1 . A small car around the size of a Mini Cooper, the Seagull is a fast-charging electric vehicle (车辆) (EV) produced by BYD. It’s hardly a luxury car but it’s well-equipped, with a power driver’s seat and cruise control. The best part? Its base model costs about $10,700 in China. That’s about a third of the cost of the cheapest EV you can buy in the US. In 2018, Trump put, and Biden has since continued, a special 25 percent tax on Chinese-made cars, on top of the ordinary 2.5 percent tax on foreign-made cars, which perfectly shows that however motivated the Biden government might be by climate concerns, it is much more motivated by a desire to help American carmakers.

The basic environmental argument for electric cars is simple: Burning petrol in internal combustion enginest (内燃机) produces CO₂. Electric cars emit (排放) less per mile traveled both because some electricity is generated through clean sources like wind, solar, and because electric motors are far more efficient than petrol engines. EVs are slightly more carbon-intensive (密集) to produce in the first place, but most estimates suggest the lower per-mile emissions of EVs quickly make up for the extra emissions involved in their creation.

But is this still true for Chinese EVs? China still gets more than 60 percent of its electricity from coal, compared to less than 20 percent in the US. So, does this mean that BYD’s cheap EVs are bad for the environment? Hardly. Close to 90 percent of the emissions of a fossil fuel vehicle (化石燃料汽车) are from the combustion of the fuel. Besides, EVs of whatever origin are getting cleaner over time as the electrical grid (电网) gets cleaner. That means EVs will do even more for the environment as the years go on.

The biggest factor for China is that they control all the upstream material supply chain for lithium batteries (锂电池). Even if your EV’s battery is made by a plant of Panasonic in the US, the raw materials for that are processed in China first. “Part of why they’re so successful is they’ve been thinking outside the box on cost reduction for a long time,” an expert says.

1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?

A．Chinese EVs are a threat to American electric cars.

B．American government has placed a ban on Chinese EVs.

C．The seagull provides luxury experience at a reasonable price.

D．Climate concerns are the only driver of EV development in the US.

2. What does the author think of EVs?

A．They are no better than typical gas vehicles.

B．Their power is generated in green ways.

C．They are eco-friendly in the long run.

D．Their production causes no pollution.

3. What is the advantage of Chinese EV industry?

A．Lower carbon emission.	B．The advanced technology.
C．The low budget marketing.	D．The control of raw materials for batteries.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．EVs: opportunity and challenge.	B．Chinese EVs: powering ahead.
C．Green cars: a long way to go.	D．Petrol vehicles: faded glory.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What has the highest temperature been in Argentina?

A．About 45 degrees Celsius.

B．About 42 degrees Celsius.

C．About 31 degrees Celsius.

2. How did Jose Casabal cool his children down?

A．By turning on an air conditioning for them.

B．By asking them to drink much water.

C．By taking them to do a water sport.

3. What is Lucas Berengua?

A．A weather expert.

B．A local leader.

C．A weatherman.

3 . Asian short-clawed otters (水獭) can teach each other how to solve puzzles to get food, according to a new study that took place in England. The research also showed that these cute animals have a good long-term memory —they could remember how to solve the puzzles even after several months.

Scientists from University of Exeter observed groups of Asian short-clawed otters in different places. They gave each group a selection of transparent (透明的) containers with meatball treats inside. Each box could be opened by twisting or pulling a particular lid or handle.

To get the food, the otters had to solve the puzzle of how to open the containers. The otters had two attempts at the puzzle several months apart. The researchers found that if one otter cracked the puzzle, its closest friends quickly solved it, too. The findings provide evidence of “social learning”—animals can learn from each other.

The scientists also found that on average the otters solved puzzles 69% faster the second time. It means that they can remember the details of how each puzzle works. “Our study is the first to show evidence of social learning and long-term memory in Asian short-clawed otters, which may be good news in terms of their adaptability and future survival,” said Alex Saliveros, lead author of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on Penryn Campus in Cornwall.

