| A. swift B. drive C. impose D. restoration E. selective F. identifying G. research. H. shelter I. generating J. extreme. K. addition |
If corals go, divers and marine biologists are not the only people who will miss them. Reefs take up a fraction of a percent of the sea floor, but support a quarter of the planet’s fish biodiversity. The fish that reefs
Measures to mitigate climate change are needed regardless of coral, but even if the world’s great powers were to put their shoulder to the problem, global warming would not be brought to a
Corals need protection from local sources of harm. Their ecosystems suffer from coastal run-off, whether sewage or waste from farms, as well as the sediment dumped from beach-front building sites. Plastic and other debris block sunlight and spread hostile bacteria. Governments need to
Many reefs that have been damaged could benefit from
More drastic intervention to head off the larger threats corals face should also attract more
2 . Escaping predators (食肉动物), digestion and other animal activities—including those of humans—require oxygen. But that essential ingredient is no longer so easy for marine life to obtain, several new studies reveal.
In the past decade ocean oxygen levels have taken a dive—an alarming trend that is linked to climate change, says Andreas Oschlies, an oceanographer at the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Germany, whose team tracks ocean oxygen levels worldwide. “We were surprised by the intensity of the changes we saw, how rapidly oxygen is going down in the ocean and how large the effects on marine ecosystems are,” he says. It is no surprise to scientists that warming oceans are losing oxygen, but the scale of the drop calls for urgent attention. Oxygen levels in some tropical (热带的) regions have dropped by an astonishing 40 percent in the last 50 years, some recent studies reveal. Levels have dropped less significantly elsewhere, with an average loss of 2 percent globally.
A warming ocean loses oxygen for two reasons: First, the warmer a liquid becomes, the less gas it can hold. That is why carbonated drinks go flat faster when left in the sun. Second, as polar sea ice melts, it forms a layer of water above colder, more salty sea waters. This process creates a sort of lid that can keep currents from mixing surface water down to deeper depths. And because all oxygen enters the surface, less mixing means less of it at depth.
Ocean animals large and small, however, respond to even slight changes in oxygen by seeking refuge in higher oxygen zones or by adjusting behavior, Oschlies and others in his field have found. These adjustments can expose animals to new predators or force them into food-scarce regions. Climate change already poses serious problems for marine life, such as ocean acidification, but deoxygenation is the most pressing issue facing sea animals today, Oschlies says. After all, he says, “they all have to breathe.”
Aside from food web problems, animals face various other physiological challenges as their bodies adjust to lower oxygen levels. Chinese shrimp (虾) move their tails less vigorously to preserve energy in lower oxygen environments. Some creatures, such as jellyfishes, are more tolerant of low oxygen than others are. But all animals will feel the impact of deoxygenation because they all have evolved their oxygen capacity for a reason, says Oschlies. “Any drop in oxygen is going to damage survivability and performance,” he says.
1. According to the first two paragraphs, what worries scientists the most?| A．The worsening deoxygenation in the warming ocean. |
| B．The survival of predators and various marine animals. |
| C．The alarmingly changeable oxygen levels in the ocean. |
| D．The lack of attention to the warming of tropical oceans. |
| A．Polar ice melting consumes much oxygen in the ocean. |
| B．Global warming reduces the amount of oxygen in the air. |
| C．The surface polar ice water prevents oxygen going down. |
| D．Salty water holds less gas in the increasingly warmer ocean. |
| A．Ocean deoxygenation changes some animals’ natural territories. |
| B．Ocean acidification is more serious a problem than deoxygenation. |
| C．Not all ocean animals are bothered by the decreasing oxygen levels. |
| D．Some animals reduce their movements in order to absorb more oxygen. |
| A．The Oxygen Levels of Marine Life | B．Ocean Warming Affects Food Web |
| C．The Survivability of Ocean Animals | D．The Ocean Is Running Out of Breath |
3 . The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest are indescribable. It is impossible to
Rainforests have
The scale of human
In 1950, about 15 percent of the Earth’s land surface was covered by rainforest. Today, more than half has already gone up in
Massive
| A．maintain | B．capture | C．claim | D．prove |
| A．changed | B．evolved | C．expanded | D．existed |
| A．energizing | B．healing | C．isolating | D．breathing |
| A．contributed | B．stored | C．reduced | D．affected |
| A．However | B．Furthermore | C．Therefore | D．Otherwise |
| A．active | B．sensitive | C．interdependent | D．delicate |
| A．restore | B．support | C．revive | D．last |
| A．pressure | B．power | C．concern | D．strength |
| A．existence | B．ecosystem | C．planet | D．survival |
| A．unfortunately | B．consequently | C．naturally | D．similarly |
| A．store | B．food | C．smoke | D．wealth |
| A．subject | B．down | C．apart | D．victim |
| A．trend | B．practice | C．increase | D．attitude |
| A．protection | B．industrialization | C．modernization | D．deforestation |
| A．appearance | B．explosion | C．loss | D．increase |
4 . Everybody loves a fat pay rise. Yet pleasure at your own can vanish if you learn that a colleague has been given a bigger one. Indeed if he has a reputation for slacking, you might even be outraged. Such behavior is regarded as “all too human”, with the underlying assumption that other animals would not be capable of this finely developed sense of grievance. But a study by Sarah Brosnan and Frans de Waal of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been published in Nature, suggests that it is all to monkeys, as well.
