Both African elephants and Asian elephants face serious threats to their long-term survival, although the risks vary widely from place to place. Several million African elephants roamed across the continent as recently as the early 20th century, but today only about 350, 000 remain. Asian elephants were less abundant to begin with, reportedly numbering about 200,000 a century ago. There are now fewer Asian elephants left in the wild, maybe close to extinction unless something can be done to save them.
The main threat to elephants is a familiar one for wildlife around the world: loss and destruction of their habitats. Many elephants also face additional dangers, though, including both direct and indirect conflict with people.
On top of occupying and altering elephant habitats, people also commonly plant food crops there. As more farms appear in forests and plains where elephants are accustomed to roaming, their crops often become easy targets for hungry elephants. A herd can destroy a year’s harvest in one night, leading to understandable hostility among farmers, many of whom are living a poor life and have little income to make up the loss. This sometimes leads to certain killings of elephants, interactions that are dangerous for everyone involved. These clashes lead to hundreds of deaths across Asia and Africa every year, both elephant and human.
Many people around the world are committed to preserving these ancient creatures. Elephants are important keystone species shaping and maintaining the ecosystems around them. Since the main threat to elephants is habitat loss, it makes sense to focus our conservation efforts on preserving what’s left of their natural environment. The fate of elephants is also more broadly linked to the human communities around them, since people with enough legal opportunities to support their families might be less likely to depend on hunting for income. And where farmers clash with elephants on the edges of their remaining habitat, conservationists are trying a variety of creative techniques to help both creatures coexist. For example, many small farmers can’t afford fences strong enough to keep out elephants, but some now surround their crops with beehive fences, which take advantage of elephants’ natural fear of bees. As a bonus, the bees also provide fresh local honey.
1. What can we learn about the situation of elephants?| A．Asian elephants have died out. | B．They are going through a tough period. |
| C．African elephants are threatened by climate. | D．They were abundant in the early 20th century. |
| A．Communication. | B．Connection. | C．Unfriendliness. | D．Appreciation. |
| A．The threats to humans. | B．The living habits of elephants. |
| C．The challenges elephants face in nature. | D．The conflict between humans and elephants. |
| A．Humans stop attacking elephants. |
| B．Elephants are forbidden to disturb humans. |
| C．Humans and elephants can make use of each other. |
| D．Humans and elephants can live in harmony with each other. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】When we drive between two similar mature woodlands，we notice that one is crowded with beautiful flowers while the other has none. Why don't wildflowers spread from one forest to another?
It depends on how the seeds are spread. If seeds are spread by wind, the flowers can turn up almost anywhere. Plants with berries are often spread by birds or small mammals so they are pretty well distributed. But for plants that are planted by ants, roads can be an obstacle (障碍). So can competition. Wildflower seeds would not last long if they merely ripened and fell to the forest floor. Those seeds that were not eaten by birds and small mammals would grow into tiny shoots ill-equipped to compete with their parent plants. A young plant has a much better chance at survival if its seed is carried away from the parents. In the case of flowers such as trillium and violets, ants spread and plant the seeds.
The seeds of these wildflowers are coated with a fleshy globe called an elaiosome filled with oils and sometimes sugars. These must be irresistible. Consequently, ants pull them into their nests to be consumed or fed to their young. The actual seeds have extremely hard shells much too hard for ants to eat, so the tidy creatures desert the seeds in one of their underground tunnels. Underground, the wildflower seeds may develop and begin the long process of reaching maturity and blooming.
Researchers have documented ants dragging seeds as far as 70 yards. It is unthinkable that our forest ants would go across a road, a plowed field, or even a lawn. Wildflowers can spread by stems and runners, but asphalt (沥青) can stop their spread. Ecologists are starting to talk more and more about “wildlife corridors (走廊) — providing passage for wildlife across artificial obstacles such as dams, roads and railways” and when they do, we tend to think of large mammals or migrating birds. But small creatures need wildlife corridors too. Ants, turtles and squirrels need to move between woodlots, because in the process of feeding themselves these creatures are making our forests sustainable.
