The idea of turning recycled plastic bottles into clothing is not new. During the last five years, a large number of clothing companies, businesses and environmental organizations have started turning plastics into fabric to deal with plastic pollution. But there’s a problem with this method. Research now shows that microfibers could be the biggest source of plastic in the sea.
Dr. Mark Browne in Santa Barbara, California, has been studying plastic pollution and microfibers for 10 years now. He explains that every time synthetic clothes go into a washing machine, a large number of plastic fibers fall off. Most washing machines can’t collect these microfibers. So every time the water gets out of a washing machine, microfibers are entering the sewers and finally end up in the sea.
In 2011, Browne wrote a paper stating that a single piece of synthetic(合成的) clothing can produce more than 1, 900 fibers per wash. Browne collected samples from seawater and freshwater sites around the world, and used a special way to examine each sample. He discovered that every single water sample contained microfibers.
This is bad news for a number of reasons. Plastic can cause harm to sea life when eaten. Studies have also shown that plastic can absorb other pollutants.
Based on this evidence, it may seem surprising that companies and organizations have chosen to turn plastic waste into clothing as an environmental “solution.” Even though the science has been around for a while, Browne explains that he's had a difficult time getting companies to listen. When he asked well-known clothing companies to support Benign by Design-his research project that seeks to get clothes that have a bad effect on humans and the environment out of the market, Browne didn’t get a satisfying answer. Only one women’s clothing company, Eileen Fisher, offered Browne funding.
1.What has happened during the past five years?
A.Fabric has become much stronger. B.Plastic pollution has been less serious.
C.Many plastic bottles have been reused. D.Microfibers have been greatly improved.
2.What does Browne think of washing synthetic clothes?
A.It is adding microfibers to the clothes.
B.It is worsening environmental problems.
C.It is making synthetic clothes last longer.
D.It is doing great damage to washing machines.
3.What can be inferred about Browne’s Benign by Design research project?
A.It has achieved great success. B.It hasn’t got anything done.
C.It is known to very few people. D.It is facing some difficulties.
4.What’s the best title for the text?
A.It’s important to learn to recycle
B.It’s never easy to solve pollution problems
C.Recycled plastic clothing: solution or pollution?
D.Are human beings moving forward or backward?
They were a happy family: four daughters were allin the same school in different grades. The youngest, Janice, who was in my class, seemed to be glued to her mother’s skirts．Theirthree older girls took the bus to school everymorning, but Janice was always driven to schoolbyher mother.
One Friday, Janice's mother asked for a talk with me. She said in a soft voice,"My husband is going to Europe on business for two weeks, and heinsists that I go with him. I have tried to explainover and over that Janice needs me here. But he thinks that she will be fine without me, so I have no choice, I have to go. I have told the babysitter todrive her every morning. Will you please giveJanice special attention and help her? I want to besure everything goes well for her."
I told her that we would make every effort tosupport Janice. I even volunteered to meet Janiceat her car so she would see a familiar face. As amother myself, I'd like to help. Janice’s motherthanked me for our understanding.
On Monday morning, expecting a tearfulanxious child, I planned a special program of funand games. I waited outside to greet Janice, butjust then the bus arrived and not three, but fourgirls got off. Janice skipped along joyfully, saying“goodbye” to her sisters as she ran with two friends into the classroom. I walked slowly into theclassroom and called Janice over to ask how thebus ride went. Impatiently she said, “Oh, I alwayswant to take the bus with the other kids. ButMother needs to be with me. You see there won’t be any more babies, so I have to be a baby a littlelonger. While she is away, I'll just ridethe busevery day. I am five, you know.”
1.Why did Janice’ s mother want to have a talk with the author?
A.To ask her to help Janice with her homework.
B.To ask her to pick up Janice every day.
C.To ask her to give Janice more attention.
D.To ask her to meet Janice at her car.
2.What did the author not do for Janice?
A.Plan a special program of fun and games.
B.Wait for her outside the school.
C.Greet her when she got off the bus.
D.Ask about her bus ride.
3.What did Janice look like on Monday morning?
A.She was tearful and anxious.
B.She was worried about her mother.
C.She missed her mother very much.
D.She was happy rather than sad.
4.What do we know from the passage?
A.Janice is too young to go school by bus.
B.Janice likes taking a bus to school.
C.Janice doesn’t like her babysitter.
D.Janice is no longer a child.
Great holidays in Europe!
Do you like the beach but want a bit more?
Then come on an Active Beach holiday atone of our centers in Greece, Turkey or Croatia.All the centers are near beautiful beaches and all offer sailing, wind surfing or water skiing with our excellent instructors. For achange from the water, you can also book a short trip to a nearby village and visit the colorful markets or eat in a local restaurant. Atthe end of the day, relax in your hotel room or dance the night away at one of our open-air clubs.
