1 . Zhangye Danxia Landform, also known as Zhangye Danxia Geological Park or Rainbow Mountains, is a fantastic geological wonder located in the province of Gansu, China. It is world-famous for its unique and vibrant rock formations, which display a magnificent range of colors, looking like a vivid palette (调色板) of a painter’s masterpiece.
This extraordinary landscape stretches across an area of approximately 510 square kilometers and is part of the larger Zhangye National Geopark. The Danxia Landform is characterized by its towering cliffs, deep valleys, and steep, multicolored rock formations, which have been shaped by millions of years of geological processes.
The distinct coloring of the rocks is the result of various mineral deposits (沉淀物) that have been exposed through erosion over time. Layers of different colored sandstone and minerals, such as iron and trace minerals, create an amazing visual display of intense reds, oranges, yellows, greens, and blues. The interplay of light and shadows on these majestic formations adds to their surreal beauty, especially during sunrise and sunset.
Zhangye Danxia Landform has gained global recognition and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its awe-inspiring beauty attracts tourists, photographers, and nature enthusiasts from around the world, who come to witness this geological phenomenon and immerse themselves in the wonderful natural surroundings. Beyond its scenic charm, the landform also holds significant scientific value. Geologists and researchers are drawn to the site to study its unique geological formations and solve the mysteries of its creation. It serves as a living laboratory, providing valuable insights into the Earth’s geological history and the forces that shape our planet.
Zhangye Danxia Landform stands as a piece of evidence of the remarkable beauty and diversity found in nature. Its vibrant colors, dramatic landscapes, and geological significance make it a must-visit destination for those seeking a profound connection with the natural world and a fascinating visual experience.
1. What has caused the formation of Zhangye Danxia Landform?| A．The wisdom of the natives. | B．The supernatural forces. |
| C．The ecological uniqueness. | D．The geological changes. |
| A．Difference. | B．Interaction. | C．Comparison. | D．Separation. |
| A．It enjoys widespread recognition only in China. |
| B．It plays a key role in tourism and scientific research. |
| C．Its multicolored rocks are the products of extreme weather. |
| D．It is a must-see destination for its old and fascinating stories. |
| A．To call on people to protect Zhangye Danxia Landform. |
| B．To give tips on how to appreciate Zhangye Danxia Landform. |
| C．To introduce the beauty and wonder of Zhangye Danxia Landform. |
| D．To clear up long-held misunderstandings of Zhangye Danxia Landform. |
2 . Emotions (情感) are an essential part of how we experience our world. We humans can express emotions by telling others how we feel—but what about animals? Since animals cannot tell us how they feel, how can we know whether they experience emotions? Researchers have only started to find out truth about this in the past few decades.
The most easily noticeable reaction of an animal to an event is how it changes its behaviour. Humans often change facial expressions and gestures depending on whether we experience a pleasant event or not. If you look at your friends’ faces, you can often very quickly tell if they are happy, fearful, or angry. Animals show these characteristic facial expressions as well! So-called grimace scales (表情量表) for horses, pigs, sheep, rats, and cats have already been developed. For example, changes in ear position, the amount of visible eye white, and tension in the chewing muscles can indicate different levels of pain or fear in animals.
Another example of animal behaviour that is linked to emotions involves vocalisations (发声), such as grunts, bleats, and moos, which can indicate stress in many species. We know this is true for humans too: imagine you are singing a song in front of many people; your voice might get shaky if you are nervous or experiencing stage fright. Researchers have found that the vocalisations of pigs, goats, and cows also change and get less harmonious when these animals are under stress. For example, when they are separated from the group, they produce the sound that indicates negative emotions
The evidence of emotions in animals might encourage us to rethink the environments in which we keep the animals that are under our care—on farms, in zoos, or in our houses. If we can better understand how animals interact and react to their environments, we can ultimately improve these environments, and thus improve human-animal relationships. It must be our ethical goal to decrease the negative emotions these animals experience, as well as to increase their experience of positive emotions.
