As soon as she recovered, Hill traveled to California. There she saw ancient redwood trees, which are the largest trees in the whole world. The wood from redwood trunks is very hard. So the Pacific Lumber Company cut down many of the huge redwoods to use for construction. There are not many forests of these trees left. Many environmental activists want to protect the remaining trees. The redwoods are very important to the environment.
In 1997 Hill learned a group called Earth First was working to protect a particular group of trees. They decided to send someone up into a redwood tree, hoping this would stop the company from cutting the trees down. Julia Butterfly Hill volunteered.
Hill lived in the tree for over two years without ever coming down. Her home was a 6-by-8-foot tree house, 180 feet up. It is always cold and wet in a redwood tree. There were even very serious winter storms while Hill was in the tree. The wind and cold almost knocked Hill out of the tree. But she did not fall — she survived.
Finally, after years of arguing, the company decided to protect Luna, the tree Hill lived in. They signed an agreement to never cut down this huge redwood tree or the trees around it. When Hill put her feet on the earth again, she began to cry. But from that moment on Hill hasn’t stopped working to protect the environment.
1. Julia Butterfly Hill traveled to California _____.
A.to find a new job |
B.to build a tree house |
C.with the hope of joining Earth First |
D.in expectation of doing something meaningful |
A.because they might fall over at any time |
B.because they had great economic value |
C.to protect other trees in the forest |
D.to make space for constructions |
A.comfortable | B.cool | C.tough | D.satisfying |
A.She has a sense of social responsibility. |
B.She failed to protect the redwood tree. |
C.She built a new house in the forest. |
D.She is a self-centered woman |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Fourteen years ago, wildlife documentary(纪录片)the Planet Earth took us on an amazing journey from deep caves to the rainforests and then to the bottom of the ocean. Now a new documentary Our Planet will show different animals and the influence of humans on the natural world.
US entertainment company Netflix made the eight-episode(集)journey meet its audience(观众)on April 5. The crew(工作人员)of the documentary covers 50 countries and areas to choose the best filming places, and takes more than four years to produce it. It is the hard work of more than 600 crew members.
With the latest 4K video technology, the documentary allows audiences to have a sharp new look at nature. “People are given a chance to better get themselves into the lives of the animals.” said Fothergill, one of the documentary’s producers.
Apart from showing Earth’s beauty in new detail, the documentary also shows the planet’s poor climate conditions. “Our Planet is here to say, ‘The planet is dying, and we’re killing it.’” Fothergill said. In one sad scene, hundreds of walruses(海象), half-blind when out of the water, fall down a rock to suffer a painful death on the beach below. It shows how man-made global warming has destroyed their natural habitat(栖息地)and explains why they’ve been forced to find a safe place on the rocks.
However, it’s not all about sadness. The documentary also talks about success stories, including Siberian tigers, blue whales(鲸鱼)and humpback whales. These species are protected thanks to international agreements on environmental protection. It reminds us that we can change the present bad condition of our planet through our joint(共同的)effort.
Calling on more people to take action to protect our planet is the final goal of the new documentary. What we do in the next 20 years will decide the future of all life on Earth.
1. What is the new documentary Our Planet about?A.An amazing journey of rainforests. |
B.The beauty and customs of 50 countries and areas. |
C.Different animals and the influence of humans on the natural world. |
D.The hard work of more than 600 crew members. |
A.It took a lot of time and efforts to make the documentary. |
B.People like to take a close look at animals. |
C.The documentary is very popular in many countries and areas. |
D.We human can’t change the present condition of our planet. |
A.To explain what our goal in the future. |
B.To call on more people to protect our planet. |
C.To tell us the documentary is worth watching. |
D.To tell us how the climate conditions influence animals. |
A.A novel. | B.A travel journal. | C.A story book. | D.A newspaper. |
【推荐2】April 22nd every year marks the beginning of Earth Day. Started in the year 1970, it is now celebrated in more than 190 countries each year. Every year, the event is celebrated under a different theme. The theme for 2016 is “Trees for the Earth”.
