1 . Researchers from London’s Queen Mary University studied how participants were affected by pollution based on where they live. In the journal Circulation on Friday, the scientists revealed that air pollution can harm the heart to the point where it resembles (类似) the early stages of heart failure.
According to Emory Healthcare, deaths have decreased around 12 percent per decade on average over the past 50 years, but 287,000 people die frorn heart failure each year. There are more hospitalizations from heart failure each year than all cancers combined.
In this study, the scientists examined information from 4,000 participants that were in the UK Biobank study. Volunteers had blood tests, health scans and heart MRIs, which measured the function, size and weight of their hearts. They also recorded their lifestyle, health record and where they’ve lived.
The team found participants had larger right and left ventricles (心室) in the heart when they lived closer to busy roads and were exposed to nitrogen dioxide(NOz), which enters the air when fuel is burned. The right and left ventricles are crucial for pumping blood. They were healthy but resembled the ventricles in early-stage heart failure. The scientists found that the higher the exposure to the pollutants, the greater the changes in the heart.
“Air pollution should be seen as a modifiable risk factor,” Dr. Nay Aung, who led the data analysis of the study, said in a statemnent from Queen Mary University. “The public all need to be aware of their exposure when they think about their heart health, just like they think about their blood pressure and their weight.”
Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said in the statement from Queen Mary University, “We can’t expect people to move home to avoid air pollution, so government and public bodies must act right now to make all areas safe and protect the population from these harm.”
1. What is the finding of the study?| A．Air pollution causes many people to die. |
| B．People have big problems of heart health. |
| C．People’s houses have a great effect on the heart. |
| D．Air pollution makes our hearts at risk of heart failure. |
| A．It can be cured easily. | B．It remains a serious threat. |
| C．It’s the most common illness. | D．It causes people to suffer cancers. |
| A．They had many health problems. | B．Their ventricles worked better. |
| C．Their hearts were out of danger. | D．The size of their hearts was bigger. |
| A．Moving to safer areas. | B．Living far away from crowds. |
| C．Taking notice of air pollution. | D．Taking blood pressure regularly. |
2 . The effect on happiness of exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a gas mostly produced in diesel fumes(柴油机), is comparable to the effect from losing a job, ending a relationship or the death of a partner, research suggests.
The study found a “significant and negative association” between life satisfaction and levels of the pollutant, which causes lung problems. Sarah J Knight and Peter Howley of York University took life satisfaction data from the British Household Panel Survey and UK Household Longitudinal Survey and compared it with detailed air quality records from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Given that far more people are exposed to NO2 than suffer unemployment or end a relationship, Knight and Howley suggest that the benefits to society from reducing such emissions(排放) would be substantive.
The highest levels of NO2 occur in London, with the lowest levels in parts of south-west England. The capital has the honour of being home to the worst NO2 hotspot in Europe: Marylebone Road, which recorded the highest annual mean levels of the pollutant, more than double the legal EU limit.
Pollution from nitrogen oxides (NO) is responsible for tens of the thousands of premature deaths（过早死）across Europe, with the UK suffering a particularly high toll. Much of the pollution is produced by diesel cars, which emit about six times more than allowed in the official lab-based tests.
The European Environment Agency said the UK had 11, 940 premature deaths in 2013 from NO2. The number was down from 14, 100 in the previous year, but was still the second worst in Europe after Italy.