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．The behavioural habits of animals. |
| B．The emotional lives of animals. |
| C．A study of human-animal relationships. |
| D．Ways to improve emotional intelligence of animals. |
| A．To make out how animals truly feel. |
| B．To determine whether animals are hungry. |
| C．To develop animals’ ability to show emotions. |
| D．To measure different levels of happiness in animals |
| A．Vocalisations are a clear sign of animals’ loneliness. |
| B．Vocalisations are unique and natural in animals. |
| C．Humans can get benefits from the vocalisations. |
| D．Animals’ stress can be shown through the vocalisations. |
| A．It makes the ties between humans and animals better. |
| B．It helps animals adapt to new environments quickly. |
| C．It decreases the positive emotions that animals experience. |
| D．It improves the interaction between animals and their environments. |
3 . A recent scientific report says that more than one-fifth of the world’s reptiles (爬行动物) are at the risk of dying out.
Reptiles are cold-blooded, which means their bodies have the same temperature as the around them, Examples of reptiles include animals like snakes, lizards, and crocodiles.
The study is the first worldwide measurement of how threatened different species of reptiles are. For 15 years, between 2007 and 2022, researchers collected information on over 10,000 different kinds of reptiles. The new report has revealed some unhappy news-21% of all reptile species are in danger of extinction. That’s over 1,800 species in all. The study reported that at least 3l species of reptiles have already gone extinct.
The main reason why these reptiles are faced with extinction is that humans are taking over more and more of their habitat. More land continues to be cleared to make room for cities and towns. Large areas of land are also being cleared so that they can be used as farmland. Logging—cutting down trees for wood—is another big threat to reptile habitat.
When we talk about reptiles, many people may think of hot, dry areas. But some of the most endangered reptiles live in forests. The new study reports that 30% of reptile species that live in forests are at the risk of dying out. Turtles and crocodiles are among the most threatened reptiles—60% of turtle species and 50% of crocodile species are at the risk of extinction.
Similar worldwide studies were made of birds, mammals, and amphibians (两栖动物) more than ten years ago. The authors of the report say it is harder to collect the money needed to study reptiles. They believe that’s because furry (覆盖皮毛的) or feathery animals like mammals and birds are more popular with most people.
Scientists say that the good news is that we know what must be done to protect reptiles. Bruce Young, one of the leaders of the study, says, “We have all the tools we need.” Protecting natural areas, especially rain forests, is at the top of the list.
1. What should be responsible for the loss of reptile habitat according to Para, 4?| A．Changes in agricultural practices. | B．Environmental pollution. |
| C．Climate change. | D．Human activities. |
| A．Snake species. | B．Lizard species. |
| C．Crocodile species. | D．Turtle species. |
| A．They are less popular than furry or feathery animals |
| B．Most people are not aware that they are endangered. |
| C．It is much more expensive to do research on them. |
| D．It is much harder to find and observe them. |
| A．Reptiles have their own way of living in their habitat. |
| B．Many reptile species are at the risk of going extinct. |
| C．Many reptile species are protected by a lot of laws. |
| D．Reptiles play an important role in an ecosystem. |
4 . Anand Malligavad, known as the “Lake Man” in India, is a mechanical engineer from Bengaluru. He has spent his life studying ancient techniques for keeping lakes clean. Malligavad has successfully restored (恢复) many lakes, covering a total surface area of 800 acres. These lakes now hold 106 million gallons of water, and the groundwater level in those regions has increased by eight feet.
It was in 2017, and he was out for a walk with colleagues when he fell into a smelly, dirty lake. Then the very next day, he asked his company if they would fund the restoration of the 36-acre lake. However, they were uncertain whether Malligavad could do this. Determined to succeed, Malligavad took it upon himself to study the history of the lake and familiarize himself with various lake restoration methods. Four months later, Malligavad received funding from his company, which enabled him to start working on this project in the city of Bengaluru.
With the aid of hundreds of volunteers, they removed the waste and opened the channel. Malligavad then adopted the ancient Chola method to build mud walls that channel the extra rainwater into the lakes for agricultural use. It took them just 45 days and then they waited for the rains. Six months later, when the rainy season came, he was out boating on a fresh, clean lake. “When I saw the lake, I felt younger, and I wanted to jump into it,” Malligavad said.
Since this first win, Malligavad has not stopped. He has created a non-profit organization called The lake Revivers Collective. “All I have is a sense of urgency that if we don’t repair the damage we’ve already caused,” he said, “it’s going to end badly for all of us. Water shortage is a major problem in Bengaluru, Water tankers (水罐车) must drive in to meet the population’s needs.” His methods help to solve the problem, and even attract wildlife.
