1 . It shouldn’t come as news to anyone that the planet is suffering a climate emergency. And the fashion industry certainly plays its part in this. In 2020, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) calculated that the fashion industry produces ten per cent of annual global carbon dioxide emission and is estimated to use around 1.5 trillion litres of water every year. The industry’s environmental impact is greatly worsened by fast fashion which releases hundreds of new styles every week, leading to overproduction and overconsumption. But how do we solve this issue? One answer lies in the new generation of made-to-order brands making their way into the mainstream.

These brands make clothes only as and when they’re ordered. It’s a far more sustainable approach, and because there’s no overproduction, less unwanted stock（库存）ends up in landfills. It also promotes a slower fashion model, with pieces taking between three weeks and three months to arrive once purchased. Its focus is on creating special, well-made pieces for consumers to treasure for years to come.

MaisonCléo is such a clothing company, taking limited orders each week which are then handmade and delivered in approximately three weeks. And it advocates for fair and reasonable pricing. Thus it attracts loyal customer bases with their social and environmental responsibility, perfect craftsmanship and evergreen styles.

With made-to-order brands rapidly growing in popularity, it begs the question-could this be the start of a new, environmentally responsible era? I hope so. With overproduction and overconsumption fueling a real climate crisis, the made-to-order clothing could be the future of fashion our planet badly needs.

1. Which is the problem with fast fashion?

A．It slows economic growth.

B．It pollutes water resources.

C．It results in overpopulation.

D．It causes overconsumption.

2. What do we know about the products of made-to-order brands?

A．They promise high quality.	B．They are delivered fast.
C．They end up in landfills.	D．They are produced in quantity.

3. Why does the author mention “MaisonCléo” in paragraph 3?

A．To explain a rule.	B．To present an example.
C．To list a fact.	D．To give an exception.

4. What is the suitable title of the passage?

A．Climate Crisis and Fast Fashion

B．The Development of Made-To-Order Brands

C．Could Made-To-Order be the Future of Fashion?

D．How to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions?

2 . Like all mammals, whales need to sleep in order to survive. But they are also air breathers, meaning that they cannot sleep in the water all the time. There are around 90 different types of whale, which can hold their breath for about an hour, depending on the species. However, they usually travel up to the surface to breathe every 15 minutes.     1    

Some scientists have found that whales cannot become fully unconscious or they would drown. To deal with living in the water full-time while having to breathe air, these air-breathers have evolved into voluntary ones, as a way to prevent accidentally breathing in water at inopportune moments.     2     Therefore, they have to be awake and alert at all times to prevent themselves from drowning.

Whales have some of the largest brains on the planet.     3     They can actively decide which part of their brains to use at a given time. This particular way of sleeping can be seen most clearly in captive (圈养的) whales. When whales are sleeping, they can be seen keeping one eye closed while the other remains open.

    4     Some species, like sperm whales, enter a deeper sleep where they hang in groups, vertically, not too far below the surface for just over an hour. Other species, such as the humpback whales, have been observed resting motionless at the surface of the water for only 30 minutes.     5     And, killer whales, which are very socially complex, never swim too far from the other members of their pod, sleeping in close groups.

A．So how exactly do they get any sleep?

B．They continue to swim slowly and regularly.

C．They won’t lose their body temperature by staying still.

D．It’s an interesting dilemma for wholly ocean air breathers.

E．This sleeping technique varies slightly among species, however.

F．Whales consciously control their blowholes with powerful muscles.

G．Sperm whales in particular have the biggest brain of any living mammal.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式填空。

McDonald’s, Burger King and many other fast food chains use the color red heavily in their logos. Color is one of the     1     (method) companies use to connect with customers. After all, we’re     2     visual species. According to marketing company WebPageFX, nearly 80% of consumers say that colors are     3     give brands memorable recognition.

