1 . Many of the threats currently facing our oceans, such as rising temperatures and pollution, are widely understood. However, there are a number of relatively unknown emerging issues that are poorly understood in terms of their potential impact, whether good or bad, on marine environments. Several are linked to the exploitation (开发) of newly in-demand ocean resources.
In the hope that early identification will support scientists, conservationists and policy-makers to address these new challenges in plenty of time, 30 experts in marine and coastal ecosystems have proposed a list of the 15 issues most likely to have a significant impact on ocean biodiversity over the next five to ten years. Here, we will take a closer look at one of those issues.
In coastal seas around the world, the water is growing darker. This darkness, caused by increasing amounts of sediment (沉积物) and nutrients, is a relatively little-studied phenomenon, but a potentially serious cause for concern.
A range of activities are responsible for coastal darkening. Rainwater runoff from agricultural land carries fertilizers, animal waste and sediment into rivers that march into the sea. Increasing rainfall and permafrost (永久冻土) melting (both the result of human-driven climate change) also cause sudden increases in ocean nutrient levels, leading to light-blocking algal blooms (藻华) . Digging and bottom searching stir up seafloor sediments.
Light influences marine life in a surprising number of ways. It passes through seawater, heating it and generating currents, and is absorbed by the large quantities of microscopic phytoplankton (浮游植物) upon which most marine life depends. Even moonlight, 400,000 times fainter than sunlight, is responsible for the nightly movements of many of the oceans’ tiniest inhabitants and, every year, hundreds of coral species spawn (产卵) at the same time, triggered by the light of a full moon.
As the clarity of seawater is reduced, light is prevented from entering the water column. At moderate levels, coastal darkening can have positive impacts, such as limiting coral bleaching (珊瑚白化) , but the benefits are few. Darkening could change species’ behaviour, distribution and even composition, profoundly altering their ecosystems and ability to store carbon. Poisonous chemicals such as methyl mercury (甲基汞) , which is broken down by sunlight, could spread higher up the food chain, reaching the fish that we eat.
1. What do we know about the less-known emerging issues?| A．Their impact has been well known by most people. |
| B．Several may affect the ocean biodiversity greatly in the future. |
| C．All are related to the exploitation of ocean resources. |
| D．The early identification has addressed these new challenges. |
| A．Water from rivers gets into the sea. |
| B．People show little concern about the coast. |
| C．The phenomenon is relatively little-studied |
| D．Amounts of nutrients and sediment increase. |
| A．More coral bleaching. |
| B．Stable species’ behavior. |
| C．Unsafe seafood for humans. |
| D．Rapid breakdown of chemicals. |
| A．Coastal Darkening |
| B．Rising Temperatures |
| C．Marine Biodiversity |
| D．Responsible Activities |
2 . Indoor air pollution from cooking, cleaning and materials is a growing concern. Back in 1989, a NASA study found that plants put in sealed rooms could reduce the levels of pollutants(污染物), some of which can cause cancer.That finding led to the widespread notion that adding houseplants to rooms will lower levels of indoor air pollution, but later studies suggest that the effect is too small to make a difference in people’s homes.
So, Stuart Strand at the University of Washington in Seattle decided to enhance the pollution-reducing power of golden pothos(绿萝) by adding a rabbit gene for a liver enzyme(酶)that breaks down a wide range of pollutants. This approach boosted the effect several times. But even so, to make a meaningful difference, Strand concluded that a fan would be needed to move air over the plants.
Now, a start-up company called Neoplants has created another GM pothos. It has two added genes from bacteria as well as extra copies of some of the plant’s own genes. This enables it to break down certain harmful air pollutants, the company says.
Tests done in cooperation with the University of Lille in France suggest that the plants are 30 times better at removing these air pollutants than the best plants tested by NASA, says Patrick Torbey of Neoplants. The firm released a paper last week describing its work, but hasn’t submitted it to a scientific journal.