Saliveros says the findings are important, because Asian short-clawed otters are declining in the wild, partly due to overfishing and pollution affecting the crustaceans and small fish they feed on. The discovery that the otters are able to find food in new ways and to pass on that knowledge toothers could be significant to their long-term survival.

1. What task did the scientists set for the otters?

A．Separating one container from another.	B．Finding ways to break the containers.
C．Opening the containers to get the food.	D．Picking out meatballs from different containers.

2. What can be inferred about the otters from Paragraph 3?

A．They had to remember the puzzles.	B．They learned from human society.
C．They solved unfamiliar puzzles faster.	D．They passed on knowledge to others.

3. Why are the findings significant according to Alex Saliveros?

A．Asian otters solve puzzles faster.

B．Findings reveal decline in otter population.

C．Otters have strong physical strength and hunting skills.

D．Social learning and good memory is good for otters’ survival.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．Asian short-clawed otters love puzzles	B．Puzzled otters learn from each other
C．Pollution reduces otters’ food	D．Animals can pass knowledge

4 . Unless you’ve been faithfully bringing reusable shopping bags to the store, you probably grab the plastic bags waiting for customers at the checkout. You’re not alone.

About 100 billion plastic bags are used in the U. S. each year. Unfortunately, single-use plastic bags have serious consequences once our trip to the store is over. Less than 10% of plastic bags used in the U. S. are recycled, leaving the rest to end up in landfills (垃圾填埋场), and polluting soil, oceans and other natural habitats.

To fight pollution and other environmental problems, major companies are taking steps to get rid of the use of plastic shopping bags. If you’re a frequent customer at Walmart, don’t be surprised if you notice the plastic bags disappearing over the next few months. Last summer, Walmart announced its goal to be a zero-waste company — meaning no more plastic bags.

But Walmart has announced its Beyond the Bag, an initiative (倡议) working to explore reusable options and “reimagine” the plastic bag. Target and CVS are also on board as founding partners of Beyond the Bag, and so far, the three brands have invested $15 million to come up with a brand-new bag design.

The initiative also started the Beyond the Bag challenge, giving innovators (创新者) a chance to share their ideas. The challenge ran throughout the summer of 2020, and nine winners from over 450 submissions were selected. From a station supplying reusable bag in-store to a new and improved paper bag, the winning designs cover a lot of bases. Each product now has the chance to be tested with funding from the initiative.

While a final replacement for plastic bags at Walmart has yet to be decided, there’s a more sustainable future on the horizon. And if you want to start reducing your use of plastic bags right now, check out our list of reusable bags to bring on your next shopping trip.

1. What does the author mean by saying “You’re not alone” in the first paragraph?

A．Reusable shopping bags are becoming more popular.

B．Customers need to wait for long at the checkout.

C．Some people are waiting in the line with you.

D．Many people use plastic bags when shopping.

2. What does the author want to tell us in Paragraph 2?

A．Single-use plastic bags cause severe environmental problems.

B．Supermarkets should stop providing single-use plastic bags.

C．Single-use plastic bags should be more widely recycled.

D．More landfills should be built to deal with plastic bags.

3. Why does Walmart want to start Beyond the Bag?

A．To attract more customers.	B．To provide more plastic bags.
C．To set a good example to Target and CVS.	D．To make shopping more environmentally friendly.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．People pay more attention to environmental protection.

B．Walmart is getting rid of single-use plastic bags.

C．Reusable paper bags are becoming more popular.

D．Free plastic bags have become a thing of the past.

5 . A teenager encountered a helpless bumblebee (大黄蜂) and _________ it. It’s now a loyal _________ of hers.

It all started two weeks ago when Lacey Shillinglaw, 13, found the large bumblebee _________ in the road while walking her dog. She _________ the bee and noticed it had a broken wing.

She tried to put it in a _________   spot, on some flowers in a nearby park, but it _________ to stay put. It buzzed back over to Lacey and crawled all over her, and after an hour she _________ and headed home with the creature on her shoulder.

