Ecotourism has become increasingly popular in recent years.Travelers visit natural environments funding conservation efforts or promoting local economies.In many cases, ecotourism involves close interaction with wildlife.
Now, scientists have analyzed more than 100 research studies on how ecotourism affects wild animals.They find the presence of humans changes the way animals behave, and those changes may put them at risk.Therefore, they have concluded that such trips can be harmful to the animals.
When animals interact in seemingly kind ways with humans, they may let down their guard.As animals learn to relax in the presence of humans, they may become bolder in other situations.If this transfers to their interactions with predators (捕食者), they are more likely to be injured or killed.
The presence of humans can also discourage natural predators.It creates a kind of safe place for smaller animals that may make them bolder.For example, in Grand Teton National Park, elk and pronghorns in areas with more tourists are less watchful and spend more time eating.
Interacting with people can cause great changes in the characteristics of various species over time.“If animals become accustomed to tourists, we might create unintended consequences — affecting the behavior or population of a species and influencing the species’ function in its community,” the researchers write.
Ecotourism has effects similar to those of animal domestication (驯养) and urbanization.Research has shown that domesticated silver foxes become more obedient and less fearful.Fox squirrels and birds that live in urbanized areas are slower to flee from danger.The phenomena result from evolutionary changes, but also from regular interactions with humans.
Scientists hope the new analysis will encourage more research into the interactions between people and wildlife.It is essential to develop further understanding of how various species in various situations respond to human interaction and under what conditions human exposure may place them at risk.
1. We can learn from the passage that ___________.A.ecotourism causes damage to the natural homes of wildlife |
B.it is easy for eco-tourists to build up trust with wild animals |
C.the effects brought by ecotourism may be harmful to the animals |
D.wildlife interactions with humans strengthen their function in community |
A.shyer | B.braver | C.wiser | D.swifter |
A.wild animals become more relaxed due to evolution |
B.animals’ reactions to humans vary from species to species |
C.smaller animals tend to be in harmony with natural predators |
D.the presence of humans reduces their awareness of potential danger |
A.Ecotourism Can Put Wild Animals at Risk |
B.Ecotourism Has Become A Popular Trend |
C.Wildlife’s Reactions to Human Activities |
D.Latest Research Findings on Ecotourism |
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Lying at the city center and called Gu Gong in Chinese, it was the imperial palace for twenty-four emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It was first built throughout 14 years during the reign of Emperor Chengzu in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Ancient Chinese Astronomers believed that the Purple Star (Polaris) was in the center of heaven and the Heavenly Emperor lived in the Purple Palace. The Palace for the emperor on earth was so called the Purple City. It was forbidden to enter without special permission of the emperor. Hence its name “The Purple Forbidden City”, usually “The Forbidden City”.
Now known as the Palace Museum, it is to the north of Tiananmen Square. Rectangular in shape, it is the world's largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. Surrounded by a 52-meter-wide moat and a 10-meter-high wall are more than 8,700 rooms. The wall has a gate on each side. Opposite the Tiananmen Gate, to the north is the Gate of Divine Might (Shenwumen), which faces Jingshan Park. The distance between these two gates is 960 meters, while the distance between the east and west gates is 750 meters. There are unique and delicately structured towers on each of the four corners of the curtain wall. These afford views over both the palace and the city outside.
It is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Until 1924 when the last emperor of China was driven from the Inner Court, fourteen emperors of the Ming dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty had reigned here. Having been the imperial palace for some five centuries, it houses numerous rare treasures and curiosities. Listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, the Palace Museum is now one of the most popular tourist attractions world-wide.
Construction of the palace complex began in 1407, the 5th year of the Yongle reign of the third emperor (Emperor Chengzu, Zhu Di) of the Ming dynasty. It was completed fourteen years later in 1420, and then the capital city was moved from Nanjing to Beijing the next year. It was said that a million workers including one hundred thousand artisans were driven into the long-term hard labor. Stone needed was quarried from Fangshan District. It was said a well was dug every fifty meters along the road in order to pour water onto the road in winter to slide huge stones on ice into the city. Huge amounts of timber and other materials were carried from faraway provinces.
