The Beijing Central Axis(中轴线) has taken one more step ahead to become
The Beijing Central Axis, seen as one of the most important
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
2 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
3 . 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.
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.
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.
Water has special properties that may boost nature’s positive impact.
| 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. |
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.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Surprised. | C．Dismissive. | D．Favorable. |
The Hainan gibbons (长臂猿), who live in rainforest trees over 10 meters tall, rarely set foot on the ground.
Fortunately, conservation efforts have seen positive results in recent years. According to the latest
This national park,
A research center has also been established,
It was Christmas Eve morning, and I awoke with a mission: to find my lost cat, Baby-Girl. As I got ready, I could hear icy rain pelting the windows. Baby-Girl was out there somewhere in the storm; I could just feel it. Sure, it had been a couple of weeks since she’d gone missing, but I still had faith. This was the season for miracles, after all.
About two weeks ago, my sweet kitty disappeared from my parents’ house in my hometown. Baby-Gil had been staying with them while I was between apartments. At the time, I lived and worked in another city. I was staying with friends until I rented my own house. Baby-Girl had gotten out of my parents’ house the day before I was set to drive back home to pick her up.
My dad and I had spent that entire visit searching for her. Dad was a “realist”, which meant he spent a whole lot of time trying to prepare me for the worst. “She’s either been hit by a car or been taken in by someone who found her,” he said. I rolled my eyes. He could do with a little more faith!
Besides, though I couldn’t explain it, I knew I’d see Baby-Girl again. She could survive all on her own. If any cat could do the impossible, it was my Baby-Girl. Even after I returned to my house without her, deep down I had this undeniable feeling that we would be reunited one day.
Now, home again for the holidays, I was determined to pick up my search right where I’d left off. I grabbed Baby-Girl’s cat carrier and loaded it into the car, and then asked my dad to drive me to the shelter.
At the shelter, a staff member took us to see the cats. We walked through rows of cages. My eyes scanned cats of all colors and sizes. None of them was my Baby-Girl. Then I noticed a room farther back. I pushed ahead. “Sweetheart, that’s where they keep the cats that just came in,” Dad said. “Your cat wouldn’t be in there.”
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。
I insisted it didn’t hurt to look and stepped into the room.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Sensing their doubts, I was ready to prove she was my cat.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Milo is a rescue dog, adopted by 20-year-old Makayla Swift. But Milo the beagle is also a rescuer. One morning in November 2021, Swift opened her front door in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Milo took off running. Milo ran to the house across the street. He seemed unsatisfied with this house, so he ran to the one next door, Swift on his tail. He started scratching on the front door and Swift was thinking, “Why is he literally trying to break into her house?” She was embarrassed. Not everyone wants a strange dog on their property. But as she tried to drag Milo away, she could hear a sound coming through an open upstairs window. It was a voice yelling “Help!”
Hours earlier, around 4 a.m., 85-year-old Sherry Starr had risen from her bed. All of a sudden, standing there between the toilet and the tub, she slipped. She went down-hard-on the tile floor, and got stuck. Starr was scared of dying there. Her best bet, she decided, was to listen for the letter carrier in the afternoon and scream like the devils.
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。
For the next few hours, Starr practiced yelling, “Help! Help! Help!”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Not long after the call, rescue workers arrived.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9 . From Dec 7 to 19, delegates from around the world met at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (also known as COP15), in Montreal, Canada. After two weeks of intense debate at COP15, delegates agreed on Dec 19 to adopt a landmark plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. “Finally, we reached our destiny. We adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” Huang Runqiu, COP15 president and China’s minister of ecology and environment, announced on Dec 19.
The new framework is a commitment by 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to conserve at least 30 percent of the Earth’s land and ocean area by the next decade. It also will increase the expected annual financial assistance from developed countries through 2030 to help developing nations with biodiversity protection.
