1 . Soaring to 29, 035 feet, the famous Mount Everest had long been considered unclimbable due to the freezing weather, the obvious potential fall from cliffs and the effects of the extreme high altitude, often called “mountain sickness.” But that was to be changed by Edmund Hillary.
When he was invited to join the British Everest expedition in 1953, Edmund Hillary was a highly capable climber. The glacier-covered peaks in his hometown in New Zealand proved a perfect training ground for the Himalaya. It was his fourth Himalayan expedition in just over two years and he was at the peak of fitness.
On May 28, 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, an experienced Sherpa (夏尔巴人) set out and reached the South Summit by 9 a. m. next day. But after that, the ridge (山脊) slightly fell before rising suddenly in a rocky spur (尖坡) about 17 meters high just before the true summit. The formation is difficult to climb due to its extreme pitch because a mistake would be deadly. Scratching at the snow with his ax, Hillary managed to overcome this enormous obstacle, later to be known as the Hillary Step.
At 11:30 a. m, the two men found themselves standing at the top of the world. “Not until we were about 50 feet of the top was I ever completely convinced that we were actually going to reach the summit.” Hillary later recounted, “Of course I was very, very pleased to be on the summit, but my first thought was a little bit of surprise. After all, this is the ambition of all mountaineers.”
Emerging as the first to summit Mount Everest, Hillary Hillary continued by helping explore Antarctica, and establishing the Himalayan Trust (信托基金), through which he provided a number of beneficial services to the Himalayan peoples. He also a sizeable legacy that mountain climbers have chased ever since. As a young climber said, “It was not just Hillary and Tenzing that reached the summit of Mount Everest. It was all of humanity. Suddenly, all of us could go.”
1. What made Edmund Hillary a capable climber on the 1953 expedition?| A．His undisputed reputation. | B．His remarkable physical condition. |
| C．His previous training on Mount Everest. | D．His exceptional ability to adapt to the cold. |
| A．A mistake Hillary avoided making. | B．A steep spur of rock Hillary conquered. |
| C．An ax Hillary used to scratch snow. | D．A sudden fall of a ridge Hillary skipped. |
| A．Overwhelming joy. | B．Enormous pride. |
| C．Complete disbelief. | D．A touch of astonishment. |
| A．It opens up possibilities for other climbers. |
| B．It enabled him to give back to his hometown. |
| C．It left financial benefits for climbers to pursue. |
| D．It led to friendly regulations for mountaineering. |
2 . Last summer, I was sent to take photos that could communicate the urgency of climate change in northern Canada. When I arrived at an abandoned village on Resolute Bay, I scanned the shore with my camera. Suddenly, I spotted a bear lying on the ground. It didn’t move for almost an hour. But when it finally stood up, I had to catch my breath. The bear’s once strong body was just skin and bones; every step that it took was painfully slow.
When I posted the photos on social media, I wrote, “This is what starvation may look like. I wonder whether the global population of 25, 000 polar bears would die the way this bear is dying.”
I did not say that this particular bear was killed by climate change. But news organizations around the world focused on it. The first line of the story published in National Geographic read, “This is what climate change looks like” — with “climate change” highlighted in yellow. Other news agencies even adopted more dramatic headlines.
It was estimated that my photos had been read by about 2.5 billion people around the world. But there was a problem: Most people and the news agencies didn’t recognize or misunderstood the real message I tried to send with them. Many people expressed gratitude that I’d provided shocking evidence on climate change, while others who are still trying to deny the existence of climate change charged me with spreading false information.
Perhaps I had made a mistake in not telling the full story — that I was looking for pictures that might foretell the future and that I didn’t know what had happened to this particular polar bear.
I can’t say that this bear was starving because of climate change, but I am happy that my photos have moved the conversation about climate change to the forefront, where it must remain until this problem is solved.
Until then, when I come across a scene like this one, I will again share with the world — and take pains to be sure that my intention is clear.
1. How did the author feel when the bear stood up?| A．Shocked. | B．Scared. | C．Excited. | D．Relieved. |
| A．The story. | B．The photo. | C．A starving bear. | D．Climate change. |
| A．Provide more direct evidence on climate change. |
| B．Show the link between the bear and climate change. |
| C．Warn the possible results of climate change. |
| D．Expose the false information about climate change. |
| A．To admit his mistake. | B．To clarify his true intention. |
| C．To please his readers. | D．To show off his amazing trip. |
3 . To create “Washed Up: Transforming a Trashed Landscape”. Alejandro Duran gathers plastic trash that is washed up on the beaches of Sian Karan, Mexico’s largest federally-protected reserve. The site is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Yet every day, plastic pollution from around the world is washed up onto its shores. These materials inspired Duran to create a series of environmental art pieces, which he re-cords with photos and videos.