“This new paper looks pretty good,” says Strand. It isn’t possible to directly compare the effectiveness of his GM pothos with the Neoplants one as different tests were done, he says.
It remains unclear whether Neoplants’s pothos will make any difference in an actual home. But Torbey says the company is setting up a research facility near Paris that will include two “bedrooms” to test this.
1. What did the NASA study in 1989 find?| A．Sealed Rooms contained air pollutants. |
| B．Sealed Rooms could be cleaned by plants. |
| C．Plants could lower the levels of pollutants. |
| D．Plants could cure cancer caused by pollutants. |
| A．By breaking down pollutants. |
| B．By moving the air over the plants. |
| C．By modifying the genes of the plants. |
| D．By using the power of golden pothos. |
| A．Its satisfying effect. |
| B．Its practical application. |
| C．Expectations for future studies. |
| D．Limitations of copies of some plants’ genes. |
| A．A new approach to solving air problem. |
| B．Houseplants improved to clean pollutants. |
| C．Scientists testing plants to reduce pollution. |
| D．Genetically modified versions of houseplants. |
3 . There’s no such thing as a bad apple in Tom Brown’s book, only ones that have lost their way. The 79-year-old, from North Carolina, has spent the 20-odd years of his retirement tracking down all-but-extinct apple varieties that once thrived throughout Appalachia.
Bringing them back from obscurity(默默无闻) in his own orchards(果园), he is giving new life to apple heirlooms(传家宝) with the kind of familiar names you might find in some classic novels.
Stretching from south New York state to northern Alabama, the cultural region of Appalachia was home to some 14,000 orchard-grown varieties at the beginning of the last century. By the late 1990s however, commercial orchards in the US were growing only around 100 different types.
“One so-called expert said I should only be trying to find the really outstanding varieties,” Tom Brown said. “But to me, they’re all equally important. It’s a thrill to rediscover them, and to know I’m doing something unique.”
Brown’s quest began in 1998, after he stumbled across a stall of heritage apples at a farmers’ market. Amazed at their unique tastes and textures, he set about researching “lost” apples.
Over the next two decades, he found not one but more than 1,200, often waking at 2 am for a six-hour drive to – say – Virginia, before spending the day knocking on doors and speaking to locals as he searched for forgotten orchards or even single trees on remote mountainsides.
“Talking to the locals, I discovered why it was so productive: people told me how their fathers and grandfathers took pride in growing apples that were different to their neighbours’. At one house there’d be four apple trees on the lawn, all different varieties. A few houses down, I’d find another three trees, all different again.”
Sadly, the passage of time makes Brown’s quest a race against the clock. “Apple trees are not long lived,” he said. “And the people who help me find them are generally in their 80s or 90s. A whole generation of them has passed away since I started doing this.”
1. What has Tom been doing since retirement?| A．Searching for particular apples. | B．Preserving rare apple varieties. |
| C．Developing new apple varieties. | D．Growing apples in his orchards. |
| A．Commercial development led to the sharp decrease of apple varieties. |
| B．Appalachia used to be abundant in apple varieties in the mid 19th century. |
| C．Only a small number of apples were kept in the orchards by the late 1990s. |
| D．Traditional orchards were unable to grow more apple varieties in the 1990s. |
| A．Ambitious and diligent. | B．Generous and friendly. |
| C．Determined and curious. | D．Creative and humorous. |
| A．Because fewer people grow apple trees. |
| B．Because Brown’s orchards are declining. |
| C．Because the new generation shows no concern. |
| D．Because apple trees may die out before discovered. |
4 . Lulu was a pet pig owned by Jo-Ann from Pennsylvania.
