1 . Plants are very important living things. Life could not go on if there were no plants. This is because plants can make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals and man cannot make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals get their food by eating plants and other animals. Therefore animals and man need plants in order to live. This is why we find that there are so many plants around us.
If you look carefully at the plants around you, you will find that there are two kinds of plants: flowering plants and non-flowering plants. Flowering plants can make seeds. The seeds are protected by the fruits. Some fruits have one seed, some have two, three or four, and some have many seeds. But a few fruits have no seeds at all. An example of a fruit without seeds is the banana fruit. Most non-flowering plants do not grow from seeds. They grow from spores (胚芽). Spores are very small. Some spores are so small and light that they can float in the air. We may say that spores are quite the same as seeds. When these spores are all on wet and shady places, they usually grow into new plants.
1. The main idea of the first paragraph is that ______.| A．plants are important for life | B．plants cannot grow without air |
| C．there are many plants in the world | D．we can not live without water |
| A．flower, water and air | B．water, sunlight and air |
| C．air, water and soil | D．air, sun and light |
| A．a medicine book | B．a science magazine |
| C．a novel | D．an experiment report |
| A．Bring flowers. | B．Take a pot plant. |
| C．Buy postcards. | D．Send fruits. |
3 . Have you heard of shark fin (鲨鱼鳍) soup? This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you are killing a whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?
When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw them back into the sea where they die slowly and painfully. In fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded (交易) in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have declined by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.
Environmental protection groups around the world, such as WildAid and the WWF, are teaching the public about “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!
1. Where is shark fin soup especially popular?| A．In eastern China. | B．In southern China. | C．In western China. | D．In northern China. |
| A．Fallen. | B．Added. | C．Doubled. | D．Increased. |
| A．They are afraid of sharks. |
| B．They catch sharks for fun. |
| C．They consider sharks lovely. |
| D．They cut off shark fins for money. |
| A．WTO. | B．UNESCO. | C．WildAid. | D．WHO. |
| A．Respect Nature | B．Value the Planet | C．Save the Sharks | D．Keep Balance |
Last week I visited a small village to see the brown bears, what come to the villages at night to look at food. I waited with some tourist. As it grew dark, we see the huge black shapes of the bears. Those clever bears knew where to go for its dinner: the rubbish where there was lots of food people have thrown away. Although it’s wonderful to see the bears in the village, but it can only mean one thing: their habitat is disappearing. They would prefer to stay hiding in the mountain forests, but the trees have cut down for firewood. However, they cannot find enough food any more.
5 . If you think about World Heritage Sites, you probably think of places connected with ancient art and culture, historical buildings and monuments. And of course, many of these are on the World Heritage List (WHL) (世界遗产名录). But the WHL contains a lot of sites that are not so obvious. Let’s look at a few of them.
Robben Island in South Africa
This island was used through the centuries a s a prison, a hospital and a military base. But it’s probably most famous as a maximum-security prison for political prisoners in the twentieth century. Nelson Mandela was one of its most famous residents. The WHL says it represents “the victory of democracy (民主) and freedom over oppression (压迫) and racism (种族主义).”
Borders of France and Spain
This is an area of great natural beauty and the mountains have many interesting geological formations. But it is also an area of small farm. People there still use a type of agriculture that used to be common in mountainous areas of Europe but that has almost complete disappeared in modern times.
The city of Brasilia, Brazil
Brasilia is a capital city that was created from nothing in 1956. The WHL calls it “a landmark in the history of town planning”. The different areas of the city and the buildings themselves were all designed at the same time carefully. Every part of the city shows the ideas of the planner and architect.
Simien National Park, Ethiopia
Simien National Park was one of the first sites to be listed in 1978. It is one of the highest mountainous areas in Africa, and the WHL calls it “one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world”. It is also important for its wildlife. The population of some rare animals is getting smaller and smaller.
1. Which of the following sites was listed on the WHL for its political symbol?| A．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. | B．Robben Island in South Africa. |
| C．Borders of France and Spain. | D．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. |
| A．Robben Island in South Africa. | B．Borders of France and Spain. |
| C．The city of Brasilia, Brazil. | D．Simien National Park, Ethiopia. |
| A．the remains of ancient cultures on the WHL |
| B．the household heritage sites on the WHL |
| C．important places of art and culture |
| D．some of the less well-known sites on the WHL |
1. What is the conversation mainly about?
| A．Fighting fires. | B．Detecting fires. | C．Using fires. |
| A．Around 50. | B．About 400. | C．Over 8600. |
| A．Size of a car. | B．Size of a plane. | C．Size of a sports field. |
| A．Saving animals. | B．Saving the trees. | C．Saving humans. |
7 . Animals were the real pioneers of space flight. Let us learn about some animals that have been to space.
