【推荐1】Scientist， conservation organizations and government trying to stop the trend of extinction （灭绝） often focus on protected areas such as national parks and wildlife preserves. But with as many as million species（物种） at risk， this plan of action may not be enough to conserve wildlife.

Slowing the mass extinction that now appears to be underway will require more creative means of coexisting alongside wild plants and animals. A new study indicates the effectiveness of some such approaches by examining some lands managed by indigenous groups.

“ We show really strongly that， from a biodiversity standpoint in terms of species richness，indigenous － managed lands are at least comparable to protected areas， ” says biologist Richard Schuster of Carleton University. And in some places， they are better than parks and preserves －even though indigenous communities may use their lands’ resources by hunting or searching for food.

Schuster and his team analyzed more than 15，000 areas in Australia， Brazil and Canada. They found that the total diversity of wildlife was highest on lands either managed or co － managed by indigenous groups， while randomly selected areas with no formal protection were the least bio－diverse. For threatened species in particular， indigenous lands scored slightly higher than protected lands on overall species richness in Brazil and Canada， as well as higher for threatened animals in Australia.

Each country has a different geography， climate and history. Yet remarkably， Schuster says， the best indicator for species diversity is whether a given area was managed by an indigenous community. He pointed out that practices such as sustainable（可持续的） hunting， fishing and searching， as well as burning， are more likely to occur in such areas. Don Hankins， an ecologist at California State University，agrees. “ there’ s probably going to be more of a connection to the land， ” he says， “ and a use of the land for the things that are there， compared to a national park. ”

“ It’ s really important to listen to the people who live on the land and have them drive the stewardship efforts going forward， ” Schuster says， adding that partnering with indigenous communities may enable the world’ s countries to better meet a wide range of conservation goals： “ We really need all the help we can get as a global community to prevent species extinction that we’ re facing right now. ”

1. What does the underlined word “ indigenous” probably mean in Paragraph 2？

A．Social.	B．Native.
C．Protected.	D．Threatened.

2. What did Richard Schuster find in his study？

A．National parks are even higher in species diversity.

B．Indigenous communities overhunted on their lands.

C．Some preserves almost have no formal protection.

D．Indigenous lands do better in keeping bio－diversity.

3. Which of the following statements may Don Hankins agree with？

A．Species diversity depends on geographical positions.

B．Humans’ everyday activities are no longer sustainable.

C．Indigenous groups have a close bond with their lands.

D．Protected areas work perfectly in wildlife protection.

4. What is the text mainly about？

A．Beating back extinction.	B．Dealing with environmental problems.
C．Setting up nature reserves.	D．Fighting against unsustainable behaviors.

【推荐3】Winter care for roses

Do roses need extra care for winter? Like so many other things in the garden, the answer is debatable.     1    

Roses are grouped and referred to by type. Shrub roses are the hardiest and need little extra care. Hybrid tea roses and other roses are more likely to need winterization to survive or remain healthy.

    2     And even shrub roses exposed to severe winter conditions can suffer. If roses are growing in a location that is subject to heavy winter winds, even the hardiest varieties may benefit from winterization.

Some gardeners live by the theory that if a plant can't grow well, the best bet is to replace it.     3     If you wish to do nothing with your roses, you also have chances of having plants around in the spring. If you like to baby plants along, winterization is for you.

Winterize roses after a hard freeze and cold weather. The first step is to add soil or other plant material over the crown(花冠)of the rose bush. The material should be about 12 inches deep over the crown. The second step to winterizing roses is to tie up the plants.     4     If the plants are tall, use ropes to provide support to them.

When spring comes, remove the added soil from the base of the plant.     5     This is the time to clean up cuts and reduce plant size if desired.

A．Location also plays a role, though.

B．Remove strings if plants have been tied up.

C．So they often change the plants they grow.

D．Other gardeners have plants that are almost like children.

E．You should consider sunshine and water when answering this question.

F．The main purpose is to prevent them from breaking off in the face of strong winds.

G．It depends on the plant variety, growing location and a gardener's personal preference.

【推荐1】Do cell phones cause cancer? No one knows for sure. Mobile phones have only been widely used for around 20 years, with the very first ones introduced just over 30 years ago. It’s too soon to tell just how harmful cell phones are.

