1 . Finding a California condor in the wild would be the most unusual treat. perhaps even more unusual than finding a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. In fact, the wolf was what opened my eyes to the fact that humans could bring an animal back to the place where it had disappeared.

In 1987, there were only 27 California condors left, none of which were in the wild, only in captive breeding programs, It was those breeding programs that contributed to their population rise, enough that by 1991 some of them could be freed into the wild.

Still, the hope of seeing a California condor, which remains an endangered species, is very low, let alone getting a photo of one. California condor population dropped mostly due to human factors, such as poaching and living areas destruction-these are challenges California condors still face today.

Although this is just a bird’s-eye view of the challenges California condors face and there are many others, it is part of why the opportunity to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service team and their partners helping their recovery is so special to me as a photographer. I am not only able to photograph the birds in their wild living areas, but also understand and record how difficult the work is of those people on the front lines of the protection.

I am grateful for the work of the team, and my hope is that California condor population will continue to rise allowing future generations an opportunity I never had when I first got here-to look to the sky and see one flying around.

1. What helped the increase of the California condor population in 1987?

A．Rules for hunters.	B．Captive breeding programs.
C．The improved natural environment.	D．The enlargement of wild living areas.

2. What does the author say about taking photos of a California condor in the wild?

A．It is difficult.

B．It is easy.

C．It is boring.

D．It is dangerous.

3. What did the author do when working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service team?

A．He guided ways for them.	B．He made records by photos.
C．He helped the birds to recover.	D．He rebuilt the birds’ living areas.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．New Way, New Hope	B．Wolves and California Condors
C．A Photo of a California Condor	D．The California Condor’s Coming Back

2 . A lot of people find it difficult to do exercise regularly, even though they know it’s good for their physical and mental (身心上的) health. Yet keeping on a workout routine doesn’t necessarily go to the gym or run around your neighborhood. Gardening is a great example of a popular hobby that can be used as a workout.

Nashville resident Tom Adkinson, 72, is on board with the idea of gardening to stay fit. He has three gardens, which he uses primarily to grow tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and okra. Like traditional exercise, Adkinson does a lot of preparation before gardening, and then he spends hours watering and weeding (除草) all three gardens, involving bending and stretching, which he compares to performing garden yoga.

“It is wise of Adkinson to do so. Even though gardening may not appear difficult, using the body in new ways can make you hurt if you don’t warm up beforehand,” said Zeller, who teaches at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County in New Jersey.

Working in your garden just two hours a week could improve your mood. And the communal gardening, which is done by a number of people as a group in communities and schools, provides social benefits that can reduce stress and help fight against loneliness and even dementia according to studies.

“With all these benefits, gardening for fitness will be a trend (趋势) in the coming year,” announced Mandal, CEO of the fitness coaching app Future, “Our users at Future have already been asking their coaches to add gardening and landscaping activities into their routines because it’s easy to get and fit into their lifestyle.”

1. What do the underlined words “on board with” mean in paragraph 2?

A．In support of.	B．At the risk of.
C．Under the control of.	D．In opposition to.

2. What did Zeller probably suggest doing before gardening?

A．Having a good rest.

B．Getting enough water ready.

C．Doing warm-up exercise.

D．Preparing tools for weeding.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Tips for gardening.

B．The benefits of gardening.

C．The process of garden management.

D．The difference between personal and group gardening.

4. Which activity may be added to the app Future according to Mandal?

A．Running.

B．Yoga.

C．Gardening.

D．Walking.

3 . When you go on vacation next time, make sure to take lots of pictures of the wildlife you see. These photos can help save different types of wildlife because of a new field called “imageomies”. Imageomies uses computers to study pictures of wildlife and learn information from them.

Until recently, scientists didn’t have the technology to analyze (分析) the data in wildlife photos. But now, machine learning and computer vision are helping researchers unlock valuable information hidden in these images.

There are platforms where people can share their wildlife photos, like cBird, iNaturalist and Wildbook. These platforms help scientists keep track of different species and create databases. If you have rare (稀有的) photos of wildlife, it’s a good idea to share them on these platforms.

Scientists have limited time and resources to study all endangered wildlife in the world. By using artificial intelligence (人工智能) to analyze public photos, we can learn more about different species and their behaviors. This technology can even help us find things in photos that humans might miss.

It’s important to use the collected information responsibly and protect it from poachers (偷猎者). If we do that, imageomies can not only help save wildlife but also contribute to other fields like medicine and agriculture.

