Scientists discovered that fewer humpback whales made the singing noises, as their population grew. “It was getting more difficult to actually find singers,” marine biologist Rebecca Dunlop in Brisbane said. She added, “When there were fewer of them, there was a lot of singing-now that there are lots of them, no need to be singing so much.”
Eastern Australia’s humpback whales came close to disappearing in the 1960s. With the end of commercial whaling (捕鲸), the population began to regrow, climbing to about 27,000 whales by 2015. That number is near estimated pre-whaling levels. As the density (密度) of whales increased, their singing behaviors changed. While 2 in 10 males made crying noises in 2004, 10 years later the number had dropped to 1 in 10, Dunlop said.
The team’s study appeared in a recent issue of Nature Communications Biology. Dunlop said she thinks singing played a big part in bringing in mates when populations severely declined. When humpbacks live in denser populations, males looking for mates also have to deal with competing whales.
Boris Worm, an ocean biologist, was not involved in the research. “As animal populations recover, they change their behavior-they have different cries,” Worm said. The research suggests the seas are still noisy with humpback whale sounds.
Many humpbacks seek to bring in mates with a combination of singing and physical movements, the study notes. The large increase in the humpback population during the study period provided valuable data about changes in the animals’ behavior and they must have been singers long before whaling reduced their numbers, said Simon Ingram. But the new study demonstrates (证明) how necessary their complex and beautiful songs were to their survival and recovery, he added.
1. Which may make humpback whales sing in the discovery?| A．The power of waves. | B．The use of microphone. |
| C．The feeling of loneliness. | D．The increase of their numbers. |
| A．Their sudden disappearance. | B．Their sharp rise in numbers. |
| C．Their being well protected. | D．Their change in behaviors. |
| A．Increased. | B．Dropped. | C．Climbed. | D．Recovered. |
| A．Humpbacks’ behaviors have never changed. |
| B．Humpbacks’ numbers increased by whaling. |
| C．Humpbacks’ singing noises are important. |
| D．Humpbacks’ singing will disappear soon. |
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【推荐1】The words “protect animals” appear everywhere in books and on screens, because some animals are even in danger of dying out. But sometimes the reality can be a little different from what people read or watch.
About 300 black bears were killed in Florida, the US, in October, 2015. It’s been the first bear hunt in the state since 1994. Local officers explained that the black bear population (族群) had grown to 3,500 and become a menace to local people. In the past two years, bears have hurt at least four people in Florida.
Months ago, the Swiss government allowed the locals to kill a wolf. This was because the wolf killed 38 sheep, and it was a great loss to some local farmers. Days ago in China, three old men were caught by the police for killing a sorrow (鬣羚), a kind of protected animal. They said they killed the animal because it ate the plants they grew.
However, these stories don’t always mean that animal protection stops because of human interests especially when it is related to economic (经济的) development. A man named Zhou Weisen set up a wild animal base in Guilin, Guangxi. He saved over 170 tigers and about 300 bears. His base also offered jobs to local people.
“There may never be a standard answer to the question of whether we should give more attention to the environment or human development,” said Robert May, a British expert at Oxford University. “But we shouldn’t put either one to one side, as the future is uncertain.”
1. What does the underlined word “menace” in the second paragraph mean?| A．Chance. | B．Challenge. |
| C．Gift. | D．Danger. |
| A．3,500 black bears were killed in Florida. |
| B．The wolf can’t be killed in Switzerland. |
| C．The sorrow is protected in China. |
| D．Three old Chinese men’s loss was made up for. |
| A．Protecting animals needs hard work. |
| B．Zhou was good at feeding wild animals. |
| C．Zhou had a good relationship with local people. |
| D．Protecting animals can bring economic development. |
| A．Humans can kill animals when their interests are harmed. |
| B．We should pay more attention to the future than the present. |
| C．We should consider both the environmental and human interests. |
| D．It’s easy to find proper ways to solve environmental problems. |
【推荐2】It's not unusual for a person to help someone else but without getting anything in return. But this behavior is thought to be rare among animals. Up to now, that kind of behavior hasn't been seen in birds. So scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Omithology created an experiment to test whether African grey parrots could behave that way.
The first step in the experiment was to teach the parrots how to trade “token” for food. The tokens were small metal rings about the size of coins. When the parrots gave these tokens back to the researchers, the parrots were given walnuts, which they enjoyed.
Once the parrots knew how to trade tokens for walnuts, the scientists began the next part of the experiment. Two parrots were put in clear plastic cages next to each other, with a connecting window between the two cages. There was a feeding window in both cages, which allowed the scientists to give walnuts to the parrots. Then the feeding window was closed for one of the parrots that had been given ten tokens.
