Cities are taking steps to support wildlife populations and educate citizens about the importance of the environment. Here are four of the most wildlife-friendly cities in the United States.
Austin, Texas
Austin, the capital of Texas, earns the rank as the top city for wildlife in large part due to its work to help improve declining monarch butterfly populations. Austin sits within the main migration pattern of the monarch, which means that monarch butterflies pass through it twice annually. Austin also leads all US cities with 2,616 certified (经认证的)wildlife habitats.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta secures the second-place ranking thanks to its Climate Action Plan, which aims to expand on the 3,000 acres of parks that the city already manages. Already classified by the US Forest Service as one of the most forested urban centers in the country, Atlanta also calls fbr planting more trees and creating more green spaces based on its climate plan. Six neighborhoods in Atlanta have been designated (指定)as Community Wildlife Habitats. Put together, these areas of vegetation can help reduce the urban heat island effect in the city.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is home to 489 parks that span 6,441 acres, including 2,500 acres of forested public land. The city’s largest park, Discovery Park, covers 534 acres and serves as an important protected area fbr birds and marine animals. Due to the amount of forested land in Seattle, the researchers use the city to study how urban environments can be designed to support wildlife. The Seattle Urban Project enlists the community to report wildlife sightings, which helps to demonstrate how and where flesh-eating mammals can coexist with humans.
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, a city in southern California, ranks high on the list due to its efforts to combat water use issues. The city’s NatureScape Program encourages citizens to replace lawns with gardens of native plants that attract pollinators (传粉昆虫)and conserve water. The city has also formed the CLEAN group, a partnership between the government, businesses and community groups designed to address environmental issues.
1. What is special about the city Austin, Texas?| A．It manages the largest green spaces. |
| B．It owns the largest number of parks. |
| C．It can report the most wildlife sightings. |
| D．It has got the most certified wildlife habitats in the US. |
| A．How to build more parks in the city. |
| B．How to make the city wildlife-friendly. |
| C．How to improve biodiversity in the city. |
| D．How to make the city more livable fbr humans. |
| A．The CLEAN group. |
| B．The Climate Action Plan. |
| C．The Seattle Urban Project. |
| D．The Nature Scape Program. |
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Beloved by tourists and Canadians alike, Whistler increased its international profile after the success of the 2010 Winter Olympics. With its close proximity (临近) to Vancouver — it’s only two hours north of the city — Whistler offers the ideal winter playground for all ages. Challenge yourself on its snow-covered mountains, enjoy some retail therapy in its 200 shops, or sample the finest cuisine in 90+ restaurants and bars.
Quebec
For more than 60 years, Quebec’s world famous Winter Carnival has been one of Canada’s must-visit winter destinations. With evening parades, snow tubing, skating, snow rafting, outdoor BBQs, ice sliding, snow sculpture competitions and dance parties, there’s something for every taste and age. And be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the fete’s main man — Bonhomme Carnaval — Quebec’s beloved snowman and Carnival ambassador.
Nova Scotia
You can’t get more Canadian than maple syrup, and Sugar Moon Farm in Nova Scotia has tasty fun in store for you! Learn all about the art of maple syrup — and sample the yummy results. Sugar Moon Farm offers warm hospitality along with their sugar camp tours, all-day brunch, maple-tasting experiences and hiking trails. Foodies will be thrilled to take part in Sugar Moon’s Chef Nights when the finest chefs create delicate dinners for a hungry and appreciative audience.
Saskatchewan
For a true frontier experience, enjoy a breathtaking journey through the Canadian wild by dog sled. Saskatchewan’s Sundogs Sled Excursions lets you ride along on a trip of a lifetime. Each winter from late November to mid-March, Sundogs takes visitors deep into the beautiful and unspoiled environs of Anglin Lake by dog sled. Sundogs offers a host of amazing activities including puppy camps, half or full day trips, and overnight camping.
1. What is Whistler, B.C. known for worldwide?| A．The success of the 2010 Winter Olympics. |
| B．Its close proximity to Vancouver. |
| C．Its snow-covered mountains. |
| D．The finest cuisine in restaurants and bars. |
| A．Whistler, B.C. | B．Saskatchewan. |
| C．Nova Scotia. | D．Quebec. |
| A．A snow sculpture competition. | B．A maple-tasting experience. |
| C．A cross-country hiking trip. | D．A thrilling snow sled ride. |
【推荐2】Listed below are some of the classic local hiking challenges. Most of these hikes are along the Long Trail (路径),the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States: initiated in 1910.
SUNSET LEDGE 2924’ 2.2 MILES
Perfect for kids.Popular! Park at the lop of Lincoln Gap and head south on the long Trail. Views over Addison County to Lake Champlain and the Adirondack range. About an hour round trip, plus the time you spend enjoying the view.
