| A．Blue. | B．Red. | C．Pink. |
2 . From the moment my husband brought home 3 chicks, our nine-year-old, Sophie, hasn’t let them out of her
Sophie takes at least one chicken everywhere we let her and has done
The chickens are teaching us about love as well as
The chickens weren’t allowed in the house until Sophie told me, “There is
The chickens brought
| A．mind | B．possession | C．sight | D．control |
| A．confused | B．upset | C．desperate | D．bored |
| A．incredible | B．reliable | C．annoying | D．crucial |
| A．yard | B．stream | C．park | D．school |
| A．struggled | B．swam | C．dived | D．floated |
| A．assessment | B．blame | C．message | D．reaction |
| A．conflict | B．cooperation | C．loss | D．selflessness |
| A．Sadly | B．Actually | C．Naturally | D．Gradually |
| A．accompanying | B．admiring | C．thanking | D．rewarding |
| A．adopted | B．met | C．saved | D．buried |
| A．anything | B．something | C．everything | D．nothing |
| A．cleans up | B．turns up . | C．shuts up | D．locks down |
| A．depression | B．courage | C．joy | D．pain |
| A．avoid | B．accept | C．control | D．anticipate |
| A．thoughtful | B．faithful | C．hopeful | D．grateful |
The world’s largest iceberg could hit South Georgia Island, posing
The iceberg,
“When you are talking about penguins and seals during the period
The iceberg is now about 311
However, it is very difficult to say precisely what will happen. If the iceberg does stay in the ocean, it could
4 . Sugar cane (甘蔗) contains around 10% sugar. But that means it contains around 90% non-sugar — the material known as bagasse (甘蔗渣) which remains once the sugar-bearing juice has been squeezed out of the cane. World production of cane sugar was 185m tonnes in 2017. That results in a lot of bagasse.
At the moment, most of this is burned. Often, it fuels local generators, so it is not wasted. But Zhu Hongli, a mechanical engineer at Northeastern University in Boston thinks it can be put to better use. "With a bit of improvement bagasse makes an excellent replacement for the plastic used for disposable food containers such as coffee cups," says Dr. Zhu.
Dr. Zhu is not the first person to have this idea. But previous attempts tended not to survive contact with liquids. She thought she could overcome that by combining the bagasse pulp (浆状物) with another biodegradable (可生物降解的) material. She discovered that the main reason past efforts failed is that bagasse is composed of short fibres which are unable to give resilience (韧性) to the finished product. She therefore sought to insert a suitably long-fibred substance.
Bamboo seemed to fit the bill. It grows quickly, degrades readily and has appropriately long fibres. When the researchers mixed a small amount of bamboo pulp into bagasse, they found that the short and long fibres combined with each other closely.
To put their new material through its paces, Dr. Zhu and her colleagues fist poured hot oil onto it and found that their invention showed resistance to oil. They also found that when they made a cup out of the stuff and filled it with water heated almost to the boiling point, the cup remained good for more than two hours. Though this is not as long as a plastic cup would last it is long enough for all practical purposes. Moreover, the new material is twice as strong as the plastic used to make cups, and is definitely biodegradable. When Dr. Zhu buried a cup made out of it in the ground, half of it rotted away within two months.
1. What does paragraph l mainly talk about?| A．A big international market for cane sugar. | B．A plant containing a high content of sugar. |
| C．The large amount of world bagasse production. | D．The environmental impact of planting sugar cane. |
| A．They broke easily when wet. | B．They were non-biodegradable. |
| C．They consumed little bagasse. | D．They had too much resilience. |
| A．Avoid the attempts. | B．Meet the requirements. |
| C．Fill the vacancy. | D．Survive the environment. |
| A．It can satisfy basic usage needs. | B．It is hardly as strong as plastic cups. |
| C．It can disappear in two months if buried. | D．It is unlikely to be used as an oil container. |
5 . Naturally Pink Lakes
Lake Koyashskoye
The water of Lake Koyashskoye in Crimea ranges from pink to red depending on the season. The lake is filled with halobacteria — microorganisms that produce a pink-colored protein when absorbing energy from the sun. Some also put the color down to brine shrimp (盐水虾), which boom in the salty environment.
