A sad mother whale continued to carry her dead baby for a fifth day on Saturday, which is a rare occurrence in nature and is believed to be grieving (痛心的).
The whale, known as J35, is a member of the endangered (濒临灭绝的）family of killer whales, gave birth to her baby on Tuesday only to watch that it die within half an hour. "The baby was so newborn that it didn't have blubber(鲸脂）. It kept sinking, and the mother would raise it to the surface," said Ken Balcomb, a scientist with the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, Washington State. Since then, she's been carrying the baby's body around on her nose, diving to pick it up again when it falls off. She was last sighted in the early evening on Saturday in Canadian waters.
Scientists have documented grieving behavior in other animals with close social bonds in small groups observed carrying newborns that did not survive. The baby whale was the first baby born in three years to the endangered species (物种), the Center for Whale Research said.
"More than 24 hours of grieving is a rare occurrence," says Ken Balcomb. "It is horrible. This is an animal that is a sentient being. It understands the social bonds that it has with the rest of its family members. She carried the baby in her womb (子宫）from 17 to 18 months, she is bonded to it and she doesn't want to let it go. It is that simple. She is grieving."
Researchers have been growing more concerned about the fortune of killer whales, who face three major challenges to their survival as a species: toxins(毒素）, traffic and lack of adequate food. The most recent survey has found that they number just 75 in the area. For the last three years there have been no new babies born to the killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.
1. Why has the mother whale dived repeatedly in the past five days?| A．To avoid possible danger. |
| B．To feed her baby underwater. |
| C．To prevent her dead baby from sinking. |
| D．To play with her newborn baby sometimes. |
| A．She swam a long distance to save her baby. |
| B．She showed unusual grief over her dead baby. |
| C．She formed social bonds with her baby. |
| D．She proved herself highly intelligent. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Powerful. | C．Dangerous. | D．Stubborn. |
| A．What Problems Killer Whales Are Facing | B．The Killer Whales Died From Lack of Food |
| C．Rare Whales Were Found in Canadian Waters | D．Grieving Whale Carried Dead Baby for Days |
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【推荐1】In May 2020, as the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic swept Texas, I went to an Austin nature store and bought several bird feeders. Various birds, drawn by seed and other food, came soon afterward. I wasn’t alone. Feeders have long been a popular way to connect with nature and draw in native or nonnative species. But over the past two years, bird feeding has suddenly increased in popularity.
The benefits of all of this supplying have tended to go unquestioned. After all, habitat destruction from human activity is a leading cause of bird population declines, so feeding birds seems like an obvious way to help make up for that loss. But a recent review paper raises a troubling possibility: bird feeding could be reshaping some local environments. “If you’re throwing millions of tons of additional nonnatural resources into an environment, you’re going to get massive, massive impacts,” says lead study author Jack Shutt, a conservation ecologist at Manchester Metropolitan University in England. “And they’re not always going to be the ones that you’re expecting.”
Bird feeding carries a few well-recognized risks. The first among them is disease spread. In 2005 scientists concluded that shared feeders in the U.K. may have helped dove trichomoniasis (滴虫病) jump into European Greenfinches, as a result, it killed up to half a million birds. In the U.S., trichomoniasis outbreaks connected with dirty feeders are common bird killers. “You’ve got different species pecking (啄食) at the same bit of plastic, which is covered in various bird bodily liquid,” says study co-author Alexander Lees, an bird expert at Manchester Metropolitan University. “It’s a cause of disaster.”
What’s necessary, Lees says, is taking the potential impacts seriously enough to carry out further study, which would allow experts to make much more recommendations about where to feed and where to avoid it. Such studies could also help researchers make targeted recommendations about what sorts of food to offer.
1. What do people tend to believe about bird feeding?| A．It can protect native species. |
| B．It can attract nonnative species. |
| C．It can prevent more birds being killed. |
| D．It can prevent bird population declining. |
| A．Bird feeding should be prohibited. |
| B．Bird feeding is a commercial activity. |
| C．Bird feeding can be a disaster for birds. |
| D．Bird feeding will not influence ecosystem. |
| A．Call on people to stop feeding birds. |
| B．Encourage more people to feed birds. |
| C．Help people feed birds more scientifically. |
| D．Advocate birds’ pecking at the same plastic. |
| A．Bird feeding: Spreading diseases |
| B．Bird Feeders: Good or bad for birds |
| C．Bird Feeders: Of great benefit to birds |
| D．COVID-19: A terrible disaster for birds |
【推荐2】Polar bears normally need sea ice to hunt seals, but an isolated group of polar bears living on the mountainous coast of southeast Greenland have figured out how to make a living, even though the sea ice there melts away early in the year.
