2 . By now, most of us have picked up at least one pandemic hobby. And there's a seemingly common pandemic hobby trend: People who haven't been able to go anywhere are making imaginary travel plans. Maybe you're among those who have spent hours researching locations-even though you're not actually planning to travel.

It turns out that you aren't alone. People who seem to be sticking to public safety recommendations are still planning trips they don't intend to book. And, when I suddenly found myself addicted to an imaginary girls' trip to Joshua Tree, I wondered whether this was a healthy distraction.

"It's an escapist imagination," said Regine Galanti, a psychologist, adding that there's nothing wrong with escapism during a global pandemic.

On the one hand, distractions are often beneficial right now. We are a full year into living with COVID-19 as a pandemic, and that means you've probably had to navigate a range of emotions like discomfort, sadness, or even boredom. So any hobby that doesn't harm anyone or endanger your well-being is probably a worthy attempt.

Even if vacation planning is your happy place, Dr. Galanti suggests you "actually think about what you're trying to achieve." Why? "Maybe what you're saying is, I need a vacation from work," Dr. Galanti explains. "Then take three days off even if you are not going anywhere. "When you figure out what you're looking for, you might be able to find a small socially distanced adventure in your backyard or a quiet place. Vacation planning is a good way to spend some time, but there might be an even better way to get what you're desiring.

Anyway, when uncertainty is all around us, creating things to look forward to isn't a terrible idea. And when things are safer, you'll have all your plans in place.

1. Why do people make imaginary travel plans during the pandemic?

A．To develop a new hobby.	B．To stay safe and sound.
C．To be distracted from reality.	D．To get ready for future travel.

2. Which of the following can replace the word "navigate" underlined in paragraph 4?

A．Express.

B．Balance.

C．Adapt to.

D．Deal with.

3. What is the writer's attitude towards imaginary travel plans?

A．Objective.

B．Negative.

C．Supportive.

D．Unclear.

4. Which section of the newspaper does the text probably come from?

A．Figures.	B．Lifestyle.
C．Food and recipe.	D．Science and technology.

3 . If you’d like to go sightseeing, the following World Heritage Sites may be your best choices.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area

Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, China, reaches a height of more than 4,800 m, with a series of different forest ecosystems (生态系统). It’s particularly famous for its excellent waterfalls. About 140 kinds of birds live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. Jiuzhaigou Valley was recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.

Khami Ruins National Monument

The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major centre for trade over a long period of time. It joined the World Heritage List in 1986.

Henderson Island

Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls (环礁) in the world whose ecology has been untouched by humans. It’s particularly famous for the 10 plants and 4 birds that can only be seen on the island. It was recorded in the World Heritage List in 1988.

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and the finest example of the late style of Indian architecture. It was built by the emperor Shah Jehan, who ruled India in the 17th century. It was in memory of his favourite wife who died in 1631. The architecture was given a World Heritage Status in 1983.

1. Which of the following can be found in Jiuzhaigou Valley?

A．Wonderful waterfalls.	B．Ancient objects.
C．Beautiful buildings.	D．Untouched ecology.

2. What can we learn about the Taj Mahal?

A．It doesn’t exist now.

B．It was built by an emperor’s wife.

C．It has become a place of interest.

D．It looks more beautiful than other buildings.

3. In which part of a newspaper can we read the text?

A．Industry.	B．Travel.
C．Science.	D．Business.

4 . Record fires sweeping across the Amazon recently have been making the headlines as scientists and environmental groups are worried that they will worsen climate change crisis and endanger biodiversity(生物多样性）。

As the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is often called"the lungs of the world”. It is also home to about 3 million species of plants and animals, and 1 million local people. The vast area of rainforest plays an important role in the world's ecosystem because it absorbs heat instead of reflecting heat back into the atmosphere. It also stores carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, ensuring that less carbon is released, reducing the effects of climate change.

＂Any forest destroyed is a danger to biodiversity and the people who use that biodiversity," Thomas Lovejoy, an ecologist at George Mason University told National Geographic."The great danger is that a lot of carbon goes into the atmosphere,"he stressed."In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity.The Amazon must be protected,"UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

Data from the National Institute for Space Research(INPE)show that the number of forest fires in Brazil quickly increased by 82 percent from January to August a year ago.A total of 71,497 forest fires were registered in the country in the first 8 months of 2019,up from 39,194 in the same period in 2018,INPE said.＂We estimate that the forest areas in the Brazilian Amazon have decreased something between 20 and 30 percent compared to the last 12 months," Carlos Nobre, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo, told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Brazil owns about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest,whose degradation(恶化）could have severe consequences for global climate and rainfall.The extent of the area ruined by fires has yet to be determined, but the emergency has gone beyond Brazil's borders.

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The great role of the Amazon rainforest.

B．The effects of consistent climate change.

C．The causes of the decreasing biodiversity.

D．The results of the Amazon rainforest fires.

2. Why does the author mention the figures in the fourth paragraph?

A．To explain the process of the research.

B．To present the bad influence of forest fires.

C．To prove the great importance of the rainforest.

D．To show the emergency of protecting the rainforest.

3. What does the author want to tell us in the passage?

A．The dry weather leads to the rainforest fires.

B．The biodiversity makes the rainforest unique.

C．The rainforest fires result in serious consequences.

D．The global climate crisis brings more rainforest fires.

4. Which section of a magazine might this passage probably be taken from?

A．Climate and life.

B．Nature and geography.

C．Humankind and society.

D．Science and technology.

5 . Today we know Antarctica as an extreme environment containing ice and snow. But new research provides evidence that the area was very different in the past.

