Michael Bublé and Mariah Carey have been surpassed on the Australian ARIA music charts by an album (专辑) that consists entirely of birdsongs. Songs of Disappearance features the voices of 53 birds, all threatened species, collected over more than 40 years and now turned into a lovely meditative (冥想的) recording.
The album has sold 2,000 copies so far. Songs of Disappearance is the result of a partnership between the Bowerbird Collective and David Stewart, who is responsible for collecting the birdsong recordings. All the money from the album sales goes to BirdLife Australia, in order to support and promote the latest version of The Action Plan for Australian Birds, a comprehensive review of the continent’s birds that has been published each decade since 1992.
Scan Dooley, national public affairs manager at BirdLife, thought the realization that these unique sounds could one day be silenced forever is very poignant (辛酸的). However, he described the album as a great opportunity to highlight the condition of the threatened birds in a much more upbeat way to a different audience than BirdLife can usually reach.
Australian birds suffer from historical and ongoing habitat loss. The Black Summer bushfires in 2019—2020 alone made 26 birds more threatened than they were ten years ago, including 16 on Kangaroo Island alone. And there is a significant population decline of 6 million for 17 bird species in the high altitude rainforests of Far North Queensland, including the lovely Fernwren.
Statistics like these are terribly depressing for the sense of helplessness they indicate. But at least Songs of Disappearance offers some practical solutions. Dooley believes the benefits extend beyond its support of BirdLife’s work. The greater value is bringing to the attention of a wider audience the beauty and wonder of the birds singing as more people are needed not just to take part in local conservation actions, but to demand the government step up and save the birds.
1. What is Songs of Disappearance?| A．A book written by Sean Dooley. |
| B．A song released by a famous singer. |
| C．An album of David Stewart’s collections. |
| D．A comprehensive review of wildlife in Australia. |
| A．Bird population is large. | B．The situation is serious. |
| C．The album is well-received. | D．Protection efforts are ineffective. |
| A．Promoting wider awareness. | B．Supporting government actions. |
| C．Preserving voices of extinct species. | D．Providing fund for more environmentalists. |
| A．BirdLife Tells Stories of Hopelessness |
| B．Meditative Recording Sales Hit New Heights |
| C．Birdsong Album Tops Australian Music Charts |
| D．Australian Government Steps up to Deal with Wildfire |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】A man is lucky to be alive after a horrible meet with a bear in Alaska. The unidentified man, who is said to be in his 50s, spent several days fighting for survival in the wilderness as a bear followed him — but then a Coast Guard helicopter team came to his rescue on Friday, July 16.
Commander Carbajal told the newspaper that their Coast Guard helicopter had changed course to avoid cloud cover on their way to a task when the shocking discovery was made. Though it was uncommon for the Coast Guard to come across people in need in the middle of nowhere, they noticed a shack (棚屋) with “SOS” and “help me” written on the roof.
The man later told his rescuers he had been staying at the shack since July 12. In those five days, he suffered non-life-threatening injuries, including damage to his leg.
“He was kind of struggling. When we came around, he was on his hands and knees waving a white flag.” Commander Carbajal said. “He definitely looked like he had been out there for a while,” he added.
“At some point, a bear had dragged him down to the river,” Commander Carbajal said. “He had a gun but the bullets were not enough. He said that the bear kept coming back every night and he hadn't slept for a few days.”
It is reported that 68 people in the state were sent to hospitals in 66 bear attacks from 2000 to 2017. Ten people died from bear attacks during that period. USA Today noted that all three species of North American bears — including black, brown and polar bears — live in Alaska.
