1 . It turns out our plants are just like us in some ways. We turn to medicines to relieve a minor flu or headache, and plants too have their ways of self-medicating. They protect themselves from environmental hazards like insects, drought and heat by producing salicylic acid (水杨酸). It is responsible for the anti-inflammatory action of aspirin, a drug which has been used by humans for centuries to counter pain and inflammation.
Researchers have found that plants’ salicylic acid, which is produced in chloroplasts (叶绿体), is usually generated in response to the stress caused by climate change. “It’s like plants use a painkiller for aches and pains, just like we do,” said plant biologist Wilhelmina van de ven from the University of California, River-side (U. C. R)
“We’d like to be able to use the finding to improve crop resistance (作物抗性),” said U. C. R.plant geneticist Jin-Zheng Wang. “That will be crucial for the food supply in our increasingly hot, bright world.”
Human skin produces ROS (Reactive oxygen species) (活性氧) in the absence of sunscreen. This causes freckles and burns. Similarly, environmental stresses result in the formation of ROS in plants which, at high levels, can cause death.
At low levels, however, ROS serves an essential function in plant cells. “ROS is a double-edged sword,” said Wang. “At non-lethal levels, ROS are like an emergency call to action, enabling the production of protective hormones ( 激素) such as salicylic acid.” The acid then acts to protect the plants’ chloroplasts, known to be the site of photosynthesis.
“With climate change, things like salicylic acid: helping plants stand up to stresses have become more common. So, being able to increase plants’ ability to produce it represents a step forward in challenging the impacts of climate change on everyday life,” said Katayoon Dehesh, UCR professor of molecular biochemistry.
“Those impacts go beyond our food. Plants being in trouble are a sign of what the future holds for us,” she continued. “Plants clean our air by removing the carbon dioxide from it while also offering us shade, and providing habitats for numerous animals. For humankind, the benefits of boosting plants’ ability to survive are becoming increasingly essential.”
1. What is the main function of salicylic acid in plants?| A．To secure plants. | B．To produce chloroplasts. |
| C．To relieve pain and inflammation. | D．To generate hormones. |
| A．Lack of sunscreen. | B．Chloroplastic acid. |
| C．Environmental stresses. | D．Use of Photosynthesis. |
| A．To explore the history and significance of aspirin in human medicine. |
| B．To invent a device that can make plants do self-medicating. |
| C．To compare the differences between plants and humans in self-medicating. |
| D．To improve crop resistance by increasing plants’ ability to produce salicylic acid. |
| A．Plants can be improved to resist environmental hazards. |
| B．Plants produce their own aspirin to cope with stress. |
| C．Plants and humans share some common features and needs. |
| D．Plants contribute to the well-being of humans and animals. |
2 . It was a typical summer day in my small town, with the sun shining and the sky clear. I was sitting on my porch, enjoying the peaceful view of the rolling hills and the calm lake, when suddenly a strong wind blew in from the west. The peaceful sky turned dark as a storm approached.
I went inside, grabbing my raincoat and heading to the barn to secure the animals. The cows were nervous, sensing the approaching storm. I quickly tied them up and ran back to the house, just as the rain started to pour down. The wind was howling and the rain was pounding against the windows. Lightning and thunder followed, making the atmosphere even more electric. I sat by the window, watching the raging storm and praying that everything would be okay.
After what seemed like hours, but was only a few minutes, the storm passed. The clouds moved away, revealing a bright and sunny sky. I walked outside, taking in the fresh air and surveying the damage. The trees were bent over and some branches had been blown off. Our vegetable garden was flooded, but other than that, everything seemed to be fine. I breathed a sigh of relief as I realized that no serious damage had been done.
That evening, as I sat by the fireplace with a cup of hot coffee, I reflected on the experience. It reminded me that nature can be both powerful and unpredictable, but that we must persevere and adapt to whatever it throws at us. The next morning, as I watched the sun rise over the now-calm landscape, I felt a sense of pride knowing that my family and I had weathered the storm together.
