1 . For many people, retirement is a chance to take a break. Not so for Victorin Laboudallon from the Seychelles who spends his days planting forests to fight climate change. Wherever there’s a forest fire in the Seychelles, you can be sure you’ll find Laboudallon ready to fight back, armed with seeds and shovels.
Laboudallon is widely known across the Seychelles for his decades of environmental action and his big personality. While planting trees in the wet dirt, barefoot and laughing, he says his surname means “friend of the mud” in his local Creole language. “I’m not somebody who lives under the big concrete. I live under the beautiful trees,” he says, pointing above at the iconic coco de mer palm.
The Seychelles is a nation of 115 islands—known for beautiful beaches and biodiversity—off the east coast of Africa. Here climate change is not a distant prospect, but a daily reality. “We’ve got the sea rising,” says Laboudallon. “You can see places where there used to be houses. Now there are none. There is something on this planet going wrong.”
Nature enthusiasts like Laboudallon have taken matters into their own hands. While giving a tour of his tree nursery, he explains how different types of trees offer different services when adapting to climate change. For the Seychellois, mangroves (红树林) are fundamental.
Mangroves defend against the impacts of rising seas and coastal erosion (腐蚀) by reducing the height and force of the waves before they hit the shoreline.
This strategy of using nature—and the services it provides—to adapt to climate change is known as ecosystem-based adaptation. It’s often cheaper than concrete infrastructure (设施). Not to mention that it creates a space for nature. Communities can adapt to climate change while protecting biodiversity. It is no longer a choice between people and nature. Considering the Seychelles’ economy is highly dependent on ecotourism, ecosystem-based adaptation is seen as a promising approach.
1. What does Victorin Laboudallon do in his retirement?| A．He travels around the world. | B．He enjoys his free time at home. |
| C．He plants trees in different countries. | D．He fights climate change in the Seychelles. |
| A．He prefers to live in big cities. | B．He is afraid of mud and dirt. |
| C．He enjoys the beauty of trees and nature. | D．He feels safe when surrounded by concrete. |
| A．Uncertain and potentially dangerous. | B．Hopeful and optimistic. |
| C．Challenging but manageable. | D．Insignificant and not worth worrying about. |
| A．It’s more costly than concrete infrastructure. |
| B．It met with indifference among local communities. |
| C．It’s a win-win strategy for local economy and ecosystem. |
| D．It has no effect on the local environmental protection. |
2 . In southeastern Brazil, local fishers walk into dark waters in search of mullet (鲻鱼). On their own, it would be tricky to find the silvery fish. But the humans get help from an unusual partner—wild bottle-nose dolphins.
With nets in hand, the fishers patiently wait as their cetacean (鲸类的) partners drive the fish toward the shore. A signal from the dolphins—usually a deep dive—indicates when they should cast their nets. This fishing partnership has passed down through the generations, lasting for more than a century.
While researchers knew humans profited from this pairing, they couldn’t confirm whether it benefited the dolphins. Now, in a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers suggest cetaceans that hunt with humans have more chances to live than those that don’t.
“Human-wildlife cooperation in general is an uncommon phenomenon (现象) at a global scale,” says Mauricio Cantor, a biologist at Oregon State University and leader of the study. “Usually humans gain the benefit, and nature pays the cost. But this interaction (互动) has been happening for over 150 years.”
Fishers were more successful when they worked with the dolphins. When dolphins were present, the fishers were 17 times more likely to catch prey (猎物) and netted nearly four times more mullet when they timed their casting with the cetaceans signals. Eighty-six percent of all 4,955 mullet caught during the study period came from their interactions at the same time—when the allies organized their actions perfectly with one another.
The study also revealed dolphins hunting with humans had a 13 percent increase in survival rate over other dolphins. These cooperative (合作的) dolphins are more likely to stay near the shore reducing their chance of being caught in illegal fishing equipment. Besides, the dolphins can take some fish directly from the fishers harvest.
