Reducing plastic waste isn't easy because the cheap material is found in almost every household item. Now, a delicious and nutritious solution has come up to help reduce our dependence on this environmental hazard.
David Christian, the co-founder of Evoware, says the idea of creating the biodegradable (生物降解的) products came from concern at the country's high pollution rate. Indonesia is home to four of the world's worst polluted rivers. Since single-use packaging is a large contributor to the problem, Evoware decided to deal with that first.
After investigating various materials, the company settled on seaweed. Unlike corn, commonly used for biodegradable containers, seaweed does not require resources like water or large amounts of space. Since Indonesian farmers already harvest more seaweed than they can sell, it's easy for the company to find the material.
Though they will not reveal their production process, Evoware says the seaweed packaging contains no chemicals and is safe to consume. The company has also invented single-use cups, which can break down 30 days after they're thrown away.
While replacing plastic with the seaweed products may seem appealing to most of us, it is a hard-sell in Indonesia. According to Christian, “The awareness to reduce single-use plastic is still very low. This makes our bioplastic unnecessary.” Also a factor is the cost, which is higher than using plastic. Hopefully, Evoware will succeed in convincing Indonesians and people worldwide that switching to their products will be helpful to protecting our beautiful planet.
1.What problem did Evoware decide to deal with first?
A. Ways to clean the four worst polluted rivers.
B. How to deal with single-use packaging.
C. Means to contribute to the country's economy.
D. What nutritious materials for people to use.
2.Why did Evoware choose seaweed?
A. It could be found everywhere in his country.
B. It was most commonly used for packaging.
C. It didn't require much space and was easy to get.
D. It grew thickly in most of the polluted rivers.
3.What can we infer from Christian's words?
A. Sometimes it's hard to get people to reduce the use of plastics.
B. Their seaweed products have won government support.
C. Their new products have received worldwide popularity.
D. The cost of making seaweed products will be lowered soon.
4.What does the underlined word “hard-sell” (in Para. 5) refer to?
A. Something lasting long. B. Something commonly seen.
C. Something easy to get. D. Something hard to accept.
Phil White has just returned from an 18,000-mile, around-the-world bicycle trip. White had two reasons for making this epic journey. First of all, he wanted to use the trip to raise money for charity, which he did. He raised ＄70,000 for the British charity, Oxfam. White's second reason for making the trip was to break the world record and become the fastest person to cycle around the world. He is still waiting to find out if he has broken the record or not.
White set off from Trafalgar Square, in London, on 19th June 2004 and was back 299 days later. He spent more than l,300 hours in the saddle(车座)and destroyed four sets of tyres and three bike chains. He had the adventure of his life crossing Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Americas. Amazingly, he did all of this with absolutely no support team. No jeep carrying food, water and medicine. No doctor. Nothing! Just a bike and a very, very long road.
The journey was lonely and desperate at times. He also had to fight his way across deserts, through jungles and over mountains. He cycled through heavy rains and temperatures of up to 45 degrees, all to help people in need. There were other dangers along the road. In Iran, he was chased by armed robbers and was lucky to escape with his life and the little money he had. The worst thing that happened to him was having to cycle into a headwind on a road that crosses the south of Australia. For 1,000 kilometres he battled against the wind that was constantly pushing him. This part of the trip was slow, hard work and depressing, but he made it in the end. Now Mr. White is back and intends to write a book about his adventures.
1.When Phil White returned from his trip, he________.
A. broke the world record B. destroyed several bikes
C. collected money for Oxfam D. travelled about 1,300 hours
2.What does the word "epic" in Paragraph l most probably mean?
A. Very long and difficult. B. Very slow but exciting.
C. Very smooth but tiring. D. Very lonely and depressing.
3.During his journey around the world, Phil White _______.
A. fought heroically against robbers in Iran
B. experienced the extremes of heat and cold
C. had a team of people who travelled with him
D. managed to ride against the wind in Australia
4.Which of the following words can best describe Phil White?
