In the southern part of France, away from the charm of Paris and the scenic Riviera, lies Toulouse, often referred to as “La Ville Rose” or “The Pink City.” Its nickname comes from the unique terra-cotta bricks used in many of its, buildings, giving the city a distinctive style.
Historically, Toulouse traces its roots back to the ancient times. It was originally established by the Celts in the 4th century BC and later became a significant Roman settlement. The city’s strategic position near the Germane River made it a well-known trading center in ancient Europe. By the Middle Ages, Toulouse had become a major center of trade due to its dye industry. This trade brought immense wealth to the region, and the city’s grand houses and public buildings from this era reflect is opulence (繁华).
However, Toulouse was not just a center for trade. Its history is marked with intellectual pursuits. By the 13th century, Université de Toulouse was established, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. The institution attracted scholars from various parts of Europe.
In modern times, Toulouse is famous for its aerospace industry. Home to Airbus, one of the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturers, the city is a center point in global aviation. This modern achievement connects with Toulouse’s rich history, showcasing a combination of the old and the new.
One of the most significant landmarks in Toulouse is the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, an architectural marvel from the Romanesque period. The church stands as a testament to the city’s religious significance during the medieval (中世纪的) times. Another notable part is the Capitole de Toulouse, which houses the city hall and a grand opera building. Its facade, made with the characteristic pink bricks, showcases the essence (本质) of Toulouse.
Despite its historical significance and achievements, Toulouse often remains overshadowed by other French cities. Yet, those who went to this southern gem find themselves fond of its rich history, vibrant culture, and the warmth of its inhabitants.
Visiting Toulouse offers an opportunity to step back in time while remaining firmly grounded in the present. It’s a city that embraces is past, cherishes its traditions, yet looks forward with optimism. In the European cities, Toulouse shines as a wonderful, yet irreplaceable one.
1. Why is Toulouse called “La Ville Rose” or “The Pink City?”2. What are the reasons for Toulouse to become a center of trade in the history?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Basilica of Saint-Sernin stands as a testament to the city’s intellectual significance during medieval time.
4. In your opinion, which city in China is like Toulouse, which cherishes its traditions, yet looks forward with optimism? Why?
2 . Guide to “Clean & Green” Home Recycling
Welcome to the “Clean & Green” home recycling initiative (倡议)! Our goal is to assist households in reducing their environmental footprint by providing step-by-step instructions on effective recycling practices.
Understanding Recycling Types
Every city has its own recycling standards, but the followings are generally universal:
Plastics: These include bottles, containers, and other packaging materials. Always clean plastics before recycling to avoid pollution.
Paper: Newspapers, magazines, and cardboard are recyclable. However, soiled or wet paper should be discarded as regular waste.
Glass: Bottles and jars of all colors can be recycled. Ensure they are free of food waste.
Metals: Common recyclables are aluminum cans and tin foil (锡纸). Remove any food waste before disposal (处理).
Steps for Effective Home Recycling
Collection: Use separate bins for each type. Mark containers to avoid confusion (迷惑).
Preparation: As mentioned above, clean the items. This prevents waste and increases the recyclability of the materials.
Storage: Avoid overfilling recycling bins. Overpacked bins might lead to improper sorting at recycling facilities.
Drop-Off: If your city doesn’t offer roadside pickup, locate your nearest recycling drop-off point.
Stay Informed: Recycling guidelines can change. Regularly check city websites for “Clean & Green” updates.
Recycling DOs and DON’Ts
DO encourage neighbors and friends to adopt recycling habits.
DON’T mix different types in one bin.
DO invest in composting if possible; it’s another great way to reduce waste.
DON’T recycle dangerous or electronic waste with regular recyclables. Ask your city for proper disposal methods.
Benefits of Recycling:
Reduces landfill (垃圾填埋) waste.
Conserves natural resources and energy.
Prevents pollution by reducing the need for raw materials (原材料).
Supports public health by minimizing exposure to harmful things.
Join the “Clean & Green” initiative today and play your part in creating a bright future for the next generations!
1. Which of the following materials needs to be cleaned before recycling?| A．Paper | B．Plastics | C．Metals | D．Glass |
| A．To sell recycling bins. | B．To encourage composting (堆肥). |
| C．To reduce households’ environmental footprints. | D．To update recycling guidelines frequently. |
| A．Electronic waste can be recycled with regular recyclables. |
| B．You should mix different types in one bin to save space |
| C．It’s important to stay updated on recycling guidelines. |
| D．Wet paper is preferred for recycling as it’s easier to process |
3 . As you leave the Bandhavgarh National Park in India, there is a notice which shows a huge tiger. The notice says, “You may not have seen me, but I have seen you.” There are more than a billion people in India and Indian tigers probably see humans every single day. Tigers can and do kill almost anything they meet in the jungle. However, it is a little strange that attacks on humans are not that frequent.
Some people might argue that these attacks were in fact common in the past. But there were far more tigers around in those days. So, to some extent, attacks appear to have been as rare then as they are today.
