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Blue Planet II's latest episode (情节) focuses on how plastic is having a destructive effect on the ocean and slowly poisoning our sea creatures. Researchers recently also found that sea creatures living in the deepest place on Earth, the Mariana Trench, have plastic in their stomachs. Indeed, oceans are drowning in plastic.
Though it seems that the world couldn't possibly function without plastics, plastics are a remarkably recent invention. The first plastic bags were introduced in the 1950s, the same decade that plastic packaging began gaining popularity in the United States. This growth has happened so fast that science is still catching up with the change. Plastics pollution research, for instance, is still a very early science.
We put all these plastics into the environment, but we still don't really know what the outcomes are going to be. What we do know, though, is disturbing. Ocean plastic is estimated to kill millions of marine animals every year. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by it. One in three leatherback turtles, which often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, have been found with plastic in their bellies. Ninety percent of seabirds are now eating plastics on a regular basis. By 2050, that figure is expected to rise to 100 percent.
And it's not just wildlife that is threatened by the plastics in our seas. Humans are consuming plastics through the seafood we eat. I could understand why some people see ocean plastic as a disaster, worth mentioning in the same breath as climate change. But ocean plastic is not as complicated as climate change. There are no ocean trash deniers (否认者), at least so far. To do something about it, we don't have to remake our planet energy system.
This is not a problem where we don' t know what the solution is. We know how to pick up garbage. Anyone can do it. We know how to deal with it. We know how to recycle. We can all start by thinking twice before we use single-use plastic products. Things that may seem ordinary, like using a reusable bottle or a reusable bag-when taken collectively, these choices really do make a difference.
1.Why is plastics pollution research still a very early science?
A.The plastics pollution research is too difficult.
B.Plastics have produced less pollution than coal.
C.Plastics have gained popularity too fast for science to catch up.
D.The world couldn't possibly function without plastics.
2.How did the author support his opinion in Paragraph 3?
A.By citing quotes from leading experts. B.By making a comparison and contrast.
C.By listing examples from his own experience. D.By presenting solid statistics.
3.What does the author intend to tell us in the last paragraph?
A.We reap what we sow. B.The shortest answer is doing.
C.All things are difficult before they are easy. D.Actions speak louder than words.
4.What is the main idea of the passage?
A.The oceans become choked with plastic. B.Ocean plastic is a global issue.
C.Blue Planet II has left viewers heartbroken. D.Plastics gain in popularity all over the world.
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Would you like to enjoy a visual feast in Broadway in New York? Below are four spectacular shows with their slogans and some critics' remarks.
The Lion King
Experience the stunning artistry, unforgettable music and the exhilarating choreography of Disney's The Lion King. Now is the time to join the circle of life at Broadway's award-winning Best Musical.
Awe-inspiring! Broadway theater is alive again. Taymor's imaginative ideas seem limitless. It's a gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle. The show appeals to our childlike excitement in the power of theater to make us see things afresh (重新).
— by Richard Zoglin from Time Magazine
Chicago
The Tony-winning revival of Kander and Ebb's musical will razzle-dazzle you.
Chicago remains the best adult entertainment in town and still bubbles with the joy of performing!
— by Ben Brantley from The New York Times
The Phantom of the Opera
The timeless story, the unforgettable score, and the longest-running show in Broadway history.
Phantom rules! It remains as fresh and spectacular as ever. Beautiful and romantic, I have to tip my hat: The Phantom of the Opera has aged divinely.
— by Roma Torre from NY1
Hamilton
Go back to the era of the Founding Fathers with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s inventive Tony-winning musical, winner of 11 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards.
Historic. ‘Hamilton' is brewing up a revolution. This is a show that aims impossibly high and hits its target.
— by Ben Brantley from The New York Times
1.Which two shows are Tony-winning musicals?
A.The Lion King & Hamilton.
B.Chicago & Hamilton.
C.The Phantom of the Opera & Chicago.
D.The Phantom of the Opera & The Lion King.
2.Which statement is TRUE about the four Broadway shows?
A.The Lion King inspires people to see things from a new perspective.
B.Chicago takes us back to the era of Founding Fathers.
C.The Phantom of the Opera aims high and reaches its goal.
