I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor(固定) it in a tree.
The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.
1. Why was the author called to Muttontown？| A．To look at a baby owl. | B．To cure a young owl. |
| C．To rescue a woman. | D．To take care of a woman. |
| A．Its parents. | B．A recording. |
| C．Some food. | D．A new nest. |
| A．It’s unexpected. | B．It’s humorous. |
| C．It’s beautiful. | D．It’s discouraging |
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【推荐1】More than half of the world’s wild tiger population are threatened by roads built dangerously close to their habitats, and giant projects planned across Asia could put tigers at even greater risk.
Tigers’ habitats have reduced by 40% since 2006, leaving fewer than 4000 of the animals in the wild. Those living near roads are particularly attacked because they are at risk of being hit by vehicles, have more difficulties finding food, and are easier to be killed. Using a global dataset, Neil Carter at the University of Michigan and his colleagues calculated that the tiger’s current range, which mostly distributed in south and south-east Asia, contains 134,000 kilometres of roads. They estimated that 57% of tigers live within 5 kilometres of these roads, which is considered dangerously close.
This close to roads could be decreasing the world’s tiger population by more than20%, the researchers’ modelling suggests. Nearly 24,000 kilometres of new roads are planned for construction within the tiger’s range by 2050, which will make it even harder for the animals to avoid these risks.
“New roads could be made more tiger-friendly by building them away from key tiger populations, banning overnight traffic, installing road signs to warn drivers of the presence of tigers, and building tiger-friendly crossings so that wild animals can safely cross forests on both sides of the road,” says Carter. These have been built on roads and highways in Malaysia.
In 2010, all 13 countries with wild tiger populations committed to a plan to double the tiger population by 2022. By 2016, research suggested that the global wild tiger population stopped declining and had increased. “Building tiger-friendly roads will be crucial to reaching this goal,” says Carter.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly show?| A．Tigers are endangered species. |
| B．Tigers are too lazy to go around. |
| C．Tigers’ habitats have been threatened. |
| D．The tigers’ population has decreased a lot. |
| A．Building fewer new roads. |
| B．Building protection areas for tigers. |
| C．Building special roads for tigers to go through. |
| D．Improving the living conditions of tigers. |
| A．Worried. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Conservative. | D．Critical. |
| A．How to protect tigers. |
| B．How to build tiger-friendly roads. |
| C．Wild tiger population will increase. |
| D．Road-building threatens the tigers’ habitats. |
Just as noise pollution negatively impacts human health, it also affects wildlife. It can affect animal communication, their abilities to find food and impact where they live. A recent study published in Biology Letters found that human-created noise is affecting a wide range of animals. Noise pollution is caused by cars, trucks, airplanes, ships, factories, industrial activities and sounds from cities, among others. Researchers found that wildlife in many different land and water ecosystems showed significant responses to human-created noise.
For example, bats use ultrasonic sound waves to get around and to find food. However, noise pollution affects this and causes them to spend more time and energy locating their food source. Shipping lanes in the UK can be deafening to harbor seals, and noises from ships are seriously impacting killer whales ability to find food and avoid potential dangers, according to episode 2 of CBC s Killers: J pod on the brink (边缘). And it’s no secret that many human-created conditions, like noise, are changing the behavior of birds. You may be surprised to learn that plants are also impacted, since pollinators (传粉昆虫) often relocate to quieter areas.
Not unlike the impact of light pollution on insects, noise pollution is causing change. It can change the types of species living in many different ecosystems, which in turn impacts the functions of these areas, according to The Guardian.
The good news is that if noise is reduced or simply turned off, it more or less removes the issue. The impact does not remain in the same way as other forms of pollution, like plastic or chemicals. And efforts are already underway in Canada.
BC Ferries is working to lessen the effects of underwater noise, especially along ferry routes that pass through critical habitats. WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) Canada is encouraging the federal government to increase protective measures in the Arctic. They’re also working with international colleagues to address the increase of noise in the region as a result of new shipping routes.
While these initiatives demonstrate progress, tightening rules and regulations around noise pollution is an important measure for conserving wildlife in Canada.
1. Why do bats spend more time looking for food?2. What is the influence of noise pollution on ecosystems?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Noise pollution affects animals in many ways, and compared with other forms of pollution, noise pollution is harder to deal with.
