1 . Antarctica has not always been a land of ice and snow. Earth’s southernmost continent once was home to rivers and forests full of life.

Scientists are using satellite observations and radar imagery to look deep under the ice. The researchers report finding a large ancient landscape buried under the continent’s ice sheet. It is full of valleys and ridges (山脊) , shaped by rivers before being covered by glaciers long ago.

The landscape is located in East Antarctica’s Wilkes Land area bordering the Indian Ocean. The researchers said the landscape appears to date back to at least 14 million years ago and perhaps beyond 34 million years ago, when Antarctica entered its deep freeze.

“It is difficult to know what this lost world might have looked like before the ice came along, but it was certainly warmer back then,” said Stewart Jamieson, a professor at Durham University. “Depending how far back in time you go, you might have had climates that ranged anywhere from the climate of present-day Patagonia through to something more approaching tropical.”

“Such an environment likely would have been populated by wildlife”, Jamieson said. “But the area’s fossil record is too incomplete to know which animals may have lived there.”

The researchers said the surface of the planet Mars is better known than the earth surface below the ice in Antarctica. They said one way to learn more would be to drill through the ice and take a piece of the earth below. This could uncover evidence showing ancient life, as was done with samples taken in Greenland dating back two million years ago.

Jamieson said the researchers think that when Antarctica’s climate was warmer, rivers flowed toward a continental coastline that was created as the other land masses broke away. When the climate cooled, some small glaciers formed on hills next to the rivers. When the climate cooled even more, an ice sheet grew which covered the whole continent, the landscape got preserved, likely for 34 million years.

1. What can we learn about the ancient landscape?

A．It locates in the center of Antarctica.	B．It’s discovered by drilling through the ice.
C．It’s once a warmer area than it is now.	D．It has a history of no more than 14 million years.

2. In Stewart Jamieson’s opinion, why is it hard to know Antarctica’s past animals?

A．There is a lack of complete fossil record.

B．The ice sheet of Antarctica is melting quickly.

C．Scientists lack enough advanced equipment.

D．Climate conditions vary greatly from place to place.

3. Why is the planet Mars mentioned in paragraph 6?

A．To attract more scientists to study Antarctica.

B．To strengthen the importance of the Mars.

C．To indicate the complex situations of the Mars.

D．To show the difficult to know Antarctica’s earth surface.

4. What made the landscape get preserved for such a long time?

A．The colder climate.	B．The protection offered by coastlines.
C．Other land masses’ reduction.	D．A decrease in the number of wildlife.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Every year for over a millennium, fishermen have braved the subzero temperatures, biting winds and deep snow to search for     1     underwater fortune at Chagan Lake — one of the biggest freshwater lakes in our country.

Chagan is the only place in China     2     you can still find fishermen using a Mongolian fishing method that dates back centuries and has     3     (bare) changed over time. Holes are drilled in the ice     4     (lower) a 2-kilometer-long net into position underwater. Once it fills up with fish, the net is pulled out of the water using a giant wheel     5     (turn) by Mongolian horses. The largest fish in the     6     (season) first catch is believed to be lucky, and will go to the highest bidder at the auction (拍卖).

To ensure that this tradition can continue     7     damaging the lake’s ecology, fishermen keep nature in mind throughout the process.     8     (avoid) the use of modern vehicles helps reduce the chance of polluting the lake water, and the number of fish that can     9     (catch) is capped to ensure that there will be fish for years to come.

Also, over the past few years, the money from the auction has been invested into protecting the lake and surrounding environment. And during the summer, private fishing without     10     (permit) is strictly prohibited. These preservative measures have kept the tradition alive for thousands of years and certainly will be passed on to future generations.

3 . The Amazon

The Amazon River, the basin of which covers 2.3 million square miles, is incredibly biodiverse with over 30,000 species of plants and 1,800 species of birds. It plays an important role in adjusting the climate in North and South America. The River and its forests are threatened by human activity, primary pollution and rapid resource depletion (损耗). The Office of the American States Department of Sustainable Development is working to manage the threats.

The Mississippi

The Mississippi rises in western Minnesota and flows south for 2,530 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Millions of people in over 50 cities use water from the Mississippi, and the river is also used for shipping and agriculture. Hundreds of animal species, including 60% of North America’s birds, call the area around the Mississippi River home, but river pollution and shoreline habitat destruction threaten to displace them. Fortunately, many projects and organizations are devoted to its conservation.

The Danube

The Danube River begins in western Germany, flowing over 1,775 miles into the Black Sea. It spans 19 countries. The Danube features a richly diverse ecosystem, hosting 55 different species of fish. Cities across Europe use the Danube for power generation and agriculture, and there are more than 700 dams in total. Unfortunately, this river is overfished and heavily polluted. The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River was established in 1998 to manage its conservation.

