A.Rainy. | B.Clear. | C.Cloudy. |
2 . The world is warming up and humans are the cause, and that means it’s up to us to stop it. The burning of oil and coal is one huge cause, and clean energy (能源) sources are needed greatly if we’re going to make any meaningful changes. But where is all of this clean energy going to come from? Denmark seems to have an idea.
In Europe, Denmark provides more oil than any other country, but that’s going to change. The country has promised to stop oil production within the next 30 years, but that means it’s going to need to get its energy from somewhere else. To that end, Denmark has planned to build a man-made island off its coast.
As Fast Company reports, the plan will include the building of the island itself as well as up to 600 wind turbines (涡轮机) to pick up ocean winds and change them into electricity (电). The island will have a size of 20 football fields and will have turbines around it and send power to huge batteries (电池) that can store power for whenever it’s needed. All told, the island should be able to provide power for as many as three million homes, but as more batteries are added, that stored power could be provided for even more homes and businesses.
“The island is expected to cost about $34 billion, which is really a lot of money. However, as countries begin to use more green energy, the ones that produce more of it will have the chance to sell it to other countries. As oil and coal burning is not allowed worldwide, those that don’t produce enough green energy might be forced to buy up power from their greener neighbors,” said Fast Company.
1. Which of the following words can best describe Denmark’s action?A.Worrying. | B.Brave. | C.Responsible. | D.Confusing |
A.An energy center. | B.A living center. |
C.A research center. | D.A tour center. |
A.The project will get paid back in the long run. |
B.The project will attract more countries’ attention. |
C.They have collected enough money for the project. |
D.They need other countries’help to finish the project. |
A.Denmark will become a greener country. |
B.Denmark is going to stop providing oil. |
C.Denmark will sell its green energy to other countries. |
D.Denmark will build a man-made island to produce energy |
3 . The public nowadays has a misunderstanding of forest fires, believing that fires should be kept out of every type of forest. Many of us can recall Smoky the Bear’s famous warning: “Remember, only YOU can prevent forest fires”. However, that’s not always the case. Under the right conditions, and when conducted safely, fire can create many environmental benefits as well as help prevent larger, uncontrollable wildfires.
After a forest fire, many wildlife species will move into recently burned areas to feed on these newly available foods. Some reptiles and amphibians such as the snake prefer forests frequently burned by fire. As Herbert Stoddard put it, “One of the most harmful things modern man has done to birds has been his attempt to exclude fire from fire-type pine (松树) forests. Within a few years most forests choke up with bushes, lose their prairie-like vegetation (草原般植被) and can no longer support birds which depend on periodic burning for their food supply and proper cover.”
If you are asked to picture the forest floor, what do you see? Pine needles, cones, leaves, branches might come to mind — all sources of fuel. If these fuel sources build up without any type of removal, the ‘fuel load’ can lead to fires which are huge disasters to forests and people alike. In contrast, prescribed fires can be used by forest professionals every couple of years to keep forest fuels at a proper and manageable level. They can also greatly reduce the spread of pest insects and disease and remove unwanted tree and plant species. Plus, they can create and maintain important wildlife habitats rich in grasses and promote the growth of trees, wildflowers and other various plants.
Many organizations work to promote fire on the landscape. Smoky Bear even has an updated warning: “Only YOU can prevent wildfires,” as the Forest Service has over the last few decades developed policies and measures to include prescribed fire as a useful tool, as well as continuing their work to prevent and fight wildfires.
1. What can benefit birds according to Herbert Stoddard?A.Forest bushes. | B.Periodic burning. |
C.Fuel sources. | D.Pine forests. |
A.Frequent. | B.Wild. | C.Planned. | D.Damaging. |
A.To keep the forest in balance. | B.To keep the fuel rich in the forest. |
C.To put out wildfires. | D.To remove tree and plant species. |
A.To prevent the use of prescribed fire in the forest. |
B.To promote the complete exclusion of fire from forests. |
C.To educate people on positive aspects of controlled fires. |
D.To encourage the public to remove sources of forest fuels. |
4 . Reading a pup’s body language requires experience and expert guidance. Zazie Todd, a dog trainer and founder of the blog Companion Animal Psychology, weighs in on how to decode dogs’ behaviour.
1. If your dog looks remorseful (羞愧的) when you walk in the door and see a mess…
They’re expecting punishment but don’t necessarily know that what they’ve done is wrong. Alexandra Horowitz, a professor at Barnard College in New York City whose research focuses on canine (犬科) cognition, put that ”guilty” look to the test in 2009.
2. If your dog licks their mouth…
They’re stressed Recently, two European studies have highlighted the meaning of this licking.
