1 . It took an ill screech owl (鸣角鸮) to teach a scientist the value of up-close-and-personal study.

In his Harvad talk, Carl Safina, an ecologist and author of Alfie and Me: What Owls Know, What Humans Believe, recalled that the chick was found dying in his backyard. Safina took it in and planned to nurse it back to health and then perform release. But the owlet's flight feathers didn't grow properly. Safina delayed the release. Over those extended months, Safina got to know Alfie in ways that moved and changed him.

“An owl found me and then I was watching ‘an owl’,” he said. “It was no longer an owl after a while, it was ‘she’ because she had a history with me. This little owl, who was with me much longer than I thought she would be, became an individual to me by that history and all those interactions.”

The bond with Alfie strengthened to the point that, when she was finally released, she created a territory with Safina's home at its center. Safina was able to spend hours each day observing her in the woods as she learned to take care of herself in the wild, met two mates, and raised chicks of her own.

When he heard Alfie calling, Safina said, he'd call back and she'd land nearby. Their closeness allowed him to learn more things about screech owls. Field guides, for example, describe two known calls but he identified six, some of which you have to be quite close to hear. The relationship also opened a window for Safina onto personality differences between Alfie and her mates.

When pointed out that his approach to Alfie—including the act of naming her—ran counter to widespread scientific practice, Safina said he wasn't concerned about violating (违反) convention, particularly if something interesting like individual personality differences among owls could be learned.

The experience caused Safina to think more deeply about humankind's relationship with nature and the kind of personal connection he was able to feel with a wild individual. “What I learned from Alfie is that all sentient (有情感的) beings seek a feeling of well-being and freedom of movement,” Safina said. “That's a guide to what's right and what's wrong to me.”

1. What do we know about Alfie?

A．She developed a close bond with Safina.

B．She was a fictional character in Safina's book.

C．She intentionally landed in Safina's backyard.

D．She was dying because of the broken flight feathers.

2. What happened after Safina released Alfie?

A．Alfie chose to stay with Safina at his home.

B．They maintained a continous communication.

C．Alfie met mates and raised chicks by herself.

D．Safina kept his distance from her to prevent attachment.

3. What did Safina achieve in his study?

A．Recording six different calls of the screech owl.

B．Identifying different types of owls by their calls.

C．Learning how to release owls back into the wild.

D．Understanding personality differences among owls.

4. How did Safina's experience with Alfie impact him?

A．He became more focused on exploring nature.

B．He initiated his commitment to wildlife conservation.

C．He developed a deep appreciation for the welfare of living creatures.

D．He decided to guide readers to distinguish between right and wrong.

2 . For nearly as long as the modern computer has existed, it has been used to forecast the weather. First used during World War II to simulate (模拟) nuclear weapons, computers were soon adopted to simulate the future state of the atmosphere, creating the modern discipline of weather prediction. Although that discipline has grown ever more complicated and now produces reliable forecasts several weeks in advance, its approach remains the same: using large amounts of calculating power to solve equations (方程).

Over the past year, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to change that. Tech companies including Google and Nvidia have trained AI models to predict the weather up to 10 days in advance, with an accuracy equaling or even topping traditional models — and with far less calculation overhead. Rather than solving equations, these AI models predict the near future based on patterns learned through training on 40 years of past weather, which is recorded by the traditional model of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the world’s top weather agency. Once trained, the AI models can work out a forecast on a computer in 1 minute rather than taking 2 hours to run on a supercomputer.

ECMWF has already begun to produce its own AI forecast, and other weather agencies are eager to catch up. The new models aren’t perfect. They struggle to predict certain essential features—hurricane intensity, for example. But AI forecasters will only improve as they begin to learn from direct weather observations collected by sensors, not just data already passed through existing models. Besides, their speed could allow agencies to run them over and over, as they capture in the atmosphere the full spread of uncertainty, be it necessary or unnecessary for weather prediction.

No one expects traditional weather prediction to disappear. Another branch, climate models, an extension of weather forecasting, for example, rely on equation solving just as traditional weather models do. But in the long term, the output of climate models may itself become training data for a climate forecasting AI, which might ultimately do a better job than the traditional models.

