1 . The beauty, majesty, and timelessness of a primary rainforest are indescribable. It is impossible to
Rainforests have
The scale of human
In 1950, about 15 percent of the Earth’s land surface was covered by rainforest. Today, more than half has already gone up in
A.establish | B.claim | C.capture | D.prove |
A.extended | B.evolved | C.expanded | D.resolved |
A.energizing | B.healing | C.isolating | D.breathing |
A.destroyed | B.contributed | C.reduced | D.affected |
A.However | B.Furthermore | C.Therefore | D.Otherwise |
A.active | B.positive | C.interdependent | D.dominant |
A.restore | B.support | C.relieve | D.last |
A.pressure | B.resources | C.concern | D.strengths |
A.existence | B.ecosystem | C.species | D.survival |
A.unfortunately | B.consequently | C.naturally | D.similarly |
A.store | B.food | C.smoke | D.wealth |
A.subject | B.down | C.apart | D.victim |
A.running out | B.going up | C.holding back | D.falling down |
A.released | B.revealed | C.threatened | D.boosted |
A.trend | B.practice | C.intention | D.attitude |
2 . Dogs have facial expressions to use on humans
Scientists have discovered that dogs produce more facial movement when a human is paying attention to them—including making their eyes appear bigger—than when they
This new research goes
“Facial expression is often seen as
The research joins a number of studies exploring the extraordinary relationship between humans and their dogs, including some research that suggests that dogs understand not only words spoken by humans—but also the tone of voice.
A study published
The recordings were then examined by the team frame by frame
“The research tells us that their facial expressions are probably responsive to humans—not just to other dogs,” said Waller. He also said that it told us something about how domestication had shaped dogs, and
A.are being ignored | B.have been ignored | C.were ignored | D.will be ignored |
A.beyond | B.within | C.against | D.without |
A.anything | B.something | C.that | D.whatever |
A.to depend | B.depended | C.having depended | D.depending |
A.on | B.by | C.for | D.in |
A.whether | B.unless | C.either | D.when |
A.determined | B.to determine | C.determining | D.to have determined |
A.or | B.than | C.not | D.as |
A.that | B.why | C.whether | D.where |
A.could | B.can | C.would | D.will |
3 . Many of the world’s islands were previously unexplored places, but over time, people have come to these places with far-reaching effects, including deforestation, over-hunting and the introduction of invasive species.
While the death of many birds since the 1500s has been
Researchers now believe 1,430 bird species — almost 12 per cent — have died out over modern human history since around 130,000 years ago, with the vast majority of them becoming extinct directly or indirectly
The study, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and published in Nature Communications, used statistical modelling to
Lead author Dr Rob Cooke, an ecological modeler at UKCEH, says:“Our study demonstrates there has been a far higher
Dr Søren Faurby of the University of Gothenburg, a co-author of the study, adds: “These historic extinctions have had a major impact on the current biodiversity crisis. The world may not only have lost many fascinating birds but also their varied
Observations and fossils show 640 bird species have been driven extinct — 90 per cent of these on islands
A.To some extent | B.On average | C.As a result | D.In short |
A.confirmed | B.recorded | C.concealed | D.discussed |
A.distracted | B.disposed | C.dismissed | D.disintegrated |
A.extent | B.context | C.outcome | D.influence |
A.due to | B.other than | C.instead of | D.in spite of |
A.declare | B.illustrate | C.estimate | D.emphasize |
A.climate | B.human | C.environmental | D.natural |
A.connected | B.coped | C.lived | D.competed |
A.trace | B.route | C.change | D.proposal |
A.interactive | B.ecological | C.productive | D.social |
A.in terms of | B.because of | C.except for | D.in addition to |
A.depend on | B.interact with | C.fight against | D.stay away |
A.inhabited | B.removed | C.developed | D.killed |
A.result | B.range | C.suffer | D.date |
A.origin | B.project | C.growth | D.diversity |
4 . Female penguins get stranded
Every year, thousands of Magellanic penguins (麦哲伦企鹅) get stranded along the coast of South America, but,
Magellanic penguins finish breeding in Patagonia in February, and, during the
Writing in the journal Current Biology, researchers in Japan and Argentina report how they
Previously it was unknown whether male and female’s took different paths or not. “Although some
The results from the study offer a clearer picture.
