1 . Birders get nervous when they see landscapes covered in wind turbines (涡轮机). When the wind gets going, their blades (叶片) can turn around at well over 200km per hour. It is easy to imagine careless birds getting cut into pieces and wind turbines do indeed kill at least some birds. But a new analysis of American data suggests the numbers are negligible, and have little impact on bird populations.

Erik Katovich, an economist at the University of Geneva, made use of the Christmas BirdCount, a citizen-science project run by the National Audubon Society. Volunteers count birds they spot over Christmas, and the society gathers the numbers. He assumed, reasonably, that if wind turbines harmed bird populations, the numbers seen in the Christmas Bird Count would drop in places where new turbines had been built. Combining bird population and species maps with the locations and construction dates of all wind turbines, he found building turbines had no noticeable effect on bird populations.

Instead of limiting his analysis to wind power alone, he also examined oil-and-gas extraction (开采), which has boomed in America over the past couple of decades. Comparing bird populations to the locations of new gas wells revealed an average 15% drop in bird numbers when new wells were drilled, probably due to a combination of noise, air pollution and the disturbance of rivers and ponds that many birds rely upon. When drilling happened in migration centers, feeding grounds or breeding locations, bird numbers instead dropped by 25%.

Wind power, in other words, not only produces far less planet-heating carbon dioxide and methane than do fossil fuels. It appears to be significantly less damaging to wildlife, too. Yet that is not the impression you would get from reading the news. Dr Katovich found 173 stories in major American news media reporting the supposed negative effects that wind turbines had on birds in 2020, compared with only 46 stories discussing the effects of oil-and-gas wells.

1. What does the underlined word“negligible”in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Insignificant.

B．Inaccurate.

C．Inconsistent.

D．Indefinite.

2. What is Dr Katovich's conclusion based on?

A．Previous studies.	B．Relevant data.
C．Reasonable prediction.	D．Experiment results.

3. What message does paragraph 3 mainly try to convey?

A．Oil-and-gas extraction has expanded in America.

B．Birds are heavily dependent on rivers and ponds.

C．Many factors lead to the decline of bird populations.

D．Well drilling poses a serious threat to birds' survival.

4. Which of the following may Dr Katovich agree with?

A．Wind turbines could share the sky with wildlife.

B．More evidence is needed to confirm the finding.

C．Wind power will be substituted for fossil fuels.

D．Wind turbines deserve wider media coverage.

2 . Located in the Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs National Park covers over 5,500 acres and was the first area of land in North America set aside by the government for amusement. To protect the hot springs and their surrounding environment, it was named as an official protected area in 1832. On March 4,1921, an act of Congress transformed Hot Springs Reservation into Hot Springs National Park, providing key protection to the area and improving its importance.

The main draw to this park is what it is named for, the hot springs. The springs hold an average temperature of 62℃. The most special aspect of the hot springs is that they have long been recognized for their usage in medicine, which can help improve blood circulation, reduce inflammation (炎症), and provide relief for muscle and joint pain. Visitors have the chance to experience the recovery power of these hot waters. Additionally, they can explore the park’s hiking trails, which wind through the scenic parks, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.

Unlike most national parks that are surrounded by wilderness, Hot Springs National Park is located in the city of Hot Springs, creating a unique mix of natural wonders and city life. Visitors can explore the park’s beautiful scenery, and then experience the charm of the city’s downtown area, with cultural attractions and historic landmarks. The city of Hot Springs offers various resting places, restaurants, shops, and other services that suit the needs of tourists.

Whether you want to experience hot springs, explore the hiking trails, or learn about the park’s fascinating past, it provides a memorable experience for visitors of all ages.

1. What do we know about Hot Springs National Park from paragraph 1?

A．It has been protected for a long time.	B．It is famous for its rich amusement activities.
C．It is the largest national park in North America.	D．It protects a large number of historical buildings.

2. What is the unusual feature of the hot springs in Hot Springs National Park?

A．They have great medical value.	B．They lie in the center of hiking trails.
C．They can keep a comfortable temperature.	D．They are surrounded by mountain landscapes.

3. How does Hot Springs National Park differ from other national parks?

A．It has unique natural wonders.	B．It is located in a wild area.
C．It combines nature with city life.	D．It offers cheaper service to tourists.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A tourist map.	B．A history book.
C．A scientific report.	D．A geographic magazine.