The researchers studied the behavior of female brown capuchin monkeys. They look cute. They are good-natured, co-cooperative creatures, and they share their food readily. Above all, like their female human counterparts, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of “goods and services” than males.
Such characteristics make them perfect candidates for Dr. Brosnan’s and Dr. de Waal’s study. The researchers spent two years teaching their monkeys to exchange tokens for food. Normally, the monkeys were happy enough to exchange pieces of rock for slices of cucumber. However, when two monkeys were placed in separate but adjoining chambers so that each could observe what the other was getting in return for its rock, their behavior became markedly different.
In the world of capuchins, grapes are luxury goods (and much preferable to cucumbers). So when one monkey was handed a grape in exchange for her token, the second was reluctant to hand hers over for a mere piece of cucumber. And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either tossed her own token at the researcher or out of the chamber or refused to accept the slice of cucumber. Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other chamber (without an actual monkey to eat it) was enough to induce resentment in a female capuchin.
The researchers suggest that capuchin monkeys like humans are guided by social emotions. In the wild, they are a co-operative, group-living species. Such co-operation is likely to be stable only when each animal feels it is not being cheated. Feeling of righteous anger, it seems, are not the preserve of people alone. Refusing a lesser reward completely makes these feelings abundantly clear to other members of the group. However, whether such a sense of fairness evolved independently in capuchins and humans or whether it stems from the common ancestor that the species had 35 million years ago is as yet an unanswered question.
1. The statement “it is all too monkeys” (Paragraph 1) implies that ________.| A．monkeys are also outraged by slack rivals |
| B．resenting unfairness is also monkeys’ nature |
| C．monkeys, like humans, tend to be jealous of each other |
| D．no animals other than monkeys can develop such emotions |
| A．more inclined to weight what they get |
| B．attentive to researchers’ instructions |
| C．nice in both appearance and temperament |
| D．more generous than their male companions |
| A．prefer grapes to cucumbers |
| B．can be taught to exchange things |
| C．will not be co-operative if feeling cheated |
| D．are unhappy when separated from others |
| A．Monkeys can be trained to develop social emotions. |
| B．Human indignations evolved from an uncertain source. |
| C．Animals usually show their feelings openly as human do. |
| D．Cooperation among monkeys remain stable only in the wild. |
5 . Scientists, conservation organizations and governments trying to reverse the tide of extinction often focus efforts on protected areas such as national parks and wildlife preserves. But with as many as a million species at risk, this strategy may not be enough to conserve wildlife, especially in a world increasingly disrupted by climate change.
Slowing the mass extinction that now appears to be underway will require more creative means of coexisting alongside wild plants and animals. A new study emphasizes the effectiveness of some such approaches by examining indigenous-managed lands.
“We show really strongly that, from a biodiversity standpoint in terms of species richness, indigenous-managed lands are at least comparable to protected areas,” says biologist Richard Schuster of Carleton University. And in some places, they do far better than parks and preserves - even though indigenous communities may use their lands’ resources by hunting for food.
Schuster and his team analyzed more than 15,000 areas in Australia, Brazil and Canada. They found that the total diversity of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles was highest on lands either managed or co-managed by indigenous groups, while randomly selected locations with no formal protection were the least bio-diverse. For threatened species in particular, indigenous lands scored slightly higher than protected lands on overall species richness in Brazil and Canada, as well as higher for threatened amphibians and reptiles in Australia, mammals in Brazil, and brids and reptiles in Canada.
Each country has a different geography, climate and colonization history. Yet remarkably, Schuster says, the best indicator for species diversity is whether a given area was managed by an indigenous community. He points out that practices such as sustainable hunting and fishing, as well as prescribed(规定的)burning, are more likely to occur in such areas. Don Hankins, an ecologist at California State University, Chico, who is a member of the Plains Miwok indigenous nation and was not involved in the study, agrees. “There’s probably going to be more of a connection to the land,” he says, “and a use of the land for the things that are there, compared to a national park.”
