1 . Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands are remote, rocky and endlessly fascinating. The wildlife encounters are quietly breathtaking and the scenery is amazing. The chance to experience this special region on an adventure voyage is both an advantage and an inspiration, and now also an opportunity to give back by getting involved in scientific research.
Citizen science — where you help scientists collect data that feeds into important research projects — gathers valuable data for making informed decisions about urgent issues like climate change and wildlife conservation. “It gave the trip more purpose.” is in the words of one citizen scientist.
Becoming a citizen scientist is simple. All of our polar voyage partners operate citizen science programmes on their ships. Fun, interactive and informative, they are completely voluntary and no prior scientific knowledge is required. It’s about sharing new discoveries and deepening your connection to the natural world with small groups of like-minded people.
On a typical citizen science programme, you will usually be invited to participate in at least one session on most days. A typical day might involve a seabird count at 14:00 and a cloud survey at 18:00. Or you might be photographing whales and noting their unique markings. In addition, a citizen science coordinator (协调员) will arrange short lectures.
Take two examples from Polar Latitudes (the first to offer citizen science projects in the polar regions), and their ship the Seaventure: citizen scientists studying cloud formations in Antarctica have provided a great deal of information about how global warming is deeply impacting climate change. Just a few readings taken during the course of each voyage have resulted in a wealth of data. Thousands of whale tail photos taken by citizen scientists, meanwhile, provided data that was crucial to the creation of a 20,000-sq-km slow-down zone to reduce ship strikes.
There are often multiple chances to collaborate (协作) on different projects during your voyage and on-board citizen science coordinators will keep you posted on the projects you can participate in each day.
1. What is an adventure voyage in Antarctica now special for?| A．The chance to contribute to scientific studies. |
| B．The opportunity to experience wildlife encounters. |
| C．The possibility of visiting remote and rocky regions. |
| D．The availability of interactive entertaining programmes. |
| A．By presenting short lectures on the ship. | B．By passing a basic scientific knowledge test. |
| C．By making a citizen scientific research plan. | D．By volunteering to attend a citizen science project. |
| A．Conducting field experiments. | B．Analyzing historical weather data. |
| C．Organizing book sharing meetings. | D．Assisting with animal conservation efforts. |
| A．They require broad scientific knowledge. |
| B．They make a great difference to scientific research. |
| C．They are available on every voyage in the Antarctic. |
| D．They mainly focus on global warming and its impact. |
2 . The winner of the Natural History Museum of London’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award is Nima Sarikhani, for her image of a polar bear sleeping on sea ice, which is called “Ice Bed”. It was taken in Norway’s Svalbard archipelago.
Sarikhani spent three days looking for polar bears but without success as they were trapped in a thick fog. But then, as the ship came across some sea ice, she saw two polar bears. She and her team tracked them for eight hours. And under the light of the midnight sun, the bear clawed out a bed on a small iceberg before sleeping.
The photograph inspires strong emotions in all its viewers. While climate change is the biggest challenge for humans, the photograph also inspires hope that there is still time to fix the mess we have caused.
Polar bears are known to dig themselves spots to sleep in, which are sometimes referred to as “day bed”. They’re also known to take one-to two-hour-long sleeps, especially after a good meal.
According to the museum, the area where the polar bear was taken on film is among the most isolated (孤立) in the world, and holds a population of 19 polar bears that rely on the sea ice to travel and hunt offshore. But air temperatures in Svalbard have increased by 3℃ to 5℃over the past 40 to 50 years, which has resulted in heavy winter rainfall and some areas being ice-free most of the year. While the bears that follow sea ice may still be able to hunt year-round, this is increasingly over deeper waters, which may be less productive.
Less sea ice for polar bears to use as a way to safely travel has also led to the animals having less genetic (基因的) diversity. There aren’t as many opportunities for different groups to mix. This is leading to increased inbreeding among local bears.
At present, Svalbard’s polar bear population is still considered to be stable, but as global temperatures continue to increase, that may not be the case for long.
