2 . In the heart of Texas, “Bee Czar” Walter Schumacher is saving the world—one hive (蜂群) at a time. And he does it without wearing a protective bee suit. What is his technique? He “communicates” with the bees to avoid being bitten. Walter and his team at the American Honey Bee Protection Agency rescue hives from places that are unwanted—inside the walls of a house or 30 feet up in a neighborhood tree, and relocate the hives where the bees can grow and pollinate (授粉) in peace.

According to Walter, every third bite of food we eat was pollinated by bees; without them, life would cease existing. But saving bees costs money, so they have got to sell honey to make money.

Walter’s business once was booming with $200,000 in yearly sales. But after losing everything in the past three years, Walter wants to rebuild his honey business so that he can afford to rescue unwanted hives. With his oldest son Will and a small but dedicated team, Walter has a plan to transform their old family farm into their new headquarters, to save more bees and sell more honey.

Saving bees is a big affair. Will runs the business, trying to keep his dad organized; Walter teaches his younger sons Bodhi and Odin the skills of keeping bees, and Will’s wife Meredith is experiencing her first bee rescue. Walter also invites bee technician Jonathan who seeks inner calm by rescuing bees and scaffolding (脚手架) pro Sandy, who can reach angry bees in places ladders can’t and dreams of talking to bees herself. Walter brings audiences into the hive when he trains beekeepers to safely handle millions of bees Will plans to sign big contracts selling honey to businesses like restaurants and supermarkets, meanwhile undertaking dangerous hive rescues.

1. Which of the following can best describe Walter’s work of rescuing bees?

A．Interesting.

B．Tough.

C．Tiring.

D．Simple.

2. What does Walter think of bees?

A．They are important to us.	B．They are not in danger.
C．They can’t grow in peace.	D．They can bite many people.

3. What is Walter’s present plan?

A．To find more hives.	B．To expand his team.
C．To rebuild his business.	D．To train more bee raisers.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．Why Walter started the big affair.

B．What Walter’s family do to save bees.

C．Whether Walter sticks to his business.

D．How Walter teaches his sons to keep bees.

3 . Most popular wildlife parks in India often have long queues and are expensive. Namrata Dadwal lists four lesser-known sanctuaries (保护区) that you can explore at a more reasonable price.

Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary

Spread over 578 acres in the Aravallirange, the sanctuary is near the Famous Kumbalgarh Fort. The sanctuary makes home to many endangered species of wildlife like wolf, leopard, and jungle cat.

Best way to explore: By boat

Best time to explore: March to December

National Chambal Sanctuary

The 5400 sq km sanctuary extends into Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh and is the only one in India with three keystone species — Ganges river dolphin, ghariyal and red-crowned roof turtle along with eight rare turtle species and about 300 species of birds.

Best way to explore: By boat

Best time to explore: November to March

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary

While the Sunderbans in West Bengal is India’s most popular mangrove (红树林) forest, an equally wonderful one is Coringa, which is the second largest one in the country. It is a birder’s heaven and is also home to otters, jackals, fishing cats and estuarine crocodiles. Endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles nest here from January to March.

Best way to explore: By boat or on foot

Best time to explore: November to February

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

The park has 21 islands and three distinct coastal ecosystems — coral reef, seagrass bed and mangroves — with over 4,200 species of plants and animals. It is home to the largest endangered marine mammal Dugong and is also the last shelter of Balanoglossus.

Best way to explore: By boat or on foot

Best time to explore: October to March

1. Which is the best choice for a visit in July?

A．Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

B．National Chambal Sanctuary.

C．Kumbalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

D．Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

2. What can we see in Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary?

A．Dugong.	B．Jungle cat.
C．Ganges river dolphin.	D．Olive Ridley sea turtle.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a diary.	B．In a biography.
C．In a biology book.	D．In a travel brochure.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Beijing Central Axis(中轴线) has taken one more step ahead to become     1     UNESCO(联合国教科文组织) World Heritage Site,     2     will be part of China’s 2024 application project.

The Beijing Central Axis, seen as one of the most important     3     (represent) of Chinese civilization, refers to the core area of the ancient capital city that     4     (stretch) 7.8 kilometres from the Yongding Gate in the south         5     the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the north. This area tells stories of emperors from the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911)     6     records the lives of both popular figures and common people.

    7     (vary) methods to advance the application have been used, including digital technologies. For instance, visitors can travel through time and space     8     (free), moving between the past and the present, and learn about 14 cultural heritage sites along the Central Axis by using a newly-launched mobile application.

