The Earth is facing a climate crisis, but it’s also getting greener. According to a new research, the rise is largely because of China and India. A study by NASA, based on extensive satellite imagery, has revealed that the two countries with the world’s biggest populations are also responsible for the largest increase in green plants.
A third of the leaf increase is attributable to China and India, due to the implementation of major tree planting projects as well as a vast increase in agriculture. “China and India account for one-third of the greening, but contain only 9% of the planet’s land area covered in vegetation — a surprising finding, considering the large populations in the countries need much land,” Chi Chen, the study’s lead author said in a statement.
Between 2000 and 2017, a NASA sensor gathered data of the Earth’s surface from aboard two satellites, the Terra and the Aqua. Using the data, researchers discovered that China is the source of a quarter of the increase in green leaf area, despite possessing only 6. 6% of the world’s vegetated area. Forests account for 42% of that increase, while croplands make up a further 32%. China’s increase in forest area is the result of forest conservation and expansion programs, established to combat the impacts of climate change and air pollution.
Rama Nemani, a researcher at NASA’s Ames Research Center, said in a statement, “When the greening of the Earth was first observed, we thought it was due to a warmer, wetter climate from the added carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to more leaf growth in northern forests, for instance. Now, with the data, we see that humans are also contributing,” Nemani said. “This will help scientists make better predictions about the behavior of different Earth systems, which will help countries make better decisions about how and when to take action.”
1. What can we get from the new research by NASA?| A．China and India should be responsible for the world’s climate crisis. |
| B．China and India have the biggest populations and the most green plants. |
| C．The Earth no longer faces a climate crisis because of China and India’s efforts. |
| D．China and India make a contribution to the Earth’s increasing greening. |
| A．The increased croplands. |
| B．The protection of the forests. |
| C．The impacts of climate. |
| D．The greening of the Earth. |
| A．The Earth is Facing a Climate Crisis. |
| B．China and India Cause the Climate Change. |
| C．NASA Released a Report on Air Pollution. |
| D．China and India are Making the Earth Greener. |
相似题推荐
Losing Touch with Nature May Make You Sick
For something that’s not actually a recognized medical condition, Nature-Deficit Disorder (NDD) has gotten a lot of attention since it was first coined in 2005. Writer Richard Louv came up with the term in his book, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
According to Louv, the effects of NDD can be lessened or even reversed by making sure parents encourage their kids to enjoy playing outdoors as much as they can.
| A．However, mothers and fathers shouldn’t force their kids to go outside or use it as a type of punishment. |
| B．In turn, this aids in the development of confidence and overall good health. |
| C．Recent studies focus not so much on what is lost when nature experience fades, but on what is gained through more exposure to natural settings |
| D．He acknowledges that NDD is mostly a metaphor for a lifestyle lacking in contact with nature. |
| E．Schools that use outdoor classrooms and other forms of experiential education produce significant student gains in science, language and math. |
| F．Experts believe that problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (注意力缺乏多动症) can be relieved through contact with nature. |
【推荐2】Sophie became friends with the gray squirrels during her first week at Penn State, after spotting them running around and wondering what they would look like with tiny hats on their heads. Today, everyone at the university knows her as the “Squirrel Girl”.
Sophie tried bringing them food, and gradually they began to trust her. She managed to put a hat on a squirrel and take a picture. Thinking that her colleagues could do something to lift their spirits, she started posting similar photos on Facebook. The response was greatly positive, and before long Sophie and her squirrels became an Internet sensation (轰动).
Growing up in a neighborhood outside of State College, Sophie was always fond of birds and animals around her home, but she didn’t interact with people very much. She was later diagnosed (诊断) with Asperger's syndrome, but the squirrels changed that. “The squirrels help me break the ice, because I’ll be sitting here patting a squirrel and other people will come over and well just start like feeding the squirrels together and chatting about them,” she said, “I am a lot more outgoing.”
And in case you’re wondering how Sophie is able to get the squirrels to do what she wants for her photos, it has a lot to do with food. For example, whenever she wants them to hold or play with something, she puts peanut butter on the prop (道具), and they’ll grab it. In the beginning, she would throw peanuts up the trees on campus and invite the squirrels to come down and get them, but they hesitated to approach her. She had the patience to earn their trust, though.
