1 . For eight years, Handshouse Studio has worked to create toys for Emily and Ruth, two Asian elephants at the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.
The founders of the organization, Rick and Laura Brown, are both art teachers and created the “Toys for Elephants” program to challenge their students to make toys for Emily and Ruth and raise the quality of their lives at the zoo. Emily and Ruth were saved from a failed circus (马戏团) in Asia and were badly treated in their youth.
In the spring, the art students make the toys out of wood and other materials (材料). At the end of the semester, the class sends them to Emily and Ruth at the zoo.
This year, the Norwell Fire Department gave away old fire hoses (消防水龙带) to the class. “It’s interesting what use people find in old hoses,” Fire Chief Andrew Reardon said. “To create toys for elephants was certainly a first.” Reardon said they were happy to give Handshouse the old hose to make toys for the elephants and that it was a special chance to be a part of that. “It’s not every day you get to help make toys for elephants,” Reardon said.
Once at the zoo, the students set up their toys around the empty elephant house and quickly leave so Emily and Ruth may come in to play with their new toys. “The students have really embraced this and they really want to have a part to play in solving the serious problem of keeping animals in captivity (圈养),” Rick said.
Handshouse Studio decided to work with other zoos and art and design organizations around the world with the “Toys for Elephants” program. Already, they have been getting calls from all over the world, including New Zealand, Germany and Thailand.
1. What is the purpose of the program from Handshouse Studio?| A．To teach students how to design handmade toys. |
| B．To attract visitors to the Buttonwood Park Zoo. |
| C．To save wild elephants from circuses in Asia. |
| D．To improve the lives of elephants at the zoo. |
| A．By volunteering at the park. |
| B．By making toys with the students. |
| C．By providing toy-making materials. |
| D．By raising money for Emily and Ruth. |
| A．Missed. | B．Accepted. | C．Needed. | D．Helped. |
| A．It has drawn worldwide attention. |
| B．It has made the zoo very-famous. |
| C．It has been a big step in art education. |
| D．It has shown the public the value of zoos. |
2 . Since the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was passed in 1973, it has helped hundreds of species avoid extinction in the United States. The strong conservation policy has been used as a model in other countries. But it’s not as successful as it could be, a new study finds.
Researchers have discovered most species are not being protected until their numbers have become so low that their chance of recovery is slim.
“The ESA is an incredibly powerful, ambitious law for protecting our endangered wildlife. Yet, for decades, the agency primarily responsible for operating the ESA — the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) — has been starved of resources,” lead author Erich Eberhard says.
“As a result, we are very slow to give species the protection that they deserve. We typically wait until species are extremely rare and thus at extreme risk of extinction, and then, when a species is finally listed, the USFWS is straining its resources to try to recover it.”
In 1993, a study found that few species received protection under the ESA until their populations became very small. For the new study, researchers repeated the methods used in the earlier research to see whether protections have become better since the problem was first noted. They also looked at trends in “wait times” — the amount of time between when a species is identified as potentially needing protection and when it actually receives protection under the ESA.
“Our analysis suggests that, in the nearly 30 years since attention was first brought to this problem, we have not become more active in protecting endangered species,” says Eberhard.
The researchers found that the population sizes of species when they first became protected under the ESA are not statistically different from those in the 1993 study. They also discovered that there are long wait times between when a species is identified as likely needing protection and when they actually receive them.
“I can say that our study paints the current state of the ESA as a bit of cautionary (告诫的) tale for the strong conservation policy,” says Eberhard.
1. What problem does the USFWS have protecting endangered species?| A．It takes ineffective measures. | B．It is lacking in resources. |
| C．It can’t get timely information. | D．It is an irresponsible organization. |
| A．To try out new ways to protect endangered species. |
| B．To find out the exact number of endangered species. |
| C．To check the time needed to save endangered species. |
| D．To see if endangered species have been better protected. |
| A．It found out many more endangered species. |
| B．It pointed out the direction for the USFWS to act on. |
| C．It proved the role of the public in conservation. |
| D．It showed some effective ways to protect animals. |
| A．The USFWS Needs Stronger Laws |
| B．The ESA Has Achieved Great Success |
| C．New Conversation Laws Are on the Way |
| D．Endangered Species Act Isn’t Working Well |
3 . Humans can race to get out of a hurricane’s path. Some animals can sense a hurricane coming and leave quickly, but there are animals that can’t simply get out of the way. Here are the various effects of hurricanes on animals.
Birds may be able to sense air pressure and other changes in the environment, which encourages them to get out of harm’s way. Some birds will even speed up their migration (迁徙) leaving earlier than usual if a serious hurricane is approaching. However, strong winds can push birds hundreds of miles away from their home. Young or weak birds can become separated from the rest of their group and often have difficulty making it home.