1. According to the text,the young plants have greater survival chances when the seeds_____.| A．fall to the forest floor |
| B．are deserted in a shady place |
| C．aren't eaten by birds or mammals |
| D．grow away from their parent plants |
| A．It's lacking in nutrition. | B．It's coated with soft shells. |
| C．It's a tasty treat for ants. | D．It's often deserted outside the ant nest. |
| A．Spread flower seeds faster. | B．Raise small creatures. |
| C．Assist wildlife to cross roads. | D．Provide food for the migrating birds. |
| A．Thank ants for wildflowers |
| B．Discover wildflowers' treasures |
| C．Protect the environment for wildflowers |
| D．Develop new species of wildflowers |
【推荐2】From the world’s last seven to a global population of more than 5,000, China spent nearly 40 years bringing back crested ibises(朱鹗)from the edge of extinction.
With its typical red crest and face, as well as a long black mouth and snow-white feathers, the crested ibis is known as “the oriental gem” in China. They were once widespread in East Asia and Siberia until the 20th century when hunting, ecological damage and increased human activities drove the birds to near extinction.
In 1981, the entire species around the world was down to the seven crested ibises which were found only in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and deep in the Qinling Mountains, making Qinling, a natural boundary between China's north and south,the last shelter of the wild birds.
Since 1981, the local government of Yangxian County has put forward four bans for the protection of the species, prohibiting activities including hunting in the birds' living areas,cutting down trees where they nest, using chemicals in their food-finding areas, and firing guns in their breeding(繁殖)areas. The Chinese government arranged special funds to protect the habitat of crested ibises, sealing off mountains to plant trees in the birds' living areas.China started the artificial breeding of crested ibises in 1991 and had bred more than 400 birds in Shaanxi as of last year.
Years of constant effort have brought promising results. It is estimated that there are more than 5,000 crested ibises in the world now, and a majority of them live in Shaanxi. The bird's habitat in China has risen from less than 5 square km in 1981 to the current 15,000 square km.
“It is lucky that the crested ibis, an ancient bird, is still flying around,” said Zan Linsen, head of the Shaanxi Academy of Forestry. “The conservation story of crested ibises not only shows us the power of ancient life, but also the necessity and urgency of ecological environment protection.”
1. Why are the Qinling Mountains so important to crested ibises?| A．They are where crested ibises were first found. |
| B．They used to be the last habitat of crested ibises. |
| C．They are the only breeding area of crested ibises. |
| D．They protect crested ibises from natural enemies. |
| A．Crested ibises are unlikely to be bred artificially. |
| B．It's legal to own hunting guns in Yangxian County. |
| C．Hunting has been the biggest threat to crested ibises. |
| D．The government plays a key role in saving crested ibises. |
| A．Merciful and ambitious. | B．Relieved and happy. |
| C．Shocked and curious. | D．Sorry and regretful. |
| A．Rare animals in China: crested ibises |
| B．Artificial breeding of crested ibises in China |
| C．Endangered crested ibises making a comeback |
| D．Crested ibises found again in the Qinling Mountains |
【推荐3】Dogs, and sometimes cats, have long been used as support animals to help humans deal with various physical conditions, but ducks, not so much.
Daniel made international headlines after photos of him accompanying his human on an airplane were posted online. It’s uncommon that you can see a duck on an airplane. So it’s no surprise that he caught people’s eye-both those on the plane and those looking at his photos online. Mark, whose photos got the most attention, says that everyone on the plane was delighted to have such a lovely duck on board, and couldn’t stop taking photos of him.
Daniel is a support animal for his owner, Carla, who is recovering from stress disorder. In 2012, Carla adopted Daniel as a pet, but being involved in a terrible accident a year later, he became her support animal. She was a horse-and-carriage driver, when a car crashed into her carriage from behind, injuring the horse and her.
It took Carla four months to learn how to walk again, but apart from physical pain, she also had to deal with stress disorder. However, Daniel was there for her when she needed him. Carla wouldn’t be able to leave the house after the accident if it weren’t for Daniel. Since the accident, the duck has accompanied her everywhere, mostly on car rides. This time marked his first airplane flight. Carla had a letter from her doctor in which he states that it is in her best interest to have Daniel around as a support animal. She presented it to the flight crew so they allowed the duck on board.
