Humans are not the only ones adapting to (适应) the effects of global climate change. Animals are also adapting to the environmental changes—some warm-blooded animals are beginning to “shapeshift (变身)” in response to shifts in climate, according to a recent study carried out by a team of researchers. The leader of the team is Sara Ryding, a researcher at Deakin University in Australia.
In the study, researchers have found new evidence that supports the theory that some warm-blooded animals are experiencing changes to their bodies due to the rising temperatures, resulting in larger legs, ears and beaks (喙) in some cases. The researchers have noted that warm-blooded animals living in colder climates have smaller legs, ears and beaks than animals of the same species living in warmer climates.
“When climate change is discussed in mainstream media, people are asking ‘Can humans overcome this?’ or ‘What technology can solve this?’” Ryding says.
She says that just like humans, animals also have to adapt to climate change, as shapeshifting for some of the warm-blooded animals is occurring over a far shorter time period.
“The climate change that we have created is putting much pressure on them, and while some species will adapt, others will not,” Ryding says.
Researchers have found body change in birds in Australia and North America. Certain species of Australian parrots have shown about 4%~10% increase in the size of their beaks since 1871, the reason for which is rising temperatures. In North America, the dark-eyed junco (灯芯草雀) also has seen an increase in beak size.
“Larger beaks help birds dissipate (驱散) extra body heat more effectively, which is useful as global temperatures rise. However, shapeshifting does not mean that animals are able to deal with climate change easily and that all is ‘fine’,” Ryding says. “It just means that they are struggling to adjust themselves to surviving it.”
1. What happens to some warm-blooded animals in warmer climates?| A．Some parts of their bodies are missing. |
| B．Their bodies become colder and colder. |
| C．Their bodies change into smaller ones. |
| D．Some of their body parts become larger. |
| A．To warn about the decrease of animal species. |
| B．To speak highly of animals’ ability to survive. |
| C．To explain why animals change the body shape. |
| D．To show the evidence of animals’ shapeshifting. |
| A．Climate change does little harm to bird species. |
| B．Climate change is still a big challenge for birds. |
| C．Birds can easily deal with global climate change. |
| D．Birds fail to adjust themselves to climate change. |
| A．All Animals Have to Adapt to Global Climate Change |
| B．Rising Temperatures Are Destroying Animals’ Bodies |
| C．Climate Change Is Making Some Animals Shapeshift |
| D．Warm-blooded Animals Inform Us of Global Warming |
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【推荐1】Climate change and beer might be two things that rarely appear in the same sentence. But according to an article in the scientific journal Nature Plants, if the Earth gets warmer, your Friday-night drink might get pricier.
The team behind the article modelled the effect of extreme events on production of barley, the main ingredient of beer. “Extreme weather conditions such as drought or heat will impact barley production. Barley is irreplaceable in beer making,” said Xie Wei, first author of the article. “If barley production drops, beer production will also drop, and beer might get more expensive.” When global temperatures rise to their highest, global beer supply will drop 16 percent. Prices will also hike due to drop of supply. For instance, a 4.84-U. S.-dollar price hike for a 500 ml bottle is projected in Ireland, almost doubling the previous price. Quality of that beer might also be affected. If barley cannot receive enough irrigation, quality of the protein and carbohydrate in its grain will drop.
In fact, the effect of drought on beer production has been seen. Bloomberg reported that drought and heat caused a 30 to 40 percent drop in barley production in European barley producing regions during summer 2018, leading to a 35 percent price hike of barley in France.
However, regional fluctuations in barley production are still manageable now. If production in one region fails, beer makers can make it up by importing more from other regions. But if climate change gets out of control, the impact will be global. Agriculture is incredibly vulnerable to climate change.
Xie pointed out the impact of climate change is not only limited to staple crops. “We are only using barley and beer as an example of high-added-value agricultural products,” said Xie. “In countries like China, per person consumption of staple crops is dropping, but that of products such as dairy and beer is rising.”
Beer, not essential for human survival, occupies a major part in culture around the world. That gives people yet one more reason to care more about climate change.
