The Amazon rainforest contains about 2.8 million square miles of jungle. That’s 7.2 million square kilometers. Humans are transforming the Amazon. In fact, it has now become another climate change contributor. Normally, forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide(CO2) gas. By absorbing CO2 forests keep it out of the atmosphere. This is important, because CO2 is a greenhouse gas, meaning that it traps heat in the atmosphere.
In the past 30 years, humans have contributed to greenhouse gas pollution. This pollution comes from burning fuels such as coal and oil. Finally, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere lead to warmer global temperatures over time which contributes to climate change. Now, scientists in Brazil found that the Amazon is releasing(释放)more CO2 than it is absorbing, which has never happened before. In July 2021, the scientists published their findings.
For their study, the scientists looked at nearly 600 CO2 measurements. They took them from four sites in the Brazilian Amazon between 2010 to 2018. Using these measurements the scientists found that most of the CO2 that the Amazon releases is from wildfires, many of which are started by people. They create fires to clear land for farming and other work. But when trees burn, they release CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
The worst spot is the eastern Amazon. It has become hotter, drier and more likely to have fires. That’s because the eastern Amazon has seen greater amounts of deforestation. or removal of trees. The result is more greenhouse gas emissions (排放) from fires.
Luciana Gatti, a scientist at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, said that fires in the Amazon make around three times more CO2 than the forest can absorb. She also explained that the Amazon releases much more CO2 in places with greater amounts of deforestation (毁林). Gatti’s team also found some better news. While the eastern Amazon has become a source for releasing carbon, the western Amazon has not. It is balanced This means it has healthy forests that can absorb the same amount of CO2 that fires release.
Gatti said that if we could stop fires in the Amazon, then the forest might even become a carbon sink. This is a place that absorbs more CO2 than it releases. She said that limiting deforestation and wildfires is key to turning this dangerous trend around.
1. What can we learn about the Amazon rainforest from Paragraph 1?| A．It is becoming hotter and drier. | B．It can trap heat by absorbing CO2. |
| C．It matters in regulating the climate. | D．It releases more CO2 into the atmosphere. |
| A．Natural wildfires release most of the CO2 . |
| B．Humans’ activities result in climate change. |
| C．Humans have dealt with greenhouse gas pollution. |
| D．The Amazon is absorbing more CO2 than it is releasing |
| A．Both the eastern and the western Amazon face the challenge. |
| B．The western Amazon has seen greater amounts of deforestation. |
| C．The key to approaching the present situation is to limit the wildfires. |
| D．The fires in the Amazon make about twice more CO2 than it can absorb. |
| A．An alarming phenomenon. | B．A disappearing forest. |
| C．An excellent scientist. | D．A sad prediction. |
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【推荐1】In ancient seawall built by Neolithic people to protect their village from sea-level rise over 7,000 years ago has been discovered by scientists. The 330-fbot wall, off the Carmel coast of Israel, was built with boulders from a riverbed over a mile away to create a buffer （缓冲器） between the Mediterranean Sea and the settlement of Tel Hreiz, researchers say.
In a study published in PLOS One, researchers led by Ehud Galili, of the University of Haifa, Israel, say this represents the oldest known coastal defense system in the world and a feat of engineering with "extensive effort invested by the Neolithic villagers in its conception, organization and construction."
At the time the settlement existed, sea levels were rising as global temperatures warmed following the end of the last icc age. The Mediterranean was rising by up to seven millimeters （0. 27 inches） per year. Over a lifetime, this would have equaled around 20 centimeters.
"This rate of sea-level rise means the frequency of destructive storms damaging the village would have risen significantly," Galili said in a statement. "The environmental changes would have been noticeable to people, during the lifetime of a settlement across several centuries. Eventually the accumulating yearly sea-level necessitated （vt. 使……成为必要，需要）a human response involving the construction of a coastal protection wall similar to what we're seeing around the world now. "
The Tel Hreiz settlement was first uncovered in the 1960s but the seawall was only identified in 2010 after a severe storm exposed it. Galili and his team then set about analyzing the remains of the submerged （水下的）wall.
They found it was almost 10 feet tall and was built around the same time as the village. Over the course of decades, the seawall would have suffered from marine erosion, the researchers say. After the sand layer was removed, waves and storms may have eventually dislodged boulders and stones.
