1 . When Joseph Cook first landed on the Greenland ice sheet in 2010, he was expecting to see a primitive white environment. What he found was "colorful mix"-from blacks and grays to greens, purples and browns, with blue streams cutting through the ice. the rainbow colors Cook encountered are created by a collection of tiny life forms that reproduce on the surface of the ice sheet. Biodiversity is usually considered a good thing, but in this case the abundance of tiny life is speeding up ice melt, and likely causing global sea levels to rise faster than scientists have predicted

Cook says the tiny life forms he studies are contributing to the problem. One of these organisms is an algae(海藻) that grows in the thin layer of water on the surface of the ice. it produces purple-brown- pigment(色素) which acts “like a natural sunscreen, "says Cook, protecting the algae from the full force of the Arctic sunlight. The pigment also causes the ice to heat up and melt.

“If you go out on a hot day wearing a black T-shirt, you get warmer than if you go out on a hot day wearing a white T-shirt. The same thing happens on the ice," says Cook. "These algae, like the black T-shirt for the glacier, are causing it to warm up in the sun and melt faster.”

Cook’s research on a part of the Greenland ice sheet covering 3, 900 square miles revealed that algae is responsible for up to 13% of the ice melt. In some localized areas, the algae boosted melting by up to 26%.

Glacier algae are not a new phenomenon-there are records of them in the diaries of polar explorers from the 1870s, says Cook. What's becoming clear is that ice sheets are surprisingly dynamic and complex environments. "There are so many questions to answer, "says Cook. "It's kind of like a theme park for a scientist because there's just so much to do.

1. What is quickening the ice melt?

A．The algae.	B．Human activities.
C．Global warming.	D．Blue melt streams.

2. Why is the example of wearing a black T-shirt mentioned?

A．To clarify a rule.	B．To explain the phenomenon.
C．To add humour.	D．To make a conclusion.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Scientists will avoid exploring polar regions.

B．Cook feels proud of the current results.

C．A theme park will be built on ice sheets.

D．There's a long way for research into ice sheets.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A news review.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A geography textbook.	D．A science magazine

2 . Early fifth-century philosopher St．Augustine famously wrote that he knew what time was unless someone asked him．Albert Einstein added another wrinkle when he theorized that time varies depending on where you measure it．Today's state-of-the-art atomic（原子的） clocks have proven Einstein right．Even advanced physics can't decisively tell us what time is, because the answer depends on the question you're asking．

Forget about time as an absolute．What if，instead of considering time in terms of astronomy,we related time to ecology？What if we allowed environmental conditions to set the tempo（节奏） of human life？We're increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone，and realizing that we need to moderate（调节）our actions if we hope to live in balance．What if our definition of time reflected that？

Recently，I conceptualized a new approach to timekeeping that's connected to circumstances on our planet，conditions that might change as a result of global warming．We're now building a clock at the Anchorage Museum that reflects the total flow of several major Alaskan rivers，which are sensitive to local and global environmental changes．We've programmed it to match an atomic clock if the waterways continue to flow at their present rate．If the rivers run faster in the future on average，the clock will get ahead of standard time．If they run slower，you'll see the opposite effect．

The clock registers both short-term irregularities and long-term trends in river dynamics．It's a sort of observatory that reveals how the rivers are behaving from their own temporal frame（时间框架），and allows us to witness those changes on our smartwatches or phones．Anyone who opts to go on Alaska Mean River Time will live in harmony with the planet．Anyone who considers river time in relation to atomic time will encounter a major imbalance and may be motivated to counteract it by consuming less fuel or supporting greener policies．

Even if this method of timekeeping is novel in its particulars，early agricultural societies also connected time to natural phenomena．In pre-Classical Greece，for instance，people“corrected”official calendars by shifting dates forward or backward to reflect the change of season．Temporal connection to the environment was vital to their survival．Likewise，river time and other timekeeping systems we're developing may encourage environmental awareness．