1. What do the first two paragraphs talk about concerning Brazilian fishers?| A．They trick dolphins into fishing for them. |
| B．They have been training dolphins over a century. |
| C．They harvest more fish with dolphins’ help. |
| D．They throw the fishing nets when dolphins are on the top of water. |
| A．Nature supports human beings at no cost. |
| B．Fishers benefiting from cooperation with cetaceans is common. |
| C．Human-wildlife interaction is a new global trend. |
| D．Dolphins working with man have higher survival rate. |
| A．partners | B．preys | C．dolphins | D．researchers |
| A．To call on the protection of sea creatures. |
| B．To support development in fishing research. |
| C．To show a unique human-dolphin relationship. |
| D．To encourage fishers to better draw on dolphins. |
At the time of this writing. I have reached the age of 105. As I look back, I think of the many wonderful things that have happened in my long life. many of which have served to strengthen my belief that miracles really do happen. One of these that I recall today happened many years ago but is still as fresh in my mind as if it had happened yesterday.
Peter was a Russian Wolfhound (Borzoi) with the typical tall, long-legged build of the hunter he was supposed to be but never was. He weighed close to eighty-five pounds and had the long nose and narrow head of the Borzoi, so narrow that it didn’t seem to have much room for brains. In Peter’s case, it didn’t. He became easily confused, but his gentle nature made up for his lack of intelligence.
On the day in question, I had gathered up my dogs. one Old English Sheepdog, one Whippet rescue, and Peter. They were all settled in my covered pickup truck bed, and was headed out for our daily exercise, six miles into the country where there was no leash (绳) law and they could run free. They were all trained not to chase wild animals, to stay reasonably close. and to come when called.
After I had walked for about ten minutes, I noticed one dog was missing. Peter, of course! It seemed obvious that he had stopped to investigate some irresistible (不可抗的) smell, and then, becoming confused, had turned back the way we had just come, He would easily be able to follow our track, but in the wrong direction. And when a Borzoi runs, he covers a lot of ground in a very short time.
Feeling guilty, knowing I should have kept a closer watch on him, I retraced (折返) my steps, calling and whistling, but there was no sign of him. It was winter and would soon be dark. In desperation, I started to pray. “Please God, keep Peter safe.”
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。
After half an hour of calling at the top of my voice. I finally decided to drive the two other dogs home.
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Upon reaching home, I discovered a long nose waiting at the doorway.
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4 . As days are getting shorter and colder, people can often find themselves feeling sad or lacking the motivation to do anything. One possible reason for those feelings is seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is common during the cold months.
Pay close attention to your dog’s behaviour.
Analyzing your dog’s behaviour will help you get a better understanding of whether they may be feeling sad.
Even when you’re inside, make sure to spend time playing or training your dog. Try to come up with new games that require you to interact with your dog. This is a great way to get your pet excited and boost their mood, and yours, too.
Provide them with as much sunlight as possible.
As with humans, the lack of sunlight during the winter can cause lower mood levels, so it is very important for your dog to get as much sunlight exposure as possible.
Ensure your dogs get exercise during the day.
The winter months are colder and darker, and it might be inviting to skip an exercise or a walk outside, but much like humans, this can have a significant effect on your dog’s mood.
| A．Spend time interacting with your dog. |
| B．Calm your dog down with relaxing activities. |
| C．Whenever possible, take your dog outside for a walk. |
| D．Observe their behaviour for a while and speak to a vet if needed. |
| E．While we know people can suffer from SAD, can dogs get SAD too? |
| F．Changes in routine or environment can cause your dog to feel unwell. |
| G．Even a short walk can help improve your dog’s mood and also your own. |
1. What is Dr. Tilly expert in?
| A．Renewable energy. |
| B．Educational courses. |
| C．Sea life conservation. |
| A．They weren’t efficient. |
| B．They harmed some sea life. |
| C．They didn’t have enough power. |
| A．A journey to the sea. |
| B．A chance to create devices. |
| C．An opportunity to work at a lab. |
6 . As children, we used to listen to a song called “Sharing is Fun”, which was all about how we can enjoy things better when we share them. I was not always sure I agreed, particularly when it came to sharing my snacks with my two brothers.
