In places like California, the Rocky Mountains, and the Southern United States, wildfires are an unavoidable reality.
Wildfires can cause damage to property and human life, but they have many beneficial effects on native vegetation (植被), animals, and ecosystems that have evolved with fires. The forests, including pine barrens, lodgepole pine forests and many more, require fires to reproduce because the trees in the forest are adapted to only produce seeds following a major fire event. Therefore, without them many of these forest types would decline.
A fire renews the watershed (集水区) in ways including, but not limited to, recycling of nutrients, increasing food sources for fish in streams, supplement to streamside vegetation, spread of fire-adapted plants, etc. not to mention renewal of the soil chemistry which is vital to the forest and the watershed. The basis is that of someone who has studied wildfires and streams since the 1988 Yellowstone wildfires. The science backs up how natural wildfires can be favorable through research publication after publication.
It’s like “resetting the clock” on the ecosystem, allowing the forest to function smoothly all over again for another 200 years. By the way, a stand burning fire such as the Yellowstone fires of 1988 also results in the landscape of younger forest mends which act to reduce the spread of future wildfires and can stop a major wildfire in its tracks.
The bottom line is that we may need today’s natural wildfires to prevent more serious catastrophic fire events in the future. That lesson was learned in Yellowstone in 1988 which was a year of disastrous largescale fires after more than 50 years of fire suppression (压制).
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2 . Standing on the shore of a lake, I can’t help but feel surprised at the thousands of small rocks that surround my boots. They were all created from
Even the tallest mountains have
But I’m not a
Two years ago, while traveling in the Pacific Northwest, I watched a restaurant owner ask several young men to
The group of young men wanted to
You can fit more rounded rocks in a jar than those with sharp edges. The former look for ways to
I placed a
A.fragile | B.shiny | C.smooth | D.hard |
A.piled up | B.worn down | C.risen up | D.broken down |
A.will | B.voice | C.attitude | D.heart |
A.Still | B.Often | C.Here | D.Once |
A.understanding | B.confident | C.patient | D.competitive |
A.contribute | B.exist | C.work | D.develop |
A.fool | B.soul | C.rock | D.judge |
A.explain | B.leave | C.apologize | D.pay |
A.contradictory | B.confusing | C.forceful | D.discouraging |
A.get through | B.stick to | C.deal with | D.fight against |
A.think | B.care | C.talk | D.argue |
A.even | B.however | C.anyway | D.also |
A.hardships | B.struggle | C.experiences | D.failure |
A.open | B.cautious | C.ambitious | D.independent |
A.ignore | B.accept | C.adjust | D.change |
A.excuse | B.agreement | C.entrance | D.inch |
A.Nature | B.Tolerance | C.Tide | D.Time |
A.reforming | B.seeing | C.exploring | D.travelling |
A.sharp | B.rounded | C.valuable | D.rolling |
A.class | B.belief | C.meeting | D.discussion |
3 . The Silk Road is arguably the most famous long-distance trade route of the ancient world. This passage connected Europe in the West with China in the East, and allowed the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas between the two civilizations. Although merchants could make huge profits travelling the road, it was not without risk.
The main Silk Road started in Chang’an (known today as Xi’an), the early Han capital. Travelers commencing their journey from this city could take a northern route that would take them across China’s northwestern provinces. After this, they would face the Gobi Desert, arguably the greatest danger of the Silk Road.
The Gobi Desert, the largest desert in Asia, consists mainly of rocky, hard earth. This feature made it easier for traders to travel across, compared to sandy deserts like the neighboring Taklamakan Desert. Like other deserts, the Gobi Desert is dry and hot, and therefore the biggest challenge travelers faced was obtaining enough water for themselves as well as for their camels.
So, rest stops were created along the route, allowing travelers to rest, eat and drink. These places also promoted the exchange of goods, and even ideas, amongst the travelers who stopped there. Usually, the rest stops were placed within a day’s journey of each other. In this way, travelers could avoid spending too much time in the desert, which would make them targets for robbers, another danger of the Silk Road.
Once through the Gobi Desert, travelers would continue their journey into Iran, Turkey, and finally Europe. While this part of the journey may have been less dangerous, it is not entirely without its perils (风险).
