【推荐2】How Saving Wildlife Benefits Humans

It’s no secret that we’ve lost an overwhelming number of species within that last four decades. These species have all but _____ due to overpopulation, deforestation, consumer culture, climate change, animal exploitation, and other harming sources — all brought about by mankind.

One of the first great rules of terrestrial (陆地的) biology is “no species is forever.” _____, this rapid loss of species today is estimated to be between1,000and 10,000 times higher   than the natural extinction rate. As increasingly accepted theories have argued, we are now in the midst of the sixth great _____.

The Earth consists of plants, animals, water,   land, the atmosphere, and humans.   Biodiversity (生物多样性) _____ the health of the planet and has a great impact on all our lives. Reduced biodiversity means a future where food supplies are vulnerable (易受攻击的) to pests and disease, and fresh water is   in short supply. If biodiversity _____ impacts   our lives in such big   ways, then our conservation (环保) efforts don’t just benefit the environment, they benefit us, too.

One convincing benefit that comes from wildlife conservation efforts is that it ensures food _____. Wildlife conservation promotes agricultural biodiversity, which plays an important role in building a secure and healthy food system. When agricultural biodiversity is _____ and land   is cleared for agriculture, extensive habitat loss takes place, as well as undocumented loss of species and massive soil erosion (侵蚀).

Another benefit that comes from wildlife conservation is that these _____ protect human health. Conservation International reportsthat “more than 50 percent of modern medicines and more than 90 percent of traditional medicines   come from wild plants   and animals.” _____,   a     world that promotes healthy ecosystems and biodiversity provides crucial buffers (缓冲) between disease and humans. A number of studies have _____ reduced diversity among mammal (哺乳动物 ) species and overall decreases in biodiversity to an increase in the transmission ( 传 播 ) of animal-born diseases to humans.

Perhaps the most convincing benefit that comes from wildlife conservation is that it provides us with _____ whether it be economically or socially. Increasing biodiversity and   healthy ecosystems improve agricultural productivity, thereby allowing farms to become more _____. Healthy ecosystems that are home to unique species _____ tourists from around the world, which helps the local economy and invites in a new fusion of investment.

Our unsustainable, unconscious, self-interested relationship with the environment has led us into an extremely destructible world. If we do not take action and _____ changing our ways, we     are at risk of losing more vital and _____ ecosystems and biodiversity,   or at least until the sixth   great extinction claims one final species: our own.

1.

A．changed

B．existed

C．disappeared

D．evolved

2.

A．Furthermore

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Otherwise

3.

A．extinction

B．destruction

C．evolution

D．immigration

4.

A．threatens

B．localizes

C．strengthens

D．endangers

5.

A．infrequently

B．potentially

C．regionally

D．directly

6.

A．management

B．inspection

C．development

D．security

7.

A．identified

B．cultivated

C．exploited

D．valued

8.

A．initiatives

B．consequences

C．intentions

D．contributions

9.

A．In addition

B．After all

C．In particular

D．By contrast

10.

A．adapted

B．turned

C．adjusted

D．linked

11.

A．protections

B．opportunities

C．services

D．nutrients

12.

A．standard

B．welcome

C．scarce

D．profitable

13.

A．discourage

B．attract

C．forbid

D．protect

14.

A．feel like

B．keep on

C．set about

D．argue for

15.

A．irreplaceable

B．unpredictable

C．unlimited

D．imbalanced

【推荐3】She looked up at me sadly, her pain unbearable obvious. I _______her as she swam silently around the small pool, surrounded by people she didn’t know. The top left corner of her yellow shell was _______, and her flippers(鳍状肢)were filled with cuts and scars. Then she swam slowly to others.

I couldn’t help but think that these_______ creatures looked as though they were war heroes wounded in battle, but they weren’t. They were just a group of innocent sea turtles that had been injured by _______ humans.

Earlier that day, our group of forty high school students had learned that those endangered sea turtles were being _______all the time_______water pollution, litter, and careless boaters and fishermen. We were taught how to _______ the deaths and injuries of this species and to encourage others to conserve our ocean life and environment.

I had always been conscious of the damage our environment was suffering_______I had never truly been given the opportunity to _______the devastating(毁灭性的)effects of environmental destruction until I observed that ____________. Seeing a picture or movie of these animals cannot truly capture the____________ on their faces. Now that I have witnessed the____________caused by the pollution and people’s carelessness. I try to encourage my peers to ____________ their daily habits to ____________the environment by recycling, conserving water and energy, or ____________ time and money to help save endangered animals. I stress to them that we need to start saving our environment now ____________it’s too late. We must fight for those creatures that cannot____________for themselves because we have only one world to live in and one____________ to save it. Now I will always be that person ____________that ice cream wrapper flying crazily in the wind just because I hate the thought of even one piece of____________on the ground.

