1 . California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor(因素).
The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.
Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick McIntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources(资源).
But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, McIntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.
The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt(融雪).
Since the 1930s, McIntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.
1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?A.The seriousness of big-tree loss in California. |
B.The increasing variety of California big trees. |
C.The distribution of big trees in California forests. |
D.The influence of farming on big trees in California. |
A.Ecological studies of forests. |
B.Banning woodcutting. |
C.Limiting housing development. |
D.Fire control measures. |
A.Inadequate snowmelt. | B.A longer dry season. |
C.A warmer climate. | D.Dampness of the air. |
A.California’s Forests: Where Have All the Big Trees Gone? |
B.Cutting of Big Trees to Be Prohibited in California Soon |
C.Why Are the Big Trees Important to California Forests? |
D.Patrick McIntyre: Grow More Big Trees in California |
2 . Scientists have discovered more than 5,000 new species living on the seabed in an untouched area of the Pacific Ocean that has been identified as a future hotspot for deep-sea mining, according to a review of the environmental surveys carried out in the area.
It is the first time the previously unknown biodiversity of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ), a mineral-rich area of the ocean floor that spans 1.7m sq miles between Hawaii and Mexico in the Pacific, has been comprehensively documented. The research will be critical to assessing the risk of extinction of the species, given contracts for deep-sea mining in the near-pristine area appear imminent.
Most of the animals identified by researchers exploring the zone are new to science, and almost all are unique to the region: only six, including a carnivorous sponge and a sea cucumber, have been seen elsewhere.
Contracts for mining exploration in the CCZ have been granted to 17 deep-sea mining contractors in an area covering 745,000 sq miles. The companies, which are backed by countries including Britain, the US and China, want to dig for minerals including cobalt manganese and nickel in part to sell to the alternative energy sector.
To better understand the impact of mining this fragile ecosystem and its newly discovered inhabitants, an international team of scientists has built the first “CCZ checklist” by compiling all the records from expeditions to the region. Published in the journal Current Biology, it includes 5,578 different species, of which an estimated 88% to 92% had never before been seen.
To study and collect specimens (样品) from the ocean floor, biologists have joined research cruises in the Pacific that send remote-controlled vehicles to traverse (穿越) the seabed 4,000 to 6,000 meters below. Adrian Glover, a deep-sea biologist at the NHM and senior author of the study described it as an “incredible privilege”. The expedition, funded through the Natural Environment Research Council and others, is backed by UK Seabed Resources (UKSR), a deep-sea mining company that operates the UK’s exploration area. The scientists watch operations by video link direct from the boat as new species are gathered by remote control vehicles in the darkness below.
The seabed, Glover said, is an “amazing place” where, despite the extreme cold and dark, life thrives. “One of the characteristics of the abyssal plain is the lack of food, but life has a way of persisting down there,” he said, “It’s a mystery.” One of the deep-sea animals discovered was nicknamed the “gummy squirrel”, because of its huge tail and jelly-like appearance, he said. There are also glass sponges, some of which look like vases.
With approval for deep-sea mining looming, Glover said he believed it was “imperative that we work with the companies looking to mine these resources to ensure any such activity is done in a way that limits its impact upon the natural world”.
1. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “imminent”?A.Easy to carry out. | B.Ready to take place. |
C.Hard to cope with. | D.Important to look over. |
A.Identifying new species living on the seabed. | B.Assessing the risk of extinction of species. |
C.Documenting the biodiversity of the area. | D.Exploring the potential for deep-sea mining. |
A.Abundance of food. | B.Extreme lifeless environment. |
C.Presence of glass sponges. | D.Prosperous life despite challenging conditions. |
A.A magic zone:available to mining companies |
B.A mineral-rich area: Clarion-Clipperton Zone |
C.An “amazing place”: new species booming |
D.Deep-sea wonders: the new species found in a Pacific mining hotspot |
On a hot September afternoon, Peter and his friend Isabel were on their way to the library. When they passed by Tubman park, Isabel suggested cutting through it to get to the library. As they entered the park, the sight of the swings (秋千) and the merry-go-round brought back a flood of memories of their childhood spent there. But now everything looked so old, sad, and dirty. Litter lay on the ground next to an overflowing trash bin. There were still young schoolchildren playing there but they had to avoid the trash that littered the playground. A little boy told them that the city took the other trash cans away and the remaining one never got emptied often.