When St．Augustine admitted his inability to define time， he highlighted one of time 's most noticeable qualities：Time becomes meaningful only in a defined context．Any timekeeping system is valid，and each is as praiseworthy as its purpose．

1. What is the main idea of Paragraph 1？

A．Timekeeping is increasingly related to nature．

B．Everyone can define time on their own terms．

C．The qualities of time vary with how you measure it．

D．Time is a major concern of philosophers and scientists．

2. The author raises three questions in Paragraph 2 mainly to________．

A．present an assumption	B．evaluate an argument
C．highlight an experiment	D．introduce an approach

3. What can we learn from this passage？

A．Those who do not go on river time will live an imbalanced life．

B．New ways of measuring time can help to control Earth systems．

C．Atomic time will get ahead of river time if the rivers run slower．

D．Modern technology may help to shape the rivers’ temporal frame．

4. What can we infer from this passage？

A．It is crucial to improve the definition of time．

B．A fixed frame will make time meaningless．

C．We should live in harmony with nature．

D．History is a mirror reflecting reality．

3 . People today are not unfamiliar with term such as "going eco-friendly" and "sustainable lifestyle". However, there exists a group of sceptics（怀疑论者）who believe that going eco-friendly is merely a fad（一时的风尚）. I disagree with this viewpoint, Going eco-friendly is not merely a fad and it does, in fact, change the beliefs and attitudes of people.

The long-term presence of environmental organisations shows the efforts that people have made towards going eco-friendly. Organisations such as World Wildlife Fund advocate people to go eco-friendly. The high involvement of the organisations and the participants is thus a strong indicator that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad but a trend that can last decades.

Another strong indicator is the emergence of sustainable products in many industries, such as organic produce and electric vehicles. The consumer demand, coupled with eco-conscious（环保意识的）businesses, is behind the sharp increase in such products. This shows a shift in the beliefs and attitudes of people towards adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Thus, it seems quite certain that going eco-friendly is not merely a fad.

While some people who broadcast their eco-friendly practices are criticised for just hoping to project an eco-conscious image, there are a number of celebrities who have been practising the zero-waste lifestyle for years. For those who do so for years, and not mere days or months, it is indeed a commitment that can only come with a true change in beliefs and attitudes towards caring for the earth.

The call to save the earth looks set to stay. With the development of technology and the appearance of many platforms advocating going green, people are more willing to change their beliefs and attitudes when they can learn about and appreciate the positive impact of the work of different environmental organisations and individuals. It is hoped that these effects will go a long way in ensuring that our planet will remain a suitable place to live in.

1. Why does the author mention World Wildlife Fund?

A．To appreciate its environmental efforts.

B．To encourage people to go eco-friendly.

C．To evidence the universal recognition of going green.

D．To highlight the difficulty in changing people's attitudes.

2. What does the underlined word "emergence" mean in paragraph 3?

A．Sudden disappearance.	B．Sharp increase.
C．Gradual development.	D．Limited application.

3. What does the author expect of technology development?

A．It may discourage people from sustainable lifestyle.

B．It may boost the business of organic produce.

C．It will be used to project an eco-conscious image.

D．It will promote environmental awareness.

4. What is the author's purpose in writing this text?

A．To prove going eco-friendly a lasting trend.

B．To popularize the eco-friendly products.

C．To offer strategies to go eco-friendly.

D．To advertise for eco-friendly platforms.

4 . 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。

Lijiang was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997 for its historic town site, architecture and ancient water-supply system.

The Old Town of Lijiang,     1     (locate) in China’s Yunan province, is one of the last ancient towns that survive in China. Lying in     2     broad, fertile valley in the northwest of Yunan Province, Lijiang     3     (be) a commercial, cultural and political center of the Naxi (纳西族) people since Yuan Dynasty. Lijiang may leave an     4    (impress) on you for its beauty. The aging wooden buildings decorated with red lanterns and local musicians     5     (play) their old Naxi instruments in the time-worn streets show a lifestyle and culture that seem lost in time.

