1 . The amount of plastic pollution in the oceans is rapidly increasing. This is problematic, as at least 700 kinds of ocean animals — including sharks, whales, seabirds and turtles — can become caught in the stuff or mistake it for a tasty snack.
While we know that some ocean animals seem to cat plastic because it looks like jellyfish or some other food sources, less research has been carried out into what plastic smells like to ocean animals. But now, a study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found the coating that naturally builds up on ocean plastics causes the rubbish to give off the smell of food.
The researchers took 15 turtles, each around five months old, and placed them in a lab aquarium. They then piped in smells of clean water, clean plastic, turtle food, and plastic that had been soaking in the ocean environment for five weeks. The turtles showed no reaction to the smells of clean water or clean plastic. But when facing ocean soaked plastic or turtle food, they stuck their noses out of the water and showed increased activity.
“This finding is important because it’s the first proof that the smell of ocean plastics causes animals to eat them,” said Dr. Kenneth J Lohmann, who took part in the study.“It’s common to find a turtle with its stomach full of plastic materials. There are also increasing reports of sea turtles that have become ill and stuck on the beach due to their taking in plastic.”
According to the researchers, areas of the ocean with much plastic may trick turtles and other animals into thinking that there are plenty of food sources, when the opposite is true. “Once these plastics are in the ocean, we don’t have a good way to remove them or prevent them from smelling like food,” said Lohmann. “The best thing we can do is to keep plastic from getting into the ocean at all.”
1. What is the function of the first paragraph?| A．To show the findings of the research to the readers. |
| B．To inform the readers of the main idea of the passage. |
| C．To explain the reason for the increase of ocean pollution. |
| D．To provide some background information of the research. |
| A．Sea water. | B．Clean water. | C．Clean plastic. | D．Ocean-soaked plastic. |
| A．Turtles seem to eat plastic because it looks like food. |
| B．Turtles have become ill due to their taking in plastic. |
| C．Turtles eat plastic because it gives off the smell of food. |
| D．Turtles with their stomachs full of plastic were studied. |
| A．Keep away from the polluted ocean. | B．Stop people feeding turtles plastic. |
| C．Remove plastic from the ocean. | D．Maintain a plastic-free ocean. |
2 . Earthquakes cannot be forecast, but engineers can prepare for them. Seismic-isolation (地震隔离) systems built into the bases of certain buildings in high-risk areas, use complex structures of concrete, rubber and metal to reduce quake damage by absorbing the ground’s horizontal shaking.
But such adaptations are expensive. Engineer Jian Zhang of the University of California, says building seismic isolation-system can increase construction costs by up to 20 percent. Although these systems might save more than they cost over time, builders in some regions may not have the budget for them at present.
A new seismic-isolation method uses the physics of rolling to create a lower-cost alternative with readily available materials: recycled tennis balls. “Everyone plays tennis, and they don’t know what to do with the tennis balls after each game,” says ETH Zürich seismic engineer Michalis Vassiliou.
Vassiliou’s team based its method on an early form of seismic-isolation that rolls a shaking building to a stop the way a skater in a half-pipe eventually comes to rest. By separating a building from the ground with a layer of spheres (球体), rolling isolation changes unstable horizontal shaking into a gentle rocking motion. This method was used in 5,000-year-old Peruvian pyramids, but today builders favor expensive, standardized isolation systems.
For their modern take on rolling seismic-isolation, the researchers injected concrete-like mixes into hundreds of balls that had lost their bounce. They built an inexpensive model consisting of four filled tennis balls sandwiched between two concrete slabs (厚板), and they found that it withstood earthquake shaking while supporting eight kilo newtons of force per ball — about twice what isolation systems might experience under one-story houses.
Zhang says that the work is worthwhile and that such technology might serve an unmet need. But she notes that the results are primary. Vassiliou agrees; next steps will mean creating and testing a larger model with hundreds of tennis balls at a research center in earthquake-prone Cuba — an example of a place where such systems could make isolation practicable in ordinary construction.
