1 . As a committed citizen, I would never exchange the industrial style of my home city of Wolverhampton, UK, for a view of rolling hills and valleys, let alone rainforests or mountain peaks. For me, the glories of untamed nature feel a planet away.
Wilderness with Simon Reeve, a four-part BBC travel documentary, aims to fill this gap. Reeve and his crew seek out corners of our rapidly urbanizing globe so far relatively untouched by humanity.
Travelling across rainforests and ice fields, deserts and oceans, including the Pacific Ocean’s Coral Triangle, and Patagonia, they reveal the pressures there and how we might protect them from us.
Travel programmes have a rather worrying relationship with conservation, predicated as they are on “selling” a destination. When it comes to the places least influenced by humans, I realize that travelogues can lead to mass tourism and damage.
Happily, based on its first episode (集), Wilderness with Simon Reeve seems more about finding a balance between “right” and “wrong” kinds of tourism. In this episode, we visit the Congo basin, home to the world’s second-largest tropical forest, which stretches for more than 2 million square kilometers across central Africa. The three-week journey begins along the Republic of the Congo’s Motaba river in search of the Baku, hunter-gatherers who live in the jungle. After an old-fashioned knees-up to welcome Reeve, several young Baku men agree to take a camera as they climb 20 metres into the top of the tree. One man puts his arm into a beehive (蜂箱) and collects the honey.
This is just one example of the extraordinary nature in the Congo rainforest. For me, it showed the joy and surprise I felt learning about this region and its people, who aren’t treated as guardians of mysterious knowledge, but as an adaptable, responsible community moving with the times.
All told, the first episode is informative and entertaining. I still have reservations about the impact of such travel shows on conservation, but the series makes a strong case that the first step to preserving an ecosystem is to see its value.
1. What does the underlined word “untamed” in Paragraph I probably mean?| A．Wild. | B．Unpredictable. | C．Distinctive. | D．Complex. |
| A．To promote tourism in remote areas. |
| B．To encourage people to move to urban areas. |
| C．To show the beauty of rainforests and ice fields. |
| D．To raise awareness about the value of untouched nature. |
| A．Friendly but poor. | B．Honest and generous. |
| C．Curious but backward. | D．Adaptable and trustworthy. |
| A．An introduction to a book. | B．A review of a travel documentary. |
| C．A guidebook to a tourist destination. | D．An essay on influence of mass tourism. |
2 . An Italian firm has invented what seems to be the perfect tool for stopping plastic waste from reaching the ocean through a river.
They had to check a lot of boxes. The device had to allow boats to pass without effort, while being able to run 24/7 with no impact on the river ecosystem. The result is River Cleaning, a 100% low-cost and low-impact solution.
Anchored (固定) to the bed at the bottom of the river, River Cleaning is made up of a series of floating devices, positioned diagonally (对角线地) on the course of the river; thus positioned, they can collect incoming plastic waste and transport it to the river bank for storage. Passing boats need only go straight through them at a low speed, after which their anchor lines will pull them back into place.
The River Cleaning system collects energy directly from the river current. It does not produce any type of waste. It is designed to have zero impact on the ecosystem. It only does good!
They can be adjusted to collect different kinds of waste, such as tiny particles (微粒), larger items like plastic bottles, and even oil, and some studies have shown River Cleaning can collect 85% of all waste passing by them.
Most people know of the scope of plastic pollution in the ocean, but it’s not as common to know that much of this waste comes from rivers — 80%, at least. Most of that 80% comes from just 100 of the world’s largest waterways. Running through big cities like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, the rivers funnel (使流经狭窄空间) waste into global ocean currents that lead plastic to clump together (聚集) in areas of the high seas.
River Cleaning became the first product of its kind to demonstrate that the system preserves the river environment while respecting the well-being of native species.
