Stepping outside the railway station early on an morning, visitors are met with the view of the cold air joining the water, forming a thick, soft blanket of fog over the Grand Canal (运河), the “main street” of Venice. The church of San Simeone Piccolo and the neighboring buildings appear to be floating on the water of the lagoon. It’s a sight that has welcomed millions of visitors from all over the world since the great days of the Serenissima, when the city ruled as one of Europe’s economic superpowers.
Yet, the breath-taking beauty that inspired countless painters, writers and artists over the centuries remains at risk of being lost forever. Like the Abu Simbel temples, the city’s survival is threatened (威胁) by rising water levels. The increase in sea level has caused flooding to be a regular thing.
After 1966, the year of the worst flooding in Venice’s history, UNESCO and the Italian Government started a major project to save the city. Huge movable flood gates were used to protect the lowest areas from flooding. Thirty years later there is agreement on the successful results both of the technical achievements and international cooperation.
But Venice still needs attentive care, and its continued survival calls for careful watch. The city remains threatened on several aspects -mass tourism, the potential damage of city development and the steady stream of large ships crushing its weak foundations.
International pressure around the status of Venice led to the Italian Government’s decision in2021 to ban large ships from the city center. This decision came a few days after UNESCO announced its decision to put the city on its World Heritage in Danger list. Until a suitable docking place (码头) is developed, large ships will be allowed to pull up in Marghera, an industrial suburb of Venice. Such decisions show the difficulty of protecting historic cities and cultural heritage urban centers, which in this particular situation called for specially-made measures and techniques different from those made for the safeguarding of the Egyptian temples.
1. What can we learn about Venice from the first two paragraphs?| A．Venice is Europe’s economic superpower. | B．Many artists are natives of Venice. |
| C．The lagoon is a church in Venice. | D．The “main street” of Venice can be foggy. |
| A．A celebration of life. | B．A painful lesson for all. |
| C．A reflection of human nature. | D．A result of joint efforts. |
| A．Technological advancements. | B．Tourism overload. |
| C．The popularity of water sports. | D．Rising local population. |
| A．The safeguarding of Venice is in process. |
| B．UNESCO called for immediate Venice Ship Ban. |
| C．Italian government was struggling for protection measures. |
| D．The measures to protect Egyptian temples are copied in Venice. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】There are many things that we can do in our own ways which will help save the environment. What are some of these ways to save the environment? Let’s take a look at a list of them.
There won’t be enough water before we need to fight for clean and fresh water. That is why saving water and preventing water pollution becomes very important. Keep simple things in mind like turning off the tap when you are brushing teeth. Don’t often take a shower. Don’t pour oil into the drains. Don’t throw rubbish into the river.
Save paper to save trees. Make sure that you use both sides of paper before throwing it away. If you can, try not to use paper as possible as you can and do not forget to recycle paper. Also, using cloth bags instead of paper bags can save much Paper. This is one of the best ways to save our environment.
Recycling is important. It makes sure that the environment is not more polluted. Recycling does not simply include recycling paper, but things like plastic, metal and office supplies like pens, ink and more. This makes sure that they are changed into material that is reusable and also puts less pressure on the environment.
What are the ways to save energy? Turn off the lights and computers before you leave. Use cold water instead of hot water to wash clothes, use the stairs instead of the lift and keep the air conditioner on moderate setting (设置) to save energy.
In a word, try our best to do something to save our environment, and we will do something helpful to save ourselves.
1. How can we save trees according to the passage?| A．By saving water. | B．By planting trees. |
| C．By saving energy. | D．By using less paper. |
| A．Saving paper. | B．Saving water. | C．Recycling. | D．Planting trees. |
| A．it can save our environment | B．there are many old things |
| C．it helps us keep healthy | D．it can save some money |
| A．high wind | B．high temperature | C．open | D．proper |
【推荐2】With one in eight people worldwide threatened by a heat wave in South Asia that’s already taken close to 100 lives, it’s time we should recognize that the climate crisis is a health crisis.
This is not an isolated issue. In South Africa, recent floods took over 400 lives, and in place like Colombia, health and food security are at risk as floods displace communities and trigger disease outbreaks. According to the WHO, a quarter of a million people are expected to die every year from climate change between 2030 and 2050 if we do nothing about it.
