1 . An exhibition of vivid photographs and a restored documentary give fresh insight into the Antarctic explorer, who died a century ago.

One hundred years ago, the leader of the last great expedition of the heroic age of polar exploration died from a heart attack as his ship, Quest, headed for Antarctica. The announcement of the death of Ernest Shackleton on 30 January 1922 was greeted with an outpouring of national grief.

This was the man, after all, who had saved the entire crew of his ship Endurance — which had been crushed and sunk by ice in 1915 — by making a daring trip in a tiny open boat over 750 miles of polar sea to raise the alarm at a whaling station in South Georgia.

It remains one of the greatest rescue stories of modern history and led to the idolising of Shackleton in the United Kingdom, a reputation that survived undamaged for the rest of the century. As his contemporary Raymond Priestley, the geologist and Antarctic explorer, later put it: “When disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”

And here and now in 2022, his death is being marked with an elaborately illustrated exhibition — Shackleton’s legacy and the power of early Antarctic photography — which opens at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), and which includes a range of images and artefacts from his expeditions. Additionally, a digitally remade version of South, a documentary film of Shackleton’s 1914-16 Endurance expedition, is being screened at the British Film Institute.

The film and most of the exhibition’s finest images are the handiwork of Frank Hurley, who sailed with Shackleton and who was one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers and film-makers. Both film and exhibition feature striking camera work and provide vivid accounts of the hardships that Shackleton and his men endured as they headed off to explore Antarctica.

Even after he survived the great expedition, he still longed for another trip to Antarctica, and after long negotiations set sail in Quest, from England, with the aim of circumnavigating (环航) Antarctica, Shackleton was by now very ill and had suffered at least one heart attack. On 2 January 1922, he wrote in his diary: “I grow old and tired but must always lead on.” Three days later he had a major heart attack and died a few hours later. He is buried on South Georgia, scene of his greatest triumph.

“Shackleton was an inspirational leader. He had an innate sense of what was possible and achievable. He also had a huge personality but led by example. At the same time, he was sensitive to the needs of the individuals he was leading. For example, after Endurance broke up, his men had lost their protection and shelter. Their social fabric had been destroyed. There would have been disagreement. Yet Shackleton succeeded in keeping them together and made sure they survived.”

1. People were overcome with grief when Ernest Shackleton died because          .

A．it was a huge pity that such a brave explorer should have died from a heart attack

B．he was the man that wrote about one of the greatest rescue stories of modern history

C．he came to his entire crew’s rescue and symbolised hope in extreme circumstances

D．there was no one to pray to anymore when disaster came and there was no hope

2. What can we learn about the exhibition?

A．It presents Shackleton’s 1914-16 Endurance expedition with powerful Antarctic photos.

B．It celebrates the 100th anniversary of the great explorer Ernest Shackleton’s birth.

C．It consists of vivid photographs, artefacts, and documentaries of Ernest Shackleton.

D．It is created by Frank Hurley, who witnessed Shackleton’s heroic acts with his own eyes.

3. Which of the following is NOT true about Ernest Shackleton according to the passage?

A．He was the leader of a heroic exploration to the South pole, who died from a heart attack off shore.

B．He saved the crew members of the sunken Endurance by travelling to raise the alarm in a tiny boat.

C．He is universally recognised as the greatest Antarctic explorer who has enjoyed enduring fame.

D．He was inspirational, practical, responsible, sensitive towards his men, but had a strong character.

4. What does “Their social fabric had been destroyed. ” in the last paragraph most probably mean?

A．What they wore would not be accepted by others upon returning.

B．They could no longer socialise with others even if they went back.

C．The ship could not keep them together even if they survived.

D．They could not function socially as they had when there was shelter.

2 . Alarming reports that the Antarctic ice sheet is becoming smaller misrepresent the facts. The ice sheet holds about 26.5 million gigatons(十亿吨)of water. If it were to melt(融化)completely, sea levels would rise 190 feet. Such a change is an issue for the far future, if it comes at all.

Much more modest ice loss is normal in Antarctica. Each year, some 2,200 gigatons of the ice is discharged(消融), while snowfall adds almost the same amount. The difference between the discharge and addition each year is the annual loss. That figure has been increasing, from 40 gigatons a year in the 1980s to 250 gigatons a year in the 2010s. But the increase is just a slight change in a complex process. If it continued at that rate, the sea level would be raised by 3 inches over 100 years.