Despite repeated _________ to leave the insect outside, it has refused to leave Lacey’s side. At night Lacey puts it in a little pot beside her bed, and while there is no lid, the animal stays put until morning when Lacey is _________. Lacey takes it into the __________ to feast on nectar (花蜜). However, as soon as the teen goes back inside, it is right beside her. “It’s completely lovely. It’s on her 90% of the time during the day. We have all the doors open a lot and it just never __________,” said Lacey’s mother.

“I’m so happy and I just __________   spending my time with her,” said the girl. “It’s so lovely and I love our   __________.”

Though Lacey’s story is very touching, female bumblebees may attack if they feel they are __________. So next time you see a (n) __________ bumblebee, make sure you’ll not get attacked if you want to help.

1.

A．trained

B．released

C．fed

D．saved

2.

A．helper

B．pet

C．supporter

D．guardian

3.

A．struggling

B．flying

C．resting

D．dancing

4.

A．followed

B．hunted

C．passed

D．approached

5.

A．wider

B．farther

C．safer

D．deeper

6.

A．failed

B．refused

C．tried

D．learned

7.

A．gave up

B．showed off

C．ran away

D．went off

8.

A．requests

B．suggestions

C．attempts

D．warnings

9.

A．in

B．up

C．out

D．down

10.

A．school

B．street

C．kitchen

D．garden

11.

A．left

B．knocked

C．landed

D．returned

12.

A．mind

B．enjoy

C．imagine

D．avoid

13.

A．friendship

B．dream

C．growth

D．choice

14.

A．in order

B．in need

C．in danger

D．in charge

15.

A．wild

B．unusual

C．native

D．injured

6 . Monarch butterflies (帝王蝶) are edging dangerously close to extinction despite a decision late last year to remove the orange-and-black insects from the endangered species list, a new study has found.

An annual survey led by the World Wildlife Fund(WWF)of the species wintering in central Mexico found the second-lowest number of monarch butterflies on record, meaning they took up just 2.2 acres of regional forests, 59% less than during the 2022 — 2023 winter season. The findings are troubling to scientists determined to protect the species.

Each year, monarch butterflies migrate (迁徙) thousands of miles from southern Canada and the northern and central US to the mountain forests of central Mexico. They require a large and healthy forest to protect them from winds, rain and low temperatures in the areas where they migrate for winter. Yet because of heat and drought brought on by climate change, scientists say, their natural habitat is quickly depleting. Scientists with the WWF considered this winter season’s findings serious and said they represented the second-smallest area taken up by monarch butterflies in Mexico since 1993.

What’s worse, in recent years, their breeding areas in Canada and the US have seen a reduction in milkweed leaves where female monarch butterflies lay their eggs. “Land-use changes in the United States, combined with the widespread use of chemicals, also contributed to the loss of milkweed and other plants that adult monarch butterflies feed on,” the WWF said.

Monarch butterflies play an important role in maintaining plant ecosystems and are also an important food source for birds, small animals and other insects, according to the National Park Service. It’s necessary that all governments, communities, scientists, and others continue to strengthen our protection efforts to support their unique migration.

1. Why do monarch butterflies fly to central Mexico each year?

A．To spend winter.	B．To lay eggs.
C．To search for shelter.	D．To escape from enemies.

2. What does the underlined word “depleting” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Shifting.

B．Disappearing.

C．Recovering.

D．Increasing.

3. What may have nothing to do with the reduction in monarch butterflies’ number?

A．The loss of food sources.

B．The widespread use of chemicals.

C．The land-use changes in the United States.

D．The threat of being eaten by other animals.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To raise people’s awareness about climate change.

B．To call for more measures to protect monarch butterflies.

C．To inform people of the serious situation of monarch butterflies.

D．To prove monarch butterflies should be on the endangered species list.

7 . We hear a lot about plastic polluting our ocean waters. Some of us have even made it a habit to avoid using plastic straws for the sake of turtles and other sea animals. Although these small acts of consideration go a long way, ocean waters still remain a threatening experience for sea life.

