Last summer, the missing white-letter hairstreak butterfly was spotted in Scotland for the first time in 133 years. Conservationists wondered if the creature had established a breeding colony in the country. As Russell Jackson reports for the Scotsman, volunteer naturalists recently found a cluster of tiny white-letter hairstreak eggs on an elm tree in Lennel, a small village near the country of Berwick-shire.
Volunteers with the UK’s Butterfly Conservation have been carefully tracking white-letter hair-streak migrations for more than ten years. The butterfly is native to the UK and was once widespread in England and Wales. But white -letter hairstreak numbers have declined drastically in recent decades, largely due to an outbreak of Dutch elm disease, and illness that took hold in the 1960s. The disease has killed millions of British elm trees, which is the food source for white-letter hairstreak caterpillars (蝴蝶或蛾的幼虫).
Recently, there have been signs that the butterfly’s populations are recovering. The Butterfly Conservation team has observed the white-letter hairstreak gradually spreading northwards, possibly due to warming climates. But the white-letter hairstreak is still a very rare sight in Scotland, and the volunteers who found the cluster of eggs — Ken Haydock and Jill Mills — were thrilled by the discovery.
“It was a lovely sunny morning and we were searching the elm trees by the River Tweed at Lennel when Jill called me over,” Haydock says in a Butterfly Conservation statement, “I could see by the look on her face that she had found something. We were both smiling with disbelief and delight when we realized what Jill had found and within seconds I was fumbling in my pack for the camera —my hands were shaking!”
That Haydock and Mills managed to spot the eggs is quite remarkable; according to Vittoria Traverso of Atlas Obscura, white-letter hairstreak eggs are smaller than a grain of salt. The volunteers were also excited to discover an old, hatched eggshell amid the cluster of new eggs. According to the Butterfly Conservation, this suggests that the white-letter hairstreak could have been breeding in the area since at least 2016.
Paul Kirkland, the director of the Butterfly Conservation’ s Scotland chapter, says in the statement that conservationists will “need to have a few more years of confirmed sightings” before they can classify the white-letter hairstreak as a resident species of Scotland. “If this happens, it would take the total number of butterflies found in Scotland to 34,” he says, “which really would be something to celebrate.”
1. What mainly accounted for the sharp decrease of the special butterfly species?| A．An outbreak of the butterfly disease. | B．A great loss due to its mass migration. |
| C．The mass death of British elm trees. | D．The consequence of global warming. |
| A．It has been native to the US and spread to England. |
| B．Its population is decreasing due to global warming. |
| C．Signs have shown that its number is rising again now. |
| D．People can see them every now and then in Scotland. |
| A．It was on a rainy day that they made the discovery. |
| B．Ken looked puzzled the moment Jill called him over. |
| C．Jill made the discovery first and took a photo of it. |
| D．They felt it unbelievable to make their discovery. |
| A．Volunteers can find more eggs of the special butterfly in the future. |
| B．The total number of butterfly species found in the UK adds up to 34. |
| C．Conservationists will have more years of confirmed sightings. |
| D．The number of butterfly species found in Scotland increases again. |
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【推荐1】When people think of working animals，what often comes to mind are dogs that watch sheep，horses that work on farms and animals that perform in movies.But there are lots of other jobs animals have had over the years.
Dogs have greater sense of smell than humans.This made dogs the traditional hunting partners，making their owners able to follow foxes and other animals.Police departments have taken advantage of this skill to help find missing people and escaped criminals.Recently，dogs have been trained to find drugs and explosives (爆炸物).
The honey－guide lives in the southeast African nation of Mozambique.It has developed a win－win relationship with a group called the Yao.If a Yao member makes a certain sound，the honey－guide will fly from tree to tree directing him to a hidden bee box.Once the box is discovered，the person breaks open the box for honey，and the honey－guide could enjoy the honey，too.
Ferrets (雪貂) are cute and furry animals that are from 1.5 to 4 pounds.People have taken advantage of a ferret’s natural ability to run through tiny space.Ferrets wear a special harness(甲胄) that makes them able to pull a string through hundreds of feet of tiny space，which is then used to pull computer wires through tiny space.