GENERAL STARK 3662' 3.2 MIlES
A local's favorite with fantastic views.Start from the App Gap and head South on the long Trail up steep Stark's Wall all and follow the Long Trail to the Stark's Nest Shelter at the top of the Single Chair. Or start from the Mad River Glen ski area and hike the service roads up to the same spot. About 3 hours round trip.
CAMEL'S HUMP 4080' 7.4 MILES
This most challenging 7.4 miles round trip hike takes you above the trees to Vermont's highest undeveloped peak. Spectacular views and an unparalleled feeling of accomplishment. Budget 5 hours. About a 40 minutes drive from the Mad River Valley to railhead either in Duxbury or in Huntington.
MT.ABRAHAM 4000' 5.2 MILES
This is a 4-hour hike if you are a normal human being and the views are spectacular. Mt.Abr is one of Vermont's 5 peaks over 4000’, with 360° panoramic views. Part of the Monroe Skyline Park at Lincoln Gap and head North on the Long Trail. If you hike in the summer, hike down Upper Jester and ride the Super Bravo chair to Sugarbush base area.
TO ENSURE A GREAT HIKE
These hikes are challenging: do not underestimate the journey. Be prepared. Always bring a good, printed trail map; Map Adventures is the best (at The Tempest Bookshop or local gear shops). Trail markers are not always visible and estimated hiking time is based on fit individuals. Always wear hiking shoes, carry a backpack with more water than you think you will need, some calorie-rich foods, and a flashlight; bring an extra layer for warmth or rain. Sunscreen might be a good idea depending on the season.
1. Which trail are professional hikers most likely to go to?| A．Sunset Ledge | B．General Stark |
| C．Camel's Hump | D．Mt.Abraham |
| A．go to a local gear shop. | B．bring extra clothes in case. |
| C．invite a friend to go with you. | D．wear more sunscreen than necessary. |
| A．A Journey along the Long Trail. | B．Magnificent views. |
| C．A more than 3 hours' trip. | D．A kids-friendly trail. |
【推荐3】Volunteering to help people in need combined with travelling to faraway places is a new trend in the travel industry. It is called voluntourism. People travel to other countries, learn languages and other cultures and gain new experiences. At the same time, they volunteer to help others who are not as well off as they are.
Recent statistics show that in the past few years voluntourism has been one of the fastest-growing areas of tourism. More than 1.6 million people around the world are volunteers in other countries. They work in Orphanages (孤儿院), help build schools, assist in hospitals and do farming work in developing countries. Some of them establish lasting bonds with people far away.
While voluntourism has been around for over a century, modern volunteering started with the Peace Corps, a program that the US government started in the 1960s.
Many people get involved in voluntourism. Students see it as a gap year after school, and others simply want to take time out from a job and do something else. Then there are those who are bored and merely seek adventure. However, many voluntourists do not see volunteering as what it is. They think it is a cheap way of traveling and don’t really want to get involved in hard work.
Critics say that if people really want to help those in need there are many opportunities in their own community to do this. Furthermore, volunteers are often not skilled enough for the tasks that they do. Travel experts point out that in some cases voluntourists are exploited(利用)by the organization that sets the trips.
Job organizations urge volunteers to inform themselves about organizations and projects before applying forjob. Serious development programs are mostly supported by international organizations.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．A new adventure. | B．A new working style |
| C．A new trend in travel. | D．A new job opportunity |
| A．Most tourists’ opinions on voluntourism. | B．Reasons why people go voluntouring |
| C．Disadvantages to most voluntourists. | D．Methods of how to go voluntouring. |
| A．Most voluntourists really want to help others. |
| B．Travel is the absolute purpose of voluntourism. |
| C．Not everyone sees volunourism in a positive way. |
| D．Voluntourism needs support from international organization. |
【推荐1】Concrete (混凝土) is one of the most common building materials in the world. It’s used to build many things, including roads, sidewalks, and buildings. But making concrete creates a lot of pollution. And it uses a lot of sand. Mining for sand creates other problems for the environment. Siswanti Zuraida from the University of Kitakyushu in Japan had an unusual idea. What if some of the sand in concrete could be replaced (代替)with used diapers (尿布)?
Diapers are a huge source of pollution. In the US alone, over 8 billion pounds(3.6 billion kilograms)of them are thrown away each year. In other countries, dirty diapers can end up in rivers and roads. One 2018 study in Indonesia showed that diapers made up more than 20% of the rubbish pulled from waterways in 15 cities.
So Ms Zuraida and her team collected used diapers, cleaned them up, and killed any bad germs (细菌) in them. Then the diapers were dried and cut into small pieces that could be added to concrete.
The team made different mixes of concrete with different numbers of diapers. They found that this new kind of concrete was just as safe and strong as normal concrete. The researchers think their idea could make it less exorbitant to build homes. After all, sand needs to be mined, which costs money. Used diapers are basically free, and there’s no shortage of them.
