专题05 阅读理解(说明文)(二)
高频话题01 饮食与健康
Passage 1
(2025 浙江省金华市义乌市高三下学期三模)Italian cuisine may be one of the most recognized and loved in
the world — often imagined as a collection of ancient recipes and local traditions preserved by skillful
grandmothers over centuries. But now, a food historian is exposing common myths and false stories, arguing that
the Italian cuisine as we know it is barely a few decades old.
Grandi claims in his latest book, Italian Cuisine Doesn’t Exist, the idea that many beloved recipes and
products such as cheeses or cured meats have hundreds of years of history is pure fantasy. Most dishes have a
shorter history than most people imagine.
Migration is what made Italian cuisine what it is today. In the 19th and 20th Centuries, millions of people left
Italy, a poverty-stricken country with limited dietary options, emigrating to South America, North America and
European countries. The Italians who landed on New York’s Ellis Island left hunger and misery behind. And it was
in the “new world”, Grandi argues, that Italian immigrants found the wealth and ingredients to create the recipes
that eventually popularized Italian food worldwide.
However, many Italians are not familiar with this history. They might imagine that their beloved recipes were
born in Italy, passed down, unchanged, from generation to generation and eventually exported abroad by Italian
migrants.
Pizza is the most famous example of this. Born as a cheap street food in Naples, in the 19th Century it was
synonymous with poverty and dirt. It was in America, says Grandi, that pizza became “red”. While fresh tomatoes
were among the original toppings, Italian immigrants to the US popularized pizza prepared with tomato sauce, a
product that industrialization made easy to access and store. And it was in the US that pizzerias really started to
take off. Scholars call this process “the pizza effect”: when a product leaves its place of origin, gets profoundly
transformed and then returns to its place of origin to be fully embraced in a completely different form.
1. What does Grandi challenge in his book?
A. The role of Italian chefs.
B. The history of Italian cuisine.
C. The recipe for cured meats.
D. The process of cheese production.
2. How did Italian immigrants contribute to the spread of Italian cuisine?
A. By running Italian restaurants worldwide.
B. By promoting food industrialization in Italy.
C. By creating new recipes with local ingredients.
D. By preserving ancient recipes through generations.
3. What does the underlined phrase “was synonymous with” in the last paragraph mean?
A. Equaled.
B. Removed.
C. Caused.
D. Exposed.
4. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text?
A. The Migration of Italian Cuisine
B. The Origin of the Pizza Effect
C. The Secret of Traditional Recipes
D. The Truths Behind Italian Cuisine
Passage 2
(2025 浙江省温州市普通高中高三下学期第三次适应性考试)One of the top sources of added sugar in
children’s diets in America is in their breakfast cereal( 麦片). A study published in the American Journal of
Preventive Medicine shows that advertising drives sales of high-sugar cereals when it’s aimed directly at kids under
12-but not when it targets adults.
In the study, researchers looked at all cereals purchased by 77,000 U.S. households over a nine-year period,
between 2008 and 2017. They also looked at Nielsen ratings data, which closely monitored all the ads that people
in a household saw-both children and adults. What they found was a strong relationship between how much
advertising was targeted to kids and how much sugary cereal that households with children bought. By contrast,
there was no link to increased purchases when ads targeted adults. And these extensive data also showed that
behaviors that were learned in childhood could track into adulthood, which could lead to poor health outcomes over
a lifetime.
The study is the first to directly compare the influence of food advertising exposure by children with that of
adults. The findings offer novel evidence of how food marketing turns children into the “ultimate weapon” in
influencing family spending because they consistently ask their parents to purchase a concept known as “pester
power”.
The food industry launched the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, a voluntary effort to
police itself. The 21 participating food companies made a commitment to cut back on marketing unhealthy foods to
children under 12 — later revised to under 13. A new study conducted in 2024 showed that children’s exposure to
cereal ads on TV programming aimed at kids has dropped dramatically.
But Lindsey Smith Taillie, a food policy researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says
these voluntary efforts aren’t making a difference. Advertisements, like kids’ eyeballs, are moving online, making it
even harder to know what marketing children are being exposed to, Taillie notes.
1. What did the study find about child-targeted food ads?
A. They had no connection with adults’ purchases.
B. They were less effective than adult-targeted ads.
C. They might affect children’s health in the long run.
D. They could reduce children’s interest in sugary food.
2. What does the underlined phrase “pester power” in paragraph 3 mean?
A. Parents’ unconditional love.
B. Children’s uncontrolled spending.
C. Parents’ growing consumption.
D. Children’s repeated purchase requests.
3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?
A. An expectation for further study.
B. The follow-up influence of the study.
C. A limitation of the research method.
D. The potential application of the findings.
4. What is Tallie’s attitude toward the voluntary efforts?
A. Favorable.
B. Tolerant.
C. Disapproving.
D. Reserved.
Passage 3
(2025 浙江省北斗星盟高三下学期三模)Lots of people snore. In the U. S., about 10% of the adult
population have it, and worldwide, the figure is a billion.
The problem isn’t the snoring, but the reason behind it. The most common type of sleep apnea (呼吸暂停) is
caused by weakened throat muscles relaxing too much during sleep, causing the airway to narrow or close. That
leads to snoring plus long pauses between breaths. And when breathing is affected this way, the brain isn’t getting
the oxygen it needs. Obesity and age are considered the biggest risk factors for sleep apnea. Other risk factors
include smoking, having a thick neck or narrow throat, family history and certain medical conditions.
Treating sleep apnea is far more important than just stopping snoring. The diagnosis requires several steps.
Besides a medical history and physical exam, doctors try to rule out other conditions, such as asthma ( 哮喘) or
thyroid (甲状腺) disorders, that can cause similar symptoms. And they recommend a sleep study to check on
breathing, heart rate and other functions during sleep.
Once the condition has been diagnosed, there are many options for treatment. For mild cases in people who
are overweight, lifestyle changes can be enough to reverse sleep apnea. Stopping smoking and drinking may help.
Even switching from sleeping on your back to on your side may offer relief.
When treatment is required, the most common is a machine called CPAP. “It’s a mask that prevents collapse
in the back of the throat,” explains Atul Malhotra, a professor and sleep medicine specialist at the University of
California. “It has an unnecessarily bad reputation, since it’s well tolerated by most patients. But you need to find
the right mask and the right pressure settings.” There’re also certain surgeries that can be done to keep the airways
open or to remove excess tissue, but these are a last-line treatment after less-invasive methods have failed. There’re
many trials underway to evaluate drug treatments.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly explain about sleep apnea?
A. Its risk factors.
B. Its underlying cause.
C. Its diagnostic process.
D. Its common symptoms.
2. Why do doctors check for other diseases during diagnosis?
A. To make diagnosis faster.
B. To exclude other possible causes.
C. To prove only sleep apnea exists.
D. To treat snoring instead of apnea.
3. What does the underlined word “reverse” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Control.
B. Cure.
C. Prevent.
D. Change.
4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. There is no special medicine for sleep apnea.
