1 . The ocean is a huge body of saltwater that covers about 71 percent of Earth’s surface. An estimated 97 percent of the world’s water is found in the ocean. Because of this, the ocean has considerable impact on weather, temperature, and the food supply of humans and other organisms. The ocean remains a mystery. More than 80 percent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored, or even seen by humans. A far greater percentage of the surfaces of the moon and the planet Mars has been mapped and studied than of our own ocean floor.
Although there is much more to learn, oceanographers have already made some amazing discoveries. For example, we know that the ocean contains towering mountain ranges and deep valleys, just like those on land. The peak of the world’s tallest mountain—Mount Qomolangma in the Himalaya, measuring 8848. 86 meters high-would not even break the surface of the water if it was placed in the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench or Philippine Trench, two of the deepest parts of the ocean. On the other hand, the Atlantic Ocean is relatively shallow because large parts of its seafloor are made up of continental shelves—parts of the continents that extend far out into the ocean. The average depth of the entire ocean is 3.720 meters.
It is unknown how many different species call the ocean their home. With many ocean ecosystems suffering from rising sea temperatures, pollution, and other problems, some oceanographers believe the number of species is dropping. Still, there may be many positive surprises awaiting oceanographers in the years ahead. It could be that more than 90 percent of the ocean’s species are still undiscovered, with some scientists estimating that there are anywhere between a few hundred thousand and a few million more to be discovered. Currently, scientists know of around 226,000 ocean species. Since the ocean is so vast, there is plenty for future oceanographers from all corners of the globe to explore and discover.
1. Why does the author mention the moon and Mars?| A．To indicate people’s determination to know space. |
| B．To show people know quite little about the ocean. |
| C．To remind us that we need more knowledge about space. |
| D．To tell space exploration is more crucial than that of oceans. |
| A．Reasons why ocean floors are rough. |
| B．Significance of the ocean floor to animals. |
| C．The heights of different mountain ranges. |
| D．Some ocean knowledge from oceanographers. |
| A．Perhaps there are more species than known. |
| B．Problems about the oceans have been solved. |
| C．Oceanographers have calculated the ocean species. |
| D．The number of ocean species has stopped dropping. |
| A．We must stop the ocean pollution |
| B．The oceans bring benefits to people |
| C．The oceans deserve our further study |
| D．We should have a positive attitude to oceans |
Gulao, a water town in China’s Jiangmen City, was built on tidal flats (潮坪地貌) where farmers and fishermen pushed the dirt around
“During the fishing civilization period, roads
Arched bridges, sometimes
LUO Studio has designed this covered arch bridge out of wood,
3 . Mawson was an Australian explorer and scientist who explored the Antarctic with a team of fellow adventurers in 1912. His travels in the frozen continent brought him worldwide
One of the men, a young British soldier named Belgrave Ninnis,
| A．praise | B．trust | C．worry | D．criticism |
| A．celebrities | B．explorers | C．athletes | D．astronomers |
| A．putting off | B．showing off | C．kicking off | D．letting off |
| A．Wonders | B．Bonuses | C．Fortunes | D．Disasters |
| A．took | B．fell | C．looked | D．wandered |
| A．adjusted | B．circulated | C．infected | D．confused |
| A．cures | B．disabilities | C．errors | D．illnesses |
| A．remaining | B．wild | C．fierce | D．hunting |
| A．Ultimately | B．Nevertheless | C．Temporarily | D．Meanwhile |
| A．Discouraged | B．Relieved | C．Determined | D．Frightened |
| A．combined | B．battled | C．contained | D．introduced |
| A．center | B．normal | C．base | D．campus |
| A．predict | B．discover | C．complain | D．explain |
| A．passengers | B．witnesses | C．rescuers | D．crew |
| A．achievements | B．references | C．services | D．subjects |
4 . In a world-record effort to help save a rare sea creature, Australian scientists have released hundreds of baby seahorses into the wild. The tiny seahorses are endangered, and the scientists hope the new seahorses will help their numbers grow.