Duran was born in Mexico City and is now based in Brooklyn. He said that he had been collecting materials and creating photographs for the past five years, and the work was ongoing. “The project will tell me when to stop.”
Each piece can convey a vastly different mood, from the calm greens of soda bottles to the playful rainbows of toothbrushes. “I’m making art,” said Duran. “It comes from the context and my moods. You can’t say only something dark.” The work reflects and plays with natural forms, exploring how humans influence the environment. The colorful and playful images can be much attention-grabbing. “Beauty is a hook (钩子) to attract people’s attention,” said Duran.
In addition to promoting awareness of the plastic pollution problem, Duran is also involved in educational programs and helps to organize beach clean-ups. He has also made a study of the types of products that are washed ashore in Sian Ka’an, and has identified objects from 50 different countries. Although there’s no way to know where or how these objects were dropped into the sea, their labels show the global nature of the problem.
1. What does Alejandro Duran do with the trash?| A．He moves it away. | B．He collects and burns it. |
| C．He turns it into a form of art. | D．He puts it together for people to see. |
| A．He will stop the project soon. | B．It’s hard to carry on the project. |
| C．He will go on with the project. | D．The project is important to him. |
| A．recycle the trash | B．change his career |
| C．clean up the beach | D．raise public awareness of pollution |
| A．Plastic pollution in the ocean. |
| B．An artist creating environmental art. |
| C．The global nature of the pollution problem. |
| D．Mexico’s largest federally-protected reserve. |
4 . Pictures of the bird called the red siskin appear on Venezuela’s money, on products and in school books.
But the small song bird is disappearing from the wild. It has become the victim of reducing forests and hunters who want to sell their bright red feathers. That threat has brought together an international team. They hope to save the bird. The plan is to have farmers plant organic coffee plants which are covered with branches that make good nesting places for the birds.
Once found in the millions, as few as 300 red siskins remain in Venezuela. “They don’t have many years left, unless we do something right now,” said Miguel Arvelo.
Fanners who meet the project’s rules will win the right to sell their beans with “Bird Friendly” labels. They will be able to set prices for such “high quality” products that can be five times higher than legal prices set by the government.
The male siskin is valued for its red feathers and black head. Breeders cross them with yellow pet birds to create babies with colourful feathers. Protection under Venezuelan law has not prohibited hunters from catching the birds to sell on an illegal international market. Poor Venezuelan families often catch and sell the birds. The money they receive can feed their children for months, said biologist Jhonathan Miranda.
At the same time, a red siskin breeding centre is being built at a private zoo in Venezuela. There, 200 birds are expected to be born next year. Scientists keep the places where the birds live a secret to protect them from hunters. They permitted some reporters to photograph a small number of birds at one of those secret places. Twelve or more of the small, red birds flew into sight just as the sun appeared.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen so many birds together,” said Miranda. “It gives us hope.”
1. What do Miguel’s words in the third paragraph suggest?| A．The red siskins can’t live longer. | B．It is urgent to save the red siskins. |
| C．Organic coffee plants will die soon. | D．Coffee farmers do the right thing now. |
| A．To make them plant less coffee crops. | B．To increase their coffee production. |
| C．To provide red siskins with good habitats. | D．To allow some sunshine into the coffee fields. |
| A．They produce coffee beans of high quality. | B．They have a ban on their coffee planting. |
| C．They enjoy the right to feed birds with beans. | D．They can sell their coffee at a higher price. |
| A．Saving red siskins by planting coffee plants | B．Helping Venezuelans plant more coffee crops |
| C．Preserving the endangered species in Venezuela | D．Building a breeding centre for red siskins |
5 . In 1960, at just 26 years old. Jane Goodall was chosen to go to what is now Tanzania and study the little-known world of chimpanzees. Since then, She has received many awards and honorary degrees and become the model of some young girls.
But before Goodall was a world-renowned conservationist, she was just a kid who liked animals. She was born loving animals so people gave her diverse animal toys. Now, Goodall has received an unusual honor. She is becoming a toy — a Barbie doll with little girly clothes.
Goodall may not have expected to become a Barbie at 88 years old — but it’s not just any doll, it’s made out of recycled plastic. And the Barbie is partnering with the Jane Goodall Foundation and her Roots & Shoots program, which inspires young people to protect others, animals and the environment. The main message is “every day you live, you make an impact on the planet and you get to choose what sort of impact you make.”
Once Goodall had given a talk about protecting the world in Burundi school and a little boy of 7 came up to her and said, “If I pick out a piece of trash every day, it will make a difference, won’t it?” She said, “Yes, it will. And suppose you persuade 10 of your friends to pick up the rubbish every day.” He said, “Oh, that’s it. They could all get 10 of their friends!”
