1 . It is known that not all heroes wear capes (披风), but Chris Van Dorn does, who has saved dozens of animals in animal shelters (收容所). He has given these animals a second chance of life while dressed as the Dark Knight.
Van Dorn has been a big fan of Batman and grew up watching the TV series about animals. He also became a fan of animal rescue (营救) when his family took in a shepherd dog named Mr. Boots.
“While dressing like Batman is not necessary to rescue animals — anyone can be a superhero by adopting (收养) shelter animals — it does keep the focus on saving animals, not the man behind the cape. The dress just makes everybody happy and smile. It’s special to see Batman walking around, and when they find out that he’s doing a good deed in the world, they get even more excited,” Van Dorn said.
Van Dorn always wanted to be an unknown hero. “When I was first starting out, I would sign everything ‘Bruce Wayne’ and not put my real name out there,” Van Dorn said.
Van Dorn will spend long hours in his Batmobile — a Honda Accord — to take four rescued animals at a time to their new homes. He hopes to be able to buy a large truck so he can transport even more animals. He also hopes to use his pilot’s license as a means to transport animals further away quickly.
Now Van Dorn wants to share what he does with more people, saying, “I challenge anyone to go to their local animal shelter because it’s a sad place, but if you can help out in any way — whether that’s to adopt a dog or just volunteer your time, then you should do it.”
1. What made Van Dorn turn into a fan of animal rescue?| A．The advice from his parents. | B．The experience of raising Mr. Boots. |
| C．The influence from the TV series. | D．The visit to a local animal shelter. |
| A．To learn from Batman. | B．To show others his cool clothes. |
| C．To bring others happiness. | D．To make himself the focus of attention. |
| A．Gaining a big truck. | B．Getting a pilot’s license. |
| C．Building homes for animals. | D．Repairing his Batmobile. |
| A．Share their stories. | B．Get ready for challenges. |
| C．Take care of their pet. | D．Support animal shelters. |
2 . The West Potomac Park in Washington, DC, lies just west of the National Mall. It is home to some of Washington’s most iconic (标志性) sites. But the park’s most famous attraction? Cherry blossoms.
Thousands of cherry trees bloom around the waters of the Tidal Basin (潮汐湖), which reflect the trees’ images. The basin was created in the late1800s to prevent the Potomac River from flooding. The original cherry trees were a gift from Japan. On March 26, 1912, more than 3, 000 cherry trees arrived in Washington. Most were planted around the Tidal Basin. But cherry trees were also planted near the Washington Monument and the White House.
Mike Litterst, a spokesperson for the U. S. National Park Service, which maintains the West Potomac Park, helps protect the cherry trees. “This wonderful gift is over 100 years old now and, if you will, the gift keeps on giving. You can enjoy its beauty every year”.
The cherry blossoms also serve as a symbol of the beginning of springtime. Every year, Washington celebrates the arrival of spring with a two - week Cherry Blossom Festival. More than 1.5 million people from around the world visit the nation’s capital during the festival. They all hope to see the cherry trees at their “peak (高峰) bloom”,which lasts several days each year. Experts begin making peak bloom predictions in February. Visitors make their travel plans to Washington based on these predictions. Last year, officials correctly predicted the peak bloom six weeks in advance. But this year, unpredictable weather in March in Washington has made guessing it difficult. “Peak bloom” dates have changed many times.
The cherry blossoms have also become a worldwide symbol of Washington itself. BoWen moved to Washington from China seven years ago. He comes to the Cherry Blossom Festival. “It’s so famous. Everywhere you can see Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival, on like Twitter and Instagram.”
1. What do we learn about the West Potomac Park?| A．It is just next to the Tidal Basin. | B．There are some iconic sites around it. |
| C．It includes a man - made body of water. | D．All the cherry trees from Japan were there. |
| A．The old cherry trees are still in blossom. | B．Visitors can pick the flowers if they like. |
| C．Japan is still giving them the cherry trees. | D．Visitors want to have the cherry trees as a gift. |
| A．It usually lasts one week. | B．Its time is not the same every year. |
| C．It is held when cherry trees start to bloom. | D．Its celebration is held all over the country. |
| A．It can be enjoyed just online. | B．It is liked by the Chinese very much. |
| C．It is one of the most important ones. | D．It is widely known all over the world. |
3 . Lots of animals live and move in groups--elephants in herds, wolves in packs, birds in flocks, and fish in schools. Research has shown that where an individual is located in the group can affect the benefits it gets from hanging out in a crowd. However, Shaun Killen, an ecophysiologist at the University of Glasgow in the UK says, researchers haven’t yet fully explored the role of physiological processes such as digestion in driving animals’ collective behavior.
Killen and his colleagues recently studied schools of Eurasian minnows (修鱼) swimming in a tank against a current. Pieces of food were constantly moving past the fish, and the team recorded how many each minnow ate and the fishes’ positions before and after eating. After calculating the metabolic (新陈代谢的) costs of digesting each fish’s meal and comparing it to the fish’s position ,the team observed a trend: fish that had just gulped down a big meal moved to the back of the school, even when they’d swum at the front at most other times.
