1 . Readers can explore the wonders of nature with Big Tree. The book was written by famous author and illustrator (插画家) Brian Selznick. It is filled with detailed black-and-white illustrations, which took years to complete.
The story introduces Merwin and Louise, two tiny Sycamore seeds (梧桐树种子) who began life during the time when dinosaurs (恐龙) travelled around the Earth. After they fell from their mother tree, they started a dangerous 147-million-year adventure to the modern day.
After reading it, I met with the famous author and illustrator at his home in La Jolla, California. Selznick explained the lessons that nature offers about helping our planet and each other. “All of us can do something to help the real seed,” Selznick said. “No matter how small you feel, there’s always something you can do.”
As for his main goal when writing Big Tree, Selznick said, “Readers feel like they are learning about interesting stories when they read Big Tree, but actually and secretly, they are learning about real science. That’s why I wrote Big Tree.”
In order to write Big Tree, Selznick went to the New York Botanical Garden, where he talked to a wonderful park manager. She walked him through the forest and talked about the way leaves work, the way trees grow and the way trees experience time.
Selznick said he learned a lot while creating Big Tree. “The manager thinks that forests are really communities. It really surprised me,” he said. “We live in communities, and when we run into trouble or danger, we communicate with each other to find solutions. Trees are doing the same thing. We’re all part of a community. And that, to me, was a really important part of Big Tree.”
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?| A．The main idea of Big Tree. | B．The discussion about Big Tree. |
| C．The review of Big Tree. | D．The story behind Big Tree. |
| A．To show the illustration art. | B．To share an interesting story. |
| C．To encourage readers to learn. | D．To make real science interesting. |
| A．He did some research. | B．He planted some trees. |
| C．He asked others’ advice. | D．He stayed in the forest alone. |
| A．Trees are important for communities. | B．Trees can communicate with each other. |
| C．Trees can protect people against danger. | D．Trees run into trouble more often. |
2 . It’s 4:30 in the morning. Behind a forest, the sun begins to lighten the sky with bright and warm tones. The national bird of Honduras, scarlet macaws (红金刚鹦鹉), which have colorful feathers, groom (理毛) each other as they wait for Anayda Pantin Lopez who has devoted the last 12 years to protecting them.
Pantin and her husband. Santiago Lacuth Montoya, live in a small village called Mabita. where most of its villagers protect these birds and the rest of the wildlife surrounding them. Twice a day, Pantin prepares food for 40 to 60 scarlet macaws that come to her village for feedings. She also cares for several other birds at a rescue center, or chicks that fall down from their nests, until they can fly freely.
Years ago, Lacuth supported the family by selling mac aw eggs and chicks as pets—not realizing it would have a detrimental impact on the bird population. At that time, the hunting and sale of wild species was legal and thousands of scarlet macaws disappeared.
However, when Lacuth learned the number of scarlet macaws was sharply decreasing, he decided to become a guardian of them. He tried to convince other hunters to follow in his footsteps. Eventually, other Mabita residents joined Lacuth and Pantin’s efforts. “For many years the scarlet macaws helped me provide for my family. Now it was my turn to help them.” Lacuth said.
“The Mabita project is very impressive because of the commitment of Pantin and Lacuth and the entire community,” says LoraKim Joyner, founder of One Earth Conservation. In 2014, additional funds came from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and England’s Darwin Foundation stepped in to support the conservation and community engagement efforts.
Since the project began, the scarlet macaw population has grown from 500 to more than800. “Now we have seen that the number of these birds has increased,” said Pantin. “But that does not change our goal, which is to continue caring for them so that our children and grandchildren can have the opportunity to enjoy everything that nature gives us.”