1. Why is Malligavad called the “Lake Man” in India?| A．He has created the newest ways of cleaning up lakes. |
| B．He lives by fishing in many lakes. |
| C．He is devoted to restoring lakes. |
| D．He is good at boating on lakes. |
| A．By introducing the history of the lake to the public. |
| B．By doing research into the lake to win support. |
| C．By discontinuing the restoration project. |
| D．By seeking help from other companies. |
| A．Challenging and dissatisfying. |
| B．Traditional but useless. |
| C．Practical and fruitful. |
| D．Creative but costly. |
| A．A serious lack of water resources. |
| B．His passion for wildlife protection. |
| C．The wish to attract public attention. |
| D．His desire to help purchase water tankers. |
5 . Once the stuff of sci-fi fantasy, robots and robotic technology are now used in many aspects of daily life, ranging from manufacturing to medicine and everything in between. While humanity is still far from having robot servants at home, robots are commonly used on production lines in factories, and even for specific movements during operation.
Recently, one Estonian company decided to repurpose (改变……的用途) its technology for a reason that’s beneficial for the environment. Robot manufacturer Milrem, which previously produced autonomous tanks, partnered with the University of Tartu to develop robot foresters that can plant and care for trees.
The decision to create autonomous foresters came after Milrem realized that its technology, which had been developed for military use , could be useful in other areas. “We started looking into what else we could do with these unmanned robots”, Mart Noorma, director at Milrem, told Research Estonia. “Together with our partners at universities and public offices, we realized that we could be helpful in automating many industries.”
The robots, which resemble mini tanks , operate in pairs. One robot works as a planter , putting down as many as 380 young trees in as little as six hours. During the planting stage, the robot records the exact location of each young tree. The other robot follows its path, cutting vegetation and cutting brush, so that the newly planted trees can thrive.
To navigate their surroundings, the robots use LiDAR and GPS systems. LiDAR uses laser technology to create a three-dimensional geometric map of the environment. Interesting Engineering reported that the robots also use high resolution camera systems to fill in the gaps around obstacles (障碍) and ensure the map’s accuracy.
The efficiency and speed of these tree-planting robots give them the high potential to help reverse (逆转) deforestation, a critical issue affecting the planet.
1. Why did Milrem decide to repurpose its technology?| A．To make more money. | B．To help in medicine. |
| C．To create a big brand. | D．To protect the environment. |
| A．About 50. | B．About 63. |
| C．About 190. | D．About 380. |
| A．LiDAR makes it easier to identify the trees. |
| B．The robots will improve the environment around the plants. |
| C．The map’s accuracy results from high resolution camera systems. |
| D．The tree planting robots are bound to be widely used soon. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Unclear. | D．Disapproving. |
6 . Being in nature is really good for you. Even just seeing nature on your way to school will brighten your day. This is the experience that is being recreated in Birmingham, England.
Once the area around Birmingham was filled with orchards (果园), resulting in its being called “a city surrounded by blossoms (花朵)”. However, by the 1900s, industrialization (工业化) had begun to take hold, and the orchards were destroyed to make room for buildings and factories. And according to the National Trust, Birmingham has lost 85% of its trees since the beginning of the 20th century.
But on January 17, 2023 that began to change. According to the website Secret Birmingham, a number 11 bus left its stations filled with trees instead of people. All along its 27-mile path, the bus dropped off those trees to citizens, schools, and community groups, who then planted them. All in all, about 600 trees have been handed out.
“Blossom is not only beautiful, but it’s also important for the wellbeing of the environment,” says Lucy Reid, who’s leading the Birmingham project. “It’s also great for pollinators (传粉者), such as bees, which help trees produce fruit, and the trees also help to clean the air.”
This isn’t the first time the National Trust has helped Birmingham blossom. The Trust created “blossoms pop-ups” as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. According to the project, blossoming tree installations (装置) were set up in various well-known Birmingham locations such as St. Philip’s Cathedral Square.
The National trust has also started blossoming tree projects in other UK cities. In 2021, it created the London Blossom Garden, and now the Trust is planting fruit trees in Plymouth, Newcastle, and Nottingham. Its work is important for the protection of the country’s wildlands and climate. However, their Blossoming Birmingham project shows that protecting a country’s nature not only helps the environment but brings joy and beauty to people as well.
