1 . 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。

Earthquake in northwestern China kills at least 118 people

An overnight earthquake killed at least 118 people in a cold and mountainous region in northwestern China,     1     the country’s state media reported on Tuesday. Search and rescue     2     (operate) were underway in Gansu and neighboring Qinghai provinces. The earthquake left more than 500 people injured,     3    (severe) damaged houses and roads, and knocked out power and communication lines.

The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck in Gansu at a relatively shallow     4    (deep) of 10kilometers just before midnight on Monday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center.

By mid-morning, 105 people had been confirmed dead in Gansu and another 397 injured, including sixteen people     5     critical condition. Thirteen others were killed and 182 injured in Qinghai in an area north of the epicenter (震中), according to state media. Another 20 were missing in Qinghai after     6     (bury) in a landslide, according to the China News Service.

The earthquake     7     (feel) in much of the surrounding area, including Lanzhou, the Gansu provincial capital, about 100 kilometers northeast of the epicenter.

The rescue work was proceeding in     8     orderly manner. Tents, folding beds     9    quilts were being sent to the disaster area. At least 4,000 firefighters, soldiers and police officers were dispatched (派遣) in the rescue effort, and the People’s Liberation Army Western Theatre set up a command post     10     (direct) its work.

2 . Politicians and the public tend to worry about carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions (排放) but neglect the effects of cutting methane (甲烷). Actually, dealing with the gas would have a large effect rapidly and at relatively low cost.

Human activity emits far less methane than carbon dioxide, but methane has a heavier impact. Over the course of 20 years, a ton of the gas will warm the atmosphere about 86 times more than a ton of CO₂. As a result, methane is responsible for 23% of the rise in temperatures since preindustrial times. Carbon dioxide gets most of the attention, but unless methane emissions are limited, there is little hope of controlling the climate.

By how much do methane emissions need to fall? Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for centuries, making it hard to reduce its atmospheric concentrations (浓度). By contrast, methane has a half-life of roughly ten years, which means that it degrades quickly. If new emissions can be cut to below the rate at which old emissions reduce, the concentration of methane in the atmosphere will soon fall, slowing global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that, to keep temperatures between 1.5℃ and 2℃ above preindustrial levels, human methane emissions must drop to 35% below where they stood in 2010 by midcentury.

That is entirely possible. A big step would be to stop millions of tons of methane from leaking out of fossil-fuel infrastructure each year, through pipes with holes, leaky valves and carelessness. The International Energy Agency, a global forecaster, estimates that 40% of methane emissions from fossil fuels, equal to 9% of all human methane emissions, can be got rid of at no net cost for firms. The harder task is to reduce emissions from agriculture, but even here farmers can make use of new ideas, including developing new forms of food for farm animals, and changing how rice is watered.

1. What does the underlined word “neglect” in paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Ignore.

B．Blame.

C．Value.

D．Delay.

2. What does the author intend to communicate in paragraph 2?

A．A less serious threat to global warming.

B．The little hope of controlling the climate.

C．People’s more attention on carbon dioxide.

D．The urgent need to reduce methane emissions.

3. Why does the author call attention to methane emissions?

A．They are the only hope of controlling the climate.

B．Their atmospheric concentrations are hard to reduce.

C．Their impact on the climate is huge but manageable.

D．They stay in the atmosphere longer than carbon dioxide.

4. Which source of methane emissions is more difficult to reduce according to the text?

A．Coal mining.

B．Rice farming.

C．Fuel burning.

D．Oil leaking.

3 . In late January, returning home from a day in town, my husband and I were greeted by a couple of Willie Wagtails sitting on a hanging basket on our balcony, probably planning to build a nest. Another day away, we came home to find a simple ________ which had started on the hanging basket, right in front of our toilet door. We didn’t have the heart to ________ it, so the “building” ________, with the pair of Willie Wagtails flying in with building materials. Finally after a week, a beautiful nest built with ________ materials was completed.

The next day an egg ________ in their nest, followed by anther two during the week. We were such disturbance to them, having to use the toilet next to their ________.

Two weeks passed and three baby chicks were hatched (孵出). The ________ task began for the parents to find ________ to bring back to their babies. Both Willie Wagtails would fly in and out during the day. It was amazing how ________ the babies were growing.