These bears have found a way to supplement their limited sea ice supply by hunting on freshwater ice that comes from glaciers on land. The glacial ice falls off in pieces into fjords, where the pieces get together into a floating platform that the polar bears use to catch seals, according to a report in the journal Science.
Climate change is making sea ice more and more scarce. Loss of sea ice is “the primary threat to polar bears,” says Kristin Laidre of the University of Washington, lead author of the new study. But, she says, this new work suggests some bears might be able to cope with a decreased amount of sea ice—at least for a while—in places like Greenland where they can take advantage of floating glacier ice.
While local people have long known that bears live in southeast Greenland, it’s a remote, challenging environment that’s not frequented by humans. “It’s a coastline with huge mountain peaks, lots of winds, extreme conditions and plenty of fogs,” says Laidre, who has spent years working with colleagues to survey polar bears living on Greenland’s 1,800-mile-long east coast.
To see what they could find in southeast Greenland, the team had to take helicopters from the nearest settlement and fly for two hours in a straight line to the coast, “We arrived in these fjords, very isolated fjords, and there’s essentially no sea ice or very poor sea ice offshore,” says Laidre, explaining that the researchers expected to find few bears.
“But there were a lot of bears in these fjords,” she says. “It was clearly just a unique habitat.”
The sea ice persisted in these fjords for only around a hundred days a year, she notes, meaning that bears don’t have much time to use it as a hunting ground.
1. What does the underlined word “supplement” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Make up for. | B．Keep up with. | C．Look forward to. | D．Break away from. |
| A．They will form various fjords. |
| B．They will exist in fjords for only a hundred years. |
| C．They will float into cold places and never disappear. |
| D．They will gather to be a platform for polar bears to hunt. |
| A．Crowded. | B．Pleasant. | C．Severe. | D．Windless. |
| A．Polar bears are on the edge of dying out. |
| B．Polar bears no longer need sea ice to hunt seals. |
| C．Polar bears can replace sea water with fresh water. |
| D．Polar bears have another way to hunt with little sea ice. |
【推荐3】Climate change is changing the migration routes of animals worldwide. Take the mule deer for example. Every spring in Wyoming, green-up first appears at lower altitudes before progressing up the mountainside. Migrating mule deer follow and seek food on this green wave. But as a changing climate leads to more frequent and more severe droughts, the greenery is not as abundant as it used to be.
Ellen Aikens, a researcher from the University of Wyoming, tracked mule deer as they surfed the green wave. In comparison to wet years, the green-up lasted across the landscape for about half as long in drought years and was also fragmented. Although the deer were able to keep up with the faster green wave, the nutritional value was lower, leaving the animals less prepared for the challenges of the year ahead.
Meanwhile in Europe, the population of Bewick’s swans that spend the winter in the Netherlands is declining. But when researchers looked at the data more closely, they found an increase in the wintering population of swans in Germany. It turns out that since the 1970s, the swans’ wintering habitat has shifted an average of 13 kilometers to the east each year.
“The swans like to spend time where it’s 5℃. And the temperature line has shifted in the same rate as the swans shifted eastward,” said Rascha Nuijten, an ecologist at the Netherlands Institute of Ecology.
These findings are important to our understanding of the conservation of migrant animals. When it comes to protecting a certain species, it’s not just about the current situation. Nature is dynamic. And the species that is present now might not be present in 10 years, not because we didn’t protect it but because maybe it is dynamic in its way. We need to include the dynamics of nature into our legislation and management.