But later, I come to be aware that the old German children’s song seems to be true — at least for humans. We altruistically (利他地，无私地) share food: in both hunter-gatherer and industrialized societies; there are customs and institutions to provide needy people with food, even when it is scarce and the donator needs the food themselves.
In a study in Leipzig, three-year-old children were presented with a task in which they had to pull a board with an unequal amount of sweets on either end. If there were five jellybeans on one side of the board and only one on the other side, the children would divide the treats so that everyone got the same amount.
In a very recent study, the 19-month-old infants tested witnessed an experimenter pick up a desirable fruit, “accidentally” dropping it out of reach. When the experimenter tried to reach for the dropped fruit with his outstretched arm, these little kids handed over the fruit, surprisingly even if they were hungry themselves.
It is well known that wolves provide their children with food, but this is probably an inborn action that can be explained by kin selection. Chimpanzees do share food with each other. But there is a difference in terms of with whom, why, and how chimpanzees share. Chimpanzees share independently of the effort each individual invested in the cooperative hunt — in contrast to the above-mentioned children who worked together to pull a board.
Evolutionary scientists have explained human food sharing like this: by giving away food to strangers, individuals may promote partnership and group cohesion (凝聚力), thereby helping the species succeed within the dynamic environment of evolutionary adaptation.
1. Why does the author mention the song “Sharing is Fun”?| A．To express his opinion on sharing. | B．To explain the pleasure of sharing. |
| C．To share his memory of childhood. | D．To introduce an old children’s song. |
| A．The stages of sharing. | B．The benefits of sharing. |
| C．The purposes of sharing. | D．The behaviors of sharing. |
| A．Children and zookeepers. | B．Hunters and gatherers. |
| C．Families and relatives. | D．Searchers and participants. |
| A．By analyzing causes. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following time order. | D．By making classifications. |
China has scaled up policy to protect and restore the environment around the Yangtze River, putting in place measures to treat industrial and agricultural pollutants and
A policy document
Despite improvements to the Yangtze’s water quality, the rise of non-point source pollution
The treatment of pollution is another priority, as the government looks to install tighter controls over pollutants discharged by chemical factories and promote
8 . Wildlife biologist Purnima Devi Barman remembers the first time she ever saw the nest of a greater adjutant stork (秃鹳) in a tree near her grandmother’s home. Her grandmother would tell her stories about birds and animals under the tree. The love for the natural world developed in those years led Barman to devote her life to saving the endangered greater adjutant stork.
Known as the Hargila in Assam, the greater adjutant stork is the second-rarest stork in the world. Unlike pandas or lions, whose attractive appearances help gain widespread support for their protection, these tall, bald, clumsy birds meet with bias in conservation campaigns.
“Hargilas also bear a reputation of bringing bad luck,” says Barman. “What was the point of writing my paper on them if there was no way of actually saving these birds? I had to start with changing the misconception.”
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Barman put her PhD on hold and set to work. “I started engaging with the women in the village. In our experience, educating and securing the participation of women ensures that the learning passes on to the next generation,” Barman says.
Today, around 400 women have been trained to work on conserving this rare bird. The group’s activities include awareness-building in schools and plantation drives in which 45,000 trees were planted to support the stork’s future populations.
A key component allowing Barman to successfully integrate conservation efforts into the village cultural life was her idea of building related livelihoods. Weaving (纺织) is a long-standing craft in Assam, so Barman created a self-help group employing women to weave stork patterns on textiles. This innovative idea was highlighted at the UN Champion of the Earth Awards she won in 2022.
Currently the number of greater adjutant nests in Assam’s Kamrup district has grown from 28 in 2010 to more than 250. The once unlucky stork is now a symbol of community pride, its pictures appearing on bags, blankets and celebration decorations.
