1 . The conventional wisdom about insects has been that they are unthinking, unfeeling creatures whose behavior is entirely hardwired (天生的). But in the 1990s researchers began making surprising discoveries about insect minds. Some species of wasps (黄蜂) recognize their nest mates’ faces and acquire impressive social skills. For example, they can infer the fighting strengths of other wasps relative to their own just by watching other wasps fight among themselves.

Given the substantial work on the complexity of insect cognition (认知), it might seem surprising that it took scientists so long to ask whether, if they are that smart, could also be sentient, capable of feeling. Since we have no direct window into the inner world of an animal that cannot verbally communicate its thoughts and feelings, the question of whether insects are sentient remained academic.

15 years ago, I performed an experiment in which we asked whether bumblebees could learn about t hreat from their natural enemies. We built a plastic spider model with a mechanism that would briefly trap a bumblebee between two sponges before releasing it. The bumblebees showed a significant change in their behavior after being attacked by the robotic spider. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they learned to avoid flowers with spiders and meticulously scanned every flower before landing. Curiously, however, they some times even fled from imaginary threats, scanning and then abandoning a perfectly safe, spider-free flower. Although this incidental observation did not constitute formal ev idence of an emotionlike state, it did open the door to the idea that such states might exist in insects.

Some research suggested that insects might have positive states of mind. Researchers discovered that bees actively seek out drugs such as nicotin e and caffein e when given the choice and even treat themselves with nicotin e when sick. Male fruit flies stressed by being robbed of mating opportunities prefer food containing alcohol, and bees even show withdrawal symptoms when removed from an alcohol-rich diet.

Why would insects consume mind-altering substances if there isn't a mind to alter? But these suggestive hints of negative and positive mind states still fell short of what was needed to demonstrate that insects are sentient.

1. What does the example of the wasps indicate?

A．Insects show signs of intelligence.

B．Insects can do complex calculations.

C．Insects can socialize in a skillful way.

D．Insects live in highly complex societies.

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

A．Hesitantly.

B．Casually.

C．Eagerly.

D．Carefully.

3. What was unexpected about the bumblebees’ behavior in the experiment?

A．They avoided flowers with spiders.

B．They settled on flowers despite threats.

C．They might abandon spider-free flowers.

D．They might get scared away by other insects.

4. What does the text mainly discuss?

A．What insects' various behavior can reveal.

B．How insects communicate their thoughts.

C．What amazing powers insects possess.

D．Whether insects are capable of feeling.

2 . 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。

A sandstorm,     1     originated in Mongolia on Tuesday, swept through vast regions of northern China, causing heavy pollution. The storm, according to the National Meteorological Center, was the     2    (strong) in China so far this year and affected several provincial-level regions. It was said that strong winds     3    (blow) over loose sand and soil created the conditions for sand and dust storms. Satellite images showed that by Wednesday morning, it     4    (cover) 854,000 square kilometers,     5    (rough) twice the size of the US state of California.     6    violent sandstorm swallowed everything in its path and caused much inconvenience. Visibility remained lower than 1,000 meters in some parts of northern China. The     7    (government) of the affected areas urged people with respiratory(呼吸道)illnesses to avoid outdoor activities and recommended that brightly colored clothes     8    (wear)to avoid accidents amid poor visibility. The capital’s parks stopped boats and cable cars     9    (ensure)the safety of visitors. It is hard to say     10     there will be more such weather conditions, but the NMC will keep close watch this spring.

3 . In the office of remote sensing scientist Liu Shaochuang, there is a huge photograph of a camel he snapped a decade ago in Xinjiang. He crouched for hours by a pool of water in the Gobi Desert to capture the image.

Since 2012, he has led a team in tracking and studying wild camels using satellite remote sensing technology.

Unlike zoologists who focus on species, Liu has studied the interrelationship between endangered animals and their environment, which he believes will help develop better protection strategies in the face of climate change.

His interest in wild camels began when his team tested a prototype(雏形)design of the lunar rover Yutu in the desert. Living in the harsh deserts in northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia, camels are listed as critically endangered animals. Experts estimate that the population of this species is currently less than 1, 000, of which around 650 are in China.

