1 . The ocean is critical to all oxygen-dependent life. But life is also critical to the ocean. The ocean produces so much oxygen because of ocean plants, which draw down Co and change it into carbon-based sugars and oxygen. Ocean plants are climate change heroes! There is now a wide recognition of the role of ocean life in slowing climate change.
On many Pacific islands, whales support tourism economies. While concerned about the impacts of climate change on whales, we also need to recognize that whales can contribute to fighting climate change!Through their deep dives, vast migrations, long lifespan(寿命), and large bodies, whales have an enormous effect on the ocean.
Whales both help ocean plants to draw down CO and help to store carbon in the ocean. Firstly, they provide essential nutrients that enable ocean plants to grow. Whale waste is a fertilizer, bringing nutrients from the depths, where whales feed, to the surface, where plants need these nutrients to grow well. Migratory whales also bring nutrients with them from highly-productive feeding grounds to the nutrient-poor waters of whales’ breeding grounds, boosting the growth of ocean plants across the ocean.
Secondly, whales keep the carbon locked in the ocean, out of the atmosphere, where it could otherwise contribute to climate change. Ocean plants produce carbon-based sugars, but with a very short lifespan. They can’t store the carbon. When they die, much carbon is released in surface waters, and can be changed back to CO2. Whales, however, can live for over a century, feeding on food chains that begin with the sugars in these tiny plants, and storing up the carbon in their bodies. When whales die, deep ocean life feeds on their remains, and the carbon formerly stored in whales’ bodies can enter sediment(沉淀物), When carbon reaches deep ocean sediment, it is effectively locked away, and therefore unable to drive climate change. This carbon is unlikely to return as CO2 in the atmosphere.
Several Pacific island countries are already leaders in whale conservation, having declared whale sanctuaries in their waters. Every year, whales socialize, breed, and give birth in Pacific island waters.
1. How do surface ocean plants get nutrients for growth?| A．From whale waste. | B．From the whales’ bodies. |
| C．From the sunlight. | D．From ocean sediment. |
| A．They lack nutrients for growth. |
| B．They never absorb carbon-based sugars. |
| C．Carbon-based sugars can’t be generated by them. |
| D．The carbon in them is released after their death. |
| A．Shelters. | B．Imports. | C．Markets. | D．Amusements. |
| A．The importance of oceans to climate. |
| B．The bad effects of CO2 to climate changes. |
| C．The role of whales in slowing climate change. |
| D．The importance of oceans to all oxygen-dependent life. |
(1)地震发生前(应该做什么)：earthquake knowledge
(2)地震发生时(应该做什么和不应该做什么)：evacuate 撤离 stampede踩踏
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.参考词汇；
3.开头和结尾已经写好，且不计入词数。
What should we do if an earthquake suddenly strikes when we are in class?
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3 . In 1561, King Philip Ⅱ of Spain made the decision to move the capital to Madrid, which had a significant impact on the city’s environment that is still felt today. Some suggest that the move was motivated by a desire for a healthier environment for his wife, as well as Madrid’s closeness to the Manzanares River. However, the removal of the surrounding woodlands to support the royal court exposed the city to severe weather, leading to the saying “nine months of winter and three of hell”.
Today, Madrid continues to struggle with environmental problems, such as pollution from a large number of vehicles that enter the city each day. To battle with this issue, Madrid’s city planners are constructing a 75-kilometer-long Metropolitan Forest, which is one of the most ambitious initiatives of its kind in Europe. This forest will consist of 1.5 million trees of species native to Madrid, along with eco-friendly bridges and recreational centers. Additionally, a 23-kilometer-long Forest Avenue for cyclists and pedestrians will connect the new forest with existing parks, schools, offices, and the airport. In 20 years, the Metropolitan Forest should be able to remove more than 800,000 tonnes of CO from the city’s atmosphere.
The idea for the forest was born in 2019 when Madrid councilors for urban development asked the children what kind of Madrid they would like to see in 2040. The dominating response was a “green city”, which motivated the city council to plan seriously. The city council has been aware of Madrid’s environmental problems since the 1990s, but it wasn’t until 2019, when a survey revealed that over 40 percent of the citizens cited the environment as the city’s number one problem that they decided to take action.
The Metropolitan Forest project represents a significant investment in Madrid’s future, demonstrating how a willingness to listen to the next generation’s ideas and the public’s concerns can lead to positive change.