People think it is because of fears, but what exactly are tigers afraid of? Can they really know that we may be even better armed than they are? Surely not. Has the species programmed the experiences of all tigers with humans into its genes to be inherited as instinct? Perhaps. But I think the explanation may be simpler and, in a way, more interesting.
I suspect that a tiger’s fear of humans lies in the way he actually observes us visually. Imagine a tiger sees a man who is 1.8 meters tall. A tiger is less than 1 meter tall but he may be up to 3 meters long from head to tail. So when a tiger sees the man face on, it might not be unreasonable for him to assume that the man is 6 meters long. If he met a deer of this size, he might attack the animal by leaping on its back, but when he looks behind the man, he can’t see a back. From the front the man is huge, but looked at from the side he all but disappears. This must be very disturbing. A hunter has to be confident that it can kill its prey, and no one is confident when they are disconcerted.
The opposite is true of a squatting human. A squatting human is half the size and presents twice the spread of back, and appears like a medium-sized deer. Many incidents of attacks on people involve villagers bending over to cut grass. The fact that humans stand upright may not just distinguish them from other species, but also help them to survive in an unpredictable environment.
1. As for some people’s opinion on tiger attacks, the author is ________.| A．objective | B．unconcerned | C．supportive | D．disapproving |
| A．To present assumptions. | B．To evaluate arguments. |
| C．To question findings. | D．To confirm opinions. |
| A．Confused. | B．Annoyed. | C．Depressed. | D．Surprised. |
| A．It is the genes that cause the tiger’s fear of humans. |
| B．It is hard for a tiger to make out the shape of humans. |
| C．Tigers sense the danger the moment they spot humans. |
| D．Tigers are less confident when facing squatting humans. |
Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of ice. Around 9,000 years ago, this ice melted,
Yuan Longping realised that larger fields were not the solution. Instead, farmers needed to boost yields in the fields they had. How this could be done was a
6 . A national activity, which aims to make people more strictly follow laws on the illegal (非法的) wildlife trade, will try to find out a large number of cases, in which millions of animals and plants are killed. If you would like to do some volunteer work for wildlife protection, then the activity will be suitable for you.
What should the activity do?
The activity will be really important, which aims to take away illegal gains from the lawbreakers and force them to receive punishments. This activity will also take away their wildlife products and illegal hunting tools. What’s more, all the lawbreakers will be taken to the police station.
What’s the purpose of the activity?
The activity is to stop the complete connection with the illegal wildlife trade across the country, including illegal hunting, killing, transportation and the action of buying and using the wildlife products. The government says that China will have its strong official action to punish those who work on illegal wildlife trade.
What’s your duty?
During the activity, the government hopes you can help check carefully part of tools, main stations and natural environment of the wildlife. You and other volunteers will be working together to help the experts build a law system (系统) that will cover all areas and leave no stone unturned.
What’s the future plan?
The next step is to increase the ways of working for wildlife resource information and management. We need lots of efforts so that the situation of national protection for wildlife will become satisfying one day.
1. Why will the national activity be carried out?| A．To ask people to raise some kinds of wildlife. |
| B．To ask people to keep watching wildlife from now on. |
| C．To make people get to know some animals and plants. |
| D．To make people follow laws on the illegal wildlife trade. |
| A．To give lawbreakers punishment in order to protect wildlife. |
| B．To give some illegal products away to the people in poor areas. |
| C．To prevent lawbreakers from making more tools to hunt wildlife. |
| D．To stop the public from entering natural environment of wildlife. |
| A．Fine all of the lawbreakers. | B．Have a strong official action. |
| C．Build new useful management. | D．Start a new transportation system. |
| A．To check all the dangerous stones in all areas. |
| B．To help build a law system together with others. |
| C．To take away part of the tools from lawbreakers. |
| D．To help build more stations with the help of experts. |
| A．punish all the lawbreakers in the area | B．protect all the national animals in China |
| C．stop illegal wildlife trade all over the world | D．reduce illegal wildlife trade to a certain degree |
7 . I was having breakfast at home, checking out social media on my phone. Suddenly, a picture
I
On our way to the center, we had no idea of what was going to happen. We hadn’t got much information about Charlie’s
As soon as he got to our house, he soon made himself at home. He sniffed (嗅) around and then
We get out every day on walks and we’re much closer now. He’s always so happy to see us when my husband and I come through the door. If you give dogs
| A．hit | B．caught | C．found | D．gave |
| A．clicked | B．depended | C．tried | D．passed |
| A．excited | B．encouraged | C．satisfied | D．moved |
| A．drop in | B．rely on | C．apply for | D．suffer from |
| A．sent | B．selected | C．received | D．presented |
| A．visit | B．buy | C．replace | D．rescue |
| A．decoration | B．occasion | C．tradition | D．situation |
| A．teenager | B．owner | C．foreigner | D．reader |
| A．expectations | B．fights | C．difficulties | D．descriptions |
| A．glad | B．aware | C．proud | D．afraid |
| A．bored | B．interested | C．happy | D．worried |
| A．hid | B．put | C．turned | D．jumped |
| A．problems | B．advantages | C．manners | D．complaints |
| A．advice | B．home | C．fairness | D．support |
There is a place
9 . 