Baby flies are called maggots.The job of a maggot is to eat and grow until it turns into a fly.This is similar to how a caterpillar eats and grows until it becomes a butterfly.However，there is a big difference between these insects.Caterpillars feed on plants，while maggots eat meat.Actually，they only enjoy bad meat.Maggots are used with patients who get serious infections that can’t be treated with antibiotics (抗生素).The maggots are used to the infected area for a number of days.They eat the dead part but leave the living part alone，thereby helping patients recover from the infection.
1. From the passage，we can learn that dogs ________.| A．are the friendly friends of sheep |
| B．have developed a win－win relationship with people |
| C．have greater sense of smell than foxes and other animals |
| D．help human beings a lot in many areas |
| A．find the hidden bee box |
| B．develop a great relationship with bees |
| C．pay attention to dangerous things |
| D．stay away from criminals |
| A．The honey－guide can be used as medicine. |
| B．People can learn much from dogs and horses. |
| C．Ferrets are good at running through tiny space. |
| D．The baby fly is always called the caterpillar. |
| A．burns caused by explosives |
| B．terrible cancers |
| C．harm caused by bees |
| D．serious infections |
【推荐2】Most dogs hate being left at daycare (日托) — Not Riley! In fact, the five-year-old golden retriever (金毛寻回犬), who lives in Belmont, North Carolina, loves being at the Happy Dog Cafe & Boutique so much that he recently decided to pay the center a visit all by himself.
The chain of events began on May 6 when his owner, Tonia Mosteller, let Riley out in the backyard. But the pet had bigger plans than to relax and enjoy the warm spring afternoon. Earlier that day, Riley had run into his pals (朋友) who were spending the day at the Happy Dog Cafe & Boutique, and wanted to be with them. Hence, as soon as he was alone, the dog lifted the gate latch (插销) and began the mile-long walk to the doggy daycare.
When Tonia returned a short time later, she found the backyard empty and the gate wide open. Fortunately, before she had time to panic, her husband called to let her know that Riley was safe and having the time of his life at his favorite daycare.
According to Teresa McCarter, owner of the centre, a customer had found Riley patiently sitting outside, just waiting to be let in. No sooner had Teresa opened the door than the golden retriever ran in to greet 26 of his best friends, who all seemed as thrilled to see him.
Tonia was not surprised that Riley knew exactly how to get to the daycare, given that he has been going there since he was a puppy. She was, however, amazed that he loved it enough to escape from the house. Though the Mostellers offered to pick Riley up, Teresa decided that if Riley had made the effort to get to the daycare on his own, the least she could do was allow him to enjoy a nice day with his pals.
1. What was Riley’s bigger plan?| A．To play with his friends at the centre. |
| B．To relax himself in the backyard. |
| C．To spend the warm afternoon alone. |
| D．To walk himself in the warm afternoon. |
| A．Riley was badly treated at home |
| B．Riley was a very smart dog |
| C．other dogs often came to visit Riley |
| D．Riley’s owner left the gate open |
| A．He was outside his backyard. |
| B．He was on the way to the centre. |
| C．He was waiting outside the daycare. |
| D．He was playing with the other dogs. |
| A．Riley knew the way to the doggy daycare |
| B．Riley was so thrilled lo see the other dogs |
| C．Riley has been going there since he was a puppy |
| D．Riley loved the centre so much to escape from home |
Like kids，many animals experience fear and they respond to the feeling in variety of ways．A frightened turtle pulls its head and legs inside its shell．A small fish will swim away when a big，hungry fish approaches．
Some animals respond to fear in ways you might not expect．The first example is that the fear of being eaten can scare some frogs right out of their eggs. Warkentin made the surprising discovery while studying red—eyed tree frogs in Costa Rica.
In this species，female frogs attach jellylike clumps（果冻一样的块状物）of their eggs to the undersides of leaves．The leaves hang on branches that dangle（悬挂）over ponds．After they hatch from the eggs，the tadpoles（蝌蚪）then fall into the water，where they eventually grow into adult frogs.
