1 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.

In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.

The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.

They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.

So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.

1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?

A．An amazing autumn game.	B．A common sight in gardens.
C．A hot attraction in the north.	D．An extreme weather event.

2. What is the received wisdom?

A．Fallen leaves need not be cleared.

B．Fallen leaves protect shorter grass.

C．Fallen leaves block photosynthesis.

D．Fallen leaves are hard to break down.

3. The new research finds clearing fallen leaves makes little sense, because ________.

A．it ruins city image	B．it breaks gardening rules
C．it affects local economy	D．it causes ecological damage

4. What’s the author’s attitude to Wisconsin University’s study?

A．Doubtful.

B．Positive.

C．Unclear.

D．Worried.

2 . The Best Caves in The World

Hang Son Doong, Vietnam

Natural caves don’t come much larger than Hang Son Doong, close to the border between Laos and Vietnam. This cave possesses the largest cross-section of any known cave on the planet, a vast area that is difficult to describe. Supposedly, a Boeing 747 could fly through without damaging its wings, but that doesn’t really do justice to the vastness of Hang Son Doong. The stalactites (钟乳石) here are pretty massive too, with some reaching up to 80 metres.

Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

Glowworms (萤火虫) are there, as far as the eye can see. Okay, not literally, but the Waitomo Cave system on New Zealand’s North Island is best-known for the fluorescent fauna that light up the walls, giving it the not-particularly-creative but completely acceptable “Glowworm Caves” nickname. They are more accessible than other caves on this list, with rafting and adventure tours available to those looking for something a little more thrilling.

Mammoth Cave, the USA

If you have certain expectations from somewhere called “Mammoth Cave”, that is entirely understandable. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, an incredible 420 miles of underground wonder. That’s twice as long as the next longest, by the way, although it isn’t unusual for the USA to go all out on such things.

Reed Flute (芦笛) Cave, China

Named after the reeds that grow outside, which are used to make flutes, obviously, the Reed Flute Cave’s walls are covered with inscriptions from centuries gone by—if evidence was needed that people have been paying attention to this place for a long old time. The inside part of the cave is also lit up by multicoloured lights, giving it a real otherworldly theme that adds weight to the nickname.

1. What is special about Hang Son Doong?

A．It was once a base of a factory.

B．It is the deepest cave in the world.

C．It has the highest stalactites in the world.

D．It owns the largest cross-section in the world.

2. Which of the following can be much easier to enter?

A．Hang Son Doong.	B．Waitomo Caves.
C．Mammoth Cave.	D．Reed Flute Cave.

3. Which country probably has the longest cave system in the world?

A．Vietnam.

B．New Zealand.

C．The USA.

D．China.

3 . National parks are an excellent way to explore all the beauty that the world has to offer: whether it’s endangered species, erupting volcanoes and snowy mountains, or rainforests and lakes. Of the thousands of national parks that exist in the world, these are the ones that should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Yorkshire Dales, United Kingdom

Contrary (相反) to the popular link of national parks with the wilderness, it is filled with winding valleys, hills and villages where over 24,000 people live and work. Visitors can walk through grassland, visit waterfalls or explore underground caves, but Yorkshire Dales is also home to several food shops, and the park hosts cheese festivals and farmers markets regularly, so it’s best to go hungry.

Kakadu National Park, Australia

It is a delight for those who like a bit of history mixed with the biodiversity of national parks. While it houses thousands of species of wildlife, there’s more to the national park than that.

Guilin and Lijiang River National Park, China

It is surrounded by striking natural beauty and can be explored by land. But the river national park, as the name suggests, is best explored through leisurely boat rides that take visitors through many ancient towns that come along the way of the river.

Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

Here’s a surprising fact: The whole of Vatnajökull National Park makes up 14% of Iceland’s territory! The park is usually open for hikes around the glaciers; boat rides through glacier lakes, and tours that take visitors through the park’s many ice caves, waterfalls, and icebergs. Vatnajökull is also where two of Iceland’s most active volcanoes are located.

1. What is recommended for a trip to Yorkshire Dales?

A．Recording local customs.

B．Skiing in the snowy mountains.

C．Going with an empty stomach.

D．Watching the eruption of volcanoes.

2. Which park is the best choice for observing diverse wildlife?

A．Yorkshire Dales.

B．Kakadu National Park.

C．Vatnajökull National Park.

D．Guilin and Lijiang River National Park.

3. What do the last two national parks have in common?

A．There are many ancient towns.

B．There are various ice caves inside.

C．They are aimed at protecting rivers.

D．They can be explored through boats.

5 . Five Most Beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the USA

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites are some of the most beautiful places in the world. They represent a unique collection of landmarks, and the five parks in USA really deserve to be treated as such.

 Yellowstone National Park, USA

The world’s first national park sits on top of a volcanic hot spot and offers everything from great views to fun activities and wildlife sightings. Home to lush forests, hot springs, alpine rivers, geyers, and more, it’s not hard to see why it’s one of the greatest parks in the USA.