Climate change influences how organisms live and function in their environment. Investigating how organisms adapt is essential for accurately predicting their survival, and tracking genomic(基因组的) changes helps researchers determine the lasting effects of the changing environment. Copepods, a dominant coastal species, are particularly useful for studying genetic changes in response to shifting marine environments. By studying copepods, researchers can get an idea of how the ocean food chain might react to changes in the Earth’s climate.
Tracking a copepod’s evolving genome in the wild, however, can be time-consuming and laborious. To circumvent this challenge, Pespeni and her team used an evolve-and-resequence approach in the lab. They exposed a copepod population to three stressors—water warming, acidification via high CO₂ levels, and combinations of the two ocean warming and acidification (OWA) conditions in the laboratory, and tracked their adaptations to these conditions over 25generations. Previously, they tracked reproductive fitness traits such as egg-hatching success under these conditions. They found that the fitness of the population exposed to OWA conditions initially decreased, but then adapted to the stressors over several generations.
In the current study, the researchers sequenced the genomes of animals in each experimental group at generation 0 and 25 to quantify how allele (等位基因) frequencies changed in response to experimental selective pressures. The researchers found adaptive alleles related to development were unique to the multiple stressor experiment, providing a possible explanation for the observed selection of hatching success.
“We showed that the warming alone was a much strong er selective pressure than CO₂. But when you combine them, you get a unique synergy. So, it’s not just one plus one equals two; it’s one plus one equals something totally different,” said Pespeni. Whereas previous studies observed the effects of single stressors on evolving organisms, Pespeni’s study demonstrated that multiple stressors result in a unique response to selection in a non-additive manner. This is important because human-induced environmental changes are multifaceted(多方面的), and additional stressors are still needed to further mimic natural environmental changes, and this study reveals the complexity of the genomic adaptive response.
According to Morgan Kelly, a professor who was not involved in the study, the insights presented by the researchers in this study call into question the previous single stressor studies and will influence future experimental design. “There’s this big question of the role that evolutionary change will play in response to climate change, and the way the researchers integrate genomic information is the best of its kind in the world of marine experimental evolution,” said Kelly.
According to Pespeni, there is reason to maintain hope in the face of climate change because her work revealed that the copepods eventually fully regained their ability to reproduce following the combined environmental changes.
1. What can we learn about Pespeni’s previous and current studies?| A．The previous study tried new ways to quantify the response of copepods. |
| B．The current study may explain the success of hatching in the previous one. |
| C．The previous study reveals the complexity of the genomic adaptive response. |
| D．The current study sequenced copepods’ genes of 25 generations in each group. |
| A．study how other species adapt to global warming |
| B．include additional stressors in their experiments |
| C．track a copepod’s evolving genome in the wild |
| D．compare Pespeni’s study with previous ones |
| A．It integrates genomic information in the research. |
| B．It shows most species can easily adapt to climate changes. |
| C．It confirms the effectiveness of previous single stressor studies. |
| D．It demonstrates multiple stressors produce an additive response. |
| A．Scientists Edit Genomes to Help Copepods Survive |
| B．Research Removes People’s Worries about Climate Change |
| C．Combining Climate Stressors Leads to Unique Genomic Changes |
| D．The Evolve-and-resequence Approach Helps Fight Climate Change |
A new study found that light pollution is making the night sky brighter and the stars dimmer. Man-made lighting is the main cause, making the night sky about 10 percent brighter each year.
The result was a much faster rate of change than scientists had estimated. The research team gave an example to explain the result. If a child is born where 250 stars can be seen on a clear night, by the time that child turns 18, only 100 stars will be seen.
The researchers said they had hoped to see improvements in light pollution in recent years, because many urban centers have changed their lighting to be more energy-efficient. Towns and cities are replacing older streetlights with modern LEDS that are more carefully directed downwards, where the light is useful.
The hope was that if the light was better directed, the situation would get better. But there are many types of lighting — streetlights, decorative, advertising. So, with all these things combined — and possibly more lighting overall, we are making sky brightness worse. The relatively low cost of LED lighting is also contributing to the problem, that is, the cheaper and better the lighting, the higher society’s addiction to light.
Consequently, light pollution leads to a loss of universal human experience, a source of inspiration for art, science, literature. It also affects the routine of human as well as other forms of life. Migratory songbirds normally use starlight to position where they are in the sky at night. And when sea turtle babies hatch, they use light to position toward the ocean — light pollution is a huge deal for them.
1. What causes light pollution?2. What are the negative effects of light pollution?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The sky brightness becomes worse because of more modern types of lighting being used and the lack of LED lighting.
4. Besides light pollution, what do you think is the most serious pollution in life? And explain its effects. (In about 40 words)
