河北省部分高中2023-2024学年高三上学期1月期末联考英语试卷
本试卷满分150分,考试时间120分钟。
第一部分 听力(共两节,满分30分)
做题时,先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后,你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题纸上。
第一节(共5小题;每小题1.5分,满分7.5分)
听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题,从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后,你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. How many new members will join the team tomorrow
A. 2. B. 5. C. 10.
2. How does the woman feel
A. Embarrassed. B. Doubtful. C. Worried.
3. Where are the speakers
A. In the office. B. In a shop. C. At home.
4. Where does the woman think the noise probably comes from
A. The dish washer. B. The fridge. C. The microwave.
5. What does the man often drink
A. Coffee. B. Black tea. C. Wulong tea.
第二节(共15小题;每小题1.5分,满分22.5分)
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题,从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前,你将有时间阅读各个小题,每小题5秒钟;听完后,各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第6段材料,回答第6、7题。
6. What is the man doing now
A. Eating food. B. Using TikTok. C. Feeding Tony.
7. Who is Tony
A. A baby. B. A buffet owner. C. A friend of the man’s.
听第7段材料,回答第8至10题。
8. What’s the probable relationship between the speakers
A. Salesman and customer. B. Fellow travelers. C. Boss and secretary.
9. What’s the man expected to do in Shanghai
A. Promote sales. B. Give a speech. C. Meet Mr. King.
10. When will the man be back from Paris next week
A. At noon on Monday.
B. In the morning on Tuesday.
C. In the afternoon on Friday.
听第8段材料,回答第11至13题。
11. What did the man do last night
A. He escaped from a fire.
B. He helped put out a fire.
C. He made an emergency call.
12. What will the man do next
A. Hand in a report. B. Attend a lesson. C. Ask for a leave.
13. What’s the woman like
A. Helpful. B. Hardworking. C. Confident.
听第9段材料,回答第14至17题。
14. What are the speakers talking about
A. A forest. B. A person. C. A photo.
15. What was the family’s accommodation
A. A modern hotel. B. A camp tent. C. An eco-hotel.
16. What did the man and his family do most of the time
A. Riding. B. Floating. C. Bird-watching.
17. What did the family have in their accommodation
A. A fireplace. B. A bathroom. C. An air conditioner.
听第10段材料,回答第18至20题。
18. If a polluter doesn’t clean up its pollution, who should it pay
A. EPA. B. OECD. C. The government.
19. When did the US begin to use the polluter pays principle
A. In 1974. B. In 1980. C. In 1970.
20. What does EPA have the right to do
A. Close the business of a polluter.
B. Reward an organization for cleanup efforts.
C. Find out who is responsible for environmental pollution.
第二部分 阅读(共两节,满分50分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题2.5分,满分37.5分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Cricket Children’s Magazine Ages 0—3 years∨Ages 4—6 years∨Ages 6—9 years∨Ages 9—14 years
Challenge curious young minds from 9 to 14 with Cricket Media’s Collection of magazines. Whether your child is a promising poet or a future engineer, these award-winning publications are made for your kids.
CRICKET Magazine
CRICKET Magazine, our flagship publication, is the world leader in providing the highest-quality fiction and nonfiction to children from 9 to 14. Since its premiere in 1973, CRICKET has delighted and entertained generations of kids with contemporary stories and classic literature from the world’s best writers.
ADD TO CART
COBBLESTONETM Magazine
COBBLESTONE knows history doesn’t have to be dull and dry. Filled with fascinating true stories of American history, every page is a living, breathing guide to how Americans lived from the 1600s to today. It takes kids on a journey through history while exciting their imaginations and bringing the past to life!
ADD TO CART
FACESTTM Magazine
FACES magazine takes young readers around the world and back to learn about important inventions and ideas from other cultures. From common customs to rules of the road, games to housing FACES uses breathtaking photography and authentic local voices to bring the entire world right to your kids.
ADD TO CART
MUSE Magazine
MUSE magazine is the arts and science magazine for kids from 9 to 14 who want to know how to keep robots from taking over the world or whether animals can think, accompanied by high-quality illustration and photography. Explore the world in a fun (and funny!) way with MUSE.
