Devon—A three-year-old labradoodle named Digby has been praised after he saved a woman who was thinking of taking her own life on a bridge.
Digby is an Australian labradoodle, a type of dog, whose hypoallergenic (低致敏性的) coat is less likely to start allergic reactions in those he communicates with. He was hired by the fire service in 2018 not for his ability to remove bombs but to relieve stress and anxiety among firefighters who had attended unpleasant call-outs. He also works with vulnerable (脆弱的) people in the community as part of a “pets for therapy” programme.
So when the emergency services were called to a vulnerable woman on a motorway bridge, a firefighter had the bright idea to take Digby along.
“We were at the incident as part of a multi-agency response. Police negotiators were speaking with the woman but the situation was becoming increasingly worrying. When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately swung her head round to look, and smiled,” said a spokesman for Devon and Somerset fire service. “This got a conversation started. The woman was asked if she would like to come and meet Digby if she came back over the railings (金属栏杆), which we are pleased to say she did. It was Digby who eventually got her out of harm’s way.”
“The use of therapy dogs has been scientifically proven to help people who are exposed to challenging situations in their lives such as ill health or learning disability,” the spokesman added.
Digby has also been trained to go into schools and hospitals for Pets As Therapy charity. Other services have also started adopting therapy dogs to assist in various situations.
1. Why is Digby chosen as a therapy dog?| A．He can remove bombs. |
| B．He can bring relief to people. |
| C．He can deal with emergencies. |
| D．He can communicate with people. |
| A．Digby was finally adopted by the woman. |
| B．Therapy dogs can cure people of illnesses. |
| C．Therapy dogs are now popular in various services. |
| D．The use of therapy dogs was started by a firefighter. |
| A．A news report. |
| B．A science magazine. |
| C．A guidebook. |
| D．A government document. |
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【推荐1】Most of the flowers in nature are red, orange and yellow. If we have seen a black flower, it’s a chance in million. People have made a census (普查) to colors of more than four thousand kinds of flowers and discovered that only eight of them are black. As we know, sunlight is formed by seven different colored lights. The wave length of each light is different, so the quantity of heat in each light is also different. Flowers, especially their petals (花瓣), are easy to be harmed by high temperature. Black flowers can take in all the light waves which cause the flowers to dry up in a high temperature. So black flowers can rarely survive sunlight. But red flowers, orange flowers and yellow flowers can protect themselves from sunlight by reflecting the red light, orange light and yellow light, each of which has a large quantity of heat.
1. It is _________ to see a black flower.| A．impossible | B．seldom |
| C．common | D．no chance |
| A．black flowers are so weak that it is difficult for them to grow up. |
| B．there is only eight black flowers in nature. |
| C．sunlight is formed by seven different colored lights, so the wave length of each light is different. |
| D．black flowers can take in the light of all the wave lengths which make them dry up because of high temperature. |
| A．People have found that only a few kinds of flowers are black. |
| B．Flowers are easy to be harmed by very high temperature. |
| C．Red, orange and yellow flowers can also absorb the light of all wave lengths. |
| D．The black flowers cannot protect themselves from sunlight. |
【推荐2】You can’t see your sleeping pets brain waves, but its behavior can tell you when your cat might be dreaming. If you watch closely, you’ll see that as she falls asleep, her breathing becomes slow and regular with her body still. She has entered the first stage of sleep, called slow-wave sleep. After about 15 minutes you’ll notice a change in her breathing. Her eyes move under her closed lids, her paws twitch (抽动) and she flicks (尤指用手指或手快速地轻抚) an ear. She has entered dreaming. Although she twitches and makes little grunting (嘟嘟) noises, messages from her brain to the large muscles in her legs are blocked, so she can’t run about. She is in a state of “sleep paralysis (麻痹)”.
Michel Jouvet, a French scientist, interrupted their sleep paralysis. Even though they were completely asleep, the dreaming cats began to run for balls that Jouvet couldn’t see and arched (弓起) their backs at unseen enemies. He figures he was watching them act out their dreams! Obviously, the dreaming cats seemed to be practising important cat skills: following, pouncing (猛扑), and fighting.
