On a cold January morning in 2017, four-year-old Eli stands on the bank of Douglas River, hugging a dead salmon(鲑鱼) against his thick red coat. He looks up at his father, Andrew, who nods encouragingly. “Go ahead,” he says. “Put it in.” The young boy drags his feet forward and holds the fish as far as he can into the shallow water. “It’s floating!” Eli yells, delighted. For a moment, it’s almost as if the handsome salmon could come back to life.
Eli’s salmon is just one of 100 or so death bodies that will land in Douglas River in a half-hour activity this morning, deposited by dozens of volunteers. None of the salmon will rise from the dead, but Darrell Wick, president of the Douglas Society, who has promoted this gathering, is in the resurrection(复活) business.
Wick also leads the group’s campaign to recover this urban waterway’s salmon population. “The Douglas Society started looking into the possibility of recovering the salmon in the river in the mid-1990s, and part of a thought in that Lime focused on river recovery in cities worldwide. Back then, the prospects (前景) looked future lefts from the result.
Wick and his group are devoted to giving the river a full make-over. This monumental repair job, supported by approximately $95,000 of funding from the Pacific Salmon Foundation over the past 15 years, has involved recovering the river-habitat of salmon and preventing it from wearing away. Work on the river’s final section was completed in July 2017.
What’s the best title for the passage?
| A．Work on Douglas River has ended. |
| B．Wick’s campaign against pollution. |
| C．Saving a River to save the salmon. |
| D．An unforgettable story of the salmon. |
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【推荐1】Maria Sibylla Merian-drawing from life
In 17th-century Europe, it was unheard of for a woman to travel by herself, but that didn’t stop Maria Sibylla Merian. In 1699, she and her 2l-year-old daughter Dorothea sailed from Amsterdam to Suriname in South America. The three-month voyage was dangerous but she was determined to go. Besides, she was on a bold mission. She would be the first person to go to a foreign country to study and paint insects directly from nature.
When they arrived in Suriname, Maria and Dorothea started working. Day after day, they took their painting materials into the hot and humid rainforest to collect and draw insects and plants. Artists had never done such a thing before. Still life painters drew from dead specimens. But Maria had always been interested in painting living animals and plants, and her favourite subjects were insects.
In the rainforest, she climbed ladders to study and collect insects. She had trees cut down so she could see what lived at the top level of the forest more than a hundred feet overhead. Maria combined both art and science in her work. As a skilled observer, she kept detailed notes.
Maria planned to stay in Suriname for five years, painting and collecting insects and plants that Europeans had never seen. She learnt about the medicinal plants of the area and expanded her interest to spiders, birds, lizards and snakes. She planned to publish a book of her new work on her return to Amsterdam.
After two years, she had to leave Suriname. The heat was unbearable and she was ill with malaria. But she had more than enough material for a book. In June 1701, Maria and Dorothea sailed back to Amsterdam with many paintings and specimens—butterflies preserved in brandy, bottles with crocodiles and snakes, lizards’ eggs and boxes of pressed insects.
Four years later, in 1705, Maria published the book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium, for which she is best known. The paintings of insects and plants in their natural habitats revolutionized scientific illustration and advanced the scientific study of insects.
1. Why did Maria make the voyage in 1699?| A．To sail with her daughter. | B．To study and draw life from nature. |
| C．To experience the danger. | D．To show her courage and determination. |
| A．Plants. | B．Samples. | C．Animals. | D．Insects. |
| A．Keen and ambitious. | B．Risky and careless. |
| C．Kind and aggressive. | D．Brave and creative. |
| A．Drawing from dead specimens. |
| B．Studying and collecting enough material. |
| C．Staying in Suriname for five years. |
| D．Learning and working along with her daughter. |
【推荐2】Scientists have recreated a 1985 study of birds in Peru that shows climate change is pushing them from their natural environment. Thirty years ago, researchers studied over 400 kinds of birds living on a mountainside in Peru. In 2017, researchers looked again at the bird populations. They found that almost all had moved to higher places in the mountain. Almost all had decreased in size. And, the scientists say at least eight bird groups that started at the higher elevations (高地) had died out completely.