Despite this "display of resilience" in the face of sea-level rise, the people of Tel Hreiz eventually left the village and, over time, both the seawall and village were lost to sea. "The seawall may have worked for a period," the team wrote, "however, ultimately it proved futile （无用的）and the village was eventually abandoned. The Tel Hreiz seawall represents the earliest example of a coastal defense of this type known to date. "
The team points to parallels with sea-level rise mankind is facing today. While the rate at the moment is considerably lower than what these Neolithic people were facing, it is expected that many of the world's coastal towns and cities will be impacted in the next century.
"Given the size of coastal populations and modern urban settlements, the magnitude of predicted future population displacement differs considerably to the impacts on people during the Neolithic,” the study said. “However, many of the fundamental human questions and the decision making relating to human resilience, coastal defense, local adaptation, technological innovation and decisions to ultimately abandon long-standing settlements remain ominously relevant. ”
1. In the ancient seawalls built by people in the Neolithic age, it is right to say that________.| A．it’s the old coastal defense system to protect villagers |
| B．it's first discovered in the 1960s after a severe storm |
| C．it was built to protect its villages from the rise of sea level |
| D．the seawall finally protected the village from damage |
| A．Building coastal protection wall. |
| B．Leaving the village to safe places. |
| C．Paying attention to the change of environment. |
| D．Researching technological innovation |
| A．recovery from disasters | B．positive Village |
| C．protective measures | D．the seawall |
| A．more seawall should be built to resist sea level rise |
| B．sea level rise will be a big problem for us |
| C．we should take more measures to prevent sea level rise |
| D．many people will be displaced in the future. |
【推荐2】Benefits of Forest Bathing
Forest bathing means spending time in nature to promote physical and mental health. In recent years, forest bathing has gained popularity around the world. This practice encourages people to connect with nature by taking slow walks, engaging in activities such as yoga or meditation, and embracing the present moment.
Aid in reducing stress
Forest bathing can help reduce stress. Connecting with nature decreases cortisol(皮质醇) levels, the hormone responsible for feelings of stress.
A natural mood enhancer
If you want to elevate your mood, take a trip to the forest. A forest bathing trip can ease your mood significantly.
It’s no secret that nature plays a vital role in human life, and the two are strongly connected. In natural environments, plants and trees release some special oils, which can protect plants from germs. They also have many human health benefits. In addition to enhancing mood, these oils are also a natural immunity booster.
Inspire focus and concentration
| A．Improve your intelligence |
| B．Help boost your immune system |
| C．It can help reduce your anxiety, depression, and tiredness |
| D．Forest bathing provides an opportunity to escape disturbance |
| E．Here are some ways you can benefit from going into the forest |
| F．So the more time you spend in nature, the more relaxed you will be |
| G．Here are the benefits of forest bathing that you can start gaining today |
【推荐3】Spring lifts our spirits. It’s a time for Nature to bring us back to life after a cold season. I live not far from the Kairaku Park, which is one of the largest gardens in Japan, and famous for its near 10,000 plum trees. I am fortunate to have them all outside my backyard, and take advantage of the walking paths daily.
I see the same trees and swans every day, but that day was different. At the edge of the small lake, I saw some new-born black swans. They were pretty and cute. They stayed with their mom. While taking a few photos of the sunset, I was interrupted by a high sound going on for some time. So I turned around and saw one little swan was stuck by two stones. Its mother was trying to make it out but failed. I tried to get near but the mother was ever so angry! She wouldn’t allow me to get close, so I turned to an old man sitting on the bench and said, “Excuse me, the swan baby can’t move and I want to help it, but the mother is extremely angry! Could you please do me a favor?”
After hearing my words, the man smiled at me first and then agreed to help me. He drove the mother away with great efforts, and for several times, he was almost hurt by the mother. Thanks to him, I was able to get there and push the little swan out of the gap finally. Oh, I really hoped it wasn’t injured, but at least it was alive and swimming!
In spring, I become more physically active. Things around don’t make us, but Nature does, and it keeps us going. I am positive that all of us have a little piece of nature in our own neighborhoods. Somewhere we will be reminded why natural life is so important because we grow with it! Personally, I am happy that baby birds can put a smile on my face! I struggle for having a small number of “things” in life, and being filled with simple reality — at one with Nature.
