1 . A team of scientists recently published one of the most comprehensive efforts yet to understand just how much carbon great whales absorb from the ocean, and the value that presents in the fight against climate change.
“Whales are large-bodied animals, and they live for a long time. Many of them migrate over vast distances,” said study leader Heibi Pearson, a marine biologist at the University of Alaska Southeast. “And so they have the potential to have these huge impacts on the ecosystem, including the carbon cycle.”
In their most direct impact, whale bodies hold an enormous amount of carbon that would otherwise be in the ocean or atmosphere. Twelve great whale species hold an estimated 2 million tons of carbon in their bodies, the authors found.
And that’s just the living members of the whale family. Another 62,000 tons of carbon is kept under the sea every year in the form of whale falls. When a whale dies in open water and sinks into the deep, a lifetime of collected carbon goes with it. It can take up to 1,000 years for water and elements at the bottom of the sea to cycle back up to the surface, which means that carbon is effectively sequestered for that long.
In addition, whales’ waste facilitates the growth of organisms at the base of the marine food chain, promoting the growth of carbon-consuming life throughout the ecosystem.
However, whale populations still haven’t recovered from the destructive effects of industrial whaling. Commercial hunting in the 19th and 20th centuries decreased the total mass of whales on the planet by 81%, according to the authors.
“Whales alone are not going to solve climate change, but thinking about whales as playing a role in the carbon cycle can help motivate whale conservation,” said Andrew Pershing, a co-author of the study. “There are a lot of win-wins there, and I think that’s very true of a lot of natural climate solutions.”
1. How do whales influence the climate change?| A．By storing carbon in their bodies. | B．By speeding the carbon cycle. |
| C．By absorbing carbon from the air. | D．By consuming carbon on their migration. |
| A．Employed. | B．Trapped. | C．Monitored. | D．Measured. |
| A．Their population has risen by 81%. |
| B．Their waste contributes to the ecosystem. |
| C．Whale hunting has been banned altogether. |
| D．Their death will break the marine food chain. |
| A．We can rely on whales to change climate. |
| B．Whale protection still has a long way to go. |
| C．We’ll soon win the battle against climate change. |
| D．Whale protection is beneficial to solving climate issues. |
2 . Each year, the world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic waste, which can take a longtime to breakdown. Almost a third of the world’s plastic waste is polypropylene, a hard plastic used to make bottle: caps and food containers that typically take hundreds of years to degrade.
Now, a group of scientists at the University of Sydney, in Australia have developed a solution: using fungi (真菌) found in soils to devour lab samples of polypropylene.
In the experiment, the scientists first weakened pieces of polypropylene plastic by exposing them to heat, chemicals, or ultraviolet (UV) light so the fungi can do their job quickly. Fungi degrade materials like plastic into simpler molecules that they can then get rid of. The usually smooth plastic become full of marks as the fungi carryout their dirty work.
The two fungi, Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album, made a meal of the plastic in the lab experiments. As the researchers reported, between 25 and 27 percent of samples were digested after 90 days, and the plastic was completely broken down after 140 days.
More than 400 microorganisms have so far been found to degrade plastic naturally, with fungi attracting a fair bit of attention for their ability to degrade all sorts of man-made materials. “Recent studies suggest some fungi may even degrade some of the ‘forever chemicals’ like PFAS, but the process is slow and not yet well understood,” explains microbiologist Dee Carter of the University of Sydney.
Currently, the team is testing ways to speed up the degradation process, and assessing the economic and environmental factors of potential commercial use. If the team can transform their laboratory solution into a commercial-scale plastic waste management system, the world will finally have a promising solution to one of our most pressing environmental issues.