Ms Zuraida and her team are excited about their results. However, if diapers are really going to be used in concrete, someone will have to think about how to safely collect, clean, and store lots and lots of used diapers. The team is also studying how well diaper concrete is able to block out heat and sound. Perhaps the biggest challenge will be encouraging people to use concrete made with diapers.
1. Why does Zuraida advise replacing some of the sand with used diapers?| A．To lower costs of building houses. | B．To improve the quality of concrete. |
| C．To invent a new building material. | D．To reduce pollution caused by concrete. |
| A．The reason why diapers can replace sand. | B．The researchers’ worry over used diapers. |
| C．The seriousness of diaper pollution. | D．The solution for diaper pollution. |
| A．Harmful. | B．Expensive. | C．Dangerous. | D．Challenging. |
| A．It is well received by the public. | B．It has more benefits than thought. |
| C．It still faces many problems. | D．It is impossible to become a reality. |
【推荐2】We're often told the importance of protecting the earth for future generations and children at St Oswald's CE Primary School certainly agree.
Nine-year old Isobel Kelleher from the school's Hummingbirds class thinks adults need to pay attention. “Sometimes they can be busy and I don't think they believe they can make a difference, but if everyone does a little bit, it all adds up.” she tells HuffPost UK. “We started looking at plastic pollution in our oceans and the things like plastic bags that are polluting them,” she says. “Fish can eat the plastic and they can die, or we might even eat the fish ourselves.”
Mr. Timms, Isobel's teacher, has been leading a new project at the school which encourages children to creatively raise the awareness of the need to be more environmentally-friendly. The entire Hummingbirds class, which is made up of nine-year-old and ten-year-old pupils, has been busy writing poems and creating online videos to warn adults about the serious situation of our oceans and wildlife.
Mr. Timms thinks children play an important role in teaching us how to take care of the things around us. "We sometimes don't know how much we can really learn from children." he says. "It is really a pleasant surprise to see parents come in and say that their children have been asking them to stop using plastic and to recycle more, and even stopping them from using plastic straws.”
Mr. Timms is proud of his Hummingbirds class. “The message that they would like to send to the world is simple: stopping this isn't someone else's job, and it won't be OK if we just leave it.”
1. What does Isobel Kelleher mean in paragraph 2?| A．People shouldn't eat fish any more. |
| B．Adults have done their part pretty well. |
| C．Everyone can do something to stop pollution. |
| D．Plastic pollution is already too serious to be solved. |
| A．By preventing people using plastic bags. |
| B．By picking up waste plastic in oceans in person. |
| C．By teaching students to write poems creatively. |
| D．By warning adults about the pollution with poems and videos. |
| A．The project has already proved effective. | B．Some parents are angry with the project. |
| C．Children are good at looking after parents. | D．Adults ought to learn a little from their kids. |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. | C．Dissatisfied. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Using plastic straws | B．Plastic pollution | C．Protecting the earth | D．The Hummingbirds class |
【推荐3】You might think that “global warming” means nothing more than a rise in the world’s temperature. But, rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation(撤离) of an island nation—the citizens of Tuvalu will have to have their homeland.
During the 20th century, sea level rose 8-12 inches. As a result, Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country’s drinking water.
Paani Laupepa, a Tuvaluan government official, reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years. Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms.
Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions(导致温室效应的气体排放), which are a main cause of global warming. “By refusing to sign the agreement, the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years,” Laupepa told the BBC.
Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries.
Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable(易受影响的) to rising sea levels. Maumoon Gayoon, president of the Maldives, told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an “endangered nation”.
1. The text is mainly about_________ .| A．rapid changes in earth’s temperature |
| B．bad effects of global warming |
| C．moving of a country to a new place |
| D．reasons for lowland flooding |
| A．greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations |
| B．higher surface water temperatures of the sea |
| C．continuous global warming |
| D．rising sea levels |
| A．agree to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions |
| B．sign an agreement with Tuvalu |
| C．allow Tuvaluans to move to the US |
| D．believe the problems facing Tuvalu were real |
【推荐1】The 2024 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency (熟练，精通) Competition for Foreigners across the Globe—Calligraphy and Painting Challenge has been officially announced.
This competition invites painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language lovers from all around the world to take part in this exciting event.
Participants (参赛选手) are encouraged to submit (提交) their creative themes for the contest, with the theme selection process being determined through public vote.
If you’re interested, feel free to submit the theme that you believe fits best with the requirements of the competition.
Here are the requirements:
Who Can Apply
The call for creative themes for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge is open to any Chinese language lovers worldwide, with no limits on age or countries.
Submission Dates
Submissions will be accepted from June 30, 2023 to June 15, 2024 (Beijing Time).
Announcement Date
The selected theme for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge will be announced on July 1, 2024, which also marks the official start date of the submission period for works under the selected theme.
