1 . Cruise through many neighborhoods or parks around the world, and you will find no shortage of well-mowed expanses of grass. Lawns (草坪) do look attractive.
Why did lawns become so popular?
What environmental problems are lawns causing?
Lawns are homogenizing the environment, not only in terms of biodiversity but also visually. You compare countries’ and cities’ urban landscapes around the world, and they look exactly the same.
You have to find your own local solution. We can take inspiration from the natural plant communities around us. In suburban and rural areas, that might mean having a meadow or prairie. In other places, it might be a savanna like environment or mountain plants. You can have a “grass-free” lawn; with only low-growing plants that create the same effect as a lawn, and you can walk on it.
How can we persuade people to adopt these alternatives?
When people see them, they appreciate them and like them.
| A．So it is all about education. |
| B．What are these alternatives? |
| C．And it is understandable fondness. |
| D．What are the inspirations of lawns? |
| E．However, they choke out biodiversity. |
| F．Lawns came to be seen as a symbol of civilization and a way of life. |
| G．Lawn upkeep takes resources, fertilizer and pesticide that enter groundwater and runoff water. |
World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on 8 June. It is observed as a
The Day is now celebrated in over 100 countries with hundreds of special events broadcast across the globe. It
Young people are an important part. The Day provides them with a platform
1. What advice is Tim going to give his teachers?
| A．Asking students to send in their work electronically. |
| B．Requesting students to recycle school paper. |
| C．Making students use both sides of paper. |
| A．Use local produce. |
| B．Have meatless meals. |
| C．Stop selling bottled drinks. |
| A．A recycling plan. | B．A green project. | C．The school life. |
| A．Sunny. | B．Cloudy. | C．Rainy. |
1. What will the weather be like on Christmas day?
| A．Dry. | B．Rainy. | C．Snowy. |
| A．On Christmas Eve. | B．On Christmas Day. | C．On Boxing Day. |
| A．Watch the roads when driving. |
| B．Wear warm clothes when going out. |
| C．Stay indoors and drink hot chocolate. |
| A．The weather condition during Christmas period. |
| B．The plan on celebrating the New Year. |
| C．The arrangement on Boxing Day. |
6 . There are many reasons why some cats are bad-tempered. It’s commonly believed that their temperament can be influenced by the way they are born or raised.
Changes in a cat’s behaviour can often be explained by a health problem. Pain can cause cats to behave differently. It’s easy to mistake a problem as behavioural, which in fact is medical. Should you observe a significant change in your cat’s behaviour, then a visit to the vet is the best place to start.
It pays to remember that cats don’t like to share or queue. Sharing of ‘resources’ such as litter trays and foodbowls can cause stress and anxiety for many cats. It’s always a good idea to provide each cat with their own litter box, food, water bowls and bed. A lack of space to hide from or avoid other cats, competition for territory and lack of individual attention can also add to household friction.
Moving to a new house, the arrival of a new baby, new pets and other types of change can seriously impact cat behaviour. Cats are creatures of habit and tend to be territorial.
| A．Some cats simply do not like being touched and handled. |
| B．Watch out for changes in eating, drinking or litter-box habits. |
| C．When your cat seems lonely, you can hold it gently in your arms. |
| D．If so, offering the cat a high place to sit, such as a climbing tree, can be helpful. |
| E．So a change in routine may cause them to react, including withdrawal or aggression. |
| F．Don’t forget their incredible sense of smell, which is a useful tool of communication. |
| G．In fact, even the sweetest cats can suddenly become bad-tempered and behave out of character. |
Last summer, I had a life-changing experience when I decided to join a group of volunteers in rescuing homeless dogs. It all started when I read a post on social media about a group of abandoned dogs in desperate need of help. Without hesitation, 1 reached out to the organization leading the rescue mission.
Early one Saturday morning, our team gathered at a local animal shelter, armed with determination and a strong sense of purpose. We loaded the necessary supplies into our van, including food, water, blankets and leashes. As we set off, a mix of excitement and nervousness filled the air.
Our destination was a run-down area on the outskirts of town. The deserted streets were home to numerous homeless dogs, which had become victims of neglect. These innocent creatures, once someone’s beloved pets, were now struggling to survive on their own. Upon arriving, our-hearts sank at the sight of many poor dogs searching for food among the piles of garbage. It was a heartbreaking scene. We immediately sprang into action, spreading out to cover every corner of the neighborhood.
Approaching the dogs cautiously, we soon discovered that gaining their trust was not an easy task. Many had learned to fear humans after lasting unthinkable hardships It took patience, gentle words and gestures to approach them without causing distress. With’ each successful rescue, our spirits were uplifted. Some dogs willingly followed us, desperate to escape their miserable lives. Others required a bit more comfort, but eventually, we managed to lead them to safety. They received medical attention and were provided with much-needed love.
