1 . If you look at the dynamic “Global Temperatures” map on NASA’s website, you can see the historic temperature change over time across the planet as the timeline goes from 1880 to the modern day. By 2019, the entire planet is in red, orange, and yellow colors, indicating temperatures much higher than the historical average in every country and human inhabitance.

If the timeline went to 2023, the map would look even worse. That’s because the summer of 2023 was the hottest ever, according to ocean monitors. July was the hottest month in recorded history. Next July could be worse. Unless we do something quickly, we face dealing with more and more dangerous and expensive natural disasters in the future.

Forest fires sent smoke from Canada across the North American continent, causing New York City to have the worst air quality in its recorded history. Heavy rainstorms fell on Vermont and the Northeastern United States in just a couple of days in the middle of July, which exceeded the amount that area would usually receive in two months and caused extreme damage to homes and businesses. Around the same time, flash flooding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania — north of Philadelphia — killed nearly a dozen people.

Erich Fischer, a researcher specializing in climate studies at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, is concerned that natural disasters could get much worse in the future—and in ways we cannot predict. He called for a “strike for climate justice,” which actually took place on Sept. 15, 2023. “The strategy needs to be twofold (双重的) . We need to decrease carbon emissions as much as realistically possible. That is already happening with people using electric cars and other green technologies. At the same time, we also need to find ways to predict the risk of natural disasters ahead of time,” said Erich Fischer.

1. Why does the writer mention the data on NASA’s website in paragraph 1?

A．To explain a concept.	B．To introduce a topic.
C．To provide a solution.	D．To make a prediction.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．The severity of natural disasters.	B．The worst air quality in New York City.
C．The extreme damage by flash flooding.	D．The cause of the forests fires in Canada.

3. What did Erich Fischer suggest to deal with the current situation?

A．He advocated a twofold strategy.

B．He suggested forbidding carbon emissions.

C．He required people to use more electric cars.

D．He emphasized the awareness of climate changes.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Hottest Month in History	B．Natural Disasters in the World
C．Extreme Weather Could Get Worse	D．Green Technology Would be Needed

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What positive news do the scientists report regarding low-carbon technologies?

A．The usage of low-carbon technologies has increased.

B．The costs of many key low-carbon technologies have fallen dramatically.

C．The efficiency of low-carbon technologies has improved significantly.

2. What is a major concern highlighted by observers regarding the report?

A．The reliance on existing technologies.

B．The lack of government policies.

C．The dependency on new technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

3. How do the suggested personal actions for reducing emissions also benefit individual health according to the report?

A．They promote healthier lifestyle choices.

B．They reduce reliance on pharmaceuticals.

C．They increase awareness of environmental issues.

4. Why is the reliance on new carbon dioxide removal technologies considered problematic?

A．They are not widely accepted by the scientific community.

B．They are still very expensive and at an early stage of development.

C．They have a negative impact on the environment.

3 . About four weeks ago, our dear little Persian cat Ashleigh Faith died at the age of 16, for which we felt sad. We _________ her when she was five weeks old and bottle-fed her until she was able to _________ on her own. She was _________, weighing only six pounds at her heaviest weight. She was our baby, _________ all over the USA with us in our motorhome, then _________ at our home in Custer. She left a huge hole in our _________, and she had been my constant companion during the _________months of my stay in hospital.

Recently, our neighbor called and _________ asked if we knew anyone who did cat-sitting, as her mother was ill and she had to _________ her. She couldn’t __________ her cat Bella with her. My husband __________ said, “We’d love to take care of Bella.” We visit Bella each morning and afternoon, and she has been so __________ for us after our loss. Bella is ten months old, and very __________. We take Ashleigh’s laser light toy and Bella loves chasing(追逐)the red dot all over the house. She now __________ us at the window, and then races to the door to __________ us. Spending time with Bella is just what we need, and it helps our neighbor know that we take good care of her cat.

1.

A．adored

B．adopted

C．comforted

D．recognized

2.

A．eat

B．play

C．bark

D．sleep

3.

A．shy

B．smart

C．tiny

D．cute

4.

A．flying

B．pacing

C．rolling

D．travelling

5.

A．turning around

B．cheering up

C．settling in

D．dropping on

6.

A．eyes

B．hearts

C．clothes

D．walls

7.

A．tough

B．cold

C．embarrassing

D．relaxing

8.

