Environmentalists said our planet was bound to die. Now one man says they are wrong. “Everyone knows the planet is in bad shape,” thundered a magazine article last year. “Species are being driven to die out at record rates, and the rivers are so poisonous that fish are floating on the surface, dead.”
But there’s growing belief that what everyone takes for granted is wrong: Things are actually getting better. A new book is about to overturn our most basic assumptions about the world’s environment. Rivers, seas, rain and the atmosphere are all getting better.
The total amount of forests in the world is not declining. The Skeptical Environmentalist by Bjorn Lomborg, professor of statistics at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, is an attack on the misleading claims of environmental groups, and the “bad news” culture that makes people believe everything is getting worse.
Now the attacks are increasingly coming from left-wing environmentalists such as Lomborg, a former member of Greenpeace. The accusation is that, although the environment is improving, green groups — with profits of hundreds of millions of pounds a year — are using scare tactics (战术) to gain donations. Lomborg’s book doesn’t deny global warming — probably the biggest environmental threat — but destroys almost every other environmental claim with many official statistics.
The Worldwatch Institute claims that deforestation(采伐森林) has been speeding over the last 30 years. Buy Lomborg says that is simply rubbish. Since the dawn of agriculture the world has lost about 20% of its forest cover, but in recent decades the forest area’s depleting has come to a stop. According to UN figures, the area of forests has remained almost steady, at about 30% of total land area, since 1940s. Forests in countries such as the US, UK and Canada have actually been expanding over the past 40 years. Despite all the warnings the Amazon rainforest has only shrunk by about 15%.
Nor are all our species dying out. Some campaigners claim that 50% of all species will have died out within 50 years. But other studies show only 0.08% of species are dying out each year. Conservation efforts have been successful. Whales are no longer threatened and the bald eagle is off the endangered list.
Environmental groups claim that many of the improvements are the results of their campaigns. Stephen Tindale, director of Greenpeace UK, said, “There are important examples, such as acid rain and ozone, where things weren’t as bad as predicted, and that’s because our behavior changed.”
1.What is Lomborg’s main argument in The Skeptical Environmentalist?
A. Our planet is in bad shape.
B. The world’s environment is improving.
C. The total amount of forests is declining.
D. Conservation efforts have been successful.
2.What is Lomborg’s main accusation of environmentalists?
A. They changed their behavior toward the environment.
B. They only told people bad news about the environment.
C. They scared people into making donations.
D. They overturned our basic assumption about the world’s environment.
3.The underlined word “depleting” is close in meaning to “_______”.
A. speeding B. limiting
C. expanding D. reducing
4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
A. Are all species dying out? B. Isn’t conservation powerful?
C. Is Our Planet Bound to Die? D. Aren’t environmentalists wrong?
Forest Schools originated in Sweden in the 1950s and spread to other countries, particularly Denmark where they have become an important part of the Danish early years program.
In a typical Danish Forest School, young children from 3 years are taken into the forest for 4 hours each day of the week. They take no toys with them, but instead use only what the forest provides (and their imaginations) to develop their games. There is a primitive hut in the forest, which is used in extreme weather. Activities are child-led and fun, such as finding small animals or stomping in puddles. Because of high adult to child ratios, children can safely try out activities which are often considered too dangerous, such as climbing trees or lighting fires, and by dressing the children in good protective clothing, they are able to play freely. By setting children small manageable tasks at which they are unlikely to fail, and giving genuine praise, children’s independence and confidence grow.
A Swedish scientific study found that children in the Forest School are more balanced and socially capable, have fewer sick days, are more able to concentrate and have better co-ordination than the city nursery children. The primary reason appeared to be the greater opportunities to play in nature, so that children play for longer at a time, tending not to disturb each other as much as children in the city nursery. The study observed that where children were interrupted, they became irritable, their stress level rose, and their ability to concentrate fell.
