3 . If you’re looking for someone to make a realistic, three-dimensional (3D) portrait of your pet cat using felted wool, you’ll have a tough time finding someone better than Wakuneco, a Japanese artist who started creating needle felt art back in 2015. Using different colored wool, this artist creates life-like cat portraits. Just have a look at what she can do with a needle and wool thread.

What does the author mean by saying the underlined sentence in Paragraph 1?

A．No one can do better than Wakuneco.

B．Wakuneco is too busy to be visited or invited.

C．It’s hard for you to get along well with Wakuneco.

D．You’ll find many other skillful persons like Wakuneco.

4 . 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.

6 . 阅读下面短文，根据短文内容填空。在未给提示词的空白处仅填写一个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。

The turtle dove is the UK’s fastest-declining bird species, according to a recent study. The data,     1     (record) by almost 1, 000 volunteers, farmers and county bird clubs, shows there are now nearly 2, 100 pairs left, down from some 125, 000 pairs in 1970. Loss of habitats and shooting in southern Europe     2    (think)to be driving the decline. There is hope, however, as the government     3     (work) with landowners to allow more food supplies in the habitats now.

7 . Pets are part of our family so it’s important to factor them in when planning a trip that you’re not taking them with you on. Pet charity Blue Cross advises planning well in advance so you know that your pet will be comfortable.

Family and friends

Leaving your pet in the care of a trusted friend or neighbour will give you peace of mind that it will be well cared for. Your pet will be able to stay with them in their home.

Things to consider if your pet is staying in another house:

· Do they have another dog or pet and will they get on with your pet?

· Do they have a garden? Is the garden secure so your pet can’t escape?

Pet sitter

Pet sitters stay in or visit your home to look after your pet while you’re away for a fee. This is a good option which allows your pet to stay in a familiar environment and you will receive regular updates.

How to find a good pet sitter:

· Ask friends and family for recommendations for pet sitters.

· Pet sitters don’t need a license to work, but reputable ones will be able to show you training and insurance certificates.

· Check reviews online from independent review sites.

Home boarder

Home boarders are people that take pets into their own homes to look after for a fee.

How to find a good home boarder:

· Check their home has no obvious dangers, like exposed wires, toxic substances and unsecured fences.

· Your pet is invited round to get to know the home and meet the family it’ll be staying with.

· You can easily find and view their license to home board pets from the local council as well as their insurance details and training.

Boarding kennels

Kennels are an option, but it depends whether your pet is comfortable being left alone in a kennel environment around other pets.

How to find a boarding kennel:

· Get a personal recommendation, and check the kennel is licensed.

· Ask if you can visit before you book.

· Ask about insurance cover and the procedure for contacting a vet (兽医).

1. If you prefer your pet to stay in a familiar environment, you can leave it with _____.

A．a friend

B．a pet sitter

C．a home boarder

D．a boarding kennel

2. How can one find a suitable home boarder?

A．Call the insurance company.

B．Check the license from the local council.

C．Check reviews from independent review sites.

D．Invite him over to your home and meet your family.

3. Who may find this passage most useful?

A．A vet who desires to change his job.

B．A man who is considering adopting a dog.

C．A couple who are planning to rent a house.

D．A pet owner who will take a business trip.

8 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

During the Tang Dynasty, poet Li Bai wrote a poem about the tough journey to Shu, comparing it to scaling the vast blue sky. The Shu Roads are named     1     the ancient state of Shu. The builders of the expressway     2    (link) Jigzhi County in Qinghai Province to Barkam County in Sichuan Province know how complex it is to build a road in the region.

Extending for 219 kilometers, the expressway lies at     3     height of over 3,300 metres. This means that the annual average temperature is just 1.4°C, and can drop as low as -36℃. Since the construction began in 2020, this extreme climate     4    (limit) work to roughly six months a year. The     5    (hard) section was the 5.5-km Shenzuo tunnel, running through weak and jointed rock masses and     6    (exceptional) complicated land conditions. Ma Kelin, the only female project manager, has learned a tough lesson since she joined the project. It took her over a month     7    (recover) from vomiting and breathlessness.

The expressway, with an     8    (invest) of 30.2 billion yuan, will open to traffic by the end of next year. Many of those     9     live along its length are waiting, expecting it to contribute to economic development. The local authority plans an area of 12 square kilometers for potential     10    (tourist) attracted by the new road.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Why is the baobab’s trunk really fat?

A．It is shaped by people.

B．It stores a large quantity of water.

C．It must be strong enough to support the tree.

2. What is the full height of a baobab?

A．About 12 metre.

B．About 15 metre.

C．About 30 metre.

3. What are baobabs often used as nowadays?

A．Shops.

B．Wildlife habitats.

C．Bus shelters