A．secretly

B．anxiously

C．calmly

D．enthusiastically

9.

A．care for

B．rely on

C．come across

D．stare at

10.

A．shelter

B．mail

C．hide

D．carry

11.

A．amazingly

B．strangely

C．eventually

D．instantly

12.

A．disappointing

B．depressing

C．appealing

D．promising

13.

A．reliable

B．active

C．discouraged

D．disconnected

14.

A．watches

B．helps

C．fancies

D．approaches

15.

A．protect

B．drive

C．disturb

D．greet

4 . Few dogs are as energetic as Sedze, a white Shih Tzu whose name means “my heart” in the Dogrib language. Last summer, the little dog went through a life _______.

On August 13, Louise, the owner of Sedze, was _______ the camping bag under an evacuation order. A(n) _______ wildfire was getting close and most residents were instructed to leave the city. Louise and her friends _______ into two cars with their pets. They made their way onto the highway, heading toward an evacuation centre in High Level. After driving all night, the _______ group set up camp to have a rest before _______ the road again. But 20 minutes into the second half of their journey, one of Louise’s worst _______came to life: Sedze was missing.

The group _______ back, believing they may have _______ left Sedze there. But there was no ________ of her. After searching for 30 minutes, Louise and the others had to continue the journey, ________ but still holding out hope for a miracle.

Later that evening, the group finally arrived. Louise called her daughter, Jilaine, who lived in Calgary, and ________ the news. Ten minutes later, Jilaine called back with a hopeful ________. A man named Ryan had posted about a dog that he found on the Facebook. The dog looked exactly like Sedze! Louise got on the phone with Ryan and ________ Sedze’s identity with a description of a flower attached to her collar.

Sedze was alive and well. And as it turned out, Ryan had also evacuated to High Level. While talking, they discovered that they were standing on opposite sides of a street. “It was the greatest feeling when he brought her over,” she said. Today, Louise still ________ at their luck that Ryan found Sedze.

1.

A．experiment

B．competition

C．trial

D．game

2.

A．putting away

B．packing up

C．setting aside

D．reaching into

3.

A．mild

B．massive

C．controllable

D．avoidable

4.

A．crashed

B．marched

C．jumped

D．looked

5.

A．exhausted

B．satisfied

C．fascinated

D．annoyed

6.

A．building

B．hitting

C．crossing

D．blocking

7.

A．nightmares

B．memories

C．enemies

D．challenges

8.

A．held

B．walked

C．wrote

D．sped

9.

A．deliberately

B．accidentally

C．carefully

D．randomly

10.

A．evidence

B．impression

C．sign

D．point

11.

A．delighted

B．injured

C．frozen

D．heartbroken

12.

A．ignored

B．broke

C．covered

D．received

13.

A．burst

B．idea

C．update

D．improvement

14.

A．protected

B．confirmed

C．stole

D．hid

15.

A．looks

B．laughs

C．wonders

D．aims

5 . As a mushroom scientist, you are vastly outnumbered, with estimates suggesting that there are between 2.2 million and 3.8 million species of fungi (真菌), the majority of which are yet to be identified. However, professionals in the field are not alone in their efforts to uncover new species. An enthusiastic community of amateurs has emerged, bridging the gap between professionals and non-professionals. These amateurs have even made significant discoveries. One such amateur is Taylor Lockwood, a 74-year-old mushroom enthusiast and professional photographer.

In 1984, while living on the Mendocino coast of California, Taylor Lockwood developed a fascination with mushrooms. “Outside my cottage were these amazing mushrooms,” he says. “And it was as if these mushrooms looked at me and said, ‘Taylor, go out and tell the world how pretty we are.’” Lockwood answered their call and purchased camera equipment to capture their true nature. His passion for photographing mushrooms was so intense that he would even dig holes next to the mushrooms to get the perfect angle for his shots.

In the Monongahela National Forest, Taylor Lockwood discovered an unusual mushroom that looked like tiny fingers wearing off-white gloves. Upon deeper investigation, fungi researcher Amy Rossman confirmed that it was a “hazel glove” mushroom, which is a rare find. “Mushrooms are not like plants,” Rossman says. “They don’t come up at the same time every year, and so sometimes it can be decades between when a fungus fruits.” Rossman says that’s why it’s so valuable to have people like Taylor Lockwood searching through the forest with a trained eye.