1. What was the consequence of King Philip Ⅱ’s decision?| A．Water shortage. | B．His wife’s better health. |
| C．Sufficient wood supply. | D．Worsened climate. |
| A．More automatic public service systems. |
| B．Wider spread of tree species unique to Madrid. |
| C．Greener transportation and cleaner management. |
| D．More investment and advanced city management. |
| A．The proposal of Madrid’s city planners. |
| B．Madrid’s urgent need for urban development. |
| C．Younger generation’s vision of future Madrid. |
| D．The result of a survey among Madrid’s councilors. |
| A．To call of Madrid’s citizens to go green. |
| B．To introduce an eco-friendly initiative of Madrid. |
| C．To describe the struggles of Madrid’s urbanization. |
| D．To argue that city plans should agree with citizens’ will. |
4 . Tugce Seren Gul’s aunt and grandmother were killed in Antakya in Turkey’s southeast. Every night, she waits until 4： 17 a. m. in the morning, the exact time that the disaster hit, to try to go to sleep. “I keep thinking another disaster will strike at that time and just wait for it to pass,” said the 28-year-old Gul.
Experts fear children will be hardest hit. The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) said many of the more than 5. 4 million children who live across the area affected by the earthquake were at risk of developing anxiety, depression and other disorders.
“We know how important learning and routine are for children and their recovery,UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia Afshan Khan said after a visit to Turkey. “They need to be able to resume their education, and they urgently need psychological support to help deal with the trauma they have experienced.
Psychologist and professor at MEF University, Ayse Bilge Selcuk, said, “As rising poverty and the COVID-19 pandemic have hurt the country, the stress is chronic, meaning that the tension continues over time.” “For this nation to get back on its feet, we need to find that strength within us and that starts with our psychologyshe added. Anxiety, helplessness and depression are likely to be common and young people could feel anger. ” Rebuilding efforts should include mental health,“ Selcuk said. She urged the government to provide money for training psychologists to be sent to the earthquake areas to stay there. “We shouldn’t withdraw our attention three months later, ”she said.
1. What is Gul’s problem after the earthquake?| A．She is too sad about her relatives’ being killed. |
| B．She can’t fall asleep until another disaster passes every night. |
| C．She can not sleep all the night. |
| D．She is suffering mental health damage. |
| A．More than 5. 4 million children have mental health problems. |
| B．International aid is the main solution. |
| C．Focusing on mental relief should last. |
| D．Young people respond angrily to the government. |
| A．Permanent. | B．Destructive. | C．Poisonous. | D．Unbearable. |
| A．Experts5 Suggestions about Turkey5 Rebuilding after Quake |
| B．Mental Healthcare? an Important Part of Recovery from Turkey Quake |
| C．Healthcare Provided for Children in Turkey Urgently |
| D．Experts’ Concerns for Problems Caused by Turkey Quake |
5 . A report issued on the eve of the first major U.N. conference on water in more than 45 years says 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lacks access to basic sanitation (卫生). The U. N. World Water Development Report 2023, released Tuesday, painted an unpleasant picture of the huge gap that needs to be filled to meet U.N. goals to ensure all the 8 billion people have access to clean water and sanitation by 2030.
According to the report, water use has been increasing globally by roughly 1% per year over the last 40 years and is expected to grow at a similar rate through to 2050, mainly driven by population growth in urban areas.
With agriculture using 70% of all water globally, Richard Connor, editor in chief of the report, said, irrigation (灌溉) for crops has to be more efficient. As a direct result of climate change, an increase in intensity or frequency of droughts and “heat extremes” can be expected in most regions. On average, “10% of the global population lives in countries with high or critical water stress” — and up to 3.5 billion people live under conditions of water stress at least one month a year, said the report.
As for water pollution, Connor said, the biggest source of pollution is untreated wastewater. “Globally, 80% of wastewater is released to the environment without any treatment,” he said, “and in many developing countries it’s pretty much 99%.”
These issues will be discussed during the three-day U. N. Water Conference opening Wednesday. There are 171 countries, including over 100 ministers, on the speakers list along with more than 20 organizations. The meeting will also include five “interactive dialogues” and dozens of side events.