1. What’s the challenge the mule deer face?| A．Wet years. | B．Low altitudes. |
| C．Fast green wave. | D．Lack of quality food. |
| A．They are endangered. |
| B．They used to spend winter in Germany. |
| C．They move their wintering habitats eastward. |
| D．Germany has more of them than the Netherlands. |
| A．Its warmer in the east. |
| B．The 5℃ line shifts at a fast rate. |
| C．The swans move with the temperature line. |
| D．Climate change affects the swans’ feeding habits. |
| A．To introduce two research findings. |
| B．To appeal to protect animals in a dynamic way. |
| C．To discuss methods of fighting climate change. |
| D．To explain why animals change their migration routes. |
【推荐1】Using modern technology, archaeologists (考古学家) have recently discovered about 200 Mayan artifacts (玛雅古器) in Mexico, which surprisingly, appear to have been untouched for up to 1,000 years. The artifacts were found inside a cave in ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
The lead researcher on the project is Mexican archaeologist Guillermo de Anda. He called the cave a “scientific treasure”.
The findings included bone pieces and burnt offering materials. In addition, incense burners, vases, plates and other objects were discovered. Some items included the portrait of Tlaloc, the rain god of central Mexico.
The cave where the objects were found is so unique. It is part of a cave system known as Balamku. The cave is long, narrow and dark. It is about three kilometers east of the main pyramid of Kukulkan. It sits at the center of Chichen Itza which is the stone city described by the United Nations as “one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan Peninsula.”
The cave sits about 24 meters underground, with areas connected by passages. Some of the passages were so narrow that researchers had to climb in or pull themselves through. The team has so far explored about 460 meters of the cave, and is unsure how far it stretches. The team plans to continue exploring the cave. The found artifacts will not be removed, but studied inside.
The team accidentally found the artifacts while exploring Chichen Itza in an effort to learn more about its underground water system. The new discovery will help scientists better understand the history, culture, lives and beliefs of people who lived in Chichen Itza, especially in the boom years.
Archaeologists believe there may be another cave hidden under the pyramid of Kukulkan that could be connected to the latest find. “Let’s hope God will lead us there,” Guillermo de Anda said. “That is part of the reason why we are entering these sites to find a connection to the natural well under the Kukulkan.”
1. What’s amazing about the Mayan artifacts discovered in Mexico?| A．The long history and perfect state. |
| B．The digging time and location. |
| C．The current high price. |
| D．The variety of usage. |
| A．The features of the cave. | B．The findings in the cave. |
| C．The ancient cave system. | D．The origin of Mayan centers. |
| A．It can help scientists register cultural relics. |
| B．It can encourage archaeologists to form work beliefs. |
| C．It can help scientists further learn about Mayan civilization. |
| D．It can arouse the interest of Mexicans in archaeology. |
| A．Dig wells under the Kukulkan. |
| B．Move the findings to another cave. |
| C．Find the cause of groundwater disappearance. |
| D．Try to find another cave under the pyramid of Kukulkan. |
【推荐2】In November 2020, US climber Emily Harrington, 34, took on EI Captain—a 3,000 foot (917 meters) rock formation (岩层) in Yosemite National Park, US. She accomplished her feat (壮举) within a day and became the first woman to free-climb the Golden Gate route.
It used to take weeks for rock climbers to reach the top of EI Captain, even with the help of a partner and climbing aids. In recent years, only three people—all me—had free-climbed the Golden Gate route on EI Captain in under 24 hours, according to CNN.
The number of female climbers has been rising in recent years. Even in the pandemic, many of them have made great achievements and pushed human limits. “I had never expected to earn my place to a Yosemite climber. But throughout this experience I have learned that there is no formula to achievement up there,” she said.
The rising number of female climbing enthusiasts should come as no surprise. According to the website Climbing.com, “Climbing is one of the few sports where it’s possible to level the playing field. Women’s superior strength-to-weight ratio (比例）helps offset (弥补) anything we may lack in power or reach, bridging the gap between the sexes.”
Legendary Austrian climber Angela Eiter is another strong female figure in the climbing world. In 2020 Eiter made news as she climbed the unknown face she calls Madame Ching in her home country.
According to New York Post, the route was free of traces. That means Eiter had to search for the holds and predict how the moves were going to play out by herself. Worse still, the rock there is really fragile and some holds had to be fixed with glue. But after intensive indoor training to visualize the route and build up the strength, Eiter, who stands 154cm high and weighs 46kg, made it.