1. Why do the engineers adopt recycled tennis balls?| A．To improve the performance of tennis balls. |
| B．To help deal with the tennis balls after matches. |
| C．To simplify the complex structures of buildings. |
| D．To cut the expense of seismic-isolation building. |
| A．Recycling useless tennis balls. | B．Transforming the shaking into a gentle one. |
| C．Withstanding earthquake shaking. | D．Enabling a house to support much more force. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Unclear. | C．Objective. | D．Approving. |
| A．Researchers are creating and testing models in Cuba. |
| B．Engineers are exploring ways of earthquake forecasts. |
| C．A low-cost design helps shaking buildings roll to a stop. |
| D．Recycled tennis balls could protect buildings from disasters. |
3 . Have you ever heard of and seen Canadian geese? Do you know that they
Canadian geese have a good
Yesterday I witnessed two Canadian Geese arguing
Would they start quarreling again? I stood still,
They got along harmoniously again. Sometimes it’s not that bad to be
| A．draw on | B．focus on | C．feed on | D．try on |
| A．desire | B．reputation | C．affection | D．appetite |
| A．generous | B．faithful | C．weird | D．rude |
| A．well-informed | B．well-dressed | C．well-behaved | D．well-balanced |
| A．fiercely | B．blindly | C．cautiously | D．gently |
| A．deserted | B．located | C．fixed | D．laid |
| A．frequent | B．rare | C．common | D．constant |
| A．restricting | B．changing | C．pausing | D．speeding |
| A．desperate | B．simple | C．serious | D．disharmonious |
| A．frightened | B．annoyed | C．crashed | D．injured |
| A．finding out | B．dealing with | C．looking into | D．wondering about |
| A．passion | B．reason | C．talent | D．anxiety |
| A．scene | B．destination | C．landscape | D．park |
| A．looker-on | B．passer-by | C．truck | D．clump |
| A．upset | B．forgetful | C．mean | D．greedy |
4 . What is the best part of a typical relaxing summer day? Nothing is better than sitting in an armchair with a beer and some chips in your hand, enjoying the great comfort.
The much-loved combination of beer and chips is being exploited for the first time to deal with climate change. Chips firm Walkers has adopted a technique it says will cut CO2 emissions (排放) from its production process by 70%.
The technology will use CO2 captured from beer processing in a brewery (啤酒厂), which is then mixed with potato waste and turned into fertilizer. It will then be spread on UK fields to feed the following year’s potato crop. Creating fertilizer normally produces high CO2 emissions, but the technology adopted by Walkers makes fertilizer without generating CO2. So, the beer-and-chips combination performs a double function. It stops the emission of brewery CO2 into the atmosphere — and it saves on the CO2 normally generated by fertilizer production.
This Creative win-win solution was developed with an approval from the UK government by a 14-employee start-up called CCm. The fertilizer was experimented on potato seed beds this year, and next year Walkers will install CCm equipment at its Leicester factory to prepare for its 2022 crop.
A decision has not yet been made on which brewery Walkers will work with on this. The new technology adds to carbon-saving techniques already under way. The firm has installed an anaerobic digester (厌氧消化池), which feeds potato waste to bacteria to produce a useful gas. The gas is burned to make electricity for the chip-frying process — so this saves on burning gas or coal.
The new system will go a step further by taking away potato “cake” left after digestion — and mixing the brewery CO2 into it to make an enriched fertilizer which will help put carbon back into the soil as well as encouraging plant growth.
It’s an example of scientists finding ways to use CO2 emissions which otherwise would increase the over-heating of the planet.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To draw readers’ attention. |
| B．To entertain readers. |
| C．To show how useful beer and chips are to our life. |
| D．To introduce a way of life. |
| A．It will be totally cost-free. |
| B．It doesn’t consume any energy. |
| C．It will be a perfect solution to climate change. |
| D．It is environmentally-friendly. |
| A．How CO2 is turned into fertilizer. |
| B．How the technology stops CO2 emissions. |
| C．How an energy-saving green technology works. |
| D．The advantages of a new technology. |
| A．The technology will fix the problem of global warming. |
| B．Walkers has a wide range of partner choices.? |
| C．This technology will be adopted by many chips firms soon. |
| D．Scientists are seeking solutions to climate change. |
5 . I adopted (收养) Didga as a twelve-week-old kitten, and now she’s nearly 11. In 2017, Didga
I’ve been in the animal-training
I started searching for
Didga knows a handful of tricks that took over a year to
The psychology of training a cat is fascinating. Because I understand how animals think and learn, I can adjust (调节) to the cat’s abilities. If Didga doesn’t like it, I stop or go in a
I started some social accounts to teach people to have a better relationship with their
Didga has
| A．invented | B．performed | C．knew | D．directed |
| A．memory | B．dream | C．business | D．emergency |
| A．trained | B．challenged | C．exchanged | D．judged |
| A．responsible | B．precious | C．independent | D．potential |
| A．as | B．if | C．although | D．because |
| A．away | B．ahead | C．back | D．up |
| A．left behind | B．gave away | C．picked up | D．put aside |
| A．learn | B．observe | C．imagine | D．accept |
| A．floor | B．house | C．wall | D．board |
| A．plan | B．feeling | C．test | D．choice |
| A．appreciate | B．teach | C．recommend | D．miss |
| A．normal | B．possible | C．different | D．right |
| A．trainers | B．bosses | C．neighbors | D．cats |
| A．changed | B．copied | C．saved | D．replaced |
| A．steps | B．levels | C．attitudes | D．values |
China has recently announced the formal establishment of its first five national parks. Giant Panda National Park (GPNP)is one
The giant panda is a famous symbol of China and one of the most adorable
Connecting these reserves and establishing protected areas between
The
7 . People living in some northern Italian towns face fines for wasting water as mayors ration(定量供应) supplies amid a severe drought.