Daniel is apparently smarter than your average bird, too. When he’s at home and he needs his diaper(尿布) changed, he just walks to the changing table. When he’s hungry, he walks to the refrigerator or to his feed bowl. “Some people have dogs. Others have cats. I have a duck,” Carla said “I hope more people can accept that a duck can make a very good, loving and loyal companion and support animal.”
1. Daniel, a support animal, _________.| A．brings good luck to his owner |
| B．can cure people of their disease |
| C．helps the owner out of an accident |
| D．also can help people handle physical conditions |
| A．they were shocked |
| B．they showed great respect to him |
| C．they were deeply attracted by him |
| D．they refused to stay together with him |
| A．She likes taking car rides. |
| B．She crashed into a car last year. |
| C．She physically and mentally suffered after the accident. |
| D．She didn’t expect to have Daniel aboard. |
| A．The Special Characters of a Duck |
| B．A Famous Emotional Support Duck |
| C．An International Animal Star |
| D．A Kind Companion for the Disabled |
【推荐1】Researchers at UCLA Medical Center found that a 12-minute bed-side visit with a dog can help reduce anxiety levels by 24 percent in heart failure patients, compared to a 10 percent drop when patients had a visit from a human volunteer, and no drop in patients who had no visit.
Results of the 76-patient study were presented last week. The study was supported by a non-profit (非盈利)organization which promotes human-animal interaction and connection. In the study, effects of dog and volunteer visits were compared with those of volunteers only, and with patients who had no visits and stayed at rest. Patients were asked to answer a list of questions before and after the visits. The results suggested improved heart function, and the most obvious reaction was seen in anxiety levels.
“The first thing you notice is that the patient’s facial expression, changes to a smile and the pressure of the world seems to be lifted off their shoulders,” study author Kathy Cole said. Feelings of disappointment and helplessness are common among heart patients, Cole said, and just three nights in a hospital is enough to make some patients feel anxious and uncomfortable. During the visit, the furry friend is allowed to lie on the bed next to the patient with its head within two feet of the patient’s. Most patients petted the dog, while others talked about the dog with human volunteers in conversation.
Dogs used in the study are specially trained dogs that go through a series of trainings. There are different kinds of dogs. Researchers used everything from Bernese mountain dogs to small schnauzers. However, a dog doesn’t have to be specially trained to have a calming effect on a person. In fact, the animal doesn’t even have to be a dog in order to help. “As long as the animal has meaning to the patient, or a relationship with the patient, it can help calm the patient,” Cole said.
1. We learn from the text that heart patients benefit most from visits by___________.| A．a volunteer on his own | B．a well-trained dog alone |
| C．a non-profit organization | D．a volunteer with a dog |
| A．their recovery depends on contact with animals |
| B．their heart pressure reduces if they stay at rest |
| C．their contact with animals improves their condition |
| D．their anxiety is reduced if they stay longer in hospital |
| A．they are mentally comforted | B．they are happy with the experiment |
| C．their treatment time may be shortened | D．their heart function is returning to normal |
| A．the treatment of heart disease | B．the cure power of animals |
| C．the relationship between dogs and humans | D．the promotion of human-animal interaction |
【推荐2】Every dog should have a loving home, and thanks to a 13-year-old boy named Thiago, many are now closer to finding one.
Thiago is a self-described animal lover hoping to help the homeless dogs in his home city of Antônio Prado. So, he came up with an idea. Maybe if he could make the dogs on the street look more attractive, they’d have more chances to be adopted (收养). So he began giving baths to dogs in his spare time. This great idea is what led Thiago to create a project called “Sou de rua mas to limpinho” at the end of 2020.
With the help of his father, he began looking for dogs who needed a helping hand. “At the end of last year, I decided that I needed to somehow do something for the animals,” Thiago said. “While talking to my father, I told him about my idea of bathing street dogs so they can stay clean and smell good and people may look at them differently.”
