China’s First National Park
China’s first national park in Northwest of China’s Sanjiangyuan area,
Under the national park management, herders and
2 . Without sharp reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, climate change threatens future Winter Olympic Games because their locations would be too warm to host the events, a new study has found.
If the world’s high emissions continue their trend, by the 2080s all but one of the 21 cities that previously hosted the Winter Games - Sapporo, Japan - would not be able to do so again. Among them, 6 cities would be considered “marginal” while 14 would even be seen “unreliable”— meaning the right conditions for snow and athlete safety cannot be met.
But that won’t necessarily happen if the world takes urgent action and follows the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, according to Daniel Scott, the lead researcher for the University of Waterloo’s report. Under that deal, nearly 200 countries agreed to greatly cut their collective greenhouse emissions.
Athletes and coaches surveyed by the researchers said they re already seeing the effect climate change has on their sports. “Some of the coaches that did the survey have been coaches in the sport for 30 years,” Scott said. “They’ve traveled the world, back to the same competitions, and they’ve seen that certain competitions don’t happen, as regularly or uninterruptedly as they used to because of warmer temperatures.”
The Summer Olympics are also feeling the effects of climate change. Tokyo’s Olympic and Paralympic Games are likely one of—if not—the hottest and most humid Games on record. Daily temperatures reached 80F high with high humidity (湿度) that could make it feel like 100°F.
But winter sports seem more strongly influenced by the impact of a warmer world. During the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, skiers were overheating in the same way a marathon runner would at nearly 90F weather. Due to the great impact, the study makes us worry that outdoor games may have to move indoors or be held at a different time of year altogether in order to accommodate higher temperatures.
1. What does the underlined word “marginal” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Almost unqualified. |
| B．Pretty satisfactory. |
| C．Rather unpopular. |
| D．Quite suitable. |
| A．To show the spirit of the Olympics. |
| B．To stress the impact of climate change. |
| C．To reveal the cause of warmer climate. |
| D．To compare summer and winter Olympics |
| A．Conservative. |
| B．Tolerant. |
| C．Optimistic. |
| D．Concerned. |
| A．Global climate changes. |
| B．Greenhouse gas emissions. |
| C．The Winter Olympics crisis. |
| D．The future Olympic Games. |
3 . There are 156 known species of glass frogs living throughout the neotropics. Recent advancements in genetics are giving researchers a revealing look into the lives of these one-inch-long tree dwellers, some of which are the size of a paper clip.
Scientists have discovered, for example, that male glass frogs in some species are stellar parents — a rare trait among vertebrates (脊椎动物). Males of at least 24 species not only protect their eggs from predators but also actively care for them. While the embryos (胚胎) develop, males of some species, such as the sun glass frog sit atop their egg clutch "like a chicken," keeping the eggs hydrated until they hatch into tadpoles (蝌蚪).
New research is also discovering how the glass frog's transparent belly forms. It's suspected that young glass frogs physically rearrange the insides of their cells and tissues to become transparent adults. Fluid between the tissue cells may also contain a substance that allows light to travel through.
Another mechanism that may allow glass frogs to blend into the green leaves on which they doze during the day is called "a biological mirror", a kind of shield or covering of crystals in many of their tissues, which reflects up to 30 percent of the light that normally reaches them. Those crystals amplify the light signal, and the frog's green looks brighter.
Many scientists studying glass frogs arc motivated by the fact that some of their subjects are disappearing—and fast. Agriculture, cattle grazing, and mining projects in the Andes are taking over the frogs' already fractured forest homes.
"As soon as they are discovered, many species are declared endangered," Guayasamin, a biologist in Ecuador, says "yet there could be an advantage in conserving such isolated ponulanons." All could be inspired to work together to set aside frog-rich patches of land as reserves, ensuring that these delicate creatures have a solid chance at survival.
1. What can we know about glass frogs?| A．They are regarded dangerous. | B．They are small animals. |
| C．They are of different colors. | D．They live in the water. |
| A．Strange. | B．Ambitious. |
| C．Excellent. | D．Different. |
| A．They physically change their cells. | B．They contain transparent fluid. |
| C．Crystals in their tissues reflect light. | D．Light signal makes them greener. |
| A．Stopping cattle grazing. | B．Building frog reserves. |
| C．Improving frog popularity. | D．Planting more forest trees. |
4 . Due to the effects of climate change, new species of birds are coming to the UK.A recent study by the RSPB and Durham University has found that European birds have been migrating further north by an average of 300 miles. While fewer birds, such as the tufted duck, are returning for the winter months, there has been an increase in other species as they seek a new holiday home or a quiet stop-off!
