My home town used to
2 . Looking for a way to reconnect with nature but you're not sure how to when you live in the city? Here are a few ways to live in harmony (融洽相处) with nature and reduce your stress.
Go on a wildlife walk.
Nothing will make you feel as closely connected with earth as walking without shoes on grass for a couple of minutes. This very direct connection with nature will make you realize that you're part of the huge world, helping you to relax and feel calmer.
Attract nature yourself.
One of the best ways to connect with nature is to make it come to you.
Create a small garden.
Plants and flowers are part of nature as well and even the tiniest amount of space can be turned into a beautiful garden. If you've got a balcony (阳台), fill it with pots full of flowers.
Use these tips for connecting with nature and living a more comfortable lifestyle in a big city.
| A．Have a walk in a park |
| B．Put off your shoes and walk barefoot (赤脚地) |
| C．You can grow your own vegetables on it as well |
| D．There's lots of urban wildlife for you to discover |
| E．You can put a bird feeder on your balcony or by your window |
| F．Meantime, this is the best method for improving your health and wellbeing |
| G．It's a different way of experiencing nature helping you to enjoy it from a different viewpoint |
The world's oldest known wild bird is a 70-year-old albatross (信天翁)
The Midway Atoll (环礁)
In 1956, when Wisdom was about five, she was banded by a scientist, Chandler Robbins. In 2002, when Mr. Robbins returned to Midway, he was
Albatrosses normally have just one partner. But Wisdom has lived so long
Wisdom laid her most recent egg in late November of last year. Since then, she and Akeakamai had taken
Now Wisdom and Akeakamai are keeping busy,
4 . Giant panda Bei Bei celebrated his fourth birthday all the Smithsonian’s National Zoo on August 22, but it was a biter-sweet occasion. For the Zoo’s panda cubs（幼崽）, turning four means an upcoming move to China, where they will join al cooperative breeding program designed to conserve the species.
Bei Bei will leave for Chengdu, China, on Tuesday, November 19. The week leading up to his departure will be dedicated to“all things Bei Bei,” says Michael Brown-Palsgrove, the Zoo’s curator (园长) of giant pandas. From November 11 to 18, the Zoo will host online and on-site events.
A similar celebration took place when Bei Bei’s older sister, Bao Bao, left the Zoo in 2017. The siblings, along with their older brother, Tai Shan, and parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, are a part of at 47-year program committed to panda conservation. The Zoo has a cooperative breeding agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association that contributed to the giant panda's shift from endangered to vulnerable species (渐危物种) status.
Bei Bei will officially enter the breeding program when he reaches sexual maturity between 5 and 7 years old. In the meantime, his keepers will help him prepare for travel and adapt to his new home. They will soon place his travel crate (装货箱) in the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat and encourage him to walk through it by giving him treats.
One panda keeper will accompany Bei Bei on his non-stop flight to Chengdu, bringing a supply of bamboo, apples, sweet potatoes and more to keep him comfortable and happy. It is also best for pandas to travel in the cool fall and winter months rather than in the summer heat. The keeper will stay with Bei Bei in China for a short time to make sure the animal is getting used to his new base, then return to the Zoo. Although the staff is sad to see Bei Bei go, they understand that their mission extends beyond individual animals.
“Our giant pandas represent much of what the Smithsonian does best, from conservation to education,” says Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian, in a press release. “As we say goodbye to our beloved Bei Bei, our conservation scientists will continue to work in collaboration to prevent these animals from disappearing, giving them the opportunity to thrive in the wild, inspiring more people to protect them.”
1. Why will Bei Bei move back to China?| A．Because the cooperative program comes to an end. |
| B．Because Bei Bei will enter a cooperative breeding program. |
| C．Because Bei Bei has better habitats in China. |
| D．Because Bei Bei has to reunite with her family. |
| A．The staff’s sadness to see off Bei Bei. | B．Bei Bei’s diets on the way back to China. |
| C．The staff’s commitment to Bei Bei. | D．The habitable surroundings of Bei Bei. |
| A．Nervous. | B．Positive. | C．Concerned. | D．Risking. |
| A．National Zoo waves farewell to Bei Bei | B．Bei Bei’s breeding programme ends |
| C．Bei Bei celebrates his fourth birthday | D．Smithsonian does best to make pandas thrive |
5 . Shark attacks are usually rare but their in recently years has been put down to one major factor —us.
Scientists believe that humans are directly to blame for man-eating sharks taking a great interest in our bodies lately. Researchers at Bond University in Queensland, Australia, believe that human interference with their habitat--like scuba diving and coastal development —is the reason.
Last year there were 98 reported shark attacks, which is an 11% increase on the previous record of 88 in 2000. Overall, there has been a staggering 69% rise over the last ten years and warmer seas because of global warming are thought to be to blame.
