Nature’s Lungs
We know that trees are nature’s purifier (净化器): They absorb carbon emissions (碳排放)and release oxygen. But their
According to the study, there are
This may sound like a lot,
Yet, planting trees is still considered the most effective way
2 . On Sunday night, the police found a baby koala in a bag in the town of Wishart in Queensland, Australia, during a traffic stop. Queensland police spokesperson Michael Beatty said that the officers asked a 50-year-old driver if she had anything to report. She then told the officers that she had a baby koala in her bag.
“Not quite believing their ears, the officers cautiously opened the bag and found this lovely boy and we’ve called him Alfred,” the spokesperson said. “The young koala is about 6 months old and weighs 1.5 kg. It appears to be healthy, though it was very thirsty.”
The police are warning people who find koalas to turn them over to authorities, rather than try to take care of them themselves. Koalas are protected in parts of Australia, including in Queensland, where they have been listed as “threatened” under the Nature Conservation Act.
Of course, koalas are also violent animals. One particularly wild koala even attacked a farmer in South Australia when she was riding along a muddy road.
“As it started running towards me, I thought I’d better speed up,” the terrified farmer told reporters. “But the road was too muddy, So I abandoned my bike and ran away. Fortunately, it ran up and attached itself to the dirty wheel — perhaps mistaking it for a eucalyptus tree.”
Deakin University biologist Desley. Whisson has some tips in case you experience this predicament. “Koalas more generally run from than to people. The farmer did the right thing by moving away from her bike,” she said. “The best advice I can give to people is to not fight with a koala displaying unusual behaviour. Make sure that there is another object between you and the koala so that it can’t climb you. Or you can just simply run. Their fingers are very sharp.”
She also believed the koala might have been confusing the sound of the bike with that of a koala mate.
1. What do the police in Wishart most likely want to tell the public?A.Koalas are protected by law all over Australia. |
B.It is illegal for the public to keep koalas in Queensland. |
C.The public should stay away from violent animals. |
D.Baby koalas are too violent to be kept in bags. |
A.They enjoy climbing bikes. | B.They have good eyesight. |
C.They can be dangerous. | D.They weigh about 1.5kg. |
A.Boring animal. | B.Interesting event. |
C.Pleasant meeting. | D.Difficult situation. |
A.A research paper. | B.The Nature Conservation Act. |
C.A news report. | D.An announcement from the police. |
3 . Bringing species like beavers (河狸) back to England is no longer a priority, the government said on Friday to criticism from wildlife groups.
A recent report shows that one in six UK species are at risk of extinction. In September more than 60 conservation organisations reported a significant decline in species due to expansions in farming and the effects of climate change. In recent years, animals and plants have been reintroduced by charities as part of efforts to restore the country’s reduced biodiversity.
Despite the government allowing this, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee concluded in July that there was an absence of long-term plans on how to manage this. In response, the government has now said that the “reintroduction of species is not a priority”.
The government said it was focused on increasing biodiversity through habitat restoration. The government’s environment department has come under scrutiny (详细审查) for not doing more to prevent sewage dumping and other forms of pollution in England’s waterways.
Sir Robert Goodwill, chair of the Committee, said he was disappointed with the government response. Bringing back extinct species is a controversial issue — although farmers and landowners appear broadly supportive, there are risks of reintroducing new species, and without clear guidance, problems could arise.
A recent study showed that river barriers similar to those built by beavers can protect communities at risk of flooding. But there have also been cases documented in Europe where beavers have built their dams in places that have damaged crops and changed rivers.
Joan Edwards, director of Policy & Public Affairs at The Wildlife Trusts said, “Reintroducing wildlife must be part of the UK government’s arsenal (武器) for tackling nature loss and climate change — it is astonishing there is no strategy for doing so.”
“The return of wild beavers can help to recreate lost wetlands, with a knock-on effect that benefits other wildlife including insects, invertebrates and birds. Beavers also slow the flow of water, which can reduce flood risks to towns and villages,” she said.
1. What does paragraph 2 want to convey?A.The situation of species in the UK is severe. |
B.Reintroduction of species in the UK is not a priority. |
C.Expansions in farming have a great effect on climate change. |
D.The UK government’s response to reduced biodiversity is disappointing. |
A.By developing strategy. |
B.By offering guidance. |
C.By expanding farming. |
D.By restoring habitat. |
A.It was messy. | B.It was limited. |
C.It was beneficial. | D.It was costly. |
A.The advantages of reintroducing wildlife. |
B.The responses to a government statement. |
C.The effects of climate change on farming. |
D.The approaches to increasing biodiversity. |
Over the summer break, a wave of fashionably
“Citywalk” means the act
“Kaifeng is one of China’s first national historical and cultural cities, boasting a deep-seated cultural heritage. It’s an ideal destination for unhurried exploration, encouraging visitors
5 . It could be said that trees naturally call for attention as they climb toward the sky with their arms outstretched (伸展的). Yet, it’s still easy for us to ignore them. As we live busy lives, trees seem to play the role of a background.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Trees are important to the quality and health of our lives, our homes and our planet. Rooted to a single spot, they appear still. But that stillness is not equal to laziness. In fact, they are workhorses of the environment as the impact of their hard work carries miles farther than the ground in which they stand.
Globally, trees are the most cost-effective tool in the fight against climate change. Trees clean the air and absorb carbon. They promote biodiversity and support important habitats. For example, ring-tailed lemurs (环尾狐猴) are considered one of the most endangered creatures on the planet. A big reason is that half of the forests they depend on in Madagascar off the east coast of Africa were cut down.