As UNESCO describes the village on its website, “The old Town of Lijiang,     6     is perfectly adapted to the uneven land form, has kept a historic townscape of high quality.” Its architecture is well known     7     combining the elements from several ancient cultures. Lijiang also possesses     8     we call the ancient water-supply system that still functions     9     (effective) today. However, with more and more tourists pouring in, it remains     10     (see) whether Lijiang can continue to keep its traditional lifestyle and culture.

5 . The ocean covers more than 70% of our plane. It is so immense(巨大的) that explorers once thought there was no way to cross it. When our ships were advanced enough to do so, naturalists then thought it impossible for humans to ever exhaust fisheries or drive marine species to extinction. They were wrong.

Commercial fishing now covers an area of four times that of agriculture, and much of that expanse has been rendered completely unsustainable. We have reduced 90% of formerly important coastal species. Fish have been harvested so heavily that they are nearly wiped out in many places.

Some may hope that there are immense areas still untouched, given that humans do not live on the ocean, and we need specialized ships to go far beyond the coast. But that is incorrect. Just13% of the ocean remains as wilderness, and in coastal regions where human activities are most intense, there is almost no wilderness left at all. Of the roughly 21 million square miles of marine wilderness remaining almost all is found in the Arctic and Antarctic or around remote Pacific island nations with no populations.

What concerns us now is that most wilderness remains unprotected. This means it could be lost at any time as advances in technology allow us to fish deeper and ship further than ever before. Thanks to a warming climate, even places that were once safeguarded because of year-round ice cover are now open to fishing and shipping.

This lack of protection seems in large part from international environmental policies failing to recognize the unique values of wilderness, instead, focusing on saving at-risk ecosystems and avoiding extinctions. This is similar to a government using its entire health budget on emergency cardiac(心脏的) surgery without preventive politics, encouraging exercise to decrease the risk of heart attacks occurring in the first place.

If Earth's marine biodiversity is to be preserved forever, it is time for conservation to focus not only on the ER but also on preventive health measures.

1. What can be inferred from the first three paragraphs?

A．The ocean covers no more than seventy percent of the earth.

B．Naturalists still think there will be no way to cross the ocean.

C．There is almost no wilderness left at all in remote Pacific island.

D．It is incorrect that there were immense areas remaining as wilderness.

2. What does the underlined word “safeguarded” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Unprotected.

B．Isolated.

C．Protected.

D．Lost.

3. What is the author’s attitude to international environmental policies?

A．Skeptical.

B．Negative.

C．Conservative.

D．Objective.

4. What should be done to preserve Earth's marine biodiversity?

A．Ignore the unique values of wilderness.

B．Encourage exercise to decrease the risk.

C．Focus on avoiding partial extinction.

D．Focus also on preventive measures.

6 . There are a lot of feral(野生的) camels in Australia. Although they don't appear to be as destructive as other introduced species because they eat trees and plants that our native Australian animals don' t eat, in the last few years the Australian Camel population has been increasing at a fairly alarming rate and becoming a bit of a problem.

We didn’t see them that often where we grew up unless we went further into Queensland or South Australia. When we did see them it was always a bit of a thrill for us kids because it was somewhat of a novelty(新奇的事物).

The suggestion of bringing camels to Australia was first made in 1837, 49 years after Europeans arrived in Australia. The importing of camels into Australia began in the mid 1800s to open up the desert areas of Central and Western Australia. They were handled and cared for by Muslim cameleers that came from countries like Egypt, Turkey and northern India. The cameleers were called Afghans or “Ghans”even though most of them were not Afghans. The name stuck to a part of the railroad track that links Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

By the 1920s there were about 20,000 domesticated(家养的) camels in Australia, but with the arrival of motor and rail transport in the 1930s people no longer needed their camels and a lot of them were abandoned in the bush.

Australian Camels are now exported live to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries where disease-free camels are considered a delicacy(佳肴).   Australian Camels are also exported to Arab Camel racing stables as breeding stock. The United States also imports them to use in tourist attractions. There are over 40 farms providing rides in Australia now.