1. What can we know from the first two paragraphs?| A．Extreme weather influences the price of beer. |
| B．The more irrigation, the better quality of beer. |
| C．It’s necessary to replace barley in beer making. |
| D．Efforts should be made to promote beer production. |
| A．To lead in a new topic. | B．To make a comparison. |
| C．To give a supporting example. | D．To provide background information. |
| A．Important. | B．Sensitive. | C．Adaptable. | D．Resistant. |
| A．To popularize agricultural products. |
| B．To show the importance of beer in culture. |
| C．To draw people’s concern on climate change. |
| D．To indicate the impact of temperature on staple crops. |
【推荐2】Many of the most damaging types of weather begin quickly, strike suddenly, and disappear rapidly, destroying small areas while leaving neighboring areas untouched. Such event as a tornado struck the northeastern part of Edmonton, Alberta, in July 1987. Total damages from the tornado went beyond $250 million, the highest ever for any Canadian storm.
Traditional computer models of the atmosphere have limited value in predicting short-lived local storms like the Edmonton tornado, because the available weather data are generally not detailed enough to allow computers to study carefully the slight atmospheric changes that come before these storms. In most nations, for example, weather-balloon observations are taken just once every twelve hours at places separated by hundreds of miles. With such limited data, traditional forecasting models do a much better job predicting general weather conditions over large areas than they do forecasting specific local events.
Until recently, the observation intensive method needed for exact, very short-range forecasts, or “Nowcasts,” was not possible. The cost of equipping and operating many thousands of conventional weather stations was extremely high, and the difficulties concerned in rapidly collecting and processing the weather data from such a network were hard to overcome.
Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have overcome most of these problems. Radar systems and satellites are all able to make detailed, nearly continuous observation over large areas at a lower cost. Communications satellites can send out data around the world cheaply and immediately, and modern computers can quickly collect and analyze this large amount of weather information.
Meteorologists(气象学者) and computer scientists now work together to design computer programs and video equipment able to change weather data into words and graphic displays that forecasters can understand easily and quickly. As meteorologists have begun using these new technologies in weather forecasting offices, Nowcasting is becoming a reality.
1. Why can’t traditional computer models predict short-lived local storms?| A．The weather data people collect are often wrong. |
| B．Detailed weather data in some small areas are not available. |
| C．The computers are not advanced enough to predict them. |
| D．The computers are not used to forecast specific local events. |
| A．a network to collect storm data |
| B．a way of collecting weather data |
| C．a more advanced system of weather observation |
| D．a forecast which can predict weather in the small area |
| A．Scientific and technological advances. | B．Advanced computer programs. |
| C．Computer scientists. | D．Meteorologists. |
| A．The advantages of “Nowcasts”. | B．A tornado in Edmonton, Alberta. |
| C．The difficulty in predicting tornado. | D．A great development in weather forecast. |
【推荐3】Antarctica is known for being a vast land of ice and snow, a place too cold for most life. Despite this, the continent is slowly starting to turn warm. According to the Guardian, the Antarctic has registered a new high temperature for the first time on record, prompting fears of climate instability in the world's iciest place.
On Feb 9, Brazilian researchers at Seymour Island reported a temperature of 20.75℃ on the icy continent of Antarctica. It was almost a full degree higher than the previous record of 19.8℃, taken on Signy Island (西格尼岛) in January 1982.
This record-breaking reading was taken at a monitoring station in the northern part of Antarctica. According to Brazilian soil scientist Carlos Schaefer, the temperature was documented during a 20-year-long research project. The focus of this project is to study the effect that climate change has on the permafrost(永久冻土)within the region. Permafrost is soil that stays frozen for at least two years. Although this is a first record high for Antarctica, Schaefer stressed that "We can't use this to anticipate climatic changes in the future. It's simply a signal that something different is happening in that area."
But in fact, the last high temperature reading was in the 19℃ range. These higher temperatures can cause ice and glaciers in Antarctic regions to melt. The Antarctic peninsula(半岛)---the long finger of land that stretches towards Argentina---is most dramatically affected. Scientists saw glaciers that have retreated by more than 100 meters in Discovery Bay where the snow melted in little more than a week, leaving dark exposed rock. This melted ice leads to a rise in sea levels that can threaten the safety of coastal areas. It's believed to be behind an alarming decline of more than 50 percent in chinstrap penguin(帽带企鹅) colonies, which are dependent on sea ice.
Like American writer Ernest Hemingway once said, "The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for." We should do everything we can to help save our planet. Otherwise, it may become too hot for us to fix.