A helpless dolphin in Bali, Indonesia, experienced the unkindness of human negligence (疏忽) but luckily came across a few good people who saved it. The clean-up workers of 4ocean was cleaning up plastic from ocean garbage patches (垃圾带) when their boat touched a do lphin stuck in a ghost net — a fishing line left in the ocean. The workers immediately stopped their clean-up and carefully brought the dolphin onto the boat. The net was tied around the dolphin’s mouth and tail, causing it serious injuries. The workers cut through the line. The dolphin was then set free, but it paused for a few seconds as a kind of possible appreciation before swimming away. The video of the amazing rescue was uploaded on their social media and has been viewed 1. 1m illion times within a month.

The workers were Risallah, NurWahyudi, Mujtahidin and Husnan Sidik. “I was shaking when I touched the dolphin. I was afraid we hurt it more when we cut the fishing line,” said Mujtahidin. “It was a shocking moment,” continued Nur Wahyudi. Cameraman Husnan Sidik added, “As the cameraman, this is one of the greatest moments. We won’t experience this every day. We have the chance to free the dolphin and I’m sure the d lphin is also happy.”

The sea life needs as much help as we can offer. 4ocean is a task-driven company whose members aims to end the ocean plastic crisis (危机). It has removed 30 million pounds of rubbish from the world’s waterways, setting a new record. It hires locals from the worst affected areas of the ocean plastic disaster and gives them a full-time income and many benefits. The team is known to help both animals and humans.

1. Which word can best describe the workers’ rescue?

A．Awkward.

B．Complex.

C．Worrying.

D．Touching.

2. What were the 4ocean members talking about in paragraph 3?

A．Their thoughts about the experience.	B．Their personal opinions on dolphins.
C．Their brief descriptions of the dolphin.	D．Their feelings about threats to the dolphin.

3. What’s the main task of the 4ocean workers?

A．To film sea life for social media.	B．To clean up garbage from ocean.
C．To rescue dolphins from ghost nets.	D．To find out the causes of ocean pollution.

4. What message does the author mainly want to express in the text?

A．The four workers should be given prizes.

B．More efforts should be taken to stop fishing.

C．More measures should be taken to fight plastic pollution.

D．The government should focus on dolphins’ living conditions.

8 . Scientists say there has been a major drop in the population of leatherback sea turtles (乌龟) off the U.S. West Coast.

One recent study found a 5.6 percent yearly decrease in the population. Leatherbacks are massive sea turtles dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. The animals can grow up to 1.5 meters in length and weigh as much as 680 kilograms.

The leatherback sea turtles found along the U.S. Pacific Coast are actually born thousands of kilometers away, on beaches in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. The animals migrate (迁徙) 11,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean to mainly feed on jellyfish in waters off the U.S. West Coast. Then, they swim back.

Scott Benson is an ecologist with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. “There are birds that go farther, but they fly. There’s a whale shark that might swim a little further, but it doesn’t have to come up for air,” he said.

Scientists say that if nothing changes, the leatherbacks could completely disappear from the U.S. West Coast within 30 years. The population drops are mainly blamed on international fishing activities, the destruction (破坏) of nesting grounds and climate change.

The animals can be killed when they get trapped in fishing equipment. Scientists say the population is also harmed because a lot of turtle eggs are removed from beaches.

Researchers say that while all the world’s leatherbacks are under pressure, the group that migrates for months across the Pacific faces the greatest threats.

NOAA launched an aggressive plan to save leatherbacks in 2015 and is set to release a new action plan this month. The plan is meant to persuade governments and international organizations to join efforts to save the turtles.

1. Which word best describes the present situation of the leatherbacks?

A．Promising.

B．Worrying.

C．Complex.

D．Unstable.

2. What do the leatherbacks mainly survive on?

A．Sea weed.

B．Other turtles’ eggs.

C．Little sharks.

D．Jellyfish.

3. Which period is the most dangerous for leatherbacks?

A．The period of migration.	B．The period of fishing activities.
C．The period of being on a beach.	D．The period of laying eggs.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Health.

C．Nature.

D．Education.

9 . Family Vacations in Hawaii

Whether your interests are history, native cultures, hiking, water sports, or simply relaxing in the sun, Hawaii has abundant choices to keep you and your family entertained.

