Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the French explorer, once pointed out, “Population growth is the primary source of environmental damage.” Many experts are calling the growing problem of global waste a worldwide health crisis in that pollution from trash is not only harming the world’s oceans, air and soil but also endangering people’s health as well as the livelihood of all living creatures.
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Such a dilemma raises the question, is there a more responsible way of dealing with trash? Fortunately, there is. Living a zero-waste lifestyle is the way to go. One example of this is what’s often called the three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing the use of plastic containers as well as reusing and recycling bottles and cans decreases the amount of garbage being sent to landfills. As a result, less money is spent on waste management, and countries’ financial burdens are significantly relieved. Such positive effects on an economy is known as a circular economy.
Circular economy
Traditionally, manufacturers would make a product to be used and disposed of by consumers. This linear model of production offered no help in the fight against global waste. Alternatively, a circular economy was introduced. Once a product’s value is exhausted, the materials are recycled and returned to manufacturers. The outcome is less waste. One large-scale example of this is happening on the island of Taiwan.
4-in-1 Recycling Program
In 1997, Taiwan established its signature 4-in-1 Recycling Program, consisting of communities, recycling companies, government cleaning teams and the Recycling Fund. Residents separate their recyclable waste. The local government collection teams collect it. Recycling companies buy waste materials from them to make profits. Importers and manufacturers who are responsible for the recyclable products pay a fee into the Recycling Fund. The Recycling Fund is an essential aspect of the program used to subsidize(补贴) the recycling disposal system, support education and research and development as well as finance recycling efforts in the future.
Turning garbage into gold
By following a circular system, more products than ever are being manufactured using recycled materials. Environmentally-friendly decisions like these help to conserve natural resources, reduce pollution, save landfill space and even create new job opportunities. Recycling can truly turn garbage into gold.
1.According to the passage, the biggest challenge facing the world today is________ .
A.the rapid growth of population B.the overdeveloped manufacture
C.the world’s large amount of trash D.inappropriate use of plastic products
2.What is the aim of bringing in circular economy?
A.To save land and create wealth.
B.To minimize waste and restore used materials.
C.To support research and speed development.
D.To rid poor habits and encourage a new lifestyle.
3.Which of the following might be the best title for the text?
A.Zero-Waste, Full Recycle B.Circular Economy In Action
C.The World’s Recycling Companies D.A Worldsize Environmental Crisis
For years, I have advocated the importance of hard work, determination, persistence, and practice as key ingredients of success. Malcolm Gladwell, who has written The Story of Success, seems to support my theory. He says it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to attain true expertise.
“The people at the very top don’t just work harder than everyone else,” Gladwell writes. “They work much, much harder.” Achievement, he says, is talent plus preparation. Preparation seems to play a bigger role.
For example, he describes the Beatles: They had been together seven years before their famous arrival in America. They spent a lot of time playing in clubs, sometimes for as long as eight hours a night. Overnight success? Not exactly. Estimates are that the band performed 1,200 times before their big success in 1964. By comparison, most bands don’t perform 1,200 times in their careers.
Neurologist Daniel Levitin has studied the formula for success extensively and shares this finding: “The emerging picture from such studies is that 10,000 hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert in anything. In study after study of composers, basketball players, fiction writers, ice skaters, concert pianists, chess players, the number comes up again and again. Of course, this doesn’t address why some people get more out of their practice sessions than others do. But no one has yet found a case in which true world-class expertise was accomplished in less time. It seems it takes the brain a long time to digest all that it needs to know to achieve true mastery.”
Two computer giants, Bill Joy, who co-founded Sun Microsystems, and Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, also were proof of the 10,000-hour theory.
The abilities these people possessed were far-ranging, yet the formula for success was the same: hard work and lots of it. Some people just make it look easy. Of course, you probably didn’t see the first 9,999 hours of hard work.
1.According to the passage, what made Beatles different from most other bands?
A.Their great talent. B.Their persistent effort.
C.Their charming looks. D.Their outstanding achievements.
2.How does the author support the theme of the text?
A.By stating arguments. B.By giving examples.
C.By providing statistical data. D.By making comparisons.
3.According to the passage, the opinions that Malcolm Gladwell may agree with include the following EXCEPT that____ .
A.life is full of ups and downs
B.work transforms talent into genius
C.success takes hard work and devotion
D.the way to learn to do things is to do things
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.When will the first half of the course be delivered?
A.On Tuesdays and Thursdays.
B.On Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
C.On Wednesdays and Thursdays.
2.How often will the class meet in the research lab?
A.Twice a week. B.Once a month. C.Twice a month.
3.What might NOT be closely related to one’s grades according to the passage?
A.Classroom tests. B.Attendance rate. C.Research papers.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the woman most probably doing?
A.She’s looking around a house for rent.
B.She’s viewing the house she wants to buy.
C.She is talking about the loan with the bank staff.
2.What does the woman like best in the kitchen?
A.The wine storage area.
B.The advanced equipment.
C.The relaxing colors of the wall.
3.What does the woman think of the man’s offer on the house at first?
A.It’s unreasonable. B.It’s unexpected. C.It’s acceptable.
4.What does the woman imply in the end?
A.She’ll buy the house.
B.She’ll reconsider the price.
C.She’ll discuss with her husband.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is Sue’s suggestion for people with difficulties?
A.Believing in themselves. B.Challenging their life. C.Asking for help.
2.How does Sue explain her job to kids?
A.She makes children’s programs.
B.She gets involved in legal decisions.
C.She explains the function of the law in simple words.
3.What does Sue think happiness is?
A.Sharing things with others. B.Solving problems. C.Having her opinions heard.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What do we know about the man?
A.He might have caught a cold.
B.He is going to Machu Picchu.
C.He is a very considerate person.
2.What does the woman tell the man to avoid in the end?
A.Covering your mouth with the elbow (肘).
B.Sneezing directly at someone’s face.
C.Washing your hands after coughing.
3.What are the speakers talking about?
A.Travel plans. B.School lessons. C.Health habits.
