1 . Winter Wonders in Qinling Mountain Range

Central China’s Qinling Mountain Range divides the country north to south. In winter, the mountains are covered with white snow and ice. The mountains are about an hour-and-a-half drive from Shanxi’s provincial capital, Xian, which was home to several Chinese dvnasties. Here are three winter destinations south of the range in Shaanxi.

Going wild in Yangxian County

Crested ibises (朱鹮) fly in the sky on the mountain’s southwest. There are only 5, 000 worldwide. Half live in Hangzhong’s Yangian after decades of protetion. Spring is the busiest vsiting season. Birdwatchers from Japan and South Korea fly thousands of miles to Yangxian to see the creatures.

Tickets: 40 yuan ( $6)

Tickets hotline: (86) 916-821-2853

Drinking soup in Shiquan County

Shiquan is just one of the counties south of the Qinling Mountains dating back over 2, 000 years. Shiquan has preserved the custom of serving dinners individually as guests arrive. Residents offer them paotang soup, which is a local dish. Shiquan paotang was oficially listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage form in 2018.

Cost: 60 yuan ( $9) per meal per person

Snow on show at Jinsi Canyon

Jinsi Canyon on the Qinling range’s southeastern side is covered with white snow in winter. The whole canyon is like a natural ice-sculpture exhibition hall. Travelers who cross the Jinsi Canyon can call at friendly farmhouses and enjoy hot pot. Those who make the journey will discover the winter beauty of Qinling Mountains.

Tickets: 90 yuan( $14)

Tickets hotline: ( 86) 914 -656 6888

1. How much will a boy and his parents pay if they want to watch crested ibises?

A．$18.

B．$27.

C．80 yuan.

D．270 yuan.

2. What may you be treated to in Shiquan County?

A．Viewing flying creatures.

B．Ice-sculpture exhibition halls.

C．The ceremonious welcoming custom.

D．Provincial-level intangible cultural heritage local dish.

3. How can tourists explore the winter beauty of Qinling Mountain?

A．Climbing its southeastern side.

B．Individually tasting typical local soup.

C．Visiting farmhouses and enjoying hot pot.

D．Playing in the breathtaking snowy scenery.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What happened to boats and ships in the Bermuda Triangle?

A．They disappeared.

B．They crashed into each other.

C．They caught fire without reason.

2. Who mentioned the Bermuda Triangle for the first time?

A．A popular writer.

B．A famous explorer.

C．A well-known reporter.

3. When did the Bermuda Triangle become a popular story?

A．In the 15th century.

B．In the 17th century.

C．In the 20th century.

4. What does the speaker say about the Bermuda Triangle?

A．All of the reports on it are untrue.

B．It is a dangerous area in the ocean.

C．It is completely safe at the moment.

3 . Grasses and short trees are growing and expanding around Mount Qomolangma and across the Hi ma lay an region as the area continued to experience the consequences of global warming, researchers have found. Using satellite data from 1993 to 2018, scientists measured “small but significant” increased between 4,150 and 6,000 meters above sea level. “There are now more areas that are covered in plants than there were in 1993,” said Anderson, a scientist who led the research.

While it is still too early to tell what impact this new growth could have on the region, “urgent research” on the potential effects is needed. “We don't know what the impact is — it might be the plants that cause the snow to melt more quickly,” Anderson added.

1.4 billion people depend on water collected in the region. Changes to water supplies could have great impacts on communities in different countries. “We know that plants and the water cycle are coupled,” Anderson explained. “Wherever you have plants growing, it changes the way the water cycle behaved in those areas. This is particularly important in the Himalayas because glaciers are reducing. We know from lots of scientific research that this is already having an impact on water supplies in this region and it will continue to do so as li-mate change continued.”

Climate change is already having an impact on Himalayan communities, A 2019 study found that Hi ma lay an glaciers have been losing almost half a meter of ice each year since the start of this century. This has already resulted in local communities being flooded — and could ultimately result in drought. Last year, a researcher from the International Centre found that at least a third of the ice in the region, which is home to Mount Qomolangma, could melt by the end of the century.

1. What changes happened to Mount Qomolangma from 1993 to 2018?

A．Sea levels rose quickly.	B．More plants grew there.
C．Grasses died out there.	D．Temperatures declined.

2. Why does the author mention Anderson in paragraph 2?

A．To explain the causes of climate change.	B．To prove the effects of glaciers melting.
C．To present the reasons for plants growing.	D．To show the necessity of the urgent research.

3. What affected the water supply in the Himalayas?

A．The way of the water cycle.	B．The varieties of plants.
C．The large population.	D．The increasing glaciers.

4. Why would Himalayan communities end in drought?

A．It seldom snows there.	B．They have great floods these years.
C．The glaciers would disappear.	D．More plants will grow there.