1. When did the man begin to stay at the shack?| A．On Friday. | B．On Monday. | C．On Tuesday. | D．On Saturday. |
| A．Rescuing the man. | B．Checking the SOS signal. |
| C．Carrying out their own task. | D．Collecting information of the cloud. |
| A．Wormed. | B．Frightened. | C．Shocked. | D．Relaxed. |
| A．It is dangerous to travel in the wild of Alaska. |
| B．There is a high chance to live after meeting bears. |
| C．It is unrealistic to travel in the wild in Alaska. |
| D．Sixty eight people lost their lives because of bears. |
【推荐2】Tens of thousands of nature lovers see black bears and grizzly bears each year
If a bear is coming towards you, you must first determine if the bear attack is defensive（such as when protecting young bears）or predatory（捕食性的）（such as when hunting）.
Black bears do not often challenge humans, but when they do, their attacks are usually predatory. Bears do not feel threatened when they are hunting, so playing dead will not help you stay safe. During a predatory bear attack, the first thing you should do is drop any food you have and back away. If the bear still comes towards you, make as much noise as possible by shouting and hitting objects.
| A．It is a good idea to collect some facts about bears. |
| B．Your frightening behaviour can make the bear back down. |
| C．Most walk away with exciting memories and photographs. |
| D．That turns out to be a hint in some situations but not in others. |
| E．Black bears and grizzly bears are likely to attack for different reasons. |
| F．You should learn some life-saving skills before going on a hike in the wild. |
| G．There are many ideas about how a person should react when faced with bears. |
【推荐3】Humans kill large carnivores---a category of animals that includes wolves, bears, lions, tigers and pumas---at more than nine times their death rate in the wild. Although they may not be our prey (猎物) in the traditional sense, new research shows that some of the world’s biggest carnivores are responding to humans in a way that resembles how prey animals react to predators (捕食者). Biologists at the Santa Cruz Puma Project, an ongoing research effort in the mountains of California’s central coast, report that even the scary puma, or mountain lion, shows its fearful side when people are around.
In a recent study, the researchers followed 17 mountain lions outfitted with GPS collars (项圈) to the animals’ deer kill sites. Once the cats naturally left the scene between feedings, ecologist Justin A. Smith, now at the University of California Berkeley, and her team trained motion-activated cameras on the prey bodies. On the animals’ return, the cameras triggered nearby speakers, which broadcast recordings of either frogs croaking (呱呱叫) or humans conversing.
The pumas almost always fled immediately on hearing the human voices, and many never returned to resume feeding or took a long time to do so. But they only rarely stopped eating or fled when they heard the frogs. They also spent less than half as much time feeding during the 24 hours after first hearing human chatter, compared with hearing the frogs, the team reported.
The human presence in such a situation has far-reaching consequences. A previous study found that Santa Cruz pumas living near residential areas killed 36 percent more deer than those in less populated places. The new finding could explain why: if the cats are scared away from their kills before they finish feeding, they may be taking more prey to compensate. And fewer deer could mean more plants go uneaten, according to Chris Darimont, a professor of conservation science at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, who was not involved in the study. Thus, fear of humans may alter the entire food chain.
“Humans are the most significant source of death for pumas in this population even though the cats are not legally hunted for food or sport,” Smith says. “Many are hunted illegally, struck by vehicles or legally killed by governmental agencies as a means of protecting livestock. So they have good reason to be fearful of us,” she adds. Darimont predicts other large carnivores would show similar responses because humans have effectively become the planet’s top predator---even if we often do not eat what we kill.
1. How did researchers make the discovery?| A．By fitting GPS collars to the animals’ prey and following them. |
| B．By getting to the kill sties and broadcasting all types of sounds. |
| C．By observing pumas’ reaction to frogs’ croaking or humans’ voices. |
| D．By counting how long pumas spent eating in different backgrounds. |
| A．less deer being eaten | B．more plants left uneaten |
| C．pumas occupying less populated areas | D．more puma feeding times within a day |
| A．doubtful | B．disapproving | C．disappointing | D．objective |
【推荐1】The mushrooming video screens in buses, taxis and apartment halls in cities like Shanghai are taking away our already rare resource: a place for a moment of peace. Taking a nap or reading a book on buses is less pleasant now, as the LCD screens broadcast news, entertainment and advertisements at unbearable volumes.