It's thought that in the UK, we will gain many more species than we'll lose through climate change -a 3°C change won't affect the migrations of most birds, so birds such as robins, blackbirds, blue tits and greenfinches will still be regular visitors to our gardens. Climate change has been affecting domestic birds though-the Dartford warbler, a species that was literally down to just a couple of pairs in the UK in the 1960s, has been spreading further north from it’s traditional home in south-east England. Other birds such as green woodpeckers and nuthatches have already been regular visitors to the country, but have now started to spread further north, with some even going as far as northern England.
Scops owls have also been regular visitors, mostly in the south of England. And over the next 50 years or so, these visitors will eventually start to settle in the UK as they continue to· breed(繁殖)and adapt themselves to the conditions.
Other birds are, for the moment, just passing through on their migration, using the UK as a pitstop. The exotic-looking hoopoe - a striking black-and-white-winged bird, the size of a mistle thrush----regularly passes England's south coast and, although it doesn't breed here, up to 100 of them can turn up during the spring.
As climate change continues, there's nothing to suggest that these birds won't continue to breed northwards during the next decade and spotting them will become a regular occurrence throughout the country.
1. What can we infer from paragraph 2?| A．There are fewer birds in the UK due to the climate change. |
| B．Birds won't be affected by temperature change within 3° |
| C．It may get warmer than before in the north of the UK. |
| D．Birds in the UK don't need migrations any more. |
| A．Scops owls. | B．Robins. | C．Dartford warbler. | D．Hoopoe. |
| A．Garage. | B．Gas station. | C．Resting place. | D．Nest. |
| A．Birds visit the UK regularly in winter. |
| B．Climate change is affecting the population and migrations of birds in the UK. |
| C．Birds start to inhabit the northern parts of the UK. |
| D．The population of birds in the world is on the increase due to the climate change. |
5 . Harry Smith has a dog, Sarah Jane. They are best friends and love to take walks together. One day when they
As the 81-year-old, not being able to
“I am
| A．shopped | B．walked | C．ran | D．drove |
| A．adapted to | B．cleaned up | C．came across | D．worked out |
| A．But | B．And | C．Or | D．So |
| A．air | B．seat | C．street | D．water |
| A．move | B．swim | C．quit | D．shout |
| A．creatively | B．officially | C．loudly | D．hardly |
| A．jumped | B．played | C．struggled | D．lived |
| A．contact | B．praise | C．help | D．news |
| A．prevented | B．honored | C．frightened | D．pulled |
| A．equal | B．kind | C．close | D．thankful |
| A．save | B．share | C．shorten | D．record |
| A．feeling | B．saying | C．thinking | D．training |
| A．time | B．idea | C．wheelchair | D．friend |
| A．show | B．teach | C．offer | D．sell |
| A．guest | B．dog | C．visitor | D．customer |
The Tianshan Tuomuer Grand Canyon is about 25 kilometers long from east to west and 20 kilometers wide from north to south. It consists of three main
On June 21, 2013, the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang
With its red canyons set against the snow-capped mountains in the distance, the dreamlike landscape
By Tan Bowen/ People's Daily app
11:37, December 09,2019
Adorable baby giant pandas are always curious about the world and love to play around. Recently, in southwest China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a baby panda was caught on camera getting his head stuck behind a log.
The panda tried to pull his head through the gap at first but couldn't manage to pass through it. Later, the breeder came to rescue him by pushing his bottom instead and nagged this little cutie constantly like a mother, but the baby panda continued to act cute, melting all panda lovers’ heart!
Click on this video to see the warm and sweet interaction between the breeder and the naughty baby panda!
Video source: panda
1. What was wrong with the baby giant panda?
| A．The panda was sleeping in a tree. | B．The panda was hit by another. |
| C．The panda got itself stuck behind a log. | D．The panda was dying. |
| A．The passage was written by Tan Boweng. |
| B．The baby panda mentioned in the passage is a female one. |
| C．The baby panda mentioned in the passage is a male one. |
| D．The baby panda pulled his head through the gap successfully. |
| A．Click on the video. | B．Click the Button of“Say something”. |
| C．Find a note book. | D．Buy a computer first. |
8 . Now is the time to act on climate change. We need to cut carbon emissions (排放), and knowing this, it is easy to be pessimistic. Strangely, I’m feeling the opposite. And that’s mostly because of one factor: Batteries. It isn’t obvious but over the last decade or so, just as we’ve watched our computers get faster and screens get thinner, batteries have greatly improved too.