1. What does the underlined part “check a lot of boxes” probably mean?| A．Ask for suggestions. | B．Promote the products. |
| C．Come up with new ideas. | D．Meet many requirements. |
| A．How River Cleaning works. |
| B．How River Cleaning was created. |
| C．Where River Cleaning is positioned. |
| D．What influence River Cleaning has on boats. |
| A．It is powered by the natural flow of the river. |
| B．It may produce a small amount of waste. |
| C．It is unable to pick up tiny particles. |
| D．It may block the water passage. |
| A．Plastic pollution has a direct effect on port cities. |
| B．Inland waterways present huge challenges for cities. |
| C．The majority of plastic gets to the ocean through rivers. |
| D．Most people are unaware of plastic pollution in the ocean. |
1. What might the speaker be?
| A．A resident. | B．A fire fighter. | C．A news reporter. |
| A．From a store. | B．From a park. | C．From an apartment building. |
| A．An hour ago. | B．Late last night. | C．Early last night. |
| A．Frightened. | B．Calm. | C．Surprised. |
| A．A new source of fuel oil. |
| B．An alternative use of fuel oil. |
| C．A way to make fuel oil less polluting |
| D．A new method for locating underground oil. |
| A．She was doing research for a paper on it |
| B．She was told about it by her roommate. |
| C．She read a newspaper article about it. |
| D．She heard about it in class. |
| A．To produce a gas containing carbon and hydrogen. |
| B．To heat the reactors to a proper temperature. |
| C．To prevent dangerous gases from forming. |
| D．To remove impurities from methanol |
| A．It hasn't been fully tested. |
| B．It is quite expensive. |
| C．It uses up scarce minerals. |
| D．It produces harmful gases. |
5 . In order to meet growing food production and energy needs in low-and middle-income countries, solar-powered groundwater irrigation (灌溉) is rapidly gaining ground. More than 500,000 solar pumps (泵) have been set up in south Asia over the last few years and a major expansion is planned across sub-Saharan Africa.
Dustin Garrick, professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, along with an international team, examined the trend toward solar pumps as a clear opportunity for boosting agricultural yields and reducing poverty, but the opportunity comes with risks.
While replacing electric or gas pumps with solar-powered irrigation holds the promise of reducing carbon emissions (排放), it is not guaranteed. Farmers who have access to these pumps may expand production of crops or diversify into other activities, which are not emissions neutral. Solar pumps will increase groundwater pumping efficiency, which may be desirable in regions that support such increases, but this could worsen groundwater lessening in regions that are already stressed. The cheap clean energy of solar pumps may lead to increased groundwater development, without necessarily decreasing overall emissions.
Despite these challenges, the clean-energy boost can serve as a stimulus for positive change in water and energy management but will require enhanced regulation and planning in both low-and high-income settings. Garrick and his team advocate for improved data collection initiatives, with a shift from separated to integrated approaches. They suggest using technology to measure water pumping and collecting remotely sensed data to monitor land use changes. As well, regulatory improvements are crucial, with mounting limits for carbon emissions and groundwater lessening established at various levels.
With groundwater management already a difficult challenge, we must act fast to understand the implications of the clean energy boost and poverty reduction acts to avoid these gains being won away by wells running dry. The rapid adoption of solar irrigation intensifies the urgency, demanding adaptation from governments and institutions to sail through these complexities.
1. According to paragraph 3, there is a conflict between ________.| A．poor farmers and solar-powered irrigation | B．human consumption and clean energy limits |
| C．crop diversity and crop production expansion | D．pumping efficiency and groundwater exhaustion |
| A．Integrating data collection and regulation. | B．Improving carbon emission monitoring. |
| C．Separating data for land use changes. | D．Establishing groundwater levels. |
| A．Perform as the authorities suggest. | B．Act based on further understanding. |
| C．Quicken the adoption of solar irrigation. | D．Challenge the groundwater management. |
| A．The Complexities of Adopting Solar Pumps |
| B．Solar-Powered Irrigation: Farmers’ New Future |
| C．The Promise and Risks of Solar-Powered Irrigation |
| D．Balancing Clean Energy Boost and Poverty Reduction |
6 . A study published in the journal Nature lists some hybrid (杂种的) species that could become prevalent (盛行的) in the ocean due to climate change. Here are four of those hybrid species.
“Brolar” bears — Brown bears and polar bears
Evidence of a hybrid species born from brown bears and polar bears has been found in the United States and Canada in the past.
Known as “Polar bears” or “Pizzlies”, they have a mostly white coat, with a brownish hue and a nose that is a cross between a polar bear and a brown or grizzly bear.
They are known to be more suited to warmer temperatures than their Arctic relative, as they do not rely so heavily on sea ice for hunting.
“Narlugas” — Narwhals (独角鲸) and beluga whales (白鲸)
In 1990, a hunter in West Greenland discovered an interesting skull, which appeared to be that of a beluga whale-narwhal hybrid. It wasn’t until 2019 that DNA analysis confirmed that the creature was indeed 54% beluga from its father, and 46% narwhal from its mother.