Before the effort truly took off, Thiago and his dad had to work out how to win the dogs over. “Catching dogs on the street is difficult, since they are always frightened and many have suffered from ill treatment,” Thiago explained. “So we spent some time without baths until my father spoke to the public service organization and we started to bathe their newly saved dogs.” In addition to bathing them, Thiago started adding little accessories (配饰) to the dogs, such as little hair pins, to really increase their chances of adoption. The boy’s dad also took pictures of the dogs and posted them online, pointing any possible adopters to the nearby shelters (收容所). “I want people to be not afraid to adopt,” Thiago said. “It’s the best thing in the world.”
1. Why did Thiago create “Sou de rua mas to limpinho”?| A．To provide baths for dogs. | B．To raise money for animal shelters. |
| C．To help homeless dogs get adopted. | D．To draw public attention to animal care. |
| A．They were short of bath products. | B．The homeless dogs distrusted them. |
| C．People showed no interest in adoption. | D．Possible adopters preferred young dogs. |
| A．Caring. | B．Confident. | C．Humorous. | D．Serious. |
| A．Boy Adopts Dogs in Bad Conditions | B．Boy Helps Dogs Find a New Home |
| C．Lost Dogs Require Getting Adopted | D．Homeless Dogs Move into Shelters |
【推荐3】The Himalayan Mountains are home to the highest peak in Mount Everest. Now the first complete study of this remote region shows that is glaciers (冰川) lost billions of tons of ice from 2000 to 2016.
This is the first comprehensive look at what’s happened to glaciers in the Himalaya over a 40-year time, said lead author Joshua Masurer.
“Our study shows a strong signal of glacier ice loss linked to rising temperatures from climate change,” Maurer says. As much as quarter of the regions ice has been lost, he said, “Temperatures in the region have risen one degree, and one degree was indeed enough to produce such a great loss of glacier ice.”
The signal showing Himalayan ice loss linked to rising temperatures would not be so clear if it weren’t for the U. S satellites that photographed the region. Declassified photos from those satellites were turned into 3-D models to show what the glaciers’ elevations and sizes were in the 1970s, Maurer said. Those were then compared to more recent complex NASA satellite photos that shows changing elevations of the ice over time.
The ice and snow in the region are the source for Asia’s great rivers. The study did not include the huge neighbouring ranges of high mountains, but other studies suggest that similar melting is under way there as well.
This melting means flooding and the creation of many glacial lakes. In May 2012, one such flood killed over 60 people in villages near Pokhara, Nepal; it also destroyed houses. Some 800 million people depend in part on rivers from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, making electricity, and drinking water. The more rapid melting appears to increase the river water during warm seasons, but scientists say that will decrease within decades as the glaciers lose mass.
1. Why did the glaciers in the Himalayan Mountains lose much ice?| A．Many people used the ice to make electricity. |
| B．The climate change increased the temperature. |
| C．America used satellite to increase one degree Celsius. |
| D．The flooding and many glacial lakes took much ice away. |
| A．By making an interview. |
| B．By studying the finding of other scientists. |
| C．By collecting information by means of satellites. |
| D．By comparing the data collected by U. S. satellites. |
| A．Only the glaciers in Himalayan Mountains lose ice. |
| B．Many great rivers run to the Himalayan Mountains. |
| C．Many Asian regions face the problem of ice loss. |
| D．The melting of ice is nothing serious. |
| A．To show the risk of living near mountains. |
| B．To show the risky consequence of the ice loss. |
| C．To ask people to take action to use glaciers. |
| D．To predict the future of the Himalayan Mountains. |
【推荐1】It seems like technology is everywhere.Computers and smart phones are at the center of almost everything we do. They constantly require our attention. We text our friends with them during the day, sleep with them by our beds and check our messages as soon as we wake up.
In the future, technology will no longer be interrupting us all the time. Instead, we will use calm technology which was first developed by scientist Mark Weiser in the 1970s. In his opinion, calm technology works quietly but constantly. We know it is there, but we don’t pay much attention to it. According to Mark, the best technology should be invisible (隐形的) and let you live your life.
