Summers around the world are already warmer than they used to be, and they are going to get dramatically hotter by the century’s end if carbon pollution continues to rise. That problem will be felt most acutely in cities.
The world’s rapidly growing population coupled with the urban “heat island” effect, which can make cities up to 7.8℃ warmer than the countryside, adds up to a recipe for dangerous and potentially deadly heat.
Currently, about 54 percent of the world’s population lives in cities, and by 2050 the urban population is expected to have grown by 2.5 billion people. As those cities get hotter, weather patterns may shift and make extreme heat even more common. That will, in turn, threaten public health and the economy.
Under the high-pollution situation, currently mild Ottawa, Canada could have the tropical climate of Belize City by 2100. Mountainous Kabul, Afghanistan could feel like coastal Colombo, India. Already hot Cairo, Egypt could feel like its sweltering (闷热的) neighbor, Abu Dhabi.
The average land temperature is projected to rise 4.8℃, but due to the differences in geography, some cities will warm much more. Sofia, Bulgaria is predicted to have the biggest overall temperature shift, with temperatures rising nearly 8.4℃ by 2100. That would make its summers more like in Egypt.
The average summer temperature in Khartoum, Sudan is projected to skyrocket to 44.1℃ if carbon pollution continues to be unchecked. That shift emphasizes that unless carbon pollution is limited, the planet could be headed toward a state that humans have never experienced.
Dealing with less extreme heat makes adaptation easier and less expensive, and given that choice, perhaps it’s no surprise cities are leading the charge on climate change. They face the worst impacts of extreme heat and are home to billions. That’s why thousands of mayors from around the world have banded together and promised to reduce their emissions. That includes lots of U.S. cities committing to meet the Paris Agreement goals after President Trump announced he was pulling the U.S. out of the agreement.
1.What may happen by the end of the century according to the passage?
A. Carbon pollution will be worse and worse.
B. The world’s population living in cities will decline.
C. The temperature in cities will be too high to bear in summer.
D. The economy and population will be impacted severely by pollution.
2.Which city mentioned in the passage will have the greatest climate change?
A. Ottawa, Canada. B. Sofia, Bulgaria.
C. Khartoum, Sudan. D. Kabul, Afghanistan
3.The underlined word “skyrocket” in the sixth paragraph probably means “ ”.
A. rise rapidly. B. change gradually
C. reverse completely D. drop naturally
4.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Dealing with the climate problems right now is hard and expensive.
B. Officials are unwilling to deal with climate change.
C. Extreme heat will have no impact on the climate in the countryside.
D. Many U.S. cities are dealing with climate problems actively.
During lunch all my friends were talking about their families’ plans for winter break, and I was a little jealous since my parents couldn’t take a vacation during Christmas week.
I came home from school that day to find a newsletter from the Jewish CommunityCenter, which contained an ad for an “alternative vacation” community-service trip to New Orleans during Christmas week. I wondered whether cleaning neighborhoods destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and sleeping on the floor in a sleeping bag were really the way I wanted to spend Christmas vacation. I sent in an application anyway, went for an interview, and was actually very excited when I was accepted into the program.
We arrived in New Orleans on December 23. First, we had dinner at a pizza place that had been destroyed by the hurricane. The owners told us about what they had gone through to rebuild their homes.
On Christmas Eve, we spent the day removing garbage as part of a beautification project in the Lower Ninth Ward, which was most heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
On Christmas Day, we worked at a center for homeless people. The people really appreciated our work, and we felt like we had made Christmas a little more special for them. My favorite project was helping at an animal rescue center. We walked the animals, cleaned their places, and fed them. Six thousand dogs and cats, separated from their owners, were rescued by that shelter after the hurricane.
When I returned to New York and told my friends about my trip, I realized how ridiculous I had been to be jealous of their Christmas plans. I looked around at my house, my dog, my family and everything I owned and felt really spoiled. All the things I saw in New Orleans, all the amazing people I met and the small ways l was able to contribute to the rebuilding of the city made that week the most memorable vacation I can imagine.
1.What was the author’s first reaction to the community-service trip?
A. He felt upset. B. He was excited.
C. He felt hopeful. D. He was doubtful.
2.Which did the author like most?
A. Removing garbage. B. Helping the homeless.
C. Working with animals. D. Dining with survivors.
3.What can be the best title for the text?
A. The Most Memorable Day B. My Special Christmas Vacation
C. Post-Disaster Reconstruction D. A Big Contribution to Society
Roald Dahl is one of the greatest storytellers the world has ever known. He was born in Llandaff in Wales on 13 September 1916. Roald’s dream was to go to exciting foreign places, and he got the chance when he got a job with the Shell Company supplying oil in East Africa. When the Second World War broke out, he became a fighter pilot and he almost died when he crashed his plane in the desert. Afterwards he was sent home and given a new job in the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. There, he started writing speeches and war stories, and his first pieces of writing were published.
