On November 7, Lewis Pugh completed a one-kilometer swim in the freezing waters of King Edward Cove, off South Georgia in Antarctica. He was wearing only his swimming glasses, cap and Speedos (速度计).
Pugh is an advocate (提倡者) for our oceans and seas, working to protect these ecosystems (生态系统) with their large diversity of sea life. When asked why he doesn’t wear a wetsuit, Lewis says, “I ask world leaders to do everything they can to protect our oceans. Sometimes the steps they need to take are difficult and unpopular. If I’m asking them to be courageous, I must also be. Swimming in a wetsuit would not send the right message.”
It took Pugh about 19 minutes to complete the one-kilometer swim in Antarctica where the water averaged about 1.6 degrees Celsius. He says that his body can only tolerate about 20 minutes in the freezing waters before it starts shutting down. As he swims, his body temperature steadily drops, which in turn causes his muscle control to drop, slowing him down. When he is done with his swim, his support team rushes him to a hot shower and it takes almost an hour for his body temperature to return to normal.
Doctors and Pugh warn that one must receive months of training to swim in such cold waters. Even expert swimmers who are unused to freezing water can drown within minutes because of the physical shock experienced by the body. Pugh says he trained for six months before this swim.
This is not the first time that Lewis has swum in dangerous conditions. In 2007, he swam one kilometer in the North Pole to draw attention to the melting Arctic ice due to the climate change. In 2015, he swam in the Bay of Whales in Antarctica’s Ross Sea as part of his successful campaign to help set up a sea life reserve (保护中心) there.
1. Why did Lewis Pugh swim without a wetsuit?| A．To swim faster. | B．To show his bravery. |
| C．To win public attention. | D．To protect the ecosystems. |
| A．His body. | B．His muscle. |
| C．His body temperature. | D．The water temperature. |
| A．should be expert at swimming | B．should be ready to take on challenges |
| C．must be trained professionally | D．must be used to long-distance swimming |
| A．Tips for protecting oceans and seas | B．Lewis Pugh: achieving the impossible |
| C．Tips for extreme swimming | D．Lewis Pugh: swimming for a cause |
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【推荐1】While many animal populations seem to dwindle, one species that is moving in the opposite direction of such loss is America’s native wildlife—wood stork.
The wood stork is the only stork that breeds in North America. In 1984, it was declared an endangered species after its population decreased sharply to just 5,000 mating pairs. At the time, scientists predicted that the bird would become completely extinct by 2000. Today, it numbers 10,000 mating pairs, and the Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a delisting of the wood stork as an endangered species. So how did the population bounce back?
The success is in part down to the resourcefulness of the wood stork. The wood stork’s native home was in the Everglades in Florida, but it migrated north as the Everglades were being destroyed by development of mankind. Wetland preservation and restoration, protection of nesting areas, and management of water flows began with the approval of the wood stork’s first recovery plan in 1986. In the following year, former Savannah Coastal Refuges biologist John Robinette noticed stork nests in Georgia as stork populations moved to safer wetlands.
According to Stephanie Kurose, a senior policy specialist at the Centre for Biological Diversity, the Endangered Species Act is also to thank for this recovery. She said, “The act saved the wood stork and it helped preserve and rebuild vital habitats throughout the southeast, which has improved water quality and benefited countless other species who call the area home.” “The Endangered Species Act has saved 99 per cent of the species that were on the list since 1973. A hundred types of plants and animals have been delisted as their populations become stable again.
If the wood stork is delisted, it will remain protected by other laws and a monitoring plan will be put in place to ensure the population remains stable.
1. Which is NOT the reason for the population of the wood stork to bounce back?| A．Wetland preservation and restoration. | B．Impact of human activities. |
| C．The Endangered Species Act | D．Management of water flows. |
| A．It has become completely extinct. | B．Its population shows a rising trend. |
| C．It is widely distributed worldwide. | D．It is the most endangered species. |
| A．loss of wetlands. | B．popularity of water sports. |
| C．pollution of rivers. | D．arrival of other wild animals. |
| A．People have safer water to drink. | B．The local economy has boomed. |
| C．A list of species have been saved. | D．The wood stock has flown away. |
【推荐2】It’s just past 7 a. m. on a February morning in Maya Bay, several weeks after authorities reopened what is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist attractions to the world for the first time since June 2018 following a massive restoration program.
In the hours to follow, a slow but steady flow of tourists becomes in great numbers as dozens of tourists make their way to the white-sand beach, phones at the ready as they take photos. Swimming is not allowed, though visitors can take a few steps in. It’s disappointing, but a huge improvement over what visitors once experienced here.
Maya Bay is located in a Thailand’s national park. The destination was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio. As the film’s popularity grew, so did tourists’ desire to visit the location where much of it was shot —Maya Bay.
“Around 40 years ago, Maya Bay was already a tourism destination, but mainly for Thai tourists because you didn’t have speedboats at that time,” says Thon, a marine biologist and professor who requested authorities to close the bay four years ago. Over the years, the number of tourists rose from less than 1, 000 to as many as 7, 000 or 8, 000 visitors a day at its peak. On average, around 5, 000 people entered the bay each day.
