It’s really nice to see a lot of Tibetan antelopes (藏羚羊) on the green grass. However,
In order to save this species from extinction, the Chinese government placed it under
Gradually, the antelope population has recovered and
In a word, if we want
2 . The earth has many mysteries for people to explore and we live on the earth for protection. Do you know that the earth has two North Poles? There’s the geographic North Pole, which never changes. And there’s the magnetic (有磁性的) North Pole, which is always on the move. Over the past 150 years, the magnetic North Pole has casually wandered 685 miles across northern Canada. But right now it’s racing 25 miles a year to the northwest. This could be a sign that we’re about to experience something humans have never seen before: a magnetic polar flip (翻转). And when this happens, it could affect much more than just your compass.
Right now on the surface of the planet, it looks like it’s just a bar magnet. Our compasses are just pointing to one pole at a time because there’s mainly a two-pole system. But sometimes, the earth doesn’t just have a single magnetic North and South Pole. Evidence suggests that, for hundreds to thousands of years at a time, our planet has had four, six, and even eight poles. This is what has happened when the magnetic poles flipped in the past. And when it happens again, it won’t be good news for humans.
Now you might think, eight poles must be better than two. But the reality is that multiple magnetic fields would fight each other. This could weaken the earth’s protective magnetic field by up to 90% during a polar flip.
The earth’s magnetic field is what protects us from harmful space radiation which can damage cells and cause cancer. With a weaker field in place, some scientists think this could expose planes to higher levels of radiation, making flights less safe.
This could also interrupt the internal sense of direction in many animals that use the magnetic field for navigation (导航). Even worse, it could make certain places on the planet too dangerous to live in. But what exactly will take place on the surface is less clear than what will undoubtedly happen in space.
Satellites and space missions will need extra shelter that we’ll have to provide ourselves. Without it, intense universal and solar radiation will fry circuit boards and increase the risk of cancer in astronauts.
1. Which of the following can best describe the earth’s magnetic field?| A．The focus of scientific research. | B．The navigation of satellites. |
| C．The center of the universe. | D．The protective umbrella of humans. |
| A．Losing the ability to hunt for food. |
| B．Bearing very loud noise day and night. |
| C．Being unable to find directions exactly. |
| D．Being unable to protect themselves from danger. |
| A．Astronauts are more likely to suffer from cancer. |
| B．The magnetic North Pole is moving faster than before. |
| C．Flights aren’t allowed to travel as usual when the magnetic poles flip. |
| D．There are always more than two magnetic poles on the earth at a time. |
| A．What will happen when the poles flip? | B．The ways that scientists research poles |
| C．How and when will the poles flip? | D．The reasons why scientists research poles |
The Chinatown in San Francisco is the biggest in America, and also
4 . Last summer, I was sent to take photos that could communicate the urgency of climate change in northern Canada. When I arrived at an abandoned village on Resolute Bay, I scanned the shore with my camera. Suddenly, I spotted a bear lying on the ground. It didn’t move for almost an hour. But when it finally stood up, I had to catch my breath. The bear’s once strong body was just skin and bones; every step that it took was painfully slow.
When I posted the photos on social media, I wrote, “This is what starvation may look like. I wonder whether the global population of 25, 000 polar bears would die the way this bear is dying.”
I did not say that this particular bear was killed by climate change. But news organizations around the world focused on it. The first line of the story published in National Geographic read, “This is what climate change looks like” — with “climate change” highlighted in yellow. Other news agencies even adopted more dramatic headlines.
It was estimated that my photos had been read by about 2.5 billion people around the world. But there was a problem: Most people and the news agencies didn’t recognize or misunderstood the real message I tried to send with them. Many people expressed gratitude that I’d provided shocking evidence on climate change, while others who are still trying to deny the existence of climate change charged me with spreading false information.
Perhaps I had made a mistake in not telling the full story — that I was looking for pictures that might foretell the future and that I didn’t know what had happened to this particular polar bear.
I can’t say that this bear was starving because of climate change, but I am happy that my photos have moved the conversation about climate change to the forefront, where it must remain until this problem is solved.
Until then, when I come across a scene like this one, I will again share with the world — and take pains to be sure that my intention is clear.
1. How did the author feel when the bear stood up?| A．Shocked. | B．Scared. | C．Excited. | D．Relieved. |
| A．The story. | B．The photo. | C．A starving bear. | D．Climate change. |
| A．Provide more direct evidence on climate change. |
| B．Show the link between the bear and climate change. |
| C．Warn the possible results of climate change. |
| D．Expose the false information about climate change. |
| A．To admit his mistake. | B．To clarify his true intention. |
| C．To please his readers. | D．To show off his amazing trip. |
5 . Music is known to have a great deal of mental and physical benefits on humans. From helping to treat physical medical problems to relieving stress, music can be extremely beneficial in helping to improve health.
Animals may have a great deal of stress.
Music can be extremely beneficial for animals in high stress situations.
| A．It can create a space for them. |
| B．The same goes for our furry friends, too. |
| C．They could be stressed for a variety of reasons. |
| D．It would be a beneficial practice for all parties. |
| E．Another place where music can be helpful is in car rides. |
| F．There are ways that you can identify stress in your animals. |
| G．It’s no wonder loud noises can cause dogs and cats so much stress. |
6 . Children love getting dirty.