You pay the bus fare simply to get a ride—undisturbed—but now you are exposed to this “added value”, whether you like it or not. If it’s a crowded bus, the noise is even more exasperating. More and more Chinese cities have joined Shanghai, regarded as the first to put video screens on buses, disturbing millions of passengers.
Some may like to watch programme aired on buses or in apartment halls. But those who don’t should be equally respected. Because of the bus screens, students cannot focus on reviewing their lessons or preparing for a test. People who like to read or reflect feel unsettled by the noise. Youngsters who like to listen to music on their iPods must increase the volume to fight against the competing audio. If you already feel stressed after a busy day, the bus video advertising certainly increase the tension of both your muscles and nervous system. Bus drivers are surely the worst victims because they have to bear it at least eight hours a day, non-stop.
A high public tolerance for noise pollution has helped bus video advertisers to expand their businesses. But opposition has already started to make its voice heard. Some people have already accused bus companies of breaking their contracts, since their obligation is only to deliver passengers to their destinations.
Shanghai, as a world-class city, should set an example for the country. It should first adopt world-class behavior in its massive public transportation system to return the public a peaceful place.
1. What does the underlined word “exasperating” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Entertaining. |
| B．Encouraging. |
| C．Disappointing. |
| D．Annoying. |
| A．Students. |
| B．Bus drivers. |
| C．Youngsters. |
| D．Office employees. |
| A．More use of public transport. |
| B．An increase in bus video advertising. |
| C．More complaints about bus companies. |
| D．Lower public awareness of consumer rights. |
| A．Opposed. |
| B．Unclear. |
| C．Supportive. |
| D．Indifferent. |
【推荐2】On Monday, I walked into a conference center and,instead of flashing an ID card with my name and photo, I positioned myself in front of a head-height camera the size of my fist. Seconds later, the screen read: “PLEASE ENTER.” No one scanned the digital pass. My face might already be an enty ticket. Hair-raising? Cool?
As facial-recognition access points are everywhere in public places including airports and concert locations, you might be wondering how you’re supposed to feel about it. Companies using face-matching software say it is speedy, convenient, and contactless for customers. Most also stress that it’s only a choice. Meanwhile, lawmakers are looking to tighten regulations around use of this kind of technology because of privacy concerns
The answer comes down to the individual. It helps if you know the company: Do you want this company storing your personal information? What happens to your face image once you no longer need the service?
Facial recognition works by creating a map of your face. The map contains your unique measurements — the distance between your forehead and chin, or between your eyes. These data are then changed into code called a face print. It’s how your iPhone’s Face ID identifies you or how Google Photos can group photos of your kids
A company that stores your face data could keep it. Or the data could be acquired by a company that has an entirely different purpose than what you agreed to. This kind of misuse is a guess. However you can’t always track where your face ends up: One company sold facial-recognition tech based on billions of images from social media and other sources.
While you have the ability not to choose facial recognition, it could eventually come at a cost Think of how the cash lane at a toll stop is almost always far slower than the E-ZPass lanes. Facial recognition will only become more common in our travels and entertainment, as well as other areas such as education and banking. We’ve just begun to understand the advantages and disadvantages.
1. Why does the author mention his experience in paragraph 1?| A．To introduce the topic. | B．To share his story with the readers |
| C．To promote the technology. | D．To question the safety measures |
| A．A facial-recognition software |
| B．A company that stores personal information |
| C．A code that contains unique measurements of a face. |
| D．A regulation for facial- recognition technology |
| A．The misuse of the technology |
| B．The risk of exposing personal data |
| C．The difficulty of tracking personal data |
| D．The incorrect way to identify individuals |
| A．Concerned. | B．Doubtful. | C．Objective. | D．Uninterested |
【推荐3】Parties and social gatherings no longer excite us the same way they once did. This is not due to a lack of desire to socialize, but the smartphone.