Have you heard of any of these stories?
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Charlie is a young boy from a poor family and, like most children, he loves chocolate. Charlie buys Wonka chocolate bars hoping to find a golden ticket inside because whoever finds a golden ticket is invited to visit the Wonka chocolate factory. However, there are some wonderfully strange things inside the factory!
The BFG
The BFG is the Big Friendly Giant and he brings sweet dreams to children while they are sleeping. One night he is seen by a girl called Sophie, and he kidnaps(绑架) her and carries her away to his homeland because he is scared she’ll tell the world about his existence. He is actually friendly, but the other giants are not. They want to eat people. Sophie decides to get someone to help: the Queen!
Matilda
Matilda is a genius(天才) and she loves books, but her parents don’t understand her intelligence and are cruel to her. Matilda’s brainpower is discovered by her teacher, Miss Honey, who helps her to develop her intellect. But Miss Honey is also being mistreated by the cruel head teacher, so Matilda tries to find a way to help her…
Boy: Tales of Childhood
This book is told like a story, but it’s not a novel. It’s an autobiography (自传) of Roald Dahl’s childhood and school experiences. In it he describes his experiences with the dead mouse, horrible teachers, summer holidays to Norway and getting the job with Shell.
1.What did Roald do right before working in the British Embassy?
A. He wrote stories and speeches. B. He traveled in foreign countries.
C. He worked for a famous oil company. D. He served as a member of the air force.
2.To know about Roald’s personal experiences, which story should you read?
A. Matilda. B. Boy: Tales of Childhood.
C. The BFG. D. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
3.What do the four stories have in common?
A. They are amusing. B. They are about kids.
C. They are works of fiction. D. They are based on true stories.
完成句子
1.听到这个令人震惊的消息，他崩溃大哭。
Hearing the shocking news, he ________ _________ and wept.
2.老师原谅了他迟到，让他进入教室坐下,因为这是他第一次迟到。
The teacher ____________ him _______ his being late and let him get seated in the classroom，for this was his first time to be late.
3.辛迪爱吃甜点，但她从不长胖。
Cindy likes eating dessert, but she never __________ ________ weight.
4.抚养三个孩子长大成人，他们的父母感到很有成就感，累并快乐着。
__________ ________ the three children, their parents felt a sense of achievement, tired and happy.
5.我们的新房子是老房子的两倍大。
Our new house is _______ _______ ________ of the old one.
6.玛丽重重关上门，哭了起来，没有人知道她为什么这么生气难过。
Mary shut the door _________ and ________ __________ tears. No one knew _________ she was so angry and sad.
7.比尔在偷窥他人商业机密时他被抓住了，他们决定不轻饶他。
Bill was caught __________ __________ others’ trade secrets; they decided not to let him_______ _______ ________ it.
根据单词首字母、汉语提示写出词的正确形式。
1.Whenever I see the picture, it always r___________me of my happy childhood.
2.The two boy stood there, _________(怒目而视) at each other without a word.
3.The new shop across the street has taken away most of my _________(顾客).
4.I’m afraid I can’t make myself understood because of my l_________English.
5.I don’t think the food __________(消化) easily. Don’t eat too much at a time.
6.I was frightened when I spotted something strange _________(漂浮) on the river.
7.The extreme hot ____________ (气候) doesn’t agree with me.
8.The physicist impressed us as a ____________(谦虚) and gentle person.
9.Bill came and s______________legal advice on his marriage yesterday.
10.The report says there’s a c_______________between air pollution and the increasing use of cars.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
If you study abroad, it’s necessary to mix with the locals. This allows you
1.(test) your language skills and find out more about the local culture. Having lived abroad for three years, I’m able to put forward a list of tips to help you make friends in a foreign country.
Firstly, say yes to everything within reason. Obviously, if you don’t feel 2. ease, you can choose not to do anything. However, don’t put off trying something new. The group of students from your class who invite you out for a coffee might end up 3.(be) your friends for life!
Secondly, develop a 4. (entire) new hobby. Join a dance class, a walking club or learn to cook the local food—the 5.(possibility) are endless!
Thirdly, get out of the house! Hours 6.(spend) on the computer chatting with your family back at home surely make you even homesick. Just get out and explore the exciting place you live in.
Lastly, be 7.(confidence) when you are surrounded by people speaking 8. unfamiliar language. Even if you may find 9. difficult to involve yourself in conversations, you should try to make your voice heard. Once you open your mouth and begin to speak, it’s likely 10. you will find everyone wants to know more about you.
