Madagascar, the world’s second-largest island country located off Africa’s eastern coast, is an island of diverse ecosystems and a biodiversity hotspot. The country has unique wildlife, with 90% of its plants and animals found nowhere else. Madagascar’s wildlife creates some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and popular spots. One of its conspicuous landscapes, attracting tourists from almost all corners of the Earth, is the Avenue of the Baobabs in the Menabe region. This avenue is made up of numerous baobab trees along the dirt road linking Belon’i Tsiribihina and Morondava, creating a unique and beautiful setting.
Baobab trees are common throughout Madagascar. Of the Earth’s eight species, six are native to the country. Some of the baobabs in the country are about 2, 800 years old, with trunks rising to 150 feet. The avenue is a row of about 25 baobabs stretching about 260 meters. Other baobab trees are also found in the nearby pastures (牧草地). This road is one of Madagascar’s most visited places. It is also the most accessible place to see some of Africa’s oldest baobabs. These trees were once part of a forest that was made up of other plants. However, massive deforestation cleared the area of most trees, leaving the baobabs to grow alone.
The baobab trees along the road and the other species growing in the nearby areas are always under constant threat from the increasing population. The trees also face threats from polluted water from the nearby fields, forest fires, and bushfires. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, the Avenue of the Baobabs has no admission fee or visitor center and generates little money for local communities.
Thankfully, non-governmental organizations in partnership with the government have noticed the area and developed activities to protect the avenue. The Ministry of Environment, Ecology, and Forests declared it a temporary protected area in July 2007. In July 2015, the site was declared a national monument (国家保护区), the first in Madagascar. The government and local communities hope the trees can survive for additional 800 years.
1. What does the underlined word “conspicuous” in the first paragraph mean?| A．New. | B．Cultural. | C．Striking. | D．Changing. |
| A．It is a big forest. | B．It has eight baobab species. |
| C．It consists of many different plants. | D．It has Africa’s oldest baobabs. |
| A．The risk to local baobab trees. |
| B．Natural disasters in Madagascar. |
| C．Poor living conditions in Madagascar. |
| D．The quality customer service of the avenue. |
| A．Curiosity. | B．Caution. | C．Hopefulness. | D．Sympathy. |
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【推荐1】Best choices for Summer Vacation
Want to experience something special during your summer vacation? We’ve searched the surrounding area to find the best.
Big Sur, California
Travelers come here to witness the dramatic waves of the Pacific. Also worth checking out is Bixby Creek Bridge, a beautiful piece of architecture, as well as the coastal beaches of Garapata State Park.
Recommended hotel: Glen Oaks (47080 Highway 1)
Providence, Rhode Island
The city’s downtown is an open-air museum with wall paintings and sculptures. Performance art is also a draw. And the Providence Fringe Festival, running from July 21 to 28, features performances by excellent artists.
Recommended hotel: Edgewood Manor (232 Norwood Ave)
St. Michaels, Maryland
This seaside town is home to beautiful landscapes, rich heritage and waterside adventures. Visitors can learn about the region’s history by visiting the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
Recommended hotel: Inn at Perry Cabin (308 Watkins Lane)
Toronto, Canada
This inspiring city is known for its diversity, and this shows up in the city’s events. Featuring more than 30 festivals in July and August alone, including ones for jazz, Caribbean culture, beer and local cuisine, summer is a perfect time to appreciate what Toronto has to offer.
Recommended hotel: St. Regis (325 Bay St.)
1. Where can you stay if you want to appreciate different forms of art?| A．Glen Oaks. | B．St. Regis. |
| C．Inn at Perry Cabin. | D．Edgewood Manor. |
| A．Experience cultural diversity. | B．See the waves of the Pacific. |
| C．Take part in some waterside activities. | D．Visit an open-air museum. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．An art book. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．An academic article. |
【推荐2】Noteworthy Theme Parks
Peppa Pig Theme Park, the US
The world’s first Peppa Pig Theme Park opened in February 2022 in Florida.
Devoted to the classic British animated TV show, the park welcomes guests with well-designed activities. The Daddy Pig ride takes families on a windy road in the show’s red car. They can also enjoy a dinosaur ride, and play games at the Fairground.
Tickets from $34.
Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, Thailand
Thailand’s Columbia Pictures Aquaverse opened in October 2022.
The movie-themed water park features rides and experiences inspired by popular films like Zombieland. In addition to the rides, the park hosts performances at its Mega Wave Pool, where guests can hang out in the pool while enjoying movie screenings and pop concerts.
Tickets from $41.
Katmandu Park, Dominican Republic
Opened in March 2023, the park is full of mystery (奥秘).
The 4D dark ride is brought to life by lighting and projection effects. Another key attraction is EtherQuest, an interactive walk-through experience. Aside from the rides, guests can also check out a sky-high ropes course, and climbing walls for younger adventurers.