3 . 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。

There was once a town in the heart of America where all life seemed to live in harmony with its     1     (surrounding). The town was surrounded by prosperous farms, with fields of grain and hillsides of orchards. Even in winter the roadsides were places of beauty, where countless birds came to feed     2     the berries. The countryside was famous for its rich bird life, and people traveled from great distances     3     (observe) them. Others came to fish the streams,     4     flowed clear and cold out of the hills.

Then everything began to change: mysterious illnesses swept the flocks of chickens; the cattle and sheep sickened and died. Everywhere was     5     shadow of death. There was a strange silence. The few birds     6     (see) anywhere were unhealthy. It was a spring without voices. Only silence     7     (lie) over the fields and woods. Even the streams were now lifeless. People no longer visited them,     8     all the fish had died.

No black magic, no enemy action had silenced the rebirth of new life in this stricken world. The people had done it     9     (them).

In fact, this town does not actually exist. I know of no community that has experienced all the things I describe. Yet every one of these disasters has actually happened somewhere. A dangerous threat has crept upon us almost unnoticed, and this imagined tragedy may     10     (easy) become a terrible reality we all shall know.

4 . Producing genuine tears on demand is one of the hardest parts of my job as an actress. Acting teachers will tell you that in order to cry on screen you need to summon up something personal—a fear, an inner secret, a sad experience—that taps into your deepest emotions.

This may sound strange, but the inner secret I use when I need to cry during a movie scene is the image of an elephant. It’s an image that haunts me, an image that will remain in my heart and mind for as long as I live.

Two years ago I visited Samburu National Reserve, a wildlife park in Kenya. There, on a guided walk through the bush, I saw my first dead elephant. Poachers had hunted down this magnificent animal before piercing her tough hide (兽皮) with poisoned spears. As if she already knew her fate, the elephant had walked through the bush, the toxins (毒素) coursing through her veins, until she found a quiet place to lie down. When I saw her, her body was lying in the dusty red soil. That moment, the sight of the dead mother and her mutilated (残缺的) body lying under the shade of the tree, changed something inside me. I remember crying for her as I thought about the cruelty and senselessness that had led to her death.

That’s why I’m supporting a new United Nations campaign against the illegal trade in wildlife, which is pushing many species—not just elephants—to the edge of extinction in every corner of the world. Under the banner “Wild for Life”, this campaign serves to raise awareness about the illegal trade in wildlife and encourage everyone to take action against these crimes. The time for tears is over. The time for action is upon us.

1. Why does the author mention producing genuine tears on demand in the first paragraph?

A．To emphasize it is hard to produce genuine tears on demand.

B．To indicate the importance of genuine tears to a successful film.

C．To introduce the topic.

D．To prove a point.

2. What happened to the elephant according to the third paragraph?

A．The elephant mother lied under a tree and died naturally.

B．The elephant was shot with poisoned spears by poachers and died.

C．The elephant already knew some poachers would kill her.

D．The elephant escaped to a safe place successfully.

3. How did the author feel when seeing the dead body of the elephant?

A．Indifferent.

B．Anxious.

C．Sorrowful.

D．Cautious.

4. What’s the aim of the campaign “Wild for Life”?

A．To raise awareness about the illegal trade in wildlife and encourage people to take action.

B．To help protect extinct wildlife species.

C．To criticize the illegal hunting and trade.

D．To stop the illegal trade such as ivory happening entirely.

5 . Scientists have found a new way to break down a group of harmful chemicals very hard to get rid of. The discovery could help solve a dangerous and growing problem — how to clean up the pollution of “forever chemicals”.

The group of chemicals known as PFAS (全氟烷基物) are pretty amazing. They’re non-stick, waterproof, and oil proof. They don’t burn easily or dissolve (溶解) in water. So scientists got really excited when they were discovered. Businesses started putting PFAS in all sorts of products, from non-stick pans to waterproof clothes, and from fire-fighting spray to carpets that resist stains. Even things like food wrappers and floss for cleaning your teeth contain PFAS chemicals.

But after a while, scientists realized the same things that made the chemicals useful also caused a real problem — PFAS doesn’t break down in nature. It doesn’t dissolve in water or bum. Not even bacteria can break PFAS down. No wonder these chemicals are known as “forever chemicals”.

