1 . Contrary to the long-held belief that plants in the natural world are always in competition, new research has found that in severe environments adult plants help smaller ones and grow well as a result.
The research, led by Dr Rocio, studied adult and seedling (幼苗)plants in the ecological desert in the south-east of Spain. Dr Rocio said, “If you're a seedling in a poor land — the top of a mountain or a sand hill, for example-and you’re lucky enough to end up underneath a big plant, your chances of survival are certainly better than if you landed somewhere on your own. What we have found, which was surprising, is an established large plant, called a ‘nurse’, protects a seedling; it also produces more flowers than the same plants of similar large size growing on their own.”
Other benefits of nurse-seedling partnerships include that more variety of plants growing together can have a positive effect on the environment. For example, vegetation areas with nurse plants with more flowers might be able to attract higher numbers of pollinators(传粉者)in an area, in turn supporting insect and soil life and even provide a greater range of different fruit types for birds and other animals.
“The biggest winner for this system of nursing a plant is biodiversity(生物多样性),” Dr Rocio said. “The more biodiverse an area, the greater number of species of plants, insect life, mammals and birds, and the better the chances of long-term healthy functioning of the environment and ecosystems. ” This system is win-win for adult and seedling plants in unfavorable environments.
The research is of value to those who manage and protect plants in tough environments. Most home gardeners and farmers plan to ensure their soil and conditions are the best they can be for plant growth, but the findings might be of value to those who garden in bare places.
1. What is a common understanding of plants?| A．They can help each other. | B．They can survive ill conditions. |
| C．They compete with each other. | D．They grow well on their own. |
| A．They will produce more flowers. | B．They will die owing to competition. |
| C．They will make adult plants larger. | D．They will get support from adult plants. |
| A．It leads to unfavorable environments. |
| B．It produces long-term healthy chances. |
| C．It attracts higher and larger pollinators. |
| D．It provides a more variety of plant types. |
| A．People studying organic farming. |
| B．People protecting plants on sand hills. |
| C．People wanting to change biodiversity. |
| D．People keeping more animals on the farm. |
2 . One billion people in the world are short of water. How can this problem be solved. Some suggestions have been to desalinate ocean water or to build enormous water pipelines from areas where water is abundant. (Suggestions such as these prove extremely expensive when they are actually used.) One possibility that scientists are considering is pulling icebergs from either the North Pole or the South Pole to parts of the world with a water shortage. Although many questions must be answered before such a project could be tried, moving icebergs seems a reasonable possibility in the future.
Engineers, mathematicians, and glaciologists from a dozen countries have been considering the iceberg as a future source of water. Saudi Arabia is particularly interested in this project because it has a great water shortage. Scientists estimate that it would take 128 days to transport a large iceberg (about 1/2 square mile) to Saudi Arabia. Yet the iceberg would be completely melted by the 104th day. Therefore, insulation would be essential, but how to insulate the iceberg remains an unsolved problem.
The problems in transporting an iceberg are numerous. The first problem is choosing the iceberg to pull. The icebergs that form in the North Pole are quite difficult to handle because of their shape. Only a small portion extends above the water — most of the iceberg is below the surface, which would make it difficult to pull. South Pole icebergs, on the other hand, are flat and float like table tops. Thus they would be much easier to move.
How can a 200-million-ton iceberg be moved. No ship is strong enough to pull such enormous weight through the water. Perhaps several ships could be used. Attaching ropes to an iceberg this size is also an enormous problem. Engineers think that large nails or long metal rods could be driven into the ice. What would happen if the iceberg splits into several pieces during the pulling. Even if an iceberg with very few cracks were chosen, how could it be pulled through stormy waters. Furthermore, once the iceberg reached its destination, very few ports would be deep enough to store it.