Tree frog eggs usually grow for 6 days before hatching．If they sense that a hungry snake is about to attack，however，they can hatch up to 2 days ahead of schedule. As the snakes are unable to swim，by falling into the water early，the tadpoles can escape.
If hatching early helps protect red—eyed tree frogs from snakes，you might wonder why their eggs don’t always hatch sooner．It turns out that hatching early brings its own danger．Once tadpoles land in the water，hungry fish and other animals like to eat them too．Staying in their eggs for a full 6 days，then，allows frog embryos（胚胎）to grow big and strong．This extra growth improves their chances of surviving in the water．
1. It can be inferred from the passage that fears .
| A．help animals grow bigger and stronger |
| B．are less common among young animals |
| C．help animals move a lot to fit the environment |
| D．are more or less important in order for animals to survive |
| A．face danger both inside their eggs and in the water |
| B．will grow fast if they fall into the water later |
| C．are surprisingly clever when inside their eggs |
| D．stay in their eggs longer if they are frightened |
| A．They like falling into the water early |
| B．They want to grow into adult frog |
| C．They sense a hungry snake is about to attack |
| D．Frog embryos can grow strong |
| A．What is Fear | B．Why do we feel afraid |
| C．You feel afraid，animals do too | D．Fear is a good thing |
| A．Further explanations as to why tree frogs hatch ahead of schedule． |
| B．How the unborn frogs know when a snake is about to attack them． |
| C．Another example of animals that responds to fear in an unexpected way． |
| D．How tree frogs improve their chances of survival before falling into the water. |
【推荐1】Children who use screens for seven hours or more a day are showing signs that their brain cortex（大脑皮层）is thinning prematurely（过早地）, according to a new major US study.
The ongoing $300 million research is funded by the National Institute of Health and shows results of the effects of technology on children. The aim of the study, called Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development, is also to show how screen time affects emotional development and mental health. The researchers also determined that children who spend more than two hours of daily screen time score lower on thinking and language tests.
Researchers made the early findings by scanning the brains of 4, 500 children.
The brain cortex is the outermost layer of neural（神经中枢的） tissue that processes information from the physical world. It is critical for cognitive functions such as perception（直觉）, language, memory and consciousness but thins as we mature into old age.
Though the difference was significant from participants who spent less time using smart devices, the study director cautioned against drawing a conclusion.
Dr Gaya Dowling, an NIH doctor working on the project, cautioned against drawing a conclusion because they aren’t completely sure it’s being caused by the increased use of modern technology. They won’t be able to draw a definitive outcome until they follow them over the course of several years.
Dr Dowling said: “It won’t be until we follow them over time that we will see if there are outcomes that are associated with the differences that we’re seeing in this single snapshot.”
A 2014 study showed that there is a direct correlation between the thickness of the brain cortex and IQ score. The cortex begins to thin after the age of five or six as part of the normal aging process.
The findings showed that people with a significant increase in IQ did not have the expected cortical thinning and people with a significant decrease in IQ had exaggerated（夸张） cortical（皮质的）thinning.
A major data release of the initial data is scheduled for early 2019.
1. What belongs to the findings of the new major US study?| A．Screen time can result in a smaller brain. |
| B．The brain cortex gets thinner as we mature into old age. |
| C．Too much exposure to screen can lead to a poorer health. |
| D．Children who are interested in computer are academically poor. |
| A．There are some doubts about their findings. |
| B．He thinks that further study is needed. |
| C．The number of the participants is not large enough. |
| D．They should ask for the government’s permission. |
| A．The brain cortex has much to do with IQ score. |
| B．The brain cortex’s thickness is determined by IQ. |
| C．Different people have different cortical thinning. |
| D．Aging is a natural process for creatures. |
| A．His IQ score will get higher and higher. |
| B．He will be more addicted to modern technology. |
| C．He will show more interest in modern technology. |
| D．His brain cortex will become thinner and thinner. |
【推荐2】By now, most of us have picked up at least one pandemic hobby. And there's a seemingly common pandemic hobby trend: People who haven't been able to go anywhere are making imaginary travel plans. Maybe you're among those who have spent hours researching locations-even though you're not actually planning to travel.
