Most polar bears could die out by the end of the century due to global warming,
Lack of food leads to another problem: Mother bears may not be fat enough to produce milk for their babies. Some bears could stop
Arctic sea ice usually melts in spring and summer, and then grows in winter. But now, the ice is taking
But the study also notes that it is still possible
2 . The world’s coral reefs do more for the planet than provide underwater beauty. They protect shorelines from the effects of hurricanes. An estimated 500 million people earn their livelihood from the fishing stocks and tourism opportunities reefs provide. The tiny animals that give rise to reefs are even offering hope for new drugs to treat cancer and other diseases.
Despite their importance, warming waters, pollution, ocean acidification, overfishing, and physical destruction are killing coral reefs around the world. So now scientists around the world are looking for all kinds of ways to protect and maybe even revive(复苏) corals. In the Bahamas, Ross Cunning, a research biologist at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium, is focusing on corals with genes that could make them natural candidates for restoration projects. He recently published a study of two Bahamian reefs, one that seemed to survive an intense 2015 heat wave, and one that didn’t.“It sets the stage to find out which genes are responsible for thermal tolerance,” says Cunning, adding that he hopes discovering those genes will help scientists one day breed more heat-tolerant coral.
In Massachusetts, Cohen’s research has found two key elements that seem to protect corals. The first: internal(内部的) waves beneath the ocean’s surface that bring cooler currents to heat-struck corals, essentially air-conditioning them as temperatures rise. The second: adaptation, a quality that corals found in Palau’s warm lagoons(环礁湖) seem to display.On average, these lagoons submerge(淹没) coral in water that is two degrees Celsius warmer than the water outside the lagoons. “We think the fact that they can deal with these higher temperatures is built into their genetics and allows them to deal with the heat waves.”
She’s also found evidence of corals evolving more quickly in the past two decades to withstand rapidly warming temperatures. The big question scientists are now enquiring into, says Cohen, is whether there’s a cap on how much more heat corals can adapt to. Cohen calls these regions with heat-adapted corals as “super reefs,” and like Friendlander, advocates for using marine reserves to protect them.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?A.The protection for coral reefs |
B.The great value of coral reefs. |
C.The benefits for tourism from coral reefs. |
D.The relationship between animals and coral reefs. |
A.Cooling down the waters is the key to their success. |
B.Some corals have been genetically improved successfully. |
C.He expects to identify the genes of the heat-tolerant corals. |
D.Some corals that survived 2015 heat wave surprised people. |
A.How corals survive in the warm lagoons. |
B.What are the key elements to protect corals. |
C.How they can use natural reserves to protect corals. |
D.What is the high temperature limit of the surviving corals. |
A.Science. | B.Environment. | C.Animal. | D.Climate. |
3 . You are welcome to our channel. An interest in the way ocean currents move led Dr. Erik van Sebille to track garbage. This Dutch scientist hopes that by making us aware of how much we litter our oceans, we’ll be motivated to better stash (存放) our garbage.
Question: Where does the garbage in our oceans come from ?Answer: It can come from litter people leave behind on beaches. Or from things falling off ships. Almost every river’s garbage will end up in the ocean too. Plastic garbage is the biggest problem, though. That’s because it doesn’t easily break down. It can stay in the ocean for thousands of years. Eventually, it arrives at the garbage patches (垃圾带).
Question: Does this mean that ocean garbage is worse than garbage on land ?
Answer: Litter in the ocean is probably just as bad as litter in a forest or a park. The main problem in either place is that, if animals eat plastic pieces, they can become very ill. But we know how to solve the problem: Just stop polluting!
Question: Many persons love tossing a message in a bottle into the ocean. Is that a bad idea ?
Answer: Finding a bottle with a message in it is awesome, very special! But most bottles will never end up on a beach. They’ll turn up in the garbage patches, where it’s unlikely that someone will find them. If you want to play with ocean currents, go to the website and release virtual bottles. That way, you’re not littering our oceans.
1. Animals can become very ill if they _______________.
A.turn up in the garbage patches. | B.arrive at the garbage patches. |
C.eat plastic pieces. | D.play with bottles. |
A.educative. | B.useful. | C.interesting. | D.meaningless. |
A.story. | B.poem. | C.scientific article. | D.television interview. |
4 . New Zealand plans to put a price on sheep and cow burps (打嗝) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (排放). If the plan is passed, New Zealand will become the first country to tax (征税) farmers on each burp of their cattle, since the burps give out methane (甲烷) into the atmosphere.
“There is no question that we need to cut the amount of methane we are putting into the atmosphere, and an effective emissions pricing system for agriculture will play a key part in how we achieve that,” Climate Change Minister James Shaw said.
Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of global warming. It is reportedly responsible for at least 14.5% of the world’s emissions. Moreover, cows are by far the biggest contributors. This is so because they produce 40% of global methane when they burp, fart (放屁) and produce waste. Also, methane is 80 times more warming than CO2 although it’s shorter-lived in the atmosphere.
New Zealand, which has a population of five million people, has around 10 million cattle and 26 million sheep. “Almost half the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, mainly methane,” the draft plan explained.