1. What does the underlined word “devour” probably mean in paragraph 2?| A．Produce. | B．Consume. | C．Analyse. | D．Recycle. |
| A．To leave marks on the sample. |
| B．To reduce plastic waste globally. |
| C．To change the shape of the plastic. |
| D．To quicken the degradation process. |
| A．Putting the solution into commercial use. |
| B．Establishing a system for rubbish sorting. |
| C．Maintaining a steady speed in the process. |
| D．Tackling the issue of pollution completely. |
| A．Scientists cutting down on waste |
| B．A solution used on a large scale |
| C．Plastic-eating fungi doing the trick |
| D．Severe plastic pollution reduced |
3 . Have you ever heard of and seen Canadian geese? Do you know that they
Canadian geese have a good
Yesterday I witnessed two Canadian Geese arguing
Would they start quarreling again? I stood still,
They got along harmoniously again. Sometimes it’s not that bad to be
| A．draw on | B．focus on | C．feed on | D．try on |
| A．desire | B．reputation | C．affection | D．appetite |
| A．generous | B．faithful | C．weird | D．rude |
| A．well-informed | B．well-dressed | C．well-behaved | D．well-balanced |
| A．fiercely | B．blindly | C．cautiously | D．gently |
| A．deserted | B．located | C．fixed | D．laid |
| A．frequent | B．rare | C．common | D．constant |
| A．restricting | B．changing | C．pausing | D．speeding |
| A．desperate | B．simple | C．serious | D．disharmonious |
| A．frightened | B．annoyed | C．crashed | D．injured |
| A．finding out | B．dealing with | C．looking into | D．wondering about |
| A．passion | B．reason | C．talent | D．anxiety |
| A．scene | B．destination | C．landscape | D．park |
| A．looker-on | B．passer-by | C．truck | D．clump |
| A．upset | B．forgetful | C．mean | D．greedy |
4 . It could be said that trees naturally call for attention as they climb toward the sky with their arms outstretched. Yet, it’s still easy for us to ignore them. As we rush through our own day-to-day lives, trees seem to play the role of an insignificant backdrop.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Rooted to a single spot, trees appear sill.But that stillness is not associated with laziness. In fact, trees are guards of the planet as the impact of their hard work carries miles farther than the ground in which they stand.
Globally, trees are the most cost-effective tool in promoting biodiversity. They support the survival of a significant number of animals. For example, a big reason why ring-tailed lemurs (狐猴) are endangered is that half of the forests they depend on in Madagascar off the East coast of Africa were cut down.
Not only do animals depend on trees for shelter, trees are significant to the health of humans as well. In fact, doctors in Canada are so convinced of trees’ benefits for the mind and body that they recommend patients visit national parks. Trees help a lot in tackling climate change too. They absorb and store carbon dioxide(CO2) — the key greenhouse gas emitted by our cars and power plants — before it has a chance to reach the upper atmosphere and trap heat around the Earth’s surface.
So it’s time to put trees in the spotlight. The Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s largest nonprofit, is devoted to this exact mission: inspiring people to plant,protect, and honor trees. We know there’s never been a more important time for trees. And we know there’s never been a more important time for mankind to engage in its role as environmental guards. This isn’t a one-sided relationship. What we give to nature we will receive in return, tenfold (十倍地). So as springtime arrives once again, take a moment and appreciate what a tree can be.
1. What does the author mainly want to tell us by giving the example of ring-tailed lemurs?| A．Trees are insignificant for their stillness. |
| B．Trees play a vital role in cleaning the air. |
| C．Trees provide critical habitats for creatures. |
| D．Half of the forests in Madagascar were cut down. |
| A．To provide advice on planting trees. |
| B．To call for human attention to trees. |
| C．To show the best time of planting trees. |
| D．To stress the impact of trees on humans. |
1=Paragraph One 2= Paragraph Two 3= Paragraph Three 4= Paragraph Four 5=Paragraph Five
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Trees: Cleaners of the Environment | B．Trees: Shelters for Creatures |
| C．Trees: Defenders of Human Health | D．Trees: Guards of the Planet |
5 . Discover Jiangsu
Known as the land of water, China’s coastal province of Jiangsu has all the geographical advantages to give it a starring role in the epic (史诗般的) tale of China’s ancient Maritime (海上的) Silk Road. With busy port cities, historic sites and breathtaking natural beauty, Jiangsu is the perfect place to follow the story of this remarkable trade route.
Nanjing and the voyages of Zheng He
At the beginning of the Ming dynasty, the city of Nanjing in Jiangsu was declared capital of China. Besides building one of the longest city walls in history, the emperor ordered the construction of vast “treasure ships” in 1403. Under Zheng He’s command, the ships finished seven epic ocean voyages, reaching as far as the east coast of Africa.
Nantong and overseas trade
In Jiangsu’s port city of Nantong, goods have flowed in and out of the province by water for centuries. Beyond Lusi Port Town, a busy seascape of boats travel on the waters of Jiangsu’s coast. It’s a scene that shows how China’s historic Maritime Silk Road remains successful until this day.
Yancheng and unspoiled nature
Salt was one of the commodities (商品) that played a key role in the history of trade in Jiangsu, contributing to the wealth of the province. A major source was the tidal (潮汐的) salt flats of Yancheng, which literally means “salt city”. This remarkable landscape also plays host to some rare bird species like cranes, egrets, and spoonbill sandpipers.
Yangzhou and the spread of Buddhism
In the Jiangsu city of Yangzhou, a Tang-dynasty monk by the name of Jianzhen set sail to Japan to spread the teachings of Buddhism. Daming Temple, where Jianzhen lived, can still be visited today.
