1 . Pangolins (穿山甲) are strange-looking creatures, covered with hard scales (鳞). They can roll up into a ball to protect themselves from enemies and have tongues that are longer than their bodies.
Pangolins have recently become the focus of Chinese people. A screenshot (截屏) of a micro blog post showed some people eating pangolins at a feast spread. A few days later, people were angered again by pictures showing people eating protected animals, including pangolins.
Yet this is only the tip of the iceberg. Many more pangolins have been hunted or killed. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 1 million of them have been killed or sold in the last 10 years. It also said that they are the most illegally traded mammals in the world. In September 2016, the IUCN added the pangolin to the world’s “endangered animals list”. They are now more endangered than pandas．
A growing trade of their scales and meat is the main reason for their decline in numbers. Many people in Asia and Africa consider pangolin meat is delicious. Some people even think pangolin scales have medicinal qualities. However, their scales are made of keratin (角蛋白), the same material human fingernails are made of.
Luckily, the situation is getting better. World Pangolin Day is on the third Saturday of February each year. It's a day to help people know more about pangolins. The government now stops anyone from buying and eating pangolins in China. Breaking this law is regarded as a crime. The trade of pangolins across the world is also not allowed, according to the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
1. Pangolins have caught people's attention these years because ________.| A．they look strange |
| B．they appear in some movies |
| C．they are killed and eaten by people |
| D．they have something to do with pandas |
| A．Pangolins can roll up into a ball to attack enemies. |
| B．More than 1 million pangolins were killed or sold last year. |
| C．Pangolins were named the most endangered animal in 2016. |
| D．The pangolin is a kind of mammal traded illegally worldwide. |
| A．attract people to the zoo to watch pangolins |
| B．raise people's awareness of protecting pangolins |
| C．remind people of pangolins' medical value |
| D．explain the protection law to the public |
| A．Positive. | B．Negative. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Unconcerned. |
2 . A recent issue of National Geographic magazine described one of the wonders of the earth, the tiny silver ants of the Sahara desert. These ants live in areas where temperatures reach up to 57℃, as the article described it, an environment “where shoes melt.”
These tiny ants are amazing. In the Sahara desert, where most creatures avoid going out in the middle of the day to avoid high temperatures,the Saharan silver ants have evolved(进化)a number of adaptations to do just that. Scientists have discovered that several unique features of the Saharan silver ants permit them to grow well in a scorching climate.
These ants have longer legs than other ants, which keep their bodies critically greater distance away from the hot desert sand. The ants run 108 times the length of their own bodies every second at a speed of just over 3kph. And they keep track of the position of the sun, so that they always know the most direct route back to the nest, thus lowering their time spent in extreme heat. Their bodies produce proteins that resist heat. Some other creatures produce such proteins after they come in contact with extreme heat. But since the silver ants only exit the nest for a few minutes at a time — not long enough for the protein to take effect — they produce the protein while still in the nest before they go out, or they would die before the protein could take effect.
Researchers also discovered that the ants are covered on their tops and sides with the uniquely triangular(三角的)shape of the silver hairs,which enable them to dissipate(消散)heat.The hairs help an ant's body exchange its heat to a cooler area, even under full sun conditions. This discovery inspired the scientists, for it could lead to new materials and paints that can be applied to rooftops or cars to keep them cool. And it is also expected to be applied in clinical care, wearable devices,protective clothing and other fields.