One day in August, Jo-Ann was at home when she
Sensing the woman’s great worry, Lulu ran over to
Eventually, Lulu managed to stop one driver.
| A．fell | B．walked | C．rested | D．jumped |
| A．after all | B．in advance | C．at once | D．by chance |
| A．mentioned | B．recognized | C．treated | D．suffered |
| A．sleepless | B．hopeless | C．useless | D．senseless |
| A．feared | B．admitted | C．argued | D．complained |
| A．look at | B．shout at | C．play with | D．communicate with |
| A．horrible | B．perfect | C．unusual | D．familiar |
| A．proved | B．promised | C．remembered | D．realized |
| A．importance | B．sadness | C．patience | D．kindness |
| A．friends | B．families | C．confidence | D．help |
| A．hospital | B．car | C．room | D．street |
| A．error | B．behavior | C．tradition | D．memory |
| A．Worried | B．Angry | C．Crazy | D．Frightened |
| A．resist | B．wave | C．check | D．participate |
| A．passed | B．approached | C．measured | D．admired |
5 . Listening to birds sing or watching them fly is more than just entertaining. Being around birds offers benefits for emotional well-being, a new study finds.
Researchers used a phone app to collect information on how this specific nature exposure could be good for mental wellness.
“Most previous studies have looked at the benefits of nature as a whole,” says lead author Ryan Hammoud, a research assistant at King’s College London. “We chose to focus on birdlife to try and understand which specific characteristics of nature benefit mental health. None of the previous studies had investigated this in real-time and real-world contexts.
For their experiments, researchers used the Urban Mind app to follow 1,292 people who completed nearly 27,000 assessments. Participants were from the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United States. Three times each day, the app asked users whether they could hear or see birds. They were asked to answer follow-up questions on their mental state at the time, so researchers could see if there was a connection and how long it lasted.
Mental well-being was measured with questions about whether they were feeling confident, relaxed, happy, for example, or more negative feelings such as whether they felt anxious, stressed, or lonely.
The study collected data on people who have mental health conditions and those without. They discovered that bird activity is linked to improvements in emotional health in those who don’t have mental health concerns, as well as those who have been diagnosed with depression. They discovered that the effects were still observed in the following assessment which was up to eight hours later.
This exciting research shows just how much the sight and the sound of birdsong lift the spirits. It captures evidence that our senses are stimulated by birdsong, which is a precious part of nature that should be experienced.
1. In what way is the research different from previous ones?| A．It discovered the entertaining part of birds. |
| B．It looks at humans as a valuable part of nature. |
| C．It looks at the benefits of a specific aspect of nature. |
| D．It discovered the contributing factors to emotional health. |
| A．To cheer up the participants. |
| B．To provide real-time guidance. |
| C．To record the locations of birds. |
| D．To collect data for the research. |
| A．It lasts for hours. |
| B．It’s still uncertain. |
| C．It depends on health conditions. |
| D．It’s linked to where the birds are seen. |
| A．Nature Exposure Is Good for Mental Wellness |
| B．Seeing or Hearing Birds Is Good for Well-being |
| C．Scientists Are Researching into Specific Characteristics of Nature |
| D．A Phone App Is Helping Collect Data in Real-world Experiments |
6 . Starting in September, shoppers at British supermarket chain Waitrose &Partners may notice a small yet significant difference. Nearly 500 fresh products will no longer have “best before” dates printed on them. This move is designed to reduce food waste by encouraging shoppers to use their own judgement as to whether a product is still good to eat, rather than relying on a printed date.
Marija Rompani, director of Waitrose&Partners, points out 70% of all food wasted in the U. K. happens at home. U. K. households throw away 4. 5 million tons of eatable food every year, meaning that all the energy and resources used in food production are wasted. He says this move will save money at a time of rising food costs and increasing financial pressures. By using up existing fresh food in our homes, we can also save on our weekly household food shopping, which is becoming an increasingly pressing concern for many.
Waitrose-Partners is not the only supermarket to make such changes in recent years. Another British chain, Morrison’s, made headlines in January for removing “use by” dates on milk, urging customers to do a test with their noses to determine whether or not the milk is still good to drink. Tesco removed “best before” dates on more than 100 fresh food products in 2018, and MarksSpencer did the same this summer for over 300 products after a successful smaller trial.
