1 .

Tardigrades, which are known as space bears, are able to survive for up to 30 years without food or water, and endure temperature extremes of up to 150 degrees Celsius, the deep sea and even the frozen space.

Researchers found that their astonishing abilities would protect them from disasters which would wipe out all life on Earth. In fact, the only forces capable of harming tardigrades, such as an exploding star or a deadly gamma ray burst, will not happen before our own Sun dies.

“Life on this planet can continue long after humans are gone,” said Dr. Rafael of the Department of Physics, tardiprades are as close to indestructible as it gets on Earth, but it is possible that there are other resilient (有承受力的) species examples elsewhere in the universe. In this context, there 1S a real case for looking for life on Mars and in other areas of the solar system in general, If tardigrades are earth’s most resilient species, who knows what else is out there.”

The micro animals living In water can live for up to 60 years, and grow to a maximum size of 0.5mm. The only real threat to their existence would be from a destructive event which would cause Earth’s oceans to boil away. But the scientists discovered that there are only a dozen known asteroids (小行星) and dwarf planets with enough mass to cause the oceans to boil if they struck the Earth and none are on a collision course with our planet. Smaller space rocks would not harm tardigrades.

Dr. David, Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Department of Physics at Oxford University said: “To our surprise, we found that although large asteroid impacts would be disastrous for people, tardigrades could be unaffected. Therefore it seems that life, once it gets going, is hard to wipe out entirely. Huge numbers of species, or even entire genera may become extinct, but life as a whole will go on.”

In highlighting the resilience of life in general, the research broadens the scope of life beyond Earth, within and outside of this solar system.

Professor Abraham, chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard University, said the research proved that life could survive in even the harshest environment. “Organisms with similar tolerances to radiation and temperature as tardigrades could survive long term below the surface in these condition.”

1. What does “this planet” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Sun.

B．Earth.

C．Mars.

D．The dwarf planet.

2. What can we learn from paragraphs 3 and 4?

A．There may exist more resilient species in other planets.

B．Na other species are stronger than tardigrades on the earth.

C．Tardigrades can be found in other areas of the solar system.

D．Tardigrades will be destroyed by space rocks hitting the earth.

3. Dr. David and Professor Abraham might agree that ________.

A．life will continue however bad the situation is

B．it is necessary to explore beyond the solar system

C．surviving below the surface s harder than imagined

D．asteroid impacts may cause the destruction of tardigrades

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To explore a study method.

B．To introduce a new research finding.

C．To provide a possible way 10 live in outer space.

D．To offer new means to survive tough environment.

4 . Located 150 miles south of mainland Australia, Tasmania is known for its wildlife and landscape, including unique plant and animal species. Perhaps its most famous native animal is the Tasmanian devil, a small but violent animal. The island was also home to a large wolf-like Tasmanian tiger. It lived among the island’s famous giant tree ferns (树蕨), but was hunted by people until the last known animal died in a zoo in 1936.

A team of Australian scientists have discovered that Tasmania is now carbon negative, meaning it absorbs more carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) than it gives off. The team say their findings show the importance of forests in fighting climate change.

Large quantities of CO₂ act as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and causing climate change. Many countries have plans to become “carbon neutral” (碳中和), but Tasmania is one of the first places in the world to go carbon negative.

The fact came to light when a team from Australian National University (ANU) looked into the CO₂ emissions (排放) of each Australian state. CO₂ is produced by activities such as burning coal, oil and gas for power, but is also released when forests are cut down — especially if the wood is used to make paper and similar products. On the other hand, living forests absorb large amounts of CO₂. In 2011, campaigners blocked plans to build a large new paper factory in Tasmania, leading to a large decline in cutting down Tasmania’s forests. Consequently, CO₂ emissions dropped sharply and allowed forests to continue growing instead. Much of Tasmania’s power comes from hydroelectricity, which does not give off CO₂.

Scientists say that Tasmania’s achievement shows the important role of forests in managing CO₂. They say preserving forests around the world could help many countries to absorb more CO₂. “We need to store a lot more carbon in the environment,” explained Professor David Lindemayer of ANU, adding that “the most effective place to do that is in forests.”

1. Which is TRUE about the Tasmanian tiger?

A．It was a small but violent animal.

B．It went extinct because of hunting.

C．Too much CO2 emission put it on the line.

D．Large clearing of trees led to its dying out.

2. What can we learn about Tasmania?

A．Zero CO2 emissions help it go green.

B．Masses of forests help it go carbon negative.

C．It doesn’t need to fight climate change any more.

D．It covers the largest areas of forests in the world.

3. What does paragraph 4 convey?

A．Many CO2 emissions arise from human activities.

B．Paper factories have a great prospect in Tasmania.

