1 . Coral reefs(珊瑚礁) are a unique ocean ecosystem consisting of rocky structures mainly formed by coral animals and some other ocean life. Despite only covering 0.2 percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs support at least 25 percent of marine species, as well as providing food and economic security for hundreds of millions of people.
However, coral reefs across the world are under threat. Warmer oceans can cause the coral bleaching(漂白). It happens when the corals lose colored algae(海藻) living in their bodies and turn completely white. Without the algae, the corals lose their main food source and can die. In addition, as oceans become more acidic(酸性的) from absorbing CO2, corals in acidic conditions become weak in forming reefs.
In 2021, the United Nations reported a 14 percent loss of corals across the world largely from rising sea temperatures in the previous 13 years. Australia declared mass bleaching events in 2022 across large parts of the Great Barrier Reef, four times since 2016. Data from the Philippines showed higher than usual ocean temperatures between 2015 and 2017 had caused a serious three-year bleaching events in reefs across the planet.
Scientists have been cooperating to see how coral reefs can be protected. Thankfully, they find those coral reefs in the hot parts of the globe are the worst affected. They contain corals with better heat resistance. So their research focus on finding genes(基因) for heat tolerance so that they can be passed on to future generations. Biologists also mix corals that are more resilient to higher temperatures with those that are not and the resulting generation has a better chance of survival.
Ultimately, scientists add that without a serious reduction in greenhouse gas, 99 percent of the world’s coral reefs will be gone by the end of the century. There is a limit to how quickly corals can adapt warm climate, but if temperatures rise rapidly, then extinction is certain.
1. Which is the main threat to coral reefs?A.Declining ocean acidification. | B.Loss of colored algae. |
C.Increasing sea temperatures. | D.Lack of food source. |
A.No actions are taken to protect coral reefs. | B.Coral bleaching is the worst in Australia. |
C.Coral reefs have grown rapidly for years. | D.Coral reefs receive impacts globally. |
A.Lowering emission. | B.Transplanting them to the hot parts. |
C.Relying on genes science. | D.Limiting their spread. |
A.Where Are Coral Reefs Spread? | B.How Can Coral Reefs Survive? |
C.Coral Reefs, A New Threat To Ocean Life | D.Coral Reefs, A Busy Underwater Community |
2 . When I was in the fifth grade, my teachers first
My IQ was high, but I had
My family was not rich and I was
Ford Country Day School has become the most important turning
A.discovered | B.arranged | C.produced | D.advised |
A.even | B.already | C.again | D.only |
A.help | B.change | C.matter | D.happen |
A.worry about | B.pick up | C.focus on | D.find out |
A.beautiful | B.severe | C.convenient | D.funny |
A.shy | B.concerned | C.lucky | D.naughty |
A.parents | B.climbers | C.explorers | D.hikers |
A.referred | B.donated | C.agreed | D.attended |
A.rescued | B.scolded | C.allowed | D.encouraged |
A.hope | B.charge | C.job | D.style |
A.walked | B.drove | C.rode | D.ran |
A.confident | B.patient | C.familiar | D.afraid |
A.support | B.appreciation | C.satisfaction | D.curiosity |
A.difference | B.disability | C.comment | D.decision |
A.mind | B.help | C.point | D.defense |
3 . Located among the forests where eagles fly overhead, Jabal Sawda has long been one of Saudi Arabia’s best places for mountaineers. At 2,999m, Jabal Sawda had been considered the kingdom’s highest peak until twin mountaineers, Matthew and Eric Gilbertson, climbed it in 2018, finding it to be about three metres shy of Jabal Ferwa.
For more than a decade, the twins have traveled to one country after another around the world, rewriting the mountain record books about places across the Middle East and West Africa. So far, they have reached the peaks of more than 100 countries and newly identified the highest points in Togo, Guinea-Bissau and Ivory Coast.
Matthew, a research scientist at Lockheed Martin in Palo Alto, California, and Eric, an instructor in mechanical engineering at Seattle University, said their work was motivated by a need for accuracy and love for mountaineering. “If we’re going to go through all the effort to visit a country and visit the highest mountain, we want to be sure that we have indeed visited the highest mountain,” Matthew said. “We consider it assistance to future mountaineers to have an accurate survey done so that they can focus their efforts on getting to whichever peak they want to get to.”