1. What does the underlined word “scorching”in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．extremely chilly | B．extremely cool |
| C．extremely mild | D．extremely hot |
| A．The Saharan silver ants' hairs act like a tiny air-heating system. |
| B．The Saharan silver ants are born with the ability to track the moon. |
| C．The Saharan silver ants' adaptations to the desert are to be discovered. |
| D．Inspiration from the Saharan silver ants will bring up more new inventions. |
| A．After coming in contact with extreme heat. |
| B．Before traveling in the sun. |
| C．While running under full sun condition. |
| D．After coming back to the nest from outside. |
| A．Small Ants Make a Big Difference |
| B．Small Ants Hunt for Food Easily |
| C．Small Ants Survive in the Saharan Desert |
| D．Small Ants Jump the Fastest in the World |
Singapore
Singapore Zoo allows animals to walk around in spacious environments that are similar to their natural habitats (栖息地). Kids can join in learning about the animals of Singapore Zoo in educational programs, guided tours and camps, including the Sleep with the Beasts Family Camp. wrs.com.sg
Chester Zoo
Cheshire, England
The most visited zoo in the United Kingdom, Chester Zoo asks a team of experts (专家) who do research on six key areas around the world to develop programs that hope to prevent animals from dying out. The zoo runs a number of activities, such as Sing for Songbirds, a partnership with singer/songwriter Ashley Fayth, which tries to make people notice the danger facing songbirds in Indonesia. chesterzoo.org
Wellington Zoo
Wellington, New Zealand
Wellington Zoo is green in more ways than one. The zoo works very hard to reduce (减少) waste and reuse rain water. The zoo supports conservation (保护) programs, and its animal hospital, The Nest TeKōhanga, has treated over 3,400 wildlife patients since its opening in2009. wellingtonzoo.com
San Diego Zoo
San Diego, USA
Over 3,500 endangered animals call San Diego Zoo home, but the biggest achievement of this zoo is the number of endangered animals that are sent back into the wild. The zoo's breeding (饲养) programs provide valuable information on the behavior and health of endangered species in over 45 countries. San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research also asks over 200 conservation scientists to protect some animals from dying out. zoo.sandiegozoo.org
1. Where can people camp with their family?| A．At Wellington Zoo. | B．At San Diego Zoo. |
| C．At Singapore Zoo. | D．At Chester Zoo. |
| A．wrs.com.sg. | B．chesterzoo.org. |
| C．wellingtonzoo.com. | D．zoo.sandiegozoo.org. |
| A．It has been the most popular zoo in the USA for years. |
| B．It runs an animal hospital to treat wild animals. |
| C．It has helped some animals go back to nature. |
| D．It helps American endangered animals only. |
4 . Every day people board planes,get on trains and ready themselves for an adventure. But what about the deep sea? Although it covers 70 percent of the Earth's surface,we hardly stop to think of it as a tourist destination. However, the travel industry has made great advancement in creating aquatic(水中的) hotspots.
From the luxury to the relatively modest,underwater resorts have been popping up in recent years. For those with a truly adventurous spirit and some money to spend,you can even rent your own submarine. Staffed with a captain,a personal chef and a butler(管家),Oliver’s Travels’ submarine,the Lovers Deep,is a unique getaway. For those looking for a slightly different experience,there is Jules'Undersea Lodge in Florida,US,named after Jules Verne,the author of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Other sectors of the emerging underwater tourism industry have brought a bit of art to the deep sea. According to the BBC,“there's a move to combine underwater tourism with art tourism to attract a new kind of traveler." Underwater museums and exhibits like the Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park in Grenada and Australia's Museum of Underwater Art allow visitors to see incredible sculptures in a truly magnificent atmosphere. Underwater archaeological(考古的)sites have also become popular destinations, such as the ones in Turkey, where people can visit sunken cities.
Exploring Earth's bodies of water has brought more awareness to the importance of protecting oceans and the animal life that calls them home. British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor,whose artwork can be seen in multiple underwater attractions around the world, feels this is key. “Most people just see the surface of the ocean and it is hard to think of something so plain and enormous as fragile. We don't regard our oceans as sacred(神圣的)and we should.”
1. What does the underlined expression "popping up" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Appearing suddenly. | B．Changing constantly. |
| C．Working properly. | D．Moving unexpectedly. |
| A．To prove the power of art. |
| B．To explain a new travel rule. |
| C．To introduce a new travel trend. |
| D．To recommend popular destinations. |
| A．Neutral. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Cautious. | D．Disapproving. |
| A．Enormous resources are there for exploration in the ocean. |
| B．Underwater vacation has brought huge commercial benefits. |
| C．Artists consider it tough to protect underwater environment. |
| D．Underwater travel has a positive effect on ocean protection. |
5 . The LEGO Group, whose plastic building toys are familiar to many people, has been working on making LEGO bricks out of recycled plastic. The bricks aren't ready yet, but the company says it's making progress.
Since roughly 1960, LEGO bricks have been made from ABS plastic which makes LEGO bricks very tough and gives them great clutch power so that the things users build don't fall apart easily. Sadly, ABS plastic can't really be recycled and it takes an extremely long time to break down.