In February 2011, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association recorded changes in brain glucose metabolism (葡萄糖代谢) during cell phone use. The study became the first to prove that cell phone use changes brain activity by monitoring 47 healthy volunteers seated and on the phone for 50 minutes. The volunteers’ brains were monitored by special scanners to measure glucose metabolism.

Then in May 2011, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) added radiation from cell phones to its list of things that possibly cause cancer in humans. The IARC's research found that most cell phone use did not lead to more risk of glioma, a dangerous type of brain cancer, or meningioma, a more common, but typically not harmful cancer. However, the study did find enough evidence that using cell phones for long periods of time on the same side of the head could mean an increased risk of glioma.

In a contrasting report published in July 2011, a British Institute of Cancer Research study found little evidence of cancer risk in 10 to 15 years of use. The study showed that there have been no increases in brain tumors (肿瘤) in several countries over the last 30 years since cell phones were introduced or even in the last 20 years since their use became more widespread.

With no long-term research available yet, limiting exposure to cell phone radiation by texting more and talking less is recommended. Stay off the phone when you have a weak signal, as it will need more radiation to contact the tower. Phone use for children should also be limited because their brains absorb twice as much cell phone radiation.

1. We can't be sure whether cell phones cause cancer because _______.

A．there has been little research on the problem up to now

B．it's difficult to track the bad effects of cell phone radiation

C．different studies has been arguing fiercely about this problem

D．there has been little evidence of it given the short history of cell phones.

2. What did the IARC find from their research?

A．Radiation from the cell phone is certain to cause some brain cancers.

B．Using cell phone for long periods of time could increase the risk of cancer.

C．Cell phone use is more likely to cause a common cancer than a dangerous one.

D．Staying away from cell phones with weak signal can reduce the risk of cancer.

3. What is recommended to reduce the harm from cell phone use?

A．Staying far away from the signal tower.

B．Using cell phones when the signal is weak.

C．Limiting children's exposure to cell phones.

D．Talking more and texting less via cell phones.

【推荐2】Why can’t you remember being a baby? Will that trip to Dreamworld be wasted on your toddler (学步的幼儿)? Scientists explain how the brain changes from infancy (婴儿期) through to early childhood, and what this means for your child’s memories.

While some people can remember memories from as early as age two, as adults most of us rarely remember things that happen to us before the age of three, due to a phenomenon called “infantile amnesia (婴儿健忘症)”. Generally, we tend to have vague (模糊的) memories of events that occur between the ages of three and seven.

So why is it that we can’t remember being a baby, or a toddler? The answer lies in the way that our brain’s ability to store memories changes as we grow. At birth, a baby’s brain is only a quarter of its adult size, growing to three-quarters the size of an adult brain by age two. This increase correlates with a growth in the number of brain cells—called neurons (神经元)一and the connections between these cells.

A part of the brain that is important in forming memories is the hippocampus (海马体), says Dr Dhanisha Jhaveri, a researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute at The University of Queensland. “In the hippocampus, new neurons are constantly being created. In adulthood, new cells are still being produced, but the rate of production in the hippocampus slows down,” says Dr Jhaveri.

Neuroscientists believe that the rapid rate at which brain cells are being produced in childhood could be the cause of infantile amnesia. Because so many new neurons are being produced and form connections with each other in memory circuits (记忆电路), they might disturb existing networks of memories that have already formed.

But it turns out that a child’s ability to remember things for long periods of time improves gradually throughout childhood. For example, in studies in which young kids were taught to imitate an action, six-month-olds could remember what to do for 24 (but not 48) hours, while nine-month-olds could remember what to do one month (but not three months) later.

Despite this memory loss, childhood experiences have been found to influence adult behaviour years later, which suggests that traces of these memories could be stored somewhere in the brain that isn’t easy to access.

So while your kids might not recall their major milestones or be too young to remember a trip to Disneyland, positive experiences as toddlers or in infancy may continue to affect their behaviour long after they’ve forgotten them.

1. What can be inferred from paragraph 3?

A．Our brain’s ability to store memories remains unchanged as we grow.

