1 . When you swim on the beach and sea, have you ever accidentally drunk the seawater? How did it feel? It must have tasted salty. So, why is the seawater salty?
Seawater is water that comes from the ocean. Seawater can be salty because it contains an average salt content of 3.5%. This is also a place for the salt farmers to produce cooking salt and other salt.
Some theories explain that seawater comes from rainwater that falls and flows through rivers and estuaries (河口) where the seawater will be fully filled and again formed clouds because the steam uses the help of the sun. When we talk about this, we talk about the rainwater cycle. But when the rainwater cycle occurs, the water that passes through the river carries mineral salts. These mineral salts are obtained from various places of the land starting from rocks and soils that the rainwater flows through, these remaining mineral salts make seawater salty, so the salinity of seawater is different in each part of the world. But it is certain that seawater is salty or has high salinity.
The saltiest sea in the world is the Red Sea. There the temperature is extremely hot so that evaporation (蒸发) is greatly carried out. High evaporation, coupled with little rainfall and little input of water from the river, causes its highest level of salinity. There is also the Dead Sea, which is nine times saltier. Due to the high salinity, when you swim there, you can float. However, the Dead Sea is not a sea at all which is a lake geographically.
1. What’s the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To draw a conclusion. |
| B．To make the article interesting. |
| C．To introduce a famous beach. |
| D．To bring in the topic. |
| A．Land. | B．Ocean. | C．Rain. | D．Cloud. |
| A．Its salinity is higher than that of the Dead Sea. |
| B．The climate there causes the highest salt level. |
| C．People are in danger when they swim there. |
| D．The land around it contains the most salt. |
| A．The reason why the seawater tastes salty |
| B．The reason why the Dead Sea is not a sea |
| C．The reason why the rainwater cycle occurs |
| D．The reason why the sea looks blue and green |
2 . The country’s first national park, Yellowstone, is renaming one of its largest mountains to honor indigenous people after research revealed the man it had been named after helped lead a massacre (屠杀) against local tribes. As part of the park’s 150th anniversary, officials announced the 10,551-foot high peak formerly called Mount Doane is now First Peoples Mountain.
“It is a victory, yes. Is history being rewritten and retold truthfully? I hope so,” William Snell, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, told NPR. His group helped advise federal officials on the name change. In an email, Snell said the change to First Peoples Mountain couldn't have come at a better time as Yellowstone officials prepare for the park’s anniversary in August.
The peak—along a range on the eastern side of Yellowstone Lake—had been named after Gustavus Doane, who helped lead the Washburn-Langford-Doane exploration in 1870 that eventually led to the park getting federal protection.
But recently, historians uncovered Doane’s role in an attack that left at least 173 Native Americans dead. Known as the Marias Massacre, Doane carried out the attack over the killing of a white fur trader. In writings, Doane cast a favorable light on the attack and even showed off about it for the rest of his life, the National Park Service said last week.
The renaming to First Peoples Mountain is part of a trend to better recognize the roles and contributions of Native Americans. It has also become a priority of the nation’s first indigenous cabinet secretary—the Interior Department’s Deb Haaland, who oversees the National Park Service—and Charles SamsⅢ, the first Native American to serve as that agency’s director.
Across the American West, many iconic representative mountains and other environmental places were named after early white settlers, mostly men and some with terrible pasts.
In Yellowstone, park officials say they may consider further changes to derogatory (贬损的) or inappropriate geographical names in the months ahead.
1. Why does Yellowstone decide to rename one of its largest mountains?| A．To gain more profits. | B．To uncover the history of 1870s. |
| C．To be in honour of Native Americans. | D．To change people's attitude towards the park. |
| A．The terrible pasts of Doane. | B．The effort historians made. |
| C．The contributions Doane made. | D．The conclusion National Park Service drew. |
| A．Improve the service qualities. | B．Learn from history events and characters. |
| C．Protect the environment of Yellowstone Park. | D．Consider renaming improper geographical names. |
| A．Doane regarded his deeds as a shame. | B．Doane was once mistaken for a hero. |
| C．Americans reacted to the renaming negatively. | D．The government thought little of the renaming work. |
3 . If you think about World Heritage Sites, you probably think of places associated with ancient art and culture, historical buildings and monuments. And of course, many of these are on the World Heritage List. But the World Heritage List contains a lot of sites that are not so obvious. Some of them are well known. Let’s get to know a few of them.