“It makes sense that feeding would influence individuals’ positions in a group,” says DamienFarine, who studies collective behavior in birds at the University of Konstanz in Germany, “If a fish is hungry, it’s competing with others in the school to eat, and being at the front gives it access to more food. But once the fish is full, it doesn’t necessarily need to be at the front.” In addition,“being at the back of the group is less energetically costly for a range of reasons,” Farine notes.” An individual at the back doesn’t have to contribute to navigating, and by relaxing the brain load it saves more energy.”
Killen says he’s been thinking about the pros and cons of being at the back of the pack, such as protection from attackers and a boost from schoolmates’ slipstream. Changes in position, especially during the basic trade -off between feeding and movement, appear to influence group leadership ,information transfer, and group decision making. But the consequences of the trade-offs for group power and survival are not yet understood.
1. What does Killen and his colleagues’ study focus on?| A．How behavioral traits influence position change of individuals in fish schools. |
| B．How location influences nutrition states of individuals in fish schools. |
| C．How digestion influences distribution of individuals in fish schools. |
| D．How location influences benefits of individuals in fish schools. |
| A．Swallowed. | B．Located. | C．Witnessed. | D．Missed. |
| A．A full fish competes to eat at the back. |
| B．A hungry fish has easier access to more food. |
| C．Being at the back saves the energy of a full fish. |
| D．Being at the front costs a hungry fish less energy. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Confident. | C．Positive. | D．Disappointed. |
Planning a trip to Peru? Here are four amazing destinations. A short
1. Where are the speakers?
| A．At the recycling center. | B．At home. | C．In the office. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Curious. | C．Angry. |
| A．Paper. | B．Plastic bottles. | C．Cans. |
| A．Prepare boxes for different wastes. |
| B．Reduce the use of collection boxes. |
| C．Stop using paper and water bottles. |
| A．Sunny. | B．Cloudy. | C．Rainy. |
7 . Best places to see wildlife in Canada
Whether you’re keen to see the mysterious spirit bears or listen to the songs of beluga whales, Canada’s varied landform offers dozens of wildlife adventures that are bound to impress you. So grab your camera and set out for a few of the best places to see Canada’s incredible wildlife.
Search for the mysterious spirit bears in the Great Bear Rainforest,British Columbia
Spirit bears are one of the most special animals found in Canada.They are a rare species protected by Canada and can only be found in the Great Bear Rainforest. which is a remote protected area mainly accessible by boat.
Listen to beluga whales sing in Churchill,Manitoba
About 136,000 beluga whales can be found here in Canadian waters in the summer.They are white in color and are nicknamed the“canaries(金丝雀)of the sea”thanks to the sounds they make, which are used to navigate.
Spot a moose (麇鹿) or two at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
The moose are one of the most-loved species in Canada,but are surprisingly difficult to find in the wild. If you have your heart set on seeing a moose or two,head to Algonquin provincial Park in Ontario, where you might catch sight of them at dusk or dawn, especially in the spring.
Witness the monarch butterfly migration at Point Pelee National Park,Ontario
Every year thousands of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico,where the spend the winter. One of the main points of this migration route is Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. Head there just before sunset or early in the morning for the best views
1. Which species is unique to Canada?| A．Spirit bears. | B．Beluga whales. |
| C．Moose. | D．Monarch butterflies. |
| A．At dusk in the winter. |
| B．At dawn in the spring. |
| C．At midday in the autumn. |
| D．After sunset in the summer. |
| A．Churchill, Manitoba, |
| B．Algonquin Provincial Park,Ontario. |
| C．Point Pelee National Park,Ontario. |
| D．The Great Bear Rainforest,British Columbia. |
8 . Marathon runner Gerima Mustafa of Uganda walked some 664 kilometers across East Africa earlier this year to call attention to threats to the shea (乳木果) nut tree, a source of food, medical products and income for the many living from West Africa to Somalia.
Now research scientists studying the shea tree in Burkina Faso have found that it is the natural ecosystem that is getting degraded in this region that might do harm to the shea, which is often targeted by charcoal (木炭) traders who kill and sell the trees for far less than the long-term worth of their benefits. The habitats are lost to ever-increasing agricultural shifts too, with a clear overall link to the impacts of human activity.
Scientist Aoife Delaney of the UK, along with Burkinabe researchers and British ecologists, studied 10 different parkland locations in Burkina Faso where the trees are planted. They say the tree — able to produce nuts for 200 years — relies on pollinators (传粉者) that thrive when other trees and shrub (灌木) species around it create a habitat to support the pollinators, especially bees.
“Consequently, shea productions are likely to benefit from the preservation of a range of different tree and shrub species in parklands,” Delaney and the research team said. Their work was recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
The authors recommend maintaining a range of native woody species throughout their lifespans, and planting new ones into farmland when cleared. The idea is to be intentional and active about protecting the trees.
“Only separate parts of semi-natural habitat in the surrounding landscape may not be sufficient to provide the necessary pollination services,” they concluded. “In a region that is subject to nutritional poverty and where the fund required to supply local foods is lacking for most families, maintaining natural ecosystem services that support food provision must be a priority.”