1. What did Brazilian researchers report on Feb 9?| A．Seymour Island is the warmest region in the Antarctic. |
| B．Antarctica hit a record high temperature of 20.75℃. |
| C．The average temperature of Antarctica ranges from 19.8℃ to 20.75℃. |
| D．Antarctica's new record temperature is a full degree higher than the previous decade. |
| A．To predict possible climatic change in the future. |
| B．To monitor Antarctica's contributions to world climate change. |
| C．To explain why the permafrost may cause glaciers to melt. |
| D．To examine how the permafrost is influenced by climate change. |
| A．moved backward. | B．increased in size. |
| C．covered a certain area. | D．stretched in an opposite direction. |
| A．the pollution of ocean water | B．the release of various viruses |
| C．threats to penguin habitats | D．disappearances of coastal cities |
| A．The Earth will be hotter and hotter. |
| B．The high temperature can cause ice in Antarctica melt. |
| C．People should spare no effort to protect the earth and the environment. |
| D．A rise in sea levels can threaten the safety of coastal areas. |
【推荐1】Cats have no emotions. At least, that’s what my husband once claimed. I argued that my two cats experience emotions. They feel anger, fear, and happiness. He agreed with me, but stuck to his opinion that cats don’t feel love. However, my cat, Sebastian, would teach him otherwise.
When my next-door neighbour moved in, he had a cat named Juliet. She was an indoor lady, always watching the environment through the window. Then one day when I accompanied my cat to the backyard for his playtime, Sebastian caught sight of Juliet gazing at him behind the window. It soon became obvious that they were attracted by each other. So every day thereafter, whenever I let Sebastian out, he would rush straight to the backyard next-door and they would sit gazing lovingly at each other through the screen, she inside, and he outside. Even my husband watched in amazement, and he would murmur, “But cats can’t feel love...can they?”
Five months later, my neighbour had to move because of work. My heart sank. I wondered how Sebastian would react to Juliet’s leaving.
For months after Juliet moved away and the new neighbour moved in, I often caught Sebastian sitting by Juliet’s window, looking into the apartment in search of his lady. The new neighbour didn’t mind having the “Peeping (偷看) Sebastian” after I explained his reason for being there. Sebastian marked the small area outside that window as his territory. Other male cats were allowed in the backyard, but not near Juliet’s window, which he guarded until his death.
Even now, when my husband and I walk through the backyard and see that window, he reminds me of the lesson Sebastian taught him...that cats do indeed fall in love.
1. What can be inferred from paragraph 2?| A．Juliet was allowed to go out. |
| B．Sebastian enjoyed the moment with Juliet. |
| C．The author was the only person to accompany her cat. |
| D．The author’s husband hated the two cats staying together. |
| A．Because he couldn’t play in the backyard. |
| B．Because he couldn’t get along with other cats. |
| C．Because there were few places for him to play. |
| D．Because the area was guarded by him for Juliet. |
| A．The death of Sebastian. | B．The neighbour’s sudden departure. |
| C．The story between the two cats. | D．The argument between him and the author. |
| A．Cats, Like People, Have Feelings | B．Cats Love People |
| C．Love—the Only Feeling Between Cats | D．Cats Are Not Able to Fall in Love |
【推荐2】Pennsylvania-When Connie Beck and her husband awoke to strange noises last weekend, they thought high winds were rattling their home. What they found was even more unexpected: A deer was taking a bubble bath in their bathtub. “I wasn’t exactly dressed for company,” Mrs. Beck said. “We were just waking up.” The deer burst through the front door early on Saturday, ran past the couple’s bedroom and into the bathroom. Somehow he managed to turn on the water in the bathtub and knock over a bottle of bubble bath into the bathtub. He then got himself into the bubbly water. “You could hear the water running over the kicking,” Beck said. The Becks called State Game Commission officials, who arrived with tranquilizers and a lot of laughter. “A guy said, ‘There’s nothing wrong… he’s just in there taking a bubble bath,’” Mrs. Beck said. The animal was soon brought under control, removed from the house and released. “He was unharmed except for a little cut above the eye,” said Mrs. Beck. “We were also fortunate. There wasn’t much damage, except for the front door, some marks on the tub, and a few hoof prints on the floor.”