A few years ago, Taylor Lockwood realized that still photos weren’t sufficient, so he chose to create time-lapse (延时拍摄的) videos of mushrooms. “When I do time-lapse, I see so much life happening around the mushrooms—insects, worms and other small creatures interacting with them,” he says. Lockwood’s love for art is evident in his approach to filming mushrooms over time. Although he appreciates the scientific aspect of his work, he identifies himself as an artist at heart.

1. What can we learn about mushroom amateurs from paragraph 1?

A．They keep close track of the growth of fungi.

B．They help identify new species of mushroom.

C．They replace professional scientists in the field.

D．They classify the majority of mushroom species.

2. What inspired Lockwood to photograph mushrooms?

A．His desire for knowledge.

B．His curiosity about nature.

C．The beauty of nearby mushrooms.

D．The appeal of outdoor photography.

3. Which of the following best describes Lockwood according to paragraph 3?

A．Skilled and observant.

B．Focused and flexible.

C．Talented and optimistic.

D．Organized and responsible.

4. Why did Lockwood decide to make time-lapse videos of mushrooms?

A．To improve his photography techniques.

B．To capture dynamic life in an artistic way.

C．To collect biological data for deeper research.

D．To use a new approach to scientific studies.

6 . Living for 97 years is an impressive achievement in and of itself. Most people hitting this milestone are probably thankful for what health they have and the memories they’ve made. In the case of TV host and conservationist Sir David Attenborough, he can reflect on a life of activism in service for our planet. The British icon turned an impressive 97 on May 8, 2023. Born in 1926, Attenborough has spent most of his life on camera for the BBC covering animals and natural history. Today, despite his age, he is still an active campaigner for our planet.

Attenborough, who received a degree in natural sciences from Cambridge University, joined the BBC full-time in 195. He travelled around the world with his Zoo Quest programme, highlighting different creatures. Afterwards, he created his iconic series Lifeon Earth in 1979. Since then, he has created and starred in countless programmes which have brought nature closer to viewers around the world.

His recent documentary with World Wildlife Fund, David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet, often returns to a theme which has predominated in Attenborough’s later work. He reflects on just how much the environment has changed in his-decades of observation and how swiftly time is running out before·further serious damage can be prevented. This programme was widely streamed and considered a “wake up call” for the world. While Attenborough is far from the first or only voice to raise this call, his reach as a respected and powerful figure within the BBC provides a useful platform.

Although he has received countless awards, Attenborough has used recent accolades (荣誉) as a chance to focus once more on the planet. Shortly after winning the Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, he sent an urgent message about the state of the planet to all viewers. in Frozen Planet Ⅱ. Even after his 97th birthday, he continues to write and speak on preserving the UK and the world for future generations.

1. What is Sir David Attenborough known for?

A．The possession of treasures.	B．The memories about activities.
C．The rewards as a British icon.	D．The contribution to earth protection.

2. How did Attenborough try to get nature and his audience closer?

A．By majoring in natural science in university.

B．By travelling throughout the world while in BBC.

C．By sitting closer to viewers when hosting programmes.

D．By starting and starring in many relevant programmes.

3. What can we know about A Life On Our Planet?

A．It features environment shifts and conservation.

B．It is about how swiftly one’s life run out.

C．It is received by few viewers and thought little of.

D．It provides a powerful and useful platform for BBC.

4. Which words can best describe Sir David Attenborough?

A．Dependent and curious.	B．Devoted and responsible.
C．Humorous and passionate.	D．Ambitious and reserved.

7 . Photographer Joe Sartore began making studio portraits (肖像) of________in 2006. The purpose is to________for future generations species that someday might be extinct. Sartore expects to have portraits of nearly 1,000 animals. Here are some________of his project, which is featured in this special issue on________wildlife.

In Sartore’s opinion, the Rabbs’ fringe-limbed tree frog (巴拿马树蛙) is one of the most________species he has photographed that have since gone________. A few years ago there was one left________, a male, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. He had________it there times before it passed away. At those moments he thought to himself________, “Don’t mess this up.” It might be this animal’s only________to have its story told well.

Another memorable species Sartore photographed is the Florida grasshopper sparrow (草蜢沙鹀). It is endangered, but seems to be________back. It’s a small brown bird, and some people________it enough to try to save it. There are many________stories, such as the California condor, the Mexican gray wolf, sand so on. They all got down to perhaps two dozen or fewer individuals, but they’re all________now due to human efforts.