3. If you’re at the vet and your dog’s tail is down…
They’re anxious. Obvious signs of an unhappy dog include hiding or trying to leave the exam room, but commonly missed triggers range from a tucked tail and lowered ears to trembling.
4. If your dog leans into you during a petting session…
They like it! If you’re unsure that a dog is enjoying being petted, stop, then gauge their reaction. This is called a consent test. If they choose to wander off, the session is over.
A.You could also discuss medication with your vet. |
B.It could be as simple as giving them more physical space. |
C.However, if they lean on you or paw at you to get more cuddles, continue! |
D.If your dog gets stressed at appointments, ask what can be done. |
E.Other signs of discomfort include sniffing the floor, looking away and panting. |
F.One found that it was a canine response to seeing an angry or aggressive human face on a computer screen |
G.In the end, it wasn’t linked to whether the dog had transgressed but rather to being scolded by the owner. |
5 . Microplastics are one of the largest environmental problems we face. They are tiny bits of plastics less than 5 mm long. Now a tiny robotic fish that might help tackle one of the problems of plastic pollution has been invented by scientists in China.
The bionic little swimmers have been programmed to wiggle their way through water collecting microplastics as they go. The robofish are only 15mm long. Yet, they can travel quite quickly as they clean. They move by flashing a laser on and off in their tails. It causes the tail to flap side to side which drives the ‘fish’ forward through the water. As they swim along, any nearby microplastics get drawn towards the robots and stick to them.
Not only is their shape inspired by marine life but also is the material they are made out of. Instead of being made out of the traditional materials used for soft robots that can be damaged easily in the water, this one was made from a material that takes inspiration from mother-of-pearl. Mother-of-pearl is found on the inside surface of clam (蛤蜊) shells. As well as attracting microplastics, the material could also heal itself after being cut, still maintaining its ability to absorb microplastics. Because it’s so durable and can swim as fast as it does(for how small it is), the researchers say that it could be used for monitoring microplastics and other pollutants in the hard-to-reach places of complex underwater environments.
Microplastics have been found nearly everywhere. They’ve been found in our oceans, on top of mountains, in some of the food we eat and even in the stomachs of some marine animals. One of the biggest problems with microplastics is, because of their size, they are difficult to clean up. This is especially true of microplastics in the ocean. The scientists hope that their tiny fish-shaped robots can one day help tackle this global problem. At the moment, the robofish are something called proof of concept. It just means that the scientists were able to make something that proves their idea worked.
Now that the team has shown that their idea works, they are going to keep working on it. They hope to create new versions that can dive deeper and absorb more microplastics.
1. Which of the following statements CAN NOT be inferred from the passage?A.An advanced robofish will be made. |
B.The robofish won’t be put into the market soon. |
C.The operating life of the robofish is not short. |
D.All the microplastics can be removed soon. |
A.Move from side to side | B.Jump forward. |
C.Turn over and over. | D.Circle around. |
A.Where the material of the robofish comes from |
B.the material and the usage of the robofish |
C.mother-of-pearl giving the tip for the material of the robofish |
D.both the shape and the material of the robofish are inspired by nature |
A.Mother-of-Pearl Found to Help Dissolve Plastics |
B.Tiny Robo-crabs Programmed to Absorb Microplastics |
C.Scientists in England Create Microplastic Attracting Robot Fish |
D.Robotic Microplastic Absorbing Robot Fish Created by Scientists |
6 . There’s a popular misconception that rhinos are aggressive and stupid, but I discovered sensitive, affectionate animals. Weighing over a ton, black rhinos are unexpectedly agile and have an unpredictable nature-but, given reassurance, they can be very trusting. In the past few decades, their numbers have dropped dramatically. In recent years, I’ve helped look after rhinos being moved to sanctuaries (保护区), so they can form new populations in countries that have few left.
Last year, I helped on a project to fly five black rhinos from a private reserve in South Africa to the Serengeti National Park. Once there, the animals had to be kept captive for a few weeks to adapt to the new environment, in which time they lived in “bomas”-wooden enclosures (围场) with “bedrooms”, designed to create a calm space.
A couple of weeks before their planned release, the sky filled with smoke. Watching the flames rushing through the bush toward the bomas, I froze. Terrified that it would catch fire, my instinct was to release the rhinos, but hey hadn’t yet been fitted with transmitters. If I let them out into a bushfire and they were injured, we’d have great difficulty tracking them down.
So I dashed back to the bomas and called the rhinos to the bedrooms. Sensing the fear in my voices, they moved without hesitation and remained astonishingly calm. It was crucial the rhinos didn’t panic -they can easily hurt each other if they do.