This year, Sophie is graduating with a degree in English and wildlife sciences. She wants to be a science writer and educate people on how to preserve the environment. As for her furry friends, Sophie plans to stay in the area and visit them as often as she can.
1. What can we infer from the passage?| A．Sophie was fonder of squirrels than any other animals. |
| B．Sophie is known as the “Squirrel Girl” in the community. |
| C．Sophie and squirrels received great attention on the Internet. |
| D．Sophie wishes to educate people on how to protect the animals. |
| A．She was more outgoing than before. |
| B．She got lots of friends due to squirrels. |
| C．She lived in the far countryside when young. |
| D．She used to be a popular girl in her childhood. |
| A．By dressing like squirrels. | B．By putting them in cages. |
| C．By playing music to them. | D．By attracting them with food. |
| A．Patient and caring. | B．Tolerant and strong. |
| C．Sociable and healthy. | D．Traditional and hard-working. |
【推荐3】I love flowers and hence have taken to growing them. But, short of time to do research and experiment in growing flowers, I am no gardener at all. I really don’t care whether or not my flowers will put forth plump and nice-looking blossom (花朵). I’ll be delighted as long as they can blossom. In summer, flowers and plants growing in luxuriance in my small courtyard will leave little open space as a playground for the little cats, so they have to sport about in our rooms instead.
I grow many flowers, but none of them are rare ones. It is difficult to grow a rare flower species.
And I feel bad to see a good flower dying of illness. But Beijing’s climate is more or less unfit for the growing of flowers. Freezing in winter, windy in spring, and either too dry or too often visited by rainstorms in summer. While autumn is the best of all, it is often troubled by a sudden frost. In a climate like this, it is far beyond my capacity to grow precious flowers of southern breed. Therefore, I only grow flowers and plants that are hardy and enjoy a high survival rate.
Although such flowers are able to weather through by themselves, I, however, never ignore them or abandon them to their own fate, for otherwise most of them will probably end up dead. I have to care for them every day as if they were my close friends. Thus, in the course of time, I’ve somehow mastered flower cultivation.
It gives me much pleasure to know the right way of handling them. How interesting it is to be able to keep my flowers and plants alive and watch them thrive and bloom year in year out! It is no exaggeration to say that there is much knowledge involved in this! And the more knowledge one acquires, the better it is of course.
1. What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 1?| A．The author is an expert in gardening. |
| B．The author often experiments with flowers. |
| C．The author thinks the growth of flowers is important. |
| D．The author’s yard is covered with flowers in summer. |
| A．The author’s ability is not good enough. |
| B．The climate in Beijing is not suitable. |
| C．They can not survive in the north. |
| D．They are too valuable. |
| A．Increased knowledge. | B．Manual labour. |
| C．Brilliant colours. | D．Close friendship. |
| A．Rare Flowers in Beijing | B．About Loving Flowers |
| C．On Growing Flowers | D．Learning to Plant Flowers |
【推荐1】The city of Brighton and Hove is asking to use “bee bricks” in the construction of all buildings above 5 meters to help encourage bees which don’t harm humans to nest (筑巢) in them.
Bee bricks are what seem to be pieces of Swiss cheese, but they are actually normal building bricks created with small holes into which bees typically nest. Old brick buildings have been considered as excellent habitat for bees, so Brighton and Hove is trying to use this simple invention to offer more room to bees.
Not everyone concurs that these bee bricks are a good idea. Some point out that there is not enough proof that the holes are large enough for a bee nest, that they have a population impact, or that the holes have to be cleaned to prevent harmful mites (螨虫)from living there.
However, there are studies that find bees will build nests inside these holes and cap the entry ways to hibernate(冬眠). Some scientists add that the mites will disappear after one or two seasons and that they don’t need to be cleaned.
Lars Chittka, a professor at Queen Mary University, said that bees naturally own hygienic (卫生的) behavior that would allow them to reduce the risks at least to some degree, or that they would examine the holes’ states before using them, which should to some degree reduce the risks that come with such long-term nesting opportunities.
