1. Why are the fish called catfish?
| A．They are the size of small cats. |
| B．They are the color of yellow cats. |
| C．They have hairs on their face like cats. |
| A．In salt lakes. | B．In deep rivers. | C．In the ocean. |
2 . Easter(复活节) is still a great day for worship, candy in baskets and running around the yard finding eggs, but every year it gets quite a bit worse for bunnies.
And no, not because the kids like to pull their ears. The culprit is climate change, and some researchers found that rising temperatures are having harmful effects on at least five species of rabbit in the US.
Take the Lower Keys Marsh rabbit, for instance. An endangered species that lives in the Lower Florida Keys, this species of cottontail is a great swimmer — it lives on the islands’ - but it is already severely affected by development and now by rising sea levels. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, an ocean level rise of only 0.6 meters will send these guys jumping to higher ground and a 0.9-meter rise would wipe out theirhabitat(栖息地) completely.
The snowshoe hare, on the other hand, has a color issue. Most of these rabbits change their for color from white in the wintertime to brown in the summer, each designed to give them better cover from predators(捕食者). As the number of days with snow decreases all across the country, however, more and more bunnies are being left in white fur during brown dirt days of both fall and spring, making them an easier mark for predators. Researchers know that the color change is controlled by the number of hours of sunlight, but whether the rabbit will be able to adapt quick enough to survive is a big question. The National Wildlife Federation has reported that hunters have noticed their numbers are already markedly down.
American pikas or rock rabbits, a relative of rabbits and hares, might be the first of these species to go extinct due to climate change. About 7-8 inches long, pikas live high in the cool, damp mountains west of the Rocky Mountains. As global temperatures rise, they would naturally(迁徙) to higher ground — but they already occupy the mountaintops. They can’t go any higher. The National Wildlife Federation reports that they might not be able to stand the new temperatures as their habitat heats up.
The volcano rabbit has the same problem. These rabbits live on the slopes of volcanoes in Mexico, and recent studies have shown that the lower range of their habitat has already shifted upward about 700 meters, but there are not suitable plants for them to move higher, so they are stuck in the middle. Scientists are concerned about their populations.
All of this gives new meaning to dressing up in a giant bunny costume this Easter.
1. The writer mentions Easter at the beginning of the passage in order to ________.| A．show the importance of Easter Day |
| B．introduce the issue about bunnies |
| C．remind people of Easter traditions |
| D．discuss the relationship between Easter and bunnies. |
| A．criminal | B．judge |
| C．victim | D．producer |
| A．are exposed to more skillful hunters |
| B．have moved to habitats with fewer plants |
| C．haven’t adapted themselves to climate change |
| D．can’t change their fur color into white in the fall and the spring. |
| A．Approving. | B．Concerned. |
| C．Enthusiastic. | D．Doubtful. |
3 . Studies show that human beings and cats have been living together for about 9 , 500 years .
As cat owners know well , cats do not obey humans in the same way dogs do .
As a result , many people have come to think that maybe cats simply do not understand human language . A report in the scientific journal Nature shows that cats understand human beings well enough to recognize their own names .
The report describes a series of experiments with house cats in Japan . These tests involved having people say four words that were similar to a cat ' s name .
Each word had the same number of syllables as the name and some of the same sounds . The cats seemed to lose interest after the speaker said a few of the words .
The cats moved their ears or turned their head when they heard their names . They also moved their feet or bodies very little – not a surprising result .
The researchers thought this was because visitors may give food to the cat or rub its back when it responds . Another finding was that a cat will react when a person who is not its owner says its name .
“I think many cat owners feel that cats know their names , or the word ‘food’ .
| A．Then the person said the cat 's name . |
| B．In fact, some scientists claim that cats have trained us to take care of them. |
| C．They added that perhaps cats can learn words to warn them of dangerous things or places. |
| D．Dogs have lived with humans longer than cats. |
| E．The study was carried out by four researchers: Atsuko Saito, Yuki Ito, and Toshikazu Hasegawa and Kazutaka Shinozuka of the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Saitama. |
| F．But until now, there was no scientific evidence to back that up. |
| G．In another part of the experiment, people said the names of the cats staying in a cat café. |
4 . Which kind of diamond is better for the environment and the world we live in: a diamond from a traditional mine or one made in a laboratory ?