The researchers say the birds might have moved up the mountain because of temperature changes. Or changes to food sources may have forced them to go higher. The findings were published in a science journal. The 1985 research has documented birds and other animals moving up in elevation (高地) in reaction to warming temperatures. Mark Urban, a biologist at a university, said this recent study was the first to prove that rising temperatures and moving to avoid them can lead to extinction.
In 2016, Fitzpatrick, director and a co-writer of the study passed his notes, photos and other records to Benjamin Freeman. Freeman has been researching tropical birds for more than 10 years. He set out in August and September of 2017 to copy Fitzpatrick’s study. His team used the same methods, searching the same places in the same time of year.
Freeman’s team wanted to see how things had changed for the bird groups since 1985. The average temperatures on the mountain had risen 0.42 degrees Celsius. His team placed 20 sound recording devices on the mountain to record the sounds of birds that might not easily be seen.
Freeman said that the birds moved an average of 98 meters further up the mountain. He believes that temperature is the main cause of the birds’ movement. Fitzpatrick noted that birds used to living in areas with little temperature change may be especially at risk because of climate change. He said, “We should expect that what’s happening on this mountain top is happening more generally in the Andes, and other tropical mountain ranges.”
1. How many kinds of birds lived in Peru 30 years ago?| A．At least eight bird groups. | B．More than 400. |
| C．Over eight bird groups. | D．Less than 400. |
| A．To avoid temperature changes. |
| B．To find more food sources. |
| C．To adapt to extreme temperature. |
| D．To react to the increase of other kinds of animals. |
| A．They had the temperature rise 0.42 degrees Celsius. |
| B．They moved an average of 98 meters further up the mountain. |
| C．They placed 20 sound recording devices on the mountain. |
| D．They kept on listening to the sound happening on this mountain top. |
| A．Two teams used the same methods to do researches. |
| B．Scientists documented birds and other animals moving up in elevation. |
| C．Scientists have been researching tropical birds for more than 10 years. |
| D．Rising temperature made almost all birds in Peru become extinct. |
【推荐3】Are you afraid of sharks? What about snakes or spiders? Put those fears aside：because in the U.S. you’re far more likely to be killed or injured by a deer skipping across the road．
Deer cause more than 200 humans deaths each year, plus some 29,000 injuries，all because of l.2 million collisions between vehicles and deer．Most incidents occur in the eastern U.S. , where deer prosper without natural predators like wolves and mountain lions．
‘‘That’s the region in the U.S. where deer-vehicle collisions are such a problem，and where it seems like an effective large carnivore reintroduction could make a really big difference．’’ says wildlife biologist Laura Prugh from University of Washington．She thinks it would help to reintroduce predators like mountain lions，also known as cougars，pumas or panthers，to parts of their historic range from which they’ve been driven out．
The researchers say that bringing the predators back to the eastern U.S. would mean 22 percent fewer collisions between cars and deer over three decades．Each year would see five fewer human deaths，680 fewer injuries and a savings of some $50 million．Sophie L. Gilbert thinks there are great socioeconomic benefits of large predator restoration through reduced wildlife-vehicle collisions and she says，“Cougars have shown that they can coexist in short distance with people，with very few conflicts，in a lot of areas out west．”
Still，some folks might be understandably nervous about this kind of plan．After all , reintroducing predators doesn’t come without risks to pets and to livestock，and very occasionally to people．
“Our fear of large predators is so natural and intense that I don’t think it’s possible to just completely clear it with statistics…what I hope is that knowing that there actually can be some measurable benefits might make people a little more supportive and maybe balance that fear a little bit．”says Laura．
Indeed，the statistics show that cougars would prevent five times as many human deaths from deer-related accidents as they would cause by attacks．But it’ll be a tough sell：the press will cover cougar attacks，but a statistically prevented death does not make the news．Nevertheless，“If people in the west can put up with having mountain lions around．I would hope that New Yorkers would be up for the challenge as well．”
1. The underlined word in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to __________．
| A．a meat-eating animal | B．a grass-eating animal |
| C．a cat-like animal | D．a dangerous animal |
| A．To minimize the accidents caused by deer． |
| B．To maintain biodiversity and ecological balance． |
| C．To take up the challenge from people in the west． |
| D．To reduce people’s fear of this dangerous creature． |
| A．Because the risks outweigh the benefits． |
| B．Because mountains lions like eating people． |
| C．Because mountain lions tend to get too close to people． |
| D．Because the benefits are not as eye-catching as its risks． |
| A．Puma：a Tough Sell | B．A New Study on Puma |
| C．Deer Cause Huge Life Losses | D．Deer or Pumas：a Hard Choice |
【推荐1】Billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn expects the greatest “demand disruption (中断)” for oil since the 1970s shock to cause an increase in renewable energy investment.
