1 . At Marine Mammal Laboratory, laboratory director Herman put a dolphin through its paces. Using hand signals, Herman asked, “Is the ball in the pool?” The dolphin correctly pressed a lever for “YES”. Herman asked it to push the ball to a basket. It did. Then he signaled his pupil to do it again, but he removed the basket. Herman expected the dolphin to be confused. Instead, it carried the ball to the NO lever and stopped there. Herman was astonished. “This is a totally untrained, invented response,” he said, “We never dreamed the animal would ‘think’ the problem through like that.”

To get a closer look at these amazing creatures, Herman and his team spent a week on board the Jennifer Marie. Whenever they heard the cry “Dolphins!” they slipped into the water. The dolphins approached, curious about them, observing them with dark, liquid eyes. Dolphins love to imitate. If they swam on their backs, Dolphins did too. If they dived, Dolphins followed. This talent can be carried to extraordinary lengths. In one instance, a trainer blew a puff of cigarette smoke against the window of an observation tank. A young dolphin rushed to its mother, nursed briefly, and spat out a cloud of milk against the glass.

Herman said “We’re still in the early stages of learning about the intelligence of these animals and our ability to communicate with them.” Scientists are amazed at dolphins’ intelligence, but fear for the future of these trusting ocean creatures.

Dolphins’ trouble could be sharks, killer whales or, worse yet, a fishing vessel. Indeed, in the past three decades, commercial fishing, especially the biggest threat—the drift net fishing, has greatly decreased the world’s dolphin population. Every night in the North Pacific, hundreds of Asian fishing vessels put out these “curtains of death,” each up to 50 miles long. Floating with the currents, they sweep up all sea life in their path. People wonder what the world would be without dolphins.

1. Why did the dolphin stop at the NO lever?

A．It was confused.	B．It was unable to do the task.
C．It refused to listen to the order.	D．It found the basket wasn’t there.

2. Why did the dolphin spit out a cloud of milk against the glass?

A．To copy human behavior.	B．To threaten its playmate.
C．To show off its talent.	D．To drive the trainer away.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Further research on dolphins is essential.

B．Intelligent Dolphins could tackle their troubles.

C．Some measures should be taken to protect dolphins.

D．Drift nets are the biggest trouble for marine animals.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Dolphins: clever, naughty	B．Dolphins: intelligent, threatened
C．Dolphins: humans’ best friends	D．Dolphins: smartest marine animals

2 . In 1978, Avril and Christopher Rowlands paid £6 for a fir (冷杉), brought it to their new home in the pretty village of Inkberry. After ________ their first Christmas together, they planted the tree in their front garden to ________ their first Christmas in their new home. It has ________ grown over the years and nowadays, it ________ over their four-bedroom property—measuring about 50 feet. Each December the couple decorate their giant fir with thousands of fairy lights which they switch on for the ________ .

The tree is so ________ that a cherry picker is used to reach the top branches and add the star to the top. The lighted tree is one of the brightest landmarks (标志性建筑) in Inkberrow, which is one of UK’s darkest villages ________ there being no street lights.

Avril and Christopher’s fir now attracts thousands of people who ________ their tree every December. As a retired TV writer, Avril said, “We love doing the Christmas lights. The ________can be seen from miles around on nights and people ________ to see it. It’s become something of a (an) ________ for people in the village and beyond. It even ________ me to write a children’s book about the tree called The Laxford House Christmas Tree.“ The couple ask for people who admire the tree to make a ________ and over the years they have raised thousands of pounds for charity.

“The tree is really ________,” said the retired BBC editor Christopher. “During COVID, it was lit, like a beaco (灯塔) of ________.”

1.

A．consuming

B．enjoying

C．perceiving

D．planning

2.

A．defend

B．support

C．expose

D．mark

3.

A．initially

B．steadily

C．tightly

D．severely

4.

A．runs

B．stands

C．swings

D．stretches

5.

A．strangers

B．passers-by

C．villagers

D．travelers

6.

A．tall

B．attractive

C．unique

D．bright

7.

A．in spite of

B．by means of

C．in case of

D．on account of

8.

A．spot

B．view

C．decorate

D．water

9.

A．tree

B．light

C．gift

D．garden

10.

