1 . Earth is a big place, but size isn’t everything. The planet’s richest ecosystems are in rapid decline, forcing us to acknowledge countless creatures worldwide are running out of room.
85% of all species on the IUCN Red List are endangered due to many forms of habitat loss, from complete deforestation to less obvious effects of pollution and climate change. Every species needs a certain amount of habitat to find food, shelter and mates, but for a growing number of animals, the space where their ancestors found those things is now overrun by humans. As habitats decline, animals also grow more vulnerable to secondary dangers like disease or conflict with people.
According to many scientists and conservationists, the best strategy to avoid a dramatic loss of biodiversity is to set aside half of Earth’s surface area for wildlife. That might sound like a big sacrifice at first, but upon closer inspection, it’s still an incredibly sweet deal for us: One species gets half the planet, and all other species must share the other half. This idea has been around for years, confirmed in programmes like the WILD Foundation’s “Nature Needs Half” campaign, but it has gained more different opinions recently. And it may now have one of its most forceful arguments yet, thanks to a 2016 book by well-known biologist E. O. Wilson titled Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for Life.
Half-Earth, therefore, isn’t so different from today’s Earth. We’re already doing many of the right things, as Wilson recently told the University of California-Berkeley’s Breakthroughs magazine. We still have a few big biodiversity zones left, and others that could still recover. We just need to protect as many wilderness areas as we can, fill in gaps wherever possible and do no further harm. “I’m sure we can go from 10% to 50% coverage, land and sea,” Wilson says. “It could be large reserves that still exist, like in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia, in the taiga, the major wilderness areas of Congo, in Papua New Guinea, the Amazon—these can be made inviolate reserves; they can be pieced together.”
1. What is the main cause of wildlife’s rapid decline?| A．Habitat loss. | B．Terrible disease. |
| C．Conflict with people. | D．Poor living conditions. |
| A．The method to save our planet. | B．The real profession of E.O. Wilson. |
| C．The solution to avoiding wildlife decline. | D．The origin of “Nature Needs Half” campaign. |
| A．Curious. | B．Confused. | C．Concerned. | D．Confident. |
| A．Sharing the Earth with other animals. | B．Changing our attitude toward wildlife. |
| C．Increasing the population of wild animals. | D．Protecting the existing habitat for wildlife. |
2 . Bioluminescence (生物发光) is a natural phenomenon wherein a chemical reaction within an organism’s body produces light. It can be found in many places in nature — fireflies, some mushrooms — but mostly in the deep sea.
Recently, Rambouillet, a small historic French town, has teamed up with a company called Glowee to turn the city into a full-scale bioluminescence laboratory. The goal is to change the way in which cities use light. The company uses marine (海的) bacteria harvested from the coast of France. It makes some of the town’s public light up in the cool blue of bioluminescence.
These bioluminescent bacteria are stored in a seawater filled tube, giving the bacteria room to float around and light up. The light provided by the bacteria is part of their natural metabolism, so producing the light requires no energy other than that which is needed to feed the organisms. This makes it much more environmentally friendly and sustainable than electric light, which consumes a huge amount of non-renewable energy.
“On the way to lighting up the world with bioluminescence, you have to feed the bacteria and add water as they grow. That’s not so easy. The phenomenon will be very temperature-dependent and I doubt that it will work in the winter. Also, bioluminescence is not very bright compared to electrical lighting, though they have improved the light intensity,” Carl Johnson, a professor from Vanderbilt University said.
One potential solution to these issues — and one that Glowee is looking into — is to remove the biological aspect of the whole process. Theoretically, luciferase (荧光素酶) can be removed from the bacteria and used to create light instead of the bacteria itself. Because luciferase is non-living, it doesn’t need to be fed. Creating new means of sustainable lighting is a way of being environmentally friendly without plunging the earth back into darkness.