Ancient Chinese people displayed their very considerable skills in building it. Take the grand red city wall for example. It has an 8.6 meters wide base reducing to 6.66 meters wide at the top. The angular shape of the wall totally frustrates attempts to climb it. The bricks were made from white lime and glutinous rice while the cement is made from glutinous rice and egg whites. These incredible materials make the wall extraordinarily strong.
Since yellow is the symbol of the royal family, it is the dominant color in it. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a special process. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the royal library, has a black roof. The reason is that it was believed black represented water then and could put out fire.
Nowadays, it is open to tourists from home and abroad. Splendid painted decoration on these royal architectural wonders, the grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent treasures will certainly satisfy 'modern civilians'.
1. Why is Gugong called “The Purple Forbidden City”?
2. What’s the distance between Tiananmen Square and the Gate of Divine Might?
3. Where did the emperor and his royal family live, the southern section, or the northern section?
4. Which emperor made the decision first to move the capital to Beijing in the Ming dynasty?
5. When did he move the capital to Beijing?
6. Do you think it is easy to climb the wall of the Forbidden City? If not, why?
【推荐2】The Lake of Heaven
Changbaishan is in Jilin Province, Northeast China. Much of this beautiful, mountainous area is thick forest. Changbaishan is China’s largest nature reserve and it is kept in its natural state for the people of China and visitors from all over the world to enjoy. The land varies in height from 700 meters above sea level to over 2,000 meters and is home to a great diversity of rare plants and animals, Among the rare animals are cranes, black bears, leopards and tigers. Many people come to Changbaishan to study its unique plants and animals. Others come to walk in the mountains, to see the spectacular waterfalls or to bathe in the hot water pools. However, the attraction that arouses the greatest appreciation in the reserve is Tianchi or the Lake of Heaven.
Tianchi is a deep lake that has formed in the crater of a dead volcano on top of the mountain. The lake is 2,194 meters above sea level, and more than 200 meters deep. In winter the surface freezes over. It takes about an hour to climb from the end of the road to the top of the mountain. When you arrive you are rewarded not only with the sight of its clear waters, but also by the view of the other sixteen mountain peaks that surround Tianchi.
There are many stories told about Tianchi. The most well-known concerns three young women from heaven. They were bathing in Tianchi when a bird flew above them and dropped a small fruit onto the dress of the youngest girl. When she picked up the fruit to smell it, it flew into her mouth. Having swallowed the fruit, the girl became pregnant and later gave birth to a handsome boy. It is said that this boy, who had a great gift for languages and persuasion, is the father of the Manchu people.
If you are lucky enough to visit the Lake of Heaven with your loved one, don’t forget to drop a coin into the clear blue water to guarantee your love will be as deep and lasting as the lake itself.
1. Which of the following has not been mentioned as a feature of Changbaishan?A.It is home to a great variety of rare plants and animals. |
B.It is cold and has always been covered with snow. |
C.It has beautiful waterfall and water pools. |
D.It is very high above sea level. |
A.The forest. | B.The waterfall. |
C.The sea. | D.Tianchi. |
A.It is not very deep. |
B.It is covered with ice in winter. |
C.It is surrounded by small lakes. |
D.It is at the foot of Changbaishan. |
A.boring | B.inspiring | C.interesting | D.confusing |
【推荐3】Would you take a trip if you could not use your mobile phone during it? Not even a camera? A new travel company is asking people to do just that. The company is called Off the Grid. Zach Beattie is its founder. “When you’re somewhere new, there’s a lot to see and a lot of cool and interesting people to meet,” Beattie said. “Your phone can distract you.”
The company’s first journey is to Lisbon, Portugal in July. It is also planning trips to the Croatian coast, Barcelona, Spain, Lima, Peru and Tulum, Mexico.
The 7-to-10-day tours are for small groups, no more than 16 people. Trip prices begin at $ 1,500. The cost includes stays in hostels, some meals and ground transportation. It does not include airfare.
Travellers will be able to use a simple mobile phone that does not connect to the Internet. It will have useful local phone numbers. Off the Grid travellers are allowed to bring usual cameras to take photos. But the company also employs a photographer to take lots of pictures during the tour. Once the trip is over travellers can post the photos on social media.