All of these problems must be solved before icebergs can become a reasonable source of water. Yet scientists estimate that it will be possible to transport them in the near future. Each year, enough icebergs form to supply the whole world with fresh water for a full year. In addition, icebergs are free and nonpolluting. As a solution to the world’s water problems, icebergs may be a workable possibility.
1. What is a problem in transporting iceberg?| A．The size of the iceberg. |
| B．The colour of the iceberg. |
| C．The salt in the iceberg. |
| D．The movement of air and water. |
| A．Pessimistic. | B．Objective. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Unconcerned. |
| A．It is hard to use iceberg. | B．Iceberg are a good choice. |
| C．There are problems with iceberg. | D．Man finds no other ways to solve water shortage. |
| A．Shortage of water. | B．Icebergs for water. |
| C．Scientists and icebergs. | D．Iceberg—scientists headache. |
3 . New international research reveals the far-reaching impacts of forest cover loss on global biodiversity. The study, led by the University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews, investigated the impacts of forest loss on species and biodiversity over time and around the world, revealing both losses and gains in species.
Focusing on biodiversity data spanning(跨越) 150 years and over 6,000 locations, the study, published in Science, reveals that as tree cover is lost, plants and animals are responding to the transformation of their natural habitats.
Bringing together over 5 million records of the numbers of different plants and animals with information on both historic and contemporary peaks in forest loss, the researchers discovered both immediate and delayed effects of forest loss on ecosystems.
The pace at which biodiversity responds to forest loss varies from a few years, as is the case for light-loving plants and insects, to decades for long-living trees and larger birds and mammals. Gergana Daskalova, a Ph.D. student in the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh and lead author of the study, said, “Changes in the biodiversity of the planet’s forests matter because they will reflect how these landscapes look, the types of species they support and the benefits that forests provide for society like clean air and water.”
Maria Dornelas, a co-senior author from the School of Biology at the University of St Andrews, continued, “Humans are undoubtedly changing the planet. Yet, global analyses of how biodiversity is changing over time are revealing biodiversity changes are nuanced(有细微差别的) and variable.”
She added, “With a better understanding of the different ways, both positive and negative, in which forest loss influences biodiversity, we can improve future conservation and restoration of global ecosystems.”
1. What did the international research find?| A．Species suffer losses as tree cover is lost. |
| B．Historic and contemporary peaks in forest loss vary. |
| C．Forest loss cannot impact ecosystems immediately. |
| D．Plant and animal species are reacting to forest cover loss. |
| A．Effects of forest loss are difficult to notice. |
| B．Insects adapt to forest loss quite slowly. |
| C．Species respond to forest loss at different paces. |
| D．There are different degrees of forest loss in history. |
| A．They make no difference. |
| B．They worsen the landscapes. |
| C．They have a great effect on society. |
| D．They cause damage to types of species. |
| A．call on people to change nature |
| B．find ways to make global analyses |
| C．pay attention to the negative effects |
| D．improve protection of global ecosystems |
4 . For companies around the world and across industries, sustainability(可持续发展) has rapidly gone from a nice-to-have to a must-have. Some famous companies have announced ambitious plans to remove single-use plastics, reduce carbon release and otherwise shrink their environmental footprint in various ways.
Newlight Technologies hopes to speed up that process. The company has spent more than a decade developing a material called AirCarbon, which functions exactly like plastic but is completely biodegradable(可生物降解的). Newlight developed the material using microorganisms found in the ocean that feed on methane and carbon dioxide-two-greenhouse gases among the biggest contributors to climate change. The organisms turn those gases into a natural polymer(聚合物) that can be shaped just like plastic.
“We call that AirCarbon because it's air and carbon that can mix with and become part of water,” CEO Mark Herrema said. “We have this pure white powder that we can then melt and form in all kinds of parts and pieces.” The company's new production facility is filled with large saltwater tanks that recreate ocean conditions, allowing the organisms to make the polymer from which AirCarbon can be obtained.
