1 . When most kids go to the beach, they’re too focused on making sandcastles and splashing around to notice litter, but several years ago, for 7-year-old Cash Daniels, noticing a plastic straw sparked a lifelong passion for saving the planet.
Cash, who is now known as the “conservation kid”, has always loved nature. He grew up fishing along the Chattanooga River, after all! But once he learned that 80 percent of all trash from land and rivers ends up in the ocean, he couldn’t sit back.
He started with cleanups along the river, something that quickly went from a family affair to a community effort with volunteers and neighbors. In 2019, Cash, together with a Canadian conservationist, Ella Galaski-Rossen, started a nonprofit called the Cleanup Kids. Despite living in different countries, they managed to create educational videos on their YouTube channel. “We hope to be a really big nonprofit that eliminates plastic in the U. S. and Canada,” Cash said. “We want to inform kids and adults in the landlocked states of how their actions are connected to the water and the ocean,” Cash said.
Cash was selected as one of America’s top 10 youth volunteers of 2021 by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. He also earned the title of National Honoree, where he received a$5,000 grant to go to a nonprofit of his choice, and he became the first person to win the Youth Conservationist Award two years in a row from the Tennessee Wildlife Federation.
“I want to travel the world, teach others, and help them feel connected to the ocean. Because if you are connected to the ocean-if you love it and what lives in it—you’ll want to protect it,” he said. “This is my fun, and it becomes more fun with every new discovery.”
1. Which can replace the underlined words “sit back” in paragraph 2?| A．Fall asleep. | B．Lose heart. |
| C．Turn a blind eye. | D．Lend a hand. |
| A．To recycle waste plastics. |
| B．To make instructive videos. |
| C．To spread marine knowledge. |
| D．To appeal for ocean protection. |
| A．Sympathetic and devoted. | B．Initiative and talented. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Determined and modest. |
| A．Passion fuels dreams. |
| B．Great minds think alike. |
| C．Helping others is of great fun. |
| D．Actions speak louder than words. |
2 . Hibernation (冬眠) is a classic topic of science fiction. In movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, or Passengers, crew members are put into a state of sleep to take year-long journeys to space. Now a new study from Washington University has shown that human hibernation may soon become a reality.
The research team carried out tests on rats — animals that do not naturally hibernate. They first identified a group of neurons (神经元) in a deep brain region, which were found to be involved in controlling body temperature during hibernation. They showed that, in mice, these neurons could be stimulated using ultrasound (超声波), which was delivered through a helmet without causing an injury.
When receiving the ultrasound, the mice showed a drop in body temperature of about3°C, and their heart rates fell by about 47%. When the ultrasound system was switched off, they woke up again. The result was “surprising and fascinating”, said Hong Chen, a professor who led the work.
Researchers are also trying to determine how to harness the power of hibernation to help humans. They believe that it could be key to addressing health conditions like heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, hibernation’s ability to slow aging, which was observed in bats, could benefit space exploration, enabling longer missions with less food requirements. Research in animals also suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose less bone and muscle, making them fit and ready to start challenging exploration soon after they wake up.
By unlocking the secrets of this remarkable process, researchers may uncover ways to improve human health, as well as gain new insights into the natural world. Therefore, the exploration of hibernation is an exciting area that is sure to yield numerous benefits in the years to come.
The scientists now plan to look at how lowered body temperature might affect the cognitive abilities of humans. “Our next experiments will test working memory in monkeys. This is important because while astronauts physically hibernate as they fly into deep space, their brain still needs to be working,” said Chen.
1. How did researchers put rats into hibernation?| A．By lowering their body temperature. |
| B．By activating specific brain neurons. |
| C．By putting a regular helmet on them. |
| D．By using ultrasound through an operation. |
| A．Employ. | B．Challenge. | C．Overlook. | D．Discover. |
| A．It improves people’s mental health. |
| B．It predicts a variety of heart diseases. |
| C．It helps astronauts keep physically fit. |
| D．It enables astronauts to build up muscle. |
| A．To point out the significance of the study. |
| B．To bring out the focus of follow-up studies. |
| C．To discuss other factors affecting hibernation. |
| D．To explain practical applications of the finding. |
3 . After years of heated debate, gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Fourteen wolves were caught in Canada and transported to the park. By last year, the Yellowstone wolf population had grown to more than 170 wolves.
Gray wolves once were seen here and there in the Yellowstone area and much of the continental United States, but they were gradually displaced by human development. By the 1920s, wolves had practically disappeared from the Yellowstone area. They went farther north into the deep forests of Canada, where there were fewer humans around.