We already use many different types of calm technology in our everyday lives. Do you have a smoke alarm in your house? That smoke alarm is always there, checking the air for smoke and quietly keeping you safe. It only reminds you it’s there when you’ve burnt your bread! Or there may be lights in your home or school. When somebody passes in front of their sensors，the lights turn on. You don’t think about this type of technology until you see the light go on.
In the future, we can imagine our houses will use calm technology to open the curtains for us in the morning, to turn down the heat when we leave, or even to choose the best music for our mood. The minute we walk through the door, our house will respond by turning on the lights and music, and perhaps even starting to prepare our dinner!
1. Which of the following is an example of calm technology?| A．A computer. | B．A smart phone. | C．A radio. | D．A smoke alarm. |
| A．Troubling. | B．Protecting. | C．Helping. | D．Hurting. |
| A．Calm technology keeps us safe in many ways. |
| B．Calm technology can help you to do housework. |
| C．Calm technology has been used in our daily lives. |
| D．Calm technology plays an important part in schools. |
| A．The light won’t go on unless we touch the sensor. |
| B．Calm technology will make our life more convenient. |
| C．People will depend more on smart phones in the future. |
| D．People won’t have to work because of calm technology. |
【推荐2】Want to pick up that new best-seller for your flight, but not sure you want to spend the money?
This will change your mind.
If you’ve done a lot of traveling, you’ve probably noticed that the bookstores at airports all look pretty similar. They’ve all got familiar logos, the walls of inviting plane snacks, and, of course, the towers of new hardcover books. Chances are you’ve wanted to grab one of those books for the plane ride. However, those hardcover books are a little pricey. Is it worth it to splurge, just to relieve the midair boredom?
Yes it is—because of a cool program that these bookstores have in place. These similar airport stores are all owned by the company Paradies Lagardère, and all of those stores take part in what’s called the “Read and Return program.” It’s exactly what it sounds like. Whenever you buy one of those books, you’ve got six months to finish it and bring it back to the same, or another, Paradies Lagardère location. When you do that, you get half your money for the original purchase back.
If you’re going on a trip, buy that book you’ve been dying to read. When you go back to the airport for the return trip, bring the book back with you and get half the money back. While you’re still in the bookstore, go ahead and get that other book you’ve been dying to read. Or the sequel to the book you read on the way there. Either way, your boredom on the flight back will be cured. And it gets better: the book you gave back will be re-sold for half price! Here’s what you can get for free at an airport.
There are two things you do need to make sure of. You have to bring back the receipt to get your money back. Also, the book needs to be in decent condition. But other than that, this program couldn’t be easier. In a way, it’s like a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal for books. Or get two books for the price of one-and-a-half. Either way, count us in.
1. What does the underlined word “splurge” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Spend the money. | B．Take the effort. |
| C．Take the trouble. | D．Spend the time. |
| A．You can read books for free in any Paradies Lagardère store. |
| B．You can buy books for half price in airport bookstores. |
| C．You need to return the book to the same store where you buy it. |
| D．You can get half your money back if you return the book timely. |
| A．It is difficult to take part in the program. |
| B．The receipt is necessary if you want to return the book. |
| C．The program is popular with readers. |
| D．The program runs successfully. |
| A．To encourage people to read on airplanes. |
| B．To introduce Paradies Lagardère company. |
| C．To advertise the “Read and Return program”. |
| D．To show the advantages of reading on airplanes. |
【推荐3】Everything, no matter how great it is, will always have its problems. If you ever find yourself in an argument (争论) about renewable (可再生的) energy with someone who needs to receive more education, do your part for the environment by giving the following facts.
Argument one: renewable energy is expensive. This argument is only a surface truth. For a large house or small business, to start using renewable energy can be expensive at first. There’s a lot of equipment (设备) to buy. However, in the following 10 or 20 years, you’ll never see another power bill again. If you make lots of energy, you might even be able to sell it back to the power company.