1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers to _________.A.making huge profits | B.traveling the Silk Road |
C.exchanging goods and ideas | D.connecting different civilizations |
A.The desert’s surface was easier to walk on. |
B.Camels for transportation were easier to find. |
C.It was smaller and could be crossed in less time. |
D.There were more natural water sources available. |
A.Travelers were offered free accommodation. |
B.They were located around the edges of the desert. |
C.They were shared by travelers from different countries. |
D.Exchanging goods and ideas there was entirely without risk. |
A.The origins of the Silk Road. |
B.The benefits of the Silk Road. |
C.The difficulties faced by Silk Road travelers. |
D.The cultural exchanges among Silk Road travelers. |
Four ancient Chinese irrigation (灌溉) sites have been honored as World Heritage Irrigation Structures,
Tianbao Weir (堰), one of the newly
Longshou Canal and Ancient Luohe River Irrigation District in Shaanxi Province is said to be the first underground canal in China’s history. The canal is a major branch of the Yellow River,
The Weirs of Baishaxi Stream Project in east China’s Zhejiang Province is made
Sangyuanwei Polder Embankment (堤) System
The ancient irrigation projects are treasures of the development of Chinese water culture
5 . Mount Tai, located just north of Tai’an city in East China’s Shandong Province, is a mountain of historical and cultural
Among the Five Sacred Mountains (the other four are Heng Mountain of Hunan Province, Hua Mountain of Shaanxi Province, Song Mountain of Henan Province and Heng Mountain of Shanxi Province), Mount Tai is only the third highest. Why is it seen as the
In absolute terms, Mount Tai cannot be considered as the highest of China’s mountains, but because it is
Many Chinese emperors climbed to the top for enthronement (登基) or other significant ceremonies in ancient China, for they considered it to be a
Mount Tai is famous for its various stone inscriptions, which are the works of either ancient emperors or celebrities. The stone inscriptions
A.evidence | B.significance | C.confidence | D.existence |
A.partner | B.member | C.leader | D.laggard |
A.close | B.far | C.remote | D.proper |
A.absolute | B.relative | C.real | D.perfect |
A.altitude | B.width | C.longitude | D.attitude |
A.However | B.Therefore | C.Otherwise | D.Moreover |
A.chance | B.change | C.death | D.renewal |
A.gift | B.symbol | C.beginning | D.call |
A.look at | B.go through | C.look for | D.go back |
A.preserved | B.ruined | C.collected | D.hid |
A.newspapers | B.information | C.articles | D.advertisements |
A.combine | B.change | C.stop | D.increase |
A.exciting | B.famous | C.delicate | D.rough |
A.importance | B.magnificence | C.possibility | D.difference |
A.powerless | B.pale | C.weak | D.forceful |
6 . There are around 100 tribes(部落)that live in global isolation, mostly in South America and India. The Sentinelese have lived on one of the Andaman Islands in Eastern India for 60, 000 years. They protect their island by fighting against people from outside. Their language is different from any other known language. Another Andaman tribe is the Jarawa. In the past, they were independent and fought against anybody trying to make contact with them. But in 1998, the Indian government built a road across their land, and since then, they’ve had more contact with the outside world.
Some Amazon tribes avoid contact because of unhappy memories. The Mashco-Piro left their vegetable gardens after rubber companies killed most of their tribe at the beginning of the 20th century. Those who survived became nomadic(游牧的)and started hunting animals in the forest.
The Awa live in the Amazon forests ofBrazil. Out of 350 members, 100 have no contact with the outside world. They left their villages and adopted a nomadic lifestyle around 1850 to escape attacks by Europeans. In the following years, farmers in nearby communities started cutting the trees to expand their farmland. The Awa lost most of their hunting land. The few Amazon tribes that still exist are fighting to keep their traditional way of life.
Survival, an organization that fights for the rights of tribal people, says that uncontacted tribes are the most vulnerable(弱势的)humans on the planet and that’s why their environment should be unavailable to the rest of us. After years of pressure, the organization got Brazil’s government to clear non-natives from the Awa land. All non-Awa people are leaving so the tribe can get their forest back.
But some think it's impossible for tribes to stay isolated forever in a connected world. Contact will be made one day. So the question is:Whose choice should it be, ours or theirs?
