1. How did the man learn about Martin Harris?
A.From TV. | B.From the radio. | C.From the newspaper. |
A.He saved many people in the flood. |
B.He raised awareness about the flood. |
C.He donated a lot of money to flood victims. |
A.To express her thanks. |
B.To have an interview with him. |
C.To know more information about his life. |
2 . Though you may not know it, about half a billion people worldwide depend on the ecosystems created and supported by corals. And with climate change threatening their survival, marine scientist Enric Sala had an idea that might have seemed impossible.
“We wanted to get into a time machine, go back hundreds of years and actually see a coral reef like they used to be everywhere, before we started exploiting (开发) them, polluting them and killing them all over the world,” Sala said.
The idea was, in essence, made possible during an expedition that Sala led in 2009. The team traveled to a corner of the South Pacific Ocean, and found some untouched reefs.
His team presented their findings to officials in the island country of Kiribati. Then the Kiribati government took steps to protect the waters from fishing and other human activities, but between 2015 and 2016, record levels of ocean warming killed half the coral reefs the team had found.
After hearing that news, they lost hope for the health of coral reefs. But the study continued, and last year, they went in for another dive. Despite the reported conditions, Sala and his team found that the reefs had somehow restored themselves, filled with life and color once more. This resurrection (复兴) is something that Sala says can be traced to two key factors.
The first is, thankfully, half of the corals had not died, as was previously thought. Despite the rise in temperatures, there were enough surviving corals left behind to help reproduce the reefs.
The second factor is the Kiribati government’s decision to fully protect those waters. “There are abundant fish species. They eat all the algae that would smother (窒息) the corals, making it possible for the corals to come back,” Sala explained.
“So if some countries want a future for the fisheries, they need to manage their fisheries in a more responsible way around areas that are set aside to help regenerate the rest of the ocean,” Sala said.
For him and his team, the rebirth of the coral reefs in Kiribati is a beacon of hope among so much pessimism (悲观主义) surrounding the future of reefs.
1. What did Enric Sala want to do according to his words in paragraph 2?A.Study some untouched coral reefs. | B.Develop technology for time travel. |
C.Raise awareness about sea protection. | D.Restore coral reefs to their original state. |
A.Habitat destruction. | B.Climate change. |
C.Water pollution. | D.Biodiversity loss. |
A.Fall of ocean temperature. | B.Introduction of new fish species. |
C.Official funding for restoration efforts. | D.Sufficient surviving corals for reproduction. |
A.Killing all the algae in the ocean. | B.Reducing dependence on fisheries. |
C.Protecting the ocean from overfishing. | D.Strengthening cooperation with scientists. |
3 . During the last week of Fu Bao’s public viewing earlier this month, visitors endured waiting for 5—6 hours just to give a glance at the panda for only five minutes, as Everland Panda World restricted viewing time to manage the flood of visitors.
Born to parents Ai Bao and Le Bao in July 2020, Fu Bao is South Korea’s first naturally-born panda. In the days following her birth, Everland’s social media channels offered fans a steady diet of Fu Bao videos, pulling in more than 1.2 million subscribers and, as of February, over 500 million accumulated views. The most recent videos are now filled with warm and sincere messages from viewers.
Thanks to Fu Bao’s widespread popularity, her zookeeper has also found himself in the spotlight, becoming a bit of a social media star himself. Often referred to as her grandpa, Kang Chul-won offered hi own farewell message to Fu Bao, noting that the South Koreans’ special love for her all began with social media videos shared during the pandemic when the zoo was closed. She brought help and happiness to a society in many ways that was having a difficult time due to the virus. He said people visited the social media sites every day so it felt like he was raising her together with them. They cared so much for her and shared the same emotions of raising a baby panda together during such difficult times.
Fu Bao will be transferred to China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province. Everland says that she will be kept alone at Everland Panda World for a month to prepare her to adjust to her new environment before her overseas transfer, which will be carried out in accordance with international rules.
1. What can we learn about Fu Bao from the first two paragraphs?A.She has a balanced diet. | B.She is five years old. |
C.She is very popular in South Korea. | D.She came from Sichuan, China. |
A.She is a live symbol of luck and fortune. |
B.She is an animal who can resist any virus. |
C.She is an inspiration to overcome difficulties. |
D.She is their common possession and business. |
A.She will go on show in Everland. | B.She will be separated for adjustment. |
C.She will leave Everland Panda World. | D.She will be moved to a research center. |
A.On behalf of. | B.In terms of. |
C.In company with. | D.In agreement with. |
4 . In films and TV shows, police officers study fingerprints to catch bad guys. Now, conservationists (people who work to protect animals and the environment) are using a similar method to deal with the illegal overfishing of sharks.
Overfishing is when too many of a particular type of fish are caught, putting that species in danger. Many sharks are killed because of a high demand — and high price — for their fins. In some countries they are used to make shark fin soup, which some people believe is good for health. Around 100 species of sharks are protected by CITES — the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which is an agreement between 184 countries that protects wildlife that is sold.