Argument two: renewable energy takes up a lot of space. If you have a small yard, people might have told you that you’ll never be able to fit in solar energy equipment there. Even if you can’t, look at land for sale close to your place. If your neighbors are interested in going green, you might be able to go in together to buy a piece of land and build a large solar farm you can share. Many houses can benefit from one solar farm. Not everyone needs a big yard.
Argument three: renewable energy isn’t necessary. Renewable energy allows us to power our lives without using up anything. We don’t need to do much—we can just make receptacles (容器) for the free, renewable energy that already surrounds us. When you think about it, it’s almost like wasting energy if we don’t collect it.
Argument four: renewable energy isn’t so efficient (效率高的). A UK based study on renewable energy actually found that it was a lot more efficient than traditional energy sources. Since it produces almost no waste heat, while most other energy sources can produce more than half of their production in waste heat, it’s safe to say that using the energy we already have in our daily life can be more than twice as efficient.
1. Why did the author write the text?| A．To develop arguments against renewable energy. |
| B．To explain why renewable energy should be used. |
| C．To teach people to make full use of renewable energy. |
| D．To show the importance of protecting the environment. |
| A．It’s mostly for small businesses. | B．It can be used for 20 years at most. |
| C．It takes up lots of money at the beginning. | D．It’s sometimes not enough for daily use. |
| A．Make your solar farm a smaller size. |
| B．Raise money with other people to buy land. |
| C．Move your family to a place with a bigger yard. |
| D．Put the solar energy equipment in your neighbor’s yard. |
| A．Almost all of its production is usable. |
| B．It can produce heat in a very short time. |
| C．It produces more power than power companies. |
| D．Its waste heat is a bit less than traditional energy’s. |
【推荐1】A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre showed that a mere 16% of Americans think that a four-year degree course prepares students very well for a high-paying job in the modern economy. But technology also seems to be complicating the picture.
A paper published by a trio (三人小组) of Canadian economists, Paul Beaudry, David Green and Benjamin Sand, questions optimistic assumptions about demand for non-routine work and shows that since 2000 the share of employment accounted for by high-skilled jobs in America has been falling. This analysis supports the view that technology has come as a blow to employment. Skilled and unskilled workers alike are in trouble. Those with a better education are still more likely to find work, but there is now a fair chance that it will be unenjoyable. Those who never made it to college face being squeezed out of the workforce altogether. This is the argument of the techno-pessimists.
There is another, less pessimistic possibility. James Bessen, an economist at Boston University, finds that since 1980 employment has been growing faster in occupations that use computers than in those that do not. Partial automation can actually increase demand by reducing costs. But even though technology may not destroy jobs in all, it does force change upon many people.
In many occupations it has become essential to acquire new skills as established ones become out-of-date. Burning Glass Technologies, a Boston-based startup that analyses labor markets by obtaining data from online job advertisements, finds that the biggest demand is for new combinations of skills—what its boss, Matt Sigelman, calls “hybrid jobs”. The composition of new jobs is also changing rapidly.
A college degree at the start of a working career does not answer the need for the continuous acquisition of new skills, especially as career spans (持续时间) are lengthening. Vocational training is good at giving people job-specific skills, but those, too, will need to be updated over and over again during a career lasting decades. Vocational training has a role, but training someone early to do one thing all their lives is not the answer to lifelong learning.
Add all of this up, and it becomes clear that times have got tougher for workers of all kinds. A college degree is still a prerequisite (必备条件) for many jobs, but employers often do not trust it enough to hire workers just on the strength of that, without experience. In many occupations workers on company payrolls face the prospect that their existing skills will become outdated, yet it is often not obvious how they can gain new ones.