1. What led to the loss of orchards in Birmingham?| A．Extreme climate. | B．Poor management. |
| C．City development. | D．Decreasing production. |
| A．By filling the buses with blossoms. | B．By sending its people to plant trees. |
| C．By providing trees for people to plant. | D．By surrounding bus stations with trees. |
| A．The importance of farming. | B．The purposes of their project. |
| C．The ways to protect the planet. | D．The benefits of flowering trees. |
| A．Beautifying the Earth naturally. |
| B．Bringing nature back to England. |
| C．Improving the living conditions for people. |
| D．Taking the lead in protecting the environment. |
7 . Antarctica (南极洲) is a great, icy land mass, surrounded by the huge Southern Ocean. The ice in Antarctica doesn’t just cover the land. There’s also a huge area of sea ice which floats (漂浮) on the ocean’s surface.
However, scientists have reported that Antarctica’s sea ice is at a record low level. That’s worrying because the sea ice is an important part of the Earth’s cooling system. When it’s frozen, sea ice throws sunlight back out into space. But when the sea ice melts (融化), the water left behind is darker, and takes in and keeps more heat.
Every year, the sea ice at the South Pole goes through a cycle of melting and freezing. In summer, the huge masses of sea ice melt to their smallest point. Over the colder winter months, the sea ice grows and grows until it covers an extremely wide area. For most of this time, Antarctica has seemed to be almost unaffected by the changing weather conditions. In fact, until recent years, Antarctica’s sea ice area mainly set records for growing. That began to shrink.
This year, Antarctica’s sea ice was at a new record low — not just by a little bit, but by a lot. The last time Antarctica’s low sea ice set a record at the end of winter was in 1986. And this year, there’s about 398,000 square miles less sea ice than in 1986.
Scientists are working hard to better understand Antarctica. It’s not yet clear if the low sea ice level is a short-term problem, or part of climate change. The concern is that the melting sea ice could start a cycle that might cause even more ice to melt.
The ice loss problems in Antarctica are fairly recent, but the same is not true at the North Pole. where the low level of sea ice has been a concern for years. But the present situation is now similar in both places.
1. What makes the sea ice important for humans？| A．It helps cool the planet. |
| B．It increases the area of land. |
| C．It affects the height of the sea level. |
| D．It has the cycle of melting and freezing. |
| A．Cooling off. | B．Moving. | C．Breaking up. | D．Reducing. |
| A．It will become a long-term problem. |
| B．It will take time to discover its cause. |
| C．It will lead to rapid changes in climate. |
| D．It will affect its melting-and-freezing cycle. |
| A．the influence of Antarctica’s low sea ice level |
| B．the seriousness of Antarctica’s low sea ice level |
| C．the importance of dealing with climate change |
| D．the differences between Antarctica and the North Pole |
8 . McCormick Place in Chicago, the largest convention center (会议中心) in North America, is covered in glass that is enjoyable for humans but deadly for birds. On Oct. 5, over 1,000 migrating birds died from colliding with (相撞) its glass walls in a single day.
One key reason for the accident is the glass. During the day, birds fly toward glass as it reflects a perfect image of the sky and nearby trees. As night falls, the bright light from glass buildings attracts birds who fly according to the location of the moon and stars. The collision happened on the night of Oct. 5, when the lights in the building were on for an event.
After colliding with a building, many birds will die on the spot from a broken skull. Others may continue to fly for some distance, but they rarely survive for more than a few hours, as Brendon Samuels, who researches bird window collisions at the University of Western Ontario, Canada, told The Guardian.
Every year, nearly one billion birds collide with glass in the US, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In China, bird collisions are not uncommon, either. In the autumn of 2022 and spring of 2023, the National Anti-bird Collisions Action Alliance reported a total of 190 cases of bird collisions, which included several types of birds listed as second-class protected wildlife.
These tragedies could have been avoided if appropriate measures had been taken. Many places around the world have already put forward bird-related guidelines on building design. These include reducing the use of glass in building walls and applying bird-friendly materials and visual markers to the buildings’ walls. Turning off lights at night during migration seasons can also significantly help reduce bird collisions. Alongside guidelines on bird-friendly building design, people can also do their bit to help birds by putting stickers on glass windows in their homes and closing the curtains at night.
