When the European Commission’s LIFE program first brought together more than 20 organizations in 2002 to rescue the lynx ( 山 猫), the species had all but disappeared. Widespread hunting and a virus had wiped out ( 彻底消灭) most of the Iberian Peninsula’s European rabbits, the lynx’s main prey (猎物).
Lynx breed in captivity ( 圈 养) easily, however. Near one main release location, Iberian lynx have even learned to live in neighborhoods, in olive groves (橄榄树丛), and around highways.
“Thanks to the work carried out over the last 20 years, the number of lynx has increased greatly,” says Francisco Javier Salcedo Ortiz, regional coordinator of the Iberian lynx recovery plan.
But the cat’s not out of danger just yet. Its thousand-square-mile territory is a collection of five — soon to be seven — isolated ( 孤 立 的) groups. For Iberian lynx to fully recover, they must be able to travel from one group to another, ensuring the species’s long-term health by diversifying gene pools. That’s why the next stage of the LIFE project will focus on creating at least 10 6-square-mile areas of rabbit-rich habitat, which act as passageways among the existing lynx groups. Scientists selected these habitats based on predictions of where lynx are most likely to travel. For instance, lynx prefer to take the shortest paths through undeveloped habitats, and avoid broken-up areas of farmland.
The cat is popular, even among farmers and landowners, but a few view lynx as pests and occasionally will poison them for supposedly harming domestic animals. Illegal killings make up nearly 25 percent of annual lynx deaths on the peninsula, the second highest cause of non-natural death, after vehicle strikes. That’s why education is the “best tool to improve the lynx population,” says Maribel García Tardío, lead technician for Andalusia’s Iberian lynx recovery plan. She and her colleagues regularly meet with landowners and hunters, explaining how lynx rarely kill larger domestic animals.
The Iberian lynx is one of 33 small-cat species, many of which are endangered or threatened. These animals have long been eclipsed by their bigger cousins such as lions and tigers, but lately people have begun to recognize the world’s little-known cats.
1. Which of the following words can best describe the Iberian lynx according to paragraph 2?| A．Active. | B．Adaptable. |
| C．Funny. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．To free existing lynx from hunger. |
| B．To set up a gene pool of existing lynx. |
| C．To turn some farmland into lynx habitat. |
| D．To help existing lynx connect with each other. |
| A．She educates landowners and hunters regularly. |
| B．She works to reduce vehicle strikes in lynx habitats. |
| C．She suggests separating lynx from large domestic animals. |
| D．She clears up the misunderstanding between landowners and hunters. |
| A．Confused with. | B．Protected from. |
| C．Keeping step with. | D．Living in the shadow of. |
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【推荐1】People and animals often enjoy loving relationships with each other. When people adopt domesticated (家养的) animals into their families as pets, animals give humans the blessings of companionship and fun in return. In the wild, animals sometimes carry out dramatic rescues of people in dangerous situations, miraculously (奇迹般地) sensing human needs and jumping in without fear to help.
In 2000, a 6-year-old boy unified Elian Gonzalez left Cuba on a boat bound for Florida in the United States, but the boat sank and everyone aboard drowned except Elian and two adults. Elian and the other two survivors held onto inner tube for 48 hours to try to stay afloat in the sea. After a while, however, Elian began to lose strength, slipping under the water and then grabbing the tube again as he fought to stay alive.
A small group of dolphins noticed Elian struggling and swan over to him to help. The dolphins formed a circle around the inner tube and took turns using their noses to lift Elian until fishermen working in the area discovered and rescued Elian and the two adults who floated nearby. The fishermen reported that, when they discovered Elian, he was repeating a prayer that his mother had taught him before drowning, asking guardian angels to protect him.
Miraculously, the dolphins knew that a child would need more help than adults, so they focused on Elian — and they figured out exactly what needed to be done and cooperated to carry out that plan successfully. They made it!
1. Why did Elian slip off the tube?| A．He was tired out. | B．A wave pushed him. |
| C．The two adults dragged him. | D．The tube was too smooth to grab. |
| A．They informed the fishermen. |
| B．They formed a circle around him. |
| C．They supported the inner tube by turns. |
| D．They stopped Elian slipping under the water. |
| A．Self-confident and flexible. | B．Calm and lucky. |
| C．Friendly and motivated. | D．Smart and ambitious. |
| A．The survivors. | B．The fishermen. |
| C．The dolphins. | D．The guardian angels. |
【推荐2】Barton Seaver is a chef and conservationist who wants our help to save the oceans. He believes that our eating choices have a direct impact on the ocean’s health. In this interview, Seaver discusses how individuals can make a big difference by making informed choices.
Q: Should people stop eating seafood?
A: There are certain species that have been over fished and that people should definitely avoid. But I don’t think we need to stop eating seafood altogether. I believe that we can save the oceans while continuing to enjoy seafood. For example, some types of seafood, come from well-managed fisheries. And others, such as farmed mussels and oysters, actually help to restore declining wild populations and clean up polluted waters.
Q: What kind of seafood should people eat? What should they not eat?