Who was King Arthur? Where did he live?
Join us on a five-day UK Road Trip holiday.Imagine life hundreds of years ago as we visit ancient Stonehenge, Roman Bath and TintagelCastle, the home of King Arthur. Learn the historyof these interesting places from your guide as you travel in one of our famous blue coaches. In the evenings we stop at some of the best youth hostels in the country. They have everything you need ,you don 't even need to pack a sleeping bag!
Are you bored with the usual holidays? Do you want to do something you really enjoy?
Then Fame Camp is for you! Spend a week at Hightree House in Yorkshire and learn how to play the piano, violin and guitar! Bring your tentand stay at a campsite near the house. At the end of the week try your new skills in a live performance .
How many countries can you see in 21days?
On our Explore Europe holiday, you can see ten! Learn about them from our best guides as you watch them go past from the window of an air-conditioned coach and stay at some of Europe's top campsites on the way. Of course,we’ll also have time to do the important things such as visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the. historic Sistine Chapel in Vatican and eating appleѕtrudеl іn Vіеnnа.
For more information about any of these holidays, call 0845 333 4523 or visit www. comewithusuk. com.
1.Tourists who go on an Active Beach holiday.
A.can do some water sports
B.can cook by themselves
C.will enjoy an open-air concert
D.should bring their own sleeping bags
2.If you want to know more about Tintagel Castle, which holiday should you take?
A.Fame Camp. B.Active Beach.
C.UK Road Trip. D.Explore Europe.
3.What can we learn about Explore Europe?
A.It lasts 10 days. B.It is a coach tour.
C.It is a self-guided tour. D.It goes past 21 countries.
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
I always prided myself on being a wise shopper and having a good nose for bargains. So when I came across a sporting goods store with a sign “Going Out of Business Sale”, I marched into the crowded store. Up and down the aisles (通道), I wandered, humming to myself and enjoying the energy and excitement of a sale.
All of a sudden, there, at the back of the store sat a canoe(轻舟) exactly like my husband’s dream Supremo Numero-Uno, whose picture had been stuck on the bathroom mirror for years. My heart beat wildly. I pushed my way through the crowds, and nearly fell into the canoe looking for the price tag. There it was, with the manufacturer’s suggested price at $6,750 plus tax crossed out and a handwritten TO CLEAR $750 AS IS. Must be a mistake. $6000 off? Salesman. I had to talk to a salesman. I spotted a young fellow with a “Hi. I’m Mathew”. “Mathew. Tell me about this El Supremo canoe. What’s wrong with it? Why is it only $750?”
“Oh. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s brand new. We’re closing the store. It’s on clearance like everything else. I’ll go check.” A few minutes later he came back and said, “I’m sorry ma’am. Someone made a mistake on the sale tag. It should be $4,750 for the whole package.”
I felt tears well up in my eyes. “Oh well”, I said sadly. “Of course, it was too good to be true. This is exactly like my husband’s dreamboat. I guess I started to dream myself when I saw that price tag. He’s going to be 62 years old Friday. Had to retire early for his health. It’s been hard on just the pension but the stubborn old fool has been saving $10 every week for years to buy one just like this. I promise I won’t buy anything, but it’s just an old man’s silly dream, you know. Always said he wanted to fish in a canoe after he retired,” my voice lowered and I turned and walked away.
Paragraph 1:
I was already at the mall door when Mathew caught up with me. “Do you have $750 plus $25 for delivery, ma’am?”
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Paragraph 2:
“Ma’am. There’s something you should know. This store was my Grandpa’s and the canoe had been ordered by him.
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假如你是李华，在你校学习的英国交换生William对中国历史很感兴趣，打算在暑假出去旅游。他给你来信，请你帮他推荐一座中国历史文化名城。请你用英语回复邮件，内容包括：
1. 你的推荐；
2. 推荐理由；
3. 食宿建议。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear William,
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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。
People love the view of old buildings in Paris, especially Notre Dame Cathedral(巴黎圣母院). 1.(unfortunate), on April 16, a fire destroyed the spire(尖顶) of the 850-year-old cathedral, and two-thirds of the roof. Flames could be seen 2.(rise) through the top of the monument. The citizens in Paris gathered around the cathedral, praying 3. the hundreds of firefighters who fought the flames. 4. was no wonder that people felt sad. The church itself, after all, is a historical and artistic treasure. 5.(build) in 1163, it is one of the world's most famous tourist sites, attracting about 12 million 6.(visit) every year.
Notre Dame Cathedral is home to many 7.(religion) artworks, paintings and sculptures. Despite its long history and many treasures, the cathedral 8.(need) the help of a writer to become truly famous. Victor Hugo's 1831 novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, presented the building to 9. wide audience of readers. He wrote the book to remind people of it, with the hope 10. they would protect the beautiful old buildings of Paris.