Many fear that a warming globe could increase discharge and cause more rapid sea-level rise. Two recent studies focus on this issue. Researchers in the study of Thwaites Glacier(冰川)—an unusually broad and fast Antarctic glacier—infer that in the past it became smaller for half a year at more than twice the fastest rate ever observed. The cause of this specific event remains unknown, partly because the time of the rapid melting hasn’t yet been determined. But the media goes with this angle: “A ‘doomsday(末日)glacier’, the size of Florida, is breaking faster than thought.”

A second study tested the idea that the melted freshwater could be carried by currents to speed up the discharge of nearby glaciers. Researchers constructed a special model to prove their idea. If ocean currents can connect the discharges of distant glaciers, that would add to the complexity in the Antarctic ice sheet. To emphasize their idea, researchers used human influences almost three times larger. Even though that fact is stated in the paper, reporters rarely catch such nuance, and the media goes with headlines such as “a massive tsunami would drown New York City, killing millions.” A more accurate headline would read: “Ocean currents connecting Antarctic glaciers might quicken their melting.”

These two studies were conducted with clever methods to infer past conditions and advanced computer modeling to show possible situations. These papers describe the science with appropriate precision and caution, but it is a shame that the media misrepresents the research to raise alarm. That denies the public the right to make informed decisions about “climate action,” as well as the opportunity to be amazed at the science itself.

1. What does the author think of the annual loss of the Antarctic ice sheet?

A．It’s a danger.	B．It’s limited.
C．It changes significantly.	D．It decreases yearly.

2. What can we learn from the two studies?

A．Both studies constructed new models.

B．The Thwaites Glacier melts faster than expected.

C．The complexity of the ocean speeds up the discharge of glaciers.

D．Neither the reason nor the time of the Thwaites Glacier’s melting is known.

3. The underlined phrase “catch such nuance” probably means       .

A．deny the obvious facts	B．pay attention to the difference
C．evaluate the details	D．are serious about the warning

4. What can we conclude from this passage?

A．Antarctic glaciers melting makes sea level rise greatly.

B．Recent studies on the melting ice call for people’s action.

C．Reports of the media on Antarctic glaciers mislead the public.

D．The researches about the glaciers melting raise public awareness.

4 . At the United Nations COP27 climate conference in Egypt, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres claimed that the world is on a “highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator (油门)”. To keep temperature from rising 1. 5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels by 2100, we need to pull a stop on greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, we’d basically have to bring the runaway truck to a complete and immediate stop. Now is the time for us to pull back before it is too late.

The climate pledges (承诺) made by nations at last year’s COP26 conference felt like a positive step in the right direction, but there’s very little doubt that the average temperature rise on Earth will pass the 1. 5-degree mark in the coming decades. Can we limit this overshoot? And how might we do that?

A study, released Thursday in the scientific journal Nature Climate Change, tried to answer those questions by modeling 27 different emissions reduction pathways of varying ambition. It came to an unsurprising conclusion:Countries need to act by increasing the ambition of their climate pledges. And they need to act now.

The 1. 5-degree rise has long been seen as a critical mark in the fight against climate change. Since the signing of the Paris Agreement at COP21 seven years ago, scientists have studied how this level of warming above preindustrial temperatures would affect the Earth. The models they’ve built show we are likely to see more extreme weather events, in addition to glacial melt, sea level rise that threatens many low-lying Pacific nations and significant loss of biodiversity once temperatures push past an increase of 1.5 degrees.

Though the 1. 5-degree target is practically dead, the situation isn’t hopeless. Now more than ever, there’s reason to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting more ambitious goals. However, ambition alone is not enough.We also need action -— investing in renewables and technologies like carbon capture and rapidly transforming our energy systems.

1. What did Antonio Guterres try to do in the first paragraph?

A．Make a request.	B．Issue a warning.
C．Provide a solution.	D．Offer a suggestion.

2. What was the conclusion of the study released in Nature Climate Change?

A．What’s done cannot be undone.

B．Setting a goal is what matters.

C．Action speaks louder than words.

D．Failing to plan is planning to fail.

3. What’s the purpose of the models the scientists have built?

A．To show the consequences of rising temperatures.

B．To predict the problems with extreme weather events.

C．To find the solutions to controlling global warning.

