| A. poisoned B. destruction C. survived D. increased E. especially F. chemicals G. concern H. decline I. occasionally J. sensitive K.extinction |
More recent research has shown that many kinds of amphibians(两栖动物) are declining or have become extinct. Amphibians are animals, such as frogs, that live partly in water and partly on land. And they have been around for over 350 million years. They have
The most serious aspect of amphibian loss, however, goes beyond the amphibians themselves. Scientists are beginning to think about what amphibian
Scientists now believe that amphibian decline is due to several environmental factors. One of these factors is the
There are a number of other factors in amphibian decline. Pollution is one of them. In many industrial areas, air pollution has
All these reasons for the disappearance of amphibians are also good reasons for more general
2 . An exhibition of vivid photographs and a restored documentary give fresh insight into the Antarctic explorer, who died a century ago.
One hundred years ago, the leader of the last great expedition of the heroic age of polar exploration died from a heart attack as his ship, Quest, headed for Antarctica. The announcement of the death of Ernest Shackleton on 30 January 1922 was greeted with an outpouring of national grief.
This was the man, after all, who had saved the entire crew of his ship Endurance — which had been crushed and sunk by ice in 1915 — by making a daring trip in a tiny open boat over 750 miles of polar sea to raise the alarm at a whaling station in South Georgia.
It remains one of the greatest rescue stories of modern history and led to the idolising of Shackleton in the United Kingdom, a reputation that survived undamaged for the rest of the century. As his contemporary Raymond Priestley, the geologist and Antarctic explorer, later put it: “When disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”
And here and now in 2022, his death is being marked with an elaborately illustrated exhibition — Shackleton’s legacy and the power of early Antarctic photography — which opens at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), and which includes a range of images and artefacts from his expeditions. Additionally, a digitally remade version of South, a documentary film of Shackleton’s 1914-16 Endurance expedition, is being screened at the British Film Institute.
The film and most of the exhibition’s finest images are the handiwork of Frank Hurley, who sailed with Shackleton and who was one of the 20th century’s greatest photographers and film-makers. Both film and exhibition feature striking camera work and provide vivid accounts of the hardships that Shackleton and his men endured as they headed off to explore Antarctica.
Even after he survived the great expedition, he still longed for another trip to Antarctica, and after long negotiations set sail in Quest, from England, with the aim of circumnavigating (环航) Antarctica, Shackleton was by now very ill and had suffered at least one heart attack. On 2 January 1922, he wrote in his diary: “I grow old and tired but must always lead on.” Three days later he had a major heart attack and died a few hours later. He is buried on South Georgia, scene of his greatest triumph.
“Shackleton was an inspirational leader. He had an innate sense of what was possible and achievable. He also had a huge personality but led by example. At the same time, he was sensitive to the needs of the individuals he was leading. For example, after Endurance broke up, his men had lost their protection and shelter. Their social fabric had been destroyed. There would have been disagreement. Yet Shackleton succeeded in keeping them together and made sure they survived.”
1. People were overcome with grief when Ernest Shackleton died because .| A．it was a huge pity that such a brave explorer should have died from a heart attack |
| B．he was the man that wrote about one of the greatest rescue stories of modern history |
| C．he came to his entire crew’s rescue and symbolised hope in extreme circumstances |
| D．there was no one to pray to anymore when disaster came and there was no hope |
| A．It presents Shackleton’s 1914-16 Endurance expedition with powerful Antarctic photos. |
| B．It celebrates the 100th anniversary of the great explorer Ernest Shackleton’s birth. |
| C．It consists of vivid photographs, artefacts, and documentaries of Ernest Shackleton. |
| D．It is created by Frank Hurley, who witnessed Shackleton’s heroic acts with his own eyes. |
| A．He was the leader of a heroic exploration to the South pole, who died from a heart attack off shore. |
| B．He saved the crew members of the sunken Endurance by travelling to raise the alarm in a tiny boat. |
| C．He is universally recognised as the greatest Antarctic explorer who has enjoyed enduring fame. |
| D．He was inspirational, practical, responsible, sensitive towards his men, but had a strong character. |
| A．What they wore would not be accepted by others upon returning. |
| B．They could no longer socialise with others even if they went back. |
| C．The ship could not keep them together even if they survived. |
| D．They could not function socially as they had when there was shelter. |
The Yellow Crane Tower is one of the Four Great Towers of China.
One day my dad came back home in his truck and there was a cage in the back. Naturally I was curious, so I went towards the truck when I noticed that there was a small little goat that wasn’t even an adult yet.
I asked my dad and he said that he bought the goat from his friend and he was going to kill it twenty minutes after he brought it home so that we would have a big meal.
My sister was there too and she was strongly for my view. We found out we got really mad at my dad and told him not to kill it. After about 10 minutes of complaining we finally convinced my dad not to kill it because we told him that there was no reason for him to kill the goat himself when he could just buy goat meat at a store.
