1 . By the end of the century，if not sooner，the world’s oceans will be bluer and greener thanks to a warming climate，according to a new study.
At the heart of the phenomenon lie tiny marine microorganisms(海洋微生物) called phytoplankton. Because of the way light reflects off the organisms，these phytoplankton create colourful patterns at the ocean surface. Ocean colour varies from green to blue，depending on the type and concentration of phytoplankton. Climate change will fuel the growth of phytoplankton in some areas，while reducing it in other spots，leading to changes in the ocean's appearance.
Phytoplankton live at the ocean surface，where they pull carbon dioxide(二氧化碳) into the ocean while giving off oxygen. When these organisms die，they bury carbon in the deep ocean，an important process that helps to regulate the global climate. But phytoplankton are vulnerable to the ocean's warming trend. Warming changes key characteristics of the ocean and can affect phytoplankton growth，since they need not only sunlight and carbon dioxide to grow，but also nutrients.
Stephanie Dutkiewicz，a scientist in MIT's Center for Global Change Science，built a climate model that projects changes to the oceans throughout the century. In a world that warms up by 3℃，it found that multiple changes to the colour of the oceans would occur. The model projects that currently blue areas with little phytoplankton could become even bluer. But in some waters，such as those of the Arctic，a warming will make conditions riper for phytoplankton，and these areas will turn greener. “Not only are the quantities of phytoplankton in the ocean changing. ”she said，“but the type of phytoplankton is changing. ”
1. What are the first two paragraphs mainly about?| A．The various patterns at the ocean surface. |
| B．The cause of the changes in ocean colour. |
| C．The way light reflects off marine organisms. |
| D．The efforts to fuel the growth of phytoplankton. |
| A．Sensitive. | B．Beneficial |
| C．Significant | D．Unnoticeable |
| A．Phytoplankton play a declining role in the marine ecosystem. |
| B．Dutkiewicz's model aims to project phytoplankton changes |
| C．Phytoplankton have been used to control global climate |
| D．Oceans with more phytoplankton may appear greener. |
| A．To assess the consequences of ocean colour changes |
| B．To analyse the composition of the ocean food chain |
| C．To explain the effects of climate change on oceans |
| D．To introduce a new method to study phytoplankton |
The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and some big land masses as far south as Newfoundland. While they are rare north of 88°, there is evidence
Modern methods
3 . You can’t see your sleeping pets brain waves, but its behavior can tell you when your cat might be dreaming. If you watch closely, you’ll see that as she falls asleep, her breathing becomes slow and regular with her body still. She has entered the first stage of sleep, called slow-wave sleep. After about 15 minutes you’ll notice a change in her breathing. Her eyes move under her closed lids, her paws twitch (抽动) and she flicks (尤指用手指或手快速地轻抚) an ear. She has entered dreaming. Although she twitches and makes little grunting (嘟嘟) noises, messages from her brain to the large muscles in her legs are blocked, so she can’t run about. She is in a state of “sleep paralysis (麻痹)”.
Michel Jouvet, a French scientist, interrupted their sleep paralysis. Even though they were completely asleep, the dreaming cats began to run for balls that Jouvet couldn’t see and arched (弓起) their backs at unseen enemies. He figures he was watching them act out their dreams! Obviously, the dreaming cats seemed to be practising important cat skills: following, pouncing (猛扑), and fighting.
In another study, Matt Wilson recorded rats brain waves while they learned mazes (迷宫). One day, he left the brain-wave-recording machine on while the rats fell asleep. The pattern of brain waves in the sleeping rats matched the pattern from the maze so closely that Wilson could figure out exactly which part of the maze each rat was dreaming about!
Many researchers now think that in both people and animals, one purpose of dreams is to practise important skills and figure out recent learning. This may explain why so many people dream about fighting and escaping, skills that were probably important to our ancestors, and why dreaming affects our ability to learn.
Do all animals dream? From looking at the brain waves of sleeping animals. How often animals dream seems to be tied to body size. Cats dream about every 15 minutes, mice every 9 minutes, and elephants every 2 hours. And though cows and horses usually sleep standing up, they only dream when lying down.
