1 . Our world is full of sounds. Sound is so essential to life and survival that it made Tel Aviv University researcher Lilach Hadany ask: What if it wasn't just animals that could sense sound—what if plants could, too?
“Sounds are a natural resource-one that plants would be wasting if they didn’t take advantage of it as animals do,”said Hadany. If plants had a way of hearing and responding to sound, she figured, it could help them survive and reproduce.
Hadany's team started their study by investigating flowers. Evening primrose（夜来香）, which grows wild on the beaches and in parks around Tel Aviv, emerged as a good candidate, since it has a long bloom time and produces measurable quantities of nectar（花蜜）.
To test the primroses in the lab, Hadany's team exposed plants to five sound treatments: silence, recordings of a honeybee from four inches away, and computer generated sounds in low, intermediate（中等的）, and high frequencies. Plants given the silent treatment had no significant increase in nectar sugar concentration. The same went for plants exposed to high-frequency（158 to 160 kilohertz）and intermediate-frequency（34 to 35 kilohertz）sounds.
But for plants exposed to playbacks of bee sounds（0.2 to 0.5 kilohertz）and similarly low-frequency sounds（0.05 to 1 kilohertz）, the final analysis revealed an unmistakable response. Within three minutes of exposure to these recordings, nectar sugar concentration in the plants increased by 20 percent.
A sweeter treat for pollinators（传粉者）, their theory goes, may draw in more insects, potentially increasing the chances of successful cross-pollination. Indeed, in field observations, researchers found that pollinators were more than nine times more common around plants another pollinator had visited within the previous six minutes.
“We were quite surprised when we found out that it actually worked.” said Hadany.“But after repeating it in other situations, in different seasons, and with plants grown both indoors and outdoors, we feel very confident in the result.”
1. Why did Hadany's team expose plants to sound treatments?| A．To see if they would respond to sound. |
| B．To develop their ability to receive sound. |
| C．To help them benefit from different sounds. |
| D．To detect the difference between plants and animals. |
| A．Flowers like primroses | B．Sounds like those of bees. |
| C．Visits from other pollinators. | D．Exposure to different sounds |
| A．Plants can identify different sounds. | B．Sound attracts more pollinators to flowers. |
| C．Plants produce nectar when pollinators come. | D．Sound plays an important role in insects’ survival. |
| A．It was doubtful. | B．It was unexpected. | C．It was acceptable | D．It was satisfactory. |
A brave dog fought off a coyote (丛林狼) twice her size to protect her 10-year-old owner after it attacked them. Owner Lily Kwan, 10, said she had just heard her neighbors in her Toronto, Canada community on Tuesday warning people of a coyote going after children in the area when the animal started biting at her heels while she was walking dog Macy.
In the video captured by a neighbor’s security camera, Lily can be seen running down the sidewalk with her six-year-old rescue dog while the coyote followed them so closely.
“I thought, ‘Am I next, what is going to happen to me?’” Lily told the local newspaper. “I was screaming for help but no one heard me,” said Lily. “I saw this coyote trying to attack my dog and I tried to ring people’s doorbells and knock on people’s doors. Luckily, this one neighbor let me in.”
But while Lucy made it to safety, Macy wouldn’t follow her inside. Instead the little dog turned around toward the coyote. After briefly screaming Macy’s name, Lily ran onto the neighbor’s second floor. Macy could be seen fighting with the coyote, before it caught her and bit her in its mouth and shook her violently. She cried in pain, but kept barking and bit the coyote back until it gave up and ran away finally.
“She’s a super brave dog,” Lily said “I love her so much, and I just thought this tiny dog could protect this huge human being, trying to fight off this huge coyote.”
Lily’s mother, Dorothy Kwan, said she was not surprised when hearing Macy’s action. “My dog would do anything for our family, so I’m actually not surprised that she did that,” Dorothy Kwan said.
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。
Dorothy said she was shocked by the coyote’s scaring behavior.
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Macy was taken to the ICU on Tuesday, and returned home on Thursday.
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3 . In gardens across Britain the grass has stopped growing, which is not drought-stricken. In fact, it is greener and cleaner than ever before. That is because the lawns (草坪) are actually artificial substitutes.
Britons are fascinated by lawns. Country estates (庄园) have long competed to have the most perfectly cut and polished grassland. “What you’re saying in big loud capital letters, is ‘I’m so terribly wealthy’,” says Fiona Davison of the RHS (皇家园林协会). With the coming of grass-cutting machines in 1830, the middle classes joined the fun.