Faye Clifton, CEO of Green &Blue, the company that makes the bricks, says modern buildings don’t have these natural holes bees depend on. If not for bee bricks, she warns, hundreds of miles of land could lose its biological diversity. She also stresses bee-friendly planting needs to go with the use of bee bricks as most bees will only search for food within 100 meters of their nesting places.
1. Why is Swiss cheese mentioned?| A．To show the function of bee bricks. |
| B．To show the popularity of bee bricks. |
| C．To show the appearance of bee bricks. |
| D．To show the inspiration for bee bricks. |
| A．Agrees. |
| B．Suggests. |
| C．Comments. |
| D．Realizes. |
| A．Bees are good at taking risks. |
| B．Bees like the bee bricks best. |
| C．Bees will live well in the bee bricks. |
| D．Bees like clean living environments. |
| A．Modern buildings are not green enough. |
| B．The number of bee-friendly plants is too small. |
| C．It is hard to increase biological diversity in cities. |
| D．Bee-friendly planting should be near to bee bricks. |
【推荐2】[1] In 1856, a British survey team measured the height of Qomolangma with the result of 8,840 meters above sea level. However, the exact measurement has never been settled. In 1955, the figure was adjusted by an Indian survey team to 8,848 meters, and later to 8,850 meters according to a US team in 1999. And in 2005, a Chinese team gained a height of 8,844 meters, but that result wasn't widely accepted either.
[2] On May 6, 2020, a 30-member Chinese survey team, equipped with the latest technology, including a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver and a radar to measure the mountain's snow cap, is determined to settle the dispute (争议).
[3] But measuring Qomolangma is no easy task. The average air temperature there is -29℃ and hurricane-like winds blow all the time. According to Li Guopeng, leader of the No.1 Geodetic Survey Team of China's Ministry of Natural Resources, despite advanced technologies we now have — the likes of robots and drones — it’s uncertain that they can operate smoothly under extreme conditions, which is why sending human experts to the peak is still necessary to ensure a precise reading.
[4] But ______
[5] The truth is that measuring the height of Qomolangma is much more than just getting that one particular number. Mount Qomolangma is the perfect window for observing crustal (地壳的) movements. Tiny changes to the peak's height can indicate whether the two plates, the Eurasian plate and the Indian plate, are heading toward or away from each other. The survey team will also get firsthand information about the condition of the snow and other natural materials at the top, which could be an indicator of climate change on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau.
[6] It might be true that settling a dispute was the driving force for continued exploration, but the good thing is that we always end up discovering so much more.
1. What is Paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．The importance of Qomolangma. | B．The dispute of Qomolangma’s height. |
| C．The difficulty in measuring Qomolangma. | D．The change of Qomolangma’s height. |
| A．They can read and deal with the results precisely. |
| B．They might break down under unusual conditions. |
| C．They are the latest advanced technology in the world. |
| D．They will work properly without human’s instructions. |
| A．what is the process of China’s measurement? |
| B．how is the latest technology used for the research? |
| C．does a tiny difference really matter for a huge mountain? |
| D．do extreme conditions actually affect the measurement? |
| A．The depth of snowcap. | B．The diversity of natural materials. |
| C．The state of crustal movements. | D．The change of worldwide climate. |
| A．To recommend a good way to settle a dispute. |
| B．To show the history of measuring Qomolangma. |
| C．To advertise China’s latest advanced technology. |
| D．To stress the value of China’s latest exploration in Qomolangma. |
【推荐3】Many people have participated into lots of virtual meetings these years. Some research shows this adjustment might not impact workplace productivity to any great degree. A new study, though, suggests otherwise.
In the study, 602 participants were randomly paired and asked to come up with creative uses for a product. They were also randomly selected to work together either in person or virtually. The pairs were then ranked by assessing their total number of ideas, as well as those concepts’ degree of novelty, and asked to submit their best idea. Among the groups, virtual pairs came up with significantly fewer ideas, suggesting that something about face-to-face interaction generates more creative ideas. The findings could stiffen employers’ resolve to urge or require their employees to come back to the office.