Dr Blake Chapman and Dr Daryl McPhee, who conducted the study, said: Coastal development and infrastructure can have major environmental implications on the distribution of sharks, and this can flow on to the number of unprovoked shark bites. Citing the construction of a new port in Recife, Brazil, the scientists believe the sharp rise in the number of sharks attacking people is down to the destruction of their habitat and forcing them closer to humans.
The researchers added: Unprovoked shark bite was virtually unheard of in Recife prior to the construction and operation of the Suape Port. “However, due to environmental changes displacing local shark species and the presence of increased shipping activity, Recife is now renowned for having one of the highest rates of shark bites per unit area in the world.”
Most attacks on humans are carried out by great white shark, bull sharks and tiger sharks, with 84% of bites taking place in just six countries or territories, including the US, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, the Bahamas and Reunion.
1. Which reason is Not true for shark attack on the basis of researchers at Bond University?| A．Sharks are hungry |
| B．Scuba diving |
| C．Coastal development |
| D．Human interference with their habitat |
| A．Deliberate | B．Unreasonable |
| C．Invariable | D．Continuous |
| A．Australia | B．The Bahamas |
| C．South Africa | D．China |
| A．To save more sharks | B．To ask people to keep away from sharks |
| C．To catch more sharks | D．To decrease shark attacks |
Wildfires can start in forests or on open land, and the flames spread very quickly. Sometimes they start because the weather is hot and dry, but
Other natural disasters are impossible to prevent. A typhoon is a tropical (热带的) storm
Unlike a storm,
These are just three examples of
7 . Weaving environment-friendly materials into beautiful clothing is normally brands' first step toward achieving sustainability.
Allbirds is a shoe brand founded in 2016 in New Zealand, which just entered China two years ago. Many influencers are fans of the brand, including Larry Page, the co-founder of Google, Dick Costolo, the former CEO of Twitter, actress Emma Watson, and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.
The brand chooses natural and sustainable wool from merino sheep as the main raw material, and it costs 60 percent less energy than producing typical synthetic (合成的) shoes; it sources tree fiber involved from farms in South Africa, where people minimize fertilizer and irrigate the land with rainfall, directly saving 95 percent water and cutting carbon footprint in half; sugarcane (甘蔗) involved is sourced from southern Brazil, which relies on rainwater as well.
The brand received Forest Stewardship Council certification, approving that it sources materials that meet strict standards to protect forests, and the animals and people who depend on them.
During China Fashion Week, which was recently held, an increasing number of Chinese brands showed their practice of sustainability. Demain presented the potential of plant-based regenerated fiber; Damowang formed recycled PET fabric into clothes, which cause 32 percent less carbon emission while producing comparing to normal PET fabric; I-La introduced new collection made from biodegradable (生物降解的) natural materials; Chicco Mao called attention to the catastrophic impact of global warming on coastal ecology through design.
According to the report, although the number of mass market retailers, who make products from sustainable materials, stays low, it has increased fivefold in the last two years.
Yan Yan, the head of Responsible Supply Chain Association, talked about sustainable fashion at China Fashion Summit on March 27. She said, “the realization of sustainable fashion counts on the transformation of the whole industry, involving designers' awareness, the selection of raw materials, manufacturing process, consumption concept and where these products will end up with.”
1. Why is Allbirds mentioned in the text?| A．Because it is an influential brand in China. |
| B．Because it has attracted many celebrities as fans. |
| C．Because it has received approving certifications. |
| D．Because it stands out in sourcing natural materials. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By using figures. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By proving facts. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Objective. | C．Optimistic. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Realization of Sustainability. | B．Fashion Brands. |
| C．Sustainable Fashion. | D．Sustainable Materials. |
When I took Amy home from the animal shelter, she was scared. I believed she had been abused (虐待) because she was afraid of anything my husband, Bill, or I held in our hands. With a lot of care and attention, she became a great dog that surprised us every day.
About three years ago, Amy and I joined a volunteer project called Canines with Class. At our first school visit, Officer Lisa called Amy and asked her to show how to shake hands and give a high five. The students clapped (拍手) in joy and Amy received a reward. Then the students got to touch the dog. One by one they came up to meet Amy. Some of them started talking to me about their own pets. I didn’t feel worried any more. I thought the children liked staying with us.
On our next school visit, I put a big chain (链条) on Amy’s neck and walked away from her. You could see that Amy was not happy. When I took the chain off her neck, Amy shook her tail happily and wouldn’t stop licking (舔) my face. That was when we talked about “breaking the chain”. On our third school trip, Amy started acting poorly when it was time to show off a few tricks. The students watched to see how I would correct her mistakes. It was a good chance to explain that if your dog doesn’t do exactly what you ask, you don’t have to shout at her or hit her to make it right. I think the children have learned a lot about respect and patience.
Amy loves the program and has come so far since I found her a few years ago. Amy has broken the chain, and the love she gives those children will help them become good pet owners.