1. What do we know about Glowee?| A．It is an ancient laboratory in France. |
| B．It solves power shortages in coastal cities. |
| C．It adopts bioluminescence as a light source. |
| D．It feeds marine organisms to produce chemicals. |
| A．The reasons for energy waste. |
| B．The advantages of the marine bacteria as light. |
| C．The living conditions of the bioluminescent bacteria. |
| D．The difficulties of storing bioluminescent organisms. |
| A．The bacteria work more efficiently under low temperatures. |
| B．It will cost too much to improve the luminescence intensity. |
| C．The application of bioluminescence enjoys a bright prospect. |
| D．The development of bioluminescence faces many challenges. |
| A．A Historic Town Lit up by Nature |
| B．The First Zero-carbon City in the World |
| C．A Reform of Producing Electricity in Cities |
| D．The Discovery of Luciferase in Marine Bacteria |
3 . “A lot of the time when climate change is discussed in mainstream media, people are asking ‘can humans overcome this?’, or ‘what technology can solve this?’. It’s high time we recognized that animals also have to adapt to various changes. We know some animals change their skin colors to escape from natural enemies or due to environment pollution,” says Ryding. “The climate change that we have created is putting a lot of pressure on them, and some species try to adapt by shapeshifting (变形). ”
Strong shapeshifting has particularly been reported in birds. Several species of Australian parrot have shown, on average, a 4%—10% increase in beak (鸟喙) size since 1871, and this is positively linked with the summer temperature each year. North American dark-eyed juncos, a type of small songbird, had a link between increased beak size and short-term temperature extremes in cold environments. There have also been reported changes in mammalian species. Researchers have reported tail length increases in wood mice and leg size increases in masked shrews (鼩鼱).
“The increases in some body parts size we see so far are quite small—less than 10%—so the changes are unlikely to be immediately noticeable,” says Ryding. “However, some body parts such as ears are predicted to increase.”
Ryding intends to investigate shapeshifting in Australian birds firsthand by 3D scanning museum bird specimens from the past 100 years. It will give her team a better understanding of which birds are changing their body parts and why. “Shapeshifting does not mean that animals are coping with climate change and that all is ‘fine’,” says Ryding. “It just means they are adapting to survive it—but we’re not sure what the other ecological consequences of these changes are, or indeed that all species are capable of changing and surviving. ”
1. What may cause animals’ shapeshifting according to Ryding?| A．Human hunting. | B．Climate change. |
| C．Natural enemies. | D．Polluted surroundings. |
| A．Giving examples. | B．Cause-effect analysis. |
| C．Making comparison. | D．Process analysis. |
| A．Animals can well adapt to changes and survive. |
| B．Influence of animals’ shapeshifting is uncertain. |
| C．Rdying will research into bird museums in Australia. |
| D．All adaptations of animals to climate change are beneficial. |
| A．Technology. | B．Health care. | C．Environment. | D．Education. |
4 . 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 |
5 . I went for a walk up to a local park and Chester was running about. Suddenly, two dogs appeared, attacking him. He got
My family had almost lost
And it’s easy to see why. Can you
Having saved hundreds of dogs, the method is clearly
Erica’s drone has helped create countless happy
| A．concerned | B．annoyed | C．scared | D．confused |
| A．speak for | B．focus on | C．turn to | D．adapt to |
| A．sick | B．gone | C．injured | D．stuck |
| A．attitude | B．contact | C．track | D．hope |
| A．impressions | B．signals | C．experiments | D．behaviors |
| A．Besides | B．However | C．Therefore | D．Otherwise |
| A．family | B．job | C．chance | D．dog |
| A．location | B．company | C．adventure | D．arrangement |
| A．particular | B．familiar | C．successful | D．suitable |
| A．spot | B．explore | C．concentrate | D．rescue |
| A．forbidding | B．allowing | C．ordering | D．warning |
| A．challenging | B．improving | C．working | D．surviving |
| A．apply | B．wish | C．answer | D．charge |
| A．reunited | B．recognized | C．requested | D．admired |
| A．destinations | B．solutions | C．goals | D．endings |
6 . If the grass looks greener after the skies have cleared, your eyes aren’t cheating you. “There are several reasons rain helps lawns green up,” said Jennifer Knoepp, a soil research scientist with the USDA Forest Service in Otto, North Carolina.
After it rains, there’s typically more water available in the soil for plants. When plants take up that water, they are also taking up nitrogen (氮) from the organic matter that’s in the soil. “As plants grow, their small roots die and new roots grow,” Knoepp said. When that happens, soil microbes (微生物) cause the dead roots to rot. This process is similar to adding fertilizers to your lawn, but only this action takes place underground and naturally, without your awareness. As rain runs into the soil, it activates the microbes to give off more nitrogen. The grass benefits from the freshly fallen rain because the water allows the roots to take up this “new” nitrogen as well as the nitrogen that the microbes have previously produced. At the same time, “the grass is very active with photosynthesis (光合作用)” when the sun returns, Knoepp explained.