1. What does the word “weathered” mean in the last paragraph?| A．enjoyed | B．survived | C．forecasted | D．changed |
| A．Angry | B．Relieved | C．Scared | D．Sad |
| A．Problem and solution | B．Cause and effect |
| C．in order time | D．by Comparison |
| A．The author explains how to prepare for and cope with a storm. |
| B．The author describes how a storm ruined his day and his garden. |
| C．The author compares and contrasts the different weather conditions in his town. |
| D．The author recounts how he and his family withstood a sudden storm and learned a lesson from it. |
1. Which pet may an outgoing person prefer?
| A．A bird. | B．A dog. | C．A cat. |
| A．Clever. | B．Sociable. | C．Careful. |
| A．Pet people’s personalities. | B．More outgoing dog people. | C．Less sociable cat people. |
4 . Conifers (针叶树) are generally better than broad-leaved trees at purifying air from pollutants. But deciduous (落叶的) trees may be better at taking in particle-bound pollution. A new study led by the University of Gothenburg shows that the best trees for air purification depend on the type of pollutants involved.
Trees and other greener in cities provide many benefits that are important for the well-being of residents. Leaves and needled on trees filter air pollutants and reduce exposure to poisonous substance in the air. But which trees purify the air most effectively? Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have collected leaves and needle from eleven different trees growing in the same place in the Gothenburg Botanical Garden (GBG) to analyse which cub-stances they have absorbed.
“This tree collection provided a unique opportunity to test many different species of trees with similar environmental conditions and exposure to air pollutants,” said Jenny Klingberg, a researcher of the GBG
A total of 32 different pollutants were analysed, some of which are bound to articles of various sizes. Others are gaseous. This project has focused on paths (多环芳烃). In cities, traffic is the biggest source of these pollutants, which are released due to incomplete burning in engines.
“Our analysis show that different species of trees have different abilities to absorb air pollutants. Conifers generally absorb morn gaseous paths than broad-leaved trees. Another advantage of conifers is that they also act as air purifies in winter, when air pollution is usually at its highest,” said Jenny Klingberg.
“This study contributes to improving our understanding of the ability of trees to clean the air and which species are best at absorbing air pollutants,” said Jenny Klingberg. This known-edge is important for urban planning when designing sustainable cities. While trees and green-era can contribute to better air quality in cities, at the end of the day, the most important measure is to reduce emissions.
1. Which is the determining factor in choosing the most suitable tries to purify air?| A．Air quality. | B．Geographical location. | C．The height of plants. | D．The kind of pollutants. |
| A．To compare their shapes. | B．To create a tree collection. |
| C．To figure out what they absorb. | D．To display them on exhibition. |
| A．Fuel vehicle’s. | B．Electric engines. | C．Traffic accidents. | D．Complete burning. |
| A．Decreasing emissions. | B．Planting more conifers. |
| C．Raising public awareness. | D．Designing sustainable cities. |
5 . Teen Eco-Art Exhibition
Young artists share your artwork and viewpoints on our environment in the Teen Eco-Art Exhibition this Spring!
Submission is open to artiste from Grades 11-12 who reside in West Vancouver or attend a West Vancouver secondary school.
Submissions will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. Artwork will be assessed on creative use of materials and expression of the theme.
Submission criteria (标准)
•Artwork addressing environmental themes such as clean water, climate change, sustainability, conservation, pollution, etc.
•Artwork created primarily from sustainable, repurposed, recycled materials. Other media such as paint, photography, paper, etc. can be used in combination with repurposed materials.
•Size. Wall-mounled (固定在墙上的) artwork: no larger than 36''×36''. Sculpture: no larger than l'5''×1'5''×1'5''.
•Artwork should be exhibition ready. Wall-mounted artwork should have hanging wire, D-rings or hangers. Sculptures should be able to stand on their own.
Artist statement: clear and brief, 100-200 word statement regarding your art practice and the concept/ theme of the work being considered.
How to submit
Complete the submission form & upload the required materials.
Submission close
March 25, 6 pm.
Results
Artists will be notified by April 6.
Exhibition location
West Vancouver Memorial Library, 1950 Marine Dr.
Exhibition Dates
April 15-May 29.
If you have any questions please contact Gallery Coordinator Steven Snider at steven. wvcac@shaw. ca. We look forward to seeing your artwork!
1. What do we know about the event?| A．It is open to artists of all ages. |
| B．It welcomes half-finished art pieces. |
| C．It is looking for creative works from students. |
| D．It disapproves of works with artists’ statements. |
| A．It should be larger than 36''×36''. |
| B．It should be able to stand on its own. |
| C．It should avoid repurposed materials. |
| D．It should highlight environmental problems. |
| A．March 25. | B．April 6. | C．April 15. | D．May 29. |
6 . Fungi (菌类) often appear naturally around trees, but a new study has found that growing edible mushrooms (types that can be safely eaten) in forests on purpose could be a good way to provide healthy food for millions of people and help the environment too.
