2 . Directions: After reading the passages below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Parental Instincts

Last year in early summer, I was walking up the hill to my house in suburban Brisbane when I saw two birds, each about 6 centimeters tall, standing in my driveway. They didn’t seem to notice me     1     I was right in front of them and then they immediately scattered into the nearby bushes.

I was quite excited by the idea of two special birds     2    (make) a nest in my front yard, although I didn’t really expect them to as wild birds don’t usually nest so close.

A few weeks later, the birds reappeared. I found them crouching beside a tree off to the side of my driveway. As I approached them, I imagined that they’d run away like they did last time, but instead they     3    (stick) out their heads and made a threatening croaking sound     4     came from deep inside their throats.

I did some research and found that the birds are burhinus grallarius(长尾石鸻). I still didn’t know    5    they were croaking at me until a short time later I made an amazing discovery: they     6    (lay) two eggs which hatched into two small birds racing around now.

As I crept towards the birds, careful not to make any sudden movement, they started their croaking again,     7    (stretch) their necks forwards so they seemed longer and more threatening.

I was watching them in awe when I suddenly tripped and fell to the ground. The birds took this     8     a threat and the father raced towards me, spreading his wings to shield the mother and the chicks while making     9     appear larger.

I was sorry     10    (scare) them and left quickly.

I am amazed by their bold actions. Their parental instincts kicked in and made them so courageous. It is hard not to be awed by nature.

3 .

1. According to the poster above, which groups of items will be the best for the Pearson family (father with chronic disease, mother, a 10-month-old infant, and a pet dog) to pack into their limited-size emergency supplies kit besides necessities such as food, water and clothes?

A．passport, paper cups, whistle, rain gear, flashlights

B．formula, blanket, medication, diapers, pet food

C．pet food, cottont-shirt, plastic sheeting, books

D．medication, bank account records, diaper, can opener, formula

2. According to the poster, why is it advisable for children to have a personal pack?

A．To provide more appropriate protection.

B．To create a sense of security and familiarity.

C．To make them feel more physically comfortable.

D．To simulate a seemingly school-like environment.

3. Which is TRUE about suggestions given in the poster?

A．Families should adjust the contents of the emergency supplies kit every other year based on needs.

B．There are no specific items in the poster that address the needs in different natural disasters.

C．All of the supplies in the emergency kit should not be stored in waterproof and portable containers.

D．Children should not be allowed to include their favorites books and stuffed animals in the kit.

4 . Why Do Cats Love Boxes So Much?

There is an object that’s pretty much guaranteed to arouse your cat’s interest. That object, as the Internet has so thoroughly documented, is a box. Any box, really. Like many other really strange things cats do, science hasn’t fully cracked this particular feline (猫科的) mystery.

    1     In fact, when you look at all the evidence together, it could be that your cat may not just like boxes, he may need them.

The box-and-whisker plot

Understanding the feline mind is extremely difficult. Still, there’s a sizable amount of behavioral research on cats who are, well, used for other kinds of research. These studies have been taking place for more than 50 years and they make one thing quite clear:     2    

This is likely true for a number of reasons, but for cats in stressful situations, a box or some other type of separate enclosure can have a strong impact on both their behavior and physiology.

Ethologist Claudia Vinke of Utrecht University in the Netherlands is one of the latest researchers to study stress levels in shelter cats. Working with domestic cats in a Dutch animal shelter, Vinke provided hiding boxes for a group of newly arrived cats while keeping another group from them entirely.     3     In effect, the cats with boxes got used to their new surroundings faster, were far less stressed early on, and were more interested in interacting with humans.

The ‘If it fits, I sits’ principle

Some feline observers will note that in addition to boxes, many cats seem to pick other odd places to relax. Some curl up in a bathroom sink.     4     This brings us to the other reason why your cat may like particularly small boxes: It’s really cold out.