Seahorses are small, thin fish with a long mouth. They’re called “seahorses” because they look a bit like horses. Even though they’re fish, seahorses aren’t great swimmers.
There are over 40 different kinds of seahorses. They mostly live in warm, shallow waters around the world. They are often found in coral reefs, in beds of seagrass, and areas where rivers empty into the sea.
Many kinds of seahorses are threatened, often by the actions of humans.
This is the fifth time the scientists have released seahorses into the area. and this is a new record,
| A．Seahorse babies are easy to carry. |
| B．Around 380 seahorses were released. |
| C．Sometimes they’re caught and sold as pets. |
| D．People should be prohibited from catching seahorses. |
| E．Seahorses form an important part of the ocean’s food chain. |
| F．They often use their tails to hold onto something in the water. |
| G．Seahorses are unusual because it’s the males who carry the babies. |
5 . In the late 1980s, NASA conducted a study to determine how well indoor plants reduce air pollution. But NASA’s study was conducted in sealed chambers simulating(模拟)future long-term space habitats. A 2022 analysis in the Journal of Exposure Science&Environmental Epidemiology showed that it would take 680 plants to clean the air in a 1. 500-square-foot room-highly unrealistic for most plant parents. If the French biotech startup Neoplants has its way, though, you might need only one.
Neoplants’ product, announced late last year, is the Neo P1, the first houseplant genetically engineered to improve indoor air. At first sight, this high-tech pothos(绿萝)is indistinguishable from the real thing. It’s attractive, fast-growing, and hard to kill. But unlike typical plants, it also takes in indoor air pollutants missed by traditional air purifiers.
For now, the pothos itself is responsible for only about 30% of the Neo P1’s air-cleaning capacity, but researchers expect that to change soon. The Neo Pl is the company’s first product. “Air-filtering(空气过滤)plants may get people to think about GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms)in a new way,” says Brophy, a Stanford researcher. “Having something that you can touch and feel and that is nonthreatening is a great way to get people introduced to the concept of genetically modified organisms. ”
Pothos plants have become familiar companions in the indoor landscape of remote work just as the political debate about gas stoves has raised our awareness of once-unfamiliar domestic danger. According to the Environmental Protection Agency. Americans spend around 90% of their lives inside. where concentrations of some pollutants can be anywhere from two to five times higher than they are outdoors. “Usually we feel safe indoors.” says cofounder and CEO of Neoplants Lionel Mora. “But invisible things indoors can be very harmful.”
It’s clear that Mora is ultimately looking beyond indoor air cleaning and toward climate applications. “It’s easier to have an impact in the bedroom than to start with the atmosphere,” Mora says. “But I’ll be disappointed if there’s a plant on the moon and it’s not a Neoplant.”
1. How is the effect of some plants on indoor air according to the 2022 analysis?| A．Limited. | B．Significant. | C．Permanent. | D．Immeasurable. |
| A．It can kill other plants. | B．It looks like a common plant. |
| C．It’s created by an engineer. | D．It’s often missed by people. |
| A．They have been widely accepted. |
| B．They account for a third of indoor plants. |
| C．They should be introduced in a safer way. |
| D．They may cause concern among some people. |
| A．To go to the moon to study plants. | B．To make a profit with their products. |
| C．To make indoor air improvement easily. | D．To grow their plants on the moon one day. |
6 . Magnetic fields are promising to be a useful tool in the hunt for human settlements that have been lost to the sea off the coast of the UK. An upcoming project is set to use magnetometry (磁力测定) data to seek Doggerland, the flooded land that connected Britain to mainland Europe until the end of the Ice Age, but there’s hope that this technique could be used to find long-lost civilizations all over the world.
The study comes from the University of Bradford in the UK. Their plan is to closely look at magnetometry data gathered from a portion of the North Sea and attempt to identify any strange anomalies (异常) that could suggest the presence of archaeological structures.