We were constantly ________ if we came near their nest, and often got our hair pulled just as a ________ to keep our distance. Going to the toilet late one night, I ________ their nest. How lovely it is to see three little ________ and bodies lying neatly side by side, sound asleep, with just their hearts ________ — their little bodies rising and falling with each breath. They were so ________, and I was so lucky to be able to share this special moment.

1.

A．fence

B．door

C．picture

D．construction

2.

A．decorate

B．keep

C．move

D．hang

3.

A．wore out

B．fell down

C．went ahead

D．gave out

4.

A．various

B．rare

C．second-hand

D．man-made

5.

A．broke

B．appeared

C．caught

D．rolled

6.

A．outline

B．routine

C．nest

D．reserve

7.

A．meaningless

B．luckless

C．doubtless

D．tireless

8.

A．water

B．food

C．grass

D．clothes

9.

A．strangely

B．quickly

C．painfully

D．curiously

10.

A．protected

B．confused

C．attracted

D．scolded

11.

A．chance

B．solution

C．warning

D．greeting

12.

A．looked for

B．looked into

C．got on

D．took on

13.

A．insects

B．heads

C．wings

D．tails

14.

A．beating

B．hitting

C．striking

D．sinking

15.

A．full

B．popular

C．careful

D．peaceful

4 . Over 7,000 species around the world are considered endangered. That number doesn’t even include the plants, animals, and other lifeforms that are listed by some scientists as vulnerable, critically endangered, or extinct in the wild.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the most-comprehensive list of endangered species around the world. The Red List of Threatened Species, as it’s called, judges each species on five different standards for an in-depth scientific approach. According to the IUCN, an endangered species is one that meets any one of the following criteria (标准): a 50%-70% population decrease over 10 years, a total geographic area less than 5,000 square kilometers, a population size less than 2,500 adults, a restricted population of 250 adults, or a statistical prediction that it will go extinct within the next 20 years.

Though the IUCN’s Red List covers a wide range of what qualifies as an endangered species, it doesn’t quite say how a species reaches those low points. Prepare to feel guilty: the most common factor when it comes to species decline is human intervention. Loss of habitat, the introduction of a foreign species into the environment, hunting, pollution, disease, and loss of genetic variation (基因变异) are all causes of species decline and most often are a result of human activities. Take the bald eagle for example: the rise in human population and urban development of North America limited the animal’s habitat; an increase in hunting the eagles for sport lowered their population size; and the use of the pesticide DDT on farms harmed the animal’s reproductive capabilities.

But even though humans are the number one cause of species decline, classifying species as endangered encourages action to reverse the effects of human intervention. Conservation efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service criminalized (使非法) the hunting of bald eagles and the use of the pesticide DDT in the mid- to late 20th century. The effect was positive, as bald eagles have been on the rise and were taken off the endangered species list in 1995.

1. Which of the following species can be considered endangered?

A．One that will go extinct within the next 50 years.

B．One whose population size is less than 5,000 adults.

C．One whose habitat is less than 2,500 square kilometers.

D．One whose population decreases 20% over twenty years.

2. What does paragraph 3 focus on?

A．The causes of species decline.

B．The disadvantages of the pesticide.

C．A list of worldwide endangered species.

D．Common features of endangered species.

3. Why is the bald eagle mentioned as an example in the last paragraph?

A．To show its rareness.

B．To blame humans for its decline.

C．To stress its importance in nature.

D．To show the meaning of ranking it endangered.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.

B．Health.

C．Science.

D．Education.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

At the cafeteria table, I overheard my new colleague say, “I hate going home tonight, because we have to get rid of our dog.” I said, “Oh, no! Is your dog ill?” She replied, “No, she’s fine, just not a fit for our family. No one wants her, so it’s best we give it away.”

Coming from a family whose home could be a petting zoo, I was shocked to think that people could be so heartless. Worried by this dog’s fate, I asked my new co-worker a few questions. She shared that the dog’s name was Lady. She was a German Shepherd and had been trained for a year and a half as a guide dog for the blind. Unfortunately, Lady failed her final test because she demanded too many hugs after completing her tasks. I begged the woman to give me a little time to reach out to my mom as we would consider taking her. With my talent for dramatic storytelling and my mom’s compassionate heart, I knew Lady would have a home with us.

After work, I drove to pick up Lady. An old woman greeted me at the door, leading me to the kitchen. There sat the beautiful but very thin dog, sitting in the corner licking and scratching her right paw. “She did that to herself,” the woman said as she pointed to the injured paw. She continued, “That dog is hopeless!” The woman then took a broom and pushed the dog to stand. Lady had tears in her eyes when I led her outside.