So there you have it: Boxes are insulating, stress-relieving, comfort zones—places where cats can hide, relax, sleep, and occasionally launch a surprise attack against the huge, unpredictable apes they live with.

A．Your furry companion obtains comfort and security from enclosed spaces.

B．Others prefer shoes, bowls, shopping bags, coffee mugs, empty egg cartons, and other small, enclosed spaces.

C．She found a significant difference in stress levels between cats that had the boxes and those that didn’t.

D．A box, in this sense, can often represent a safe zone, a place where sources of anxiety, hostility (恶意), and unwanted attention simply disappear.

E．So rather than work things out, cats tend to simply run away from their problems or avoid them altogether.

F．Thankfully, behavioral biologists and veterinarians have come up with a few interesting explanations.

5 . AI-based Conservation Efforts

When an endangered seabird hits a power line, it makes a sound “very much like the laser sound from Star Wars,” says conservation (野生动物保护) biologist Marc Travers. He should _________ as his team from the Endangered Seabird Recovery Project recorded thousands of hours of audio to determine if power lines affected local seabirds. Travers was trying to help establish how _________ birds were killed by power lines on the island of Kauai in Hawaii in 2011.

His team recorded 600 hours of audio and sent the recordings to Conservation Metrics, a company that assists conservation efforts with AI resources. Conservation Metrics used a program to “listen” to the recordings and _________ the sounds that signified bird electrocutions (触电身亡) . The result was _________, as the number of bird electrocutions was in the thousands. Armed with _________ that power lines were killing a significant number of birds, the team worked with the local utility service to reduce bird deaths.

_________, humans have been poor guardians of the planet. Humans have altered as much as 97 percent of land ecosystems. Key populations of _________ animals have dropped as much as 68 percent since 1970. The _________ in biodiversity around the world has created a depressing situation. Conservation efforts _________ key resources they need to have real impacts.

__________, humans now have AI-based tools that can help. AI can quickly and accurately __________ large amounts of data created by observations in the field. Then other programs such as PAWS (Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security) can help analyze the data and suggest the most __________ ways to focus conservation efforts.

In large national parks and wildlife reserves, poachers (偷猎者) are a danger for animals both big and small. Some animals are worth a lot of money on the black market. Park guards are left with an impossible task because there is too much land to __________. But the PAWS program allows guards to focus their efforts. PAWS has even predicted the __________ of traps in areas not yet patrolled (巡逻) by rangers!

We still face many challenges to __________ the loss of wildlife, but AI-powered programs promise to be a powerful conservation tool.

1.

A．assume

B．know

C．hope

D．lead

2.

A．frequently

B．directly

C．violently

D．rarely

3.

A．imitate

B．locate

C．count

D．present

4.

A．puzzling

B．demanding

C．disturbing

D．uplifting

5.

A．justice

B．proof

C．image

D．wisdom

6.

A．In theory

B．By definition

C．On the contrary

D．By many measures

7.

A．monitored

B．enclosed

C．requested

D．overlooked

8.

A．decline

B．expansion

C．climb

D．quality

9.

A．supply

B．renew

C．lack

D．invent

10.

A．Obviously

B．Fortunately

C．Interestingly

D．Initially

11.

A．give away

B．sort through

C．get over

D．make up

12.

A．exclusive

B．delicate

C．effective

D．special

13.

A．convey

B．mark

C．cover

D．hide

14.

A．emergence

B．movement

C．evolution

D．existence

15.

A．recover

B．reverse

C．remove

D．reveal

6 . In 2004, Pen Hadow became the first person to trek (跋涉) to the North Pole alone, without being resupplied on the way. That meant swimming through unimaginably cold waters, and risking encounters with polar bears. Just eight months later, he made a similar trip to the South Pole. Now he is back in the Arctic again, preparing for an expedition (远征) he says is even more ambitious. Explorers are confident, driven individuals. They have to be. This time, however, more significance is attached. Pen and two colleagues will set out on a three-month, 1000-kilometre trek to the North Pole, taking detailed measurements of the thickness and density of the ice. Nobody has ever done this before, and he knows the results will be of vital significance to the scientific community. This will be the truest picture yet of what global warming is doing to the ice that covers the polar region.