1. What phenomenon is described in the first paragraph?| A．The young birds are waiting for their mother. |
| B．The trees in the forest grow very well. |
| C．Scarlet macaws live comfortably and safely. |
| D．Scarlet macaws are trying to feed themselves. |
| A．Meaningful. | B．Harmful. |
| C．Possible. | D．Small. |
| A．To protect other hunters from harm. |
| B．To encourage other villagers to live better. |
| C．To improve the quality of life for his family. |
| D．To stop the number of scarlet macaws decreasing. |
| A．Its efforts have paid off. | B．Its goal has changed. |
| C．It will attract more volunteers. | D．It will continue to build schools for children. |
Kilauea has been erupting almost without stopping since 1983. It is one of the world’s most
Scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and University of Hawaii are studying
Hundreds of small earthquakes caused by the eruptions have damaged the structure of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. So the scientists were forced
1. When is snow expected to start?
| A．On Monday. | B．On Friday. | C．On Saturday. |
| A．Use public transport. | B．Stop driving on bridges. | C．Put chains on their tires. |
| A．555-8437. | B．555-4837. | C．555-8347. |
| A．A driver. | B．A tour guide. | C．A weatherman. |
5 . Our two-year investigation into caged (关在笼中) tigers in America sent us through 32 US states—with some truly shocking experiences. But as the deadline neared, I still needed a powerful and hopeful image.
When we began our reporting in 2017—Sharon, writing; me taking photos; and our son, NickRuggia, filming—more tigers likely lived in cages in the US than remained in the wild. The number ranged from 5,000 to 10,000, but without strict government oversight, no one knew for sure.
Roadside zoos that allowed tourists to take pictures of young tigers were the main cause of what’s been called a US tiger crisis (危机). Caged cats often ended up in the illegal wildlife trade. Young tigers, parted from their mothers at birth, were fed poorly and touched by hundreds of people. When they grew too big and dangerous to pet at around 12 weeks, young tigers were put on show, or simply disappeared.
While we documented the unpleasant part of this industry, we also wanted to show the good life these impressive animals could have. With two weeks left before my deadline, I headed to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, where well-cared cats walked freely in their habitat.
There I met Clay, Daniel, and Enzo, three of 39 tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma. These nearly grown cats raced beside our car, which I’d seen only in the wild. It was a hot July day and soon two of the cats jumped into a pool to cool off. The third rested beside them on the ground. I crossed the road to take a picture of them. Then quietly, I came up close, trying not to disturb (打扰) them. I had the shot.
1. Why did the author start her reporting?| A．To dig out the dark truth of caged tigers. | B．To explore the amazing land in the country. |
| C．To tell people that baby tigers are harmless. | D．To share the happy moment during the trip. |
| A．Forest fires. | B．Climate change. | C．Roadside zoos. | D．Water pollution. |
| A．They prefer to stay indoors. | B．They are badly treated. |
| C．They get used to the changes. | D．They are traded legally. |
| A．To praise her family for their effort. | B．To explain what the animals suffered. |
| C．To introduce a special kind of tigers. | D．To show some tigers lead an easy life. |
6 . According to a new USDA(the U.S.Department of Agriculture)report,U.S.forests could worsen global warming because they are being destroyed by natural disasters and are losing their ability to absorb planet-warming gases as they get older.The report predicts that the ability of forests to absorb carbon will start declining after 2025 and that forests could release up to 100 million metric tons of carbon a year as their emissions from decaying(腐烂)trees go above their carbon absorption.Forests could become a“substantial carbon source”by 2070,the USDA report says.
The loss of carbon absorption is driven in part by natural disasters such as wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes,which are increasing in frequency and strength as global temperatures rise.The disasters destroy forestland,destroying its ecosystem and decreasing its ability to absorb carbon,according to Lynn Riley,a senior manager of climate science at the American Forest Foundation.Aging forests also contribute.The report found that older,mature trees absorb less carbon than younger trees of the same species,and U.S.forests are rapidly aging.
This trend is likely to continue,as forests come under increasing threat from climate change and exploitation(开采).The typical tropical forest may become a carbon source by the 2060s,according to Simon Lewis,professor in the school of geography at Leeds University. “Humans have been lucky so far,as tropical forests are cleaning up lots of our pollution,but they can’t keep doing that indefinitely,”he said.“We need to cut down fossil fuel emissions before the global carbon cycle starts working against us.”
U.S.forests currently absorb 11 percent of U.S.carbon emissions,or 150 million metric tons of carbon a year,equal to the combined emissions from 40 coal power plants,according to there port.The loss of forests as natural carbon absorbers will require the U.S.to cut emissions more rapidly to reach net zero.“As we work to decarbonize(碳减排),forests are one of the greatest tools.If we were to lose that tool,it means we will contribute that much more in emissions,”Riley said.