But now Britons have fallen in love with artificial grass. Evergreens UK, which sells the stuff, says it has seen a 120% rise in sales since 2015. Artificial grass is popular with families who have children or dogs and don’t want mud dragged through their houses. It has another charm factor, too — people now see gardens as “outside rooms” — pairing carpets of artificial grass with delicately decorated seating and hot containers.
Not everyone is a fan. Artificial grass contains microplastics that ruin soil and risk flooding. A study finds earthworms gain 14% less body weight when operating under rubber, a form of artificial grass, which might not be a problem for its fans, as wormholes are regular disgusting things, but it disappoints green types. Ms Davison says a group of wildlife-loving gardeners is blooming, many having caught the bug during COVID-19 lockdowns. For example, a landscape designer says they like things less neat and try “to capture that wild element”. These eco-gardeners are influenced by rewilding projects and are more likely to be environmentalists.
While three written documents signed by many people have tried to stop artificial grass spreading, the government says regulating what people do in their backyards is wrong. The RHS is concerned about artificial grass, but prefers persuasion to laws. “We say ‘Let a hundred flowers bloom’,” says Ms Davison.
1. What can be inferred from Davison’s remark in Paragraph 2?| A．She is very rich. |
| B．High-quality grassland is valued. |
| C．Operating a cutting machine is fun. |
| D．The gardening competition is fierce. |
| A．Messy grasslands. | B．Gardens’ new function. |
| C．Advertising campaigns. | D．Ill-mannered children and dogs. |
| A．got infected. | B．lost their temper. |
| C．became depressed. | D．develop the passion. |
| A．The Barrier of British Grassland |
| B．The Appeal of Grassland for Britons |
| C．The Fight to Define the Great British Garden |
| D．The Competition to Become the Best Grassland |
Litter is everywhere, doing great harm
The story began with his 6-year-old daughter. One day they were going on a hike when the girl noticed a broken plastic tub (浴盆) in a river. She said, “Daddy, that doesn't go there.”That took Kirschner by surprise. He, like many adults, had become so used to seeing the rubbish
Jeff started to take
Litterati is more than an app. It is highly
5 . I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.
It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls (头骨) of you, your children, your neighbors and those that reside next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.
The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy. It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to flourish.
What does work are native plants that naturally grow in the area. Native plants are important to have around since they provide beneficial pollinators (传粉者) like birds, bees and butterflies with seeds and contribute to a healthy and biodiverse environment. Native plants for this area are generally easy to grow, so they experience less stress.
Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.
Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.
Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for wildlife and a reminder.
1. Why does the author wear a bike helmet while working in the garden?| A．To protect the injured skull. | B．To prevent herself from sunburn. |
| C．To avoid being hit by the nuts. | D．To reduce the chance of getting bitten by bees. |
| A．It attracts beneficial pollinators. |
| B．It lets out poison to drive away pests. |
| C．It produces a chemical fatal to some plants. |
| D．It competes for nutrition with similar species. |
| A．The volume of its fruits may bring inconvenience. |
| B．The tree outcompetes the native plants in the garden. |
| C．The tree is home to numerous birds and other creatures. |
| D．The presence of the tree takes up much space of the garden. |
| A．it’s better to give than to take |
| B．trees and plants have their own ways to flourish |
| C．even a good relationship is not always trouble-free |
| D．acceptance, instead of resistance, is the better way to be |
1.活动背景及经过；
2.活动的心得体会。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Lucas,
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Yours,
Li Hua
A freezing downpour washed the street in front of the small-town bar. I sat gazing into the watery darkness, alone as usual. I had been in that old bar for half an hour, quietly drinking, when my thoughtful eyes finally focused on a medium-sized lump (一团) in a puddle (水洼) a hundred feet away. For another ten minutes, I looked out through the window trying to decide if the lump was an animal or just something.
The night before, a German dog named Shep had come into the bar begging for potato chips. He was starving and just the size of the lump in the puddle. Why should a dog lie in a cold puddle in the freezing rain? I asked myself. The answer was simple: Either it wasn’t a dog, or it was, he was too weak to get up.
The wound in my right shoulder ached all the way down my fingers. I didn’t want to go out in the storm. Hey, it wasn’t my dog. It was just a stray on a cold rainy night, a lonely drifter (流浪者). So was I, I thought, as I tossed (扔) down what was left of my drink and headed out the door.