ADD TO CART
21. In which magazine will young readers probably read fun-filled history stories
A. CRICKET Magazine. B. COBBLESTONETM Magazine.
C. FACESTM Magazine. D. MUSE Magazine.
22. What do FACESTM Magazine and MUSER Magazine have in common
A. They provide high-quality fictions.
B. They cover life in foreign countries.
C. They are vividly illustrated with photos.
D. They are packed with authentic local voices.
23. What is the text
A. A science blog. B. A literature magazine.
C. An encyclopedia entry. D. A website advertisement.
B
Ernest Hemingway, the Nobel Prize-winning American writer, first visited Pamplona during the traditional festival 100 years ago. The festival started more than seven hundred years ago. For nine days, people come to the northern Spanish city for bull running, bullfighting and partying.
The festival affected Hemingway so deeply that he returned eight times. Here is his description of what happens at the start of the bull running: A rocket would be lit. And the bulls would charge out of the gate. At that moment, a crowd of runners wearing white clothes and red scarves would start to run. They would look back, move and dance to avoid being injured by the charging bull’s horns. Onlookers would cheer them on from balconies above.
In 1926, Hemingway wrote his first book, The Sun Also Rises. He wrote about his experiences in Pamplona and established himself as the voice of what became known as the Lost Generation. “I can’t stand it to think my life is going so fast and I’m not really living it.” says one character in the book, “Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bull-fighters,” is the answer.
Bill Hillman is a 41-year-old professor from Chicago. He first read the book at college. When he turned to the last page, he learnt two things: He wanted to become a writer, and he would run in front of Pamplona’s bulls someday. His first running of the bulls was in 2005 and he has been running ever since. He has been wounded twice, but that has not lessened his interest.
Last year, 1.7 million people came to the festival. Pamplona native Miguel has written about the festival’s links to Hemingway. He believes the writer’s influence on its popularity has been as large as people say. Besides, he thinks that Pamplona is still using Hemingway to gain attention. “We made him into an icon,” he said.
24. What is the main attraction of the festival in Pamplona
A. Hemingway’s influence. B. Running bulls.
C. The long history of the town. D. The beautiful scenery there.
25. Why does the author quote Hemingway’s words in paragraph 2
A. To show the writer’s talent for language.
B. To show the popularity of the festival.
C. To show the details of the festival.
D. To show the writer’s personal experience.
26. Which word can best describe Bill Hillman
A. Strong-willed. B. Stubborn. C. Adventurous. D. Desperate.
27. What is the main idea of the text
A. People take an active part in bull fighting.
B. Ernest Hemingway is an icon in a famous city.
C. The festival in Pamplona is still as popular as before.
D. Ernest Hemingway has an influence on Pamplona’s festival.
C
Goldfish may seem like simple creatures swimming in a glass tank, but they possess a rather complicated navigation system, as discovered by researchers at the University of Oxford. Led by Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux, the study aims to shed light on our understanding of how fish, and potentially humans, estimate distances using what could be described as an internal GPS.
Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, Sibeaux and colleagues report how they created a tank in their experiment with 2cm-wide black and white vertical stripes (条纹) on the walls, connected by similar stripes across the floor. The team trained nine goldfish to swim a set distance of 70 cm and then return to their starting point when waved at. The experiment aimed to investigate how the fish would estimate this distance without any gestures, under different patterns.
Over multiple trials, the goldfish averaged a swim distance of 74 cm, give or take 17 cm, when presented with the vertical 2 cm-wide stripes. However, when the stripe pattern was altered to either narrower vertical stripes, checked patterns, or horizontal stripes, the fish’s behavior changed significantly. Narrower vertical stripes led them to overestimating the distance by 36%, while horizontal stripes resulted in highly inconsistent estimations.
According to the researchers, the goldfish appeared to be using an “optic (光学的) flow mechanism” based on the visual density of their environment. They kept track of how frequently the vertical pattern switched between black and white to estimate how far they had traveled. The study suggests that different optic flow mechanisms are used by mammals, including humans, based on angular (有角度的) motion or visual features. The study implies that the use of visually based distance information could have emerged early in the evolutionary timeline.
“This study is novel because, despite knowing that fish respond to geometric information regarding direction and distance, we don’t know how they estimate distances.” Professor Colin Lever, although not involved in the study, said, “it’s exciting to explore fish spatial mapping because fish navigation evolved earlier and better than most mammals.”