“I am not the strongest woman and I am very small, and I am happy that I can show other women that they can also do it,” she told the reporter.
1. What did Emily Harrington accomplish?| A．She reached the top of EI Captain in less than a day. |
| B．She free-climbed the Golden Gate route within weeks. |
| C．She was the first person to take on EI Captain successfully. |
| D．She free-climbed the Golden Gate route without climbing aids. |
| A．Give a sense of belonging. |
| B．Give someone an advantage. |
| C．Make a situation more balanced. |
| D．Allow someone to prove themselves. |
| A．There were no holds to use. |
| B．There were no beaten path to follow. |
| C．There was a lack of necessities like glue. |
| D．Her prediction about the route was wrong. |
| A．Always battle others. |
| B．Find where you belong. |
| C．Work hard to be a role model. |
| D．Be brave and pursue your goal. |
【推荐3】Sarah Park has known about the effect of music on the brain since a young age. The 13-year-old, who has been playing violin since she was 4, says she noticed its positive effect on those around her, especially her grandmother, who suffered from a mental health illness.
Now, Sarah Park, the middle-schooler hopes to use music therapy (疗法) to help others struggling with mental health. Her invention, Spark Care+, earned her the title of America's Top Young Scientist at the 3M Young Scientist Challenge on October 19, 2021. “I was pretty shocked when they announced my name as the grand prize winner,” Park said. “I am excited and thrilled with what's to come next with Spark Care+.”
Spark Care+ requires participants to respond to a series of questions based on the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale, designed to assess the person's mental state. The device's inbuilt sensors record vital mental health indicators, such as heart rate and blood pressure. Spark Care+ 's AI (Artificial Intelligence) component analyzes the information and recommends the appropriate music to help lift the participant's spirits. It also monitors its impact on the listener.
In addition to being an inventor, Park is also a musical prodigy (天才) who has won several violin competitions, including the Florida state championship. She also plays the piano and is a math champion. The teen aspires to be an innovator and researcher in the medical field using technology and robotics. Her advice to other young scientists? “Dream big, ask questions, and anything is possible.”
Now in its 14th year, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge is an annual national competition that invites students in grades 5-8 to find a unique solution to an everyday problem. In addition to the well-renowned title of “America's Top Young Scientist”, the grand prize winner receives a special guidance of a 3M scientist, a $25, 000 cash prize, and a special destination trip. The second and third place winners each receive $1, 000 in prize money and a special destination trip.
1. What is the function of the AI component in Spark Care+?| A．To analyze problems quickly and accurately. |
| B．To choose the right music for the participants. |
| C．To encourage participants to interact better. |
| D．To cure participants with appropriate music. |
| A．Argues. | B．Bets. |
| C．Desires. | D．Tends. |
| A．An inventor becomes famous for her invention. |
| B．A little girl has a gift for music and medicine. |
| C．A young scientist stands out in a competition. |
| D．A teenager's music therapy won the grand prize. |
| A．A news report. | B．A science textbook. |
| C．A competition guide. | D．A psychology magazine. |
【推荐1】Swimming in water temperatures of 41 degrees F and below with air temperatures between 6.8 degrees F and 4 degrees F, wearing just a swimsuit, a cap, and a pair of glasses may sound foolish to some. But that is precisely what 400 athletes from 33 countries had to bear in the International Swimming Championships held in Murmansk, Russia.
Organized by the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA), the event was held in a 25-meter-long swimming pool created by carving out slabs (平板) of the 2 foot thick surface layer of ice on Lake Semyonovakaya with chain saws (锯子).
Each event also has a strict time limit. Due to the danger of the low body temperature, competitors who are in the water must be pulled out in time. Swimmers do not dive in. Instead, they go into the water slowly using ladders. They must also stay flat in the water at all times and are forbidden to perform turns which could endanger the organs. Upon completing their race, swimmers are quickly led to a recovery center. Once their body temperature stabilizes, they settle down for a hot bath.
Jony Warneken said, “There are three reasons why a lot of us do this. There’s the physical challenge of actually swimming in water that is below five degrees. We love being out in nature. And the third thing is that the friendship among the swimmers is fantastic.”