Experts believe that the hybrid may have been grey in color and possessed a tail like a narwhal but forward flippers like those of a beluga whale.
Hybrids of harp seals and hooded seals Numerous species of Arctic seal are expected to mate (交配) to form hybrid offspring due to diminishing sea ice. This includes a hybrid of the harp seal and hooded seal, which both breed on pack ice of the North Atlantic Ocean and extend into the Arctic Ocean in summer months.
A hybrid animal, found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada, was formally reported and confirmed by molecular analysis in 1997.
“Harbor-Dall” porpoise (鼠海豚) — Harbor porpoises and Dall’s porpoises
Hybrids of the harbor porpoises and the Dall’s porpoises have been found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Harbor porpoises are thought to be in decline due to habitat disturbance, meaning they may turn to other species to mate with.
Experts believe more harbor porpoises will move north as temperatures rise, which will further increase their chances of breeding with Dall’s porpoises.
1. What do the four listed animals have in common?| A．They share the same color. | B．They are born due to the polar cold. |
| C．Their parents come from different species. | D．Sea ice is extremely important for them to hunt. |
| A．“Brolar” bears. | B．“Narlugas”. |
| C．Hybrids of harp seals and hooded seals. | D．“Harbor-Dall” porpoise. |
| A．Economy. | B．Education. | C．Entertainment. | D．Environment. |
7 . After a decade of negotiations, nearly 200 countries have agreed to a new United Nations treaty(条约)to protect the world’s oceans, the first of its kind in 40 years. The High Seas Treaty aims to protect 30% of the open oceans by 2030, setting a plan in motion to preserve this vast area.
Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface and are home to countless species of animals and plants. They play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy planet. However, overfishing and pollution from ships and other sources have severely impinged on many marine (海洋的)species and ecosystems.
The last major UN sea treaty in 1982 described the “high seas” — the parts of the oceans that aren’t controlled by any country — but it did not protect them. The high seas, which account for two-thirds of the ocean, currently have only 1.2% of their massive area protected. A marine protected area(MPA)is an area in the sea with strict rules about fishing and other activities. While more and more countries have established MPAs in their waters, most are not connected, limiting their effectiveness for migratory(迁徙的)species.
Last December, over 110 countries committed to protecting 30% of their land and ocean areas by 2030．The High Seas Treaty now enables the extension of this goal to the entire ocean. It aims to make 30% of the high seas become protected areas by 2030 and requires that proposed activities on the high seas undergo assessment for their potential impact on the ocean environment.
Reaching the agreement was challenging due to differing views on ocean protection among countries, such as limits on fishing or pollution. Disagreements also arose over sharing resources between rich and poor nations, with the latter seeking an assurance that resources benefit everyone, not just those in wealthy countries.
The treaty is not yet final and must be officially accepted at a UN meeting. Then it must be approved and signed by enough countries before it takes effect.
1. What is the main objective of the High Seas Treaty?| A．To protect 30% of the open oceans by 2030． |
| B．To allow unrestricted fishing on the high seas. |
| C．To promote international tourism in marine areas. |
| D．To establish new shipping routes on the high seas. |
| A．Exchanged. | B．Assisted. | C．Impacted. | D．Defended. |
| A．Strict rules of a marine protected area. |
| B．Current measures to restrict overfishing. |
| C．The limited number of migratory species. |
| D．The lack of protection for the high seas. |
| A．New Plans to Develop Marine Resources |
| B．A New UN Agreement to Preserve Open Oceans |
| C．The Treaty Officially Accepted at a UN Meeting |
| D．The Cooperation on Sharing Resources Equally |
1. Which pet may an outgoing person prefer?
| A．A bird. | B．A dog. | C．A cat. |
| A．Clever. | B．Sociable. | C．Careful. |
| A．Pet people’s personalities. |
| B．More outgoing dog people. |
| C．Less sociable cat people. |
| A．They shouldn’t change their plan. | B．They’d better change their mind. |
| C．The tennis game won’t last long. | D．The weather forecast is not reliable. |
1. What do we know about the weather last week?
| A．It was dry. | B．It was stormy. | C．It was cold. |
| A．Driving slowly. | B．Avoiding going out. | C．Preparing enough food. |
| A．Heavy rainfall. | B．Extreme cold. | C．Strong winds. |
| A．A weatherman. | B．A sports journalist. | C．A finance news host. |
