1 . Widespread descriptions of animals in pop culture could actually be hurting the animals’ survival chances in the wild, a new research suggests.
Franck Courchamp of the University of Paris-Sud was interested in the idea of “appeal” (吸引力) in animals. He wanted to know: What species do people consider appealing? And what are the influences of being appealing on populations of animals in the wild?
In a research published this month, Courchamp and other researchers list the top 20 appealing species. They deemed large mammals living on land are appealing. Coming in first place are tigers, followed by lions, elephants, giraffes, panthers, pandas, cheetahs, polar bears, wolves, and gorillas. However, at least half of the interviewees didn’t realize that five of the top ten most appealing species are threatened. It is strange that we do not protect the species we care about the most.
The study also finds that we are flooded with images of these creatures, even as they are becoming fewer in the wild. The study suggests that too much imagination might be creating a “virtual population” of the animals in people’s minds, making them believe there are far more individuals in the wild than is exact.
The study authors suggest that companies who benefit from the use of these images should set as idea small percentage of their profits for protection efforts and informational campaigns. “That would be not only something fair, but something that could bring a win-win situation for them,” Courchamp says. It could bring them positive public relation, for example. Besides, if a company’s mascot (吉祥物) goes extinct, that could hurt them from a marketing point, Courchamp says. But not enough companies are “truly concerned about the protection of the species that they work on,” he adds.
1. The widespread descriptions of animals may ______ according to Paragraph 1.| A．make people aware of the necessity of wild protection |
| B．lead people to protect animals |
| C．be beneficial for both animals and humans |
| D．reduce the animals’ survival chances |
| A．Rescued. | B．Established. | C．Thought. | D．Disappeared. |
| A．They are among the best liked. | B．They have a large population in the wild. |
| C．They have died out. | D．They are well protected. |
| A．By doing experiments. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By asking a question. | D．By listing data. |
2 . For some people, nothing matches the beauty of Canada’s national parks. Supported by Parks Canada, these parks protect the country’s ecosystem.
Prince Edward Island National Park
Built in 1937, the park on the north shore of Prince Edward Island contains 10 square miles of red sandstone cliffs (悬崖), freshwater lakes, and Acadian forests. It is home to the endangered piping plover (笛鸻). Visitors to the park will be attracted by the enough wildlife found there— from the Atlantic white-sided dolphin to the snowshoe hare.
Vuntut National Park
Located in the northwest of Yukon Territory, the park is one of the most faraway national parks in Canada. The 4,345-square-mile park, which was built in 1995, has large wetlands in the south, known as Old Crow Flats, which are home to half a million birds and many kinds of other animals such as grizzly bears and muskrats.
Banff National Park
Banff National Park in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, which was built in 1885, is famous for the clear waters of Lake Louise, the amazing glaciers (冰川) of Icefields Parkway, and the 11,850-foot-tall Mount Forbes. The town of Banff is also within the park, which hosts the Banff Mountain Film Festival and is home to many cultural museums.
Waterton Lakes National Park
The park has high mountains, thick forests, colorful grassland, impressive rivers, and clear lakes. Built in 1895, Waterton Lakes is home to the 9,547-foot-tall Mount Blakiston—a popular climbing spot and the highest point within the park. The park protects over 60 species of mammals and more than 250 species of birds.
1. Of the four national parks, which is the youngest?| A．Banff National Park. | B．Vuntut National Park. |
| C．Waterton Lakes National Park. | D．Prince Edward Island National Park. |
| A．Those who are interested in culture. |
| B．Those who want to protect the environment. |
| C．Those who are studying the old town. |
| D．Those who want to take an adventurous trip. |
| A．To introduce Canada’s national parks. |
| B．To praise the effort made by Parks Canada. |
| C．To call on people to protect wild animals. |
| D．To show the importance of national parks |
3 . Many children want to have their own pets, but how to be a good pet owner? Besides giving them food and water, what else can we do to give our pets much love?