28. Why did Dr. Adelaide Sibeaux conduct the study on goldfish
A. To test the accuracy of goldfish’s internal GPS.
B. To create an advanced navigation system for humans.
C. To uncover how an inbuilt GPS helps calculate distances.
D. To explore the relationships between goldfish and humans.
29. What can we learn about the experiment
A. People gestured the goldfish throughout the experiment.
B. The tank was decorated with colorful background patterns.
C. Goldfish tended to underestimate distances with horizontal stripes.
D. The change in the tank setting led to the goldfish’s incorrect judgment.
30. It can be concluded from the fourth paragraph that ________.
A. optic flow mechanism is unique to humans
B. mammals developed flow mechanism long before goldfish
C. goldfish evaluated the distance with multidimensional visual information
D. visual density of the environment strengthened the locating ability of goldfish
31. What attitude does Professor Colin hold towards the study
A. Neutral. B. Ambiguous. C. Disapproving. D. Favorable.
D
In our information-driven society, shaping our worldview through the media is similar to forming an opinion about someone only based on a picture of their foot. While the media might not deliberately mislead us, it often fails to provide a comprehensive view of reality.
Consequently, the question arises: Where, then, shall we get our information from if not from the media Who can we trust How about experts—people who devote their working lives to understanding their chosen slice of the world However, even experts can fall prey to the allure of oversimplification, leading to the “single perspective instinct” that prevent our ability to grasp the intricacies (错综复杂) of the world.
Simple ideas can be appealing because they offer a sense of understanding and certainty. And it is easy to take off down a slippery slope, from one attention-grabbing simple idea to a feeling that this idea beautifully explains, or is the beautiful solution to, lots of other things. The world becomes simple that way.
Yet, when we embrace a singular cause for or a solution to all problems, we risk oversimplifying complex issues. For instance, depending the concept of equality may lead us to view all problems through the lens of inequality and see resource distribution as the cure-all medicine, However, such rigidity prevents us from seeing the multidimensional nature of challenges and hinders true comprehension of reality. This “single perspective instinct” ultimately clouds our judgment and restricts our capacity to tackle complex issues effectively. Being always in favor of or always against any particular idea makes you blind to information that doesn’t fit your perspective. This is usually a bad approach if you would like to understand reality.
Instead, constantly test your favorite ideas for weaknesses. Be humble about the extent of your expertise. Be curious about new information that doesn’t fit, and information from other fields. And rather than talking only to people who agree with you, or collecting examples that fit your ideas, consult people who contradict you, disagree with you, and put forward different ideas as a great resource for understanding the world. If this means you don’t have time to form so many opinions, so what
Wouldn’t you rather have few opinions that are right than many that are wrong
32. What does the underlined word “allure” in paragraph 2 probably mean
A. Temptation. B. Tradition. C. Convenience. D. Disapproval.
33. Why are simple ideas appealing according to the passage
A. They meet people’s demand for high efficiency.
B. They generate a sense of complete understanding.
C. They are raised and supported by multiple experts.
D. They reflect the opinions of like-minded individuals.
34. What will the author probably agree with
A. Simplifying matters releases energy for human brains.
B. Constant tests on our ideas help make up for our weakness.
C. A well-founded opinion counts more than many shallow ones.
D. People who disagree with us often have comprehensive views.
35. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage
A. Embracing Disagreement: Refusing Overcomplexity
B. Enhancing Comprehension: Simplifying Information
C. Understanding Differences: Establishing Relationships
D. Navigating Complexity: Challenging Oversimplification
第二节(共5小题;每小题2.5分,满分12.5分)
阅读下面短文,从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
In a world that often feels fast-paced and restrained to routines, the desire for van (房车) life and mobile living has captured the hearts of many seeking an alternative lifestyle. 36 From the freedom to explore new horizons to fostering a minimalist mindset, here are some captivating advantages of embracing van life.
Liberation from Materialism
The confined space of a van encourages a minimalist lifestyle, where experiences are valued over possessions. 37 With minimal monthly expenses, such as parking fees and fuel costs, van dwellers can allocate resources to experiences rather than high rent or house payments. This mobile living is supported by the degrowth movement, which believes that economies should focus on securing the minimal basic needs instead of consumption and consumerism.