Fungi are living things that feed on organic matter, such as dead plants. Mushrooms, mould and yeast are all types of fungi.
Paul Thomas and Alistair Jump, from the University of Stirling in Scotland, spent two years studying edible fungi that grow alongside trees. The pair discovered that while they are growing, fungi remove carbon dioxide from the air and store it in the soil. This is good for the planet, because too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is one of the main causes of climate change.
Thomas points out that forests around the world are often cut down to create fields for producing food, such as beef or wheat. Trees take in carbon dioxide as they grow, so chopping them down makes climate change worse. However, edible fungi thrive in the shade of trees. That means if fungi was being grown as a food crop, there would be no need to chop down forests. In fact, if fungi became very popular, more trees could actually be planted. Edible fungi contain lots of substances that are good for humans. Thomas’s idea is that other ingredients, such as meat, could be swapped for fungi in people’s diets. He estimates that growing fungi around trees could feed up to 19 million people each year.
Blue milk caps are a species of edible fungi that Thomas says could work particularly well. They can be grown on and around trees, exchanging useful minerals and nutrients in return for carbon. They are also very nutritious, and some studies have suggested that they can help to treat cancer.
1. How do fungi help the environment?| A．They release oxygen into the atmosphere. |
| B．They prevent soil from being washed away. |
| C．They provide shade for other plants and animals. |
| D．They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. |
| A．Struggle. | B．Boom. | C．Weaken. | D．Shrink. |
| A．Disappointing. | B．Promising. | C．Controversial. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．The Nutritional Benefits of Edible Fungi |
| B．Fungi: A Sustainable Solution to Organic Food |
| C．The Role of Fungi in Fighting Climate Change |
| D．How Fungi Could Feed and Benefit the World |
7 . Both ants and human beings respond to isolation in similar ways. In isolated individuals of both species, researchers have observed that the immune system is less efficient.
Humans and other social mammals will experience high levels of stress when they are isolated from the group, which has a negative effect on both well-being and physical health. Isolated people tend to become anxious, depressed, lonely, and more subject to addictions. They will also have a weaker immune system, and the isolation will impact their health negatively overall. While these effects have been well studied in humans and mice, relatively little is known about how isolation affects social insects.
Ants are extremely social. They will live their entire lives as part of the same colony (群体) and their survival will be entirely dependent on their nest mates. This social function is so important to them that worker ants will abandon their reproductive capacity and devote themselves to tending to the needs of the queen and the colony.
Researchers paid attention to ants of the Temnothorax nylanderi, which is a European species that will create colonies inside acorns (橡实) and sticks. These colonies consist of a few dozen workers, and the researchers took individual members and isolated them for various periods of time, from an hour to 28 days. The study revealed three key aspects of the effects of isolation.
When the isolated workers were returned to the colony, they showed less interest in other adult ants, and instead chose to spend more time with the brood (幼雏). They were also less interested in cleaning themselves, which is a behavior noticed in most social animals that are isolated. This behavior increased the risk of parasite (寄生虫) infections. The third observation was related to the gene activity of the isolated individuals — genes that were responsible for stress response and immune system function were less active. Once again, this is something observed across all social animals. What this research tells us is that social behavior is something extremely ancient and it could be traced back to a very old common ancestor between animal and insect species.
1. How are humans influenced by isolation according to the researchers?| A．Their social circles shrinks quickly. |
| B．They are more likely to get into addictions. |
| C．Their immune system has been strengthened. |
| D．They are quicker to respond to stressful situations. |
| A．They remain devoted to their nest mates. |
| B．They are in a constant state of mental stress. |
| C．They are equally responsible for their colony. |
| D．They rely much on each other in order to survive. |
| A．The queen ant. | B．Their nest mates. |
| C．The baby ants. | D．Their whole colony. |
| A．Social isolation affects animals negatively. |
| B．Isolation changes the immune system of ants. |
| C．Ants react to social isolation similar to humans. |
| D．Animal and insect species share the same ancestor. |
8 . Next time you’re having trouble solving a tricky puzzle, consider asking a nearby bumblebee. A new study in the journal PLOS Biology finds that these humble insects can actually learn to solve puzzles from one another, suggesting that even some invertebrates(无脊椎动物) have a capacity for what we humans call “culture.”
“Nobody’s really thought that invertebrates like bumblebees show evidence of culture,” says Alice Bridges, an ecologist at Anglia Ruskin University. “People assume that they’re mostly driven by inborn factors.” Bridges set out to prove them wrong. To study culture in bumblebees, she first drilled some bees to solve puzzle boxes. She trained some bees to head-butt the red switch to get the sugar water and trained others to push the blue switch. Then, Bridges placed these tutor bees into different colonies, along with the puzzle boxes.
