1 . Grizzly bears, which may grow to about 2.5 m long and weigh over 400 kg, occupy a conflicted corner of the American psyche — we revere (敬畏) them even as they give us frightening dreams. Ask the tourists from around the world that flood into Yellowstone National Park what they most hope to see, and their answer is often the same: a grizzly bear.

“Grizzly bears are re-occupying large areas of their former range,” says bear biologist Chris Servheen. As grizzly bears expand their range into places where they haven’t been seen in a century or more, they’re increasingly being sighted by humans.

The western half of the US was full of grizzlies when Europeans came, with a rough number of 50,000 or more living alongside Native Americans. By the early 1970s, after centuries of cruel and continuous hunting by settlers, 600 to 800 grizzlies remained on a mere 2 percent of their former range in the Northern Rockies. In 1975, grizzlies were listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Today, there are about 2,000 or more grizzly bears in the US. Their recovery has been so successful that the US Fish and Wildlife Service has twice attempted to delist grizzlies, which would loosen legal protections and allow them to be hunted. Both efforts were overturned due to lawsuits from conservation groups. For now, grizzlies remain listed.

Obviously, if precautions (预防) aren’t taken, grizzlies can become troublesome, sometimes killing farm animals or walking through yards in search of food. If people remove food and attractants from their yards and campsites, grizzlies will typically pass by without trouble. Putting electric fencing around chicken houses and other farm animal quarters is also highly effective at getting grizzlies away. “Our hope is to have a clean, attractant-free place where bears can pass through without learning bad habits,” says James Jonkel, longtime biologist who manages bears in and around Missoula.

1. How do Americans look at grizzlies?

A．They cause mixed feelings in people.

B．They should be kept in national parks.

C．They are of high scientific value.

D．They are a symbol of American culture.

2. What has helped the increase of the grizzly population?

A．The European settlers’ behavior.

B．The expansion of bears’ range.

C．The protection by law since 1975.

D．The support of Native Americans.

3. What has stopped the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service from delisting grizzlies?

A．The opposition of conservation groups.

B．The successful comeback of grizzlies.

C．The voice of the biologists.

D．The local farmers’ advocates.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Food should be provided for grizzlies.

B．People can live in harmony with grizzlies.

C．A special path should be built for grizzlies.

D．Technology can be introduced to protect grizzlies.

2 . Some ways to help and protect wildlife

There are more than 7 billion people on Earth. Imagine what will happen if every one of us is willing to do one thing — no matter how small — to protect wildlife every day.     1    . Here are some ways to help and protect wildlife.

    2    

Take a walk and see and enjoy the wildlife all around you — the birds, reptiles and small and large mammals (哺乳动物). Spend more time outside appreciating, enjoying and learning about wildlife.

Speak up for wildlife

    3    . Call on more people to become concerned about wild animals’ survival. Share your passion for wildlife conservation (保护) with your family. Tell your friends how they can help. Ask everyone you know to stop illegal wildlife trade, wild animals used for entertainment, and much more.

Pick up litter

Picking up litter can save the life of an animal. Litter isn’t just ugly, it’s harmful. Birds and other animals can trap their heads in plastic rings. Fish can get stuck in nets. Plus, trash pollutes everyone’s natural resources.     4    .

Donate or volunteer

When you visit your local zoos and nature reserves, pay the recommended entry fee. Your donations help maintain these conservation areas.     5    . Many organizations and zoos have volunteer programs. You can help clean beaches, rescue wild animals or teach visitors.

A．Go outside and connect with wildlife

B．Do your part by putting trash in its place

C．Become a voice for wildlife on social media

D．Find new ways to use things you already own

E．If you don’t have money to give, donate your time

F．Learn more about our planet’s species from experts

G．Even minor actions can have a difference when we all work together

3 . You look up at the sky on a clear and dark night, you’ll see more stars than your eyes can count. Most of these stars have planets, similar to our own, orbiting them. With so many celestial bodies floating out in space, you can’t help but question whether other forms of life exist in the universe. And if that’s the case, is it possible to contact them?