B．The size of the child’s brain by age two is twice the size at birth.

C．The growth in the number of neurons will influence the size of the child’s brain.

D．Neurons have nothing to do with a person’s memory.

2. What is the cause of infantile amnesia according to the neuroscientists?

A．The rapid rate of brain cells being produced.

B．The existing networks of memories.

C．The way of our brain storing memories.

D．The memory circuits of our brain.

3. What is paragraph 6 mainly about?

A．Childhood experiences will influence adult behaviour years later.

B．Traces of these memories could be stored somewhere in the brain.

C．A child’s ability to remember things improves gradually over time.

D．The younger a baby is, the better its memory is.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the influence of childhood experiences on adult behaviour years later?

A．Subjective.

B．Objective.

C．Pessimistic.

D．Uncaring.

【推荐3】Play is so much more than just a way to kill the time. Behind every game and puzzle lies a powerful force shaping a child’s development.     1     Dive in, and you’ll discover the science behind it.

When children engage in play, they do more than just have fun. They’re actively constructing their brains. . Neural pathways (神经通络), those complex networks responsible for thought, learning, and emotion, are solidified during these leisure activities. Much like constructing a home requires more than just bricks, it’s about laying a strong foundation. For the maturing brain, play is that vital foundation.     2     These connections don’t just serve immediate childlike wonder; they lay the groundwork for future cognitive and emotional adaptability.

Beyond cognitive and emotional development, leisure activities are crucial in securing a child’s physical health and coordination (协调性). Whether it’s running or jumping rope, these actions develop a child’s fine motor skills. Such physical engagements push children to be more aware of their body movements and surroundings.     3     Through play, kids develop a symbiotic (共生的) relationship between mind and body.

In the dynamic ecosystem of a child’s growth, leisure activities weave in threads of academic enhancement without the traditional pressures of formal education.     4     Beyond the fun, kids are absorbing lessons in logic, pattern recognition, and critical thinking. Similarly, engaging in board games or interactive storytelling sessions introduces them to fundamental math, language, and strategy concepts in a relaxed atmosphere. This stress-free combination of play and learning allows kids to develop academically without realizing they’re on an educational journey.

Play is more than just a leisure activity for kids. It’s an essential tool that helps better brain development, physical health and so much more.     5    

A．But why, exactly, is play so vital for kids?

B．And how, precisely, do you dive in games and puzzles?

C．The diversity of play equips the brain with neural connections.

D．Take, for instance, the seemingly simple act of assembling a puzzle.

E．Therefore, kids who play more will deal with the difficulties better in the future.

F．The constant feedback creates a rich environment for enhancing physical capabilities.

G．By understanding it, you can provide your child with the best foundation for a bright future.

【推荐1】Off the coast of Formentera, an island, lives seagrass that stretches 15 kilometres. The seagrass, covering several hectares, is made up of a single organism. The grasses are also long-lived, for tens or hundreds of thousands of years. Along with two other kinds of coastal ecosystems—mangrove swamps（红树沼泽）and tidal marshes, seagrass meadows are particularly good at taking carbon dioxide from the air.

This role was highlighted in a report, which was published on March 2nd by UNESCO, on blue carbon—the carbon taken in by Earth's oceanic and coastal ecosystems. In total around 33 billion tons of carbon dioxide, about three-quarters of the world's emissions（排放）in 2019, are locked away in the planet's blue carbon sinks（碳汇）. Research by Carlos Duarte, the report's author and a marine ecologist, has shown that one hectare of seagrass can suck as much carbon dioxide each year as 15 hectares of rainforest.

One reason that blue—carbon ecosystems make such effective sinks is that underwater forests are thicker than the land-based woods. They can also trap floating pieces and organic matter, which settles on the sea floor and can double the amount of carbon stored away. They have another advantage, too. Climate change is leading to more wildfires around the world. As forests burn, their carbon stocks are released back into the atmosphere. Unlike forests on land, blue-carbon ecosystems do not burn.