He said high oil prices are “a positive thing” for the climate as the energy crisis results in a “dramatic speed-up” in decarbonisation (碳减排). “The whole world should now be focused on seeking alternatives, whether they’re renewables or hydrogen fuels. All of these things are far more economic.”
He pointed to the recent boost of EU (欧盟) for renewable energy funding, as part of a plan to reduce imports of gas. Even as oil and gas companies obtain record profits from the high prices at present, Hohn said climate-focused investors will ultimately benefit from the energy price shock.
“The oil price increase leads to plans for accelerated decarbonisation,” said Hohn. “I personally believe that we’ll have demand disruption as we had in the 70s, and that there will be a dramatic acceleration in decarbonisation. I actually view it as a positive thing.”
Hohn has pressured companies to give shareholders a vote on their climate plans. Spanish airport operator Aena and aircraft manufacturer Airbus improved their emissions (排放) tar-gets as a result. Hohn has also pushed for stricter regulation on corporate climate promises. “Corporate decarbonisation isn’t going to happen through voluntary methods,” Hohn said.
Hohn is also backing a new rating agency that will grade company emissions strategies, through his charity, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. The Climate Action-plan Rating Centre (Climate-Arc) will analyse public company data and publish climate plan ratings.
Investors often struggle to analyse corporate climate plans. “Because though some organizations declare their commitment to environmental protection, they actually do the opposite,” Hohn said, “I expect a large proportion of companies will get graded F if they’re not doing enough. Even companies with net zero emissions targets have failed to set out plans about how to reach those goals. The impact is going to be a bit like, ‘the emperor has no clothes’.”
1. Why are high oil prices a positive thing according to Hohn?| A．They will reduce energy demand. |
| B．They will bring economic benefits. |
| C．There will be a shift to clean energy. |
| D．There will be a reduction in energy imports. |
| A．Climate regulation should be stricter. |
| B．Decarbonisation should be voluntary. |
| C．Emissions targets should be debated. |
| D．Climate plans should be informed to the public. |
| A．The method of avoiding being graded F. |
| B．The suggestion about helping investors. |
| C．The method of reaching zero emissions targets. |
| D．The suggestion about reducing carbon emissions. |
| A．Energy crisis—a hard nut |
| B．Energy crisis—a wake up call |
| C．Energy crisis—a cruel circle |
| D．Energy crisis—a cause of economic depression |
【推荐2】Birds enjoy a relatively slow rate of extinction but a new study suggests that rate might be severely underestimated(低估). Even worse, if human actions continue, bird extinction rates could skyrocket and 12 percent of the known bird species(物种) could be dying out by the end of the century.
Presently there are 10,000 known bird species — most identified after 1850 — and an estimated 130 of those have become extinct since 1500, setting the extinction rate at about one species every four years.
But according to Stuart Pimm of Duke University, this rate fails to take into account three key points: The continual identification of extinct bird species from fossil remains; numerous "missing" species not yet declared extinct; and the fact that present extinction rates were not calculated using the proper baseline date for when the species was first described.
