1 . Despite the difficulties, the California coastal ecosystem is improving, largely thanks to the huge appetite sea otters (海獭) have for crabs. In a creative study, scientists revealed the return of otters to their former habitat in a Central California river mouth has slowed the decrease of the area’s river banks by up to 90%. “It would cost tens of millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these stream banks and restore these rivers. The otters are stabilizing them for free, in exchange for an all-you-can-eat crab feast,” said biology professor Brian Silliman, Ph. D. at Duke University.

Like many California river mouths, Elkhorn once was a habitat for otters, which need to eat around 20 to 25 pounds of food every day, with crabs being one of their favorite meals. But after fur traders hunted the local otter population nearly to extinction, the number of crabs exploded over the next century. Crabs dig into salt river soil, and over time can cause a salt river to wear away and collapse. Today, years after the otters returned, rivers and stream banks became more stable.

Angelini, one of the study’s authors, said that tool is an encouraging sign for her team as they face similar threats to Florida’s coastlines from sea level rise, storms, and extra nutrients overflowing into coastal waters. “All these seem unsurmountable,” Angelini said. “However, this study shows that, if we truly understand the ecosystem and know what tools to use, we can see significant benefits to the health and stability of these systems.”

The research team conducted large-scale surveys across 13 tidal (潮汐的) streams, as well as small-scale field experiments at five locations around the river mouth over a six-year period. Otters were not included in some lest sites but allowed to be used in others, using a caging system designed by Angelini.

“And all these years later, we now see these amazing results. It’s an inspiring story about the benefits of conservation and persistent, long-term research,” Angelini said.

1. What does Brian Silliman think of the function of sea otters?

A．It’s complex.	B．It’s expensive.
C．It’s effective.	D．It’s inefficient.

2. What made the sea otters in Elkhorn nearly die out?

A．The collapse of salt rivers.

B．The hunting for their fur.

C．The decrease of the sea crabs.

D．The pollution of their habitat.

3. What does the underlined word “unsurmountable” probably mean?

A．Hard to understand.	B．Difficult to deal with.
C．Impossible to avoid.	D．Dangerous to settle.

4. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The process of the research.

B．The purpose of the research.

C．The limitation of the research.

D．The discovery of the research.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What day is today?

A．Monday.

B．Wednesday.

C．Thursday.

2. Where is it mild with some light rain today?

A．In the west.

B．In the north.

C．In the south.

3. What’s the weather like in the northwest on Thursday?

A．Cloudy and windy.

B．Windy and rainy.

C．Mild with light rain.

4. When will it be clear throughout the country?

A．On Friday.

B．On Saturday.

C．On Sunday.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Where does Richard work?

A．In New York.

B．In Washington D. C.

C．In San Francisco.

2. What was Richard doing when the earthquake happened?

A．Sleeping.

B．Working

C．Watching TV.

3. What happened in the earthquake?

A．Some books fell off the bookshelf.

B．The windows were broken.

C．Some chairs fell over.

4. What will Richard do after the conversation?

A．Hand in the report.

B．Continue with his work.

C．Go back home quickly.

4 . Recently, a homeowner in Illinois came face to face with five furry chipmunk (花栗鼠) babies that crowded together in a window well. Shocked and concerned, the homeowner contacted Wildlife Allies (WA), a team committed to the caring removal and rescue of sick and injured wildlife.

Wildlife technician Cat Downs soon arrived at the scene along with an assistant. Together, Downs and the assistant netted the chipmunks, removing them from the window well, and placed them inside a new plastic carrier. The rescuers then moved the five chipmunk babies to a grassy area nearby and put them under a wooden basket where the mother could see them. To make sure the reunion was a success, the rescuers set up cameras and hoped the chipmunk mom would soon return.