C．People are not allowed to cut down trees in Tasmania.

D．Hydroelectricity is the only energy source in Tasmania.

4. What does David Lindemayer probably express in the last paragraph?

A．Carbon is posing the biggest threat to the earth.

B．Forests are the most effective places to trap heat.

C．He’s proud of Tasmania’s achievement in managing CO2.

D．Preserving forests could best help battle climate change.

5 . About 20 years ago, some 15,000 red pandas wandered the treetops of the Himalaya forests in South Asia. But with the large number of people entering their habitats, these shy and solitary (独处的) creatures can’t meet each other and reproduce. Now the population has declined by more than 50 percent.

To save the red pandas here, Lama and his research team need to know which parts of the forests the remaining pandas are living in. That’s where the tracking devices come in. “Mapping the path they travel will let us know which areas of the forest need to be reforested to connect the most red pandas to one another,” Lama says.

Because red pandas can be hard to spot and catch, no one had ever used GPS collars to study them in the wild. But Lama and his team had a great plan. They first would make sure the animals would be comfortable wearing the collars. So, they tested the collars on two red pandas in a local zoo. “We convinced them to let us measure their necks and fit them with the collars by letting them choose a reward — grapes, apples, or bananas.” Lama says.

Then came the next challenge: catching red pandas. Once they spotted a red panda, a team of vets set up a tall, fence-like tarp (油布) around the base of the tree with a box trap at the bottom. That way when the red panda climbed down the tree surrounded by the tarp, it had no choice but to enter the trap. It was then quickly controlled, collared and released.

From September to December 2019, the team trapped 10 red pandas — six females and four males. Their collars recorded their location every two hours and sent the information to researchers once a day. Over the next year, the team tracked the red pandas’ movements so that they identified where to plant new forests and helped red pandas meet more easily.

1. What has led to the smaller number of red pandas in South Asia?

A．Their normal lives are badly disturbed.

B．They aren’t adapted to living in groups.

C．Their ability to reproduce is weakened.

D．They try to avoid meeting each other.

2. Why did the research team track the movements of red pandas?

A．To study their living behaviors.

B．To protect them from hunters.

C．To know where to plant forests.

D．To find if they can often meet.

3. How did the research team convince red pandas to wear collars?

A．By offering them treats.	B．By using traps.
C．By setting tarps.	D．By measuring their necks.

4. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The research on red pandas’ reproduction.

B．The clever way to keep track of red pandas.

C．The shrinking population of red pandas.

D．The way of building habitats for red pandas.

6 . I woke up at 3 the night Esther came to live with us. I stood at the top of the stairs listening for her bleating(咩咩叫) coming from the _________ below. Esther, a day-old orphaned lamb, was said to be less likely to _________ their first night. I grew anxious from _________.

“Grace will be upset.” I thought. Esther had already _________ my 16-year-old daughter’s heart. I feared the worst, _________ approaching the basement. There, in the straw, sleeping peacefully with Esther was Grace. No _________ Esther wasn’t bleating. She had found her mama. They slept together for the next month, from straw in the basement _________ sheets on Grace’s bed.

Little Esther soon became Big Esther, _________ she was forever Grace’s baby. Grace _________ her teacher to let Esther come to school and us to let Esther come along on vacation. Esther, biologically a sheep, considered herself a human — Grace’s human, to be __________. She’d enter the house __________, jumping through an open window if the door was closed. She was Grace’s __________ absolutely— when Grace left, all she had to do was bleat; when Grace returned, she came running and bleating.

Indeed, their __________love is worthy to be remembered forever. Sadly, in February 2021, Esther passed __________. But in Grace’s dream, when Grace walks by, she’ll bleat, Esther will bleat back, and they’ll run to each other, happily __________.

1.

A．garage

B．basement

C．bedroom

D．kitchen

2.

A．go through

B．live through

C．benefit from

D．suffer from

3.

A．silence

B．darkness

C．illness

D．distance

4.

A．defeated

B．disappointed

C．beaten

D．won

5.

A．carefully

B．surprisingly

C．worriedly

D．happily

6.

A．wonder

B．doubt

C．hesitation

D．problem

7.

A．through

B．at

C．to

D．out

8.

A．because

B．unless

C．and

D．but

9.

A．begged

B．advised

C．recommended

D．forced

10.

A．frank

B．exact

C．honest

D．general

11.

A．oddly

B．lonely

C．freely

D．officially

12.

A．baby

B．sister

C．pet

D．creature

13.

A．curious

B．precious

C．various

D．harmless

14.

A．away

B．out

C．on

D．through

15.