Taking these points into consideration, the extinction rate is closer to one bird species per year, says Pimm, the leading author of the study. And the rate could be three times as high as that if not for recent bird preservation efforts.
In previous centuries, bird extinctions took place mainly on islands as Polynesian peoples expanded into the Pacific or Europeans took over the Americas, wiping out birds along the way.
In recent years, scientists are seeing an increased number of extinctions on continents, again because of human activities. Habitat destruction, introduction of invasive species, and climate change combine to harm many bird species. Before human influence, the estimated rate of bird extinctions would have been only one species per hundred years, researchers estimate.
Bird extinction rates are slower than for most animals, mainly because humans do more harm to other species and people take special efforts to protect birds. Still, if the present trends continue, the researchers estimate that the bird extinction rate will continue to climb to as many as 10 species per year,
1. The underlined word "skyrocket" in the first paragraph means| A．fly high |
| B．appear soon |
| C．increase quickly |
| D．change regularly |
| A．one species per hundred years |
| B．one species every year |
| C．three species per year |
| D．ten species every year |
| A．Humans have started destroying bird habitat in recent years. |
| B．Humans are doing more harm to animals than to birds. |
| C．Humans have made no effort to protect birds. |
| D．Humans are responsible for the bird extinctions. |
| A．Humans' Fighting against Bird Extinction |
| B．Humans' Responsibilities for Bird Protection |
| C．Bird Extinction Rates Far Worse Than Realized |
| D．Bird Extinction Occurring on Islands and Continents |
【推荐3】The second little pig was unlucky. He built his house from sticks, which was blown away by a wolf. His brother, by contrast, built a wolf-proof house from bricks. The fairy tale could have been written by an agent for the construction industry, strongly favoring brick, concrete and steel. However, in the real world it would help reduce pollution and slow global warming if more builders copied the wood-loving second pig.
No other building material has environmental credentials (认证信息) as exciting and overlooked as wood. The energy required to produce a laminated wooden beam (层压木梁) is one-sixth of that required for a steel one of comparable strength. As trees take carbon out of the atmosphere when growing, wooden buildings contribute to negative emissions by storing the stuff. And for refitting older buildings to be more energy efficient, wood is a good insulator (绝缘体). A softwood window frame provides nearly 400 times as much insulation as a plain steel one of the same thickness and over a thousand times as much as an aluminium (铝) equivalent.
But such bigger stories are still uncommon. Governments can help push the industry to use more wood, particularly in the public sector — the construction industry’s biggest client. That would help wood-building specialists achieve greater scale and lower costs. Zero-carbon building regulations should be altered to take account of the emissions that are presented in materials.
Construction codes could be regulated to make building with wood easier. Here the direction of travel is wrong. Britain, for instance, is banning the use of timber on the outside of tall buildings after 72 people died in a tower fire in London in 2017. That is a nonsense. Grenfell Tower was covered in aluminium and plastic, not wood. Modern cross-laminated timber (交叉层叠木板) panels perform better in fire tests than steel ones do.
Carpentry alone will not bring the environmental cost of the world’s buildings into line. But using wood can do much more than is appreciated. The second little pig was not wrong, just before his time.
1. The purpose of the writer telling the story in the first paragraph is to _______.| A．attract the readers’ attention | B．make the argument more convincing |
| C．criticize the author of the tale | D．lead in the topic of the text |
| A．wood is a good insulator |
| B．such skyscrapers with wood are uncommon currently |
| C．the unique advantages of wood material being friendly environmental |
| D．how wood reduces the emission of carbon dioxide |
| A．To encourage the construction industry’s biggest client to use more wood. |
| B．To transform Zero-carbon building regulations. |
| C．To arouse the public’s awareness of protecting the woods. |
| D．To regulate the Construction codes. |
| A．the second pig in the tale was unlucky |
| B．the outside of tall buildings Grenfell Tower could have been constructed in wood |
| C．we haven’t appreciated the characteristics of using wood at all |
| D．wood-building specialists will achieve greater profits |