1. What can we learn about the Sentinelese from the first paragraph?A.They resist contact from the outside world. |
B.They speakthe same language as the Jarawa. |
C.They are wild about fighting with other tribes. |
D.They have got help from the Indian govemment. |
A.To protect their hunting land. | B.To search for food sources. |
C.To avoid threats from Europeans. | D.To maintain their original way of life. |
A.The tribes should be left undisturbed. |
B.The tribes should fight for more living space. |
C.The cribes should live in harmony with nature. |
D.The tribes should adapt to the connected world. |
A.The Nomadic Tribes in the World | B.Seeking Survival of Tribes |
C.The Unavailable Tribal Environment | D.Protecting the Tribal Forests |
7 . One of America’s best-known artist colonies, the MacDowell Colony, will turn 110 next year. It is a place where artists of all types can sweep away distractions(分神之事) and just create.
MacDowell’s operations are funded by foundations, corporations and individuals. Writers, composers, photographers, filmmakers and sculptors—both famous and unknown—compete for the 32 free studios at the place. Once accepted, an artist can stay for as little as a couple of weeks, or as long as a couple of months.
When they arrive, artists find a kind of isolation(隔绝)hard to find in our world. There’s no phone. No fax. No friends. No family. It’s just a cabin in the snowy woods.
Writer Emily Raboteau lives in New York City. She came to MacDowell to work on a novel. She received a desk, chairs, pencils and paper—and ice grippers. The walk from one isolated, one-room studio to another is icy, so colony residents fasten the ice grippers to the bottom of their shoes.
Another colony resident, Belfast composer Elaine Agnew, play a piece called “To a Wild Rose, ” written by Edward MacDowell. She says it’s so famous that every pianist in the world has played the tune. A hundred years ago, MacDowell owned the land where the colony now sits. He liked its isolation and his ability to get work done there. After his death, his wife, Marion, encouraged other artists to come.
And for the last century, artists have accepted the invitation, coming to step outside of their daily lives for a short time. Privacy is respected, but cooperation and discussion is common.
Screenwriter Kit Carson—who wrote Texas Chainsaw Massacre Ⅱ and the film adaption of Sam Shepherd’s play Paris, Texas—has visited MacDowell twice. He says that the interdisciplinary(学科间的) discussion there is valuable.
“You sit around at dinner, talking, and then somebody runs off and brings you back some stuff and shows it to you. ”He says. “That, I didn’t realize, was part of the magic here, because people are really open to showing their opinions here. ”
1. Who sponsored MacDowell’s operations?A.Artists of all types. |
B.The government and individuals. |
C.Foundations, corporations and individuals. |
D.Writers, composers, filmmakers and sculptors. |
A.They find it hard to survive the loneliness. |
B.They usually stay in the colony for months. |
C.They are already famous in their own field. |
D.They are nearly cut off from the outside world. |
A.To show respect for MacDowell. |
B.To admire her great musical talent. |
C.To introduce the origin of the colony. |
D.To tell us the wide range of the residents. |
A.Artists and Their Dream |
B.Wonderland for Artists |
C.Creativity at Work |
D.Power of Silence |
Jingdezhen porcelain(瓷器)is Chinese porcelain produced in or near Jingdezhen in southern China. Jingdezhen has produced porcelain
Although being a remote town in a hilly area, Jingdezhen is near the quality porcelain stone and forests which can provide plenty of wood for the kilns. It also has
Jingdezhen has produced a great variety of
9 . A comparison of nesting data recorded in the early 1900s with similar data today for more than 200 species of California birds shows that over all they are breeding(繁殖)5 to 12 days earlier than they did 75 to 100 years ago.
Earlier studies found that many but not all birds in California’s mountains are moving north or to higher altitude to find cooler temperatures in the face of global warming.
The shift to earlier breeding that we detected allows birds to nest at similar temperatures as they did a century ago, and helps explain why half the bird species in the mountainous areas of California did not need to shift upward in altitude in response to climate warming over the past century, said Steven Beissinger, a UC Berkeley professor of environmental sciences.
Early spring arrivals have long been noted by the public and reported by scientists, but the assumption has been that the birds are tracking resources, primarily food: with warming temperatures, plants produce leaves and seeds earlier, and insects appear earlier.
The new study spotlights another major reason: by nesting a week earlier, birds produce eggs and young at a temperature about 1 degree Celsius lower than if they nested at the normal time in the same place. This exactly counterbalances the approximately 1 degree Celsius increase in global temperatures over the past century.