1. Why is Gerima Mustafa mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To describe a marathon runner’s experience. | B．To suggest the popularity of Gerima Mustafa. |
| C．To introduce the importance of shea nut trees. | D．To explain an approach to protecting the wildlife. |
| A．The agricultural development. | B．The illegal hunting of animals. |
| C．The disturbance of human activity. | D．The pollution in their natural habitat. |
| A．Increase. | B．Spread. | C．Escape. | D．Change. |
| A．Provide hand-pollination services. | B．Keep the biodiversity within ecosystem. |
| C．Replace the old shea trees with new ones. | D．Open up more natural habitats for pollinators. |
9 . Pet adoption is the perfect way to add a new family member. But if a pet is too young to be adopted, it must be fostered (寄养) first. That’s how a puppy named Maggie that was rescued by the North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), ended up being fostered by a sweet six-year-old boy.
The animal rescue organization in Port Washington needed to find a foster home for Maggie because she needed to be trained with basic obedience (顺从) skills and to become comfortable with a home environment. NSALA put out a call for a foster family.
Roman Duncan’s family was the lucky one chosen for the job. The boy fell in love with the puppy and was able to be part of her growth during those formative months. The family always made it clear to Roman that Maggie would eventually be adopted and move to a different home.
When it came time for Maggie to be adopted, Roman couldn’t hold his tears. He decided to write letters to the puppy’s future family. He wrote letters about his furry friend, saying “Maggie is so cute and loves to play fetch. She is the best dog ever,” and slipped the notes and some photos into Maggie’s paperwork.
The rescue team were surprised and then incredibly touched by the notes they found when opening Maggie’s file. NSALA made sure that Roman’s notes reached her adopted family. The boy’s gesture is exactly what pet fostering is about.
A dog or cat that has gone through terrible sufferings such as being abusing needs to learn what it means to live in a home. Fostering helps reduce the animal’s stress and makes it trust people again. It is also an opportunity for people who love pets but can’t have them full-time due to some restrictions. Pet fosters can get to enjoy helping a pet in need. If you are interested in pet fostering, contact a local shelter or animal rescue near you.
1. What happened to Maggie at first?| A．She was released into the wild. | B．She was settled in a new home. |
| C．She was saved by a rescue team. | D．She was fostered by Roman’s family. |
| A．To express his mixed feelings. | B．To preserve Maggie’s paperwork. |
| C．To choose Maggie’s future family. | D．To help Maggie adapt to new home. |
| A．The benefits of pet fostering. | B．The access to fostering a pet. |
| C．A homeless animal’s barriers. | D．The restrictions to adopting a pet. |
| A．Maggie Lives Happily in a Comforting Foster Home |
| B．A Boy Writes Sweet Letter to Puppy’s Forever Family |
| C．Pet fostering Plays Great Roles in Rescuing Lost Animals |
| D．Roman Duncan’s Family Adopts a new Family Member |
10 . When we think of insects that native plants support, we often think of bees and butterflies, but they really support many other insects as well as birds and mammals (哺乳动物). The fact that our native plants and wildlife have developed together means that they rely on each other to survive.
The biggest threat to these insects is the loss of their home. In fact, the insect population has reduced by an alarming 45% since 1974! By bringing native plant species into our gardens, we create natural feeding and nesting sites important to their survival and ours. By creating living areas for our native insects, we help to support native birds and other native wildlife, and thus, increase the natural biodiversity of our ecosystem.
Native plantings also have a positive effect on the overall health of our environment. They are used in bio-filters (生物过滤), and rain gardens. With their deep roots systems, natives are able to hold the soil, take in nutrients, catch and release water, as well as filter pollutants out of the water.
Native plants are the best choice for these situations because they are adapted to our soil, rainfall and climate, and are able to bear brief periods of wet soil and long periods of dryness. In addition to helping clear pollutants from our waterways, native plants, especially long-lived trees, also help our air quality by removing CO2 at a higher rate than grasses due to their large root systems.
Besides all the amazing things native plants already do for our environment, having them in your garden will also help you save time and money. Because native plants aren’t as susceptible to pests and bacteria as non-natives are, so they don’t require the use of fungicides or pesticides. Putting in native plants is much easier than you think and extremely beneficial for not only your local environment but also for you. We encourage you to design a small area of your garden for native plants or reconsider whether you can add a few native plants to your existing garden. A little work can go a long way in supporting our local wildlife and ecosystem!
1. What is most likely to put native insects in danger?| A．Native birds are increasing. | B．Their homes are gradually lost. |
| C．Foreign wildlife is introduced. | D．The climate disasters appear frequently. |
| A．Benefits of native plants. | B．Choices for native plants. |
| C．Relationships among native plants. | D．Advantages of long-lived plants. |
| A．Easily affected by. | B．Greatly harmful to. |
| C．Constantly dotted with. | D．Potentially beneficial to. |
| A．How you can clear your garden |
| B．How you can protect native wildlife |
| C．Why you need a garden with various plants |
| D．Why you should plant natives in your garden |
