1. What is the speaker?
| A．An astronaut. | B．A TV reporter. | C．A radio hostess. |
| A．Sunny. | B．Windy. | C．Rainy. |
| A．Next Tuesday. | B．Next Monday. | C．This Sunday. |
| A．Stay indoors. |
| B．Put away warm coats. |
| C．Take umbrellas along anytime. |
With the tourism
3 . Parrots are prey animals, which means that other predators (捕食者) in the wild, such as hawks or snakes, are looking to make them into a meal. This one factor influences parrots’ behavior in your house more than any other.
Parrots are most easily hurt when feeding on the ground. Membership in a group plays an important function in ensuring their safety and improving their chances of survival from attacks by predators. The most common predators of parrots include hawks, snakes, cats, monkeys, and bats. Some predators make attacks only during the day while others hunt in the night.
As prey animals, parrots are constantly watching out for danger and they instinctively (本能地) react to risks. Their first choice is to take flight. However, if this is not possible, they will fight with their powerful beaks to defend themselves.
Because their biggest enemy is the hawk, parrots are especially reactive to quick movements from above and behind. For this reason, it is wise to avoid quick, sudden movements near your bird. This is a built-in reaction not subject to logic or reason. Simple and relatively harmless household objects can draw extreme fear responses from a bird. For example, a balloon may represent a hawk or a vacuum hose (吸尘器软管) may be the same as a snake in your bird’s mind.
As prey animals, parrots are often frightened by exposure to new household items or strangers. It is important to expose your bird to safe experiences and changes starting at a very young age to build flexibility and improve their adaptability. Variety in diet and toys, travel, and exposure to new people and places all help to make your bird more flexible and adaptable to change.
1. What is important for parrots to better survive from attacks in the wild?| A．Living in a group. | B．Growing beautiful feathers. |
| C．Feeding on the ground. | D．Avoiding coming out at night. |
| A．To attack back. | B．To get away. |
| C．To protect the young. | D．To play dead. |
| A．It may explode suddenly. | B．It may be in a strange shape. |
| C．It may have a strong color. | D．It may move around quickly. |
| A．To explain wild parrots’ behavior. | B．To give advice on raising a parrot. |
| C．To call for action to protect animals. | D．To introduce a study on bird ecology. |
4 . A blue hole is a special kind of underwater cave found inland or in the sea, which forms when the earth above a cave falls in and water fills the space.
An inland blue hole’s water is very still and has different layers. A layer of fresh rainwater floats on top of salt water; the fresh water keeps oxygen from the atmosphere from reaching the salt water; brightly colored bacteria live where the two layers meet.
Diving into blue holes is very dangerous. Near the top of the blue hole, there is a layer of toxic gas, which causes itching, headache, and—in large amounts—death. Divers must also be fast. They have to get in and out of a cave before their oxygen runs out. Additionally, divers have to follow a guideline as they swim through a blue hole because it is very dark inside. Without the guideline, they may get lost.
If blue holes are so dangerous, why do explorers and scientists risk their lives to explore them? The reason is that these underwater caves can provide valuable scientific information. They provide clues about geology, archaeology, and biology. For example, some blue hole creatures probably haven’t changed for millions of years.
The blue holes could even provide clues about astrobiology. For example, divers have found bacteria there that can live without oxygen. Astrobiologist Kevin Hand says the bacteria may be similar to forms of life that might exist on Jupiter’s fourth largest moon, Europa. “Our study of life’s extremes on Earth,” he says, can help increase “our understanding of habitable environments off Earth.”
In addition, the oxygen-free environment of the blue holes preserves bones of humans and animals that fell into the caves long ago. By studying blue holes, we can understand what life was like in prehistoric times. As cave diver Kenny Broad says, “I can think of no other environment on Earth that is so challenging to explore and gives us back so much scientifically.”