1. How many people lack safe drinking water according to the report?| A．About 0.8 billion. | B．About 2 billion. |
| C．About 3. 6 billion. | D．About 6 billion. |
| A．It has been increasing steadily every year. |
| B．It contributes to environmental pollution. |
| C．It is highly efficient in agricultural irrigation. |
| D．It is stressful for 3.5 billion people throughout the year. |
| A．Comparing opinions. | B．Analyzing causes. |
| C．Introducing policies. | D．Offering solutions. |
| A．It has caused regional conflicts. | B．It will be eased in most countries. |
| C．It has attracted worldwide attention. | D．It can be managed by treating wastewater. |
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As of 2021, China had around 200 conservation botanical gardens, safeguarding more than 23,000 species of flora. Rare native plants hold research value and can also serve
7 . Anne Hidalgo, the mayor (市长) of Paris, France, has a goal. She wants to clean the Seine making the river swimmable by 2024 when the city will host the Olympic Games. It is a big task since it has been illegal to swim in the river for nearly 100 years.
Lucky for Hidalgo, 11-year-old Raphael is on the case. For almost two years now, Raphael has spent nearly every weekend fishing rubbish out of the river. Working with his dad, it’s not unusual for them to catch an entire ton of rubbish in a single day.
The rubbish can include anything. “I always knew there were things at the bottom of the water, but not to the point of bicycles. Honestly, it did shock me, Raphael said. He’s also found some more objects out of the way, including a camera, jewelry, and even a knife from the 1800s. He’s also shared them on his Instagram account.
In January 2020, Raphael and his dad went to a bridge in Western Paris for their first catch. Raphael said, “At first, it was just a leisurely weekend activity. But once I saw just how much garbage was buried there at the bottom of the river it became like a real job.”
Raphael was even awarded the Medal of Paris for his efforts. But he admits that getting people to take action in the fight against pollution has been difficult. There are definitely enough of us wanting to clean up the planet. But when it comes to taking action, hardly anyone does. Even something as simple as picking up cigarette butts and placing them in the trash could make a huge difference.
Still, he said he was proud of his progress in the last two years. A part of the Seine is now noticeably clearer than the rest of the river. Raphael’s not sure if he can make the entire Seine clear by the 2024 Olympics. He does hope he’ll be one of the first to swim in the water once it is safe.
1. What has Raphael been doing on weekends in the past two years?| A．Cleaning up the Seine. | B．Working for the mayor. |
| C．Swimming in the Seine. | D．Going fishing with his dad. |
| A．People’ș attention to him. | B．The severity of the pollution. |
| C．Unusual garbage discoveries. | D．The great amount of garbage. |
| A．To find enough trash. | B．To ask others to join him. |
| C．To keep up his activity. | D．To get himself recognized. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Puzzled. | C．Concerned. | D．Satisfied. |
8 . You don’t have to brave the crowds at the Tidal Basin to enjoy the glories of cherry blossom (樱花), which always runs for one month. The delicate pink and white blooms decorate the district. Washington-based nonprofit Casey Trees has a detailed map of where to find them.
Using the map’s explanation, you can check out a neighborhood’s list of trees. The map is color-coded by a variety of cherry blossom, and there are several: Yoshino, Okame, Oshi-ma, and Sour Cherry, just to name a few.
Michaila Musman, the Geographic Information Systems manager at Casey Trees，suggests tracking down the Sargent Cherry, which develops pinkish white blossoms and is called the “cream” of flowering cherries by the Arbor Day Foundation. “They can also support bird species around the city, which is a wonderful bonus.” says Musman.
The map is an annual tradition at Casey Trees. The organization plans to use it to help protect Washington’s trees. To build the map, staff and volunteers walked into the city’s parks to identify and measure every tree they came across. “We can do better advocacy and tree protection if we know what our trees across the city look like.” said Musman.
Other data points for the map come from DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division and from cherry trees that Casey Trees has planted. Most of the trees on the map are located on public land. So if your yard or your neighbor’s yard is the proud home of a cherry tree, it may not appear (considering it as your own secret garden).
And if you miss the cherries this time around, the organization also maintains a separate map of all the flowering trees in the city. Musman recommends checking out the Eastern Red bud. “They are native to this area and they have very beautiful blossoms.” she says, “It seems as though they came right out of a Dr. Seuss’ book.”