Blue-carbon ecosystems may not be fired, but they remain affected to other sorts of disasters. In May 2020 hurricane Amphan destroyed 1,200 square kilometres of mangrove forest. A marine（海洋的）heatwave in Australian waters in 2010 and 2011 damaged around one third of the world's largest seagrass meadow in Shark Bay. “Mangrove forests can weaken or control waves and provide natural barriers to storm surges. Protecting and expanding them, then, appears to be a must,” said a marine biologist.

1. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The real definition of blue carbon.

B．The special features of the seagrass.

C．The doubt about the blue-carbon ecosystems.

D．The capacity of the blue-carbon ecosystems to store carbon.

2. Why can the blue-carbon ecosystems make such effective sinks?

A．They aren't influenced by natural disasters.

B．They have great ability to absorb carbon.

C．Their carbon stocks are released back.

D．There are more underwater animals.

3. What do the marine biologist's words mean?

A．Mangrove forests are too strong to be broken.

B．Mangrove forests can strengthen waves.

C．Humans should preserve blue-carbon ecosystems.

D．Blue carbon ecosystems can be fired.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Plants in the Ocean Are Better at Storing Carbon

B．The Grasses Can Store More Carbon Than Your Expectation

C．Mangrove Forests Can Control Waves Efficiently

D．Blue-Carbon Ecosystem Are Expanding Much Faster

【推荐2】How sharks navigate the vast and seemingly featureless ocean has long been a mystery. Now there's evidence they may follow their noses. Sharks rely on their sense of smell to help chart a path through the ever-shifting waters of the deep seas, according to a new study. Scientists have supposed that the animals navigate by monitoring smell clues or the Earth's magnetic field, but no one knew for sure.

In new experiments near San Diego, scientists ferried wild leopard sharks about 6 miles(10 kilometers)away from their preferred habitats, fitted them with tracking devices, and stuffed some of the animals' noses with cotton balls. Just 30 minutes after being released facing the wrong way, sharks with full use of their smells made a corrective U-turn and then headed straight back to shore, "says study leader Andrew Nosal, a researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, California. Sharks with stuffed noses, meanwhile, "appeared lost, "wandering aimlessly and

swimming more slowly than those that could smell freely.

To test sharks' sense of direction, Nosal and colleagues captured several dozen leopard sharks, a small species found along the coast from Washington State to northern Mexico.

After blocking some of the animals' noses, the scientists then took the animals on a cruise to deeper waters before slipping them, safe and unharmed, back into the sea. Even the sharks with plugged noses made it partway back to shore before their tracking devices fell off. But those with unplugged noses "took very straight paths" toward home. Nosal supposes the sharks likely sniffed out chemical molecules found in higher and higher doses nearer to land.

Other scientists, however, remain unconvinced. Maybe the animals with plugged noses "were confused by the fact that they had something stuffed in their nose," says Kim Holland, a marine biologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It's also unlikely the animals were following a smell that grew stronger closer to land, adds Jayne Gardiner, a sensory biologist at the New College of Florida. Animals that couldn't smell a thing still turned toward the beach, which "suggests something else is really guiding them," she says.

Study leader Nosal responds that sharks with cotton-stuffed nose willingly eat, suggesting that a congested nose doesn't upset them much. He agrees that sharks use a variety of markers to find their way, "but the point is that smell participates in navigation, "he says. "Our study was only the first step in solving this mystery. "

1. This passage is mainly about ________.

A．why sharks have a good sense of smell	B．why sharks are clever animals
C．how scientists do the experiment	D．how sharks find their way in the vast ocean

2. Which is true about the experiments done by the scientists according to the passage?

A．Scientists plugged sharks' noses to test whether they navigate through their sense of smell.

B．Scientists chose sharks' preferred habitats in order to track the animals easily.

C．After being taken to deeper waters, sharks with plugged noses couldn't make it to the shore.

D．The sharks in the experiments aren't willing to eat due to the plugged noses.

3. We can infer from the passage that________.

A．there are various markers for sharks to find their way and eyes play an important role in it

B．some scientists hold different opinions from the findings of the new study

C．the new study has completely solved the mystery of sharks' easy navigation in the vast ocean

D．the sharks likely sniffed out chemical molecules found in higher doses nearer to land

4. What's the purpose of writing this passage?

A．To call on people to protect the sharks.