At parties, more people are on their smartphones than on their drinks. According to a recent International Data Corporation study, well over half of all Americans have a smartphone and reach for it the moment they wake up, keeping it in hand all day. In addition, too many people in society are using smartphones while driving and as a result, they get into car crashes. 34 percent of teenagers admit to texting while driving, and they confirm that text messaging is their number one driving interruption. People’s attachment to their smartphones is unbelievably becoming more important than the lives of themselves and others.
Just as drivers dismiss the importance of focusing while on the road, many people also fail to recognize the significance of human interaction. When with their friends, some people pointlessly check or send text messages in the presence of a friend, which sends a message to that friend: the person I am texting is more important than you. In addition, relying on our smartphones to make friends does not give us the same advantage as being able to make new friendships in the real world. Face-to-face conversations will give us much stronger communication skills in the long run.
As many people risk their lives and the lives of people around them just to send a text or mindlessly check their messages, smartphones are in many ways more dangerous to people. The quality of this technology is hindering(阻碍) social achievements and weakening the value of communication. Not only is the smartphone affecting our desire to interact (交流) face-to-face, but it is also lowering society’s ability to communicate.
1. The purpose of this text is to ___________.| A．call for an end to use the smartphone while driving |
| B．appeal to us to pay attention to communication skills |
| C．express a concern about the overuse of the smartphone |
| D．advise us to be cautious about the addiction to the smartphone |
| A．giving examples |
| B．listing figures |
| C．comparing facts |
| D．analyzing the effects |
| A．by using smartphones |
| B．in a face-to-face way |
| C．in different ways |
| D．under a free circumstance |
| A．parties and gatherings limit their social circle |
| B．people are more and more narrow-minded |
| C．people’s communication skills are weakened |
| D．face-to-face communication becomes less important |
【推荐1】Some of the greatest scientists of all time are women who have made important discoveries in a variety of fields in science. Several of their contributions throughout history are even more than men’s contributions. Our list of the most famous female scientists below are organized in order of popularity so you can read about the advancements that they made.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Famous For: Work on radioactivity
Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and the only woman to win this award in two fields: Physics and Chemistry. She discovered polonium and radium and her work helped with the creation of X-rays.
Jane Goodall (1934)
Famous For: Primate (灵长类) studies
Jane Goodall is known world-wide for her groundbreaking studies on primates. She is considered as the top expert on chimps in the world and is perhaps best known for her 45-year study on the social lives of these animals in Tanzania.
Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012)
Famous For: Nerve growth studies
Rita Levi-Montalcini was a neurologist (神经病学家) who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1986 for her findings in Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). She was the first Nobel Prize winner to live past her 100th birthday.
Lise Meitner (1878-1968)
Famous For: Work on radioactivity and nuclear physics
Lise Meitner was a key member of a group that discovered nuclear fission (裂变). One of her colleagues, Otto Hahn, was given the Noble Prize for this work. That Meitner didn’t get the award is considered to be a huge error by the Nobel committee.
1. Who is still contributing to the world?| A．Marie Curie. | B．Jane Goodall. |
| C．Rita Levi-Montalcini. | D．Lise Meitner. |
| A．Nerve growth. | B．The wildlife. |
| C．Nuclear explosion. | D．Radioactivity. |
| A．She was awarded the Nobel Prize. |
| B．She made a big mistake in her work. |
| C．She did lots of studies about nerve growth. |
| D．She made great contributions to nuclear physics. |
【推荐2】When you go to the doctor, you like to come away with a prescription(诊断). It makes you feel better to know you will get some medicine. But the doctor knows that medicine is not always needed. Sometimes all a sick person needs is some reassurance that all will be well. In such cases the doctor may prescribe a placebo.
A placebo is a sugar pill, a harmless shot, or an empty capsule. Even though they have no medicine in them, these things seem to make people well. The patient thinks it is medicine and begins to get better. How does this happen?