1. What can we know about the author from Paragraph 1?| A．Her favorite season is spring. |
| B．She enjoys doing outdoor sports. |
| C．Her backyard is filled with plum trees. |
| D．She is satisfied with her living environment. |
| A．She took a few photos of the sunset. |
| B．She made a little swan’s mother angry. |
| C．She met some swans and helped one of them. |
| D．She met an old man and made friends with him. |
| A．Patient. | B．Warm-hearted. | C．Selfish. | D．Outgoing. |
| A．Nature. | B．The neighborhood. |
| C．The garden. | D．The things around. |
| A．is really a nature lover |
| B．is short of some life skills |
| C．calls on people to help the weak |
| D．transforms her plan into reality |
【推荐1】Can you imagine that there are a huge number of tiny waste pieces in the Arctic (北冰洋的) sea ice? Because of the waste pieces,30,000 kinds of animals are in danger. It’s true that one person’s acts alone can’t help the planet. But each one of us can find ways to make our contributions.
In the home, we could try not to waste foods. Use a digital meal planner to get a right amount of food so that everything we buy and cook gets eaten. Learn how to store foods to keep them fresh longer. Be sure to use proper ways to keep our home warm. For example, we can replace old windows with energy-saving ones.
At the store, we could green our habits. Buy reusable plates, but not single-use ones. Buy home tissue (纸巾) not made of materials which may lead to destruction (破坏) of forests. Buy glass cups instead of paper ones.
In the community, we could help keep its plants healthy. Take part in tree-planting projects or grass-cutting activities to help plants grow well.
Our actions alone can’t save the planet, but the above ways and habits can help.
1. What puts so many animals in danger?| A．Cold ice. | B．Waste pieces. | C．Bad weather. |
| A．To avoid wasting foods. |
| B．To cook delicious foods. |
| C．To keep foods fresh. |
| A．That can be kept long. |
| B．That can be used again. |
| C．That can be thrown away. |
| A．To describe the future of the planet. |
| B．To encourage an environment friendly life. |
| C．To introduce shopping places for green products. |
【推荐2】In the late 19th century Yellowstone became the first great National Park, described as America’s “best idea.” But the park was devastating for the Native Americans who had lived or hunted within their borders and who were displaced.
The U. S. has taken one small step to compensate by returning the National Bison Range to its Native owners as a first step. Next, at the 2021 UN Biodiversity Conference, the government should ensure new conservation plans support Indigenous (本土的) and local communities for their conservation achievements.
In 2016 biologist Edward responded to the biodiversity crisis by calling for half of Earth to be left to wilderness, birthing the“30×30”campaign to protect 30 percent of Earth’s land and sea surface by 2030. Backed by many scientists, major conservation organizations, the target is likely to be adopted by the CBD.
Critics argue that the “30×30” initiative, aimed at conservation, could become a tool for exploitation (剥削). They claim it may unjustly burden those least responsible for environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. There’s concern that powerful entities could use the proposal as an excuse for seizing land from disadvantaged groups. Indigenous territories, which host 80% of Earth’s remaining biodiversity, are particularly at risk of being targeted in the name of protection. Tragically, the very communities that bravely protect nature against exploitation could face displacement, with estimates suggesting up to 300 million people could lose their homes.
There is a way to do global conservation right. Indigenous communities are as good as or better than governments at protecting biodiversity and already conserve a quarter of Earth’s land surface. The CBD needs to ensure that they get secure rights to their territories, as well as the resources to defend them.
The National Park could lead the way in this effort by helping rescue nature and its most passionate defenders from the militarized (军事化) conservation model it pioneered one and a half centuries ago. That is a crucial step toward a relief for the incredible life forms that share our planet, as well as their Indigenous guardians.
1. What does the underlined word “devastating” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．innovative | B．beneficial | C．promising | D．disastrous |
| A．A biologist’s advocate to conserve nature. |
| B．CBD’s ambition to empower Indigenes. |
| C．The compensation made by the United States. |
| D．An excuse to seize land from dominant groups. |
| A．Precautions against reducing Pygmy people to poverty and misery. |
| B．Relying on the governments to displace locals from their homeland. |
| C．Militarized conservation model pioneered by the United Sates. |
| D．Returning the land in the care of the Indigenous communities. |
| A．Conservation or Modernization? |
| B．Where Is the Next Yellowstone? |
| C．Protect Biodiversity’s Protectors. |
| D．Government as Nature’s Guardian. |
【推荐3】It’s a warm June afternoon, and in a group of bushes and trees, a bird sings. A small insect climbs over a leaf. The Muziekplein forest, next to an 18-story building and a railway line, is about the size of a basketball court; before it was planted in 2018, the area was a parking place. The forest is one of seven such extremely small forests in the Dutch city of Utrecht, and 144 across the Netherlands. By the end of this year, according to IVN Nature Education, the organization proposing the country’s initiative, there will be 200.