1. Which can replace the underlined word “substantive” in paragraph 3?| A．Terrible. | B．Real. | C．Normal. | D．Special. |
| A．Southwest England | B．Southeast England. |
| C．Marylebone Road | D．The rural area near London |
| A．11, 940 | B．15, 100 | C．14, 100 | D．19, 140 |
| A．How to deal with air pollution efficiently. |
| B．The biggest killer of man nowadays-air pollution |
| C．Diesel fumes should be responsible for air pollution. |
| D．Air pollution from NO2/ NO is as bad for happiness as partners’ death |
3 . Peru demanded compensation (赔偿金) Wednesday from Spanish energy giant Repsol over an oil spill (石油泄漏). It might be caused by sudden and big
Authorities
Officials of the factory
The oil-processing factory could face a
| A．fishes | B．waves | C．fires | D．stones |
| A．closed | B．discovered | C．destroyed | D．named |
| A．before | B．unless | C．until | D．after |
| A．uploading | B．repairing | C．offloading | D．supplying |
| A．agricultural | B．snowy | C．ecological | D．nuclear |
| A．waste | B．damage | C．crime | D．storm |
| A．fishing | B．poor | C．teaching | D．rich |
| A．escape | B．advertisement | C．encouragement | D．payment |
| A．in advance | B．in air | C．at risk | D．at work |
| A．measuring | B．decorated | C．swimming | D．covered |
| A．recovering | B．affecting | C．creating | D．leaving |
| A．traditionally | B．proudly | C．originally | D．honestly |
| A．clean up | B．take up | C．build up | D．cut up |
| A．animals | B．people | C．plants | D．zones |
| A．specialists | B．students | C．journalists | D．stars |
| A．impressed | B．spent | C．blamed | D．put |
| A．truck | B．ship | C．line | D．store |
| A．failure | B．fine | C．prize | D．fund |
| A．environment | B．education | C．finance | D．defense |
| A．organization | B．entrance | C．account | D．investigation |
4 . A team at Oregon State University has started a three-year study into the effects of poor air quality from wildfires on dairy cows(奶牛). In an area hit by increasingly severe and numerous wildfires, and where there are a large number of cows, identifying the impacts of wildfires on cows' milk production and welfare is vital.
Previous research from the University of Idaho has found that cows exposed to poor air quality and heat stress, which were caused by wildfires, produced around 1.3 liters less milk per day than the average. The study must be expanded in order to explore broader patterns.
Ashly Anderson, who worked on this particular study, said, “Due to climate change, we're going to be seeing more wildfires-and because of that there are going to be more animals exposed to wildfires. Being able to tell what kind of effects there are and how they might be affected in the future is very important.”
In an attempt to collect more data, Juliana Ranches and her colleague Jenifer Cruickshank have begun their three-year study. They have put 30 cows, which they refer to as “smoke cows”, out to pasture(牧场). Each time there is a wildfire event which results in an Air Quality Index measure of over 50, Ranches takes daily milk samples and blood tests. She also monitors and measures the cows' respiratory(呼吸的)rates and body temperatures.
“We're getting a clearer picture of what these cows are experiencing, through poor air quality associated with wildfires—a better understanding of the effects on them. With that information, we can start to look at the negative effects and minimize the damage," Juliana Ranches said.
As summers in Oregon become hotter and drier, wildfires are on the rise, even in western parts of the state which have not historically seen them as frequently. This study and others into the impacts of smoke on dairy cows provide important information for dairy farmers, when it comes to both the welfare of their animals and their commercial productivity.
1. What has the research from the University of Idaho found?| A．Wildfires can cause cows to produce less milk. |
| B．Cows' milk production is causing air pollution. |
| C．The number of cows in Oregon gradually drops. |
| D．The air quality in all states is becoming poorer. |
| A．The root cause of the global climate change. |
| B．The best way to live in harmony with animals. |
| C．The value of protecting animals from wildfires. |
| D．The necessity of identifying the effects of wildfires. |
| A．She cures cows of their illnesses. | B．She keeps cows away from smoke. |
| C．She monitors cows' physical health. | D．She helps cows produce more milk. |
| A．It is significant for dairy farmers. | B．It needs to be improved in various aspects. |
| C．It misses important information. | D．It is the first to study wildfires and cows. |
The
The end life of plastic is just worrisome. Less than 10% of the plastic produced has been recycled. Even more of it has been burned. But the vast
Yet the public has not given this global environmental disaster the attention it requires. Instead, they have viewed single-use plastic—which makes up about 40% of plastic used each year—as a litter issue that can be solved through better recycling and waste management. That attitude must change because the recent global breakdown of the market
California has been the forerunner of plastic waste reduction—it was the first state
6 . Sea plants like marine algae (海洋藻类), seagrass and mangroves (红树林) provide habitats for many marine creatures including shrimp, fish and other small creatures. In some way, these plants keep the steady of the environment on the bottom of the sea that might otherwise be damaged by sea waves, sunlight and other climate change.
In mankind’s view, mangroves offer a safeguard against storms such as hurricanes, protecting the inland areas where people live, especially in places like the coastlines of Florida and Louisiana.
Marine algae, seagrass and mangroves play another vital role for many marine creatures-that of a baby room. Many marine animals lay eggs in these areas because their young have a better chance of avoiding hunters while hidden in the plants.