Tickets from $120 for adults: $85 for children for a one-use pass.
Legoland Korea Resort, South Korea
Opened in May 2022, the park is designed for 2- to 12-year-olds.
This playful wonderland is devoted to all things of Lego, with more than 40 rides and attractions across seven thematic zones. Guests can get on family-friendly rides, visit Legoland Lookout for great park views, and get hands-on experience with creative workshops.
Tickets from $38 for adults; $30 for children.
1. Which of the four theme parks started the earliest?| A．Katmandu Park. | B．Peppa Pig Theme Park. |
| C．Legoland Korea Resort. | D．Columbia Pictures Aquaverse. |
| A．Go to the Fairground. | B．Try the 4D dark ride. |
| C．Attend a pop concert. | D．Experience a workshop. |
| A．$106. | B．$123. | C．$205. | D．$240. |
【推荐3】Welcome to the world-famous house where William Shakespeare was born in l564 and where he grew up. The property (房产) remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until1806. The House has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world, for over 250 years.
◆Enter through the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare’s World, a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.
◆Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up.
◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from Shakespeare’s period.
◆Enjoy the traditional English garden, planted with trees and flower mentioned in the poet’s works.
OPENING TIMES
20 Mar to 19 Oct
Mon to Sat: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Sun: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
20 Oct to 19 Mar
Mon to Sat: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Sun: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map; nearest is Windsor Street (3 minutes’ Walk).
The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre, its exhibition, and the garden are accessible to wheelchair users.
The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace)
| ADMISSION Adult ￡4.90 Child ￡2.20 Family ￡12.00 (2 adults + up to 3 children) |
| A．￡9.80. | B．￡12.00. | C．￡14.20. | D．￡16.90. |
| A．8:30 am. | B．9:00 am. | C．9:30 am. | D．10:00 am. |
| A．At Windsor Street. | B．Near the Coffee House. |
| C．Behind the exhibition hall. | D．Opposite the Visiturs’ Centre. |
【推荐1】A national engineering laboratory in Tianjin is the base of the world’s largest and most advanced sound source identification system for commercial use. At first glance, the equipment, known as a sound camera and consisting of a big wheel with a supporting frame, resembles a mini Ferris wheel that lacks seats and cannot rotate. A closer look at the 5-meter-diameter wheel reveals high-tech features like an array of 144 sensors (传感器) used to capture, identify and analyze the source of noise on railways. “It is like a sound radar (雷达) for discovering noise,” said Hu Wenlin, vice head of the National Engineering Laboratory for Noise Control and Reduction at China Railway Design Corporation.
Hu said that the data produced by the machine allows engineers to better understand the sounds generated when a train passes by, such as which part produces the most noise. After analyzing the data, engineers can draw up precise plans to reduce noise and make construction plans accordingly. For example, if a railway passes a residential area with stricter noise abatement requirements, engineers can come up with a plan to minimize noise, usually at greater expense. But if a railway passes a place with more relaxed noise control requirements, designers can make a cheaper plan.
Noise control technologies have been applied to dozens of major railway projects across the country. The sound camera, fully developed in China, is advanced by world standards, said Wang Changjin, the director of the National Engineering Laboratory. Before the sound camera was available, engineers usually used a pole fitted with sensors to collect sound data along railway lines. “It cannot be compared to the technique we are using now, which is far more accurate,” Wang said.
The machine is just one of many innovations developed by the laboratory. It has conducted many research projects on railways, leading to the development of key noise control equipment for high-speed railways and bringing quieter lives to people living near the lines.
1. What can we know about the sound camera from paragraph 1?| A．It is invented by Hu Wenlin. | B．It is a sound radar in the shape of a wheel. |
| C．It is fitted with many sensors to study noise. | D．It transforms sound information into images. |
| A．Monitoring. | B．Ranking. | C．Reducing. | D．Analyzing. |
| A．It is very easy to move. | B．It consumes little energy. |
| C．It is available for everyone. | D．It operates far more precisely. |
| A．Technology Frees People from Noise | B．Sound Camera Makes Rail Lines Quieter |
| C．The Importance of Conducting Sound Research | D．The Influence of Noise Pollution on People’s Life |
【推荐2】When I was small, my grandmother died. I was so sad that l had no tears. But that night when my dad tried to cheer me up, my laugh turned into crying.
So it came as no surprise to learn that scientists believe crying and laughing come frome the same part of the brain. Just as laughing has many health advantages, scientists are discovering that so, too, does crying.
Whatever it takes for us to release pressure is important to our emotional health, and a study found that 85 percent of women and 73 percent of men report feeling better after crying.
