When most kids go to the beach, they’re too focused on making sandcastles and splashing around to notice litter, but several years ago, for 7-year-old Cash Daniels, noticing a plastic straw sparked a lifelong passion for saving the planet.
Cash, who is now known as the “conservation kid”, has always loved nature. He grew up fishing along the Chattanooga River, after all! But once he learned that 80 percent of all trash from land and rivers ends up in the ocean, he couldn’t sit back.
He started with cleanups along the river, something that quickly went from a family affair to a community effort with volunteers and neighbors. In 2019, Cash, together with a Canadian conservationist, Ella Galaski-Rossen, started a nonprofit called the Cleanup Kids. Despite living in different countries, they managed to create educational videos on their YouTube channel. “We hope to be a really big nonprofit that eliminates plastic in the U. S. and Canada,” Cash said. “We want to inform kids and adults in the landlocked states on how their actions are connected to the water and the ocean,” Cash said.
Cash was selected as one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2021 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. He also earned the title of National Honoree, where he received a$5,000 grant to go to a nonprofit of his choice, and he became the first person to win the Youth Conservationist Award two years in a row from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
“I want to travel the world, teach others, and help them feel connected to the ocean. Because if you are connected to the ocean-if you love it and what lives in it—you’ll want to protect it,” he said. “This is my fun, and it becomes more fun with every new discovery.”
1. Which can replace the underlined words “sit back” in paragraph 2?| A．Fall asleep. | B．Lose heart. |
| C．Turn a blind eye. | D．Lend a hand. |
| A．To recycle waste plastics. |
| B．To make instructive videos. |
| C．To spread marine knowledge. |
| D．To appeal for ocean protection. |
| A．Sympathetic and devoted. | B．Initiative and talented. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Determined and modest. |
| A．Passion fuels dreams. |
| B．Great minds think alike. |
| C．Helping others is of great fun. |
| D．Actions speak louder than words. |
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【推荐1】Plans to bring wild tigers back to their original home, their historical range (历史分布范围) in the Ili-Balkhash region, have been announced by Kazakhstan(哈萨克斯坦). “It will not only bring wild tigers back to their original home, but also protect the unique ecosystem of the Ili-Balkhash region,” said Bater Myrzakhmetov, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
If successful, Kazakhstan will be the first country in the world to bring wild tigers back to an entire region where they have died out for nearly half a century. Since the beginning of the 20th century, wild tigers have lost over 90 percent of their historical range. Wild tigers have completely disappeared from the region since the late 1940s, due to the loss of habitat.
To prepare for the return of wild tigers, on 1st January 2021 Kazakhstan set up a new nature reserve in the southwestern Ili-Balkhash, in order to restore the unique forest habitat. This will include the protection of existing wildlife, and reintroducing important prey (猎物), such as the endangered wild Bactrian deer. “The hard work remains ahead of us. We have to spare no effort to make this region ready for tigers and involve all the relevant people to make this happen. That means dealing with illegal activities, having these people who govern parks be well trained and equipped, increasing prey populations and involving local communities,” said Sabrina, Director of the WWF program.
The significance of the protection of animals, and not just to save the lives of one or two animals, but to fight for the right of creatures on the earth. Animal protection is science, in essence, the protection of animals is to protect human beings themselves. Animals are our reference; respect for animals is respect for our own.
1. What is Bater’s attitude towards the tiger reintroduction program?| A．Favorable. | B．Concerned. |
| C．Disapproving. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．The increasing loss of prey. |
| B．The evolution of the species. |
| C．The lack of natural living places. |
| D．The serious environmental pollution. |
| A．Training tigers to be more adaptable. |
| B．Limiting the number of prey. |
| C．Building a reserve for tigers only. |
| D．Regulating illegal activities. |
| A．Attempts to Handle Illegal Activities Effectively. |
| B．Preventing Tigers Disappearing in Kazakhstan. |
| C．Efforts to Restore Forests in Kazakhstan. |
| D．Bringing Tigers Back Home to Kazakhstan. |
【推荐2】The human race shares this planet with millions of other species and forms of life. In recognizing that It is always important to remember that our rapid rise of the urban civilization has unavoidably impacted the planet and life on it.
In the long run, however, the civilization risks destroying well balanced ecosystems. which could potentially have serious results for humanity itself. As such we must eventually find a balance between development and nature which can maintain the ecology, beauty and harmony of the earth.
The word “harmony” is an important concept in China. Chinese society and culture are built on the idea that relationships between people should be harmonious, which means avoiding conflict, highlighting a common good and balancing uncontrollable desires with the needs of society as a whole. However, this idea does not just apply to people, it also applies to our relationships with the world and nature. Never has this been more meaningful than the view of how China handles its rapid development, which has lastingly changed the country's landscape and created new challenges regarding nature and the environment.