However, since 2015, LEGO has been trying to make earth-friendly products. Making bricks from recycled materials could cut pollution from the company's bricks by 70%. But making bricks out of recycled plastic is challenging. The goal is to make bricks out of PET plastic, which is softer than ABS plastic and can be found in things like bottles and clothing. A recycled one-liter plastic bottle could make about ten 2×4 LEGO bricks. Over the past three years, the company has tested over 250 different ways of creating LEGO bricks from recycled plastic. A team of more than 150 people are working on the problem. Tim Brooks,who focuses on environmental responsibility at LEGO, says that experimenting and failing is “an important part of learning”.
Now, the company says they can make a good 2×4 brick from PET. One important step was finding a way of adding things to PET plastic to make it tougher and give it better clutch power like ABS. They will also work on shaping bricks into other forms and adding color to them-right now they are just white. The bricks will go through many different tests, which will take at least a year.
The company aims to make all their main products out of sustainable materials by the year 2030. “We know kids care about the environment and we want to tell them we're working on it.” said Mr. Brooks.
1. Which of the following can best describe LEGO bricks made from ABS plastic?| A．Strong and firm. |
| B．Recyclable and soft. |
| C．Cheap and familiar. |
| D．Popular and new. |
| A．Because the company wants to show that it's making progress. |
| B．Because this has always been LEGO's goal since its foundation. |
| C．Because using PET plastic bricks can reduce pollution to the earth. |
| D．Because PET plastic bricks are much softer and cheaper. |
| A．LEGO has found a way to make colorful PET plastic bricks. |
| B．It's not necessary to put things into PET plastic to make it tough. |
| C．A lot of tests have been carried out and there will be more tests. |
| D．Children keep asking the company to replace ABS plastic bricks. |
| A．LEGO becomes a leading toy company |
| B．LEGO works to make bricks from recycled plastic |
| C．LEGO recycles plastic toy bricks to protect the environment |
| D．LEGO makes the best of ABS plastic to reduce cost |
6 . Hiking in the mountains I met a young lady who wanted to pet my dog. While she played with him, I asked, “Do you have a dog of your own?” “He just died,” she said. She explained that as a child she got a little dog. They grew up together, went everywhere together and were best friends. She even took him to college though he was very old and couldn't get around well. And as he got worse, she stayed by him day and night thinking they would always be together.
But one day，while petting him, he growled（咆哮）and bit her hand. She was shocked. He never did that. How could he turn on her? Friends convinced her to put him to sleep. Unwillingly she did, but admitted that she hated herself ever since. “How could I kill my lifetime friend?” she sobbed.
“Suppose,” I said, “your dog was a genius! Suppose he knew you better than you know yourself. He didn't turn on you. You were too young to know about his getting old and needing to go. He knew you needed a helping hand to let him go. . . so he bit you. And it worked, didn't it?”
She was coming out of her deep sadness. I added, “Is it hard to imagine that dogs have late friends calling them to dog heaven? They never forget who they love. He is there. He still loves you more than ever. He knows you'll live a lot longer than he did.”
She was obviously happy now as she considered my words. We parted with a long hug and thanks. I'm pretty sure her dog was standing behind her, thanking me with his wagging tail and smiling face. Love is the highest kindness.
1. What do we know about the young lady?| A．She relied too much on her dog. |
| B．She missed her dog very much. |
| C．She wanted the author's dog. |
| D．She tried to forget her dog. |
| A．Attack. | B．Comfort. | C．Hate. | D．Leave. |
| A．Her dog wanted to live alone. |
| B．Her dog was too old to be a pet. |
| C．Her dog asked her to end his life. |
| D．Her dog would come back sooner or later. |
| A．Moved. | B．Disappointed. |
| C．Excited. | D．Satisfied. |
7 . Cat lovers finally have the chance to understand what their pets are saying thanks to a smart collar that can interpret meows and translate them into human speech. Named Catterbox, the collar supposedly has a digital sensor that detects meows, and uses a special program to interpret the meaning behind them.
Developed by London ad agency adam&eveDDB, for Temptations cat treats, the invention comes preloaded（预装）with a dictionary of cat meows and several other sounds to make the interpretation as accurate as possible. “We're fascinated by cats, so we set out on a mission to get to know them better.” said Pete Simmons, global brand director of Temptations.