1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 1?| A．The definition of a blue hole. | B．The location of a blue hole. |
| C．The formation of a blue hole. | D．The structure of a blue hole. |
| A．In the saltwater layer. |
| B．In the freshwater layer. |
| C．In between the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| D．In both of the freshwater and saltwater layers. |
| A．The study of life on Earth. |
| B．The study of life in the universe. |
| C．The study of life in prehistoric times. |
| D．The study of life in oxygen-free environment. |
| A．They’re oxygen-free and lifeless. | B．They’re free of air and light. |
| C．They’re death zones and mysterious. | D．They’re poisonous and dark. |
5 . Although traditional pet stores are somewhere you buy a(n)
I visited one of these stores in the Sanlitun area in Beijing. I was targeting call ducks, which are
There were a
Call ducks are not easy to get along with, so playing with them would include a lot of running from our side and quacking (呱呱叫) from theirs. Also, don’t expect them to be house-trained, one of the ducks actually pooped (排便) while
That’s the
| A．animal | B．apple | C．instrument | D．book |
| A．that | B．where | C．how | D．which |
| A．nothing | B．everything | C．anything | D．something |
| A．matters | B．moves | C．separates | D．keeps |
| A．endless | B．worthless | C．important | D．famous |
| A．mistakes | B．words | C．prices | D．feelings |
| A．slightly | B．easily | C．immediately | D．carefully |
| A．talking | B．eating | C．visiting | D．painting |
| A．complicated | B．perfect | C．interesting | D．peaceful |
| A．extent | B．prevention | C．meaning | D．total |
| A．bought | B．spent | C．brought | D．cost |
| A．sitting | B．remembering | C．thinking | D．saying |
| A．gratitude | B．forgiveness | C．faith | D．pleasure |
| A．comforting | B．annoying | C．tough | D．anxious |
| A．envy | B．pity | C．duty | D．magic |
6 . Earthquake forecasting is one of the most ancient skills known to mankind. From ancient Greece to the present day, countless scientists have tried to develop tools to predict earthquakes. Their attempts usually focused on searching for reliable evidences of coming quakes.
However, there are many reasons why predicting quakes is so hard. “We don’t understand some basic physics of earthquakes,” said Egill, a research professor at the California Institute of Technology. Scientists have also attempted to create mathematical models of movement, but precisely predicting would require great mapping and analysis of the Earth’s crust. Other challenges include a lack of data on the early warning signs, given that these warning signs are not yet entirely understood. Actually, real earthquake prediction is very similar to the diagnosis of potential human illnesses based on observing and analyzing each patient’s signs and symptoms. As it turns out, quake prediction is extremely difficult.
Many sources show that earthquake forecasting was a recognized science in ancient Greece. Ancient Greeks lived very close to nature and were able to detect unusual phenomena and forecast earthquakes. The first known forecast was made by Pherecydes of Syros about 2500 years ago: he made it as he scooped water from a well and noticed that usually very clean water had suddenly become muddy. Indeed, an earthquake occurred two days later, making Pherecydes famous. Nowadays, seismic and remote-sensing methods are considered to have the greatest potential in terms of solving the earthquake prediction problem.
Currently, Terra Seismic can identify a forthcoming earthquake with a high level of confidence. Generally, Terra Seismic does not predict a quake if the earthquake’s epicenter is located beyond a depth of 40 km. Fortunately, such quakes are almost always harmless, since quake’s energy reduces before reaching the Earth’s surface. “Scientists have tried every possible method to try to predict earthquakes,” Bruneau said. “Nobody has been able to crack it and make a believable prediction.”
1. What do we know about earthquake forecasting?| A．Scientists have been passionate about accurately predicting earthquakes. |
| B．As long as enough data is collected, earthquakes can be predicted. |
| C．Mathematical models of motion can simulate and predict earthquakes. |
| D．Scientists have not yet fully studied the structure of earthquakes. |
| A．By seismic and remote-sensing methods. |
| B．By observing unusual natural phenomena. |
| C．By living in seismic zones throughout the year. |
| D．By looking into data on the early warning signs. |
| A．He strongly believed the Terra Seismic can solve the difficult problem. |
| B．He was sure that humans could accurately predict earthquakes in the future. |
| C．He considered it harmless to humans for an earthquake deeper than 40km. |
| D．He thought that scientists had no reliable method to predict earthquakes. |
| A．Why do humans predict earthquakes? |
| B．How to protect oneself during an earthquake? |
| C．What methods can be used to forecast earthquakes? |
| D．When to achieve accurate earthquake forecasting? |
7 . Lac Rose in Senegal about 30 kilometers northeast of Dakar, is the highest salinity(盐度) lake in the world. Much higher salinity is what gives the lake its famous pink color that changes from a slightly rose pink in the rainy season into a super bright pink during the dry season when salinity at its highest.
