University of Liverpool. He says researchers are developing good cook-stoves and other equipment to burn fuels in a more efficient way.There are already multiple technologies available for use in clean fuels.There is really quite an effective and reasonably low-cost alcohol stove made by Dometic (a Sweden-based company) that is now being tested out. LPG (Liquefield Petroleum Gas) cook is obviously widely available and efforts are under way to make those efficient. Another interesting development is electric induction stoves. WHO experts note that some new, safe and low-cost technologies that could help are already available. In India, you can buy an induction stove for about $8.00. And in Africa you can buy a solar lamp for less than $1.00.

But this,the agency says, is just a start. It is urging developing countries to use cleaner fuels and increase access to cleaner and more modern cooking and heating appliances/devices.

1. What does the indoor pollution mainly result from?

A．Poisonous fuels.

B．High technology.

C．Space heaters.

D．Solar energy.

2. How is Paragraph 3 mainly developed?

A．By showing differences.	B．By describing a process.
C．By making a list.	D．By analyzing data.

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Indoor pollution results in some deaths.

B．Most of the deaths are in developing countries.

C．The solid fuels are used in more effective ways.

D．There is no indoor pollution in developed countries.

4. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．LPG cooks are being tested out.	B．Alcohol stoves are widely used now.
C．Electric induction stoves are expensive.	D．Solar lamps are very cheap in Africa.