As they headed toward the library, the two high school students wrinkled their forehead. In the library, they encountered Mrs. Evans, their kind-hearted fifth-grade teacher, retired yet still passionate. Mrs. Evans listened as Isabel and Peter eagerly explained what they’d seen. Finally, she recommended them to go to the City Hall to voice their concerns.
The next day, Isabel and Peter went into the building of the City Hall but were met with an impatient officer. They were informed that the city couldn’t help with their problem due to a tight budget. Discouraged, they left and turned to Mrs. Evans for help.
Under her guidance, they decided to ask Go Green, a non-profit organization whose goal is to protect the environment, for help. “This group is good at raising money for projects just like yours, ” said Mrs. Evans. She promised to arrange them to present their ideas to Go Green. Hearing this, their face lit up.
Two main tasks remained ahead: researching ways to clean up the park and preparing a convincing presentation. As Isabel was good at researching while Peter always had a talent for speaking, they cooperated quite well. Isabel learned from a science magazine that a new type of trash bin can squeeze the trash down without being emptied often, which saves time, money, and energy. Based on this, Peter practiced his presentation over and over again.
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。
A week later, Peter stood nervously at the back of the hall where Go Green was meeting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the meeting, Isabel excitedly told Peter the good news.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . Have you ever heard of and seen Canadian geese? Do you know that they
Canadian geese have a good
Yesterday I witnessed two Canadian Geese arguing
Would they start quarreling again? I stood still,
They got along harmoniously again. Sometimes it’s not that bad to be
A.draw on | B.focus on | C.feed on | D.try on |
A.desire | B.reputation | C.affection | D.appetite |
A.generous | B.faithful | C.weird | D.rude |
A.well-informed | B.well-dressed | C.well-behaved | D.well-balanced |
A.fiercely | B.blindly | C.cautiously | D.gently |
A.deserted | B.located | C.fixed | D.laid |
A.frequent | B.rare | C.common | D.constant |
A.restricting | B.changing | C.pausing | D.speeding |
A.desperate | B.simple | C.serious | D.disharmonious |
A.frightened | B.annoyed | C.crashed | D.injured |
A.finding out | B.dealing with | C.looking into | D.wondering about |
A.passion | B.reason | C.talent | D.anxiety |
A.scene | B.destination | C.landscape | D.park |
A.looker-on | B.passer-by | C.truck | D.clump |
A.upset | B.forgetful | C.mean | D.greedy |
With about half of the vast country covered in wilderness, China is the world’s third most species-rich country. Therefore, China’s
The vital biodiversity,
The national parks cross China’s vast ecosystems, from the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in the south
The national parks are open to all. Visitors can make reservations online in advance
6 . Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted. Careless methods of production and
A recent study showed that two
Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds. Some supermarket products
The
A.part | B.lack | C.lots | D.varieties |
A.applied to | B.contributed to | C.exposed to | D.devoted to |
A.possibility | B.chance | C.result | D.effect |
A.Therefore | B.Furthermore | C.Similarly | D.However |
A.After | B.Though | C.Before | D.Unless |
A.reused | B.safe | C.friendly | D.returned |
A.of | B.on | C.from | D.out of |
A.rhyme | B.way | C.section | D.branch |
A.carry | B.take | C.include | D.make |
A.advantage | B.technique | C.point | D.attraction |
A.concern | B.hope | C.care | D.plan |
A.what | B.how | C.whether | D.when |