In another study, Matt Wilson recorded rats brain waves while they learned mazes (迷宫). One day, he left the brain-wave-recording machine on while the rats fell asleep. The pattern of brain waves in the sleeping rats matched the pattern from the maze so closely that Wilson could figure out exactly which part of the maze each rat was dreaming about!
Many researchers now think that in both people and animals, one purpose of dreams is to practise important skills and figure out recent learning. This may explain why so many people dream about fighting and escaping, skills that were probably important to our ancestors, and why dreaming affects our ability to learn.
Do all animals dream? From looking at the brain waves of sleeping animals. How often animals dream seems to be tied to body size. Cats dream about every 15 minutes, mice every 9 minutes, and elephants every 2 hours. And though cows and horses usually sleep standing up, they only dream when lying down.
1. What does Michel Jouvet find in his study?| A．The dreaming cats are in a state of body paralysis. |
| B．The dreaming cats often practise their important skills. |
| C．The eyes of dreaming cats moved while bodies are still. |
| D．The muscles of the dreaming cats are blocked to move. |
| A．Dreaming a lot can help humans learn more. |
| B．Learning mazes is the basic skill for cats to learn. |
| C．Rats often dreams to make certain their recent learning |
| D．Fighting and escaping are not important skills for ancestors. |
| A．Rats. | B．Dogs. |
| C．Cows. | D．Elephants |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By using figures |
| C．By telling stories | D．By showing facts |
【推荐3】CAMBODIA—The “world’s loneliest elephant” has been resettled at a nature reserve (保护区) in the Oddar Meanchey Province after receiving some help from singer Cher recently.
Kaavan, a 36-year-old, 9,000-pound elephant, was given the nickname after he suffered from emotional and physical problems while living in a zoo in Pakistan for 35 years. During that time, Kaavan was mostly tied in his enclosure (圈用地), and when his partner died in 2012, her body lay next to him for several days before it was removed. Doctors said Kaavan was overweight, malnourished (营养不良的) and suffering from behavioral problems due to loneliness.
Cher, who has been advocating Kaavan’s resettlement, met with Pakistani Prime Minister on Friday and later visited Kaavan in the zoo. Kaavan was tested for COVID-19 before his seven-hour journey, during which 440 pounds of food were prepared. A doctor took care of him on the flight and worked with Four Paws, the animal rescue group that organized the move. He said Kaavan did not seem stressed and even slept during the flight. Very few elephants have been relocated by plane, according to Four Paws.
On Monday, Kaavan arrived in Cambodia and made his way north by truck to his new home. Once he feels settled, he will be set free from his enclosure and allowed to wander around the reserve, which houses about 600 Asian elephants. Experts say Kaavan will get a long term of psychological and physical treatment. Years of living in an enclosure with poor flooring has caused his nail to crack and overgrow and he has developed a habit of shaking his head back and forth for hours, which is believed to be out of boredom.
The elephant has lost half a ton since his diet was changed to fruit and vegetables. The zoo where he spent much of his life has been ordered to shut down.
1. What do we know about the elephant?| A．It had a weight problem. |
| B．It was kept free in the zoo. |
| C．It was all alone in his enclosure. |
| D．It lived in a reserve for 35 years. |
| A．Dangerous. | B．Uncomfortable. | C．Well-organized. | D．Wide-spread. |
| A．The introduction to his new home. |
| B．The further arrangements for Kaavan. |
| C．The cause of Kaavan’s health problems. |
| D．The medical treatment Kaavan will receive. |
| A．A news report. |
| B．A short story of an elephant. |
| C．A research article. |
| D．An advertisement to a nature reserve. |
【推荐1】Arens, a driver of a delivery company, was making his rounds near a pond in Bozeman, Montana, when he heard an unearthly sound.
It was December 2018, and about 15 feet from the frozen banks was the source of that cry — a half- submerged brown- and- white wirehaired dog, struggling to hold on to a thin layer of ice.
