1 . Animal appear to predict earthquakes by sensing electricity in the air — the first study to find reliable evidence of the phenomenon has shown.
Cameras revealed an “amazing” drop in the number of animals up to 23 days before a major quake hit their rainforest home at Yanachaga National Park in Peru. Lead scientist Dr Rachel Grant, from Anglia Ruskin University, said, “The results showed that just before the earthquake, animals’ activity dropped right down.”
On a normal day the cameras placed around Yanachaga National Park record between 5 and 15 animals. But in the 23 days before the earthquake, the number of animals dropped to five or fewer per day. No animals were photographed at all on five of the seven days immediately before the quake.
Another study showed that animal activity remained normal in the park over a different period when seismic (地震的) activity was low. Co-author, professor Friedemann Freund, said, “The cameras were located at an altitude of 900 meters. If air ionization occurred, the animals would escape to the valley below, where there were fewer positive ions ( 离子). With their ability to sense their environment, animals can help us understand small changes that occur before major earthquakes.”
Other evidence suggested that before the earthquake, the air around the high mountain sites filled with positive ions that can be produced when rocks are placed under stress. Positive ions have been known to cause ill effects in humans as well as animals. Scientists believe the animals were made to feel uncomfortable by the positive ions, leading them to avoid the area. They are thought to have escaped to lower ground, where the air was less ionized. The findings may help experts develop better short-term seismic forecasts.
1. How did scientists conduct the study?| A．By comparing different animals’ habits. |
| B．By observing animals in high mountains. |
| C．By explaining the positive ion phenomenon. |
| D．By analyzing images of animals they obtained. |
| A．The ground at a lower altitude is less ionized. |
| B．Cameras normally record more animals per day. |
| C．Earthquake warnings can be detected in lower places. |
| D．The activity of animals and earthquakes is consistent. |
| A．The findings make for accurate seismic forecast. |
| B．Animals tend to be uneasy with more positive ions. |
| C．Positive ions make humans and animals depressed. |
| D．All the animals remain abnormal before the earthquake. |
| A．Negative Influence of Positive Ions. |
| B．Ions’ Destruction to the Environment. |
| C．Animals’ Behavior Before Earthquakes. |
| D．Creatures’ Ability to Predict Earthquakes. |
One day, while Sutter surfed the Internet watching some videos of cute animals with his mom, he came across a story posted by the local animal shelter (收容所). It explained that there was a cat, which was named Hazel by the workers, living in the shelter and needing help.
The workers found the cat at a transfer station where garbage and other waste are sorted. At first, the workers thought Hazel was just looking for food. But they later discovered that the back legs of the cat were injured. What was worse, after a physical examination, they found the bones of the cat were broken and that necrosis — meaning the death of cells in some part of the body — had set in. The workers thought Hazel would need surgery (手术) to get better. So they called on the community to raise money for the cat.
That was when Sutter got to work. After he knew the story about the poor cat in his community, the nine-year-old cat lover said to his mom,“I just can’t stop thinking about the cat. It is in urgent need of surgery. I want to raise money to help the cat.”Hearing those words, Sutter’ s mother was happy that her son was a kind-hearted boy and decided to help him.
Then Sutter came up with a good idea: making use of the power of cinnamon buns ( 肉桂卷). He knew if there was anything that could get the community members to empty their pockets, it would be this sweet treat: cinnamon buns. Then he and his mom started baking cinnamon buns, and his mom posted Sutter’s efforts on a social media page. Knowing Sutter’s good intention, the whole community reached out and donated money to Sutter. Finally, Sutter was able to raise $850 in total. Then Sutter and his mom gladly went to the animal shelter and dropped the money there.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
With the money, Hazel was able to receive the surgery.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Since adopting Hazel, Sutter has done a lot to help it recover.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Malachi Bradley doesn’t show signs of being panicked or worried when he talks about how he spent 29 hours lost in a rough area of the High Uintas. “I didn’t really feel scared. I was just trying to get back to my family,” the 10-year-old said Tuesday in a quiet, almost matter-of-fact way just one day after he was rescued. When asked what happened to him, he simply replied: “A lot of things. I hiked a long way.”
