1 . Cows produce much methane (甲烷) the world’s second worst greenhouse gas, as they break down the grass. They are a large source of the greenhouse gases that are driving climate change. Now scientists have shown the pollution from cows can be reduced by adding a little seaweed (海藻) to their food.
Recently, the researchers from the University of California studied 21 cows on a farm for about five months. They taught the cows to get their food from inside a special hood, which allowed the scientists to know the amount of the methane the cows were giving off. They used a small amount of seaweed, which they mixed with the cows’ food.
The consequences were surprisingly good. In some cases, the cows produced 82% less methane. The improvement depended on the kind of food the cows were given. Even the worst-polluting cows produced 33% less methane. Over the five months, the scientists didn’t see any signs that the cows’ stomachs were getting used to the seaweed and starting to produce more methane again. What’s more, the cows that were fed seaweed gained just as much weight as the other cows.
But there are still some big problems with the idea of feeding cows seaweed. For one thing, there’s not enough seaweed to feed all of the cows in the world. So farmers would have to figure out a way to grow lots of seaweed. A bigger problem is that for most of their lives, cows live in the fields, where they eat grass. That means there’s no chance to feed them seaweed every day.
Still, as the study shows, something as simple as feeding cows seaweed can help reduce some of the pollution causing the climate crisis.
1. Why did the researchers carry out the study?A.To improve the cows’ living conditions. |
B.To test the effects of the seaweed. |
C.To measure the amount of methane produced by cows. |
D.To discover healthier grass to reduce the pollution from cows. . |
A.The background of the subjects. | B.The process of the research. |
C.The content of the experiment. | D.The results of the study. |
A.Seaweed is pretty rare in the world. |
B.It’s hard to mix seaweed with grass. |
C.Cows can hardly have daily access to seaweed. |
D.Cows fed with seaweed gained weight easily. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Positive. | C.Unclear. | D.Negative. |
2 . Seventy-year-old Tububatu and his wife Taoshengchagan live in a village near Badain Jaran, Inner Mongolia. They’ve been spending every day since they retired in 2002 fighting against
The retired couple have been slowly growing their little desert forest at their own expense, so that they live a very
Although they’ve been
Apart from
It’s reported that so far they have planted over 70000 trees,
The couple have received several
A.pollution | B.poverty | C.sandstorm | D.hunger |
A.changed | B.finished | C.failed | D.disappeared |
A.growing | B.buying | C.borrowing | D.protecting |
A.profits | B.efforts | C.dreams | D.difficulties |
A.comfortable | B.quiet | C.balanced | D.simple |
A.equally | B.slowly | C.naturally | D.healthily |
A.cheered up | B.laughed at | C.picked up | D.taken in |
A.plans | B.hopes | C.chances | D.ways |
A.overcoming | B.improving | C.slowing | D.following |
A.current | B.ordinary | C.former | D.popular |
A.losing | B.spending | C.wasting | D.collecting |
A.special | B.strange | C.messy | D.terrible |
A.continue | B.desert | C.start | D.announce |
A.cards | B.letters | C.prizes | D.reviews |
A.models | B.roles | C.organizers | D.survivors |
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
Since Japan began releasing nuclear-contaminated (核污染) wastewater
“The Chinese government will take necessary measures to firmly protect the marine environment
5 . Many people just see crows (乌鸦) as a natural clean-up crew—eating insects, dead animals or food in trash cans. But researchers have found that crows are not only playful but also social and intelligent. They use tools to solve problems, and they remember faces for years and copy sounds they hear.
“Crows are always testing their environment,” said John Marzluff, University of Washington professor of wildlife science. “Anything that looks possibly edible, they will taste it.” This trait (特点) has led to interesting scientific findings. Some crows use sticks to gain hard-to-get treats. In other experiments, they learned to drop stones into narrow containers to raise water to a level where they can drink it or reach a floating treat inside.
Crows are social, living in large extended families of more than a dozen birds. Communication is key to their survival. Many calls are used—each having a different message. For example, they have separate warning calls for cats, dogs and people. Some crows even imitate the sounds of other animals and people.
Marzluff did several experiments to determine whether wild crows remember human faces. In one, researchers wearing masks caught seven crows around the campus and banded them. After setting them free, researchers found that regular passers-by got no reaction, but as soon as anyone wearing the same mask passed by, the crows made loud warning calls—even years later. Never be mean to a crow. They not only remember faces but teach their offspring who to beware of (当心). They also remember those who were kind to them and pass that information along, too, often bringing gifts of rocks or other small objects as a thank-you.
1. What does the underlined word “edible” in paragraph 2 mean?A.Difficult to get | B.Fit to be eaten |
C.Suitable to be tested | D.Interesting to play with |
A.Interacting with other crows effectively. |
B.Developing similar warnings for dangers. |
C.Recognizing the sounds of other animals. |
D.Helping each other in big families to get food. |
A.Crows-can tell right from wrong. | B.Crows are mean sometimes. |
C.Crows are grateful birds. | D.Crows have a good memory. |
A.Crows Can Use Tools to Get the Food |
B.Crows Communicate in Intelligent Ways |
C.Cute Crows: They Remember You Forever |
D.Clever Crows: They Socialize and Memorize |
6 . The area in front of Janet and Jeffrey Crouch’s house in Columbia, Maryland, does not look usual for their neighbourhood. That is because the Crouches do not have a grass lawn(草坪). Instead, they have some small trees and many native plants.