1. The author thought Amy had been abused mainly because of ________.| A．Amy’s body shape | B．Amy’s eyes |
| C．where Amy had lived before | D．how Amy reacted to something |
| A．nervous | B．encouraged | C．calm | D．upset |
| A．To show how dogs get happy. | B．To encourage children to be free. |
| C．To encourage children to save dogs. | D．To show why we should stop using dog chains. |
| A．Dogs are stupid at times. | B．Everyone makes mistakes. |
| C．Dog owners should be patient. | D．People should respect each other. |
9 . Contrary to the long-held belief that plants in the natural world are always in competition, new research has found that in severe environments adult plants help smaller ones and grow well as a result.
The research, led by Dr Rocio, studied adult and seedling (幼苗)plants in the ecological desert in the south-east of Spain. Dr Rocio said, “If you're a seedling in a poor land — the top of a mountain or a sand hill, for example-and you’re lucky enough to end up underneath a big plant, your chances of survival are certainly better than if you landed somewhere on your own. What we have found, which was surprising, is an established large plant, called a ‘nurse’, protects a seedling; it also produces more flowers than the same plants of similar large size growing on their own.”
Other benefits of nurse-seedling partnerships include that more variety of plants growing together can have a positive effect on the environment. For example, vegetation areas with nurse plants with more flowers might be able to attract higher numbers of pollinators(传粉者)in an area, in turn supporting insect and soil life and even provide a greater range of different fruit types for birds and other animals.
“The biggest winner for this system of nursing a plant is biodiversity(生物多样性),” Dr Rocio said. “The more biodiverse an area, the greater number of species of plants, insect life, mammals and birds, and the better the chances of long-term healthy functioning of the environment and ecosystems. ” This system is win-win for adult and seedling plants in unfavorable environments.
The research is of value to those who manage and protect plants in tough environments. Most home gardeners and farmers plan to ensure their soil and conditions are the best they can be for plant growth, but the findings might be of value to those who garden in bare places.
1. What is a common understanding of plants?| A．They can help each other. | B．They can survive ill conditions. |
| C．They compete with each other. | D．They grow well on their own. |
| A．They will produce more flowers. | B．They will die owing to competition. |
| C．They will make adult plants larger. | D．They will get support from adult plants. |
| A．It leads to unfavorable environments. |
| B．It produces long-term healthy chances. |
| C．It attracts higher and larger pollinators. |
| D．It provides a more variety of plant types. |
| A．People studying organic farming. |
| B．People protecting plants on sand hills. |
| C．People wanting to change biodiversity. |
| D．People keeping more animals on the farm. |
10 . One billion people in the world are short of water. How can this problem be solved. Some suggestions have been to desalinate ocean water or to build enormous water pipelines from areas where water is abundant. (Suggestions such as these prove extremely expensive when they are actually used.) One possibility that scientists are considering is pulling icebergs from either the North Pole or the South Pole to parts of the world with a water shortage. Although many questions must be answered before such a project could be tried, moving icebergs seems a reasonable possibility in the future.
Engineers, mathematicians, and glaciologists from a dozen countries have been considering the iceberg as a future source of water. Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in this project because it has a great water shortage. Scientists estimate that it would take 128 days to transport a large iceberg (about 1/2 square mile) to Saudi Arabia. Yet the iceberg would be completely melted by the 104th day. Therefore, insulation would be essential, but how to insulate the iceberg remains an unsolved problem.
The problems in transporting an iceberg are numerous. The first problem is choosing the iceberg to pull. The icebergs that form in the North Pole are quite difficult to handle because of their shape. Only a small portion extends above the water — most of the iceberg is below the surface, which would make it difficult to pull. South Pole icebergs, on the other hand, are flat and float like table tops. Thus they would be much easier to move.
How can a 200-million-ton iceberg be moved. No ship is strong enough to pull such enormous weight through the water. Perhaps several ships could be used. Attaching ropes to an iceberg this size is also an enormous problem. Engineers think that large nails or long metal rods could be driven into the ice. What would happen if the iceberg splits into several pieces during the pulling. Even if an iceberg with very few cracks were chosen, how could it be pulled through stormy waters. Furthermore, once the iceberg reached its destination, very few ports would be deep enough to store it.
All of these problems must be solved before icebergs can become a reasonable source of water. Yet scientists estimate that it will be possible to transport them in the near future. Each year, enough icebergs form to supply the whole world with fresh water for a full year. In addition, icebergs are free and nonpolluting. As a solution to the world’s water problems, icebergs may be a workable possibility.
1. What is a problem in transporting iceberg?| A．The size of the iceberg. |
| B．The colour of the iceberg. |
| C．The salt in the iceberg. |
| D．The movement of air and water. |
| A．Pessimistic. | B．Objective. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．It is hard to use iceberg. | B．Iceberg are a good choice. |
| C．There are problems with iceberg. | D．Man finds no other ways to solve water shortage. |
| A．Shortage of water. | B．Icebergs for water. |
| C．Scientists and icebergs. | D．Iceberg—scientists headache. |