The results showed that most of the time, the parrot that couldn't trade for walnuts would pass a token, beak to-beak, to the bird in the next cage that could then trade it for a walnut. The parrots that passed the tokens got nothing. They simply watched as the other parrots got food. Still, seven out of the eight parrots tested passed the tokens over and over again. And it wasn't because they liked passing tokens. If the parrot with the tokens saw that their partner's feeding window was also closed, they rarely passed tokens.
The scientists believe that helping others may be useful to the parrots in the wild, where they live in large groups that change often. The scientists think that helping others could give a parrot a good “reputation” and make it more likely that the parrot will get help from the group when it needs it.
1. What would the scientists do if they were given back the token?| A．Give the token to another parrot. | B．Give the parrot's partner a walnut. |
| C．Give the parrot some food as a reward. | D．Give the parrot some coins to play with. |
| A．they were trained to do that | B．they liked playing with tokens |
| C．they hoped their partners got food | D．they expected something in return |
| A．They dislike living in large groups. | B．They can benefit from helping others. |
| C．They often receive help from other birds. | D．They have a very good reputation in Africa. |
| A．parrots quickly learn to share things | B．parrots seem to be happy to help others |
| C．parrots love playing games with each other | D．parrots and humans have something in common |
【推荐3】BONFIRE NIGHT is just around the corner. While these brightly coloured explosions are fun for us, our pets may suffer. For animals, Bonfire Night can be one of the most stressful times of the year, with big bangs for seemingly no reason.
In fact, Sainsbury's has banned the sale of fireworks in all of its 2, 300 stores. This was not just for animals, but also due to concerns of the controlled explosions being used in inappropriate places, as weapons or affecting those with post-traumatic(创伤后)stress disorder and autism(自闭症). Animal charities have welcomed the ban, as many say Bonfire Night is one of the most distressing times of the year for animals.
Manager at pet supplement manufacturers Lintbells, said: ''Many dog owners are calling for a change around firework laws, with over 60 percent calling for a thorough ban on unlicensed fireworks, according to the study we conducted, with 96 percent believing that the laws around fireworks should be changed. ''
In addition to the recent announcement from supermarket Sainsbury's and its plans to stop selling fireworks in all of its stores, the results of the study have raised further questions on whether fireworks should be further legislated, to protect not only dogs but other animals too.
There are things you can do to prepare your home for Bonfire Night to help your pet feel safe.
1. Create a safe space
Creating a safe place inside your home can be an ideal place for your dog to hide from fireworks. You can also choose to close the curtains, windows to further shelter their pet from the loud noises and bright flashes of lights.
2. Turn up the TV or radio
The booming sound of fireworks can arouse fear in animals, so turning up the TV or playing music loudly can help to drown out the sound. The sound of the TV could help distract your pet from the bangs outside.
…
Lintbells offers a range of natural calming supplements called YuCALM which help to fight against your dog's stress and anxiety. By supporting natural calming pathways in the brain, YuCALM is an effective way to help reduce stress and support your dog to become happier and more playful once again.
1. Why can Bonfire Night be stressful?| A．The government banned the sale of fireworks. |
| B．People have no preference for fireworks. |
| C．It can be stressful for both people and animals. |
| D．Letting off fireworks is inappropriate. |
| A．firework laws is out of fashion |
| B．fireworks should be banned |
| C．measures should be taken to legislate fireworks |
| D．a majority of dog owners showed concerns over firework |
| A．it blocks the noise out | B．it helps to calm their brain |
| C．it offers them safety | D．it distracts your pet |
| A．No Bonfires, no Pains | B．Save Our Pets from Bonfire Night. |
| C．The Most Stressful Time of the Year | D．Fireworks Should be Banned. |
【推荐1】Many people believe that there is some truth in the saying “Laughter is the best medicine.”
Laughter therapy has become very popular in recent years and as a result, more and more laughter clubs are starting to open up in cities and towns all over the world. At a laughter session, a trained therapist instructs the group to perform a series of exercises which are designed to produce laughter.