Even though rain increases the nitrogen that’s available to your lawn in several ways, you can’t count on nitrogen from rain to meet all the fertilizer needs of your grass or your vegetable garden. Commercial fertilizers are still needed for a balanced fertilizer program, but Knoepp urges caution in applying them. While nitrogen is vital for good plant growth, be sure to follow package directions. Too much of a good thing can be harmful not only to plants but to nearby ponds, lakes, streams and rivers. After all, it’s not green streams but green lawns that homeowners want to see when the clouds depart and the sun returns.
1. What makes the grass look greener after the rain?| A．The cleanup of the rain. | B．Slower photosynthesis. |
| C．The appearance of new roots. | D．Increased absorption of nitrogen. |
| A．The production of nitrogen. | B．The process of plants’ growth. |
| C．The effects of photosynthesis. | D．The method of natural fertilizing. |
| A．Be careful not to overuse fertilizers. | B．Keep a commercial fertilizer program. |
| C．Collect as much rainwater as possible. | D．Take advantage of nitrogen from rain only. |
| A．Skeptical and critical. | B．Cautious and confident. |
| C．Objective and humorous. | D．Scientific and conservative. |
President Xi Jinping announced the country’s goal to make carbon dioxide emissions (排放) reach the highest point before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality (碳中和) before 2060. Thus, active
In the next five years, forest coverage and grassland in China are to reach a higher level. “We will further promote a much
In March, the administration released a report
8 . After erupting almost continuously for over three decades — from 1983 to 2018 — Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano finally seemed to lose steam , producing no lava (岩浆) for nearly two years. The stillness ended on the night of December 20, 2020, when the active volcano began erupting lava fountains, gas and steam from a crack in the northwest wall of the Halema’uma’u crater (火山口).
By December 31, 2020, the volcano had erupted over 27 million cubic meters of molten rock — enough to fill more than 8000 Olympic-sized swimming pools — and replaced the existing water lake with a nearly 600-foot-deep lava lake. Fortunately, the magma (岩浆) is contained inside the volcano’s crater and does not bring a risk to people or property as it did in 2018, when the molten rock flowed through a residential neighborhood, destroying over 700 homes.
Residents have, however, been asked to limit outdoor activities in areas with high volcanic smog, which is a form of air pollution created when sulfur dioxide and other pollutants sent out from volcanic activity interact chemically with atmospheric steam, oxygen, dust, and sunlight. While not deadly, it can bring unpleasant feelings to skin, eyes, nose and throat, and it can be particularly harmful to individuals with breathing problems.
Now recognized as one of the world’s youngest and most active volcanoes, Kilauea was initially believed to be one offshoot of a bigger volcano. It was only after researchers discovered a magma system extending over 37 miles inside its crater in 1884 that the volcano was finally accepted as a separate unit.
Many locals believe that Kilauea’s eruptions are caused by Pele, a Hawaiian volcano goddess who lives in the mountain. According to a popular folk story, the goddess was forced to leave Tahiti. Upon arriving at Hawaii, she burst with anger, creating destructive fire caves and volcanoes. While Pele was killed during an historic battle with her sister Nāmaka on the island of Maui, her spirit lives on inside the Halema’uma’u crater.
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?| A．The volcano is located near a lake. | B．Kilauea was completely dead in 2020. |
| C．Magma seldom erupts out of craters. | D．The 2018 eruption did some damage. |
| A．The roads were ruined after the eruption. | B．The volcano may erupt at any time. |
| C．The volcanic smog can be harmful to people. | D．The atmosphere outside was deadly. |
| A．Branch. | B．Mixture. | C．Ancestor. | D．Product. |
| A．How Kilauea got its name. | B．Why Kilauea became active. |
| C．The origin of Kilauea. | D．A tale about Kilauea. |
9 . While dogs openly show joy or displeasure through different expressions, judging a cat’s feelings from its face is often hard, even for its owners. Now, researchers from Canada’s University of Guelph declare that cats also express emotions (心情) on their faces — one just has to learn how to interpret them!