“We ran this experiment based on feedback from companies that it was harder to innovate with remote workers,” said lead researcher Melanie Brucks. “Unlike other forms of virtual communication, like phone calls or e-mail, videoconferencing copies the in-person experience quite well, so I was surprised when we found meaningful differences between in-person and video interaction for idea generation. ”
When random objects were placed in both the virtual and physical rooms, the virtual pairs of participants spent more time looking directly at each other rather than letting their look wander about the room and taking in the entire scene. Eyeing one’s whole environment and noticing the random objects were associated with increased idea generation. On platforms, the screen occupies our interactions. Our look wavers less. “Looking away might come across as rude, ” said Brucks,“so we have to look at the screen because that is the defined context of the interaction, the same way we wouldn’t walk to another room while talking to someone in person. ”
Like most educators, Brucks has primarily taught virtually in the past three years, and she did notice some benefits of the approach as well. Her students were more likely to take turns speaking and her shyer students spoke up more often, rid of the anxiety that comes from addressing a large classroom. Brucks found that one solution to improving virtual idea generation might be to simply turn off the camera, for her students felt “freer” and more creative when asked to do so. And this may be sound advice for the workplace.
Virtual teamwork can’t replace face-to-face teamwork. Idea selection proficiency (能力) is only valuable if you have strong options to select from, and face-to-face teams are the best means to generate winning options. Perhaps the workplace will find a compromise—a sweet spot in the middle that balances working from both home and office.
1. What does the underlined word “stiffen” in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?| A．Shake. | B．Revise. | C．Challenge. | D．Strengthen. |
| A．videoconferencing can’t compare with in-person communication |
| B．participants should make eye contact in an online meeting |
| C．the feedback from companies seems questionable |
| D．creative ideas may emerge from casual thoughts |
| A．Her students relieved anxiety by speaking up. | B．Her students progressed in focusing attention. |
| C．Her students took advantage of virtual learning. | D．Her students displayed talent for public speaking. |
| A．Interacting Virtually Impacts Working Participation | B．Maintaining Teamwork Improves Idea Generation |
| C．Grouping Randomly Increases Productivity | D．Brainstorming Online Limits Creativity |
Apparently, we are safe neither at home nor in the business office. We use water in both places, but the research shows that chemicals added to our local water supply to kill harmful bacteria can have unwanted side effects. These chemicals can cause potential harm through drinking and in seemingly harmless activities as cleaning one’s house. They are released(set free)from water by daily actions like water running out of tap, spraying from garden pipes，or splashing in dishwashers and washing machines. As the water is moving, these chemicals are released into the air and then breathed in. Once inside our bodies, they start to affect our health.
Does this mean we should stop bathing? No, say the scientists, but we should put all pollution into perspective. Activities at home such as the burning of coal, cooking oil, or even candles release carbon monoxide and particulates such as cigarette ashes which have been proven as harmful to health as working or living near heavy traffic. New tugs, bedding, and even clothing give off that “new smell,” which is a sure sign of chemicals. In the office, newly applied paint, newly purchased telephones and other telecommunications equipment, and computers release polluting chemicals, too. As offices and homes often have inadequate ventilation (通风), these chemicals can build up to become health problems. Their poisonous effects are only now being slowly recognized.
These facts suggest that, at a minimum, proper airing of newly purchased goods with an obvious chemical smell is a wise warning. Home and office windows should be opened during good weather. Even one’s car needs to be ventilated as well while in the garage.
We need further research to understand better other potential health dangers, too. For example, the effects of overcrowding of schools (carbon dioxide build-up), the factory work environment (an endless list of potentially dangerous substances), and even home heating and cooling (the air conditioner may be our enemies, not our friends) have only recently started to come to light. Until we understand the effects of our new technological environment better, we can only hope that “there is no place like home.”
1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
| A．The air we breathe in is harmful. |
| B．The water in everyday use is unsafe. |
| C．Chemicals are added to the drinking water. |
| D．Chemicals are released in the running water. |
| A．bathing should be done with caution |
| B．homes and offices should be aired often |
| C．any pollution should be taken into consideration |
| D．we should prevent any pollution from doing harm to us |
| A．To call on us to guard our water |
| B．To show us that no place is like home. |
| C．To make us aware of the pollution around us. |
| D．To argue that neither homes nor offices are safe. |
【推荐2】There are some differences between American English and British English. Some differences are quite interesting.