Trip schedules provided by Off the Grid include at least three activities and two social events. The company prefers special experiences to more traditional sightseeing. The Lisbon trip, for example, includes surfing lessons, exercise by the sea, a day of boating and dinner with a local family. Beattie says he does not want the travellers to be too busy going from one place to another.
1. What’s the purpose of Off the Grid?A.To create the best travel experience. | B.To make travellers give full attention to views. |
C.To teach travellers to live in a new place. | D.To show mobile phones are necessary in life. |
A.Surf the Internet | B.Post photos on social media. |
C.Call local restaurants. | D.Take photos with their phones. |
A.A newly founded travel company | B.Why not stop using mobile phones while travelling |
C.How useless mobile phones are during trips | D.A wonderful group trip to Lisbon, Portugal. |
【推荐1】One New Year’s Day, ecologist Rob Wolton came up with an unusual resolution—to spend the next 12 months studying a hedge(树篱) 40 metres from his house in the middle of Devon. He wanted to make a list of every plant, animal and fungus(真菌)that used it. After a year of observations he had found 2, 000 species—far more than he imagined. Wolton says he enjoyed it hugely and his findings contribute to the growing body of evidence that hedges should not be overlooked.
“There is increasing recognition that much of the wildlife finds shelter in the hedges. But they’re much more than just wildlife passages—they are really important as habitats in their own right,” he says. The European commission’s Joint Research Centre recently argued that as the climate crisis worsens, hedges are expected to play more roles as they move in response to environmental change. Their deep roots help sequester carbon(固碳), and they also reduce the likelihood of flooding downstream, suck nutrients and pollutants out of water, and prevent soil loss. Alongside these functions, there is a cultural benefit to hedges too—I think lots of us who live in England think of the hedge landscape as being quite typical, says Wolton.
After the Second World War many hedges were removed to create more productive land. Only about one in three hedges in England are in good condition, according to the most recent research done in 2017.
The main issues are hedges being cut too severely and too frequently, which leads to loss of wildlife and gaps. A squirrel, for example, will turnaround if there is a gap of five metres. New hedges are being planted with single species, instead of many, which decrease the wildlife they can support.
It’s hard to say if interest in hedges will translate into action on a national scale,and much depends on what landscape features Environmental Land Management scheme.
1. What is the significance of Wolton’s study of the hedge?A.It makes Wolton’s resolution come true. |
B.It shows Wolton’s fondness of the hedge. |
C.It indicates the important role of the hedge. |
D.It points out the number of animals and plants. |
A.Hedges provide home for wildlife. |
B.Hedges are used to fight climate crisis. |
C.Hedges area typical symbol of England. |
D.Hedges have advantages in different aspects. |
A.To show the diversity of wildlife in hedges. |
B.To explain the bad effect of gaps in hedges. |
C.To call for more species of plants in hedges. |
D.To present what the loss of wildlife is like. |
A.The favorable policy on hedges is undecided. |
B.Public attention in hedges will be intensified. |
C.A national scale protection is soon underway. |
D.Environmental Land Management will fund hedges. |
【推荐2】For sharks, the Mesoamerican Reef, which stretches over 600 miles, is a busy highway. Sharks use it to find their way and it provides them with food and habitat.
But as with on-land highways, this superhighway can be dangerous. Overfishing, commercial development and illegal practices are endangering the species. “We’re seeing a continued decline in shark populations. Our goal is to turn that round.” says Rachel Graham, founder of Mar Alliance, a non-profit organization focused on conserving sharks.
By monitoring sharks, Mar Alliance can collect important knowledge on the species to help inform conservation and push for political action. But rather than acting in opposition to the local fishing community, MarAlliance enlists their help.
“They are the ones who are on the sea every single day,” says Graham, “and they’re the ones who decide the species’ future.”
MarAlliance employs up to 60 fishermen across its range, mostly on a project basis, training them to collect data, record and release fish. Not only does this provide an alternative income to fishing communities, making them less dependent on natural resources, but it also teaches them about the benefits of a healthy ocean ecosystem and how to fish sustainably.
Among them, Ivan Torres, who used to catch sharks to sell locally as food, has learned how critical they’re to the whole ecosystem, saying he’d never fish sharks any more.