Italy has had one of its driest winters in the last 65 years, with rainfall 80% lower than the seasonal average. The situation has been more acute in northern regions, where some areas have been deprived(剥夺) of significant rainfall for three months or more. The Po, the county’s longest river, is at its lowest level recorded in winter since 1972.
Mayors of towns in regions including Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy and Trentino have introduced water-rationing measures, ranging from fountains being switched off and nightly restrictions on tap water to bans on using water for gardens and allotments(小块菜地), for washing cars and filling swimming pools.
“I don’t ever recall a situation of this kind in winter. We haven’t had any rain since 8 December,” said Francesco Pietrasanta, the mayor of Quarona, a town in Piedmont. “The rule is to only use water for real necessity, such as for hygiene(卫生) or food reasons.”
The winter drought followed an intense, protected heatwave across Italy last summer. In August, Siracusa in Sicily is believed to have broken the European record for the highest temperature when it recorded a figure of 48.8℃. Snowfall has also been below average this winter. Scientists have long predicted that the climate crisis and global heating would lead to more frequent extreme weather.
Rain is forecast in the north and the rest of Italy from Wednesday, although Pietrasanta said it would need to be significant to resolve the water shortage. “We might get some rain on Friday but I’m not sure it will be enough,” he said. “This situation ought to make us think about changing policy to manage water in a different way, especially with climate change.”
1. Why are the statistics listed in paragraph 2?| A．To stress the severity of drought. |
| B．To show climate differences in regions. |
| C．To present the consequence of low temperature. |
| D．To discuss the possibility of rainfall |
| A．Turning off foundations. | B．Swimming in public pools. |
| C．Watering gardens in the morning. | D．Using modest tap water at night. |
| A．The ongoing climate change. | B．The heatwave last summer. |
| C．The absence of snowfall. | D．The overconsumption of water. |
| A．Similar situations have appeared before in northern Italy |
| B．Measures should be adopted to tackle water shortage |
| C．The coming rain will be sufficient to solve problems |
| D．Proper policies have been put in place since the crisis |
8 . Third graders from Wolfsville Elementary School spent Monday afternoon getting their hands dirty and their shoes wet during an informative trout release (鳟鱼放生).
The trout, which the students had been
Wolfsville Elementary has been doing a trout release
Through the partnership, students learn various
McKinna Hidalgo, a third grader at Wolfsville, said she
The favorite part for Hidalgo’s classmate Macie Lader, however, was getting to go into the creek. Her socks and shoes were
| A．hiding | B．raising | C．waiting | D．training |
| A．usually | B．probably | C．nearly | D．finally |
| A．transported | B．followed | C．changed | D．saved |
| A．made up for | B．got along with | C．waved goodbye to | D．took advantage of |
| A．one | B．next | C．every | D．another |
| A．program | B．park | C．team | D．tour |
| A．play with | B．care for | C．clean | D．eat |
| A．courses | B．tips | C．skills | D．topics |
| A．fear | B．learn | C．doubt | D．show |
| A．nobody | B．nothing | C．somebody | D．something |
| A．hated | B．forgot | C．loved | D．remembered |
| A．fly | B．swim | C．run | D．walk |
| A．eggs | B．fishes | C．friends | D．strangers |
| A．old | B．wet | C．lost | D．clean |
| A．gloves | B．glasses | C．shoes | D．shorts |
9 . The increased use of light-emitting diodes (LED) and other forms of lighting are now brightening the night sky at a dramatic rate. Research has revealed that light pollution is now causing the night sky to brighten at a rate of around 10% a year, an increase that threatens to ruin the sight of all but the most brilliant stars in a generation. A child born where 250 stars are visible at night today would only be able to see about 100 by the time they reach 18.