The situation is still________as a recent report says that as many as one million species are already on their ________to extinction. It’s foolish to think that we can throw away so much________and not have it affect humanity in a(n)________way. Sartore’s goal is to get the________to care about the extinction crisis while there’s still________to save the planet.

1.

A．people

B．plants

C．animals

D．insects

2.

A．collect

B．record

C．paint

D．identify

3.

A．examples

B．methods

C．goals

D．versions

4.

A．urban

B．national

C．best

D．endangered

5.

A．impressive

B．dangerous

C．interesting

D．powerful

6.

A．missing

B．wild

C．extinct

D．popular

7.

A．awake

B．unchanged

C．alive

D．untouched

8.

A．seen

B．studied

C．treated

D．photographed

9.

A．naturally

B．nervously

C．carelessly

D．excitedly

10.

A．duty

B．response

C．chance

D．promise

11.

A．bouncing

B．stepping

C．locking

D．calling

12.

A．looked after

B．cared about

C．searched for

D．depended on

13.

A．unique

B．similar

C．amusing

D．personal

14.

A．dying

B．booming

C．suffering

D．recovering

15.

A．pleasant

B．ongoing

C．unclear

D．serious

16.

A．decision

B．way

C．trip

D．access

17.

A．money

B．food

C．trash

D．life

18.

A．negative

B．objective

C．difficult

D．effective

19.

A．police

B．children

C．public

D．artists

20.

A．time

B．space

C．value

D．concern

8 . Against huge odds, Shikuku Ooko is fighting to save the last remaining ancient forest. When he was in his early 20s, Shikuku Ooko was deeply taken with the Afro-Alpine forests of central Kenya. So much so that he decided to buy 15 acres of woods next to Mount Kenya National Park & Reserve. More than 30 years later Mr. Ooko’s home is one of the few plots still filled with native trees and plants. In contrast, much of the national park has been heavily logged.

The Mount Kenya region is remote and delicate, which makes it difficult to safeguard. Though the Kenya Forest Service has made sustainably managing all public forest plantations its second priority, the burden of conservation has fallen on the shoulders of local individuals such as Mr. Ooko.

In recent years, herders (牧民) have even built animal pens within legally protected areas. “It’s a bit of an annoying sight,” Mr. Ooko says, “when foreign visitors have to pay a high fee to enter the park but then come across huge herds of sheep and cattle in the delicate environment. The laws protecting that environment are in place, but they are insufficiently enforced because rangers (护林员) at each gate are limited.”.

When he’s at home in Naro Moru, Mr. Ooko advocates for tree planting, particularly among kids. “It’s something I grew up doing,” he explains. “When I was young, my dad would give all of us 10young trees to plant and take care of. Somehow, he knew the connections between trees and climate changes.”

It’s a practice Mr. Ooko has kept alive despite continuous challenges with climate and cattle; it is not uncommon for sheep and cattle to destroy the young trees that he and his young friends have planted. “We just keep going,” he says. “It’s something I value, and I think we should plant more.”

1. What can we know about Mr. Ooko’s woods?

A．They were purchased 20 years ago.	B．They suffer from heavy logging.
C．They have conserved much wildlife.	D．They have been well protected.

2. Why are the laws insufficiently enforced according to Mr. Ooko?

A．Because herders need to save cattle.	B．Because herders need wood for fire.
C．Because there are too many visitors.	D．Because there aren’t enough rangers.

3. What can we infer about Mr. Ooko according to the passage?

A．He never raises sheep and cattle.	B．He was influenced by his father.
C．He donated his woods to the park.	D．He has made a fortune by planting.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．The Challenges from Climate Changes	B．The Introduction to Mount Kenya Park
C．The Fight to Save Mount Kenya’s Forests	D．The Connection between People and Nature

9 . The colorful anemonefish (海葵鱼), also known as clownfish, possesses a cheerful and carefree image among humans. However, their actual behavior might not always align with the family-friendly portrayal seen in a Pixar film. They can aggressively defend their territory against other anemonefish they perceive as threats.

To investigate how these fish identify group members, a team from Japan conducted two experiments with lab-raised common clownfish that had never encountered any other species.