Pen and his wife, Mary, live in the country with their two children. “It’s much harder to be away from them this time,” he admits. They were one and five when I last went, and I made a mistake in the way I said goodbye. I thought it would be a good idea to say to my son, “You’re the man of the house now, look after your mum and your sister.” He absolutely took it to heart, asking his mum how she was all the time, but the stress eventually became too much. While it was well intentioned, it was an unfair thing to do.

He is spending these last days before departure preparing his things. “Out on the ice, one is virtually unable to mend things or do anything that isn’t absolutely straightforward,” he says. With him will be Ann Daniels, one of the world’s leading polar explorers, and the photographer, Martin Hartley. They will be supported by a crew of six, flying in supplies. Being part of a team is actually more stressful to someone with his mentality, says Pen, and something else is on his mind too. “I’m going to be 47 on Thursday. I’ve done far less training than I’m comfortable with.” Why? “Organisational things always seem more urgent. So I’m almost fearful of what I’m going to ask of myself.”

Pen believes his mission reconnects exploration with the search for knowledge that drove previous generations into the unknown. “Making it to the North Pole was a personal ambition,’”he admits, “and of limited value to anyone beyond the polar adventuring community. This time, scientists will profit from the data, and we’re creating a platform in which to engage as many people as possible in what’s happening in the Arctic Ocean. This is important work, and nobody can do it but us,” he says. “Our skills, which are otherwise not that necessary, have become really relevant. Suddenly, we’re socially useful again.”

1. In the first paragraph, what do we learn about Pen Hadow’s opinion of the new expedition?

A．He feels certain that it will be stressful.

B．He is aware of the huge importance of its aims.

C．He thinks it may be harder than his previous journeys.

D．He is less than confident of the scientific work it involves.

2. What does “took it to heart” (in paragraph 2) mean?

A．He started to feel unwell.	B．He memorised his father’s words.
C．He was afraid of the responsibility.	D．He carried out his father’s words carefully.

3. What is worrying Pen about the new expedition?

A．Whether he will be mentally prepared

B．Whether he will still be fit enough to take part.

C．Whether the arrangements he has made will turn out well.

D．Whether the equipment will work properly in icy conditions.

4. When he compares the new expedition to his previous ones, Pen feels ________.

A．uncertain if it will collect information.

B．doubtful about its long-term usefulness

C．pleased that more people will benefit from it

D．relieved that the general public will be more supportive

7 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Owning a Pet Is Good for Your Health

Pets in America are incredibly well loved: according to a 2015 Harris poll, 95% of owners think of their animal as a member of the family. About half buy     1     birthday presents. And it’s a two-way street. People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk than those who don’t. Those health benefits may come from the extra exercise that playing and walking     2     (require), and the stress relief of having a steady best friend on hand.

Scientists are now digging up evidence     3     animals can also help improve mental health, even for people with challenging disorders. Small     4     the studies are, the benefits are impressive enough that clinical settings are opening their doors to animal assisted interventions — pet therapy, in other words — used alongside conventional medicine. “    5     (think) of an animal in a hospital used to be one of the great no-no’s,” says Alan Beck, director of the Center for the Human-Animal Bond at Purdue University, citing the fear of causing infection. “Now, I don’t know of any major children’s hospital     6     at least some kind of animal program.”

The rise of animal therapy     7     (back) by increasingly serious science showing that social support — a proven antidote to anxiety and loneliness — can come on four legs, not just two. Animals of many types can help calm stress, fear and anxiety in young children, the elderly and everyone in between.

More research is needed     8     scientists know exactly why it works and how much animal interaction is needed for the best results. But     9     (publish) studies show that paws have a place in medicine and in mental well-being. “The data is strong,” Beck says. “If you look at     10     animals do for people and how we interact with them, it’s not surprising at all.”