B．To present different theories on the mystery of the sharks.

C．To let people learn more about the sharks.

D．To inform the readers of the findings of a new study on shark.

【推荐3】Round and Round They Go

Space is becoming more crowded. On December 3, a Falcon 9 rocket made by Space X thundered into the sky. On board were 64 small satellites, more than any American company had launched before in one go. They have a variety of uses, from space-based- radar to the monitoring of radio-frequency- emissions.

These objects are part of the latest breed of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites. This launch is just taste of what is planned. Space X and One Web, a communications firm, plan to launch satellites in their thousands, not hundreds. The pair are set to double the total number of satellites in orbit by 2027.

That promises to change things dramatically on Earth. LEO satellites can bring internet connectivity to places where it is still unavailable or unaffordable. This will also be a lasting source of new demand for the space economy. Morgan Stanley, a bank, projects that the space industry will grow from $350 billion in 2016 to more than $1. I trillion by 2040. New internet satellites will account for a half this increase.

For that to happen, however, three worries must be overcome. Debris(碎片)is the most familiar concern. As long ago as 1978, Donald Kessler, a scientist at NASA, proposed situation in which, when enough satellites were packed into low-Earth orbits, any collision could cause a chain reaction which would eventually destroy all space craft in its orbital plane(平面). The syndrome which bears Mr. Kessler's name weighs heavily on the minds of executives at the new satellite firms. Debris could cause entire tracts(广阔的一片) of space to be unusable for decades.

Solutions exist. One is to grab malfunction satellites and pull them down into Earth's atmosphere. Another is to monitor space more intensively for debris; a US Air Force program me called Space Fence is due to start in 2019. But technology is only part of the answer. Rules are needed to govern the safe disposal(清除) of old satellites from low-Earth orbit. The United States' Federal Communications Commission is revising its regulations with this in mind. Other countries should follow suit.

Cyber-security is a second, long-standing worry. Hackers could take control of a satellite and seal intellectual property, redirect data flows or cause a collision. The satellite industry has been slow to respond to such concerns. But as more of the world's population comes to rely on the infrastructure of space for access to the internet, the need for action intensifies.

The third issue follows from the first two. If a simple mistake or a cyber-attack can cause a chain reaction which wipes out hundreds of billions of dollars of investment, who is liable? Underwriters(保险商) are studying the plans of firms that wish to operate large numbers of satellites. But there is a long way to go before the risks are well understood, let alone priced.

As space becomes more commercialized mind-bending prospects open up: packages moved across the planet in minutes by rocket rather than by plane, equipment sent to other small planets, passengers launched into orbit and beyond. All that and more may come, one day. But such activities would raise the same questions as LEO satellites do. They must be answered before the space economy can truly develop.

1. What can we learn about LEO satellites from the passage?

A．They are supposed to limit the space economy.

B．They are expected to increase in large numbers.

C．They are designed to move beyond the Earth as far as possible.

D．They are mainly intended to bring internet connectivity to remote areas.

2. To deal with debris in space, the author suggests________.

A．depending entirely on the modern technology

B．monitoring the movement of spaceships carefully

C．strengthening rules to remove old satellites safely

D．destroying all the satellites with problems instantly

3. What does the underlined word “intensify” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Measure.

B．Increase.

C．Spread.

D．Repeat.

4. Which of the following can be classified as the third worry?

A．Lack of satellite regulations.

B．Loss of intellectual property.

C．Crisis of confidence in the field.

D．Slow response of satellite industry.

5. What is the author's attitude toward the launch of LEO satellites?

A．It should be further confirmed for its ownership.

B．It should be continued because of its advantages.

C．It should be done carefully to avoid potential risks.

D．It should be stopped in face of the space economy.

【推荐2】We’ve all had cases where we’ve waited just a bit too long to pay an electric bill or   speeding ticket. But one man, from California by reasonable assumption，who goes by “Dave”，recently took procrastination (拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost a half-century after it was given.

In December 2018, the Minersville Police Department in Pennsylvania received a letter in the mail. Whoever wrote the letter decided it was best to keep his name somewhat unknown，so he put the return address as “Wayward Road，Anytown California” under the name “Feeling guilty”.

