【推荐1】One of the classic science-fiction treatments of the end of civilization was The Death of Grass, by John Christopher, in which a mysterious sickness struck down all the grasses on which most of the world's agriculture is based, from rice to wheat. Tn the end, politics among the survivors of disease, war and famine were reduced to bitter fratricidal struggle over a defensible potato patch. Like most of the so-called ''comfortable disaster" novels, this could be criticized for optimism. Depressing as a future of famine and the war of all against all might seem,   the consequences were largely limited to humans.

However, the threatened extinction of insect populations around the world raises the prospect of a much less general disaster, which would involve plants, birds, fish, small mammals, and everything else depending on insects. That's just the start. Other species, and we ourselves, depend on the animals and plants that need insects. When they go, we go. This is not just a greater disaster. It's a much more reasonable one. The most recent study has concluded that insect biomass is decreasing around the world at a rate of 2.5% a year. At that rate, half the insects in the world will be gone in 50 years' time, and all of them in a century — though no one will be keeping track of centuries then.

The chief driver of this disaster is unchecked human greed. I spite our individual and even collective cleverness, we behave as a species with as little foresight as a colony of nematode worms that will consume everything that it can reach until all is gone and it dies off naturally. The challenge of behaving more intelligently than creatures that have no brain at all will not be easy. But unlike the nematodes, we know what to do. The UN convention on biodiversity was signed in 1992, alongside the convention on climate change. Giving it the strength to hold back our appetites is now urgent. Biodiversity is not an optional extra. It is the web that holds all life, including human life.

The two main expressions of greed that speed this apocalypse are global warming and industrial agriculture. It appears that most of the damage is being done in the developed world by farming practices. The use of giant fields, lack of shelter for insects of any sort at all, whether they are harmful to human interests or not, and where the plants are drenched in long-lasting pesticides, is fatal for uncounted billions of insects. The effects of this kind of forming reach beyond the fields immediately affected, too. There has been a huge loss of aquatic insect species from the rivers into which the products of industrial agriculture are flushed by rain. Even in German nature reserves, which are by definition protected from the use of pesticides, there have been sleep falls in insect populations because so many of the most widely used ones are persistent and prevent breeding.

1. Which of the following statements about The Death of Grass is true?

A．It holds an optimistic attitude towards famine in the future.

B．It understates the severity of the disaster facing the world.

C．It gives a vivid account of the most serious famine in history.

D．It demonstrates how evil human nature turns out to be.

2. In paragraph 2, the writer mentions the most recent study in order to________.

A．prove that the prediction about the great disaster makes sense

B．show how soon the insects worldwide will go extinct

C．argue for the necessity to protect insect populations

D．suggest a possible approach to increasing insect biomass

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Humans are similar to nematode in that both of them lack foresight.

B．We haven't done enough about maintaining biodiversity.

C．Modem farming is to blame for the threatened extinction of insects.

D．Germany sets a good example by minimizing the use of pesticides.

4. What will the author probably discuss after the last paragraph?

A．How industrial agriculture brings about apocalypse.

B．What influence pesticides may have on people's lives.

C．Why insect populations in Germany are on the decline.

D．Where unchecked human greed can also by spotted.

【推荐2】I bought several packs of seeds, 24 small plastic seed pots, plant fertilizer and potting soil. I made sure the soil didn't contain added fertilizer. I wanted something that I could grow quickly, that wouldn't take up a lot of space and that wouldn't get too big. I ran this experiment in early fall in Maryland. So I knew I needed a plant that could grow when it's cool. I picked radishes (小萝卜), which grow well in the early fall or spring. Some varieties can grow a full radish in only 21 days.

I kept 12 of the pots and one pack of seeds for myself. I gave the other 12 pots and the other packet of seeds — along with some fertilizer and soil — to my editor, Sarah. This was to provide an additional control for location. After all, what if my yard just happens to be much better for growing plants? What if it's worse? By dividing the plants up between my yard and Sarah's, I hoped to make sure that any difference with the plants came from the fertilizer.

Sarah and I planted our seeds. Sometimes, seeds don’t sprout (发芽). So we carefully planted four evenly (相等地) spaced seeds in each pot. Six of my pots (and six of Sarah’s) served as controls — pots that would not get fertilizer. Our other six were treated with fertilizer. For each of us, this added up to 24 control seeds, and 24 seeds that would get fertilizer.

We watered all the plants equally with clean water every other day (unless it rained). Once a week, we applied fertilizer to half the pots. We also took pictures every day, so we could see the plants change over time. As I expected, many of our seeds didn't sprout. In fact, only about a fourth of mine sprouted. Sarah has a greener thumb. She successfully grew half of hers.

1. Why does the author want to grow such a plant?

A．To enjoy it.	B．To make it very cool.
C．To take up more space,	D．To make an experiment.

2. In die author’s view, what’s the difference of plants Sarah and she grow?

A．From the fertilizer used.	B．From the different way.
C．From the different soil.	D．From the seeds used.