1. What does Michel Jouvet find in his study?| A．The dreaming cats are in a state of body paralysis. |
| B．The dreaming cats often practise their important skills. |
| C．The eyes of dreaming cats moved while bodies are still. |
| D．The muscles of the dreaming cats are blocked to move. |
| A．Dreaming a lot can help humans learn more. |
| B．Learning mazes is the basic skill for cats to learn. |
| C．Rats often dreams to make certain their recent learning |
| D．Fighting and escaping are not important skills for ancestors. |
| A．Rats. | B．Dogs. |
| C．Cows. | D．Elephants |
| A．By making comparisons. | B．By using figures |
| C．By telling stories | D．By showing facts |
4 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses （球场） in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?| A．Cycling around a lake. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
| A．it is an outdoor sport |
| B．it improves our health |
| C．it uses fewer resources |
| D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to go in for green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
5 . Scientists and marine biologists(海洋生物学家) had something to celebrate last week when two lost humpback whales(座头鲸) returned to the Pacific Ocean. Delta and Dawn — a mother and a baby — had circled the Sacramento Bay area for two weeks before going back to the ocean.
＂We all shouted loudly like ‘Yay’!＂said Jim Oswald, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Center. ＂It’s been really exciting.＂
The humpback whales were last spotted on May 29 near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Scientists are sure that the whales swam into open water during the evening of May 29 or early the next morning, since there have been no further sightings of the whales. Even so, boats were sent out to look for them, just in case the whales made another wrong turn.
Officials spent two weeks trying to get the whales to turn back towards the ocean. Biologists played recordings of whale-feeding as well as unfamiliar sounds to try to make the whales head back to the Pacific Ocean.
However, Delta and Dawn gave scientists an unexpected chance to study humpback whales in the wild. Scientists were able to gather sound recordings and watch their behaviors. This is especially exciting because humpback whales are an endangered species. What’s more, scientists don’t usually have the chance to observe (观察) them in their natural habitat.
＂All those things are very hard to get,＂ said Oswald,＂So what we are doing is filling up the knowledge blank on humpback whales in the wild. ＂ Scientists should be able to use this information to help other lost whales in the future.
1. Jim Oswald was very happy because____________.| A．the whales traveled to Sacramento Bay |
| B．he found the lost humpback whales |
| C．the scientists held a great celebration |
| D．the whales returned to the Pacific Ocean |
| A．fed them with other animals | B．swam into open water |
| C．played music for them | D．played strange sounds to them |
| A．humpback whales will disappear in the future |
| B．humpback whales were excited in their natural habitat |
| C．scientists learned more about humpback whales |
| D．scientists are worried about humpback whales |
| A．Looking for the Lost Whales | B．Helping the Lost Whales |
| C．The Lost Whales Returned | D．Two Whales Were Lost |
6 . Humpback Whales
Humpback whales are sometimes calledperformers of the ocean.This is because they can make impressive movements whenthey dive.The name“humpback”, which isthe common name for this whale, refers to the typical curve shape the whale'sback forms as it dives.
Sometimes the humpback will dive with a fantasticmovement known as a breach.During breaching the whale uses its powerful tailflukes to lift nearly two-thirds of its body out of the water in a giant leap.A breach might also include a sideways twist with fins stretched out likewings, as the whale reaches the height of the breach.
A humpback whale breathes air at the surface of thewater through two blowholes which are located near the top of the head.It blowsa double stream of water that can rise up to 4 metres above the water.
The humpback has a small dorsal fin located towardsthe tail flukes about two-thirds of the way down its back.Other distinguishingfeatures include large pectoral fins, which may be up to a third of the bodylength, and unique black and white spots on the underside of the tailflukes.These markings are like finger prints: no two are the same.
