1 . What does the woman mean?

A．The weather in London is excellent.

B．People hold different attitudes toward the sun.

C．London is worth visiting with friends.

2 . It’s a fascinating story of how nature is reclaiming and transforming the broken soil we leave behind. Wildlife filmmaker Dan O’Neill and zoologist Yussef Rafik are on a mission to uncover the wildlife secrets hidden inside some abandoned places.

Inchkeith Island

This island off the Scottish coast had been an important strategic location for military defences for over 500 years by 1957. While its buildings might be empty and in bad condition, the wildlife has bloomed. Dan and Yussef watch young seal pups on the beach and spot seabirds and European cave spiders.

Dinorwi c Quarry

Dan and Yussef visit this former slate quarry（采石场） in Wales. Dinorwic closed its doors in 1969 and nature has slowly been reclaiming the land ever since. Dan and Yussef are searching for the fastest animal in the world, the peregrine falcon（游隼） and spot rare wild mountain goats.

Chatterley Whitfield

Today it looks more like a set from a film, but at its peak Chatterley Whitfield was a busy coalmine. Since it was closed in 1977, wildlife has taken hold. Dan and Yussef find plants including sunflowers that have sprung up in the most unlikely places. And hidden cameras capture footage of the rabbits and foxes wandering these empty buildings at night.

Nunhead Cemetery

Dan and Yussef explore one of the seven great graveyards in London, which was closed right after the Second World War and soon became neglected. Now hundreds of species live alongside the dead. Dan spots bright green ring-necked parakeets, the non-native bird that’s made London its home and the pair sample blackberries growing among the graves.

1. What do we know about Inchkeith Island?

A．It played a crucial role in wartime.	B．It is located on the Scottish coast.
C．It was used as a setting for a movie.	D．It has its buildings well maintained.

2. Which one was the last abandoned?

A．Inchkeith Island.	B．Dinorwic Quarry.
C．Chatterley Whitfield.	D．Nunhead Cemetery.

3. What is the common feature of the places?

A．They once served the same purpose.	B．They are turning wild over the years.
C．They are hidden inside the same island.	D．They are controlled by native wildlife.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the talk mainly about?

A．Visits to a castle.

B．Repairs to a castle.

C．History of a castle.

2. What made the first part difficult to deal with?

A．The first bridge.

B．Some paths.

C．Some steps.

3. Where will the second part of the work start?

A．From the essential stone.

B．From the viewing area.

C．From the inner gate house.

4 . Any schoolchild knows that a whale breathes through its blowhole. Fewer know that a blowhole is a nostril (鼻孔) slightly changed by evolution into a form more useful for a mammal that spends its life at sea. And only a dedicated expert would know that while toothed whales, such as sperm whales, have one hole, baleen (鲸须) whales, such as humpback and Rice whales, have two.

Even among the baleen whales, the placing of those nostrils differs. In some species they are close together. In others, they are much further apart. In a paper published in Biology Letters Conor Ryan, a marine biologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, suggests why that might be. Having two nostrils, he argues, helps whales smell in stereo (立体空间).

Many types of baleen whales eat tiny animals known as zooplankton (浮游动物), which they catch by filtering (过滤) them from seawater using the sheets of fibrous baleen that have replaced teeth in their mouths. But to eat something you first have to find it. Toothed whales do not hunt by scent. In fact, the olfactory bulb—the part of the brain that processes smell—is absent in such creatures. But baleen whales still have olfactory bulbs, which suggests smell remains important. And scent can indeed give zooplankton away. Zooplankton like to eat other tiny creatures called phytoplankton (浮游植物). When these are under attack, they release a special gas called dimethyl sulphide, which in turn attracts baleen whales.

Most animals have stereoscopic senses. Having two eyes, for instance, allows an animal to compare the images from each in order to perceive depth. Having two ears lets them locate the direction from which a sound is coming. Dr Ryan theorized that paired blowholes might bring baleen whales the same sorts of benefits.