1. What problem with camels in Australia is mentioned?

A．They carry disease.

B．They hurt people sometimes.

C．The number of them is growing rapidly.

D．Some native animals are threatened by them.

2. For what purpose were camels brought to Australia?

A．To keep the balance of nature.	B．To develop the desert areas.
C．To satisfy kids’ curiosity.	D．To create new jobs.

3. What led to camels' being deserted in Australia?

A．The disappearance of bushes.	B．The spread of a serious disease.
C．The introduction of other animals.	D．The availability of modern vehicles.

4. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The history of Australian Camels.	B．What Australian Camels are used for.
C．The advantages of Australian Camels.	D．Why Australian Camels are popular abroad.

7 . Barred owls(大林鸮猫头鹰) are a large species native to eastern North America, but they began moving west at the start of the 20th century. By 1973, large numbers of barred owls had arrived in the western state of Washington. Later they moved south into Oregon and California.

In parts of the Pacific Northwest, the owls are now believed to be causing a drop in the population of a smaller, less aggressive bird: the northern spotted owl. In many ways, the barred owl is the spotted owl's worst enemy. The barred owl has more babies per year and eats the same animals, like squirrels and wood rats. And their numbers are now larger in many parts of the spotted owl's traditional territory.

David Wiens is a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency that studies the Earth and its natural resources. He and other officials are doing something unusual to protect spotted owls: killing barred owls. It is a controversial, experimental program. More than 2,400 barred owls have already been shot.

Wiens is the son of a well-known bird expert and grew up with the fascination for birds. He has mixed feelings about the program. "It's a little distasteful, I think, to go out killing barred owls to save another owl species," he says. But he adds, “We knew that barred owls were out competing spotted owls and their numbers were growing too fast."

To catch barred owls, officials put digital bird callers on the ground. Then they step back and wait as several sounds from the devices fill the air. All of this happens in the dark of night. Barred owls dislike other birds in their territory, so they will fly down and chase other owls out. That is when Wiens and his team try to shoot them.

1. What's the main problem with spotted owls?

A．They are being starved to death.	B．They have more babies each year.
C．They are invaded by another bird.	D．They are hunted by man.

2. Why are barred owls being killed?

A．They are eating the spotted owls.	B．They are killing each other to survive.
C．They are putting the spotted owls in danger.	D．They are destroying large areas of forests.

3. Why did the officials release the bird sounds?

A．To kill barred owls.	B．To puzzle barred owls.
C．To protect barred owls.	D．To frighten barred owls.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Killing One Animal to Save Another.	B．Keeping the Balance of Nature.
C．Protecting Birds in Danger.	D．Preventing Birds from Playing Fair.

8 . They are smart. They know how to steal. They know how to find food. They know how to intimidate(恐吓) . Who are they? They are macaque monkeys. They have taken over the old city of Lopburi in Thailand. About 8,400 of them are in the center of the city. They roam(漫游) neighborhoods in groups. Dozens of businesses in Lopburi are closing. They include a music school, a gold shop, a barber, a cellphone store and a movie theatre. The Buddhist culture believes reducing the number of monkeys would disturb spiritual well-being.

The monkeys were not always such a hazard. They attracted tourists. Buddhists thought feeding them was a good deed. Now times have changed. Recently, the coronavirus made things worse. There are fewer tourists, which means that travelers give less food to the monkeys. Over the years, the monkeys moved into empty buildings. They trashed whatever they came across. They ripped(扯掉) antennas and windshield wipers off parked cars. What happens when monkeys come into contact with humans? An observer said that years ago the monkeys were fewer, bigger and healthier. Their fur was shiny and thick. They kept to the temples，as well as the ruins of the ancient Khmer civilization.