A. Fruit flies
On February 20, 1947, the United States sent some fruit flies into space to study the impact that cosmic radiation (宇宙辐射) might potentially have on astronauts in the future. They chose flies because they are genetically similar to humans.
When they returned to Earth, the scientists found the flies alive, with no evidence of the effects of radiation.
B. Mice
Mice have long been used to find out more about how space travel will affect the human body. In fact, NASA has recently published a study of mice housed at the International Space Station. It shows that mice quickly adapt to microgravity (微重力) conditions.
The very first mouse went into space in 1950, reaching an altitude of 137km. However, unlike the fruit flies, the mouse died when the rocket broke into parts due to a parachute (降落伞) failure.
C. Dogs
Laika, a Russian homeless dog, went to space on November 3, 1957. She was picked up on the streets and was thought suitable because she had a gentle temperament (性情) and behaved well. The scientists also believed a homeless dog would be better at dealing with difficult conditions like microgravity than a pet dog.
Laika is famous for being the first animal to orbit (环绕……运行) the Earth. However, she never returned.
D. Spiders
In 1973, two garden spiders called Anita and Arabella were used in an experiment to see if they could still build webs in space.
Both spiders managed to build webs, even though the webs were slightly finer than on Earth. The study showed a great deal about the effects of microgravity on motor response (运动反应).
1. What can we learn about the mouse astronaut?| A．It failed to come back alive. |
| B．It couldn’t survive in microgravity conditions. |
| C．Its genes were similar to humans’. |
| D．It was the first animal to be sent to space. |
| A．her good temperament | B．her identity as a pet dog |
| C．her ability to deal with microgravity | D．her good behavior |
| A．To compare the quality of webs they made on Earth and in space. |
| B．To study the impact of cosmic radiation on their survival. |
| C．To see how fast they could build webs in space. |
| D．To see whether they could build webs in space. |
8 . Though fireworks (烟花) on bonfire night bring joy to many people, it is likely to be a night of fright and pain for the UK’s geese (鹅).
Research by Anglia Ruskin University has found that fireworks displays (表演) cause wild birds to suffer significant pain, and researchers have recommended that displays should not take place in areas with large wildlife populations. A study, published in the journal Conservation Physiology, is one of the first carried out into the effects of fireworks on wildlife. It found that the heart rate (率) of geese increases by 96% when they are influenced by fireworks displays.
The study involved 20 wild grey lag geese fitted with recorders to record their heart rate and body temperature, which are measures of physiological stress. Claudia Wascher, who led the research, found that the average heart rate increased from 63 to 124 beats per minute, and their average body temperature increased from 38℃ to 39℃, in the first hour of fireworks displays. It took the geese about five hours before the birds displayed normal body temperatures, with average readings returning by 5 am.
“Ours is one of the first scientific studies to examine whether fireworks disturb wildlife. There have been previous studies showing that fireworks can cause anxiety in pets, for example in dogs, but little research has been done into how animals in the wild react. We need to carry out further research to conclusively tell whether the geese are reacting to the noise or the light pollution from the fireworks, or a combination of both. Many people get a lot of enjoyment from fireworks but it’s important that we consider animals both pets and wildlife — whenever planning a display,” Wascher said.
1. What advice do researchers give according to the findings of the study?| A．Geese should be protected especially at night. |
| B．Great attention should be paid to the UK’s geese. |
| C．Fireworks displays should be held without harming wildlife. |
| D．Fireworks displays should take place to bring joy to people. |
| A．To compare the heart rates between them. |
| B．To make them safe and sound in the wild. |
| C．To keep their body temperature normal. |
| D．To measure their physiological stress. |
| A．About five hours. | B．About four hours. |
| C．About two hours. | D．About one hour. |
| A．The relations between light pollution from fireworks and geese. |
| B．The effects of noise and light pollution from fireworks on geese. |
| C．Whether fireworks influence other wild animals. |
| D．The influence of a display on pets and wildlife. |
9 . Amazing landscapes of China’s Xinjiang
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the central part of the Eurasian Continent, on the northwest border of China. It covers about one-sixth of China’s total territory. Xinjiang was a key link on the Silk Road and a hub for east-west cultural exchanges in ancient times.