“Best before” typically refers to the date before which an item will have best taste and texture. Passing the date does not mean it goes bad — just that it’s less good. “Use by” refers to safety and will still be applied to Waitrose & Partners products where there’s a risk of food poisoning if consumed after the date printed on the packaging. There are exceptions if the item has been frozen ahead o£ its “use by” date.
1. What does Waitrose&-Partners encourage shoppers to do?| A．Save money through buying no more than necessary. |
| B．Do household shopping weekly to guarantee fresh food. |
| C．Rely on printed dates for the quality guarantee period o£ products. |
| D．Use their own judgement to decide whether a product is good to eat. |
| A．Increasing food production. | B．Saving money spent on food. |
| C．Reducing the pressure of supermarkets. | D．Listening to the pressing concern of consumers. |
| A．It asked shoppers to buy frozen food. |
| B．It asked shoppers to test milk by nose. |
| C．It removed “best before” dates on some products. |
| D．It did a successful experiment on customer preference. |
| A．Business and Policy. | B．Home and Design. |
| C．Science and Technology. | D．Events and Celebrations. |
7 . I didn’t sleep well for several days, worrying about the wildfires in several parts of Chongqing. Chongqing had witnessed several forest wildfires this summer due to the worst heat wave and drought since 1961, when such statistics were first recorded.
Like most people from Chongqing, I felt I must do something to help stop the fires spreading. Although forest firefighting forces from three provinces arrived to help, the local government called for volunteers and disaster relief materials for different fire scenes around the city.
Thousands of people from all walks of life quickly responded to the call. Many delivered various materials needed for fire rescue work, such as bottled water, food, fire extinguishers, helmets, lights, chainsaws and medical supplies. Hundreds of people with related skills and experience signed up as volunteers.
Facing challenging weather and mountainous terrain, young men felled trees and helped put the fires out. Women organized supplies, while motorcyclists transported firefighters and materials on newly formed unpaved mountain paths that were used as fire barriers.
I cannot ride a motorcycle, and do not have any medical skills. I decided to do everything I could for the hard-working volunteers, which included taking them cold fruit tea. When I arrived at an assembly (集合) point at the foot of Jinyun Mountain at noon, hundreds of volunteers wearing yellow vests and helmets, with towels soaked in cold water on their necks, were waiting for orders.
I met one of my friends, who had been working day and night to cut down trees to make fire barriers. He was told to go home to take a rest the next morning, but he returned to the assembly point in the afternoon after having a brief lunch. “I cannot sit at home and watch the fire approaching our man-made barrier,” he said.
1. What was a cause of the wildfires in Chongqing?| A．Campfires. | B．Record-high temperature. |
| C．Little rainfall. | D．Careless behaviors. |
| A．Providing medical help. | B．Transporting firefighters. |
| C．Offering cold drinks. | D．Cutting down trees. |
| A．He could hardly fall asleep. |
| B．He wanted to work with other firefighters. |
| C．He had no time to take a rest. |
| D．He was concerned about the wildfires. |
| A．They were professional and committed. |
| B．They played a key role in fighting fires. |
| C．They were united and tireless. |
| D．They made great sacrifices. |
8 . Fifty miles east of Seattle, a bridge crosses one part of a busy state highway known as Snoqualmie Pass. It is no ordinary bridge meant for vehicles or passers-by.Covered in soil, stones, and seedlings (幼苗), it aims to transport wild animals from one side of the highway to the other- and it’s working.
Since 2018, when the bridge opened and the first animal, a coyote (郊狼),raced over the highway below, the structure has carried creatures as large as elk and as small as toads.And it should attract even more users as the seedlings grow into trees and animals get used to its presence.“As we get more shade, it’s going to be different,”says Patty, a wildlife biologist. “Hopefully someday we’ll see the exact same species up here as we see in the forest.”