“It’s really important to listen to the people who live on the land and have them drive the efforts going forward” Schuster says, adding that partnering with indigenous communities may enable the world’s countries to better meet a wide range of conservation goals: “We really need all the help we can get as a global community to avoid the extinction crisis that we’re facing right now.”
1. The word “indigenous” is closest in meaning to _________.| A．creative | B．effective | C．local | D．traditional |
| A．Some threatened species were in an even worse situation. |
| B．Protected lands failed to preserve overall species richness. |
| C．Indigenous groups play a positive role in wildlife conservation. |
| D．The total diversity of wildlife was higher in Brazil than in Australia. |
| A．Proper hunting or fishing won’t have a negative effect on biodiversity. |
| B．We should stop counting on national parks for wildlife conservation. |
| C．The extinction crisis is much more serious than previously thought. |
| D．More studies are needed to explore the human-nature balance. |
| A．Biodiversity: What We Have Neglected |
| B．Partnering with National Parks |
| C．Efforts Moving Forward |
| D．Beating Back Extinction |
6 . On the mantelpiece is a sign saying “A home is not a home without a dog”. Next to it, in the couple’s living room, is a framed picture of a dog, which is itself nestled among
Visitors to this house in Silsden, West Yorkshire are left in no doubt about the
Jacques works as a dog-walker. She has studied dog
When Jacques received the news from the vet that Dylan had died, she
The couple say they know how
They accept that some people will say they are mad and wonder why they are spending $100,000 on the
| A．casual | B．curious | C．obvious | D．various |
| A．fluently | B．primarily | C．confidently | D．quickly |
| A．inhabit | B．accommodate | C．acknowledge | D．store |
| A．strength | B．independence | C．importance | D．power |
| A．concept | B．attitude | C．behavior | D．belief |
| A．released | B．reserved | C．recorded | D．reviewed |
| A．plot | B．career | C．style | D．technique |
| A．absorbed | B．collapsed | C．withdrew | D．immersed |
| A．controversial | B．boring | C．ridiculous | D．humorous |
| A．realize | B．require | C．demand | D．insist |
| A．competence | B．understanding | C．breakthrough | D．explanation |
| A．generous | B．fundamental | C．similar | D．superior |
| A．reasons | B．doubts | C．concerns | D．instructions |
| A．accept | B．wonder | C．report | D．judge |
| A．movement | B．process | C．search | D．difficulty |
7 . China's Chang'd has been operating flawlessly since it landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019. Its arrival was later followed by the appearance of Beresheet, a probe built by the Israeli non-profit organization Spacell. It reached the Moon in April but crashed during its landing. Spacell has since announced that it intends to take another
After the
One reason for this
David Parker from the European Space Agency sees particular
Mastering a harsh environment that is distant will require us to overcome all sorts of technological hurdles. Then we will be better
There is, however, another more poignant (辛酸的) reason for returning to the Moon. Six Apollo missions made it to the lunar surface, each crewed by two men.
When the Apollo astronauts were flying to the Moon, it seemed like science fiction come true. It would be good if we could bring back that sense of
| A．luck | B．risk | C．look | D．shot |
| A．revealed | B．unlocked | C．exposed | D．demonstrated |
| A．increasing | B．initial | C．ultimate | D．genuine |
| A．died out | B．worn off | C．passed down | D．left behind |
| A．shift | B．evolution | C．passion | D．preference |
| A．favorable | B．available | C．comparable | D．accountable |
| A．association | B．harmony | C．agreement | D．parallels |
| A．imported | B．mirrored | C．transferred | D．applied |
| A．promise | B．contribute | C．resolve | D．intend |
| A．interference | B．destruction | C．involvement | D．emergence |
| A．informed | B．enlightened | C．armed | D．converted |
| A．Thus | B．Nevertheless | C．Otherwise | D．Furthermore |
| A．Despite | B．Beyond | C．Regarding | D．Given |
| A．tragedy | B．destiny | C．blow | D．revelation |
| A．fulfillment | B．wonder | C．duty | D．identity |
8 . In the United States alone,over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year.Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants.The electronic waste stream is increasing three times taster than traditional garbage as a whole.
Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver.A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste,the concentration（含量）of gold and other precious metals was higher in So-called e-waste than in naturally occurring minerals.
Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals.Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed,the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries,in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to escape into the environment.
Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material,up to 100 times more,than the material contained in the finished products.Consider again the cell-phone,and imagine the mines that produced those metals,the factories needed to make the box and packaging（包装）it came in.Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.
The U.S Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that"the production, distribution,and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas release." Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start-for instance,buying reusable products and recycling.
In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive（动机）for reducing waste.If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products,would they reduce the packaging in the first place?
Governments' incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money.Why,they ask,should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap（气泡垫）that encased your television?