Actually, over the past few years China has been working hard to protect biodiversity and has drawn "red lines" for ecological protection. established a national par's system, and under taken major projects for biodiversity protection.
One example of China's success in this area is in its reversing of the decrease of its giant panda population to the point that it is no longer endangered. This effort included creating a giant panda national park in 2016 and doubling the number of births. Pandas have become “a global symbol of conservation success”—something in which China has played a key part.
Likewise, China is also taking its efforts overseas. It recently announced a $232 million fund to promote biodiversity protection in developing countries. The effort is a part of its “community of shared future for mankind”, meaning that we share one world, one planet and one future, and so we human beings must work together. Now it is the time to act.
1. Which potential risk along with the urban civilization is mentioned?| A．Loss of the natural scenery. | B．Ruining our human health. |
| C．The disappearance of all species. | D．Breaking the ecosystem balance. |
| A．The word "harmony" refers to good interpersonal relationship. |
| B． Keeping in harmony makes a difference to China’s development. |
| C．Human’s uncontrolled desires aren’t connected with harmony. |
| D．Balancing development and nature isn’t complicated as imagined. |
| A．China has completed the task of protecting biodiversity. |
| B．The population of grant panda is gradually decreasing recently. |
| C．China has made some achievements of protecting biodiversity. |
| D．Pandas have become the most successful representative of China. |
| A．Fundamental. | B．Unique. | C．Indirect. | D．Mysterious. |
【推荐3】Planetary changes which will have an influence on many are drawing near of the poor ecological state of the planet. Actually change has already begun through climate changes, but most humans haven’t noticed this yet. Climate change has begun to influence the world already and will begin to worsen within the near few years. Around 2020 most people will begin to see that the results of climate change will be far more serious than now understood.
As the planet is under big geological (地质的) stresses, which are continuously increasing, it will in the future no longer be able to support its population. Scarcity (缺) of resources, over-farming, lack of clean air, not enough clean drinking water and drought (旱灾) are some of the issues that will all play a much greater role in the near future.
Humans have caused large ecological devastation (破坏). The lifestyles of many people are changing at a fast speed; however, this will finally result in a shortage of some valuable resources. When this scarcity begins to happen, people will no longer be able to have sustainable (可持续的) lifestyles.
It’s important to understand that everyone plays a role in the whole process of life. Each person’s decision can finally affect the future. These decisions, all combined, can have a very good effect on what the future will be like for humans. So the future depends on the choices we make at the present moment.
While more and more people are becoming aware of climate change and other environmental problems related to global warming, not all are fully understanding how far-reaching its effects will be. Unfortunately, most of the humans realize that the planet isn’t functioning well, but they don’t understand that this is creating a major problem for the future survival of humans.
So, every person should make the necessary changes to reduce their influence on the environment and help create a more sustainable future.
1. What can be the best title for the text?| A．The Causes of Planetary Changes |
| B．The Influence of Ecological Devastation |
| C．Reasons and Ways to Build a Sustainable Future |
| D．Environmental Damage and the Human Future |
| A．planetary changes are caused by global warming |
| B．climate changes will affect the life of humans soon |
| C．the ecological state of the earth has been destroyed |
| D．most people have realized the danger of climate changes |
| A．Humans shouldn’t try to change their lifestyles. |
| B．The ecological devastation is coming to a stop soon. |
| C．The future we’ll have depends on every one of us. |
| D．The future of humans can be determined ahead of time. |
| A．encourage people to make efforts to protect the environment |
| B．inform people the planet isn’t functioning well |
| C．warn people of the dangers of ecological devastation |
| D．tell people the right way to protect the environment |
| A．grateful | B．negative | C．serious | D．humorous |
【推荐1】Our house was across the street from a hospital. We rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was preparing supper, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to see a truly awful looking man hardly taller than my eight-year-old daughter.
But the frightening thing was his swollen face. He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but no one seemed to offer. For a moment I hesitated, but his next words convinced me, “I could sleep on the porch(门廊). My bus leaves early in the morning.” Having let him in, I went inside and asked him to join us for supper. But he politely refused. When I had finished the dishes, I went out to talk with him for a few minutes.
He told me he fished for a living to support his daughter’s family. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint. In fact, he was thankful that no pain accompanied his disease. He thanked life for giving him the strength to keep going.
At bedtime, we put a small camp bed in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left, he smiled, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.” I told him he was welcome to come again.
In the years he came to stay overnight with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or vegetables. Other times we received packages. Knowing how far he must walk to mail these and how little money he had made the gifts more precious. I know our family always will be thankful to have known him.
