Conquering Garbage Mountain|圣母峰环保远征队

by Matthew Brown

A courageous team has their hearts set on cleaning up Mount Everest.

Mount Everest, which lies in the Himalayas on the border of Tibet and Nepal, is the highest mountain in the world. Everest is legendary among climbers as one of the most _(1)_ climbs in the world. In the last 50 years, over 10,000 climbers have tried to make it to the summit. However, only _(2)_ 1,200 have reached the top, with hundreds of lives lost on the mountain.

Part of the appeal of an Everest climb is the chance to experience the mountain's beauty and majesty. Unfortunately, its natural beauty is becoming _(3)_ by garbage and human waste. Oxygen bottles, food wrappers, and other forms of trash are common sights along the established routes. Sadly, climbers haven't kept the mountain clean over the years, and due to their huge numbers, garbage has become an Everest-sized problem.

Now there is a solution _(4)_. Eco Everest Expedition combines the adventure of an Everest climb with an eco-friendly goal. The team performs cleanup missions all the way to the peak of the famous mountain. Since 2008, Eco Everest Expedition has brought down more than 12,000 kilograms of garbage as well as the bodies of four climbers that _(5)_ on the mountain. This year saw the fourth Eco Everest Expedition. Under the _(6)_ of Dawa Steven Sherpa and Apa Sherpa, a world-record-holding climber who had reached the summit of Everest 20 times before this journey, the team planned to bring down 5,000 kilograms of waste.

The expedition itself was eco-friendly, _(7)_ solar power and special UV light pens for purifying water. These days, making Mount Everest better for future climbers is an awesome adventure.

1.  (A) hesitating  (B) endangering (C) promising   (D) challenging

2.  (A) with    (B) some    (C) rough   (D) estimated

3.  (A) polluted    (B) terrified   (C) empty   (D) numerous

4.  (A) on duty (B) in sight    (C) at will (D) on tour

5.  (A) dismissed   (B) flourished  (C) perished    (D) recovered

6.  (A) leadership  (B) adoption    (C) identity    (D) instrument

7.  (A) to use  (B) uses    (C) has used    (D) using

圣母峰环保远征队

1 个英勇的队伍有心清光圣母峰的垃圾。

　　圣母峰地处西藏与尼泊尔边界的喜马拉雅山脉，是世界第 1 高峰。圣母峰在登山界富有盛名，因为她是全世界最具挑战性的高山之一。过去 50 年来，超过 1 万名登山客尝试攻顶。然而，大约只有 1 千 2百人挑战成功，殉山者则有数百人。

　　吸引人类攀登圣母峰的部分原因，在于有机会体验这座山的壮丽美景。可惜，她的自然美景正逐渐被垃圾和人类留下的废弃物所污染。登山客固定行走的山径上处处可见氧气瓶、食物的包装纸以及其他各式各样的垃圾。不幸的是，多年来登山客没有维持清洁，而且由于登山客人数众多，垃圾已经变成一『大』问题。

　　眼前出现了 1 个解决方法。『圣母峰环保远征队』结合攀登圣母峰的冒险活动与环保目标，在往这座著名山峰前进的沿途上，实行清垃圾的任务。自 2008 年起，『圣母峰环保远征队』已经把超过 1 万 2 千公斤的垃圾及 4 具殉山者的遗体带下山。今年是该远征队第 4 度出发。

在 Dawa Steven Sherpa 和之前已成功登上圣母峰 20 次的世界纪录保持者 Apa Sherpa 的带领下，远征队计划把 5 千公斤的废弃物带下山。这个远征队本身非常环保，他们利用太阳能和特殊的紫外线光笔来过滤饮用水。如今，保持圣母峰的清洁以提供日后登山客更好的环境，可说是一趟了不起的探险活动。

答案：1. (D)2. (B)3. (A)4. (B)5. (C)
6. (A)7. (D)

2 点钟规则

攀爬喜马拉雅山圣母峰必须遵守『2 点钟规则』，即攻顶时间一定要在下午 2 点前完成，不然就必须回头。美国登山好手费雪（Scott Fischer），在第 5 次攀爬圣母峰中意外丧生，即是过晚登顶，下山时遇大风雪而丧命。

气候暖化对攀登圣母峰的影响

气候暖化让圣母峰岩石裸露，攻顶更加困难。之前已 20 度攻顶成功的 Apa Sherpa 曾表示：『喜马拉雅山的温度升高，让通往顶峰的路径冰雪消融，使得登山客的钉鞋使用上更加困难。』（数据源：维基百科、今日新闻网）