Fish can also be affected. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, about 184 million fish died in south Louisiana’s Atchafalaya Basin alone. Strong winds blew leaves off trees, blowing them into wetlands. The rotting (腐烂的) organic material to extremely low levels of oxygen in the water, killing the fish. Some fish will often find sheltered areas during hurricanes, but they’re not always safe. Dolphins have occasionally been blown to shore during big hurricanes.
There are many other dangers that come with hurricane-related water. Sharp rise of saltwater onshore can harm wildlife and plants that live in the freshwater and can’t bear the salt content.Heavy rain can also affect the balance of fresh and salt water in some areas, harming the creatures that live in them.
Many animals lose their regular food supply when a hurricane arrives, as strong winds and rains destroy trees of fruits, nuts and berries. During Hurricane Andrew, about one-quarter of Louisiana’s public oyster seed (牡蛎种苗) grounds were destroyed. Because the oysters were an important food source for some birds on Louisiana’s barrier Islands, the birds suffered mass death as a direct result of the hurricane.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 2?| A．Birds are adapting to a changing climate. |
| B．Birds can sense the coming of a hurricane. |
| C．Birds migrate at certain times of every year. |
| D．Birds’ habitats are destroyed by hurricanes. |
| A．Poisonous leaves. | B．Air pollution. |
| C．A lack of oxygen. | D．The loss of shelters. |
| A．Ocean ecosystem is destroyed. |
| B．Sea salt production is reduced. |
| C．Many animals move away from their habitats. |
| D．There would be less fresh water on the earth. |
| A．Animals suffer more than humans during a hurricane |
| B．What happens to animals during a hurricane? |
| C．Why do animals migrate earlier than usual? |
| D．Animals might face serious threats |
Wuyi Mountain, as a national nature conservation area, is well-known for its clear water and beautiful peaks. There is little doubt
But I’m concerned that the increasing number of tourists has had a negative impact
To begin with, the government is supposed to adopt
In addition, it is also the government’s responsibility
5 . Hurricane Ian hit Florida and brought with it flooding, winds and a record high storm.
Karen is 84 years old and relies on a wheelchair to
Johnny lives four blocks away. When Karen reported the water in her house had reached her waist, he knew he had to take
First, Johnny
Johnny was racing against the clock. He knew he only had a(n)
Everyone in Johnny’s family is now
“I didn’t lose
| A．get around | B．help out | C．sit up | D．work out |
| A．simply | B．repeatedly | C．obviously | D．particularly |
| A．calculated | B．identified | C．experienced | D．underestimated |
| A．care | B．place | C．action | D．charge |
| A．proved | B．ensured | C．noticed | D．admitted |
| A．expand | B．assist | C．escape | D．dominate |
| A．run | B．ride | C．drive | D．swim |
| A．short | B．efficient | C．ideal | D．indefinite |
| A．waist | B．ankles | C．head | D．knees |
| A．harm | B．music | C．advice | D．news |
| A．responsible | B．remarkable | C．innocent | D．safe |
| A．grateful | B．sure | C．concerned | D．surprised |
| A．memory | B．hope | C．sight | D．weight |
| A．screens | B．keyboards | C．buttons | D．monitors |
| A．prepared | B．separated | C．injured | D．hit |
6 . Local authorities and firefighters in the United States are always on the lookout for new and creative methods to help control wildfires. Especially during the hot and dry summer months, thousands of wildfires cause damage to forests every year. The city of West Sacramento in North California has found a creative secret weapon to help deal with this phenomenon: goats.
These friendly animals have been assisting the city with wildfire prevention and fire risks by eating weeds, dry grass and dead trees. When the goats eat the things that are likely to catch fire, they prevent the problem from happening.
Wildfires occur naturally when dry plants are ignited(点燃)by the sun’s heat and catch on fire. However, most wildfires are caused by human carelessness, including unattended campfires, cigarettes and other flammable objects. The best strategy to battle the fires and minimize the damage is to attempt to remove the fuel that enables the spread of the flames, in this case the dry weeds, trees and plants. If the things that are most likely to catch fire are gone, the fire is less likely to spread.
The love able goats are able to reach difficult areas that people are not able to access. About 400 of these goats can clear two acres per day. They even fertilize(使肥沃)the area, a natural and free side effect of eating all those dry plants. Firefighters and government officials cannot be happier with the results.
“For us, the combination of turning to goats for help with the quick fire response is an effective method of keeping our neighbors safe from disastrous wildfires,“said assistant Fire Chief Khari Helae.” With climate change and the fact that our vegetation is being affected because of climate change, it’s necessary to focus on our fuel reduction program.”