The twins’ love of mountaineering began when they were children with family trips to the Great Smoky Mountains in the southeastern United States. When they were students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), they started climbing as many mountains as possible. In 2012, after achieving their goal of reaching the highest point of each US state, they turned their attention to the rest of the world.
1. What can we learn about Jabal Sawda?A.It’s Saudi Arabia’s best place. | B.It’s better-known than Jabal Ferwa. |
C.It’s Saudi Arabia’s highest peak | D.It’s lower than Jabal Ferwa. |
A.To write books about mountains. | B.To rename the peaks of mountains. |
C.To measure their highest mountain. | D.To admire good views of the mountain. |
A.It satisfies their need for accuracy. | B.It helps climbers choose their destination. |
C.It makes them focus their efforts on life. | D.It deepens their love for climbing. |
A.The twins’ other goals in their life. |
B.The twins’ achievements in finding peaks. |
C.The twins’ influence on other mountaineers. |
D.The twins’ experiences in other countries. |
4 . It seems that we just can’t get enough of roller coasters. Today we look at some top amusement parks and the roller coasters which have helped make them famous.
Holiday World
It is a family park that resists the exciting atmosphere of its competitors and instead offers a more relaxing and friendly experience. Rare in that it is privately owned and it has many features other parks can’t match. There is lots of entertainment for youngsters, and the park’s family-friendly policy offers free entry to the water park, reasonable food prices and unlimited soft drinks free of charge.
Lake Compounce
Lake Compounce, one of America’s more traditional parks, is a rare find indeed. As the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US, it has been a popular family spot since 1846. Like many old-time parks, it witnessed the danger of being closed. Luckily, in 1977, a well-known company gave its revival with new rides appealing to many new fans.
Knott’s Berry Farm
As one of America’s favourite theme parks, Knott’s has something for everyone. For those seeking a breathtaking rush, try the roller coaster, GhostRider or the Xcelerator. GhostRider is the single largest attraction in amusement park history and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. If you are after something less exciting, go visit the heart of Knott’s, Ghost Town, for a glance of life in the Wild West of the 1880s. With its cowboys, steam trains and historic buildings-many transported from mining towns-Ghost Town will let you relive a piece of the past.
Islands of Adventure
In the style of Walt Disney World, Islands of Adventure is divided into themed “lands”. Unlike the sugar-coated Magic Kingdom, however, IOA features attractions promising to set the heart racing. While the Spiderman is fantastic, you haven’t truly lived until you’ve experienced The Incredible Hulk’s wild and unique uphill launch. The effect is like being trapped inside an airplane that’s flying out of control.
1. What is special about Holiday World?A.It provides free food. | B.It owns the latest ride technology. |
C.It belongs to an individual. | D.It creates the exciting atmosphere. |
A.Holiday World. | B.Lake Compounce. |
C.Knott’s Berry Farm. | D.Islands of Adventure. |
A.It is divided into different lands. | B.It plays many famous movies. |
C.It has more visitors waiting in line. | D.It provides a very exciting experience. |
5 . It was a September day. Today was the first day of high school for a freshman, Kayla. Kayla had always been a bit of a shy kid, but she had always
As she walked down the hallways, Kayla couldn’t help but feel
It wasn’t long before Kayla’s determination was put to the
Kayla’s classmates began to notice how
From that day on, Kayla
A.feared | B.loved | C.missed | D.forgot |
A.bored | B.excited | C.worried | D.interested |
A.difficulties | B.honours | C.reasons | D.dangers |
A.use | B.side | C.trouble | D.test |
A.simple | B.challenging | C.suitable | D.amazing |
A.part | B.share | C.best | D.duty |
A.teach | B.doubt | C.enjoy | D.believe |
A.great | B.strange | C.confusing | D.secret |
A.fast | B.bravely | C.fluently | D.hard |
A.flash | B.news | C.support | D.service |
A.manage | B.find | C.fill | D.waste |
A.thinking about | B.getting through | C.giving up | D.asking for |
A.freedom | B.creation | C.success | D.trust |
A.realized | B.argued | C.stressed | D.recommended |
A.families | B.customers | C.teammates | D.classmates |
6 . When I mentioned to some friends that we all have accents (口音), most of them proudly replied, “Well, I speak perfect English/Chinese/etc.” But this kind of misses the point.