Humpback whales live in large groups.They communicatewith each other through complex “songs”.
| Quick Facts | |
| Size: | 14m-18m in length; 30-50 tons in weight |
| Living | Open ocean and shallow coastline waters |
| Environment | From warm tropical waters, where they breed, to cold polar waters, where they eat |
| Diet: | Shellfish, plants and fish of small size |
| Hunting: | Sometimes in groups, in which several whales form a circle under the water, blowing bubbles that form a “net” around a school of fish.The fish are then forced up to the surface in a concentrated mass. |
| Current state: | Endangered: it is estimated that there are about 5000-7500 humpback whales worldwide |
1. According to Quick Facts, ahumpback whale _____.
| A．cannot survive in waters near the shore |
| B．doesn't live in the same waters all the time |
| C．lives mainly on underwater plants |
| D．prefers to work alone when hunting food |
| A．use its tail flukes to leap out of the water |
| B．twist its body sideways to jump high |
| C．blow two streams of water |
| D．communicate with a group of humpbacks |
| A．has its unique markings on its tail flukes |
| B．has black and white fingerprints |
| C．gets its name from the way it hunts |
| D．is a great performer due to its songs |
Her owner Mike Holden panicked and celled the coastguard of Cornwall, who turned up in seconds . Six volunteers slid down the cliff with the help of a rope but gave up all hope of finding her alive after a 90-minute search.
Three days later, a hurricane hit the coast near Cornwall. Mr. Holden returned home from his holiday upset and convinced his pet was dead. He comforted himself with the thought she had died in the most beautiful part of the country.
For the next two weeks, the Holdens were heartbroken . Then, one day, the phone rang and Steve Tregear, the coastguard of Cornwall, asked Holder if he would like his dog bark.
A birdwatcher, armed with a telescope, found the pet sitting desperately on a rock. While he sounded the alarm, a student from Leeds climbed down the cliff to collect Judy.
The dog had initially been knocked unconscious(失去知觉的)but had survived by drinking water from a fresh scream at the base of the cliff. She may have fed on the body of a sheep which had also fallen over the edge. “The dog was very thin and hungry,” Steve Tregear said , “It was a very lucky dog. She survived because of a plentiful supply of fresh water,” he added.
It was ,as Mr. Holden admitted, “a minor miracle(奇迹)”.
1. The dog Jody fell down the cliff when she was____.
| A．rescuing her owner | B．caught in a hurricane |
| C．blocked by a rock | D．running after a sheep |
| A．A birdwatcher |
| B．A student from Leeds |
| C．Six volunteers |
| D．The coastguard of Cornwall |
| A．People like to travel with their pets. |
| B．Judy was taken to the fields for hunting. |
| C．Luck plays a vital role in Judy's survival. |
| D．Holden cared little where Judy was buried. |
| A．Miracle of the Coastguard. |
| B．Surviving a Hurricane. |
| C．Dangers in the Wild |
| D．Coming Back from the Dead. |
The production of coffee beans is a huge, profitable business, but, unfortunately, full-sun production is taking over the industry and bringing about a lot of damage. The change in how coffee is grown from shade-grown production to full-sun production endangers the very existence of, certain animals and birds, and even disturbs the world’s ecological balance.
On a local level, the damage of the forest required by full-sun fields affects the area’s birds and animals. The shade of the forest trees provides a home for birds and other special(物种) that depend on the trees’ flowers and fruits. Full-sun coffee growers destroy this forest home. As a result, many special are quickly dying out.
On a more global level, the destruction of the rainforest for full-sun coffee fields also threatens(威胁)human life. Medical research often makes use of the forests' plant and animal life, and the destruction of such species could prevent researchers from finding cures for certain diseases. In addition, new coffee-growing techniques are poisoning the water locally, and eventually the world's groundwater.
Both locally and globally, the continued spread of full-sun coffee plantations (种植园)could mean the destruction of the rainforest ecology. The loss of shade trees is already causing a slight change in the world's climate, and studies show that loss of oxygen-giving trees also leads to air pollution and global warming. Moreover, the new growing techniques are contributing to acidic(酸性的) soil conditions.
It is obvious that the way much coffee is grown affects many aspects many aspects of life, from the local environment to the global ecology. But consumers do have a choice. They can purchase shade-grown coffee whenever possible, although at a higher cost. The future health of the planet and mankind is surely worth more than an inexpensive cup of coffee.
1. What can we learn about full-sun coffee production from Paragraph 4?
| A．It limits the spread of new growing techniques. |
| B．It leads to air pollution and global warming. |
| C．It slows down the loss of shade trees. |
| D．It improves local soil conditions. |
| A．entertain | B．advertise | C．instruct | D．persuade |
| A．An agricultural magazine. |
| B．A medical journal. |
| C．An engineering textbook. |
| D．A tourist guide. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area
The Jiuzhaigou Valley, which lies in the northern part of Sichuan Province, reaches a height of more than 4,800 meters, with a series of different forest ecosystem (生态系统). There you can enjoy watching excellent waterfalls. Some 140 kinds of birds also live in the valley, as well as a number of endangered plants and animals, including the giant panda. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637.
