1 . When I was young, our family cat broke out in a rash (皮疹). But an examination at the vet’s revealed no answers. When asked, “Has anything ________ in your home?” my mom explained my leave for college, and the vet responded “That’s it!” He gave my cat medicine that she took in my ________, and curiously didn’t need when I was home.

Years later after marriage, I adopted a well behaved cat. Suddenly he decided to ________ all our house plants. As it could be a ________ of his not feeling well, I took him to the vet. When tests all came back ________, the familiar question was asked again, “Has anything changed in your home?” We thought hard but couldn’t get it until one day we ________ our cat unsuccessfully trying to get in the window. Ah-ha! We had replaced the old ________ with new wooden blinds. They clearly ________ him from sitting in his favorite spot. Then I ________ the blinds every morning. The digging stopped.

I had forgotten those two incidents. Until recently our dog started ________ not herself and became an absolute________ on our daily runs. It was right when I was taking her to the vet that I thought of the question I would most ________ be asked. After years of being at home, I had recently gone back to work. It was a difficult ________ for our family, but I never considered the ________ it would have on one particular member of the family. Suddenly, she was ________ all day long in a quiet house. Why hadn’t I realized it before?

1.

A．happened

B．appeared

C．changed

D．come

2.

A．bedroom

B．permission

C．mind

D．absence

3.

A．put up

B．take up

C．hold up

D．dig up

4.

A．means

B．sign

C．manner

D．mistake

5.

A．positive

B．negative

C．fine

D．different

6.

A．controlled

B．witnessed

C．followed

D．conducted

7.

A．windows

B．tools

C．pictures

D．curtains

8.

A．blocked

B．developed

C．wasted

D．absorbed

9.

A．displayed

B．raised

C．covered

D．ignored

10.

A．working

B．acting

C．eating

D．sleeping

11.

A．mystery

B．wonder

C．pain

D．reason

12.

A．likely

B．politely

C．critically

D．eagerly

13.

A．exchange

B．replacement

C．transition

D．formation

14.

A．result

B．impact

C．possibility

D．treatment

15.

A．right

B．quiet

C．away

D．alone

2 . Thousands of jackdaws (寒鸦) are known to launch into the winter skies synchronously (同步地) from the treetops. For those early risers in winter, the morning routine of jackdaws is a familiar sight. Now, ecologists know that this synchronized group flight is a result of a democratic (民主的) process in which the majority of the flock reaches a consensus about the birds’ actions, such as their mass departure.

Jackdaws fly into the sky in huge numbers and then split into smaller groups to feed. To figure out how such large numbers of these birds decide when to take off, researchers from the University of Exeter recorded jackdaws’ calls over several months. They recorded when the first jackdaws began their calls and measured how loud the birds were. The team found that jackdaws left together once the chorus of calls reached a critical mass — the more rapidly the chorus swelled, the earlier the birds left.

“They all leave together, which is a really striking sight,” Alex Thornton said. Every call signals a jackdaw casting its vote to leave. When the intensity of the chorus doesn’t build enough, which means the jackdaws don’t agree, the birds depart in smaller groups instead.

The team also found that once jackdaws reached a consensus they departed almost immediately, with thousands of jackdaws taking off in less than five seconds. When scientists played past recordings of calls back to the jackdaws, they were able to push forward the birds’ launching by more than six minutes. However, other noise recordings, like the sound of a whipping wind, had no effect on the birds’ departure time.

Leaving together has various benefits, including protection from enemies and access to information such as where to find food. This research shows the critical role birdcalls play in group decision-making for this species. But the mission is not over yet. Researchers’ concern is that human activities might disturb jackdaws. “Imagine a flock near a busy road,” Thornton said. “If the birds can’t hear each other and can’t form a consensus on the time to leave together, it can have big impacts on their population. The next stage of our research will look into this.”

1. When will jackdaws’ mass departure most probably take place?

A．When their calls reach high intensity.

B．After they hear the first call of the leader bird.

C．When they feel a strong urge to feed themselves.

D．When the chorus of their calls integrates peacefully.

2. Which of the following belongs to a finding of the team?

A．Jackdaws can pick up speed in a short time.

B．Jackdaws respond specifically to their birdcalls.

C．Jackdaws can be easily affected by their fellows.

D．Jackdaws spend about five seconds on their voting.

3. What will the researchers focus their attention on next?

A．The benefits of jackdaws’ leaving together.

B．The effective ways to protect jackdaws’ hearing.

C．The impact of human noise pollution on jackdaws.

D．The role of birdcalls in jackdaws’ group decision-making.

