Nearly a
2 . Dutch researchers have discovered that birds living in cities are using metal spikes (尖刺) to build their nests. People put these spikes on buildings in order to keep birds off their balconies, benches, and chimneys, but birds seem to be stealing them and using them to keep people away from their eggs.
The research began when, in the courtyard of a hospital in Antwerp, Belgium, biologist AukeFlorian Hiemstra found a large nest that had been built by a magpie (喜鹊). The nest was made from about 1,500 metal spikes. They were pointing outward to create a protective system around the nest.
“I just stared at it, this strange, beautiful, weird nest,” Hiemstra told BBC News. When he investigated further, he found that magpies had moved away nearly 165 feet of metal spikes that had been glued to the hospital’s roof.
After Hiemstra made this discovery, his team heard about a similar nest created by crows in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, and another magpie nest in Glasgow, Scotland. The crows had positioned the spikes in a different way, perhaps using the metal to support the nest’s structure.
In their report, the researchers mention many kinds of birds moving spikes off buildings, but they chose to focus their study on corvids(birds from the crow family). The researchers pointed out that there have been previous studies on how corvids use everything from telephone wires to clothes hangers to build their nests. They said the use of anti-bird spikes “hints at a functional use”—meaning the birds seem to know exactly what they’re doing.
Magpies have often been seen nesting in thorny (多刺的) places, where the thorns can prevent people from attacking the small eggs and chicks inside the nest. Thorny hedges aren’t common in cities, however, so the theory is that magpies use the human-made version instead. Hiemstra calls this the birds’ “revenge”. “We’re trying to get rid of birds, but the birds are collecting our metal spikes and actually making more birds in these nests,” he said.
1. Why are metal spikes put on buildings?A.To draw birds’ attention to the nest. | B.To prevent strangers entering. |
C.To keep birds off the buildings. | D.To make the buildings more beautiful. |
A.to protect their eggs and chicks | B.to decorate their nests |
C.to provide a strong hold | D.to support the structure of the nests |
A.Disappointing. | B.Appreciative. |
C.Confusing. | D.Indifferent. |
A.To introduce a new species of bird that has adapted to city life. |
B.To compare different nesting habits of birds in urban environments. |
C.To emphasize the negative impact of human activities on bird habitats. |
D.To inform readers about birds using metal spikes to build nests in cities. |
3 . For long, Preifer Fall Trail (路线) was a most popular attraction in Big Sur. Annually, thousands of people hiked the trail. Unfortunately, the trail, along with stairs, signs, railings, an observation station and wooden bridges, was destroyed in the 2008 Basin Complex Fire. But now a new trail has risen from the burned land.
With its amazing rocky coastline and mountains, Big Sur, the writer Henry Miller once said, is “the face of the earth as the creator intended it to look.” But the landscape always suffers natural disasters. There have been three major wildfires in Big Sur in the past years. “You can still see the impacts there,” said John Hiles, a state parks repair team leader, pointing to black marks 30 feet up a huge redwood.
Parks planners designed a new track, moving the trail out of the river to reduce its impact on the environment. People from the California protection group, state parks department and the nonprofit organization put in 66,000 hours of work over the past four years. They built 160 redwood stairs and dragged hundreds of 16-foot-long redwood sticks by hand to build railings. They removed 4,150 square feet of old building stuff, enough to cover a basketball court. They used iron cables and pulleys (缆线和滑轮) to build a 70-foot long wooden bridge over the hills. “Nature is probably the best place to learn,” Hiles said. “More than any college or school, you learn so many life lessons out here.”
However, the huge Soberanes Fire s wept through the area in 2016, putting a stop to the work. When they began again in 2017, great river storms flooded the area and damaged part of Highway 1. Everybody gathered around this project. They saw the loss. They missed it. They wanted it to come back. They kept combining efforts. It’s been a long journey, but worth the wait.
1. What can we learn about Preifer Fall Trail?A.It is an attraction rebuilt in 2008. | B.It met with many natural disasters. |
C.It features man-made landscape. | D.It is an addition to a previous track. |
A.By moving the trail off watercourse. | B.By using huge redwood sticks. |
C.By recycling the old building stuff. | D.By applying iron cables and pulleys. |
A.Limiting and typical. | B.Adventurous but smooth. |
C.Mysterious and attractive. | D.Tough but rewarding. |
A.The rise and fall of a hiking trail. | B.California protection projects. |
C.The recovery of a lost attraction. | D.Journeys into wilderness. |
A. inky B. ashore C. facility D. worldwide E. female F. conclusions G. double H. confused I. Talk J. preservation K. typically |
Several deep-sea fish have been mysteriously washed up on California’s beaches this year, leaving marine biologists
The latest Pacific football fish to be washed
The fish is black, almost spherical in shape and has sharp teeth. It has a strange external body sticking out from its head with multiple branches, used to attract prey in the
The fish found on Swami’s Beach is a mature
Pacific football fish are very rarely seen considering that they are
Despite the fact that the fish are rarely seen, three of them have been washed up on California’s beaches this year —including one that was spotted last month at Black’s Beach, north of San Diego. The three sightings this year
Despite the series of recent sightings, experts said, it’s hard to jump to any
5 . El Nino is a weather pattern that brings hotter temperatures and less rainfall than usual. It is caused by warmer surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean leading to a change in wind movements. Warmer ocean temperatures lead to more rainfall over that part of the ocean and less rain over Northern Australia.