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。1.

A．To fight against violent action.

B．To explore new ways of studying animals.

C．To stop animal being used for medical research.

D．To highlight the protection of endangered animals.

2.

A．It might be the most efficient way to free animals

B．The damage done in this case might not be so terrible.

C．It might not be such a serious crime in the eyes of the law

D．The cost of setting up the lab might discourage the firm from doing so.

3.

A．Evidence was found that no actual animal cruelty did happen

B．Evidence was found that the scientists didn’t obey certain rules.

C．The scientists couldn’t afford to find animals again for the research

D．The scientists were believed to have been involved in illegal action.

4.

A．It is not their original intention.

B．It does bring them much trouble.

C．It has made their life difficult.

D．It is what they apologise for.

10 . Building good transportation is a good idea. To have environmental value, new transportation has to sufficiently replace or eliminate driving to cut energy consumption overall. That means that a new traffic system has to be supported by reduction in car use. Traffic lanes should be eliminated or converted into bike or bus lanes. Ideally, these should be combined with higher fuel taxes, and parking fees. Needless to say, I have to struggle to make myself extensively understood. But they’re necessary, because you can’t make people drive less, in the long run, by taking steps that make driving more pleasant, economical, and productive.

Lengthy commuting (通勤) time is a forceful factor which can slow the growth of suburbs. The farther people live away from cities, the longer commuting time they need, which means more pollution their cars produce. If, in a misguided effort to do something of environmental value, governments take steps that make long-distance car commuting faster or more convenient—by adding lanes, building bypass, employing traffic-control measures that make it possible for existing roads to accommodate more cars with fewer delays—we are actually encouraging people to live still farther from their jobs, stores, and schools. As a result, governments are forced to further extend road networks, water lines, and other facilities. If you cut commuting time by 10 percent, people who now drive fifty miles each way to work can find reason to move five miles farther out, because their travel time won’t change.

Traffic congestion (拥堵) isn’t an environmental problem; traffic is. Relieving congestion without doing anything to reduce the total volume of cars can only make the real problem worse. Highway engineers have known for a long time that building new car lanes only temporarily reduces congestion, because the new lanes add additional driving. Widening roads makes traffic move faster in the short term, but the improved conditions eventually attract additional drivers, and congestion reappears. With more car on the roads, people think about widening roads again. Moving drivers out of cars and into other forms of transportation can have the same effect, if existing traffic lanes are kept in service: road space stimulates road use.

One of the arguments that cities inevitably make in promoting transportation plans is that the new system, by relieving automobile congestion, will improve the lives of those who continue to drive. No one ever promotes a transportation system by arguing that it would make travelling less convenient—even though, from an environmental perspective, inconvenient travel is a worthy goal.

1. In the first paragraph, the author gives us the hint that his recommendations are ______.

A．not widely supported	B．costly to carry out
C．generally recognized	D．temporarily beneficial

2. According to the passage, what will happen if commuting time for drivers is reduced?

A．Drivers will become more productive employees.

B．Mass transportation will be extended farther into suburban areas.

C．Drivers will be more willing to live farther from their working place.

D．Mass transportation will carry fewer passengers and receive less government funding.

3. Which of the following can be inferred about the author’s attitude towards the measures to improve traffic?

A．They are environmentally beneficial and should be carried out immediately.

B．They are well intentioned but ultimately lead to environmental harm.

C．They will definitely arouse people’s awareness of environmental protection.

D．They will only work if they can make driving more economical and productive.

4. The author wrote this massage mainly to ______.

A．support the claim that efforts to reduce traffic actually increase traffic.

B．oppose the belief that improving mass transportation systems is good for the environment.

C．provide a balance between suburban expansion and traffic congestion.

D．indicate that making driving less agreeable is a way to reduce negative effects of traffic.