So next time you fell ill, stressed out or depressed, try watching a funny film or try remembering an amusing incident in your life. You will soon feel better.
| A．Laughter helps you focus. |
| B．This finding has led to so-called clown doctors. |
| C．If one person starts giggling, it is unavoidable that everyone else will be drawn in. |
| D．Laughter makes the world a better and more colorful place. |
| E．In fact, research done by scientists has shown that laughter has a lot of health benefits. |
| F．Using laughter therapy in children’s hospitals has proven to be invaluable. |
| G．Some people may find the idea embarrassing at first. |
【推荐2】“Tidying can transform your life. This is the attractive promise from Japanese decluttering (清理) expert Marie Kondo. Around 11 million people have bought her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, hoping to achieve her minimalistic happiness.
Kondo’s method is straightforward-Tidy your home by category instead of by room, pull everything out before sorting it out, and keep only things that are useful or “spark joy”.
Scientific research suggests Kondo is on to something.
But for most of us, piles of clutter may not seem like a big deal.
As Albert Einstein-the owner of an extremely messy desk-is often quoted as saying: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
| A．But can we really be better off with less stuff? |
| B．The word clutter implies it doesn’t have value. |
| C．Tidy environments help us think more clearly. |
| D．Living in a tidy space can greatly increase happiness. |
| E．Messiness can also make it harder for us to fall asleep. |
| F．All that stuff just helps turn the buildings we live in into homes. |
| G．Nothing is safe from her mission to reduce the stuff in our lives. |
【推荐3】Covid-19 is not the only catastrophe that 2020 has brought. In parts of Asia and east Africa, swarms（成群）of locusts（蝗虫）have destroyed fields. Locusts are usually inoffensive, spread-out creatures that do not stay far from the place where they were born. But under the right circumstances, that is, a heavy rain and a following boom in plant growth, they can be gregarious. Millions of the insects gather in swarms which can fly more than 100km in a day.
In a paper published in Nature, Xiaojiao Gou and a group of other researchers clarify part of the biochemical system that drives that transformation. Dr Gou and her colleagues collected 35 chemicals acquired from the bodies and wastes of locusts. When tested, locusts were strongly attracted to just a chemical, one called 4-vinylanisole （4VA）. Scientists already know that swarming is a response to overcrowding, and Dr Gou and her colleagues found that 4VA production rose with population enlargement. Further investigation confirmed the odour receptor （气味受体）on the insects' antennae（触角）is sensitive to the chemical.
Humans have tried everything they can to deal with locust swarms, with mixed results. Man-made version of 4VA might be used to bait（诱捕）traps. If 4VA turns out to be a language that all locusts understand, then it may help humans persuade them to abandon their gregarious ways, and return to a peaceable life of being alone.
1. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Flexible. | B．Starved. |
| C．Aggressive. | D．Gathering. |
| A．Locusts can release 35 chemicals from their bodies. |
| B．4VA is one of the chemicals strongly attracting locusts. |
| C．4VA will be produced more when locusts' number increases. |
| D．The transformation of locusts affects the biochemical system. |
| A．Humans have got the methods of killing locusts. |
| B．Man-made version of 4VA will be introduced to market. |
| C．Scientists have had a new breakthrough to transform locusts' habitats. |
| D．It remains to be proved whether 4VA is a language that locusts understand. |
| A．The harm caused by locust swarms. |
| B．The ways to prevent locust swarms. |
| C．The process of locusts' transformation. |
| D．The finding of 4VA attracting locust swarms. |
【推荐1】Famous American performer Chita Rivera died on January 30 in New York. She was 91 years old. The famed dancer, singer and actor won many awards and honors in her long career on Broadway and beyond.
Rivera first gained wide notice in 1957 as Anita in the original production of the musical play West Side Story. She was still dancing on New York’s Broadway stages a half century later in 2015’s The Visit.
“I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t moving or telling a story to you or singing a song,” she said at the time. “That’s the spirit of my life, and I’m really so lucky to be able to do what I love, even at this time in my life.”
Rivera was born on January 23, 1933, in Washington, D.C. Her father was a musician. He died when Rivera was seven. Her mother was of Scottish and Italian ancestry (血统).
Rivera studied dance as a young girl and was accepted into a highly respected school for ballet. She was 17 when she won her first part in a musical.
She won two Tonys, the highest award for live theater in the United States. Her first came in1984 with the production of The Rink. She won again in 1993 for the play Kiss of the Spider Woman.
The second Tony was an especially sweet victory for the star. Just five years earlier, Rivera had been in a serious car accident that broke her right leg. It could have ended her career. After months of physical treatment to regain her dancing skills, she returned to the stage singing and dancing as energetically as ever. She said, “It never entered my mind that I wouldn’t dance again.”
When accepting a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2018, Rivera said, “I wouldn’t trade my life in the theater for anything, because theater is life.”