My parents know some friends that we visit sometimes and their family really likes animals so we decided to give it to them. For about a month, they had the goat as a pet and they also had the same problems as we had because the dad wanted to kill it and eat it but the rest of the family didn’t want it to die.They also were able to persuade him not to do so. They ended up sending the goat to a family member’s farm where it would grow up happily.
Another thing that has happened to influence my belief is that I have a neighbor that really likes hunting. One day he hunted a deer and brought the body home, but he decided to leave it outside his house for everyone to see. He just left it there as if it were some kind of award that he just won. Sadly little kids started to make fun of the body and pretended to ride on it. They laughed at it and felt no problem with there being a dead deer just laying.
Paragraph 1：
I felt sick by what was happening and left because of what I had just witnessed._
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Paragraph 2：
It amazes me how we have changed from hunting to survive to hunting for sport._
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1. What does Brian Kane do?
| A．A truck driver. |
| B．A rubbish collector. |
| C．A professional climber. |
| A．To visit Nepal. |
| B．To volunteer on Mount Qomolangma. |
| C．To go to the top of Mount Qomolangma. |
| A．Extremely upset. |
| B．Indifferent. |
| C．Very excited. |
| A．Brave and hardworking. |
| B．Unwise and pointless. |
| C．Without common sense. |
6 . The world’s most breathtaking clifftop hotels
Angama Mara, Kenya
Perched 1, 000 feet above the Maasai Mara, Angama Mara is on the edge of the Great Rift Valley. The site served as a location for the 1985 film “Out of Africa. “ Guests can expect top-quality game viewing, including Africa’s Big Five, every month of the year, both on game drives and on walking safaris. Amenities include a photography studio, fitness center, an art gallery, a 40-foot-long swimming pool and a studio.
Angama Mara: Suswa Mara Triangle, Kenya; +254 730 630630
Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Formerly a monastery dating back to the 17th century, the family-run Monastero Santa Rosa clings to the side of a cliff overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and Gulf of Salerno. With 20 rooms, it has an infinity pool, five tiers of landscaped gardens and a Michelin-starred restaurant. The spa is the best on the Amalfi Coast and features treatments using local herbs and plants.
Monastero Santa Rosa Hote1& Spa: Via Roma, 2, 84010 Conca dei Marini SA, Italy; +39 089 832 1199
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, AI Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa, Oman
Towering 6, 000 feet above sea level on the curving rim of a canyon, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar overlooks Oman’s mountainous landscape. It’s an area that Prince Charles and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, visited in 1986. The resort has 115 rooms, a cliff-edge infinity pool, six restaurants and lounges and a spa. Guests can hike through valleys, mountain bike or visit ancient mountainside villages and nearby historic sites.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort: No 110, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa 621, Oman; +968 25 218000
1. Where will you go if you are interested in walking safaris?| A．Suswa Mara Triangle, Kenya. |
| B．Tyrrhenian Sea and Gulf of Salerno. |
| C．No 110, Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Nizwa 621, Oman. |
| D．Via Roma, 2, 84010 Conca dei Marini SA, Italy. |
| A．Each of the three hotels has a large pool. |
| B．Each of the three hotels has an art gallery. |
| C．All of the three hotels are visited by Prince and Princess. |
| D．All of the three hotels are famous for the spa using herbs. |
| A．A fiction. |
| B．A textbook. |
| C．A history book. |
| D．A tourist guidebook. |
1.茶的历史悠久（拥有近 5000 年历史）；
2.茶与文学（唐代“茶圣”陆羽写了第一本关于茶的书《茶经》）；
3.茶在生活中的作用。
参考词汇：《茶经》 The Classic of Tea 茶圣 Tea Saint
注意：
1.词数100左右；
2.短文的首句已为你写好。
Dear Tom,
In your e-mail you asked about tea in China. Let me tell you something about it.
