"Human activity has wiped out two-thirds of the world's wildlife since 1970，" CNN reported on September 10，2020.Later that month，the Guardian reported that "40 percent of the worlds plant species are at risk of extinction".Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich and his colleagues argued that "the ongoing sixth mass extinction may be the most serious environmental threat to the persistence of civilization".Around the same time，the Daily Mail warned that "human civilization stands a 90 percent chance of collapse （崩潰）within decades due to deforestation".
These horrible calculations and projections come from authoritative-sounding reports issued by international agencies，conservation groups，and peer-reviewed scientific journals.But is the future of wild nature and human civilization really so poor？
Data from uncontroversial mainstream sources strongly indicate that both humanity and the natural world are likely to be flourishing （繁榮）rather than collapsing at the end of this century.Humanity is becoming an urban species，and that's good for the environment，since urban dwellers （居民）generally use less electricity，produce less globe-warming carbon dioxide，and have smaller land footprints than people living in the countryside.By 2100，it is estimated that 85 percent of people will be city dwellers，which would leave only 1.2 billion still living in the countryside.That means more space for the wildlife and less pollution from the agriculture.
The global tree-covering area increased by 865，000 square miles between 1982 and 2016.The researchers found that gains in forest area in the mild，subtropical and northern climatic zones are offsetting （抵消）declines in the tropics.The Maryland researchers owe much of that increase to "natural afforestation on abandoned agricultural land". "Furthermore，forests in mountainous regions are expanding as climate warming enables trees to grow at higher altitudes，they added.
Humanity does face big environmental challenges in the coming century.But the scientific and economic evidence shows that most of the trends are positive or can be turned in positive direction by human wisdom.Rather than an age of extinction，the 21st century promises to be an era of environmental renewal.
（1）Why does the author mention the reports in Paragraph 1？BB
A．To give examples.
B．To introduce the topic.
C．To make a contrast.
D．To support his opinion.
（2）What will happen according to Paragraph 3？BB
A．No one will choose to live in the countryside.
B．More space will be available for the wildlife.
C．Neither humanity nor the natural world will develop quickly.
D．Urban residents will do more walking than those in the countryside.
（3）Which of the following statements will the researchers agree with about forest area？CC
A．The expanding and disappearance in forest area aren't evenly matched.
B．The forest area in the mild，tropic and northern zones is increasing.
C．There are more forests in mountainous regions due to the climate warming.
D．The plan of "natural afforestation on abandoned agricultural land" is unfavorable.
（4）What might be the best title of the passage？DD
A．The Bright Future of Humanity.
B．The Challenges in the Coming Century.
C．Better Environment，Better Future of Human.
D．21st Century：An Era of Environmental Renewal.
【答案】B；B；C；D
【解答】
【點(diǎn)評】
聲明：本試題解析著作權(quán)屬菁優(yōu)網(wǎng)所有，未經(jīng)書面同意，不得復(fù)制發(fā)布。
發(fā)布：2024/4/20 14:35:0組卷：6引用：2難度：0.7
相似題
-
1．Open an app at your smart phone and scan the code bar on the garbage can.When you throw garbage into the garbage can，it will show the weight of the garbage and the points you can get from doing so. （1）
.It will become more popular in the future.Yes，we are talking about the smart garbage can.
（2）.The environmental problems have become constant headaches in the development of those cities.Encouraging garbage classification has become an effective way.
In some cities，a variety of multifunctional smart garbage cans are being put into use.In Beijing，for example，a smart garbage can is equipped with an LED screen，which not only shows national policies on garbage classification but also shows the correct steps for garbage sorting.It can also calculate the weight of the garbage and the accumulated points one can get.They can be traded for some articles of daily use.（3）.Its body is actually a screen.It is equipped with some Internal sensors.When people throw garbage into it，the internal sensors can automatically tell the types of the garbage.Meanwhile，people can see how to deal with them. （4）.
Garbage disposal is a small issue that involves everybody each day.However，it is also a big issue.（5）.With smart garbage cans in our daily life，the idea of garbage sorting will become more established.Our dream of building a greener and more beautiful China will come true so long as we start to make small changes right now.
A.Garbage sorting has been a new fashion.
B.Another kind of garbage can is even smarter.
C.It is no wonder that residents cheered for their presence.
D.Such a way of handling garbage has appeared in some cities.