Lake Hillier
Lake Hillier is located on Middle Island off the southern coast of Western Australia. Most people believe the deep color comes from a combination of algae and salt-loving halobacteria. However, there’s a bit of mystery to Hillier. Other pink lakes change color depending on the season, the angle of the sun or air temperature. Hillier remains the same shade of pink for the whole year.
LagunaColorada
Though it may be described as a “pink” lake. Laguna Colorada in Bolivia is often characterized as “red” or “red-orange”. Salt-loving algae and bacteria help to create this color, but sediments (沉积物) from the nearby rocks also affect the water’s appearance. Like some of the other pink salt lakes, this one draws flamingos (火烈鸟).
Las Salinas de Torrevieja
The pink water of Las Salinas de Torrevieja in Spain is thought to be good for health and people claim improvement in their skin and lung conditions after a bath in it. The lake is not the only pink-colored thing in Torrevieja. During migration season, flamingos crowd the area.
1. Which lake’s color is affected by sea animals?| A．Lake Hillier’s. | B．Lake Koyashskoye’s. | C．LagunaColorada’s. | D．Las Salinas de Torrevieja’s. |
| A．In Spain. | B．In Bolivia. | C．In Crimea. | D．In Australia. |
| A．Its water is red-orange. | B．It is home to flamingos. |
| C．Its water has health benefits. | D．It changes color with the season. |
6 . Laungi Bhuiyan, a pensioner from the Indian state of Bihar, has become known as “Canal Man” after it was discovered that he spent 30 years of his life digging a 3-kilometer-long water canal, all by himself, using hand tools.
The remote village of Kothilawa had always suffered water shortages, with most of the rainwater falling in the nearby hills flowing into the river, instead of towards the village. This was one of the reasons why some villagers moved away, but Laungi Bhuiyan made up his mind to take matters into his own hands, so he stayed behind. No one offered to help, so for three long decades he dug the 4-feet wide and 3-feet deep canal himself, using only whatever hand tools he had.
Kothilawa is surrounded by forests and mountains. During the rainy season, the water falling from the mountains used to flow straight into a river flowing through the area, but ever since Laungi Bhuiyan completed his 3-km-long canal, it’ s been collected in a pond near the village, allowing locals to raise animals and even irrigate crops, without worrying about water shortages.
Ever since word of his impressive achievements started spreading on social media, Bhuiyan has been nicknamed “Canal Man”. A Twitter user shared his unbelievable story and called Indian billionaire Anand Mahindra, asking him if he would support the Kothilawa hero by making a tractor available to him. “I think his canal is as impressive a monument as the Taj or the Pyramids. I’ d consider it an honor to have him use my tractor,” the billionaire replied.
While many have taken to social media to praise Laungi Bhuiyan for his perseverance (毅力), some said that had the Government done the job it was supposed to, the Kothilawa man needn’t have worked hard for decades, and locals would have benefited from the water canal much sooner. Others went as far as to suggest his work be recognized, and that he be provided with compensation.
1. Why didn’t Laungi Bhuiyan move away from Kothilawa with other villagers?| A．He didn’t want to have his way of life changed. |
| B．He decided to fix the problem of water shortages himself. |
| C．He had great difficulty making a living elsewhere. |
| D．He wouldn’t separate from the village he’ d lived in for decades. |
| A．Irrigating crops and raising animals. |
| B．Storing rainwater during the rainy season. |
| C．Transporting water from a nearby river. |
| D．Channeling rainwater into the pond. |
| A．His tractor would greatly ease Laungi Bhuiyan’ s labour. |
| B．Laungi Bhuiyan’ s canal is a place of interest. |
| C．He would complete the canal with Laungi Bhuiyan. |
| D．He thought highly of Laungi Bhuiyan. |
| A．All people were not satisfied with Indian authorities’ performance. |
| B．There were different voices on Laungi Bhuiyan’ s decades-long work. |
| C．Laungi Bhuiyan’ s work was highly recognized by Indian authorities. |
| D．Laungi Bhuiyan would be compensated with the help of social media. |
7 . In 2006, an alarm sounded concerning the health of honeybees in the United States when a Florida beekeeper found 400 of his hives were empty.