From the governments' point of view,a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.
1. By mentioning the Swiss study,the author intends to tell us that .| A．the weight of e-goods is rather small |
| B．natural minerals contain more precious metals |
| C．E-waste deserves to be made good use of |
| D．the percentage of precious metals is heavy in e-waste |
| A．from producers to governments |
| B．from governments to producers |
| C．from individuals to distributors |
| D．from distributors to governments |
| A．The increase in e-waste. | B．The creation of e-waste. |
| C．The seriousness of e-waste. | D．The management of e-waste. |
Imagine living on the edge of a vast desert, which is moving quietly closer to your village every day and covering your fields. The desert is on the move. This is called desertification.
Desertification occurs in regions close to an already existing desert. It generally arises from two related causes. The first is over-use of water in the area. There is not enough water in any case, and if it is not carefully used, disaster can follow. As time goes on, water shortages make farming more and more difficult. In some places, locals can remember local lakes and marshes which were once the homes for all kinds of fish and birds. They have been completely buried by the sand now. Farmers leave the land, and fields are replaced by deserts.
The second cause is misuse or over-use of the land. This means that the wrong crops are planted and need more water than is available. Ploughing large fields and removing bushes and trees means that the wind will blow away the soil. Once the soil is lost, it is hard to replace, and if there is rain, it has nowhere to go, and brings no benefit.
It is not only the farmers and villagers who suffer. Every spring, the skies over some of eastern cities, thousands of kilometers away from the deserts, can be darkened by sandstorms. Dust from deserts can have a great effect on weather systems. While desertification is perhaps being partly caused by global warming, these sandstorms can make global warming worse by adding to what is known as the greenhouse effect.
What can be done to slow down or stop the process of desertification? A great deal of work is already under way. Obviously first steps are to find new water sources. Tree planting can help, by providing barriers between desert and rich field. Some types of grass also hold the soil together, and stop the wind taking it. Without these efforts, it will be harder and harder to stop the world’s deserts in their tracks, and more and more farmers will give up and head for cities. The lesson to be learnt lies beneath the sand.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 . Ten years ago, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan struck off the country’s eastern coast. The 9.0-magnitude quake and the tsunami it caused damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Then followed the worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.
The disaster struck at a time of untested optimism surrounding nuclear-energy technologies and the part they might have been able to play in achieving a low-carbon future. It led to fresh concerns over the vulnerabilities of nuclear infrastructures, and the fallibility (易错性) of humans in operating such complex systems.
Many experts have cast nuclear power as an inevitable choice if the planet is to limit global warming. But, given the environmental and social concerns, others are more cautious, or remain opposed.
In our view, two crucial questions concerning the future of nuclear energy need to be asked. First, can and will the sector ever overcome public disapproval? Second, do its benefits outweigh risks and costs to people and the environment? To move forward, the nuclear industry must confront these questions.
Today, around 50 nuclear-power reactors are being constructed across 16 countries. China leads, with 16 plants under way, followed by India and South Korea. According to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report, as of the end of February 2021, 414 nuclear-powered reactors were running in 32 countries, contributing 10.3% of the world’s supply of electricity. Overall, nuclear energy is ticking along but struggling.
Much of the support for nuclear energy has focused almost entirely on its techno-economic characteristics, which has downplayed the unresolved moral and ethical concerns surrounding its usage. Supporters often fail to consider inequalities in how the benefits and risks of nuclear technologies are distributed on the local, regional and global scale.
Nearly three-quarters of all uranium (铀) production globally, for instance, comes from mines that are in or near local communities, for example in the United States and Australia. These mines, left untreated after use, have poisoned lands and people. Nuclear waste is similarly trapped in equity concerns, given that long- term repositories (贮存处) will probably be sited far from communities that have benefited from the production of nuclear electricity. The nuclear industry often presents the problem of waste storage as having known technical solutions. The reality of exactly where it should go, and how, is still highly debated.
1. Which of the following statements about Fukushima disaster is TRUE?| A．It happened when many were concerned that nuclear power plant might go wrong. |
| B．It rocked public strong confidence that nuclear power is the ideal alternative energy. |
| C．It struck mainly because those in charge were not skilled at operating the systems. |
| D．It demonstrated that nuclear technologies went untested before they were adopted. |
| A．declining in use |
| B．growing explosively |
| C．making small progress |
| D．meeting strong resistance |
| A．nuclear energy may cause great damage to the global environment |
| B．countries worldwide bear potential risks of nuclear energy unequally |
| C．opinions differ greatly as to how to raise the safety of nuclear industry |
| D．technical solutions are the key to the problem of nuclear waste storage |
| A．Negative. |
| B．Objective. |
| C．Positive. |
| D．Prejudiced. |