A: My general advice is to eat fish and shellfish that are lower on the food chain and that can be harvested with little impact on the environment. Some examples include farmed clams and oysters anchovies, sardines, and herring. People should not eat the bigger fish of the sea, like tuna, shark, and swordfish. Otherwise, we will face severe shortages of these species and upset the balance of life in the oceans.
Q: Why did you choose to dedicate your life to the ocean?
A: I believe that the next great advance in human knowledge will come from learning how we relate to our natural world. I have dedicated myself to helping people understand our place on this planet through the foods that we eat.
Q: Why do you believe people should care about the health of the oceans?
A: The health of the oceans is directly linked to the health of people. The ocean provides most of the air that we breathe. It has a big effect on the weather. It also provides a necessary and vital diet for billions of people on the planet. So I am indeed trying to save the vital things that we rely on the ocean for.
1. Which statement might Barton Seaver agree with?| A．Fish farming is bad for the ocean. |
| B．Fish higher on the food chain should be eaten. |
| C．Overfishing has caused great damage to all species. |
| D．It's OK to eat seafood from well-managed fisheries. |
| A．We can understand our planet through the foods we eat. |
| B．We need to protect the ocean because of its supply of food. |
| C．Individuals’ right food choices can impact the ocean positively. |
| D．People should stop eating seafood to restore the ocean ecosystem. |
| A．Science and Technology. | B．Man and Nature. |
| C．Mystery of the Ocean. | D．Codes of Best Cuisines. |
| A．Devoted and farseeing. | B．Flexible and competitive. |
| C．Brave and risk-taking. | D．Ambitious and creative. |
【推荐3】Wildlife experts are asking Australians to drive carefully to avoid unnecessary roadkill as native animal numbers drop following years of natural disasters.
Kristie Newton from WIRES said the recent floods across Eastern Queensland and New South Wales could lead to an increase in animal roadkill accidents with wildlife on the move. “This year it might be even worse because they’re traveling a bit further to find food,” Newton said. “Important food sources like grasses have become less and less, forcing many animals to move outside their habitat in search of food, and turn up in unusual places.”
“The fires killed millions and millions of native animals, and now we’ve had the floods. So it’s important that we try and protect what animals we’ve got left.” the wildlife expert said. The 2019-20 bushfires in Australia have affected nearly three billion animals.
According to AAMI Insurance, more than ten percent of all animal roadkill accidents happen in May. More than 15,500 AAMI animal collision claims last year showed that central Victoria’s Heathcote was the country’s most dangerous place for wild animals. Victoria was also the worst state for animal roadkill, with almost one third of animal accidents taking place on Victorian roads. New South Wales and Queensland followed closely behind.
Newton said moving a dead animal off the road can be a good way to prevent unnecessary death. “Birds also come down and feed on those bodies, and we see a lot of them get hit when doing that.” She is also encouraging drivers to do the right thing if they hit an animal. “Please pull over where it is safe to check whether the animal is injured,” said Newton. “For your own safety never set close to an adult kangaroo, even if it’s injured.”
1. What is the main reason for the increase in animal roadkill accidents?| A．People traveling more than before. |
| B．Animals preferring to feed alongside roads. |
| C．Cities becoming more attractive to animals. |
| D．Animals having to move because of natural disasters. |
| A．What damage Australian bush fires have had. |
| B．Natural disasters make it hard to protect wildlife. |
| C．Why it is high time people protected Australian animals. |
| D．Bush fire s are much more dangerous to animals than floods. |
| A．Most roadkill accidents happened in 2019. |
| B．Animals in New South Wales suffered most. |
| C．Queensland took quick action to end roadkill. |
| D．Heathcote saw most roadkill accidents in Australia. |
| A．Leave the dead animal alone. | B．Stop and check on the hit animal. |
| C．Drive off the birds on the roads. | D．Touch an injured kangaroo to calm it. |
【推荐1】Do you think that puppet shows (木偶戏) are just for children? In some parts of the world, like Indonesia, a puppet show is an activity enjoyed by people of all ages.
At most puppet shows, the audience sits on one side of the screen and the puppeteer (操纵木偶的人) sits on the other. However, at an Indonesian front shadow puppet show, the audience can choose which side to sit on. From out front, audience members see shadows of puppets acting out exciting scenes of romance or battle. These people enjoy the fantasy that “real” events are taking place.
Behind the scenes, it can be fascinating to see a dalang, or puppeteer, in action. The dalang manipulates puppets made of buffalo hide (水牛皮) by moving attached rods (棒) of buffalo horn or bamboo. Each of a puppet’s arms and the main part of its body have their own rods, but its legs are rarely moved on their own.
Each puppet has its own voice and its own way of moving. The “good” puppets usually speak calmly and move gracefully; the “bad” ones have rough voices and move in a funny way. The stories acted out by the puppets are often based on ancient myths or legends. A specially written puppet show might also celebrate a birth, wedding, or harvest. Sometimes a dalang chooses an old story that he thinks is appropriate for the village where the performance will take place. Before the show, he may ask local people about current events in the village and then use the puppet show to illustrate possible solutions to local problems.