As the days went by, our team experienced both moments of joy and heartache. Some dogs were fortunate enough to find loving homes, while others faced challenges due to their extremely unpleasant pasts. But through it all, we persisted, knowing that saving every life made a difference.
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。
Out efforts began to produce positive results.
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Looking back on the summer I am filled with a sense of pride and contentment.
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8 . In 2014, an art student from university went to Beijing Zoo. Little did he know that a chance encounter with corals (珊瑚) there would start a lifelong passion. Until today, Xu Yitang, a Beijing native, has settled in Hainan province, where he serves as a coral conservationist. For Xu, who had been studying Peking Opera since childhood, becoming a coral conservationist was an unexpected turn of events.
After he first saw corals at the zoo, he began to frequent the local market to learn about coral farming from sellers of coral products. He also learned diving and underwater photography to get a closer look at corals for research purposes. Each day, he spends several hours diving deep under the waves to observe and document the growth and development of the creatures and shares photos and videos of corals on social media platforms. His goal was to raise awareness and knowledge about corals, so that people can learn how to protect them effectively.
As he studied deeper into the creature, he learned that corals are known as “underwater gardens” of the ocean, providing a home for a quarter of all ocean life. Unfortunately, with the strengthening of the greenhouse effect, rising sea temperatures have led to coral bleaching (白化). Xu felt an increasing sense of urgency and responsibility to protect them.
While pursuing his passion to protect corals, he met his life partner, Liu Xiwen, through their shared hobby of diving in Hainan. “Unlike many young people who care about their dress and appearance, he is simply focused on protecting corals,” says Liu about Xu.“Despite his skin injury from spending long hours in the seawater, his attitude is different from what I’ve seen in most young people in Beijing, and it’s attractive to me.”
1. What can we learn about Xu Yitang from the first paragraph?| A．He majored in coral protection. |
| B．He was born in Hainan province. |
| C．He worked in Beijing as a coral expert. |
| D．He found his love for corals by chance. |
| A．To record his exploring process. |
| B．To spread knowledge about corals. |
| C．To introduce his diving experience. |
| D．To show off his photography ability. |
| A．The pollution of ocean environment. |
| B．The development of ocean farming. |
| C．The damage to underwater gardens. |
| D．The increase in ocean temperatures. |
| A．Emotional. | B．Devoted. |
| C．Public-spirited. | D．Curiosity-driven. |
Climate protection strategy is fascinating the globe during the 19th Asian Games, not just athletic talent .
Avoiding fireworks during the opening ceremony promotes environmental awareness. Traditional fireworks displays are fun
The Games Village gave residents a “Low Carbon Account” as part of the green measures. Carbon points
10 . Plastic, which is now common, contains endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs (内分泌干扰物), that has been linked to increased risk of many chronic diseases. Parental exposure to EDCs, for example, has been shown to cause metabolic (新陈代谢的) disorders, including obesity and diabetes, in the later generations.
Led by Changcheng Zhou, a professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California, the researchers investigated the impact of fathers’ exposure to a phthalate called dicyclohexyl phthalate, or DCHP (邻苯二甲酸二环己酯), on the metabolic health of first generation (F1) and second generation (F2) in mice. Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastic more durable.
The researchers found that fathers’ DCHP exposure for four weeks led to high insulin (胰岛素) resistance and impaired insulin signaling in F1. The same effect, but weaker, was seen in F2 .
“We found fathers’ exposure to EDCs may have intergenerational and transgenerational detrimental effects on the metabolic health of their later generations, ”Zhou said. “To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to demonstrate this.”
In the case of fathers’ exposure in the study, intergenerational effects are changes that occur due to direct exposure to a stressor, such as exposure to DCHP of fathers (F0 generation) and his F1 generation. Transgenerational effects are changes passed down to later generations that are not directly exposed to the stressor (for example, F2 generation).
“This suggests that fathers’ DCHP exposure can lead to sex-specific transgenerational effects on the metabolic health of their later generations,” Zhou said.
Zhou stressed that the impact of exposure to DCHP on human health is not well understood, even though DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products and has been detected in food, water, and indoor particulate matter.
“It’s best to minimize our use of plastic products,” Zhou said. “This can also help reduce plastic pollution, one of our most pressing environmental issues.”
1. Why are phthalates added to plastic?| A．To beautify it. | B．To make it long-lasting. |
| C．To reduce its cost. | D．To increase its weight. |
| A．Negative. | B．External. | C．Distinct. | D．Adventurous. |
| A．Bury plastic waste. | B．Watch out for the food they eat. |
| C．Use fewest plastic products. | D．Never produce plastic products. |
| A．Plastic contains endocrine disrupting chemicals |
| B．Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue |
| C．DCHP is widely used in a variety of plastic products |
| D．Chemicals in plastic may impact two generations’ health |
