1 . Over millions of years， African penguins have developed a keen sense of where to find food． Once they're old enough， they set off from the shores on which they were hatched（孵化） for the first time and swim long distances in search of tasty fish like anchovies and sardines． But they don't search directly for the fish themselves． When African penguins head out to sea， they look for areas with low surface temperatures and high chlorophyll（叶绿素）． Because those conditions signal the presence of algae（藻类）． And lots of algae means lots of plankton（浮游动物）， which in turn means lots of their favorite fish． Well， that's what it used to mean．

Climate change plus overfishing have made the penguin feeding grounds a mirage（海市蜃楼）． The habitat is indeed plankton﹣rich， but now it's fish﹣poor． Researchers call this an "ecological trap．" "It's a situation where you have a signal that previously pointed an animal towards good﹣quality habitat． That habitat has been changed， usually by human pressures． The signal stays， but the quality in the environment gets worse．"

Richard Sherley， a zoologist at the University of Exeter and his team used satellite imaging to track the African penguins from eight sites along southern Africa． Historically， the birds benefited from tons of fish off the coasts of Angola， Namibia and western South Africa， but now they're going hungry．

"I was really hoping we'd see them going east， and finding areas which the fish had moved to but it ends up being quite a sad story for the penguins．" said Richard．

The researchers calculate that by falling into this ecological trap， African penguin populations on South Africa's Western Cape have declined by around 80 percent．

Some research groups are exploring the idea of moving them to a place where they can't get trapped， like the Eastern Cape． But Sherley thinks that a solution in the long run means making and carrying out rules to create more sustainable（可持续的） fishing industry， which needs public support．

1. How do penguins find their food？

A．They discover fish with their keen sense．

B．They swim long distances directly for fish．

C．They make signals to each other when finding fish．

D．They look for warmer and greener areas．

2. What is an ecological trap for the African penguins？

A．A trap set to catch penguins．

B．A good fish habitat with few fish．

C．A habitat rich in plankton．

D．A mirage on the sea．

3. What can be done to help the penguins in the long run？

A．Move the penguins to other places．

B．Create nature reserves for penguins．

C．Keep a balanced fishing industry．

D．Increase the population of penguins．

4. What is the main idea of the passage？

A．African penguins are losing their habitats．

B．African penguins are falling into ecological traps．

C．A sustainable development is needed．

D．African penguin populations have declined．

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When did the storm start?

A．This morning.

B．This afternoon.

C．Last night.

2. Who has been rescued by boat?

A．People living in low areas.

B．People living near the hills.

C．People living near the ocean.

3. How many people are without power?

A．Thousands.

B．Hundreds.

C．Several

4. What does the Weather Service suggest people do?

A．Not leave their homes.

B．Turn off their electricity.

C．Drive carefully through water.

3 . 3-2-1 GREEN!

You already know an environmentalist’s three R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.     1     Here are three things you can do for the Earth Day.

Be a real cut-up

The next time you’re about to throw out the plastic rings that hold a six-pack of soda together, reach for a pair of scissors.

As a young turtle, Peanut got stuck in one of these rings. As she grew, the ring stayed put, forcing her shell to grow around it. By the time someone found her and cut her free, her shell was permanently deformed. Thanks to her hard shell, Peanut is alive and well. She now lives at a nature center in Missouri. But most animals that get caught in six-pack rings die.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Easy!     2    

Hunt for vampires（吸血鬼）

You know all those electronic inventions you’ve got at home? Even when you switch them off, they are really still on.     3     Anything with a glowing LED off/on light, a remote control, or a clock display is always on.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Just pull out the plugs or tap the OFF switch till you really need the electronics.

    4    

Matt Damon really cares about clean water. So in February, he announced that he was going on strike against toilets. “ Until everybody has access to clean water and sanitation（卫生设备）,” he said. “ I will not go to the bathroom!” He was kidding but to make a serious point. Around the world, he said, “780 million people lack access to clean water; 2.5 billion people lack access to a toilet.”

WHAT YOU CAN DO

No need to go on a toilet strike. Just don’t waste water.     5    Take shorter showers.

A．Use water wisely.