The disappearance of the wolves had many unexpected results. Deer and elk populations — major food sources (来源) for the wolf — grew rapidly. These animals consumed large amounts of vegetation (植被), which reduced plant diversity in the park. In the absence of wolves, coyote populations also grew quickly. The coyotes killed a large percentage of the park’s red foxes, and completely drove away the park’s beavers.
As early as 1966, biologists asked the government to consider reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone Park. They hoped that wolves would be able to control the elk and coyote problems. Many farmers opposed the plan because they feared that wolves would kill their farm animals or pets.
The government spent nearly 30 years coming up with a plan to reintroduce the wolvers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service carefully monitors and manages the wolf packs in Yellowstone. Today, the debate continues over how well the gray wolf is fitting in at Yellowstone. Elk, deer, and coyote populations are down, while beavers and red foxes have made a comeback. The Yellowstone wolf project has been a valuable experiment to help biologists decide whether to reintroduce wolves to other parts of the country as well.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．Wildlife research in the United States. |
| B．Plant diversity in the Yellowstone area. |
| C．The conflict between farmers and gray wolves. |
| D．The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone Park. |
| A．Damage to local ecology. |
| B．Preservation of vegetation. |
| C．A decline in the park’s income. |
| D．An increase in the variety of animals. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Uncaring. | C．Positive. | D．Disapproving. |
4 . Tired of the busy and chaotic life in Las Vegas, Nevada for nearly ten years, my family and I decided to slow things down. We wanted to lead an environmental-friendly life.
None of us felt that this could be accomplished where we were living and we all agreed that a move to the country would be great for everyone.
Before long we set about looking for a home in Yucca, Arizona, a very small town of less than 1,000 people. When I called to inquire about the property, I was informed that there was no electricity available in the area. What? No electricity? I almost denied the idea immediately. But what better way is there to go green? After giving it a second thought, we decided to put in an offer and moved in on Thanksgiving Day.
When we first moved to the property, we did some remodeling (改造) and stayed in our motor home. We were confronted with real challenges at the time. But the frustrations just made us work harder. We slowly got things fixed and moved into the house after 38 days.
While living here for the past four months has been a big adjustment, there are many benefits to living off the grid (电线). I think one of the most educational lessons is teaching my kids the importance of conservation. They used to take water, power and gas for granted. We started taking quicker showers, doing only full loads of laundry, turning off the water while brushing our teeth. In addition, we are also trying to make other changes which include reducing the amount of trash we generate by recycling, growing our own organic vegetables and re-purposing things that we would normally throw.
Overall, going off the grid has been great for our family. I hope that once my kids move out of the house, they will keep the habits that they have learned by living off the grid.
1. Why did the family move to a remote town?| A．Financial debt forced them to save more money. |
| B．Having a new lifestyle has become a trend. |
| C．They reached an agreement to lead a green life. |
| D．They got a discount on a property accidentally. |
| A．Satisfied. | B．Astonished. | C．Relieved. | D．Refreshed. |
| A．saving resources makes a difference | B．life is beyond our expectation |
| C．city chaos will disappear sooner or later | D．repair the house before it rains |
| A．How urgent it was to lead an environmental-friendly life. |
| B．How a family of urban-residents switched to a simple life. |
| C．How significant it was to better adapt to a new environment. |
| D．How a carbon-free lifestyle has been promoted to the country. |
5 . Biologists are becoming more and more concerned that global climate change will probably reduce biodiversity. Some biologists estimate that 35% of animals and plants could become extinct in the wild by 2050 due to global climate change. Before the industrial revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rarely climbed above 280 ppm; But during the 2014 calendar year, carbon dioxide levels ascended to 402 ppm.
In the fall of 2014, the National Audubon Society released a report entitled Birds and Climate Change. It is a comprehensive, first-of-its kind study that predicts how climate change could affect the ranges of 588 North American birds. Of the 588 North American bird species, more than half are likely to be in trouble. The National Audubon Society’s models indicate that 314 species will lose more than 50 percent of their current climatic range by 2080. Of the 314 species at risk from global warming, 126 of them are classified as climate endangered. These birds are projected to lose more than 50 percent of their current range by 2050. The other 188 species are classified as climate threatened and expected to lose more than 50 percent of their current range by 2080 if global warming continues at its current pace.
In January 2020, two widely reported studies were carried out to show the dramatic impact of climate disruption on our wildlife and fisheries along the California coast. The first study showed that from 2014 to 2016, over a million common murres from Alaska through California died as a result of a marine heat wave. The second study shows that acid rainfall caused by carbon emissions is harming shell-building animals in the ocean. The study found that larval Dungeness crabs’ shells suffer damage in west coast seawater, putting at risk the most profitable fishery in California and a beloved local seafood.