The study also showed that the Forest School children had 25 % fewer sick days than the city children. One reason for this is that the air is nearly always better outside than indoors. Outside a child is not so exposed to virus and bacteria and not so likely to be infected by other children. Another reason may be that, since stress has been shown to have a negative effect on the immune system, high stress levels may be weakening the city children. The Forest School children, on the other hand, are in a pleasant, natural, fun and less stressful environment.
1.Why is there a primitive hut in the forest?
A. To let children have fun.
B. To store daily necessities.
C. To enrich the children’s imagination.
D. To protect the children from bad weather.
2.What kind of activities do the Forest School children have?
A. Activities to improve grades.
B. Activities designed for adults.
C. Activities usually played by braver kids.
D. Fun activities but with a certain level of danger.
3.The Forest School children are more able to concentrate because ______.
A. they have more interesting things to do B. they are accompanied by adults
C. they are not disturbed so often D. they are playing in small groups
4.Which of the following best describes the Forest School children?
A. Free and wild. B. Confident and happy.
C. Polite and calm. D. Strong and adventurous.
At Beaver Meadows Ranch on Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, there is a long list of outdoor winter activities for the entire family. Take a winter vacation there.
Ice Fishing
For $10 a day, visitors can try their hand at ice fishing. Ice fishing is available from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week. You will need to bring your own ice fishing equipment because it cannot be rented. You will need to have your fishing license too. For more about it, call 800-462-5870.
Hot Chocolate & Cookies Sleigh Ride
Passengers take a 15- to 20-minute sleigh ride through beautiful Colorado country. During the sleigh ride, you’ll have the experience of stopping at an old-time cabin, warming yourself by a fire and eating cookies while drinking hot chocolate. You will need to contact them at 970-231-1955 to set up a time for your sleigh ride.
Winter Horseback Riding
Experience winter horseback riding while viewing the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding 840 acres where Beaver Meadows Ranch makes its home. You’ll be guided on a tour by one of the expert wranglers (牧马人) when the weather permits. One-hour rides cost $35 per person and two-hour rides cost $50. For more information, contact them at 866-881-7679 to set up your horseback riding winter activity.
Other Winter Activities Information
For more information about Beaver Meadows Ranch, or if you’d like to book a room for an adventurous holiday, call 970-881-2450. It’s not very often you can find a one-stop adventure spot full of winter activities. Take advantage of your free time this winter season and enjoy the outdoor scenery in Colorado.
1.If you want to enjoy sleigh rides, you will call _____.
A. 800-462-5870 B. 970-231-1955
C. 970-881-2450 D. 866-881-7679
2.How much does a couple have to pay if they want to have a two-hour horseback ride?
A. $50. B. $70.
C. $100. D. $140.
3.Where can you most probably read this passage?
A. In the latest news. B. In a children’s book.
C. In a travel guide. D. In a sportsman’s diary.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What kind of English lessons does the speaker recommend?
A. Examination skills. B. Reading and writing. C. Listening and speaking.
2.How can a learner take the lessons when he is not online?
A. By using the downloaded sound files.
B. By making conversations with others.
C. By reviewing words, phrases and idioms.
3.What is mentioned as an advantage of the speaker’s online course?
A. It helps learners to make friends.
B. It offers learners better study methods.
C. It improves listening and speaking skills quickly.
4.What is the speaker’s idea about learning English?
A. Being confident in learning.
B. Learning English little by little.
C. Having clear learning goals.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where is the woman going first?
A. Bergner’s. B. Penny’s. C. Lisa’s.
2.When should the woman have called Helen?
A. At 3:45. B. At 4:15. C. At 4:45.
3.What’s the man’s telephone number?
A. 61199621. B. 61299621. C. 61299622.
4.What’s the relationship between the man and the woman?
A. Husband and wife. B. Boss and employee. C. Friends.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the woman a bit nervous?
A. She is afraid of getting up late.
B. She is a newcomer to the school.
C. She isn’t ready for the coming exam.
2.What must the students do before morning reading?
A. Hand in homework. B. Do morning exercises. C. Go to the teacher’s office.
3.What can the students do if they feel hungry?
A. Ask the teacher for some food.
B. Have something to eat in class.
C. Eat something during the break.