A.saying | B.trust | C.attitude | D.fashion |
A.pressure | B.pleasure | C.discussion | D.interest |
A.enlarging | B.sharing | C.cleaning | D.improving |
7 . Since 1960, considerable scientific researches have been done on chimps in their natural habitats. Astonishingly, scientists have found out that the social
In the laboratory, chimps don’t
Human children,
There are several reasons to believe that the urges to help, inform and share are not taught, but naturally
The core (核心) of what children’s minds have and chimps’ don’t is what Tomasello calls shared intentionality. Part of this ability is that they can
A.structures | B.responsibilities | C.policies | D.behaviors |
A.conflict | B.offend | C.cooperate | D.discuss |
A.help | B.contact | C.divide | D.trust |
A.manage | B.decline | C.attempt | D.force |
A.curiously | B.unwillingly | C.naturally | D.carelessly |
A.in turn | B.with care | C.at random | D.in advance |
A.all in all | B.as a result | C.in no case | D.on the other hand |
A.cooperativeness | B.availability | C.attack | D.attractiveness |
A.educated | B.possessed | C.motivated | D.stimulated |
A.old | B.young | C.middle | D.late |
A.creatively | B.formally | C.competitively | D.socially |
A.develops | B.decreases | C.changes | D.disappears |
A.invisible | B.abstract | C.physical | D.imaginary |
A.infer | B.adapt | C.absorb | D.balance |
A.realistic | B.shared | C.specific | D.ambitious |
French disaster epic Notre-Dame on Fire hits Chinese big screen
This April marks the
NotreDame on Fire, now in Chinese cinemas, is a disaster epic
Presenting a blow-by-blow recreation of the gripping events that
“It was a
“When I saw this movie in Paris last year, it took me a few hours
The French minister announced that 2024 will be the France-China Year of Culture and Tourism and she invited Chinese tourists to travel to France for the occasion, especially to see the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris,
9 . I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree.
The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.
1. What is unavoidable in the author’s rescue work according to paragraph 1?A.Efforts made in vain. |
B.Getting injured in his work. |
C.Feeling uncertain about his future. |
D.Creatures forced out of their homes. |
A.To rescue a woman. |
B.To take care of a woman. |
C.To look at a baby owl. |
D.To cure a young owl. |
A.A new nest. |
B.Some food. |
C.A recording. |
D.Its parents. |
A.It’s unexpected. |
B.It’s beautiful. |
C.It’s humorous. |
D.It’s discouraging. |
10 . Wildlife has been greatly threatened in the modern age. There are species(物种) that are
Chris and Tim work at a zoo, helping endangered cranes with their
Born at an international crane foundation, Emma was
The two keepers are proud of their productive work. But before they can be
How can we
A.growing | B.migrating | C.competing | D.disappearing |
A.ban | B.save | C.split | D.remove |
A.abortion | B.recreation | C.reproduction | D.administration |
A.care | B.eye | C.mind | D.story |
A.found | B.chosen | C.raised | D.seized |
A.bonus | B.consequence | C.victory | D.sacrifice |
A.never | B.always | C.unluckily | D.cheerfully |
A.liked | B.refused | C.decided | D.hesitated |
A.gift | B.skill | C.concern | D.reputation |
A.illegal | B.inspiring | C.important | D.impossible |
A.Therefore | B.Moreover | C.However | D.Instead |
A.combination | B.collection | C.strategy | D.system |
A.forced | B.forbade | C.taught | D.enabled |
A.defeated | B.grateful | C.assured | D.tolerant |
A.list | B.rise | C.agenda | D.decline |
A.In contrast | B.After all | C.By the way | D.On the contrary |
A.leave | B.bridge | C.open | D.identify |
A.course | B.excuse | C.answer | D.reward |
A.brains | B.behaviors | C.services | D.projects |
A.guide | B.treat | C.example | D.companion |