He was lying in the three inches of water. When I touched him, he didn’t move. I thought he was dead. I put my hands around his chest and raised him to his feet. He stood unsteadily, and his head hung like a weight at the end of his neck. His floppy ears were just hairless pieces of flesh dotted with open sores (伤口).
“Come on, Shep,” I said, leading him to a corner next to the bar, where he lay on the cold cement and closed his eyes. A block away I could see the lights of a late-night convenience store. It was still open. I bought three cans of dog food and fed him. He couldn’t swallow but poorly look at me. He was dying!
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。
The local vet (兽医) was still at his office, so I loaded the poor creature into a taxi and headed there.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Three days later, when I opened the door of the vet’s, Shep welcomed me with wild enthusiasm.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . All of us spend a large part of our lives at home — eating, sleeping, relaxing and communicating with our family members. Our home is a shelter for us, away from the noisy, busy, and polluted world outside — a place where we can let down our hair and dress casually. Ecofriendliness (环保) is a hot word today and we all know we should make our environment as ecofriendly as possible. This is not only good for our health, but also good for the outward environment. Here are some easy and helpful tips to make your home ecofriendly.
Kitchen
Plan the kitchen to be bright and airy so that you don't have to turn on the lights at daytime. Don't make wasteful use of the gas. Keep all ingredients for cooking ready before lighting the gas. Turn it to low when not required — always using it on "high" burns a lot of gas.
Indoor plants
Plants are extremely ecofriendly and can be used to make your home look lively. Apart from adding life to home, they give out O2, thus making the air inside fresh. You can keep plants in your home, but be sure to show them some sunlight regularly. Also, if they are kept outside, clean their leaves with a wet cloth, as dust may be added to them. A home decorated with plants looks attractive. Plants are a natural home decorating gift that shows concern about the environment. A green plant is a wonderful gift which will protect the earth and is sure to be appreciated.
Saving water
Most of the time, we take water for granted — we keep water running while brushing our teeth or washing clothes. Needless to say, this is a huge waste of natural resources. Try to recycle water. For example, the water used for washing vegetables can be used for watering plants; the soapy water used for washing clothes can be used to clean the bathroom and kitchen.
1. Why is the importance of our home discussed in Paragraph 1?| A．To advise us to communicate more with our family members. |
| B．To show the outside world is noisy and polluted. |
| C．To advise us to spend more time staying at home. |
| D．To show it's necessary to make our home ecofriendly. |
| A．To open the window. | B．To save energy. |
| C．To prepare simple meals. | D．To turn down lights. |
| A．We don't use water frequently. |
| B．We try our best not to waste water. |
| C．We don't realize the importance of water. |
| D．We make full use of water. |
1. Where do Indonesians put their garbage?
| A．In the front of their houses. |
| B．In the public garbage cans. |
| C．In the official garbage bags. |
| A．Yellow. | B．Blue. | C．Gray. |
| A．Their price depends on the type of waste. |
| B．They are provided by the government for free. |
| C．Different districts have different official garbage bags. |
10 . According to a report, the average American throws away 4.4 pounds of garbage each day. That adds up to 728,000 tons of daily garbage. Thankfully, states like Idaho are carrying our innovative policies that others can follow. Here’s what Idaho is doing.
Because Idaho never had a large supply of fossil fuels to rely on, leaders had to become more creative with their power sources. Idaho is not as densely (密集地) populated as most other states.
When Boise leaders realized how much food was ending up in the local landfill, they took new steps to cut back on food waste. In 2017, the local government initiated a citywide composting (堆肥) program, where Boise residents could have their organic waste picked up at the curb (路边) along with their regular recycling.
If you tend to buy less, chances are you’re throwing out less as well.
Idahoans manage to keep waste out of their landfills partly because of their strong commitment to recycling. Because Idaho has a series of communities — from urban areas in Boise to the surrounding suburbs — no two recycling programs in the state are alike.
| A．Idaho just earned that title unexpectedly. |
| B．Idaho was an early adopter of green energy sources. |
| C．They are then able to obtain the compost soil for free. |
| D．Therefore, it’s able to take advantage of the space for wind-power sources. |
| E．Each region has developed its own unique program based on its needs and resources. |
| F．One possible reason why Idaho is less wasteful has to do with consumer spending habits. |
| G．There customized programs make it easier for residents to have good consumption habits. |