The average human can see ten million colors, but red is special. In fact, many cultures all over the world view red     4     (positive). It’s among the first colors that our ancestors thought important enough     5     (name). Back before alphabets and writing, there     6     (be) words for “black” and “white” and “red” but not much else. As a result, we have a     7     (deep) connection to red than any other color in our life. Researchers have found that red can cause a sense of     8     (urgent). On top of that, it also has an ability to increase our appetite. Therefore, the color red     9     (use) to attract hungry customers who want food, fast. Just think what McDonald’s would look like     10     blue, green, or pink! It’s just not the same, right?

4 . Pandas have always been one of the cutest creatures of the animal kingdom, but did you know that there are actually two types of pandas?

These animals are divided into Sichuan and Qinling subspecies (亚种群). The Qinling giant panda, which lives in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, has a round head and short mouth, which makes it look like a cat. The Sichuan giant panda, which lives in Sichuan province, is more bear-like and has a bigger and more oval (椭圆形的) head, according to a study published in a recent issue of the Chinese Science Bulletin.

The study, conducted by Zhejiang University, the BGI Life Science Research Institution and the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, showed the subspecies’ differences and evolutionary (进化的) characteristics, including the first report on the genome (基因组) of the Qinling subspecies.

The two subspecies evolved around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, which means they haven’t contacted one another for at least 10,000 years. Besides their different physical features, the Sichuan subspecies is better adapted to survive in the wild due to its history of greater genetic variation. The Qinling subspecies never migrated (迁徙) across the Yellow River Basin, so it has had no major changes in genetic variation.

The key factors affecting the long-term survival of a species are its ability to reproduce and develop immunity (免疫力) against disease. When it comes to making babies, the Sichuan subspecies is more reproductive than the Qinling subspecies, said Fang Shengguo, a professor at Zhejiang University’s College of Life Sciences.

Pandas were once meat eaters but later turned to a bamboo diet. In response to the huge changes in their eating habits, they evolved relatively small internal organs to slow down their metabolism (新陈代谢). Changes in giant panda genes are mainly related to their reproductive system, which may be responsible for their reduced reproduction, according to the study.

Accurate genetic management is important in artificial breeding (繁殖) and conservation, Fang pointed out. He also suggested gene exchanges between small populations of pandas within the same subspecies should be sped up, which could help reduce inbreeding (近亲交配) and genetic decline. “Unless the species is in danger, interbreeding between the two subspecies should be avoided as much as possible. Otherwise, the reproduction of the offspring (后代) may be reduced, which would be very bad for the Sichuan subspecies population,” said Fang, who also noted the importance of restoring pandas habitats.

1. What do we know about pandas?

A．The Sichuan subspecies tends to live longer.

B．They mainly live in two provinces in China.

C．The Qinling subspecies is less able to reproduce.

D．The two subspecies share similar facial features.

2. According to the study, what could be the reason for pandas’ reduced reproduction?

A．The frequent migration in the wild.

B．The shortage of bamboo for them to eat.

C．The decreased immunity against disease.

D．The changes in genes related to reproduction.

3. What does Fang Shengguo think is a better solution to pandas inbreeding?

A．Accurate genetic management.

B．The restoration of pandas’ habitats.

C．Interbreeding between the two subspecies.

D．Gene exchanges within the same subspecies.

4. What’s the main purpose of the article?

A．To report on new research about pandas.

B．To inform people of how pandas evolved.

C．To compare different subspecies of pandas.

D．To call on people to protect the endangered species.

5 . When I go to a new place, the first thing I like to do is walking around the streets to ________ the city. When I first arrived in Santiago, Chile, and took a walk around the city center, one of the first things I noticed was how many stray (无家可归的) ________ there were. The phrase “street dog” or “stray dog” is used to ________ a dog with no home, who lives on the streets.

On every comer there was a sleeping dog. At every traffic ________ there was a dog ________ to cross. By every shop there was a dog waiting for potential ________. At first I was ________ as I thought they might be ________ or unfriendly. However, I have been here for more than a year now and every stray dog I have seen has been passive (顺从的), quiet and friendly.

The dogs are ________ and welcomed here in Chile. I have never seen a street dog being mistreated. In fact, they are ________ given food and water by the public. Some people even ________ jackets for the dogs or ________ beds or kennels (狗舍) for them to sleep in.