However, Earth Day is not just an event to be celebrated on one specific day. It is primarily a reminder for all to do our rightful duty every day to save our planet. Below, we have made a list of four things you can do to celebrate Earth Day (apart from planting trees).
Leave your cars at home. Cars, being the greatest source of air pollution, can be left at home this weekend. Travelling via public transport is the better option. Ride a bike or walk if your workplace is not that far away from your home.
Be a little dirty. We don't mean it “that” way. We simply mean to say, don't take a bath. A day or two without a bath won't harm you, but it will certainly do a lot of good for our planet. A daily shower isn't a matter of health; it's a matter of comfort.
Volunteer yourself. This is one of the best things you can do. It will do you good too. Join other like-minded individuals in a common task, such as planting trees, cleaning a park or simply coming up with ways you can preserve mother Earth.
Green-up your home. This is one of the most common things that people do, that is, switch off your lights. However, this is not something you should do just for a day and for only an hour. Switch off all power electricity points whenever they are not in use.
You know what the best way to celebrate Earth Day is? Extend your celebrations. That's right! Do something every day that will improve your surroundings to make the planet a better place to live in. Always remember that every step, every action counts.
1. Why is Earth Day started?A.To help people live a healthier life. | B.To call on people to plant trees. |
C.To help protect the environment. | D.To use less natural recourses. |
A.To save water. | B.Never to take a bath. |
C.Don't shower on Earth Day. | D.Showering daily is bad to health. |
A.To go to work on foot. | B.To be a volunteer. |
C.To save electricity. | D.To do small things daily. |
A.An environmental magazine | B.A science report |
C.A geography text | D.A travel advertisement |
阅读短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
Camping wild is a wonderful way to experience the natural world and, at its best, it makes little environmental influence. But with increasing numbers of people wanting to escape into the wilderness, it is becoming more and more important to camp unobtrusively (不引人注意地) and leave no mark.
Wild camping is not permitted in many places, particularly in crowded lowland Britain. Wherever you are, find out about organizations responsible for managing wild spaces, and contact them to find out their policy on camping and shelter building. For example, it is fine to camp wild in remote parts of Scotland, but in England you must ask the landowner’s permission, except in natural parks.
Camping is about having relaxation, sleeping outdoors, experiencing bad weather, and making do without modern conveniences. A busy, fully-equipped campsite (野营地) seems to go against this, so seek out smaller, more remote places with easy access to open spaces and perhaps beaches. Better still, find a campsite with no road access: walking in makes a real adventure.
Finding the right spot to camp is the first step to guaranteeing a good night’s sleep. Choose a campsite with privacy and minimum (最小化的) influence on others and the environment. Try to use an area where people have obviously camped before rather than creating a new spot. When camping in woodland, avoid standing dead trees, which may fall on a windy night. Avoid animal runs and caves, and possible homes of biting insects. Make sure you have most protection on the windward side. If you make a fire, do so downwind of your shelter. Always consider what influence you might have on the natural world. Avoid damaging plants. A good campsite is found, not made — changing it should be unnecessary.
1. You needn’t ask for permission when camping in ________.A.national parks in England |
B.most parts of Scotland |
C.crowded lowland Britain |
D.most parts of England |
A.protecting animals |
B.building a campfire |
C.camping in woodland |
D.finding a campsite with privacy |
A.the protection of campsites |
B.the importance of wild camping |
C.the human influence on campsites |
D.the dos and don’ts of wild camping |
【推荐1】The Ghost Bridegroom
At the time of this story, there was a great family gathering at the castle to meet the promised bridegroom of the Baron’s daughter. An arrangement had been made between the Baron and an old nobleman of Bavaria, Berton, for a marriage between their children. It would increase the importance of both families. The initial plans had been made in the usual way: the young people were engaged without having met each other and the date set for the wedding.
The young Count (伯爵) Von Altenburg had been recalled from the army and was on his way to the castle to meet his promised bride. Messages had been received from Wurtzburg where he was accidentally delayed. The messages indicated the day and time when he might be expected to arrive. The castle was in a fever of preparation to provide him with a suitable welcome.