As a result, PFAS chemicals surge in the environment. The chemicals are found in air, water, and dirt around the world — and in animals and people. In the US, 97% of humans have PFAS in their blood.

Luckily, scientists in the US have now found a way to break down some PFAS chemicals. Their solution requires boiling PFAS with two other very common chemicals. These chemicals can be found in just about any laboratory.

Dr. Brittany Trang, one of the scientists involved, said she didn’t even want to test the idea at first. “I thought it was too simple,” she said. But the process worked.

The research involved 10 types of PFAS, including two of the most common kinds. That’s a big step. But there are over 12,000 different kinds of PFAS. It’s important to note that the new method can only break down PFAS chemicals that have already been collected. Figuring out how to remove PFAS chemicals from the environment and collect them remains a huge challenge.

1. What can we infer about PFAS chemicals from paragraph 2?

A．Scientists were so excited to invent them.

B．They were environmentally friendly at first.

C．They are really widely used in our daily life.

D．They have more advantages than disadvantages.

2. What does the underlined word “surge” in paragraph 4 refer to?

A．Increase fast.

B．Float everywhere.

C．Extend fully.

D．React quickly.

3. What does the author think of dealing with PFAS chemicals?

A．It’s already too late to get rid of them.

B．There’s still a long way to go about it.

C．The new method is too simple to work well.

D．It’s impossible to get them removed from the environment.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Say Goodbye to Forever Chemicals

B．PFAS Chemicals Are a Two-edged Sword

C．PFAS Chemicals Will Remain a Challenge for Long

D．Scientists Find a Way to Break down Forever Chemicals

6 . Nature has the power to alter an element’s identity with time and space. This is evident by the transformative effect Britain’s deep coal mines have been showing after decades of being one of the biggest reasons for pollution. Now, they’re being employed to supply green energy to the town of Gateshead. The town is the first place to experience something like this in the country, but the success of the phenomenon has encouraged the authorities to apply it to other towns.

In 2021, coal was just producing 2% of electricity in the UK. Most of the electricity in the country is being supplied through oil and gas. This has resulted in massive abandoned coal mines all across the country. As years went by, these mines were flooded with water, making it a source of geothermal（地热的） energy, which is used to generate heat and electricity. Gateshead hosts such a mine in its town, whose council, therefore, launched a mine water project in March 2023.

The authorities put in a large central heat pump in the mine. Mine water can often sit with a temperature of 45℃. The water is then pumped using appliances to home heat pumps. The process increases the temperature further. The water then goes ahead and warms up the interior space and home water supply. After the heat from the water has been used, it’s sent back to the mine where it again goes through the same process. The project has been successful in supplying low-carbon heating to 350 high-rise buildings, a college and several office buildings.

“Recovering heat from mine water below the ground within abandoned coal mines provides an exciting opportunity to generate a low-carbon secure supply of heat, benefitting people living or working in buildings on the coalfields,” said Gareth Farr, head of heat and by-product innovation at the Coal Authority.

The water resources through the mines are estimated to be two billion cubic meters or half the amount of water in Loch Ness. Farr added, “With many millions of people living upon abandoned coalfields in Great Britain, the potential for mine water heat could be significant.”

1. What does the town of Gateshead feature?

A．It’s been one of the most heavily polluted areas.	B．It has the most deep coal mines nationally.
C．It mainly relies on geothermal energy.	D．It is the first one to reuse abandoned coal mines.

2. Why were many coal mines abandoned in the UK?

A．They were quite remote.	B．Prices of coal declined a lot.
C．There weren’t enough miners.	D．The UK prioritizes cleaner energy.

3. What is implied in the last paragraph?

A．The number of abandoned coal mines is stably increasing.

B．The future of sourcing energy from coal mines is promising.

C．The dependence on water resources in the UK is decreasing.

D．The technique to take advantage of mine water is impressive.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．An innovative way to obtain green energy.	B．A method of living in harmony with nature.
C．A national project for abandoned facilities.	D．A discussion on the future of coal mines.

7 . A new study reveals that pigeons (鸽子) can tackle some problems just like artificial intelligence, enabling them to solve difficult tasks that might challenge humans. Previous research has theorized that pigeons employ a problem-solving strategy, involving a trial-and- error approach, which is similar to the approach used in AI models but differs from humans’ reliance on selective attention and rule use. To examine it, Brandon Turner, a psychology professor at the Ohio State University, and his colleagues conducted the new study.