1.

A．recognized

B．introduced

C．watched

D．satisfied

2.

A．strange

B．missing

C．shining

D．complex

3.

A．troublesome

B．rare

C．ugly

D．unfortunate

4.

A．skillful

B．stubborn

C．intelligent

D．careless

5.

A．studied

B．discovered

C．killed

D．displayed

6.

A．because of

B．in case of

C．in spite of

D．apart from

7.

A．report

B．lessen

C．escape

D．prove

8.

A．so

B．but

C．or

D．and

9.

A．see

B．predict

C．prevent

D．experience

10.

A．boater

B．fisherman

C．visitor

D．turtle

11.

A．pain

B．dirt

C．mask

D．sign

12.

A．worry

B．harm

C．anger

D．shame

13.

A．mention

B．form

C．change

D．check

14.

A．describe

B．witness

C．investigate

D．benefit

15.

A．donating

B．sharing

C．ignoring

D．recording

16.

A．unless

B．before

C．while

D．though

17.

A．wait

B．search

C．care

D．fight

18.

A．need

B．place

C．chance

D．promise

19.

A．running after

B．looking after

C．naming after

D．getting after

20.

A．food

B．coin

C．litter

D．metal

【推荐1】Many animals move from one place to another at certain times of the year. This _______ movement is called migration (迁徙). They migrate to _______ food, or in search of warmer weather. One of the most wonderful migrations in nature is that of the North American monarch butterfly.

Every _______, millions of these beautiful insects with fine black and orange wings begin a long and _______ journey. Somehow they manage to _______ around 4,000 kilometres _______ and find their way to California or Mexico. _______, until recently no one knew how they did this. A team of scientists led by Professor Eli Shlizerman at the University of Washington has now found the _______. They have found out that the monarch is able to _______ the time of day. It uses its eyes to measure the ________ of the sun. These two pieces of information allow the ________ to determine the way to go. ________, it manages to reach where it will spend the winter.

The solution to the mystery of the monarch’s amazing ability comes at a time when it is in serious trouble. Its ________ has crashed by as much as 90 per cent in the last few years. ________, human activity is the main reason why the number of monarch butterflies is falling. The research on the monarch’s ________ has however led to a greater awareness of this creature.

1.

A．annual

B．monthly

C．daily

D．unusual

2.

A．buy

B．find

C．send

D．drop

3.

A．spring

B．summer

C．autumn

D．winter

4.

A．easy

B．disappointing

C．exciting

D．difficult

5.

A．travel

B．run

C．drive

D．crawl

6.

A．north

B．south

C．east

D．west

7.

A．Soon

B．Therefore

C．However

D．Besides

8.

A．habitat

B．problem

C．way

D．answer

9.

A．adapt

B．adjust

C．tell

D．memorize

10.

A．size

B．position

C．heat

D．color

11.

A．scientist

B．professor

C．flight

D．butterfly

12.

A．Eventually

B．Immediately

C．Frequently

D．Obviously

13.

A．consumption

B．income

C．population

D．output

14.

A．Hopefully

B．Sadly

C．Usually

D．Gradually

15.

A．eyes

B．wings

C．determination

D．behaviour

【推荐2】Have you ever monitored something about yourself? Perhaps you’ve tracked how many kilometers you’ve run, how many hours you’ve slept or how many calories you’ve________ in a day.

If so, you’ve_________a movement called the “Quantified Self Movement.” Individuals gather information about their daily activities in this widespread movement, also called self-tracking. This may sound______, but technology is making the process easier.

Perhaps you’ve wanted to______a bad habit and couldn’t. Self-tracking may be our answer. The idea is to take information about your everyday activities and analyze it to help get a________lifestyle.

Recently, tools such as smartphones, journals and apps, along with newly_________ wearable gadgets (工具), are making self-tracking extremely easy. Today, one can use Fitbit, the Jawbone UP, Google Glass or a smart watch to_________personal data including hours slept, stress levels, heart rate and mood.

So why does a person self-track? Someone may be trying to lose weight or improve their sleep patterns. Another person feels tired after eating. Self-tracking could help him to________ what foods make him sleepy and modify his diet accordingly.

Monitoring daily activities isn’t a new concept. In years past, athletes and their coaches kept notes detailing nutrition, training and sleep patterns in order to achieve an athletic goal. _______, doctors have also helped patients to document parts of their lifestyles and eating habits to help fight allergies (过敏反应), headaches and other health issues. ________, it wasn’t until 2007 that Wired magazine editors Gary Wolf and Kim Kelly, who started tracking every move they made, coined the__________“Quantified Self.”

