1 . Billionaire Sir Christopher Hohn expects the greatest “demand disruption (中断)” for oil since the 1970s shock to cause an increase in renewable energy investment.
He said high oil prices are “a positive thing” for the climate as the energy crisis results in a “dramatic speed-up” in decarbonisation (碳减排). “The whole world should now be focused on seeking alternatives, whether they’re renewables or hydrogen fuels. All of these things are far more economic.”
He pointed to the recent boost of EU (欧盟) for renewable energy funding, as part of a plan to reduce imports of gas. Even as oil and gas companies obtain record profits from the high prices at present, Hohn said climate-focused investors will ultimately benefit from the energy price shock.
“The oil price increase leads to plans for accelerated decarbonisation,” said Hohn. “I personally believe that we’ll have demand disruption as we had in the 70s, and that there will be a dramatic acceleration in decarbonisation. I actually view it as a positive thing.”
Hohn has pressured companies to give shareholders a vote on their climate plans. Spanish airport operator Aena and aircraft manufacturer Airbus improved their emissions (排放) tar-gets as a result. Hohn has also pushed for stricter regulation on corporate climate promises. “Corporate decarbonisation isn’t going to happen through voluntary methods,” Hohn said.
Hohn is also backing a new rating agency that will grade company emissions strategies, through his charity, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation. The Climate Action-plan Rating Centre (Climate-Arc) will analyse public company data and publish climate plan ratings.
Investors often struggle to analyse corporate climate plans. “Because though some organizations declare their commitment to environmental protection, they actually do the opposite,” Hohn said, “I expect a large proportion of companies will get graded F if they’re not doing enough. Even companies with net zero emissions targets have failed to set out plans about how to reach those goals. The impact is going to be a bit like, ‘the emperor has no clothes’.”
1. Why are high oil prices a positive thing according to Hohn?| A．They will reduce energy demand. |
| B．They will bring economic benefits. |
| C．There will be a shift to clean energy. |
| D．There will be a reduction in energy imports. |
| A．Climate regulation should be stricter. |
| B．Decarbonisation should be voluntary. |
| C．Emissions targets should be debated. |
| D．Climate plans should be informed to the public. |
| A．The method of avoiding being graded F. |
| B．The suggestion about helping investors. |
| C．The method of reaching zero emissions targets. |
| D．The suggestion about reducing carbon emissions. |
| A．Energy crisis—a hard nut |
| B．Energy crisis—a wake up call |
| C．Energy crisis—a cruel circle |
| D．Energy crisis—a cause of economic depression |
Tom was a fishing amateur. He once came to a wet place in the roadless forest to fish with his friends William and Tony. They put up their tent upon the top of a pine-clothed mountain and then began fishing. However, none of them was successful fisherman. They were either made lazy by the sun or wet by the rain. After two days of fishing, they got nothing. Finally they ate the last bit of bacon and smoked and burned the last fearful corncake. If they didn’t get anything to eat, they would have to starve.
Immediately Tom volunteered to stay and hold the camp while the remaining two should go miles away to a farmhouse for supplies. Hearing Tom’s suggestion, the two friends gazed at him jokingly. “ There is only one of you-be careful, for bears may appear and keep you company!” Tom didn’t take what they said seriously. Then the two men disappeared down the hill in the known direction of a distant wooden house.
Night came, but the two men did not return. Tom sat close to his companion, the campfire. He lit a cigarette and felt a thousand shadows were about to come towards him. Suddenly he heard the approach of something unknown, rackling the small branches and rustling (使沙沙作响) the dead leaves. Feeling a bit scared, Tom rose slowly to his feet. His cigarette dropped from his mouth and his knees shook with fear. “Hah!” he shouted in a loud voice in the hope of scaring his opponent away. A roar (咆哮) replied and a bear paced into the light of the fire.
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。
Paragraph 1:
Tom supported himself upon a tree and observed his unexpected visitor.