How she got there no one knows, but an elderly man was already on the scene, determined to save her. He’d entered the pond in a rowboat and was hacking a way at the ice with a rock to create a path to the dog.
It was slow going, and Arens, 44 , thought he stood a better chance. He took off his clothes, even though the temperature was -30℃ , and jumped into the rowboat.
His heart beating fast, Arens slid closer to the dog and used the other man’s rock to smash away at the ice. He gave himself a strong pull and slipped off the boat, crashing into 1 6 feet of freezing water. He resurfaced in time to see the dog going under. Using nervous energy to keep warm, he swam about five feet toward her, grabbed hold of her collar, and pulled her to the ice. He then boosted the dog into the boat and slid it back to the shore, where anxious bystanders carried the dog to the home of the rowboat owner.
Once in the house himself, Arens jumped into a warm shower with the dog until they both felt warmer.
A few more minutes in the pond, the vet (兽医) told Arens, and she would have likely suffered heart failure.
The next day, Arens was back working in the same neighborhood when the dog’s owner came over to thank him for saving Sadie.
Arens says, “ That special delivery was the highlight of my career.”
1. What does the underlined word “ hacking” in paragraph three most probably mean?| A．cutting | B．finding | C．mending | D．adopting |
| A．He was able to jump into the rowboat. | B．He had better nerves to keep warm. |
| C．He had an advantage in age. | D．He was a faster swimmer. |
| A．After saving the dog, Arens carried her home. |
| B．Arens jumped into the river on seeing the dog. |
| C．The dog was hunting when she fell into the water. |
| D．Without Aren’s help, the dog could hardly survive. |
| A．A story of a pet lover. | B．A special delivery of a driver. |
| C．A dog suffering from heart attack. | D．A fight against freezing water. |
【推荐2】A rainforest is an area covered by tall trees with the total high rainfall spreading quite equally through the year and the temperature rarely dipping below16℃. Rainforests have a great effect on the world environment because they can take in heat from the sun and adjust the climate. Without the forest cover, these areas would reflect more heat into the atmosphere, warming the rest of the world. Losing the rainforests may also influence wind and rainfall patterns, potentially causing certain natural disasters all over the world.
In the past hundred years, humans have begun destroying rainforests in search of three major resources: land for crops, wood for paper and other products, land for raising farm animals. This action affects the environment as a whole. For example, a lot of carbon dioxide(二氧化碳)in the air comes from burning the rainforests. People obviously have a need for the resources we gain from cutting trees but we will suffer much more than we will benefit.
There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, when people cut down trees generally they can only use the land for a year or two. Secondly, cutting large sections of rainforests may provide a good supply of wood right now, but in the long run it actually reduces the world’s wood supply.
Rainforests are often called the world’s drug store. More than 25% of the medicines we use today come from plants in rainforests. However, fewer than 1% of rainforest plants have been examined for their medical value. It is extremely likely that our best chance to cure diseases lies somewhere in the world’s shrinking rainforests.
1. Why can rainforests help to adjust the climate?| A．They reflect more heat into the atmosphere. |
| B．They bring about high rainfall throughout the world. |
| C．They reduce the effect of heat from the sun on the earth. |
| D．They rarely cause the temperature to drop lower than 16℃. |
| A．There is great medicine potential in rainforests. |
| B．The level of annual rainfall affects wind patterns. |
| C．We can get enough resources without rainforests. |
| D．We will grow fewer kinds of crops in the gained land. |
| A．Rainforests and Medical Development | B．Rainforests and the Environment |
| C．How to Save Rainforests | D．How to Protect Nature |
【推荐3】A review from the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO) warns that the oceans are facing multiple threats. They are being heated by climate change, turning slowly less alkaline (碱性的) by absorbing CO2, and suffering from overfishing and pollution.
The report says, “We have been taking the ocean for granted. It has been shielding us from the worst effects of accelerating climate change by absorbing excess CO2 from the atmosphere.”