Exploration and Flexibility
The ability to follow adventure wherever it takes you is one of the most amazing aspects of living in a van. You can choose to wake up at dawn over the ocean one day and find yourself in a forested mountainside the next. Living in a van frequently involves being close to the outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature. 38
Minimal Ecological Footprint
39 They adopt solar panels and efficient water systems, further minimizing their impact on the environment. People who choose to live in mobile homes believe that eventually, global warming and extreme weather might bring an end to sedentary (定居的) living patterns.
Through the open road, the beauty of nature, and the friendship of fellow adventurers, van life presents a unique avenue for enriching the human experience. 40
A. It’s thrilling to travel the world.
B. Many van lifers tend to go green.
C. Living in a van can often be more cost-effective.
D. They’ll find a sense of freedom of constant exploration.
E. The natural world becomes an essential part of your daily life.
F. Better yet, it offers a way to reconnect with the essence of living.
G. The concept of van life offers benefits beyond just a change of scenery.
第三部分 语言运用(共三节,满分30分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分)
阅读下面短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
A little girl was enjoying the beautiful garden in her home. Her father had a good collection of rare and prized plants, which he 41 with great care.
The girl was 42 by a plant full of delicate flowers. She approached it and admired its striking beauty. Suddenly she 43 that the plant was in a pile of filth (污秽). She could not tolerate the 44 of dirt with such fantastic flowers.
She worked out a plan to clean the plant. She 45 the plant with all her might from the dirt and washed its 46 in running tap water till all traces of dirt were washed away. She then placed the plant on a clean stone and went away, proud that she had done a great 47 .
Later the little daughter ran over, followed by her father, to 48 her achievement. “I have cleaned it, Daddy,” she reported 49 .
To spot the uprooted plant, which had lain 50 in the baking sun, the father showed her how her treatment had nearly killed the plant and told her that the filthy soil was the best 51 to grow that plant. Hearing that, the girl felt guilty that the plant had suffered by her cleaning.
A great gardener mixes 52 soil for each plant. 53 , God provides each of us with the best 54 required for optimum (最佳) spiritual growth. But it may appear to be 55 and we may even complain to God about our difficulty.
41. A. attended to B. brought up C. weeded out D. fed on
42. A. caught B. attracted C. attacked D. shocked
43. A. recalled B. noted C. recognized D. concluded
44. A. formation B. presentation C. presence D. composition
45. A. held B. picked C. pulled D. removed
46. A. flowers B. branches C. leaves D. roots
47. A. deed B. deal C. operation D. project
48. A. confirm B. exhibit C. evaluate D. celebrate
49. A. innocently B. distantly C. decisively D. thoughtlessly
50. A. burning B. bathing C. breathing D. dying
51. A. shelter B. medicine C. medium D. venue
52. A. right B. same C. dirty D. loose
53. A. Moreover B. Likewise C. Rather D. Nevertheless
54. A. environment B. mode C. neighborhood D. opportunity
55. A. invisible B. disorganized C. improper D. unpleasant
第二节(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)
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。
The Cultural Landscape of Old Tea Forests of the Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er gained the World Heritage Site status at the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee, 56 (become) the first World Heritage Site related to tea.
The 57 (new) named heritage site, located in Lancang Lahu autonomous county in Pu’er, Yunnan Province, 58 (consist)of five large-scale, well-preserved old tea forests, three protective barrier forests 59 nine ancient villages in the old tea forests.
The committee said the cultural landscape is an outstanding example of a sustainable land-use system 60 (base) on the combination of horizontal and vertical land-use patterns. “This land-use system permits the use of natural resources in the typically 61 (mountain) environment of Jingmai Mountain and represents 62 exceptional example of a human interaction by Blang and Dai peoples with a challenging environment.”
Chen Yaohua, director of Peking University’s World Heritage Research Center, said the tea growing technique on the Jingmai Mountain is quite unique, particularly these years 63 large-scale terraced (阶梯状) tea plantations play a dominant role in the world. It represents the ecological ethics (伦理) and 64 wise that can inspire sustainable development in the world today.
