The negative health impacts of plastic on both wildlife and humans have been well documented. Recycling contributes to settling the problem. However, the material coming from the plastic recycled using the traditional technology is of lower quality and can only be used a few times for items like clothing or carpets before it has to be thrown away.
Now, French start-up Carbios wants to help alleviate the world’s plastic pollution with a bacterial enzyme (细菌酶) that “eats” PET—the most plentiful plastic used to produce packaging and plastic bottles. The enzyme is able to downgrade 90% of a ton of plastic in less than 10 hours. And the resulting material can be used to create anything and, more importantly, can be continuously recycled.
To break down the plastic, the waste is placed in a reactor with water and the enzyme and heated for 16 hours at 65℃. The resulting mix is then filtered (过滤) and purified (净化). This allows for the recovery of the building blocks that make up PET. These building blocks are then remade into new plastic and transformed into bottles and other items, without having to use more resources.
The recycling process will be tested in a larger range at a new, bigger facility in Lyon, France, by the end of 2021. Once all the problems have been removed, Carbios hopes to bring the technology on the market by 2024.
Though Carbios’s recycling technique will certainly help reduce plastic pollution, Stephan believes it is only part of the solution. We can only win the battle if we do a better job of ensuring that plastic waste does not end up in the environment or in landfills. So the next time you use a plastic bottle, be sure to make the extra effort to place it in a recycling bin.
1.What does the underlined word “alleviate” in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Cut down. B.Reflect on.
C.Keep records of. D.Watch out for.
2.What is the main characteristic of the material produced by enzyme?
A.It can resist bacteria. B.It can stand high temperatures.
C.It can be sustainably used. D.It is harmless to the environment.
3.What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us?
A.The sources of the bacterial enzyme.
B.The process of producing plastic bottles.
C.How the bacterial enzyme breaks down PET.
D.How waste plastic is recycled with the bacterial enzyme.
4.Which statement agrees with the text?
A.The new technology has been put to wide use.
B.Traditional plastic is easily storable and affordable.
C.The promising enzymes technology is in the experimental stage.
D.Bacterial enzymes will completely solve the problem of plastic pollution.
Though thousands of adventurers have climbed up Mount Everest, the highest and most famous of the world’s 14 tallest mountains, only 40 climbers have conquered them all. Nepalese mountaineer Purja became one of them after he reached the 8,028-meter peak of China’s Mt. Shishapangma on October 29, 2019. Purja made the extraordinary achievement in just six months and six days, much faster than late South Korean climber Kim Chang-ho’s 2013 record of 7 years, ten months, and six days.
“I am incredibly excited and proud to have reached this final peak and achieved my goal of climbing the world’s 14 tallest mountains in record time,” Purja said. “It was extremely hard six months, and I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief, and positivity.”
Purja’s “Project Possible” started becoming a reality on April 23, 2019, when he successfully peaked Nepal’s 8,091 meters tall Mt. Annapurna. The climber then rapidly completed the next five mountains, including Mt. Everest, within only four weeks! Five more peaks were conquered in July and the last three during September and October.
The adventurer, who was joined by teams of Nepalese climbers on each of his adventures, encountered many memorable and critical moments. On April 23, 2019, while going down Mt. Annapurna, Purja and his team heard about a Malaysian climber who had been separated from his group with no food, water, or oxygen for over 40 hours. They managed to find him and got him airlifted to a hospital. On May 15, 2019, Purja’s team similarly helped three trapped climbers on Mt. Kanchenjunga by giving them oxygen.
Purja said his primary purpose for undertaking this enormous task was to show the world that anyone can attain greatness if they put their minds to it. “By achieving this goal, I knew I could inspire people from all generations across the world,” he said.
1.Which was the last of the world’s 14 tallest mountains Purja peaked?
A.Mt. Everest. B.Mt. Annapurna.
C.Mt. Kanchenjunga. D.Mt. Shishapangma.
2.Which of the following best describes Purja?
A.Capable, worthy and honest. B.Brave, intelligent and traditional.
C.Determined, positive and caring. D.Creative, energetic and adventurous.
3.What does the author want to tell us by the examples in paragraph 4?
A.The number of climbers should be limited to ensure safety.
B.Purja and his team are willing to assist climbers in trouble.
C.It is impossible to rescue trapped climbers on high mountains.
D.Necessary preparations must be made before climbing mountains.
4.What might be the best title of the text?
A.Mountaineering: A Challenging but Popular Sport
B.Purja: A World-famous Nepalese Climbing Pioneer
C.Kim Chang-ho Succeeded in Climbing up Mt. Everest Alone
D.Nepalese Mountaineer Conquers World’s 14 Highest Peaks in Six Months
The population of the capital Luxembourg City doubles every working day thanks to the flood of workers, and in the morning and evening rush hours, there often comes traffic block. It’s a familiar difficult problem but here they’ve come up with a novel solution.
From next year public transport will be free for everyone. The number of people taking the public transport is far from what is expected and so this idea has been brought up, which of course results in some argument.
This is what’s being built, a new tram system that will link trains in park-and-ride programs designed to make free public transport smooth and attractive. This is a big attempt by the Luxembourg government into whether people can be made to change the way they behave, because free public transport is great for existing commuters. But the question is whether drivers can be persuaded to change their cars and traffic jams for commuting on public transport.
The designer firmly believes the system is so good and effective. Everyone will want to use it. Everyone can use it, young or old, rich or poor, and everyone can say to themselves it’s better to leave the car at home. But others consider it questionable.