When talking about the decision, Li Zhou, vice president of the Chinese Commission for the International Council on Monuments and Sites, told Global Times that members     9     (join) in the application work felt pressed for time, as there were still many preparations waiting     10     (complete).

5 . The Camp Fire ravaged(毁坏) an area the size of Chicago, destroying 14,000 residences and taking more than 17 days to contain. As it spread, killing at least 85 people and displacing thousands more in Northern California, Madison waited patiently.

Madison’s owner, Andrea Gaylord, was not able to get to her home in Paradise, California, when the fire began to spread on Nov. 8, meaning Madison was left behind. For weeks, all Gaylord could do was pray for Madison’s safety.

Shayla Sullivan, a rescue volunteer, spotted Madison a few times in a valley, apparently guarding territory, and put out fresh food and water regularly in hopes that the dog would turn up. She even placed an article of clothing that smelled like Andrea near the home to keep Madison’s hope alive until his people could return.

When the evacuation(撤离) order was lifted last week and Andrea went back to the property—which had been   destroyed by the fire—her prayers were answered: Madison was there, seemingly protecting what little remained of his family’s home.

“WELL, I’m so HAPPY to report that Andrea was allowed to return to her property today and THERE MADISON WAS!!!! He had stayed to protect what was left of his home, and NEVER gave up on his people!” Sullivan wrote in the comment on her Facebook post, which was shared 12,000 times as of Saturday evening. “I’m so happy. I’m crying as I write this! He didn’t give up through the storms or the fire! A LOOOOONG month it must have been for him!” she added.

Later, Andrea said in an interview that she was overcome with joy to see Madison waiting for her. Andrea lost everything in the fire and is now homeless, but she has been able to find some solace knowing her dogs are safe, “Imagine the loyalty of hanging in through the worst of circumstances and being here waiting,” Andrea told ABC10, fighting through tears. “You could never ask for better animals.”

1. Why was Madison left behind?

A．He was stopped by the fire.

B．He was unwilling to go with his owner.

C．He was ordered to protect the family home.

D．His owner was not at home when the fire spread.

2. Why was Shayla Sullivan crying when writing the post?

A．She was worried whether Madison could survive.

B．She was overcome with joy to see Madison waiting for her.

C．She was happy Madison finally turned up for the food she left.

D．She was moved by what Madison did and his reunion with Andrea.

3. What did Andrea mean by saying “You could never ask for better animals.”?

A．Madison is the best dog.

B．One could not ask animals for help.

C．Animals are never better than humans.

D．Dogs are clever than any other animals.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A brave dog fought alone against the storms of fire.

B．A helpful rescue volunteer helped to find a lost dog.

C．A devoted dog reunited with his owner after the fire.

D．A frightened survivor had a narrow escape from the fire.

6 . The Healing Power of Water

It has been a rough few years. Many of us are finding ourselves exhausted, burned out, struggling to build balance back into our lives.     1     Neuro scientists say that spending time near oceans, lakes, rivers and other blue spaces can provide a range of benefits including reducing anxiety, easing mental fatigue and refreshing us.

Participating in water activities such as swimming or surfing can help us enter a “flow state,” where we become fully immersed in what we’re doing.     2     When we become skilled at an activity, our brain changes, making it even easier to enter a state of flow in the future.

Bodies of water also can produce a glorious sense of awe—the emotional response to something vast that expands and challenges how we see the world.     3    

Water has special properties that may boost nature’s positive impact.     4     Its smell can provoke positive memories and associations. When we are near water, there is often less visual and auditory information to process. Our mind can rest. When we’re floating in water, our bodies can rest too, in a way we never can on land.

    5     It moves rhythmically, producing a play of light, color and sound that is spellbinding. It holds our attention, but not in an overly demanding way. Researchers call this soft fascination. It gives our brains a break from the intense, focused attention that much of daily life requires.

A．Most important: Water is dynamic.

B．We need to recharge and water can help.

C．The sound of water, typically steady and soft, soothes us.

D．We can spend time on the water anywhere, anytime in our mind.

E．This calms the mind, which is often absorbed by worry and anxiety.

F．It’s not just our bodies that need the element of life—it’s our minds too.

G．Such sense of awe can decrease stress and help us put things into perspective.

8 . 阅读下面材料, 根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段, 使之构成一篇完整的短文。

The woods surrounding the Audubon Society were November dark with its sky overcast with gloomy clouds. The branches shut out the day light and the wind howled horribly around the woods.

Ruby sighed and packed up his bag on the shoulders. “Least it has stopped raining. It won’t take long,” Ruby comforted his brother Henry. “Dad said he’d pick us at the gift shop.”