When my friend Lily from London used the word “larder”, I didn’t know what it meant. Realizing I didn’t follow her, she used another word. I finally knew she wanted to find something to keep some food. The next word came up when we were planning a lunch date. She jotted down the date and time in her diary, while I marked my calendar. If she called me on the phone, she would ring me up. But if the line was busy, she would say the line was engaged. Most times, I can know what Lily means. Last week, she regretted sending her boys to watch an early morning tennis game without their fleeces. I thought that she meant without their jackets or something like that. Other times, we have to ask each other. She recently told me a funny tale about a pissed woman. I wondered what had made the lady angry. It turns out that pissed means drunk.
Here is one more example. My British friend Jane was filling out a ticket at the grocery store recently. She asked the young man to help her if he had a rubber. When she noticed he didn’t follow her, she quickly asked for an eraser, which, in England, is often called a rubber. In order to communicate well with British people, we Americans should learn some words that the British use differently. And I think people who learn English as a second language should also realize that there are differences between American English and British English.
1. According to the passage, in British English ________.| A．the word “pissed” means angry | B．the word “jacket” is often used |
| C．the word “engaged” means tired | D．the word “rubber” means eraser |
| A．Wrote down. | B．Cared about. | C．Looked for. | D．Settled down. |
| A．The British way of using words. |
| B．Some new words the writer’s British friends taught her. |
| C．The reasons why Americans can’t followed the British at times. |
| D．Some words used differently in British English and American English. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Negative. | C．Positive. | D．Mutual. |
【推荐3】Flu vaccines (疫苗) work by arming the immune system with an enhanced ability to recognize and fight off the flu virus.Vaccines introduce proteins found on the surface of fu viruses，causing the immune system to produce antibodies that are ready to react when the virus attack.
However, flu viruses change frequently and can differ with time and from region to region.Even though current vaccines that people get annually produce antibody responses, these antibodies don‘t cross-protect. If thereis a new flu strain (流感病毒毒株) not found in that year’s vaccine, the antibodies that we generated last year won’t be able to protect us. So the pandemic(大流行) happens.On the other hand, if the vaccine matches the virus strain, the immune system will produce antibodies and kill the flu virus.
Luckily, in a study published in Cell Reports Medicine,scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madisondescribe a T-cell-based vaccine strategy that is effective against multiple strains of flu virus. The experimental vaccine, given through the nose, delivered long-lasting protection in the lungs of mice by using T-cels, which are special white blood cells that quickly remove viral invaders through an immune response.
The research suggests a potential strategy for developing a universal flu vaccine, "so you don’t have to make a new vaccine every year," explains Marulalsiddappa Suresh, a professor in the School of Veterinary Medicinewho led the research. The current flu vaccine has a serious weakness. Because each vaccine is only designed to resist one kind of virus strain. Once the virus changes, it could lead to a wide outbreak of flu.
By using T-cell immunity against multiple strains,it may be possible to develop a vaccine that is effective against a number of circulating flu viruses. In particular,the new approach calls into action tissue-residentmemory T-cells, or TRM cells，which live in the airways and lining of lung epithelial (表膜的) cells and fightinvading viruses. Like highly-trained soldiers，TRM cells serve as front line defense against infection. This undoubtedly gives a totally new way to fight the flu virus.
1. Why do flu pandemics break out occasionally even if vaccines are given?| A．Because vaccines lose their expected effects. |
| B．Because the flu strains reproduce very quickly. |
| C．Because the strains have resistance to vaccines. |
| D．Because vaccines don't work against new strains. |
| A．They are in charge of generating viruses. |
| B．They can protect white blood cells very well. |
| C．They kill viral invaders automatically. |
| D．They can generate white blood cells. |
| A．It will fundamentally stop the formation of new cold viruses. |
| B．It will cut off the ability of the flu virus to spread. |
| C．It points out the direction of developing a universal flu vaccine. |
| D．It enables humans to get rid of the common cold completely. |
| A．New Vaccine Strategy to Provide Protection Against Flu |
| B．New Immune System Intended for Fighting the Flu |
| C．New "Vaccine Based on T-cells Successfully Kills the Flu Virus |
| D．Serious Weakness of the Current Flu Vaccine Found |
