Wind farms have been considered as the way to fight global warming, but a new study suggests they could actually heat the planet up.
The study found that the US would get warmer if the number of turbines(涡轮机）were increased markedly. Researchers say they'll require much more land than previously thought, needing five to 20 times more space than earlier studies have suggested. And winds created by vast fields of turbines could mix warm and cool air, which makes the surface quite warm .
Despite the potential drawbacks, however, the researchers argue wind energy still makes more sense for the environment than fossil fuels. Study coauthor and Harvard University scientist Professor David Keith argued that, when it comes to energy production, there is no free lunch. "Wind beats coal by any environmental measure, but that doesn't mean that its effects can be ignored. We must use fewer fossil fuels to stop carbon production. In doing so, we must make choices between various low-carbon technologies , all of which have some environmental effects , " he said.
More than ten previous studies have now observed local warming caused by US wind farms. Researchers suggested that solar power offers a less damaging energy source in the fight against climate change. In terms of temperature difference per unit of energy generation, solar power has about 10 times less effect than wind, and the solar power energy is mature in a wide range of fields. But there are other considerations. For example, solar farms are dense(密集的）, while the land between wind turbines can be co-used for agriculture.
Tidal power is an environmentally-friendly energy source. In addition to being a renewable energy, it does not give off any climate gases and does not take up a lot of space . However , there are currently very few examples from real tidal power plants and their effects on the environment. Also, it is important to realize that the methods for generating electricity from tidal energy are relatively new technologies. It is projected that tidal power will be commercially profitable within2030 with better technology and larger scales.
1.What is the purpose of the text?
A.To introduce a study finding.
B.To discuss the global warming problem.
C.To prove the benefits of wind farms.
D.To call attention to environmental protection.
2.What is paragraph 2 mainly about ?
A.The effects of global warming.
B.The reason for using wind energy.
C.The disadvantages of wind farms.
D.The working principle of wind farms.
3.What do Professor David Keith's words suggest?
A.Producing energy is easier than before.
B.Consuming energy damages the environment.
C.Burning coal should be totally stopped.
D.Developing low-carbon technologies is hard.
4.Which is recommended considering the environment and practical use?
A.Wind energy. B.Fossil fuel.
C.Tidal power. D.Solar energy.
We humans love to stare into our smart devices. We gaze for hours-about 10 hours and 39 minutes a day-at our computers, smartphones,tablets and televisions. Is all this staring bad for us? It might be mainly because as we stare at our devices we are exposing ourselves to blue light.
Blue light is a type of electromagnetic(电磁的) radiation with a very short wavelength that produces a high amount of energy. While it’s true that light can damage our eyes under certain circumstances, there’s no scientific evidence suggesting that blue light is harmful to our eyes. But many people still think it is, which is why blue-light-blocking glasses are so popular. So do the glasses work?
“Everyone is very concerned that blue light may be causing damage to the eye, but there’s no evidence that it may be causing serious damage,” Dr. Rahul Khurana, clinical spokesman for the American Academy of Ophthalmology,told Business Insider.
Blue light exposure is nothing new. In fact,the sun is the largest source of blue light. Moreover, blue light is also present in LED light. But if blue light isn’t harmful, then why are we constantly rubbing our eyes when we’re looking at our screens? The answer is eyestrain(眼疲劳): More than 60 percent of people experience eye problems associated with digital eyestrain. And blue light, it seems, isn’t the cause. Instead, our eyes are so strained because most of us blink less when we stare at our digital devices. So if eyestrain is the issue, blue-light-blocking glasses are probably of little use.
1.What do we know about blue light?
A.It is a kind of nuclear radiation.
B.It has the shortest wavelength.
C.It may come from electronic devices.
D.It consumes a great deal of energy.
2.What causes the popularity of blue-light-blocking glasses?
A.Evidence of their benefits to eyes.
B.Belief in blue light's harmful effect.
C.Widespread use of smart devices.
D.Scientific understanding of blue light.
3.What can be inferred from Paragraph 4?
A.Blue light exposure is hardly avoidable.
B.Eye problems are not easy to deal with.
C.Blue light may connect with tired eyes.
D.Rubbing eyes makes people strained.
4.According to the text, wearing blue-light-blocking glasses may be________.
A.tiring B.harmful
C.useless D.beneficial
Thirteen-year-old Madison Williams was studying in her bedroom when Leigh Williams, her mother, told her that a little boy fell into a septic tank(化粪池）and no one could reach him.