B. Surgeries are not recommended by the doctors.
C. The bitterness contributes to CAPA’s bad reputation.
D. CAPA is now the most effective treatment for sleep apnea.
Passage 4
(2025 安徽省合肥市庐阳区合肥市第八中学高三下学期三模)A new study published in Nature
Communications reveals that viewing nature can ease pain by reducing brain activity linked to pain perception(感
知). Led by researchers from the University of Vienna and the University of Exeter, the study offers a promising
foundation for new non-drug pain treatments.
The study used an fMRI scanner(扫描仪) to monitor the brain activity of 49 participants in Austria as they
received pain through small electric shocks. When watching videos of natural scenes, participants reported feeling
less pain, and scans showed changes in brain responses associated with pain processing. Advanced machine-
learning analyzed brain networks related to pain, finding that raw sensory signals were reduced when viewing high-
quality virtual nature scenes.
The study confirms previous findings that nature can reduce subjective reports of pain and marks the first
clear demonstration of how natural environments influence the brain, protecting it from unpleasant experiences.
Lead author Max Steininger explained that numerous studies have shown people report less pain when exposed to
nature, but the fundamental reasons were previously unclear. The study provides evidence from brain scans that this
effect is genuine, although the pain-relieving effect was around half that of painkillers.
The paper also provides insights into the healing( 治愈的) potential of natural settings, addressing a
longstanding problem. Over forty years ago, an important study by American researcher Roger Ulrich showed that
hospital patients used fewer painkillers and recovered faster when their windows overlooked green space. The new
findings provide the first convincing explanation for why Ulrich’s patients might have experienced less pain and
demonstrate how virtual nature encounters could bring these benefits to anyone, anywhere.
Coauthor Dr. Alex Smalley concluded that the study highlights how virtual encounters can bring the healing
potential of nature to people when they can’t get outside. The study also serves as renewed evidence for the
importance of protecting healthy natural environments, encouraging people to spend time in nature for the benefit
of both the planet and people. The practical implications for non-drug treatments and new directions for research to
better understand how nature impacts our minds are significant.
1. What does the new study published in Nature Communications mainly reveal?
A. The pain-relieving effect of viewing nature.
B. The development of non-drug pain treatments.
C. The importance of protecting natural environments.
D. The influence of natural environments on hospital patients.
2. How did the researchers monitor the brain activity of the participants?
A. By using electric shocks.
B. By using an fMRI scanner.
C. By asking them to report their feelings.
D. By analyzing their brain networks related to pain.
3. How effective is viewing nature in reducing pain compared to the use of painkillers?
A. It is much stronger.
B. It is about the same.
C. It is half as effective.
D. It is much less effective.
4. What can we infer about the study from the last paragraph?
A. It suggests people should avoid using painkillers.
B. It shows people should rely heavily on virtual nature.
C. It emphasizes the significance of protecting nature.
D. It proves that virtual nature is better than real nature.
Passage 5
(2025 福建省厦门市高中毕业班第3 次质量检测)The ability to connect an event with its consequences —
experts use the term associative learning — is a crucial skill for adapting to the environment. Recent findings show
that adults fail to demonstrate the highest learning performance in this area. This paves the way for a fresh
perspective on associative learning disorders, which are linked to the development of mental illness later in life.
Researchers from Ruhr University Bochum conducted groundbreaking experiments across four age groups:
babies (0-3), primary school children (6-12), teenagers (13-19), and adults. Participants were required to identify
patterns between visual pictures and corresponding rewards through computer-based tasks. Several learning
sessions were then integrated to assess performance stability.
The research team was amazed by the results: “We’d initially assumed that associative learning improves
continuously with increasing age,” says Dr. Carolin Konrad. However, there was a clear peak in performance at
primary school: “Children at this age achieved the best results, learned most consistently and showed the least
variability in their learning behavior.” Although adults and teenagers learned faster than babies, they didn’t reach
the performance level of primary school children.
It also emerged that repeated exposure to the learned material plays a crucial role for babies and teenagers
since an additional learning session led to an improvement in learning performance in these age groups. Teenagers
improved 40% after additional practice sessions, whereas adults showed minimal progress. This finding highlights
the “sensitive period” phenomenon — the brain’s higher plasticity during childhood that allows more efficient
knowledge strength.
The study shows that associative learning is present across the lifespan but that the rates and quantities of
learning vary. “This mental capacity not only helps us avoid dangers but also influences emotional regulation
patterns,” concludes Konrad. “Early identification of association of associative learning difficulties could serve as
an indicator for future mental health risks.”
1. Which is an example of associative learning?
A. A baby grasps an object placed in its hand.
B. A student works harder after getting good grades.
C. A driver keeps speeding up when receiving a ticket.
D. A cook follows his recipe despite customer complaints.
2. What were the participants required to do in the experiments?
A. Identify the relationship between different groups.
B. Watch and record their own performance over time.
C. Assess their learning progress during the sessions.
D. Pair pictures with rewards through computer-based tasks.
3. What surprised the researchers about associative learning?
A. Adults possessed greater adaptability.
B. Primary schoolers outperformed others.
C. Teenagers peaked in learning performance.
D. Babies required frequent exposure to knowledge.
4. Why is the “sensitive period” phenomenon mentioned in paragraph 4?
A. To show learning ability differences across all ages.
B. To advise adults to learn efficiently in a gradual way.
C. To stress the significance of learning during childhood.
D. To demonstrate the brain’s ability to adapt in adulthood.
Passage 6
(2025 安徽省“皖南八校”高三第三次大联考)Growing up with a mother who introduced swedes(芜菁甘
蓝) to Indian cuisine, Hill-Maini developed an early appreciation for the transformative power of cooking. His
culinary( 烹饪的) adventures took him to New York City, where, at just 18, he was redesigning menus for
Manhattan restaurants. But the call of science beckoned(召唤), leading him through biochemistry at Harvard and
eventually to UC Berkeley, where he now combines his passions for cooking and research.
The star of Hill-Maini’s research is N. intermedia, the fungus(真菌) responsible for oncom — a traditional
Indonesian food made from soy pulp leftovers. What makes this fungus extraordinary is its ability to turn
indigestible plant waste into nutritious, flavorful food in just 36 hours.
But Hill-Maini and his team didn’t stop at soy pulp. They tested N. intermedia on about 30 different
agricultural waste products. The results were astonishing — the fungus thrived on almost all of these agricultural
waste products, proving its significant role in food recycling.
The science behind this fungal magic is fascinating. N. intermedia belongs to a group called filamentous
fungi, which produce enzymes(酶) that break down complex plant materials that human digestive systems struggle
with. In doing so, they not only make the waste edible but also increase its protein content and improve its flavor.