The dogs do not have an easy life: they are often hungry, cold or injured. The government does not provide much ________ for these dogs.

Some people believe that the ________ is getting out of control and that it is ________ to have so many dogs on the streets. The dogs can sometimes cause ________ such as car accidents if they run into the road. There are around 2. 5 million stray dogs in Chile and the dog population is ________ faster than the human population. Many Chileans think that all the stray dogs should be sterilized (绝育的) so that they cannot ________. Others think that the stray dog population should be culled, that is, ________ the population by killing them.

The future of street dogs is ________ but for now it looks like they are here to stay with their population increasing year by year.

1.

A．explore

B．find

C．travel

D．sleep

2.

A．cats

B．dogs

C．birds

D．sheep

3.

A．say

B．speak

C．describe

D．write

4.

A．road

B．spot

C．system

D．light

5.

A．jumping

B．waiting

C．hesitating

D．refusing

6.

A．parents

B．food

C．toys

D．owners

7.

A．disappointed

B．shocked

C．nervous

D．angry

8.

A．aggressive

B．thirsty

C．hungry

D．sensitive

9.

A．controlled

B．accepted

C．caught

D．received

10.

A．often

B．never

C．merely

D．barely

11.

A．put into

B．put out

C．put off

D．put forward

12.

A．check

B．sell

C．change

D．make

13.

A．love

B．money

C．care

D．time

14.

A．policy

B．position

C．behavior

D．situation

15.

A．unacceptable

B．reasonable

C．unusual

D．interesting

16.

A．diseases

B．fears

C．problems

D．questions

17.

A．aging

B．raising

C．growing

D．declining

18.

A．bite

B．breed

C．bark

D．beg

19.

A．reducing

B．increasing

C．rising

D．enlarging

20.

A．bright

B．different

C．promising

D．uncertain

6 . A recon study suggests that small shopping shifts can make a difference on green house gas emissions while improving your health. After analyzing the grocery purchases of more than 57,000 households, researchers found 71 percent could reduce their food carbon footprint by following three tips:

Skip the unhealthy snacks

Avoiding foods with high calorie counts and low nutritional value can reduce the total carbon footprint of household food consumption by nearly 10 percent. Items like candy, soda, and packaged snacks take more ingredients and more processing, which translates to higher environmental impacts.

Watch bulk buys

Households of one or two people may end up with food waste when they try to save money with bulk buys. Before you buy supersize, consider whether a three-pound jar of peanut butter will go bad before it’s used up.

Trim ready-made foods

One average microwave meal may not have a very large carbon footprint. But buying them regularly can add up to significant emissions because ready-made foods’ large sales volume increases their carbon emissions, the study found.

By taking the above measures, we could cut more than a quarter of emissions from household food consumption, the researchers say. Collective action can make a huge impact.

1. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To advertise a green product.	B．To promote green shopping changes.
C．To convince people to buy green food.	D．To persuade readers to eat healthy diets.

2. Which belongs to bulk buys for a 2-person family?

A．A piece of cake.	B．A mini packet of butter.
C．Five kilograms of apples.	D．Two cups of 50-gram potato chips.

3. What does the three suggestions have in common?

A．They reduce calorie intake.	B．They lead to less food waste.
C．they can be more economical.	D．They can lower carbon footprint.

7 . How do you feel about bees? Do you get irritated when they buzz (嗡嗡地叫) around you and do you fear their mission is just to sting you? Love them or loathe them, these little insects are extremely important creatures, and without them we might starve.

Bees deserve some respect— they give us honey, and they play their part either in pollinating (给……授粉) the many vegetables and fruits we eat directly or pollinating the food for the animals that we then consume. In fact, they are the world’s most important pollinators. That’s not all— a study by the University of Reading in the UK, found bees and other pollinating insects have a global economic value of around & 120bn and contribute around & 690m to the UK economy every year.