D.Hamilton is the longest-running show in Broadway history.
3.In what column of a magazine can you most probably read this article?
A.Finance. B.Entertainment.
C.Science. D.Sports.
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Tim Ma's parents came to the United States from Taiwan in the 1970s. They opened a restaurant. It was not a success. They found success in America, however, in computers and engineering. In part because of their own experiences, Ma's parents hoped he would study to become an engineer or a doctor. They wanted financial security for their child.
Growing up, Ma considered many professions — writer, fireman, even president. Ma did well in math and science classes in high school. And he ended up choosing to study electrical engineering in college. Several engineering jobs later, though, Ma had a change of heart. He wanted to leave the engineering world behind and enter the restaurant business. It was in his blood. After all, his parents had owned a Chinese restaurant in Arkansas. His parents could not understand why he would want to leave such a good job to open a restaurant.
He wanted to study the fundamentals of cooking so that he could work as a chef in his own restaurant. Ma enrolled at the International Culinary Center in New York, where he received training in French cooking. “I have never cooked through my entire life up until this point.” Ma soon learned that he enjoyed cooking and he discovered it was similar to engineering. “Professional cooking is consistency, efficiency, cleanliness and it's all about the process of things which you know my background in engineering was. ”
In 2009, Ma opened his first restaurant in Virginia. His long hours paid off. Ma opened his fourth restaurant last year in Washington, D.C. He mixes his training in French cooking with his Chinese heritage to create new dishes. “I think in this country you can create your own success, just by working hard. Not because you're smarter than anybody, just by working hard. And that's why a lot of people end up coming to America.”
1.Why did Tim Ma's parents expect him to be an engineer or a doctor?
A.Because he can have enough money to support himself.
B.Because they wanted him to achieve their unfinished dream.
C.Because he has a great interest in math and science.
D.Because these two jobs both have high social statues.
2.What was Ma's parents' attitude towards his job changing?
A.Supportive. B.Unfavorable.
C.Neutral. D.Skeptical.
3.What does Tim Ma think about cooking?
A.It is something like engineering.
B.Cooking is all about cleaning.
C.You have to do the work consistently.
D.Efficiency is important in cooking.
4.Which of the following best describes Tim Ma?
A.Humorous and athletic.
B.Hard-working and determined.
C.Fashionable and aggressive.
D.Stubborn and devoted.
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Anyone caring about their health will be able to speak out a few of the major vitamins, and possibly take an educated guess at what they do. Vitamin C, found in oranges and other fruit and vegetables, is important for wound repair. And the much-talked-about “sunshine” vitamin D, produced by the skin in response to UV light, is essential for strong bones.
But what about vitamin P? It might well have you scratching your head. And that's not surprising: the term was first coined in the 1930s to describe a small group of compounds that provide pigment (天然色素) to plants, and were believed to have health benefits. A century later, these compounds are now better known as flavonoids (类黄酮)．
Today, scientists have identified between 4,000 and 6,000 different kinds and we now know they are responsible for many of the flavors and smells of fruit and vegetables and also that they protect them from invaders such as pests and bacteria.
They are equally important nutrients for the body, helping maintain bones and teeth, and for the production of the protein collagen (胶原), which provides structure to blood vessels, muscles and skin.
They are also said to help the body deal with some of the key drivers of illness, including oxidation (氧化), a natural process by which the body's cells age and can become damaged and defective. That means they could help to protect against chronic diseases including cancer and heart disease.
1.What do we know about vitamin P?
A.We would scratch our head if we took it.
B.It refers to the compounds also called flavonoids.
C.It was made into a coin in the 1930s.
D.People didn't think it beneficial in the past.
2.Which is NOT the function of vitamin P for humans according to the passage?
A.Helping maintain bones and teeth.
B.Assisting in producing protein collagen.
C.Accelerating the circulation of the blood.
D.Aiding the body to handle the main factors of illness.
3.Which of the following best explains “defective” underlined in the last paragraph?
A.Harmful. B.Discouraged.
C.Vague. D.Deficient.
4.How does vitamin P help slow the aging process?
A.By fighting against oxidation. B.By maintaining bones.
C.By strengthening muscles. D.By protecting against chronic diseases.
great progress in learning English.
great progress in learning English.