Modem agriculture and its ability to feed billions of people may be one of humanity's greatest achievements. However it comes with hidden costs. For example, have you ever considered how much water is needed to provide you with a steak or a salad? It may surprise you.
In a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, scientists from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization(CSIRO). Australia's national science organization, took a close look at the diets of 9,341 adult Australians — specifically, their "water-scarcity footprints(水消耗足迹)". It turns out that a sweet tooth not only adds to our waistlines but also stresses our water resources.
The water-scarcity footprint is a widely recognized measurement of water consumption. First, it counts the liters of water you used. Then, it looks at the place where the water was used. Using a liter of water in the desert is not the same as using a liter of water in a tropical rainforest. The more scarce water is in your area, the larger your water-scarcity footprint.
The scientists found that the average Australian's diet had a water-scarcity footprint of 362 liters per day. Snacks and beverages — cookies, cakes, sodas and alcohol — accounted for 25 percent of the water-scarcity footprint. The research also included a glass of wine (41 liters), a single serving of potato chips (23 liters), and a small bar of milk chocolate (21 liters).
Not surprisingly, cutting down on snacks would be the top priority if we wanted to lower our own water-scarcity footprint.
Earth's surface is 70 percent water, but only 2.5 percent of that can be used for drinking or farming. While humanity faces an uphill battle to feed its growing population, climate change is causing droughts and extreme weather in agricultural centers like California and eastern Australia. Cities aren't safe, either. In 2018, Cape Town, South Africa, nearly ran out of water due to a drought. Its freshwater reservoir(储藏)stayed at just above 13.5 percent of full capacity. By 2030, a world of about 8.6 billion people will need 35 percent more water, 40 percent more energy, and 50 percent more food, according to the United States National Intelligence Council.
So, we need to watch what we eat, not just for our personal health but for the health of our societies.
1.Scientists find from their studies that .
A.Modem agriculture has the ability to feed billions of people
B.A steak or a salad consumes much water
C.A sweet tooth puts pressure on water resources
D.Snacks consume 85 liters of water per day
2.What is the public's attitude to the water-scarcity footprint as a way to measure water consumption?
A.Doubtful B.Approving
C.Negative D.Indifferent
3.The author develops the sixth paragraph mainly .
A.by explaining an experiment B.by analyzing a problem
C.by making comparisons D.by listing numbers
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Water-scarcity footprint is measured B.Water waste starts with snacks
C.Water resources are reduced D.Water consumption faces an uphill battle
Rainbow-coloured rubbish is the colourful waste created by a Swedish city with a unique recycling system. Like many cities in Sweden, Eskilstuna has an impressive recycling record. It met the EU's 2020 target of recycling 50% of waste many years ago.
Almost everyone who lives here follows a strict recycling policy at home. People are expected to sort their household waste into seven separate categories, including food, textiles, cartons and metal. But what really makes the system stand out is the bright colour code.
The reason for this becomes clear at the city's recycling plant. The bags arrive all jumbled up（被混在一 起）because they're collected altogether, once a fortnight from outside people's houses.
But thanks to those bright colours, scanners can select the bags and separate them efficiently. The food waste in green bags is processed on site into slurry to make biogas, which powers the city's buses. One of the benefits of this method of recycling is that there is less cross-contamination, so more of the recycled waste can actually be used to make new things.
Like the rest of Sweden, Eskilstuna is committed to sending zero waste from its citizens to landfill. Waste that cannot be recycled is incinerated（焚化）at a local plant to generate electricity. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels, but does create greenhouse gases.
As countries around the world try to improve their recycling rates, some may think of Eskilstuna as an example to follow, as long as they think they can persuade their citizens to get busy sorting at home.
1.What can we say about the recycling system used in Eskilstuna?
A.It is a colorful policy. B.It is a temporary success.
C.It is an ordinary recycling system. D.It is a practical method of recycling.
2.What really makes the system of rainbow-colored recycling outstanding?
A.The strict recycling policy. B.The self-discipline of citizens.
C.The bright colour. D.The eco-friendly code.
3.Why is the non-recyclable waste burnt to ashes at a local plant in Eskilstuna?
A.To send zero waste to landfill. B.To make electricity.
C.To reduce dependence on fossil fuels. D.To decrease greenhouse gases
4.What can we infer from the last paragraph?
A.Some countries set a good example to Eskilstuna.
B.Eskilstuna follows in the footsteps of other countries.
C.Some countries may adopt the system of rainbow-colored recycling.
D.Eskilstuna may force its citizens to get busy sorting at home.
Even if you don't know much about Russian author Maxim Gorky (1868-1936), you may be familiar with his famous poem The Song of the Stormy Petrel since its ending note “Let it break in all its fury!" has been encouraging generations of people for years now.