1. What motivated Barman to save the greater adjutant stork?| A．Her interest in observing nests. | B．Her passion for doing research. |
| C．Her love for nature from childhood. | D．Her grandmother’s encouragement. |
| A．Prejudice. | B．Support. | C．Danger. | D．Success. |
| A．The stork is common in appearance. | B．The stork was believed to be unlucky. |
| C．She had not finished her paper for PhD. | D．She lacked experience in wildlife conservation. |
| A．By creating related jobs. | B．By teaching women to weave. |
| C．By planting trees in the village. | D．By advertising local products. |
9 . The Seychelles — that remote island chain off the coast of northern Africa is heaven for scuba divers (水肺潜水). With more than 100 islands, most of which are uninhabited, and a relatively small amount of tourists impacting the oceans and beaches, the Seychelles has some truly best scuba diving.
Fisherman’s Cove Reef
If you’re a beginner diver who loves gentle drop-offs and sea turtles, make sure Fisherman’s Cove Reef is on your scuba diving radar. The site is very popular as there’s rarely a current, it’s very shallow, and has a colorful reef with everything from eagle rays to small leaf fish, which can be very difficult to find against the seagrass and coral.
Ennerdale Wreck
If you love wreck diving, head right for the Ennerdale, a British oil tanker that accidentally sunk in 1970. Because of the medium-to-strong current and depth, it’s for divers with advanced open water cert. They’ll be able to swim around the wreck’s propellers, penetrate the frame, and likely see reef sharks and the occasional bull shark.
Baie Ternay Marine Park
The shallow, protected area of ocean has healthy and varied coral, and a lively reef. Both snorkelers and beginner divers are likely to see sea turtles grazing on the seagrass, coaching reef fish, and small eels poking out of the sandy ocean floor.
Aldabra Atoll
It doesn’t get much more remote than the Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO site. The coral reef continues underwater, which makes all the island’s dive sites stunning. Advanced divers can do drift dives in a channel with a chance of seeing sharks, while beginners can stay closer to the reefs, checking the various species of marine life in the Indian Ocean off their must-see list. The island is home to nearly 100,000 giant tortoises, as well as several other rare species
1. Why is the Seychelles known as heaven for scuba divers?| A．Its close distance to northern Africa. | B．The high chance to spot the fish in the region. |
| C．Its relatively small number of inhabited islands. | D．The effect of the oceans and beaches on tourism. |
| A．The chance to see a sunken ship under the ocean. | B．The numerous sharks and large marine creatures. |
| C．Its remote location away from the main islands. | D．Its attraction to both snorkelers and divers. |
| A．Aldabra Atoll. | B．Ennerdale Wreck. |
| C．Fisherman’s Cove Reef. | D．Baie Ternay Marine Park. |
10 . Nzou is one of the quiet stars of the Rhino& Elephant Conservation(保护) Programme at Imire in Zimbabwe(津巴布韦). The oldest elephant in the protected area, Nzou is around 55 years old, and has been there since she was two years old.
It is said that elephants never forget, but this special animal seems to have forgotten she is an elephant，and now thinks of herself as one of the buffaloes(水牛).
Nzou was brought to the area in the 1970s, when she lost her parents. She was encouraged to stay with the elephants. But she was happy with the buffaloes and has lived with them ever since. They could understand each other. Their relationship is amazing but not easy. Buffalo leaders are usually male(雄性的). Over the 40+ years that Nzou has been the leader, she has killed 14 young male buffalo who challenged her.
Nzou has never lost her elephant's instinct(本能) for loyalty(忠诚). One day, one of her keepers was attacked by a young male buffalo. Nzou stood over him as he waited for help to arrive, protecting him against more attacks from the buffalo.
Nzou no longer communicates with the other elephants at Imire perhaps she has forgotten how and no longer understands what they are saying. She is happy with the buffalo, and as long as they don't step out of line, she is happy and pleased to be their leader.
1. How long has Nzou been at Imire?| A．70 years. | B．55 years. | C．2 years. | D．53 years. |
| A．Friends | B．Enemies | C．Leader and followers | D．Mother and children |
| A．powerful and loyal | B．loyal and honest |
| C．honest and brave | D．powerful and unfriendly |
| A．An elephant living with buffaloes | B．An elephant showing loyalty to her keepers |
| C．An elephant star in Zimbabwe | D．An elephant challenging buffaloes |
