1 . There is no need to head to the movie theater or download the video game app: Angry Birds can be found right in your backyard this summer—if you live in the suburb(市郊). Virginia Tech researchers recently find that birds that live in suburban areas exhibit significantly higher levels of anger than those living in country. The results were recently published in Biology Letters.

“A possible reason for this is that these birds have less space but better resources to defend,” said Scott Davies, an expert at biological sciences in the College of Science. “Living near humans provides better food and shelter, but it also means more competition for these limited resources.”

The Virginia Tech and Radford University campuses served as the suburban sites due to their levels of human impact. Rural(乡村的) sites included Kentland Farm and Heritage Park. In these settings, the researchers played a recording of a male song sparrow(歌雀) and observed how the birds responded to a simulated(仿造的) intrusion from a neighbor.

Campus birds showed a higher level of aggression: they approached and remained near the speaker, beat their wings wildly, engaged in loud singing and then began to produce ‘soft song’—a term that researchers use to describe the quiet noise that a bird makes, which indicates an attack is to be launched soon.

Though rural birds still responded to a song intrusion, they did not respond as vigorously.

The researchers placed small leg bands on the birds to identify individuals, and recorded each individual’s responses twice, several weeks apart. The suburban birds reacted more fiercely on both occasions, showing that their increased aggression persists throughout a breeding season.

1. The study by Virginia Tech researchers suggests that ________.

A．there are more angry birds in suburban areas than in rural areas

B．angry birds prefer to live in suburban areas instead of in country

C．birds living in suburban areas tend to show a higher level of anger

D．birds in rural areas prefer to live near humans for food and shelter

2. The researchers measured the level of different birds’ aggression by ________.

A．recording the reactions of song sparrows to their neighbors’ intrusion

B．placing small leg bands on the birds to identify different individuals

C．observing the birds’ responses to a recording of male song sparrows

D．approaching the birds in order to listen to their soft and quiet songs

3. The underlined word “vigorously” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to ________.

A．mildly	B．violently
C．helplessly	D．gently

4. The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．argue and persuade	B．compare and assess
C．discuss and examine	D．inform and explain

2 . When he was a small boy, he had loved butterflies. Oh, not to catch them, but to wonder at their designs and habits.

Now a grown man with his first son to be born in a few weeks, he found himself once again fascinated with a cocoon．He had it at the side of the park path. Somehow the branch had been knocked from the tree and the cocoon had survived undamaged and still attached to the branch.

As he had seen his mother do，he gently protected it by covering it with his handkerchief and high up for easy viewing and protection from their curious cat who would happily play with its silk.

The man watched and studied the silky cocoon. Almost unnoticeably at first, it moved. He watched more closely and soon the cocoon was trembling with activity. Nothing else happened. The cocoon remained attached to its part of the branch and there was no sign of wings

Finally it started shaking so much, the man thought the butterfly would die from the struggle. He opened the jar，took a sharp penknife from his desk, and carefully made a tiny cut in the side of the cocoon. Almost immediately, one wing appeared, followed by the other. The butterfly was free!

It seemed to enjoy its freedom and walked along the edge of the jar. But it didn’t fly. At first the man thought the wings needed time to dry ,but time passed and still the butterfly did not take off.

The man was worried and called up his neighbor who taught high school science. He told the neighbor how he had found the cocoon，placed it in the jar, and the terrible trembling as the butterfly struggled to get out. When he described how he had carefully made a small cut in the cocoon，the teacher stopped him, “Oh, that is the reason . You see，the struggle is what gives the butterfly the strength to fly.”

And so it is with us. Sometimes it’s the struggles in life that strengthen us the most.

1. The man brought the cocoon home because_________.

A．his first son had always wanted a cocoon

B．he planned to repair the broken cocoon by himself

C．he was curious about how cocoons turned into butterflies

D．he wanted to protect the cocoon from its hard environment

2. As soon as the man took the cocoon home, he_________.

A．cut a hole in the cocoon to let the butterfly out

B．tried to keep his cat away from the cocoon

C．sought his mother’s advice on what to do with it

D．put it in a jar and covered the jar with his handkerchief.

3. What lesson did the men learn from his neighbor’s explanation ?

A．Freedom is a gift that everyone should cherish .