Although the temperature increases may be experiencing a pause, the ocean continues to warm regardless. For the most part, however, the public and policy makers are failing to recognize — or choosing to ignore — the severity of the situation. Coral reefs, for instance, are suffering from the higher temperatures.
IPSO, funded by charitable foundations, is publishing a set of five papers based on workshops in 2011 and 2012 in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The reports call for governments all over the world to halt (暂停) CO2 increase at 450ppm, and also urge much more focused fisheries management and a priority list for tackling the key groups of chemicals that cause most harmful effects. They want the governments to negotiate a new agreement for the sustainable fishing in the high oceans to be monitored by a new global high seas enforcement agency.
The IUCN's Prof Dan Laffoley said, “What these latest reports make absolutely clear is that delaying action will increase costs in the future and lead to even greater, perhaps permanent losses. “The UN climate report confirmed that the ocean is bearing the pressure of human-induced changes to our planet. These discoveries give us not only more cause for alarm, but also a roadmap for action. We must use it.
1. According to the passage, _______ are NOT the reason why the oceans become slowly less alkaline.| A．various pollutions | B．higher temperatures |
| C．bad fishing practices | D．destroyed coral reefs |
| A．warning | B．protecting |
| C．showing | D．cooling |
| A．To appeal to world governments to halt CO2 increase at 450ppm. |
| B．To tell us that the ocean is bearing the pressure of human-induced changes to our planet. |
| C．To ask the governments to carry out new measures for the sustainable fishing in the high oceans. |
| D．To advise the governments to make a priority list for tackling the key groups of chemicals that cause most harm. |
| A．The reports warn us that we need to take actions right now. |
| B．Coral reefs are weakened by bad fishing practices and pollution. |
| C．The global temperature is increasing and the ocean continues to warm as well. |
| D．It seems that the policymakers are trying to ignore the severity of the ocean situation. |
| A．To tell us that the oceans become less alkaline. |
| B．To advise us to negotiate a new agreement for the sustainable fishing. |
| C．To tell us that global warming has a great effect on the oceans’ temperature. |
| D．To warn us that the oceans are in danger and immediate measures should be taken. |
【推荐1】Vietnam launched preparations for the Lunar New Year with a fish release on Thursday. The tradition involves releasing fish called carp into rivers and lakes in the country a week before the holiday known as Tet officially begins.
The tradition comes from an ancient story of three “Kitchen Gods”. The three, two males and a female, take a ride on the brightly colored carp at the end of the year. They go to Heaven to meet with the Jade Emperor, the God who rules there. The Kitchen Gods report news about the families they represent to ask for the emperor's care and protection. Their efforts help to keep the kitchen fires burning, and families happy and healthy.
Vietnamese believe the fish release brings good luck to their families. As the gods go to Heaven, families clean their houses in preparation to celebrate Tet. A clean house, Vietnamese believe, will bring luck in the new year. On Lunar New Year's Eve, the gods will return to earth and their duties in the kitchen of the house.
Releasing the fish makes me feel better about myself," said Nguyen Hong Nhung of Hanoi. "It's like I've done a good deed, so I'll be luckier in the new year.
Thursday's event, which takes place across Vietnam, was more restrained than in years past because of COVID - 19. It is spreading in several northern areas of the country. "Vietnamese will still follow the tradition of releasing the fish, but COVID-19 has made people keep a safe distance", said Tran Van Toi as he released carp from a plastic bag at Hanoi's West Lake.
The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in China, Korea, Laos and other Asian countries.
1. Why do Vietnamese set free carp at the Lunar New Year?| A．To honor the Jade Emperor. | B．To follow official rules. |
| C．To bring good fortune. | D．To protect wildlife. |
| A．Canceled. | B．Postponed. | C．Forbidden. | D．Restricted. |
| A．A tradition in Vietnam. | B．The Kitchen Gods. |
| C．A festival in Asian countries. | D．The fish called carp. |
| A．Opinion. | B．Culture. | C．Business. | D．Lifestyle. |
【推荐2】Zhang Shuai has a sense of fun that is being widely appreciated on the internet. When deliverymen bring cardboard boxes to his doorstep, Zhang soon builds them into interactive toys for his daughter Nini, who is 5.