1. What made it difficult for Sarikhani to spot polar bears in the beginning?| A．The outdated equipment. | B．The terrible weather. |
| C．The lack of support. | D．The tight schedule. |
| A．The loss of sea ice. | B．The extremely low temperature. |
| C．The isolated position. | D．The increase in genetic diversity. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Worried. | C．Unclear. | D．Optimistic. |
| A．Norway’s Svalbard Archipelago | B．The Biggest Challenge for Polar Bears |
| C．An Award-Winning Photo “Ice Bed” | D．The Reduction in Polar Bear Population |
3 . A 15m sperm whale (抹香鲸) beached itself in shallow (浅的) waters over the weekend because of ill health. Beachgoers were excited about the giant whale swimming so close to the shore, with many filming the experience as swimmers went right up to it to take a closer look. One person said the whale looked “happy” as it came close to the shore before moving back to deeper water. While local swimmers were excited to see the whale, they risked their own safety and could have made the whale feel upset and anxious by swimming so close to it.
“I think it’s protecting itself from any hunters, positioning itself in a way that we might expect in an animal who’s not well and needs to rest,” said Mark Cugley, who studies whales. “It became grounded on shallow sandbars, and it would swim off again. Then it would get grounded again. That’s why we need to fully assess (评估) its health.” Mr. Cugley said experts had examined the whale and it appeared to be unwell.
Sperm whales usually live far offshore and hardly ever come into shallow water. Lone whales often beach themselves when they are sick, injured or old and are looking for shallow waters to rest, according to whales. org. But without deep water to support their weight, whales can become badly injured inside their bodies and could die at sea if humans attempted to rescue them by moving them back into deeper waters.
Authorities were deciding on the best way to kill the animal humanely in the coming days, if need be, in line with requirements of the International Whaling Convention. In the meantime, authorities would continue to pour water on the whale to keep it wet and comfortable and stop it getting hurt from the summer sun.
1. Why did the sperm whale swim to shallow waters?| A．It was in bad health. | B．It was attacked by swimmers. |
| C．It was busy hunting. | D．It was frightened by beachgoers. |
| A．It is interesting. | B．It is safe. | C．It is meaningful. | D．It is risky. |
| A．Uncaring. | B．Concerned. | C．Helpless. | D．Surprised. |
| A．They want to build a better home. | B．They run into trouble due to humans. |
| C．Their lives will be put in danger. | D．Their bodies can support their weight. |
4 . Rescue Dog Frida played an important role in many natural disasters. She saved many people during her working life. Now she has moved on to a more peaceful life after her huge contribution.
Frida is a 10-year-old yellow dog. She spent her life helping rescue survivors around the world after natural disasters. And now she’s finally exchanging her working equipment for something else: a dog toy.
After a long career saving people’s lives, Frida has retired from rescue work, according to Mexico’s government. While she has found at least 41 bodies and a dozen people alive over her career, the dog became well-known after a deadly earthquake in Mexico in 2017.
Frida and her trainer were called in after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that rocked Mexico City in 2017. The dog worked with other rescue dogs and became a symbol of hope for many in the area during the time. Fifteen dogs were called in during the search, but Frida was the most popular on social media.
Last summer, a statue of her was shown at a park in Puebla City. Next to her statue (雕像) is a statue of her trainer, Israel Arauz. A plaque (牌匾) in front of the two reads: “Memorable symbols of the strength Mexicans can have when we decide to come together for great causes.”
In addition to her famous work after the 2017 earthquake, she also worked on two international groups after earthquakes in Haiti and Ecuador. Frida’s retirement was part of the navy’s “International Day of the Rescuer”. She was given a toy at the ceremony to celebrate her retirement. Frida stole the heart of all Mexico and thousands more abroad. Her bark (犬吠声) always gave hope.
1. What will Frida do for the rest of her life?| A．Save people after natural disasters strike. |
| B．Enjoy her life after retirement. |
| C．Help people deal with earthquakes. |
| D．Find more animals that are lost. |
| A．She found at least 41 bodies. |
| B．She became interested in dog toys. |
| C．She became very famous on social media. |
| D．She moved to a peaceful place. |
| A．It was built by her trainer. |
| B．It was built in the city where she was born. |
| C．It is beside the statue of her trainer. |
| D．It has a plaque behind it. |
| A．She was given a toy. |
| B．She travelled abroad with her trainer. |
| C．Her bark was recorded. |
| D．She took a vacation in Haiti. |
5 . There was no way to step back when they spotted the polar bear (北极熊). Verena Mohaupt and a group of colleagues got into trouble on a floating piece of sea ice while the bear eyed them. It was a dangerous sign. As a colleague set off a signal, Mohaupt radioed their research ship a few kilometers away. Luckily, the ship’s helicopter arrived quickly.