Some recent reports suggest the answer may not be so clear. At the very least , these reports provide evidence of tensions between two different sectors of the diamond industry .
Lab - grown diamond companies say they are more ethical and cause less harm to Earth’s environment. The traditional diamond sector notes that its businesses help the communities where they operate mines. It says they provide jobs, help build roads and other infrastructure and make investments in conservation.
Some companies, such as De Beers , work on both sides. De Beers sells natural and man-made diamonds. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission(FTC) investigates reports of deceptive, or misleading, advertising. In April, the commission sent warning letters to eight lab -grown diamond companies. One of the FTC’s concerns was the use of the word ‘eco – friendly’, and similar terms , to describe diamonds made in a laboratory. The lab - grown process requires very high temperatures and uses a lot of energy. Trucost is a company that estimates the costs of using natural resources. Asked by the Diamond Producers Association to study the issue, Trucost found the carbon intensity of natural diamonds was lower than lab - grown diamonds .
The Trucost report did note that diamond miners should reduce their effect on the environment by using more renewable energy, such as wind power and sunlight .
1. What is the passage mainly intended to tell us?| A．There are many tensions between two different sectors of the diamond industry. |
| B．Which kind of diamond is better may not be so clear . |
| C．Neither the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)nor the Trucost is satisfied with the diamond industry. |
| D．Both lab-grown diamond companies and traditional diamond mines do harm to the environment. |
| A．Many diamond miners have begun to use more renewable energy, such as wind power and sunlight. |
| B．Natural diamonds have a higher carbon intensity than man-made diamonds. |
| C．In April, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the USA fined eight lab-grown diamond companies for misleading. |
| D．Diamond mines tend to take on locals to work for them. |
| A．The carbon intensity of the two kinds of diamonds |
| B．The event of the deceptive advertising |
| C．The eco-friendly situations of the two sectors |
| D．The ways of using renewable energy |
Fabien Cousteau was born with deep love for the ocean. His grandfather and his father were ocean
Fabien is well known for his study of sharks. In 2001,he created a TV special based on the shark attacks that
Fabien is
The call of the Wild
1. How do you find Perrault and Francois?| A．greedy and cruel | B．hard-working and determined |
| C．gentle and generous | D．shy and timid (胆怯的) |
| A．he has learnt the survival skills. |
| B．he has known what friendship is. |
| C．he has lost faith in his own ability. |
| D．he has achieved nothing in his life. |
| A．feels afraid of | B．shows no fear of | C．stands in one’s path | D．plays tricks on |
The year of 2017 marked the 100th birthday of the honoring Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei.
From museums to business headquarters, Pei had designed many notable buildings around the world throughout his long professional career. According to the organizers of ''Rethinking Pei: A Centenary Symposium (百年纪念座谈会)” held that year, Pei remained one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
The Hong Kong Bank of China Tower is one of his most famous works in Asia. As the bank itself also celebrated its centenary in 2017, it’s worth examining the building's historical and architectural background to gain a deeper understanding of the architect who changed Hong Kong's skyline forever.
The Bank of China Tower (BOC Tower) was completed in 1989, a year which the "New York Times" called ,•the year of I.M. Pei.” For it was in this same year that Pei also completed the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Creative Artist Agency Headquarters in Los Angeles, and other marvellous architectures all around the world.
Pei was commissioned (委托)in 1982 by the Beijing-based Bank of China to design itsheadquarters in Hong Kong, but construction did not start until 1985.
There were many reasons for the delay. One of the biggest was the huge challenges posed by the location. The land parcel had been the address of a Victorian building which served as a prison during Japanese occupation of Hong Kong between 1941 and 1945. This terrible heritage might be one of the reasons why it was dismantled in 1982.
For I.M. Pei, the challenge of the site was not its past, but its present: the relatively small land parcel was surrounded on three sides by elevated roadways serving high-speed heavy traffic, meaning there was no possible public pedestrian access. Then there was its awkward trapezoidal (梯形)shape and the fact that the site also had a deep north-south height difference.
Another challenge was the unavoidable comparison of the BOC Tower to the neighboring Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters(HSBC), which was also under construction. A spectacular building generously funded, its architect Norman Foster was simply told to create “the best bank building in the world.” At that time it was also the world's most expensive building, costing $668 million. The Bank of China Tower's budget was approximately one fifth of the budget allowed by HSBC.