 Grand Canyon National Park, USA

Thanks to the erosion from the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is among the best spectacles on the planet. Stretching almost 300 miles, this magnificent valley is almost a mile deep and the width varies between less than a half mile to almost 19 miles.

 Yosemite National Park, USA

Yosemite’s glacial landform secures its spot among the best parks in the USA. This amazing park is also typically recognized because of its huge sequoias (红杉) and granite cliffs. In addition, you’ll find all sorts of picture-worthy meadows, waterfalls, streams, mountains, and a variety of plants and animals.

 Carlsbad Caverns National Park, USA

A karst landscape defines Carlsbad Caverns National Park which houses more than 119 caves. Its two main standouts are the namesake Carlsbad Cavern and Lechuguilla Cave. Both are known for their natural beauty, reef formations, and geologic features, but Carlsbad Cavern is famous for having one of the largest limestone cave chambers in the country at 4,000 feet long while Lechuguilla Cave owes its fame to its rare speleothems, or secondary mineral deposits, that provide a natural laboratory to study biological and geological processes.

 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, USA

Home to two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 in recognition of its outstanding natural values. The park is one of the biggest attractions in Hawaii as it offers visitors dramatic volcanic landscapes and glimpses of rare flora and fauna.

1. Which fame do Yellowstone National Park and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park share?

A．Volcanoes.	B．Snow-covered landscapes.
C．Rare flora.	D．Home to lush forests.

2. What has shaped Grand Canyon’s landscape?

A．Caves	B．erosion
C．Rare plants.	D．Hot springs.

3. Which park showcases glacial landform?

A．Yellowstone National Park

B．Grand Canyon National Park

C．Yosemite National Park

D．Carlsbad Caverns National Park

7 . 阅读短文，并根据短文内容回答问题。

The most wonderful thing that has come into my life is a Golden Retriever called Bonny. Bonny has been trained by an organization called Assistance Dogs for Independence, so she could help me become independent. I often rely on other people in my life, and it even keeps me from making my own decisions in most situations. Why? Because when you have to depend on others, the decision does not become totally yours.

I developed Cerebral Palsy(脑瘫) at the age of twelve months as a result of food poisoning(中毒). That made me physically disabled, making me totally rely on others. Because of that, I often felt sad. I considered myself to be useless and was often in a low mood.

My recent visit to the Spastic Centre with Bonny caused the therapists(治疗师) to notice the change in my attitude and mood. They always tried to help me become positive, but they said it was Bonny that had made such a difference. They were so impressed that they invited me to talk to Assistance Dogs for Independence about such dogs because they were sure that other people like me would also need the assistance of such a dog.

I totally agreed with them and decided to do that. The costs of carers who are paid to help people like me are very high. And family members have to spend a lot of time taking care of such people as me. With such a dog as Bonny, things could be much easier.

However, I will still need the carers’ help in areas where a dog can’t help. I just want to say such a dog is really helpful to such people as me.

1. Why can’t the author make his own decisions sometimes? (no more than 10 words)

____________________________________________________________

2. How did the author develop Cerebral Palsy? (no more than 10 words)

____________________________________________________________

3. What does the underlined word “assistance” in Paragraph 3 mean? (1 word)

____________________________________________________________

4. What does the author think of carers for such people as him? (no more than 5 words)

____________________________________________________________

5. What do you think of such dogs as Bonny after reading the text? Why? (no more than 20 words)

____________________________________________________________

10 . Trapping used to be a way to make a good living. That has certainly changed over the past several years. The demand for furs is nearly gone. Environmentalists think trapping is wrong.     1    

Martin started trapping when he was nine. He makes a pretty good living by trapping animals like rabbits, foxes, etc. He traps enough animals to make up for low fur prices. “    2     I can make up for low fur prices by bringing in more than the average trapper,” he said. Farmers also hire Martin to trap annoying animals. He receives two dollars for each gopher he traps. The Department of Natural Resources has also contracted with Martin. About twelve times a year, he traps beavers that have destroyed private land.

    3     For example, his home is filled with animal skins. It’s also not easy. for him to take a day off. State law requires that traps be checked every day. “It can be very hard work,” Martin said.     4     “Then, I spend the rest of the evening skinning animals and preparing for the next day. I really don’t get a day off during trapping season.”

As a full-time trapper, Martin worries about the views people have of his profession. He thinks that most anti-trapping groups don’t understand that trapping animals helps in the long run. “    5     They don’t understand the animals’ environment,” he said. “There are areas where I can’t trap right . now. Most of the animals in those areas are sick with disease because of the lack of food and overpopulation. I’d like to show anyone who is against trapping some of the terrible things I’ve seen.”

A．Most of these people don’t know how animals live.

B．Rabbits aren’t the trapper’s most valuable creatures.

C．Trapping full time does have its drawbacks, though.

D．For me, quantity is much more important than quality.

E．Besides, trapping brings him and his family other benefits.

F．My day usually starts before the sun rises, and it lasts until after dark.

G．However, for 24-year-old Johnny Martin, trapping remains’ a way of life.