One of the most exciting discoveries was the existence of two distinct types of N. intermedia: wild types
found globally and types that have adapted specifically to human generated agricultural waste. This suggests a
fascinating co-evolution between the fungus and human food production practices.
However, would people actually accept it? To answer this, Hill-Maini worked with Rasmus Munk, head chef
of the Michelin two-star restaurant Alchemist in Copenhagen. They presented red oncom to 60 people who had
never encountered it before. “We found that, basically, people who had never tried this food before made positive
comments about it,” Hill-Maini said. “The results were pretty good.”
1. What attracts Hill-Maini’s interest in cooking?
A. An introduction to Indian food.
B. His experiences of redesigning menus.
C. His mother’s influence.
D. His research at Harvard.
2. What can N. intermedia do according the text?
A. Promote the growth of plants.
B. Make food out of useless farm produce.
C. Increase the output of farm products.
D. Protect human digestive system.
3. Which has the similar meaning to the underlined word “thrived” in paragraph 3?
A. Burned.
B. Starved.
C. Mushroomed.
D. Killed.
4. How do people feel about the red oncom after they tried it?
A. Satisfied.
B. Terrible.
C. Uncertain.
D. Worried.
Passage 7
(2025 安徽省“皖南八校”高三第三次大联考)Chocolate is a favorite of many and can be found in many
desserts. But it is usually thought of as an unhealthy delight to be eaten only occasionally. Now Swiss scientists
have found a way to make chocolate healthier for you and for the planet too. The traditional method of chocolate
making only uses the seeds and that is wasteful and not sustainable. The new method uses the entire cocoa fruit
instead of just the seeds, and that makes it ecofriendly and sweet without using added sugar.
Researchers at Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology recently published their work in the journal Nature
Food. The new chocolate does not need any added sugar due to the natural sweetness in the cocoa fruit. In fact, the
juice contains 14 percent sugar which is distilled(蒸馏) down to a concentrated syrup(糖浆) and then combined
with the fruit pulp to form a gel(凝胶). When the gel is added to cocoa beans to make chocolate, it is naturally
sweet.
The mixtures were tested by trained specialists using small pieces of chocolate that weighed just five grams
each to find out which one worked the best. But besides getting rid of added refined sugar( 精制糖) to the
chocolate, using the fruit also boasted the fiber content.
The traditional system of cocoa production in Africa and South America is not sustainable. The industry is
also suffering from the soaring price of cocoa beans and the poverty of the cocoa farmers. Using the entire fruit
could help ease these two issues. “Not only do the farmers get significantly extra income through using cocoa pulp,
but also the important industrial processing is happening in the country of origin. Creating jobs, creating value that
can be distributed in the country of origin,” Anian Schreiber said.
Chocolate producers in Africa, South America, and even in the US, are already contacting Mishra, the main
researcher of the study, about the new method. In Switzerland, chocolate producers including Lindt are starting to
use the entire cocoa plant and not just the beans, but none have completely removed refined sugar.
1. Which word best describes the traditional cocoa production system?
A. Efficient.
B. Promising.
C. Profitable.
D. Unsustainable.
2. What’s the strength of the new chocolate-making method?
A. It uses less energy.
B. It reduces water usage.
C. It maximizes cocoa fruit.
D. It lowers carbon emissions.
3. What might the writer talk about in the following passage?
A. The advantage of refined sugar.
B. The choice of origin of cocoa fruits.
C. The reason not to totally employ new process. D. The training plans of skilled workers.
4. Which of the following is the best title?
A. The History of Chocolate Making
B. Chocolate Producers’ New Challenges
C. The High Cost of Traditional Chocolate D. Swiss Scientists Make a Chocolate Breakthrough
Passage 8
(2025 福建省宁德市高中毕业班五月份质量检测)It’s all too easy to see your skin as just a barrier — the
external walls of your body — while giving your immune( 免疫) system all the credit for fighting against any
bacteria(细菌) that manage to get in. But recent research published in Nature has revealed the skin has its own
immune system ready to fight off infections at the point of entry.
Prof. Michael Fischbach and Dr. Djenet Bousbaine, bioengineers at Stanford University and co-authors of
the study, told BBC Science Focus, “Our discovery allowed us to develop needle-free vaccines(疫苗) that can be
delivered directly to the skin or inside the mouth instead of using a needle.”
The idea builds on their experiments showing that introducing a specially engineered bacteria to the skin of
mice stimulated immune responses in both the bloodstream and airway linings. These responses not only lasted for
over 200 days but also provided sustained immune protection during this period. The discovery could help to
develop vaccines that produce antibodies in key tissues, such as the insides of our noses and mouths.
Vaccines are usually given with a needle into the muscle, offering long-lasting protection throughout the
body. However, they are less effective at the places where infections start, like the surfaces in the nose, mouth, or
other body parts. Fischbach and Bousbaine argue that weak immune protection at these sites can still allow
vaccinated individuals to catch and spread diseases, thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of vaccines.
Their new approach addresses this gap by delivering vaccines directly to the skin and airway entrances,
potentially in the form of a cream. This method aims to strengthen immune defenses at the body’s first line of entry,
allowing the immune system to train and activate necessary responses right where infections start. Such vaccines
could prevent airway infections like flu from taking hold before they even enter the body, marking a significant step
toward containing outbreaks of serious diseases before they intensify into widespread infections.
1. What is the common misunderstanding about skin?
A. It just serves as a barrier to vaccine.
B. It readily helps us fight off infections.
C. It simply functions as a physical block.
D. It makes up the human immune system.
2. What is mainly presented in Paragraph 3?
A. Statistic analysis.
B. Experimental evidence.
C. Engineering model.
D. Theoretical assumption.
3. What is the advantage of the new vaccine?
A. It is efficient and highly-targeted.
B. It is defensive and muscle-specific.
C. It produces antibodies at a faster rate.
D. It deactivates responses in the blood.
4. Which is the best title for the text?
A. Skin Disease Prevention: A Way to a Healthier Life
B. Cream-based Vaccine: A Solution to Skin Disorders
C. Skin Immune Defense: A Key to Needle-free Vaccines
D. Skin Disease Treatment: A Strategy to Tackle Infection
Passage 9
(2025 福建省宁德市高中毕业班五月份质量检测)Our memories, especially our positive ones, play
important roles in personality formation and decision making. People who recall happy, positive memories tend to
be happier and more positive. A bedtime practice of looking back on joyful experiences in your life can also boost
life satisfaction, according to a blog post on Psychology Today.
Now, a groundbreaking study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests
that one day, it may be possible to replace bad memories with good ones, simply by sleeping on them. This research
could open the door to new possibilities for improving mental well-being and reshaping how we experience
memories.