The local government of Pu’er and the Yunnan provincial authorities have released three laws and seven regulations focusing 65 the protection of the cultural landscape resources.
第三节(共5小题;每小题1分,满分5分)
基础知识,根据句子语境填入适当的词,使句子完整通顺。
66. Over 3,000 lives were ___________ (claim) in the 1960 San Francisco earthquake and the series of fires that occurred after it.
67. All the ___________ (legal) constructed buildings must be pulled down.
68. Do you think museums should charge for ___________ (admit)
69. Convey my ___________ (congratulate) to her.
70. She found herself ___________ (stick) at home with only her computer to keep her company.
第四部分 写作(共两节,满分40分)
第一节(满分15分)
ChatGPT, 被誉为未来人工智能的代表,横空出世火爆全球,成为时下最热门的话题。假定你是学生李华,校英文报现进行征文活动,让你谈一谈高中生在未来应该着重学习培养哪些知识或技能,才能在与AI的竞争中,不被其取代,并说明理由。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
第二节(满分25分)
Last year at Christmas time, my wife, three children and I were on our way from Paris to Nice. Somehow everything went wrong. Our hotels were “tourist traps” and our rented car broke down. On Christmas Eve, when we checked into a dirty hotel in Nice, there was no Christmas spirit in our hearts.
It was raining and cold when we went out to eat. We found a small restaurant poorly decorated for the holiday. Only five tables in the restaurant were taken. There were two German couples, two French families, and an American sailor, by himself. They were eating in stony silence except the sailor. He was writing a letter, and a half-smile lighted his face. In the corner a piano player was listlessly (无精打采地) playing Christmas music.
All of us were interrupted by an old French flower woman through the front door. She had a worn overcoat and her old shoes were wet. Carrying her basket of flowers, she went from one table to another. No one bought any. Exhausted and frustrated, she sat down at a table.
The sailor finished his meal and got up to leave. Putting on his coat, he walked over to the flower woman’s table.
“Merry Christmas,” he said, smiling and picking out a handful of flowers. “How much are they ”
“Two francs, sir.”
The sailor put a twenty franc note in the woman’s hand.
“I don’t have change, sir,” she said, “I’ll get some from the waiter.”
“No, ma’am” said the sailor, leaning over and kissing the ancient cheek. “This is my Christmas present for you.”
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Then the sailor headed for our table with the flowers in his hand. The piano player came alive and pleasant music filled the whole room.
参考答案
第一部分 听力
1~5 ACABB 6~10 BACBA 11~15 BCACC 16~20 AACBC
第二部分 阅读
21~25 BCDBC 26~30 ADCDC 31~35 DABCD 36~40 GCEBF
第三部分 语言运用
第一节
41~45 ABBCC 46~50 DABAD 51~55 CABAD
第二节
56. becoming 57. newly 58. consists 59. and 60. based
61. mountainous 62. an 63. when 64. wisdom 65. on
第三节
66. claimed 67. illegally 68. admission 69. congratulations 70. stuck
第四部分 写作
第一节
The presence of AI, such as ChatGPT, won the favor of the world, becoming the hottest topic nowadays. In the face of artificial intelligence, what skills should we high school students develop
It is a must to give priority to independent learning, without which we would be easily replaced in the future since the updating of knowledge is getting increasingly fast. Plus, innovation ability is what we can’t afford to ignore. It will definitely make a big difference to the development of our society since most repetitive and inefficient jobs will give way to artificial intelligence and robots.
In brief, it is inevitable/unavoidable to work with artificial intelligence. Only through independence learning and innovation ability can we become more competitive.
第二节
Then the sailor headed for our table with the flowers in his hand. He picked out a red flower and placed it on our table. “Merry Christmas!” he greeted us in a cheerful voice. Before we could say “Thank you”, he went to other tables. In an instant, everyone in the room was presented with flowers, including the waiter and the piano player. In the bright light, the flowers were glowing in full bloom. These magical flowers melted our frustrated hearts and blew away all the unpleasant moods.
The piano player came alive and pleasant music filled the whole room. A festival atmosphere drowned all of us. We merrily danced to the joyful music, singing, laughing and wishing each other good luck. The old flower woman also joined us, unable to conceal her excitement and gratitude. The spirit of Christmas came back to us again. It brought all of us together in this small restaurant on a foreign land. All this was due to a young American sailor, who, through his kindness and generosity, brightened our paths.