The authors offer a number of reasons why males and females may head to different areas— including to avoid
While researchers are still trying to understand why penguins end up stranded, Yamamoto and colleague’s suggest those that end up further north may have used more energy swimming or catching
“
While the findings may not help prevent strandings, Yamamoto said it could help with
A.desperately | B.puzzlingly | C.obviously | D.undoubtedly |
A.combination | B.frustration | C.conflict | D.imbalance |
A.following | B.previous | C.starting | D.finished |
A.dismissed | B.withdrawn | C.airlifted | D.extended |
A.attached | B.equipped | C.lifted | D.injected |
A.evaluations | B.assumptions | C.descriptions | D.conclusions |
A.deep-rooted | B.ice-covered | C.storm-stricken | D.female-biased |
A.Because | B.While | C.After | D.When |
A.legally | B.physically | C.typically | D.simply |
A.searching | B.competing | C.asking | D.defending |
A.widths | B.levels | C.depths | D.rates |
A.lighter | B.heavier | C.rougher | D.smoother |
A.fixed | B.scared | C.deposited | D.scattered |
A.After all | B.In addition | C.However | D.For example |
A.perseverance | B.conversation | C.conservation | D.reservation |
5 . Almost all animals sleep, but do they dream? We certainly can't ask animals if they dream, but we can at least
The story of how we
Researchers realised that causing a similar state in
Does the behaviour of cats in science experiments actually
A.foresee | B.cover | C.strengthen | D.observe |
A.disconnected | B.endless | C.uncomfortable | D.impossible |
A.made for | B.took over | C.worked out | D.turned down |
A.dialogues | B.ideals | C.movements | D.meanings |
A.animals | B.dreams | C.humans | D.changes |
A.imagined | B.prevented | C.appreciated | D.witnessed |
A.disasters | B.activities | C.successes | D.failures |
A.Physical | B.Accidental | C.Harmonious | D.Independent |
A.randomly | B.reluctantly | C.unconsciously | D.humanely |
A.sleeping | B.running | C.recording | D.studying |
A.To sum up | B.By comparison | C.For example | D.In other words |
A.location | B.prediction | C.moment | D.nature |
A.account for | B.rely on | C.qualify as | D.differ from |
A.doubt | B.certainty | C.specification | D.memory |
A.explain | B.explore | C.experience | D.experiment |
6 . What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is the largest of the five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the world’s oceans. It is located halfway between Hawaii and California.
PLASTIC
It is estimated that 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are entering the ocean each year from rivers. More than half of this plastic is less
The strong and floating plastics show resiliency(韧性) in the marine environment, allowing them to be transported over
Once these plastics enter the gyre(环流), they are unlikely to leave the area until they
LOCATION
Due to seasonal and interannual variabilities of winds and currents, the GPGP’s location and shape are constantly changing. Only floating objects that are
By simulating concentration levels in the North Pacific, the researchers were able to follow the location of the patch and found on average it orbits around 32°N and 145°W. However, the team observed seasonal
IMPACT ON WILDLIFE
Plastic has increasingly become a very common substance in the ocean. Due to its size and color, animals
Studies have shown that about 700 species have encountered marine debris, and 92% of these
IMPACT ON HUMANS AND SOCIETY
Once plastic enters the marine food web, there is a possibility that it will contaminate the human food chain as well. Through a process called bioaccumulation, chemicals in plastics will enter the body of the animal
A.ACCUMULATION | B.DRIFT | C.FLOATING | D.PROMOTION |
A.light | B.thick | C.tiny | D.dense |
A.adjusted | B.overdone | C.deposited | D.extended |
A.upgrade | B.degrade | C.assemble | D.disassemble |
A.transportation | B.estimation | C.concentration | D.location |
A.predominantly | B.rarely | C.previously | D.slightly |
A.similarity | B.shift | C.boost | D.figure |
A.exchange | B.substitute | C.leave | D.confuse |
A.implications | B.interactions | C.interferences | D.influences |
A.resting | B.feeding | C.risking | D.waiting |
A.mariner | B.prey | C.tracker | D.predator |
A.present | B.absent | C.current | D.reliable |
A.Likewise | B.However | C.Moreover | D.Therefore |
A.result in | B.remove from | C.stem from | D.bring about |
A.insufficient | B.adequate | C.insignificant | D.substantial |
7 . Dog lovers are well aware of the ability of a dog to communicate with its eyes. Now, scientific research suggests this ability developed over time as dogs learned to live with humans.
Just as with humans, the eyes can be one of the most
But a new study found evidence that dogs developed in physical ways to present “puppy dog eyes” as a way to help
The researchers
The dogs were found to have two well-formed muscles around the eye that were not
Comparative psychologist Juliane Kaminski led the research. The team suggests this eyebrow-raising movement causes a nurturing feeling in humans because it makes the dogs’ eyes appear larger.