In a recent study, 37 participants were asked to memorize a list of random words paired with negative images
and had a full night’s sleep.
The next day, researchers paired half of the random words with positive images. Participants were again
asked to memorize the words and images. That night, as participants slept, researchers played a recording of the
words during the non-rapid eye movement sleep phase, which is known to play an important role in memory
storage. They measured the brain activity of participants using an EEG(脑电图). Data showed that brain activity
associated with emotional memory processing was significantly higher in response to the positive word
associations.
Participants then completed questionnaires(问卷) about their memories. Researchers found that those who
took part in the study were more likely to remember the positive images associated with the words, rather than the
negative ones.
The study demonstrated that the brain can weaken negative memories by reactivating positive ones.
However, the research has limitations, and it’s unclear if such an approach would be as effective for traumatic(创伤
性的) experiences as it is for merely negative pictures, reported Fast Company. Still, researchers hope that findings
from the initial study will open the door for treating traumatic memories.
1. Which can be influenced by our memories?
A. Our lifestyle.
B. Our resolution.
C. Our appearance.
D. Our communication.
2. Why did the researchers play a recording of the words?
A. To assess the participants’ brain activity. B. To complete questionnaires on memories.
C. To measure the participants’ sleep quality.
D. To transform the participants’ memories.
3. How did the researchers draw the conclusion?
A. By recording participants’ speech.
B. By classifying participants’ emotions.
C. By comparing participants’ memories.
D. By observing participants’ eye movement.
4. What is the main idea of the text?
A. Positive people have positive memories. B. Positive memories benefit mental well-being.
C. Negative memories can turn into positive ones.
D. A new method is found to decrease bad memories.
Passage 10
(2025 河南省部分学校高三下学期三模)When radiologist Pouneh Razavi reads a patient’s chest X-ray, she
hunts for blips( 光点) in the X-ray image that could indicate breast cancer. Then, a second reader, artificial
intelligence (AI), looks at the image, and the two compare results.
Images from Razavi’s practice could help train the AI on blips it missed, so it improves over time. Razavi’s
colleagues are still collecting data, but they are excited about it.
Chest X-rays aren’t the only type of medical imaging getting AI assistance. Doctors are using the technology
to analyse ultrasound videos of babies’ hearts and more. AI technology in medicine is growing rapidly. “Imaging is
leading the way,” said Stanford University radiologist Curtis Langlotz.
It’s not unusual for Langlotz to arrive at the hospital early on Saturday mornings to find at least 150 patient
images waiting for him to review. He’ll examine chest X-rays carefully, looking for abnormal nodules(结节) in the
lungs. It’s a tiring job that takes training and attention to detail, but even experts can make mistakes. “We need
help,” Langlotz said.
What can be extremely challenging for humans may be a ripe opportunity for AI. With massive quantities of
high-quality digital images, scientists can train AI computer models to seek out specific features in a person’s scan,
like signs of lung disease on an X-ray. Such models may help improve radiologists’ accuracy and efficiency, so
doctors can prioritize cases based on which ones may need immediate attention.
The model isn’t ready for widespread roll-out. The researchers first need to train it on more data. “With too
many variables that might confuse it, the researchers estimate that more training plus trials to confirm the model
works could take five years,” says Julia Vogt, a computer scientist at ETH Zurich.
“Using AI tools thoughtfully could ultimately make health care more efficient,” Vogt says. “AI is not magic
or perfect, but it has the potential to solve some problems. By easing workloads, for example, AI could give doctors
more time with their patients. That would be a huge achievement.”
1. What is the main function of AI in Pouneh Razavi’s work?
A. To collect data for research.
B. To train doctors in imaging.
C. To detect breast cancer indicators.
D. To find out the blips in her images.
2. What does Langlotz’s busy Saturday morning show?
A. His devotion to work.
B. His excellent medical skills.
C. A lack of doctors in the local hospital.
D. The desire for AI’s application in his work.
3. What does the underlined word “roll-out” in paragraph 6 mean?
A. Reaction.
B. Launch.
C. Research.
D. Attention.
4. What is Vogt’s attitude to AI?
A. Objective.
B. Uncertain.
C. Negative.
D. Uncaring.
高频话题02 环境保护
Passage 1
(2025 浙江省金华市义乌市高三下学期三模)Adriano Lippo is on his small boat, staring out over the dark
blue waters of the Mar Piccolo. “I don’t think it will happen this year,” he says, shaking his head. “Everything is
dead.”
For the past decade, Lippo has made the same journey at the end of every summer, steering his boat to
transfer mussels(贻贝) across the Mar Piccolo, a semi-enclosed bay located between the city and the open sea.
Once the lifeblood of a centuries-old tradition, the Mar Piccolo supported generations of mussel farmers, producing
60,000 tons of mussels annually in the early 2000s. However, pollution and heatwaves have since taken a heavy
toll, pushing the business into sharp decline and leaving farmers to pay the price.
Now, mussel farmers are pinning their hopes on a plan to restore the polluted Mar Piccolo through
phytoremediation(植物修复). In early 2024, geologist Vito Uricchio and his team of researchers launched a pilot
project, which focused on depolluting one hectare of polluted land using plants such as the Monviso clone. After a
year of planting, chemical analyses revealed significant improvements, demonstrating the method’s ability to
address both organic and inorganic pollution. The process can treat soil up to 5m deep at a small part of the cost of
traditional remediation methods.
Though current research so far shows promise, Werther Nissim, an assistant professor at the University of
Milano-Bicocca, says phytoremediation alone is unlikely to fully depollute an area as large as the Mar Piccolo. He
adds: “The need for a long time is another bottleneck. The technique should be combined with other more
traditional remediation methods.”
“Even with the best possible remediation, the benefits would be completely erased by the continuation of
polluting activities,” Uricchio remains full of fight. “I want to act; I want to remediate as much as possible.”
1. What has happened to mussel farming in the Mar Piccolo in recent years?
A. It has suffered a serious drop.
B. It has lost the support of young people.
C. It has failed to remain profitable.
D. It has caused pollution in nearby waters.
2. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?
A. The economic benefits of Monviso clones.
B. Farmers’ efforts to rebuild the Mar Piccolo.
C. A test program using plants to clean polluted soil.
D. Scientists’ work on developing phytoremediation.
3. What is Nissim’s attitude toward depolluting Mar Piccolo with phytoremediation?
A. Cautious.
B. Dismissive.
C. Unclear.
D. Appreciative.
4. What mainly ensures the success of remediation?
A. Expanding area for Monviso clones.
B. Reducing ongoing pollution actions.
C. Mixing traditional and modern methods. D. Raising public environmental awareness.
Passage 2
(2025 安徽省合肥市示范中学高三5 月教学质量检测三模)Each year, an estimated 53,000 tourists visit
Antarctica, and they could each be unintentionally contributing to the melting of 83 tonnes of snow, according to a
new study published in Nature Communications.