CITES has teams of people who visit ports and fish factories to look for evidence of protected species being illegally caught and sold. The idea is to punish those responsible and stop it happening, but finding evidence is difficult and can take a long time. Often, fish are sold before teams arrive and if a fish is cut up ready for sale, it’s hard to tell which species it was.
Scientists have come up with a process that studies “fish dust” — tiny traces of fish that get left on the floor at ports and factories, even after the fish have gone. Using a process called metabarcoding, they examine the DNA in it and can tell if the DNA is from a protected species. The scientists tested the method in Indonesia, where many sharks are caught and sold. They studied dust from seven sites and found evidence of 61 shark species — more than 80% of them CITES-protected. Dr. Andhika Prasetyo, the scientist who led the research, hopes the new method could soon be helping to protect endangered sea life.
1. What is the purpose of CITES?A.To protect wildlife in the trade | B.To study the behavior of sharks. |
C.To offer medical treatment to wildlife. | D.To stop overfishing in dangerous waters. |
A.Observing endangered sharks up close. | B.Dealing with international problems. |
C.Working with local fish factories. | D.Finding timely and effective evidence. |
A.It has met the need for shark research. | B.It has begun to show promising results. |
C.It has raised doubts in the fishing industry. | D.It has been introduced to different countries. |
A.CITES: what it can tell us | B.DNA uncovers shark secrets |
C.DNA tests could save sharks | D.The silent guardian of the sea: CITES |
5 . Ten years ago, environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb was on a reporting trip about wildlife conservation. When he was shown around some new animal crossing structures near, Missoula, these new bridges and tunnels intrigued him. He was attracted by these beautiful human-built structures and inspired to write a book. Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet has now been published.
Through expert interviews, in-depth research and convincing analysis, Goldfarh brings to life the deadly consequences our 40 million miles of roadways have had and are having on the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. A million animals are killed by cars each day in the US alone. Road salt pollutes lakes and rivers. And there's the barrier effect-the steady stream of traffic that prevents animals from migrating (迁徙) all together and finding habitats. Goldfarb writes that noise pollution is the most worrisome among all the road's ecological disasters. Both the engine noise and the tire noise greatly impact ecological environment.
Figures on deaths and disruptions (扰乱) are disheartening, but Goldfarb vividly describes how scientists are actively working on meaningful improvements to help animals and roads better coexist, such as wildlife crossings, from passages in Canada's Banff National Park to the famous Liberty Canyon Overpass in Los, Angeles. Another example is that in India, they built a new highway through a tiger reserve so that animals can come and go underneath the lifted freeway. Of course, that made the project more expensive, but it's ecologically the right thing to do.
Crossings is a truly important and landmark book on a subject whose full impacts continue to be disregarded or underestimated in considering conservation efforts. The book is a sympathetic, heart-warming guide to exploring the issues of wildlife survival and our own.
1. What does the underlined word “intrigued” in paragraph 1 mean?A.Confused. | B.Blocked. | C.Satisfied. | D.Interested. |
A.Road salt. | B.Roadkill. |
C.Vehicle noises. | D.Endless traffic stream. |
A.To bring shame on individual drivers. |
B.To stress the effect of roads on wildlife. |
C.To show humans' effort in animal protection. |
D.To explain the necessity of creating wild reserves. |
A.Vivid and touching. |
B.Pessimistic and sharp. |
C.Objective and critical. |
D.Abstract and humorous. |
6 . A British company has proposed releasing a GM(genetically modified) strain of the diamondback moth (菱形斑纹蛾), which has been developed to help reduce the population of these vegetable-eating insects.
Male diamondback moths carrying a deadly gene would be released which would cause their off springs (后代) to die almost immediately. Then the fall in their numbers could help to increase crop yields for farmers.
Oxitec, the company which came up with the idea, hopes to begin trials next year but faces opposition from groups who say the untested technology could threaten wildlife and human health.
“Mass releases of GM insects into the British countryside would be impossible to recall if anything went wrong. Changing one part of an ecosystem can have knock-on effects on others in ways that are poorly understood. This could include an increase in different types of pests. Wildlife that feeds on insects could be harmed if there are changes to their food supply” said Dr Helen Wallace, the director of Gene-Watch UK, who has sat on government advisory bodies.
Hadyn Parry, Oxitec’s chief executive, said there was demand from farmers for the technology and that using GM insects to kill the pests that feed on food crops is better for the environment than chemical sprays. The firm, which is supported by grants from the taxpayer, is developing a number of GM insects that would be used in Britain and around the world to protect crops and combat disease in humans.
Oxitec has contacted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ask what controls, if any, should be put in place around GM moth trials. A spokesman said that while its officials and advisers have discussed Oxitec’s plans, there is yet to be a formal application for a trial. Consequently the department has not reached a view on whether it should go ahead.