Science is still somewhat divided on this issue. Currently, no evidence exists to suggest that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe. Yet with an estimated one trillion planets in our galaxy alone, it seems highly likely that Earthlings aren’t the only intelligent creatures out there. Some claim that life can only develop under perfect circumstances, and Earth is perhaps the only example of this. Other scientists object to this claim, and point out that even on Earth, life can find a way under the most extreme circumstances.

Some people believe that aliens have already visited our planet, but this information is being kept secret by governments. The most famous incident of this kind occurred in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947. On that date, many residents reported seeing an unusual flying disc streak through the sky, before it crashed in a field. When the military heard about the crash, they quickly sealed off the area. A few hours later, the army base announced that it had recovered a flying disk. Shortly after, this statement was retracted and it was said that it was a weather balloon that crashed. However, years later one local mortician even claimed that the military had him secretly perform an autopsy on a dead alien body.

Others believe that there certainly are other life forms out there, but the distance between us is too great. Even if we could somehow create a spaceship that travels at the speed of light, it would still probably take several lifetimes to reach them. Then again, we might never have to do this if aliens reach us first.

1. Why do some scientists think there is life on other planets?

A．Because an unusual flying disc was ever witnessed.

B．Because life exists despite extreme conditions as those on the Earth do.

C．Because the government’s statement seemed suspicious.

D．Because there are a great number of planets in the universe.

2. What does the underlined word “retracted” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Examined again to guarantee the correctness.	B．Emphasized again to persuade people.
C．Formally taken back what has been said.	D．Seriously criticized due to poor evidence

3. Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．Are we alone in the universe?	B．Is it possible to contact aliens?
C．Intelligent life in the universe.	D．Planets floating out in space.

4. How does the author sound in the passage?

A．Objective.

B．Humorous.

C．Cautious.

D．Anxious.

4 . Unlike other natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes are very hard to see coming, even for scientists.    1    Thus, specific practices for earthquake preparedness are necessary. Here are four steps you can take to prepare yourself in advance.

Drop, cover and hold

If you feel the ground start to shake, drop, take cover under as table piece of furniture, and hold on. You can hide under something like a desk or table, with one arm holding on to a leg of the table and your other arm protecting your neck and head.    2    In modern homes, it is no stronger than any other part of the house and will not protect you from injury.

Make a family plan

    3    Create a meeting point—somewhere easy for everyone to remember, or you could also meet at home. Whatever plan you decide on, don’t rely on your phone as your main form of communication. Technology fails all the time in disasters. A major earthquake in California, for example, damaged cell towers and knocked out communication services for days.

Secure your furniture

Those hanging shelves above your bed could be a danger during an earthquake. People often get injured from “flying or falling objects” like furniture or glass during earthquakes. So examine your home and ask yourself, “What could be a potential danger to my safety?”    4    

Make digital copies of important documents

Important documents may get destroyed during earthquakes. Therefore, scan or take photos of your important documents, such as your license, financial records and insurance policy information.    5    This step can help ensure your documents will be available even if your computer is lost in a quake.

A．Then send them to your e-mail.

B．These are all important personal documents.

C．Make sure your household has a plan of action.

D．Whatever you do, do not stand in a doorframe.

E．If you find the answer, you need to runaway immediately.

F．Nowadays early detection systems can only give seconds of warming ahead.

G．If possible, remove those heavy and big objects above your bed immediately.

5 . Kala has deep ties to her Hawaiian roots. Her ancestors navigated (航行) the oceans for centuries using their knowledge of the stars, the sun, the currents and the wind. It’s not that she does it in a canoe without technology, but rather uses the natural technology around her. It’s called Way finding, and was taught to her by her father.

“My father was my foundation, my rock.” she says of her first voyage with him from Oahu to Lahaina in a traditional canoe. He taught her how to read the stars, the ocean swells and how to use them to hold the course. “Over 200 stars have specific names and purposes when you are Way finding. You have to look at each and determine if they are rising or setting. You know this star and the direction it represents. If you can do that, you can use it as a tool to orient (确定方向).” Kala added.