Submission Methods
Participants can send their theme and related information to chinesebridge@chineseplus.net. “Chinese Bridge” also accepts direct messages on its official account on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, and Weibo.
1. Which of the following is the requirement for the competition?| A．The participants must be Chinese. |
| B．The participants must be more than 18 years old. |
| C．The participants must submit their personal information. |
| D．The participants should love painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language. |
| A．June 12, 2024. | B．June 1, 2023. |
| C．June 20, 2023. | D．July 1, 2024. |
| A．To set up a competition organization. |
| B．To attract more people to learn Chinese. |
| C．To collect creative themes for a competition. |
| D．To call on people to pay attention to “Chinese Bridge”. |
【推荐2】These popular children’s stories all have important birthdays this year.
How to Train Your Dragonby Cressida Cowell
(Hachette Children’s)
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a smallish Viking with a longish name. His Hairy Hooligan tribe thinks he’s useless but, with the help of a dragon, can Hiccup prove he’s a hero? Celebrate 20 years of a favourite story with this anniversary edition.
The Sheep-Pigby Dick King-Smith
(Puffin Books)
When Farmer Hogget brings Babe home, the little orphaned piglet (成为孤儿的小猪) is raised by a kind-hearted sheepdog called Fly. Babe knows he can never be a sheepdog like Fly but could he learn how to be a sheep-pig? Famously made into the film Babe, this much-loved animal story turns 40 this year.
Emily of New Moonby L. M. Montgomery
(Virago Books)
When Emily is sent to live at New Moon with relatives she’s never met, her imagination and ideas soon cause her to clash (争执) with her Aunt Elizabeth. Will New Moon ever feel like home? Written by the author of Anne of Green Gables, this story was first published in 1923 and is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.
The Dark is Risingby Susan Cooper
(Puffin Books)
It’s Midwinter’s Eve, the day before Will’s 11th birthday. Strange things are happening in the snowy countryside around him and Will soon realises this will be a birthday like no other. First published 50 years ago, this classic adventure remains as exciting and magical as ever.
1. Whose book was Babe adapted from?| A．Susan Cooper’s. | B．Cressida Cowell’s. |
| C．Dick King-Smith’s. | D．L. M. Montgomery’s. |
| A．How to Train Your Dragon. | B．Emily of New Moon. |
| C．The Dark is Rising. | D．The Sheep-Pig. |
| A．It is made up of several stories. |
| B．It is published by Virago Books. |
| C．It is set around the character’s birthday. |
| D．It is based on the author’s personal experience. |
Recently, your mother and I were searching for an answer on Google. Halfway through entering the question, Google returned a list of the most popular searches in the world. At the top of the list was “How to keep him interested.”
It surprised me a lot. I scanned several of the countless articles about how to be sexy and sexual, when to bring him a beer versus a sandwich, and the ways to make him feel smart and superior.
And I got angry.
Little One, it is not, has never been, and never will be your job to “keep him interested.”
Little One, your only task is to know deeply in your soul — in that unshakeable place that isn’t upset by rejection and loss - that you are worthy of interest.
If you can trust your worth in this way, you will be attractive in the most important sense of the world: you will attract a boy who is both capable of interest and who wants to spend his one life investing all of his interest in you.
Little One, I want to tell you about the boy who doesn’t need to be kept interested, because he knows you are interesting.
I don’t care if he can’t play a bit of golf with me — as long as he can play with the children you give him and revel in all the glorious and frustrating ways they are just like you. I don’t care if he doesn’t follow his wallet — as long as he follows his heart and it always leads him back to you. I don’t care if he is strong — as long as he gives you the space to exercise the strength that is in your heart. I couldn’t care less how he votes — as long as he wakes up every morning and daily elects you to a place of honor in your home and a place of respect in his heart. I don't care about the color of his skin. I don’t care if he was raised in this religion or that religion or no religion
Little One, if you come across a man like that and he and I have nothing else in common, we will have the most important thing in common: You.
Because in the end, Little One, the only thing you should have to do to “keep him interested” is to be you.
Your eternally interested guy,
Daddy
1. What shocked Daddy when he was surfing on the Internet?| A．Girls’ knowing nothing about trusting themselves. |
| B．Girls’ giving priority to finding ways to please boys. |
| C．Girls’ bringing foods and drinks to boys from time to time. |
| D．Girls’ being upset by being rejected constantly. |
| A．keep the boy interested. | B．know she deserves a boy’ interest. |
| C．attract a boy willing to invest all in her. | D．find a boy who can please her. |
| A．feel depressed. | B．become puzzled. | C．look around. | D．enjoy himself. |
| A．To advise his daughter to trust her worth. |
| B．To inform his daughter how to keep others interested. |
| C．To show his daughter how to find her true love. |
| D．To help his daughter find someone with common interests. |