The Hong Kong government had promised HSBC that no tall buildings would ever be built in front of its headquarters. Besides, in between the site of the Bank of China and the harbor, there were already a few buildings over 70 meters tall blocking views.
Recognizing that going tall was the only way to create a landmark at this site with his budget, Pei came up with an architectural tower design that was simple, expressive, innovative, and upon its completion, the tallest building outside of America and the fourth tallest in the world.
After the Bank of China officially moved into the tower in 1991, noted architect and critic Peter Blake visited the building and declared it to be "probably the most innovative skyscraper structure built anywhere to date."
Now 30 years after the building’s construction, the Bank of China Tower continues to offer valuable lessons of architectural and structural creativity under the most demanding conditions. Most importantly, the tower has become one of the most important cultural icons for the city of Hong Kong.
1. Which of the following descriptions of I.M. Pei is NOT true?| A．I.M. Pei completed the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1989. |
| B．I.M. Pei changed Hong Kong's skyline because he constructed the BOC tower. |
| C．I.M. Pei was universally acknowledged as one of the most celebrated architect. |
| D．I.M. Pei began the construction of BOC Tower directly he got the commission. |
| A．It was the 30th anniversary of the completion of the Bank of China ToweF’s construction. |
| B．The Bank of China officially began to use it as its headquarter in Hong Kong in this year. |
| C．Both Ieoh Ming Pei and Hong Kong and Shangliai Bank celebrated their 100th birthday. |
| D．A Centenary Symposium celebrating the 100th birthday of I. M. Pei was held that year. |
| A．The shape of the land parcel was a challenge to the architect. |
| B．The building of the Bank of China Tower was generously funded. |
| C．The heavy traffic surrounding the site stopped people from entering it. |
| D．The site had been a prison during Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. |
| A．tear down | B．take down | C．tear up | D．take up |
| A．⑦ | B．⑧ | C．⑨ | D．⑩ |
| A．only by getting over great difficulties can architects like LM. Pei achieve success |
| B．the Bank of China Tower was a great masterpiece showing I.M. Pei's creativity |
| C．compared with neighbouring HSBC, BOC Tower is much more extraordinary |
| D．it was the design of the BOC Tower that made I.M. Pei become world-famous |
8 . The iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower opened to the public on March 31, 1889, and the graceful metal structure has continued to attract the world for 130 years. But some little known facts about the Eiffel Tower may surprise you.
The original intention was for the structure, which was built for the 1889 World’s Fair, to be demolished after 20 years. But engineer Gustave Eiffel later arranged to have a radio antenna (天线) and transmitter placed in the tower, and the importance of the tower to communications saved it from demolition. At the present time, 120 antennas broadcast radio and television transmissions from the tower.
During the 1889 World’s Fair, the newspaper Le Figaro set up a small printing operation on the third floor that produced a daily commemorative (纪念的) edition for visitors to buy.
Almost seven million visitors each year pay the admission fee to visit the Eiffel Tower. Since the structure opened in 1889, nearly 300 million people have experienced the tower.
A private apartment that Gustave Eiffel used as an office was created at the top of the tower. Eiffel entertained some important persons there, and today visitors to the apartment will see it as it looked in Eiffel’s day, with life-like wax models of Eiffel and Thomas Edison.
As a promotion during the 1889 World’s Fair, visitors could buy a commemorative postcard that was tied to a balloon and a small parachute. Visitors would write an address on the postcard and release it into the air from the tower. The postcard was supposed to fall back to earth gently due to the parachute, but it’s not known how many of these postcards ever made it to their intended addresses.
Because the taller sections of the tower are against the brighter sky, the bronze paint color is shaded slightly darker than the color closer to the ground. This is to give the impression that the tower is painted in a single shade.
Gustave Eiffel’s company designed the metal structure that holds the Statue of Liberty together. You can think of the Eiffel Tower as a Statue of Liberty without the skin, though the shapes of the two structures are quite different.
Visitors to Paris may not be as romantic as we thought. Although Paris is known as the City of Light and its illuminated attractions can easily be seen at night, the Eiffel Tower has much fewer visitors in the evening than during the day. The tower is closed at 11:45 pm, with the last admissions at 11 pm, 10:30 pm to visit the top.