Kala Tanaka sailed the canoe in the ocean for up to three weeks. During the day, Kala used the sun until it hit a certain height. When she got closer to land, she looked for certain species of land birds and clouds that indicated there was land below. When Kala sailed she felt “I feel very connected to the crew and the canoe. We’re a family.” The longer voyage required Kala to spend hours studying the day and the night skies. It was demanding physical work. But it also had its moments of awe. For Kala, the beauty was in tying together the past and the present to enjoy the moment. So when she was not sailing, she was teaching Way finding skills to school-aged children in hopes of preserving the skills her ancestors relied on.

It’s easy to be lost in the immediacy of the technology of our day, to be consumed by screens and miss the nature that unfolds around us. But if we will take the time to look up, to see the stars and the sun, the way the clouds move, the miracle of life beneath and above us, we will discover something deep inside us, something that will always lead to happiness.

1. How does Kala navigate the ocean in a canoe?

A．By observing the natural elements around.

B．By following the course of ocean currents.

C．By using hi-technology navigation devices.

D．By recalling the first voyage with her father.

2. What did Kala think of the three-week canoe voyage?

A．It was a heroic adventure.	B．It brought great joy to her life.
C．It was school children’s favorite.	D．It represented a kind of innovation.

3. What does the author suggest we do?

A．Enjoy the screens.	B．Explore the universe.
C．Get close to nature.	D．Keep the earth clean.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Finding Our Way	B．Navigating the Ocean
C．The Wisdom from Ancestors	D．An Unforgettable Journey

6 . Polar bears are icons of the Arctic. Detailed monitoring of their populations is crucial for their conservation—but because polar bears are so difficult to find, we are missing critical data about population size. Scientists have now developed a new tool to help: DNA analysis using skin cells left in the bears’ footprints in the snow.

The scientists were inspired by the techniques that can be applied to tiny, degraded DNA samples. With these techniques, it isn’t necessary to physically capture bears, which can be stressful and dangerous for both bears and humans. Instead, the researchers can turn to the snow tracks of polar bears and look at sources of DNA left in passing—environmental DNA. "The tracks usually contain fresh cells, and the DNA is intact because of the cold’ storage’ temperature, "said Dr. Melanie Lancaster of the World Wide Fund, lead author.

The scientists collected snow from individual tracks made by Alaskan polar bears in the wild. Additional materials like hair and saliva(唾液)were sampled, confirming that the tracks provided accurate genotype(基因型) 24 wild polar bear tracks were sampled. The researchers melted and filtered the snow to collect environmental DNA, then carried out micro-satellite analysis. Although the concentrations (浓度)of DNA taken from trucks sampled in the wild were very low, 13 of the wild polar bear samples could be genotype, identifying 12 different individuals.

This technique has huge potential to inform conservation of these animals, to better understand their populations and behavior. Although the sampling has a lower success rate, ease of collection means that it can significantly expand sample sizes.

"We hope this method will be taken up by the polar bear research community, with the involvement of hunters, volunteers, and local communities, as a new way to collect information on polar bears, "said Lancaster. "We also hope the method will be expanded to other animals living in snowy environments. "

1. Why do scientists develop the new method?

A．To improve the environment in the Aretic.

B．To protect humans from the polar bears attack.

C．To find solutions to global climate change.

D．To gather essential data for monitoring polar bears.

2. What does the underlined word “intact” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Unknown.

B．Undamaged.

C．Unusual.

D．Unstable.

3. What did the scientists do in the study?

A．They tracked and caught polar bears in the wild.

B．They recorded the bears’ behaviors with cameras.

C．They analyzed DNA from polar bears’ snowy footprints.

D．They compared the polar bears’ genotype with other animals?

4. What is Lancaster’s attitude toward the method?

A．Disapproving.

B．Favorable.

C．Uncertain.

D．Suspicious.

7 . 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。

Daocheng Yading is located in the Southwest of China’s Sichuan Province. This is a kingdom     1     (surround) by breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, steep glaciers (冰川), clear lakes and thick woods. It is called the last pure land on this blue planet. Every September, the scenery here is     2     (extreme) attractive. It’s like placing people into a colorful fairy tale world which is beyond     3     (imagine).