1. Why did so many birds crash into the building on Oct. 5?| A．It was newly built. | B．It was noisy at night. |
| C．It was lit up that night. | D．It was invisible at night. |
| A．They may die soon after. | B．They may survive after all. |
| C．They may change their direction. | D．They may be saved by researchers. |
| A．Bird collisions happen a lot. | B．Birds can be damaging to buildings. |
| C．Bird collisions never happened before 2022 | D．Protected birds can avoid crashing into building. |
| A．Draw the curtains during the day. | B．Use visual markers on buildings’ walls. |
| C．Change the color of the light in buildings. | D．Use environmental-friendly building material. |
9 . There is no doubt that human activity has an effect on the planet. We see the evidence (证据) of mankind’ s endeavors all around us. Overall, it seems that human activity harms the Earth more than benefits it makes. As is vividly (生动地) betrayed (背叛) in the photo above, due to over development, there is limited land being set aside for endangered animals.
Absolutely, we should reserve some land for the world’s animals for the following reasons. First, mankind’s need for land is constantly growing. If the demand is not checked controlled in some way, humans will eventually develop all of the earth’s available land. At that time, mankind will have no more room to grow, and all the wild animals will have disappeared, as well as other valuable resources. Second, humans are able to innovate (创新) and can use the land that they already possess in more efficient ways. Animals are unable to do this. Once their land is taken away from them, they will die. Third and last, endangered animals are an important part of the biodiversity of our planet. If they disappear, we cannot predict what the effect will be. Therefore, we should treat such animals as a valuable resource to be protected.
To sum up, the world’s endangered animals are an important resource and we should protect them by setting aside some land for them. Although mankind’s need for land continues to grow, people are intelligent and inventive enough to put the land into use properly. In this way, we can have enough land for farming, housing and industry,and preserve the biodiversity of the planet at the same time.
1. What are some of the reasons to keep some land for the world’s animals?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．We don’t see evidence of human effort all around us. |
| B．Human activities harm the planet more than good. |
| C．There is no constant growth in human demand for land. |
| D．Animal species are an important part of the planet’s biodiversity. |
| A．Journal of child science. | B．Environmental Protection News. |
| C．Global Business Times. | D．Industrial news. |
10 . Animals are important living creatures on our planet. They play a significant role in maintaining the balance of nature. However, due to human activities like deforestation (采伐森林), poaching, pollution, and habitat destruction, many animal species have either become extinct or are on the verge of extinction.
Animals are the natural resources wasted by human beings in history. Animals were killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sports, just because they hindered the disappearance of thousands of animals from the earth. Today, hundreds of animals are on the danger list, which are considered to be in danger in the United States alone.
Why should people care? Because we need animals, and because once they’re gone, there won’t be any more animals. They’re not just beautiful or interesting food. They’re not just a source of food.
Every animal has its place in the balance of nature. Destroying an animal can cause a lot of problems. For example, when farmers kill a lot of eagles, farmers’ corn and grain stores are destroyed by rats.
Why? Because eagles eat rats and mice. When there are no eagles to control their numbers, rats and mice reproduce very quickly. Fortunately, some people are trying to help save animals. Some groups raise funds to let people know about this problem.They are trying to get the government to protect animals in danger through laws. Quite a number of countries have passed laws that prohibit killing any animal or plant on the dangerous list. The number of some animals in danger is increasing.
As responsible citizens, it is our duty to take necessary steps to protect animals and their habitats. One way to do this is by creating awareness about the importance of conservation. We should educate people on the significance of wildlife and the role we play in protecting it. We should also urge governments to take action in preserving animal habitats and to enforce (实施) laws to prevent poaching and illegal trade of wildlife.
Another way to protect animals is by supporting organizations that work towards animal conservation. These organizations rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals back into their natural habitat. They also conduct research and raise awareness about endangered species.
In conclusion, protecting animals is not just a responsibility, but a necessity. We should take necessary steps to conserve wildlife and their habitats to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for all living creatures on earth.
1. The author’s attitude towards animals is _____.| A．positive | B．negative | C．neutral | D．indifferent |
| A．They play a significant role in maintaining the balance of nature. |
| B．They are a source of food. |
| C．They are beautiful and interesting. |
| D．They are not related to human beings. |
| A．Because they are interested in animals. |
| B．Because they want to make money. |
| C．Because they realize the importance of animals. |
| D．Because they are ordered to do so by the government. |
| A．to describe the importance of animals |
| B．to criticize human activities that harm animals |
| C．to call on people to protect animals |
| D．to introduce some endangered animals |