In the study, the pigeons were presented with various visual images, including lines of different widths and angles, and different types of rings. The pigeons had to peck (啄) a button on the right or left to indicate the category to which the image belonged. If they got it correct, they received food; if they were wrong, they received nothing. Results showed that, through trial and error, the pigeons improved their accuracy in categorization tasks, increasing their correct choices from about 55% to 95%.

Researchers believed pigeons used associative learning, which is linking two phenomena with each other. For example, it is easy to understand the link. between “water” and “wet”. “Associative learning is frequently assumed to be far too primitive to. explain complex visual categorization like what we saw the pigeons do,” Turner said. But that’s exactly what the researchers found.

The researchers’ AI model tackled the same tasks using just the two simple mechanisms that pigeons were assumed to use: associative learning and error correction. And, like the pigeons, the AI model learned to make the right predictions to significantly increase the number of correct answers. For humans, the challenge when given tasks like those given to pigeons is that they would try to come up with rules that could make the task easier. But in this case, there were no rules, which upsets humans.

What’s interesting, though, is that pigeons use this method of learning that is very similar to AI designed by humans, Turner said. “We celebrate how smart we are that we designed artificial intelligence: at the same time, we regard pigeons as not clever animals,” he said.

1. What is the purpose of the new study?

A．To test a theory.	B．To evaluate a model.
C．To employ a strategy.	D．To involve an approach.

2. What were the pigeons expected to do in the experiment?

A．Draw circles.

B．Correct errors.

C．Copy gestures.

D．Identify images.

3. What do pigeons and AI have in common according to the study?

A．They are of equal intelligence.

B．They are good at making rules.

C．They respond rapidly to orders from humans.

D．They employ simple ways to get things done.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Pigeons’ trial-and-error method is revealed

B．Pigeons outperform humans in tough tasks

C．“Not smart” pigeons may be as smart as AI

D．AI models after pigeons’ learning approach

8 . Across the world, humans purchase around 1.3 billion single-use plastic water bottles a day. Because only about 9% of plastic is recycled, the vast majority of those bottles wind up in landfills, the ocean, or elsewhere in nature.

When beach-loving Madison noticed those plastic bottles during her family’s trips to California, the 12-year-old “just felt like this needed to change,” she told Smithsonian Magazine.

So as she began thinking about what to do for her school science fair back in 2021, the idea of a project centered on reducing plastic pollution quickly came to her mind: she would design an eatable water bottle called the Eco-Hero.

“One of my biggest ambitions for my project was wanting to help the world,” the confident young inventor said in a video on the website.

To bring her idea to life, Madison built upon the already established method by experimenting with common food materials. She also took inspiration from previous versions of eatable water bottles, though she focused on making hers bigger and more durable. She found that the combination of water, lemon juice, natural gum, and Alginic acid (褐藻酸) resulted in a gel pouch that wouldn’t break, could hold up to 3/4 cup of water, and would last in the fridge for three weeks.

Though she’d like to improve the Eco-Hero by making it able to hold more water, she believes her current version would work well as a replacement for the paper cups used by runners in races. All one needs to do is bite a hole in the water ball, drink the water, and then eat the pouch or throw it away to biodegrade.

Madison hopes the Eco-Hero inspires others to take better care of the planet. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a big way,” she told Smithsonian. “People can still make a difference in the world, even if it’s just in a small way.”

1. What inspired Madison’s design of an eatable water bottle?

A．Her school’s task.	B．Her family’s urge.
C．Her love for nature.	D．Her trips to the beach.

2. What can we know about the Eco-Hero?

A．It is a copy of the previous versions.

B．It is made from unbreakable materials.

C．It is an improvement in size and durability.

D．It has a hole and should be disposed once used.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Madison?

A．Ambitious and creative.	B．Talented and determined.
C．Courageous and confident.	D．Cooperative and committed.

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

A．A good beginning is half done.	B．Small people make big moves.
C．Where there is a will, there is a way.	D．God helps those who help themselves.

9 . Hibernation (冬眠) is a classic topic of science fiction. In movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien, or Passengers, crew members are put into a state of sleep to take year-long journeys to space. Now a new study from Washington University has shown that human hibernation may soon become a reality.