The team is especially keen to use these techniques to look for traces of human activities beneath the North Sea since it’s thought to have been home to some of the largest prehistoric settlements in Europe. Before it was flooded over 8,000 years ago. Doggerland was a rich and diverse habitat that likely attracted prehistoric humans and others. Despite its potential that lays beneath the North Sea, we know relatively little about the culture that once was developed here.
“As the area we are studying used to be above sea level, there’s a small chance this analysis could even reveal evidence for hunter-gatherer activity. That would be the most important part.” Ben Urmston, PhD student at the University of Bradford, said in a statement. “We might also discover the presence of middens, which are rubbish dumps that consist of animal bones, shells and other biological material. that can tell us a lot about how people lived.”
Remarkably little of the world’s oceans have been explored, let alone for the purposes of archaeology. Nevertheless, advances in technology are continuing to show that the coastlines are hiding countless traces of ancient human activities, even evidence of long-lost civilizations.
Thanks to projects like the one at the University of Bradford, as well as many others, the future of marine archaeology is looking promising. Nevertheless, we have to be patient. Just don’t expect to stumble across the sunken city of Atlantis anytime soon.
1. Why is magnetometry data used in this project?| A．To trace the ice movement. | B．To measure Doggerland. |
| C．To find a lost ancient land. | D．To explore the history of Britain. |
| A．Its civilization is little known to us. | B．It was a place that was often flooded. |
| C．It was a deserted island with few people. | D．Its location has not yet been confirmed. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Subjective. | C．Shocked. | D．Favourable. |
| A．Display. | B．Assess. | C．Restore. | D．Discover. |
“Mary! Come and see what I have brought home!” My father opened the door and shouted cheerfully.
“Is it a dog?” I asked when I saw him hugging a huge creature in his arms.
My father nodded and put the dog on the floor. When it ran toward me, I pressed my hands tightly over my mouth to hold back a scream. I turned around and rushed back to my room. I locked up the door as soon as I could.
Since I was attacked by a wild dog two months ago, I had been living in constant fear of dogs. I was confused why my father was so happy to bring home such a scary thing. So I decided to stay in my room until the dog was gone. After what seemed like ages, I heard the door open and shut.
“Finally!” I breathed in relief and opened the door cautiously.
To my shock, I felt something wet touching my foot. It was the dog! I froze there, as if my feet were rooted to the ground. When I regained my senses, I screamed, “Daddy! It is the dog! Help! It wants to bite me! Get it away from me!”
My father was standing by the other side of the door，folding his arms and encouraged me,“It is not going to eat you! Mary, don’t be so scared. Go on! Touch it!”
I tried my best to control my fear and bent down to touch the dog. But I could not do it due to my constant and uncontrollable shaking.
“Never! I will never touch that dirty thing! Take it away!” I shouted.
My father turned a deaf ear to my request. In despair, I picked up a tennis ball that happened to be on the floor and threw it at the dog.
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 ball missed the target.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________But the next moment I was reminded of the awful experience.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Earth Day is an event
In1962, Rachel Carson’s bestselling book “Silent Spring” created an
In the fall of 1969, Nelson announced it and appealed to the entire country to get involved. Consequently, telegrams, letters and telephone calls
Today, Earth Day is celebrated around the world every April 22. Sometimes numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of
9 . Every year, painted lady butterflies (小红蛱蝶) born in Europe head south on a long journey to Africa. But pinpointing exactly where painted lady butterflies overwinter and breed (繁殖) was the last unknown piece of their roughly 15,000-kilometer migration. Scientists knew that the painted ladies went to Africa, but where on the continent they waited out European winters from December to February was a mystery. Researchers had predicted that subtropical regions close to the equator might provide suitable habitat. To know for sure, the researchers needed to find butterflies in the field.