B．How to recognize vampire electronics?

C．Cut the rings apart before you trash them.

D．Use toilets less.

E．But how else can you help?

F．Don’t run the water while brushing your teeth.

G．Things that can help with good living conditions are important.

4 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What does the woman say about puppies?

A．They are free.

B．They need shots.

C．They eat vegetables.

2. What does the boy offer to do?

A．Build a house for the puppy.

B．Take good care of the puppy.

C．Give the puppy some of his food.

5 . Why do we like drinking water from plastic bottles（塑料瓶）? Some people think it is healthy and clean. Others drink bottled water because it’s easy — you can carry it around with you. In hot countries, like Greece, we often buy bottles of cold water in the summer.

However, making lots of plastic is not a good idea for many reasons. First of all, we need a lot of oil for plastic products. We usually use oil as a source of energy. If we reduced the number of bottles we made, we wouldn’t need so much oil. Plastic bottles also pollute the environment. If we reused all our plastic bottles, we wouldn’t need so much space for rubbish dumps. But in Greece, we don’t reuse much of the plastic we use. In 2006, Greeks reused only about 10% of plastic waste. The rest became rubbish on land and in rivers and seas.

So next time you want to throw away a plastic bottle in the litter bin, stop and think. If you reuse it, you would help the environment. But what can you do when there isn’t a bin near you? Well, there are lots of useful ways that you can use your bottles again. For example, an empty bottle makes a great piggy bank for your pocket money, and if you cut a bottle in half, you will have a plant pot. Go green! You can make a difference.

1. What is not mentioned about bottled water in this passage?

A．It’s healthy.	B．It’s clean.
C．It’s easy.	D．It’s expensive.

2. Plastic products are made from ________.

A．energy	B．oil
C．rubbish	D．plants

3. Which is the best way to deal with used plastic bottles?

A．To reuse them.	B．To make a piggy bank.
C．To make a plant pot.	D．To drop them into the river.

4. The underlined part in this passage tells us “________”.

A．To make a different life, you’d better go outside.

B．To look different, you’d better wear green clothes.

C．To protect the environment, you can do something.

D．To go green, you should use plastic products.

6 . Bees seem to fly aimlessly as they search for the sugary liquid called nectar (花蜜). But their flight plans actually do have a pattern. Flowers act as the insects’ air-traffic controllers. And new research shows bees prefer flowers that aren’t too flashy.

Flowers give bees clues about how much a plant can offer. Those clues can be in the color of petals, in the type, in the smell or even in the electrical charge. All of these characteristics send signals to the bees, telling them whether to land or not, among which the colors play the most significant role. The insects keep track of the color of the flowers that are especially rich in nectar. They then visit more flowers of that color.

However, color can’t guarantee bees a good meal. It may change depending on the angle at which sunlight hits its petals. A yellow follower, for example, may look somewhat blue from one angle and red from another. Beverley Glover studies plants at the University of Cambridge in England. Glover and her colleagues showed that even when the color of petals looks similar, bees behave differently in searching for nectar. They started to guess that the strength of petals’ indescence (色彩斑斓) might be related to how bees find the petals.

Glover and her colleagues tested their hypothesis in the lab. In their experiment, they found that bees felt confused sometimes when the petals were very iridescent and that bees had no problem finding the flowers with more nectar when the petals were not very iridescent. The team shared its new findings in the March 21 Current Biology.

“At first glance, it’s very surprising because animals can usually detect a more vivid signal more easily,” says Klaus Lunau, a biologist in Germany, who was not involved in the study.

1. What can we know about the flight of bees?

A．They usually fly in a regular pattern.

B．They fly under the direction of flowers.

C．They usually fly without any purpose.

D．They fly to some very flashy flowers.

2. What is the most important clue for bees to search for nectar?

A．The petals’ type.	B．The followers’ smell.
C．The followers’ electrical charge.	D．The petals’ color.

3. What does the underlined word “hypothesis” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Discussion.	B．Method.
C．Assumption.	D．Invention

4. What is the new finding of the team?

A．Petals that are not very flashy are better for bees to make adjustments.

B．Petals of different color usually give different signals.