The aim of COP15 is to ensure biodiversity loss is changed by 2030, and that humans are able to live in harmony with nature by 2050.To realize these objectives can be very challenging. At COP10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, the parties agreed on the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets (爱知生物多样性目标). But, as of now, none of the 20 objectives has been fully realized.
It is important to turn consensus into effective actions. Yet, as recent talks have shown, an aspect of effective international action on stopping climate change is the cooperation of developed countries. Developed countries, however, have fallen short of their responsibility as they have failed to fulfill the obligations according to the COP convention to provide funding and technology to poorer nations who lack the means to combat climate change.
To solve this problem, the framework creates a new biodiversity fund within the UN’s existing Global Environment Facility. This came about as a compromise between developing nations, which wanted a new fund, and developed countries, which did not. In addition, a global youth initiative (倡议) was also released, hoping young people to be leaders and advocates for biodiversity conservation.
1. What is the aim of COP15?| A．To save at least 30 percent of the Earth’s land and ocean area by next decade. |
| B．To stop biodiversity loss and promote harmony between man and nature. |
| C．To strengthen the cooperation between developed and developing countries |
| D．To provide funding and technology to poorer nations to fight climate change. |
| A．To show the parties didn’t fulfill the obligation |
| B．To show the objectives were too high to realize |
| C．To show it is difficult to realize the objectives of COP 15 |
| D．To show Japan didn’t hold the meeting successfully. |
| A．Statistic. | B．Emotion. | C．Intervention. | D．Agreement. |
| A．International cooperation is important. |
| B．A new framework is made in the COP15. |
| C．Joint efforts are needed to fight climate change. |
| D．Historic COP 15 deals are released on biodiversity. |
10 . On Monday, American ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson and her partner Jim Morrison reached the summit of 26,781-foot Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. Soon after the 49-year-old Nelson began her descent（下降）on skis，she triggered small avalanche（雪崩）and was swept away. On Wednesday, Morrison found her body.
“Often times in life, people want to play it safe, and we make everything around us to be comfortable and safe,” ski mountaineer Hilaree Nelson once said. “Therefore, we can make choices where you can see where that road is going to take you, and I've always been tending to make a choice that I don't know where it's going to take me.”
Nelson, a National Geographic Explorer, had a distinctive sense of travel that led her through more than 40 expeditions to 16 countries. In 2012, six years later, Nelson returned to Lhotse to become the first to ski from its summit.
She was deeply respected for both her extensive big-mountain experience, and her mindful approach to life's challenges. In 2018, Nelson was named captain of the North Face Athlete Team, a title only one other athlete has held. A National Geographic Society grantee, she was also one of the winners of the 2018 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award. Despite her many super-hero accomplishments, friends recall her as a thoughtful presence and quiet leader, someone who never sought the limelight.
Throughout her career, Nelson struggled at times with the expectations and limitations of being a woman, a mother, and a professional adventurer---and becoming a role model for younger generations of female athletes in the process. “Nelson paved the way for women in the adventure sports space with her refusal to choose between motherhood and her athletic career," says Emily Harrington, a climber who joined her on the Hkakabo Razi expedition. “ She followed her passion as well as raising her family with a mix of courage and grace in a way only a true leader could.”
1. What happened to Hilaree Nelson according to paragraph 1?| A．She lost her life because of an avalanche. |
| B．She reached the summit of Manaslu alone. |
| C．She failed to find her partner and lost her life. |
| D．Her partner found her body a week after her death. |
| A．To explore the high mountain. |
| B．To meet with her partner Morrison. |
| C．To challenge herself to ski from its top. |
| D．To become the best woman explorer to ski. |
| A．Courage of Nelson as a good adventurer. |
| B．Reasons for Nelson's love for adventures. |
| C．Hardships for Nelson to balance life and work. |
| D．The great achievements Nelson once achieved. |
| A．Careful and confident. | B．Devoted and adventurous. |
| C．Thoughtful and considerate. | D．Creative and responsible. |