Jade Perry said, “It’s fantastic when I get in the cold water — I’m just free. The most important is that I’m not worrying about work, my house, or anything like that in my life. I’m in the water and I’m just thinking about swimming.”
Ice swimming is enjoyed by a few brave souls. However, Ram Barkai, the founder of IISA, is trying to convince Chinese officials to include it as a competitive event in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. While he even persuaded the decision makers to come to the Murmansk Championships, there is no word yet on if he met with any success.
1. What do we know about the swimming pool?| A．It is 2 feet wide. | B．It lies in an ice lake. |
| C．It is as deep as 25 meters. | D．It serves as a recovery place for patients. |
| A．Make some turns in the water. |
| B．Finish swimming at a fixed period of time. |
| C．Dive into the water as quickly as possible. |
| D．Find a chance to get out of the water for a hot bath. |
| A．The challenge of the physical body. | B．The happiness of conquering nature. |
| C．The joy of escaping from the reality. | D．The friendship with other swimmers. |
| A．Invite some brave swimmers to Murmansk. |
| B．Make swimming become a more competitive sport. |
| C．Persuade Chinese swimmers to join the competition. |
| D．Have ice swimming included in the Winter Olympics. |
【推荐2】Camper Lunch Program
We are pleased to offer the Camper Lunch Program for full-day campers or campers participating in both morning and afternoon half-day camps.
Lunch at the Overlake School
At the Overlake School in Redmond, you can sign up for lunch at the time of registration. Lunch is provided by the school cafeteria including a hot main dish and a salad bar option. Limited diet restrictions can be accommodated in advance. All orders or cancellations must be made by 4:00 pm on Wednesday.
.$ 40 for 5-day camp week
.$ 32 for 4-day camp week
Lunch at View Seattle
Two weeks before your camp start date, you will receive a link in your confirmation email to choose your preference between the regular and vegetarian(素的)lunch menus. Besides, camper with allergies or sensitivities are encouraged to bring their own lunch.
.$ 40 for 5-day camp week
.$ 38 for 4-day camp week
Lunch at St. Thomas School
At St. Thomas School, lunch and snacks are provided by SAGE Dining. Lunch includes a hot main dish, a salad bar and sandwich options. Campers also receive two snacks per day.
.S 50 for 5-day camp week
.$45 for 4-day camp week
Lunch at Pacific Science Center
At Pacific Science Center, you can sign up at the time of registration. Lunch is provided by our very own Pacific Science Center Cafe. Every day, standard and vegetarian lunch menus are available and come with a water bottle and two snacks. All orders or cancellations must be made by 4: 00 pm on Wednesday.
$ 45 for 5-day camp week
$ 36 for 4-day camp week
1. Which program can a camper with a budget of $ 35 choose?| A．Lunch at the Overlake School. | B．Lunch at View Seattle. |
| C．Lunch at St. Thomas School. | D．Lunch at Pacific Science Center. |
| A．Stay far away from anything with allergies. | B．Choose their lunch preferences in advance. |
| C．Avoid bringing their own lunch for any reason. | D．Send emails to offer advice on improving lunch. |
| A．They receive registrations only on Wednesday. | B．They encourage campers to bring some snacks. |
| C．They are mainly intended for vegetarian campers. | D．They provide campers with two snacks each day. |
【推荐3】The prized love for an ice cream goes back thousands of years, and ice creams were enjoyed by people living all over the ancient world—from China to Mesopotamia.
As early as 4,000 years ago, Chinese people enjoyed a kind of frozen syrup—a thick sweet sticky liquid. Centuries later around 400 B.C., sherbet was a popular treat in the Persian Empire. This cold drink featured syrups made from chemise, quinces, and pomegranates that were then cooled with snow. The modern words “sherbet,” “Barbet,” and “syrup” can find their linguistic origins back Lo Shabbat.
Historic accounts tell of Alexander the Great, who took over the Persian Empire in 330 B. C., enjoying tasty ices sweetened with honey. The Greeks, and later the Romans, adopted the custom of cooling their drinks. In the early yean of the Roman Empire, Emperor Nero was known to apply fruit juices mixed with boney and snow at his banquets. Centuries later in the 1290s, Marco Polo returned from China with recipes for delicious ices, some of which included milk.