More often than not, what we mean when we say someone “has an accent” is that their accent is different from the local one, or that pronunciations are different from our own. But this definition (定义) of accents is limiting and could give rise to prejudice. Funnily enough, in terms of the language study, every person speaks with an accent. It is the regular differences in how we produce sounds that define our accents. Even if you don’t hear it yourself, you speak with some sort of accent. In this sense, it’s pointless to point out that someone “has an accent”. We all do!
Every person speaks a dialect (方言), too. In the field of language study, a dialect is a changed form of a language that is featured by its variations (变化) of structure, phrases and words. For instance, “You got eat or not?” (meaning “Have you eaten?”) is an acceptable and understood question in Singapore Oral English. The fact that this expression would cause a standard American English speaker to take pause doesn’t mean that Singapore Oral English is “wrong” or “ungrammatical”. The sentence is well-formed and clearly communicative, according to native Singapore English speakers’ solid system of grammar. Why should it be wrong just because it’s different?
We need to move beyond a narrow idea of accents and dialects — for the benefit of everyone.
Language differences like these provide insights into people’s cultural experiences and backgrounds. In a global age, the way one speaks is a distinct part of one’s identity (身份). Most people would be happy to talk about the cultures behind their speech. We’d learn more about the world we live in and make friends along the way.
1. What does the author think of his/ her friends’ response in paragraph 1?A.It reflects their self confidence. |
B.It reflects their language levels. |
C.It misses the point of communication. |
D.It misses the real meaning of accents. |
A.To support the use of dialects. |
B.To show the importance of dialects. |
C.To correct a grammatical mistake. |
D.To highlight a traditional method. |
A.Learn to speak with your local dialect. |
B.Look for an official definition of accents. |
C.Appreciate the value of accents and dialects. |
D.Separate our local languages from others’. |
A.Everyone Has an Accent |
B.Accents Improve Our Identities |
C.Dialects Lead to Misunderstanding |
D.Standard English Is at Risk |
7 .
Morocco Family Journey | |
Discover the magic of Morocco on a seven-day journey that takes your family group from markets to the desert. Meet musicians and storytellers absorbed in Amazigh heritage (遗产), and try your hand at cooking up colourful local dishes. Hike past amazing rock formations, walk windswept sands, and uncover ancient secrets. | |
WHAT’S INCLUDED ● Accommodations: Hotels (8 nights); 8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners ● Transport: Private air-con coach, 4×4 vehicle ● Journey Highlights: Sahara trips and cultural explorations in Merzouga, the tour of Atlas FilmStudios in Ouarzazate ● Five-star travel directors ● Walk in Jemaa el-Fna Square ● Free time to explore Marrakech ● All transport to and from included activities | WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED ● Visas ● Flights to and from Morocco ● Basic medical and emergency insurance (You will not be permitted to travel with our agency until you have provided evidence of adequate travel insurance.) ● Trip cancellation insurance or any other travel insurance ● Meals on your own ● Any activity not described in WHAT’S INCLUDED |
Emergency Fund Please make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 or the equivalent (等价物) as an emergency fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control require a change in our planned route. This is a rare occurrence! | |
Requirements Family journeys are designed for groups traveling with kids between the ages of 7 and 17. Your group must include a kid to book, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. |
A.In Marrakech. | B.In Ouarzazate. |
C.In Merzouga. | D.In Jemaa el-Fna Square. |
A.Breakfast. | B.Round-trip flight tickets. |
C.Accommodation. | D.Guide services. |
A.Having at least a child and an adult. | B.Paying money for emergencies. |
C.Being in good physical condition. | D.Buying insurance through the agency. |
8 . As a physically fit 89-year-old big band singer, Tony Bennett performed timeless ballads (民歌,情歌) perfectly. He was an exception to the belief of aging and decline.