Climate change affects the determinants of health——clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. According to the recent IPCC Climate Change Report, climate change has harmful impacts on human health, ranging from death from extreme events to illness from increasing temperatures. And for the first time ever, the report includes mental health as a key area impacted by the climate crisis, noting that climate change has affected physical and mental health of people globally.
These irreversible (不可逆转的) damages force us to rethink climate and health. However, when you think about it as a whole, the crisis is amazingly complex. In places like Egypt, people need air-conditioners to survive the120-plus degree days. But more AC means more greenhouse gases. So, we need to consider economic development, renewable energy, and reduction of pollutants that are literally poisoning our planet.
The good news is that we are making progress. With funding from the Global Environment Facility Special Climate Change Fund, WHO supported local governments to pilot climate change adaptation efforts to protect human health. In Barbados, community-based public health campaigns supported the safe use of wastewater. In Bhutan, the government has advanced its ability to predict climate-sensitive infectious diseases. And in China, three pilot cities have implemented a heat-health warning system.
Millions of lives hang in the balance. It’s time we should step up and make climate-health action a global priority. This is our investment in planet Earth, in future generations and in a better world.
1. Why is South Asia mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To show the impact of climate crisis. |
| B．To introduce the topic of the passage. |
| C．To emphasize the severity of heat wave. |
| D．To illustrate the current condition of the area. |
| A．It causes some deaths and illnesses. |
| B．It only damages people’s physical health. |
| C．Numerous people are poisoned by wastewater. |
| D．One eighth people may develop infectious disease. |
| A．More greenhouse gases are given off. |
| B．The pollutants are poisoning our planet. |
| C．The climate-health crisis is tough to solve. |
| D．Air-conditioners are not enough for hot days. |
| A．Millions of lives hang in the balance. |
| B．We are making efforts to adapt to climate change. |
| C．We are making progress in climate-health action. |
| D．We should attach great importance to climate-health action. |
【推荐3】Thousands of tiny baby penguins starved after changing weather forced their parents to walk across Antarctica in search of food.
18,000 pairs of Adelie penguins in Terre Adelie, Antarctica suffered the terrible breeding (繁殖) failure earlier this year, according to WWF.
The event happened because unusually plenty of sea ice forced their parents to travel further in search of food, leaving their chicks at home to starve, a reminder of the fearful effects of the changing climate.
Though Adelie penguins are generally doing well in East Antarctica, they are decreasing in the area, where the effects of climate change are already being felt.
Four years ago, the same area had another, similar shock. 20,196 pairs suffered, and not a single one was able to produce a chick.
That time around, unusual numbers of sea ice combined (结合) with warm weather and rain, before a rapid drop in temperature. Many of the chicks froze to death.
“Adelie penguins are one of the hardiest and most amazing animals on our planet, said Rod Downie, head of polar programmes at WWF.
“The risk of opening up this area to krill fisheries (磷虾渔场), which will compete with the Adelie penguins for food as they recover from two breeding failures in four years, is unthinkable. So a new Marine Protected Area for the waters off East Antarctica needs to be found to protect the home of the penguins.”
“A Marine Protected Area, or MPA, will allow the penguins to be kept from activities that can further affect their numbers,” scientists who work there say.
1. What is the original reason for 18,000 pairs of Adelie penguins suffering breeding failure earlier this year?| A．They had to leave home further for food. |
| B．The effects of the changing climate. |
| C．Their chicks were left at home to starve. |
| D．There was plenty of sea ice. |
| A．To open up that area to krill fisheries. |
| B．To produce much more food for them. |
| C．To find a new MPA for them. |
| D．To let them as they are, nothing done. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Supportive. | D．Doubtful. |
【推荐1】It looked like a typical business meeting. Six men, neatly dressed in white shirts and ties filed into the boardroom of a small Jakarta company and sat down at a long table. But instead of consulting files or hearing reports, they closed their eyes and began to meditate, consulting the spirits of ancient Javanese kings. Mysticism touches almost every aspect of life in Indonesia and business is no exception. One of the meditators said his weekly meditation sessions are aimed mainly at bringing the peace of mind that makes for good decision-making. But the insight gained from mystic communication with spirits of wise kings has also helped boost the profits of his five companies.