The high salt content draws the salt harvesters(收获者)to its banks . First, to protect their skin from the salt, they put a kind of natural vegetable fat on their bodies before entering the water. Using a wooden tool, they drag the salt into the basket made from reeds(a kind of plant). There are three different kinds of salt. There's a type of very powdery salt that is only gathered during the Harmattan when the western winds blow from the Sahara over West Africa every year. As the finest or highest grade of salt, the powdery salt is used mainly for cooking. The second type of salt is rougher and always present at the bottom of the lake. This type of salt is generally used for general cooking. Sometimes it is even used for building roads. The third type of salt is the roughest kind that people prefer for their beauty treatments. To harvest this type of salt, salt harvesters put some wood to the bottom of the lake and over time, big salt crystals(晶体)begin to form on them.
Lac Rose is considered as a world heritage site and the local people are willing to share their beauty. The healthy, natural regulation(制度)of the use of the natural resources of this lake is one of the most impressive aspects of the community surrounding this lake. There are no laws needed to protect it. Everyone takes a little bit of what they need and nothing more. There is enough for everyone in the local community. It is a good example of the power of respect and trust in local community.
1. What causes the change of the lake’s pink color?| A．The temperature of the water. | B．The salinity of the lake. |
| C．The height above sea level. | D．The height of the sun. |
| A．Powdery salt can be get at any time. |
| B．Rougher salt contributes to making women beautiful. |
| C．Harvesters suffer a skin problem because of their work. |
| D．Harvesters try to do no harm to the lake while working. |
| A．Poor. | B．Brave. | C．Responsible. | D．Humorous. |
| A．Health | B．Technology | C．Nature | D．Business |
8 . China and India are leaders in improving global tree cover, a new study based on NASA research showed.
They took a 31.8 percent part together of the total global new leaf area between 2000 and 2017. China played a major role, adding 25 percent to this increase, and India added 6.8 percent, followed by Canada and Russia.
The study in the Nature Sustainability journal shows that more than 5.5 million square kilometers of green leaf area was added globally. Since 2000, there has been a 5 percent increase in global green cover, it said.
“The greening over the last twenty years shows an increase in leaf area on plants and trees which is as large as the area of the entire Amazon rainforest,” Chi Chen, a Boston University researcher and leader of the study told Nature Sustainability. Large plantation activities to protect forests in China contributed nearly 42 percent to the country’s green cover, and agriculture (农业) added another 32 percent. In India, 82 percent of the increase in leaf area was because of agriculture.
“China and India take up one-third of the greening, but hold only nine percent of the planet’s land area covered in green plants,” Chi Chen told NASA Earth Observatory. “That is a surprising finding, considering the land degradation (退化) in countries with large populations.”
Boston University’s research team first detected an increase in global green cover in the 1990s but were unsure what contributed to the increase. Finally, with the help of NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites research, they managed to find out the increase in leaf cover from different areas and places.
1. Which country contributed to the largest increase in the global new leaf area?| A．India. | B．China. | C．Russia | D．Canada. |
| A．To show the major role of rainforest. |
| B．To explain the reason for developing agriculture. |
| C．To describe the difficulty in protecting forests. |
| D．To stress the great increase in global green cover. |
| A．Worrying. | B．Interesting. | C．Unexpected. | D．Meaningless. |
| A．Imagined. | B．Discovered. | C．Studied. | D．Doubted. |
9 . The tradition of giving gifts didn’t start with the modern holidays we celebrate. Many ancient cultures celebrated holidays with the exchange of gifts. People who love to give gifts often can’t wait until it’s time for the recipients to open their gifts. If you’ve ever been given a gift, you know that part of the fun is the curiosity that builds as you wonder what the gift is.