Newlight recently began rolling out its first set of products made from the material, launching two-brands. Its foodware brand, Restore, sells biodegradable straws, knives, forks and spoons, while its fashion brand Covalent sells handbags, wallets and sunglasses. And because the process of developing AirCarbon uses gases from the atmosphere, the products are carbon negative, meaning they take out more pollutants than they produce. Newlight has received carbon negative certifications from several organizations for its products.
Newlight’s current products are costlier than some traditional products available on the market, since the company has just one facility, which makes it hard to keep prices down. At present, Newlight’s AirCarbon products can remove 100 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year. But Herrema's goal is to build more facilities as quickly as possible and eventually increase that number to 20 billion pounds, which he says is how much plastic ends up in the ocean each year.
1. What is the advantage of AirCarbon?| A．It is more flexible than plastic. |
| B．It can partially break down. |
| C．It helps reduce greenhouse gases. |
| D．It is an artificial polymer like plastic. |
| A．Its products are of good quality. |
| B．Its products are energy-saving. |
| C．It develops two sustainable brands. |
| D．It removes more carbon than it releases. |
| A．Limited production. | B．Low profits. |
| C．Few customers. | D．Poor marketing. |
| A．New technology that reduces carbon release. |
| B．Greenhouse gases that can be used for products. |
| C．Ocean microorganisms that feed on greenhouse gases. |
| D．A plastic alternative that might help solve climate change. |
5 . The Adoption Option
There are many wonderful pets looking for new homes.
●Choose wisely
No matter how cute a dog is, it’s important not to let the heart rule the head when choosing a rescue dog. People naturally love puppies, but mature dogs are a great choice for many people.
●
That a dog is available for adoption doesn’t mean they are automatically a problem dog.
●Coming home
Arriving in a new home can be stressful for an adult dog. For many dogs you will have to take a trial-and-error approach to understanding what they like, what makes them feel secure and what they fear. You had better gradually expose your rescue dog to a range of different experiences and other dogs to judge and manage their behavior appropriately.
| A．What to expect |
| B．What you see is what you get |
| C．Common problems and special behaviors |
| D．Adoption provides a pet that second chance |
| E．Many rescue dogs are well trained and well behaved |
| F．Most of these issues can be overcome with good training |
| G．Therefore, it’s wise to get time off work when the dog arrives |
(1)该地方的基本情况(如名称、地理位置等)；
(2)该地方的特色(如文化、景点等)；
(3)你对该地方的印象和感受。
注意：(1)词数不少于100；
(2)可适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯。
A Beautiful Place in China
March 19, 2021By Li Jin
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7 . Our planet is always changing and its systems are constantly working together to keep a kind of balance.
All living things are connected to each other in ecosystems by food chains and food webs.
| A．Plants get energy from the sun |
| B．Another example is when a volcano erupts |
| C．When any one part of an ecosystem chain breaks |
| D．If we don’t take measures to protect our environment |
| E．With no cats around, the rat population could explode |
| F．All forms of life depend on this balance for their existence |
| G．These gases help keep the world from being too hot or too cold |
8 . Hidden beneath the surface in the roots of Earths astonishing and diverse plant life, there exists a biological superhighway linking together the members of the plant kingdom in what researchers call the "wood wide web".
The network is comprised of thin threads of fungus (真菌) that grow outwards underground up to a few meters from its partnering plant, meaning that all of the plant life within a region likely connected to one another. The partnership is beneficial for both parties involved, plants provide carbohydrates (碳水化合物) to the funguses and in exchange, the funguses aid in gathering water and providing nutrients to its partnering plant.
A study conducted by Rensen Zeng of the South China Agricultural University found that this also allowed for plants to warn one another of potential harm. The study showed Broad Beans used the fungal network to spy on one another for upcoming danger.
Like our Internet, this fungal connectivity is also full of crime. Some plants, such as Golden Marigolds have been found to release poisons into the network to slow down the growth of surrounding plants in the fight for water and light. Other plants, such as the Phantom Orchid, do not have the chlorophyll (叶绿素) and must get the necessary nutrients from surrounding plants.