4. Please give some advice on how to reduce the effects of noise pollution on animals. (In about 40 words)
【推荐3】The name Sahara comes from the Arabic word for “desert” or “steppe”. At 3.5 million square miles, an area roughly the size of the United States, the Sahara Desert in northern Africa is the largest desert in the world. It spans the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Daytime temperatures can reach as high as 130 F. But it can also be as low as 2.5 percent, the lowest in the world. Most of the Sahara receives less than five inches of rain per year, while large areas sometimes have no rainfall at all for years.
At the heart of the Sahara is the landlocked north African country of Niger. Here the sand dunes can be 100 feet tall and several miles long. Here sand plains stretch over an area larger than Germany where there is neither water nor towns. Yet sitting in the midst of the surrounding desert is the town of Bilma. Suddenly there are pools of clear water. Surprisingly, there are groves of date palms. Underground water resources, or oases(绿洲), sufficient to support irrigated(灌溉)agriculture are found in dry stream beds and depressions. Irrigation ditches run off a creek to water fields. Corn, ‘cassava, tea, peanuts:hot peppers, and orange, lime, and grapefruit trees grow in these fields. Donkeys and goats graze on green grass.
The Sahara of Niger is still a region where you can see a camel caravan of 500 camels tied together in loose lines as long as a mile, traveling toward such oasis towns. There a caravan will collect life-sustaining salt, which is mined from watery basins, and transport it up to 400 miles back to settlements on the edges of the desert. The round trip across the vast sands takes one month
1. This passage is mainly about___________.| A．life in the Sahara | B．the deserts of Africa |
| C．the town of Bilma. | D．the way camels travel |
| A．less than five inches per year | B．less than ten inches per year |
| C．less than twenty inches per year | D．zero |
| A．a place where no one lives |
| B．an area where winters are freezing |
| C．an area that attracts many tourists |
| D．a place of contrasts |
| A．expert trainer | B．group traveling together |
| C．railroad train | D．a small, fast sailing boat |
【推荐1】Bertha Mahony Miller, a US editor and publisher, was born on March13th, 1882 in Rockport, Massachusetts. After her mother’s death, 11-year-old Mahony helped look after her three younger siblings. She entered local teacher-training classes after high school but left the next year to pursue studies at newly formed Simmons College in Boston. Unable to afford the four-year program in library science, she chose instead to take a year of secretarial courses.
In 1906, Mahony became a secretary for the Women’s Educational and Industrial Union (WEIU), a nonprofit social-service agency. Board members soon recognized her creativity and intelligence, so she was given a variety of duties. One of her favorites was organizing plays for children, and her interest in children’s literature expanded as she searched through books for appropriate material.
With the support of the Union, Mahony opened the Bookshop for Boys and Girls in 1916. The creation of this Boston store devoted to children’s books came at a time when most parents, booksellers and publishers did not put much thought into what children read. Mahony aimed to change this by offering a large selection of thoughtfully chosen books and seeking help from many notable librarians such as Anne Carroll Moore and Alice Jordan. Storytelling, author visits and other activities helped spark people’s interest in the store, and the creation of a bookmobile extended its reach to other regions.
To coincide with (与……同时举行) the opening of the store, Mahony edited and published a buying guide of selected children’s books, the first commercial list of its kind. It grouped some 1,200 books into categories based on age and subject matter and provided a brief description of each publication. The attention it drew led her to another idea. In 1924, Mahony and coworker Elinor Whitney founded The Horn Book Magazine, the first periodical devoted entirely to children. Mahony and Whitney also compiled (汇编) Realms of Gold in Children’s Books (1929), a publication covering five centuries of children’s literature.
Bertha Mahony Miller devoted much of her life to promoting children’s literature. Her efforts enlightened (启发) consumers and encouraged publishers to expand and improve their juvenile (少年的) offerings. She is considered a figurehead of the children’s literature movement.
1. Mahony developed an interest in children’s literature when .| A．she was in high school | B．she attended local teacher-training classes |
| C．she opened the Bookshop for Boys and Girls | D．she was working as a secretary for the WEIU |
| A．The bookstore only offered children’s books. |
| B．People paid little attention to children’s books. |
| C．Mahony could not get any help from the professionals. |
| D．It was challenging to expand the bookstore into other areas. |
| A．The awards Mahony received in her life. |
| B．The support Mahony got from her friends and family. |
| C．The contributions Mahony made to children’s literature. |
| D．The difficulties Mahony met during the creation of the bookstore. |
| A．To prove the importance of reading. | B．To call on children to read more books. |
| C．To show the respect for Bertha Mahony Miller. | D．To introduce the development of children’s literature. |
【推荐2】Before the break of dawn, Simon was already standing on the shore watching the sea intensely for any signs of a coming storm. Despite learning from the weather forecast the likelihood of a violent storm, he didn’t change his mind about starting his weekly fishing trip. After checking for the third time that he had brought with him what he needed, Simon got onto his boat and sailed into the vast blue sea. Before long, he was anchoring(固定)his boat in the middle of the sea. Satisfied with the spot, he cast his net, hoping for a good catch.