1. What is the main finding of the report?| A．Forests are suffering from decaying trees. |
| B．Forests could contribute to global warming. |
| C．Forests are being destroyed by natural disasters. |
| D．Forests have become substantial carbon absorbers. |
| A．The key role of forests in the ecosystem. |
| B．The consequences of frequent natural disasters. |
| C．The impact of rising global temperatures on forests. |
| D．The reasons for forests’ declining ability to absorb carbon. |
| A．Reducing fossil fuel emissions. |
| B．Cleaning up decaying trees in time. |
| C．Planting trees on a large scale. |
| D．Limiting the exploitation of forests. |
| A．To offer suggestions on forest management. |
| B．To stress the significance of forest protection. |
| C．To present the efforts made to reach net zero. |
| D．To show the carbon emissions from coal power plants. |
7 . As an only child in her family, Nicole Renae often felt lonely in her youth. But that all
But when Renae was 14, her father got a new job and they needed to
Over time,
Then, Renae went to meet Chloe. When she
After years of
As for Chloe, “she’s made herself right
| A．cancelled | B．checked | C．changed | D．continued |
| A．start | B．youth | C．basis | D．path |
| A．return | B．move | C．escape | D．stick |
| A．style | B．contact | C．option | D．training |
| A．luckily | B．originally | C．frequently | D．eventually |
| A．recognize | B．experience | C．ignore | D．admire |
| A．post | B．case | C．nest | D．theme |
| A．game | B．test | C．reason | D．home |
| A．acquire | B．attack | C．alarm | D．adopt |
| A．exchanged | B．respected | C．approached | D．tricked |
| A．unique | B．familiar | C．positive | D．energetic |
| A．feel | B．tell | C．hear | D．enjoy |
| A．bent down | B．gave in | C．ran up | D．held on |
| A．promising | B．thinking | C．learning | D．showing |
| A．at home | B．at large | C．in action | D．in danger |
8 . Nirvaan Agarwal found out early how powerful a kid’s voice can be. He was taking part in a protest against the mistreatment of animals at a local circus (马戏团) when he was 3 years old. “I passed out almost half copies of brochures,” Nirvaan told TIME for Kids. “People kept taking them from me because I was a little kid.”
Since then, Nirvaan, now 12, has been speaking out on a range of issues affecting animals, from their use in the fur (毛皮) industry to horse racing. That commitment shows in his personal life, too, He’s a vegan, which means he doesn’t eat food that comes from animals. He says, “It’s important to make a voice for animals because they can’t speak for themselves.” In the meantime, Nirvaan encourages other kids who care about animals to take action. “It’s never too early to help animals,” he says.
In 2022, he spoke before county officials in his hometown of Edison, New Jersey, relaying animal advocates’ concerns about the Johnson Park zoo, in Piscataway, which was always hit by flood, threatening the animals’ life, Nirvaan got results, Months later, it was finally closed and the animals were moved to shelters, Later that year, Nirvaan was recognized for his work by the animal-rights organization PETA Kids. He was named one of its Kids’ All-Star for Animals. The honor gave him a new viewpoint on his duty. “It makes me feel like I have the power to do something,” he says. “I feel like I can change the world.”
Even with all of his accomplishments, Nirvaan has big plans for the future, He says, “Ending the mistreatment of animals happens one step at a time. You can slowly break down the pillars (柱子) of a structure. Eventually, when you break down all of those pillars, the whole structure falls.” He hopes to be a chef and create vegan recipes someday.
1. What do we know about Nirvaan when he was 3 years old?| A．He used to go to circus animal shows. | B．He was involved in significant things. |
| C．He learned a way to be liked by adults. | D．He protested against printing brochures. |
| A．Help horses go back to the natural world. | B．Advise people to become vegans like him. |
| C．Advocate freeing animals from local zoos. | D．Tell people not to kill animals for their fur. |
| A．Resulting in his worry. | B．Leading him to a new field. |
| C．Building his confidence. | D．Inspiring him to join PETA Kids. |
| A．Caring and responsible. | B．Serious and optimistic. |
| C．Ambitious and humorous. | D．Generous and sensitive. |
9 . Animals, including humans, feel sound as well as hear it, and some of the most meaningful communication happens at frequencies (频率) that people can’t hear. Elephants, for example, use these low-frequency sounds to, among other things, find family or a mate across long distances. Whales do it, too.