1. How do AI models predict weather?

A．By running on a supercomputer.	B．By recording traditional models.
C．By working on the existing data.	D．By making massive calculations.

2. What is a limitation of AI weather forecasters?

A．They may be overly operated.	B．They may be slow to respond.
C．They may confuse natural disasters.	D．They may bring unfair competitions.

3. What do we know about climate models?

A．They lack accurate data.	B．They need intensive training.
C．They work in a traditional way.	D．They determine weather forecasting.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．How Can AI Aid Atmosphere Study?

B．Should We Trust AI to Predict Hurricanes?

C．Weather Forecast Is Having an AI Moment

D．Tech Giants Are Competing in Data Collection

3 . European shepherds (牧羊人) and ranchers (大牧场主) are taking the lead in forest fire prevention, by leading their animals to clear away underbrush that allows fires to grow too big, a new study shows.

In thinner forested areas, large herbivores (食草动物) were found in a study to be greatly effective in reducing forest fire risk. “In general terms, it is clear that wild and semi-wild herbivores like horses can reduce wildfire risk through their eating grass,” says Julia Rouet-Leduc, lead author of the study. “Such herbivores can be particularly effective in remote areas, where careful management can prevent wildfire and benefit wild nature in other ways.”

Smaller animals like goats and sheep are ideal for areas that lack natural predators (捕食者). There are no large predators in all of Italy, and without the risk of losing an expensive animal, the eating habits of these smaller animals kept on a farm make them perfect for clearing underbrush and things which larger herbivores can’t stomach.

But there were laws that prevent goats and sheep from entering woods in order to protect them. Since natural numbers of red deer, and other native herbivores have long since disappeared from European forests, the loss of sheep and goats meant that nothing prevented grass from spreading in forests, turning brushfires into dangerous disasters.

That’s why shepherds on Sardinia have written a letter to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, asking not only to allow their animals to eat grass within the woods, but to create a restoration project of rural areas in Montiferru, where Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years recently burned its way from the mountain tops to the sea.

Their plan is to bring in more shepherds to better control the fires, and encourage eco-tourism in the area, to incentivize the shepherds to stay. This is already seeing success through both private and public inspiring measures in Catalunya, Spain.

1. What do Julia Rouet-Leduc’s words mainly show?

A．Shepherds should keep large herbivores.

B．Herbivores can greatly help reduce wildfires.

C．Better management is needed to protect forests.

D．Wild and semi-wild herbivores lack natural predators.

2. Why were there not sheep and goats in woods in the past?

A．They were not allowed by law.

B．They couldn’t feed well there.

C．They had been killed by hunters.

D．They had been eaten up by predators.

3. What was the purpose of shepherds on Sardinia in writing the letter?

A．To ask permission to raise more sheep.

B．To protect woods from hungry goats and sheep.

C．To offer a way of protecting forests from wildfires.

D．To draw attention to Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years.

4. What does the underlined word “incentivize” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Pay.

B．Prove.

C．Remind.

D．Encourage.

4 . Joshua trees — some of the most unusual and famous plants of the American Southwest — have survived as a species for some 2.5 million years in the Mojave Desert. Now, they may face extinction due to climate change.

In a new study published in the journal Ecosphere, researchers and volunteer scientists surveyed nearly 4,000 trees in southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park to figure out where the oldest trees grew the best during historic periods of extreme heat and drought. Then, the researchers estimated (估算) how many of these Joshua safe areas would survive to the end of the century based on a range of climate change predictions.

The study authors found that if greenhouse gas emissions (排放物) are seriously limited and summer temperatures are limited to an increase of 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit, about 19% of the park’s Joshua tree habitat (栖息地) would survive after the year 2070. If no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and summer temperatures rise by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or more, however, only 0.02% of the tree’s habitat would survive to the end of the century, leaving the tree close to extinction.

One way to save the Joshua trees from extinction is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, even if the habitats survive, these trees will still be in danger because of wildfires, which have also been happening more often as the climate warms. According to the researchers, fewer than 10% of Joshua trees survive when wildfires rush through their habitats.