There were no goodbyes from this family, just a sense of relief that Lady was no longer their problem. I sat on the sidewalk with her and introduced myself. For me, it was love at first sight. She had perfect markings, a delicate, beautiful face, but the saddest eyes. “Lady,” I said, “I’m taking you to your new home with my family who will always love you. Please give us a chance.”

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。

As I pulled into our driveway, my mom was waiting with open arms and delicious dog treats.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

One day, to win Lady’s trust, my mom led Lady to her bedroom.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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。

Located in Sichuan Province, the greater Chengdu area is home     1     millions of residents. It’s surrounded by rich farmlands that     2     (lead) to the city’s impressive agricultural wealth over the centuries. Often     3     (call) the “Land of Milk and Honey”, the city is one of the most liveable cities in China.

As well as being known for     4     (it) panda tourism and spicy food, Chengdu has a great atmosphere. The city is famously relaxed despite its size and busyness. This more relaxed way of life may be one of the most attractive things about Chengdu.

Chengdu has several panda breeding and research facilities, which     5    (probable) explains its close     6     (connect) with this lovable animal. So, while you’re in the city, make sure you head out to one of them     7     (see) the panda places and maybe even sign up to be     8     zookeeper for the day.

The teahouse culture is a big part of Chengdu. Teahouses are     9     the natives get together, play mah-jong, and drink tea. If you want to be part of the local culture, then escape the busy city the same way the     10     (local) do. Head to one of the local teahouses and try a cup of tea.

7 . Pets not only make our lives richer, they also help us to live longer. As much as we take care of them, they find ways to take care of us, too. Studies confirm that our animal companions help us in many ways. So whether you like a dog or a cat, go and get a furry friend.     1    

   Pets can smell medical conditions. If you notice your dog or cat acting in an unusual way with no explanation, you may want to take a trip to the doctor.     2     Dogs and cats, sensing an issue, warns their owners by changing behaviors, leading to earlier discovery of illnesses. Dogs especially have the ability to detect (检测) illness with a high level of accuracy.

Interacting with animals has a big impact during child development.     3     Children with pets are not likely to develop mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders during adulthood.

    4     Experts praise dogs as a way to lower blood pressure and improve heart health. In a study observing people with borderline high blood pressure, those who adopted(收养) dogs experience declines (下降) in blood pressure levels. Research has shown similar results for cat owners as well.

Having a pet helps us stay more active and get outside. Sometimes finding the time to walk the dog or clean the litter box can seem difficult to fit into a busy schedule.     5     Dog owners especially feel more motivated to go for walks out of responsibility. Even those with eats can gain there wards. You may not take the cat out for walks, but you’ll get moving by playing with the cat, picking up toys, or cleaning up.

A．It can have huge health benefits.

B．Pets give us an opportunity to start a conversation.

C．Animals can detect tiny changes in the human body.

D．Animals help reduce blood pressure and promote heart health.

E．Having a pet can reduce the risk of developing illnesses like cancer.

F．Children with pets experience less stress, separation anxiety, and social anxiety

G．However, it has to get done, thus providing the pet owner with necessary exercise.

8 . 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。

Fan Jinshi, the honorary president of the Dunhuang Academy, is more widely known as the ” Daughter of Dunhuang“. She has spent more than four decades     1    (study) the preservation of the Mogao Caves. The Mogao Caves    2    (build) from the 4th century to the 14th century, and they consist of at least 490 caves    3    are carved into the cliffs (悬崖) above the Dunhuang River. For many reasons,the caves     4     (become) increasingly vulnerable (脆弱的) in the past years.

Fan, together with other scholars, has made several breakthroughs in cave preservation technologies such as     5     reduction of sandstorms’ impact on the Mogao Caves. Fan also works hard     6     (promote) cooperation between the Dunhuang Academy and overseas archaeological institutions. Thanks to her efforts, the surrounding environment has improved    7    (significant).

    8    Fan’s leadership, the Dunhuang Academy has grown into the world’s largest institution for Dunhuang studies, making many    9     (achieve) in digitisation, 3D scanning and virtual reality representation of the Dunhuang relics (遗迹).”The longer I’ve stayed here, the     10    (deep)my love has grown for Dunhuang,“ Fan said.