1. How can imageomies help scientists study wildlife?

A．By offering information from wildlife.	B．By analyzing the data in wildlife photos.
C．By analyzing the trend of human population.	D．By knowing the origin of biological processes.

2. What are the platforms where people can share their wildlife photos?

A．eBird, iNaturalist and Wildbook.	B．Imageomics, eBird and Wildbook.
C．Imageomics, eBird and iNaturalist.	D．Photos of wildlife, iNaturalist and Wildbook.

3. Why should people share their rare wildlife photos on platforms?

A．To appreciate the beauty of wildlife.	B．To contribute to the public safety.
C．To inspire others to protect nature.	D．To help scientists study wildlife.

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

A．Computers help identify the biological features	B．Poachers stop killing threatened animals
C．Photos can save wild species	D．Photos can protect our environment

4 . Are you a fan of outdoor adventures? Do you enjoy scenic views to relax? Look no further, as the following destinations offer all that and more.

Athabasca Falls

Alberta, Canada

Water from the Canadian Rockies flows down into the waterfalls of Jasper National Park, creating a flow with wild energy. The falls are wheelchairs accessible, with a paved path taking admirers to a number of viewpoints. If visitors leave the path, they can explore both the upper and lower regions of the trail.

Akaka Falls Trail

Hakalau, Hawaii

A short half-mile hike is big on sights and low on hard activity. The well-kept ring like trail guide visitors around to see a number of waterfalls, including the 442-foot main attraction, and beautiful local flora (植物群) among the famous landscape. Though there are no hills to climb, there are a number of stairways to go.

Nugget Falls

Juneau, Alaska

Located in Tongass National Forest about 12 miles from Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier has produced Nugget Falls, a fan-like waterfall that leads into a lake. A series of short hikes allows for different views of the waterfall and icy surrounds, which are also known for frequent brown bear sightings.

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Valley, California

Yosemite National Park is one of the oldest national parks in America and home to the fifth tallest waterfall in the world. Hikers can reach it by taking a 1-mile trail from the lodge or the 7.2-mile round-trip Yosemite Falls Trail route. Late spring is best, with the highest water flow. In the winter, the temperatures dip below freezing. A park admission fee applies.

1. Where can visitors expect to see frequent brown bear sightings?

A．Athabasca Falls.

B．Akaka Falls Trail.

C．Nugget Falls.

D．Yosemite Falls.

2. Which season is best for visiting Yosemite Falls?

A．Winter.

B．Spring.

C．Summer.

D．Fall.

3. Where can this text probably be found?

A．In a travel magazine.

B．In a novel.

C．In a history book.

D．In a diary.

5 . Every year, about 25, 000 plastic tents are thrown away after festivals in the Netherlands. That’s enough tents to get you from base camp to the top of Everest (珠穆朗玛) if you set up a tent every metre of the way. These plastic tent not only cause a lot of pollution to the environment, but they also have to be dealt with.

Into this situation stepped the KarTent. It’s a good solution to the plastic tent problem. The KarTent is a cardboard (纸板) tent. It is put up for you at the beginning of the festival and when the festival is over, the makers pick it up, take it away and recycle it into other products. No more plastic, no more waste. The production of one KarTent produces half the CO₂ of a plastic tent. In the past, about thirty different materials were used to produce a tent. It may take hundreds of years to biodegrade (降解) the materials. However, to produce a KarTent, only one material is needed. It’s cardboard.

The tent is the brainchild of three Dutch businessmen: Jan Portheine, Wout Kommer, and Timo Krenn. After working on a cardboard beach hut, architect Jan started to look for other ways to use the skills he had learned, “In a meeting I met Wout and we found pictures of tents being left behind at festivals, and that’s how the idea started.”

Perhaps next time you’re at a festival you won’t have to look out across the sea of plastic, instead you’ll see the cardboard tents being neatly put into a truck and taken away to be recycled.

1. Why is Everest mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To compare the Netherlands with it.	B．To introduce a famous place for us to visit.
C．To offer the wonderful place to put up tents.	D．To show the pollution caused by plastic tents.

2. What is KarTent made of?

A．Plastic.

B．Wood.

C．Cardboard.

D．Glass.

3. Who should be responsible for the recycle of a KarTent?

A．The campers themselves.	B．The makers of the tents.
C．The workers of festivals.	D．The inventors of the tents.

4. What does the underlined word “brainchild” in the third paragraph mean?

A．A creative idea.	B．A kind of illness.
C．A clever child.	D．A special experience.

6 . In late June of this year, Kristi came across a gray fox. Here is the retelling of her _______.