“Removing grass is a way park rangers (护林员) are helping to protect the area from fire today,” Sweet, a plant ecologist at the University of California, said. “By protecting the trees, they’re protecting a host of other native insects and animals that depend on them as well.”

1. Why did the researchers survey some Joshua trees?

A．To predict the number of Joshua trees.

B．To know their past and predict their future.

C．To make sure they will be safe from disasters.

D．To set up more nature reserves for Joshua trees.

2. What would the researchers agree with as for Joshua Tree National Park’s Joshua trees?

A．Their future is in humans’ hand.

B．Their numbers are dropping greatly.

C．They may adapt to rising temperatures.

D．They are suffering most from climate change.

3. What does the last but one paragraph focus on?

A．Another way to save Joshua trees.

B．Another threat Joshua trees may face.

C．The importance of Joshua trees’ habitats.

D．The chance of fire happening to Joshua trees.

4. Which best describes the park rangers’ work of removing grass?

A．Skilled.	B．Challenging.
C．Creative.	D．Worthwhile.

5 . 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 strong earthquake made Joseph Cadeau wake up from sleep on Saturday. Cadeau, a teenage boy,     1     (immediate) got up and ran out of his home in Les Cayes, a city in Haiti. On the way out, Cadeau was knocked out by rubble (碎石). Moments later, Cadeau moved out of the house with great     2     (difficult). Unable to walk, Cadeau lay down in the street.

Cadeau was one of at least 12,268 people     3    were injured during the earthquake. It struck Haiti’s southwest region around 8:30 am on Saturday,     4     (claim) at least 2,207 lives, according to Haiti’s Civil Protection agency.

Cadeau managed to get out of the rubble     5    his own. He was not sure how long he had lain in the street until he     6     (rush) to a health facility eventually by     7    stranger. When Cadeau reached the health facility, he had to wait since there were not     8     (sufficiency) health workers to take care of so many injured people. While he was waiting, Cadeau’s foot began swelling (肿胀).

“I received treatment too late, which is why my foot is swollen like that,” said the teenager, pointing at    9     (he) swollen foot. “Fortunately, I survived and have a chance     10     (rebuild) my hometown and give back to the society.”

6 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where is Arctic terns' breeding place?

A．In the Indian Ocean.

B．In the Fame Islands.

C．In the Cape of Good Hope.

2. When will Arctic terns reach their destination?

A．In March.

B．In July.

C．In November.

3. Where does the bar-tailed godwit fly?

A．To Africa.

B．To New Zealand.

C．To the Antarctica.

4. Who do the longest mammal journey?

A．Whales.

B．Dragonflies.

C．Leatherback turtles.

7 . Al Larson, also known as “The Bluebird Man”, first began his labor of love after he read an article that described how building birdhouses could help to control their falling populations. After seeing a bluebird going in and out of a dead tree in his yard, Larson became inspired to start setting up little boxes that could serve as nests (鸟窝) for bluebirds.

What started as a hobby in his retirement turned into a full-time effort — and after almost forty years of devotion, he has recorded over 30,000 bluebirds, thanks to the 350 birdhouses that he has built across southwest Idaho. He often travels over 5,000 miles to check on all of his boxes during the summer nesting season.

Since bluebirds live in dead or nearly-dead trees, their population began to drop after the invention of the electric chainsaw (链锯) in the early 1900s, which made it easier for homeowners to remove their dead trees. In addition to having their habitats destroyed, the use of pesticides (杀虫剂) caused an uncertain future for the bluebirds of Idaho. But the efforts of Larson have shown us that if we take a moment to understand the needs of a species, we’ll find a way to deal with the problem. Though he is nearing the age of 97, Larson shows no signs of slowing down. Also, his inspiring story has been turned into a documentary Bluebird Man.

“Al is a living example of how much one person can achieve when they set their mind on a task. But he’s also an example of the benefits that a project like this can have for people,” filmmaker Matthew Podolsky said. “Bluebirds have given meaning to Al’s life, and they are truly the secret to his long life.”

1. Why is Al famous as “The Bluebird Man”?

A．He likes observing bluebirds.

B．He often feeds food to bluebirds.

C．He set up many boxes for bluebirds.