B．The young should be given enough time to learn

C．Struggles in life are what make people stronger

D．Good intentions might lead to terrible results .

4. How does the author sound when telling the story ?

A．Curious	B．Anxious
C．Instructive	D．Humorous

3 . Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box.
Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

Are Your Clothes Causing Pollution?

Very small pieces of plastic, called microfibers, are polluting rivers and oceans.     1     Clothes worn for outdoor activities and exercise are often made of artificial material, which is useful in keeping warm. But they contain very small plastic fibers, which may also be harming the environment when you wash them. When people wash these clothes, very small pieces go down the drain with the wash water.

Studies on microfibers in the environment

Pollution caused by plastic is not new, but recent studies have shown the effect of microfibers in the environment. Studies show very small microfibers are ending up in our waters, which may come from waste water treatment factories. A 2015 study found them in fish from California.

Microfibers, effect on food supplies

Beyond the waterways, the researchers say microfibers may end up in soil and agricultural lands.     2     This means there is much to be learned about microfibers and the environment. Some studies have shown that microfibers end up inside sea animals, like oysters.     3     Researchers say that the fibers tend not to move into the tissue of the fish, but it needs more study.

Steps to save or keep microfibers from the environment

Until more information becomes known, there are steps to take to reduce the amount of microfibers in the environment. People should use less of the artificial materials. If we already have those in our lives and we’re using them, an important step would be washing them less.     4     A bag is being designed in which to wash these clothes. It traps the microfibers in the bag and it may be available for purchase soon.

A．New technology may a1so help.

B．So if these m icrofiber s have been found in fish and seafood, ar e they safe to eat?

C．They can al so move around the atmosphere.

D．Studies are conducted on how much of the microfibers is released

E．The source of these mi crofibers may surprise you: your clothes.

F．Washing machines keep microfibers from escaping with w ash water

4 . According to Dr. William Conway, director of the New York Zoo and chairman of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums, modern zoos can do a great deal to serve as a backup strategy to support the primary conservation goal of safe-guarding species in their wild habitats. No less and no more.

Zoos are severely limited in terms of sheer space, let alone animal care capacity. All the animal space in the world's zoos would comfortably fit inside the Inner London Circular. They now contain rather more than half a million individual mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. During the past few years they have bred about 9 percent of all 8,700 bird species, and 19 percent of all 4,500 mammal species.

Not all of these are vet threatened or rare creatures; this is the case for only 12 percent of the birds and 48 percent of the mammals. But the number of endangered forms is expanding rapidly.

It is an expensive business to care for threatened animals. To look after one Siberian tiger costs almost f2,000 a year, which means that to care for an expected total of 500 Siberian tigers in the world's zoos over a period of 20 years will cost almost ￡20 million.

Gorillas are even more costly: the 500 in zoos cost ￡2,850 each per year, making a total of ￡28 million over 20 years. Unless we can keep them alive in captivity, we shall probably witness, within the coming decades, the demise of around 100 large carnivore species, some 160 species of primates, and perhaps 215 herbivores other than primates, plus about 300 species from other mammalian orders, making a total of about 800 species.

1. According to Dr. William Conway, modern zoos serve as _____.

A．research facilities to enrich our knowledge of wildlife

B．an alternative way to protect some animal species

C．places to raise public awareness of animal care

D．habitats and breeding grounds for endangered species

2. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “demise” underlined in the last paragraph?

A．Death.

B．Failure.

C．Recovery.

D．Rescue.

3. Which of the following limitations of modern zoos is NOT discussed in the passage?

A．High captive costs.

B．Limited animal space.

C．Limited animal care capacity.

D．Restricted funding for endangered species.

5 . Direction: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

Red grouper(石斑鱼) are known for a few key characteristics — their color, which can     1    from pink to bright orange; their tastiness, whether they’re grilled or fried; and their predation (掠夺行为) method, in which they       2     sea creatures and swallow them whole.

But their least-known characteristic might be the most valuable of all: They operate as underwater architects,     3     the seascape for numerous other forms of underwater life. That surprising discovery is     4     scientists and policymakers to readjust their approach to preserving the ocean’s natural order — and heightening tensions with those who fish for a living or as a hobby.