A. determined. B. independent.
C. modest. D. imaginative.
OPENINGS AND PREVIEWS
Antlia Pneumatica
In a new play by Anne Washburn, directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, a group of estranged friends gather at a Texas farm house to bury one of their peers. (Peter Jay Sharp, 416 W. 42nd St. 212-279-4200. In previews.)
Bright Star
Steve Martin and Edie Brickell wrote this bluegrass-and-Americana musical, in which a magazine editor meets a soldier returning from the Second World War. Walter Bobbie directs. (Cort, 138 W. 48th St. 212-239-6200. In previews.)
The Crucible
Ivo van Hove directs Arthur Miller’s classic drama about the Salem witch trials, starring Saoirse Ronan, Ben Whishaw, Ciaran Hinds, and Sophie Okonedo. (Walter Kerr, 219 W. 48th St. 212-239-6200. In previews.)
Dry Powder
John Krasinski, Claire Danes, and Hank Azaria star in Sarah Burgess’s play, in which an executive at a private-equity firm (私人股本公司) tries to rebound from a P.R. disaster. Thomas Kail directs. (Public, 425 Lafayette St. 212-967-7555. In previews. Opens Oct. 28, 2017)
The Father
Frank Langella stars in a play by the French writer Florian Zeller, translated by Christopher Hampton and directed by Doug Hughes for Manhattan Theatre Club, about an eighty-year-old man who is losing his grip on his own life story. (Samuel J. Friedman, 261 W. 47th St. 212-239-6200. Previews begin Oct. 28, 2017)
1.If you’re interested in American music, where can you get entertained?
A. Peter Jay Sharp, 416 W. 42nd St. B. Walter Kerr, 219 W. 48th St.
C. Cort, 138 W. 48th St. D. Public, 425 Lafayette St.
2.If you want to preview a play now, which of the following is not available?
A. Dry Powder B. The Crucible
C. Bright Star D. The Father
3.The author’s purpose of writing the passage is to ________ .
A. entertain B. inform
C. persuade D. describe
假定你是李华，你校计划于下周五2点到5点在学校大礼堂举办中国经典诗歌朗诵比赛。请你用英语给留学生朋友James写一封信，
内容包括：1介绍比赛；2.邀请他前往观看；3.自荐当他的翻译。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯。
Dear James,
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
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(
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。
Life is not always easy, but challenges of life is of great importance in our grow. It reminds me my days when I joined in the military training after I entered senior high school. It was the first time I have lived away from my home, so I found it difficultly to fit in. And the training officer was strict with me. I once thought I couldn’t be stick to the end. But anyway, I made it. The trials made that easier for me to adapt to my future life, but the difficulties I came across have now become the precious memory in my life.
In short, learning to regard the challenges of life as a stepping stone to future success and make the best of them.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
Tea enjoys popularity around the world as a comforting treat. First, choose the type of tea you want to drink. There are various types of tea that offer different health 1. (benefit) and flavors. Next, boil a pot of water and pour it over your tea. Allow your tea to soak thoroughly. Add milk and sugar to increase the flavor of bold teas or add honey 2. lightly flavored teas if desired.
Green tea is known for 3. (it) high level of a cancer-fighting chemical. 4., green tea is high in caffeine and can make you feel anxious and nervous if you drink too much. It is said that oolong tea may promote healthy skin and black tea can 5. (great) reduce the risk of breast cancer in younger women. White tea is helpful in preventing cavities and building the6. (strong) of your teeth. There have been many claims about herbal teas which can do good to health, but there is limited research or 7. (support) data on these claims.
Most teas can 8. (buy) and transported in tins of loose tea or in small packages of tea bags. Some people believe that loose leaf teas have a 9. (fresh) flavor than tea bags 10. others prefer tea bags because they’re much easier to use and carry around.