1. When did the story take place?| A．On the night of Friday. | B．On the late night of Saturday. |
| C．On the early morning of Saturday. | D．On Sunday evening. |
| A．was joking about the incident | B．meant she never liked people to visit |
| C．explained she was about to go to work | D．wished she could have new clothes |
| A．managed to cover himself with bubbles | B．kicked over the tub |
| C．began to swim in the tub | D．happened to turn on the bath taps |
| A．the deer was set free |
| B．the deer destroyed the tub and the floor |
| C．the officials made fun of the couple |
| D．the officials discovered the deer was badly injured in the eye |
【推荐3】Bees have evolved to be skillful flying builders. Worker insects team up to finish a complex hive (蜂房) that ends up being many times their size. It is these insect building teams that inspired Mirko Kovac, a roboticist at Imperial College London, to develop a way to improve the flexibility of 3D printing.
A typical 3D printer is limited by the range of its nozzle (喷嘴), and can only make objects smaller than itself. Dr Kovac’s team has removed these limits by giving the printer nozzle wings. They designed a system of flying robots that is composed of two types of drones: builders and scanners. The builders carry the 3D-printing nozzle, while the scanners are equipped with cameras that monitor the building process.
The building process switches between builders and scanners, layer by layer, printing and adjusting until the structure is complete. To start, the builder hovers over its area of operation and begins to release a jet of building material as it moves skillfully along its flight path. Once the builder robot has sprayed a layer of material, the scanner robot flies over and inspects the progress. The system then calculates the next layer that the builder should make, while also correcting any errors.
The researchers tested the system by building both a large cylinder (圆柱) made of foam and a small cylinder made of the cement mixture. The tasks were not simple due to the difficulty in ensuring maximum stability. Dr Kovac’s robots made it with flying colours — the cylinders were built to be within 5 mm of the width and height of the planned structures, meeting British building standard.
While these robots have been shown to be capable of manufacturing, Dr Kovac believes their primary use will initially be in repair. The flying robots can operate anywhere, making them ideal for fixing things in dangerous or inaccessible places. These robots could be used more quickly, cheaply, and with less risk to humans. Thinking more long term, Dr Kovac even sees a potential future for his construction robots building on the surfaces of the Moon or Mars.
1. What is the design of Dr Kovac’s team based on?| A．Bees building hives while flying. | B．Bees flying in a flexible way. |
| C．Bees growing bigger than the hive. | D．Bees working together as a team. |
| A．Correcting any errors. | B．Spraying construction material. |
| C．Carrying the scanning camera. | D．Monitoring the building process. |
| A．Lost balance in the sky. | B．Passed the test excellently. |
| C．Stopped the work halfway. | D．Made the cylinders colourful. |
| A．Manufacture products. | B．Construct buildings. |
| C．Repair damage in risky places. | D．Monitor air pollution in the sky. |
【推荐1】Conflict is part of everyday life. It is not always a bad thing --- it can lead to good discussions and improvements in the relationship between two people. However, if it's not handled properly, it can be destructive and can bother your studies or other areas of your life.
We all have different styles of approaching conflict. Some of us avoid, others compete, give in,adjust or cooperate. Each of these styles has its strengths and weaknesses. So it’s important to know how you approach conflict. Remember that blaming others and refusing to take responsibility for your role in a conflict can only worsen the conflict and lead to more anger, frustration （挫折），or fear. On the other hand, making the effort to listen without judgement, trying to understand the other party's needs, and searching for solutions in which everyone wins lead to healthy conflict resolution and may result in positive change. If you find that you can't work it out with the other person, you may want to seek the help of a neutral party, to help you work through the conflict.
Whether you use the services of a third-party mediator or negotiate a solution between yourselves, the following principles are important to constructive conflict resolution: address the conflict before it becomes much more complex; separate the person from the problem; focus on interests rather than sticking to your position; commit to finding a mutually （相互地）beneficial outcome; avoid blaming others; listen actively; keep the lines of communication open; focus on the future.