These newly documented impacts provide more evidence that we are running out of time to take action by drastically reducing our use of fossil fuels in order to slow the rate of climate disruption and to give birds and other animals more time to adapt.
Visit our How You Can Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions page to learn what you can do to help protect these species at risk from climate disruption.
1. What does “ascended” underlined in Paragraph 1 mean?| A．Reduced. | B．Rose. |
| C．Fell. | D．Appeared. |
| A．The report on the human society. |
| B．The reason of global warming. |
| C．The disappearance of the birds. |
| D．The influence of climate change. |
| A．They both had a big effect on humans. |
| B．Many murres were killed by heat wave. |
| C．Crabs’ shells are local people’s favorite. |
| D．Acid rain caused most carbon emission. |
| A．A science website. | B．An art magazine. |
| C．A history book. | D．A diet newspaper. |
6 . From the world’s last seven to a global population of more than 5,000, China spent nearly 40 years bringing back crested ibises(朱鹗)from the edge of extinction.
With its typical red crest and face, as well as a long black mouth and snow-white feathers, the crested ibis is known as “the oriental gem” in China. They were once widespread in East Asia and Siberia until the 20th century when hunting, ecological damage and increased human activities drove the birds to near extinction.
In 1981, the entire species around the world was down to the seven crested ibises which were found only in Yangxian County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and deep in the Qinling Mountains, making Qinling, a natural boundary between China's north and south,the last shelter of the wild birds.
Since 1981, the local government of Yangxian County has put forward four bans for the protection of the species, prohibiting activities including hunting in the birds' living areas,cutting down trees where they nest, using chemicals in their food-finding areas, and firing guns in their breeding(繁殖)areas. The Chinese government arranged special funds to protect the habitat of crested ibises, sealing off mountains to plant trees in the birds' living areas.China started the artificial breeding of crested ibises in 1991 and had bred more than 400 birds in Shaanxi as of last year.
Years of constant effort have brought promising results. It is estimated that there are more than 5,000 crested ibises in the world now, and a majority of them live in Shaanxi. The bird's habitat in China has risen from less than 5 square km in 1981 to the current 15,000 square km.
“It is lucky that the crested ibis, an ancient bird, is still flying around,” said Zan Linsen, head of the Shaanxi Academy of Forestry. “The conservation story of crested ibises not only shows us the power of ancient life, but also the necessity and urgency of ecological environment protection.”
1. Why are the Qinling Mountains so important to crested ibises?| A．They are where crested ibises were first found. |
| B．They used to be the last habitat of crested ibises. |
| C．They are the only breeding area of crested ibises. |
| D．They protect crested ibises from natural enemies. |
| A．Crested ibises are unlikely to be bred artificially. |
| B．It's legal to own hunting guns in Yangxian County. |
| C．Hunting has been the biggest threat to crested ibises. |
| D．The government plays a key role in saving crested ibises. |
| A．Merciful and ambitious. | B．Relieved and happy. |
| C．Shocked and curious. | D．Sorry and regretful. |
| A．Rare animals in China: crested ibises |
| B．Artificial breeding of crested ibises in China |
| C．Endangered crested ibises making a comeback |
| D．Crested ibises found again in the Qinling Mountains |
7 . When raindrops fall to the ground in summer, a familiar scent always follows. Many people call this the “smell of rain”. However, rain is made up of odorless (无味的) water. So, where does this smell come from?
The pleasant smell has long been an interest of scientists since Australian scientists first documented the formation of petrichor in 1964. According to scientists, some plants produce oils during dry periods.
Yet, it’s the second reaction that creates the most petrichor. It occurs when chemicals produced by bacteria in soil are released.
Lots of animals are sensitive to geosmin but human beings are extremely sensitive to it. When it rains after a long period of dryness, drops of water hit the ground. Geosmin is then released from the surfaces.
| A．And when it rains, these oils are released into the air. |
| B．The smell of petrichor is quite pleasant to the human nose. |
| C．There are a group of microorganisms widely found in soils. |
| D．Rain can refresh the soil specially when it rains heavily. |
| E．Scientists found the distinctive smell doesn’t come from rain. |
| F．The pleasant smell always comes into being with the flow of air. |
| G．It is further spread around its surroundings with the aid of wind and rain. |
8 . Well, well, well. It looks like robots are now coming for our beloved furry friends. According to a new study, animal robots may be just as effective, if not better, at providing therapeutic(治疗的) benefits to children as real pets. As someone who has both interacted with real dogs and robots, I can tell you that this is quite a bold claim.