Provide your pet with the correct diet.
If you prefer to change the previous diet of your pet, do it slowly so that they adjust (适应) properly.
Clean their housing often.
Clean your pet’s home at least once a week and any other times if necessary. Generally, a pet’s home should be clean so it is a good environment for the animal.
Keep your pet clean.
If you have a dog that always plays in the mud, it’s necessary to give it a shower every day!
Train your pet.
Put a collar on your pet with your personal information and the pet’s name. Remember to close the cage door so there is no chance of escaping and being in an unsafe place.
| A．Never hurt or harm your pet. |
| B．Be an owner with a sense of duty. |
| C．No one wants a cat that jumps on the table. |
| D．Animals require different diets based on age. |
| E．Remember that you should check the water first with your hand. |
| F．Water should be fresh, clean and changed daily to keep your pet healthy. |
| G．Without good living conditions, an animal will get sick more, and feel unhappy. |
4 . Wildlife crossings don’t just protect animals. They can also mitigate problems related to wildlife-vehicle collisions (碰撞) and save significant money for a community.
Wildlife crossings are man-made structures that help animals move safely around their habitat. They are often paths under or over another existing road or railway, or underground passages for animals to get past for food or avoiding attacks.
Some animals are unable to migrate to survive. People still rely on highways for business and travel, and animals continue to have mobility needs for survival, though. When new roads are built, animals living in a part of their habitat can greatly increase the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions while trying to cross the new barriers.
In a new study, Wisnu Sugiarto, a Washington State University economies doctoral student, examined data for 13 of the 22 wildlife crossings, including bridges and underpasses,in the Washington State. He compared the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions each year be-fore and after the construction of a wildlife crossing. He considered the area within 10 miles of a crossing.
Then he compared his analysis to a separate area in the state with no crossings at all.“The findings reported that wildlife crossing structures reduced the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions by one to three accidents on average per mile per year,” Sugiarto said. “Therefore, building wildlife crossing structures is typically an essential and effective strategy to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.”
“Prior to working on this research, I wasn’t aware of any strategies to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions. I also thought we couldn’t do much about it, partly because we wouldn’t be able to communicate with wildlife and control their movement,” Sugiarto added, “However, it turns out that there are multiple strategies to deal with issues related to wildlife-vehicle collisions and we can do something about them.”
It is reported that the government has invested $ 350 million over five years for the construction of wildlife crossings. Every wildlife crossing offers a mean benefit of between $ 235,000 and $443,000 each year.
1. What does the underlined word “mitigate” in paragraph I mean?| A．Analyze. | B．Reduce. | C．Study. | D．Discover. |
| A．How the wildlife crossings are built. |
| B．Why wildlife crossings are necessary. |
| C．What should be done to cross the roads. |
| D．When wildlife-vehicle collisions happen. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Doubtful. | C．Favorable. | D．Unclear. |
| A．Wildlife crossings save wild animals and money |
| B．The size of wildlife crossings affects animals greatly |
| C．Every wildlife crossing has a great effect on road safety |
| D．Wildlife crossings manage to help animals migrate safely |
| A．Cold and wet. | B．Warm and dry. | C．Sunny but windy. |
6 . My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been at the top of a tree for five months now. Some people might wonder
I have walked through this forest many times. On December 12, 2011,
Life in the tree top can be
Living on the tree has been inspiring. I am willing to
| A．why | B．when | C．how | D．where |
| A．water | B．animals | C．machinery | D．tourists |
| A．bear | B．help | C．keep | D．spare |
| A．sold | B．stolen | C．protected | D．lost |
| A．grew out | B．fell short | C．ran out | D．let go |
| A．refreshing | B．risky | C．challenging | D．rewarding |
| A．get up | B．get away | C．give in | D．give up |
| A．change | B．look | C．search | D．touch |
| A．confused | B．nervous | C．sorry | D．lonely |
| A．Beyond | B．Without | C．Despite | D．Unlike |
| A．height | B．experience | C．background | D．position |
| A．return | B．stop | C．stay | D．hide |
| A．but | B．though | C．because | D．so |
| A．soon | B．long | C．near | D．bad |
| A．moved | B．logged | C．burned | D．missed |
7 . Unlike humans who enter a state of relatively complete unconsciousness while sleeping, birds can more carefully control their sleep. Birds often sleep with one eye open, only half their brain resting at the same time. The other half of the brain is awake, able to note danger if needed.
