【推荐1】Crown shyness (树冠羞避) is a mysterious natural phenomenon in which the crowns of some tree species do not touch each other, but get separated by a gap clearly seen from ground level. The effect usually occurs between trees of the same species, but has also been observed between trees of different species.

There are many theories going around, most of which make sense, but no one has been able to prove without the shadow of a doubt why some trees avoid touching each other.

In his 1955 book Growth Habits of the Eucalypts, Australian forester M. R. Jacobs writes that the growing tips of the trees are sensitive to abrasion (擦伤)，which results in crown shyness phenomenon. This theory was also supported by Dr. Miguel Franco. Some experiments have shown that if trees displaying crown shyness are artificially prevented from swaying (摇摆)in the wind and touching each other, they gradually fill up the gaps between them.

But while the above theory is arguably the most widespread, it's certainly not the only one. Some scientists have suggested that crown shyness is a mechanism to stop the spreading of leaf-eating insects. The gaps mean pests wouldn't be able to reach other trees, so they are the tree's natural defense method.

One Malaysian scholar studied many trees, but found no traces of abrasions, despite their clear crown shyness. Instead, he suggests that the growing tips of the trees were sensitive to light levels and stopped growing when they got too close to other trees. Plants are able to sense how close they are to other plants and in order to get more light, they give off some chemical to stop other trees from growing too close.

Whatever the reason, one thing is for sure, plants are more intelligent than people.

1. What can we know about crown shyness?

A．It can cause abrasion between trees.

B．It only happens between the same species.

C．It has been discovered for only half a century.

D．No agreement has been reached about its real cause.

2. What will happen if trees showing crown shyness are stopped from swaying?

A．The trees will stop growing and even die.

B．The gaps between the trees will grow wider.

C．The crown shyness phenomenon will disappear.

D．The gaps between the trees will remain the same.

3. What does the underlined word “mechanism” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Tip.	B．Way.
C．Theory.	D．Plan.

4. Which statement might the Malaysian scholar agree with?

A．Trees have special ways to attack others.

B．Some insects stop trees growing too close.

C．Trees compete with their neighbors for light.

D．Trees won't touch each other to avoid diseases.

【推荐3】You may already know that more than a million years ago, glaciers, or vast blankets of moving ice, covered one third of the earth. You also may know tens of thousands of years ago, the glaciers started to melt, retreating to their current position in the Antarctic and Greenland. You may even know that glaciers also exist in all the world's great mountain regions. But do you know that glaciers cover about 6 billion square miles of the earth and store about 75 percent of the earth's fresh water.

A glacier forms in a cold climate when a winters snow does not completely melt during the following summer. Snow continues to accumulate and partially melt year after year. As the accumulated snow becomes heavier, the lower layers crushes under the weight and changes into ice. Over time, the mass of ice thickens and moves. The ice is either pulled slowly downhill by gravity - as in the valley glaciers found in the Alps, on the Alaskan coast, and in the Western United States - or forced outward in all directions by its own weight - as in the ice sheets and icecaps covering most of Greenland and Antarctic a. During the glaciations (冰川作用),a glacier moves ( usually about 3 feet per day). It picks up pieces of rock that cut and polish the land and carve out steep-side valleys . During deglaciation (冰消作用),a glacier withdraws and often leaves large deposits of sand and stones. The process of glaciation and deglaciation formed the Great Lakes in North American during the Ice Ages.

Some scientists believe that ice ages similar to those of the past will occur, but they disagree on when this will happen. Other scientists think that global wanning will occur instead, melting the glaciers and flooding areas as sea levels rise. No one knows for certain which event will occur, but neither predicts well for mankind.

1. What happens to a glacier during glaciation?

A．It moves.	B．It leaves stones.
C．It leaves sand.	D．It forms the Great Lakes.

2. What will happen if global warming occurs instead of another ice age?

A．Vast blankets of ice will cover the earth.

B．Glaciers in the Antarctic will increase in size.

C．Plant and animal life in many related areas will be destroyed.

D．A winter's snow may not completely melt during the following summer.

3. What is the attitude of the writer towards the argument between scientists in the last paragraph?

A．Optimistic.

B．Objective.

C．Pessimistic.

D．Indifferent.

4. What is this passage mainly about? ,

A．The Ice Age.	B．Valley glaciers.
C．Ice sheets and ice caps.	D．Glaciers.

【推荐1】It’s not often you get information about a destination from a heavy metal band, but in Debrecen, Hungary’s second largest city, locals are used to having to make a noise to get heard.

Just off the historic center, Roncs bar is a pub that also hosts live music.   It has the atmosphere of a student party in an old building that might soon be knocked down.