D．To tell the importance of protecting the environment.

4. How does the author end the passage?

A．By sharing confidence and inspiring.

B．By expressing concern and criticizing.

C．By voicing doubts and making complaints.

D．By spreading hope and appealing for action.

5 . Climate change disproportionately affects the world’s most vulnerable people, particularly poor rural communities that depend on the land for their livelihoods and coastal populations throughout the tropics. We have already seen a chain of tough suffering that results from extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires, and more.

For remedies, advocates and politicians have tended to look toward cuts in fossil-fuel use or technologies to capture carbon before it enters the atmosphere—both of which are crucial. But this focus has overshadowed the most powerful and cost-efficient carbon capture technology in the world. Recent research confirms that forests are absolutely essential in reducing climate change, thanks to their ability to absorb and isolate carbon. In fact, natural climate solutions such as conservation and restoration of forests, along with improvements in land management, can help us achieve 37 percent of our climate target of limiting warming to a maximum of two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, even though they currently receive only 2.5 percent of public climate financing.

Forests’ power to store carbon dioxide is staggering: one tree can store an average of about 48 pounds in one year. Intact(完整的)forests could take in the CO₂ emissions of some entire countries.

For this reason, policymakers and business leaders must create and enforce policies to prevent deforestation, foster, reforestation of degraded land, and promote the sustainable management of standing forests in the fight against climate change. Protecting the world’s forests ensures they can keep performing essential functions such as producing oxygen, filtering water and supporting biodiversity. Not only does the world’s entire population depend on forests to provide clean air, clean water, oxygen and medicines, but 1.6 billion people also rely on them directly for their livelihoods.

Unfortunately, a huge amount of forest continues to be converted into agricultural land to produce a handful of resource-intensive commodities - despite zero-deforestation commitments from companies and governments. So now is the time to increase forest protection and restoration. This action will also address a number of other pressing global issues. For example, in less developed, rural areas - especially in the tropics - community-based forest-management programs can forge pathways out of poverty. In the Peten region of Guatemala, for instance, community-managed forests boasted a near-zero deforestation rate from 2000 through 2013, as compared with 12 percent in nearby protected areas and buffer(缓冲)zones. These communities have built low-impact, sustainable forest-based businesses that have stimulated the economy of the region enough to fund the creation of local schools and health services. Their success is especially noticeable in a location where, outside these community-managed zones, deforestation rates have increased 20-fold.

1. Which of the following statements about natural climate solutions is true according to the passage?

A．They are the only effective strategies available to address the climate change.

B．They pale in comparison with the reduction in fossil-fuel use or technologies.

C．They can and should play a more important role in cutting carbon emissions.

D．They manage to limit warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

2. The word “staggering” (Paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to “_________”.

A．documented	B．incredible
C．unsteady	D．negligible

3. Which of the following statements is the author most likely to agree with?

A．The policies to prevent deforestation have borne fruit.

B．Developed countries are hit the hardest by climate change.

C．Economic growth contributes a lot to reducing deforestation.

D．Some governments fail to keep their promises to preserve forests.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Keeping forests undamaged can go a long way toward saving the planet.

B．A high-tech climate fix is required to dramatically lessen global warming.

C．Governments should work together with businesses to stop deforestation.

D．Sustainable management of forests is crucial in powering regional development.

6 . 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。

With about half of the vast country covered in wilderness, China is the world’s third most species-rich country. Therefore, China’s     1    (achieve) in biodiversity conservation and wilderness protection are important to the future of global biodiversity conservation.

The vital biodiversity,     2    (combine) with a large population, has led the government to reconsider its protected area system and transform some wilderness areas such as the rainforest in Hainan     3    formal national parks. The new national park system will make it more practical     4    (preserve) habitats and species. The aim is to preserve biodiversity and ensure a     5    (harmony) relation between humans and nature.

The national parks cross China’s vast ecosystems, from the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in the south     6    the Hainan gibbon—a critically endangered species lives, the Giant Panda National Park, the Northeast Tiger and Leopard National Park, the Wuyi Mountain National Park to the Sanjiangyuan National Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Platau—    7    source of the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Lancang River. The diversity of species and habitats under protection     8    (reflect) in these parks’ names.

The national parks are open to all. Visitors can make reservations online in advance     9    book on the spot. They should acquire a little local knowledge to get     10     (they) ready for the amazing trip and maximize their enjoyment.