Since the first forest was planted in the Netherlands in 2015, the concept has become popular. Daan Bleichrodt, who launched IVN’s Tiny Forest initiative with the goal of making it easier for children to get into and connect with nature, said that he thinks it is popular because people are becoming more aware of major environmental challenges. It’s a very practical way to do something positive in the light of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Jeroen Schenkels, a senior adviser for the city of Utrecht on green planning, said he sees the mini-forests as nature-based approaches that are able to help the city weather heat waves and improve water retention (保持). But one of the biggest interests is social. “One of the most important things is that they give people the opportunity to be involved in nature in the neighbourhood,” Schenkels said.
Between 2018 and 2020, 40 different plant and animal groups and 121 total animal species were found in the Muziekplein forest alone. According to Wageningen University researchers, across the 11 tiny forests in their study, volunteers observed 636 animal species. They also identified 298 plant species in addition to the original species planted in the plots. Maintenance of the forests occasionally involves removing aggressive weeds, but in general new plant species, such as wildflowers that appear, are allowed to grow.
1. What is special about the Muziekplein forest?| A．It is newly planted. | B．It sits in an urban area. |
| C．It grows along a railway. | D．It is shaped like a basketball court. |
| A．To make people realize environmental challenges. |
| B．To make nature more accessible to children. |
| C．To increase the Netherlands’ biodiversity. |
| D．To call for action on climate change. |
| A．Benefits of mini-forests in cities. | B．Ways to keep neighborhoods green. |
| C．Inspiration for planting forests in cities. | D．Importance of being exposed to nature. |
| A．By listing data. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By doing experiments. | D．By making comparisons. |
【推荐1】A satellite is about to demonstrate a new way of capturing space junk with magnets for the first time. With the frequency of space launches dramatically increasing in recent years, the potential for a disastrous collision above Earth is continually growing. Now, Japanese orbital clean-up company Astroscale is testing a potential solution.
The firm’s End-of-Life Services by Astroscale demonstration mission is scheduled to lift off on 20 March aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket. It consists of two spacecraft: a smaller “client” satellite and a larger “servicer” satellite, or “chaser”. The smaller satellite is equipped with a magnetic (磁力的) plate which allows the chaser to dock with it.
The two stacked spacecraft will perform three tests once in orbit, each of which will involve the servicer satellite releasing and then recapturing the client satellite. The first test will be the simplest, with the client satellite drifting a short distance away and then being recaptured. In the second test, the servicer satellite will set the client satellite tumbling before catching up with it and matching its motion to grab it.
Finally, if those two tests go well, the chaser will live up to its name by letting the client satellite float a few hundred metres away before finding it and attaching to it. All of these tests will be performed autonomously, with little to no human input once they are set in motion.
“These kinds of demonstrations have never been done before in space - they are very different to, say, an astronaut controlling a robotic arm on the International Space Station,” says Jason Forshaw at Astroscale UK. “This is more of an autonomous mission.” At the end of the tests, both spacecraft will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere.
If companies wanted to use this capability, they would have to attach a magnetic plate to their satellites so they could be captured later. Because of the growing space garbage problem, many countries now require firms to have a way to bring back their satellites once they run out of fuel or fail, so this could be a fairly simple likely plan, Forshaw says. Right now, each chaser can only nab one satellite, but Astroscale is working on a version that could drag three or four out of orbit at once.
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “dock with” in Paragraph 2?| A．deal with | B．keep up with | C．join together | D．crash |
| A．Because of the growing space waste problem. |
| B．Because the frequency of space launches are dramatically increasing. |
| C．Because they can earn large profits from it. |
| D．Because Astroscale has found a new method of capturing the space garbage. |
| A．An astronaut controls a robotic arm on the International Space to capture the “client” satellite |
| B．Through a magnetic plate remotely controlled by humans on the ground to catch the “client” satellite |
| C．Finding the “client” satellite and attaching to it with a magnetic plate automatically |
| D．Tumbling to match the motion of “client” satellite the drag three or four satellites out of its orbit into atmosphere. |
| A．people will burn the space junk up in Earth’s atmosphere in the future |
| B．Japan and Russia will conduct space debris cleanup experiment together |
| C．These kinds of demonstrations have never been done before. |
| D．the demonstration mission will be divided into three phases |
Researchers found that at least one in four women exaggerated(夸大) or distorted(扭曲) what they are doing on social media once a month. The survey of 2000 women found they mostly pretended to be out on the town, when in fact they are home alone, and polished an exotic(异国的) holiday or their job.