Robben Island in South Africa
This island was used through the centuries as a prison, a hospital and a military base. But it’s probably most famous as a maximum-security prison for political prisoners in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela was one of its most famous residents. The WHL says it represents the triumph (胜利) of democracy and freedom over oppression (压迫) and racism.
Borders of France and Spain
This is an area of great natural beauty and the mountains have many interesting geological formations. But it is also an area of small farms. People there still use a type of agriculture that used to be common in mountainous areas of Europe but has almost completely disappeared in modern times.
The city of Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia is a capital city that was created from nothing in 1956. The WHL calls it a landmark in the history of town planning. The different areas of the city and the buildings themselves were all designed at the same time so that they would harmonise with each other. Every part of the city shows the ideas of the planner and architect.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia
Simien National Park was one of the first sites to be listed in 1978. It is one of the highest mountain areas in Africa, and the WHL calls it one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. It is also important for its wildlife. It is home to some rare animals, whose population is getting smaller and smaller. That’s why the site is now on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Several little known sites on the WHL. |
| B．The household heritage sites on the WHL. |
| C．Some of the unusual sites on the WHL. |
| D．Places of artistic and historical interest on the WHL. |
| A．Robben Island in South Africa. |
| B．Borders of France and Spain. |
| C．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. |
| D．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. |
| A．For its natural scenery. |
| B．For its city planning. |
| C．For its unique wildlife. |
| D．For its special agriculture. |
4 . The village of Misfat al-Abriyeen has changed its fortunes by transforming mud-brick homes into fine hotels. The village of 800 people, located on the cliffs of Oman’s “Grand Canyon“, opened its narrow streets six years ago to foreigners and locals seeking adventure in the deserts and green corners of the Gulf area.
Villager Yacoub al-Abri said it all started in 2010 when his uncle suggested they take another look at the mud houses that had lain ignored for years in the ancient settlement about three hours’ drive from the capital Muscat. The owners had abandoned the centuries-old homes, fearing they could topple, and moved to the opposite side of the village where they built new accommodation.
The brown-walled homes, made of mud bricks with palm-leave roofs, were tuned into simple but elegant inns with wood furniture and handcrafts made using sill banded down from their ancestors.“We started with only five rooms, then we increased the number and bought other old houses. Today we have 15 rooms and there are plans to continue expanding until we reach 50,” Abri said.
At an altitude of more than 1,000 meters, the tiny village which is home to the Abri tribe is a charming collection of traditional houses located along dozens of small alleys (小巷) overlooking lands bursting with banana plants and citrus and palm trees. It is part of a region known as the Grand Canyon of Oman where tourists can hike the rocky mountains and valleys, and explore the old ways of local people. The region is also famed for its centuries-old stories that are still widely told in similar villages across the country.
Renoda, a Dutch psychologist living in Muscat, was visiting with three of her friends. “It’s perhaps the 10th time that I have visited this hotel since last year. I come here for a night or two every month, seeking calm, relaxation and comfort,” she told AFP.
1. What does the underlined word “topple” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Move. | B．Shrink. | C．Disappear. | D．Fall. |
| A．Splendid. | B．Outdated. | C．Traditional. | D．Ordinary. |
| A．The unique lifestyle of the local people. |
| B．The special location of the small village. |
| C．The introduction of the history of the village. |
| D．The attractive features of the small village. |
| A．She lives a busy life in the city. |
| B．She enjoys adventurous traveling. |
| C．She visits the villagers as part of her work. |
| D．She wants to settle down in this village permanently. |
5 . For thousands of years, Chinese writers have travelled all over the country to take down notes about the geographical conditions of each city. Among them, well-known Chinese geographer and writer Li Daoyuan, in the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), composed his book, Commentary on the Water Classics, after studying the original literary version, Water Classics. He later expanded the river records to 1, 252 from the original 137.