However, the trouble with his
After receiving the diagnosis, Bennett insisted on continuing to perform. “Tony has always had a very
As one of only a few artists to produce chart-topping records every decade since the 1950s —
In February 2021, Bennett
As the disease
A.memory | B.appearance | C.finance | D.origin |
A.charged | B.assigned | C.diagnosed | D.choked |
A.negative | B.positive | C.professional | D.confident |
A.as | B.like | C.except | D.if |
A.adopting | B.discounting | C.packing | D.totaling |
A.beats | B.instances | C.plots | D.hits |
A.Though | B.Unless | C.Despite | D.Unlike |
A.incredible | B.honorable | C.convincing | D.dynamic |
A.publicly | B.secretly | C.instantly | D.critically |
A.response | B.priority | C.influence | D.resolution |
A.how | B.why | C.when | D.what |
A.topic | B.title | C.theme | D.model |
A.spreads | B.exposes | C.progresses | D.explodes |
A.hopeful | B.original | C.faithful | D.merciful |
A.moving the goalposts | B.walking on air | C.taking no notice | D.leading the way |
9 . Patrick, Scheels store’s fishing manager, always helps customers with their angling (垂钓) needs, but one
One day, a young boy named Xander entered the store with his mother, Brynn. Patrick noticed his eye were filled with
Brynn shared the
However, Patrick’s generosity didn’t
Patrick’s kindness was
A.argument | B.journey | C.adventure | D.encounter |
A.curiosity | B.nervousness | C.concern | D.regret |
A.debated over | B.bonded over | C.stuck to | D.turned to |
A.wisdom | B.evidence | C.significance | D.definition |
A.missing | B.blaming | C.admiring | D.persuading |
A.Annoyed | B.Touched | C.Amused | D.Surprised |
A.gifted | B.lent | C.showed | D.made |
A.ambitious | B.strange | C.genuine | D.urgent |
A.practical | B.avoidable | C.secure | D.common |
A.root | B.stop | C.appear | D.reach |
A.recording | B.postponing | C.organizing | D.canceling |
A.reveal | B.stress | C.prove | D.ensure |
A.accompanied | B.monitored | C.assessed | D.sponsored |
A.possibly | B.initially | C.truly | D.mainly |
A.deal | B.experience | C.task | D.performance |
10 . Animals being extinct from the Earth is a serious issue. When this happens in order to use their fur or skin for fashion, it is even worse, since it’s not even for a matter of human survival. That’s why a London zoo decided to make a powerful statement at the Siamese crocodile enclosure (鳄鱼围栏).
When visitors come in expecting to see a crocodile, they’re greeted with the handbag instead, making a very effective and powerful point about illegal wildlife trade and the harm it takes on the species involved.
A sign by the enclosure reads, “This bag used to be found swimming in slow-moving rivers and streams across Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Over the last 75 years, more than 80% of Siamese crocodiles have disappeared. Many, like this one, were hunted for their skins as part of the illegal wildlife trade.”.
Native to parts of Southeast Asia, Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered and have become virtually extinct in the wild. Due to hunting as well as habitat loss, they are now absent from nearly 99% of their original range. A huge part of the decline of population is due to humans using their wetland habitat for rice farming, and things only took a turn for the worse when large-scale hunting for their skin for commercial purposes began in the 1950s.
The particular handbag that is on display at the zoo was confiscated at a UK airport, according to Benjamin Tapley, leader of reptiles and amphibians at ZSL London Zoo.
Tapley told The Huffington Post, “We made this exhibit, within ZSL London Zoo’s Reptile House, to draw visitors’ attention to the destructive impact the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is having on species around the world. At ZSL, we are working globally with governments and local communities to protect wildlife, support law enforcement (执法) that targets illegal trade networks, empower local communities affected by IWT and reduce demand for threatened wildlife.”
1. Why does the sign say this handbag used to swim?A.It is made of a crocodile’s skin. |
B.It is made into a crocodile shape. |
C.It is light enough to float on water. |
D.It was kept in flowing river at first. |
A.Wildly hunting of Siamese crocodiles. |
B.Destruction of Siamese crocodiles’ habitats. |
C.Commercial value of Siamese crocodiles. |
D.Causes to make Siamese crocodiles endangered. |
A.Seized. | B.Sold. | C.Found. | D.Stolen. |
A.The importance of wildlife protection. |
B.The crisis endangered animals are facing. |
C.The purpose to show the handbag. |
D.The harm IWT caused. |