Although self-tracking has many advantages, Dennis Nash, president of Data Speaks Health Solutions, says self-tracking has its__________. Once people start tracking their daily activities, it can become an addiction. Also, they might begin to worry too much about their health.

While self-tracking doesn’t__________that one’s quality of life will improve, it can highlight the importance of eating well and exercising daily. ________, the quantified Self Movements’ primary focus is_________people to employ enough energy to make healthier choices.

1.

A．gathered

B．managed

C．eaten

D．counted

2.

A．taken part in

B．taken notice of

C．known about

D．carried out

3.

A．strange

B．interesting

C．valuable

D．difficult

4.

A．change

B．acquire

C．learn

D．reduce

5.

A．happier

B．healthier

C．clearer

D．simpler

6.

A．discovered

B．tracked

C．released

D．built

7.

A．exchange

B．search

C．process

D．record

8.

A．identify

B．increase

C．decrease

D．choose

9.

A．Particularly

B．Similarly

C．Surprisingly

D．Generally

10.

A．Furthermore

B．However

C．Therefore

D．Meanwhile

11.

A．movement

B．subject

C．term

D．equipment

12.

A．characteristics

B．functions

C．reasons

D．drawbacks

13.

A．guarantee

B．expect

C．conclude

D．prove

14.

A．In general

B．As a result

C．After all

D．At last

15.

A．forcing

B．applying

C．persuading

D．motivating

【推荐3】When you’re shopping at the grocery store, you probably expect that olive oil you see came from olives, and that the organic vegetables were never exposed to poisonous chemicals. Increasingly, however, there is a chance you might be _________. In recent years, there has been an increase in reports of so-called food fraud, or attempts by various entities—to alter products and _________ customers and food companies alike for financial gain (though occasionally the companies are complicit (同伙). Among the more recent _________: “natural?” honey that’s been laced with antibiotics (抗生素) and Italian companies selling “Italian olive oil” from a mixture of oils that did not originate from Italy.

How can this _________? In the U.S., the Pure Food and Drug Act has prevented the “manufacture, sale or transportation of adulterated or misbranded or poisonous or harmful foods” since 1906, and similar laws exist in other countries. But most global food regulators, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, aren’t equipped to _________ them effectively. For the most part, they _________ safety standards—ensuring that foods don’t contain bacteria or viruses—and rely on companies to police the quality of their own ingredients, lest they face consumer opposition. But now that food manufacturing has become globalized, supply chains are _________, creating more opportunities for bad actors to mess around. “Anyone who can _________ substituting cheap ingredients for more expensive ones is going to try,” says Marion Nestle, who teaches nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University.

Governments are starting _________. In 2014, the UK. created a food-crime unit that collects reports of food fraud. The Institute for Global Food Security lab in Belfast tests __________ sent in by people worried about fraud—a process that’s easier than ever, thanks to advances in technology. And there are efforts in the U.K., the U.S. and China, among other nations, to increase the punishments for companies that get caught selling shady foods.

But in order to __________ fraud in the first place, the food industry needs to get better at safeguarding its own production network. So the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)—a trade group consisting of officials from more than 300 food manufacturers—will this year start __________ its members’ supply chains, from field to table, to identify fraud. Meanwhile, dozens of other food-industry experts recently teamed up with academics from Michigan State University to launch the Food Fraud Initiative (FFI), a group that studies fraudsters—__________, how they avoid safeguards—and then advises food companies on how to keep them away. “There are plenty of __________ out there who are going to wake up and look for some opportunity for fraud,” says John Spink, director of the FFI. “We just need to make ourselves a harder __________.”

1.

A．lucky

B．wrong

C．curious

D．illegal

2.

A．mislead

B．astonish

C．misunderstand

D．assemble

3.

A．booms

B．examples

C．recoveries

D．trends

4.

A．cease

B．last

C．happen

D．progress

5.

A．reveal

B．follow

C．enforce

D．forget

6.

A．agree with

B．respond to

C．substitute for

D．focus on

7.

A．longer

B．riskier

C．more stable

D．more selective

8.

A．hold on to

B．look down on

C．get away with

D．make up for

9.

A．take off

B．keep up

C．set aside

D．fight back

10.

A．attempts

B．reports

C．nutrients

D．products

11.

A．prevent

B．cover

C．suspect

D．charge

12.

A．affecting

B．inspecting

C．combining

D．supporting

13.

A．symbolically

B．specifically

C．respectively

D．resourcefully

14.

A．institutions

B．consumers

C．criminals

D．sponsors

15.

A．target

B．issue

C．choice

D．technique