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.
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. |
3 . 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. |
4 . 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. |
5 . Paris is the capital of the European nation of France. It is also one of the most beautiful and most famous cities in the world.
Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion center. What women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world. Paris is also a famous world center of education. Foe example, it is where the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty –two bridges cross this beautiful river. The oldest and perhaps most well-known is the Point Neuf, which was built in the sixteenth century. The Sorbonne, a famous university, stands on the left bank of the river. There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum, the Louvre, as well as the Notre Dame. However, the most famous building in this city is Eiffel Tower.
Paris is named after a group of people called the Parisii. They built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island, called the lle de la Cite, is where Notre Dame lies. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area.
1. This article mainly tells us about ________.| A．the buildings in Paris | B．the general situations of Paris |
| C．the center of the world | D．the famous buildings along the Seine River |
| A．tall buildings | B．research center | C．important areas | D．main office |
| A．the clothes worn by women in Paris are liked by women all over the world |
| B．women in Paris sell their clothes all over the world |
| C．women from all over the world go to Paris and wear their own clothes |
| D．women from all over the world like to go to Paris to buy clothes |
| A．UNESCO | B．the Pont Neuf | C．Eiffel Tower | D．Notre Dame |
6 . After a tiring day at the office, you find it hard not to smile when you’re greeted by an exciting and joyful dog. But it’s not just the happy shouting and wriggling (扭动) tail that strike our heartstrings. A new study shows that dogs’eyes filled with tears when reunited with their owners cause effect that brings out our love. The findings appear in Current Biology.
Takefumi Kikusui watched with interest when his dog was feeding her puppies, her face became so cute. Kikusui, a professor of veterinary(兽医) medicine at Azabu University in Japan, realized that his lovely mama dog had tears in her eyes. That possible connection between unbearable cuteness and tears sent him to the lab.
In the test, he and his team first measured the baseline tear volumes when dogs were together with the owner in their house. Then quickly, the owner would leave and stay hidden away from it for five or six hours. When the owner came back, they measured tear volume again. And found that the reunion with the owner raised tear volume. But it only worked with the dog’s owner. If reunited with the familiar caretaker in the dog care center, there was no increase in tears.
The researchers doubted that the tearful reaction was caused by oxytocin, a hormone(荷尔蒙) linked with social bonding. So they applied oxytocin to the dogs’ eyes. And, the dogs grew weepy. But why? To find out the reason for this easy-crying behavior, they showed volunteers a couple of dog head pictures. One was a normal dog face. And the other was a teary dog face in which they added man-made tears. The volunteers were more likely to want to hug and care for the one with big, wet puppy-dog eyes.
Dogs turn on the waterworks and their owners roll over. Now, that’s quite a clever trick!
1. What is Current Biology in Paragragh 1 likely to be?| A．A science journal. | B．A celebrity biography. |
| C．A science fiction. | D．A biology textbook. |
| A．When greeted by his dog excitedly. |
| B．When watching his dog feeding her kids. |
| C．When staying hidden from his dog for several hours. |
| D．When he and his dog got reunited in the care center. |
| A．Never abandon dogs because they’ll cry. | B．Dogs play tricks to win the caregivers’ love. |
| C．Dogs show love for owners with tears in eyes. | D．Dogs arrest owners’ love with tearful eyes. |
| A．Lovely. | B．Loyal. | C．Sad. | D．Surprising. |
7 . Five rare pink Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins were spotted swimming in the sea off Hong Kong, southern China. The video was filmed in the city of Shantou in Guangdong Province on April 5. The newly born In do-Pacific humpbacked dolphins are dark grey, the young ones are grey and the adults are pink. The video was provided by local media with permission.
The Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins known as Chinese white dolphins, or pink dolphins are first-class national protected animals and listed as “vulnerable” in the red list of threatened species by the IUCN (世界自然保护联盟). The numbers have dwindled because they are particularly vulnerable to sewage (污水) and chemicals that are dumped into the harbour daily, as well as overfishing, boat traffic and coastal development.
Dr Lindsay Porter, a senior research scientist in the University of St Andrews, has been working with local conservation group — WWF Hong Kong, to study the dolphins in the Pearl River Delta. He says the number of pink dolphins in Hong Kong has jumped by 30% in recent months. These waters, which were once the most crowded waterways in Hong Kong, have become more dolphin-friendly, ever since boat traffic was suspended in February due to the outbreak of COVID-19. “I’ve been studying these dolphins since 1993 and I’ve never seen anything like this dramatic change before, and the only thing that changed is 200 ferries stopped traveling before.