A team of scientists, led by Florida State University’s Felicia Coleman, recently found that the red grouper off Florida’s east and west coasts have created entire ocean       5    by digging large holes in the sea’s sandy bottom. In the same way beavers     6    dams, red grouper dig and maintain distinct holes whose rocky surfaces provide a place for coral, sponges and other marine life to gather.

This new understanding is changing the way federal and state authorities manage ocean habitats and is creating a completely new crack with fishermen. “The people who are in control want to     7     fishing as much as possible,” said Bob Jones, executive director of the Southeastern Fisheries Association. He added that the recent discoveries about red grouper amount to an “excuse they can use to restrict fishing,     8    or recreational.”

But to many researchers, fishery officials and even some fishermen, the fact that fish act as environmental engineers provides a compelling reason to protect them from exploitation.

“If you     9     that fish, it puts into motion a whole chain of events,” said Don deMaria, who used to fish for red grouper near Key Largo, Fla., but no longer does. “There’s a whole lot of other animals that are     10    . I’m not saying you can’t catch them. But you can’t do it to the extent we’ve been doing for the last 20 years.”

6 . Landmark structures that were built to stand the test of time were usually carefully protected over the years, allowing them to appear close to the same as they were constructed. However, many famous landmarks no longer look the same.    1    

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of America’s most famous landmarks and it’s a wonder of modern bridge engineering. Chicago engineer Joseph Strauss designed the structure that took more than four years to complete    2    Then, the Golden Gate Bridge had the longest suspended bridge span (跨度) in the world.

In the city that never sleeps, Times Square is a busy collection of Broadway theaters, cinemas, restaurants and electronic billboards.    3    Over the past century, Times Square has undergone numerous adjustments, including a difficult period after the Great Depression. However, it has survived and is a popular tourist destination today.   

    4    The stone structure sits near the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and depicts a mythical creature with a human head and the body of a lion. Although the precise age is not known, the colorless sculpture shows the impact that centuries of desert weather has made on the majestic (雄伟的) figure.

A．The Great Sphinx is the largest and most famous statue in the world.

B．The recent discovery shows it was more colorful in its original days.

C．They have changed significantly.

D．The name, initially called Long Acre Square, was changed in 1905.

E．Besides, it was open to traffic on May 27,1937.

F．However, it cracked and had to be removed.

7 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. magical       B. cultural       C. meets          D. built          E. strong     F. damaged G. entrance       H. views        I. calendar        J. ranked        K. lit

A long red bridge stretches out across water. It runs across the Golden Gate. This is not the     1     to some sacred land, but it is just as     2    . The Golden Gate is where San Francisco Bay     3     the Pacific Ocean, and at night the scene of the bridge     4     up over the water takes your breath away.

Welcome to San Francisco, a place famous for its beautiful parks, hilly streets and lovely beaches. But the bridge is undoubtedly the most well-known symbol of the city. Before its completion in 1937, the bridge was considered impossible to build because of the foggy weather, powerful winds, and     5     ocean currents in the city. However, despite the difficult conditions, the bridge was built in no more than four years. Its total length is nearly 2 kilometers.

San Francisco     6     first on Lonely Planet’s list of the best cities to visit in 2013. According to the world’s largest travel publisher, it came top as a result of its     7     mix.

According to the census, 21 percent of the city’s population was made up of Chinese people. San Francisco’s Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia and the oldest in North America. Two traditional festivals, the Spring Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, are the biggest events of the year on the city’s     8    .

If yellow cabs are a key part of New York city life, then the cable car is San Francisco’s equivalent. The first cable car came into public service in 1873, and the slow and noisy vehicle has been a symbol of the city ever since. The cable car network was once     9     by a serious earthquake but, luckily, it has now recovered and provides better     10     than the subway.

8 . Tuvalu, a tiny country in the Pacific Ocean, has asked for help    1    it fears it will be swallowed up by the sea.

Storms and huge waves are a constant threat and     2    of Tuvalu’s nine little islands is more than five metres above sea level. Salt water is already entering the country’s drinking water supply,     3    damaging plants that produce fruit and vegetables.