1. What made Jiangsu an Ancient Gateway to the Maritime Silk Road?| A．Its Buddhist art. | B．Its remarkable seascape. |
| C．Its wealth and power. | D．Its geographical advantages. |
| A．Nanjing. | B．Nantong. | C．Yancheng. | D．Yangzhou. |
| A．A geography magazine. | B．An academic report. |
| C．An economics book. | D．A travel blog. |
1. Which is the highest mountain in this area?
| A．Mount Karen. | B．Mount Heather. | C．Mount Brown. |
| A．Skiing. |
| B．Seeing wildlife. |
| C．Having snowmobile tours. |
| A．A bit cold. | B．Quite cool. | C．Very hot. |
| A．Winter. | B．Autumn. | C．Summer. |
7 . In the last decade, scientists have been going back and forth on one question: does recycling really help the environment? The conclusion at which they have arrived seems to be: yes, it does. However, experts warn that our efforts should not stop there. While recycling is an important part of the solution, it is not necessarily the most important factor. Therefore, I disagree that recycling is the key to a sustainable (可持续的) future.
Compared to other methods to save the earth, recycling is a much smaller player. According to a recent study, the twenty top petrochemical (石化) companies in the world are responsible for 55% of the world’s single-use plastics, most of which are practically impossible to recycle. This means that asking these major polluters to take responsibility for their harm to the environment would do much more than if every one of us recycled our waste. In addition, a dependence on recycling can take attention away from reducing and reusing, which are more effective in lowering emissions (排放) and in turn helping to create a sustainable future. Therefore, it would do us a lot of good if we focus on these other high-priority solutions rather than simply recycling.
Recycling supporters may argue that recycling is indeed the key to a sustainable future because it helps save a lot of energy by taking what already exists and changing it into something new. While it is true that recycling is a valuable tool in the fight against climate change, it is not the key. Regrettably, it alone is not sufficient. So, while we should continue recycling, we need to go further by taking other actions for our planet.
To conclude, I disagree that recycling is the key to a sustainable future. Having said that, recycling is still beneficial. It is but a small part of an interconnected web of solutions, which on its own can not accomplish much, but together with other efforts, can create a sustainable future for all.
1. Why does the author write this article?| A．To raise a question. | B．To explain a rule. |
| C．To present a solution. | D．To express an idea. |
| A．Stopping using plastics. | B．Individuals recycling their waste. |
| C．Using fewer high-emission cars. | D．Changing used things into something new. |
| A．It can only save 45% of the energy people need. |
| B．It does not help with protecting the environment. |
| C．It stops major polluters from taking responsibility. |
| D．It plays a small and limited part in sustaining the earth. |
| A．Combined efforts of all the solutions. |
| B．More and more people joining in recycling. |
| C．Reducing and reusing of single-use plastics. |
| D．Asking petrochemical companies to be responsible. |
8 . Rachel Carson’s classic best seller about ecological threats, Silent Spring, started a wave of American environmentalism. It played a direct role in the 1972 decision to ban the use of the pesticide(杀虫剂)DDT. Sixty years ago, the public was introduced to Carson’s arguments. The coming anniversary makes this a good time to consider whether the book achieved one of her major goals: protecting wildlife and, in particular, birds.
Carsen took a complex technical subject — the damaging effects of persistent pesticide and expressed it in one simple, poetic image: a spring in which no birds sang. She asked us to imagine what it would be like to awaken in the morning in a world without these songs. She wrote with grace, and she made us feel the loss. But how well have we acted on Carson’s warnings?
With some exceptions, we haven’t been very successful, and neither have birds. Twenty-nine percent of North American birds have died out since 1970, Grass lands were the hardest hit, with a documented loss of more than 700 million breeding individuals. The number of dead birds totaled nearly three billion, a figure that sparked(引起) a campaign with tips on what people can do to save them. Given these data, it is easy to conclude that despite the brilliance of her writing, Carson did not succeed in protecting birds.
Still, the 2019 bird study, despite its worrying results, also suggests that protecting biodiversity is not lost cause. One important exception is wet lands, where bird abundance increased by 13 percent. The other animative exception is bald eagles, which acre on the edge of extinction at the time Carson wrote, but they recovered in large part as a result of the ban on DDT. A news story published by the Au dub on Society notes that “the numbers show that taking steps like wildlife management, habitat restoration and political action can be effective to save species.”