4 . Every 17 years, billions of insects, known as the cicadas (蝉) of Brood X, rise from the earth This year, perhaps, there will be trillions! Brood X is one of the largest groups of cicadas and will appear sometime in May, 2021 in 15 states, from Georgia in the south to New York in the northeast.

Many scientists and insect lovers say they’re looking forward to the red-eyed insects after a 17-year wait. One of them is Mike Raupp, an insect expert at the University of Maryland. " What they're waiting for is the soil temperatures to reach about 18℃, and then they're going to be and out of the ground. ”

When the insects come out of the ground, they will drop their skin, get their wings and try to go up on the treetops to escape from the predators (天敌). Once on the treetops, the male cicadas will "sing " their mating songs to draw the females. If she likes the singing, they will mate and reproduce. About six weeks later, the nymphs (蛹) will fall off the treetops and go into the ground Underground, the insects will quietly feed off tree roots and wait for another 17 years to start the party on the treetops all over again.

Raupp explained that some cicadas appear every year, but they have a much shorter life cycle and stay alive in two ways. They are green and can hide in nature. Also, they can fly very fast. So, they avoid being caught by predators. Periodical cicadas like Brood X have neither of those lifesaving methods. To continue the species, he said billions of periodical cicadas will appear all at the same time. So, their predators can't eat all of them. Also, by coming out every 17 years, they aren’t a dependable food source for predators and simply outlive them.

（From a report published in Newsweek on May 18,2021）

1. When did Brood X appear last time?

A．In 2004.	B．In 2015.
C．In 2017.	D．In 2020.

2. What can we learn about cicadas of Brood X?

A．They are one of the largest groups of insects.

B．They expose themselves for their red eyes.

C．They live on tree roots when underground.

D．They can fly very fast to escape being hunted.

3. Why does Brood X come out in large quantities?

A．It's a good time to mate and reproduce.

B．It's a good way to keep the species alive.

C．It's easy for them to hunt for food.

D．It's easy to defeat their predators.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Cicadas Coming after 17 Years Underground

B．Cicadas Holding a Grand Party on the Treetops

C．A Reunion in 17 Years for the Cicada Family.

D．A Unique Way to Escape from the Predators.

5 . More than a million tons a year of America's plastic rubbish are not ending up where they should. As many as 1, 300 plastic grocery bags per person is landing in places such as oceans and roadways, according to a new study of U. S.

In 2016, the United States generated 46.3 million tons of plastic waste, by far the most in the world. Between2.7% and 5. 3% of that was mismanaged, according to a study in Friday's journal Science Advances. “If you took nearly 2. 5 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste and dumped it on the White House lawn, it would pile as high as the Empire State Building,” said Jenna Jambeck, an environmental engineering professor.

Previous studies hadn't put the United States among the 10 worst offending nations for plastic waste in oceans. That's because the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency only tracks what goes into official parts of the waste stream such as landfills (废物填埋场) and recycling centers.

“The new study provides a more realistic view of our mismanaged waste,” said University of Toronto ecology professor Chelsea Rochman, who wasn't part of the study. “We consume a lot of plastic which then becomes plastic waste. We recycle very little of this material, which is a waste of resources.”

“A large but hard to quantify part of the problem involves the 51% of U. S. plastic waste shipped abroad for recycling to countries that routinely mismanage waste," Law said. The situation has been converting since many countries have become more limiting about taking U. S. rubbish imports. American exports of plastic waste have declined dramatically since their peak in 2016.

The government is spending billions of dollars trying to fix the problem, with modernized recycling technology and new business models to reduce waste while urging compulsory recycled content standards for new products and packaging.

“The best thing you can do environmentally is to produce no waste at all,” Jambeck said.

1. What can we know about the plastic waste in America?

A．It is improperly dealt with.	B．It is increasing every year.
C．It is as high as a tall building.	D．It is finding its way into landfills.

2. What did former studies fail to focus on?

A．How plastic waste is managed officially.	B．Why all plastic waste isn't recycled.
C．When plastic waste reaches its peak.	D．Where all plastic waste finally ends up.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “converting” in paragraph 5?

A．continuing

B．changing

C．existing

D．affecting

4. What problem might America face concerning plastic waste?

A．The lack of capital for waste management.	B．The lack of modern technology.
C．The limit of waste exports.	D．The seriousness of waste.

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。

Once regarded as a geographical disadvantage, Shantang village in Zhejiang province has now become an     1     (attract) tourism destination. It     2     (locate)in the northeastern tip of Guangchen town. It was off the beaten track when the road was not in good condition. However, with transportation improved, the village is connected to Shanghai by a stone bridge     3     a river.