Modern ice creams were only made possible by obtaining and preserving snow and ice from cold, mountainous areas or frozen lakes and rivers. Different civilizations created icehouses with variations on the same theme: chambers free of heat and light. Deep pits were often used, and the ice would be packed separately, often with straw or branches, to keep out the heat.
Getting ice was complex and labor-consuming, which made ice highly valuable in the middle Ages, when snow was still brought from the mountains to icehouses throughout Europe. The 17th century witnessed private icehouses, and by the end of the 18th century, large icehouses were built in towns and cities. Traveling sales people sold large blocks of ice door to door.
In some cities the ice trade was regulated by the authorities, who set prices and fines for illegal sale. In Naples there were 43 “ice sellers” in 1807. Rule restricted sellers to supplying ice only during the summer.
Sorbet, sherbet, syrup, or just plain ice cream, these cold, greet treats have been cooling people of for centuries.
1. Which of the following is the fact about the development of ice cream?| A．Straws or branches were used to produce modern ice creams. |
| B．Alexander the Great had cool drinks with honey end snow at his banquets. |
| C．Marco Polo brought back from China recipes for milk -taste ices in the late 13th century. |
| D．People in the Persian Empire enjoyed frozen syrup 3, 600 years earlier than the Chinese. |
| A．Plants. | B．Rooms. | C．Packages. | D．Ice creams. |
| A．It was a tough jab to obtain ice. | B．The production took a lot of time. |
| C．Much labor was needed for marketing. | D．The producing techniques were advanced. |
| A．Historic Accounts of Preserving Ice Creams | B．Contrast of Ancient and Modern lee Creams |
| C．Chinese Contributions to Making Ice Creams | D．The History and Worldwide Love of Ice Creams |
【推荐1】In Van Nuys California, a beagle(猎兔犬) was dropped off at the city pound because he was too old and had gained so much weight; the owner didn't want him anymore. The people at the shelter guessed that the beagle was 7-8 years old, so he still had a lot of life left, if he could be brought back to a normal weight.
Unfortunately, dog pounds don't have the time or resources to work an abandoned animal back into good health. Plus, people don't like to adopt animals that are terribly overweight. Without someone's stepping in, this beagle would probably have been put down by giving a drug to end his suffering.
Thankfully the good people of Karma Rescue, a non-profit organization which provides life-saving aid for pets in trouble, came to his rescue. He was given the name Darwin. Karma rescues a number of dogs, and they were still surprised at what appeared to be neglect(忽略) of the dog for its entire life.
Darwin was about twice the weight that he should have been and even had a hard time walking. Having a beagle, we know how quickly a beagle can become overweight, which puts stress on their heart and causes other health issues.
Beagles will eat anything put in front of them, and will eat it all. They don't know when or how to stop eating. We have experienced this when our beagle has gotten into our trash, gotten food on the kitchen counter, and even eaten a bag of chocolate chips. Thankfully our beagle survived his hard times and we have learned to “beagle proof(防护) ” the house when we leave.
Darwin was in for a long journey back to health, but with the support of many people, he is down to a normal beagle weight and he is well on his way.
1. The underline word “pound” in Paragraph l probably refers to a place_____________.| A．where dogs are trained to hunt | B．where people can buy or sell pets |
| C．where sick or injured pets are treated | D．where homeless dogs are temporarily kept |
| A．He would have been poisoned to death. |
| B．He would have been abandoned in the wild. |
| C．He would have been adopted by a kind couple. |
| D．He would have been returned to his former owner. |
| A．Leave all the doors open. | B．Place the trash near the beagle. |
| C．Put all the food out of the beagle's reach. | D．Build a thick and strong wall around the house. |
| A．The Transformation of an Abandoned Beagle |
| B．Karma Rescue, a Non-profit Organization |
| C．How to Keep Your Beagle in Shape |
| D．Kind People Bring Good Luck |
Located on the shore of Sullivan's Island off the coast of South Carolina, the award-winning cube-shaped beach house was built to replace one smashed to pieces by Hurricane Hugo 10 years ago. In September 1989, Hugo struck South Carolina, killing 18 people and damaging or destroying 36,000 homes in the state.