“Ten years ago, the research relied solely on human observation, which was very primitive, ”Liu says. Because camels are fully migratory and can travel over long distances, scientists used to learn their habits by studying hoof prints and droppings. It was hard to find one camel in the desert, let alone track it. But Liu thought his expertise in satellite navigation(导航)and remote sensing might come in useful in the study of wild camels.

It was not easy at first. Liu learned zoology from scratch. His team had to spend several weeks each year braving dust and sandstorms in the vastness of the Gobi Desert seeking out camels. A scar on his right eyebrow is the result of a rollover accident on a rugged mountain road in Xinjiang.

“The most exciting moment was attaching a satellite positioning collar to a wild camel. ”The tracking collar, equipped with special receivers, weighs only a few hundred grams. It can detach automatically and will not have a negative impact on the daily lives of the animals. The locations of the tracked animals are transmitted via satellite every day. Based on the data, scientists can get to know their migratory paths, living environments and possible threats they may meet with.

For Liu, it is worth the significant sci-tech effort to study such a rare species. He adds wildlife protection and research will become more precise and efficient with the help of technology.

1. What was it that made tracking wild camels difficult?

A．The number of camels experienced a sharp decline.

B．Massive migration made camels cover huge distances.

C．Primitive tools were used in human observation.

D．Hoof prints and droppings were never to be seen.

2. What can be inferred from the scar on his right eyebrow?

A．His carelessness in carrying out his research.

B．His inexperience at the very beginning of his work.

C．The rough conditions under which he worked.

D．The stress he met with in his work.

3. What does paragraph 7 mainly focus on?

A．The formation of the tracking collar.

B．The definition of the tracking collar.

C．The importance of the tracking collar.

D．The function of the tracking collar.

4. Which of the following can best describe Liu Shaochuang?

A．Generous and ambitious.	B．Confident and grateful.
C．Creative and determined.	D．Optimistic and modest.

4 . Thanksgiving Foods That Are Poisonous to Cats and Dogs

Thanksgiving is a time to feast and spend time with family-which includes your cats, dogs, and other pets.     1    

Can cats and dogs eat turkey? According to the American Kennel Club, it depends. As it turns out, turkey isn’t actually “poisonous” for your companion, rather, its additional flavorings like butter, oil, stuffing, herbs, and spices are what may result in an upset stomach.     2    

    3     “No matter what form they’re in (dry, raw, cooked, powder, or within other foods), onions are some of the absolute worst foods you could possibly give your pup (it’s poisonous for dogs, and it’s even worse for cats),” says Sadie Cornelius, Marketing Director for Canine Journal. Your safest bet? Skip the onion altogether.

One of the best parts of Thanksgiving? Dessert!     4     . An ingredient in chocolate called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine, is extremely poisonous for cats and dogs. This may result in vomiting, diarrhea, and seizures (痉挛)—it can even be fatal.

Mushrooms? Well, at least wild mushrooms. Store-bought mushrooms are OK to feed to your pet, but stay away from wild mushrooms. “Just as the wrong mushroom can be fatal to humans, the same applies to dogs and cats,” says Cornelius. “Don’t mess with them.”     5     .

Make sure you properly dispose of food wrappings like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and wax paper. While licking up food left on these wrappings pets can ingest some of the wrapper, leading to intestinal obstructions.

A．Stick to dog biscuits and kitty treats instead of this sugary food.

B．Unfortunately, you can’t share your chocolate bar with your pets.

C．But before you let them eat something off your plate, you may want to think twice.

D．Just take a good care of your pets during the festival.

E．Of course, all meat should be well cooked and always boneless.

F．Instead, check out the food before feeding your pets.

G．Onions are a huge no-no when it comes to cats and dogs.

5 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where is the speaker now?

A．In a hospital.

B．In a college.

C．In a pet school.

2. In which aspect is a visit from a dog helpful?

A．It cures the patients.

B．It makes patients feel better.

C．It helps do a lot of things.

3. What are the dogs first trained to do in the program?

A．Play with patients and their children.

B．Accompany patients to their hospital rooms.

C．Be familiar with the hospital and pick up things.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

“Jane! Look who I brought home!” My father stuck his head out from behind the door, flashing a big smile. My heart skipped a beat as I mouthed, “A dog?” Nodding, my father pushed the door open, revealing a large German Shepherd. I grasped my hands tightly over my mouth and failed to hold back a sharp scream. Rushing back into my room, I locked the door and covered the gap between it and the floor with tape. I had a strong fear and great hate of dogs ever since I was bitten by one badly on the face, leaving a huge and deep scar(伤疤). I decided to stay in my room until the dog had gone for a walk with my father.