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Paragraph 2:
Tom breathed a sigh of relief
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3 . A team of Japanese scientists has discovered genes that enable rice to survive high water, providing hope for better rice production in lowland areas that are affected by flooding.
The genes, called SNORKEL genes, help rice grow longer stems to deal with higher water levels. Deepwater rice generally produces low-yield (低产的) rice plants. But the researchers report they have succeeded in introducing the genes to rice varieties that are higher-yield.
According to the report, as water levels rise, accumulation of the plant hormone (激素) ethylene (乙烯) makes the SNORKEL genes start working, making stem growth more rapid. When the researchers introduced the genes into rice that does not normally survive in deep water, they were able to rescue the plants from drowning.
Motoyuki Ashikari, who headed the project, said his team is hoping to use the gene on long grain rice widely used in Southeast Asia to help stabilize production in flood areas where rice with the food-resistant gene is low in production — about one-third to one-quarter that of regular rice. “Scientifically the gene that we found is rare but clear proof of a biological ability to adapt to a difficult environment,” he said. “It’s a genetic strategy specifically to survive flooding.”
High water levels in rice field can be a serious problem. In some areas, rains can cause water levels to rise dangerously high during the growing season and flash flooding can fully cover plants for days or even weeks.
Rice is a main food for billions, and while productivity has increased dramatically since the 1960s, yields must be doubled to meet projected requirements by 2050. More than 30 percent of Asian and 40 percent of African rice land is either lowland field or deep water field.
Laurentius of Utrecht University said the study is significant because high-yield rice varieties cannot survive extremes of floods. “The introduction of these genes into high-yield varieties, using advanced breeding strategies, promises to improve the quality and quantity of rice.” he said.
1. What can readers know about SNORKEL genes?| A．They make rice become ripe within a shorter time. |
| B．They make rice grow tall enough to survive in deep water. |
| C．They help rice grow stronger whatever the areas and the climate. |
| D．They prevent rice from being attacked by various insects. |
| A．It will be helpful for Northeast Asia. |
| B．It will be softer than regular rice. |
| C．It will be widely planted all over the world. |
| D．It will increase the production of rice. |
| A．Loose. | B．Remarkable. | C．Planned. | D．Complicated. |
| A．To introduce a scientific research finding. |
| B．To analyze a scientific experiment result, |
| C．To discuss a plant developing effort. |
| D．To guide the development of agriculture. |
4 . “If the world ends one day, these collections will bring hope of a new beginning to life on Earth,” said Li Pei, a staff member at the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, or GBOWS, in Yunnan province.
Founded in 2007, GBOWS is a research and preservation facility for rare and endangered plants and animals. It is the largest in Asia in terms of species.
According to China Daily, GBOWS has preserved 85,046 seed types from 10,601 species and 60,262 biosamples of 2,203 wild animal species and domestic animal breeds.
“The number of seed accessions is close to that of the world’s biggest seed bank — the Millennium Seed Bank in the United Kingdom,” Li said.
With two in five plant species at risk of extinction, she said it is a race against time to protect the nation’s incredible plant life.
So how does the bank work? Scientists collect endangered and useful wild species and send them to the seed bank. For future study, collectors have to record details of the plant, including where it was found, its size and the number of individual plants in the habitat.
Once the seeds arrive at GBOWS, they’re dried and preserved in a room with 15 percent humidity. Next, they’re cleaned and separated from pieces. After that, X-rays confirm that the seeds are undamaged and no insects are hidden inside. The seeds are then frozen, stored in glass bottles and placed in huge freezers at -20℃ for long-term storage. Each container has a barcode that can be scanned to enable scientists to view information about the seeds inside.
The bank in Yunnan works with international partners on collecting backup (备份) samples, exchanges and research. It holds 2,176 sets of seeds from 45 countries and regions, with each set containing thousands of individual seeds.
“As China has rich and unique biological resources, we aim to further enhance our collections and conduct deeper research, in expectation of contributing more to biodiversity conservation, not only in China but the world,” Li Pei said.