The book is now being studied again by Professor Li Xiaojie and his team from Fudan University. They have been using drawing software and 3D modelling to recreate the waterway situations on a map based on the book description. So far, they have completed research on four rivers.
“Ancient people knew really well how to apply the power of nature to technical considerations,”Li said, giving the example of Qianjin’e, one of the most famous ancient water conservation projects in Luoyang, Henan. In order to lead the river into the city for irrigation (灌溉) in ancient Luoyang, the officials built a canal branch by separating a northwest-southeast river. However, the canal water wasn't enough to support the citizens in dry seasons. To solve that, on the northern side of the canal branch, the officials built a reservoir (水库) and a channel to lead the water to the canal branch, where the waterways would converge and flow together to the city.
In Commentary on the Water Classics, a total of 2, 800 cities are recorded with details. Still, the process of recreation takes much effort. After doing a lot of text analysis and fieldwork, the team has gradually created the model with 3D modelling software based on repeated deductions (推论).
For Professor Li, the book is not only a record of the natural landscape over 1, 000 years ago, but also a detailed description of humanity and culture and a treasure for today’s reference.
1. What can we learn about the book Commentary on the Water Classics?| A．It has been out of date. | B．It explains 3D modelling. |
| C．It keeps records of 137 rivers. | D．It is based on previous studies. |
| A．Join. | B．Pass. | C．Cross. | D．Begin. |
| A．Its major problems. | B．Its detailed analysis. |
| C．Its complex process. | D．Its successful application. |
| A．3D Technology Fuels Modern Research |
| B．Ancient Classics Inspire Modern Research |
| C．An Effective Approach to Model Recreation |
| D．A Famous Writer of Chinese Ancient Classics |
6 . Warm Mineral Springs Park
Step into the past at the only natural warm spring in Florida! With a consistent average temperature of 85 °F year round, Warm Mineral Springs Park provides visitors with a number of recreation options. The spring is reported to have one of the highest mineral contents of any natural spring in the United States. With highly mineralized properties, internationally known for its healing qualities, the park attracts more than 130,000 visitors annually.
At Warm Mineral Springs Park, you will find a day full of relaxation. A variety of spa services are available to those who book in advance by calling (941) 426-1692. An on-site gift shop offers diverse items and souvenirs for purchase.
Pricing
Tickets are not refundable, cannot be exchanged, and cannot be reissued if lost or stolen. Same day re-entry is permitted. Residents include all of Sarasota County. Proof of residency includes driver’s license, water bill and tax bill. Entry pricing, including sales tax, is as follows:
| Pass | Resident | Non-Resident |
| Adults (ages 18 and above) | $15 | $20 |
| Students (ages 6-17) | $11.25 | $15 |
| Children (ages 5 and younger) | FREE | FREE |
| Annual Pass | $1,125 | $2,000 |
| 10 Visit Pass | $112.50 | $150 |
| 30 Visit Pass | $150 | $200 |
General Rules
To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors, please respect the following rules:
♦ Children 10 years and younger must stay in the children’s area.
♦Children ages 11-16 must remain in the outer border.
♦You must be 17 years or older to swim in the middle.
♦No toys are allowed in the water.
♦No food or drinks in the water.
♦No visitors may block the entrance or exit ramps (坡道).
♦Devices for the producing or reproducing of sound are prohibited.
For Daily Programming, Contact: (941) 426-1692
Hours of Operation: Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Open every day, with the exception of December 25.
1. What makes Warm Mineral Springs Park unique in Florida?| A．The natural spring. | B．The recreation options. |
| C．The average temperature. | D．The mineral contents. |
| A．$11.25 | B．$22.50 | C．$15 | D．$30 |
| A．Visitors can purchase souvenirs all year round. |
| B．The entrance or exit ramps aren’t available to visitors. |
| C．Activity zones are separated according to the age of visitors. |
| D．Each visitor to the park can relax himself through spa services. |
7 . Most of Florida is a flat peninsula (半岛) with water on three sides and houses built as close to the shoreline as possible. For one thing we are more frequently the target of hurricanes than any other state; for another, our geography makes us more easily to be hurt by rising seas.