Keeping a lookout for bears was a regular duty for Mohaupt, the logistics (后勤) operator for a year-long task known as the MOSAiC — the largest Arctic research journey in history. The project began in late 2019. Over the next year, the ship and about 300 scientists moved along the ice to gather data on climate change. The exploration group collected measurements that would help modellers better foresee how warming would influence the region — and the rest of the globe — in the coming years.
For months, the exploration group operated in constant darkness while polar bears walked around nearby, storms rocked the ship and the ice moved. Then, when the sun returned, the ice began to melt (融化), creating the biggest logistical headache — to keep their instruments away from water. In addition, tasked with the safety need, Mohaupt designed a training course for the scientists in which they learnt how to deal with these dangers of the Arctic. “For many people, if a bear comes around, your first thought is ‘game over’,” says Matthew Shupe, a scientist of MOSAiC. “But the logistics team stepped in and managed that situation in such a smooth way that I think it really helped to create this feeling of overall safety out there.”
Beyond the early training they provided for the scientists, Mohaupt and her colleagues always packed an extra tea or hot chocolate for anyone going out on the ice. “They were there to make sure that we were protected,” says Allison Fong, a biologist of MOSAiC. “Mohaupt is certainly the champion of that.”
1. What is Mohaupt mainly responsible for according to paragraph 1?| A．Finding polar bears. | B．Setting off signals. |
| C．Ordering a helicopter. | D．Contacting the research ship. |
| A．It seeks to measure changes in sea life. |
| B．It aims to correct data of ice changes. |
| C．It is the largest scientific research team ever. |
| D．It is targeted at research on global warming. |
| A．Scientists’ feeling unsafe. | B．Keeping away from storms. |
| C．Protecting instruments from water. | D．Wild animals’ walking around. |
| A．Curious. | B．Thoughtful. | C．Energetic. | D．Generous. |
6 . The American space agency NASA has sent up a new satellite (卫星) designed to closely study the world’s oceans and atmosphere.
The satellite will spend at least three years studying the environment from 676 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The satellite will map the entire world each day with two pieces of science equipment. A third one will glean monthly measurements. Scientists should start getting their first data within one or two months.
A major goal of the research is to help scientists improve their ability to predict (预测) hurricanes and other terrible weather events. The equipment can provide detailed data on temperature-related changes happening across the world. The satellite data might help scientists better predict when harmful algae (海藻) overgrowth will happen.
The satellite will also study aerosols (气溶胶) in the air. The study of aerosols is important because they can affect clouds. Aerosols can affect the thickness of clouds, as well as when and how much rainfall the clouds might drop.
Existing satellites can’t collect detailed data on aerosols. The new satellite will help researchers learn more about how aerosols affect clouds and climate over long periods. The new data is expected to provide scientists with detailed information on how aerosols affect the ocean and atmosphere.
There is a relationship between the aerosols and phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are very small plants that float near the surface of water. They serve as food for many sea creatures, ranging from shellfish to whales.
The satellite’s equipment will measure changes in phytoplankton. The satellite will collect data on aerosols attached to phytoplankton. These studies will be important in recognizing any changes in phytoplankton from interactions (相互影响) with aerosols which could affect the ocean and life in it.
The current Earth-observing satellites can only see in seven or eight different colors. But the new satellite will see in 200 colors, allowing scientists to better know about different kinds of algae in the sea and particles in the air.
1. What does the underlined word “glean” mean in paragraph 2?| A．Collect. | B．Recover. | C．Influence. | D．Question. |
| A．To know the influence of aerosols. |
| B．To observe the water quality in the ocean. |
| C．To let scientists better predict natural disasters. |
| D．To make people more aware of the atmosphere protection. |
| A．The amount of rainwater. | B．The overgrowth of algae. |
| C．The temperature of the ocean. | D．The spread of certain diseases. |
| A．They protect aerosols very well. | B．They can take on over 200 colors. |
| C．They are important for sea animals. | D．They can’t be observed by previous satellites. |
7 . Back in 1807, London became the first city on the planet to have a street lit up by gaslight lamps. For the city’s residents, it seemed like an extraordinary thing to have evening turned into a version of daytime. But more than two centuries later, artificial light has spread across so much of the planet that it has become a threat to us as well as the environment.