The 32-year-old father from Zhengzhou, Henan Province, has made more than 120 toys from waste cardboard in the past three years. His toy-making videos have gone viral (走红) on the internet and many netizens comment that it shows an environment-friendly way to spend quality time with children.
In Zhang’s eyes, everything can have a hard cardboard copy. Even the classic video games, such as Need for Speed, Tetris and Submarine Game Challenge, can be played in the actual world.
“These are toys or games that people born after 1980 had in childhood that are rarely seen today. I want my daughter to see what her father played with as a boy, building a kind of connection between the two generations,” Zhang says.
The homemade toy, cardboard version of Need for Speed, has got more than 1.6 million likes on short video platform Douyin. The screen is made of paper with three lanes (车道) with cars and a magnet (磁铁) underneath. In the video, Nini uses a steering wheel to control a metal car to overtake painted cars in its lane with her father rolling the paper.
He also built a marble obstacle course, a pool table, a robot WALL-E and many others. His most liked video, a toy bank in the shape of a house, has gained more than 2.7 million likes.
“As people are becoming more addicted to digital devices, there are harmful effects brought by technology, like difficulty in concentration,” Zhang says, adding that parents should control their children’s screen time.
1. What do we know about Zhang Shuai’s cardboard toys?| A．They are interactive. | B．They are of a style. |
| C．They are commonly seen. | D．They are a waste of money. |
| A．How a cardboard toy is played. | B．How likes on Douyin are gained. |
| C．What games were popular in 1980. | D．What materials are needed for a toy. |
| A．Digital devices are beneficial to people. |
| B．Children rely on their parents to buy toys. |
| C．Harmful effects brought by technology are unnoticed. |
| D．Parents should spend quality time with their children. |
| A．Kind and generous. | B．Patient and creative. |
| C．Brave and ambitious. | D．Just and sympathetic. |
【推荐3】It is a finding which is certain to be hotly discussed. According to the latest research, women are brighter than men. For the first time in IQ testing, psychologists have found that female scores have risen above those of men.
Since IQ testing began a century ago, women have been as much as five points behind. But that gap has been narrowing in recent years and this year women have moved ahead, according to James Flynn, leader of the research.
“In the last 100 years the IQ scores of both men and women have risen but women’s have risen faster,” said Mr. Flynn. “This is a consequence （结果）of modernity, which is making our brains adapt (适应) and raising our IQ.”
One possible explanation is that women’s lives have become more demanding as they multitask (同时处理) between raising a family and doing a job. Another is that women have a slightly higher potential intelligence than men and are only now realizing it.
Mr. Flynn, who will publish his findings in a book, said more data was needed to explain the trend（趋势）. “The full effect of modernity on women is only just starting,” he added.
He compared IQ result from countries in western Europeand from the United States, Canada, NewZealand, Argentina and Estonia. These showed that in westernized countries the gap in scores between men and women had become minimal (最小).
The data for making comparison（对比） was limited and could be carried out for only a few countries. It included Australia, where male and female IQs were found to be almost the same. In New Zealand, Estonia and Argentina, women scored slightly more than men.
Mr. Flynn said, “As the world gets more complex, people are adapting.” He added, “I suspect that the same trends are happening in Britain, although the data is too limited to be true.”
1. What would be the best title for the text?| A．The history of IQ testing |
| B．The modernity of the world |
| C．Women overtake men in IQ testing |
| D．Women are becoming stronger than men |
| A．women were brighter than men |
| B．women were as bright as men |
| C．men were brighter than women |
| D．men had been five points behind |
| A．It was led by James Flynn |
| B．Its results have been published |
| C．Its results represent the whole world |
| D．It was started one hundred years ago |
| A．a story-book | B．a news report | C．a personal diary | D．a history book |