According to the European Patent Office, the number of battery patents filed grew by an average of 14 percent every year between 2005 and 2018. Energy storage is getting better and better, as more companies are discovering new chemistry and processes to make them work more efficiently.
And the results of all of this work are astonishing. Energy density—the amount of power that can be stored in the same sized battery—has doubled in the last decade. And the costs of batteries have fallen a lot too.
Brilliantly, because electric batteries are improving so noticeably, we can already see the results. Last September, 15 percent of all new vehicle registrations were pure electric vehicles. So the change is starting to happen.
It’s conceivable that in the not-too-distant future, alongside other essentials in our homes like a boiler and a fusebox, we might also have an enormous battery in the garage. This would take power from the grid (电网) or maybe even solar panels on the roof, and power appliances and lights in our homes at the times when demand for electricity is high.
So, given how much technology has improved batteries over the last decade, I can’t help but be strangely optimistic about the future. Batteries may not be as flashy (显眼的) as phones, rockets or other new technologies, but when it comes to technology to fight climate change, they’re definitely leading the charge.
1. What is the author’s attitude towards cutting carbon emissions?| A．Doubtful. | B．Favorable. | C．Unclear. | D．Anxious. |
| A．It’ll make them more environment-friendly. |
| B．It’ll make people use electricity at will. |
| C．It will slow the development of pure electric vehicles. |
| D．It’ll cause the prices of batteries to rise. |
| A．Unacceptable. | B．Astonishing. | C．Possible. | D．Unreliable. |
| A．Carbon Emissions Result in Climate Change |
| B．Now Is the Time to Act on Climate Change |
| C．How Battery Technology Can Save the Planet |
| D．How Much Technology Has Improved Batteries |
When a dog licks your face, jumps into your lap, or barks when you come through the front door, it
According to a recent study, that may well be the case. After
The tracking data revealed the four dogs averaged a resting heart rate of 67 beats per minute. When owners said “I love you.” to
While your dog becomes
If you’re searching
10 . On the 5-square-metre balcony(阳台) of Zhong Lan’s apartment, there is a mini-farm filled with lemons, tomatoes, eggplants and blueberries. Zhong’s idyllic(田园诗般的)city lifestyle started in 2020 when people were required to work from home due to COVID-19. “I grew garlic(大蒜) for the very first time as I didn’t want to throw it away. It grew roots in just seven or eight days. It opened up a new world to me,” she said. Zhong is not alone. An increasing number of city people have picked up the hobby of growing vegetables on their balconies as working from home has changed many people’s lives in the cities across the country.
In the first quarter of 2022, sales of vegetable seeds on Taobao’s Tmall rose quickly year on year, according to a report released by Taobao, China’s e-commerce platform giant. Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou became the cities with the largest number of seed buyers in China, it added.
Zhong has started sharing her journey on social media this year, which has brought her more than 100,000 followers. In a chat group made up of over 100 young balcony green thumbs(园艺高手) across the country, they share the growth of their vegetables every day and discuss what plants are more suitable for balcony planting. “Balcony gardening can slow down the pace of busy city life. We grow the plants we like and look forward to the harvest, and experience the happiness of the idyllic moments,” Zhong said.
Chinese city managers and social organizations are also looking for new methods to rebuild the relationship between city people and nature through vegetable gardens. The government of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, started a city vegetable garden project last March, providing seeds and farm tools as well as organizing agricultural experts to provide online Q&A for local people, in an effort to encourage them to get in touch with nature through balcony planting.
1. The following cities had the largest number of seed buyers in the first quarter of 2022 EXCEPT| A．Guangzhou | B．Beijing | C．Hangzhou | D．Shanghai |
| A．Grow crops in the field. | B．Create 100 vegetable balconies. |
| C．Share ideas about balcony planting. | D．Exchange their travel experiences. |
| A．To seek new ways of vegetable growing. |
| B．To organize agricultural experts together. |
| C．To choose proper tools for balcony planting. |
| D．To encourage people to get close to nature. |
| A．Zhong’s Success of Balcony Gardening |
| B．Balcony Gardening’s Effect on Seed Sales Online |
| C．Balcony Gardening’s Rising Popularity Among City People |
| D．Chinese Government’s Contribution to Balcony Gardening |