Meanwhile, the rangers managed to beat the closest flames away. At last, after half an hour, the wind changed direction and the fire began to recede.
That we and the rhinos had escaped unhurt was a miracle. The teamwork of everybody there played a large part, and the rhinos were very much a part of that team. The relationships we’d built with them had proved crucial - had they or we panicked, all our work would have been in vain. Instead, two weeks later, they were released into the wild, ready to found part of a new population in the Serengeti.
1. What kind of animals does the author think rhinos are?A.Unfriendly. | B.Cruel. | C.Mild. | D.Curious. |
A.To get ready for life in a new habitat. | B.To be trained to act less aggressively. |
C.To learn crucial survival skills in the wild. | D.To form a closer relationship with humans. |
A.She had to plant transmitters in the rhinos. |
B.She had to set the rhinos free immediately. |
C.She had to lead the rhinos to a safer place. |
D.She had to put out the nearest flames. |
A.How the rhinos were released to the wild. | B.Why protecting rhinos is important. |
C.What helped the rhinos and people escape. | D.What enabled the rhinos to remain calm. |
7 . Coming into the town of Santa Catarina Palopó, in the highlands of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, the first thing you notice is the bright colors. Most of the buildings along the main street are eye-catching, deep blues and greens, dotted with red and yellow to form diverse patterns and designs.
Santa Catarina Palopó was once a sleepy town of 5, 000 people, most of them dependent on agricultural work. But as agriculture began to dry up here, poverty came. To deal with poverty and promote econ on growth through tourism, a small but creative group of laborers, artisans, domestic workers and stay-at-home moms created the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project.
The project aimed to paint all 850 homes and buildings in bright colors to change the hillside town into a work of art. “We wanted to paint the houses with colors and figures that represent the community” says the project’s executive director Stephany Blanco. “Families can choose designs for their house that are representative of the family.”
One of the most representative characteristics of the region is the blue huipil, a traditional blouse which has been worn commonly by local women since the 16th century. That deep sky blue was chosen the primary color-for the Pintando project, with secondary colors found in the sunsets and the nearby lake to make the design more attractive. Inspiration was also found in local culture, symbols such as volcanoes, flowers, and the national bird of Guatemala.
Each week, local artists, community members and tourists pick up paintbrushes to make buildings colorful. “At first, the idea of the project was uncertain, but now you can see a considerable difference in the town,” Melissa Whitbeck said. “The color of the buildings is believed to improve the quality-of life of the people. It uplifts the people’s mood and encourages them to be proud of their hometown.”
1. Why was the Pintando Santa Catarina project started?A.Because of a workforce shortage. | B.Due to the poor economic conditions. |
C.Thanks to the increase in population. | D.For the old-fashioned farming ways. |
A.Building family art galleries in Guatemala. | B.Creating job opportunities for local artists. |
C.Developing local tourism by selling artworks. | D.Changing the town into a cultural destination. |
A.The surrounding volcanoes. | B.Mayan-styled butterflies. |
C.A type of traditional clothing. | D.The national bird of Guatemala. |
A.Positive. | B.Reserved. | C.Concerned. | D.Negative. |
8 . I was cutting up lettuce in the kitchen when I suddenly remembered watching a video about soaking the lettuce stub (莴苣残余部分) in water to grow a whole new vegetable. So I took out a wide-mouthed cup and placed the stub into it, gave it a little water, and placed it by the window.
On a snowy morning I noticed the first sign. A first small leaf from its heart spread out. A tiny green flag of hope. Beaten, but not defeated. This lettuce was not done living! Within days, it was impossible to see the cuts where I had removed the leaves. The growth was explosive. And when I lifted the blossoming head out of the cup, tiny root threads fell down, seeking for the earth. What is growing here? Lettuce or hope?
If I were a lettuce in a similar condition, I’d want to skeptically assess where I found myself before committing to full growth. Yet for this lettuce, my inadequate offering of water and a place by a window was enough for it to decide to reclaim itself again. It grew in a cup of water, in faith. This is the heart of this lettuce: alive, strong and fearless. It deserved a name. I decided to call it Monty.
Monty wanted to grow, as we all do. I think I gave him a little love and freedom. Those two were all he needed to return to himself. I see joy in this lettuce. The return to self is always an expression of joy, which is life itself. This is the tendency of all living things.
Monty still lives in a cup, but I’m going to transplant him outside. He deserves to become his full self. The only problem I see now is my ability to support Monty. I hope I have enough of a green finger.
I’m surprised to find myself where I am. Maybe Monty is, too. I have the same choice as he does: give in or start again. The prospect of starting again is discouraging. But my lettuce-friend, Monty, leads the way. I can only hope to be as brave.