1. Why does the author mention the two plays West Side Story and The Visit?| A．To show respect for late Rivera. | B．To stress Rivera’s long art career. |
| C．To indicate why Rivera won honors. | D．To introduce the plays Rivera performed. |
| A．Art is everything to her. | B．She was sorry for her old age. |
| C．Art lifts her spirits when she’s in trouble. | D．She received good training in art. |
| A．Her leg. | B．The musical. | C．The accident. | D．Her award. |
| A．Independent and thoughtful. | B．Caring and curious. |
| C．Determined and talented. | D．Proud and confident. |
【推荐2】According to a recent study by Keith Robinson, children’s school grades may be brought down by their parents who help their children with homework. Other forms of parental involvement, including volunteering at school and watching a child’s class carefully, also fail to help, according to the most recent study on the topic.
The findings challenge a key principle of modern parenting (养育子女) where schools expect them to act as partners in their children’s education. Previous generations concentrated on getting children to school on time, fed, dressed and ready to learn.
Keith Robinson, the author of the study, said, “I really don’t know if the public is ready for this but there are some ways parents pay too much attention to their kids’ education, which leads to declines (下降) in their performance at school. One of the things that was consistently not beneficial was parents’ help with homework.” Robinson suggested that may be because parents themselves struggle to understand the tasks. “They may either not remember the material their kids are studying now, or in some cases never learnt it themselves, but they’re still offering advice.”
Robinson assessed parental involvement performance and found one of the most damaging things a parent could do was to punish their children for poor marks. In general, about 20% of parental involvement was positive, about 45% negative and the rest statistically insignificant.
Common sense suggests it was a good thing for parents to get involved because “children with good academic success do have involved parents”, admitted Robinson. But he argued that this did not prove parental involvement was the root cause of that success. “A big surprise was that Asian-American parents whose kids are doing so well in school hardly involved. In a more reasonable way, they made their children know how success at school could improve their lives.”
1. Which one is right to help children’s school grades?| A．Volunteer at school. | B．Watch the class carefully. |
| C．Stress the success at school. | D．Help children with homework. |
| A．Partners. | B．Trainers. | C．Providers. | D．Standers-by. |
| A．Modern parents raise children in a more scientific way. |
| B．Parental involvement is not so beneficial as expected. |
| C．Punishing kids for bad marks is mentally damaging. |
| D．Parents are not able to help with children’s homework. |
| A．Science. | B．Politics. | C．History. | D．Education. |
【推荐3】I am a child of mixed cultures (dad is Arab, mom is American), and I have grown up with cultural differences all my life. This has made me pay much attention to what people do in different cultures around the world. Cross-cultural understanding is really necessary if you want to get along with people from other places.
It is very common, and not considered rude to ask a person's age in Japan when you meet them for the first time. The Japanese language is a rich language that has different words to use, depending on the age or social position of the person you are talking to. Therefore, it's important for people to know your age range so as not to offend (冒犯) you by showing you less respect than you should get.
Hand gestures and signals are always better to use only in your home country where you understand what they mean. In Turkey, for example, allowing your thumb (拇指) to stick out between your fist (拳头) and second fingers in a fist is extremely rude. Also, don't make an “OK" gesture, unless you mean to call someone a fool.
Don't touch anyone's head in Malaysia, especially babies. Pointing is also considered rude in Malaysia, where directions are usually given with an open hand.
Giving gifts in China can get you into trouble. Certain gifts in China can cause great offence, such as giving cut flowers, which is only done at funerals (葬礼), Giving a clock is seen as bad luck since the words "giving a clock" sound just like the words "attending a funeral", A gift of shoes would be understood as giving a gift of evil (邪恶). Nothing is expected to be associated with the word "four" because it sounds like the word "death".
1. Why do the Japanese like to ask others' ages?| A．To express their respect. | B．To satisfy their curiosity. |
| C．To avoid offending others. | D．To appear more friendly. |
| A．Some help. | B．An agreement. | C．A smile. | D．A fight. |
| A．Sending cut flowers to others. | B．Opening your hands in the street. |
| C．Putting your hand on a child's head. | D．Buying a clock for your friend. |
| A．Cross-cultural understanding is really easy. |
| B．What a sign means is the same in different cultures. |
| C．The Japanese culture is the same as the Chinese culture. |
| D．What's rude in one culture may be OK in another culture. |
| A．Cultural Differences Around the World |
| B．The Meaning of Culture in the Author's Eyes |
| C．Communication Is Important in Modern Society |
| D．Living Abroad Helps to Learn Different Cultures |
