1 . Do you remember all those years when scientists argued that smoking would kill us but the doubters insisted that we didn’t know for sure? That the evidence was inconclusive, the science uncertain? That the antismoking lobby was out to destroy our way of life and the government should stay out of the way? Lots of Americans bought that nonsense, and over three decades, some 10 million smokers went to early graves.

There are upsetting parallels today, as scientists in one wave after another try to awaken us to the growing threat of global warming. The latest was a panel from the National Academy of Sciences, enlisted by the White House, to tell us that the Earth’s atmosphere is definitely warming and that the problem is largely man-made. The clear message is that we should get moving to protect ourselves. The president of the National Academy, Bruce Alberts, added this key point in the preface to the panel’s report: “Science never has all the answers. But science does provide us with the best available guide to the future, and it is critical that our nation and the world base important policies on the best judgments that science can provide concerning the future consequences of present actions.”

Just as on smoking, voices now come from many quarters insisting that the science about global warming is incomplete, that it’s OK to keep pouring fumes into the air until we know for sure. This is a dangerous game: by the time 100 percent of the evidence is in, it may be too late. With the risks obvious and growing, a prudent people would take out an insurance policy now.

Fortunately, the White House is starting to pay attention. But it’s obvious that a majority of the president’s advisers still don’t take global warming seriously. Instead of a plan of action, they continue to press for more research — a classic case of “paralysis by analysis.”

To serve as responsible stewards of the planet, we must press forward on deeper atmospheric and oceanic research. But research alone is inadequate. If the Administration won’t take the legislative initiative, Congress should help to begin fashioning conservation measures. A bill by Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, which would offer financial incentives for private industry, is a promising start. Many see that the country is getting ready to build lots of new power plants to meet our energy needs. If we are ever going to protect the atmosphere, it is crucial that those new plants be environmentally sound.

2 . Researchers from Aarhus University and University of Gothenburg have produced new maps of mammals (哺乳动物) to date connecting all living and recently extinct mammal kinds-nearly 6,000 in total.

Earlier similar studies always left out one key group of mammals: species driven to extinction by humans.

Scientists often use these maps to predict how climate change will affect species. And because the new ones show species’ footprints, they help scientists better see many species have had their numbers greatly reduced by humans, for example, through over hunting and the destroying of their habitats.

“Brown bears may lead us to think of Alaska or Russia today but they used to cover all the way from Mexico to Northern Africa before they were widely hunted by humans.” said Faurby.

We usually think large mammals like elephants and lions live in Africa today, but for most of the last 30 million years, big animals traveled all over the Earth. It was only recently that humans drove many of these large mammals extinct, leaving a world depauperate of large mammals.

“Even some huge species that we think of as prehistoric, lived up to the time the Great Pyramid was being built,” Davis said.

Making a database that included every species of mammal was no easy task. It took the research team at Aarhus University months just to piece together existing datasets and fill in missing holes in the data.

Marking footprints on the map for them was even harder. The scientists used both DNA information and data from some dig sites around the world with a powerful new computer algorithm (算法) to predict where the extinct species fit in with mammals that are alive today.

4 . On July 20, Yu Yifei, a medical intern (实习生), made his way home in a subway train after his first day’s training. When a heavy rain struck the city, he _________ about a dozen people trapped in a flooded subway train as the rainfall reached 201.9 millimeters between 4 pm and 5 pm, a totally new _________ in the history of Zhengzhou.

Flood _________ a barrier and entered the underground area. The train came to a sudden stop before the water began _________ in the carriages, trapping passengers inside. Thus Yu, _________ to leave and fearful of his life, made a _________ call to his father.

As water continued to flow into the carriages, passengers’ _________ rose. When subway workers arrived to withdraw them, Yu _________ to get out. As he made his way to safety, he heard a cry for help. He quickly _________ the white medical coat given to him at the hospital __________ and returned to the platform to save other passengers. On seeing him, a number of frightened people were greatly encouraged and their spirits __________.

As more passengers were pulled from the __________, Yu instructed others in the key steps to save a victim from drowning. He __________ CPR (心肺复苏) to those in low-temperature shock from the cold water and near death from drowning. One of the passengers, a female doctor, nearly died. After __________ consciousness, she joined Yu in treating others. Yu was very __________ and needed all his concentration to perform another CPR. What a good man!

6 . Plastic straws (吸管) have been a major problem in global discussions of environmental damage. Maybe because of their small size, the production cost of straws is low. In many countries, straws are offered freely after buying soft drinks. Therefore, plastic straws are one of the most used plastics and pollutants in the world.