Henry ignored him with a frown and stomped(踩踏)up the path, his shoes slipping on the wet rocks. He was annoyed that their dad had practically forced them to go on a hike in the bird habitat outside town. “It will be good for you both,” Dad had encouraged, handing them his binoculars. “You’ll get some fresh air and maybe see some cool birds.”

As the boys climbed, the trees grew closer together. The only sounds were the dripping of rain from the trees and the rustle(沙沙声)of small birds among the forest. At the top of the slope, they stopped to catch their breath. A single black feather floated down onto the path. Rubylooked up. On a nearby branch, a black crow(乌鸦)stared down at them.

“Shoo!” shouted Ruby, waving his arms, frightened by the bird’s black eyes. It opened its sharp beak(鸟喙)and let out a loud and horrible squawk. “It’s watching us as if we were worms or something.” Ruby pushed his brother along the path. “Just a stupid crow.” But as he walked, Ruby couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

“Ruby? ” called Henry, panic shaking his voice. To their horror, on the path, a line of more crows blocked their way and the branches on both sides were filled with numerous birds, their evil eyes glancing at them. They fluttered their wings frantically, ready to attack the boys.

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。

The boys froze, frightened by the hundreds of greedy eyes.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

At that urgent moment, a familiar car pulled into the path.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . When you walk through a neighborhood, what do you see? In the United States, it will likely be a few trees and bushes among large areas of grassy lawns (草坪). These big green carpets might look pretty. But a plain expanse of grass is an ecological wasteland. It’s filled with just one type of plant — a species that doesn’t support insects, birds or other wildlife the way a natural ecosystem would.

Lawns started in England back around the Middle Ages. At that time, most people had to grow their own food.

A big expanse of grass would serve as a display of wealth; these people could afford to have land without crops.

The grasses planted back then were native to England. They grew well with that nation’s soils, ample rains and cool temperatures.

Those same grasses now cover lawns across the world, from Europe and the United States to Australia.

Although they did well in England, they’re not as well adapted to places with different climates and levels of soil nutrients.

That means it can take a lot of work to maintain these yards. People tend to add fertilizers to keep their lawns green. They water regularly, because these grass species can’t handle hot summers or places with little rain. People may even use chemicals to keep out weeds and pests.

All those activities use up or pollute much-needed fresh water. Both are problems, especially in the face of ongoing drought. Pesticides and fertilizers washed away by rain or watering can also harm the ecosystems in streams.

That’s why a growing number of people are rethinking lawns. What does that mean? Allowing a greater variety of plants and animals to thrive in these spaces could save water, experts say. It could also reduce chemical pollution. Yards planted with more diverse species could make for healthier ecosystems with more pollination and pest control. In the end, such changes should benefit people and wildlife alike.

1. Why does the author mention large grassy lawns in paragraph 1?

A．To describe their popularity.	B．To explain their waste of money.
C．To introduce their great benefits.	D．To show their lack of plant diversity.

2. What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．People growing various crops on their lawns.

B．Grasses native to England spreading worldwide.

C．Grasses lacking adaptation to diverse environments.

D．Grasslands being kept to show wealth and status.

3. What do people usually do to attend to their lawns?

A．Employ chemicals to kill harmful pests.	B．Plant drought-resistant native grass.
C．Adapt the grasses to different soils.	D．Avoid using artificial fertilizers on lawns.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards making yards diverse?

A．Skeptical.

B．Surprised.

C．Dismissive.

D．Favorable.

10 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The Hainan gibbons (长臂猿), who live in rainforest trees over 10 meters tall, rarely set foot on the ground.     1     (know) as the world’s rarest primate(灵长类动物), the Hainan gibbons have been listed as     2     (critical) endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Fortunately, conservation efforts have seen positive results in recent years. According to the latest     3       (office) figures, the gibbon population in Hainan     4       (estimate) at 36individuals living in five family groups, from 30 in four groups in 2019. The increase in gibbon population comes as China enhances efforts     5     (construct) the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest.

This national park,     6     covers 4,269 km², is home to China’s most concentrated and well-preserved tropical rainforests. Many wildlife that     7       (disappear) previously are returning to their homes thanks to the park. In recent years, Hainan has promoted the construction of the park, strengthened the restoration of tropical rainforests,     8       carried out ecological relocation projects in core protected     9     (area), such as planting more trees to provide food for the Hainan gibbons.

A research center has also been established,     10       experts from home and overseas jointly providing suggestions for their protection. The population of the gibbons is expected to hit between 60 and 70 in 2035, as long as current protection efforts and environmental stability can be sustained.