After what seemed like ages, I heard the door open and shut. “Finally! I can get out of here,” I thought. Out of great joy, I threw open the door and punched(用拳猛击) the air. At that moment, I felt something wet touching my foot. To my shock, it was the dog! I stood there, scared and shocked as if my feet were rooted to the ground. When I regained my calmness, I shouted loudly, “Ahhh! It is the dog! Help! He wants to bite me! Get him away from me!”

My father was standing at the door, folding his arms and laughing quietly. “He is not going to eat you! Jane, don’t be so scared. Go on! Touch him!” he said. Attempting to show my unwillingness, I failed to do so due to my constant and uncontrollable shaking. Instead, I shouted loudly, “Never! I will never touch that dirty thing! Go away!” I picked up a tennis ball on the table and aimed at the dog but missed, causing the ball to roll across the living room.

注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
The dog barked excitedly before running across the room to fetch the ball and bring it back to me.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The following day, gathering my courage, I decided to follow my father when he took the dog out for a walk.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . Trees naturally absorbed CO₂ through photosynthesis(光合作用), releasing oxygen, storing carbon for decades, or even centuries. Biotechnology firm Living Carbon says lab trials of its genetically-changed poplar trees take up more carbon and grow 1.5 times faster than unchanged ones. The team added genes from pumpkin to the poplars, which makes their photosynthesis more efficient, turning more carbon dioxide into sugars to create wood biomass(生物量).

Though the firm’s lab results are promising, biologists warn that high growth rates are not guaranteed in the wild as the poplars compete for sunlight with other plants and trees. Genetically-modified (GM)supertrees may also need much watering and fertilizer to keep their rapid growth.

The results are important given the rate of climate change and climbing CO₂ levels in the atmosphere. But critics say there are risks to planting GM trees in the wild if they reproduce with other trees, or negatively affect other plant and animal species. Living Carbon says trees are a hybrid that can only reproduce from cuttings, so cannot cross-pollinate(授粉) with wild trees.

If the field trials are successful then it will still take time to get approval from the government. One sixth, around 135, tree species in the US may face extinction due to climate change, foreign insect species, or disease. And even though field trials of a GM chestnut tree have shown its ability to resist some foreign disease that wiped out billions of American chestnuts, it still has not been approved for planting.

If CO₂ storage is the aim then there are species that already fit the bill. California’s Redwood trees store more carbon than any other species. Redwoods are not suitable for every forestry plot, so creating climate adaptable trees through reproducing programs that fit into local ecosystems is the goal. But in the rush to fix the climate crisis, increase CO₂ uptake, and carbon storage, GM supertrees may be part of that solution.

1. How was the poplars’ carbon capacity improved?

A．By absorbing carbon dioxide.	B．By producing wood biomass.
C．By speeding up photosynthesis.	D．By engineering their genes.

2. What is the potential disadvantage of the GM trees?

A．They reproduced with other plants.	B．It is impossible to get approval.
C．It is hard to grow fast in the wild.	D．They are not competitive enough.

3. What does the underlined phrase “fit the bill” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Be unusual.

B．Be available.

C．Be unsuitable.

D．Be valuable.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．Supertrees Could be Climate Fix.	B．Supertrees Take up More Carbon.
C．Change of Genes Reduce CO₂.	D．Changes of Genes Brings Efficiency.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When was Easter Island first found?

A．In 1100.

B．In 1722.

C．In 1987.

2. What caused the big fall of the population on the island?

A．War.

B．Disease.

C．Earthquakes.

3. How many statues are on the island?

A．887.

B．788.

C．700.

4. What has been proved about the stone statues?

A．They were from another planet.

B．They are the biggest stone statues in the world.

C．They were built by ancient people and moved here.

9 . Most paper receipts (发票) are not recyclable. This is because they’re on thermal paper (热敏纸), which contains a chemical called BPA or sometimes BPS that cannot be easily removed from the paper during the recycling process. So we need a safe method of dealing with paper receipts.