Anne had dressed with particular care. Bertha and Wilda had selected her clothing and quarreled all morning about what she should wear. The young lady had taken advantage of their arguments to wear exactly what she wanted and had chosen very well. She looked as beautiful as any young bridegroom could wish for, and the excitement made her look even lovelier. The two aunts constantly directed her, as single aunts usually take a great interest in the love affairs of others. They were giving her the final instructions on how to behave, what to say, and how to greet her intended husband.
Hour by hour passed. The sun, which had been so warm over the rich forests of the Odenwald, was now setting along the tops of the mountains. The Baron went to the tallest tower in the castle to see if he could see any sign of the Count and his escorts.
Once, he thought he saw them. The sound of horns came floating up from the valley. A party of men was seen far below, riding slowly along the road. It was a false alarm, for when they reached the foot of the mountain, they suddenly rode off in a different direction. The sun, by now, had set, and the bats began to fly about in the evening light. It was getting dark, and the only movement on the road was the occasional worker returning home.
1. Which is the right relationship of the characters in the novel?A.Von Altenburg was the Baron’s son. |
B.Anne and Bertha were the Baron’s sister. |
C.Anne was Berton’s only daughter. |
D.Von Altenburg was Anne’s intended husband. |
A.He accepted his intended marriage arranged without his knowledge. |
B.He was eager to meet his intended wife so he retired from the army. |
C.He wouldn’t have been welcomed by the bride had he arrived on time. |
D.He didn’t like the marriage, so he purposely delayed going to the castle. |
A.The sun was so warm over the rich forests of the Odenwald. |
B.The Baron went to the tallest tower to see if he could see any sign of the Count. |
C.The sound of horns came floating up from the valley. |
D.The sun had set, and the bats began to fly about in the evening light. |
A.What happened to the bride. | B.What happened to the bridegroom. |
C.What happened to the Baron. | D.What happened to the aunts. |
【推荐2】Susan Brownell Anthony was a lady ahead of her time. She fought for women’s rights long before it became a popular issue.
Susan was born on February 15, 1820, in Adams, Massachusetts. At that time, women had few rights. They could not own property. Money earned by a married woman belonged to her husband. Major decisions regarding children were made by the fathers. Women could not vote.
At the age of 15, Susan became a school teacher. She taught for 15 years. Then she began organizing women’s groups to promote causes that were important to women. She helped gain better educational rights for women. She helped give married women possession of their earnings.
After the Civil War, Susan became very involved in the Woman’s Suffrage Movement. After years of lecturing, writing, and appealing by Susan and other women, some parts of the United States changed their laws to give women the right to vote. The first state was Wyoming in 1869. And then other areas and states followed Wyoming’s decision. It was not until 1920 that the US Constitution was changed to give all women voting rights.
Susan Brownell Anthony died in 1906 at the age of 86. She was elected to the American Hall of Fame in 1950. She was the first American woman to have a likeness (肖像) of her face on a coin. It was the 1979 Susan Brownell Anthony dollar.
1. What was the situation of American women like when Susan was born?A.They had a low social position. |
B.They could vote after getting married. |
C.They managed money for their husbands. |
D.They were responsible for decision-making. |
A.Susan’s teaching experiences. |
B.Susan’s educational background. |
C.Susan’s efforts to get rid of slavery. |
D.Susan’s fighting for women’s causes. |
A.Promoting the social movement. | B.Changing the US Constitution. |
C.Giving women voting rights. | D.Uniting other areas and states. |
A.The First American Woman to Invent Coins | B.The Problem of Women Rights in the US |
C.The Most Popular Women Organizations | D.A Pioneer in Fighting for Women’s Rights |
【推荐3】About 8:15 one morning, I left for the airport to meet friends from Holland, only to discover that the plane was to be an hour late. The airport is close by, so I went home to wait.
Arriving at the house I found my dog, Clyde, in a very excited state, pushing his nose into a flowerbed near our front door then jumping back, barking (吠) all the time. I thought that perhaps he had seen a mouse among the leaves. Then suddenly he ran to the other end of flowerbed right by the front door, and began the same again—this time at a rosemary bush.