The plastic straw is light and small. Due to their small size, plastic straws are often eaten by sea animals. Environmentalists have shown that the death of many sea animals is caused by eating plastic straws. The other damaging characteristic of plastic straws is that they are made of materials which cannot degrade. That means the materials cannot be changed into small harmless (无害的) ones.

The most effective way of dealing with the environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is the reuse or banning (禁止) the use of plastic straws. Being plastics, the straws can be made new items. Many organizations around the world change used straws into new products. In Africa, local communities collect used plastic straws and use them to make mats and bags. Another way of dealing with environmental pollution caused by plastic straws is placing a ban on their production and use. Experts advise governments to ban using plastic straws to save the environment. A few countries in the world such as Rwanda, Macedonia, China, Kenya have already banned the use of plastic bags and are expected to include plastic straws and bottles. But it will be a long way to do this effectively.

There are few environmentally friendly and biodegradable productions to take the place of plastic straws. These productions include paper straws, bamboo straws. However, such straws are usually expensive as their production cost is high. It’s still a question whether they can entirely take the place of plastic straws.

7 . This is the story of Moyo, a rescued elephant in Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery, a local non-governmental organization called Wild Is Life. She is probably one of the _______ elephant cubs ever to be rescued. She came to the nursery when she was about three to four _______ old. She weighed 56 kilos, and _______ a just-born African elephant cub weighs about 90 kilos. So she was a special iconic little elephant. Under good care of the staff there, she managed to _______.

Every year hundreds of young elephants are orphaned across the African continent and rarely have a chance of _______ in the wild and are more often than not, left to die. “We rescue babies, and we provide _______ for them. We make sure they are in good _______ here, and help them regain their _______ needed in the wild. We are trying to create a culture where people ______,” said, Roxy Danckwerts, the founder of Wild Is Life.

Moyo is about four and a half years old pow. She is healthy, playful, and has become some kind of ambassador to the nursery. Therefore, she has to take on a lot of ________ for such a young animal almost becoming a leader at the very young age. She is gentle, calm, and very ________ to the other elephants that come into the nursery. She is also very good with people.

But unfortunately, they’re not much more than objects of money in the eyes of ivory (象牙) dealers. Zimbabwe has a ________ elephant-hunting problem. Some regions are ________ as much as 75 Percent of the elephant population over the past 10 years. That is why Danckwerts feels excited at China’s decision to ________ illegal ivory sales, which he believes has become a major turning point and a signal to the world that China has made a ________.

9 . It’s strange, but I don’t really remember much about the hurricane itself.     1     I was sitting in my room with my cat, Smartie, on my lap, when the roof just flew off. All of a sudden, there was sky where the roof had been. I was so frightened that I just froze(保住不动).

Mom cried to get out quickly, but it was already too late by then. The rain was coming down so hard and so fast.     2     We were going nowhere.

At first, I was pleased we could stay at home, but soon it got really difficult.     3     There was water everywhere, but we couldn’t drink any of it or else we’d get really sick. We just had drinking water that was sent to us by helicopter, but it was never enough. It was August, so it was really, really hot and it smelled so bad everywhere! I just spent the days watching the boats going up and down the street and looking out for Smartie.     4    

Living in the open air, we became breakfast, lunch and dinner for the mosquitos(蚊子). But Mom said that whatever happens, we should always try to see the good side of things.     5     We had lost our home and everything in it. All we had left were the clothes on our backs. But thankfully, Smartie came home just in time. As Mom kept on reminding(提醒) us, we were all together and safe. Mom’s words made us feel better and gave us hope for the future.

Are you impressed by the mountains in Avatar? The real ones are in Zhangjiajie. For those who love nature, Zhangjiajie is a must. Zhangjiajie National Park is now     1     UNESCO World Heritage site, one that has seen tourism boom, stimulating economic     2       ( grow), and providing a lot of job     3     (opportunity) for the locals. Over the years, the rock caves and karst (喀斯特) formations     4     (lead) people to call it a “fairyland”.

The park has thick forests, deep canyons, unusual peaks, caves, and pillar-like (像柱子似的) rock formations blanketed throughout the park. These pillar-like rock formations are what the park is famous for around the world. One of the fastest and most     5     (effort) ways to experience the area is by     6     (ride) up the world’s tallest outdoor elevator. The 326-meter-tall glass Bailong Elevator     7     (build) onto the side of a cliff at the start of this century and offers amazing views of the park.

Many endangered species of animals and plants can be found there,     8     inspired the Chinese government to begin conservation efforts     9     (protect) the landscape of Zhangjiajie. Zhangjiajie is also home     10     the world’s tallest bungee jump as well as the famous Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge — which is the highest and the longest glass bridge of its kind.