Tourists can enjoy     4     (they) by walking among trees and grasslands, taking in the view of the lake and getting a look at the past through old items such as     5     (sew) machines, radios and photos which are preserved in a museum converted (改造) from an old house. Buses connecting the village to neighboring provinces are up and running in     6     endless stream. Over the past few years, dragon boat competitions and local festivals have been     7     (regular) held to enrich visitor experience. Local authorities have also restored a street     8     dates back to the Qing Dynasty to promote rural tourism in the village.

Shantang now offers sightseeing, leisure and shopping     9     (activity). Favorable policies have been introduced to encourage locals     10     (set) up shops on the streets. Last year, the historical street had 400,000 tourist visits, earning more than 20 million yuan in tourism income.

7 . Coral reefs are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. Coral reefs support more species per unit area than any other marine (海洋的) environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Scientists estimate that there may be millions of undiscovered species living in and around reefs. This biodiversity is considered the key to finding new medicines for the 21st century. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, viruses, and other diseases.

Healthy coral reefs support fisheries as well as jobs and businesses through tourism and recreation. About half of all managed fisheries depend on coral reefs and related habitats for a part of their life cycles. The National Marine Fisheries Service estimates the commercial value of U. S. fisheries from coral reefs is over $ 100 million, Local economies receive billions of dollars from visitors to reefs through diving tours, recreational fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reef ecosystems.

Coral reef structures also buffer (缓冲) shorelines against 97 percent of the energy from waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, and property damage. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. Several million people live in U. S. coastal areas near coral reefs. Some coastal development is required to provide necessary infrastructure (基础设施) for coastal residents and the growing coastal tourism industry.

Despite their great economic and recreational value, coral reefs are severely threatened by pollution, disease, and habitat destruction. Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that live on them and the communities near them. When a coral reef supports fewer fish, plants, and animals, it also loses value as a tourist destination.

1. Why is biodiversity important to medicines?

A．It can reduce the prices of new medicines.	B．It can help make new medicines.
C．It can be used for medicines.	D．It can be used to cure diseases.

2. How do coral reefs protect shorelines?

A．They protect people against sharks.	B．They completely avoid serious flooding.
C．They prevent people from being drowned.	D．They weaken most of the energy from waves.

3. What will happen if coral reefs are damaged?

A．Most fish will die out.	B．Coastal cities will attract fewer tourists.
C．There will be no large fish.	D．The sea will be polluted.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Importance of Diverse Ecosystems	B．The Environments of Coral Reefs
C．The Importance of Coral Reefs	D．The Value of Biodiversity

8 . Many people think that hippos (河马) are cute and funny-looking. They are really fat and they have short, thick legs. They also have little round ears that wiggle (摆动) sometimes.

Hippos look funny, but you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Hippos are extremely violent and dangerous. In fact, they kill more people than any other animal in Africa. Think of how many dangerous animals that Africa has. It has got crocodiles, snakes, lions, elephants and many more. Hippos are more dangerous than all of them.

Hippos are naturally very dangerous animals, but there are some situations that make them even more dangerous than normal. They are very territorial. That means that they stay in one area which they consider to be their private area. If a person or animal enter a hippo’s area, the hippo will attack. Hippos also often attack when they are returning to the water. Hippos eat on land and return to water at dusk. If a hippo sees an animal when it’s returning to the water, it will become violent.

Hippos are so strong that they often kill crocodiles. There are two reasons that explain why hippos and crocodiles often fight. First of all, hippos and crocodiles live in the same areas. Since hippos are territorial, they don’t like having crocodiles nearby. Also, crocodiles often eat young hippos. For that reason, adult hippos frequently kill crocodiles.

Mother and daughter hippos have close relationships. However, hippos don’t have any other close relationship with each other. Hippos often live together in large groups, but scientists don’t know why. It’s hard to study the behaviour of male and female hippos, because males and females look the same.

Hippos are violent, but they are herbivores. A herbivore is an animal that eat only plants. An adult hippo eats about 50 kilograms of plants every day. Hippos are much more comfortable in the water, but they can run fast on land. Their top speed is about 19 kilometers per hour. That’s much faster than humans can run.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The fight between hippos and crocodiles.

B．How to tell male hippos and female ones.

C．Africa’s most dangerous animal — hippos.

D．Why hippos get violent.

2. If an animal is territorial, what does that mean?

A．It is afraid of other animals.

B．It stays within a limited area.

C．It does not like to live in large groups.

D．It does not want other animals to enter its area.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．Hippos swim faster than crocodiles.

B．It is hard to explain why hippos live in groups.

C．Male and female hippos look different.

D．Violent animals usually eat plants.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To inform.	B．To entertain.
C．To instruct.	D．To persuade.