A．retelling

B．recalling

C．reviewing

D．reuniting

8 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

“Sun, sun, sun, here it comes…”

Danny sang while his fingers pressed and pulled skillfully at the guitar strings, delivering a slow and peaceful tune. A circle of audience had formed, nodding and moving slowly to the song.

Lying at the feet of the street performer was his most adoring fan: One-Eyed, a white stray (流浪) dog with pieces of brown. Danny felt the name was suitable considering its physical disability. Usually, One-Eyed would bark loudly as Danny performed. Much to his annoyance, people often mistook the pair as owner and pet. At this time, Danny would reply, “My dog? No!”, eyes rolling at the idea. How he wished the dog would leave him alone instead!

On a snowy night, while Danny was performing, a bird flew downward, landing into the midst of the crowd. It cooed happily as if to harmonize with Danny. Unfortunately, that did not sit well with One-Eyed, which immediately bounced at it and the bird flew away desperately.

The unexpected chaos upturned Danny's hat, which could have been filled with notes and coins from his appreciative audience, leaving it ignored on the ground. "Argh! The hateful dog!” Danny broke down, thinking to himself, “Either the dog goes or I go!”

On the next night, Danny tried to find a new place and chanced upon the park. For a while his earnings were good unsurprisingly as there was a steady flow of visitors. However, that didn't last long. One-Eyed came along and appointed itself as Danny's guardian. "Argh! Here comes the hateful dog again!" That night, Danny hadn't made enough money he should have, all thanks to the troublesome dog.

Danny was almost mad with One-Eyed. “What should I do? Call an animal shelter?” Torn by this problem, he walked aimlessly by the lake of the park. With all his mind focused on how to get rid of the dog, Danny didn't watch his steps. Suddenly, he slipped and fell into the lake accidentally. Struggling in the icy water, he cried for help desperately, almost choking to death. Sensing the approach of death, Danny got into overwhelming panic.

注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Just then, a familiar barking was heard in the distance.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“My hero! Thank you for saving me,” Danny said gratefully with watery eyes.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Behavioral ecologist Diane Colombelli-Négrel was wiring the nests of superb fairy-wrens (细尾鹩莺) to record the birds’ sounds when she noticed something odd. Mothers sang while hatching (孵化) their eggs, even though keeping quiet would avoid attracting predators (捕食者). That early discovery “was a bit of an accident”, says Colombelli-Négrel, of Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia. It made her wonder: Could the baby birds be learning sounds, or even songs, before hatching?

Scientists have long thought about how early in development individuals learn to perceive distinct sounds. It's known that humans learn to recognize their mother’s voice from the womb (子宫) . For birds such as superb fairy-wrens, which perfect their songs with parental teaching, it was thought that sound perception (认知) began after hatching. But when it became obvious that mother birds were intentionally singing to their eggs, “We knew we were on to something,” says Sonia Kleindorfer, a bird ecologist at the University of Vienna.

Colombelli-Négrel, Kleindorfer and a colleague reported in 2014 that superb fairy-wrens learn to distinguish between sounds of their own species and others while still in their eggs. In a new study, that ability appears to extend to at least four more bird species.

In birds and humans, a drop in the embryonic (胚胎的) heart rate suggests attention to a stimulus (刺激). In the scientists’ earlier work, unhatched fairy-wrens’ heart rates slowed in response to repeated sounds of their own species, but not others.

To investigate whether this phenomenon is more widespread among birds, the team also turned its attention to the embryonic heartbeats of other bird species. The team measured the heart rates of 109 unhatched chicks before, during and after exposure to playbacks of songs from their own species or others. Then the scientists looked at whether 138 embryos stopped paying attention or became habituated to, repeated sounds of unfamiliar individuals of their own species singing. This habituation. measured by the heart rate returning to normal, would imply learning had occurred.

To the team’s surprises all of the eggs showed a slowed heart rate in response to their species’ sounds and showed habituation. That finding suggests that these unhatched birds learned to perceive the sounds of their species’ songs.

The scientists don’t know why some bird species, whose calls are genetically determined, not taught by teachers, have this ability before birth. The team hopes to study prenatal (产前的) sound perception in more bird species.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To share a story.	B．To explain a concept.
C．To present a topic.	D．To make a prediction.

2. Why is human perception of their mother’s voice mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．To tell the real time when birds start to recognize the world.

B．To prove that human beings are the most advanced species.

C．To stress the difference between human beings and birds.

D．To show that birds perceive voices later than humans.

3. How did the researchers carry out their study?

A．By referring to earlier studies.	B．By observing and measuring.
C．By discussing and analyzing.	D．By studying the similar examples.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The best place to learn bird calls

B．The kind of call birds make to each other

C．Birds' heart rates increase when pressed with threats

D．Birds learn the call of the wild while still in their eggs