The most common reasons for women to write “fibs” included worrying their lives would seem “boring”, envy at seeing other people’s more exciting posts and wanting to impress their friends and acquaintances.
Psychologists suggested that as people attempt to “stay connected” on social media, they can in fact “paradoxically(自相矛盾地)” be left “more isolated”. They also said that “the more we try to make our lives seem perfect, the less perfect we feel”.
According to the OnePoll survey, one third of women surveyed admitted to “dishonesty” on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter at some stage.
Almost one in four admitted to lying or exaggerating about key aspects of their life online between one and three times a month while almost one in 10 said they lied more than once a week.
Nearly 30 percent of women lied about “doing something when I am home alone”, almost a quarter overstated their alcohol consumption while one in five were not truthful about their holiday activities or their jobs. Almost one in five women even lied about their “relationship status”.
“We work very hard presenting ourselves to the world online, pretending and attempting to be happy all the time which is exhausting and eventually unfulfilling,” said Dr Michael Sinclair, a leading British consultant psychologist.
“Leaving out the less desirable imperfections of our lives from the conversations with our `friends` online leads to less opportunity to feel empathized with(与…产生共鸣), resulting in a greater sense of disconnection from others.”
The survey was conducted by Pencourage, a new anonymous (匿名的)“diary-style” social media website.
1. Which of the words below is closest in meaning to the underlined word “fibs” in Para 3?
| A．life experiences | B．short stories |
| C．careful thoughts | D．insignificant lies |
| A．hopes to make more friends |
| B．envies other people’s exciting life |
| C．feels lonely at home |
| D．gets tired of the boring life |
| A．avoiding conversations with friends |
| B．describing her holiday activities |
| C．leaving out the imperfections in life |
| D．overstating her trouble at work |
| A．eventually make one’s life more exciting |
| B．actually lead to a sense of isolation |
| C．really improve one’s sense of happiness |
| D．scarcely have any influence on relationships |
【推荐3】Audiences who are present at music festivals often do not think about the work behind the scenes. There are many factors （因素）when organizers want to create a successful festival of any type. They have to make efforts to organize the music festival. They must spend a large amount of money bringing in popular artists, and the event must have excellent advertising. Once a site is chosen, it is often a space that is rented. Organizers must also take parking and crowd control into consideration when large audiences are expected to attend.
As a whole, a successful music festival combines all the necessary parts into a series of events that attract the audience. If any one part of the festival brings in a large number of complaints, it is not successful and the number of audiences will be down both that year and the following year. This is one of the reasons why organizers work hard to make sure every part of a festival functions as flawlessly as possible. They want people to take away great memories so they will attend the festival the next year and continue to do so. Organizers have long recognized this fact and take the time to find out what their audiences want. They recognize changes in audience moods and values. This allows their festivals to continue growing by satisfying their specific audiences.
The growth of many music festivals has caused organizers to seek out more modern musicians. Organizers don’t choose musicians that only perform for small crowds. Musicians, such as electric violinists or saxophone players, are more able to handle larger crowds who require amplified （放大的）music. Their ability to deal with technical aspects of greater sound production makes them popular with organizers. These musicians are also popular with large crowds who appreciate their ability to produce beautiful sound in the musical genre （流派）of the festival.
1. What does a successful music festival need?| A．Control of the number of audiences. |
| B．Money to buy a site. |
| C．Experienced audiences. |
| D．A great deal of organizers’ effort. |
| A．Perfect. | B．Crazy. | C．Quick. | D．Limitless. |
| A．Those who are members of a band. |
| B．Those who like performing for small crowds. |
| C．Those who can play the latest popular music. |
| D．Those who have the ability to handle larger crowds. |
| A．The Origin of Music Festivals |
| B．The History of Music Festivals |
| C．The Organizers of Successful Music Festivals |
| D．The Factors in Successful Music Festivals |