If this attitude change continues to spread throughout fishing communities, Graham has hope for the shark populations. “The primary threat to sharks is unquestionably overfishing,” she says, “By reforming the industry, populations can bounce back.”
In 2020, Belize outlawed the use of gillnets, large panels of netting of trapping large sealife. The ban’s impact is already noticeable with a recorded 10-fold increase in shark populations.
But such regulations need to be copied along the whole superhighway for long-lasting impact, and countries need to find a sustainable balance between fishers and the fished. “We need to find a win-win strategy between fisher livelihoods and shark survival,” Graham emphasizes. “I hope that through education and providing an economic alternative for fishing communities, MarAlliance will help ensure safe passage for sharks along the reef”.
1. Which of the following best describes the Mesoamerican Reef for sharks?A.Romantic but messy. | B.Vital but insecure. |
C.Adventurous but beautiful. | D.Unfamiliar but reliable. |
A.MarAlliance. | B.The fishers. |
C.Monitoring authorities. | D.The sharks. |
A.A stricter fishing ban. | B.The insurance payout he earned. |
C.An offer of extra work. | D.The fishing communities’ intervention. |
A.Solution to overfishing. | B.Difficulties facing MarAlliance. |
C.Impact of existing regulations. | D.Features of international cooperation. |
The report has been produced by the US Geological Survey. The scientists have publicized their findings in the hope of influencing US Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne,who has been asked to put polar bears on the US endangered species list.
Polar bears depend on floating sea ice as a platform for hunting seals,which are their main food. Without enough ice,polar bears would be forced to go onto the land,where they are poorly skilled hunters,and would be unlikely to adapt to the life on the land in time. Experts say few little bears would survive and the stress could make many females unable to get pregnant.
The team of American and Canadian scientists spent six months studying bears,on the ground,from spotter planes and in the lab,using computer models.
Some team members fear the result is even worse for the bears than what their report says. They say the Arctic is warming faster than anywhere in the world and much faster than their computer had been forecasting. Satellite observations have showed that the ice has decreased to an all-time low.
However,not everyone in the scientific community believes that global warming is happening on such an alarming scale. Another investigation has found that polar bears are still being hunted by wealthy “sportsmen” who want their skins and heads. At least ten international companies offer bear-hunting trips.
1. What do we know about Dirk Kempthorne according to the passage?
A.He is an animal scientist. |
B.He is a protector of animals working for the US government. |
C.He was asked to put polar bears on the US endangered species list. |
D.He offered to put polar bears on the endangered species list. |
A.Because polar bears can't catch enough food without ice. |
B.Because polar bears eat ice when they feel thirsty. |
C.Because polar bears will be easily found by hunters without ice. |
D.Because most female bears are used to giving birth under ice. |
A.there is something wrong with their computers |
B.polar bears will disappear even faster than they ever expected |
C.their computer models are not as accurate as they expected |
D.global warming will destroy everything in the Arctic |
A.The forecast about the future of polar bears is not correct. |
B.Global warming won't have any effect on hunting trips in the Arctic. |
C.Polar bears are an endangered species as a result of bear-hunting. |
D.People don't pay enough attention to the protection of endangered species. |
【推荐1】Christy and Ted Wilson set aside time every Sunday evening to go over their shared to-do list. Most of the items are tasks like scheduling doctor appointments and organizing play dates for their three young children.
In every relationship, there’s a question of who is pulling their weight around the house. Now that a majority of married-couple families have two working parents, the old “rough day at the office” excuse doesn’t really cut it.
Women still handle more of the household activities, but men increasingly are spending time on food preparation and cleanup. To keep things fair or at least to avoid fights, couples are turning to technology. They are using project management apps designed for the workplace to divide up and track household to-dos and reserving a portion of their date nights to compare chores. In some cases, they are even turning it into a game, setting rewards for getting things done.
The imbalance doesn’t always follow gender lines. There was a time when Mr. Wilson was in more of a “Mr. Mom” role: He was attending business school, while Mrs. Wilson was clocking long hours as a lawyer. So Mr. Wilson had more flexibility to take on more of the child-care and household-management work. The couple’s roles changed after Mr. Wilson graduated and started an e-commerce company. “We have had a lot of switching back and forth of who was in the driver’s seat in terms of household management so one person wasn’t too put upon,” she said. They began using calendars to keep the family schedules straight and sharing a to-do list in the Notes app on their phones. Each can take on chores the other dislikes.