1. What can the map be used to do?| A．Research bird species. | B．Decorate some districts. |
| C．Locate cherry blossom. | D．Identify the type of flowers. |
| A．To know the city better. | B．To protect the local trees. |
| C．To build the city’s parks. | D．To use public land efficiently. |
| A．The map comes out of a Dr. Seuss’ book. |
| B．The map is the only product of Casey Trees. |
| C．Casey Trees has planted many trees across the USA. |
| D．Casey Trees takes individual privacy into consideration. |
| A．Casey Trees likes cherry blossom | B．Casey Trees will introduce a new map |
| C．You should protect the city’s cherry trees | D．You needn’t bother to find cherry blossom |
9 . Edward Davis was a professor who worked on ocean research. However, bored with writing death records of ocean species, he quit his job in 2007. Rather than spend any more of his life recording the dying. Edward decided to try to protect the living creatures in the few remaining areas of the ocean.
These areas are the last wild places of the sea still undamaged by overfishing, pollution and climate change. “It is necessary for us to go to places that still look like the ocean as it was 500 years ago.” Edward says. “These areas, like Palau, are the examples of sustainable (可持续的) development. Maybe we can’t bring all of the ocean back to this state, but these places show us what the potential is.” Beneath the surface of a stormy sea off Palau in the western Pacific live various lively corals. The tiny island nation has protected 80 percent of its waters as a no-fishing area—the largest percentage of protected ocean area in the world. The remaining 20 percent can be fished only by Palauans.
To protect these places, Edward and his team started a project on ocean protection in 2008. Over the past years, the project has helped create 22 ocean reserves. These make up two-thirds of the world’s fully protected ocean areas. Now Edward and his team have set an even bigger goal—to protect more than a third of the world’s oceans for the purpose of keeping biological diversity.
For Edward, one of the most satisfying aspects of his job is working with local communities in the places he and his team are seeking to protect. The team worked closely with about 50 local people on the island. “We showed them an underwater world they had never seen,” Edward recalls. “Huge schools of fish will surely swim in some of the clearest waters ever measured in the Pacific.”
1. Why did Edward quit his previous job?| A．To record the dying. | B．To increase land species. |
| C．To protect the sea creatures. | D．To write a book on sea protection. |
| A．20 percent of it is covered by the sea. |
| B．It is an area open to fishermen worldwide. |
| C．It is an example of sustainable development. |
| D．The surface of it is destroyed by water pollution. |
| A．Edward’s project. | B．Edward’s team members. |
| C．The ways of keeping biodiversity. | D．The ways of creating ocean reserves. |
| A．Stressed. | B．Positive. |
| C．Curious. | D．Confused. |
10 . The threat of climate change and warming oceans is growing bigger for the world’s coral reefs, which are struggling to adapt to increasingly bad waters. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have showed a new way we may be able to limit the damage — taking coral species that have already survived severe heat stress and transplanting them to degraded reefs to sow the seeds (播种).
We are seeing a lot of focus from environmental scientists on how corals can be made more resistant to heat stress. Some creative solutions include planting them with helpful bacteria, developing tougher species through a new technique and feeding them medicine to increase their chances of survival.
All of these are part of the effort to prevent the changes brought upon corals by abnormal sea temperatures, which causes algae (藻类) living in them to become stressed and break free. This leaves the coral without a key source of food and causes them to turn white (coral bleaching), and in a lot of cases, die off, as seen in the bleaching events to trouble Australia's Great Barrier Reef in recent years.
An eco-friendly solution being explored by the University of Pennsylvania team focuses on corals that have already proved themselves in the face of severe bleaching events. The scientists searched for Hawaii's coral reefs, which survived severe bleaching in 2015, with. The intention of studying how they respond to being placed in an entirely different environment. “The cool thing was that we didn’t see any differences in their bleaching response after this transplant, and they were still in good condition,” says Katie Barott, who led the research team.
While the findings promise well, these techniques to address the broader problem isn’t a practical solution. “Techniques like this can buy us a little time, but there isn’t a substitute for limiting carbon emissions,” says Barott. “We need global action on climate change because even bleaching-resistant corals aren’t going to survive forever if ocean warming keeps increasing as fast as it is today.”
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?| A．The need to plant corals. | B．The work to develop new corals. |
| C．The need to save weak corals. | D．The work to help corals to survive heat stress |
| A．They may die of hunger. | B．They are harmful to fishes. |
| C．They change color to green. | D．They hide themselves deep in the sea. |
| A．Slowly. | B．Normally. | C．Rapidly. | D．Hard. |
| A．Culture. | B．Health. | C．Environment. | D．Tourism. |