An El Nino weather pattern has been declared in Australia for the first time in seven years and experts say people should get ready for extreme heat. The Bureau of Meteorology(欧洲气象局) said the country would sweat through hot and dry weather for the rest of 2023 thanks to El Nino and another weather pattern called a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, or IOD, which relates to ocean temperatures.
Both weather patterns have already brought hotter and drier weather to southern and eastern Australia while making heatwaves, droughts, bushfires and having effects on coral reefs much more likely.
Australia’s last El Nino was in the summer of 2015 before cooler, wetter La Nina weather took over. The Bureau said it was very likely El Nino would last the whole Australian summer.
“When a positive IOD and El Nino occur together, their drying effect is typically stronger and more widespread across Australia,” the Bureau warned.
The news comes after an unusually long period of warm spring weather, with some places recording temperatures 15°C higher than the average. A disastrous fire warning was announced for the NSW south coast on Tuesday as firefighters battled against the fire in the Northern Territory, Queensland and New South Wales.
Senior Leeturer in Climate Science at the University of Melbourne Dr Andrew King said the recent hot weather “is a warning of the kind of extremes we’re likely to see more of over the next few months”.
1. What information can we get from Paragraph 1?A.Something about El Nino. | B.Ways to avoid El Nino. |
C.Reasons of global warming. | D.Areas tending to have El Nino. |
A.happens every 7 years | B.occurs only in Australia |
C.causes extreme weather | D.is often accompanied by IOD |
A.Southern Australia will suffer the most. | B.More places of Australia will be affected. |
C.This El Nino will last for the whole year. | D.It will become wetter and cooler next year. |
A.Things could be worse. | B.People have got prepared. |
C.Extreme weather will pass. | D.El Nino will become weak. |
Wildlife protection is
To deal with the threats faced by wildlife, building reserves and habitats plays an important role. These areas provide a safe place for various species to survive, allowing
7 . In 1670, two Scottish doctors set up a garden in the city of Edinburgh to find out connections between plants and medicine. That first garden wasn’t very big — about the size of a tennis court. Fast-forward 350 years, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) now covers an area bigger than 1,000 tennis courts. The RBGE’s goal is to “explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.
After doctors and distant cousins Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour graduated from university in the mid-17th century, they shared the goal of improving Scottish medicine by looking into botanical (plant-related) research. They found some land near Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh and started to collect plants. They taught students how to grow exotic (外来的) plants and use them to make medicines. As the collection expanded (增加), the garden moved to different sites, including what is now Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.
In 1823, the garden was moved to its current location in Inverleith, a suburb of Edinburgh. It took three years to move the collection of plants and trees using specially built machines. The Tropical Palm House was built in 1834, and it was joined by the larger Temperate Palm House in 1858. Both are still popular with visitors. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the RBGE continued to search for new specimens (标本) from around the world.
The RBGE has about 13,500 species of living plants in its collection today. The herbarium — a collection of dried and protected species — includes more than three million plant samples, which represent more than half of the world’s known plants. The oldest specimen dates back to 1697. Experts continue to recognize new species each year, as well as growing plants that are extinct in their own habitats. The RBGE also works with botanical gardens around the world, including in Africa and South America, and supports them with conservation projects, education and training.
1. Why did Robert and Andrew build up the garden?A.To teach people some knowledge about exotic plants. |
B.To do research on plants and medicine. |
C.To protect endangered wildlife. |
D.To practice their tennis skills. |
A.In the mid-17th century. | B.In the 20th century. |
C.In1834. | D.In1858. |
A.It has made achievements in growing extinct plants. |
B.It has collected less than half of all known plants. |
C.It is going to expand its sites in other countries. |
D.It collects native plants only. |
A.How the RBGE has expanded. | B.The progress of saving endangered plants. |
C.Why a botanic garden was built. | D.An introduction to the RBGE. |
8 . As a research scholar at the Indian Institute for Science Education and Research, I once monitored birds that inhabited grasslands in Daying Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area in Northeast India. This habitat forms a part of one of the most bio-diverse places on Earth. Yet despite their ecological importance and uniqueness, most grasslands are classified by the Indian government as “wastelands”.
Ecosystems throughout the world are suffering from the effects of unchecked habitat loss and climate change. While all types of ecosystems—forests, grasslands, oceans, wetlands and deserts—feel these effects, there is evidence of bias (偏好) towards the conservation of forest biodiversity. This bi as hurts the preservation of other ecosystems, including the grasslands that make up 24 percent of the Indian landmass. These grasslands are home to important biodiversity and support the livelihoods of millions of people, yet are defined in India by their value in being turned into forests for fighting climate change.