听力录音文稿
Text 1
M: Tomorrow two more students will join us to do the project.
W: Great. We will have a team of ten members then.
M: You know, we began with 5. The number will be doubled.
Text 2
W: Are you OK John Shall I take you to see the doctor
M: Take it easy. Mom. It’s only a small cut. A bandage will do.
Text 3
M: I bought this pen yesterday in the shop across from the street but it doesn’t write well.
W: We have so many pens here in the office. You needn’t have bought it.
M: Actually, I bought it for my wife. She cares for pens that look nice.
Text 4
W: Listen! I think something in the kitchen is making a strange noise.
M: It can’t be the dish washer or the microwave. I am sure I have turned them off.
W: Then it may be the fridge. You probably didn’t close the doors properly.
Text 5
W: I am interested in drinking tea. It’s said to be healthier than coffee.
M: I am also a tea person myself. I often drink British black tea but I tasted Chinese Wulong tea at a friend’s home last week. It was great.
Text 6
W: What are you laughing about
M: This video is cool. This time Jack is in a Chinese buffet. Look, he eats like a hungry wolf.
W: He is such a foodie just like you. Would you please leave your TikTok alone for a while I need you to take care of Tony while I put away all these clothes.
M: What can I do
W: Feed him. The milk is in the bottle. And then you can play with him for a while.
M: OK, but please wait for one more minute.
Text 7
M: Miss Davis, what’s scheduled for me next week
W: Meeting Mr. King, president of ECM. 10:00 Monday, attending sales meeting, 8:30, Tuesday and giving a speech on the opening ceremony of our Shanghai branch, 9:00, Friday.
M: Please book a Wednesday flight to Shanghai and phone Mr. King to reschedule the meeting sometime Monday afternoon. I am leaving for a business trip to Paris and won’t be back until 12:00 Monday.
W: OK, and I will pick you up from the airport then.
Text 8
W: It seems that you didn’t sleep well last night. I saw you nodding off several times. Anything happened
M: A house in my neighborhood caught fire at midnight. We were woken up by the cries for help.
W: Was anybody injured
M: Luckily, no. The fire was not very big and the family had time to escape. We helped them put it out before the firemen arrived.
W: Maybe, you can ask for a leave and take some sleep.
M: I guess I should. I find it hard to focus in class. I am wasting my time learning nothing at all.
W: Don’t worry about the lessons. I can help you make up for them after school tomorrow.
M: That’s very kind of you. By the way, could you help me to hand in the report about our project to Mr. Rich this afternoon I don’t think he would be happy to see it delayed.
W: No problem.
Text 9
W: This looks interesting! Are these people you and your family
M: Yes, the picture was taken when we were on a trip in the thick forest in Gylden.
W: The place seems wild. Did you stay in hotels or camp tents for the night
M: Look at what’s behind us. It’s a wood and earth structure called eco-hotel. That’s our accommodation.
W: Is it It looks very small. How could all three of you crowd in such a small place
M: We didn’t have a bathroom in it and we didn’t have an air conditioner. We didn’t have any furniture except a bed and a fireplace to keep warm. We had to cut firewood ourselves. You know, nights in the hills are rather cold.
W: That’s quite hard.
M: Not as hard as you can image. Actually, we had a lot of fun. We did riding most of the time, but there were various experiences for us to choose from: floating, hiking, riding and bird-watching.
W: Nature always has so much to offer.
Text 10
“The polluter pays” principle is an environmental practice that requires companies to be responsible for producing pollution. This can come in the form of cleaning up themselves under the guidelines of the EPA or paying the government for cleanup efforts. In 1974, the OECD first adopted the “polluter pays” principle, upholding that those who produce pollution should bear the cost of managing it in order to prevent damage to the environment and to human health. The principle was first used in the United States in 1980. This was largely in response to a number of environmental disasters that received media attention in the late 1970s. In all 50 states of US the EPA was given the authority to seek out and identify the parties responsible for environmental pollution, and then force them to either perform cleanups themselves or pay the government for EPA-led cleanup work. Now the principle is adopted by many other countries around the world in their own ways.