From late 2017 through early 2020, researchers conducted fieldwork at a wide variety of sites across sub-Saharan Africa during the months of December and January. Another 15 sites were monitored all year round for about two years. In total, the team looked for adults and their young in nine countries, including Benin, Cameroon, and Kenya.
The researchers found more than 2,700 caterpillars (毛虫) and nearly 2,000 adult butterflies, from as far west as Cote d’Ivoire and all the way east to Kenya and Ethiopia. From September to November, the butterflies occupy the tropical grasslands. As those areas dry up, the painted ladies shift south to slightly damp regions from December to February. Central Africa’s tropical rainforests stop the butterflies from going any farther south. Three to five generations might be born in sub-Saharan Africa before any surviving adults head north in February.
Knowing where painted lady butterflies breed could help researchers understand why there are occasional population booms with 100 times as many butterflies in some years as others. In 2021, researchers linked the phenomenon to rains in sub-Saharan Africa — perhaps giving butterflies more plants to stop and lay eggs on. But the part of West Africa identified in that study is different from the newly identified breeding grounds. Now, scientists can confirm the link by looking at rainfall and other conditions where baby butterflies are found growing up.
But the next mystery researchers hope to solve is why painted lady butterflies make such a long journey at all.
1. How do the researchers confirm the painted ladies’ wintering location?| A．By comparing their habitats. |
| B．By spotting them in the field. |
| C．By doing experiments with them. |
| D．By tracking them on their migration. |
| A．In the Europe. | B．South of Africa. | C．South to Sahara. | D．In the rainforest. |
| A．Rains. | B．Foods. | C．Droughts. | D．Temperatures. |
| A．To protect them. | B．To make use of them. |
| C．To know about their habits. | D．To know how they relate to climate. |
10 . Last fall, the Great Salt Lake hit its lowest level since record keeping began. The lake sank to nearly six meters below the long-term average. The lake’s shrinking threatens to upend the ecosystem, disturbing the migration and survival of 10 million birds, including ducks and geese.
Duck hunters aren’t the only ones worried about the Great Salt Lake. The decades-long decline in lake level is raising alarm bells for millions of people who live in the region. The low lake level and increasing salts in the lake water threaten to destroy economic mainstays like agriculture, tourism and mining. Exposed salts can also reduce air quality and so threaten public health.
Saline lakes (咸水湖) are terminal lakes. They have no rivers flowing out of them. As water disappears, salts are left behind. At the same time, the people who live in these deserts use freshwater for crops, homes and industry. Residents get water from streams and rivers into canals, pipelines or reservoirs before it reaches the lakes. And as the lakes shrink, the salt in water increases.
Lake Poopo, a highland lake in Bolivia that used to stretch 90 kilometers long and 32 kilometers wide, is now a salty mud flat. The Aral Sea shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, once the world’s fourth largest lake, has at times in recent decades shrunk to a tenth of its historic 68,000-square-kilometer surface area. Some saline lakes, like Nevada’s Winnemucca Lake, dried up so long ago — the waters that fed it were led to agricultural fields — that most people have forgotten they were ever wet.
The good news is that people still have time to halt the Great Salt Lake’s decline by using less water. Cutting agricultural and other outdoor water use by a third to half through a combination of voluntary conservation measures and policy changes would allow the lake to refill enough to support the region’s economy, ecology and quality of life. If this succeeds, the Great Salt Lake can be a model for how to save other saline lakes around the world.
1. What do we know about the Great Salt Lake from the first two paragraphs?| A．It is home to ducks. | B．It will disappear soon. |
| C．It will be less important. | D．It’s been shrinking for years. |
| A．Their current states. | B．The challenges they face. |
| C．Measures to restore them. | D．Reasons why they become saltier. |
| A．Stop. | B．Boost. | C．Adapt. | D．Learn. |
| A．The Great Salt Lake Is Getting Smaller |
| B．The World Is Becoming Drier and Drier |
| C．Saline Lakes Need Freshwater Deadly |
| D．Many Lakes in the World will Disappear |