1. We can learn from the paper conducted by the Canadian economists that ____________.| A．employment has been shaken by technology |
| B．college degree is a necessity in career success |
| C．skilled workers are no longer required in most American industries |
| D．techno-pessimism paves the way for future technology development |
| A．increased demand can bring about cost reduction |
| B．progressive automation is beneficial to companies |
| C．technology advancement has a positive impact on most people |
| D．computer has always been an essential factor in employment |
| A．online job advertisements require a precise data analysis |
| B．acquisition of new skills is essential in current job market |
| C．the composition of new jobs is shaped by technology |
| D．Matt Sigelman predicts a bright future of job market |
| A．Lifelong Learning: an Economic Priority |
| B．Technology Revolution: the Way to Success |
| C．College Degree: a Guarantee for Career Change |
| D．Vocational Training: a Blessing for Job Seekers |
A café society where no intellectualizing is allowed? It couldn’t seem more un-French. But Lehanne’s psychology café is about more than knowing oneself: It’s trying to help the city’s troubled neighborhood cafes. Over the years, Parisian cafes have fallen victim to changes in the French lifestyle-longer working hours, a fast food boom and a younger generation’s desire to spend more time at home. Dozens of new theme cafes appear to change the situation. Cafes focused around psychology, history, and engineering are catching on, filling tables well into the evening.
The city’s psychology cafes, which offer great comfort, are among the most popular places. Middle-aged homemakers, retirees, and the unemployed come to such cafes to talk about lover, anger, and dreams with a psychologist. And they come to Lehance’s group just to learn to say what they feel. There’s a strong need in Paris for communication, says Maurice Frisch, a cafe La Chope regular who works as religious instructor in a nearby church. “People have few real friends. And they need to open up” Lehanne says she’d like to see psychology cafes all over France. “If people had normal lives, these cafes wouldn’t exist”, she says, “If life weren’t a battle, people wouln’t need a special place just to speak.” But then, it wouldn’t be France.
1. What are people encouraged to do at the cafe La Chope?
| A．Learn a new subject |
| B．Keep in touch with friends. |
| C．Show off their knowledge. |
| D．Express their true feelings. |
| A．They are less frequently visited. |
| B．They stay open for longer hours. |
| C．They have bigger night crowds. |
| D．They start to serve fast food. |
| A．Create more jobs. |
| B．Supply better drinks. |
| C．Save the cafe business. |
| D．Serve the neighborhood. |
| A．They bring people true friendship. |
| B．They give people spiritual support. |
| C．They help people realize their dreams. |
| D．They offer a platform for business links. |
【推荐3】Next time you find yourself tending to your flower garden, you may want to stay quiet. The flowers are listening.
Israeli scientists discovered that the plants hear bees approaching and attempt to lure them in with sweeter nectar (花蜜). In several experiments, they found that playing audio recordings of buzzing bees around certain flowers will cause the sugar concentration in the nectar to rise by about 20% in less than five minutes. Such a rapid reaction by plants to sound had never previously been reported. Just to compare, the researchers also tried a higher frequency noise-like that made by a mosquito or a bat-and the flowers did not respond.
The authors point out that the behavior is actually in line with the natural order of things, considering that a plant’s ability to sense its environment and respond to it is critical for its survival. So, it would seem that plants have some sort of consciousness.
This is not the first time that plants have reacted to the sound around them. In a 2009 study, the researchers found that women’s voices help make plants grow faster. In that experiment, tomato plants were found to grow up to two inches taller when they were tended to by a female gardener.
What if we told you that a potato chip bag left on the floor of a break room could listen in on office gossip? As people were talking around the potato chip bag, they were sending tiny sound vibrations (振动) into the air. Those vibrations then hit lifeless objects around the room. Now imagine if you had a camera that was zoomed in on one of those objects extremely closely. In theory, you could actually see the object move along with the vibrations. You could then feed that video into a computer program that could translate the vibrations and you can play back the audio of the conversation that just took place.
So the next time you're at the botanical garden or in a grocery aisle, careful what you say. Someone-or something-might be listening.
1. Which of the following best explains "lure" in Paragraph 2?| A．Shut | B．Attract | C．Trap | D．Lead |
| A．The soil depending on to grow in. |
| B．The audio recordings played to them. |
| C．The identification to the sound frequency. |
| D．The power to sense and react to the environment. |
| A．The women's voice. | B．The strength of the vibration. |
| C．The species of the young plant. | D．The number of the music played. |
| A．Plants may have the ability to listen. |
| B．Sound vibrations can be processed into an audio. |
| C．Buzzing bees can increase the production of nectar. |
| D．The frequency of vibration determines plants’ growth. |