There are three mountain peaks in Daocheng Yading. The most beautiful is called Yangmaiyong. It is about 6000 meters     4     height, and has the shape of a perfect pyramid. Back in 1931, the American explorer Joseph Rock first introduced it to the world with     5     (photo) for the National Geographic Magazine. He wrote, “She is the most beautiful snow peak my eyes have ever seen”. Next to it stand two other mountains: Xiannairi and Xianuoduoji. The top of the mountains is covered by snow most of the time. No one     6     (reach) the top up to now. They are called the “Three Holy Mountains”. It is     7     irreplaceably sacred place in the hearts of the local people. “    8     (walk) round the holy mountains three times, you will achieve your wishes for this life,” the locals say. However, it’s such a great challenge to both one’s physical ability and mind because of     9     (it) altitude. What drives them to do that? Perhaps it is simple faith. It is the last pure land     10     can purify the soul.

9 . One day, a small boy named Johnny was walking to school. Suddenly he heard a _______ in the tall grass along the side of the road. He _______ to see what it was. He pushed the grass apart and there he saw a green frog _______ him. And to his great _______ , the frog began to speak. It asked Johnny for a _______ so that it could turn back into a beautiful princess. After _______ for a while, Johnny put the frog into his pocket and continued to go to his _______ . He thought that he couldn’t do anything with a princess but a talking frog was so _______.

When he arrived at school, he showed his new _______ to his friends. Johnny told them ________ that the frog could talk. But no matter how hard the boys tried, the frog just wouldn’t ________. After all the other boys left, Johnny asked the frog why it had________that way. The frog explained that it________wanted to be turned back into a princess by a kiss. Then Johnny had to kiss the frog, but to his anger,________happened. “I did as you said, but you’re still a frog,” Johnny said. The frog, having made fun of Johnny,________loud, jumped out of his hands and went away.

1.

A．secret

B．sound

C．song

D．speech

2.

A．pretended

B．agreed

C．stopped

D．expected

3.

A．looking at

B．marching to

C．shouting at

D．flying to

4.

A．anxiety

B．disappointment

C．relief

D．surprise

5.

A．hug

B．kiss

C．smile

D．touch

6.

A．sleeping

B．searching

C．hesitating

D．feeding

7.

A．school

B．house

C．friend’s

D．teacher’s

8.

A．boring

B．horrible

C．lucky

D．amazing

9.

A．classmate

B．pet

C．brother

D．insect

10.

A．slowly

B．doubtfully

C．sadly

D．excitedly

11.

A．jump

B．play

C．talk

D．cry

12.

A．thought

B．behaved

C．lied

D．moved

13.

A．just

B．even

C．already

D．almost

14.

A．nothing

B．everything

C．something

D．anything

15.

A．answered

B．shouted

C．coughed

D．laughed

10 . 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。

Yunnan is the hometown of tea. It provides the ideal climate and the ecological environment for large-leaf tea trees, which are located in the     1     (region) along the Lancang River. Thousands of years ago, they formed those ancient tea plantations,     2     are the best gift that nature has grated us.

    3     (preserve) the ancient tea trees, Southwest Chinn’s Yunnan Province has passed a protection regulation recently,     4     (clarify) that wild and cultivated ten plants aged over 100 wars should be better protected in the province. The new regulation, which will come into force starting from March 1, 2023,    5    (prohibit) six kinds of behaviors that harm ancient tea plants and their growing environment. Unauthorized cutting and transplantation of ancient tea trees, carving tree branches, digging the roots,     6    damaging the ancient lea trees are all banned.

Other     7     (legal) practices include using harmful chemical herbicides, releasing waste gas and water, as well as dumping and throwing waste     8     (casual) within the protection range of the trees, according to the regulation.

Yunnan has diverse resources of tea trees. The regulation also advocates proper research and     9    (apply) of Yunnan’s resources of ancient tea trees, raising varieties     10    new tea trees of good quality, as well as the establishment of relevant industrial chains.