Besides, tears attract help from other people. Researchers agree that when we cry, people around us become kinder and friendly and they are more ready to provide support and comfort. Tears also enable us to understand our emotions better; sometimes we don't even know we're very sad until we cry. We learn about our emotions through crying, and then we can deal with them.
Just as crying can be healthy, not crying—holding back tears of anger, pain or suffering—can be bad for physical health. Studies have shown that too much control of emotions can lead to high blood pressure and heart problems. If you have a health problem, doctors will certainly not ask you to cry. But when you feel like crying, don't fight it. It's a natural and healthy-emotional response.
1. Why did the father try to cheer his daughter up?| A．Because she was crying. |
| B．Because she never had tears. |
| C．Because she was very sad. |
| A．提高 | B．释放 | C．保持 |
| A．Women cry more than men. |
| B．When you cry, people will care about you more. |
| C．Laughing has many health disadvantages. |
| A．head problems |
| B．blood pressure problems |
| C．heart problems |
| A．How to Keep Healthy | B．Why We Cry | C．Power of Tears |
【推荐3】Now that the holiday is coming, there is no doubt that it’s relaxing to watch a movie. Here we have chosen three exciting movies for you. Let’s take a look!
Chibi Maruke Chan: The Fantastic Notebook
Anime (动画)’s favorite third-grade schoolgirl is about to make the jump from 2D to 3D. Early 2022, Chibi Maruko-chan will star in her own feature film.
Maruko will jump out of her everyday life and travel on a mysterious adventure in a new world of fantasy, according to Sakura Production. “We delightedly expect everyone to enjoy the charming world of Maruko in the movie.”
Turning Red
This movie is a story based on a girl Mei Lee’s changing emotions. Mei is a Chinese-Canadian teenager. As she starts adolescence, an ancient curse put on her family means that every time she has a sudden outburst of feelings, something strange happens she turns into a giant fluffy red panda.
The message of the movie is that you don’t have to push emotions away or get rid of them to be considered a good girl or a good woman. The key is, to be yourself and be able to own your emotions.
Only Fools Rush In
The movie tells the story of a motorcycle enthusiast living in an island town. After falling in love with a waitress, he approaches her and joins her drama-prone brother’s motorcycle team, competing in local races. But their lives are turned upside down after an accident, then, the innocent young man and his girlfriend, has to go on a motorcycle road trip to Guangzhou where they end up drifting in the city as they struggle to deal with their difficult situation.
1. What do we know about Chibi Maruko Chan: The Fantastic Notebook?| A．It will be shown on 2D version. |
| B．It will be launched in March, 2022. |
| C．The movie is about a fantastic exploration |
| D．The leading character is a seven-year-old girl. |
| A．Try to be good. |
| B．Don’t feel depressed. |
| C．Never put emotions away. |
| D．Learn to become who we are. |
| A．Motorcyclists’ competition. | B．Common people’s life. |
| C．Love in the couple. | D．Struggle among racers. |
【推荐1】Being highly connected to a strong social network has its benefits. Now a new study is showing the same goes for trees, thanks to their underground neighbors. The study is the first to show that the growth of adult trees is linked to their participation in fungal (真菌) networks living in the forest soil. Though past research has focused on young trees, these findings give new insight into the importance of fungal networks to older trees, which are more environmentally beneficial for functions like capturing carbon.
“Large trees make up the main part of the forest, so they drive what the forest is doing, ” said researcher Joseph Birch, who led the study. When they live in the forest soil, fungal net- works act as a sort of highway, allowing water, nutrients and compounds to flow back and forth among the trees. The network also helps nutrients flow to resource-limited trees like family units that support one another in times of stress.
Cores (核心) taken from 350 Douglas firs (花旗松) showed that annual tree ring growth was related to the extent of fungal connections a tree had with other trees. They had much higher growth than those that had only a few connections. The research also showed that trees with more connections to many unique fungi had much greater growth than those with only one or two connections. “If you have this network that is helping trees grow faster, that helps capture more carbon year after year. These networks may help trees grow more steadily even as conditions become more stressful, and could even help protect them against death. ” said Birch.
Birch hopes his findings lead to further studies in different kinds of forests in other geographical areas, because it’s likely that the connections among trees change from year to year. He said, “Knowing whether fungal networks are operating the same way in other tree species could inform how we reforest areas after harvesting them, and inform how we plant trees to preserve these networks. ”
1. In what way do the new findings differ from the previous ones?| A．They demonstrate a new way to capture carbon. |
| B．They confirm the benefits of fungal networks. |
| C．They clarify misunderstandings of fungal networks. |
| D．They reveal the value of fungal networks to adult trees. |
| A．By fighting against diseases. |
| B．By bettering forest soil conditions. |
| C．By acting as the center of family units. |
| D．By maintaining the balance of resources. |
| A．Tree rings. | B．Cores from firs. |
| C．Douglas firs. | D．Fungal networks. |
| A．The fungal networks support one another in times of stress. |
| B．The fungal networks enable us to know more about reforestation. |
| C．The findings can apply to different kinds of forests in other geographical areas. |
| D．The networks will help trees grow steadily if conditions become more stressful. |
【推荐2】You’ll only find cherry blossoms in a handful of countries.