Mysticism and profits have come together since the 13th century introduction of Islam to Indonesia by Indian Moslem merchants. Those devout traders, called ‘Wali Ullah’ or ‘those close to God, ’ energetically spread both trade and religion by adapting their appeals to the native mysticism of Java. Legends attribute magic power of foreknowledge to the Wali Ullah. These powers were believed to be gained through meditation and fasting.
Businessman Hadisiko said his group fasts and meditates all night every Thursday to become closer to God and to contact the spirits of the great men of the past. ‘If we want to employ someone at the managerial level, we meditate together and often the message comes that this man can’t hole onto money or he is untrustworthy. Or maybe the spirits will tell us he should be hired.’ Hadiziko hastened to add that his companies also hold modern personnel management systems and that formal qualifications are essential for a candidate even to be considered. Perspective investments also are considered through mystic meditation. ‘With the mind relaxed and open, it is easier to be objective in judging the risk of a new venture. Meditation and contact with the wisdom of the old leaders sharpens your own insight and intuition. Then you have to apply that intuition to the information you have and work hard to be successful. ’ Mystic meditation helped reverse a business slide his companies experienced in the mid-1980. Operating with normal business procedures, he lost more than $ 3 millions in that year alone. Meditation brought back his peace of mind. Putting the right persons in the right jobs and gaining confidence in his business decisions were the keys to a turning around that has brought expansion and profitability. The mysticism in Handspike’s boardroom is part of a growing movement in Indonesia called Kebatinan – the ‘search for the inner self.’
One of his managers, Yusuf Soemado, who studied business administration at Harvard University, compared the idea of mystic management to western system of positive thinking. ‘Willpower and subconscious mind are recognized as important factors in business. Such approaches as psycho-cybernetics, Carnegie’s think and growth rates, or the power of positive thinking are western attempts to tap the same higher intelligence that we contact through meditation,’ he said. Vocabulary
1. What is the most important factor in their doing business?| A．Mysticism. |
| B．Religion. |
| C．Meditation. |
| D．Investment. |
| A．The spirits of ancient Javanese kings. |
| B．Wali Ullah. |
| C．Old Kings. |
| D．Carnegie. |
| A．He thought Mysticism was not so good as expected. |
| B．To show they too focused on qualifications. |
| C．To show they hired qualified persons. |
| D．To show the possibility of combination of the scientific management with religion. |
| A．to gain profit from the god. |
| B．to gain peace of mind to make decision. |
| C．to gain foreknowledge. |
| D．to gain objective conclusion. |
| A．Adopting the western way of doing business. |
| B．Ordinary way of doing business without meditation and fasting. |
| C．Contact with God. |
| D．Putting right persons in the right jobs. |
【推荐2】The best hope for ending the COVID19 pandemic is a vaccine. There is no shortage of candidates. The World Health Organization is tracking 34 in various stages of development. How well they will work though, is another matter. On September 9th Astra Zeneca, a drug firm, announced it was pausing its trials after a participant fell ill. Such pauses are common in vaccine development, a discipline in which effort does not always bring reward. In 1987 the first trial of an HIV vaccine began in Maryland. Three decades later, the cupboard remains bare.
The news about COVID-19 in two new papers is more encouraging. The first written by a team of scientists at deCODE genetics, an Icelandic company, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, reports antibody levels in 1,200 Icelanders who had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and recovered. More than 90% tested positive for antibodies twice — once immediately post infected and again four months later. People who had suffered more serious disease, such as those who had been hospitalized, developed higher levels of antibodies. So did men and older people, both of whom are at greater risk of more severe illness.
The four-month lifespan is cheering for two reasons. Antibodies that hang around are more likely to offer immunity. That means a vaccine that provokes (驱使；刺激) their production should provide reasonably long-lasting protection. They are also easier to find.
In the second study, scientists led by Tao Dong, an immunologist at the Medical Research Council (MRC), in Britain, went hunting for T-cells. These get less press than antibodies, but play an equally vital role in battling infections and securing long-term protection. Their importance is vividly demonstrated by HIV, which targets and kills them.
Al Edwards, an immunologist turned biochemical engineer at the University of Reading who was not involved with either paper, is cautiously optimistic. The immune response to the disease seems to be working roughly as expected, he says. If that continues, then vaccines developed to trigger long-lasting immunity should work at least in theory.