When the officers opened the envelope，they found a brief letter, along with a $5 bill, and a parking ticket dating all the way back to 1974. The note read，“Dear PD，I've been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years always intending to pay. Forgive me if I don't give you my info. With respect，Dave.”

Even though the initial parking ticket was only for $2, “Dave” must have felt awfully guilty because he left 150 percent，or $3, in interest.

Michael Combs, the Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department, stated in an interview that the same ticket would cost about $20 if it were given today. Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate.

Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then，“Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine. But apparently，guilt got the best of him，and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date.

1. How much do we know about “Dave”？

A．He lives in Wayward Road，Anytown California.

B．His car probably came from Ohio at that time.

C．The police are trying to find out more about him.

D．“Dave” is of course the man’s real name indeed.

2. Why didn’t “Dave” pay for the parking ticket until recently?

A．He completely forgot about it in the past 44 years.

B．He didn’t find it until almost half a century later.

C．He didn’t pay for it just because of procrastination.

D．He failed to find out who he should pay the money to.

3. What drove “Dave” to pay for the parking ticket at last?

A．A strong sense of guilt.

B．Fear of being tracked by the police.

C．Worry about being fined more.

D．Sudden change of his financial situation.

4. Which of the following can be the best title?

A．Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department Shares a Story

B．Parking Ticket Carried Around for Almost Half a Century from Ohio

C．Unusual Letter Comes from Wayward Road, Anytown California

D．Mysterious Procrastinator Finally Pays 44-Year-Old Parking Ticket

【推荐3】In spring, chickens start laying again, bringing a welcome source of protein at winter's end. So it's no surprise that cultures around the world celebrate spring by honoring the egg.

Some traditions are simple, like the red eggs that get baked into Greek Easter breads. Others elevate the egg into a fancy art, like the heavily jewel-covered "eggs" that were favored by the Russians starting in the 19th century.

One ancient form of egg art comes to us from Ukraine. For centuries, Ukrainians have been drawing complicated patterns on eggs. Contemporary artists have followed this tradition to create eggs that speak to the anxieties of our age: Life is precious, and delicate. Eggs are, too.

"There's something about their delicate nature that appeals to me," says New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast. Several years ago, she became interested in eggs and learned the traditional Ukrainian technique to draw her very modern characters. "I've broken eggs at every stage of the process—from the very beginning to the very, very end. "

But there's an appeal in that vulnerability. "There's part of this sickening horror of knowing you're walking on the edge with this, that I kind of like, knowing that it could all fall apart at any second" Chast's designs, such as a worried man alone in a tiny rowboat, reflect that delicateness.

Traditional Ukrainian decorated eggs also spoke to those fears. The elaborate patterns were believed to offer protection against evil.

"There's an ancient legend that as long as these eggs are made, evil will not prevail in the world," says Joan Brander, a Canadian egg-painter who has been painting eggs for over 60 years, having learned the art from her Ukrainian relatives.

The tradition, dating back to 300 B. C., was later incorporated into the Christian church. The old symbols, however, still endure. A decorated egg with a bird on it, given to a young married couple, is a wish for children. A decorated egg thrown into the field would be a wish for a good harvest.

1. Why do people in many cultures prize the egg?

A．It is a welcome sign of the coming of spring.

B．It is their major source of protein in winter.

C．It can easily be made into a work of art.

D．It can bring wealth and honor to them.

2. What do we learn about the decorated "eggs" in Russia?

A．They are shaped like jewel cases.

B．They are cherished by the rich.

C．They are heavily painted in red.

D．They are favored as a form of art.

3. Why have contemporary artists continued the egg art tradition?

A．Eggs serve as an enduring symbol of new life.

B．Eggs have an oval shape appealing to artists.

C．Eggs reflect the anxieties of people today.

D．Eggs provide a unique surface to paint on.

4. Why does Chast enjoy the process of decorating eggs?

A．She never knows if the egg will break before the design is completed.

B．She can add multiple details to the design to communicate her idea.

C．She always derives great pleasure from designing something new.

D．She is never sure what the final design will look like until the end.