The wish to hide the identity of a gift until just the right moment led people to wrap gifts long, long ago. Historians believed wrapping gifts in paper probably started not long after paper was invented thousands of years ago.
Wrapping paper like what we use today, though, is a much more recent invention. More than 100 years ago, gifts were usually wrapped in heavy brown paper. Before that, cloth was often used. The technology to mass-produce wrapping paper didn’t come along until the early 1900s. The first American gift wrap company— Hy-Sill Manufacturing Inc. — was founded by Eli Hyman and Morris Silverman in 1903. It wasn’t as easy to wrap presents back then as it is today, though, because adhesive tape (胶带) wasn’t invented until 1930.
Over the years, wrapping paper has developed into what we see in stores each holiday season. But scientists say that the United States alone produces an extra 5 million tons of waste over the holidays, most of which is from wrapping paper and shopping bags. To cut down on this waste, some people carefully unwrap presents, so that the wrapping paper can be reused. Others have started to use reusable gift bags instead of wrapping paper.
1. What is the interesting part of people giving a gift?| A．Hiding their gifts and their feelings. |
| B．Giving the recipients a surprise. |
| C．Letting the recipients open gifts at once. |
| D．Following a century-old tradition. |
| A．People didn’t know wrapping paper until 1903. |
| B．Heavy brown paper has been used to wrap gifts for 100 years. |
| C．Technology made wrapping paper widely available. |
| D．Adhesive tape was first created by gift wrap companies. |
| A．The future of reusable gift bags. |
| B．The waste produced by Americans. |
| C．Wrapping paper’s influence on the environment. |
| D．People’s admiration for wrapping paper. |
| A．The popularity of wrapping gifts. |
| B．The start of wrapping gifts in paper. |
| C．The problems caused by wrapping paper. |
| D．The story behind wrapping paper. |
10 . An unusual experiment in Botswana suggests that painting eyes on the rear ends (臀部) of cows may help protect them from large predators (食肉动物)like lions. Protecting cows could also end up protecting the lions from angry farmers.
Large predators like lions are under pressure. Much of the land they used to roam (漫步) has been taken over by humans. Many are hunted illegally. One serious threat to large predators comes from farmers, who often shoot or poison them after losing farm animals for their attacks.
This has long been a problem in the Okavango Delta. Some parts of the Okavango are protected, but there are also many small farms in the area, with between 6 and 100 cows. Lions are the biggest threat to cattle in the area. At night, farmers normally keep their animals in closed areas protected from predators. But in the daytime, when many predators are most active, the cattle are allowed out to eat grass.
Scientists from the University of New South Wales wondered if painting pictures of eyes on the cows’ rear ends might protect them. The idea isn’t as strange as it may sound. There are many examples of animals such as butterflies or fish using fake (假的) “eyes”to protect themselves.
Working with over 2, 000 cows on 14 different farms in the Okavango area, the scientists tested their ideas in a four-year study. The researchers separated the cows into three different groups. They painted large eyes on the rear ends of one group of cows. The second group got simple Xs. The final group got nothing.
The eyes worked very well. Of the 683 cows with eyes painted on them, none were killed in the four-year period. Cows with nothing on their rear ends didn't do so well. Fifteen of the 835 cows with bare backsides were killed. The scientists were surprised to learn that even Xs seemed to give the cows some protection. Only 4 of the 543 cows with Xs were killed.
1. Why do famers become a big threat to large predators?| A．They poison them to defend themselves. |
| B．They hunt them for their meat and fur. |
| C．They shoot them just for pleasure. |
| D．They kill them to protect farm animals. |
| A．They have beautiful eyes. | B．Their fake “eyes” work. |
| C．They get close to nature. | D．Their fake “eyes” vary. |
| A．By sharing the reasons for tests. | B．By listing the number of cows. |
| C．By presenting the facts of tests. | D．By comparing the results of tests. |
| A．Lions are in danger of being hunted illegally. | B．Farmers become enemies of lions. |
| C．Protecting cows proves to be ineffective. | D．Fake eyes protect cows from lions. |