So, bees are worth protecting, and although a small number of bee species are vital for crops such as oilseed rape (欧洲油菜) , apples and strawberries, experts say we should be taking care of all our bees. Researchers say conservation efforts should be aimed at a wide number of species— even those that currently contribute little to crop pollination— in order to maintain biodiversity and ensure future food security.

Unfortunately, in recent times, bee populations have been declining due to pesticides (杀虫剂), disease and habitat loss. It’s something we should be worried about because, as Gill Perkins, chief executive of the Bumblebee (大黄蜂) Conservation Trust, told BBC Future website: “They provide a whole ecosystem service.” The recent lockdowns caused by the coronavirus pandemic seem to have given bee populations a little boost because they faced less human disturbance, traffic and polluting fumes.

Conservationists hope, going forward, people will appreciate bees more and encourage them to thrive as they reconnect with nature. Gill Perkins says, “They are beginning to realize how their mental health and well-being are supported by nature— particularly by bumblebees, which are so iconic, beautiful and buzzy.” So, it really seems time to give bees a second chance.

1. What do bees do to the fruits and vegetables we eat?

A．They store them.	B．They pollinate them.
C．They destroy them.	D．They consume them.

2. What reason might contribute to the fall-off in bee populations?

A．Habitat loss.	B．Natural enemies.
C．Heavy weather.	D．Crop pollination.

3. What does the underlined word “thrive” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Grow.

B．Plant.

C．Decrease.

D．Shrink.

4. In which section of a website can we probably find the text?

A．Tourism.

B．Sports.

C．Business.

D．Science.

8 . Overtourism happens when the number of tourists or the management of the tourism industry in a destination becomes unsustainable (不可持续的). When there are too many visitors, the quality of life for the local community can be affected, the surrounding natural environment can become worse, and the quality of the tourists’ experience can fall.

However, in most places, overtourism is not a hopeless situation. Destinations all over the world have already showed ways to overcome the obstacles presented by overcrowding and unsustainable tourism management.

East Africa, for example, has turned the gorilla (大猩猩) visiting into a once-in-a-lifetime experience by putting limits on daily permits, while maintaining conservation efforts inside native forests and offering jobs to local guides. In Antarctica, the Antarctic Treaty limits the size of ships that land there as well as the number of people they can bring ashore at one time; it also requires a minimum guide-to-tourist ratio (比率) while tourists are off the boat.

Local governments, of course, are largely responsible for keeping sustainability in the tourism industry. But approaches to reducing the negative effects of overtourism can come down to individual travelers as well. One of the best ways is to become a responsible tourist by looking outside of the mainstream travel destinations. Consider outer cities or less-visited attractions to avoid crowds altogether while experiencing the destination’s daily culture outside of the popular areas. There are countless places that want and need more tourists to explore.

If you just have to visit the popular destinations, consider visiting during their off-season. People who rely on tourism to live on need support during the off-season more than any other time of year. Besides, it will save money since accommodations and flights tend to be cheaper. Even better, off-season travel puts less pressure on the environment.

1. What does the underlined word “obstacles” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Hesitations.

B．Failures.

C．Disagreements.

D．Challenges.

2. What step has been taken concerning gorilla visiting in East Africa?

A．Reducing local guides.	B．Limiting daily permits.
C．Expanding forest coverage.	D．Attracting local visitors.

3. Which should be mainly responsible for sustainable tourism?

A．Local authorities.	B．Individual tourists.
C．Travel agencies.	D．Native people.

4. What advantage does off-season travel have?

A．It suits the young and the old.	B．It improves visitors’ mental health.
C．It’s much cheaper and less crowded.	D．It offers more cultural destinations.

9 . I work not only at the clinic but also on a private farm in Pensacola, Florida—a place our team of volunteers lovingly refers to as the Misfit Ranch, where we take in and nurse dogs that have been abused.

It all went back to late 2009, when I’d felt so trapped then. One day I got a call from my friend Mary who was looking for a helper to move to her farm nearby and take care of the horses part-time. Something bright in me came back to life upon hearing it.

Animals were a huge part of my growing up years. My parents and I often brought home sick or injured dogs. We’d nurse them back to health and find them homes. Even though I was just a kid, I’d felt such joy and purpose then.

