1 . Macquarie Island is a tiny island that’s part of Australia. It’s about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. The island’s been made a world heritage area because it’s so untouched, but this unique environment is under threat from some unwanted visitors.

It all started when seal hunters came to the island in the early 1800s. They brought rabbits with them as a source of food for the journey, and also on board the ships were rats and mice, which made their way onto the island too. They’re being blamed for destroying the homes of marine birds, causing soil loss and ripping up plant cover, as these before-and-after photos show.

So what’s being done about the problem? It starts with a team of helicopters that fly across the island carrying these giant containers. Inside them are poisoned pellets (有毒饲料) which are dropped and spread across the island. For any rabbits that survived the baiting (诱饵) , there’s a plan B. This special team of dogs is being put through a final training. It’ll be their job to track down any remaining rabbits. They have to also learn to behave around the island’s native wildlife. The dogs could be here for years or until the task is complete. The dogs don’t actually kill the rabbits. They find them, then the hunters decide to either catch the rabbits or shoot them.

But the program has received a bit of criticism. Some people argue 25 million dollars is a lot of money to be spending on wiping out rabbits and rodents (啮齿目动物), and in the process, some native birds will be killed because of the baiting.

The reality is the problem isn’t going to be solved overnight. The people running the program say that even if one pair of rabbits is left alive, the whole task will be seen as a failure, which means these guys could be here for a long time, trying to ensure that this precious island remains protected from pests.

1. Who are these unwanted visitors?

A．Seal hunters.

B．Marine wildlife.

C．Native birds.

D．Foreign species.

2. What do the underlined words “ripping up” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Advancing.

B．Destroying.

C．Dividing

D．Balancing

3. What is being done to solve the problem of unwanted visitors on Macquarie Island?

A．Poisoned pellets are being dropped on the island from helicopters.

B．A team of hunters is being trained to catch or shoot rabbits.

C．Native birds are being protected from the unwanted visitors.

D．A special team of dogs is being sent to kill the rabbits.

4. What is the goal of the program?

A．To spend as little money as possible.

B．To protect native birds from the unwanted visitors.

C．To ensure that no pair of rabbits survive on the island.

D．To train dogs to track down the rabbits on the island.

2 . 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 Voyager Program was conceived as a grand tour of the solar system. It was actually     1     engineer in the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that realized in the late ‘70s there was going to be a     2     (gold) opportunity. And that was     3     the planets were all going to more or less line up on one side of the sun. And that’s really important when you’re trying to explore one planet after another, because of course all the planets in the solar system are orbiting     4     (independent). Sometimes we’re on, say, the same side of the sun as Jupiter is     5     sometimes Jupiter is way on the other side of the sun from us, you know, many, many, many billions of miles away. So, there was this time coming in the late ’70s       6     you could launch a spacecraft and it could actually go to Jupiter, but then onto Saturn, because they were both on the same side of the sun, and you could even possibly get Uranus and Neptune and maybe even Pluto.

The fly-by trips     7     (involve) the four planets became known as the Voyager “Grand Tour.” And this was the Voyager program: Voyager I and Voyager II. NASA officials have said that when first     8     (launch), the Voyager mission was expected to last five years. Both Voyagers are the only spacecraft so far     9     (explore) interstellar (星际的) space. And over the last couple of years, we     10     (follow) them through this transition truly out of the range of our solar system.

3 . 假定你是李华，请根据下面的提示用英语写一篇周记，记述你在太空探索时候遇到外星人的一次经历。内容如下：
1.周四晚上遇到一个外星人（个子矮、头和眼睛很大、棕色皮肤）；
2.乘坐UFO，遨游太空，欣赏夜景；
3.你的感受。
注意:1.词数80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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4 . Must-See Destinations in 2024

Are you ready to explore the world in 2024? Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.

Spain

Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.

Montenegro

Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.

Croatia

Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Poreč are just waiting to be explored...

South Africa

Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.

With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.

1. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common?

A．They are both praised by tourists.

B．They both have world heritage cities.

C．They are known for their architectures.

D．They both own beaches and rich history.

2. Which destination will attract people who are interested in creatures?

A．Spain.	B．South Africa.
C．Montenegro.	D．Croatia.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A website.	B．A guidebook.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

5 . 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。

For generations, Babusha,     1     is on the southern edge of the Tengger Desert, was troubled by sandstorms that frequently buried farmland, often leaving nothing to harvest.

Today, the desert’s southward spread has been stopped thanks to a green belt ten kilometers in     2     (long) and eight kilometers in width,     3     (plant) by Guo Wangang and his colleagues.

Guo’s father was one of the six men who first began planting trees in Babusha     4     (prevent) their land from being buried in 1981. When he     5     (force) to stop in 1983 due to poor health, Guo quit his job in the city and followed in his father’s rootsteps because he didn’t want to see the trees die. A deadly sandstorm in 1993 which claimed 23 students’     6     (life) firmed his resolve, turning Guo into     7     stubborn soldier, unwilling to give up the fight. “I asked     8     (I) that if we couldn’t protect our farmland or our children, how were we supposed to keep going?” Guo recalled. “That’s when I made up my mind to devote my life to this fight.”