I decided to check with a stick. Do you know what I found? A snake! I was in shock! Quickly, the cobra was slithering (蜿蜒着滑行) up the steps to our front door! Two quick blows from me with the stick and it was dead. Clyde was still unsure of it and kept barking.
I just had time to put the snake in a plastic bag and leave it for the rubbish truck, before returning to the airport to greet my friends. If the plane had been on time, things might have been very different here today! Friends have told me that the cobra aims to spit in a person’s eyes in order to blind them. Clyde’s barking warned me that something was wrong and danger was near. If Clyde had not been “on guard”, the cobra could easily have got into our house. There he might have lain hidden, ready to “surprise attack” me when I wasn’t expecting it. This reminds me of the fact that anything can happen at any time so we should be always “on guard”. We cannot take life for granted, and should appreciate every day that we have.
1. Why was Clyde so excited when the author returned?A.Because a snake bit him. | B.Because he saw a mouse. |
C.Because his owner came back. | D.Because he sensed danger was near. |
A.At the rosemary bush. | B.At the steps to the front door. |
C.At the far end of the flowerbed. | D.At the near end of the flowerbed. |
A.Playful. | B.Curious. | C.Watchful. | D.Courageous. |
A.A Life Lesson | B.A Miracle of Life |
C.An Unforgettable Experience | D.An Unexpected Guest |
【推荐1】Nearly 96, when most are lonely and in poor health, Olga Murray, full of energy, has been eagerly planning a trip to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. How can she be in such good shape? Is it her good genes? (Her mother lived to 98.) Or her daily salads and three-times-a-week workouts?
Scientists increasingly are finding that the answer — living with purpose — can be a particularly healthy pursuit, which can improve the quality of those final years. Murray offers a vivid example of how to create a sense of meaning.
Murray’s story began in 1984, after she had worked 37 years as a lawyer and was starting to think about retirement (退休). At 59, while traveling in Nepal, Murray found herself amazed by the children there. “They were poor beyond anything I had ever experienced,” she recalled in a self-published memoir (自传) years later. “Yet they were the most joyful little kids anywhere on earth.” She wanted to put the rest of her life into helping educate Nepalese children.
Returning to Nepal the next year, she met Allan Aistrope, then a volunteer English teacher at the country’s only orphanage (孤儿院). The two began with organizing college scholarships for four of the orphans. After another five years, they had started the Nepal Youth Foundation, which by then was supporting several hundred scholarship students and raising 60 homeless children. In 1994, they hired Som Paneru, a former scholarship student, as executive director. She handed over the presidency to Paneru in 2012. Now, she is busy as usual, leading lots of fundraising campaigns.
1. How did Nepalese children impress Murray when she traveled in Nepal at 59?A.They were eager to receive education. |
B.They were interested in her memoir. |
C.They liked to communicate with foreigners. |
D.They lived a very poor but happy life. |
A.She sent 60 homeless children to the orphanage. |
B.She helped four orphans go to college. |
C.She volunteered as an English teacher. |
D.She started the Nepal Youth Foundation. |
A.Confident and helpful. | B.Creative and positive. |
C.Energetic and selfless. | D.Kind-hearted and graceful. |
A.To inspire people to live a purposeful life. |
B.To advise people to change their jobs. |
C.To attract more tourists to Nepal. |
D.To encourage people to exercise regularly. |
【推荐2】Hita Gupta used to volunteer at a nursing home, trying to brighten the days of the residents. Now she spreads sunshine far and wide.
As a15-year-old sophomore(高二学生) at Conestoga High School, Hita has created a nonprofit organization that specializes in bringing cheer to socially isolated seniors. Her Brighten A Day foundation started out by sending goodie bags(礼包) with an adult coloring book, a large print puzzle book and crayons to Philadelphia-area nursing homes and sending letters with uplifting messages to facilities in neighboring states.
Hita has since widened the scope(范围) of her project, which is backed by donations through a Go Fund Me page as well as the work of an expanding army of volunteers. The project has reached as far as Hawaii and now includes video messages as well as the delivery of smart devices to help residents communicate with loved ones. “We’ve been able to reach so many seniors-who are among the loneliest people in our society-and let them know they are not alone,” Hita said.