“By nesting a week or 10 days earlier, birds are avoiding some of the negative effects of climate warming,”Beissinger said.” the good news is that there may be more flexibility for species to respond to climate change than we thought, and not all species may need to move farther north or to higher altitudes, “he added. “But we don't know yet whether staying in place and shifting schedules earlier is a permanent solution, or only provides temporary relief from the 2 degree Celsius rise in temperatures forecast to occur.”
Birds may find, for example, that the window of good temperatures for breeding becomes shorter, which may limit the opportunity to re-nest if they fail the first time. Larger species that have a longer nesting period might not have an enough time to complete their nests before it starts to become too warm, he said.
1. To fight against the global warming, earlier studies found that _______.A.some birds tried to find cooler places |
B.some birds failed to nest more than ever |
C.some birds began to produce eggs earlier |
D.some birds woke up earlier to catch insects |
A.Early birds catch insects and get tender leaves |
B.Global warming is responsible for earlier springs |
C.Birds are smart in adapting to the climate changes |
D.Birds are likely to have difficulty in breeding ways |
A.Adds to |
B.Reduces to |
C.Makes up for |
D.Goes along with |
A.Birds’ moving north and global warming. |
B.Early breeding of birds and climate changes. |
C.Changes of birds’ life and early spring arrivals |
D.Birds' reaction and early appearance of foods. |
10 . Mapping Antarctica
Antarctica was on the map long before anyone ever laid eyes on it. Nearly 2,400 years ago, ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle believed that a great continent must exist at the bottom of the world. They though it was needed to balance out the continents at the top of the world. In the 1500s, mapmakers often included a fanciful continent they referred to as Terra Incognita(Latin for “unknown land”) at the bottom of their maps. But it was not until the 1800s -----after explorers had sighted and set foot on Antarctica----- that mapmakers got down to the business of really mapping the continent, which is one—and—a –half times rhe size of the U.S..
While the coastline could be mapped by ships sailing around the continent, it took airplanes—and later, satellites---to chart Antarctica’s vast interior(内陆). That job continues today. And it is a job that still require a mapmaker, or cartographer, to put on boots and head out into the wild.
Cole Kelleher is familiar with that. He is a cartographer with the Polar Geospatial Center(PGC), which is based at the University of Minnesota and has a staff at McMurdo Station. PGC teamed up with Google to use the company’s Trekker technology to capture images of Antarctica for the Internet giant’s popular feature, Street View. A Trekker camera, which is the size of a basketball, is set about two feet above a backpack. The camera records image in all directions. “It weighs about 50 pounds. I was out for two and a half days, hiking 10 to 12 hours each day,” says Kelleher. It was hard work, but really an incredible experience.” According to Kelleher there are plans to use the technology to create educational apps for museums.
The PGC staff at McMurdo Station provides highly specialized mapmaking services for the U.S. Antarctic Program. For one project, Kelleher used satellite images to map huge cracks in the ice. That helped a team of researchers know whether they could safely approach their field camp on snowmobiles. Another recent project was to help recover a giant, high—tech helium(氦气) balloon used to carry scientific instruments high into the atmosphere. These balloons are launched in Antarctica because there is no danger that they will hurt anyone when they fall back down to Earth. Using satellite images, Kelleher and colleagues created maps of where the balloon could be found.
Antarctica may no longer be Terra Incognita, but it still holds countless mysteries. Cartographers and the maps they make will continue to be essential in helping scientists unlock those secrets.
1. From the passage, we can infer that Antarctica was on the map in the 1500s when________.A.mapmakers knew it was much larger than the U.S. |
B.Aristotle named the continent Terra Incognita |
C.no one had ever seen or been to the continent |
D.it was such an interesting continent as was often referred to |
A.It needs much work for the mapmakers to head out into the wild. |
B.The interior can only be mapped by planes and satellites. |
C.It is relatively easy to map Antarctica’s coastline by ship. |
D.Antarctic is a vast but still mysterious continent. |
A.to capture images of Antarctica for Street View |
B.to test the company’s Trekker technology |
C.to create educational apps for museums |
D.to hike for an incredible experience |
A.satellite images which are used to map huge cracks in the ice |
B.a high-tech helium balloon for carrying scientific instruments |
C.how to safely approach the researcher’s field camp and the balloon |
D.the specialized mapmaking services provided by the PGC staff |