1 . A group of clams (河蚌) recently caught people’s attention after an article was posted by China Science Communication online. Although these clams are usually regarded as nothing more than delicious food, they work to monitor the local water quality in Poland.
Gruba Kaska pumping station, which stands in the River Wisla, helps provide millions of liters of water to Warsaw, the capital of Poland. However, one particular concern for the water quality has been heavy metals, and researchers sought help from nature to solve this problem.
Clams are sensitive to pollutants in their environment as they filter (过滤) water to feed on microorganisms. They shut their shells immediately after detecting “dangerous” water.
Based on this, the researchers selected eight clams at a time and recorded the natural opening of their shells. After the clam “employees” become accustomed to the local water, they are placed in a specially designed container. With sensors stuck onto their shells, the clams are connected to a system that records how wide the shells are open. If four or more clams close their shells at the same time, an alarm will be set off and the water supply will be shut down. The result is reliable because the creatures are considering many different factors at the same time, according to ZME Science.
Animals have long been helpers for human activities. Farmers in north Queensland, Australia, have been ordering different species of dung beetles to help clean up cattle waste, according to ABC News. As the number of cattle grows, their waste increases, leading to an enormous population of flies and a worsening environment. Dung beetles, however, take the waste and bury it. This way, they help improve soil quality.
Similarly, cockroaches are used to deal with kitchen waste at several firms in China, according to a report of The Beijing News. About 300 million cockroaches are fed 15 tons of food waste on a daily basis, and they themselves are a good protein resource for livestock.
1. Why did the researchers turn to nature for help?| A．To solve the food shortage. | B．To attract people’s attention. |
| C．To supervise the water quality. | D．To remove heavy metals sooner. |
| A．The reason for the study. | B．The result of the research. |
| C．The purpose of the study. | D．The process of the study. |
| A．By cleaning up food waste regularly. |
| B．By dealing with cattle’s waste properly. |
| C．By digesting and burying the waste of flies. |
| D．By using kitchen waste to improve soil quality. |
| A．Animals, Good Helpers of Humans | B．Three Kinds of Amazing Animals |
| C．A Special Way to Test Water Quality | D．Animals, Far More than Tasty Food |
2 . Sargassum is a kind of floating seaweed (海草) that has been growing in size every year. It looks pretty in the ocean. However, sargassum can almost completely block out sunlight. Important kinds of seagrass suffer when light is blocked by seaweed. As sargassum piles up on beaches, it makes it hard for mother sea turtles to lay eggs, and nearly impossible for baby turtles to return to the sea.
So much sargassum piles up on beaches, and it breaks down slowly, giving out a bad smell like rotten eggs. “Even when governments clear the seaweed from beaches, they face problems of getting rid of it. Heavy machines can put turtle nests in danger. Some people have thought about using sargassum as a fertilizer (肥料), but it contains harmful heavy metals. So far, removing these harmful metal s costs too much to make it worth doing,” said the scientist Steven Kelley.
Sargassum grows faster in warming oceans, so climate change is definitely part of the problem. But scientists believe the unusual growth of the seawood is also caused by huge quantities of fertilizers washed into the ocean from farmlands.
Scientists and students are working hard to figure out how to deal with sargassum. Some suggest using sargassum as a building material, or possibly a fuel. One unusual solution is to drop it deep in the sea by using robots. Sargassum takes in huge amounts of carbon dioxide (二氧化碳) as it grows. Removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is one important part of fighting the climate crisis. Sargassum could deal with this carbon dioxide in the deep ocean. Scientists are still testing this idea to see if it will work.
For now, scientists say the quickest solution is to stop filling the ocean with fertilizers. It is wise for farmers to change the way they farm. Moreover, the seaweed’s growth can have serious effects on islands that depend heavily on tourism and fishing. Island communities play a role in cleaning up the seaweed and promoting responsible tourism. At the same time, officials have to work towards changing policies to solve the issues.