Then tourists came with easy and unhealthy food. Along with bananas and citrus(柑橘), the macaques feasted on junk food. An observer said, “The monkeys are never hungry. They are just like children who eat too much KFC. ” Compared with the monkeys of the forest, their urban counterparts have less muscle. They have more hypertension and blood disease. Their fur has thinned. Some have gone bald. With so much food available，they have more time to breed and to give birth. Their population has exploded. “These monkeys were here before us,” a man said. A juvenile macaque tugged(拽) his trousers demanding a treat. “We have to adapt to them，not the other way around. ”

1. Why are macaque monkeys so popular in Lopburi in Thailand?

A．Because they are smart and know how to steal.

B．Because they have taken over the old city of Lopburi in Thailand.

C．Because they are symbols of spiritual well-being in the Buddhist culture.

D．Because 8,400 of them are in the centre of the city and roam everywhere.

2. In what way has tourism influenced the macaque monkeys?

A．The monkeys are bigger and healthier.

B．The monkeys like eating KFC food.

C．The monkeys have suffered from more diseases.

D．The monkeys are subject to birth control.

3. What does the underlined word “counterparts” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Monkeys.	B．Tourists.
C．Buddhists.	D．Children.

4. It can be inferred from what the man said that ________.

A．monkeys are ancestors, so humans should adapt to monkeys

B．humans should regard monkeys with awe and respect

C．monkeys should be forced to follow rules

D．humans should give monkeys whatever they want

9 . It was midday on August 24 in the year 79.     1     In the crowded market, shoppers cried and pointed at Mount Vesuvius, the huge volcano near the city. Ash and smoke were shooting 30 kilometers into the sky from the volcano. The thick ash turned everything black. People couldn't see the sun. All the landmarks disappeared. The people could not see where to go or how to escape.     2     Other people hid and became trapped in their homes. The ash did not stop falling. It got deeper and deeper, blocking doors and building.

Around midnight, hot clouds of ash, rock, and harmful gas rushed down the mountain, and destroyed everything in their way.     3     The terrible eruption was finished.

The ruins of Pompeii today are like a trip back in time. The volcanic ash kept buildings, art and even the forms of people who died. You can see important buildings and beautiful homes where wealthy people used to live.     4     Bakeries still have bread in the oven. Kitchens a till have pots on the stove. Walls still have love notes, pictures, and other messages.

Now, almost 2,000 years later, three million people Live near Vesuvius. Pompeii is ancient history, but the volcano will probably erupt again.     5     They will try to warn people of an eruption and prevent another disaster like the one that destroyed Pompeii.

A．You can also look into other people's lives.

B．Today, we know a lot about that   terrible   day.

C．Some people took money and ran for their lives.

D．By 7 o'clock the next morning, Vesuvius and Pompeii were silent.

E．There was a deafening noise, and the city of Pompeii started to shake.

F．Pompeii was destroyed after a volcanic eruption killed thousands of people.

G．No one knows when it will happen, but scientists are watching the volcano very carefully.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The loquat(枇杷) is native to southeastern China. The     1     (leaf) of the loquat tree bear a similarity to the pipa,     2     ancient Chinese instrument. That's     3     it shares the same Chinese pronunciation with that of the instrument. The loquat was first planted by the Chinese people 1,800 years ago and spread abroad later on.

When     4     (study) in Japan in 1988, Lin Shunquan, a Chinese professor, found that the scientific name for the loquat was “Japanese plum“ internationally     5     that it was thought to be native to Japan. Since     6     (he) return to China in 1989, Lin Shunquan has been working to correct the name of the loquat. In 1998, his paper Loquat: Botany and Horticulture was published in a     7     (profession) journal, arguing that the loquat originated in China. Since Japan     8     (acknowledge) that the loquat originated in China in 2006, the name, “Chinese plum”, has been accepted worldwide.

In addition,     9     (devote) to advancing the loquat planting techniques, Professor Lin helped to develop the loquat industry. Due to the demanding techniques of growing loquat and the high cost of labor, few young people     10     (willing) take over. Lin Shunquan has also worked with Alibaba to establish a direct base, which has attracted young people to return to their hometowns to set up online shops.