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

A．Jackdaws vote to take wing together

B．Jackdaws are smart decision-makers

C．Jackdaws live together in great numbers

D．Jackdaws are sensitive to different birdcalls

3 . In July 2020, Rex and Britnee Smith realized their two pet dogs, Jack and Jill, were no longer in their fenced backyard in Little Rock Arkansas. They went from door to door in their neighborhood, putting up posters, reaching out to animal shelters and vets’ offices and posting on social media. It was a sad time for the Smiths, especially for their 5-year-old daughter, who had a special bond with the dogs.

Eventually in December, the Smiths and their two children had to relocate about 300 miles away to McKinney, Texas. They still occasionally received calls from shelters or got pictures of dogs that could be theirs, but Jack and Jill were never located. While the Smiths had heard stories about dogs being found and returned to their owners via microchips, they never expected that to happen to them.

Then in late July 2023, the Little Rock Animal Village called Rex to inform him Jill had been found. He immediately called Britnee, who cried tears of joy. Britnee was a little nervous as they drove to pick up Jill, worried that she wouldn’t remember them or had changed to be more aggressive. But that wasn’t the case.

“It’s like she never left us,” Britnee recalled. “She came right into our arms.” The Smiths said they were unsure what happened to Jill in the three years away, although she’d been found just a few blocks away from their old house. “We wish she could talk,” Rex said. “We have so many questions to ask her.” Jill was overall healthy but had suffered some scratches. Her paws were raw, likely from the 100-degree Fahrenheit heat in Arkansas.

The Smiths immediately took her to the vet and dog spa, where Jill had her nails clipped, her teeth brushed and her hair combed.

Now they’re still on the lookout for Jack.

1. What did the Smiths do after the loss of their dogs?

A．They added a fence to their backyard.

B．They tried every means to look for them.

C．They did their best to comfort their daughter.

D．They moved house instantly to avoid sadness.

2. Why was Britnee anxious on the way to picking up Jill?

A．Years of separation might make them feel distant.

B．The phone call might end up being fruitless again.

C．Jill might have suffered unimaginable abuse.

D．Her expectation might make her uncontrollable on the scene.

3. How was Jill when she got reunited with her owners?

A．She looked sick and weak.	B．She was beyond recognition.
C．She was physically injured.	D．She was unable to make a sound.

4. What conclusion can be drawn about Jill from the text?

A．She was adopted several times.

B．She was with Jack in the past few years.

C．She was discovered near Britnee’s new home.

D．She was indeed greatly valued by her owners.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is a visitor’s first impression of Liverpool?

A．Its buildings.

B．Its museums.

C．Its art galleries.

2. In what way is Liverpool number one in Britain?

A．Tradition.

B．History.

C．Music.

3. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Various sports.

B．A famous city.

C．British festivals.

5 . Nearly every nation is coming up short — most of them far short — in their efforts to fight climate change, and the world is unlikely to hold warning to the internationally agreed-upon limit, according to a new scientific report.

Gambia, a tiny country in Africa, is the only nation that is cutting emissions (排放) and taking up its share of actions to keep the world from exceeding the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5℃ above preindustrial times, according to the report. Only one industrialized nation — the United Kingdom—is even close to doing what it should to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases and finance clean energy for poorer nations, the Climate Action Tracker(CAT)reported.

Enough nations promised big enough carbon pollution cuts that the CAT said the “emissions gap” — the difference between emissions projections (预测) with the promises and what’s required to meet the 1.5-degree goal — dropped by 11%.

“That momentum (势头) has not been maintained,” said Bill Hare, report co-author and CEO of Climate Analytics. “We’re running short of countries stepping up with additional emission commitments to close the gap.”

Unlike its previous reports, which just looked at promises to cut carbon pollution and policy changes, the new ratings include money issues. Finance is critical to climate negotiations this fall in Scotland, so the report examined commitments by rich nations to help pay for clean energy for poor nations, according to Hare.

That hurt the United States and European Union rankings. The report called efforts by the United States, the European Union, Germany and Japan “insufficient” and more in line with global warming of 3℃ since the late 19th century. The world has already warmed by 1.1℃ since that time, so these countries will make the world 1.9℃ warmer than it is now.

Hare said Brazil and Mexico “went backwards” on their fight to control warming. The report lists Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Thailand at the bottom.

1. What does the underlined word “exceeding” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Limiting.

B．Changing.

C．Working towards.

D．Going beyond.

2. What do Hare’s words in paragraph 4 mean?

A．The global warming will be soon controlled.

B．Global nations are struggling to bridge “emissions gap”.

C．More countries are needed to solve the global climate change.