1. What does the underlined word “extinction” mean in Paragraph 4?| A．Disappearance. | B．Collection. | C．Movement. | D．Development. |
| A．The seeds are kept in containers made of plastic. |
| B．The seeds are put under very hot and wet condition. |
| C．The seeds are dried before being cleaned and separated. |
| D．The seeds are confirmed just by human eyes to ensure their healthy condition. |
| A．2176 seeds are held in it. |
| B．All the seeds held in it are from China. |
| C．Only endangered wild species are collected in it. |
| D．Its number of seeds is close to the Millennium Seed Bank’s. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Disappointed. | C．Hopeful. | D．Critical. |
Most light pollution comes from street lights, traffic lights, shop fronts, and more, but it can come from anywhere with too much light. There are four
Light that is directed upwards or reflected from the ground into the sky
Light that is focused where it’s not wanted, such as through a window, is known as light trespass. Glare refers to
In cities around the world, governments
6 . Going to the zoo is an all-time favorite activity for children and families. However, there are some who argue against keeping wild animals in zoos for a number of reasons. In order to make a decision, we must consider the arguments for and against keeping wild animals in zoos.
Another thing we need to take into consideration is the cost of maintaining a zoo. A lot of funds are needed to run a zoo. Money is needed to stock the zoo with all kinds of animals. Staff must be hired and trained to take care of each species of animal.
In conclusion, while zoos do have some advantages in the areas of education and conservation, it is cruel and selfish to keep animals in an unnatural prison.
| A．This is a very big difference. |
| B．The animals need food and medical care. |
| C．If you want to see animals, I advise you to go on a safari (猎游). |
| D．The money and effort are better used for conservation programs. |
| E．On the other hand, keeping animals in zoos is similar to a prison sentence. |
| F．One benefit of zoos is that they are useful for educating people about animals. |
| G．Many animals are mistreated because their caregivers lack the knowledge of caring for them. |
7 . The overall importance of plants is obvious, since they give us food, oxygen, and a wealth of natural resources. But on top of all these obvious blessings, is it possible that plants also subtly (微妙地)benefit us just by spending time with them?
The mere sight of a tree or a houseplant may seem unlikely to offer any significant benefits, but thanks to a growing body of scientific research, it has become clear that the human brain really does care about scenery — and longs for greenery.
This comes from the power of biophilia (生物本能), a term invented last century by psychologist and philosopher Erich Fromm, and later popularized by renowned biologist E.O. Wilson in his 1984 book, Biophilia. It means “love of life referring to humans’ instinctive(体能的)fondness for our fellow Earthlings, especially plants and animals”.
The beauty of biophilia is that, beyond making us feel attracted to natural settings, it also offers big benefits to people who take notice of this instinct. Studies have linked biophilic experiences with lower cortisol (皮质醇)levels, blood pressure, and pulse rate, as well as increased creativity and focus, better sleep, reduced depression and anxiety, higher pain tolerance, and even faster recovery from surgery.
Biophilia is a familiar feeling for most people, even if we rarely give it much thought. It often comes in small doses (剂量)during daily life, along with the occasional planned journeys into the wilderness, comforting us in ways we may not understand. But why? What makes certain kinds of scenery more calm and peaceful?
The answer starts with our ancestors. Modern humans have existed for about 200,000 years, mostly in wild environments like forests or grasslands until the dawn of agriculture some 15,000 years ago. Farming brought us together in human-centric settlements, and as early villages paved the way for larger, livelier cities, our species grew increasingly removed from the wilderness that created us.