Simon then relaxed on the deck and watched the sun rising slowly above the horizon. “One can never trust the weather station,” he said, but he had said it too soon. At that moment, there was a sudden strike of lightning, followed by a shout of thunder. The entire sky was suddenly filled with dark clouds. Wave after wave rolled up, hitting his boat and sending it rocking violently sideways. A sense of hopelessness drowned him but when images of his family flashed across his mind, he knew what he had to do. In double-quick time, he cut off the fishing lines and dumped his fishing equipment into the sea. Eventually, the storm eased and the waves died down.
To make matters worse, the boat engine died. As he was many kilometres offshore, the only likely rescue was to be spotted by a boat. But who would be out at sea in such horrible weather except him? That made Simon regret his earlier decision again.
Exhausted, Simon soon drifted off to sleep. When he awoke, the sun had already risen. Simon had lost track of time and location. Sighing, he stood on the deck, staring out hopefully. Then he spotted it. He dived into the water and swam towards the island a few metres ahead of him. When Simon reached land, he was too weak to stand on his legs. Fortunately, a kind-hearted man helped him up and contacted his family. Though Simon emerged from the nightmare unhurt, the fateful day remained forever in his mind. Neglecting the weather forecast, he paid a heavy price. He then learnt that everyone should respect science and be more mindful of his decision.
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?| A．Not informed of the weather forecast, Simon went fishing as planned. |
| B．Simon lost his fishing equipment because it was blown off by the wind. |
| C．Love for his family made him take action trying to save himself. |
| D．Though he was finally saved, he was hurt badly. |
| A．Another boat ready to drag his boat. | B．A rescue team sent by his family. |
| C．A new boat engine to be equipped on his boat. | D．An island not far from his boat. |
| A．He was too confident of his ability to deal with the rescue team. |
| B．He ignored storm forecast and went fishing anyway. |
| C．His fishing equipment was too heavy for his boat. |
| D．He positioned his boat in a wrong location in the sea. |
| A．A smooth fishing trip a fisherman used to have. |
| B．A terrible accident a fisherman experienced and how he survived. |
| C．The hardships a man has to handle when going fishing. |
| D．Ways to seek help in dangerous situations in life. |
【推荐3】People often say that man can change nature or human being is the king of nature. According to the power of nature, however, man cannot live without nature that is offering man with fresh air to breathe, clean water to drink and various food to eat. Besides, animals in nature can help our human in some way.
One man shared his story with some special animals on TikTok.
Ten months ago, Ben started living on his own in Sydney because of the outbreak of the COVID-19. He was feeling very lonely during lockdown（封锁）-he missed his families and friends so much-and that’s when the birds started visiting him.
At first it was just one. He began interested in the regular friend and named it Peter.
“I couldn’t leave for the next hour and a half-I just sat there just let him play. It’s full of life and hope,” Ben told ABC News.
Over the next few months, Peter would come and go. Eventually, Peter started bringing his “girlfriend”.
“That was a turning point,” he said. “And it was strange, because it was when I started to really feel my loneliness in lockdown that the birds were coming more and more often. And whether or not that happened by chance, that’s when I started to take notice of them. They saved me from the deep and helpless loneliness and began to value life.”
Ben posted a video of his new friendship to TikTok where it instantly went viral.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Man is the king of nature. |
| B．Man can change nature for better. |
| C．Man depends on nature in some way. |
| D．Man and nature can live in peace with each other. |
| A．He suffered from illness. | B．He was alone locked home. |
| C．He had no family members. | D．He broke up with his girlfriend. |
| A．They inspired him with life and hope. | B．They taught him how to play. |
| C．They made him famous online. | D．They showed him how to treat his girlfriend. |
| A．Fall behind. | B．Become bad. |
| C．Spread widely. | D．Be fashionable. |