A．struggle

B．crowd

C．march

D．parade

11.

A．appetite

B．fashion

C．tradition

D．trend

12.

A．inspired

B．persuaded

C．allowed

D．convinced

13.

A．difference

B．decision

C．donation

D．fortune

14.

A．rare

B．slight

C．secure

D．special

15.

A．hope

B．kindness

C．success

D．pride

3 . Pacific Coast Range

Stretching along the west coast of North America from northern California to Alaska, the forests found along the Pacific Coast Range are the largest area of temperate (温带的) rainforest in the world. The forests are home to the coast redwood, the world’s tallest tree. Across the region, the forest understory (林下叶层) is wet and heavily vegetated.

Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests

Found in southern Japan, they are temperate rainforests of evergreen broadleaf trees. The forests can receive more than 100 inches of rain every year. The forests are covered by Japanese cedar and Japanese stone oak, while moso bamboo comprise the understory. The extent of the Taiheiyo forests has been reduced due to development and agriculture. Today,17%of the remaining forest is protected by national parks and other reserves.

Atlantic Oakwood Forest

The Atlantic Oakwood Forest covers the wettest parts of the United Kingdom. A species of oak tree (橡树) called sessile oak occupies the landscape. Unlike other temperate forests, these forests tend to have an open understory of grasses. Much of the historical range of the forest has given to agriculture and other development, though that has changed in recent decades.

Valdivian Temperate Rainforest

This forest is found on the west coast of Chile and Argentina, on the wet, western slopes (斜坡) of the Andes mountain range. With the coastline to the west, the peaks of the Andes to the east, and the Atacama Desert to the north, the region supports a number of plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Uniquely, the forest is covered by evergreen flowering trees, which are native to Chile and little known outside the region.

1. Which of the four forest areas occupies the most land?

A．Pacific Coast Range.	B．Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests.
C．Atlantic Oakwood Forest.	D．Valdivian Temperate Rainforest.

2. What do Taiheiyo Evergreen Forests and Atlantic Oakwood Forest have in common?

A．They have open understory grasses.	B．They’re home to extremely tall trees.
C．They’re of great historical significance.	D．They used to be affected by agriculture.

3. What is unique to Valdivian Temperate Rainforest?

A．Wet climate.	B．Coastal location.
C．Evergreen flowering trees.	D．Well-protected national parks.

5 . Beginning construction in 1632, the Taj Mahal is located in this city of Agra. It is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the world. In fact, it was named one of the new seven wonders of the world.

But it could become more difficult to see and to glimpse this glorious site because of pollution. It’s an unhealthy, even hazardous (危险的) problem for parts of India. Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai were among the 10 most polluted cities on earth this week, according to a Swiss company called IQAir.

CNN’s Michael Holmes explains what it all means. India’s iconic monument almost lost in the smog in the city of Agra. We are facing difficulty in taking pictures of Taj Mahal due to pollution. The Taj Mahal is not clearly visible. Every year, when the temperatures drop and farmers burn their fields, the air turns toxic (有毒的) in many Indian cities.

Delhi is notoriously (声名狼藉) ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. And the current air quality there has once again reached hazardous conditions, forcing primary schools to temporarily close and many people to work from home or just stay indoors altogether. The problem is so serious. A recent air quality life index report says poor air quality could shorten an average Indian’s life expectancy by more than five years, if World Health Organization guidelines on controlling pollution aren’t met. And it’s even affecting one of the country’s favorite pastimes.

India is currently hosting the Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh set to play Sri Lanka in a match in Delhi. But the air quality is so poor. Some players are wearing masks and both teams have canceled training sessions. The coach of Bangladesh’s team says the conditions have not been ideal.

1. Which is the least polluted city according to the text?

A．Agra.

B．Mumbai.

C．Delhi.

D．Kolkata.

2. What caused the air pollution in many Indian cities?

A．Forest fires and farmers’ burning.	B．Low temperature and forest fires.
C．Global warming and low temperature.	D．Low temperature and farmers’ burning.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful scenic spots.

B．All schools were forced to close in many Indian cities.

C．Indians may have a shorter lifespan if no measures are taken.

D．In the Cricket World Cup, India is set to play Bangladesh in a match.