While the exact way in which birds control their sleep patterns has not been well studied, it has been shown that the safer a bird feels when sleeping, the more likely it is to sleep deeper. If the situation is more uncertain, however, the bird will sleep more lightly.
Sleeping together is another defensive method that many birds use. By living together, some species can create a nighttime place where thousands of individuals sleep. As a result, there are more birds to notice their enemies’ attack, giving each individual bird a greater chance of survival. In winter, many birds, particularly small birds, live together to share body heat and survive lower nighttime temperatures.
When birds sleep, they bury weak body parts in their feathers. A bird’s feathers create air pockets that help it keep warm, and by placing feet or the bill into the feathers, less body heat is lost. When a bird’s bill is buried deeply in its feathers, it is also able to breathe air warmed by its own body heat.
There is little data about how long birds sleep at a time, but studies show that birds may sleep longer during longer nights. This may be because birds are not able to search for food or take part in other activities without enough light and so sleeping is the next natural item on their to-do lists. Birds are able to sleep for a short time during the day, however, and can also sleep longer whenever they are in a safe place.
1. How can birds control their sleep?| A．By opening both of the eyes. | B．By ignoring danger frequently. |
| C．By entering a dream completely. | D．By keeping half of the brain awake. |
| A．Birds’ condition. | B．Birds weight. | C．Birds’ feelings. | D．Birds’ sleep patterns. |
| A．They can attack their enemies. | B．They can protect themselves well. |
| C．They can lower body temperatures. | D．They can share body heat in summer. |
| A．Into their feathers. | B．Into their feet. |
| C．Into their mouths. | D．Into their skin pockets. |
| A．Birds can search for food in weak light. |
| B．Birds should plan their activities more carefully. |
| C．Birds can usually sleep longer at night in winter. |
| D．Birds should place sleeping first on their to-do lists. |
8 . Rocky Mountain National Park Tour from Denver
Overview
See for yourself why Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular parks in the United States on a day trip from Denver. Let a guide handle the winding mountain roads while you enjoy views of mountain tops surrounded by alpine forests, lakes, and meadows. Cross the Great Divide on steep Trail Ridge Road, watch the plentiful Colorado wildlife, and get a sight of the legendary Stanley Hotel—the inspiration for Stephen King’s The Shining.
●Visit Rocky Mountain National Park without renting a car
●Drive through the tourist town of Estes Park and the famous Stanley Hotel
● Go above tree line on Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest in North America
What’s Included
●Professional driver/guide
●Transportation
●Lunch
Meeting And Pickup
Denver Union Station 1701 Wynkoop St, Denver, CO 80202, USA
Start time: 09:30 AM; End point: This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Additional Info
●Not wheelchair accessible
● Lunch sandwich included
This tour comes with choice of a turkey or vegetarian sandwich. Please include your preference as well as any dietary restrictions in the Special Requirements field during checkout.
●This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
●A water refill will be available in the van, bring a reusable bottle.
1. What can you do if you join in the one-day trip?| A．You can visit the Stephen King’s hotel. |
| B．You can rent a car to visit the whole park. |
| C．You can get a good view of Colorado wildlife. |
| D．You can climb the highest mountain in North America. |
| A．Water refill. | B．Wheelchair. | C．Beef sandwich. | D．Professional cook. |
| A．A travel journal. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A travel blog. | D．A travel review. |
9 . For more than 100 million years sea turtles (海龟) have covered huge distances across the world’s oceans, making them among the oldest creatures on the planet. However, they are on the list of endangered species.