Khami Ruins National Monument
The city of Khami, which developed after the capital of Great Zimbabwe had been given up in the mid-16th century, is of great archaeological (考古的) interest. The discovery of objects from Europe and China shows that Khami was a major center for trade over a long period of time. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365.
Henderson Island
Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls (环礁) in the world whose ecology (生态) has not been touched by human beings. It is especially famous for the ten plants and four land birds that can only be seen on the island. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487.
The Old City of Jerusalem
As a holy city for three different religions in the Middle East, Jerusalem has always been of great religious importance. It was given a World Heritage Status in 1981 and placed on the “List of World Heritage in Danger” the following year. For more information, please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148.
1. What can we know about The Jiuzhaigou Valley?
| A．It sits at the foot of a 4,800-meter-high mountain. |
| B．It has different forest ecosystem. |
| C．Most of China’s endangered plants can be found here. |
| D．In all about 140 kinds of birds and animals live there. |
| A．had a very short history |
| B．was ruined in the mid-16th century |
| C．was once Great Zimbabwe’s largest city |
| D．once played a great role as a trade center |
| A．hasn’t been greatly influenced by human activities |
| B．isn’t suitable for humans to live on |
| C．has been open to visitors for years |
| D．is made up of a few large atolls |
| A．http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148 |
| B．http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/365 |
| C．http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/487 |
| D．http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/637 |
Where should an adventurous tourist go? After you've done sightseeing in London, shopping in New York, tasted the local food in Paris, and danced to your heart's content at the Brazilian Carnival, where else can you go? What exotic (异国风情的) tourist destination awaits you?
Well, Antarctica sounds like the holiday of a lifetime! It's considered the last great wilderness on Earth. Just a few scientists in research stations share the icy landscape with penguins and other animals which can cope with the low temperatures.
Tourism began in Antarctica in the 1950s and it's still a small scale. About 37,000 tourists are expected there this season, but many won't even leave the boat.
The BBC's Juliet Rix visited the frozen continent and asked herself if she should be there at all, causing potential problems to such a sensitive environment. Her tour guide admitted that all visitors leave footprints and they all go to the same place, the accessible coastline, which is also where the penguins and seals go to breed.
But some people believe that if carefully controlled, tourism can be good for Antarctica. It has no native population and it needs advocates. Visitors to the icy continent might be ready to support and even to fund its preservation. And they're likely to engage in the discussion about global warming, which has led to the melting of glaciers.
According to Rix, guidelines are followed when you're about to set foot in Antarctica and tourists have to disinfect (为……消毒) their boots to make sure no alien species are introduced.
And once on land, there's no eating or smoking. Rocks, bone fragments — nothing should be taken as a souvenir and nothing should be left behind. Tourists fortunate enough to visit Antarctica must be aware that this is not their home and keep their fingers crossed that future generations will also be able to enjoy such breathtaking views.
1. According to the second paragraph, we can learn that ________.
| A．Antarctica has become the best place for people to travel |
| B．only scientists can be allowed to go to Antarctica |
| C．Antarctica is less affected by human activities |
| D．no animals can survive in Antarctica except penguins |
| A．governments should take measures to stop tourists from going to Antarctica |
| B．whether tourists should go to Antarctica or not should be considered carefully |
| C．the animals' habitat in Antarctica has been seriously affected by tourism |
| D．only journalists begin to pay attention to the environmental protection in Antarctica |
| A．Tourists can eat and smoke in Antarctica. |
| B．Tourists can take something they like from Antarctica. |
| C．Tourists can throw away something they don't need in Antarctica. |
| D．Tourists can enjoy the beautiful scenery in Antarctica. |
| A．Why can't tourists go to Antarctica? |
| B．How can tourists go to Antarctica? |
| C．Should tourists go to Antarctica? |
| D．Are tourists allowed to go to Antarctica? |