Madison and Leigh ran to a neighbor's yard, where they found the boy's worried mother and other adults surrounding the tank opening. It stuck out a few inches above the ground and was 11 inches in width-slightly wider than a basketball-with a hatch(盖子)that had been moved unnoticed. The two-year-old boy had slipped in and was drowning in four feet of waste water inside the eight-feet-deep tank.
Madison surveyed the situation. She was the only one who could fit through the small hole. Without hesitation, she told the adults, "Lower me in. Inside, the tank was dark, and the air was smelly . In the process , she jammed her left wrist against a hidden pole , injuring the muscles in her wrist so severely that the hand was left useless.
Rather than tending to her injury ,Madison tried to feel the underwater boy. Minutes went by before she saw the outline of his foot. Madison shot her good hand out and grasped the foot tightly "Pull me up!" she shouted. Then, ten minutes after Madison had entered the tank, she and the boy were lifted out.
But the boy wasn't out of trouble. He had lacked Oxygen long enough that he wasn't breathing. He was placed on his side, and an adult hit him hard on the back. It was only when Madison heard him cry that she knew he was all right . It took Madison longer to recover than the boy, who was taken to hospital and left hospital that same night .She, however, experienced months of painful treatment, for the injury that she had postponed tending was more severe, which, says neighbor Mary Holley, made the girl's actions all the more impressive.
1.What most likely caused the boy to fall into the septic tank?
A.The tank was very hard to be noticed.
B.The boy was curious about the unknown.
C.The hatch was not in the correct position.
D.The tank opening stood out on the ground.
2.Why did Madison take longer to recover?
A.The injury to her wrist became worse
B.She wasn't sent to hospital in time.
C.She paid all her attention to the boy.
D.Serious infection set in to her wound.
3.Which of the following can be used to best describe Madison?
A.Modest. B.Optimistic.
C.Courageous. D.Hard-working.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.A lucky little boy. B.A terrible drowning accident.
C.A hidden septic tank. D.An admirable teen hero.
Aberdeen
Lying along the northeast coast, Aberdeen is bordered by Royal Deeside and Cairngorms National Park to the west and wonderful sea views to the east.
In Aberdeen you can feel the richness of the city’s history all around you, from the traditional Doric accent of local residents (居民) to the beautiful granite (花岗岩) buildings along the streets.
Impressive architecture
Aberdeen is well-known all over the globe because of its granite buildings and monuments. To the north of the city center, the stone streets and historic university buildings of Old Aberdeen are steeped (浸透) in history, while to the east — by the harbor — the fishing quarter is packed with tiny cottages and colorful gardens.
At the harbor
This is a city where you can walk from the city center to the harbor in minutes — and you have a high chance of seeing dolphins (海豚) playing in the waters when you get to the harbor.
The sandy beach is a must visit. Walk along the sands before stopping to enjoy an ice cream in the fresh sea air. You might spot people surfing in the water too.
Getting here
Aberdeen has fantastic transport links with the rest of the UK and Europe. Whether flying, taking the train, catching the ferry or driving, reaching the region is straightforward.
Getting around
Aberdeen city has an amazing public transport system, both day and night, although exploring the streets by foot is a great way to experience the atmosphere of this dynamic city. Driving around is easy, but if you don’t have a car, buses and trains will easily take you to your destination.
1.Where does Aberdeen lie?
A.Far off the coast.
B.To the west of the sea.
C.To the west of Royal Deeside.
D.In the heart of Cairngorms National Park.
2.What makes Aberdeen famous worldwide?
A.Its richness of history and culture.
B.Its tiny cottages and colorful gardens.
C.Its granite buildings and monuments.
D.Its sandy beach and wonderful sea views.
3.What can be known about Aberdeen from the text?
A.It’s not easy to get around it by car.
B.Dolphins aren't rarely seen in its harbor.
C.The best way to enjoy it is taking public transport.
D.It has few direct transport links to cities outside the UK.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120-150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
某学校开放创新实验室引起网上热议。作为一名学生，你在网上发帖参与讨论。你的网帖须包括如下内容：
•介绍创新实验室的情况
•你对此项改革的看法
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.影视剧中虚构的情节往往被误认为是真实生活。（mistake）
2.规定每位小提琴手都必须演奏一首中国作品以弘扬中华文化。（require）
3.被他的团队认可和接纳，他有了一种归属感。（sense）
4.留学生身处他们并不习惯的学习环境时产生焦虑是很自然的。（accustom）