The research team carried out tests on rats — animals that do not naturally hibernate. They first identified a group of neurons (神经元) in a deep brain region, which were found to be involved in controlling body temperature during hibernation. They showed that, in mice, these neurons could be stimulated using ultrasound (超声波), which was delivered through a helmet without causing an injury.

When receiving the ultrasound, the mice showed a drop in body temperature of about3°C, and their heart rates fell by about 47%. When the ultrasound system was switched off, they woke up again. The result was “surprising and fascinating”, said Hong Chen, a professor who led the work.

Researchers are also trying to determine how to harness the power of hibernation to help humans. They believe that it could be key to addressing health conditions like heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, hibernation’s ability to slow aging, which was observed in bats, could benefit space exploration, enabling longer missions with less food requirements. Research in animals also suggests that bodies of hibernating astronauts might lose less bone and muscle, making them fit and ready to start challenging exploration soon after they wake up.

By unlocking the secrets of this remarkable process, researchers may uncover ways to improve human health, as well as gain new insights into the natural world. Therefore, the exploration of hibernation is an exciting area that is sure to yield numerous benefits in the years to come.

The scientists now plan to look at how lowered body temperature might affect the cognitive abilities of humans. “Our next experiments will test working memory in monkeys. This is important because while astronauts physically hibernate as they fly into deep space, their brain still needs to be working,” said Chen.

1. How did researchers put rats into hibernation?

A．By lowering their body temperature.

B．By activating specific brain neurons.

C．By putting a regular helmet on them.

D．By using ultrasound through an operation.

2. What does the underlined word “harness” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Employ.

B．Challenge.

C．Overlook.

D．Discover.

3. What advantage might hibernation bring to humans?

A．It improves people’s mental health.

B．It predicts a variety of heart diseases.

C．It helps astronauts keep physically fit.

D．It enables astronauts to build up muscle.

4. What’s the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To point out the significance of the study.

B．To bring out the focus of follow-up studies.

C．To discuss other factors affecting hibernation.

D．To explain practical applications of the finding.

10 . With one in eight people worldwide threatened by a heat wave in South Asia that’s already taken close to 100 lives, it’s time we should recognize that the climate crisis is a health crisis.

This is not an isolated issue. In South Africa, recent floods took over 400 lives, and in place like Colombia, health and food security are at risk as floods displace communities and trigger disease outbreaks. According to the WHO, a quarter of a million people are expected to die every year from climate change between 2030 and 2050 if we do nothing about it.

Climate change affects the determinants of health——clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. According to the recent IPCC Climate Change Report, climate change has harmful impacts on human health, ranging from death from extreme events to illness from increasing temperatures. And for the first time ever, the report includes mental health as a key area impacted by the climate crisis, noting that climate change has affected physical and mental health of people globally.

These irreversible (不可逆转的) damages force us to rethink climate and health. However, when you think about it as a whole, the crisis is amazingly complex. In places like Egypt, people need air-conditioners to survive the120-plus degree days. But more AC means more greenhouse gases. So, we need to consider economic development, renewable energy, and reduction of pollutants that are literally poisoning our planet.

The good news is that we are making progress. With funding from the Global Environment Facility Special Climate Change Fund, WHO supported local governments to pilot climate change adaptation efforts to protect human health. In Barbados, community-based public health campaigns supported the safe use of wastewater. In Bhutan, the government has advanced its ability to predict climate-sensitive infectious diseases. And in China, three pilot cities have implemented a heat-health warning system.

Millions of lives hang in the balance. It’s time we should step up and make climate-health action a global priority. This is our investment in planet Earth, in future generations and in a better world.

1. Why is South Asia mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To show the impact of climate crisis.

B．To introduce the topic of the passage.

C．To emphasize the severity of heat wave.

D．To illustrate the current condition of the area.

2. How does climate crisis influence mankind’s health?

A．It causes some deaths and illnesses.

B．It only damages people’s physical health.

C．Numerous people are poisoned by wastewater.

D．One eighth people may develop infectious disease.

3. What could be inferred form Paragraph 4?

A．More greenhouse gases are given off.

B．The pollutants are poisoning our planet.

C．The climate-health crisis is tough to solve.

D．Air-conditioners are not enough for hot days.

4. What does the author mainly want to convey in the passage?

A．Millions of lives hang in the balance.

B．We are making efforts to adapt to climate change.

C．We are making progress in climate-health action.

D．We should attach great importance to climate-health action.