While driving on the freeway yesterday, I saw an animal rushing around with what _______ to be something on its head. When I could _______ my car over, I ran down some distance and there it was, a gray fox with a white plastic thing on the head. After I _______ I could not take the plastic container (容器) off by myself, I used a small knife to make breathing _______ because the fox was breathless. Soon its breathing became more _______, but still not smooth.

_______ in my overcoat, the fox was carried to the car. It was so _______ and thin but now and then it _______ with its claws (爪子). Unable to solve the problem ________, I had to call my friend Rebekah. When she arrived, we found a safer place to try to ________ the fox. Luckily, we managed to take off the plastic container. ________, it ran under our cars and then into a forest nearby.

When it ________ this experience, Kristi said, “The task is ________, but we must TRY.” Thank you, Kristi and Rebekah, for your love of this planet and its creatures, and for going above and beyond to ________ and care for others.

1.

A．competition

B．dream

C．job

D．experience

2.

A．appeared

B．happened

C．determined

D．designed

3.

A．repair

B．drive

C．pull

D．push

4.

A．refused

B．offered

C．heard

D．realized

5.

A．toys

B．holes

C．games

D．experiments

6.

A．anxious

B．special

C．regular

D．dangerous

7.

A．Wrapped

B．Destroyed

C．Left

D．Found

8.

A．tall

B．light

C．ugly

D．stupid

9.

A．played

B．struggled

C．argued

D．filled

10.

A．well

B．perfectly

C．alone

D．fast

11.

A．treat

B．hit

C．teach

D．free

12.

A．Frightened

B．Tired

C．Annoyed

D．Sad

13.

A．focused on

B．worked out

C．came to

D．made up

14.

A．amazing

B．challenging

C．interesting

D．confusing

15.

A．hug

B．spot

C．contact

D．rescue

7 . You may hear about a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that jolted (震动) a Gansu county, causing 127 deaths as of press time. But do you know what to do before, during and _______ an earthquake? Here is some _______ for you:

Before an earthquake, it is necessary to get ready for yourself and your _______. All family members should know how to turn _______ gas and water, and know some useful telephone numbers. Don’ t put heavy things over beds.

During an earthquake, it’s important for each of you to be _______. If you are _______, move _______ to a safe place in the room, such as _______ a strong desk or a strong table. If you are outdoors, move to an open area like a _______. If you are ________, stop the car as soon as possible, staying away from bridges and tall buildings.

After an earthquake, once the shaking has ________, don’t run out of the building at once. You’d better ________ and leave ________ it is safe. If your building is ________ broken, you should leave it. If you ________ gas, get everyone outside and open windows and doors.

1.

A．while

B．after

C．as

D．when

2.

A．profit

B．conflict

C．advice

D．interest

3.

A．parents

B．teachers

C．friends

D．family

4.

A．on

B．off

C．down

D．in

5.

A．calm

B．quiet

C．nervous

D．silent

6.

A．indoors

B．outdoors

C．in

D．out

7.

A．slowly

B．vividly

C．quickly

D．casually

8.

A．over

B．on

C．under

D．in

9.

A．classroom

B．kitchen

C．bedroom

D．playground

10.

A．running

B．driving

C．sleeping

D．walking

11.

A．finished

B．began

C．continued

D．stopped

12.

A．wait

B．waiting

C．waited

D．to wait

13.

A．that

B．where

C．when

D．which

14.

A．well

B．badly

C．even

D．worse

15.

A．smell

B．feel

C．taste

D．touch

8 . Getting rid of(丢弃) old tyres(轮胎) has long been a problem. Every year many tyres are thrown. Some of the ways might be better than getting rid of them, but they are not especially green.

Energy recovery(回收利用) is one common way. This includes burning tyres to produce electricity, or as a way to provide heat for other industrial processes. But that produces planet-warming pollution. Tyres can be whole or broken in construction projects, such as repairing roads. There are, however, worries about chemicals from the tyres coming out and polluting the ground.

So some companies have begun exploring another pleasing idea. Since tyres are mostly made from hydrocarbons(碳氢化合物), it should be possible in principle to turn old tyres into environmentally friendly materials which can be used to run some cars they came from. One of the most thoughtful companies is based in Oslo, Norway. Later this year the company will start building a huge tyre-reused factory in Sunderland in northeastern England. In a couple of years, when the factory is fully operational, it will be able to turn 8 million old tyres into new products.