Thermal printing uses heat from a printer head to print letters and numbers; no ink is used. This process requires the addition of BPA or BPS in the “free form”, which means that the chemicals are not bound to the soft paper. According to Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, “The chemicals can easily transfer to anything a receipt touches.” They can be transferred from fingers to the mouth via food, or absorbed directly into the skin when held. BPA or BPS can affect brain development, the heart, lungs and reproductive abilities.

If thermal paper were to be recycled, it would contaminate other products in the recycling stream with BPA or BPS. These products are often turned into items such as facial tissues, paper towels and shopping bags and having BPA or BPS in them would mean our coming into even closer contact with the chemicals. Burning and composting are not an option either, as they would release BPA and BPS into the atmosphere or soil.

The only safe place to throw thermal paper receipts is in the rubbish, followed by immediate hand washing. It’s not ideal, but it is the most effective way to separate BPA and BPS from the environment. Sierra magazine offers a small bit of relief: “Throwing receipts is not the severest of wrong behaviors, since they amount to a tiny part of all paper consumed, according to industry sources.”

If you require a paper record for business purposes and if you often go to the same shops, ask if they consider switching to BPA- and BPS-free thermal paper. The best solution is to ask for receipts to be emailed, rather than printed. Not only will you avoid chemical exposure, but you will also decrease the demand for a paper product that drives deforestation every year; do away with that demand altogether and recycling becomes far less urgent.

1. Why does thermal paper need BPA or BPS?

A．To react with ink freely.

B．To be easily recycled.

C．To be easily removed.

D．To make the writing come out.

2. What can best replace the underlined word “contaminate” in Paragraph 3?

A．Pollute.	B．Transform.
C．Color.	D．Destroy.

3. What is Sierra magazine’s attitude to putting thermal paper receipts in dustbins?

A．Opposed.

B．Cautious.

C．Supportive.

D．Ambiguous.

4. Why does the writer write the text?

A．To state the functions of BPA and BPS.

B．To express concern over the use of BPA and BPS.

C．To prove the harm of thermal paper receipts.

D．To offer ways to tackle thermal paper receipts.

10 . It was our first evening dog-sitting while our teenage daughter was away on vacation. Louie searched the entire house for his “mommy”. While we were watching TV, this six-month-old dog dragged his large carrier down the stairs. This project took most of the evening. What happened next made us realize that he obviously put thought and reasoning into each move. He pulled each of his personal things down the stairs and put them in the carrier.

After Louie finished packing his “suitcase”, he jumped inside and pulled the zipper (拉链) closed. Then he lay down and went to sleep. The message was clear. He had seen his mommy pack her suitcase and go away. He must do the same to find her. In the morning, believing he had arrived, he jumped up — but his mommy was not there.

He surprised us with new undertakings every day. His favorite activity was going for a car ride to McDonald’s for chicken. But one day, my husband Paul didn’t stop at McDonald’s and left Louie in the car with the window open while he went off. That dog managed to jump out the window, walked two blocks and found Paul in a store. As Paul was paying for his things, he was shocked to look down and find Louie. Indeed, they stopped for some chicken on the way home.

One evening, when I was outside with Louie, I noticed a huge black bear. I screamed at Louie to come back inside the house. Instead, he fearlessly rushed to the bear’s back legs. The bear ran to get away from the little annoying dog. I was surprised at Louie’s bravery.

For Christmas that year, I turned Louie’s daily journal (日志) into a book written in a dog’s voice. Writing Louie’s story changed my life, and set me on the path to a new career as an author and radio talk-show host.

1. What did Louie do the evening his mommy left?

A．He decided to look after the author.

B．He checked his own things all night.

C．He got prepared to leave to find her.

D．He tried to quarrel with the author.

2. Why did Louie jump out of the car window?

A．To ask Paul for chicken.

B．To share a ride with Paul.

C．To get a seat in McDonald’s.

D．To help Paul carry the things.

3. What happened one evening outside the author s home?

A．Louie was hurt by a bear.

B．Louie fought against a bear.

C．Louie made the author angry.

D．Louie made friends with a black dog.

4. What is the change happened to the author because of Louie?

A．She joined a club for homeless dogs.

B．She bought Christmas gifts for dogs.

C．She printed her first book of diaries.

D．She turned a writer and a radio host.