The culprit is black carbon, created when fossil(化石) fuels and biomass are burnt. Black carbon settles on
the snow, causing it to darken in colour. This increases the absorption of heat from the sun and quickens melting.
Due to its remoteness, Antarctica has a low background level of black-carbon pollution compared to other
parts of the world. However, the new study indicates that black carbon from Antarctic tourism and research
activities has nevertheless had a notable effect on the icy landscape.
The international research team measured black carbon concentrations in snow collected from 28 sites along
a 2,000-kilometre stretch of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The researchers found that black carbon levels were
higher near research facilities and landing sites for tourist ships than at more remote regions of the peninsula.
The study estimates that, in heavily impacted areas, black carbon pollution is causing snowpack to decrease
by up to 23 millimetres each year. Altogether, an estimated 4.4 megatonnes per year of snow is melting more
quickly in the summer due to the impacts of black carbon from tourism alone — translating to 83 tonnes per visitor.
Although these figures are striking, the real impact could be more complex than the data suggest.
“It is likely that local emissions(排放) account for most of the black carbon content in samples collected
around research facilities and popular shore tourist-landing sites,” the paper states.
Ships, aero planes, helicopters, generators and trucks are known sources of black carbon that can settle on
snow. The study authors suggest that tourist cruises( 巡航) and fuel-powered equipment at scientific research
stations are likely the largest sources of black-carbon pollution in the study area. That’s despite efforts in recent
years to reduce the environmental footprint of Antarctic tourism, such as switching to marine diesel(船用柴油) or
deep cycle battery power.
“Our results show that more remains to be done to reduce the impacts of tourism and ships in Antarctica,”
the authors write.
1. What does the underlined word “culprit” in paragraph 2 mean?
A. Main cause.
B. Harmful gas.
C. Useful energy.
D. Unexpected result.
2. How is black carbon produced in Antarctica?
A. From winds blowing in foreign dust.
B. From volcanic activities under the ice.
C. From natural changes in temperature.
D. From fuel use in tourism and research.
3. What do the figures in paragraph 5 most likely imply?
A. They exactly show each visitor’s carbon footprint.
B. The impact of human activity may be underestimated.
C. They suggest that Antarctica tourism should be banned.
D. The data may overstate the snowpack melting problem.
4. What do the authors think of current environmental efforts in Antarctica?
A. They still show limited effect.
B. They paint a rosy picture.
C. They are a drop in the bucket.
D. They boost Antarctica tourism.
Passage 3
(2025 安徽省合肥市示范中学高三5 月教学质量检测三模)Electric vehicles (EV) are a key component of
the global shift toward sustainable energy, but a new study highlights a significant challenge: the refining(提纯) of
critical minerals for EV batteries could lead to pollution hotspots near manufacturing centers.
The study reveals that fully domesticating the supply chains for EV production could drive national sulfur
dioxide (SO2) emissions up by as much as 20% compared to current levels. Most of these emissions would stem
from the refining and production of nickel and cobalt(镍和钴), essential materials for modern EV batteries.
The researchers argued that if left unaddressed, pollution from battery manufacturing will become an
increasingly global challenge as EV adoption rates rise. Even if some countries were to outsource battery
manufacturing, without strategies to reduce SO ₂ emissions, they would simply be offloading the problem to
another country.
For countries like India who is in the early stages of supply chain development, the lowest-hanging fruit
would be to focus first on cleaning up pollution from the power sector. This would require enforcing stricter
SO ₂ pollution control measures for thermal power plants, using mature technologies like flue-gas
desulfurization. For others, which already have strict emissions control s for the power sector, the focus needs to
shift to mitigating SO ₂ emissions from the battery manufacturing process.
In addition to their policy recommendation for proactive air pollution standards, which would likely happen
at the national or subnational level, the researchers also examined how changing the battery chemistry in EV could
avoid unwanted SO ₂ emissions at a more global scale. While most EV batteries today rely on cobalt and nickel,
the rise of alternative chemistries that use iron and phosphate( 磷酸铁锂电池) could circumvent some of the
concerns associated with mining and refining nickel and cobalt.
In all events, the findings serve as a reminder to keep people at the top of mind when designing
decarbonization plans, as even the most promising technologies could come with unwanted and unintended
consequences.
1. Why does the author write the text?
A. To compare different types of EV batteries.
B. To warn about the pollution risk from EV batteries.
C. To call for global cooperation in EV development.
D. To explain why EV development has slowed down.
2. What would happen if EV battery manufacturing were fully domestic?
A. It would promote the national economy.
B. It would speed up EV battery production.
C. It would boost nickel and cobalt refining.
D. It would cause more domestic SO ₂ emissions.
3. Why does the author mention India in the passage?
A. To criticize India's current emission control measures.
B. To suggest that developing countries face pollution risks.
C. To show that countries need tailored pollution strategies.
D. To illustrate India's progress in supply chain development.
4. How does the author feel about promising green technologies like EVs?
A. Cautiously optimistic about their future.
B. Fully confident in their economic benefits.
C. Disappointed in their environmental impact.
D. Deeply alarmed by their potential side effects.
Passage 4
(2025 安徽省蚌埠市高三下学期适应性考试)A worldwide study published last month in the journal Nature
Climate Change found global warming responsible for 37 percent of heat-related deaths between 1991 and 2018.
As temperatures climb ever higher, that figure may well rise.
The following is what happens if you’re one of the next people whom extreme heat kills, according to W.
Lawrence Kenney, an expert at Penn State University.
First, your brain sends a series of messages to your sweat glands( 腺) telling them to increase sweat
production. Then your heart starts beating faster to pump blood to the skin while blood flow is also directed away
from some of your internal organs. That’s your body attempting to make your skin hotter than the air outside, in
hopes of creating a convection(对流) phenomenon that moves heat away from you. Sometimes that alone is enough
to create problems for a weak or aging heart.
If heat attack occurs, your body might get so hot and shift so much oxygen-rich blood to the skin that it
suffocates(窒息) those vital internal organs, which become oxygen-starved. Surviving the organ failure that follows
might require an emergency transplant.
If your body fails to cool you down, its internal temperature might start to climb to somewhere closer to 104
degrees and 105 degrees. “These are the situations where people die of classical heat attack,” Kenney said.
At that temperature, the tissue s in the brain become affected. You may feel it start as a dull headache. Before
long, you might not know where you are or what time it is. You might collapse. Left untreated, what follows is a
series of organ failure that leads to all but certain death.
We are learning more about how to avoid overheating. The most likely guarantee against dying of extreme
heat is preventing the rise of global temperatures. However, achieving that goal requires rapidly and dramatically
reducing fossil fuel use and finding ways to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than we release. Efforts so
far have remained awfully insufficient. Global oil demand, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
predicted last month, will jump greatly.
1. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A. The function of sweat glands.
B. The body’s heat-loss principle.
C. The working principle of skin.
D. The cause of an aging heart.
2. What directly claims people’s lives?
A. Heat waves.
B. Lack of oxygen.
C. Dull headache.
D. Organ failure.
3. How does the author feel about human’s current efforts to prevent global warming?
A. Doubtful.
B. Positive.
C. Disappointed.
D. Satisfied.
4. What is a suitable title for the text?
A. How Heat Waves Destroy the Human Body
B. Global Warming Leads to More Problems
C. How Extreme Weather Affects Our Life
D. Global Warming Attracts Public Attention
Passage 5
(2025 福建省泉州市高中毕业班4 月适应性练习卷)Early solar expansion often came at agriculture's
expense. Farmers and ranchers watched as fields once used for grazing(放牧) were fenced off, their livelihoods
threatened by the growth of renewable energy. By the 2010s, conflicts peaked: in Texas alone, over 200,000 acres
of grassland were changed into solar farms, reducing grazing capacity by nearly 40%, generating debates over
“clean energy vs cattle.”
Then came a transformative idea: agrivoltaics. Pioneered in the 2020s, this approach reimagined solar farms
not as competitors to agriculture, but as partners. The concept combines solar energy production with sustainable
land use. JR Howard, a Texas rancher who first offered his sheep to solar operators in 2021, later founded Texas
Solar Sheep — a booming business tending over 8,000 sheep across multiple solar sites, employing dozens of
workers in rural communities where jobs were rare. His story reflects a broader restoration, as agricultural
traditions find new purpose in the renewable energy era.
The benefits extend beyond economics. Each grazing sheep represents one less gallon of gasoline used by
mowers( 割草机), a part of habitat preserved for ground-nesting birds, and a living proof of sustainable land
management. Researchers note another unexpected advantage — the solar panels provide shade that improves
animal welfare, creating microclimates where sheep grow healthily even in Texas' heat.
This marriage of agriculture and energy now covers over 60 projects nationwide. The U.S. Department of
Agriculture reports a 22% rise in lamb production in solar-grazing regions since 2020, alongside a 35% reduction in
land maintenance costs for energy companies.
However, important questions remain. Scientists like Nuria Gomez-Casanovas from Texas A&M stress
that the long-term effects on soil health and food production need more study. Will these double-use lands maintain
fertility(肥沃)? Will this model be effective in different climates and agricultural systems?
Nonetheless, agrivoltaics shows a promising model of coexistence. Each solar panel generates energy and
serves as shelter for farm animals during heatwaves. Sheep droppings improve soil, enhancing grassland health. As
solar fields and. farm animals grow well together, agrivoltaics proves that progress doesn't have to erase tradition
— it can support both.
1. What initially caused conflicts between solar farms and farmers?
A. The abandonment of farmland.
B. Pollution from solar panel production.
C. The high cost of gas-powered mowers.
D. The occupation of grazing land by solar panels.
2. What does solar grazing bring to farmers?
A. New income opportunities.
B. Increased lamb prices.
C. Higher land maintenance costs.
D. Free solar energy access.
3. What can be inferred about agrivoltaics' environmental impact?
A. It relies on fuel-driven equipment.
B. It balances energy and ecology.
C. It harms soil quality by overgrazing.
D. It increases competition for resources.
4. Which title best summarizes the passage?
A. The Rise of Solar Energy in Texas
B. Challenges in Grazing Industry
C. Agrivoltaics: Where Sheep and Solar Panels Meet
D. Agrivoltaics: How Tech Innovation Connects Farms
Passage 6
(2025 福建省厦门市高中毕业班第3 次质量检测)Researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have
developed an AI tool that will help predict the habitats of endangered whales, guiding ships along the Atlantic coast
to avoid them. The tool is designed to prevent deadly accidents and inform conservation strategies and responsible
ocean development.
The AI program analyzes patterns from two large databases, improving the ability to monitor the distribution
of endangered marine(海洋的) species like the North Atlantic right whale. The marine sciences professors, Ahmed
Ezzat and Josh Kohut, likened the output to what might be learned by tracking people’s movements in a house and
determining whether there is food in the kitchen. Such factors might evaluate why people are where they are at
certain times of the day. Detecting certain patterns conveys predictive power. “With this program, we’re correlating
the position of a whale in the ocean with environmental conditions,” Kohut said. “This allows us to predict whale
locations with higher probability, enabling us to carry out effective protection strategies.”
Unlike typical computer programs, where instructions are written out, this new machine learning program
analyzed large data sets to discover patterns and relationships. As the AI program encountered more data, it
adjusted its internal model to make better predictions or classifications. “The outcome of the machine-learning
model is a prediction of where you may encounter a marine mammal(哺乳动物),” Ezzat said, describing what he
characterized as a “probability map”.
Initially, the researchers sought to develop high-resolution models of the North Atlantic right whale presence
to support responsible offshore wind farm development and operation. However, Ezzat noted that these tools could
benefit various industries in the blue economy, such as fishing and shipping. “This approach can support a wise and
environmentally responsible use of these waters,”Ezzat said.
“For decades, we’ve had whale location data and environmental records, but AI finally connects them,”
Kohut emphasized. “This demonstrates the power of employing AI methodologies to advance our ability to predict
or estimate where these whales are. We can achieve our economic goals while minimizing harm to the
environment.” This innovation safeguards whales and advances responsible ocean development — a critical step as
climate pressures intensify.
1. What do we know about the AI tool?
A. It can predict whale locations.
B. It can avoid coastal pollution.
C. It can monitor the research progress.
D. It can prevent deadly marine diseases.
2. What does the underlined word “likened” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Owed.
B. Compared.
C. Applied.
D. Submitted.
3. What can we learn from Kohut’s words in the last paragraph?
A. Whales boost blue economy.
B. Climate change harms whales.
C. AI is key to sustainable oceanic exploration.
D. Technological innovation takes constant efforts.
4. What is the author’s attitude toward the AI tool?
A. Positive.
B. Dismissive.
C. Conservative.
D. Objective.
Passage 7
(2025·江西景德镇·三模)People often visit national parks to catch a glimpse of wildlife. But how does our
presence impact the animals we hope to see? A study has found that even in remote, rarely visited national parks,
the presence of just a few humans impacts the activity of wildlife that lives there.
The research team based its study in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, a coastal area in southeast
Alaska that is accessible only by boat or plane. Most visitors arrive on cruise ships, but the boats don’t dock on
shore, and the park has very little human foot traffic. With only about 40, 000 visitors each year, Glacier Bay is an
ideal place to explore the lower limits where humans start to affect wildlife behaviour.
By controlling where and when people could access certain areas of Glacier Bay and then measuring wildlife
responses to the differing levels of human activity, the researchers discovered that wildlife detections plummeted
once visitors appeared in an area, showing an obvious low tolerance wildlife had for the presence of people nearby.