Gorky was a highly influential author. More than any other writer, he laid the foundations for the famous literary style known as socialist realism. In this kind of writing, the author uses literary techniques to create the impression of reality in his or her writings.
March 16 this year marked the 152th anniversary of Gorky's birth.
He was born into an ordinary life but soon became an orphan, before being raised by his grandmother in poverty. As he grew older, he would take a job and then quickly move on to another. He tried many jobs, but the one that he seemed to love the most was being a journalist.
It was in this job that he gained a particular impression of the world — that it was horribly inequitable in its treatment of the poor. It was a world, therefore, that had to go. Gorky was naturally attracted to the political movement of Marxian social democracy.He knew many revolutionaries including the most important one of all, Vladimir Lenin(1870-1924). The two became friends in 1903 and The Song of the Stormy Petrel was one of Lenin's favorite works by Gorky.
Asa writer, Gorky naturally valued literature. But lie also valued life experience, of which he had plenty. The key to being a modem person, he thought, was to acquire a critical attitude: “Keep reading books, but remember that a book's only a book, and you should learn to think for yourself,” he once said.
1.What can we learn about Gorky's childhood?
A.He lived an extraordinary life. B.He tried few jobs.
C.He led a hard life. D.He grew up by himself
2.What docs the underlined word "inequitable" in paragraph 5 refer to?
A.Unconditional. B.Unfair.
C.Unreal. D.Unfriendly.
3.Which of the following is TRUE about Gorky?
A.He valued critical thinking. B.He was of little influence.
C.He was easy to bow before difficulties. D.He discounted life experience.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.Gorky and his family. B.The hardship Gorky experienced.
C.Gorky's famous works. D.Gorky's influence in literature and his life.
International Students House
International Students House （ISH）, a unique club and accommodation center founded in 1965, offers a range of services to aid students while they are studying in London. It is located in the heart of London's West End and is close to all public transport facilities.
Accommodation
♦Comfortable accommodation for up to 450 people in single, twin, 3/4 bedded and multi-bedded rooms
♦44 self-contained flats for married students and families
♦ Long and short stays welcomed
Membership
Club membership is open to all full-time students. Membership costs are kept to an absolute minimum to enable the widest possible access. You can join for as short as one month and for up to one year at a time. Membership entitles you to use the various facilities of the House. It has:
• Restaurants
• Clubs and societies
• Study rooms
• Dance, music and films
• Fitness training
• Student bars and coffee shops
• Travel and much more!
The best way to check out all we have on offer is to drop in any Tuesday evening between 7.15 pm and 8:30 pm for Open House in the Club Room. This is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and other club members, enjoy a free cup of coffee and find out all about what's going on. You can take advantage of special membership offers. (Useful tip: Bring along 3 passport-size photographs if you wish to take out membership.)
The Students Adviser
Thanks to the support of STA Travel and in association with the London Conference on Overseas Students (LCOS), ISH now provides the service of the Students Adviser. This new welfare service is open to all students at London's academic institutions. It aims to provide welfare support to help students overcome any personal or practical difficulties they may be experiencing while studying in Britain. One of the key features of the service is that the Students Adviser can be seen during the evenings until about 8:00 pm, Monday to Thursday.
1.What can be learned about ISH?
A.It has a history of almost 50 years. B.It is designed for married students.
C.It offers flexible accommodation options. D.It is far away from public transport facilities.
2.What are you expected to do to be a member?
A.Make acquaintance with the staff B.Obtain special membership offers.
C.Study or work in London. D.Come with the required photos.
3.What do we know about the Students Adviser?
A.Its service is free for students in Britain. B.It is accessible on weekdays.
C.Its purpose is to raise academic standards. D.It gets aid from STA Travel.
假定你是李华,寒假在多伦多学习,从下图海报得知当地一个普通话冬令营正在招募志愿者. 请写一封信申请做志愿者,内容包括：
1. 写信目的；
2. 个人优势；
3. 你的期待.
注意：1. 词数 100 左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯；
3. 开头结尾已经给出,不计入总词数.
Dear Sir/Madam：
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文,请你修改你同桌写的以下作文. 文中共有 10 处语言错误,每句中最多有两处. 每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧）,并在其下面写出该加的词.
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉.
修改：在错的词下划一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词.
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改 10 处,多者（从第 11 处起）不计分.
We students have been asking about our opinions on opening iPad classrooms. I am in the favor of this plan for the following reason. To begin with, everyone learns different and everyone can get an iPad with many materials that fits his level and learning style. Moreover, getting online, students can talk teachers and classmates easily. We can learn a lot much conveniently than ever. Besides, paper is no longer a necessity, but it is environmentally﹣friendly to open iPad classrooms. Most importantly, students are interesting in this new way of learning. I hope our school can take their idea into consideration and I am looking forward to attending an iPad class.