D．He made the documentary Bluebird Man.

2. Where do bluebirds usually make their nests?

A．In dead trees.	B．In Al’s house.
C．In gardens.	D．In boxes.

3. Which is the one of the reasons that caused the population of bluebird to drop?

A．The government controlled the populations of bluebirds.

B．The nests for bluebirds was destroyed by people.

C．Bluebirds lived in dead trees and were short of food.

D．Their habitats have been destroyed and people often used pesticides.

4. Which saying can best describe Al’s story?

A．Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

B．The roses in her hand, the flavor in mine.

C．One is never too old to learn.

D．All roads lead to Rome.

8 . Nearly a million bats are killed each year in the United States by crashing into working wind turbines (涡轮机), pushing the Department of Energy (DOE) to take some measures.

As the United States seeks to expand wind energy to reduce carbon emissions and minimize climate impacts, land-based wind turbines are emerging as a threat to several bat species. In 2022, wind power generated about 10 percent of U. S. energy and accounted for half of the electricity from renewables. DOE projects U. S. wind capacity to nearly triple by 2050, adding 260 gigawatts. Some of the increase will come from offshore wind farms, which are less harmful to bats. “The 880, 000 bats killed every year in the United States is a shockingly large number, ” said Winifred Frick, a chief scientist at Bat Conservation International.

The death count suggests many bat species could become endangered in the next few years. The value of bats goes beyond benefits that farmers get from pest control. They have a positive impact on pollinating (授粉) plants and increasing agricultural production. They could also help scientists understand aging and death better because bats have relatively longer life.

But the scientific community currently has no idea why wind turbines attract bats or how to keep bats away from the turbines whose blades reach 200 feet. DOE has given scientists millions of dollars, aiming to address the knowledge gap.

The fund is going to scientists who will test untried methods of bat protection. The goal, Frick said, is to “find solutions that can maximize energy production while minimizing the number of bats killed.”

Frick’s team has received $ 2. 5 million to test whether the bright lights fixed on turbines to warn aircraft pilots are attracting bats. If that is the case, wind farms can put up aircraft detection systems that will turn on flashing warning lights only when an airplane is nearby and reduce bat deaths. DOE’s funding will allow researchers at the nonprofit research institute to run tests in a wider range.

1. What can be inferred from the figures in paragraph 2?

A．Wind power is a top priority for DOE.

B．Wind turbines are becoming attractive to bats.

C．Land-based wind farms are more friendly to bats.

D．Bats are indirect victims of environmental awareness.

2. What significance do bats have according to the text?

A．They provide insights into life science.	B．They are the primary killers of insects.
C．They are used for studies on energy generation.	D．They have a decisive effect on crop production.

3. Which can best explain the underlined word “gap” in paragraph 4?

A．Difference.

B．Conflict.

C．Ignorance.

D．Imbalance.

4. What will DOE’s funding be used for?

A．Supporting the setup of bright lights on turbines.

B．Promoting wide-ranging research on bat conservation.

C．Exploring ways to make energy production bat-friendly.

D．Seeking methods for improving wind energy production.

9 . A dog named Kobe became a hero by finding a gas leak in his owner’s front yard. The dog’s action underlined the importance of paying attention to the _______ of our companions.

The story began when Kobe, owned by Chanell Bell, was _______ digging a sizable hole in the yard. Initially _______ it as typical dog behavior, Bell grew _______ as the hole expanded. _______ that Kobe’s action was unusual, she _______ the dog’s judgment, given his normally well-behaved nature.

Following the _______ and repair of a recent gas leak in her home, Bell _______ her house with a gas detection device. She assessed Kobe’s _______ dug hole using the device. The device detected gas coming from the hole, so Bell contacted the authorities about the ________ .

“If the gas had continued to leak into our homes,” said Bell, “something as ________ as a light switch turning on could have caused an explosion!”

Workers discovered three main leaks in Bell’s neighborhood caused by aging pipes. It took the workers over three days to repair the leaks and ________ new pipes. Bell said, “Kobe ________ them as an exceptionally outstanding dog. It feels amazing to know Kobe went to that kind of ________ to save our block. Humans and animals can, should and must enjoy each other’s ________ . I am very thankful to have Kobe.”