“The chipmunk babies were enveloped in fear and tiredness,” a representative from Wildlife Allies recalled. Rescuers didn’t wait long and soon found an empty wooden basket. Then, checking the camera recording, they joyfully realized that the whole family had been reunited. “When we loaded the photos on to our computer and saw the mom, a burden was lifted from our hearts and pure joy came over us,” one Wildlife Allies representative said.

The Wildlife Allies team watched in satisfaction as the chipmunk mom tended to each of her babies. “The chipmunk mom emerged and heroically freed her precious babies from the wooden basket,” Anderson Humane wrote in a post about the rescue. “With determination, she made multiple trips, releasing all five babies and carrying the last one away to safety!”

According to Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, chipmunk babies rely heavily on their mother throughout the first few months of their lives, as she teaches them what to eat and how to survive. Usually, families like these stick together until the fall, when the babies are old enough to stand on their own feet.

Together at last, this little family is filled with happiness, thanks to those rescuers.

1. Where did the chipmunk mom find her babies?

A．Beside a grassy area.	B．Inside a window well.
C．In a new plastic carrier.	D．Under a wooden basket.

2. How did WA team feel when checking the photos?

A．Relieved.

B．Regretful.

C．Discouraged.

D．Motivated.

3. What can we learn about chipmunk babies from the paragraph 5?

A．They stick together for food.	B．They can standup afterbirth.
C．They are dependent on moms.	D．They get survival skills in the fall.

4. Which might be a suitable title for the text?

A．Wildlife Allies: Our Last Hope	B．Guide for Wildlife Rescuers
C．Chipmunk Mom’s Rescue Trip	D．Reunite a Chipmunk Family

5 . Heat waves area fact of summer. When one hits, Manhattan turns into a concrete desert; even my dog is affected. The moment Millie_________the temperature outside our building, she makes a(n)_________and heads back home. Today is going to be a day when_________happens, which makes me satisfied.

I recalled the_________Saturday last year, which was perfect for an outing. “Come on, Mil,” I requested her, “You need exercise!” She gave me a begging look and then_________in the direction of the city park, moving slowly, on purpose. I tried to speed up but ___________

Finally we arrived. Millie settled herself for a nap (打盹) in the _________, under the bench where I was sitting checking my phone. Napping was not_________! I glanced up and scanned the surroundings for a ball I could throw.

I saw dogs were everywhere, relaxing, stretching or just sitting_________with their people. Owners read books,__________themselves, or napped, heads leaning to one side. A breeze gently blew from the Hudson River, causing trees to__________. Otherwise, all was quiet.

Millie was right. What was all the__________about, especially in such a good day? Take a__________. I switched off my phone, slipped it into my pocket and__________my eyes.

A day when nothing happened and I felt____________.

1.

A．measures

B．recognizes

C．compares

D．senses

2.

A．mess

B．effort

C．turn

D．attempt

3.

A．everything

B．nothing

C．anything

D．something

4.

A．freezing

B．mild

C．roasting

D．damp

5.

A．set out

B．rushed out

C．stood by

D．passed by

6.

A．tripped

B．hesitated

C．failed

D．waited

7.

A．crowd

B．bush

C．shelter

D．shade

8.

A．exercise

B．play

C．rest

D．priority

9.

A．excitedly

B．peacefully

C．confidently

D．independently

10.

A．pushed

B．awoke

C．sunned

D．persuaded

11.

A．bend

B．grow

C．fall

D．whisper

12.

A．hurry

B．confusion

C．annoyance

D．chaos

13.

A．chance

B．break

C．walk

D．shower

14.

A．widened

B．rubbed

C．closed

D．rolled

15.

A．content

B．relaxed

C．defeated

D．lost

6 . Bang! Somewhere, someone set off fireworks. After hearing the loud noise, ten-year-old Rosie, ran back towards her ________, Steve Harper. Rosie, ________ from a rescue shelter, was easily shocked by loud sounds when she first arrived, but soon fell in love with the Harpers’ sons and ________ with Steve. But Rosie’s ________ of loud noises always continued and never ________. After the second bang on that Friday afternoon, she took off and ________ disappeared from sight with a silver ring shining around her neck.