1. Which of the following is a behavior of biophilia?| A．She likes to go outside on sunny days. |
| B．He likes to have a rest after a day of work. |
| C．She likes to adopt cats and dogs. |
| D．He likes to make friends with kind people. |
| A．It not only makes people closer to nature, but also improves their health. |
| B．It not only helps people keep calm, but also makes them willing to protect natural resources. |
| C．It not only makes people cherish the present, but also makes them look to the future. |
| D．It not only makes nature attractive to people, but also comforts them. |
| A．The power of biophilia increases as humans evolve. |
| B．Humans feel calmer and more peaceful in the wilderness. |
| C．Agriculture plays a big role in separating humans from the wilderness. |
| D．It is because of biophilia that someone feels familiar with a stranger. |
| A．To tell readers a story. |
| B．To inform readers of a notice. |
| C．To convince readers of an opinion. |
| D．To introduce readers to a term. |
8 . In a series of studies, researchers found highly trained dogs may be more successful than untrained pets in independently solving newly-presented problems.
Researchers have discovered that one of the factors underlying this process may be persistence (坚持). It involves reinforcement, the principle that behaviors that are rewarded become stronger and more frequent. The other side of this is extinction, which refers to the fact that behaviors that are not rewarded grow weaker and become less likely to appear. When extinction sets in, the animal will simply quit before the problem is solved. It is possible that highly trained dogs have learned to persist and thus have developed resistance to extinction, which would make them better problem solvers.
In this recent study, the researchers looked at 26 adult dogs divided into two groups, “trained dogs” and “pet dogs”. There were two tasks that the dogs were tested on. One was a social learning task where the dog had to learn to look directly into the experimenter’s eyes. Every time the dog stared at the experimenter’s face, they received a treat (reinforcement). Once the dogs were performing this task, the extinction stage began, and the staring behavior was no longer rewarded in order to see how persistent the newly learned behavior was.
The second task focused on problem-solving. It involved a flat disk that had bone-shaped plastic bones. The dogs had to learn to remove the plastic bones to obtain the treat hiding under each one. After the series of rewarded trials, the extinction stage began, and no more reinforcements were provided for removing the bones.
In the social learning task, the trained dogs gazed at the experimenters more than the pet dogs during extinction. While in the problem-solving task, the trained dogs picked up a larger number of bones during extinction. In other words, for dogs who had been trained, their newly learned behaviors persisted longer and were stronger than the behaviors of the pet dogs who received no training in any area.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By stating a fact. | B．By raising a doubt. |
| C．By making an assumption. | D．By presenting a conclusion. |
| A．Chaining a dog up while walking it every day. |
| B．Giving a goat some grass every time it stands up. |
| C．Putting a fish back into the pool every time it jumps out. |
| D．Yelling at a cat every time it fails to catch a mouse. |
| A．Their newly learned behaviors last longer. |
| B．They can grow stronger than untrained dogs. |
| C．They are more likely to live longer. |
| D．They are better at helping their friends. |
| A．How researchers carry out animal experiments |
| B．Why trained dogs don’t give up easily |
| C．Why persistent dogs make better pets |
| D．How to pick out a suitable pet dog |
With high yield and superior quality, Chinese hybrid rice varieties have been introduced around the world,
In the past 40 years, Chinese scientists
Yuan Longping,
It
10 . In traditional Chinese culture, fish has rich meanings. It
“You are not
| A．produces | B．spreads | C．determines | D．represents |
| A．so | B．because | C．unless | D．though |
| A．picture | B．animal | C．food | D．symbol |
| A．used | B．afraid | C．forced | D．likely |
| A．technology | B．culture | C．transport | D．education |
| A．identity | B．application | C．shortcoming | D．insurance |
| A．selfless | B．peaceful | C．numerous | D．informal |
| A．beauty | B．strength | C．smartness | D．wisdom |
| A．helpful | B．true | C．similar | D．rude |
| A．cut off | B．taken away | C．given out | D．used up |
| A．such as | B．as a result of | C．owing to | D．in front of |
| A．names | B．owners | C．shelters | D．colours |
| A．fish | B．history | C．water | D．air |
| A．wrote | B．tested | C．performed | D．discussed |
| A．always | B．never | C．easily | D．mostly |