Malachi confidently believes he could have survived two or three weeks on his own, dressed in only his jeans and his shoes, and with no food, tent or blankets. But the look in the eyes of Malachi’s father, Danny Bradley, told a different story, one of much deeper concern, when he realized his son was missing. “It’s a horrible feeling, just knowing how vast the Uinta Mountains are,” he said, “I quickly felt how severe the situation was.”
Malachi recalled his great adventure Tuesday. He showed no signs of going without food for a day or sleeping between rocks for an hour at night to block the cold wind. But he admitted when he got home to his own bed on Monday night that he was asleep within a minute of his head hitting his pillow and stayed there for 12 hours.
His adventure began Sunday when Malachi, his father, two siblings(兄弟姐妹), and a family friend were about to leave their campsite near Paul Lake to go home. “We were just going to cook up a fish he caught and head out, and,” Danny Bradley paused, “it ended up being a lot longer.”
Malachi said he went to look for mushrooms about 10:30 a.m. He had just walked a long way when he encountered a snake. He was so frightened that he decided to get back but he could no longer see the lake where his campsite was set up. He knew he was lost.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Malachi didn’t have his whistle with him that he normally carries in case he gets lost when exploring.
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But on Monday afternoon, Malachi took off his shoes to take a break in an open area and heard another helicopter nearby.
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“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes…”
Danny sang while his fingers pressed and pulled skillfully at the guitar strings, delivering a slow and peaceful tune. A circle of audience had formed, nodding and moving slowly to the song.
Lying at the feet of the street performer was his most adoring fan: One-Eyed, a white stray (流浪) dog with pieces of brown. Danny felt the name was suitable considering its physical disability. Usually, One-Eyed would bark loudly as Danny performed. Much to his annoyance, people often mistook the pair as owner and pet. At this time, Danny would reply, “My dog? No!”, eyes rolling at the idea. How he wished the dog would leave him alone instead!
On a snowy night, while Danny was performing, a bird flew downward, landing into the midst of the crowd. It cooed happily as if to harmonize with Danny. Unfortunately, that did not sit well with One-Eyed, which immediately bounced at it and the bird flew away desperately.
The unexpected chaos upturned Danny's hat, which could have been filled with notes and coins from his appreciative audience, leaving it ignored on the ground. "Argh! The hateful dog!” Danny broke down, thinking to himself, “Either the dog goes or I go!”
On the next night, Danny tried to find a new place and chanced upon the park. For a while his earnings were good unsurprisingly as there was a steady flow of visitors. However, that didn't last long. One-Eyed came along and appointed itself as Danny's guardian. "Argh! Here comes the hateful dog again!" That night, Danny hadn't made enough money he should have, all thanks to the troublesome dog.
Danny was almost mad with One-Eyed. “What should I do? Call an animal shelter?” Torn by this problem, he walked aimlessly by the lake of the park. With all his mind focused on how to get rid of the dog, Danny didn't watch his steps. Suddenly, he slipped and fell into the lake accidentally. Struggling in the icy water, he cried for help desperately, almost choking to death. Sensing the approach of death, Danny got into overwhelming panic.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Just then, a familiar barking was heard in the distance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“My hero! Thank you for saving me,” Danny said gratefully with watery eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . As the world seeks to slow the pace of climate change and preserve wildlife, trees undoubtedly hold a major part of the answer. Yet the mass destruction of trees--deforestation-continues, sacrificing （牺牲）the long-term benefits of standing trees for short-term gain.
So, what are the factors leading to deforestation? Farming, animal raising, mining, and drilling combined account for more than half of all deforestation.
Luckily, a movement is under way to preserve existing forest ecosystems and restore lost tree cover. Organizations and activists are working to fight illegal mining and logging. As consumers, it makes sense to look for sustainably produced sources.
| A．Yet the effects of deforestation reach much farther. |
| B．Globally, forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. |
| C．Wildfires and urbanization also account for a small part, |
| D．Deforestation affects people and animals and even the wider world. |
| E．With these joint efforts, many conservationists see reasons for hope. |
| F．Deforestation is responsible for around 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. |
| G．Some deforestation is caused by a combination of human and natural factors. |