According to WWF Hong Kong, although there are about 2, 500 in the entire delta, the situation remains ugly. Still worrisome decrease in the number of young dolphins in Hong Kong’s waters has been observed. In a statement, WWF Hong Kong has advocated for the government to designate a development-free Dolphin Conservation Management Area in the western and southern Lantau waters by 2024, so that the dolphins have safe feeding and socializing habitats. It’s necessary to take a proactive approach to conserve the remaining population of the species before it’s too late.
1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To offer an example of the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins. |
| B．To illustrate what the video is about. |
| C．To draw out the topic of the passage. |
| D．To highlight the existence of the Indo-Pacific humpbacked dolphins. |
| A．Increased. | B．Died out. | C．Decreased. | D．Tracked down. |
| A．Because of the outbreak of COVID-19. |
| B．Because the boat traffic broke off during the pandemic. |
| C．Because the adult dolphins live longer. |
| D．Because the efforts were made by the local conservation groups. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Neutral. | C．Indifferent. | D．Worried. |
As winter shortens and ice melts on Hudson Bay, a mother polar bear and her two cubs face danger brought on by climate change. Following the bear family, guide Dennis Compare witnesses achievements of survival and adaptability. The two-hour TV special Kingdom of the Polar Bears airs April 22 at 8/7c on Nat Geo WILD.
Series, Book Reveal Whales’ Secrets
National Geographic Explorer Brian Skerry’s breathtaking photographs are at the heart of Secrets of the Whales. That’s the title of Skerry’s new book, on sale April 6, and the name of National Geographic’s documentary series, with filmmaker James Cameron executive producing and actor Sigourney Weaver narrating. It premieres (首映) April 22 on Disney.
Dive Into the Life of Explorer Ballard
Known for finding famous shipwrecks such as the Titanic, Robert Ballard shares not only his expeditions but also his personal challenges in a remarkable memoir. Into the Deep: An Explorer’s Life is available May 11 wherever books are sold.
Neil deGrasse Tyson Fields Cosmic Queries
Curious about your place in the universe? Cosmic Queries: Star Talk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We’re Going offers the wit and wisdom of astrophysicist deGrasst Tyson and physicist James Trefil, illustrated with stellar photos. It’s available wherever books are sold.
1. Which of the following is both a book and a TV series?| A．Secrets of the Whales. | B．Kingdom of the Polar Bears. |
| C．Into the Deep: An Explorer’s Life. | D．Cosmic Queries. |
| A．Secrets of the Whale. | B．Kingdom of the Polar Bears. |
| C．Into the Deep: An Explorer’s Life. | D．Cosmic Queries. |
| A．Education. | B．Business. | C．Health. | D．Entertainment. |
9 . Fog is a common climate phenomenon in life, and different environments can lend to diverse forms of this low-lying cloud.
Frontal fog
This fog is formed when raindrops change into gas. The rain falls through warmer air into cold stable air and forms a fog layer near the ground. When enough rain has filled the cold layer of air, foggy clouds become visible.
Radiation fog
This type of fog forms during mild weather, when there is little wind and the skies are clear of other clouds. The air near the ground cools and turns into a layer of fog, which grows overnight as the air cools further. When the sun heats the air again the following day,the fog begins to dissipate.
Advection fog
Advection fog forms in a similar way to radiation fog, but is caused by warm air moving horizontally over colder air rather than the vertical loss of surface heat. When the warm air approaches colder ground, it gradually forms fog.
Sea fog
Warm and moist air that forms over a body of water becomes cooler as it’s transported with the wind. This cooling causes sea fog to form. When it reaches the warmer air above land, it may begin to dissipate.
1. When does frontal fog form?| A．In cold days. | B．In rainy days. | C．In mild days. | D．In sunny days. |
| A．Stable air. | B．Moist air. | C．Cold air. | D．Dry air. |
| A．They move horizontally. | B．They cool near the ground. |
| C．They form during mild weather. | D．They dissipate in warmer air. |
1. What are the speakers discussing?
| A．The man’s house. | B．The effects of global warming. | C．The man’s job. |
| A．Animals can get more food. |
| B．Green can be seen all year round. |
| C．He lives by the sea. |
| A．Grass. | B．Vegetables. | C．Trees. |