A news story about climate change in Florida popped up. Historically, scientists believed mangroves (红树林) didn’t live farther north than Cedar Key, in the middle of Florida’s Big Bend. But that’s not the case anymore. Samantha Chapman, a biology professor who’s been studying how Florida’s mangroves have been migrating (迁移), found them up near the St Mary’s River, which forms the border between Florida and Georgia. It seems that they soon be marching through Georgia and becoming a thriving new component of coastal habitats.
But a coastal biologist named Blair Witherington took issue on the matter. The mangroves weren’t spreading into a new territory, he pointed out. They were entering areas that had been classified as saltmarsh (盐沼), where the landscape was dominated by cordgrass. Saltmarsh and mangrove create very different habitats that attract a very different set of animals. “When one community replaces the other, this diversity is lost,” Witherington remarked. Changing the animals’ habitat has the potential to influence the whole food chain, making a widespread difference.
What was driving this? “Mangroves can survive a short freeze, but not a prolonged, hard freeze. By combing through the weather records kept by the state’s orange juice industry, biologists have been able to document that Florida is having fewer prolonged hard freezes than it used to. Then the mangroves have adapted by expanding their range.” Samantha explained.
“They’ve adapted in another way, too. Not only are the mangroves spreading into areas that once were unfriendly to them, but they have also changed their life cycle to speed things up. Normally it takes them about 15 years of growth before they start making seeds. Now, as they get into these marshes, they’re producing seeds when they’ re only a couple of years old,” Samantha said.
The problem with having too many mangroves by the sea is that climate change may overwhelm them. A study by the US Geological Survey said sea level rise could wipe out mangroves all along the Florida coast. So, here’s the question we humans have to consider: Nature is finding ways to adapt to how we’ve changed the climate. What are we doing to adapt to it? Or at least slow it down?
1. What can we learn about the state of Florida?| A．It could be affected by high tides easily. |
| B．Its geography fuels shipbuilding industry. |
| C．Its houses are built in a high-lying but flat area. |
| D．It is often hit by tornadoes and suffers huge losses. |
| A．They migrate to warmer regions. |
| B．They are marching into a new habitat. |
| C．They form the border between Florida and Georgia. |
| D．They are introduced into Florida to prevent flooding. |
| A．Saltmarsh is fragile and requires urgent protection. |
| B．Florida includes a rich diversity of natural habitats. |
| C．The benefits of the mangroves outweigh their troubles. |
| D．Everything in the ecosystem is connected complicatedly. |
| A．What mangroves had to face in their habitats. |
| B．Whether mangroves had influence on other plants. |
| C．How mangroves adapted to the changing environment. |
| D．Why mangroves had a different life cycle in marshes. |
| A．Human beings are supposed to worship nature. |
| B．It is urgent to grow more mangroves along coastlines. |
| C．Measures against mangroves’ migration are far from enough. |
| D．What we should do to stop the climate change is still up in the air. |
8 . Unique and distinct to Rwanda, milk bars make many of our communities get together. They are places to meet for breakfast or lunch. They are also places to socialize with people of different backgrounds. While it is difficult for strangers to understand these local milk bars, they reflect a little-known truth about how intrinsic cows and milk are to Rwandan culture.
Pascal Kubwimana, a taxi-moto operator who has been coming to Kuruhimbi almost every day for two years, says he is not going anywhere. “I love the milk here,” he said, washing down his bread and beans with a litre of hot milk. “It helps me feel good all day when I have it for breakfast. I even take some home in the evening. My children love it.”
With around 70% of Rwanda’s population engaged in agriculture, cows are an economic advantage as well as a symbol of wealth and social status in rural areas. In fact, cows are held in such high regard here that it’s common to include the animal into your child’s name. Many traditional Rwandan dances are also inspired by cows. In the Umushayayo, which is often characterized as a sort of Rwandan ballet, women imitate the gentle movements of cows while showing their beauty and grace. And in the Ikinyemera, Igishakamba and other dances, men and women stretch their arms upward to represent cow horns.