Roncs is owned by Hungary’s best-known heavy metal rock band, Tankcsapda. Sometimes referred to as the “Hungarian Metallica”, the band has taken a type of music that is famous worldwide and-through lyrics, album covers, and an annual New Year’s party and concert-made it all about their home city.

It’s perhaps fitting that Tankcsapda should be seen as ambassadors for Debrecen — the city sometimes needs loud heavy metal rock music to get noticed. “Foreigners think that Hungary is Budapest and there’s nothing else,” is a familiar saying on Debrecen’s streets.

Debrecen has, at times, been more important than the current seat of power, with locals claiming it takes over in times of trouble.

That doesn’t quite add up.

Debrecen survived an attack from the Mongols in the 13th century, the Black Death, 150 years of struggle against the Ottomans and numerous conflicts, and yet it has still only briefly been the country’s capital twice. This happened for the first time after a short-lived revolution in 1849, and for a second time at the end of World War II.

Today, Debrecen may not be well known to tourists, but that only adds to the charm of this relaxed city. It’s a small place; the historical center is sized for strolling (散步) and regular cafe stops. There’s also a view of Debrecen’s mix of architectural styles, a result of the frequent large fires that back in the 19th century led the city’s students to form one of Europe’s first-ever fire brigades (消防队).

You can also see traditional weathercocks from the rooftops, featuring Islamic star and crescent moon symbols that once advertised to Ottoman invaders that the city preferred trading to fighting.

Trade meant that Debrecen’s skilled people became very successful and the city became famous for-among other things-fine foods, hats and clay pipes. In the early 19th century, 10 million clay pipes were reportedly made a year, with thousands bought for Britain’s navy.

1. What do Debrecen citizens expect Tankcsapda to do?

A．Introduce heavy metal music to Hungary.

B．Hold parties featuring live heavy metal music shows.

C．Try to make Debrecen known with its music.

D．Create a unique type of heavy metal music.

2. Why are locals used to having to make a noise to get heard?

A．Because they feel their city is too quiet and relaxed.

B．Because they dislike it that the world only knows Budapest in Hungary.

C．Because they think it helps create a powerful image of their city.

D．Because all kinds of music bars bring their city alive.

3. What does the underlined word refer to?

A．Styles.	B．Conditions.
C．Atmosphere.	D．Climate.

4. What is the key message the author wants to deliver in this passage?

A．Debrecen actually is more important than Budapest.

B．Debrecen is a place which is worth visiting.

C．Debrecen citizens love music and create their unique culture.

D．Debrecen citizens are proud of their culture and history.

【推荐3】Directions: Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

A new report by the World Bank shows that the effects of climate change could force 140 million people to move within their countries by 2050.

The report looked at three developing regions of the world-sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America.     1    .

Climate migrants are people who are forced to move within their country because of water scarcity, crop failure, rising sea levels and storm surges due to climate change.

    2    It is important to help people make good decisions about whether to stay where they are or move to new locations where they are less vulnerable.

The report noted that the effects of climate change will often force people to move from rural areas suffering from droughts or crop failures to cities where there are different opportunities.     3     “Without the right planning and support, people migrating from rural areas into cities could be facing new and even more dangerous risks,” said Kanta Jumari Rigaud, the report’s team lead. “    4    ” Rigaud added.

The report recommends key actions to help prevent wide-scale climate migration: cutting global greenhouse gas emissions; improving development planning at the local level for climate migration; and investing in data to better understand climate migration trends in each country. The report notes that any rise in climate migration will be in addition to millions of other migrants within countries, moving for economic, social, political or other reasons.

A．We would see increased tensions and conflict as a result of pressure on scarce resources.

B．The report shows that with proper efforts the number of climate migrants could be reduced dramatically, from 140 million to 40 million by 2050.

C．Some measures that could help helpless people adapt to climate change were on the agenda.

D．However, it noted that cities must take the time to plan for the possibility for a flood of people.

E．Countries that are becoming more restrictive on migration are those who are largely responsible for global warming.

F．It found that unless urgent action is taken, the regions will likely have to deal with tens of millions of so-called climate migrants.

【推荐1】Marco Springmann and his colleagues, at the Oxford Martin School’s Future of Food Programme, built computer models that predicted what would happen if everyone became vegetarian by 2050. The results indicate that if the world went vegan (严格的素食主义者), the greenhouse gas emissions declines would be around 70%.

In the US, for example, an average family of four emits more greenhouse gases because of the meal they eat than from driving two cars---but it is cars, not steaks, that regularly come up in discussions about global warming.

Food, especially livestock (牲畜，家畜) also takes up a lot of room. 68% of agricultural land in the world is used for livestock. When these lands become grasslands and forests, they would capture carbon dioxide and further ease climate change.