In practice, it is still too early to celebrate. Dr. Edwards warns that immunology has never been a predictive science. There is no test that can show definitively that a vaccine will work short of actually trying it in the real world.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?| A．Scientists have made great achievements in HIV vaccine. |
| B．The vaccine is the only way of ending the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| C．The COVID-19 is bound to be developed by a drug firm in no time. |
| D．While many people work on the vaccine, it is hard to develop a vaccine successfully. |
| A．Antibodies that hang around can offer immunity. |
| B．A vaccine will not work short of actually trying it in the real world. |
| C．The higher levels of antibodies are, the more serious disease people will suffer. |
| D．T-cells are less important than antibodies in battling infections and securing protections. |
| A．T-cells | B．HIV |
| C．Antibodies | D．Long-term protection |
| A．Negative | B．Indifferent |
| C．Disapproval | D．Cautious |
【推荐3】The outbreak of the novel corona virus pneumonia (NCP) has disrupted the lives and work of nearly every Chinese person. However, a new trend has been on the rise: many have turned themselves into livestreaming users or followers.
According to Questmobile, a professional big data intelligence services provider in China, the audience for Douyin, Kuaishou and other livestreaming platforms surged to 574 million during the Spring Festival holiday, up 35 percent from 2019.
Confined at home, away from their friends and loved ones, people turn to livestreaming to reach out to the world. For them livestreaming can help them share their lives and interest with a global audience, which will give them the sense of being “in the moment”. Even as viewers, they can also engage immediately with livestreamers by commenting and making suggestions.
“When I comment on the livestreaming videos, I’m not simply an audience member, but also an active part of the program. That gives me a sense of engagement,” an Internet user named Wang Hao told People’s Daily.
Livestreaming is not only for fun, but also a new tool for many businesses. Affected by the pandemic, many businesses had to stop their sales in physical stores. To meet their business goals and survive during these trying times, many chose to livestream to revive their businesses.
Joyoung, a leading maker of small kitchen appliances, is a good example. The company not only added a number of broadcasts each day to advertise their products, but also shared the menus that were beneficial to health. “The responses to our livestreaming shows have been well beyond expectations,” Kang Li, who oversees the company’s livestreaming unit, told China daily. “It’s a natural opportunity to truly bond with our followers.”
Like it or not, livestreaming is likely to go mainstream in China for both entertainment and business.
1. What is the purpose of writing the second paragraph?| A．To introduce some popular livestreaming platforms in China. |
| B．To report data on the development of livestreaming in 2019. |
| C．To show that Chinese people spend too much time on livestreaming apps. |
| D．To prove that livestreaming are becoming increasingly popular in China. |
| A．It is boring to make comments. |
| B．It is the only way to share viewers’ lives. |
| C．It makes people feel involved in the stream. |
| D．It helps livestreamers improve themselves. |
| A．Livestreaming replaced physical stores in many areas. |
| B．Many businesses turned to livestreaming platform for marketing. |
| C．Livestreaming platforms faced challenges during the pandemic. |
| D．Livestreaming platforms made changes to their services. |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncertain. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Confused. |
Their citizens find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary citizens travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away.
Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany.
Some towns even arrange exchange visits for theatre groups, choirs（合唱团）and orchestras （ 管弦乐队）. Others send lecturers to the twin town who tell the people there all about their own town , and show photos and slides.
Town twining can help make friends and motivate（促进） people to learn from each other. It helps students to improve their language skills, and it contributes to （有助于）strengthening peace and understanding between different nations.
1. Which is the best title for the passage?
| A．Town Twinning |
| B．Friendly Towns |
| C．Exchange Teachers and Students |
| D．Peace and Understanding |
| A．between European countries and China |
| B．in the English-speaking countries only |
| C．in the same country |
| D．between different countries in Europe |
| A．to earn more money |
| B．to set up schools |
| C．to improve students language skills |
| D．to develop industry and agriculture |
【推荐2】The “Mona Lisa” may maintain her famously mysterious smile because she benefits from one of Paris’ best-kept secrets: An underground cooling system that’s helped the Louvre Museum cope with the unbearable heat that has broken temperature records across Europe.