Physicist Christopher Kyba, of the German Centre for Geosciences told the Observer. “A couple of generations ago, people would have regularly encountered this glittering (闪耀) vision of the universe—but what was formerly universal is now extremely rare.” Nevertheless, the introduction of only a modest number of changes to lighting could make a considerable improvement, Kyba argued. These moves would include ensuring outdoor lights are carefully capped, point downwards, have limits placed on their brightness, and are not predominantly blue-white but have red and orange components.
The problem is that light pollution is still not perceived by the public to be a threat. As Professor Oscar Corcho, of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, has put it: “The negative consequences of light pollution are as unknown by the population as those of smoking in the 80s.”
Yet action is now urgently needed. Apart from its astronomical impact, light pollution is harming human health. “When reddish light shines on our bodies, it stimulates mechanisms including those that break down high levels of sugar in the blood. Since the introduction of LEDs, that part of the spectrum (光谱) has been removed from artificial light and it is playing a part in the waves of obesity (肥胖) and rises in diabetes cases we see today,” said Prof Fosbury from University College London (UCL),
UCL researchers are preparing to install additional infrared (红外线) lamps in hospitals and intensive care units (ICU) to see if they have an effect on the recovery of patients who would otherwise be starved of light from this part of the spectrum.
1. What does the author want to show by citing the child’s example?| A．More objects in the universe will disappear. |
| B．Light pollution is blinding our view of the stars. |
| C．People’s perception of the universe is inadequate. |
| D．New forms of lighting have made stars unnecessary. |
| A．They are practical. | B．They are rarely successful. |
| C．They aren’t worth the effort. | D．It takes ages to see the result. |
| A．Controlling population growth. |
| B．Changing people’s perception. |
| C．Exploring the unknown universe. |
| D．Banning smoking in public places. |
| A．Whether they help patients recover. |
| B．Whether they increase obesity risk. |
| C．Whether they leave people starving. |
| D．Whether they raise blood sugar level. |
10 . With the help of modern technology, people have killed up to 99 percent of certain types of whales. Some scientists thought this would cause krill (磷虾), tiny shrimp-like animals that many whales eat, to explode in number. But that didn’t happen. Krill numbers in Antarctic waters with of whale hunting have dropped by more than 80 percent. New research suggests a lack of whale poop (粪便) may explain this. A new study finds whales eat more than we thought. Lots more food means lots more poop that is rich in iron. So with fewer whales, ecosystems get less iron and other crucial nutrients that they need to thrive. That hurts other species, including krill.
Figuring out whale diets isn’t easy. In the past, scientists looked at the contents of dead whales’ stomachs to see what they ate. Or they estimated how much food whales should need based on their size. However, the new study, led by Matthew Savoca, a marine biologist at Stanford University, used some different techniques. Savoca’s team put sensors on 321 whales. The sensors tracked when the whales hunted for food.
Using all this information, the scientists found that whales eat about three times as much food as earlier estimates had suggested. The amount of food that whales eat and poop out is astonishing. And it suggests that whales play a bigger role in shaping ocean ecosystems than previously thought.
Whales are nutrient cyclers. If whales and krill returned to their early 1900s numbers, the productivity of the Southern Ocean could be boosted by 11 percent, the researchers calculate. That increased productivity would translate into more carbon-rich life. Together, those creatures would store 215 million tons of carbon each year. The carbon stored in those creatures wouldn’t be able to escape into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．The present situation of whale killing. |
| B．The reason for krill numbers declining. |
| C．The help from the modern technology. |
| D．The relationship between food and poop. |
| A．Grow happily. | B．Change rapidly. |
| C．Develop well. | D．Stay wealthy. |
| A．By referring to past studies. |
| B．By tracking whales with sensors. |
| C．By observing whales’ sizes. |
| D．By examining whales’ stomachs. |
| A．Whales hurt other ocean species. |
| B．Whales eat as much as estimated. |
| C．Whales slow ocean productivity. |
| D．Whales matter more than expected. |