9 . Asteroids (小行星) are believed to have formed early in our solar system’s history — about 4.5 billion years ago — when a cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula (太阳星云) collapsed and formed our sun and the planets. By visiting these near Earth objects to study the material that came from the solar nebula, we can look for answers to some of humankind’s most arresting questions, such as:   How did the solar system form and where did the Earth’s water and other organic materials such as carbon come from? In addition to unlocking clues about our solar system, asteroids may provide clues about our Earth. By understanding more about asteroids, we may learn more about past Earth impacts and possibly find ways to reduce the threat of future impacts.

If we don’t want to go the way of the dinosaurs someday, we need to protect ourselves against the threat of being hit by a big asteroid. According to NASA, typically about once every 10,000 years, a rock y or iron asteroid the size of a football field could crash into our planet and possibly cause tidal waves big enough to flood coastal areas.

But what we really have to fear is asteroids about 328 feet across or bigger. Such an impact would cause a firestorm and fill the atmosphere with sun-blocking dust, which would wipe out forests and farm fields and starve the human and animal life that it didn’t immediately kill.

That’s why it’s vital to develop a way to neutralize such a threat to Earth. NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, launched in late November 2021, was the first mission to demonstrate a technology called asteroid redirection by manmade impactor. A robotic spacecraft will be crashed into an asteroid named Didymos, in an effort to show that it’s possible to slightly change the path of an asteroid. That would enable NASA to redirect potential threats to miss Earth.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．How solar system came into being.

B．How long asteroids have existed.

C．Why asteroids are to be explored.

D．When asteroids will impact Earth.

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

A．To make the text more interesting.

B．To introduce the topic of the text.

C．To grab readers’ attention to asteroids.

D．To show the disaster from an asteroid impact.

3. Which can best replace “neutralize” underlined in paragraph 4?

A．strengthen

B．avoid

C．beautify

D．realize

4. What can we know about asteroids?

A．Dinosaurs may live on some of them.

B．They were formed earlier than Earth.

C．Exploring them helps us know Earth.

D．NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test failed.

10 . Lynda Doughty, a marine biologist, developed a passion for marine wildlife during her childhood. Growing up along the coast of Maine, she witnessed the impact of human activity on marine mammals and she made it her life’s work to protect them. “I feel this intense responsibility to help these animals,” Lynda said. “And, really, this is what I was put on this Earth to do.”

Harbor seals are among the most common mammals found along the East Coast, and they face various threats to their well-being, including fishing net s and illegal feeding, chemical pollutants, as well as boat and propeller (螺旋桨) injuries.

Earlier in her career, she worked for a marine mammal emergency response organization that eventually closed due to lack of funding. To fill the gap left by the group, Lynda started her own non-profit organization — Marine Mammals of Maine in 2011. It has since provided response and medical care for more than 3,000 marine mammals.

Lynda’s team operates a 24-hour hotline that responds to calls regarding marine mammals in danger. Their permit allows them to respond to mammals stranded (搁浅) within 2,500 miles of the coastline, and her team only offers help if the mammal is in critical condition. Critically ill mammals are transported to Lynda’s center and nursed back to health. Seals typically require three or more months of professional care treatment before they are released back into the ocean.

In addition to mammal rescues, Marine Mammals of Maine conducts important research to learn about marine mammal habitats and human impacts. Marine mammals can give us clues about the ocean’s health, which ultimately affects human well-being as well. The organization also helps promote marine conservation among youth and the local community. In addition, they instruct the public on what to do, and what not to do, when encountering wild species like harbor seals.

1. What do Lynda’s words mean?

A．She was born along the coast of Maine.

B．She ignored the impact of human activity.

C．She did her work with a sense of mission.

D．She protected marine wildlife at a young age.

2. Why did Lynda set up Marine Mammals of Maine in 2011?

A．To earn more money.

B．To replace the group.

C．To make the group a non-profit organization.

D．To restart marine mammal emergency response.

3. What can we learn about Lynda’s team from paragraph 4?

A．It only treats critically ill seals.

B．It rescues marine mammals in danger.

C．It protects all endangered marine mammals.

D．It stops people from fishing marine mammals.

4. What’s the purpose of paragraph 5?

A．To state younger generations need to be instructed.

B．To stress the severe situations that marine life faces.

C．To mention other social contributions of Lynda’s team.

D．To show humans have a great impact on marine mammals.