With a depth of up to 98 feet and 55 miles of pipes, the little-known “urban cold” network snakes unknowing beneath Parisians’ feet, which uses electricity generated by renewable sources, is the largest in Europe and runs around the clock with a deafening noise totally inaudible above ground.
Paris City Hall has now signed an ambitious contract to triple the size of the network by 2042 to 157 miles. It would make it the largest urban cooling system in the world.
Three of the 10 high-tech cooling sites lie on the Seine river. When the Seine’s water is cold enough, a machine captures it and uses it to cool the system’s water. The heat created as a byproduct is sent back into the Seine where it is absorbed. The chilled water is then pumped through the system’s pipes to its 730 Parisian clients.
Paris’ cooling sites all use renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels. French officials see this energy independence as particularly important given the threat of Russia cutting off energy supplies to Europe.
The merits of using a cooling system which uses renewable energy to operate are already being felt by sites that use them. The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre, has benefited from the network since the 1990s.
“It allows us to benefit from energy with a lower carbon footprint available all year round,” said Laurent Le Guedart, the Louvre’s Heritage Director. “The particularity of the Louvre Museum is that it needs to use iced-cold water to correctly conserve the artwork and to control the humidity.”
Le Guedart said that the system is a money-saver given the rising cost of energy linked to the Ukraine conflict. It operates notably in the State Room of the Pavillon Denon where the “Mona Lisa” lives. Perhaps it’s why beads of sweat have never trickled down the brow painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
1. Which is TRUE about the underground cooling system in Paris?| A．It is too deep to be heard. | B．It is the largest one in the world. |
| C．It uses electricity for free to cool air. | D．It makes Paris the coolest in Europe. |
| A．By capturing and absorbing heat from its clients. |
| B．By pumping the water from the Seine to its clients. |
| C．By changing the water in the system for that in the Seine. |
| D．By pumping the water cooled by the Seine through the system. |
| A．Attracting more people to see Mona Lisa. | B．Protecting its artwork from heat and humidity. |
| C．Getting rid of the threat of the Ukraine conflict. | D．Reducing carbon footprint with less money than before. |
| A．Why was smiling Mona Lisa painted? | B．Why does Paris keep the system a secret? |
| C．How many more sites will the system have? | D．What will the system be like in two decades? |
Paris
The ranking for the “most romantic city” quite rightly leads to Paris. The city of light has long been famous as a city of love. This is definitely the best place for love, wine and food. Paris is rich with history; you can take a walk through the Louvre, go to a café across the Champs Elysees, have dinner at the Eiffel Tower or visit the Palace of Versailles.
Venice
Undoubtedly, Venice is the most romantic city of Italy. From the amazing architecture of San Marco Square to the gondolas(贡多拉船) there, Venice talks about love, romance and passion. The best time to visit Venice is during the annual carnival(狂欢节). A gondola trip through the most magical city in Europe remains unforgettable for everyone.
Vienna
Vienna may well be called the cradle of European culture. The baroque architecture, the historic city opera and typical restaurants create a romantic mood and memorable atmosphere. During the ball season in Vienna, one can enjoy the city’s past, the masked waltz and romance.
Prague
Prague is called the heart of Europe. The city, dating from the 9th century, is indeed a real architectural wonder. Prague’s famous castle is the largest ancient castle in the world, built early in 1257. For a more romantic experience, take your loved ones to the top of the 60-foot observatory and watch the slow sunset over Prague.
Maldives
There are quiet islands, warm, clear water with excellent visibility, a huge amount of reefs and an incredible diversity of marine life. The Maldives is the place to shoot all those beautiful postcard pictures of couples on a desert beach. Most islands are not more than 1 km in area, with makes them particularly suitable for privacy, honeymoons and love.
1. The city of light refers to___________.
| A．Paris | B．Venice |
| C．Prague | D．Vienna |
| A．go to the annual carnival. |
| B．admire the typical French architecture. |
| C．see the waltz in the ball season. |
| D．take beautiful pictures of reefs. |
| A．Vienna is known as the heart of Europe. |
| B．Prague has the largest ancient castle in the world. |
| C．Paris is called the cradle of European culture. |
| D．Most of the islands of the Maldives are more than 1 km in area. |