The Snoqualmie Pass bridge is one example of wildlife crossings that help animals cross busy roads. Crossings come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from overpasses for bears to underpasses for salamanders. A body of research shows that crossings can reconnect wildlife populations, while protecting human drivers and animals alike from dangerous vehicle crashes.
The building of such crossings has never been more urgent. Roadkill rates have risen over the past half-century; today, around 12 percent of North American wild animals die on roads. Busy highways prevent herds of elk and mule deer from going to lower grasslands in winter, occasionally causing death due to hunger.In California, freeways have prevented mountain lions from mating (交配),leaving the cats only able to mate with close relatives that they’ve fallen into an “extinction whirlpool.”Wildlife crossings allow animals to find food and each other across separated landscapes, and help them access new places to live.
1. What can we learn about the Snoqualmie Pass bridge?| A．It is an ordinary stone bridge. |
| B．It is a fast access across states. |
| C．It aims to reduce the traffic pressure. |
| D．It helps wildlife cross the busy roads. |
| A．Wild animals. | B．Passers-by. | C．Drivers. | D．Wildlife biologists. |
| A．The roadkill rates in the past 50 years. |
| B．The urgent need for wildlife crossings. |
| C．The awareness of environmental protection. |
| D．The concern over mountain lions’extinction. |
9 . The area of the Yellow River Wetland Park in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, was once a place local people avoided: the waste water caused awful smells and almost no grass could grow on the land.
Now, the park has not only become a popular destination for locals to take a walk, but also a habitat frequented by migratory birds (候鸟).
As secretary general of Ningxia’s bird observation association, Li Zhijun witnessed the huge changes at the park. According to him, the Yinchuan wetland park, together with other wetland areas along the Yellow River in Ningxia, has become a famous spot for bird photographers. More habitats for migratory birds are appearing as the environment improves, added Li in an interview with China Daily.
The Yinchuan wetland park mirrors China’s achievements in wetland protection. On Nov 10, seven Chinese cities were awarded “international wetland cities” at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP 14). So far, there are 13 wetland cities in China, showing a great variety of patterns and styles.
For example, Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, is known as a “city of a hundred lakes”. The city has five large wetland reserves, where tens of thousands of birds come to stay in wintertime, noted the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Liangping district in Chongqing, however, is totally different from natural wetland. It is more closely tied to human activity. People built small wetlands in rural areas. What’s more, they have combined these wetlands with organic farms, homestays, and healthcare centers, which has resulted in an income increase of 52,000 yuan per household.
Panjin in Liaoning province is another amazing wetland city. In the past, the city has long suffered from environmental problems caused by oil production. But now in the coastal wetlands, seagrass turns a breathtaking red every autumn, creating beautiful “red beaches”.
Chen Zhihai, a local fishery worker, said to Panjin Daily, “In the past, there were almost no wild fish and shrimp. Thanks to the efforts of ordinary Panjin people, now the wetland is back again!”
1. Why is the Yellow River Wetland Park mentioned at the beginning of the article?| A．To compare it with other famous wetlands. |
| B．To explain why it has become a popular destination. |
| C．To show China’s achievements in wetland protection. |
| D．To explain the importance of wetlands to migratory birds. |
| A．Thousands of birds stay there in winter. |
| B．Small wetlands were built near lakes. |
| C．They are more closely connected to human activity. |
| D．They are popular destinations for people to take a walk. |
| A．The water there is purple. |
| B．They have beautiful “red beaches”. |
| C．They are home to different types of shrimp. |
| D．They are an ideal destination for fishing. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．Sports. |
| C．Travel. | D．Business. |
Seven construction (建筑) workers were confirmed dead after going missing in extreme weather conditions in Altay city in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, according to a statement
Starting from Nov. 20, the
At around 11 pm on Saturday, local police received
After receiving the report, local government
Seven of them were dead and the other
Due to the suspension (暂缓) of construction caused by extreme weather, 14 workers