Sure, robots may have some benefits over real dogs. They can work for longer hours and won’t cause allergies(过敏) or pass on diseases. But can a robot give you that wet-nosed, slobber-filled experience that a real dog can? I think not.
Now, I’m not saying that robots don’t have their place in therapy. In fact, I can see how an animal robot could be helpful in certain situations where a real dog might not be possible. But let’s not go replacing all the good boys and girls with robots just yet.
As for the study, it’s interesting to see that while the kids said they loved real-life dogs better, they actually spent more time interacting with the robot. I can only imagine that it was doing some pretty impressive tricks, some robots dance or robot jokes maybe, to hold the kids’ attention for that long.
In all seriousness, though, I do think it’s important to consider the welfare of therapy dogs. Visiting hospitals can be stressful and tiring for them.
So, while I may not be ready to trade in my furry friends for robots just yet, I am open to the idea of introducing animal robots into therapy programs. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll all have our own personal robot pets that can provide us with just as much love and companionship as the real thing. But until then, I’ll stick with my trusty furry friends.
1. What is the text?| A．A response to a recent study. |
| B．A summary of a scientific study. |
| C．A news report of a new invention. |
| D．A review on a medical experiment. |
| A．The new study is quite a breakthrough. |
| B．His personal experience supports the study. |
| C．Robots have no therapeutic benefits to children. |
| D．Robots cannot replace real pets at present stage. |
| A．The kids preferred robot pets to real dogs. |
| B．Robots kept the kids’ interest for a longer time. |
| C．The kids’ concentration was effectively improved. |
| D．Robots had more tricks to impress kids than real dogs. |
| A．They can share some of therapy pets’ work. |
| B．They can guarantee the welfare of therapy pets. |
| C．They provide us with just as much love as real pets. |
| D．They are better at releasing patients’ stress and tiredness. |
9 . Climate change has been a long-standing issue that continuously drives scientists to find green, sustainable fuels. The universe’s most abundant element, hydrogen (氢), has drawn their attention and is now on its way to becoming the future of green fuel.
More than $150 billion worth of green hydrogen projects were announced globally in 2020, according to Reuters. Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation, has taken the lead in the new sustainable fuel industry. It has designed self-contained hydrogen fuel cell pods that can be attached to the underside of airplane wings, promoting the use of hydrogen fuel for long-distance flights, which aim to achieve zero emissions. The company plans to launch hydrogen-powered aircraft in 2035, according to Daily Mail.
Compared to fossil fuels, hydrogen is a much more eco-friendly fuel. When hydrogen burns, the only by-product is water. However, the traditional way to get hydrogen from natural gas or coal generates considerable carbon emissions. The greenest way is to obtain hydrogen from water using electrolysis (电解) powered by renewable energy, although this process requires so much electricity that it is quite expensive. The key to making hydrogen competitive with fossil fuels is to lower the production cost to under $1.50. This would require lowering around 50 percent of renewable power costs and 75 percent of electrolyzer costs, according to Australia’s renewable energy agency.
Also, shipping liquid hydrogen is challenging, given that needs to be chilled to -253℃ to do so. Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries is set to complete the construction of the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier by early 2021. According to Reuters, most of the world’s big hydrogen export projects are looking to ship hydrogen in the form of liquid ammonia (氨), which can be changed to hydrogen and needs to be chilled to only -33 C.
With more and more countries aiming to cut down carbon emissions to solve the issue of global warming, green hydrogen will help decarbonizing industries that can’t be electrified hit the targets.
“We could use these circumstances, where loads of public money are going to be needed into the energy system, to jump forward towards a hydrogen economy,” said Diederik Samsom, who heads the European Commission’s climate cabinet.
1. What is the strength of the hydrogen fuel?| A．It works very efficiently. | B．It is convenient to store. |
| C．It is environmentally friendly. | D．It produces no by-product. |
| A．The expensive cost of shipping. | B．The required temperature. |
| C．The construction of liquefied carriers. | D．Changing it to the form of liquid ammonia. |
| A．Those powered by fossil fuels. | B．Those generating electricity. |
| C．Those funded by public money. | D．Those making hydrogen. |
| A．Fueling a Green Future | B．Living a Green Life. |
| C．Shipping Liquid Hydrogen | D．Making Hydrogen Competitive |
Shennongjia is one of the most popular scenic spots in China. It is said to be the place
Official data showed that tourist