Hita’s project has lifted spirits at the Genesis Wayne Center, according to Kaylee Nichols, the facility’s director. “It’s impressive to see a high school student take that kind of initiative,” Nichols said. “That generation, they normally don’t think about seniors.”
Hita was motivated to take action when officials at the nursing home where she used to volunteer said that she couldn’t visit anymore because of the corona virus outbreak. It made her determined to do something else to try to help. She started the Go Fund Me page, expanded the foundation’s website and began organizing volunteers from around the country to write cards or make videos for nursing home residents, who have been the most severely impacted by COVID-19. Hita also expanded her project to include the acquisition(收购)and distribution of smart devices to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
“I'm very proud that Hita is able to bring smiles to so many seniors,” her mother, Swait, wrote in an email. Hita said her foundation's name was a reflection of her determination to chase away doubt and depression for folks in need. “I thought of the sun,” Gupta said. “I thought of people in the dark, lonely, and how much I wanted to brighten their days and bring joy to them.”
1. What is the main aim of Hita’s Brighten A Day project?A.To raise funds for nursing homes. |
B.To deliver care to seniors at nursing homes. |
C.To teach seniors to communicate effectively. |
D.To facilitate the development of the nursing industry. |
A.It started in Hawaii and then expanded to other states. |
B.It is supported by volunteers across the country. |
C.It encourages seniors to use smart devices less. |
D.It offers its donors a special goodie bag. |
A.Surprised. | B.Frustrated. | C.Supportive. | D.Disappointed. |
A.It shows her resolution to get rid of people's sad feeling. |
B.It's a reflection of her decision to expand her project. |
C.It mirrors her doubt to bring joy to people in need. |
D.It is the public image of her project. |
A.Fame is a great thirst of the young. |
B.Free care facilities for seniors are necessary. |
C.Smiling means getting personal desires satisfied. |
D.Bringing spiritual pleasure to the elderly is meaningful. |
【推荐3】This week, I had the honor of visiting with a music therapist (治疗师), Georgia, from Seasons Hospice (临终关怀) in Columbia, MD. I was deeply moved by the connection and spirituality that I witnessed during my visit. As a profession who plays a musical instrument, I believe in the power of music to go beyond words and connect people.
I have been disabused of any idea that music therapy is simply about playing a guitar. In the hands of a skilled music therapist like Seasons’ Georgia, the guitar and voice are spiritual and deeply connected tools that can be extremely meaningful to a patient that is in pain, or family that is in need of healing.
Georgia, her colleague Sophie and I visited two patients at one of Seasons’ inpatient units. One, Ms. Anne, requested Johnny Cash songs initially. I sang along with her to “I Walk the Line”. We then learned from her nephew that she led a church chorus for 50 years. As Georgia played the guitar, Ms. Anne said that she was ready to go, ready to relieve the burden on her family.
Ms. Anne’s second song request was “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less.” I hadn’t heard this song before, but I was so moved to see and hear Georgia and Ms. Smith harmonize beautifully, with Ms. Anne repeating the last line — “All other ground is sinking sand” — twice. Ms. Anne sang these lines with a certainty and unshakable belief. We all knew, somehow, that Ms. Anne would soon die. As I leaned in to speak with Ms. Anne, she asked me why I didn’t sing with her. I told her that I didn’t want to mess up her beautiful two part harmony. She smiled, as if she knew that I didn’t really know the words. Two hours later, Ms. Anne died.
1. What is probably the author?A.A patient. | B.A musician. | C.A physician. | D.A nurse. |
A.They compose songs to cheer patients up. |
B.They are groups of people who play guitars. |
C.They provide peace to patients at the end of life. |
D.They have the right to visit any hospital freely. |
A.She was an expert in singing. | B.She was a relative of Georgia. |
C.She was a burden of her family. | D.She was easily moved by others’ visit. |
A.He was too sick to sing a word. | B.He didn’t really know the song. |
C.He lacked harmony with others. | D.He made no request for the song. |