Food. Grow a variety of plants to supply nectar (花蜜) and pollen (花粉) throughout the growing season. Bees like plants native to their habitats.
Water. Although we rarely see them taking a drink, bees appreciate gardens with a source of water. It can be as simple as filling a shallow water dish with small stones and branches so bees can land and rest while drinking. A birdbath (水盘) also offers a dependable destination for bees.
Shelter.
By creating an environment with shelter, water, and bee-friendly plants, soon your local bees will be buzzing.
| A．Replace the water regularly. |
| B．Even plants in a window box can help. |
| C．Leave an inch of space between holes. |
| D．Leave an area of bare dirt for ground insects. |
| E．So choose wildflowers and natives whenever possible. |
| F．Don’t ignore the wild bees that live in North America. |
| G．Similar reports of disappearing bees were reported nationwide. |
8 . Early fifth-century philosopher St．Augustine famously wrote that he knew what time was unless someone asked him．Albert Einstein added another wrinkle when he theorized that time varies depending on where you measure it．Today's state-of-the-art atomic（原子的） clocks have proven Einstein right．Even advanced physics can't decisively tell us what time is, because the answer depends on the question you're asking．
Forget about time as an absolute．What if，instead of considering time in terms of astronomy,we related time to ecology？What if we allowed environmental conditions to set the tempo（节奏） of human life？We're increasingly aware of the fact that we can't control Earth systems with engineering alone，and realizing that we need to moderate（调节）our actions if we hope to live in balance．What if our definition of time reflected that？
Recently，I conceptualized a new approach to timekeeping that's connected to circumstances on our planet，conditions that might change as a result of global warming．We're now building a clock at the Anchorage Museum that reflects the total flow of several major Alaskan rivers，which are sensitive to local and global environmental changes．We've programmed it to match an atomic clock if the waterways continue to flow at their present rate．If the rivers run faster in the future on average，the clock will get ahead of standard time．If they run slower，you'll see the opposite effect．
The clock registers both short-term irregularities and long-term trends in river dynamics．It's a sort of observatory that reveals how the rivers are behaving from their own temporal frame（时间框架），and allows us to witness those changes on our smartwatches or phones．Anyone who opts to go on Alaska Mean River Time will live in harmony with the planet．Anyone who considers river time in relation to atomic time will encounter a major imbalance and may be motivated to counteract it by consuming less fuel or supporting greener policies．
Even if this method of timekeeping is novel in its particulars，early agricultural societies also connected time to natural phenomena．In pre-Classical Greece，for instance，people“corrected”official calendars by shifting dates forward or backward to reflect the change of season．Temporal connection to the environment was vital to their survival．Likewise，river time and other timekeeping systems we're developing may encourage environmental awareness．
When St．Augustine admitted his inability to define time， he highlighted one of time 's most noticeable qualities：Time becomes meaningful only in a defined context．Any timekeeping system is valid，and each is as praiseworthy as its purpose．
1. What is the main idea of Paragraph 1？| A．Timekeeping is increasingly related to nature． |
| B．Everyone can define time on their own terms． |
| C．The qualities of time vary with how you measure it． |
| D．Time is a major concern of philosophers and scientists． |
| A．present an assumption | B．evaluate an argument |
| C．highlight an experiment | D．introduce an approach |
| A．Those who do not go on river time will live an imbalanced life． |
| B．New ways of measuring time can help to control Earth systems． |
| C．Atomic time will get ahead of river time if the rivers run slower． |
| D．Modern technology may help to shape the rivers’ temporal frame． |
| A．It is crucial to improve the definition of time． |
| B．A fixed frame will make time meaningless． |
| C．We should live in harmony with nature． |
| D．History is a mirror reflecting reality． |
9 . There are a lot of feral(野生的) camels in Australia. Although they don't appear to be as destructive as other introduced species because they eat trees and plants that our native Australian animals don' t eat, in the last few years the Australian Camel population has been increasing at a fairly alarming rate and becoming a bit of a problem.