The audience of a shadow puppet show expects to settle in for a long evening. A show may start in the later afternoon and not end until four o'clock the next morning! Children and adults alike may fall asleep in the middle of a show and wake up hours later to find it still going on. Of course, the dalang must remain alert (警觉的) throughout the show. One dalang remarked, “I have no real sense of time until it’s all over.”
1. How is an Indonesian puppet show different from most other puppet shows?| A．A dalang may take a rest during a show |
| B．People can leave in the middle of a show |
| C．It is an activity enjoyed by people of all ages |
| D．The audience can choose to sit on either side of the screen |
| A．builds | B．chooses |
| C．controls | D．watches |
| A．The “good” puppets move in a funny way |
| B．A dalang offers solutions to local problems before the show |
| C．The audience determines the puppets’ voice and way of moving |
| D．The dalang attempts to personalize the puppet show for the audience |
People abandon their homeland and move to another country for various reasons.
The main reason for immigration has long been economic opportunity----the desire for better land or a better job. During the 1800's, for example, the rich prairie land of the United States attracted many European farmers. Today, professional people commonly emigrate because of better opportunities elsewhere. Such emigration has sometimes been called brain drain. Many doctors and nurses and numerous engineers and scientists have moved to the United States.
Religious persecution has led many people to move to a new land for the freedom to practice their faith. Such immigrants include Jews expelled from England in the 1200's.
Wars, revolutions, and political unrest have driven innumerable people to find new homes. In the 1990's alone, millions of refugees fled from warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq, Liberia, Iran, Uganda, Southeastern Asia, and Central America.
Some immigrants were brought to a new land against their will. From the 1500's to the 1800's Europeans shipped black Africans to the Western Hemisphere as slaves. The United Kingdom transported prisoners to Australia from the late 1700s to the 1860s to relieve over crowding in British jails. Before that time, the United Kingdom sent prisoners to the American colonies.
Immigrants have made enormous contributions to the culture and economy of such nations as Australia, Canada, New Zealand the United States. But their accomplishments have been made with great difficulty. At times, the United States, like many receiving countries, has restricted immigration to maintain a more homogeneous society in which all the people share the same ethnic, geographic, and cultural background. Although some immigration laws have been relaxed, many new comers of different backgrounds still face challenges in gaining acceptance.
1. Most Immigrants to the United States in the nineteenth century came from _______.
| A．Europe | B．Asia | C．Australia | D．South Africa |
| A．2 | B．3 | C．4 | D．5 |
| A．slavery trade | B．religious persecution |
| C．economic opportunity | D．political unrest |
| A．immigration laws have been relaxed. |
| B．people from different backgrounds live harmoniously together. |
| C．a brain drain occurs. |
| D．people share the same ethnic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds. |
【推荐3】Singapore uses about two billion liters of water every day-a number it expects could double in the next four decades.
That kind of consumption is adding pressure to the Asian city state to address growing concerns about global water shortage. So it's building new technology to prepare itself for a future where obtaining clean water will be even more difficult. "Singapore truly has become a global water center,"said Shane Snyder,executive director of the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University. “But as it stands, it imports approximately 40% of its water today. And with climate change,that water has become far less dependable.”
Singapore, meanwhile, is home to more than five million people and is covered in fountains,reservoirs and other water features-including the world's tallest indoor waterfall, The Rain Vortex that pumps about 45,000 liters of water per minute. But it has no natural water sources of its own,instead relying heavily on recycled water and imports from its neighbors.
Snyder's research facility is one of several places developing solutions for Singapore's water dependency. The hope is to create projects that could be used across the city. "What we have become used to as reliable water may quickly change-so we have to be prepared,and we have to be thinking about the basic facilities in advance. " Snyder said. " There's a big drive to become water independent-to control our own future -and that is largely dependent on the technologies we're developing. "
Another company,Wateroam, is already taking innovation from Singapore to the rest of the region. Founded in 2014,Wateroam says it has developed a lightweight,portable filtration（过滤）device that has already provided clean drinking water to more than 75,000 people across Southeast Asia. Wateroam CEO David Pong said one of the most innovative aspects of the product is its simplicity. The water filtration device is no bigger than a bicycle pump,yet it can provide clean water to villages of 100 people for up to two years.
"We've been very blessed to have access to clean drinking water," Pong said. It's necessary to bring the privilege to the rest of the region, and advocate that clean water is an essential aspect for life on Earth,according to him.
1. What worsens the water shortage problem in Singapore?| A．More water imports. | B．The lack of technology. |
| C．The increasing population. | D．Double water consumption. |
| A．Searching for natural water sources. |
| B．Controlling the increase of population. |
| C．Importing water from more neighbors. |
| D．Using technologies to provide clean water. |
| A．It is easy to carry and use. |
| B．It is larger than a bicycle pump. |
| C．It has already been used across Asia. |
| D．It has already been in use for two years. |
| A．Clean water is an essential aspect for life on Earth. |
| B．Technology can help Singapore out with its water shortage. |
| C．The increasing water consumption is adding pressure to Singapore. |
| D．Singapore's filtration device has provided many people with clean water. |