D．Many nations keep the promises of carbon pollution reduction.

3. According to Hare, what will hold back some countries from reducing carbon pollution?

A．Additional emission.

B．Climate negotiations.

C．Smaller population.

D．Insufficient funds.

4. In which section of a website can we find the text?

A．Economy.

B．Environment.

C．Technology.

D．Entertainment.

6 . If you’re a lover of the great outdoors and fancy yourself as a bit of a discoverer, then you’ll want to know about the best national parks in the world. National parks are full of wonders. Exploring one is your chance to get back to nature.

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Etosha means “great white area”, which refers to the park’s huge salt area. When it rains, the water pools attract hundreds of thousands of pretty flamingos (火烈鸟) to the park. And yet there is more to Etosha National Park than flamingos. Expect to see lions, elephants, leopards and two kinds of zebra as you venture around the park.

Yellowstone National Park, United States of America

You will find Yellowstone National Park atop a volcano hot spot in Wyoming, but the thing that will explode will be your mind as you immerse yourself in the dramatic canyon, lush forests, and alpine rivers. Yellowstone is one of the best national parks in the world to study the geological activity of the Earth.

Göreme National Park, Turkey

Prepare to lay your eyes on volcanic landscapes situated in a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Göreme National Park in Turkey. Hike the high hills, explore nearby villages and witness stunning multi-colored cliffs formed from basalt. Göreme National Park is one of the best national parks in the world for hot air ballooning.

Caingorms National Park, Scotland

The largest national park in the United Kingdom, the Cairngorms provide exceptional wildlife and birdlife —including some of the rarest birds of prey in Europe. Hill climbers will be kept busy with the 55 munros (a mountain peak higher than 3000 feet) in the park.

1. Why is the Etosha National Park attractive?

A．It is located at the top of a volcano.

B．It has a vast salt area and impressive wildlife.

C．The zebra will be attracted to the park in the rainy season.

D．Visitors can cycle around the park to see various animals.

2. Who is most likely to be interested in Yellowstone National Park?

A．One wishing to wander on a flat coastal plain.

B．One wanting to hike over multi-colored mountains.

C．One expecting to learn about the geography of the Earth.

D．One dreaming to act in a drama set in the canyon of the park.

3. What do Göreme National Park and Caingorms National Park have in common?

A．They are both the habitats of flamigos.

B．They both feature colorful rocks and hills.

C．They both attract visitors who love climbing high hills.

D．They are both on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

7 . All types of marine life are important. Seaweed (海藻) and corals both play vital roles in the health of the ocean and the health of our communities.

However in the same way that a mountain lion. Which provides a valuable service by hunting diseased or elderly deer, wouldn’t be helping anyone if it took up residence in an office building. Seaweed largely prevents corals from performing their key function in the ecosystem, just like the lion would prevent any of the terrified office workers from doing their work.

There is long-standing competition between seaweed and corals and this competition has been influenced heavily for over a century by overfishing climate change, and coral discases, which resulted in corals being now too weak to compete with seaweed.

Seaweed too often is blocking sunlight from reaching baby corals, while releasing chemicals that prevent corals from reproducing-as well as making them marc likely to be attacked by diseases.

The researchers from Florida International University supposed that if sufficiently distributed, the Caribbean king crab (蟹), lovingly called the “reef (礁)goat”, could make coral reefs free of seaweed fast, so they conducted a case-control study where they released the crabs on some reefs and let some others remain crab-less.

Eating seaweed at a rate higher than any other grazer (食草动物), the crabs were able to reduce seaweed cover by 80%, while a 3 to 5 fold increase of both baby corals and fish species added to the successful outcome.

On dry land, goats have been used as ground clearers for thousands of years, as they eat everything from clover and grasses to poison oak and invasive blackberry thorns. Hopefully, the results of this study can solidify Caribbean king crabs as their equivalent at the bottom of the sea.

1. What does the author want to tell us by mentioning the mountain lion?

A．The competition among different species is intense.

B．The ecological balance has been largely disturbed.

C．It’s important to have diverse species.

D．Too much seaweed causes problems.

2. What can we say about seaweed?

A．It breaks the food chain.

B．It influences corals’ growth.

C．It affects the fishing industry.

D．It prevents baby corals from discases.

3. Why did the researchers conduct the study?

A．To prove Caribbean king crabs can save coral reefs from seaweed.

B．To know how to protect biological diversity.

C．To find out how to farm seaweed.

D．To learn why corals are declining.

4. What might the author agree with about the result of the study?

A．It is unreliable.

B．It is unpredictable.

C．It needs further discussion.

D．It may make a great difference.