Two of the original elevator cars, and the 1899 hydraulic (液压的) equipment, are still functioning in the Eiffel Tower elevators that go to the third floor in the east and west pillars (柱子). The equipment has been updated, but it is essentially the same technology that was used more than a century ago.
1. Originally, the Eiffel Tower was built to ________.| A．serve the World’s Fair | B．work as communications tools |
| C．store newspapers | D．appeal to more visitors |
| A．repaired carefully | B．constructed again |
| C．handled easily | D．destroyed completely |
| A．have no access to the private apartment of Gustave Eiffel |
| B．can get into the Eiffel Tower without paying the admission fee |
| C．will find the tower still has radio antenna and transmitter placed in it |
| D．can buy a daily commemorative edition of the newspaper Le Figaro |
| A．the Eiffel Tower was painted in a single shade |
| B．the technology of the elevators has been changed |
| C．visitors can not enter the Eiffel Tower after 11 pm |
| D．the Eiffel Tower looks like the Statue of Liberty |
9 . One of the great concerns that ornithologists have is that climate change will throw the nesting activities of birds out of sync (同步) with the availability of food for the raising of chicks. For one species, the pied flycatcher, a new study shows that some of its clan are proving to be remarkably adaptable.
Upon returning to Europe from their African wintering grounds, the flycatchers time their egg-laying to the short period when juicy caterpillars (毛毛虫) are most abundant. During the past three decades this caterpillar peak has advanced by three weeks. Pied flycatchers initially had difficulty adjusting, but over time have started laying their eggs earlier to grab the caterpillars. Some, though, are doing a lot more to improve their reproductive chances of success, according to a study in the Journal of Avian Biology led by Christian Both of the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands.
Like most bird species, pied flycatchers have long been thought to lay a single clutch of eggs during the breeding (繁殖) season. This was widely considered to be a trait that wouldn’t change. Then, in 2007, a Swiss team led by Dr Ravussin began to suspect that clutch numbers were flexible. They discovered a female pied flycatcher that immediately produced a second brood with a new male after raising an early set of chicks. Aware of Dr Ravussin’s findings, Dr Both wondered whether this was just a single, odd instance or if second broods might be happening on a larger scale driven by the arrival of earlier springs. So, they cooperate to delve into the data to find out.
The team studied pied-flycatcher populations in the Netherlands and Switzerland that were known to be among the earliest nesting members of the species. In total, they tracked the egg-laying times and hatchling-rearing success of 8,848 breeding pairs in the Netherlands and1,372 in Switzerland between1980 and 2018. They found that since 2006, 11 cases of second broods were observed, all of them among the earliest breeders in both populations.
Further studies ruled out that the birds were making up for a failed first attempt at raising chicks or that the second group of nestlings suffered.
With no obvious downside to laying a double clutch, Drs Both and Ravussin conclude that the birds are attempting to double their annual reproductive output. While this behavior is still rare, they argue that if the tendency is driven by heritable genes (which it may well be) , then a succession of early springs could make the strategy much more common.
1. As to flycatchers, we can learn that __________.| A．the population of caterpillars has no effect on their egg-laying time |
| B．climate change is the main cause of their advancing egg-laying time |
| C．they can only lay a single clutch of eggs during the breeding season |
| D．they’re born with the ability of raising more than one group of chicks |
| A．flycatchers like to winter and lay eggs in the Netherlands and Switzerland |
| B．flycatchers know how to make up for a failed first attempt at raising chicks |
| C．flycatchers are making adaptations to double their annual reproductive output |
| D．flycatchers, driven by heritable genes, return early from their wintering grounds |
| A．More nests, more eggs | B．Earlier spring, earlier breeding |
| C．More caterpillars, less chances | D．Later arrival, less output |
【写作内容】
1. 简要阐述上述图文信息；
2. 谈谈你对这一现象的看法；
3. 就如何保护世界遗产给出你的建议。
【写作要求】
1. 词数：120左右。开头已给出，不计入总词数；
2. 文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称。
On May 1 this year, 54,000 tourists visited the Great Wall, a World Heritage Site, leaving behind 18.2 tons of garbage, which aroused public discussion.
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