Waikiki Beach

This famous two-mile stretch of sand is home to scores of family-friendly beach hotels and all kinds of action-packed excitement. Waikiki Beach is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for warm ocean water and golden beaches. Kids will enjoy walking along the beach, stopping for shaved ice or an ice cream and taking a dip in a safe area of the ocean.

Oahu’s North Shore

Some of the tallest ocean waves in the world are found at Oahu, Hawaii’s North Shore coastline during the winter months. These crashing walls of water are born for surfing and offer one of the best free shows on the islands. The North Shore is home to world-class surf contests, attracting the world’s top surfers.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Nothing appeals to the whole family like Hawaiian past coming alive. Besides, the colorful costumes, lively songs, and traditional dances in the Pacific region are presented here. You’ll see customs of Fiji, New Zealand, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Hawaii all represented in Polynesian Cultural Center’s re-created island villages, which is decorated with palm trees and tropical gardens.

Waimea Canyon (峡谷) State Park

More than 3,500 feet deep, this landmark on Hawaii’s island of Kauai is the largest canyon in the Pacific. Unlike Grand Canyon, plentiful rain keeps Waimea Canyon and its surrounding area thick with vegetation (植被), and visitors are frequently treated to the sight of vivid rainbows. It offers a great canyon view and a covered picnic area.

1. What makes Oahu’s North Shore known to the world?

A．Its best free cultural shows.	B．Its family-friendly beach hotels.
C．Having the tallest coastline.	D．Being a perfect place for surfing.

2. Which place is most likely to attract those who are interested in history?

A．Waikiki Beach.	B．Oahu’s North Shore.
C．Polynesian Cultural Center.	D．Waimea Canyon State Park.

3. What is special about Waimea Canyon compared to Grand Canyon?

A．It has a covered picnic area.	B．It has a depth of over 3,500 feet.
C．It’s rich in plants and rainfall.	D．It owns a unique kind of vegetation.

10 . Bees are responsible for one in every three bites of food: from almonds (杏仁) to berries and the alfalfa (苜蓿) that feeds dairy cows. Our diets and agricultural economy hinge on a healthy bee population.

However, rapid declines in bee population around the world put additional stress on an already unstable food supply by depressing yields and agricultural efficiency. While bee biologists do not foresee upcoming food system collapse without honey bees, we do know that agriculture would quickly become unrecognizable—and much more limited.

Farmers are on the frontlines of the economic impacts of bee decline. For example, the cost of almond pollination (授粉) has nearly tripled since colonies began collapsing in 2004, costing that industry over $83 million per year.

The causes behind recent bee declines are not a “mystery”. Independent scientists now largely agree that bee declines are caused by a combination of several factors, including: poor nutrition, habitat loss and pesticide (杀虫剂) exposure.

In the last several years, pesticides — both alone and in combination with other pesticides — have emerged as a key catalyst (催化剂) behind this disturbing phenomenon, both because of their direct toxicity to bees and their indirect and cascading effects.

Scientists know that individual bees can be acutely poisoned while flying through pesticide-contaminated planter dust in a recently planted corn field. More commonly, they are chronically poisoned at sublethal (亚致死) levels by eating and drinking contaminated pollen, nectar and water over time. Bees are then more likely to get sick.

As an indicator species, honey bees are sounding an alarm that we ignore at our peril. Among their lessons: industrial agriculture has gone off the rails. The pesticide treadmill has kicked into high gear with a class of dangerous systemic pesticides—while regulators were asleep at the switch. So let’s keep the heat on decision makers to take meaningful action.

1. What does the underlined phrase in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Cut down.

B．Contribute to.

C．Depend on.

D．Go against.

2. What is the topic discussed in paragraph 2 — 3?

A．The impact of rapid declines in bee population.	B．The role of farmers in agriculture.
C．The ignorance of the effect on food system.	D．The cost of almond pollination.

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4 as the factor for bee declines?

A．Poor in nutrition.	B．Economic impacts.
C．Loss of habitat.	D．Exposure to pesticides.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To express sympathy for the affected farmers.	B．To show the factors resulting in the bees’ crisis.
C．To explain a key catalyst to the bees’ problem.	D．To urge decision makers to take action for bees.