8 . 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。

The Yellow River Wetland Park in Yinchuan was once a place local people avoided: raw sewage(污水)caused awful smells and almost no grass could grow on the land. It had been several years     1     this area became a popular destination for locals to take a walk and a habitat frequented by migratory birds. Now this Wetland Park has appealed     2     many bird photographers.

The Yinchuan Wetland Park is a microcosm (缩影) of China’s achievements in wetland protection. Last year seven Chinese cities     3     (award) “international wetland cities” at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP 14). So far, there are 13 wetland cities in China, showing     4     great variety of patterns and styles.

For example, Wuhan,     5     (acknowledge) as a “city of a hundred lakes”, has five large wetland reserves,     6     tens of thousands of birds come to stay in wintertime.

Liangping district in Chongging, however, is more     7     (close) tied to human activity. People built small wetlands in rural areas. What’s more, they have combined these wetlands with organic farms, homestays, and healthcare centers, which     8     (result) in an income increase of 52,000 yuan per household in the past decade.

Panjin in Liaoning province is another surprising wetland city. In the past, the city long suffered from     9     (environment) problems caused by oil production. But now in the coastal wetlands, seagrass turns a breathtaking red every autumn,     10     (create) beautiful “red beaches”.

9 . Tired of the busy and chaotic life in Las Vegas, Nevada for nearly ten years, my family and I decided to slow things down. We wanted to lead an environmental-friendly life.

None of us felt that this could be accomplished where we were living and we all agreed that a move to the country would be great for everyone.

Before long we set about looking for a home in Yucca, Arizona, a very small town of less than 1,000 people. When I called to inquire about the property, I was informed that there was no electricity available in the area. What? No electricity? I almost denied the idea immediately. But what better way is there to go green? After giving it a second thought, we decided to put in an offer and moved in on Thanksgiving Day.

When we first moved to the property, we did some remodeling (改造) and stayed in our motor home. We were confronted with real challenges at the time. But the frustrations just made us work harder. We slowly got things fixed and moved into the house after 38 days.

While living here for the past four months has been a big adjustment, there are many benefits to living off the grid (电线). I think one of the most educational lessons is teaching my kids the importance of conservation. They used to take water, power and gas for granted. We started taking quicker showers, doing only full loads of laundry, turning off the water while brushing our teeth. In addition, we are also trying to make other changes which include reducing the amount of trash we generate by recycling, growing our own organic vegetables and re-purposing things that we would normally throw.

Overall, going off the grid has been great for our family. I hope that once my kids move out of the house, they will keep the habits that they have learned by living off the grid.

1. Why did the family move to a remote town?

A．Financial debt forced them to save more money.

B．Having a new lifestyle has become a trend.

C．They reached an agreement to lead a green life.

D．They got a discount on a property accidentally.

2. How did the author feel when she knew the property was non-electricity?

A．Satisfied.

B．Astonished.

C．Relieved.

D．Refreshed.

3. When the author’s kids looked back on the life off the grid, they would recall the lesson that_______.

A．saving resources makes a difference	B．life is beyond our expectation
C．city chaos will disappear sooner or later	D．repair the house before it rains

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．How urgent it was to lead an environmental-friendly life.

B．How a family of urban-residents switched to a simple life.

C．How significant it was to better adapt to a new environment.

D．How a carbon-free lifestyle has been promoted to the country.

10 . Plant a tree!

What’s causing global warming? Is it man-made? Or are temperatures simply changing naturally? Whatever the case, we can at least try to slow things down. But how?

The Wilderness Project has an idea.     1    . If the earth has more trees, greenhouse gases will be reduced, and this will help stop global warming.     2     and improve air quality.

    3    . In Belgium, the Organization for Forests worked with farmers to help them plant more trees. In Spain, the Canopy Project plants one tree for every Spaniard (西班牙人) in order to improve the environment. In Germany, a teenager named Felix Finkbine has been leading a global movement to plant more trees.     4    .

Now, lots of people all over the world have already been planting more trees. In fact, if everyone plants one tree, just one, it will do great good to our environment.

So, what can you do to help?     5    , although you need to get advice on how to look after it. Or you can join a tree planting project such as the ones mentioned above to help save the earth.

So, go on, plant a tree…and save the earth!

A．Maybe you can buy a young tree to grow

B．They suggest that we should plant more trees

C．Another question is how quickly the sea level will rise

D．Many countries are calling on people to plant more trees

E．What’s more, they improve human health by producing oxygen (氧气)

F．He was nine when he came up with the idea of planting trees around the world

G．Farmers don’t want to go and help them plant more trees