Of the animal species studied, wolves were most likely to disappear from cameras when people were around.
Brown bears were the least impacted by human presence. Moose, however, were most active during the times of
day and at locations where people were seen. The researchers think that moose might be using humans as a
protection from predators.
“I expect that similar results could be found in other national parks. I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more
people seek out less popular national parks to explore, which will have important implications for park
management and wildlife. , ” said lead author Mira Sytsma. The researchers hope this study can help park managers
consider different approaches to making parks accessible both to humans and animals. For example, managers
could consider concentrating paths and human use in certain areas to reduce their total footprint or put restrictions
on the time of year or days in which people can visit.
1. Why was Glacier Bay chosen for the study?
A. It is easily accessible by boat and plane. B. It has a low number of tourists.
C. It is popular for its natural beauty.
D. It has a wide variety of wildlife.
2. What does the underlined word “plummeted” probably mean?
A. Decreased.
B. Increased.
C. Returned.
D. Occurred.
3. Which species is most likely to enjoy the company of humans according to the research findings?
A. Black bears.
B. Moose.
C. Wolves.
D. Brown bears.
4. What does this study suggest park managers should do?
A. Limit human access to certain areas and times.
B. Encourage wildlife to adapt to human presence.
C. Allow unrestricted access to all areas of the park.
D. Close the park to protect wildlife from humans.
Passage 8
(2025 河南省部分学校高三下学期三模)Much of the methane(甲烷) in air comes from human activities.
But methane has natural sources too. Microbes(微生物) in wetland soils and trees also release methane.
Vincent Gauci, an environmental scientist, knew the trees in wet places, like the tropics, give off methane
from their trunks. Then, he wanted to study its release from trees in drier soils. “We were surprised to see the exact
opposite,” says Gauci. The trees were actually taking in methane.
Trees taking in and releasing gases is gas exchange. Researchers typically measure methane exchange low
on the trunk, near the ground. But Gauci’s team measured higher up on the tree, thinking this would better estimate
how much methane the whole tree might send out.
Gauci’s two students measured methane release from trees in the UK and Panama, setting up a gas-exchange
chamber on a tree to monitor how much methane it’s absorbing or sending out. They expected methane emissions
would drop as they measured higher up the trunk. Their guess at first seemed to hold. Higher up the trunk, methane
release dipped. But at chest height, the numbers dropped below zero — here, trees were absorbing methane.
To further check their findings, the team analyzed trees from four regions — Brazil, Sweden, Panama and
the UK. The result was the same at all sites. Overall, the trees took up more methane than they released. Using data
from the four sites, the team estimated all the world’s forests may be absorbing 50 million tons of methane every
year.
The scientists believe methane is taken in by microbes that live in tree bark. On average, trees absorbed more
methane than they released, with faster uptake in warmer climates.
Gauci says, “People release far more methane than what nature can remove. So we have to cut back on fossil
fuels. Trees are even more important for climate than we thought. We must be aware of the need for immediate
action to safeguard this vital natural resource.”
1. What aspect of the research surprised Gauci?
A. Its theory.
B. Its process.
C. Its findings.
D. Its functions.
2. What can we learn from the research?
A. Its data was measured globally.
B. It was done by Gauci and his coworkers.
C. Its participants were the same as before. D. It involved methods different from typical ones.
3. What does Gauci stress in the last paragraph?
A. Trees can remove all methane.
B. Protecting trees is crucial.
C. Methane has no natural sources.
D. Methane is important to climate.
4. Which of the following may be the best title for the text?
A. Trees may be big climate heroes
B. Gauci found out trees’ growth secret
C. Researchers studied trees in four areas
D. Microbes can release and absorb methane
Passage 9
(2025 河南省豫西北教研联盟(许平洛济)高三下学期三模)Governments worldwide are experimenting
with “green nudges(助推) ” — minor policy intervention(干预) designed to encourage behavioral economics to
promote sustainability without restricting freedom of choice. A landmark 2024 study published in Nature
Sustainability systematically analyzed the effectiveness of 23 green nudges across 15 nations, showing both
promise and hidden trouble.
The research focused on two strategies: default(默认) options (e. g., automatically engaging citizens in green
energy programs unless they drop out) and social comparison (e. g., informing households of their energy use level
compared to their neighbors). Results showed that default options increased green energy adoption by 72%, while
social comparison reduced household carbon emissions(排放) by 12% on average.
However, the study also revealed limitations. Defaults worked best in cultures sharing collective
responsibility, while individualistic societies showed resistance. Social comparison backfired when participants felt
ashamed rather than motivated. “The key is balancing psychological causes with cultural sensitivity,” noted lead
researcher Dr. Elena Marquez.
An experiment in Sweden tested “carbon footprint labels” (red = high, green = low emissions) on 15,000
supermarket products. Initially, red-labeled products displaying emissions data saw a 23% sales drop compared to
unlabeled counterparts. Surprisingly, this effect faded over time as consumers adapted and gradually turned to
price-driven choices. “Immediate visual reminders arouse awareness, but long-term habits require deeper structural
changes,” Marquez added.
As Dr. Marquez concluded, “Nudges aren’t cure-alls but vital ‘gateway interventions’.” With climate
urgency growing, the research with them offers governments a stepping stone between action and policy.
1. What is the main purpose of green nudges?
A. To control individual shopping choices.
B. To carry out strict environmental laws.
C. To change traditional policy-making entirely.
D. To guide eco-choices by slight adjustments.
2. What can we learn about default options?
A. They receive worldwide resistance.
B. Their effect depends on cultural values.
C. Their success is proved in various societies.
D. They demand active participation of citizens.
3. What does the underlined word“backfired” in paragraph 3 mean?
A. Aroused widespread motivation.
B. Required much additional attention.
C. Decreased energy consumption.
D. Caused unexpected negative emotion.
4. Which is the best title for the passage?
A. Green Nudges: Policy Meets Action
B. Default Options or Social Comparison
C. Cultural Barriers to Global Sustainability
D. The Rise of New Environmental Policies
Passage 10
(2025·河南新乡·三模)Dressed in protective clothing, Peter Nyongesa walked through the mangroves(红树
林) to monitor his beehives( 蜂巢) along the Indian Ocean coastline. The 69-year-old Nyongesa recalled his
unsuccessful attempts to persuade loggers to spare the mangroves, urging them to cut only mature trees and leave
the young ones undamaged.
Armed with beehives strategically placed among the mangroves, Peter Nyongesa now deters loggers who
previously dismissed his appeals to spare the trees. “They would argue that the trees belonged to no one but
nature,” he recalled.
His innovative approach forms part of the Mombasa conservation effort, where hives along the coastline
protect against mangrove destruction for firewood and construction. Nyongesa observes how short-term benefits
blind people to long-term damage. “When people realize that something is beneficial to them, they do not consider
the harm that comes with it,” Nyongesa said of the loggers.