This
In a separate part of the study, the researchers observed how 27 dogs and nine wolves
The researchers suggest that the eye movements developed over time as a way for dogs to get humans to do things for them. This could
The only dog species in the study that did not have the muscles was the Siberian husky, which is an ancient kind. The husky could be the best living example of what the
A.obvious | B.innovative | C.imposing | D.appealing |
A.improve on | B.connect with | C.speak of | D.cooperate with |
A.flexible | B.strong | C.facial | D.similar |
A.dated back | B.broke off | C.built up | D.moved away |
A.build | B.imagine | C.fit | D.change |
A.collected | B.estimated | C. elected | D.examined |
A.feature | B.similarity | C.difference | D.puzzle |
A.absent | B.invisible | C.present | D.dominant |
A.intensely | B.badly | C.scientifically | D. slowly |
A.feeling | B.reaction | C.expression | D.eyebrow |
A.powerful | B.fascinating | C.disappointing | D.satisfying |
A.played | B.interacted | C.tolerated | D.competed |
A.tailored | B.related | C.attached | D.exposed |
A.involve | B.consider | C.suggest | D.appreciate |
A.origin | B.link | C.difference | D.evolution |
8 . Gone are the days when big businesses were looked upon by environmentalists as enemies in the fight against global warming.
Just two weeks after U. S. President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the Paris Climate Agreement, more than 900 American firms put their
More recently, this enthusiasm for environmental protection has
According to the WWF, in the United States alone, nearly two dozen of the biggest firms have committed themselves to becoming 100 percent renewable in the near future. Hervé Touati of the Rocky Mountain Institute, a clean-energy research firm, explains the
Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s biggest brewer (啤酒公司), has lots of young people among its many
A.posters | B.innovations | C.names | D.donations |
A.for fear of | B.by means of | C.in line with | D.on account of |
A.In fact | B.On average | C.By contrast | D.In addition |
A.assessment | B.commitment | C.argument | D.attachment |
A.predictors | B.features | C.cases | D.forces |
A.changes | B.profits | C.mistakes | D.differences |
A.transferred | B.ranged | C.processed | D.extended |
A.food | B.store | C.supply | D.data |
A.opposite | B.equivalent | C.accustomed | D.second |
A.criticized | B.issued | C.welcomed | D.underlined |
A.content | B.accounts | C.activities | D.production |
A.inspirations | B.motivations | C.destinations | D.functions |
A.manufacturers | B.investors | C.customers | D.administrators |
A.considerably | B.skillfully | C.economically | D.occasionally |
A.heat | B.wind | C.water | D.power |
9 . The East African country of Kenya has been at the forefront of the global war on plastic since 2017, when officials banned plastic bags. In June 2020, the government
The material engineer’s search to find a(n)
She says, “I wanted to use my education in applied physics and material engineering to do something about the problem of plastic waste pollution. But I was very
Her company, Gjenge Makers, now hires 112 people and produces over 1,500 bricks a day. The pavers(铺路材料) are made using a mix of plastic products that cannot be reprocessed or recycled. The polymer is obtained
The collected plastic is
Matee, who was recently
A.modified | B.glorified | C.intensified | D.justified |
A.barely | B.nearly | C.mildly | D.equally |
A.leaked | B.turned | C.loaded | D.dumped |
A.modes | B.heaps | C.ports | D.mills |
A.personal | B.orderly | C.feasible | D.adjustable |
A.remind | B.convince | C.assure | D.direct |
A.get off | B.show off | C.give up | D.put out |
A.clear | B.fair | C.bold | D.mature |
A.enclosing | B.distributing | C.channelling | D.reversing |
A.distantly | B.openly | C.secretly | D.directly |
A.replaced | B.mixed | C.equipped | D.fixed |
A.reforming | B.recovering | C.resulting | D.recording |
A.recognized | B.criticized | C.claimed | D.defended |
A.level | B.grant | C.diploma | D.honour |
A.employment | B.experiment | C.entertainment | D.investment |
10 . The Greek historian Herodotus is said to have made one of the earliest lists of seven wonders of the world, including the still mysterious accomplishment of ancient horticulture known as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. More recent times saw natural
As environmental consciousness has risen in the west,
Most of us, in the rich countries where people take most holidays, understand better than ever that there are costs as well as benefits
One recent survey found that Windsor Great Park and Kew have become Britain’s most
This is not to minimise the destruction of nature that is also
A.limits | B.offerings | C.alternatives | D.superiors |
A.attitudes | B.chapters | C.bans | D.restorations |
A.Therefore | B.Moreover | C.Consequently | D.However |
A.conservation | B.transportation | C.admission | D.expression |
A.focus | B.threat | C.pose | D.balance |
A.in short | B.for example | C.by contrast | D.above all |
A.compared to | B.particular about | C.associated with | D.distant from |
A.local | B.remote | C.noble | D.overseas |
A.paradise | B.exhibition | C.shortage | D.boast |
A.genuine | B.fortunate | C.ignorant | D.popular |
A.adapted | B.connected | C.held | D.restored |
A.concentrating on | B.going away | C.taking place | D.figuring out |
A.miraculous | B.cheerful | C.economical | D.disastrous |
A.comfort | B.appreciation | C.splendor | D.behavior |
A.matters | B.debates | C.reflects | D.approaches |