It wasn’t all fun and games: Bridges got stung multiple times and the fourth sting sent her to the hospital. Bridges persevered, however, and the experiment ultimately played itself out. In colonies where the tutor bee had learned to push the red switch, the other bees usually pushed the red switch. In colonies where the tutor bee was trained to push the blue switch, their fellow bees tended to do the same. In the control colonies where there were no tutors, the bees sometimes learned how to open the boxes, but never as efficiently or reliably.
The conclusion, Bridges and her colleagues report in their new study today, is that bumblebees can transmit certain behaviors—culturally. “Maybe culture isn’t that unusual,” she says. “Maybe it’s not some pinnacle(顶峰) of cognition that only a few species have.”
“Many of us consider ourselves special because we have culture and we can learn,” says Jessica Ware, an entomologist. “The truth is that all we have found about animal culture means that human culture, once thought unique, did not appear ‘out of the blue’ but has obviously built on deep evolutionary(进化的) foundations.”
1. How did the bumblebees get the sugar water from the puzzle boxes?| A．By pressing a button. | B．By solving word puzzles. |
| C．By bursting open the boxes. | D．By turning the boxes upside down. |
| A．It contradicts the former research. | B．It shows that culture is unique to humans. |
| C．It has received wide recognition. | D．It has brought Bridges much trouble. |
| A．Slowly. | B．Suddenly. | C．Endlessly. | D．Regularly. |
| A．Can Insects Have Culture? |
| B．Can New Culture Be Created? |
| C．How Do Bumblebees Tutor Peers? |
| D．How Will Invertebrate Study Be Expanded? |
Wetlands are known as the"kidneys（肾）)of the Earth", providing a variety of ecosystem services such as water conservation and climate regulation and having
China's wetland
This year marks
And on June 1, the country's first law
10 . Smaller than African savanna elephants, forest elephants feed on grass, leaves and fruit. The rainforests of Gabon are one of the last strongholds for forest elephants, whose numbers have suffered a dramatic decline in recent decades because of hunting.
Despite being remote and relatively untouched by people, Lope National Park and its elephants appear to be in trouble. The fruity yield (产量) of many species of trees at the park continues to fall, which seems to be causing forest elephants to go hungry. Because certain tree species depend on the animals to survive, the struggles of the elephant population could jeopardize the long-term sustainability of the forest.
Known as an Omphalocarpum procerum, the tree is dotted with doughnut-shaped fruit growing out of its trunk. The fruit has a tough shell that makes it distasteful for every animal species except elephants. The tree relies on elephants to disperse (传播) seeds through their dung (粪) and grows stronger in elephant-populated areas. The tree is rarely found where elephants no longer live. The elephants, in turn, depend on the highly nutritious fruit for their diet.
A 32-year survey recorded an 81 percent decline in the availability of the fruits that elephants eat. Examining Lopvé’s weather data for the previous three decades, researchers found that the average nighttime temperature had increased by about 1.5 degrees. The amount of rainfall also had decreased significantly. Climate change was making Lope hotter and drier. Researchers think this is the most credible theory as to why fruit has been declining.
They also found that, on average, the body condition of forest elephants had declined by a pronounced 11 percent from 2008 to 2018. The scarcity of fruit in Lope was the likeliest explanation. The lack of fruit makes it harder for elephants to get the nutrition they need. Lope’s elephants try to make up for the fruit shortage by suddenly entering people’s gardens in the middle of the night.
At Lope National Park, scientists now are investigating whether climate change is changing the elephants’ diet. As they continue their research, they thought: Could the fraying of the ancient bond between trees and elephants in a place as pristine as Lopé be a forewarning?
1. What does the underlined word “jeopardize” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Endanger. | B．Promote. | C．Achieve. | D．Ensure. |
| A．To state the effect of habitat loss on elephants. |
| B．To prove the importance of the species diversity. |
| C．To present the gradual process of forest decline. |
| D．To show the close relationship between the tree and elephants. |
| A．Frequent heavy rainfall. | B．The lack of fruit growers. |
| C．Inappropriate tree cutting. | D．The threat of climate change. |
| A．They visit human’s gardens for food. |
| B．They travel farther to search for fruit trees. |
| C．They start to eat other highly nutritious plants. |
| D．They carry fruit seeds to elephant-populated areas. |