Mangroves, which thrive in salty water, help in preventing erosion and absorbing the impact of severe
weather events such as cyclones. But more than half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse.
They are threatened by illegal logging, climate change, rising seas, pollution and urban development. About 40% of
mangroves along the Indian Ocean coast are degraded(退化).
Such overall degradation has slowed in Kenya, which has developed a 10-year plan to have community
conservation efforts manage mangroves. But the efforts have been incomplete because of insufficient resources.
Communities are doing what they can. James Kairo, a research scientist at the Kenya Marine and Fisheries
Research Institute, said initiatives such as beekeeping are helping. Their honey also brings in community income.
Each liter earns beekeepers $6, a valuable source of income. “Mangrove honey is also classified as top quality and
medicinal,” he added.
The bees also play a crucial role as pollinators( 授粉者). As they fly among the mangrove flowers, they
transfer pollen from one flower to another, facilitating plants’ reproduction. “The healthier the mangroves are,
probably the more productive the honey production will be. It’s a winwin,” said Jared Bosire, project manager for
the UNEP-Nairobi Convention.
1. What does the underlined word “deters” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A. Attracts.
B. Stimulates.
C. Discourages.
D. Monitors.
2. What does Nyongesa think of the logging?
A. It should be prohibited in a one-size-fits-all way.
B. Its negative effects are too insignificant to notice.
C. It will influence the habitat and survival of bees.
D. Its benefits overshadow the harm it can bring.
3. What does Bosire stress about the beekeeping initiative?
A. Its potential to stop global mangrove decline.
B. Its unique role in local ecological transformation.
C. Its influence on mangrove health and honey production.
D. Its integration with environmental campaigns for mangrove protection.
4. What is the best title for the text?
A. Kenya’s Efforts in Protecting Bees
B. The Importance of Mangroves in Ecosystem
C. Mangrove Protection: Fighting Degradation in Kenya
D. Beehives: A Surprising Protector for Mangrove Survival
Passage 11
(2025 河南省开封市等2 地高三下学期三模)More than half of the world’s largest lakes have lost
significant amounts of water over the last three decades, and roughly one-quarter of the world’s population lives in
the basin of a drying lake, according to a new study by a team of international scientists, which pins the blame
largely on climate change and excessive(过度的)water use.
While lakes cover only around 3% of the planet, they hold nearly 90% of its liquid surface freshwater and
are primary sources of drinking water, irrigation and power, and they provide vital habitats(栖息地) for animals and
plants.
Across the world, the most significant lakes are seeing sharp declines. The Colorado River’s Lake Mead in
Southwest US has shrunk dramatically due to a megadrought(大干旱) and decades of overuse. The Caspian Sea,
between Asia and Europe the world’s largest inland body of water has long been declining.
The shrinking of many lakes has been well documented by environmental groups, but the reasons behind it
have been hardly examined, said Fangfang Yao, the study’s lead author and a visiting scholar at the Cooperative
Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The researchers used satellite measurements of nearly 2,000 of the world’s largest lakes, which together
represent 95% of Earth’s total lake water storage. Examining more than 250,000 satellite images spanning from
1992 to 2020, along with climate models, they were able to reconstruct the history of the lakes going back decades.
“The results were staggering,” Yao said. “It’s a little scary to see how many freshwater systems are unable to
store as much water as they used to.”
“As many parts of the world become hotter and drier, lakes must be managed properly. Otherwise climate
change and human activities can lead to drying sooner than we think,” Yao added.
1. What might be the author’s purpose in writing the second paragraph?
A. To broaden readers’ horizons.
B. To encourage readers to protect wildlife.
C. To lighten readers’ worries over water shortage.
D. To show shrinkage of lakes should be taken seriously.
2. What has environmental groups ignored?
A. The recording of shrinking lakes.
B. The influence of water shortage.
C. Causes of the shrinkage of many lakes.
D. Measures to stop the shrinkage of lakes.
3. What can we learn about the new study from Paragraph 5?
A. It’s scientifically-grounded.
B. It’s much-debated.
C. It’s commercially-successful.
D. It’s partially-acceptable.
4. Which does the underlined word “staggering” probably mean in Paragraph 6?
A. Puzzling.
B. Shocking.
C. Inspiring.
D. Amazing.
Passage 12
(2025 湖北省高中名校联盟高三第三次联合测评)Community and environmental groups near the
petrochemical(石化产品) plants have long argued that it is unfair that places such as the Houston shipping channel,
the upper Ohio Valley and the area near the church in southern Louisiana known as “Cancer Alley” have high
concentrations of polluting petrochemical facilities in neighborhoods that are economically and politically ignored.
“They are low-income, minority communities that often are sitting right in the same spot where we’ve seen
historic prejudice by facilities for years on years,” Beyond Petrochemicals Campaign Executive Heather Toney
said.
“When you see industry continually identifying your community as a sacrifice so that the rest of the world
can have their plastic fork with their takeout, it begs the question, are we really focusing on the health and well-
being of all of our citizens?” Toney asked.
She joined representatives from fence-line communities to the latest United Nations negotiations on a global
plastics treaty(条约) in Busan, South Korea, late last month. Those talks ended without an agreement for a treaty,
yet another round of talks is scheduled for 2025. The treaty negotiators are considering a range of policy actions to
limit the environmental and human health damage from plastic waste, including improvements to waste collection,
the removal of the most harmful plastics and ways to boost the unacceptable low rates of plastic recycling. But for
the people living near petrochemical plants, one policy approach is far more important. “We have to get to a place
where we’re turning off the tap or at least turning down the production to deal with the plastic waste we have and
stop creating as much,” Toney said. “Honestly, this is not a situation we can recycle our way out of.”
A proposed cap on plastic production proved to be the most difficult sticking point in the negotiations, as the
petrochemical industry and oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia objected to it. But Toney and her colleagues
from fence-line communities remarked, “The talks have given us a sense that a strong and effective treaty could
potentially ease the pollution burden we face due to plastics.”
1. What is the main concern of people near the petrochemical plants?
A. The historic prejudice.
B. The high cost of living.
C. The lack of job opportunities.
D. The severe neighborhood pollution.
2. Why are petrochemical plants located in certain communities according to Toney?
A. To earn local governments’ support.
B. To take advantage of forgotten areas.
C. To enhance the convenience of takeout. D. To stimulate the growth of plastic industry.
3. What does Toney think is the most important policy?
A. Raising recycling rates.
B. Banning harmful plastics.
C. Improving waste collection.
D. Limiting new plastic production.
4. How do the fence-line communities feel about the prospect of the negotiations?
A. Hopeful.
B. Doubtful.
C. Pessimistic.
D. Overjoyed.