Nowhere can Steve find Rosie. Steve had less than five minutes to begin worrying when his phone rang. “Is that black-and-white dog yours, Mr. Harper? She’s just ________ herself over. It seems that she were a criminal.” On the other end the voice came, and the caller was half ________.

Closed-circuit television showed Rosie walking into the police station, ________ around for a few seconds as if she were looking for food, and ________ seating herself in the waiting room just like a lady. A few minutes later, staff ________, gave her some water and called Steve, whose phone number was on Rosie’s ________.

Steve supposed why Rosie knew just where to ________: the waiting room chairs closely resemble those at the local vet. “Maybe she saw the chairs and thought, Oh, this is what I do. I sit and wait.”

Steve headed to fetch Rosie from the ________ and the dog was overjoyed. On their way home, Steve hugged her and stroked her curry hair. Finally they arrived home, safe and ________.

1.

A．partner

B．owner

C．vet

D．trainer

2.

A．adopted

B．bought

C．stolen

D．separated

3.

A．competed

B．fought

C．bonded

D．finished

4.

A．fondness

B．care

C．fear

D．awareness

5.

A．built up

B．gave off

C．passed on

D．went away

6.

A．partly

B．gradually

C．permanently

D．quickly

7.

A．handed

B．thought

C．pulled

D．troubled

8.

A．crying

B．kidding

C．whispering

D．shouting

9.

A．jumping

B．sitting

C．rolled

D．nosing

10.

A．anxiously

B．bravely

C．politely

D．impatiently

11.

A．left

B．explained

C．hesitated

D．emerged

12.

A．collar

B．back

C．tie

D．leg

13.

A．lie

B．settle

C．sleep

D．play

14.

A．station

B．house

C．shelter

D．clinic

15.

A．charming

B．nervous

C．sound

D．amazed

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What will the weather be like near the ocean this weekend?

A．Windy.

B．Snowy.

C．Sunny

2. What is the speaker’s suggestion for those living in the mountains?

A．Traveling to the coast.

B．Staying inside.

C．Playing in the snow.

3. What warning are local officials giving?

A．Temperatures could be very low.

B．Roads may become dangerous.

C．People might lose electricity.

4. When will good weather begin?

A．On Tuesday.

B．On Friday.

C．On Saturday.

8 . Chaudhary quietly weaves together lengths of ropes, binding them with grass collected from the riverbank. She skillfully shapes the materials into a jewelry box. Meanwhile, she’s instructing a group of women to work out the materials. The ropes used were once the lifeline for climbers tackling Nepal’s mountains and were then discarded (扔掉). They are now finding new life, transformed by skilled hands into items to sell.

Acharya, working with the cleaning campaign, owns a waste processing business in Kathmandu, also an advocate for sustainable waste management. “Aluminum and other metal waste go through the recycling process, but we found no way to recycle ropes and gas cans,” she says. It struck her that the non-recyclable waste could be reused, but it wasn’t until she met Maya Rai that a solution emerged. Rai, leading Nepal Knotcraft Centre, helped connect Acharya with Chaudhary’s team of craftswomen in hopes of turning the mountain waste into economic opportunity. “While this seems insignificant compared to waste in the mountains, it’s a start. We aim to connect local expertise, mountain waste and local economy,” says Acharya, proudly displaying a mat made from ropes left on Mt. Qomolangma by climbers. Her goal is to ensure that no waste collected from mountains ends up in a landfill again.

Finished crafts are sold at outlets and exhibitions. The craftswomen are paid according to how many items they make and sell. With flexible hours, the project gives women an opportunity to earn money even as they maintain household responsibilities.

Eventually, Acharya hopes to expand the program to involve more women and process more waste. But progress has been slow. “We still have not found a sustainable business plan to make crafts in large quantities, ”she says. Now, she is searching for cooperators to make a model that serves not only the mountain but the communities. “After all, we are trying to craft a sustainable future.”