The farther apart the sensory organs are, the more information can be extracted by the animal that bears them. The researchers used drones to photograph the nostrils of 143 whales belonging to 14 different species. Sure enough, baleen whales that often eat zooplankton, such as the North Atlantic right whale, have nostrils that are farther apart than do those, such as humpback whales, that eat zooplankton occasionally. Besides allowing them to breathe, it seems that some whales use their blowholes to determine in which direction dinner lies.

1. What do we know about whales’ nostrils according to the first two paragraphs?

A．They are adapted ones.	B．They are developed merely for smell.
C．They are not easy to detect.	D．They are fixed universally in numbers.

2. What plays a role when baleen whales hunt zooplankton?

A．The teeth that baleen whales have.

B．The smell that phytoplankton send.

C．The sound waves that zooplankton create.

D．The chemical signals that zooplankton give off.

3. How is the concept of stereoscopic senses explained in paragraph 4?

A．By quoting a theory.	B．By using examples.
C．By making contrast.	D．By making inferences.

4. What is the position of nostrils related to according to the last paragraph?

A．The sense of smell.	B．The possibility to attract food.
C．The ability to locate food.	D．The ability to communicate.

5 . 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。

    1     (work) on building sites for over 20 years, Hua Shankui, 59, had never imagined he’d become an expert on planting grass. But this was     2     happened on a construction site he’s working on in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

The 18-hectare construction site of the Huashan section of Wuhan Metro Line 19 is situated near an ecological reserve. Efforts had to be made     3     (ensure) that the local environment would not be compromised. To reduce pollution, using dust nets to cover bare soil is a normal practice on construction sites. However, a     4     (decide) was made at the Huashan site to plant grass on the soil, a more eco-friendly method.

When Hua     5     (give) the task of leading a grass planting team, he knew nothing about gardening. The first question facing     6     team was what kind of grass they should plant. Hua turned to local gardeners,     7     recommended carpet grass, a species     8     (common) planted in urban landscaping.

However, months     9     planting the grass, few seeds of carpet grass grew roots as the soil at the site contains too many small stones. He tried different varieties of grass. After conducting     10     (repeat) experiments on a small piece of land, Hua found rye grass (黑麦草) to be the right species. Hua and his colleagues started to plant rye grass. Four months later, the piece of brown soil was covered in green grass, adding life to the construction site while cleaning the air.

6 . Laundry day isn’t exactly fun for most people, but it can be quite unpleasant for the Earth. Washing clothes can release microplastics that are accumulating in the world’s waterways at alarming rates.     1     . Here are some expert-backed strategies to turn laundry day greener.

·Choose efficient machines

The machines you use have a significant effect on the amount of energy and water you save or waste.     2     , while newer, high-efficiency washers use less water and energy with lower temperatures and higher spin speeds. Therefore, it makes more sense economically and environmentally to upgrade machines.

·     3    

Avoid small loads, but don’t crowd a machine, which can make it work harder. And take a look at the amount of detergent(洗涤剂)you’re using. The extra detergent will be harder to clean out, extending washing and drying times.     4    

·Read up on green products

Companies large and small have met consumer demand for products with no harsh chemicals.     5     . Don’t buy products with lots of chemicals you can’t identify or pronounce. And don’t forget the packaging. Powdered or solid products are easier to package and ship than liquids.

A．Wash clothes by hand

B．Rethink your laundry habits

C．They use less energy than standard models

D．Older appliances can waste many resources

E．But not all products are what they claim to be

F．Two to three tablespoons for detergents are enough

G．Luckily it’s getting easier to clean your clothes while staying green

7 . People depend on insects to pollinate the plants that make many of the fruits, nuts and vegetables we eat. Past studies had shown urban air pollution might veil the smells insects use to find flowers. Computer models predicted this would cause problems for insects, seeking flowers for a meal. But scientists weren’t sure that would happen in real life.

James Ryalls, a biologist, and his team decided to find out if it would. Working in a field, his group crafted a system made up of large rings. Each area was open, so nearby insects could fly into it. The researchers pumped pollutant gases into these rings. Then during each field season, the scientists recorded how many times pollinators visited the flowers in each ring.