The extent of light pollution is evidenced by a study in the journal Science Advances, in which researchers used measurements taken by satellites to study the artificial brightness of Earth’s surface at nighttime. They found the artificially lit outdoor area grew at a rate of 2.2% per year. But those increases are just part of the story. Christopher Kyba, a scientist at German Research Center, says the increasing transition to high-efficiency LED lamps for outdoor lighting, which were regarded by most people originally as a way to reduce our dependence upon fossil (化石的) fuels and slow climate change, may not be saving as much electricity as expected.
The American Medical Association added that the wavelengths (波长) at which the lights operate control the hormone that helps us to sleep. “It is estimated that white LED lamps have a much greater impact on people’s sleep than the former streetlights.” Research shows that such impact may be a significant aspect inducing fatness and other physical disorders. Many species on Earth are active at night, and electric lighting, especially dusk to dawn lighting, represents damage to the environment of these species. A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, for example, found powerful beams of light from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum changed the flight paths and speed of 1.1 million migrating birds over a seven-day period alone. And in Florida, light pollution along beaches is disturbing sea turtles having babies, resulting in thousands of young animals’ dying each year.
But perhaps the most obvious thing about light pollution is that much of it results from wasteful light that isn’t necessary, according to Kyba, who estimates that it could be reduced by five to ten times. “I think we should be asking as taxpayers (纳税人). Why are we paying for lights that shine uselessly into people’s windows and disturb their sleep?”
1. What did most people use to think of LED light s according to Paragraph 2?| A．They would be beneficial to people's sleep. |
| B．They could be used to reduce light pollution. |
| C．They would contribute to serious global warming. |
| D．They could make people depend less on fossil fuels. |
| A．Causing. | B．Marking. | C．Preventing. | D．Reducing. |
| A．To present the sources of light pollution. |
| B．To show the influence of light pollution on animals. |
| C．To compare the sleeping habits of different animals. |
| D．To highlight the strong adaptability of particular animals. |
| A．Avoiding arranging unnecessary lights. |
| B．Improving the function of streetlights. |
| C．Calling on taxpayers to protect animals. |
| D．Decreasing the great pressure on taxpayers. |
8 . If you’ve seen the movie Cast Away, you probably remember the scene in which Tom Hanks’ character, who survived a plane crash and found a refuge on a desert island, struggles to crack open coconuts before finally figuring out how to make use of one and drink from it. Well, it turns out that, in such a situation, a coconut palm tree actually could be your best hope for survival.
The coconut palm tree is native to tropical islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is a tall tree, growing as tall as 100 feet, and with a branchless, light gray trunk that’s swollen at the base and topped by a crown of arching green leaves that stretch as long as 20 feet. It has fragrant (芳香的) yellow flowers, which appear in groups, and of course coconuts, which technically are a fruit rather than a nut, grow up to 14 inches long.
The fruit has a wooden shell surrounded by a fibrous cover, but inside is the stuff that a person wants — the coconut meat, which can be eaten raw or cooked, and the drinkable liquid. The nutritional qualities of a coconut — its meat and its juice — are nothing short of miracles. The meat is high in health fats, which are very important for survival, and the juice is filled with minerals like copper, iron and zinc, and can keep your electrolytes (电解质) balanced and blood levels healthy.
In Hawaii, coconut palm trees are known as “niu”, and are considered as a very important food source. While they are not native to this place, they are one of the famous “canoe plants”. Some of the ancestors of the trees currently found in Hawaii also moved slowly on water to or on the shore, alive for up four months at sea, still able to germinate (发芽). They are the symbol of vitality. They are admired here so much that traditionally, a coconut palm tree is planted at the birth time of a child born in Hawaii.
1. Why does the author speak of the movie Cast Away in Para.1?| A．To explain the way to prevent a terrible situation. |
| B．To introduce the theme of the movie. |
| C．To lead in the topic of the text. |
| D．To show Tom Hank’s success. |
| A．The trunk of the tree is swollen at the top. |
| B．The tree can grow tall and has no branches. |
| C．Yellow flowers appear in groups without any smell. |
| D．Coconuts are a kind of nut instead of a kind of fruit. |
| A．It has a unique taste. | B．Its price is quite high. |
| C．It can help people remain healthy. | D．Its production is increasing. |
| A．They decorate their houses with green leaves of coconut trees. |
| B．They drink the liquid inside coconuts. |
| C．They have a taste of coconut meat. |
| D．They plant a coconut plum tree. |
9 . Scientists flew over more than 200 landfills across 18 states from 2018 to 2022, claiming it to be the largest measurement-based survey of America’s landfills. Their results revealed that average methane emissions (排放) were much higher than those officially reported, according to a new study published in the journal Science.