1. What can we know about sargassum according to the first paragraph?| A．It affects the ecosystem negatively. |
| B．It adds to the variety of life in the ocean. |
| C．It causes a shortage of food for sea animals. |
| D．It creates a good living environment for seagrass. |
| A．Reusing metal s from sargassum is a wise choice. |
| B．Fertilizers can help sargarrum break down quickly. |
| C．Dealing with sargassum safely is challenging work. |
| D．Practical ways have been developed to remove sargassum. |
| A．By spreading sargassum widely to increase sunlight. |
| B．By changing sargassum into a renewable energy source. |
| C．By employing sargassum as a cleaner for ocean pollution. |
| D．By making use of sargassum’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide. |
| A．Public attempts to recycle seaside sargassum. |
| B．The change in sargassum’s living environment. |
| C．Challenges and approaches concerning sargassum. |
| D．The influence of sargassum’s growth on climate change. |
The beautiful Li River and its
1. 目前火灾事故现状；
2.火灾逃生的自救建议措施；
3. 呼吁号召。
注意：1.写作词数应为120词左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节以使内容信息丰富；
参考词汇: 爬行 crawl; 电梯 elevator/lift; 消防演习 the fire drill
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5 . My name is Maria Helena Corrcia, and I studied biology at college. After
Working on the Egyptian Vulture New LIFE project, I
To save the vultures, we have to show the livestock keepers that there are other ways of
Until now, I have had nothing but
As I mentioned before, I used to work as a researcher in a laboratory. But my experience here in Greece has changed my life
| A．graduation | B．marriage | C．birth | D．class |
| A．difference | B．cut | C．decision | D．mistake |
| A．testing | B．protection | C．behavior | D．disease |
| A．try | B．remember | C．happen | D．refuse |
| A．watched | B．loved | C．raised | D．attacked |
| A．crying | B．running | C．dying | D．sitting |
| A．finding | B．helping | C．stopping | D．feeding |
| A．put away | B．break down | C．pull up | D．set up |
| A．repeated | B．changed | C．shared | D．expressed |
| A．goal | B．reason | C．chance | D．choice |
| A．early | B．painful | C．wonderful | D．sad |
| A．proud | B．lonely | C．strict | D．thankful |
| A．offered | B．asked | C．lent | D．showed |
| A．legally | B．completely | C．unluckily | D．uncertainly |
| A．continue | B．describe | C．discuss | D．finish |
As a hectare of mangrove forests (红树林) can absorb as much carbon as four hectares of rainforests, they
In 2013, the Mikoko Pamoja carbon project began to conserve and protect 117 hectares of mangrove forest around the village Gazi, Kenya. It was the first project to turn blue carbon,
The local fisherman Abdallah Mohamed,
7 . Protect the night sky
As a nature photographer, stars have always been one of my favourite elements in the photos. They offer an connection to a universe that is mysterious and grand, connecting our earthly lives to the heavens. Since the earliest recorded history, the night sky has sparked our imaginations and become deeply rooted in our cultures, traditions, artwork, and in later years, has inspired the development of technology with the hope of reaching beyond our blue planet.
With the development of the industrial (工业的) world, though, we have begun to lose the clarity (清晰) that thousands of generations of people and wildlife before us have enjoyed. Because of excesssive (过度) use of lighting, stars have become fainter (模糊的). For photographers hoping to capture the magic of the night sky, they must seek new places. Dark places are far from the reach of a city, and those place are becoming harder and harder to find.
Thanks to conservation groups, led by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), we have an opportunity to improve our night skies and recapture ancient magic. By holding the International Dark-Sky week, a yearly celebration of the night sky, the IDA is helping cities, communities and families do their part in helping make skies darker. Dark skies benefit more than just nature photographers; they are important to many wildlife species that also depend on them.
Here are some simple steps we all can do that are easy and inexpensive:
* Change your light bulbs to a dark-sky-friendly color, the closer the light is similar to “firelight” and the further it is away from a blue or white color, the better it is for the environment.
* Use a light fixture that channels the light down and instead of wide and open.
* Turn your lights off before bed!
1. Why does the author prefer photographing stars so much?| A．They inspire the author to learn cultures and art. |
| B．They are often paid little attention to by most people. |
| C．They are hardly seen due to the industrial development. |
| D．They build a close relation between universe and humans. |
| A．By looking for places without light. |
| B．By turning to government for help |
| C．By avoiding using any light bulbs. |
| D．By promoting industrial development |
| A．Blue and white are the dark-sky-friendly colors. |
| B．Many species of wildlife depend on dark skies. |
| C．Little efforts are needed to protect the night sky. |
| D．Joint efforts are needed to regain the darker sky. |
| A．To highlight the value of protecting the night sky. |
| B．To inform people of the current situation of night sky. |
| C．To call on people to take action to protect the night sky |
| D．To show author's great concern for the use of lighting |
8 . Living for 97 years is an impressive achievement in and of itself. Most people hitting this milestone are probably thankful for what health they have and the memories they’ve made. In the case of TV host and conservationist Sir David Attenborough, he can reflect on a life of activism in service for our planet. The British icon turned an impressive 97 on May 8, 2023. Born in 1926, Attenborough has spent most of his life on camera for the BBC covering animals and natural history. Today, despite his age, he is still an active campaigner for our planet.
Attenborough, who received a degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University, joined the BBC full-time in 195. He travelled around the world with his Zoo Quest programme, highlighting different creatures. Afterwards, he created his iconic series Lifeon Earth in 1979. Since then, he has created and starred in countless programmes which have brought nature closer to viewers around the world.
His recent documentary with World Wildlife Fund, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, often returns to a theme which has predominated in Attenborough’s later work. He reflects on just how much the environment has changed in his-decades of observation and how swiftly time is running out before·further serious damage can be prevented. This programme was widely streamed and considered a “wake up call” for the world. While Attenborough is far from the first or only voice to raise this call, his reach as a respected and powerful figure within the BBC provides a useful platform.