The evidence was found inside a piece of earth sediment(沉积物) collected by researchers from a depth of about 30 meters below the ocean floor off the coast of Antarctica. In the sediment, they found forest soil estimated to be about 90 million years old. This would have been in the Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs were the main land animals.

Johann Klages is a geologist, working in the Institute's Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research in Germany. He said an examination showed that the material formed on land, not in the ocean.

The researchers estimate that the area – about 900 kilometers from the South Pole – had average yearly temperatures of about 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. During the warmest summer months, average temperatures likely reached between 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. The average yearly temperature in that area is about 40 degrees below zero Celsius.

The examination results showed “a dense network of roots that spread through the entire soil layer,” the Helmholtz Center said in a statement.

The dark brownish-gray soil included fine dirt particles and hard clay, as well as substances linked to at least 65 different kinds of plants, the study found. Klages put that the plants included trees, ferns and flowering plants and while no animal remains were found, there were likely dinosaurs, flying reptiles and many insects in the environment.

The researchers said that the rainforest environment in Antarctica was especially surprising because each year, the area experiences a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to fuel plant life.

1. According to the passage, we can learn that ________.

A．dinosaurs were from Antarctica

B．Antarctica was always extremely cold

C．the ocean floor is made up of sediment

D．the area has been experiencing climate changes

2. What surprised the researchers?

A．No animals left.

B．No fertilizer to fuel plants.

C．Roots spreading through the soil.

D．The rainforest experiencing polar night.

3. Which column is the passage probably from?

A．Science.

B．Entertainment.

C．Society.

D．Fiction.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Antarctica, Once a Warm Rainforest

B．Earth Sediment Found in Antarctica

C．Antarctica - an Extreme Environment

D．New Antarctica Found by Researchers

6 . Pangolins (穿山甲) are the most trafficked (非法交易) mammals in the world and are facing extinction. To draw attention to these scaly (有鳞片的), anteater-like animals, a new wildlife documentary, Eye of the Pangolin, is attempting a unique way to inspire action and conservation. Partnering with the non-profit organization Pangolin. Africa, the documentary was made available on YouTube in May 2019. The intention is to reach communities wherever the Internet is available, especially African communities, who live near the animal’s habitats.

Over two years, the documentary crew traveled to South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic and Gabon in search of the four unique species of pangolin, which has never been achieved before. Filmmakers Bruce Young and Johan Vermeulen say that they went into the shoot knowing relatively little about pangolins, but grew to respect and appreciate the animals. Getting close to the creatures over two years was a crash course in these secretive creatures. Johan Vermeulen said, "One thing however that might seem unimportant is that they are actually quite fussy eaters. You would think they would eat any type of ant, but they all prefer a specific type ant."

Pangolins are hunted illegally across Africa for their scales, which are used for traditional medicine, and their meat. In April 2019, Singaporean customs officials conducted two separate seizures of 24 tons of pangolin scales, which equals to the death of 69,000 pangolins.

Though the documentary focuses less on the trafficking of pangolins, and more on the animals in their natural habitat, the aim of the documentary is to inspire viewers around the world to call for action to end trafficking and protecting these unique creatures.

Filmed on location in South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic, and Gabon, this powerful documentary is the story of two men on a mission to get all four species of African pangolin on camera for the very first time.

1. What is the purpose of the documentary?

A．To study the situation of pangolins.

B．To collect fund to protect pangolins.

C．To raise awareness of pangolin protection.

D．To propose setting up pangolin reserves.

2. What is the meaning of the underlined word “fussy” in paragraph 2?

A．Picky.	B．Messy.
C．Showy.	D．Heavy.

3. What’s the documentary mainly about?

A．The illegal trade of pangolins.

B．The medical function of pangolin's scales.

C．The life of pangolins in their natural habitats.

D．The efforts of Pangolin, Africa to save pangolins.

4. Where is the text most likely from?

A．A brochure.	B．A diary.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

7 . Most rain forests lie close to the equator(赤道),where the climate is often mild and there are long hours of sunshine.The warmth of the land heats the air above,causing it to rise and tiny drops of water to fall as rain.The rainfall can reach at least 98 inches a year.This wet,warm world with plenty of sunlight is perfect for plants to grow,so the trees grow fast with green leaves all the year round.The trees themselves also have an effect on the climate.They gather water from the soil and pass it out into the air through their leaves.The wet air then forms clouds,which hang over the treetops like smoke.These clouds protect the forest from the daytime heat and night-time cold of nearby deserts,keeping temperatures fit for plant growth.
Rain forests slightly farther away from the equator remain just as warm,but they have a dry season of three months or more when little rain falls.Tree leaves fall during this dry season and new leaves grow when the wet season or monsoon(雨季) begins.Thus these areas are known as the “monsoon forest”.
Another type of rain forest grows on tropical mountains.It is often called the “cloud forest” because clouds often hang over the trees like fog.
The rain forest is the ideal place for the growth of many different trees.Most of them depend on animals to eat their fruits and spread their seeds.When the fruits are eaten,the seeds inside them go undamaged through animals’ stomachs and are passed out in their droppings.The seeds lying on the forest floor then grow into new trees.
1. The climate of the rain forests near the equator is _______.

A．mild,wet and windy	B．hot,rainy and foggy
C．hot,wet and cloudy	D．warm,wet and sunny

2. We can learn from the passage that _______.

A．tree leaves are green all the time in the monsoon forest

B．there is a dry season in the cloud forest on tropical mountains

C．clouds help the plants in the rain forest near the deserts to grow

D．the formation of climate in the rain forest has little to do with the trees

3. According to the passage,_______ play the most important role in the spreading of seeds.

A．animals

B．droppings

C．fruits

D．winds

4. This passage is most likely to be found in _______.

A．a travel guide	B．a story book
C．a technical report	D．a geography book