Goodall has been inspiring young people for decades, but now, newer generations will get to know Jane Goodall. “I sincerely hope that the Barbie will help kids to create more interest and fascination (吸引) in the natural world,” she said. “It doesn’t really matter if they have a career in conservation, as long as they live conservation in their daily lives.”
1. What gets young girls interested in Jane Goodall?| A．The Jane Goodall Barbie doll. |
| B．Jane Goodall’s childhood experience. |
| C．Her work with the chimpanzees. |
| D．Her research into environmental pollution. |
| A．Partnering with Jane’s Foundation. |
| B．Supporting young people in trouble. |
| C．Producing toys out of recycled plastic. |
| D．Encouraging kids to protect the planet. |
| A．People should make many friends. |
| B．Every effort can make a difference. |
| C．Everyone has a potential to succeed. |
| D．Rubbish should be dealt with regularly. |
| A．Jane Goodall is strange to new generations. |
| B．Barbie dolls will be popular in the toy market. |
| C．The spirit of Jane Goodall will inspire more people. |
| D．Conservation of nature will be the most popular career. |
6 . I was leaving the dog park when I found a baby goat over the fence. As the park owner is an animal rescuer, I figured someone
I love to
Now Quincy and my dogs perform regularly at nursing homes. Quincy did his first show when he was
It’s hard to believe that the goat kid nobody wanted
| A．lost | B．abandoned | C．bought | D．hid |
| A．slow | B．fierce | C．nervous | D．ill |
| A．keep | B．deny | C．forget | D．resist |
| A．train | B．raise | C．observe | D．entertain |
| A．flexible | B．energetic | C．intelligent | D．popular |
| A．Lie down | B．Get out | C．Stand up | D．Turn around |
| A．annoyed | B．moved | C．worried | D．surprised |
| A．lucky dog | B．green hand | C．busy bee | D．quick learner |
| A．got along with | B．put up with | C．took advantage of | D．took care of |
| A．already | B．finally | C．just | D．still |
| A．cards | B．tricks | C．rules | D．words |
| A．waited | B．rested | C．responded | D．misbehaved |
| A．Honestly | B．Incredibly | C．Constantly | D．Importantly |
| A．applause | B．respect | C．reward | D．concern |
| A．seemed | B．proved | C．struggled | D．promised |
7 . Four Fascinating National Parks in the World
Fiordland National Park
Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s Southern Island was established in 1952 and is part of the larger Te Wahipounamu wilderness, a UNESCO World Heritage Area. Covering 1.2 million hectares, Fiordland National Park is home to green rain forests, crystal clear lakes and snow-capped mountains. Even on the frequent rainy days, the scenery is spectacular, with entire valley walls turning into thundering waterfalls. Highlight is the amazing Milford Sound with Mitre Peak, rising 1692 metres above sea level and one of the most photographed peaks in the country.
Yosemite National Park
First protected in 1864 and one of the first parks in the National Park Service, California’s Yosemite is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park’s central feature is Yosemite Valley, which is surrounded by hills, trees and spectacular waterfalls. But the Park is so much more than just a great valley with waterfalls: within Yosemite’s vast wilderness area, you find deep valleys, grand grassland and more than 800 miles of spectacular hikes.
Serengeti National Park
Tanzania’s oldest and most popular National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was recently proclaimed a 7th worldwide wonder. The Serengeti is famous for its annual Great Migration, a 1, 200-mile odyssey of 1. 5 million wildebeest and 200, 000 zebras, all of them chasing the rains in a race for life. Your chances of watching a kill are pretty high when you visit the area in the right season.
Namib-Naukluft National Park
One of the most thinly populated countries in the world, Namibia is not the right place to get lost. But it is a top destination for those who enjoy unmatched natural scenery and wildlife viewing. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the largest game park in Africa, including part of the Namib Desert and the Naukluft mountain range.
1. What is Fiordland National Park well-known for?| A．Milford Sound with Mitre Peak. | B．Spectacular hikes. |
| C．Great Migration. | D．The longest history. |
| A．New Zealand. |
| B．USA. |
| C．Tanzania. |
| D．Namibia. |
| A．They were established in the 1950s. |
| B．They are famous for waterfalls. |
| C．They belong to the same country. |
| D．They are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. |
8 . If we’re going to restart a world shut down bya pandemic(流行病)，we have to think creatively.For some Australian diving tour operators, that means taking biologists to the Great Barrier Reef instead of traditional customers.
Those teams are using a special method to plant coral pieces in the areas of the reef that have been most damaged byclimate change.In allfive tour companies have signed up for the Coral Nurture Program,a partnership between tourism and science.
“It is the first time on the Great Barrier Reef that tourism operators have worked alongside researchers and the first time that a coral clip(夹子)has been used to attach the coral to the reef”says Scott Garden,CEO of Passions of Paradise.