Taking care of horses... Something in me said that I needed to do this. It was the horses that helped restore me. Their presence calmed me. Little by little, the fear that had its hold on me for so long disappeared. At the same time, I was considering a big plan.

I started volunteering with dog rescue groups in the area. I felt drawn to the dogs for whom it was hard to find homes. However, I wanted to be able to do more for these dogs. I began training to become a vet technician (兽医助手). I started treating animals in 2017 and got a job at a clinic.

Sometimes I would take stray (走失的) dogs home with me from the clinic to give them care overnight. I always had a soft spot for the tough cases—the broken ones who, to others, seemed hopeless.

Word spread and I became the go-to for abused dogs in North Florida. Vets would give out my number and people would contact me through social media. The Misfit Ranch grew to a point where I needed help caring for these animals that had no place to call home.

1. What did Mary want the author to do?

A．Look after the horses.	B．Sell the private farm.
C．Stay positive every day.	D．Move house with her.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．A warm-hearted father.	B．The pain of growing up.
C．A child’s love for animals.	D．The purpose of saving dogs.

3. Why does the author hope to be a vet technician?

A．To win others’ respect.	B．To start dog rescue groups.
C．To realize her friend’s dream.	D．To provide better service for dogs.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．It was easy to find home for abused dogs.

B．The locals tended to ask the author for help.

C．There was a need for hands on a farm.

D．Social media have caused much trouble.

10 . A woman, Shanon, was driving on a Georgia road when a deer suddenly came out of nowhere. Before she knew what had happened, she was ________. When she woke up, she found her ________ upside down on the road and she could ________ move. What she least expected was that her savior (救世主) was already on the ________ and ready to help. Hero, a German shepherd who ________ for Shanon’s life when she could not ________.

Hero entered the car to figure out Shanon’s ________. Several minutes later, Hero began to ________ the collar of her shirt to try to get her out of the car. He was trying and trying with all his strength. As time passed, Hero’s efforts had good ________. Exhausted and sweaty as he was, he ________ to get Shanon out of the car and take her to the road where they could find ________. Finally, Shanon came to herself in the hospital.

Shanon soon ________ that Hero was abandoned. Although she wanted to ________ him, she was unable to do so for some reason. ________, there were many who appreciated Hero’s skill and ________. Hero was finally adopted by a dog trainer who will train Hero to become a search and rescue dog for police officers. Bravo Hero and good luck!

Hero could have ________ Shanon, or he could even have helped Shanon by going towards the road to ________ someone. But Hero fought and used all of his strength to save Shanon. The ________ love that animals give us is always beyond our ________.

Be kind to our loyal friends and treat them equally. Only by doing so can humans and animals live ________.

1.

A．uncomfortable

B．unconscious

C．asleep

D．concerned

2.

A．belongings

B．lights

C．vehicle

D．brake

3.

A．barely

B．freely

C．abruptly

D．unbelievably

4.

A．air

B．horizon

C．ground

D．scene

5.

A．asked

B．fought

C．looked

D．traveled

6.

A．appeared

B．returned

C．continued

D．jumped

7.

A．pain

B．recovery

C．situation

D．target

8.

A．catch

B．stretch

C．push

D．pull

9.

A．grades

B．decisions

C．results

D．comments

10.

A．managed

B．tended

C．attempted

D．hoped

11.

A．shade

B．direction

C．equipment

D．help

12.

A．remembered

B．learned

C．imagined

D．predicted

13.

A．adopt

B．relieve

C．buy .

D．contact

14.

A．Generally

B．Sadly

C．Consequently

D．Fortunately

15.

A．trick

B．courage

C．honesty

D．energy

16.

A．looked after

B．played with

C．walked by

D．benefited by

17.

A．attack

B．block

C．attract

D．surprise

18.

A．unnatural

B．unconditional

C．intentional

D．traditional

19.

A．expectation

B．control.

C．experience

D．reach

20.

A．independently

B．causally

C．automatically

D．harmoniously