The study of the placebo opens up new knowledge about the way the human body can heal itself. It is as if there was a doctor in each of us. The doctor will heal the body for us if we let it. But it is not yet known just how the placebo works to heal the body. Some people say it works because the human mind fools itself. These people say that if the mind is fooled into thinking it got medicine, then it will act as if it did, and the body will feel better.
Placebos do not always work. The success of this treatment seems to rest a lot with the relationship between the patient and the doctor. If the patient has a lot of trust in the doctor and if the doctor really wants to help the patient, then the placebo is more likely to work. So in a way, the doctor is the most powerful placebo of all.
A placebo can also have bad effects. If patients expect a bad reaction to medicine, then they will also show a bad reaction to the placebo. This would seem to show that a lot of how you react to medicine is in your mind rather than in your body. Some doctors still think that if the placebo can have bad effects it should never be used. They think there is still not enough known about it.
The strange power of the placebo does seem to suggest that the human mind is stronger than we think it is. There are people who say you can heal your body by using your mind. And the interesting thing is that even people who swear this is not possible have been healed by a placebo.
1. What do we know about placebo according to the passage?| A．It contains some sort of medicine. |
| B．It won't function if you are negative about medicine and doctors. |
| C．People who believe placebo can be healed by it. |
| D．Patients and doctors know clearly how it helps to heal the body. |
| A．The patient needs help badly. |
| B．The patient believes in the doctor. |
| C．The doctor knows better about your body. |
| D．The doctor has carefully studied medicine. |
| A．Placebo: Work on Your Mind | B．Placebo: The Most Powerful Medicine |
| C．Placebo: The Best Doctor | D．Placebo: Heal Your Body |
【推荐3】There is an “environmental silver lining” as a result of the corona virus (冠状病毒) —carbon emissions have been reduced by more than 4%, many wildlife markets around the world have been closed and air quality in some places has slightly improved, Dave Ford, founder of the environmental literacy organization Soul Buffalo, says.
However, because of an increase in pandemic-related, non-recyclable materials such as take-out plastic containers and masks, 30% more waste has entered our oceans, he notes. “There's 129 billion facemasks being made every month—enough that you could cover the entire country of Switzerland with facemasks at the end of this year if trends continue,” he says. “And a lot of these masks are ending up in the water.” The masks look like jellyfish—in other words, food—to turtles and other wildlife creatures, thus, attractive to those animals and then endangering them, he says.
Very little of the plastic we use is actually recyclable. Sharon Lerner of The Intercept told Here & Now last year that "the vast majority of plastic that has ever been produced—79%—has actually ended up in landfills or burned, but not remade into new products." Even if the plastics we have can be reused, Ford says recycling programs across the globe are facing severe budget cuts.
“We're starting to see recycling programs stopped, waste picking communities operating at 50% or actually shutting down. They are the last line of defense between plastic and the environment,” he says.
Last year, Unilever planned to cut its use of non-recycled plastics in half by 2025. In an interview with Here & Now, Richard Slater, Unilever's chief research and development officer, drew on the industry argument that plastic packaging is lighter, which means less shipping and therefore fewer dangerous emissions that cause climate change.
Yes, plastics are lightweight and can cut down on fuel spending. But on the other hand, plastic waste is being found in every aspect of life—even in the deepest ocean.
1. What does “environmental silver lining” in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．An environmental organization. |
| B．The closure of some wildlife markets. |
| C．Benefits on environment from the corona virus. |
| D．The decrease of carbon dioxide emissions. |
| A．There is a continuous shortage of food in the ocean. |
| B．They contain certain unique chemicals. |
| C．Many sea creatures like to chase plastic by nature. |
| D．They look like the sea creatures' food. |
| A．The majority of it is buried or burned. |
| B．Most of it is recycled into new products. |
| C．129 billion facemasks end up in the ocean. |
| D．There is enough budget for plastic recycling. |
| A．Plastic can cut down fuel spending |
| B．The corona virus has caused more ocean plastic |
| C．Recycling programs are shutting down |
| D．Solutions to ocean plastic pollution are being explored |