Year after year, Guo and his colleagues have continued to plant trees each spring and fall,     9     (watch) out for fire and pruning (修剪) them in the winter. The vegetation coverage rate in Babusha has increased     10     less than 3 percent to 70 percent and the desert no longer moves further south.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

A few years ago when I was looking for a small dog to add to our family, I contacted the local SPCA(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and got the name of a woman who was fostering(领养，代养) some rescued Maltese dogs for them. I called the woman, and my husband and I drove to her home. As I looked around, I noticed a cute Maltese named Casper. My husband and I decided we would like to adopt him.

The foster mom asked us if there were any way we would open our hearts to Casper’s friend, Kato, as well. She told us that the two boys, who had only each other for comfort, had recently been rescued from a puppy farm, where they had spent the first seven years of their lives. When the local SPCA shut down the puppy farm and seized all the dogs, Kato and Casper had been put in her foster home.

She told us that when she first picked them up, their fur was in such terrible shape that they hardly looked like Maltese dogs. They were brown, whose fur was wet and dirty, and their paws were swollen. For seven years, they were locked in a dark doghouse and the only human contact these boys had was when they were thrown their food.

Hearing all this, I turned and looked down at the little Maltese named Kato. But he’s so ugly, I thought. And he isn’t even friendly. He barked angrily when we looked at him. When I reached for him, he pushed himself against the back wall of his doghouse, whispering. Still, I felt a tig at my heart and agreed to take Kato also. As we drove home, my husband and I worried that maybe we’d taken on too much. We’d never had dogs that had been so abused(虐待) for such a longtime.

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。

The first day at our home was very difficult for the two dogs.

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Though difficult, I did everything I could think of to help these dogs.

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7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号中单词的正确形式。

Hangzhou, located in the north of Zhejiang province, is one of the seven ancient     1     (capital) of China. As a core city of the Yangtze River Delta, Hangzhou     2     (be)one of the most prosperous cities in China for more than 1, 000 years, and is home     3     a lot of natural attractions.

The West Lake is definitely a place people can never miss when visiting Hangzhou. The lake itself cowers 6 square kilometres, and some of Hangzhou’s most famous scenic places     4     (include). You can just walk along the Nanshan and Beishan roads, take a ferry on the boat to the islands on the lake,     5     simply sit in a lakeside teahouse.

Hefang Street is where you can experience how Hangzhou     6     (look) when it was the capital of China. The emperors’ palace was once located on the street,     7     (make) it the economic and political center of the city. Most of the shops there have     8     history of more than 100 years.

The Xixi wetland is not only China’s first national wetland park, but also a natural haven from the busy city life,     9     is listed as a cultural treasure.

As UNESCO says on its     10     (office) website, “With its famous natural beauty and cultural heritage, Hangzhou has already become one of the most important tourist venues in China.”

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is Tom doing?

A．Preparing for a speech.

B．Reading some online news.

C．Looking at pictures of wildlife.

2. Why was the 3-mile fence created?

A．To decorate the busy highway.

B．To make the bridge look natural.

C．To guide animals toward the bridge.

3. What do we know about the bridge?

A．It is under construction.

B．It has been used by animals.

C．It has got no traffic for a long time.

4. When will the speakers set off?

A．At 3:00 pm.

B．At 3:30 pm.

C．At 4:00 pm.

9 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容或括号内所给词的恰当形式填空。

Macquarie Island was a beautiful place where its native    1     (inhabit), including royal penguins, king penguins, and elephant seals, existed in harmony     2    their natural habitat for thousands of years. However, in 1810, humans arrived on the island with rats and mice. These small animals quickly took over the island，    3     (eat) the birds’ eggs and attacking baby birds. Cats were brought to control the rats and mice, but they also enjoyed eating birds. Meanwhile, the     4     (explode) rabbit population provided food for the cats,     5     ( mean) that the number of cats also increased rapidly.

10 . There’s nothing quite like a winter wonderland. When the snow falls and the lakes and ponds freeze over, there’s a certain magical chocolate-box feeling to the world that ironically makes us feel cozy inside. However, it might be different for some of our pets.     1    . Even those animals who don’t mind a frosty walk or a house that’s cooler than usual may need some protection from the elements for their own good. As a pet owner, you’ll undoubtedly make sure that your pets are comfortable and properly winterized.

• Keep the walks brief

    2    . If it gets cold enough for you to need a coat, know that your dog is probably also feeling the chill. Therefore, mind the length of walks when the winter is just coming.

•     3    

If your dog is shivering a lot, it isn’t a bad idea to give them a blanket or a warmer bed. Avoid electrically heated blankets and pads as some pups might not realize when it gets too hot.

• Wrap them up in the right clothes

Make sure the clothes you choose fit them properly and don’t have any dangling bits they could swallow.     4    , if your dog is truly uncomfortable putting on clothes.

• Watch out for dangerous snow

Salt and antifreeze on sidewalks are potentially deadly to pets.     5    . If they are OK with it, put them in booties and avoid problems together.

A．It takes a dog about ten days to adjust to any temperature change

B．Give them a heat source

C．Don’t force it to get dressed

D．Take your dog out even in cold weather

E．Compare and purchase the soft clothes for it

F．Make sure you wipe your pup’s feet after every walk

G．The prospect of facing the winter cold may not be so inviting