• Attractions in Xinjiang
Karakul Lake
The Karakul is a lake in Akto County along the highway, located 196 km from Kashgar City. Karakul is a very unusual plateau(高原) lake. In fact, it is the highest lake of the Pamir Plateau, at an altitude of 3,600 m. The view is breathtaking, thanks to the surroundings, snow-covered mountains and beautiful reflections in the crystal-clear water.
Tianchi Lake
Tianchi Lake, also known as Heavenly Lake, is located on the northern side of the Bogeda Peak in the Tianshan mountains. It is 120 km from Urumqi City and only a 90-minute drive, and the center of the Tianchi scenic area of startling contrasts-an alpine drift lake at an altitude of 1,980 m (6,496 ft) with glistening glaciers on the mountain peaks nearby when the sun is shining.
Kanas Lake
Kanas Lake is in the Kanas Geopark and is mainly made up of Crouching Dragon Bay, Moon Bay, Immortal Bay and the interesting mystery of the legendary big red monster fish! The water, surrounded by snow-covered mountains, decorates the world like a diamond.
• Delicious food in Xinjiang
Xinjiang boasts(自夸)a rich and unique food culture. Breakfast here includes melons, jam and milk tea while lunch is often served with delicacies featuring beef and mutton, such as roasted whole lamb. Dinner usually entails Nang, tea or noodles.
• Various products of Xinjiang
Xinjiang specialties include lavender, cotton, tomato, mutton, beef, jujube, and various fruits.
In addition, Xinjiang has the richest mineral resources in China, with 138 different types. Those resources discovered in other parts of our country make up less than 25%. Nephrite is one of China’s top five famous jades and most of it is found in Hetian, Xinjiang.
1. Which is the best choice for those living in Urumqi City?| A．Heavenly Lake | B．Karakul Lake | C．Kanas Lake | D．the Pamir Plateau |
| A．Milk tea | B．Baked Nang | C．Pulled noodles | D．Roasted whole lamb |
| A．More than 75 % | B．Less than 25% | C．Around 25% | D．Around 50% |
10 . Elephant Conservation
Country:Thailand
This is a working vacation at a wildlife centre. Anyone can become a volunteer if he/she agrees to help the elephant keepers with tasks.
Daily tasks
Collect the elephants at 6:30 a.m. Take them to look for food in the forest. Clean the enclosure. Swim with the elephants in the lake in the afternoon. If volunteers want to relax after work, they can watch satellite television.
How this vacation helps
If these elephants hadn’t been rescued, they would still be living on the streets of Bangkok. A rural environment is much better for them than an urban environment where there is lots of pollution.
Gorilla Safari
Countries:Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda
Departures:Aug.—Dec., 2—3 departures per month
Extras:gorilla permit ￡220
If you’re lucky, you’ll see lions, elephants and rhinos on safari. The highlight of the trip is the opportunity to see gorillas in the mountain forests. However, you must be in good health—if a gorilla caught a cold, it would be extremely harmful to its whole family.
How this vacation helps
There are only about 600 mountain gorillas left in the world as human activity has reduced the area where they can live. When you buy a permit, this will pay for the protection of the national park.
Polar Bear Watching
Country:Canada
Departures:sixty trips between Oct. 1—Nov. 19
Every October and November, groups of polar bears gather in Hudson Bay. As they are normally lonely creatures, this is unusual. The bears wait for the ocean to freeze so they can hunt seals, so this is the perfect opportunity to see them.
How this vacation helps
If the Arctic ice cap melts due to global warming, polar bears will be in danger. We give a share of our profits to the Polar Bears Alive Charity.
Your comment
These awesome bears get all the liquid they need from their food.
1. What will an elephant volunteer do?| A．Take food for elephants at 6:30 a.m. |
| B．Sweep the houses of elephants. |
| C．Wash elephants in the lake in the afternoon. |
| D．Watch satellite television on elephants. |
| A．You can find gorillas in Kenya and Canada. |
| B．You might get a cold in the mountain forests. |
| C．Visitors need to pay $220 to see 600 gorillas. |
| D．There are about 10 trips to visit gorillas. |
| A．Polar bears don’t need to drink water. |
| B．Polar bears store the liquid in their food. |
| C．Polar bears drink all kinds of liquid. |
| D．Polar bears eat mainly liquid food. |
