1 . Last week came solid evidence that living in toxic Britain can seriously harm your health. Cardiologists at Queen Mary University of London found that even "safe" levels of air pollution are linked to heart abnormalities similar to those seen during the early stages of heart failure. Their study of almost 4,000 people was backed up by a major US study which showed that higher exposure to fine particles and nitrogen oxides is linked to an acceleration in the hardening of the arteries (动脉).
We have long known that air pollution leads to coughing, shortness of breath and irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. It is also clearly linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as diabetes and some cancers. It is now beyond doubt that children's health is greatly affected, and links have been made between it and Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, dementia and congenital birth defects.
The statistics are alarming. In the UK, more than 2 million people suffer from cardiovascular (心血管的) diseases, and nearly one in seven men and one in 12 women will go on to die from them. Heart disease costs the UK economy nearly £30 bn a year to treat, as much as the state spends on secondary education. It is one of the greatest single drains on the public purse. Britain, however, rejects common sense, and shows little sign that it wants to seriously address pollution any time soon.
Despite the mounting evidence of air pollution's costs and health impact, Britain has had to be dragged screaming through the courts to make it comply with minimal clean air guidelines and laws. Successive governments have continually tried to evade their legal responsibilities, spending millions of pounds fighting in the courts and lobbying the EU to be allowed to continue to pollute.
The government now has a new draft clean air strategy our for consultation until 14 August and claims to be acting faster to tackle air pollution than almost every other major developed economy. It pledges to halve the number of people living in places that do not meet World Health Organization pollution guidelines, and it propose to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans by 2040.
But intending to cut the air pollution bill by around 12.5% in 12 years and waiting 20 years to be rid of the worst vehicles seems criminally weak. Meanwhile, government is knowingly forging ahead with infrastructure plans that will inevitably increase air pollution. The effect will inevitably be to massively increase air pollution and health costs for millions of Britons.
So could the car-clogged streets of Sunder-land, Birmingham and London, where I lived for many years, have contributed to my disease and those of millions of others? Probably. Could the oil companies be responsible for far more than climate change? Certainly. Could Britain's monstrous and mounting bill for heart disease be partly due to the highly polluting diesel cars that governments so scandalously encouraged us to drive? Quite possibly.
What is certain is that air pollution is now an international scandal, and the cause of a health emergency that governments and industry have failed to address. It undoubtedly threatens life more than any war or disaster. When there are clear alternatives to burning fossil fuels then politicians who do not act to prevent it must stand accused not just of failing to act, but of condoning the mass poisoning of their people.
1. According to the study, ________ is probably unrelated to air pollution.| A．diabetes | B．stomachaches | C．Alzheimer | D．artery hardening |
| A．British government has been screaming for help in court |
| B．EU has dissuaded British government for help in court |
| C．British government has tried to have EU's permission for more pollution |
| D．The government firmly refused to act in accordance with the clean air guideline. |
| A．Britain will implement it faster than other major developed economies. |
| B．It presents a practical way to end pollution from vehicles. |
| C．Its goal will be achieved at the price of massive health cost. |
| D．It's aiming too low when more pollution is expected. |
| A．Government officials should feel disgraced for non-action as leaders. |
| B．The government should cover the bills for air pollution and related diseases. |
| C．Oil companies should not be held accountable for the international scandal. |
| D．British government is an irresponsible one for encouraging people to use vehicles. |
2 . 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 |
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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4 . What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world’s oceans. It is located halfway between Hawaii and California.
PLASTIC
It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers. More than half of this plastic is less
The strong and floating plastics show resiliency(韧性) in the marine environment, allowing them to be transported over
Once these plastics enter the gyre（环流）, they are unlikely to leave the area until they
LOCATION
Due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents, the GPGP’s location and shape are constantly changing. Only floating objects that are
By simulating concentration levels in the North Pacific, the researchers were able to follow the location of the patch and found on average it orbits around 32°N and 145°W. However, the team observed seasonal
IMPACT ON WILDLIFE
Plastic has increasingly become a very common substance in the ocean. Due to its size and color, animals
Studies have shown that about 700 species have encountered marine debris, and 92% of these
IMPACT ON HUMANS AND SOCIETY
Once plastic enters the marine food web, there is a possibility that it will contaminate the human food chain as well. Through a process called bioaccumulation, chemicals in plastics will enter the body of the animal
| A．ACCUMULATION | B．DRIFT | C．FLOATING | D．PROMOTION |
| A．light | B．thick | C．tiny | D．dense |
| A．adjusted | B．overdone | C．deposited | D．extended |
| A．upgrade | B．degrade | C．assemble | D．disassemble |
| A．transportation | B．estimation | C．concentration | D．location |
| A．predominantly | B．rarely | C．previously | D．slightly |
| A．similarity | B．shift | C．boost | D．figure |
| A．exchange | B．substitute | C．leave | D．confuse |
| A．implications | B．interactions | C．interferences | D．influences |
| A．resting | B．feeding | C．risking | D．waiting |
| A．mariner | B．prey | C．tracker | D．predator |
| A．present | B．absent | C．current | D．reliable |
| A．Likewise | B．However | C．Moreover | D．Therefore |
| A．result in | B．remove from | C．stem from | D．bring about |
| A．insufficient | B．adequate | C．insignificant | D．substantial |
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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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 . In the United States alone,over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year.Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants.The electronic waste stream is increasing three times taster than traditional garbage as a whole.
Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver.A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste,the concentration（含量）of gold and other precious metals was higher in So-called e-waste than in naturally occurring minerals.
Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals.Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed,the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries,in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to escape into the environment.
Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material,up to 100 times more,than the material contained in the finished products.Consider again the cell-phone,and imagine the mines that produced those metals,the factories needed to make the box and packaging（包装）it came in.Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that"the production, distribution,and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas release." Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start-for instance,buying reusable products and recycling.
In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive（动机）for reducing waste.If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products,would they reduce the packaging in the first place?
Governments' incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money.Why,they ask,should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap（气泡垫）that encased your television?
From the governments' point of view,a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.
1. By mentioning the Swiss study,the author intends to tell us that .| A．the weight of e-goods is rather small |
| B．natural minerals contain more precious metals |
| C．E-waste deserves to be made good use of |
| D．the percentage of precious metals is heavy in e-waste |
| A．from producers to governments |
| B．from governments to producers |
| C．from individuals to distributors |
| D．from distributors to governments |
| A．The increase in e-waste. | B．The creation of e-waste. |
| C．The seriousness of e-waste. | D．The management of e-waste. |
Are Oceans Silent?
Most sea creatures, from whales and dolphins to fish, sharks and shrimps, respond to sound, and many can produce it. They use it to hunt and to hide, find mates and food, send messages and give warnings, establish territories, warn off competitors, confuse their targets, deceive enemies, and sense changes in water and conditions. Marine animals click bones, grind teeth and belch gases (磨牙打嗝); use special organs to make various noises. Far from the ‘silent deep’, the oceans are so noisy.
Into this age-long confused noise, in the blink of an evolutionary eye, has entered a new thunder: the trembling sound of mighty engines as 46,220 large ships passed the world’s shipping courses. Scientists say that background noise in the ocean has increased roughly by 15 decibels (分贝) in the past 50 years. It may not sound like much in overall terms, but it is enough, according to many marine biologists, to mask the normal sounds of ocean life going about its business. At its most intense, some even say noise causes whales to become disoriented, dolphins to suffer from ‘the bends’, fish to go deaf, leave their breeding grounds or fail to form groups—enough to disorganize the basic biology of two thirds of the planet.
“Undersea noise pollution is like the death of a thousand cuts”, says Sylvia Earie, chief scientist of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Each sound in itself may not be a matter of critical concern, but taken all together, the noise from shipping, earthquake-related surveys, and military activity is creating a totally different environment than existed even 50 years ago. That high level of noise is bound to have a hard, sweeping impact on life in the sea.
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| A. generated B. mechanically C. partnership D. reforming E. powered F. efficiency G. growing H. greatly I. sustainable J. revolutionize K. emissions |
The Inevitable Plastics Revolution
The Guardian once called plastic “Man’s worst invention”. One of the lesser-known uses of plastic is to reduce carbon emissions. For example, plastics make vehicles lighter thereby increasing their
Currently that isn’t the case. Of the 24.5 million tons of plastic waste
That has to change, says Marc, one of the world’s leading chemicals and plastics manufacturers. “With a
Today most plastic is made from petrochemicals, using processes
Boyan Slat, a Dutch inventor is cleaning the world’s most polluted rivers in an effort to save the oceans. He has made it his mission
Just 10 rivers are responsible for around 90% of all that plastic,
The Ocean Cleanup is effectively using floating trash collectors called “Interceptors”. These solar-powered, autonomous systems use the rivers’ currents to guide the trash onto a conveyor belt that carry the waste to
The first interceptor went to work in Jakarta, Indonesia, to pull plastic from a waterway called the Cengkareng drain. A second interceptor began collecting trash flowing down the Klang river in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. On the other side of the world,
“
The Ocean Cleanup is working with the local governments and communities to help retrieve (取回) the plastic the Interceptors collect. “By stopping plastic in rivers, we hope to not only address the big global plastic pollution issue, but also really help make life better for the people
The Ocean Cleanup’s goal is to tackle the thousand most polluted rivers within 5 years. Soon interceptors
“We are getting out tons of plastic every single day,” Slat said. “We accept that we won’t deliver magic in one go. But we’re doing this, step by step.”