E.It will affect China's transformation towards green development.
F.Over 200 million tons of garbage is produced each year in some cities.
G.The good habit of garbage classification can improve the living environment.發(fā)布：2025/1/1 15:30:1組卷：1引用：3難度：0.5 -
2．Why Walking Makes You a Better Worker？ We're busy at work，distracted （分） by technology and often live in urban environments far from wild spaces．（1）
The average American，for example，spends about 90% of their life indoors．But what happens if we make time for an hour outside each day？
（2）You'll have to stand up and move，which is beneficial if most of your day involves sitting in front of a screen．Research shows short breaks can improve work enthusiasm，and a quick break in natural light will deliver a shot of vitamin D．
There's also a lot of work on the mental benefits of being in nature-on the state of being happy and on your brain's ability to make sense of life． "When people are all out in nature，even in urban nature，people tend to have more positive emotion and energy than when they are indoors．（3）says Lisa Nisbet ，associate professor at Canada's Trent University．
The idea that nature is good for us has been gaining ground since the 1980s．（4）Afterwards shinrin-yoku，the Japanese concept followed that absorbing the atmosphere in forests can benefit your health．Researchers of shinrin-yoku have since found plenty of physical and mental benefits，while global studies suggest time in nature can，for example，restore our ability to focus，increase creativity，and even help us live longer．
Of course，many of us live in cities with no ready access to forests or wilderness．（5）Various studies have shown that green environments in cities have beneficial effects．
A．We also don't get out much．
B．But it doesn't have to be a forest．
C．People can get to a forest for a hike．
D．In other words，people are happier in nature．
E．There are some obvious benefits to going outside．
F．Green and blue spaces are better than busy city streets．
G．First came the theory that humans have a basic desire to connect with nature．發(fā)布：2025/1/1 17:0:1組卷：6引用：2難度：0.5 -
3．There' s no place like home.It' s the place where we' re surrounded by our possessions and creature comforts.We purchase things to give our homes a personal touch.And one thing we're buying more of is houseplants.But are these "living" additions to our homes good for us and the environment？
Houseplants，also known as pot plants，add a natural touch and they have the ability to brighten up a room on a budget.The Royal Horticultural Society found that nearly 72% of adults in the UK had a houseplant in their home，with this figure rising to 80% of 16-24 year olds.A fifth of owners also said they use plants in the home to boost their health and well-being.And average sales last year were up on the previous year.
It seems millennials （千禧代） are driving the growth in the sales of houseplants.More young people are living in flats without a garden.24-year-old Daisy Hale said "being able to care for something but not having too much commitment—I guess that's a classic millennial line—is ideal for my lifestyle."
From hanging baskets，to cacti （仙人掌） and succulent ferns，the choice of vegetation is endless.They are easy to care for，and there have been unproven claims that they improve the air quality in our home.But whatever their benefits，there are now concerns that they might not be so good for the environment.Some are bought online and shipped from overseas.Fay Kenworthy，co-founder of PlantSwap，a community activity that encourages people to trade plants locally，said "this could defeat many local plants."
But botanist James Wong argues that home delivery has less of an environmental impact than multiple trips to the garden center in a car.Although he' s not too concerned about the environmental impact，others are worried about the plastic pots they are in and the type of peat （泥炭） that some of them are grown in.However，a sustainable approach to buying them may be the best way forward if we want to introduce some natural greenery into our homes.
（1）What is the benefit of a houseplant？
A．A houseplant can cure people of many diseases.
B．A houseplant is ideal for millennials' career.
C．A houseplant improve the water quality in our home.
D．A houseplant can beautify a room with little money.
（2）Which of the following may Fay Kenworthy agree with？
A．The choice of vegetation is endless.
B．People should buy local plants.
C．It's best to buy plants online.
D．Houseplants are hard to care for.
（3）Where is the passage probably from？
A．A fashion magazine.
B．A tour brochure.
C．A scientific fiction.
D．A history book.
（4）What is James Wong's attitude towards home delivery of plants？
A．Negative.
B．Neutral.
C．Positive.
D．Not mentioned.
（5）What is the best title of the passage？
A．Natural Greenery.
B．Millennials' Choice.
C．Houseplants：Good or Bad？
D．Hanging Baskets or a Garden？發(fā)布：2025/1/1 13:0:1組卷：1引用：2難度：0.5
相關(guān)試卷