Methane — an invisible gas with over 80 times more warming power than CO2 in the near term — is produced by various sources, the biggest of which are oil, gas and agriculture. Landfills tend to be a less well-known methane source, but they also have a huge impact, estimated at around 20% of global human-caused methane emissions. Landfills produce methane when organic wastes such as foods, paper and wood decompose without oxygen, creating the perfect environment for methane-producing bacteria.
Most landfills in the US are required to measure methane emissions four times a year through walking surveys using handheld sensors. However, those types of measurements are really not designed to do anything about emissions, but rather just detect methane “hotspots”, as people tend to avoid areas that are unsafe to walk through, and where garbage is actively being dumped.
The results of the new study show current reporting systems, such as the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), are missing large methane sources. Average methane emission rates from landfills were 1.4 times higher than those being reported to the GHGRP. The study also found landfill methane emissions were generally much more persistent (挥发慢的) than those from oil and gas production, with 60% lasting for multiple months or even years.
The rapid reduction of methane is one of the most effective ways to slow climate change because of its powerful short-term planet-heating impact. Yet most methane policies in the US target the oil and gas industry. “If we’re going to hit our climate targets, reductions in methane emissions can’t come from oil and gas alone,” said Daniel Cusworth, lead author of the report.
1. What can be learned about methane from paragraph 2?| A．It is a colored gas. |
| B．It is mostly produced in landfills. |
| C．It has less warming power than CO2. |
| D．It can be produced from a variety of sources. |
| A．To show walking surveys are not necessarily reliable. |
| B．To discuss advantages and disadvantages of handheld sensors. |
| C．To stress the value of measuring methane emissions in landfills. |
| D．To explain what workers at most landfills do in the United States. |
| A．It is impossible to slow climate change in the short term. |
| B．Methane emissions from landfills should be taken seriously. |
| C．Little impact is made by methane emissions from the oil industry. |
| D．The US government should not limit the development of agriculture. |
| A．A review of modern landfills. | B．A guidebook to cooking food. |
| C．An introduction to a gas industry. | D．An article on environmental protection. |
10 . Food accounts for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions(排放量), but it does not yet get the attention it deserves. With global meat consumption on the rise, the truth is, we need to break bad habits before they break us. Plant-based nutrition can deal with climate change in many ways.
Did you know that one of the most effective ways to lower your carbon footprint is to eat a plant-based diet? NASA climate scientist Peter Kalmus documented his own personal experiment in low-energy living in Being the Change: Live Well and Spark a Climate Revolution.
He was able to reduce his personal carbon footprint tenfold, from 20 to 2 tons per year, by some lifestyle changes. Kalmus is a vegan(纯素食者), bikes to work, doesn’t fly, is a keen gardener and hangs his clothes out to dry. He also found living mindfully made him feel happier and even halved his food bill. Kalmus says it’s possible for the average person to cut their emissions easily. The average meat-eater in the US emits 3, 000 kg CO2 per year compared to 1, 000kg for vegans.
Another way to deal with climate change is to grow your own food. “Some of the juiciest strawberries that satisfy my taste buds were grown at home last summer in hanging baskets using organic seeds.” Kalmus said. “As well as plenty of nutritious, cheap and delicious foods, growing my own food has allowed me to get to know my neighbors. We share seeds, wisdom, and tasty soup.” Besides, composting(制作堆肥) leftovers and yard waste diverts green matter from landfills that produce the greenhouse gas and instead can help build healthy soil.
Globally, our meat-and dairy-heavy diet uses around half of habitable land on Earth to produce food. Nevertheless, with plant-based diets, we could feed the world with one quarter of the land, allowing us to return vast areas of land to nature.
1. What is the purpose of eating a plant-based diet according to the author?| A．To handle climate change. | B．To reduce living costs. |
| C．To draw public attention. | D．To record carbon footprints. |
| A．It relieves him of mental stress. |
| B．It slightly cuts the carbon footprint. |
| C．It proves impossible for meat-eaters to follow. |
| D．It benefits individuals and the environment. |
| A．develops | B．redirects | C．sends | D．delivers |
| A．Self-grown food turns out to be of higher quality. |
| B．Producing food has taken up half of the land on Earth. |
| C．Growing food helps strengthen neighborhood relations. |
| D．Greenhouse gas emissions have little to do with food consumption. |