4. What does the author want to convey in the passage?

A．To reveal the real cause for air pollution.

B．To express concern for the athletes in the match.

C．To prove the Taj Mahal has lost its charm in smog.

D．To show the impact of air pollution in India on all sides.

7 . Emmanuel Mendoza, a college student, is currently running a study at Texas A&M University, where he’s mixing simulated (模拟的)Martian (火星的) soil and frass(粪便)from fly larvae(幼虫)to find just the right recipe for growing plants on Mars.

The seed of this idea was planted when Mendoza was in middle school, watching Ridley Scott’s 2015 film The Martian, in which Mark Watney becomes stuck on the planet and grows potatoes to survive. “That got me really interested in what nutrients or what soil structure Martian soil has that we could potentially take advantage of, ”Mendoza said.

Now, he’s running an experiment growing English peas in simulated Martian soil. “I definitely considered potatoes like Mark Watney, ”he said. “But the fact was that I couldn’t necessarily get the data I wanted out of them. ”

He wanted to be able to measure plant growth as it occurred throughout his experiment. Since potatoes grow underground, he’d only be able to collect data once they were done growing. In the end, Mendoza chose to grow English peas because they’re self-pollinating(自花传粉), grow fairly quickly and he can see the shoots climb.

Martian soil, though it does contain other essential nutrients, isn’t exactly ideal for plants from Earth. It tends to be rocky and lacks the right organic (有机 的)matter. Here’s where the larvae come in. Mendoza turned to the larvae of black soldier flies, which produce a waste known as frass. “They can break down almost any biomatter and turn it into really useful matter, “Mendoza said. “And then you can use the frass as a nutrient alternative to soil.”

For this experiment, Mendoza mixed different percentages of simulated Martian soil and frass to see what best supported growing English pea plants. Now, he said he’s seeing growth across all his plants—even the ones growing in 100%simulated Martian soil.

1. Why does the author mention the film The Martian?

A．To show Mendoza’s enthusiasm for films.

B．To illustrate Mark Watney’s intelligence.

C．To prove Mark Watney’s interest in gardening.

D．To introduce the origin of Mendoza’s experiment.

2. Why did Mendoza grow English peas instead of potatoes?

A．He was unwilling to repeat others’ study.

B．English peas grew far faster than potatoes .

C．Potatoes needed stricter living conditions.

D．It was more convenient to collect the data.

3. What is the function of frass?

A．It serves as certain essential nutrients.

B．It loosens the soil for plants to grow.

C．It makes the soil become quite rocky.

D．It helps black soldier flies grow stronger.

4. How does Mendoza feel about his experiment results?

A．Doubtful.

B．Pleased.

C．Intolerant.

D．Disappointed.

8 . My parents have a boxer dog called Boris which is as badly behaved as his name might suggest. He is known to ________ on a chair at the kitchen table expecting full ________. Whenever the dishwasher is being stacked, he likes to add a personal prewash to the ________.

Even my mother might ________ that Boris is the worst-behaved dog she has ever had, but on the plus side, he is very ________.

The sofas and chairs in their sitting room are covered in books-not because my parents love to read, but in an attempt to ________ the dog climbing on the furniture. ________, any human who wants to sit on a sofa has to ________ a library of books. I’ve suggested a removable cover would be more attractive, or training, but it’s too late for that.

The story between my parents and Boris is repeated across our community. Usually, our gang of dogs gathered almost daily, ________ did we. A group of folks of different ages, backgrounds and interests—all ________ by our dogs. Friends are therefore made through dogs, creating a ________ that lasts far beyond the lifespan of our canine(犬的)family. Sunny, Jess and Archie have all ________ now, but the friendship between us humans remains.

I have met so many people whose daily ________ with their group of dog have been their mainstay and helped them deal with ________. They are medicine for the_________. Dogs are actually man’s best friends.

1.

A．get up

B．come up

C．put up

D．sit up

2.

A．love

B．food

C．service

D．massage

3.

A．plates

B．meals

C．meats

D．vegetables

4.

A．complain

B．worry

C．explain

D．conclude

5.

A．greedy

B．naughty

C．lovely

D．proud

6.

A．observe

B．prevent

C．notice

D．keep

7.