Apart from being costly, the move overlooks the ecological and social value of grasslands by turning them into mono-culture forests, which do not provide the same ecological benefits. Yet, grasslands could be equally good at storing carbon.
India and other countries with substantial grasslands need to recognize, support and prioritize evidence-based scientific attempts that focus on grasslands by establishing grassland-specific restoration efforts, as well as by mapping their extent and the ecosystem services they provide for humans. The time is ripe for abandoning outdated labelings like “wastelands”.
Already, communities like the Todas and the Idu Mishmi people are protecting grasslands in India through collective action and local stewardship (管理), which are helping them connect with the grasslands. With the aim of preserving the richness of nature, the government must restore greater rights to local communities to manage grasslands. Grasslands are an important feature of an ecologically sound India, one that must be preserved for that value above all others.
1. What does the author want to stress in the second paragraph?A.Forests are hotspots of biodiversity. | B.Deserts badly affect local ecology. |
C.Climate change threatens ecosystems. | D.Grasslands need equal conservation. |
A.Tolerant. | B.Unclear. | C.Negative. | D.Favorable. |
A.Government officials. | B.Local communities. |
C.University researchers. | D.International agencies. |
A.Stop Treating Grasslands as Wastelands | B.Take Active Steps to Limit Grasslands |
C.Recognize the Polluted Grasslands | D.Transform Grasslands into Forests |
9 . Wildlife Preservation Volunteer Programs
Elephant Preservation Volunteer Program in Nepal
This program is suitable for active volunteers who love animals and want to care for the well-being of elephants. No experience is needed as you’ll be working closely with placement staff. The elephant shelter takes in elephants that have medical issues and require care.
Volunteers are accommodated in a local hotel. You should expect to share a room with one other volunteer.
Marine (海洋的) Preservation Volunteer Program in Croatia
This program is suitable for physically fit volunteers who are experienced divers (潜水员). You will use your diving skills to collect marine waste from the bottom of the seabed. You will work within a team on sorting waste out and handing it to the recycling centre.
Volunteers will be accommodated in a hotel. Local workers will clean the accommodation throughout the week.
Victoria Falls Wildlife Volunteering in Zimbabwe
This program is suitable for animal-loving volunteers who want to contribute to protecting amazing creatures and their habitats. Activities include animal tracking, camping out on the reserve and supporting other partner organizations.
Volunteers are accommodated within private rooms at the preservation centre. The accommodation has an open-air area where volunteers can socialize.
Amazon Jungle Preservation Volunteer Program in Peru
This program is suitable for volunteers who care about the environment, like working hard and don’t mind getting their hands dirty. It’s a great opportunity if you’re looking to reset your life by getting out of your comfort zone. You’ll also be developing personally and professionally.
Volunteers are accommodated in local people’s houses. There are running showers but you can expect water to he cold.
1. What do the programs in Nepal and Zimbabwe have in common?A.They need experienced volunteers. |
B.They are suitable for animal lovers. |
C.They include dirty work in the field. |
D.They require camping out on the reserve. |
A.They work on the seabed all the time. |
B.They help to keep the environment clean. |
C.They are taught diving skills after arrival. |
D.They lead a team to explore the marine creatures. |
A.Elephant Preservation Volunteer Program. |
B.Marine Preservation Volunteer Program. |
C.Victoria Falls Wildlife Volunteering. |
D.Amazon Jungle Preservation Volunteer Program. |
10 . Sometimes, animals act just as humans do. Officer Burgess found a mother duck pecking (啄) on his car. He figured she just wanted
Officer Burgess grew
After the duck’s doing so for a second time, Officer Burgess
“She led me about 100 yards away to this grassy
Officer Burgess thought the mother duck might
When Officer Charron arrived, she went straight to work on carefully
It was an unbelievable
Officer Burgess said, “I honestly don’t know why I decided to
A.water | B.peace | C.food | D.protection |
A.curious | B.stubborn | C.happy | D.grateful |
A.hid | B.walked | C.broke | D.floated |
A.lake | B.road | C.sidewalk | D.car |
A.finally | B.sincerely | C.actually | D.exactly |
A.believe | B.find | C.hear | D.regret |
A.hallway | B.house | C.garden | D.area |
A.neighbors | B.nests | C.babies | D.wings |
A.kicking | B.sinking | C.climbing | D.wandering |
A.help | B.attack | C.admit | D.trap |
A.encouraged | B.warned | C.refused | D.called |
A.available | B.willing | C.powerful | D.certain |
A.volunteer | B.vehicle | C.hand | D.tool |
A.fixing | B.comforting | C.freeing | D.curing |
A.glared | B.watched | C.cheered | D.screamed |
A.escaped | B.flew | C.swam | D.carried |
A.experiment | B.goal | C.chance | D.moment |
A.even | B.yet | C.still | D.ever |
A.stop | B.drive | C.ignore | D.follow |
A.suffer from | B.turn to | C.come across | D.concentrate on |