1. How do goats assist the city in dealing with wildfires?| A．By identifying the fuel in forests. | B．By consuming dry plants. |
| C．By leading firefighters to fire sources. | D．By eating up green tree leaves. |
| A．It is complex but rewarding. | B．It causes damage to local land. |
| C．It is well accepted worldwide. | D．It is environmentally-friendly. |
| A．He spoke highly of the new method. | B．He was dissatisfied with fire responses. |
| C．He was optimistic about climate change. | D．He considered fuel reduction impractical. |
| A．Goats Help Keep Wildfires Under Control | B．Firefighters Are Being Gradually Replaced |
| C．Disastrous Wildfires Need to Be Controlled | D．Animals Are Fighting Against Climate Change |
7 . The loss of housing due to floods is an undeniable issue. But now, Japanese housing developer Ichijo Komuten recently unveiled a “flood-resistant house” that can not only remain waterproof during floods, but also float off the ground.
Their new “flood-resistant house” was recently featured on a popular Japanese TV show and it has been getting a lot of attention online ever since. Japan’s TBS TV station recently visited one of Ichijo’s test sites where the company’s new flood-resistant house was being put through a simulated flood. Although it looked just like an ordinary house when the test began, by the time that water started rising around it, viewers could see the structure leave the ground and eventually float a few inches above it.
We’ve all seen floating houses being swept away in severe floods, but Ichijo’s newest invention features a system that prevents just that. The house is connected to a number of thick iron rod(杆)sticking out of the ground with thick cables(缆绳)that ensure it stays in place as the water floods past. When the water recedes, the floating house comes back down in its original position. The “flood-resistant house” also features special vents(通风口))hat close up in the event of flooding, and the plumbing also has special valves that prevent water from getting into the home. Electrical equipment like air conditioning is positioned on the upper half of the building to ensure that water doesn’t reach it.
According to engineers at Ichijo Komuten, most homes flood when water reaches the window level, but because their flood-resistant house can float up to five meters above ground, water is unlikely to reach the windows and everything else is sealed shut.
1. Why does Ichijo Komuten develop the “flood-resistant house”?| A．To make houses waterproof. | B．To get houses off the ground. |
| C．To keep houses forever floating. | D．To secure houses against floods. |
| A．Houses throughout the world are in danger of being flooded. |
| B．Electrical equipment will be safe in Ichijo Komuten’s flood-resistant house. |
| C．Thick iron rods and cables were invented by Ichijo Komuten. |
| D．Ichijo Komuten’s flood-resistant houses have been put into market successfully. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Critical. |
| A．To assess the consequences of floods |
| B．To stress the necessity of a waterproof house. |
| C．To provide guidance on flood control. |
| D．To introduce a new invention and its functions. |
8 . Air pollution is one of the world’s invisible killers. It causes seven million deaths a year, making it the largest single environmental health risk. In cities, air pollution is particularly serious. More than 80% of people live in the areas where pollution levels are beyond WHO limits.
One well-established way to reduce air pollution is to plant trees, as their leaves catch and absorb harmful particulates (微粒). But planting new trees is not always a good choice for lack of enough space. That’s why the “City Tree”, a mobile tree which removes pollutants (污染物) from the air, has been becoming popular in cities around the world, including Oslo, Paris, Brussels and Hong Kong.
Each City Tree is just under 4 meters tall, nearly 3 meters wide and 2.19 meters deep, acting as a chair or a bench. A screen is included for information or advertising. Berlin-based Green City Organization explains that its invention has the environmental benefit of up to 275 actual trees.
But the City Tree isn’t, in fact, a tree at all—it’s a moss culture (青苔培植). “Moss cultures have a much larger leaf surface area than any other plant. That means we can catch more pollutants,” said Zhengliang Wu, co-founder of Green City Organization.
The huge surfaces of moss in each tree can remove dust, NO2 and O3 gases from the air. It requires very little care: solar panels provide electricity, while rainwater is collected into a container and then sent into the soil.
To monitor the health of the moss, the City Tree has sensors which measure soil humidity (湿度), temperature and water quality. “We also have pollution sensors inside the “trees, which help monitor the local air quality and tell us how efficient the tree is.” Wu said. Its creators say that each City Tree is able to absorb around 250 grams of particulate matter a day and contributes to removing 480 tons of CO2 a year.
1. What is the City Tree?| A．It is an ordinary tree growing leaves. |
| B．It is a mobile tree offering electricity. |
| C．It is a mobile tree providing rain water. |
| D．It is a moss culture absorbing pollutants. |
| A．It takes up less space. | B．It is very easy to move. |
| C．It requires very little care. | D．It can be used for advertisement. |
| A．Soil and rain water. | B．Solar panels and sensors. |
| C．Temperature and humidity. | D．Moss culture and management. |
| A．Pressing. | B．Confusing. | C．Promising. | D．Worrying |