“Don’t get dirty!” was once a constant family warning, as parents despairingly watched their children spoil their best clothes. Whether they were running through farmers’ fields, climbing trees or catching tadpoles, it was inevitable that children’s whites would turn brown before the day was over.
Today, many parents may secretly wish their children had the chance to pick up a bit of dirt. With the rise of urbanism, and the temptation of video games and social media, contact with nature is much rarer than in the past.
What is gained in laundry bills may be lost in the child’s wellbeing. According to recent research, the dirt outside is teaming with friendly microorganisms.
Many of the psychological benefits of outdoor play are already well established. Natural scenes provide the perfect level of stimulation, which is thought to help recharge the brain when it is tired and easily distractible. Supporting this theory, one study from 2009 found that children with ADHD (多动症) were better able to concentrate following a 20-minute walk in the park, compared to a 20-minute walk on the streets of a well-kept urban area.
| A．For many, there is simply no opportunity to get muddy. |
| B．Being close to grass and trees seemed to have had a beneficial effect on their minds. |
| C．Besides these restorative effects, outdoor play can offer valuable learning experiences. |
| D．They are drawn to puddles like muddy magnets, with no regard for footwear or the color of their clothing. |
| E．As for the child’s physical health, the most obvious advantage of outdoor play may be the exercise. |
| F．People who grow up on farms are less likely to develop asthma, allergies, or auto-immune disorders. |
| G．They can train the immune system and build resilience to a range of illnesses, including allergies and asthma. |
One day I was wandering in the street when I
So enthusiastic was I about going along with Endurance
Unexpectedly, Endurance sank when
8 . A United Nations-backed mission is recommending that the Great Barrier Reef(大堡礁) should be added to the list of endangered World Heritage sites, warning that without “ambitious, rapid and sustained”climate action the world’s largest coral reef is in peril.
The warning came in a report published Monday following a 10-day mission to the reef last March by officials from UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The reef, a living place of great variety and beauty on the north-east coast of Australia, has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1981.
Australia’s federal government and Queensland’s state authorities should adopt more ambitious emission reduction targets, in line with international efforts to limit future warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, according to the report.
Feedback from Australian officials, both at the federal and state level, will also be reviewed before UNESCO, the U.N.’s Paris-based cultural agency, makes any official proposal to the World Heritage Committee.
The text is criticizing about recent efforts to stop mass bleaching(褪色) and prevent pollution from ruining the reef’s natural waters, saying they have not been fast nor effective enough. Unlimited emissions lead to increased water acidity, which can be poisonous.
More money should be found to increase the water quality and stop the site’s decline, the report concludes.
In an email to AP, the U.N. cultural agency said: “In recent months, we have had a constructive dialogue with Australian authorities. But there is still work to be done.”
1. What does the underlined word “in peril” mean in paragraph 1?| A．in short | B．in need | C．in action | D．in danger |
| A．It needs to be examined by UNESCO. |
| B．It covers successful emission reduction targets. |
| C．It includes many effective measures to protect the reef. |
| D．It has been submitted to the World Heritage Committee. |
| A．Australian authorities’ efforts. | B．Unlimited emissions. |
| C．United Nations’ warning. | D．Money for increasing the water quality. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Satisfied. |
| C．Objective. | D．Uncaring. |
9 . Super typhoon Rammasun swept over Hainan, China, destroying at least 23,000 houses and causing 2 billion dollars in damage. It was not just people who experienced the impact, though. In Hainan Bawangling National Nature Reserve, home to the world’s 30 remaining Hainan gibbons(长臂猿), landslides tore through sections of the forest. The gibbons, a species living in trees, were forced to jump across a distance of up to 50 feet to get from one area to another.
The gibbons sometimes would break their fall only by managing to catch hold of the tip of a particular palm leaf. As months passed, Bosco Chan at the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden in Hong Kong noticed that constant use caused the leaf to wear and bend downward, threatening to lead to the gibbons crashing down and breaking the extremely rare species’ habitat into different islands. “It’s really a matter of concern. Moreover, I didn’t know how long the leaf would be able to hold the gibbons,” he said. “I thought it was time for us to build something.”
As recently described in Scientific Reports, Bosco Chan and his colleagues turned to aerial(空中的) bridges. They hired professional tree climbers to confront and get over the steep landform to fix a simple bridge, consisting of two parallel mountaineering-grade ropes. It took the gibbons over five months to catch on, but once they learned to use the ropes, they started regularly using them to make safe, quick crossings.
Till now, aerial bridges have been used in other countries to help a diversity of animals ranging from squirrels to capuchin monkeys. But many are small, one-off projects carried out by local organizations or even individuals; with little or no scientific study of what does or does not work. In addition, a solution for one species or habitat may not be applicable to another.
1. What can be learned about Hainan gibbons?| A．They are severely endangered. |
| B．They mainly feed on palm leaves. |
| C．They are good at long-distance jumping. |
| D．They suffer a slight reduction in population. |
| A．Their weak link with nature. | B．Their fear of jumps between trees. |
| C．Their survival affected by typhoons. | D．Their habitats’ likely being damaged. |
| A．Make use of. | B．Get rid of. | C．Take down. | D．Deal with. |
| A．Their importance. | B．Their limitations. |
| C．Their potential uses. | D．Their long-term effects. |
| A．Cold and wet. | B．Warm and dry. | C．Sunny but windy. |