In Rwanda, when you want to wish someone well, you say “gira inka” (may you have a cow) or “amashyo” (have thousands of cows), and you’ll hear the response, “amashongore” (have thousands of female cows). When you want to express profound gratefulness, you say “nguhaye inka” (I give you a cow).
1. What can people do in milk bars according to paragraph 1?| A．Wear unique clothing. | B．Learn to prepare lunch. |
| C．Communicate with others. | D．Drink free specially-made milk. |
| A．He is fond of the milk bars. |
| B．He usually gets help from the barkeepers. |
| C．He often takes his children to the milk bars. |
| D．He dislikes staying too long in the milk bars. |
| A．The large population of Rwanda. | B．The traditional dances in Rwanda. |
| C．The importance of cows in Rwanda. | D．The agricultural development of Rwanda. |
| A．To wish someone well. | B．To convey deep thanks. |
| C．To congratulate someone. | D．To respond to someone’s question. |
9 . Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is the largest urban park in theworld, spanning more than 200,000 hectares. In fact, it is almost ten times as large as Table Mountain National Park, the world’s second-largest. Chugach State Park is located in Anchorage, Alaska. The park itself contains various different geographical features, including tall mountains, foothills, lakes, and rivers. It also includes hiking trails that are very popular with tourists.
Pedra Branca State Park
It is an urban park spanning 12,394 hectares in one of Brazil’s largest cities, Rio de Janeiro. It can more accurately be described as an urban forest. The park protects half of what is known as the Atlantic Forest remnant of Rio de Janeiro. It contains more than 900 species of plants and almost 500 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish.
Margalla Hills National Park
The third-biggest urban park in the world, consisting of 17,386 hectares, is located in the city of Islamabad, which is the capital of the South Asian nation of Pakistan. The park was established in 1980. The park boasts several species of birds, reptiles, and mammals, and it is an extension of the Islamabad wildlife sanctuary. It also includes several hiking trails that are popular with tourists and locals.
Bukhansan National Park
It is located in Seoul, the capital of South Korea. The park itself, which has an area of 7,992 hectares, has been designated by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Most Visited National Park per Unit Area,” and is visited by an estimated 5 million people a year. It is very popular with hikers and contains Buddhist temples. The park is also home to around 3, 100 animal species.
1. What do we know about Table Mountain National Park?| A．It is located in the US. | B．It is the largest urban park. |
| C．It has an area of 20,000 hectares or so. | D．It’s the most famous for its different species. |
| A．Chugach State Park. | B．Pedra Branca State Park. |
| C．Bukhansan National Park. | D．Margalla Hills National Park. |
| A．Both of them lie in Asia. |
| B．Both of them are of the same size. |
| C．Both of them are especially popular with foreigners. |
| D．Both of them are home to endangered animal species. |
10 . If you have lived in New York City for many years, like I have, the skyline becomes part of you and your daily life.
When I was invited to visit the recently completed Summit One Vanderbilt, New York’s fourth-highest tower, I wasn’t expecting much. I felt like I’d seen it all and I thought that this observation deck (观测台) would be another space for a view of the city, but nothing else.
Let me tell you something: I have never seen one like this before. It sits on top of a building on 42nd street and Vanderbilt, right next to Grand Central Station. Once you have ascended to the top floor, you step into air, which makes you feel like being at l,000 feet above ground level with its mirrored floors. Once you make your way throughout the space, you feel like New York is part of a body, and your sense of space is challenged by the reflections of the light. The reflections create endless possibilities for photos and videos, and the light changes throughout the day. I took out my camera and began to take photos, feeling a connection with the city that no other observatory has been able to give me.
Summit is something unique, an art work with architecture. It will be an observatory that will change with the city. I personally can’t wait to take photos at sunset, or when winter arrives.
1. How did the author feel when invited to visit Summit One Vanderbilt?| A．Curious. | B．Happy. | C．Amazed. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Risen. | B．Turned. | C．Referred. | D．Adapted. |
| A．It is the only tower in New York. |
| B．It lies far from Grand Central Station. |
| C．It provides a good place for taking photos. |
| D．It is exactly 1, 000 feet high from the ground. |
| A．To stress a point. | B．To introduce a site. | C．To raise awareness. | D．To promote tourism. |