“The results were much more severe than we thought,” Ryalls says. Adding pollution “caused up to 90 percent fewer insects to be able to find the flowers that they need for food,” he says. This was in comparison to the pollutant-free rings. In some cases, only some 30 percent of the pollinating insects even entered the circles with polluted gases.

Counting insects proved easier than getting the pollution into the rings, notes Ryalls. He spent much of his time working on parts of the system that needed fixing. Along the way, gas spills occurred. “By the end of each summer experiment I smelt like a petrol station,” he says. One effect: “Insects now avoid me.”

Later, they counted seed pods on the plants. Overall, only around seven in every 10 flowers had been pollinated. That means there were far fewer seeds in polluted circles. If these were fruit or vegetable plants, there would have been far less food produced.

This study focused on insects finding flowers. But insects also use smells for communication and attracting mates. If air pollution covers those smells too, these tiny animals might face more threats to their survival.

1. What does the underlined word “veil” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Add.

B．Mask.

C．Release.

D．Form.

2. What did scientists do in the experiment?

A．They counted insect visits to flowers.	B．They studied different polluted gases.
C．They drove some insects into the rings.	D．They pollinated flowers by themselves.

3. What is the finding of Ryalls’ experiment?

A．Pollution can result in fewer flowers.	B．Insects are afraid of the rings in the field.
C．Insects struggle to find flowers in polluted air.	D．Plant flowers depend on insects to pollinate.

4. What is most probably talked about in the next paragraph?

A．The aim of the study.	B．Ways to help pollinators.
C．Insects’ various survival skills.	D．Insects’ means of communication.

8 . Seven out of the eight planets in our solar system were named after Greek or Roman Gods. You’re living on the only exception to that rule.

The word “earth” has roots in the Old English term “eorþe”. Eorþe had multiple meanings like “soil”, “dirt”, “ground”, “dry land” and “country”. Yet the story didn’t begin there. Old English is the earliest known stage of what became our modern English tongue. Used until about 1150 C.E., it evolved from a parent language that scholars call “Proto-Germanic”. The German that’s spoken today is part of the same linguistic family. “Earth” and “eorþe” are therefore related to the modern German word “Erde”. Not only is this the German language’s name fox our home planet, but it can also be used to refer to dirt and soil.

Our dear Each has relatives in some other languages, too, For example, there’s the Old Saxon “ertha”, the Old Frisian “erthre” and the Dutch word “aarde”. All these likely originate from a Proto-Germanic term that was never recorded. Nevertheless, linguists have been able to go back and reconstruct this mystery word. Spelled “ertho” in scholarly texts, it’s always marked by an asterisk (星号). This asterisk acknowledges the lack of written confirmation that the word was really used.

Nobody knows when people started using words like “Earth” or “Erde” to refer to the planet as a whole and not just the ground they walked on. Back in 1783, German astronomer Johann Elert Bode named the seventh planet from our sun “Uranus” (after a Greek god). And though Pluto is no longer considered a planet, we know that 11-year-old Venetia Burney named it in 1930. But if a single person gave planet Earth its English name, his or her identity has been lost to the sands of time.

Still, it’s clear that while Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune all started out as the proper names of ancient gods, “Earth” did not. That’s why our planet is sometimes called “the earth” with a lowercase (小写字母) “e”.

1. Which language does the word “Erde” belong to?

A．Old English.	B．Old Saxon.
C．Modern German.	D．Proto-Germanic.

2. Why is the word “ertho” usually seen with an asterisk?

A．To stress its importance.	B．To indicate its unconfirmed source.
C．To remind readers of its spelling.	D．To challenge its academic value.

3. Who named our planet “Earth”?

A．Johann Elert Bode.	B．Venetia Burney.
C．A Greek god.	D．Nobody knows.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The ways of naming the “earth”.	B．The origin of the name “earth”.
C．The meanings of the word “Earth”.	D．The uniqueness of the name “Earth”.

9 . Dogs need regular exercise to stay healthy and to stop them from getting bored. But the amount of time dogs need outdoors varies based on their age, size and breed.