Each rope turned into a decorative item is a way to help local women earn a living and keep mountains clean.

1. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning Chaudhary in paragraph 1?

A．To lead in the topic with her example.

B．To spread her environmental consciousness.

C．To show her patient instructions to the women.

D．To speak highly of her outstanding weaving skills.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．A business involving waste processing.

B．A team transforming waste into treasure.

C．A campaign advocating sustainable management.

D．A solution connecting expertise, waste and economy.

3. Which of the following is the most likely reason for craftswomen to join in the project?

A．Selling crafts at outlets can earn more money.

B．Removing mountain waste generates a sense of pride.

C．Cooperating with local experts helps promote skills.

D．Work-life balance can be achieved due to flexible hours.

4. What is Acharya’s attitude towards expanding the program?

A．Hesitant.

B．Positive.

C．Suspicious.

D．Disapproving.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the man do just now?

A．He took some photos.

B．He did some reading.

C．He shared an article online.

2. What is the consequence of plastic in the ocean according to the woman?

A．Seafood will be polluted.

B．Ships won’t sail properly.

C．The beauty of the ocean will be damaged.

3. What recyclable item has the man started using?

A．A reusable bag.

B．A metal straw.

C．A glass bottle.

4. What do the speakers agree to do?

A．Stop buying bottled water.

B．Organize beach cleanup events.

C．Participate in club activities every month.

10 . New research suggests that the relationship between humans and cassowaries(鹤鸵) dates back to the Late Pleistocene era, several thousand years before humans domesticated geese and chickens. “And this is not some small fowl,” said Kristina Douglass, an archaeologist at Penn State University. “It’s a huge, bad-tempered, flightless bird that can eviscerate(开膛破肚) you—most likely the dwarf(侏儒) variety that weighs 20 kilograms.”

By examining the remains of ancient cassowary eggshells, Douglass and an international team of researchers determined that some 18,000 years ago, people in New Guinea were collecting, hatching and possibly raising cassowary chicks, which the researchers consider a clever and complicated food-gathering technique. This represents the earliest known evidence of intentional bird rearing(饲养).

People would have kept these eggs for one of two purposes: to eat them or to raise the hatched chicks for their meat and feathers. Like geese, cassowary chicks imprint on the first creature they see. That makes them unusually ideal for human rearing, a practice that continues in parts of New Guinea to this day. Though Douglass and her team didn’t find evidence of ancient people penning cassowaries, it’s something they plan to look for in the future.

Historically, cassowary tibiotarsae, the upper part of the bird’s leg, were used to fashion bone daggers(匕首) for hunting. Today their feathers are prized for decorations, and the birds remain an important source of meat. But these striking birds, which can reach nearly 1.8 meters tall and 54 kilograms, are also incredibly dangerous.

“They have these really large claws. And if they feel threatened, they will use them,” Douglass said. A frightened or territorial cassowary can lash out with a kick powerful enough to eviscerate a medium-size—or even human-size—mammal. Cassowaries do occasionally kill humans, including a man in Florida who was deadly attacked by a cassowary he kept on his farm in 2019. Even so, these instances are exceedingly rare.

1. What did the researchers find when checking the eggshells?

A．Most cassowaries were of the dwarf variety.

B．Cassowaries used to help with gathering food.

C．Geese and chickens existed before cassowaries.

D．People might have kept cassowaries on purpose.

2. What does the underlined words “imprint on” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Pitilessly catch.	B．Generously feed.
C．Firmly remember.	D．Confusedly mistake.

3. What can we say about cassowaries?

A．They tend to kick larger mammals to death.

B．They were recorded by ancient New Guineans.

C．They have caused concerns among potential owners.

D．They remain valuable despite posing threats at times.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Birds Kill with Claws

B．The Secret Behind Eggshells

C．Domestication Process of Cassowaries

D．Prehistoric People Raised Deadly Cassowaries