Coral reefs are considered the medicine cabinets(储藏柜)of the 21st century.Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines which are developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections，Alzheimer’s diseaseheart disease,viruses,and other diseases.Reefs also fuel economies, as many tourists are drawn in more than100 countries.But the sensitivity of the coral may also be its drawback. Everything from ship traffic to overfishing to climate change has a destructive influence on the world’s reef systems.About 50% of the Great Barrier Reef has already been lost,with experts predicting the rest could disappear within the next 30 years.
New Zealand’s Green Party wants to pour $1 billion into “green jobs”that would not only kick- start the economy,but also save the environment.And although the Australian effort may not seem as great as its neighbor’s countrywide plan, its influence could run deep.According to Karryon,an Australian travel news site, the tour operator Passions of Paradise has already grown 1,000 pieces of coral on the Hastings Reef, a horseshoe-shaped nursery on the Great Barrier Reef.
1. What are some Australian tour operators doing?| A．They are building a man-made diving site. |
| B．They are sending biologists to repair damaged coral reefs. |
| C．They are sending divers Barrier Reef. |
| D．They are asking biologists to provide environmental education for tourists. |
| A．It is a brand-new way. | B．It is difficult to operate. |
| C．It needs more time to test. | D．It will attract more tourists. |
| A．Nature |
| B．Big fortune. |
| C．Disadvantage. |
| D．Golden opportunity. |
| A．Saving coral reefs is a waste of money. |
| B．Coral reefs are being damaged due to climate change. |
| C．Some countries and organizations are making efforts to protect coral reefs. |
| D．The decrease of coral reefs has a great influence on the global economy. |
9 . About 400 pounds of food is wasted per day from 5 pm to 8 pm in Douglass Dining Hall. “We scrape(刮掉) the food from the conveyor belt into the buckets by hand. Working for Dining Team Green, I don’t expect to basically become a garbage girl,” Roll said. “We do the work because we care much about it. We all have a responsibility to take care of the environment.”
To have more approachable composting(把……制成堆肥) machines on campus, Roll now has a new sustainable project investing in Lomi, an automated compost machine. “I learned about Lomi through an ad,” Roll said. “Funny enough, I just saw it and thought it perfect. It really interested me how the mechanism worked. ”
Lomi is a new technology that can break down food waste into natural compost. According to Roll, it breaks down waste in the way: grinding(碾碎) the food into plant fertilizer. Unlike most composting machines, Omi can compost animal products, such as small bones. Another huge benefit is that it doesn’t have smell and can convert waste to compost in a shorter time.
Roll plans on using the compost in the Gilbert community garden so that Dining Team Green can give back to the community. “It’s very exciting to see our food waste that would otherwise have gone in the trash and pollute the environment go to our community,” she said.
Roll is excited to introduce a new form of composting to the residents. She hopes that this machine will inspire other composting machines in all residential buildings. “I want Lomi not only to be a way to reduce food waste on the floor, but an educational tool to make people compost in a real way and not just talk about it in a theoretical sense,” Roll said.
1. Which of the following can best describe Lomi?| A．Elegant. | B．Widespread. |
| C．Low-powered. | D．Environmentally friendly. |
| A．The reasons for designing Lomi. | B．The impact of wasting food. |
| C．The solution to food waste. | D．The advantages of Lomi. |
| A．More people will get involved in composting initiatives. |
| B．Dining Team Green will become an educational tool. |
| C．More developed composting machines will be invented. |
| D．Dining Team Green will build community gardens. |
| A．She lives in the Gilbert community. |
| B．She is a member of Dining Team Green. |
| C．She knows a lot about residential buildings. |
| D．She plans to design more composting machines. |
10 . The sun was beginning to sink as I set off into the Harenna Forest. I was on my way to
I
It was too
| A．share | B．collect | C．celebrate | D．witness |
| A．courtyards | B．fields | C．treetops | D．caves |
| A．urgent | B．dangerous | C．expensive | D．pointless |
| A．searched | B．recognised | C．followed | D．invited |
| A．gathered | B．cleaned | C．dropped | D．checked |
| A．shook | B．lit | C．measured | D．decorated |
| A．jumping | B．talking | C．testing | D．climbing |
| A．hives | B．leaves | C．rope | D．honey |
| A．Finally | B．Surprisingly | C．Naturally | D．Immediately |
| A．backed | B．dived | C．shouted | D．inched |
| A．cut off | B．gone up | C．slid down | D．held onto |
| A．high | B．early | C．fast | D．close |
| A．hatching | B．training | C．sowing | D．trading |
| A．curious | B．hungry | C．bored | D．angry |
| A．moment | B．equipment | C．person | D．order |