1.

A．attitude

B．health

C．behavior

D．performance

2.

A．delayed

B．suggested

C．spotted

D．finished

3.

A．regarding

B．studying

C．doubting

D．accepting

4.

A．astonished

B．concerned

C．annoyed

D．determined

5.

A．Declaring

B．Assuming

C．Recognizing

D．Remembering

6.

A．trusted

B．respected

C．used

D．admired

7.

A．description

B．association

C．instruction

D．identification

8.

A．decorated

B．equipped

C．restored

D．protected

9.

A．secretly

B．originally

C．freshly

D．carefully

10.

A．plan

B．reaction

C．device

D．issue

11.

A．simple

B．typical

C．sudden

D．dangerous

12.

A．check on

B．set up

C．put aside

D．take over

13.

A．served

B．defined

C．reminded

D．struck

14.

A．place

B．trouble

C．extreme

D．change

15.

A．company

B．diversity

C．achievement

D．gratitude

10 . In a groundbreaking project, China First Metallurgical Group has completed its first overseas waste-to-energy plant in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The largest waste incineration (焚化) power plant in Vietnam has not only revolutionized waste management in the country but has also involved the training of local workers. The plant has addressed the city’s growing waste problem by processing 4,000 metric tons of urban waste every day, about 60 percent of the city’s daily waste, the group said. The technology in the facility not only converts waste into green energy but also ensures environmentally friendly treatment.

Hu Changbing, manager of the group’s Vietnam branch, said, “The plant is an achievement of the cooperation between China and Vietnam. It is a green project that benefits local residents.” Since the first unit started generating electricity in July, 2022, the plant has been operating well, Hu said.

The project was built on the former site of Hanoi's waste treatment center, where the majority of the city’s waste was previously buried in landfill. In addition to generating clean energy through incineration, the plant also produces environmentally friendly bricks from the residue (残渣). The emitted gases and wastewater are treated to meet European Union emission standards and achieve drinking-water quality. Covering an area of 170,000 square meters, the plant consists of waste storage pools, incinerators, treatment and processing plants, and waste gas treatment facilities.

Recalling the start of the project, Hu said to gain the trust of local residents, his group set up a dedicated team of Chinese and Vietnamese personnel to explain the benefits of the project and take on local people. Vietnam lacked experience in waste incineration power plant construction. The Chinese team has set a bench mark (标杆) for the local industry and left behind valuable technical knowledge, Hu said. During the peak of construction, over 80 percent of the 2,000 workers employed were locals. “The local workers proved to be intelligent and diligent. They learn skills quickly,” Hu said.

In 2021, Hu took over the management of the Vietnam project. Hu, a native of Yichang city, Hubei province, has been working with the group for 23 years since graduating from Hubei University of Technology with a degree in civil engineering. Chinese masters led groups of Vietnamese workers, teaching them skills and safety regulations, and assessing their qualifications before allowing them to work.

This success has also inspired the construction of multiple waste incineration power plants in Vietnam, with many workers having gained their skills and experience from the project, he added. The project was carried out under the framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and was aimed at contributing to the sustainable development of the Vietnamese capital.

1. How many metric tons of urban waste are produced daily in Hanoi?

A．About 4,000 metric tons.	B．About 5600 metric tons.
C．About 6000 metric tons.	D．About 6600 metric tons.

2. How does the plant make sure it is environmentally friendly?
①Making full use of solar and wind energy
②Planting a lot of trees and growing flowers
③Producing clean energy through incineration
④Dealing with wastewater to reach drinking-water quality
⑤Making environmentally friendly bricks from the residue

A．②③④

B．①④⑤

C．③④⑤

D．①②③

3. Which can replace the underlined word “diligent” in Paragraph 5?

A．Stubborn.

B．Courageous.

C．Gentle.

D．Hardworking.

4. Which is the best title for the news report?

A．China aids Hanoi with waste-to-power plant

B．Chinese masters train local workers in Vietnam

C．Achievement of cooperation between China and Vietnam

D．Project built on former site of Hanoi’s waste treatment center