Research suggests that animals such as insects and worms may be able to detect slight exchanges of nutrients through the network, allowing them to more easily find delicious roots to feed on; however, this has not been conclusively made clear in experimentation. The more we learn about this phenomenon, the more our understanding of the plant life of our planet will continue to change. Perhaps one day, we may be able to map out these complex networks entirely.
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To explain the aim of the web. |
| B．To introduce the main topic. |
| C．To give definition of diverse life. |
| D．To show the importance of plants. |
| A．compete for survival |
| B．gather more water |
| C．take in sunlight |
| D．break natural rules |
| A．Animals can also feed on the fungus. |
| B．Nutrient exchanges are too slight to detect. |
| C．No experiment can prove the phenomenon. |
| D．More needs to be done to work out the network. |
| A．The Partnership between Plants |
| B．The Unknown Roots of the Earth |
| C．The Superhighway Linking the Plants |
| D．The Mysterious Map Changing the World |
In Tunisia, fresh groundwater supplies (储备) are decreasing quickly. A report says that the effects of climate change may slow Tunisia’s
Tunisian officials plan to limit
In one village, Samira Sghaier is trying to help change things, at
The African Union is leading an effort called the “Great Green Wall” Project. The project aims to protect land across areas south of the Sahara,
Gilles Boetsch is director of a French scientific team
Local farmers in norther Algeria are seeking help from Mexican
10 . Bats have long been one of the most feared creatures in the animal kingdom. Many pop culture associations with them are related to vampire (吸血鬼) men tempting women in order to suck their blood or witches putting evil curses on innocent individuals.
Although these associations are complete misunderstandings, bats do have a dark side as a dangerous disease carrier. These flying mammals can carry a number of deadly diseases such as rabies (狂犬病) and more recently Ebola. This has led many to wonder why we should even care about them.
Sure, there is good reason to be exceptionally cautious if you come into contact with bats. However, there is no denying the fact that bats play a significant role in keeping a balanced ecosystem.
Many organic farmers have learned about the benefits of having bats nearby to help manage the pests that show up without pesticides (杀虫剂). One brown bat—about the size of a human thumb can consume about 600 mosquitoes and other unwanted insects within an hour. They make for a fantastic, almost essential, addition to pest management on any farm.
Even large government organizations have realized the economic benefits of bats. The United States Geological Survey estimates that bat contributions to pest management save the country at least 3.7 billion dollars per year. Without them, we would likely experience a sharp drop in food production, which would eventually make its way into our weekly grocery bills.
As if this were not enough of an ecosystem service we receive, bats are also of great importance to a variety of plant species that are preferential to its pollination (传粉). Otherwise these plants would decrease their ability to reproduce by at least 50 percent.
A number of plant products consumed by humans fall into this preferential pollination category. Some popular foods include mangoes, bananas, peaches and guavas. Additionally, the agave (龙舌兰) plant, which is used to make tequila (龙舌兰酒), is completely dependent on bat pollinators for reproduction.
Bats are major contributors to our society. They are in the best interest of the international community to protect and even to promote. Amid significant fears housed by the general public, the fact is that we need them more than most of us imagine.
1. Why should we be cautious when we contact bats?| A．They carry diseases. | B．They are aggressive. |
| C．They bring bad luck. | D．They stay in the dark. |
| A．Our care about bats can never be too much. |
| B．Farming is simply impossible without bats. |
| C．Mosquitoes are a big threat to farming. |
| D．Bats make unusual contributions to us. |
| A．The pop culture lovers. | B．The general public. |
| C．The mass farmers. | D．The environmentalists. |
| A．Bats Are Totally Harmful | B．Creatures Do Wonders |
| C．Protection Is Under Way | D．We Humans Need Bats |