The process works by dividing a tyre into its three main parts. One is steel, which is used to support the structure of a tyre and which can be easily reused. The second is powder used to improve the continuous use of the tyre. The third is rubber. Some of that will be natural rubber from the rubber trees. The carbon black can be reused to make new tyres. That is of interest to tyre makers because it helps efforts to become carbon neutral(碳中和).

1. What is the disadvantage of energy recovery of tyres mentioned in the text?

A．It is unpractical.	B．It produces pollution.
C．It costs a lot.	D．It produces less electricity.

2. How is paragraph 3 organized?

A．By giving an example.	B．By making questions.
C．By following time order.	D．By comparing differences.

3. Which of the following best describes the huge tyre-reused factory?

A．Costly.

B．Useful.

C．Dangerous.

D．Short-lived.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Tyres can be divided into three parts

B．A company built a tyre-reused factory

C．Energy recovery can deal with old tyres

D．Old tyres can become environmentally friendly materials

9 . Mexico has more than just beaches. Several Mexican cities have been recognized as forming part of the heritage of humanity and are considered to be of outstanding universal value.

Oaxaca

Oaxaca and the nearby archaeological site Monte Alban have both been recognized by UNESCO. Oaxaca, the capital city of the state of the same name, was founded in 1529 and offers a good example of previous Spanish town planning. Oaxaca is considered one of Mexico’s best foodie destinations. Learn what foods and drinks you should try in Oaxaca.

Guanajuato

As a silver mining town in the past, Guanajuato seems special. The winding streets and small squares give it a more friendly feel than some of the other cities. This is a student town with a vibrant culture and an important cultural festival — the International Cervantino Festival which is held every October.

Puebla

Puebla is one of Mexico’s large cities, but its historical center can easily be explored on foot. It has some special historical structures such as the 16th-century cathedral and some other fine buildings with walls covered in tiles.

Morelia

Morelia, the capital of the state of Michoacán, was originally called Valladolid, but its name was changed in honor of independence hero José María Morelos y Pavón. The Museo del Dulce is a stop you shouldn’t miss in Morelia. Visits to nearby Patzcuaro or the reserves are also recommended on a trip to Morelia.

1. What are visitors recommended to do in Oaxaca?

A．Walk on a beach.	B．Enjoy local cuisine.
C．Visit a student town.	D．Join a cultural festival.

2. What does Puebla feature?

A．Architecture.

B．Reserves.

C．Silver mining.

D．Foods and drinks.

3. Which place’s name is related to a hero?

A．Oaxaca.

B．Guanajuato.

C．Puebla.

D．Morelia.

10 . Dry lightning(雷电)can still be harmful even when conditions aren’t so dry, said a study published in Geophysical Research Letters last month. Dry lightning during little to no rainfall was previously thought to cause wildfire danger only with less than 2.5mm of rain in a day. A Washington State University-led study of wildfires in the US West found dry lightning caused wildfires despite up to 7.7 mm of rain.

“The rainfall amounts we recorded should help provide a better understanding of just how much rain can cause a fire risk,” said Dmitri Kalashnikov, lead author of the study.

The researchers analyzed(分析)cases on more than 4,600 naturally caused fires from 2015 to 2020. They matched 3,726 of those to the lightning strikes that likely started them with the help of National Lightning Detection Network.

The study found that 15.3% of those were holdover fires which burn without smoke, bringing about over a hundred fires each year. Analyzing the rainfall amounts around the time of the lightning strikes showed greater rainfall than previously thought among the earlier found fires ranging from 1.7 mm to 4.6 mm.

While humans still cause most fires either by accident or on purpose, lightning-caused wildfires burn the most areas. Nearly 70% of the wildfire-burned land in the West was from lightning-caused fires according to the study. For example, the largest wildfire burn area in California history took place in August 2020 after dry lightning caused many wildfires at once.

Dry lightning can also start wildfires in places that are hard for firefighters to reach. This study found the places where holdover fires happened repeatedly were in the forested mountains of the Southwest as well as the middle and southern Rocky Mountains. Holdover fires cause the problem because they are so hard to notice.

1. The new study found dry lightning can still cause wildfires with a daily rainfall of __________.

A．7.7 mm

B．8.0mm

C．9.4mm

D．10.2mm

2. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The finding of the research.	B．The number of the cases.
C．The process of the study.	D．The designers of the test.

3. Why did holdover fires happen repeatedly in the forested mountains?

A．They are difficult to notice.	B．The fire service is short-handed.
C．Campers often smoke there.	D．The locals fail to call firefighters.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A history textbook.	B．A science magazine.
C．A course plan.	D．A book review.