1 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.

In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.

The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.

They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.

So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.

1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?

A．An amazing autumn game.	B．A common sight in gardens.
C．A hot attraction in the north.	D．An extreme weather event.

2. What is the received wisdom?

A．Fallen leaves need not be cleared.

B．Fallen leaves protect shorter grass.

C．Fallen leaves block photosynthesis.

D．Fallen leaves are hard to break down.

3. The new research finds clearing fallen leaves makes little sense, because ________.

A．it ruins city image	B．it breaks gardening rules
C．it affects local economy	D．it causes ecological damage

4. What’s the author’s attitude to Wisconsin University’s study?

A．Doubtful.

B．Positive.

C．Unclear.

D．Worried.

2 . 阅读下面短文，根据内容和提示，在空白处填入适当的内容(一个单词或括号内单词的正确形式) 。

The Golden Pheasant (红腹锦鸡), also known     1     the Chinese Pheasant, is a beautiful bird that can     2     (find) in the mountainous areas of southern and western China. It is     3     (common) recognized for its eye-catching feathers, making it a true symbol of beauty. The Golden Pheasant is a medium-sized bird, measuring about 90 centimeters in length, including its long     4     impressive tail. The male Golden Pheasant shows off a beautiful mix of bright colors. It is unmistakable with its golden crest (鸡冠) and bright red body. The female, on     5     other hand, has more unnoticeable colors, with brown and grey feathers. This bird is also known for its beautiful movements. It spends its time     6     (search) for berries and     7       (insect) on the forest floor.

Sadly, because of habitat (栖息地) loss, the Golden Pheasant faces challenges in the wild Protection measures are in place to save this beautiful bird and its     8     (nature) habitat.

The Golden Pheasant is a truly wonderful bird, impressing     9     (we) with its beautiful colors. It serves as a reminder of the magic of nature and the need     10     (protect) and value our unique wildlife.

3 . 4 Most walkable cities in Europe

Seville, Spain

Seville in Spain takes the top spot as Europe’s most walkable city, offering the shortest walking route between the top four tourist attractions.Visitors can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. After that, it’s only a short trip on foot to visit the beautiful Barrio Santa Cruz neighbourhood.

Venice, Italy

Venice is well-known as a heaven for pedestrians (行人), so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of beautiful bridges over the crisscrossing canals that the city is famous for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square, Basilica and bell tower, all in only 1.3 miles.

Porto, Portugal

Nestled along Portugal’s picturesque coast, Porto comes in third with its top attractions all covered by a 30-minute walking route. Meander along the Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River, head to the Clérigos Church Bell Tower and enjoy a riverfront walking place along the Cais da Ribeira. The Stock Exchange Palace is also just a short walk away.

Florence, Italy

Florence, Italy, secures its place as the fourth most walkable city in Europe thanks to its stunning attractions that can be seamlessly explored on foot. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the famous Uffizi Gallery; the Piazza del Duomo where you will be amazed at the magnificent Florence Cathedral; and the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.

1. How long is probably the walking route in Seville?

A．1.1 miles.

B．1.3 meters.

C．1.6 meters.

D．1.8 meters.

2. Which city is probably located near the sea?

A．Seville.

B．Venice.

C．Porto.

D．Florence.

3. What is the writing purpose of the text?

A．To compare the four cities.

B．To show the benefits of walking.

C．To stress the importance of traveling.

D．To attract visitors to walk in these cities.

4 . Noise pollution has a long-term effect on tree populations that may persist even after the sources of noise are removed, according to research published Wednesday.

Man-made noise from industry and the building of infrastructure such as roads and pipelines has increased greatly since the middle of last century. While previous research has documented the short-term effect noise has on tree populations as it scares off pollinators (传粉者) such as insects and animals, few studies have covered the long-term effect.

Researchers in the United States looked at tree populations in New Mexico that had been “hearing”a high level of man-made noise for 15 years. They found 75 percent fewer pinyon pine seedlings (矮松苗) in noisy places than quiet ones.

Then they looked at other places in New Mexico, where sources of noise had recently been added and then removed, and examined how populations recovered. The team assumed that populations of the trees — in this case pinyon seedlings — would recover as the pollinators would return to the places once the noise had disappeared. Instead, they found a long-term drop in seedling numbers as the birds refused to revisit the places.

“The effects of human noise pollution are growing into these woodland communities,” said Clinton Francis, lead researcher from California Polytechnic State University. “What we’re seeing is that removal of the noise doesn’t necessarily immediately result in a recovery of ecological function.”

Jennifer Phillips, co-author of the research, said the findings showed how the effect of noise pollution could put pollinators off even after the noise is removed. “Animals like the birds that are sensitive to noise learn to avoid particular areas.” said Phillips. “It may take time for animals to come back to pollinate trees in these previously noisy areas, and we don’t know how long that might take.”

As governments continue to face growing evidence of the damage to nature caused by urbanization (城市化), Phillips held that the influence of noise pollution should also be factored into planning decisions.

1. What does the underlined word “persist” mean in paragraph 1?

A．Recover.

B．Decrease.

C．Last.

D．Disappear.

2. How did Clinton Franci’s team carry out the research?

A．By studying cases in New Mexico.

B．By challenging the previous research.

C．By recording the routines of pollinators.

D．By following the sources of noise pollution.

3. Which of the following would Phillips most probably agree with?

A．Noise pollution kills large numbers of birds.

B．Governments should take measures to remove noise.

C．Ecological recovery contributes to the removal of noise.

D．It’s hard to tell when birds will revisit previously noisy places.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Removing noise enables plants to grow better.

B．Pollinators play a role in increasing plant population.

C．Noise pollution has long-term effects on plant populations.

D．Man-made noise does great harm to woodland communities.

5 . This beautiful, quiet place is covered in sunshine and has mountains all around it. Its name is Machu Picchu. It lies on top of a mountain, 8,000 feet in the tropical forest. Even in the rain and fog, it’s wonderful to walk through the ruins (废墟).

Machu Picchu is more than 500 years old. According to scholars, Machu Picchu was built for the Inca king around 1450. In the late 1800s, explorers like Antonio crossed the grounds of the ruins without knowing where he was. Machu Picchu became known to the world upon the 1911 arrival of Hiram Bingham. In 1983, Machu Picchu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Machu Picchu is considered by many to be the most wonderful creation of the Inca Empire. It’s also full of cultural significance (意义). Its various sites and castles are connected with each other and with their environment. This is a great artistic achievement and also masterpiece of architecture. Everything is cultural and is related to each other, including the natural environment in which it is built.

Currently, Machu Picchu is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the New World; this promotes increased tourism in the area. Tourists of all nationalities travel to Peru with the intention of visiting the Lost City of the Incas. Machu Picchu is no longer quiet.

Some people in Peru hope that more tourists will come here. They think it will mean more business and money for the country. However, some worry that more visitors won’t be good for the environment. The truth is that parts of Peru are very poor, and tourists bring money to these communities. The lost city is no longer lost. The modern world is coming closer to this ancient world every day.

1. What is Machu Picchua like?

A．It sits high with mountains around.

B．It’s sunny all through the year.

C．It’s an ancient city covered with fog.

D．It sits at the bottom of the mountain.

2. When was Machu Picchu found and known to the world?

A．In 1450.

B．In the late 1800s.

C．In 1911.

D．In 1983.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about concerning Machu Picchu?

A．Its history.

B．Its design.

C．Its development.

D．Its value.

4. What’s the attitude of the author towards tourism in Machu Picchu?

A．He is strongly against it.	B．He thinks it’s beneficial.
C．He is confident of its future.	D．He thinks it’s harmful.