3. What can we get from paragraph 3?

A．The experiment is successful.	B．The author is respectful to her editor.
C．The author is considerate.	D．The process of the experiment is complex.

4. What do you think of Sarah?

A．She's fond of growing plants.	B．She's smarter than the author.
C．She has a gifted for growing plants.	D．She's a devoted and friendly woman.

【推荐3】Gardening for Biodiversity: Big or Small, Every Garden Counts

Gardening is not just about planting flowers and vegetables. It’s also a powerful tool for enhancing biodiversity. A recent report emphasizes that even the smallest of gardens, such as a window box, can make a significant difference in halting the decline of wildlife.

In the UK, overall wildlife numbers have declined by 13% since the 1970s, with some species showing a decline of up to 41%. Fifteen percent of species are currently considered threatened. However, the report from Garden Organic suggests that ordinary gardeners, through their daily activities, could have a profound impact on reversing this trend.

One of the key recommendations is to plant a diversity of flowers. Flowering plants, such as sedum, thrive on roofs and balconies, attracting insects and birds. Herbs like thyme and rosemary not only provide food for humans but also serve as nectar sources for pollinators. Nasturtiums, while attracting bees, also bring color to the garden.

Moreover, gardeners can create habitats for wildlife. For instance, old tin cans filled with hollow stems can be turned into insect or bee hotels, providing shelter for these small creatures. Compact vegetables, such as spinach and tomatoes, can be grown even on balconies, not only contributing to one’s daily intake of nutrients but also adding greenery to urban spaces.

Climbing plants like honeysuckle can act as natural screens, providing shade and reducing wind speed on balconies. They also add to the aesthetic appeal of the garden.

In summary, every gardener, regardless of the size of their garden, has the power to contribute to biodiversity conservation. Simple actions like planting a variety of flowers, growing vegetables, and creating habitats for wildlife can make a significant difference. As report author Dr Bruce Pearce, Garden Organic’s director of horticultural science, says, bringing biodiversity in the garden is easier the bigger the plot you have; but you can do your bit to tackle the “bleak” biodiversity situation even if all you have is a window box.

1. What is the main message of the report mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．Gardening is only about planting flowers and vegetables.

B．Even small gardens can make a significant impact on biodiversity.

C．Wildlife numbers in the UK have declined significantly.

D．Gardeners should only focus on planting nectar sources for pollinators.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a benefit of gardening for biodiversity?

A．Attracting insects and birds.

B．Providing food for humans.

C．Reducing carbon emissions.

D．Creating habitats for wildlife.

3. How can gardeners create habitats for wildlife according to the passage?

A．By planting a diversity of flowers.

B．By using old tin cans filled with hollow stems.

C．By growing only compact vegetables on balconies.

D．By attracting pretty ladybirds to the garden.

4. What can be inferred from the passage about honeysuckle?

A．It is a climbing plant that can act as a natural screen.

B．It is a perennial herb that thrives on roofs.

C．It is a vegetable that can be grown on balconies.

D．It is a flower that only attracts bees to the garden

【推荐3】Roald Dahl was a spy, an ace fighter pilot, a chocolate historian and a medical inventor. He was also the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, and a treasury of original, evergreen, and beloved children's books. He remains for many the world's No. 1 storyteller.

Born in Llandaff, Wales, on 13th September 1916 to Norwegian parents, Harald Dahl and Sofie Magdalene Hesselberg, Dahl was named after Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian who had been the first man to reach the South Pole just four years earlier. A heroic start in life.

Wanting the best for her only son, his mother sent him to a boarding school—Repton, a renowned British public school. With schooldays happily behind him, Dahl's lust for travel took him first to Canada, then to East Africa, where he worked for an oil company until the outbreak of World War II. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force at 23 years old. In 1953 Roald Dahl married the American actress, Patricia Neal, with whom he had five children.

There followed a burst of literary energy as his endless creativity led to one wonder after another：in 1961 James and the Giant Peach was published in the US, followed by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Fantastic Mr. Fox was published in 1970, the year before the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was released. The rest of the decade saw the publication of many other classics, including Danny the Champion of the World, The Enormous Crocodile, and My Uncle Oswald.

Roald Dahl died on 23 November 1990, aged 74. He was buried in the parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul in Great Missende — the Buckinghamshire village where today The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre continues his extraordinary mission to amaze, thrill and inspire generations of children and their parents.

1. What do you know about Ronald Dahl?

A．He was born in Norway.	B．He was talented in many fields.
C．His mother worked in a school.	D．His father reached the South Pole.

2. What does the underlined word "lust” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Vain hope.	B．Special care.
C．Strong desire.	D．Main concern.

3. How is Paragraph 4 mainly developed?

A．By giving examples.	B．By analyzing causes.
C．By presenting figures.	D．By making comparisons.

4. Which words can best describe the children's books penned by Ronald Dahl?

A．Amazing and humorous.	B．Educational and serious.
C．Imaginative and scary.	D．Fascinating and encouraging.