Lemurs aren’t alone when it comes to a dependency on trees. Trees are home to 80% of all animals, plants and insects that live on land. Though humans aren’t always dependent on treetops for shelter, trees can save our lives, too.
Reports indicate in 2022 alone, heat waves across Europe caused an estimated 20,000deaths. Scientists point to trees as a way to fight against these urban heat islands, saying that increasing Europe’s tree canopy (树冠) by 30% could prevent thousands of deaths. Being around trees can also improve a person’s blood pressure, mental health and boost creativity. In fact, doctors in Canada are so convinced of nature’s benefits for the mind and body that they started suggesting patients free passes to national parks.
It’s time to put trees in the spotlight and inspire people to plant trees. This isn’t a one-sided relationship. What we give to nature we will receive in return.
1. What does the author want to tell us by mentioning ring-tailed lemurs?A.The importance of trees to animals. | B.The function of trees in purifying the air. |
C.How animals fight against climate change. | D.Why trees are always overlooked by people. |
A.Insects’ lives are not affected by trees | B.Trees can contribute to human survival. |
C.Carbon can hardly be absorbed by trees. | D.Planting trees is high-cost and low-return. |
A.Encourage people to make more friends. | B.Advertise a spotlight. |
C.Introduce a new topic for discussion. | D.Call on people to plant trees. |
A.Entertainment | B.Health. | C.Environment. | D.Education. |
6 . 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,并将答案填写在答题卡上。
The Silk Road,
While the name “Silk Road” originates from the
In 2013, China began to
7 . Pet parents — cats and dogs under 20 pounds — can travel on Capitol Corridor for $30 one-way! If your furry family member fits the bill, take them on your next adventure. Check out the information below and how to book your next trip. Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable.
What to Know
As you plan your next train trip with your pet, note that we welcome a maximum (最大) of 6pets per train. Booking needs to happen in advance and only one pet reservation is allowed per customer. Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets, bus connections or unaccompanied minors (未成年人).
When at the station, your pet must always travel in a carrier, which counts as one piece of carry-on baggage, and the combined weight of your pet and carrier is 20 pounds. While aboard trains, it must be able to sit, lie down and remain entirely inside without touching the sides of the carrier. It is not permitted in the Café, or Quiet Cars.
How to Book
Select your trip on the booking machine.
Add your travel details and proceed until you see the option to customize (定制) your trip.
Add a pet to your booking for $30.
Contact 800-USA-RAIL if you need to change your reservation.
The Rules
Your pet must be at least eight weeks old and be unsmelly, harmless, not disruptive, and require no attention during travel.
You confirm that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and accept responsibility for your pet by signing the pet release document at check-in.
1. How much does a pet owner have to pay for the pet for a round-trip?A.$15. | B.$30. | C.$45. | D.$60. |
A.Book ahead of schedule. | B.Take a carrier weighing 20 pounds. |
C.Buy a multi-ride ticket. | D.Contact 800-USA-RAIL first. |
A.Eat in the Café. | B.Sleep in Quiet Cars. |
C.Travel in a carrier. | D.Lie behind the door. |
From “pocket parks” between communities to forest parks in the outer cities, local governments are
From 2021 to 2022, Shanghai transformed 62 woodlands into leisure spaces. These leisure spaces open up forests,
Apart from meeting people’s needs, parks can also do good to the environment. Take Beijing’s Central Green Forest Park
9 . Kew Gardens is not only a popular tourist destination in London, but also a botanical garden and a research center that has the largest collection of living plants at a single site. So, let’s explore the Royal Botanical Gardens with CGTN’s reporter Robyn Dwyer.
Palm House
The first stop is the Palm House, a giant indoor rainforest with a wide range of plants. Visitors can enjoy these unique plants while researchers can study the secrets of these plants. Eatable plants such as cocoa tree and African oil palm are all preserved here to keep the diversity of food resources. At the same time, it houses many medical use plants, including some that are used to treat cancer.
Temperate House
Known as the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse, the Temperate House is home to 1,500 species of plants from temperate regions of the world. Some of the species kept here have gone extinct in the wild, such as Encephalartos woodii, a cycad from South Africa. And some are already extinct like Saint Helena olive, but the Kew has stored its DNA.
Mediterranean (地中海) Garden
In the Mediterranean Garden, one can see plants from the Southern Europe, such as rosemary, olives and cork oak. Walking in the garden, one can feel the non-indoor vibe (氛围) of the Mediterranean and learn about the economic as well as scientific uses of these plants.
On International Day for Biological Diversity this year, join CGTN to travel around the world’s national parks and reserves across seven continents. Our next program is to visit penguins and seals in the Antarctic Ice Aquarium Norway.
1. What do the three places have in common?A.They all store plants for medical use. |
B.They all have plants of economic value. |
C.They all house plants of seven continents. |
D.They all own plants for scientific research. |
A.Palm House. | B.Temperate House. |
C.Mediterranean Garden. | D.Antarctic Ice Aquarium. |
A.A TV travel program. | B.A biodiversity essay. |
C.A travel advertisement. | D.A botanical dictionary. |
1. Where are the speakers?
A.In New Orleans. | B.In Boston. | C.In Memphis. |
A.It is unsafe. | B.It is popular. | C.It is uninteresting. |
A.She grew up in a cold area. |
B.She learned about it from her mother. |
C.She spent every winter in the mountains. |