Based on their age

While puppies are often bundles of energy, it is important not to over-exercise young dogs. A good rule of thumb for puppies is that they should enjoy five minutes of a movement twice a day per month of their age; so, for example, if your puppy is 12 weeks old, keep walks or play sessions to around 15 minutes each.

Elderly dogs may struggle to take long walks, but should still be given the opportunity to go outside and move around at their own pace at least twice daily.

Based on their size

All dogs should be let outside for exercise twice a day, but how intense that exercise should be depends, partly, on the size of the dog. Larger breeds need more space to wander around so, in addition to regular play in the house or garden.

Smaller dogs often require less space of a workout, so letting them out for a runaround, in addition to their daily walk, can be an appropriate form of exercise.

Based on their breed

Some breeds, such as border collies, springer spaniels, German shepherds and Siberian huskies, have been bred as “working dogs”, so are suited to covering long distances. Dogs such as labradors and poodles have bundles of energy, so they are also great companions for a long walk.

Brachycephalic breeds, such as pugs or bulldogs, are more likely to struggle with intense exercise. For these breeds, two shorter walks each day may be the best option; make sure to incorporate some rest breaks, and plenty of drinking opportunities, too.

1. How long exercise is suitable for a 4-month-old puppy?

A．10 minutes.

B．15 minutes.

C．20 minutes.

D．25 minutes.

2. What might be the major concern in terms of the dogs of different sizes?

A．Location.

B．Time.

C．Space.

D．Frequency.

3. Which of the following breeds is suited to workouts of low intensity?

A．Labradors.

B．Bulldogs.

C．German shepherds.

D．Siberian huskies.

10 . My love for animals began through watching wildlife documentaries when I was a kid. I went on to ________ Environmental Science at university, and became ________ in marine biology when I did my PhD. at the University of Hong Kong. That’s when I ________ that there was a possibility to do more for Hong Kong.

I was very lucky to ________ Ms. Claire Nouvian when I graduated from my PhD. in 2009. At that time, Claire was ________ another non-profit organization, BLOOM Hong Kong, after founding the Bloom Association in France a few years before, and she hired me to work on ________ marine conservation. We do this mainly by being research focused, arousing public ________, and trying to fill knowledge ________. We then share our information with frontline officer, such as fishery managers and customs officers, to help them ________ how important their role is in implementing (贯彻执行) regulations to the wildlife trade, and ________ suggestions on how to make implementation work more ________.

We are sill a city in love with ________ and Hong Kong has the second highest annual seafood ________ in Asia — but consumers are ________ aware of where their seafood comes from and which species are ________.

With the marine ecosystem already ________, the greatest threat is continued ignorance and inaction. We humans have been a ________ part of the problem, but now it is time for us to show that we can also be a part of the ________. If each person around us ________ their part — even for just one meal a day Hong Kong would already be on its way to making considerable ________ towards sustainable seafood consumption.

1.

A．appreciate

B．choose

C．study

D．observe

2.

A．interested

B．skilled

C．careful

D．experienced

3.

A．swore

B．realized

C．witnessed

D．admitted

4.

A．meet

B．help

C．accompany

D．obey

5.

A．looking into

B．leaving for

C．working for

D．setting up

6.

A．reforming

B．promoting

C．changing

D．assessing

7.

A．response

B．memory

C．concern

D．worry

8.

A．funds

B．forms

C．levels

D．gaps

9.

A．understand

B．consider

C．inform

D．announce

10.

A．ask

B．hear

C．accept

D．offer

11.

A．cautious

B．private

C．efficient

D．admirable

12.

A．wildlife

B．seafood

C．trade

D．health

13.

A．distribution

B．consumption

C．occupation

D．donation

14.

A．hardly

B．simply

C．exactly

D．fully

15.

A．adopted

B．rejected

C．processed

D．threatened

16.

A．reliable

B．hopeless

C．fragile

D．promising

17.

A．unique

B．significant

C．useless

D．conservative

18.

A．solution

B．conclusion

C．procedure

D．development

19.

A．votes

B．sorts

C．plays

D．limits

20.

A．profits

B．connection

C．mistakes

D．progress