The “burp tax” is expected to take effect in 2025. Mr. Shaw wants farming to be more environmentally friendly. He also wants farmers to change the way they farm. He wants them to feed their animals on seaweed instead of grass. This will produce fewer emissions. Mr. Shaw also said farmers can reduce the tax they pay by planting more trees. Another suggestion is for cows to wear special masks.
New Zealand’s farmers support the government. They want to do their bit to help the environment.
1. Why will cattle’s burps be taxed?A.To raise more money. | B.To feed more cattle. |
C.To limit cattle’s price. | D.To better the environment. |
A.Its cows produce 40% of global methane. |
B.Its agriculture affects greenhouse gas emissions. |
C.It is responsible for at least 14.5% of the world’s emissions. |
D.There is 80 times more methane than CO2. |
A.Plant more trees. | B.Correct their way to farm. |
C.Feed their animals on grass. | D.Wear special masks when farming. |
A.New Zealand reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
B.New Zealand’s greenhouse emissions and animal farming |
C.New Zealand introducing a new tax to help the environment |
D.New Zealand’s farmers joining in the fight against climate change |
The dodo is the most famous of all the creatures
The dodo
The dodos were a curiosity, and some were brought to Europe by
DNA research has shown the dodo is
6 . One afternoon in 2022, something on the Internet caught my eye:a tiny hedgehog (刺猬) held by a big hand. The post read: “HELP! My hedgehog abandoned (抛弃) her two babies, and I cannot raise both of them because I have to go to school fulltime. Good home with experience needed as soon as possible!”
I had no experience with baby hedgehogs. I was an animal person through and through and had raised cats, dogs, birds, and guinea pigs. But this tiny animal was new to me, and it touched me that he was abandoned, that maybe I could love him and be the best mom for him.
I wrote the most heartfelt email I could. That was how I found my Louie. True to my word, he was my baby. Louie didn’t know he was a hedgehog. He never curled (蜷缩) into a ball, and he liked my two cats, no fear. The cats, however, were afraid of him, as he often moved into the room, running after the cats and blocking my way.
By the time he reached old age, Louie had only three feet. However, he still managed to climb the stairs to visit other animals. He helped me realize my dream of hedgehog photography, a hobby that began during childhood with cats and dollhouses. I love showing off his modeling.
Life has meaning because of the purpose we have. Louie needed a good home and mom, and in return, I got to be a good mother and be needed. Hedgehogs require great amounts of patience, trust, and knowledge—but the payoff (回报) is pretty great.
1. The author got Louie from .A.a pet shop | B.a family friend |
C.a hedgehog owner | D.a hedgehog rescue center |
A.Frightened. | B.Relaxed. | C.Lonely. | D.Tired. |
A.He disliked climbing stairs. | B.He enjoyed being left alone. |
C.He always refused to be in photos. | D.He was active despite his difficulty in moving. |
A.It was easier than expected. | B.It gave her a sense of safety. |
C.It made her lose her patience. | D.It was satisfying and meaningful. |
1. Why is the baobab tree thought to be strange-looking?
A.Its trunk sometimes measures more than ten metres in diameter. |
B.Its trunk is thicker at the top than at the bottom. |
C.Its branches near the top are longer than those near the ground. |
A.Its leaves. | B.Its trunk. | C.Its skin of the tree. |
A.Its empty trunk can be used by people to build everything. |
B.Its flowers can turn into a kind of cucumber. |
C.Its leaves and branches can keep the rain water cool and clean. |
A.The baobab—unusual but useful. |
B.The baobab—a tree that people can make good use of. |
C.The baobab—a strange tree that can make ropes. |
1.宣传片中城市景点介绍设计;
2.推荐原因及创新点。
注意:1.词数100左右;
2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
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9 . It took brave European explorers less than 300 years, between 1420 and 1713, to establish that all the seas of the world formed an enormous and continuous ocean. This discovery encouraged them to
It was probably the irresistible desire for wealth that
The most effective way of gaining wealth was through
A.sail | B.walk | C.fly | D.drive |
A.set back | B.set off | C.set up | D.set against |
A.the East | B.the Mediterranean | C.Europe | D.Italy |
A.inheriting | B.creating | C.saving | D.losing |
A.frequently | B.hardly | C.frankly | D.eventually |
A.recognize | B.risk | C.realize | D.foresee |
A.discouraged | B.praised | C.forced | D.inspired |
A.business | B.benefit | C.fame | D.rights |
A.trade | B.war | C.conquering | D.bargaining |
A.precious | B.rough | C.hard | D.smooth |
A.interest | B.efficiency | C.value | D.practice |
A.exported | B.imported | C.robbed | D.occupied |
A.soldiers | B.explorers | C.pioneers | D.merchants |
A.lost | B.won | C.possessed | D.envied |
A.disappointed | B.available | C.anxious | D.reluctant |
1. What is the conversation mainly about?
A.Fighting fires. | B.Detecting fires. | C.Using fires. |
A.Around 50. | B.About 400. | C.Over 8600. |
A.Size of a car. | B.Size of a plane. | C.Size of a sports field. |
A.Saving animals. | B.Saving the trees. | C.Saving humans. |