In 2018, the Thai government closed the bay and began to restore the damaged ecosystem. Since then, Thon and a team of fellow marine experts and volunteers have replanted over 30, 000 pieces of coral, much of it grown off the coast of a nearby island. Meanwhile, the wildlife also returned and has been growing. “Only three months after we closed the bay, the blacktip sharks came back and gave birth… so there are a lot of things happening in Maya Bay.”
1. What do the first two paragraphs mainly tell us about Maya Bay?| A．Its reopening. | B．Its rebuilding. |
| C．Its business hours. | D．Its reduced tourists. |
| A．A film shot there. |
| B．The easier access than before. |
| C．The better tourism equipment. |
| D．Peopled growing desire to travel. |
| A．The profit from tourism. |
| B．The sharp increase in tourists. |
| C．The long history of Maya Bay. |
| D．The reason for the film’s popularity. |
| A．It was a little late. |
| B．It has been effective. |
| C．It remains to be seen whether it’s useful. |
| D．It has no support from the government. |
【推荐3】Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their habitats. As part of the world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to nature’s processes. Wildlife conservation is aimed to ensure the survival of these species and educate people on living sustainably with other species.
The number of people has grown to more than eight billion today, and it continues to rapidly grow. The economic growth endangers the habitats and existence of various types of wildlife around the world, particularly animals and plants that may be displaced for land development, or used for food or other human purposes. This threat is at top of the list and means natural resources are being consumed faster than ever by the billions of people on the planet. The introduction of invasive species from other parts of the world is another threat to wildlife. Other threats include climate change, pollution, fishing and hunting.
International organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society and the United Nations work to support global animal and habitat conservation on many different fronts. They work with the government to establish and protect public lands, like national parks and wildlife protection areas. They help write legislation(法规), such as the Endangered Species Act(ESA)of 1973 in the United States, to protect various species. They work with law enforcement to charge those with wildlife crimes. They also promote biodiversity to support the growing human population while preserving existing species and habitats.
National Geographic Explorers, like conservation biologists Camille Coudrat and Titus Adhola, are working to slow the extinction of global species and protect global biodiversity and habitats. Environmental filmmakers and photographers, like Thomas P. Peschak, are essential to conservation efforts as well, documenting and bringing attention to endangered wildlife all over the world.
1. Which is a goal of wildlife conservation according to the text?| A．To stop introducing invasive species. | B．To encourage harmonious coexistence. |
| C．To control the number of world people. | D．To increase the use of natural resources. |
| A．Hunting. | B．Human activity. | C．Pollution. | D．Climate change. |
| A．The activities of protection areas. |
| B．The importance of biodiversity promotion. |
| C．The relevant efforts of international organizations. |
| D．The great impact of wildlife crimes on ecosystems. |
| A．The necessity of legislation. |
| B．The wildlife conservation’s achievements. |
| C．The individuals’ contributions to the environment. |
| D．The statistics about the wildlife conservation efforts. |
【推荐1】It’s an overcast day in Windsor, with the weather threatening to change the location for an exclusive sit-down between legendary ethologist Dr. Jane Goodall and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. Here is а conversation from one of Vogue’s past issues in which the two discuss her life-long study of chimpanzees, the environment and our responsibility to it.
Prince Harry: Jane, you have extreme empathy for all animals, especially primates, and have connected with them in a way that few other people have. What did your study of chimpanzees teach you?
Dr. Jane Goodall: From studying chimps and seeing all their similarities to our own species, it has become obvious to me that we have inherited some of our ancestors’ more aggressive tendencies. When you look around the world, they’re everywhere. We can all easily get angry. But with our brain, we mostly control these tendencies to anger. So how is it possible that the most intellectual creature that’s ever walked on the planet, that’s sent a rocket to Mars from which a little robot is slowly moved about in order to take photos, has continued to willfully destroy its only home? There seems to be a disconnect between our clever brain and the heart, love and compassion which we all universally share for one another.
Prince Harry: You’ve been known first and foremost as a world-famous primatologist, but moved on at some point to focus on people and the human issues around conservation. When did that shift happen and why?
Dr. Jane Goodall: It happened in 1986. I helped to organize a conference to bring scientists together to learn about comparative chimp behavior in different environments. I went as a scientist and left as a spokesperson for the environment and animals. It came to a head when I flew over Gombe State, Nigeria. It had been part of the forest belt in the 1960s, but by the 1990s it was a tiny island surrounded by completely bare hills. The locals were struggling to survive. That’s when it hit me: If we don’t help these people, we can’t even begin to try to save the chimps.
Prince Harry: How do you remain hopeful?
Dr. Jane Goodall: First of all, youth. Second, the amazing human intellect. Our intellect really can help us live in greater harmony and leave lighter ecological footprints. Next comes the resilience of nature. There are no bare hills around Gombe anymore. Where places have been destroyed, there are incredible projects going on. The last reason for hope is the indomitable human spirit.
Prince Harry: You founded the global youth program Roots & Shoots in 1991. Specifically, what’s your greatest achievement?