But Tuvalu is not the first place     4    (face) sinking into the sea. Venice, a historic city in Italy best known for its canals, has sunk about 24 cm over the past 100years. Experts say that it    5    (sink) another 20-50 cm by 2050. A century St. Marks Square, the    6    (low) point in the city, flooded about nine times a year.

Nowadays, it happens more than 100 times a year. While Venice is slowly sinking into the mud on     7    it stands, Tuvalu’s rising sea level is caused by global warming. The average global temperature     8     (increase) by almost 0. 5 centigrade degrees over the past century. Warmer weather makes glaciers (冰川) melt, adding more water to the ocean.

The main cause of global warming is human pollution. Through burning coal and oil people have been increasing the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, making the planet even warmer. Many scientists believe that, if the warming     9    (not stop)there will be huge climate changes. The sea level could rise by one metre this century.

Should this come true, the sea would swallow up millions of homes and the world would be flooded with “climate refugees”    10    (look) for somewhere to live.

9 . The insects are important to farmers. When a honeybee lands on a flower in plant, pollen (花粉) sticks to its legs. When the bee lands on another flower, some of the pollen falls off and fertilizes the second plant.

The act of spreading pollen is responsible for many fruits, vegetables, nuts and other crops. Yet about 30 percent of honeybees in the United States and other areas have died in recent years.

Mike Leggett is a researcher at the University of Maryland. He wants to learn why so many bees are dying. “The number of colonies (蜂群) that die every winter has been one in three. So on average 30 percent of the colonies have died every winter over the last six winters. And that’s a huge number.” His research team examined the pollen that honeybees carried to their homes. They found that the pollen contained high levels of 35 different pesticides (杀虫剂), which are chemicals used to protect plants. “Pesticides are used, and have been used, pretty widely, for centuries, to protect plants from diseases,” says Mr Leggett.

Keith Oh linger, a farmer and beekeeper in Maryland, has watched many of his bees die every winter. Mr Ohlinger thinks widespread bee death is caused by several things happening at once. But he does not feel sure that pesticides are a part of the problem, “I felt it was the result of a lot of little things. I didn’t feel that there was probably one smoking gun. But there’s a division (分歧) there, some people feel that it is just one thing.”

Honeybees are important to agriculture. This makes the search for an answer to their death very important for Mr Leggett’s team. As he knows, one in every three bites of food we eat is somehow pollinated by honeybees.

1. What could be a suitable title for the text?

A．Why Are Honeybees Important?

B．How Do Honeybees Make Honey?

C．Pesticides Might Harm Honeybees

D．Honeybee Protection in Maryland

2. How does Mr Leggett sound in paragraph 3?

A．Worried.	B．Happy.
C．Surprised.	D．Hopeful.

3. We know from the fifth paragraph that Keith Ohlinger ________.

A．has become rich by keeping bees

B．cares little about the death of his bees

C．has never used pesticides on his farm

D．doubts whether pesticides have killed his bees

4. In which part of a website can we most probably read the text?

A．Agriculture.	B．Health.
C．Food.	D．Technology.

10 . 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.

Many Bird Populations Are in Trouble

A new report warns that many bird populations in the United States are in trouble. The report says about 200 kinds of birds are    1    decreasing in number, have restricted environments or are facing other threats. That represents about one-fourth of America's bird populations.

The report uses information    2    (gather) by scientists in the United States and other countries. This year, it includes birds of Hawaii and Puerto Rico.    3    the birds of mainland North America.

The National Audubon Society says the report confirms some unwelcome changes. It shows that many songbird populations    4    (decrease) by as much as fifty percent or more since 1970. For example, in the central United States, the Henslow's sparrow population has dropped by eighty percent.    5    number of Hawaiian Akikiki has dropped from 6,800 birds thirty years ago to only 1,000 birds today.

The National Audubon Society says these decreases come at a time    6    bird watching in the United States is more popular than ever. One study found that about 70,000,000 Americans took part in bird watching last year. That. is up 250 percent from the number    7    (report) twenty years ago.

Mr. Gill, an official with the National Audubon Society, says that birds are a good way    8    (test) the health of Earth's environment, He adds that the things that harm birds also harm people    9    share the same space. He says people should think about    10     decreasing bird populations are telling us about the environment we share.