The Mekong

The Mekong River is a necessary part of Southeast Asia’s landscape, culture, and economy. Also called the Lancang River, it starts in China, stretching over 2,850 miles through Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Its basin provides more than 65 million people with food, drinking water, power, and transportation. Dams and power plants are harming Mekong’s ecosystems. Organizations such as Conservation International are working to protect the river by advocating for its sustainable development.

1. Birds are affected most around________.

A．The Amazon

B．The Mississippi

C．The Danube

D．The Mekong

2. How many fish species does the Danube host?

A．70.

B．65.

C．55.

D．50.

3. What do that four rivers have in common?

A．They contribute to power production.

B．They How through multiple countries.

C．They are troubled by dam constructions.

D．They are under protection of organizations.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The year 2023 witnessed the significant protection plan released for Beijing’s Central Axis (轴线),     1    (stretch) for 7.8 kilometers through the Chinese capital. World-famous landmarks like the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven are located along the central axis,     2     construction began in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), and     3    (last) until the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The protection plan for Beijing’s Central Axis from 2022 to 2035 was released in January of 2023, marking     4     new stage in its conservation, sustainable development and application as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The plan is said to be one of the necessary steps for UNESCO World Heritage status, and     5    (it) release and implementation (实施) will play an important role in the protection and     6    (manage) of the capital’s central axis.

Alongside regulations on the protection of the Central Axis     7    (carry) out earlier, the plan is in line     8     the requirements of World Heritage conservation and provides an     9    (effect) strategy for the conservation.

The 21 member countries of the World Heritage Committee will decide on whether Beijing’s Central Axis can     10    (add) to the World Heritage List at the committee’s 46th annual conference in 2024. If the application succeeds, it will reinforce Beijing’s top position among cities worldwide by number of World Heritage Sites.

5 . At ancient sites across the Amazon River basin, mysterious plots of unusually rich soil dot (点缀) the landscape. Scientists have long debated the origin of this “dark earth”, which is darker in color than surrounding soils and richer in carbon. Some people think this dark earth formed naturally, but the latest research has shown that modern Kuikuro people in Brazil create similar soil around their villages on purpose, which adds evidence to the idea that long-ago Amazons deliberately made such soil too. Perron, an earth scientist at MIT, reviewed interviews of Kuikuro people conducted by a Kuikuro filmmaker in 2018 and found that Kuikuro villagers actively make dark earth by using ash, food bits and controlled burns. “When you plant in hilly land, the soil is weak,” explained elder Kanu Kuikuro in one of the interviews. That is why we throw the ash, manioc peelings and manioc pulp. When comparing soil samples from ancient and modern sites, researchers found “striking similarities” — both were far less acidic than surrounding soils and contained higher levels of plant-friendly nutrients.

Analyses also revealed that dark earth holds twice the amount of carbon as surrounding soils on average. Scans (扫描) of the Xingu region suggest that the area is dotted with dark earth, and that hold as much as about 9 million tons of carbon — the annual carbon emissions of a small, industrialized country. “This number could roughly equal the annual carbon emissions of the United States when all dark earth across the Amazon is taken into consideration,” Perron says.

Figuring out the true value of carbon stored in the Amazon’s dark earth will require more data. Still, the research has significant influences on the Amazon’s future. The technique highlights how ancient people were able to live in the Amazon by developing sustainable farming that doubled as a carbon-storing technique. With more and more greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere, it could also provide a blueprint for developing methods of sustainably locking atmospheric carbon in the soil, helping fight climate change.

1. What can we infer from the dark earth across the Amazon River basin?

A．They are more acidic than surrounding soils.

B．They contain more organic nutrients.

C．They formed naturally.

D．They contain less carbon.

2. Why does the author mention the annual carbon emissions of the US?

A．To explain the difficulty of protecting dark earth.

B．To show the wide distribution of dark earth in Amazon.

C．To stress the huge carbon-storing capability of dark earth.

D．To reveal the large carbon emissions of the United States.

3. What does the author stress in the last paragraph?

A．The importance of developing sustainable farming.

B．The advanced farming technology in ancient tomes.

C．A possible solution to climate change.

D．A way of green agriculture.

4. Which is the best title of the text?

A．Urgency of Sustainable Development	B．Facts About the Dark Earth
C．Advantages of the Dark Earth	D．Wisdom of Ancient Amazons

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Dujiangyan is an ancient irrigation system,     1    (locate) in the Min River Valley, Sichuan Province, China. It     2    (build) by a governor named Li Bing and his son, who have been admired by Chinese for over 2,000 years.

The system consists of three main     3    (part): the Yuzui (Fish Mouth) levee (河堤), the Feishayan(Flying Sand Weir) , and the Baopingkou (Bottle-Neck Channel) . The Yuzui redirects water away from the city of Chengdu while allowing sand and mud     4    (flow) through the main channel, preventing flooding. The Feishayan controls the flow of water and helps prevent gradual destruction, while the Baopingkou distributes the water     5     farmland.