1. What might lead to the old man’s failure to get a room before?| A．His fishing job. | B．His lack of money. |
| C．His ugly appearance. | D．His disabled daughter. |
| A．He was in very bad condition. | B．He agreed to sleep on the porch. |
| C．He wouldn’t leave until accepted. | D．He wouldn’t bother them too much. |
| A．He suffered a lot from his disease. | B．He made efforts to send the author gifts. |
| C．He pretended to like the author’s children. | D．He was embarrassed a lot to stay in the author’s house. |
| A．An Unforgettable Gift | B．An Odd Fisherman |
| C．A Grateful Heart | D．A Silent Complaint |
【推荐2】It was about 10:15 p.m. Janice Esposito got off the train at the Bellport, New York, got into her car and began driving home. She had traveled the route so many times that she almost drove automatically: a left onto Station Road, then a left on Montauk Highway, and then—bang! Out of nowhere a car crashed into Esposito’s car, pushing her backward some 100 feet onto the railroad tracks. Injured but mostly shocked by the crash and by the airbags that popped up, she got stuck in the vehicle.
As it happened, Pete DiPinto was getting ready for bed when he heard the crash coming from not far outside his bedroom window.
A volunteer firefighter and retired teacher, DiPinto, 64, never stopped to think. He grabbed a flashlight and rushed out. “Any firefighter would have done what I did,” he said. “We’re always on duty. ”
The first car he came upon, 2,000 feet from his front yard, was the one that had hit Esposito. Once making sure the driver was OK, he looked around and spotted Esposito's car straddling (骑跨) the railroad tracks. And then he heard a bell sound, which signaled a coming train.
DiPinto rushed to Esposito’s car and hit on the driver’s side window. She just looked at him, “I don’t know where I am,” she said.
“You’re on the railroad tracks,” DiPinto yelled. “We have to get you off right now!” The train was traveling at a speed of 65 miles per hour toward them. The driver’s door couldn’t be opened due to the crash, so DiPinto ran to the passenger side. He threw open the door, pushed aside the airbags, seized Esposito’s arms, and pulled her toward him across the passenger seat until he finally got her out and walked her to safety as quickly as he could.
Within seconds, the train crashed into the car. “It was like a Hollywood movie, ” DiPinto told reporters the next day.
“Last night, ” said Greg Miglino Chief of the South Country Ambulance, “the hero arrived in pajamas, not in a fire truck. ”
1. What can we know about the accident from the first paragraph?| A．Esposito was not familiar with the road. | B．Esposito was driving too fast. |
| C．The crash was violent. | D．It should have been avoided. |
| A．Esposito was badly injured. | B．Esposito was to be hit by the train. |
| C．Esposito was firmly stuck in the car. | D．The driver’s door couldn’t be opened. |
| A．He is praising DiPinto’s heroic action. | B．DiPintodidn’t act as professionally. |
| C．A firefighter should be ready any time. | D．Fire trucks are not enough for emergencies. |
| A．A woman had an accident on the way home at night. |
| B．A woman had a narrow death escape. |
| C．A firefighter managed to become a hero overnight. |
| D．A firefighter saved a woman from a further accident. |
【推荐3】Easy reading is hard writing
In an interview with The Daily Beast Last year, Maya Angelou, an American author and poet, discussed her writing career and her daily work habits.
I keep a hotel room in my hometown and pay for it by the month. I go around 6:30 in the morning. I have a bedroom, with a bed, a table, and a bath. I have Roget's Thesaurus =, which is a dictionary, and the Bible. Usually, a deck of cards and some crossword puzzles. Something to occupy my “little mind”. I think my grandmother taught me that. She didn't mean to, but she used to talk about her “little mind” . So when I was young, from the time I was about 3 until 13, I decided that there was a “big mind”and a “little mind”. And the “big mind”would allow you to consider deep thoughts, but the “little mind” would occupy you, so you could not be distracted. It would work at crossword puzzles or play cards, while the “big mind” would delve（探究） deep into the subjects I wanted to write about.
I have all the paintings and any decoration taken out of the room. I ask the management and housekeeping not to enter the room, just in case I've thrown a piece of paper on the floor. I don’t want it discarded（丢弃）. About every two months I get a note slipped under the door. “Dear Ms. Angelou, please let us change the bed sheet. We think it may be moldy（发霉的）!”
But I've never slept there. I am usually out of there by 2. And then I go home and I read what I've written that morning, and I tried to edit them.
Easy reading is hard writing. But if it's right, it's easy. It's the other way round, too. If it's carelessly written, then it's hard to read. It doesn't give the reader what the careful writer can give the reader.
1. What usually occupies Maya Angelou's “little mind”?| A．The Bible. | B．Her dictionary. | C．Her hotel room. | D．Crossword puzzles. |
| A．She thinks that they will ask for something from her. |
| B．She fears that they may clear up her writing. |
| C．Her grandmother can help her with the cleaning. |
| D．She doesn't sleep there and no cleaning is needed. |
| A．It is fun to read. | B．It is easy to read. | C．It is hard to read. | D．It is no use reading. |
| A．At home. | B．In the hotel. | C．At a library. | D．In her grandmother's house. |