1. People strongly object to the idea mainly because they think _______.A.the technology won’t be as effective as chemical sprays |
B.the technology may bring about knock-on effects on insects |
C.the technology won’t be well controlled |
D.the technology may not be good for wildlife and human health |
A.Disapproving. | B.Positive. | C.Doubtful. | D.Not mentioned. |
A.struggle | B.avoid | C.fight | D.contract |
A.Oxitec still hasn’t formed any plans to control the trials. |
B.Oxitec has decided to begin the trial this year. |
C.Taxpayers will not continue to support Oxitec’s research. |
D.Farmers prefer GM insects to chemical sprays. |
Hainan, meaning “south of the sea”, is
Sitting on the northern coast of the island is the provincial capital of Haikou, also known as the “coconut city”, which offers a unique snapshot of Chinese culture and the history of its inhabitants, many of
Many of the buildings have not been touched since their
8 . The ocean is home to more than 200,000 known species and as many as 2 million that we have yet to discover. And, it is also home to 24.4 trillion pieces of microplastics. In 2022, researchers spotlighted how bad marine microplastic pollution, is getting: The total amount of microplastics on the bottom of oceans has greatly increased. in the past two decades.
Microplastic particles don’t just end up at the bottom of the ocean. Animals are eating them — at least 1,500 species have been reported to ingest plastic. And a lot of it. For example, whales in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf consume roughly three million microplastics daily, according to research published in Science of the Total Environment, which analyzed whale waste to see how much microplastics were present.
“Other research has shown that if plastics are small enough, they can cross the gut(肠道) wall and get into internal organs though the long-term effects are still unclear. Plastics can also release chemicals that are harmful to digestive system,” says Kahane-Rapport. “This is concerning, and while we do not yet understand the long-term health-effects, it is likely not a good sign for whales and their prey(猎物) to eat a man-made material like plastic.”
This is obviously bad for whales, but it also has effects on humans and the ocean at large. We are also part of these food chains and are consuming microplastics regularly. They are in our bottled water, in our table salt — they are even in our house dust and in the air we breathe. And we still don’t know what the health effects are. Meanwhile, the impact on whales — and what it indicates — is troubling on many fronts. “Whales are ecosystem engineers,” says Kahane-Rapport. “They can spread the nutrients that they consumed and serve as ecosystem guards — when whales are not healthy, other parts of the system will suffer.”
Kahane-Rapport says more research is needed. “The next research step will be to determine how much plastic the whales excrete(排出) and how much is left in their bodies. Following that, we would be able to determine the direct health effects on their tissues.”
1. What does the underlined word “ingest” in paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Deal with. | B.Bring up. | C.Take in. | D.Spread out. |
A.Researches show contradictory results. |
B.Digestive system is the most affected part. |
C.Small plastics are more harmful than big ones. |
D.Much about microplastics’ harm remains unclear. |
A.The various sources of pollution. |
B.Tab chain reaction of microplastics. |
C.Possible solutions to plastic pollution. |
D.Growing awareness of ocean protection |
A.Microplastic pollution to the ocean bottom |
B.The sufferings of other ocean creatures. |
C.Whales’ contributions to the ecosystem. |
D.The amount of plastic in whales bodies. |
9 . Wind turbines (风力发电机) work especially well out in coastal waters, where ocean winds can be very strong. Offshore wind farms cost more to build than onshore ones. Offshore equipment must be heavier than onshore equipment. It has to stand up to very heavy winds, big waves and strong currents. Sending people to install, operate and repair equipment at sea is costly. But once set up, offshore wind could pick up bonus tasks.
According to Haris Ishaq, an engineer at the University of Victoria in Canada, one of the best add-ons to wind farms is making hydrogen gas, which means making a clean power source in a clean way. A device called an electrolyzer (电解器) can split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The electrolyzer needs fresh water, not salt water. To remove the sea salt, Ishaq’s team proposes removing the salt through a special technique, which is supposed to run on the electricity produced by the offshore wind farms.
Ishap’s group also proposes adding a second bonus task to wind farms—to capture (捕获) CO2 from the atmosphere. Atmospheric CO2 levels are higher than ever, resulting in a worsening greenhouse effect. A process called direct air capture, or DAC, can remove CO2 from the air. The DAC devices need electricity to run. Fans move air across a solid material that captures CO2 and releases everything else. When the solid material is heated to 100° Celsius, it releases the stored CO2. The same solids can then be reused to grab more CO2. The electricity made by wind turbines would power the devices’ fans and the electric boiler, to heat the carbon-collecting solid. To store the CO2 released, Ishaq’s team proposes injecting it into a type of deep-sea rock. That rock reacts with the gas, turning it into more rock in 10 to 25 years.
Ishaq’s team modeled wind turbines, electrolyzers and DAC units on computers to confirm their proposed system is a good idea. The next step is to test a small version of this set up on a floating platform in the ocean.
1. Why are offshore wind farms built despite many difficulties?A.They can serve better purposes. | B.They are money-saving. |
C.They can be used longer. | D.They need little maintenance. |
A.Reducing greenhouse effect. | B.Testing an air-capturing process. |
C.Exploring a kind of deep-sea rock. | D.Starting a hydrogen-collecting project. |
A.Neutral. | B.Cautious. | C.Uncertain. | D.Approving. |
A.Clean Energy Is Put into Better Use |
B.Hydrogen Promises to Be The Energy of Tomorrow |
C.Engineers Propose Add-ons to Offshore Wind Farms |
D.Wind Turbines Work Especially Well Out in Coastal Waters |
A.Clothes. | B.A plant. | C.A season. |