A．Fortunately

B．Naturally

C．Incredibly

D．Consequently

8.

A．deliver

B．rearrange

C．carry

D．equip

9.

A．as

B．or

C．nor

D．also

10.

A．provided

B．supported

C．united

D．surrounded

11.

A．barrier

B．bond

C．border

D．belief

12.

A．gone

B．grown

C．slept

D．cloned

13.

A．run

B．housework

C．dialogues

D．walks

14.

A．difficulties

B．loneliness

C．relationships

D．troubles

15.

A．body

B．diseases

C．soul

D．sufferings

9 . There are a lot of chemicals that can cause indoor air pollution. A recent project conducted has found over 900 different substances in our home are related to it. Many researchers have already examined the causes of indoor air pollution.     1    

It has been proved that different kinds of chemicals can be released by building materials and new furniture. Everything from painting and decorating products, bathroom cleaners and beauty products can contain these chemicals.     2     For instance, cooking generates a lot of harmful emissions, like frying meat in oil.

As a research from Denmark has highlighted, cooking, particularly roasting can damage our body. Roast dinners contain many potentially harmful pollutants.     3     When exposed to cooking emissions, people actually had DNA damage. It can be associated with cell repair processes that trigger cancer—causing genetic changes.     4     And what can we do with it?

As far as cooking emissions are concerned, no one is suggesting switching to takeaways.     5     For example, cooking meat at high temperatures with lots of fat produces more harmful emissions than boiling pasta. Besides, opening windows and using cooker hoods are preferable so that we can enjoy the roasted meat without those undesirable effects.

A．In the long run, these changes lead to cancer.

B．They might also arise from cooking at home.

C．A wide range of sources are under investigation.

D．Therefore, what results from indoor air pollution?

E．However, most of us have ignored their bad effects.

F．So, what are the main contributors to poor air quality?

G．But we can change how we cook to deal with the emissions.

10 . The song of the Florida grasshopper sparrow is unusual and surprisingly insect-like. But it almost fell silent forever. In 2012, Joel Sartore, the founder of National Geographic Explorer and Photo Ark received a call from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The songbird, an important ecological link in Florida’s dry grassland, was on the edge of extinction. With only a few dozen males showing up in counts, it was among North America’s most endangered bird species.

Sartore flew to Florida to photograph the bird and work with conservationists to raise awareness of the species’ difficult situation. The story appeared in outlets, such as newspapers, magazines and even the Internet, helping boost government funding for a breeding program. Thanks to these steps, there are now as many as 180 adults in the wild and researchers are working hard to bring the species back from the brink of extinction.

Like other examples of species survival, the push to save the sparrow is “a remarkable story of belief and cooperation,” says Sartore. It also shows what it takes to protect an endangered species: research, narratives, partnerships, resources and time. This journey shows the society’s mission to illustrate and protect the wonder of the world. Over the past 136 years, we’ve developed a unique Explorer-led model, combining science, exploration, education, and storytelling to drive impact. We support Explorer in more than 140 countries, including Sartore and others whose work appears in this issue: biologist André Green II, photographer Lynsey Addario and education advocate Ara Kusuma.

Sartore has been creating an “ark” of animal photos for 17 years. Portraits of more than 15, 000 species invite audiences to connect and care. With the society’s support, the images have appeared on landmarks and U. S. postage stamps, prompting on—the—ground conservation efforts such as an initiative of National Geographic Explorer and Photo Ark.

As Sartore says, “The sounds of birds are the sounds of a healthy planet. When we save a bird or another species, we’re actually saving ourselves.”

1. How does the author introduce the topic?

A．By clarifying a concept.	B．By offering an example.
C．By giving an explanation.	D．By quoting a remark.

2. Which has the similar meaning with “outlets” in paragraph 2?

A．Stores.

B．Media.

C．Exits.

D．Books

3. What contributes to the sparrow’s survival?

A．A funding program from the government.

B．An ark of animal photos in the magazine.

C．A unique initiative for species protection.

D．A joint effort from different professionals.

4. What does Sartore want to convey in the last paragraph?

A．The urgency of species’ protection.

B．The promotion of cooperative methods.

C．The importance of coexistence.

D．The situation of human survival.