Dr. Jane Goodall: Empowering young people so that they understand that they can make a difference. When I was ten years old and wanted to go to Africa, everybody laughed at me. It was only my mother who said, “If you really want this, you’ll have to work really hard and take advantage of every opportunity.” And I wish she was around to know the number of people who said, “Jane, thank you. You’ve taught me because you did it. I can do it, too.”
1. According to Dr. Jane Goodall, she remains hopeful about the survival of mankind because of________.①the brilliant mind of humans
②the ordered harmony of nature
③the ability of nature to recover
④the youthful generations
⑤the global youth program she founded
⑥the great perseverance of people
| A．①②⑤⑥ | B．①③④⑥ | C．①③⑤⑥ | D．②③④⑥ |
| A．when she found that chimpanzees were destroying their only home |
| B．when she saw all the similarities between humans and chimpanzees |
| C．after the global youth program Roots & Shoots was founded in 1991 |
| D．after realizing that she could not help the chimps without helping the people |
| A．From her studies of chimpanzees, Dr. Jane Goodall has learned that they have inherited their aggressive tendencies from human beings. |
| B．In 1986, Prince Harry organized a conference to bring scientists together to learn about comparative chimp behavior in different environments. |
| C．The locals from Gombe State had been struggling to survive since the 1960s because their home was a tiny island surrounded by completely bare hills. |
| D．As far as Dr. Jane Goodall is concerned, her greatest achievement has been helping young people to realize that they can have a significant impact on the world. |
【推荐2】Several years ago, a television reporter was talking to three of the most important people in America. One was a very rich banker, another owned one of the largest companies in the world, and the third owned many buildings in the center of New York.
The reporter was talking to them about being important.
“How do we know if someone is really important?” the reporter asked the banker.
The banker thought for a few moments and then said, “I think anybody who is invited to the White House to meet the President of the United States is really important.”
The reporter then turned to the owner of the very large company. “Do you agree with that?” she asked.
The man shook his head, “No. I think the President invites a lot of people to the White House. You’d only be important if while you were visiting the President, there was a telephone call from the president of another country, and the President of the US said he was too busy to answer it.”
The reporter turned to the third man. “Do you think so?”
“No, I don’t, ” he said. “I don’t think that makes the visitor important. That makes the President important.”
“Then what would make the visitor important?” the reporter and the other two men asked.
“Oh, I think if the visitor to the White House was talking to the President and the phone rang, and the President picked up the receiver, listened and then said, ‘It’s for you.’ ”
1. There are _______ in this passage.| A．two men and two women | B．three men and one woman |
| C．three women and one man | D．four women |
| A．he was really important because he was a rich banker | B．the visitor to the White House was really important |
| C．the visitor who met the President of the United States | D．the reporter was really important |
| A．she was really important because she owned one of the largest companies |
| B．the banker was really important |
| C．the owner of many buildings in the center of New York was really important |
| D．the visitor would be really important if while he was visiting the President， the President would not answer any telephone call |
| A．he was really important because he owned many buildings in the center of New York |
| B．the owner of the very large company was really important |
| C．the visitor was really important if he talking to the President and the President received a telephone call for the visitor |
| D．the person who worked in the White House was really important |
【推荐3】Multiple actions have been taken to fight food waste, but one young man is making a big difference with technology.
Liu Jichen, 23, a student from Tsinghua University, has developed a WeChat mini-program called “Clear Your Plate”. After a meal, users can open the mini-program and take a picture of their empty plates. Once the image recognized by the AI, users can collect points and use them to buy gifts or purchase charity meals donated to children in impoverished (贫困的) rural areas.
“Technological innovation is a good way to reduce food waste,” Liu thought. He organized a team of 20 members to work on the project at the end of 2017. To solve the AI's problem of identifying photos of empty plates, the team spent half a year collecting over 100,000 samples in canteens and restaurants. In 2018, the mini-program was officially put into operation on Oct 16, World Food Day.
“There were so many unknowns in research and development. For our team members, the biggest psychological challenge was whether we were confident enough to complete it,” Liu said. They not only achieved their goal, but mow, the mini-program has more than 5 million registered users, according to Liu.
Thanks to his innovative and practical actions concerning social issues, Liu, along with the other 16 members, stood out among more than 7,600 candidates around the world to be inducted (入选) into the 2020 Class of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals by the UN Office of the Secretary General's Envoy on Youth in September.
“We hope our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation by encouraging them to cherish their food and develop the habit of thrift (节约),” Liu told China Daily. “We hope to inspire everyone to take action against food waste and to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to global food security challenges,” he added.
1. What do we know about the mini-program from the text?| A．It can solve AI's problems | B．It was created by WeChat |
| C．It can judge whether a plate is empty | D．It was officially named World Food Day |
| A．Physical strength. | B．Technology. | C．Enough research. | D．Strong belief. |
| A．To help poor children. |
| B．To reduce food waste. |
| C．To be awarded by the UN. |
| D．To arouse awareness of innovation. |
| A．Negative. | B．Tolerant. | C．Positive. | D．Unwilling. |