Although he has received countless awards, Attenborough has used recent accolades (荣誉) as a chance to focus once more on the planet. Shortly after winning the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, he sent an urgent message about the state of the planet to all viewers. in Frozen Planet Ⅱ. Even after his 97th birthday, he continues to write and speak on preserving the UK and the world for future generations.
1. What is Sir David Attenborough known for?| A．The possession of treasures. | B．The memories about activities. |
| C．The rewards as a British icon. | D．The contribution to earth protection. |
| A．By majoring in natural science in university. |
| B．By travelling throughout the world while in BBC. |
| C．By sitting closer to viewers when hosting programmes. |
| D．By starting and starring in many relevant programmes. |
| A．It features environment shifts and conservation. |
| B．It is about how swiftly one’s life run out. |
| C．It is received by few viewers and thought little of. |
| D．It provides a powerful and useful platform for BBC. |
| A．Dependent and curious. | B．Devoted and responsible. |
| C．Humorous and passionate. | D．Ambitious and reserved. |
9 . Ten years ago, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb was on a reporting trip about wildlife conservation. When he was shown around some new animal crossing structures near, Missoula, these new bridges and tunnels intrigued him. He was attracted by these beautiful human-built structures and inspired to write a book. Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet has now been published.
Through expert interviews, in-depth research and convincing analysis, Goldfarh brings to life the deadly consequences our 40 million miles of roadways have had and are having on the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. A million animals are killed by cars each day in the US alone. Road salt pollutes lakes and rivers. And there's the barrier effect-the steady stream of traffic that prevents animals from migrating (迁徙) all together and finding habitats. Goldfarb writes that noise pollution is the most worrisome among all the road's ecological disasters. Both the engine noise and the tire noise greatly impact ecological environment.
Figures on deaths and disruptions (扰乱) are disheartening, but Goldfarb vividly describes how scientists are actively working on meaningful improvements to help animals and roads better coexist, such as wildlife crossings, from passages in Canada's Banff National Park to the famous Liberty Canyon Overpass in Los, Angeles. Another example is that in India, they built a new highway through a tiger reserve so that animals can come and go underneath the lifted freeway. Of course, that made the project more expensive, but it's ecologically the right thing to do.
Crossings is a truly important and landmark book on a subject whose full impacts continue to be disregarded or underestimated in considering conservation efforts. The book is a sympathetic, heart-warming guide to exploring the issues of wildlife survival and our own.
1. What does the underlined word “intrigued” in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Confused. | B．Blocked. | C．Satisfied. | D．Interested. |
| A．Road salt. | B．Roadkill. |
| C．Vehicle noises. | D．Endless traffic stream. |
| A．To bring shame on individual drivers. |
| B．To stress the effect of roads on wildlife. |
| C．To show humans' effort in animal protection. |
| D．To explain the necessity of creating wild reserves. |
| A．Vivid and touching. |
| B．Pessimistic and sharp. |
| C．Objective and critical. |
| D．Abstract and humorous. |
Lizard (蜥蜴) Problems
My problems started when I learned that Mrs. Smith would be my fourth-grade teacher. She had a lizard in her classroom, and lizards were on my list of terrifying things.
Worse, Richard was in my class again. He knows I’m afraid of spiders (蜘蛛), and all year he pretended to put them in my hair. If he found out lizards were on my list, I’d be finished.
On the first day of school I tried not to look at the glass container in the corner, but Mrs. Smith pulled out the lizard and set him against her shoulder like a baby. “This is Ripley”, she said.
Richard whispered, “Bet you’re scared of him.” “I am not!” I said. Mrs. Smith looked toward Richard and me. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Amy’s scared of Ripley” Richard announced. “No, I’m not.” My chest tightened. “I love lizards. They’re my favorite animals.”
Mrs. Smith smiled. “I was going to ask for a volunteer to feed Ripley at recess (课间休息), but since you’re a lizard lover, how would you like the job?”
She probably thought I was speechless with joy.
Before recess, Mrs. Smith showed me Ripley’s bag of greens. I can handle that, I told myself. I’ll just lift the container lid (盖子), drop in the greens, and run.
As Mrs. Smith led the class out the door, I was frozen in a block of ice. I wanted to cry, but my tears were frozen, too. Ripley sat still watching. I knew he was waiting to jump at me the second I lifted the lid. I just stood there for a long time, staring back at Ripley.
Voices in the hall told me recess was over. I closed my eyes, lifted the lid, threw in the greens, and shut the lid. Mrs. Smith said, “You must be enjoying your job, Amy You didn’t come out for recess at all.”
Richard’s eyes got wide. I’d fooled him. But now I’d have to spend every recess with a lizard.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右； 2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
After a few weeks, Richard said “Why does Amy always get to feed Ripley? I want a turn.”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I meant for Richard to put Ripley down inside the container, but Richard set him on the floor and ran outside.
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