The promotion video of the smart collar claims that Catterbox, the world's first talking cat collar, is designed to finally help humans understand the meaning of meows. “Cats are often thought of as independent pets quite hard to get to know, so we set up The Temptations Lab to find creative ways to inject even more pleasure into a cat and owner's relationship,” said Richard Brim, executive creative director of adam&eveDDB.
“Studies show cats only meow in order to communicate with humans,” the video adds. “So we set out on a mission to get to know them better. By analyzing different cat meows, we've designed a digital sensor that detects a cat's meow and uses a unique program to turn it into a human voice.” So by using the collar, owners can speak to their cats and expect a meaningful response. The responses are delivered in a British accent, in a voice of the owner's choice, selected through a smartphone app paired with the collar.
A few sample responses are shown on the company's YouTube channel-they are quite funny, but obviously not very convincing. In all probability, Catterbox is useless though it has a very clever marketing means.
1. Why did the researchers set up The Temptations Lab?| A．To help cat lovers get more fun in keeping cats. |
| B．To tell cat lovers how to get along with cats. |
| C．To do some research on cat's habits. |
| D．To prove cats are really difficult to understand. |
| A．It is selling well among cat lovers now. |
| B．It can also help cats understand their owners' languages. |
| C．It can translate meows into different languages. |
| D．It can be set by a paired smartphone app. |
| A．Positive. | B．Uncaring. | C．Doubtful. | D．Opposed. |
| A．A smart collar that translates cat meows into human speech. |
| B．Cat lovers who want to understand what cats say. |
| C．Scientists who are devoted to inventing a smart collar. |
| D．A dictionary of cat meows and other sounds. |
8 . With their silly smiles and big brown eyes, Australian sea lions are adorable. Photographer Louise Cooper should know: in late 2019 she visited Kangaroo Island with a team of scientists from University of Sydney to photograph the sea lion colony at the beautiful Seal Bay. Cooper spent hours sitting with her camera amid sand dunes watching sea lions go about their day－mothers taking care of their young, huge males lazily sunning themselves on the sand, others playing bitey-face in the surf. “These playful creatures are just like puppy dogs,” she says.
Sadly, hunted almost to dying out in the 1800s, these creatures’ slow recovery has been influenced by their very long breeding(繁殖) period－Australian sea lions breed every 18 months, compared to 12 months for fur seals. Over the last 40 years, sea lion numbers have fallen by more than half. Cooper was on the South Australian island to record the important work being done by scientist Dr Rachael Gray and her team, who are trying to find out why.
“Hookworm(钩虫) disease is quite common in Australian sea lions,” Cooper explains.“So scientists like Dr Gray are treating them with an antibiotic(抗生素) to see if they can stamp it out(消灭，根除).”High levels of mercury and E coli have also been discovered in their system. Together, these human pollutants weaken the sea lions’ immune(免疫的) systems. There are hopes that stamping out hookworm in Australian sea lions will give them a better chance of survival.
The team’s visit to Kangaroo Island was on the eve of the deadly bushfires that swept through much of the island, destroying wildlife and animal habitats. Dr Gray raced from Sydney to check on the seals and, the sea lions mostly paid no attention to what had happened. Thankfully, the sea lion colony at Seal Bay survived unharmed.
“The fires were heartbreaking,” says Cooper, who hopes to return to the colony with Dr Gray and her team, who for now are keeping an eye on this at-risk group of sea animals.
1. What does the underlined word “adorable” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Careful. | B．Lovable. |
| C．Dangerous. | D．Independent |
| A．They are attacked by fur seals. |
| B．They have to leave their home. |
| C．They are endangered by hunters. |
| D．They have a very small population. |
| A．They have little chance of survival. |
| B．They have a strong immune system. |
| C．They are doing poorly after treatment. |
| D．They are at risk from hookworm disease. |
| A．They were uninjured. | B．They got burnt badly. |
| C．They failed to survive. | D．They were frightened away. |
9 . From picture-perfect beaches to mountains, wildlife and iconic structures, New South Wales, Australia, offers plenty to enjoy. This beautiful state is located on Australia's breathtaking eastern coast. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's most populated city, accommodates more than 5million people.