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Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific. It is also one of the smallest countries in the world. But for those interested in adventure and sport, there is a lot to do. Vanuatu’s islands offer visitors two of the most exciting and dangerous activities in the world: volcano surfing and land diving. Volcano Surfing On Tanna Island, Mount Yasur rises 300 meters into the sky. It is known as the Lighthouse of the Pacific Ocean because of its regular eruptions (爆发) for hundreds of years. For centuries, both island locals and visitors have climbed this mountain to visit the top. Some visitors find Yasur terrifying; others captivating. Photographers are beside themselves at the opportunity to make amazing artwork from such a special point. Recently, people have also started climbing Yasur to surf the volcano. Volcano surfing is considered as an extreme sport and there are not many practicing it. A volcano surfer’s goal is to escape the erupting volcano - without getting hit by flying rocks! Riders hike up the volcano and slide down, sitting or standing, on a thin plywood or metal board. Land Diving Most people are familiar with bungee jumping, but did you know bungee jumping started on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu and is almost fifteen centuries old? The original activity, called land diving, is part of a religious ceremony. A man ties tree vines (藤) to his legs. He then jumps head-first from a high tower. It originated as a rite (仪式) for young men trying to prove their manhood. The idea is to jump from as high as possible, and to land as close to the ground as possible. It is also a harvest rite. The islanders believe the higher the jumpers dive, the higher the crops will grow. |
| A．Mount Yasur is a light tower on the Pacific Ocean. |
| B．The history of volcano surfing dates back centuries. |
| C．Land diving came to Vanuatu from another country. |
| D．Bungee jumping grew out of land diving. |
| A．depressing | B．disappointing | C．charming | D．relieving |
| A．Untouched Beauty: VANUATU | B．Extreme Destination: VANUATU |
| C．Volcano Adventure : VANUATU | D．Preserved Culture: VANUATU |
Zlateh the Goat
This winter, for Reuven, it was a bad one, and after long hesitation he decided to sell Zlateh, the goat. She was old and gave little milk. Reuven told his boy Aaron to take the goat to the butcher in town.
Aaron understood what it meant, but he had to obey his father. Leah, his mother, wiped the tears from her eyes. Aaron put on thick clothes, and took along two slices of bread with cheese to eat on the road.
While the family said good-bye to the goat, Zlateh licked Reuven’s hand and she shook her small white beard. The sun was shining when Aaron left the village. Suddenly the weather changed. In his twelve years Aaron had never experienced a snow like this. His hands were numb, and he could no longer feel his toes.
Suddenly he found a haystack (干草堆) and dragged Zlateh after him. When he reached the hay, he made out a nest for himself and the goat. The moment she smelt the hay, she began to eat. Outside, the snow continued to fall. Aaron ate his two slices of bread and cheese. Then he milked her. The milk was rich and sweet.
The outside was still completely dark. He began to talk to Zlateh. “If the snow keeps on falling like this, we may have to stay here for days,” Aaron explained.
“Maaaa,” Zlateh bleated.
Aaron said patiently. “I need you and you need me. Isn’t that right?”
“Maaaa.”
For three days Aaron and Zlateh stayed in the haystack. Aaron had always loved Zlateh, but in these three days he loved her more and more. She fed him with her milk and helped him keep warm.
On the morning of the fourth day Aaron heard the ringing of sleigh (雪橇) bells. The peasant who drove the sleigh pointed out the way to him — not to the butcher, but home to the village. Aaron had decided in the haystack that he would never part with Zlateh.
注意：
1. 续写一段文字；
2. 词数应为100左右。
Aaron’s family and their neighbors had searched for the boy and the goat but had found no trace of them during the storm. Then came the fourth day.
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10 . History is filled with many legends of man — eating plants and trees. A man — eating flower was described in the ship’s log of Arkwright. He described this as a large flower with bright petals (花瓣) capable of releasing a special smell that causes the victim to rest on the large petals. Once the victim was in its trap, the flower would close over the victim and digest him alive.
There really are carnivorous plants that can catch and consume small insects, but are there or have there ever been meat-eating plants capable of catching humans, as some explorers have claimed? In this article, we’ll look at one of the most famous man-eating plants in the world and what discoverers and the locals had to say about it — Nicaraguan Vampire Vine.
Found in the swamps (沼泽地) of Nicaragua, local natives refer to this plant as “The Devil’s Snare”. It has been described as an octopus in general appearance. A naturalist called Dunstan spent two years studying the local plant and animal life and made this discovery in a swamp close to Lake Nicaragua. Dunstan was collecting specimens in the area when his dog let out a loud cry.
Unsure whether or not this was due to pain, terror, or a combination of the two, Dunstan rushed to the source of the dog and saw it in a network of roots. These were dark in color, somewhat black, and sent out a sticky gum that had a horrible smell. Dunstan used his knife to cut these tendrils (触须) immediately but was initially unable to do so. Not only were these difficult to cut with just his knife, but they actively fought back.
Dunstan did manage to save his dog, but both suffered injuries during this encounter. Dunstan’s both hands were swelling; his dog was covered in blood. The dog didn’t know which way to go and had trouble walking. Not much else is known about this plant, but the locals do fear it immensely and leave it well alone.
1. How did the man-eating flower attract victims to get close to it?| A．Set up a trap. | B．Show their beautiful appearance. |
| C．Send out a smell. | D．Provide them with petals to rest. |
| A．vegetarian | B．world-famous | C．cruel | D．meat-eating |
| A．It appears together with octopus. |
| B．It could strike back when attacked. |
| C．It had tendrils that could digest dogs. |
| D．It was found by Dunstan in Lake Nicaragua. |
| A．The dog wasn’t seriously hurt in the end. |
| B．Dunstan saved his dog without being hurt. |
| C．People learned more about this plant in detail. |
| D．The locals didn’t dare to get close to the plant. |