Before Hugo, many new houses built along South Carolina's shoreline were poorly constructed, and enforcement of building codes wasn't strict, according to architect Ray Huff, who created the cleverly-designed beach house. In Hugo's wake, all new shoreline houses are required to meet stricter, better-enforced codes. The new beach house on Sullivan's Island should be able to resist a Category 3 hurricane with peak winds of 179 to 209 kilometers per hour.
At first sight, the house on Sullivan's Island looks anything but hurricane-proof. Its redwood shell makes it resemble "a large party lantern" at night, according to one observer. But looks can be deceiving. The house's wooden frame is reinforced with long steel rods to give it extra strength.
To further protect the house from hurricane damage, Huff raised it 2.7 meters off the ground on timber pilings—long, slender columns of wood anchored deep in the sand. Pilings (桩) might appear insecure, but they are strong enough to support the weight of the house. They also elevate the house above storm waves. The pilings allow the waves to run under the house instead of running into it. "These swells of water come ashore at tremendous speeds and cause most of the damage done to beach-front buildings," said Huff.
Huff designed the timber pilings to be partially concealed by the house's ground-to-roof shell. " The shell masks the pilings so that the house doesn't look like it's standing with its pant legs pulled up, " said Huff. In the event of a storm surge, the shell should break apart and let the waves rush under the house, the architect explained.
1. After the tragedy caused by Hurricane Hugo, new houses built along South Carolina's shore line should ________.
| A．be easily reinforced |
| B．look smarter in design |
| C．satisfy higher building standards |
| D．be designed in the shape of cubes |
| A．withstand peak winds of about 200 km/hr |
| B．make stronger pilings deep in the sand |
| C．break huge sea waves into smaller ones |
| D．prevent water from rushing into the house |
| A．to strengthen the pilings of the house |
| B．to give the house a better appearance |
| C．to protect the wooden frame of the house |
| D．to slow down the speed of the swelling water |
| A．fancy-looking | B．water-proof |
| C．easily breakable | D．extremely strong |
【推荐3】Ida Nelson and her sister were relaxing and enjoying themselves in the sauna (桑拿室) when she heard a series of long low sounds from a small airplane circling the nearby airport.
It was 11:30 at night in the Alaskan village of Igiugig, population 70, and, as she told the reporter, “Any time a plane flies over that late, you know something is wrong.”
Nelson and her sister leaped out of the sauna, ran to the window, and saw the problem: The airport’s runway lights were out.
Nelson threw on some clothes, jumped into her ATV, and floored it to the airport, where she found a local pilot trying to turn on the lights manually.
“Normally, if you push the button 10 or 15 times, the lights will just light up,” Nelson told KTOO out of Juneau. Not this time. Meanwhile, she and the pilot learned of the plane’s urgent mission: It was a medevac (医疗救护直升机), there to transport a seriously ill local girl to the nearest hospital, 280 miles away in Anchorage.
Nelson had a plan. Driving her ATV to the end of the runway, she shone her headlights for the plane to follow. Great idea, but it wasn’t enough. More light was needed, so a neighbor called nearly every home in the village—32 of them.
Within 20 minutes, 20 vehicles arrived at the airport, many of the drivers still in pajamas (睡衣). Following directions from the medevac pilot, the cars lined up on one side of the runway.
The medevac made its final approach and, guided by the headlights, landed safely. The young patient was loaded onto the aircraft, and the plane immediately took off again. Her illness was never publicly revealed, but she has since been released from the hospital.
In a world filled with uncertainty, the little community’s positive activism was a big deal. Not so much for Nelson. As she told the reporter, in Igiugig, coming together “is kind of a normal deal.”
1. What problem did the medevac have?| A．It arrived late. | B．Its lights were broken. |
| C．It couldn’t land safely. | D．It needed a local pilot. |
| A．Helping the pilot to repair the lights. |
| B．Calling her neighbors to help together. |
| C．Shining the headlights for the plane to follow. |
| D．Sending the seriously ill girl to the hospital in her ATV. |
| A．Knowledge starts with practice. |
| B．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| C．Nothing is impossible to the man who will try. |
| D．A small act of kindness can make a big difference. |