1. How did Rachel Carson fulfill her writing purpose in her book?| A．By warning gracefully. | B．By arguing simply. |
| C．By thinking critically. | D．By drawing vividly, |
| A．Alarming. | B．Encouraging |
| C．Reliable | D．Imaginable. |
| A．Negative. | B．Objective. |
| C．Positive. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．An American writer didn’t fulfill her promise. |
| B．Our efforts to protect the environment were in vain. |
| C．Books have limitations in raising environmental awareness. |
| D．Birds are still in trouble 60 years after Silent Spring warned us. |
9 . Yellow flower carpeted fields are a sure sign of summer. In Denmark alone, more than 200,000 hectares of rapeseed (油菜籽) are planted every year. But until now, the plant has only been used for oil and animal food, as it is both bitter and unsafe for human consumption.
To protect themselves, the rapeseed plants produce a group of substances (物质) called glucosinolates (硫苷), which give the plants a strong and bitter taste that scares off insects and disease. As a result rapeseed is unhealthy to eat and the rapeseed cake, which is the remains of the seeds after the oil has been squeezed out, has only been used as feed for pigs and chickens, despite its 30 — 40 percent protein content.
Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered the three proteins that help to store the bitter substances in seeds of thale cress (阿拉伯芥), a plant closely related to the rapeseed. The new knowledge makes it possible to prevent the accumulation (积聚) of these substances in the seed by removing the proteins through “transport engineering” technology. In doing so, the defensive substances remain in all other parts of the plant, allowing it to continue to defend itself.
So far, the researchers have shown that their method works in thale cress. “The next task is to apply our method to the closely related rapeseed plant, which we are now working on,” says Professor Halkier, leader of the research.
“Half of plant proteins in the EU come from rapeseed. The climate crisis demands that we reduce meat consumption and eat more plants, which is where rapeseed has great potential as a new source of plant protein. Our latest research results bring us a step closer to making full use of rapeseed,” says Professor Halkier.
1. What is the function of paragraph 2?| A．To state the reason. | B．To offer the solution. |
| C．To give an example. | D．To introduce the topic. |
| A．By selecting better seeds. | B．By removing the three proteins. |
| C．By increasing sweet tastes. | D．By storing defensive substances. |
| A．Researchers’ efforts to better the taste. |
| B．Researchers’ progress in their experiment. |
| C．Rapeseed’s role in relieving climate crisis. |
| D．Rapeseed’s potential as a new protein source. |
| A．Harmful proteins discovered in rapeseed |
| B．Rapeseed widely used as oil and animal food |
| C．Researchers closer to making rapeseed safe food |
| D．New plant protein in rapeseed finally uncovered |
10 . Babusha, or “eight-step sands”, got its name because the desert was always just eight steps away from the farmers’ doors. Today, the desert’s southward movement has been stopped thanks to a green belt planted in the last 40 years by Guo Wangang and his colleagues. As a result, Guo was named a National Moral Model in 2020.
Guo is only part of the second generation of “soldiers” to fight against the desert. His father was one of the six men who first began planting trees in Babusha. When Guo’s father fell ill in 1983, he hoped that his son would follow in his footsteps.
Guo remembers being reluctant to give up his stable government job. “My father repeatedly stressed that we had to make sure our farms weren’t eaten by the desert,” Guo said, adding that he eventually agreed to work at the farm because he didn’t want to see the trees die.
However, it was the deadly sandstorm in 1993 that turned Guo into a determined “soldier”. The fast moving brown wall of dust reached high into the sky and turned day into night. Guo was working in the desert with his colleagues when it hit. They only managed to get home after trekking for six hours in darkness. Later, he learned that 23 students were found dead in a river as they tried to get home from school during the sandstorm.
Since then, Guo and his colleagues have continued planting trees every spring and fall, pruning (修剪) them in winter and watching out for fire. Their struggle continues. Today more and more young people have joined with scientific and innovative methods. For example, the farm now is subsidized (资助) by Ant Forest, a public welfare project launched by the e-commerce giant, Alibaba. It rewards users with virtual energy in exchange for low-carbon activities, which can then be used to do things, like having trees planted.
“We need more such young people to help us find other advanced and engineering methods for desertification control,” said Guo Wangang.
1. What was Guo Wangang’s first reaction to his father’s request?| A．He advised his father to stop planting trees. |
| B．He was unwilling to give up his stable job. |
| C．He immediately agreed to work at the farm. |
| D．He was determined to fight against the desert. |
| A．Finishing the green belt. |
| B．Winning National Moral Model title. |
| C．Seeing his father’s falling ill. |
| D．Experiencing a deadly sandstorm. |
| A．To show young people’s creative methods. |
| B．To advocate the low-carbon way of living. |
| C．To praise Ant Forest’s unique contribution. |
| D．To indicate Guo and his team’s difficulties. |
| A．Well begun is half done. |
| B．One tree doesn’t make a forest. |
| C．Opportunity favours only the prepared mind. |
| D．Nothing is too difficult if you put your heart into it. |