Different from some animals like snakes, the sex of the baby sea turtles, called hatchlings, is determined by the environment after fertilization (受精). The temperature of the eggs during a certain period of development is the deciding factor in determining sex, and small changes in temperature can cause very big changes in the sex ratio (比例). Often, eggs at low temperatures (22—27℃) produce males, while eggs at higher temperatures (30℃ and above) produce females. At temperatures in between, both sexes will be produced. If temperature reaches 36℃, no hatchlings will be produced.
Climate change has a powerful effect on turtle nesting (筑巢) sites. It changes sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of the hatchlings. Scientists have found that unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are upsetting the normal ratios, resulting in fewer male hatchlings. The past four hottest summers in Florida have seen only female sea turtles. And an Australian study has shown a similar effect in which 99% of the hatchlings are female.
In addition to rising temperatures, turtles are also facing the threat of too much plastic in the oceans, along with a number of other threats. “Plastic pollution is a problem for turtles as they can mistake plastics for food easily. Even a single piece of plastic can kill a turtle,” Dr Couper, working at the Queensland Museum, said. “We have collected some plastics taken from turtles’ stomachs to show people what kinds of things are showing up on beaches. I want it to be an eye opener.”
1. Which temperature is good for a balanced sex ratio of turtle hatchlings?| A．26℃. | B．29℃. | C．31℃. | D．36℃. |
| A．Sea turtles will build their nesting sites elsewhere. |
| B．Global warming is an extreme threat to sea turtles. |
| C．Climate change is much more obvious in Australia. |
| D．Over 90% of the turtle hatchlings are female globally. |
| A．Turtles do not have enough food sources. |
| B．Turtles do not have a good sense of smell. |
| C．People should clean up beaches more often. |
| D．People should raise environmental awareness. |
10 . One million species face extinction, more than ever before in human history, according to a UN report released in May. And humans should be responsible.
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) based the assessment (评估) on some 15,000 sources considering the causes and results of environmental changes over the past 50 years.
The findings are clear and alarming. The researchers have found that about 25 percent of the world’s plants and animals are at risk of extinction. These include sea and land animals. Even the domesticated (驯养的) animals are at risk: Over 9 percent of the domesticated animal species used for food and agriculture might have been lost.
There are some big problems. This rapid decrease of the natural world endangers global food safety and quality of life. For example, about 4 billion people rely on natural medicines, produced by the disappearing species, for their health care. And losses of species that pollinate (授粉) plants threaten up to $ 577 billion in crops each year.
The researchers identified five drivers responsible for the unpleasant news. They think at the top of the list is the change of land and sea use. The change in ecosystems towards agriculture, aquaculture and other human developments has led to changes in the natural living space of species. It is followed by the direct overuse of creatures (harvesting crops, cutting down the trees, hunting and fishing) and climate change, including rising sea levels and increasing extreme-weather events, wildfires, floods and droughts. The final causes of species extinction are pollution, especially plastics, and the spread of non-native species that can displace or kill native plants and animals.
The researchers say it is time for humans to make a change. They think maybe a new global way to save food and refuse waste in our everyday life could turn the tables. Whether that is possible is an open question.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| B．To introduce the schedule of the report. |
| C．To introduce humans’ sense of responsibility. |
| D．To introduce the history of human development. |
| A．The reliability of the findings. |
| B．The species of animals worldwide. |
| C．The seriousness of species’ reduction. |
| D．The risky experiences of the researchers. |
| A．Climate change. |
| B．Natural disasters. |
| C．Changes of their living space. |
| D．The direct overuse of creatures. |
| A．Ignoring the food problem. |
| B．Spreading non-native species. |
| C．Limiting native plants and animals. |
| D．Changing some habits in our daily life. |