1. What does the underlined part “pulling their weight around the house”in Paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Sharing the burden of buying a house. | B.Taking on the household chores. |
C.Running around the house to lose weight. | D.Making excuses for not doing any housework. |
A.Gender plays a key role in management. | B.Couples need to switch their roles each day. |
C.Understanding can help solve problems. | D.Digital apps can only handle household arguments. |
A.Ways to finish housework. | B.Advantages of the Notes app. |
C.A family to-do list goes digital. | D.Working parents face difficulties. |
People in all cultures use clothing and other forms of bodily decoration to communicate status, intentions and other messages. In North America, we dress differently for business and various leisure activities. North American women usually are much more knowledgeable of little difference in messages communicated by clothes than men. At times, this leads to silly mistakes of understanding of female intentions on the part of men. Of course, clothing styles also are intended to communicate messages to members of the same gender.
Long before we are near enough to talk to someone, their appearance tells their gender, age, economic class, and often even intentions. We begin to recognize the important cultural clues at an early age. The vocabulary of dress that we learn includes not only items of clothing but also hairstyles, jewelry, and other body decoration. In most cultures, however, the same style of dress communicates different messages depending on the age, gender, and physical appearance of the individual wearing it.
Putting on certain types of clothing can change your behavior and the behavior of others towards you. This can be the case with a doctor’s white lab coat, or an army uniform. Most uniforms are clearly symbolic so that they can rapidly and unmistakably communicate status. For instance, the strange hairstyle and clothing of the English “punks” are essential aspects of their uniforms.
1. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A.Clothing and Culture. |
B.Ways of Sending Message. |
C.Communication through Clothing |
D.Clothing and Social Behavior |
A.To hide their fear for the exam. |
B.To provide protection against bad weather. |
C.To make them more comfortable. |
D.To call for supernatural help. |
A.Age. | B.Dress. | C.Status. | D.Gender. |
A.Clothing plays an important role in social activities. |
B.Words of dress are unable to communicate different messages. |
C.Dress is better than language in communicating messages. |
D.Messages communicated by clothes are the same in different cultures. |
【推荐3】Tea time is first thing in the morning at Buckingham Palace! Even queens need a morning pick-me-up, and Queen Elizabeth II is no exception to having an early morning necessity. The Queen eats breakfast every day at 8: 30 a.m. with her husband, Prince Philip. But she doesn’t arrive on an empty stomach. In fact, Elizabeth treats herself with something before her morning bath every morning at 7:30.
Once she’s up, Queen Elizabeth II enjoys a pot of hot Earl Grey, alongside some tea biscuits. Like most United Kingdom residents, she takes her tea without sugar, but doesn’t mind adding a little milk. You can, in fact, drink your tea like a royal, because Her Majesty’s favorite brand of Earl Grey is available around the world.
Her tea is piping hot and poured from silver pots into a bone china cup for her to sip while she listens to the radio. If you can also enjoy a cup of tea in the morning, follow the example of the Queen and try making these tea cookies to eat before the most important meal of the day.
Once she’s digested her pre-meal treats, Queen Elizabeth II loves to enjoy Special K grain food and fruit for her morning food and drinks. Yes, the Queen really does love the same brands that we “commoners” every day! You can check out other diets she loves.
This sounds like the perfect start to any day to us! And we’re glad that the United Kingdom’s longest-serving ruler is taking a little bit of time for herself. Can’t you get enough other foods Queen Elizabeth II eats regularly? Ordinary people usually worship the members of the royal family and take great interest in their way of life.
1. What does the underlined word “commoners” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?A.Royal fans | B.Noble members | C.common people | D.Mass consumers |
A.Ask the Queen for her diet plan. | B.Share their life experiences with the queen. |
C.Help the Queen improve her lifestyle. | D.Follow the Queen’s morning diet. |
A.The Queen eats the same as we do | B.What the Queen eats before breakfast |
C.How pre-meal treats benefit the Queen | D.Good foods and drinks we eat as breakfast |