C．Petals that are vivid are detected by bees more easily.

D．Petals of different types make bees confused to find the right flower.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is Dan the Bear?

A．A fisherman.

B．A singer.

C．A dolphin trainer.

2. How will the woman inform the security officers?

A．By putting up a notice .	B．By sending a radio message.
C．By making a telephone call.

3. What will the woman do before going to the bar?

A．Go to the barber’s.

B．Buy some clothes.

C．Perform on stage.

8 . Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours

Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.

Duration: 3 hours

This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!

Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour

Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)

Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.

Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.

Duration: 3 hours

Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.

Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour

Duration: 3 hours (7miles)

Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.

1. Which tour do you need to book in advance?

A．Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.

B．Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour.

C．Capital City Bike Tour in Washington.

D．Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour.

2. What will you do on the Capital City Bike Tour?

A．Meet famous people.	B．Go to a national park.
C．Visit well-known museums.	D．Enjoy interesting stories.

3. Which of the following does the bicycle tour at night provide?

A．City maps.	B．Cameras.
C．Meals.	D．Safety lights.

9 . If anyone had told me three years ago that I would be spending most of my weekends camping, I would have laughed heartily. Campers, in my eyes, were people who enjoyed insect bites, ill-cooked meals, and uncomfortable sleeping bags. They had nothing in common with me.     1    

The friends who introduced me to camping thought that it meant to be a pioneer.     2     We slept in a tent, cooked over an open fire, and walked a long distance to take the shower and use the bathroom. This brief visit with Mother Nature cost me two days off from work, recovering from a bad case of sunburn and the doctor’s bill for my son’s food poisoning.

I was, nevertheless, talked into going on another fun-filled holiday in the wilderness.     3     Instead, we had a pop-up camper with comfortable beds and an air conditioner. My nature-loving friends had remembered to bring all the necessities of life.

    4     We have done a lot of it since. Recently, we bought a twenty-eight-foot travel trailer complete with a bathroom and a built-in TV set. There is a separate bedroom, a modern kitchen with a refrigerator. The trailer even has matching carpet and curtains.

    5     It must be true that sooner or later, everyone finds his or her way back to nature. I recommend that you find your way in style.

A．This time there was no tent.

B．Things are going to be improved.

C．The trip they took me on was a rough one.

D．I was to learn a lot about camping since then, however.

E．I must say that I have certainly come to enjoy camping.

F．After the trip, my family became quite interested in camping.

G．There was no shade as the trees were no more than 3 feet tall.

10 . In Canada you can find dogs, cats, horses, etc. in almost every family. These are their pets. People love these pets and have them as their good friends. Before they keep them in their houses, they take them to animal hospitals to give them injections(注射) so that they won’t carry disease. They have special animal food stores, though they can get animal food in almost every kind of store. Some people spend around two hundred Canadian dollars a month on animal food. When you visit people’s houses, they would be very glad to show you their pets and they are very proud of them. You will also find that almost every family has a feeding place for birds in their garden. All kinds of birds are welcomed to come and have a good meal. They are free to come and go and nobody is allowed to kill any animal in Canada. They have a law against killing wild animals. ①If you killed an animal, you would be punished. If an animal happened to get run over by a car, people would be very sad about it.②

People in Canada have many reasons to like animals. One of them might be that their family ties are not as close as ours.③ When children grow up, they leave their parents and start their own life. Then the old will feel lonely, but pets can solve this problem. They can be good friends and never leave them alone.

1. The passage mainly talks about____ .

A．how to keep disease from pets	B．pets in Canada
C．how to take good care of pets	D．life of the old in Canada

2. They give their pets injections before keeping them at their houses because ____.

A．the pets are sick

B．the pets are wild

C．they want to stop them from getting sick

D．they want them to sleep on the way home

3. In Canada, children leave their parents when they grow up because ____.

A．they don’t love their parents any more

B．they can only find jobs far from their parents

C．their parents houses are too small

D．they wouldn’t depend on their parents any more

4. Which the following is TRUE?

A．People buy animal food only at the animal food stores.

B．Pets eat better than people.

C．Almost every family has a birdcage in his house.

D．Any bird can come to the bird feeders to eat.