Be aware of the possibility that you may just have to agree to disagree. Not all conflicts can be resolved. For most people, values are negotiable and they are not always in line with the values of others. In a diverse community like we have now, we must accept and be respectful of difference.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．How to Resolve Conflict. | B．Different Ways for Conflict. |
| C．Conflict Might Be a Good Thing, | D．Not All Conflicts Can Be Resolved. |
| A．Supports that can back someone up all the time. |
| B．People not supporting either side in a disagreement. |
| C．A group of people who have the opinions in common. |
| D．Judges that uphold justice when dealing with conflict. |
| A．making comparison | B．giving examples |
| C．listing figures | D．explaining facts |
| A．Conflict can lead to your worsening health if you disregard it. |
| B．Conflict can result in improved relationship if dealt with properly. |
| C．Conflict can develop better if you blame the other part of the conflict. |
| D．Conflict can help you if you compete with the other part of the conflict. |
【推荐2】Sometimes the simple act of being outside every day can be good to you. We often forget about what nature has to offer by staying inside too much. Going outside, you’ll probably be exposed to numerous sensations. You might hear the crinkle of leaves under your feet, concentrate on how the breeze cools your skin, and feel the sun offering its natural warmth.
Time outside also reminds you how you share your time on Earth with countless creatures and that you must live in harmony with them. The more often you encounter animals in their natural habitats, the easier it will be to recall why it’s so important to treat the outdoors with respect. After coming in contact with a squirrel, for example, you may be especially careful to throw your trash away in the nearest garbage can in case of some harmful leftover food. That’s because you’ve just been reminded that you’re not the only living thing to come in contact with what’s now rubbish.
Spending too much time indoors may cause us to become too isolated from others, especially if we use up much time in front of computer screens. It seems that a computer connected to the Internet allows you to share parts of your world with other people, but actually it can also make us feel more disconnected from others for lack of face-to-face communication. The time outside with a loved one allows you to take part in a shared experience. For instance, you can call attention to a type of flower that’s just started blooming and allow your companions to marvel at its beauty. That’s a similar shared experience.
Anyhow, it is not as hard as you might imagine. You may just decide to start an outdoor practice that takes you outside for a certain amount of time, preferably every day. The last 15 minutes of your lunch break strolling outside with a friend and some after-dinner family time discussing your days can be good options. Get off the computer and head outside! You’ll feel how your choice pays off.
1. According to paragraph 1, going outside offers an opportunity for people to ________.| A．enjoy sensory experience | B．bring back distant memories |
| C．achieve better concentration | D．participate in simple activities |
| A．To present the means of feeding animals. |
| B．To show the consequence of littering trash. |
| C．To stress the significance of experiencing nature. |
| D．To discuss the possibility of encountering wildlife. |
| A．attention disorder | B．loneliness attack |
| C．Internet addiction | D．communication barrier |
| A．Time Outside Involves A Shared Experience |
| B．Too Much Time Indoors Does Great Harm |
| C．Going Outdoors Gives A Different Perspective |
| D．A Daily Exposure to Nature Makes a Difference |
【推荐3】Many people all over the world speak English as their second language and it is not too much to say that it has become an international language.
Studying English can make life fun. It enables you to watch American movies, read English books and listen to English songs. Moreover, as English is an international language, you will be able to communicate with foreigners when you are on a trip abroad. Traveling will be more interesting that way.
It is a good idea to make friends with foreigners. In my opinion, it is the best way to improve your English. In addition, it will bring you a lot of fun and expand your view of the world. If you make friends with a native speaker, you can practice your spoken English more often, and then you can communicate with people around the world. You can also become familiar with the customs and habits of different cultures.
There are some people who are afraid to make friends with foreigners, because they are not confident about their English. However, many foreigners do not care about grammar. They will get your key words in the sentence and know the whole meaning. Therefore, it is unnecessary to be afraid; just go ahead..
In brief, English is so useful to us that we should all learn it.
1. Why does the writer think it necessary for us to learn English?| A．Because English has become an international language. |
| B．Because he uses it as a second language |
| C．Because you can’t make foreign friends if you can’t speak English. |
| D．Because it will be difficult for you to travel if you can’t speak English. |
| A．enjoying British or American music |
| B．traveling abroad |
| C．attending English parties |
| D．reading English novels or poems |
| A．they are afraid of making grammar mistakes |
| B．they become shy when they meet foreigners |
| C．they know little English |
| D．they seldom speak English with foreigners |
| A．improve | B．deepen |
| C．raise | D．enlarge |