Taxi drivers don’t seem worried about trams stealing their trade. Businessmen who come here are never going to take public transport. They’ll take a taxi because they have meetings to get to.
So Luxembourg’s plan is really a test, and it’s one that plenty of bigger nations will be watching. As we know, the way we move around shapes our cities, our lives, our work and our environment. Luxembourg is a very small country but this could be a very big idea.
1.Why does Luxembourg City plan to make public transport free?
A.To reduce traffic jams. B.To attract more businessmen.
C.To encourage people to avoid rush hours. D.To help its citizens travel more comfortably.
2.What can we infer about the result of the plan?
A.Taxi drivers’ business will be badly affected.
B.More people will choose to drive to and from work.
C.People’s daily behavior will be completely changed.
D.Taking public transport can save money for commuters.
3.How does the designer feel about the system?
A.Hopeless. B.Concerned. C.Confident. D.Regretful.
4.What’s the author’s purpose of writing the text?
A.To list the traffic problems Luxembourg faces.
B.To show how Luxembourg controls its population.
C.To give people advice on how to get around Luxembourg.
D.To introduce Luxembourg’s new public transport measure.
Washington DC Vacation Packages
From exploring the history to seeing the modern sights, make your Washington DC Vacation Package great.
Experience Package
Washington DC is a popular tourist destination filled with museums, monuments and beaches. This is a vacation package one should look into when planning a trip to the capital. Start at $ 405 per adult.
Package Includes
·3 Nights’ Accommodations
·DC Odyssey Dinner Cruise (巡游) over the Potomac River
·Best of DC Tour
Family Vacation Package
Create lasting memories with your family to the nation’s capital. Come and explore the many activities offered here. Visit the world famous Madame Tussauds Wax (蜡像) Museum, and get pictures of you and your family standing next to wax copies of famous celebrities (名人) and presidents. Start at $ 182 per adult.
Package Includes
·3 Nights’ Accommodations
·Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
·National Law Enforcement Museum
Romantic Getaway Package
Washington DC can be a romantic destination. With this package, you will have a two-night stay in the nation’s capital. It also includes a ticket for the Monuments by Moonlight Trolley tour, a historic tour of the area! Start at $ 152 per adult.
Package Includes
·2 Nights’ Accommodations
·Monuments by Moonlight Trolley Tour
Sightseeing Tour Package
Washington DC is one of the best places in U.S. when it comes to sightseeing. With so much history and all of these fantastic tours, you’ll have an amazing time and see the best of the city. Start at $ 383 per adult. Advance reservations required.
Package Includes
·4 Nights’ Accommodations
·Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria Tour
·Spirit of Washington DC Lunch Cruise
1.Which activity is available in the Family Vacation Package?
A.Going on Odyssey Dinner Cruise.
B.Touring Monuments by Moonlight Trolley.
C.Visiting National Law Enforcement Museum.
D.Taking photos with celebrities and presidents.
2.How much should a couple pay for the Romantic Getaway Package?
A.$ 304. B.$364. C.$766. D.$810.
3.In what way is the Sightseeing Tour Package different from the other three?
A.It offers a river cruise.
B.It must be booked in advance.
C.It exhibits the history of the capital.
D.It provides the longest tour at the lowest price.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。续写的词数应为150词左右。
Anna ran across the front yard and around into the back as Brisky,her dog,chased her."Come on,boy!”
When she got to the backyard she noticed something in the fence at the far end of the yard."Oh,no!”Anna grabbed Brisky's collar and led him to the house."Mom!Mom!"
Mom raced onto the back porch."What's wrong?"
＂There's a fawn(小鹿）trapped in the back fence.We've got to help it!"
Mom grabbed Brisky."You have to stay in the house,boy.You could accidentally hurt the fawn."She put him inside and closed the door."Come on,honey,"said Mom.
Anna and Mom sped to the back fence.Mom looked to see if she could get the fawn loose."It's a female fawn.I don't know why she's alone or how on earth she got her leg stuck in between the planks(旱板）。We'll need help.You stay with her,I'll go call animal rescue."
Anna sat next to the fawn."It'll be okay.Don't be scared."She kept talking to the fawn until help came.She was relieved to see Mom leading the rescuer through the yard.
Anna rushed to meet them."It's a fawn.She's stuck in the fence.Can you help her?"gasped Anna.
＂Well,howdy.I'm Randy.Let me take a look.I need to know what we're dealing with."Randy examined the fawn then smiled at Anna."We'll have her out of there in just a bit.I have to go to my truck to get some tools.I'll be right back.”
Anna walked with Randy."Will the fawn be okay?How come she's not with her mother?Can we keep her?”
Randy scratched his head."Okay,let's go one at a time.The fawn will be fine.She was probably waiting in hiding for her mother to come back and got frightened.Luckily, nothing was after her."He opened his truck and took a hammer and some other tools out of a toolbox.
“What about my last question?Can we keep her?"
注意：续写部分分为两段，每段的开头已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
Randy shook his head.
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Paragraph 2:
Randy cut the wood plank carefully so the fawn wouldn't get hurt.
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为庆祝建校100周年，你校将举办学生校园摄影（photography）作品展。假如你是学生会主席李华，请用英语写一则通知，内容包括：
1. 作品要求；
2. 截止日期；
3.投稿方式。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2.通知的格式已给出；
3.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Notice
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The Students' Union