It turns out that you aren't alone. People who seem to be sticking to public safety recommendations are still planning trips they don't intend to book. And, when I suddenly found myself addicted to an imaginary girls' trip to Joshua Tree, I wondered whether this was a healthy distraction.
"It's an escapist imagination," said Regine Galanti, a psychologist, adding that there's nothing wrong with escapism during a global pandemic.
On the one hand, distractions are often beneficial right now. We are a full year into living with COVID-19 as a pandemic, and that means you've probably had to navigate a range of emotions like discomfort, sadness, or even boredom. So any hobby that doesn't harm anyone or endanger your well-being is probably a worthy attempt.
Even if vacation planning is your happy place, Dr. Galanti suggests you "actually think about what you're trying to achieve." Why? "Maybe what you're saying is, I need a vacation from work," Dr. Galanti explains. "Then take three days off even if you are not going anywhere. "When you figure out what you're looking for, you might be able to find a small socially distanced adventure in your backyard or a quiet place. Vacation planning is a good way to spend some time, but there might be an even better way to get what you're desiring.
Anyway, when uncertainty is all around us, creating things to look forward to isn't a terrible idea. And when things are safer, you'll have all your plans in place.
1. Why do people make imaginary travel plans during the pandemic?| A．To develop a new hobby. | B．To stay safe and sound. |
| C．To be distracted from reality. | D．To get ready for future travel. |
| A．Express. | B．Balance. | C．Adapt to. | D．Deal with. |
| A．Objective. | B．Negative. | C．Supportive. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Figures. | B．Lifestyle. |
| C．Food and recipe. | D．Science and technology. |
【推荐3】The Forbidden City is well known for being full of Chinese cultural and historical relics. But Masters in the Forbidden City（《我在故宫修文物》）does not just focus on the stories of the past.
Instead, the documentary movie, which came out in Chinese cinemas on Dec. 16, focuses on ordinary people-the restorers（修复者）of relics and antiquities（古董）.
The stories are told at a slow and relaxed pace, reflecting the restorers’ work. Restoration of cultural relics and antiques can be time-consuming, and sometimes boring. Yet these restorers’ patience and peace of mind are especially precious in a society where everything is changing so fast.
“If you choose this job, you have to stand hours of work sitting on a chair. You need to be quiet and get used to being quiet,” says Wang Jin, an ancient clock repair expert.
A touching part of the documentary is the spirit of craftsmanship（工艺）in the restorers. “Years of humdrum work requires not only skill, but also faith and spirit,” China Daily commented. “Looking for preciseness and perfection, devoting yourself to work, patience, endurance（忍耐）, loneliness…All these qualities come from the craftsman spirit. ”
But unlike the popular idea of serious experts who sit around being serious, the documentary shows off the enthusiasm of the restorers. They play their guitars and make jokes about each other after a long day of restoration work.
One scene that has been very popular with Internet users features a young female restorer riding a bicycle through the empty Forbidden City on a Monday. While she is doing this, a narrator says, “The last person to do this was Puyi, the last emperor of the Oing Dynasty.”
Masters in the Forbidden City has proved wrong many people’s ideas about antique restorers, allowing them to realize that they are not old, dull professors, but people in their 40s, 30s and even 20s who can be quite pleasing to the eye.
1. According to the text, what’s the main purpose of the documentary Masters in the Forbidden City?| A．To show people how antiques are restored |
| B．To display relics seldom seen by ordinary people |
| C．To draw attention to Chinese antique restorers’ lives |
| D．To praise the craftsmanship of Chinese antique restorers |
| A．He often gets tired with his work | B．There is no need to do restoration work fast |
| C．Antique restorers need to be patient and peaceful | D．It takes years of hard work to adapt to antique restoration |
| A．Boring | B．Different | C．Relaxing | D．Unusual |
| A．To remind the audience of the last Qing emperor |
| B．To show the strange hobbies of young antique restorers |
| C．To encourage the young to consider a career in antique restoration in the future |
| D．To show that the documentary breaks from the old, dull image of antique restorers |