1. Why did the author soak the stub in water?A.To decorate the nice cup. | B.To hope that it would grow. |
C.To make a video in person. | D.To remove kitchen rubbish. |
A.This lettuce showed no sign of recovery. |
B.This lettuce was still fighting to survive. |
C.Tiny root thread climbed out of the cup. |
D.The cuts can still be seen where there used to be leaves. |
A.Hesitant. | B.Fearless. | C.Aimless. | D.Annoyed. |
A.Never being afraid to restart yourself. | B.Believing in yourself when in trouble. |
C.Enjoying your own life to the fullest. | D.Giving freedom to the heart in a way. |
One spring, I was hired as groundskeeper at a Country Inn, a famous bed-and-breakfast located in Washington state. The grand house is in a beautiful place. Many famous people have visited and even had their own rooms there. The owners, Philip and Cecelia, have done a perfect job for the house. However, the gardens were very overgrown. Worse yet, there was another problem: a very persistent doe (母鹿).
Every day when I came to work, there was new evidence of the deer’s big appetite. I tried many preventives: spray, human hair, soap, you name it-but none of those things had effect. Often when I was weeding, I’d look over and there she’d be, munching some tasty pieces. Worst of all, she feasted on the roses, in which Cecelia took great pride. I became so frustrated that I named her “Dinner”— and wanted to serve her on plates.
One morning, I was on my hands and knees pulling out vines and bushes when I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. There was Dinner, not five feet away, munching a large leaf and staring at me. I felt a connection with this animal. We did have something in common-we were both mothers. I got the crazy idea of communicating with her and it seemed she wanted the same thing.
What’s up? I asked in my head.
I’m here because I feel safe, was the gentle reply I felt I heard. I have my fawns (幼鹿) bedded down nearby, and there is plenty to eat. When the twins are older after summer, I will move them deeper into the forest.
I understand that, I assured her. People come here too, from far away. I guess they’ll be interested to see you. I promise that nobody will harm you or your children. I don’t mind sharing the vegetation but Cecelia loves roses, too. She is very upset when they are all eaten.
A loud crash broke the magic. Our eyes met again briefly before she leaped off across the driveway, disappearing into the forest. Has I really communicated with the deer?
Paragraph1.
I went into the kitchen where Cecelia was preparing the evening meal.
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Paragraph2.
Every day, I enjoyed watching Dinner with the twins and my presence never bothered them.
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10 . New York City’s trash is this woman’s treasure, and she’s using her platform to fight our culture of too much waste.
Working at a bank in New York City, Anna Sacks was living the life — just not the life she wanted. Sure, she was happy. But she wanted to do something that felt important. She packed up and moved to Connecticut for three months to participate in Adamah, a farming program that focuses on sustainable (可持续的) living. When she returned, it was with a new purpose and a variety of new skills to make her dreams a reality.
“One of the things that really stuck with me from Adamah was how little waste they produced and how they handled the waste,” she says. “And I just thought, ‘Why aren’t we doing that here?’ I’d walk around my neighborhood and was shocked at how many bags of waste were piled up. I began to wonder, ‘What is actually in all those bags and recycling bins?’”
Instead of getting stuck in a never-ending cycle of climate anxiety, she started a mission. In 2016, she took a master composting course and started working with a food rescue program. She found her calling in 2017. To satisfy her curiosity and to help her get food and household supplies, she began what she calls “trash walking”. During outings around her neighborhood, Sacks picks through garbage to look for reusable items. Surprisingly, she discovered a wide array of really great stuff — like clothing, dinnerware, and food — all of which she documents on Instagram and TikTok.
Under the name The Trash Walker, Sacks quickly gained popularity for her educational and funny videos that bring out the problems with consumerism and share information about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. “The root issue is overproduction, which leads to an immense amount of waste,” she says. Sacks’s main focus is simply getting people to pay attention to how many unnecessary things they buy and then throw away. “Once you become conscious of the way you consume, you can see ways you improve,” she says.
1. Why did Anna Sacks attend Adamah?A.To make more money. | B.To get used to living in Connecticut. |
C.To relieve her climate anxiety. | D.To live a more meaningful life. |
A.She has developed a strong personality. | B.She has got a purpose and new skills. |
C.She has become a social media expert. | D.She has discovered many reusable items. |
A.Sacks’s suggestions for wasting less goods. | B.Sacks’s efforts to fight extra waste. |
C.Sack’s collection from her trash walking. | D.Sack’s call for living a sustainable life. |
A.Uncontrolled production. | B.Unreasonable lifestyle. |
C.Increasing income. | D.Low level of education. |