We didn’t see them that often where we grew up unless we went further into Queensland or South Australia. When we did see them it was always a bit of a thrill for us kids because it was somewhat of a novelty(新奇的事物).
The suggestion of bringing camels to Australia was first made in 1837, 49 years after Europeans arrived in Australia. The importing of camels into Australia began in the mid 1800s to open up the desert areas of Central and Western Australia. They were handled and cared for by Muslim cameleers that came from countries like Egypt, Turkey and northern India. The cameleers were called Afghans or “Ghans”even though most of them were not Afghans. The name stuck to a part of the railroad track that links Port Augusta in South Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory.
By the 1920s there were about 20,000 domesticated(家养的) camels in Australia, but with the arrival of motor and rail transport in the 1930s people no longer needed their camels and a lot of them were abandoned in the bush.
Australian Camels are now exported live to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other countries where disease-free camels are considered a delicacy(佳肴). Australian Camels are also exported to Arab Camel racing stables as breeding stock. The United States also imports them to use in tourist attractions. There are over 40 farms providing rides in Australia now.
1. What problem with camels in Australia is mentioned?| A．They carry disease. |
| B．They hurt people sometimes. |
| C．The number of them is growing rapidly. |
| D．Some native animals are threatened by them. |
| A．To keep the balance of nature. | B．To develop the desert areas. |
| C．To satisfy kids’ curiosity. | D．To create new jobs. |
| A．The disappearance of bushes. | B．The spread of a serious disease. |
| C．The introduction of other animals. | D．The availability of modern vehicles. |
| A．The history of Australian Camels. | B．What Australian Camels are used for. |
| C．The advantages of Australian Camels. | D．Why Australian Camels are popular abroad. |
10 . There’s a lot we know about eggs: they are great for breakfast and you can cook them in different ways. One topic of debate, however, is why brown chicken eggs usually cost more than white ones. According to Shaman Hickman, the director of Community Outreach and Education for Hickman's Family Farms, genetics (基因学) not nutrition determines the eggshell colour and thus the egg’s price.
The chicken breed (品种) and their genetics decide whether or not hens have pigment (色素) genes, which coat the egg and result in a coloured shell during the egg-laying process. Although all eggs start out white in colour, shell colour can range from white to brown and even blue in some rare breeds, Hickman adds. Breeds such as the Leghorn chicken lay white eggs, while the Orpington lays brown eggs and the Ameraucana produces blue eggs.
Hickman notes that the Leghorn breed is the most efficient egg-laying hen, making it a popular choice for farmers. Hens that produce coloured eggshells, however, tend to be larger and require more feed and energy to create that painted layer. Since those breeds cost more to feed, their eggs are more expensive.
Although eggs sometimes look different and are priced differently, it’s impossible to know their nutritional make-up from the shell colour alone, according to Malkani, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Choosing between brown and white eggs is a matter of personal preference,” she says. “But it's important for people to know that the colour of the eggshell has nothing to do with the egg’s nutrient content or shell thickness.”
What does affect the nutrient content is the specific diet the hen is on, according to Malkani. For example, hens fed with a diet with omega-3s and vitamin D produce eggs that are higher in those specific nutrients. No matter what your preference is, don’t judge an egg by its shell colour.
1. Which of the following is one of the arguments about eggs in Paragraph One?| A．Why Brown eggs are much cheaper. | B．How eggs can be cooked healthily. |
| C．Why coloured eggs are more expensive. | D．Whether brown eggs are great for breakfast. |
| A．The size of the hen. | B．The hen’s breed. |
| C．The colour of the eggs inside. | D．The environment of the laying process. |
| A．They are productive. | B．Their eggs are larger. |
| C．They lay brown eggs. | D．Their eggs sell better. |
| A．It takes efforts to test eggs’ nutrition. |
| B．It’s meaningless to study an egg’s colour. |
| C．Personal preference matters a lot in choice-making. |
| D．An egg's nutrition is closely related to the hen’s feed. |