Called sakura in Japan, the cherry blossoms of Yoshino and Kyoto are world-famous. Tourists flock to the country each spring to try their hand at a centuries-old activity “flower viewing”. You don’t have to fly to Japan to see them, though. In the US, the cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston are all beautiful in their own way. The flowers can also be viewed in many European and Asian countries, as well as Brazil and Australia in the southern hemisphere.
There are hundreds of cherry tree varieties.
Japan in particular is home to hundreds of types of cherry trees -possibly more than 600.Some types bear fruit, while others don’t. The flowers of many trees change from dark pink to light pink to white throughout the different stages of blossoming, while others progress from greenish yellow to white to pink. One variety, called Kanzan, was bred to have “double blossoms” — or up to28 petals (花瓣) on each flower, compared to the Yoshino tree’s five petals.
You can get arrested for picking a cherry blossom in Washington, D. C.
Resist the urge to take a cherry blossom home with you as a souvenir. In D.C. at least, breaking off a blossom or branch is viewed as destruction of federal property. Those who break this rule could receive a citation (传票), or worse, be arrested. It goes without saying that it’s also illegal to climb the trees. If they sustain damage to their branches, they will never be able to grow new blossom on that particular branch again.
Both the blossoms and leaves are edible.
In Japan, no part of the cherry blossom tree pes to waste. The preserved leaves are used as edible mochi wrappers (a rice cake filled with sweet bean paste), and a number of seasonal snacks feature sakura as a key ingredient Sakura-flavored versions of Pepsi, Coke, tea, and even Starbucks lattes are all popular drinks. You can also find Kit Kats and Pocky snack sticks that taste like sakura.
They were the inspiration behind a record-setting LEGO sculpture.
Legoland Japan, a theme park in Nagoya, set a Guinness World Record in 2018 for the largest LEGO brick cherry blossom tree ever made. The trees stood 14 feet tall, weighed over 7000 pounds, and consisted of more than 800,000 LEGO bricks.
1. In which country can’t you see cherry blossoms according to the passage?| A．America. | B．China. | C．Germany. | D．Egypt |
| A．Climbing cherry trees is tolerable in Washington. | B．Sakura-flavored snacks and drinks are welcomed. |
| C．Kanzan sakura is better than Yoshino sakura. | D．The largest cherry blossom tree grows in Japan. |
| A．A passionate environmentalist. | B．An ecological researcher. |
| C．A student interested in plants. | D．A tourist in Japan |
【推荐3】Planting the right seeds(种子)at the right time will not take as lots of efforts as we think. And some vegetables do grow themselves well without paying too much attention. Here are 4 vegetables that are perfect for a backyard garden.
Green beans
There is really only one important rule for planting green beans—don’t plant them too early. They won’t survive a frost. They may also stop producing in the middle of the summer, but if you continue to water them, they will continue to produce once the temperatures start to drop in early fall. The most time-intensive part of growing beans is in the harvest. The more frequently you pick up beans, the more beans it will grow.
Brussels sprouts(抱子甘蓝)
This sweet vegetable can be grown in nearly any home garden with rich sunlight. They have a long growing season compared with other vegetables. Their taste improves if they are covered with frost. However, they can only bear a few days of cold weather, so be sure to harvest them as quickly as possible.
Broccoli(西兰花)
Broccoli is a cool-weather plant that grows best in spring and fall. It can be planted in early spring for a summer harvest, or in late summer to be harvested in fall. If grown in winter, to avoid heavy frost, broccoli can also be grown indoors and moved to the garden when temperatures rise. When growing broccoli, be sure to watch out for pests(害虫).
Peas
Peas are a great choice for new gardeners. All you need is a container that is at least 10 inches deep and something for the plants to climb. They prefer low temperatures, and once the heat of summer hits, pea plants will stop producing. If your garden space is limited, you can pull them up in the summer and replace peas with another crop that likes the heat
1. What can you do to harvest more green beans?| A．Plant them early. | B．Gather them in time. |
| C．Grow them indoors. | D．Avoid watering them in summer. |
| A．It will taste better. | B．It will grow better. |
| C．It will attract pests. | D．It will go bad immediately. |
| A．They can survive frost. | B．They enjoy cool weather. |
| C．They take up a lot of space. | D．They stop growing in summer. |