No trip to Sydney would be complete without a visit to Australia's most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House. Its unique appearance was designed to resemble a ship's sails and its historic importance is recognized by people all over the world. The Opera House welcomes more than 8 million visitors each year, making it the country's most popular tourist spot. It is also one of the world's busiest performing arts centers, featuring more than 2,000 performances annually.
The Opera House is open 363 days a year, and admission is free. Tours are available throughout the day in seven different languages. For those who arrive hungry, Opera House restaurants offer everything from snacks to fine dining.
“Stunning natural beauty” describes the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. This wilderness area, also on the World Heritage list, is a large, mountainous region that covers 1.03 million hectares. It is home to a vast number of Australia's birds and other forms of wildlife. One of the most visited sites is the Three Sisters, named for its unique rock formations.
Off the coast of New South Wales lies a remote island called Lord Howe Island. Created by a volcano, the island is surrounded by beautiful reefs. Two mountains tower over a bay with sandy, white beaches. Visitors can enjoy beach walks, mountain hikes, water activities (above and below the water), exceptional bird watching and more. About 380 people live on it, and a maximum of 400visitors can visit at one time.
New South Wales offers its visitors an abundance of experiences to choose from and many memories that will last a lifetime.
1. How is the importance of Sydney Opera House expressed?| A．By offering supportive views. | B．By stating personal experiences. |
| C．By listing facts and numbers. | D．By describing its unique appearance. |
| A．It's highly recommended to bring your own food. |
| B．Language probably won't be a barrier during tours. |
| C．The admission fee is acceptable for most people. |
| D．It is open all year round on account of its popularity. |
| A．New South Wales. | B．Lord Howe Island. | C．Blue Mountains. | D．Three Sisters. |
| A．Unforgettable 'Tour in the Opera House. | B．Charming Places to Visit in Sydney. |
| C．Unique Geographical Features of Australia. | D．Striking Beauty of New South Wales. |
10 . Verkhoyansk, a town in northeastern Siberia, about 6 miles within the Arctic Circle, recorded a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on June 20. 2020, likely setting a new record for the hottest temperature recorded that far north.
The new record comes as Siberia—and the Asian continent as a whole—have experienced unusually warm conditions since the start of this year. The whole region has been off-the-charts warm lately. And while it’s difficult to know the impact of climate change on individual records or temperatures in any given season, experts say the developments are part of a broader warming trend that has been documented across the globe.
The sudden movement of heat is being caused by high-pressure ridge (脊)of air—sometimes called “heat dome (穹)” that is blanketing the area. When this happens, air gets squeezed into one location and sinks, pushing warm temperatures down to the surface.
The high-pressure ridge also prevents clouds from forming, so sunshine comes through without being weakened by clouds. North of the Arctic Circle when that temperature was observed, they had 24 hours of daylight, so they were receiving solar energy for those entire 24 hours.
The town of Verkhoyansk is known for having the biggest extremes between winter and summer than any other city in the world, with their average high temperature minus 47 degrees Fahrenheit in winter In June and July, their average temperature is close to 70 degrees. In their climate history, they’ve been above 90 degrees over 150 times, and above 95 degrees at least dozen times.
“Since the start of the year, we’ve been noticing that Asia— particularly northern Asia, like Russia—has been extremely warm,” —said Ahira Sanchez-Lugo, a climatologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information. Forecasts suggest that this part of Siberia could see at least another week of above-average temperatures before things stabilize. But conditions in Asia have been warmer than usual for most of 2020.
1. What does the underlined part “off-the-charts” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Entirely. | B．Seriously. | C．Extremely. | D．Slightly. |
| A．It is a blanket covering a town. |
| B．It prevents the sun from heating the surface. |
| C．It moves fast and carries heat away. |
| D．It presses heat down and keeps solar energy down on the earth. |
| A．Verkhoyansk is the hottest town in the world. |
| B．The largest extremes in Verkhoyansk are more than 95 degrees. |
| C．Northern Asia takes the lead in global warming. |
| D．The average high temperature in Verkhoyansk is minus 47 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| A．Verkhoyansk is a special town in Russia. |
| B．Verkhoyansk hit its highest temperature in history. |
| C．Verkhoyansk experienced the worst weather conditions. |
| D．Verkhoyansk witnessed the highest temperature in the world. |