7 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Meet the Islands

Located 86 km north-east of Bougainville in the South Pacific, the Carteret Islands of Papua New Guinea are composed of low-lying islands     1     (distribute) in a horseshoe shape, with a total land area of 0.6 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 1.5 meters above sea level.

The Carteret Islands are believed     2     (inhabit) for more than one thousand years. Few places are as calm, peaceful and beautiful as the seaside here on a calm day. People are very     3     (welcome), gentle, and calm. There’s no phone network, shops, computers, roads, cars, or motorbikes. Food is cooked on open fires. People here live sustainably. They don’t overfish or pollute, making no contribution to the warming of our planet. However, they are feeling the consequences of the climate change.

Now, as the land     4     (swallow) by the rising sea, the islanders are faced with an uncertain future. Storms and high tides wash away homes, destroy vegetable gardens and pollute fresh water supplies. The trees on the island are also being impacted by the saltwater. The beach exists     5     fertile soil once did.     6     the coral and seagrasses die, so do the breeding areas for fish. Many seawalls have been built     7     with little success. The islands have gradually become uninhabitable.

The Carteret islanders are labelled as the world’s first official climate-change refugees, as they are forced to abandon their homelands     8     food shortages, rising sea levels, sinking shorelines, and the dangers of storms and tides. In front of     9     is the choice whether to stay and watch the islands shrink and slowly disappear or try to rebuild their community somewhere else. Yet, the relocation is not a move embraced by most, and some are unhappy living away from their home, and have returned after struggling to adapt. On the other hand, relocation will be a great challenge to the preservation of the identity and culture of the Carteret islanders.

The Carteret Islanders’ story illustrates how small island states and coastal communities fall victim     10     rising sea levels caused by climate change. The Carteret Islanders, with a carbon footprint among the lowest in the world, will be among the first to have to leave their homes because of rising seas caused by emissions from other nations.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman doing to help the environment?

A．Joining a garden club.

B．Volunteering at a recycling center.

C．Starting a university club.

2. Who is the woman planning to meet with?

A．The university president.

B．Teachers who drive to campus.

C．The public transportation committee.

3. According to the woman, when would more people take the bus?

A．When it was less expensive.

B．When it was more convenient.

C．When it was required.

4. What does the woman believe?

A．Many people care about the environment.

B．The man’s behavior is harmful to the environment.

C．Students don’t know much about the environment.

9 . If you’re looking for something fun to do, pack a picnic dinner and take your family or friends to a beautiful place to eat. However, there’s a wrong trend to view picnics as an excuse to transport food in single-use plastic containers. Sure, it means the cleanup is easy at the moment, but it just puts it off to a later point, when it takes the form of volunteer cleanups and landfill management.     1     What follows is advice on how to pack such a picnic.

●Use food containers smartly

Using reusable containers is the easiest way to reduce waste.     2     For example, to reduce packaging, you can take along things like a loaf of bread, a whole watermelon, whole vegetables, a knife and a board to cut your food when you’re ready to eat. It doesn’t all have to be done and sealed (密封) before you leave the house.

●Choose real cutlery (餐具)

Using washable dishes and cutlery for a picnic does not require much more work than single-use ones.

You’d have to carry the waste out anyway in a trash bag, so why not pack your dirty plates and cutlery into a bag and put them in the dishwasher at home?     3    

●Think about the drinks

Forget the single-use, single-serve drink bottles.     4     Fill a large thermos (保温瓶) or personal water bottles with water, juice or lemonade at home. Compared with a single-use plastic cup, they have the added advantage of keeping your drinks colder for longer.

●Put cloth bags to good use

Cloth bags are amazing. I use them for so much more than just buying food at the store. They’re perfect for packing sandwiches, dried or whole fruit, and other snack foods. You can use them to pack glasses or plates to prevent breaking. They can also work as a napkin, tea towel, or trash bag if needed.     5    

A．Be sure to add a few to your picnic basket.

B．There are some healthy dishes you can make or buy.

C．To avoid this, a plastic-free picnic can be a brilliant idea.

D．If you’re worried about breaking, take some light camping plates.

E．Instead, just bring along a cloth tablecloth to spread on the ground.

F．These create a huge amount of waste, which can be easily avoided.

G．In addition, keep in mind that you don’t have to pre-pack everything.