However, if the whole world went vegan, there would be negative effects too. First, it is necessary to keep livestock for environmental purposes. “I’m sitting here in Scotland where the Highlands’ environment is very man-made and based largely on grazing by sheep,” says Peter Alexander, a researcher in socio-ecological systems modeling at the University of Edinburgh. “If we took all the sheep away, the environment would look different and there would be a potential negative impact on biodiversity.”

Plus, meat is an important part of history, tradition and cultural identity. Numerous groups around the world give livestock gifts at weddings, celebratory dinners such as Christmas with turkey or roast beef.

And nowadays, moderation in meal-eating’s frequency and portion size is key to solving these conflicts. “Certain changes would encourage us to make healthier and more environmentally friendly dietary decisions,” says Springmann, “like putting a higher price lag on meat and making fresh fruits and vegetables cheaper.”

In fact, clear solutions already exist for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock industry. What is lacking is the will to carry out those changes.

1. What can we infer from the underlined sentence in the second paragraph?

A．Driving cars is more dangerous than eating steaks in the US.

B．Our dietary choices affecting climate change is often underestimated.

C．People compare the greenhouse gas emissions of the cars and steaks.

D．Cars affect the global warming more seriously than the steaks.

2. Which saying can best show the author’s attitude to livestock?

A．It is hard to please all.

B．Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

C．One cannot see the wood for the trees.

D．Everything is a double-edged sword.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A biology textbook.	B．A health magazine.
C．A scientific journal.	D．An educational review.

【推荐3】Gender, brain function, and STEM performance

[1] Scientists have debunked the idea that women are underrepresented in the science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) industries because of biological differences which affect their maths skills. Girls and boys have similar brains and are equally able when it comes to understanding maths, according to the study published in the journal Science of Learning.

[2] The research involved 104 children aged between 3 and 10 years old, 55 of whom were girls. The kids watched an educational video featuring maths concepts such as counting and addition, while the scientists charted their brain activity using an MRI scanner. The team then compared all the scan results, with which the researchers could compare the brain activity of the children to adults. The team asked 38 men and 25 women to watch the same videos in the scanner. According to the data, there was no difference between the children’s brain functions or development. And the boys and girls appeared to be equally tuned into the videos.

[3] The authors wrote the figures suggest “girls and boys showed statistically equivalent levels of neural maturity throughout the brain, suggesting that the neural processing of mathematics develops at similar rates in boys and girls,” they wrote.

[4] “Limited evidence for intrinsic, biological gender differences in mathematics ability has fueled debate about the underrepresentation of girls and women in STEM fields” the authors said.

[5] Jessica Cantlon, professor of developmental neuroscience at Carnegie Mellon University and senior author of the paper, commented in a statement: “Science doesn’t align with folk beliefs. We see that children’s brains function similarly regardless of their gender so hopefully we can adjust expectations of what children can achieve in mathematics.”

[6] “However, typical socialization can exacerbate small differences between boys and girls that can snowball into how we treat them in science and maths. We need to be cognizant of these origins to ensure we aren’t the ones causing the gender inequities.”

[7] Alyssa Kersey, the first author, said: “It’s not just that boys and girls are using the maths network in the same ways but that similarities were evident across the entire brain. This is an important reminder that humans are more similar to each other than we are different. Earlier this year, a separate team of researchers concluded girls would score better in maths and science tests if exams were made longer. The scientists found female students are better at sustaining their performance over a long period and argue this should be regarded as a skill.”

[8] Co-author Oosterveen said: “Our study also documents a female strength in test-taking that has largely been ignored and that deserves recognition. Gender differences in test performance in maths and science have generally been perceived as a female weakness. The findings in this study could serve as a counterbalance to the gender stereotypes shaped by this perception.

1. Which of the following can be a replacement word for the underlined word “debunked” in paragraph 1?

A．supported

B．disproved

C．delighted

D．distinguished

2. What is the author’s main purpose by making the statement in Para. 4?

A．To illustrate a generally accepted scientific findings from their recent study.

B．To explain why girls and women are underrepresented in many STEM fields.

C．To emphasize the widely held gender difference isn’t scientifically grounded.

D．To argue for more favorable policy to support women and girls in STEM fields

3. What do these “origins” (Para. 6) refer to?

A．The snowball effect that can worsen the situation.

B．Small differences between boys and girls.

C．Gender inequities that are common in STEM field.

D．How we treat the gender distinctions in science.

4. Which one of the following is NOT true about the study conducted by Alyssa’s team?

A．Girls are likely to make a better performance in longer maths and science tests.

B．Girls and boys showed similar brain functions while watching an educational video about maths.

C．The findings could be used to argue against the commonly believed gender stereotypes.

D．MRI scanner was used so the researchers were able to record information about their brain activity.