But you don’t have to weigh a ton to make a sound. In fact, you don’t have to be bigger than a pea. Consider, for example, the tree-hopper, a curious little animal that lives on the stems (茎) of the leaves. University of Missouri biologist Rex Cocroft has spent much of his time listening closely to tree-hoppers with his team.
The team discovers that all the sounds being heard from tree-hoppers are produced by males. They do it by vibrating (振动) their abdomens (腹部) to make a wide variety of strange sounds. There is almost no airborne sound produced with these vibrational sounds. Cocroft explained, “If a tree-hopper were to stand on your finger and produce a sound, you would feel the vibration but hear no sound.”
They showed that some sounds, not surprisingly, seem to be aimed at attracting females. And some are aimed at other males.
Cocroft explained, “When two males meet each other, or when they are mate-searching on a branch, we’re hearing ‘purring, bdddddrrrr…’ sounds that males give.” Normally, a person couldn’t hear any of this, because the sound travels along the stem, inside it. And that’s how other tree-hoppers detect it.
Cocroft said tree-hoppers have very sensitive legs. And they stand around on stems, which are good at spreading vibrations. So they just use what nature gives them to communicate with each other.
“They have so many different forms of social behavior and grouping,” Cocroft explained. “And once there are animals living in groups, then there will be all sorts of interesting possibilities for communication.”
1. What does Cocroft’s research focus on about tree-hoppers?| A．Their variety. | B．Their communication. |
| C．Their living areas. | D．Their numbers. |
| A．They sense sounds by legs. |
| B．They knock the stems to make sounds. |
| C．Their sounds can be easily heard by humans. |
| D．Females make sounds to meet each other |
| A．It is key to their survival. |
| B．It drives an increase in their numbers. |
| C．It often leads to communication. |
| D．It contributes much to the division of animal types. |
| A．A Magic Moment in Nature | B．A Journey to the Wildlife |
| C．Learning From Nature | D．Communication Sounds Among Animals |
10 . Every year the start of the Atlantic hurricane season is another reminder for Margarite August that she still doesn’t have a roof.
The 70-year-old retired teacher’s home on the small Caribbean island nation of Dominica was mostly wiped out by hurricane Maria six years ago.
Six years after hurricane Maria, Dominicans like Margarite August still haven’t been able to rehabilitate their homes.
August is not alone. Since Maria, the government of Dominica has built 7,000 new homes—about a quarter of its housing stock-with materials to fight another Category 5 hurricane. They’ve also relocated two communities. But an untold number of the island’s 70,000 or so residents are like August, rebuilding their homes in any way they can afford.
Hurricane Maria is often referred to as a once-in-a-lifetime disaster. Scientists put much of the blame on warming ocean temperatures that could make frequent (频繁的) storms like it.
Maria damaged a terrible 95% of Dominica’s housing stock and 226% of the nation’s GDP. Before the storm, the country’s economy had long struggled since its independence from Great Britain in 1978. Unlike its more famous touristy neighbors along the chain of eastern Caribbean islands it lies on, Dominica is more known for its rugged mountains and jungles (丛林) than white sandy beaches.
The jungle mountains that crash down to the coast are beautiful but disasters visit easily. “I don’t think anybody ever got over Maria,” says Christine John of the Dominica Red Cross. “There are a lot of persons today—if it just starts to rain outside, they get anxious.”
1. What does the underlined word “rehabilitate” in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Rebuild. | B．Leave. | C．Decorate. | D．Buy. |
| A．Over-farming. | B．Loss of the land. |
| C．The disappearance of the forests. | D．Climate change. |
| A．Its good economy. | B．Its architecture. |
| C．Its mountains and jungles. | D．Its sandy beaches. |
| A．They have to stay bored at home. | B．Their houses are easy to take in water. |
| C．They don’t know how to make umbrellas. | D．They are afraid of another disaster like Maria. |