In the first experiment, researchers introduced different species of anemonefish, distinguishable by the number of white bars on their bodies, into a tank in small cases. They observed that the common clownfish were particularly hostile toward members of their own species that displayed three white bars. These fish fought 80 percent of their specific-targeted fish for up to three seconds. In contrast, invaders from other species, like the orange skunk clownfish with no side bars and a white line along its back, were barely attacked. The two-barred Clarke’s clownfish and three-barred saddleback clownfish were “mildly bullied”, according to the team.

During the second experiment, the researchers exposed a colony of clownfish to various plastic discs. The discs were painted with anemonefish coloration and measured the level of aggression towards these artificial models. Similar to reactions to live fish, models with two bars were less frequently attacked, and those without any bars saw the least aggression. According to study co-author and ecologist Kina Hayashi, the findings “suggest that clownfish is capable of counting the number of bars to recognize the species of the invader”.

The team also found that a rigid hierarchy (社会等级) within clownfish colonies determines which specific fish attack the invader. Earlier studies have shown that the social position of the clownfish is determined by very slight differences in size. This study used fish that had not matured and were in a lab setting, but the team still observed the same size-based hierarchy. The largest clownfish led the charge against the invader.

1. What does the underlined word “hostile” mean in the third paragraph?

A．Unfriendly.

B．Tolerant.

C．Patient.

D．Sympathetic.

2. How is the study conducted?

A．By introducing a new concept.	B．By comparing different clownfish.
C．By observing clownfish’ behaviors.	D．By analyzing statistics of previous studies.

3. What is the finding of the two experiments?

A．Clownfish can’t reach maturity in a lab setting.

B．Skunk clownfish is the most modest clownfish.

C．The social position of a clownfish depends on its size.

D．Clownfish identify threats by the number of vertical bars.

4. Which is the best title of the passage?

A．Barred and Bullied: Attacks from Anemonefish.

B．Clownfish and Conflicts: Strict Social Hierarchies.

C．Beyond the Screen: The identification of Clownfish.

D．From Lab to Tank: Aggression Among Anemonefish.

10 . The corn eaten around the world today originated in Mexico nearly 10,000 years ago. From the ancient rituals of the Mayans to modern-day dishes like tortillas, corn is central to culture, cuisine, and identity in this region.

To protect this heritage, Mexico is fighting to phase out genetically modified (GM) U. S. — grow n corn this year. The Mexican government claims that banning GM corn will protect the country’s native corn varieties. Yet the announcement aroused strong objections from the U. S., whose largest annual customer for GM corn is often Mexico. The U. S. claims that the GM ban breaks the trade agreement between the two countries.

Mexico insists that modified seeds threaten Mexico’s agricultural traditions and cultural identity. In the U. S., most corn is grown with seed produced by large companies, which create just a handful of genetically identical corn varieties grown at mass scale. In Mexico, however, seeds come from seed-sharing practices among small-scale farms, which facilitates more diversity and allows farmers to grow corn that ranges widely in color and size.

“Traditional varieties maintain a substantial amount of genetic diversity,” says Jeffrey Ross-Ibarra, an ecologist at the University of California, but he doesn’t think banning GM corn will help preserve these varieties, and points to adec line in small-scale farms as the greater threat to native corn. “If traditional farmers abandon subsistence farming, we’re potentially losing diversity whether that crop is GM or traditionally bred, so economic policy has a much bigger impact on the risk of corn diversity than an adoption of GM corn.” Since Mexico began importing U. S. corn, small-scale farms have been declining.

Mauricio Bellon, a research professor at the Swett Center for Sustainable Foods Systems, believes that while threatened species are often stored in gene banks, the relationship between a farmer and their crop plays a crucial conservation role. “Evolution at scale continues with corn in Mexico through millions of farmers,” says him.

1. Why is Mexico prohibiting GM corn?

A．To safeguard its own types of corn.	B．To reduce the cost of importing corn.
C．To get rid of the dependence on the US.	D．To stop the decrease of small-scale farms.

2. What is different in corn production practices between the US and Mexico from paragraph 3?

A．The technology of farming.	B．The source of corn seeds.
C．The ownership of farmland.	D．The relationship between farmers.

3. What’s Jefferey’s attitude toward the Mexican government’s claim?

A．Approval.

B．Concerned.

C．Critical.

D．Tolerant.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．GM corn has negative effects on traditional farms.

B．Endangered species are well preserved in gene banks.

C．Species diversity contributes to the evolution of species

D．Traditional farming practices help in preserving corn varieties.