For their study, Professors Lee Niel and Georgia Mason recruited (招募) 6300 people from 85 countries. The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire and watch 20 short cat videos, obtained mostly from YouTube. Each video highlighted just the cat’s face — its eyes, nose, and mouth — and gave no clues to its surroundings or circumstances. The viewers did not have to determine the cat’s exact emotion, but just decide whether it was in a positive state or a negative state.
The researchers, who published their findings in the November 2019 issue of Animal Welfare, found that only 13 percent, or 819 participants, were able to read the cats’ emotions accurately over 75 percent of the time. Further research showed that the so-called “ cat whisperers ” were primarily women. Younger adults also seemed to be able to read the expressions better than older individuals.
“ The fact that women generally scored better than men is consistent with previous research that has shown that women appear to be better at understanding non-verbal displays of emotion, both in humans and dogs, ” said Mason. And the answer to both results lies in the fact that they are gifted in doing these. Surprisingly, being a cat owner did not help study participants, indicating that a strong attachment to the animal did not necessarily mean better understanding of its emotions.
Fortunately, all is not lost for cat owners who are unable to tell their pet’s emotions. The researchers believe the skills are not inborn but learned over time. “ This is important to be able to do because it could help strengthen the bond between owners and cats, and so improve cat care and welfare, ” said Niel.
1. What were participants required to do after watching cat videos?| A．Decide the cat’s emotion state. | B．Judge the cat’s exact emotion. |
| C．Analyse the cat’s living conditions. | D．Determine the cat’s personality. |
| A．An old man. | B．A middle-aged man. | C．A young woman. | D．A cat owner. |
| A．Women have more time to spend with pets. | B．Women have a talent for understanding emotions. |
| C．Women have strong affection for animals. | D．Women have a strong will to understand animals. |
| A．It can be obtained through studying. | B．It is necessary for those raising pet cats. |
| C．It is difficult especially for cat owners. | D．It improves the owner’s social bond. |
10 . Time to load up some popular games: new research indicates pigs possess the mental capability to play video games. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, tested the ability of four pigs (Hamlet, Omelette, Ebony and Ivory) to play a simple joystick (操纵杆) game with their noses, moving a cursor (光标) to four targets on the screen. Although the animals didn’t demonstrate the skills to win a round any time, they did show an understanding of some elementary games. Performing well not by chance, the pigs appeared to recognize the movement of the cursor was controlled by the joystick. The fact that they did so well despite a lack of flexible fingers is “extraordinary”, according to the researchers.
“It is no small achievement for an animal to grasp the concept that the behaviour they are performing is having an effect elsewhere. That pigs can do this to any degree should give us pause as to what else they are capable of learning and how such learning may impact them, “said Purdue University’s Dr Candace Croney, the study’s lead author.
Researchers also noted that while the pigs could be taught to play the game using food as positive motivation, they also responded well to social interaction. In fact, when the game was made more challenging and the pigs became unwilling to participate in it, “only oral encouragement by the experimenter” would see training continue.
These findings are the latest to highlight the intelligence of pigs. Not only have they been shown to use mirrors to find hidden food, but studies have also demonstrated how pigs can be taught to “come” and “sit” after oral commands.
As with any sentient (有感觉力的) beings, how we interact with pigs and what we do to them impacts and matters to them. We therefore have a moral duty to understand how pigs acquire information, and what they are capable of learning and remembering, because it ultimately offers the potential for how they understand their interactions with us and their environments.
1. What can be learned from Paragraph 1?| A．The pigs sometimes won the video games. |
| B．The pigs operated joysticks with their noses. |
| C．The pigs competed with each other in the games. |
| D．The pigs sometimes performed well accidentally. |
| A．Stop us from advancing. | B．Affect us in learning. |
| C．Make us think seriously. | D．Force us to train pigs better. |
| A．Their being inspired by human words. | B．Their being driven by food. |
| C．Their being willing to keep trying. | D．Their being motivated by challenges. |
| A．Smart Pigs: Best Animal Players | B．Flexible Noses: Fun Games |
| C．Oral Commands: Pig Learners | D．Pig Players: Learning Potential |