Many animals rely on these plants as a main food source as well. Sea urchins (海胆) are just one example of some marine creatures that eat marine algae, keeping the algae from over-growth for its health. Without these vital plants, lots of marine animals would have little protection from the hunters and human activities.
Pollution and fertilizer run-off, damage from boat grounding and human-caused stresses on natural water systems are just a few types of threats that impact these weak ecosystems. The effects of the oil run-off in combination with these pre-existent conditions are difficult to predict. However, it is certain that the results will not be good for the already stressed environments that many species of marine life call home.
When exposed to the oil and the chemicals used to clean up the run-off, the sea plants themselves are directly affected. But in addition, the marine animals that depend on these plants as food and shelter are also impacted, and the rest of the food web will feel the effect.
1. What do the mangroves mean to the people in Florida?| A．Their security blankets. | B．Their food sources. |
| C．Their hiding places. | D．Their homes. |
| A．To handle climate change. | B．To search for food. |
| C．To look for room. | D．To seek shelter. |
| A．Interdependent. | B．Unfriendly. | C．Cooperative. | D．Competitive. |
| A．The food web will be rebuilt. | B．The sea plants will grow widely. |
| C．People’s health will be under threat. | D．People will use chemicals to clean it up. |
7 . The world’s coral reefs are in bad shape. Climate change has led to coral whitening. Overfishing has disturbed the ecosystems that keep reefs healthy. Poisonous runoffs from human industry are destroying the “rainforests of the sea.” A new study has highlighted another threat to coral reefs：plastics.
Researchers analyzed corals from reefs in Southeast Asia and Australia. Almost everywhere they looked, they saw bits of plastic, including chip wrappers, Q-tips, garbage bags.
The team estimates that at least 11 billion plastic items are trapped in coral reefs in the Asia-Pacific and that number is increasing alarmingly. This could spell disaster for the world’s reefs. The likelihood of the corals developing a disease jumps from 4 to 89 percent when corals come into contact with plastics.
Further investigations are needed to determine precisely how and why plastics make coral open to different diseases. But it seems that plastic debris（碎片）slices open the skin of the corals, exposing them to bacteria.
“Plastic debris can cause damage to coral tissues by accelerating invasion of bacteria or by exhausting resources for immune system function during wound-healing processes,” the authors of the study write. Drew Harvell, co-author of the study, says that plastics also “shade the light coral needs and cut off water flow.”
It is vital to preserve the health of coral reefs for a number of reasons. Many marine creatures make their homes within the reefs. Reefs also protect coastlines from waves and tropical storms, support fishing industries and generate billions of dollars for the worldwide tourism industry every year.
Throughout the research, scientists noticed that the plastics problem was not evenly distributed. Reefs near Indonesia had the highest amount of plastic rubbish, while reefs near Australia had the lowest. This could be because Australia has the best waste removal system. It suggests that there is a relatively easy fix to the issue.
“We can clean up the problem,” Harvell told Fears. “It’s so much easier than climate change.”
1. What does the underlined part in the first paragraph refer to?| A．coral reefs | B．ecosystems |
| C．runoffs from human industry | D．plastics |
| A．By cutting off the food supply. |
| B．By bringing bacteria to the sea. |
| C．By speeding up the immune system function. |
| D．By hurting the facial tissue and exposing them to diseases. |
| A．To advertise for the waste removal system. |
| B．To show optimism about solving the plastics problem. |
| C．To praise the efforts made by the Australian government. |
| D．To emphasize the importance of dealing with plastics problem. |
| A．Threats to Coral Reefs. | B．Plastics Endangers Coral Reefs. |
| C．Coral Reefs and Climate Change. | D．Protecting Coral Reefs for Our Future. |
Oysters, soft-bodied animals without skeletons, are important for the underwater community they share with plants, fish, and other life. They are food
Because so many animals depend on them, oysters are called a keystone species. If a keystone species
That’s
The oysters were in trouble for
9 . 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. |
| 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. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Objective. | C．Disapproving. | D．Concerned. |
| 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. |
1. What’s getting less and less these days according to the talk?
| A．Empty land. | B．Garbage. | C．Water. |
| A．Burying it. |
| B．Sending it out of our planet. |
| C．Using it as an energy source. |
| A．It is hardly ever done. |
| B．It causes air pollution. |
| C．It is useless for hard materials. |