Dujiangyan has been able to control the water flow without the use of dams or gates     6     is considered one of the greatest engineering projects in ancient China. It has also played a crucial role in irrigating the surrounding farmland,     7    (make) the region one of the most fertile croplands in China.

In addition to its     8    (practice) uses, Dujiangyan is also a popular tourist attraction,     9     visitors come to admire the ancient architecture and learn about its history. In 2000, it was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its cultural and historical     10    (significant) .

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Grand Canal is one of the great engineering wonders built by ancient Chinese. “It bears witness     1     a   remarkable and   early   development of   hydraulic (水利的)   engineering,” the UNESCO website states.

In ancient times, the Grand Canal     2    (serve) as the main channel for grain transport and every kind of economic and cultural exchange. It also facilitated the time-consuming journeys of laborers and materials for the     3    (construct) of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the capital city of the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Grand Canal had inspired the name of Chenchen, one of the three mascots (吉祥物) of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou. Chenchen, coming from the Gongchen Bridge,     4     stretches over the Hangzhou section of the Grand Canal, was colored blue     5    (represent) science and technology.

The Hangzhou section of the canal covers     6     total length of 39 kilometers, which is home to 11 of the canal’s total 58 historical     7    (site). It enters the city from Tangqi ancient town in Yuhang District, travels through Gongshu and Shangcheng Districts,     8     finally flows into the Qiantang River from the Three Gorges Ship Lock.

Visitors     9    (recommend) to take a boat trip on the ancient waterway to enjoy some of     10    (it) incomparable scenery as well as the amazing landscape of Jiangnan water town.

8 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容 (1个单词) 或括号内单词的正确形式。

A skywell, or “tian jing” in Mandarin, is a typical feature of a traditional home in southern and eastern China.     1     (expose) less to the outdoor environment, a skywell is different from a northern Chinese courtyard. Skywells are     2     (relative) common in historic residences in large areas of southern and eastern China.

In today’s rapidly urbanising China, fewer and fewer people live in skywell dwellings,     3     a revival of interest in traditional Chinese architecture is leading some of historic buildings with skywells     4     (restore) for modern times. Meanwhile, some architects are drawing     5     (inspire) from skywells to help keep new buildings cooler, which is a method     6     (combine) design and technology to cool a building without the use of power.

However, there are some     7     (challenge) for bringing skywells into modern designs. The mechanisms of courtyards facilitating natural lighting, ventilation (通风) and rain collection are well known, but applying these principles     8     (need) to be site-specific. Because traditional skywells had different shapes, sizes and features, which were highly dependent     9     their natural surroundings. Adding skywells into modern buildings requires designers to be sensitive to their project’s context and situation, making it difficult to apply them as     10     universal solution.

9 . The popular documentary series Aerial China (航拍中国) recently returned to the small screen. The latest and fourth season of it gives a perspective that is both excellent and informative. As the final of the series, the new season was shot across 11 provincial-level regions and started in the spring of 2020.

“The experience from the previous three seasons makes us more capable to follow wild animals while avoiding disturbing them,” says Yu, chief director of the series. China has made great efforts to protect endangered wildlife species and their habitats in recent years, and it has become much easier to spot rare species in the wild. Taking Tibetan antelopes as an example, the plateau-based creatures were difficult to encounter in the past, but the expansion of their population and enhanced research on their living patterns have allowed the camera crew to tailor plans to follow the animals.

Most close-ups for the season were shot by photographers from helicopters or cameras installed on drones (无人机). The vital moment for a successful shot depends on the mood of the animals or how good the weather is,” Yu says. In an attempt to fully show China’s huge changes over the past decade, the documentary series consulted experts from different fields to help select the most attractive shooting sites. In the final season, Aerial China has used 73 helicopters and 320 drones to shoot footage over an area of 900,000 kilometers, and selected around 1,000 staffers. More than 30 teams were assigned to shoot in different cities for the fourth season.

The previous three seasons have been watched by 850 million TV viewers and seen online over140 million times. For fans of the series, the director says he hopes that the new season will draw a bigger audience with its unusual perspective to show them China like never seen before.

1. Which can best replace the underlined word “perspective” in the first paragraph?

A．Reference.

B．Viewpoint.

C．Mention.

D．Standard.

2. Why are Tibetan antelopes mentioned?

A．To indicate a successful encounter.	B．To introduce new living patterns.
C．To show a biological improvement,	D．To save endangered wildlife species.

3. What does Paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．The team members’ roles.	B．The splendid shooting sites.
C．The hi-tech devices for shooting.	D．The efforts spent in the season.

4. What does the last paragraph want to tell us?

A．This is the last but one season.	B．This season is well worth viewing.
C．The series is popular with TV reviewers.	D．The series is intended for Chinese fans.