In recent years, support for replacing lawns with native plants has been increasing in the US. It can be costly to keep a lawn looking good and green. But the Crouches had to spend much more money for the right not to have one.
People living in a house next to them complained to their homeowner’s association, or HOA. HOAs can make rules about the plants that homeowners in a neighbourhood are permitted to grow. Many HOAs require grass lawns. The HOA ordered the Crouches to pull out their native plants and put in grass. However, they refused. “We knew we were doing things that were beneficial for the environment, ” said Janet Crouch.
Lawns are called environmental dead zones in part because they provide no food or shelter for wildlife. They also do not support pollinators like birds, bees, and butterflies. Bee populations have been getting smaller in North America and may be getting smaller around the world.
There are other reasons that lawns are bad for the environment. They require a lot of water and chemicals. Large amounts of water can remove nutrients from the soil. After the water removes the nutrients, people buy even more chemicals to put on their lawns. Scientists say some of these chemicals might cause cancer and other health problems. There are over 16million hectares of grass lawns in the US. That means lawns use more water than any other irrigated(灌溉)crop in the country.
The Crouches’ battle against their HOA took three years. They say they spent $60, 000 fighting to keep their natural garden. They won. Because of their efforts, the state of Maryland passed a law that lets people grow native plants instead of grass, no matter what their HOA wants.
1. Which is one of HOA’s responsibilities?A.Developing and interpreting all relevant laws. |
B.Protecting the balance of nature in the community. |
C.Maintaining a unified greenery within the community. |
D.Dealing with all the requirements of residents. |
A.To attract people’s attention. |
B.To improve the neighbourhood relations. |
C.To save on the cost of lawn maintenance. |
D.To better improve the ecological environment. |
A.Lawns are suitable for bee reproduction. |
B.Local plants are environmentally friendly. |
C.Local plants can prevent soil and water pollution. |
D.Lawns are beneficial for soil and water conservation. |
A.Determined. | B.Humorous. | C.Brave. | D.Careful. |
7 . The world is being alerted to the possibility of a severe drought crisis caused by the recent heatwave that has affected much of Asia and the arrival of El Niño, which can cause intense drought for 2 − 3 years, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Varawut Silpa-archa has warned.
Thailand is susceptible (易受影响的) to the effects of El Niño, which is forecast to start in June. The world is expected to face an intense drought due to the occurrence of El Niño, leading to reduced rainfall during the rainy season, or possibly no rain at all.
In addition to the ongoing drought, Thailand is also facing another unprecedented (前所未有的) phenomenon, the so-called “Monster Asian heatwave”. This extreme heatwave underlined growing global warming concerns and has made it even more important to recognise the need to reduce plastic wastes and industrial air pollutants. There is no quick fix, however. Because we have been worsening the environment for many decades, it will take many years of intensive efforts to tackle the global warming problem.
“Preparing to deal with the severe drought crisis for the next 2 − 3 years is urgent,” Varawut stressed. In the past, Bangkok has experienced flooding and a rising sea level due to the melting of the polar ice caps. If the situation worsens beyond the current level, the El Niño issue will become even more severe in the next 2 − 3 years.
Solutions to this problem include building more reservoirs (水库) and expanding the waterways to accommodate rainfall during this rainy season. Although this year’s dry season is a concern, there are still adequate water reserves in the dams. However, the situation is expected to worsen next year and in 2025. Therefore, sufficient water storage facilities and efficient farmland irrigation system are vital preparations.
“Whether the issue of climate change will lead to the collapse of our world, or not, is still up in the air. We may not have reached that stage yet but if we do not speed up efforts to tackle this issue seriously, we may face a loss of biodiversity,” Varawut said.
1. What are the two main factors of the possible drought crisis?A.Flooding and sea level rising. | B.Extreme heat and the El Niño. |
C.Melting polar ice caps and plastic waste. | D.Industrial air pollutants and global warming. |
A.Good result. | B.Big decision. | C.Easy solution. | D.Perfect excuse. |
A.By reducing plastic waste. |
B.By expanding more farmland. |
C.By increasing the amount of rainfall. |
D.By constructing enough water storage facilities. |
A.The collapse of the world is on the way. |
B.The loss of biodiversity is not a major concern. |
C.The effects of climate change are still uncertain. |
D.Efforts to address climate change need to be sped up. |
8 . Discover how you can help endangered species! Volunteer to help conserve endangered species around the world with GoEco.
Sea turtles, Sri Lanka
The species is threatened by human hunters. The Sri Lankan government has approved the creation of hatcheries (孵化场) in order to protect this species. Volunteers on this program spend 60% of their time working in the hatchery and the other 40% is spent on activities such as beach cleanups and creating awareness within the local community.
Program Fees: $1,280 for 2 weeks and $1,680 per month for volunteers.
Wildlife Rescue, Western Australia
Adult kangaroos and wallabies are hunted for food, leaving thousands of their babies without parents. Many are killed or injured in road accidents. At the wildlife rescue center in Perth, Western Australia, volunteers live and help in the bushland caring for sick, injured, and displaced animals.
Program Fee: $2,095 for four weeks. Volunteers stay on-site in a small room. Due to very limited space, applications must be sent at least 9-12 months in advance.
Endangered Species Reserve, South Africa
The project will give you an incredible wildlife experience while learning about conservation efforts. For the rest of the time between monitoring sessions, volunteers are required to enter all the data that they have collected into our databases. At times, volunteers need to operate on night shifts. We also give lectures and presentations over the lunch period.
Program Fee: $1,750 for 2 weeks
Big Cat Refuge, South Africa
As a volunteer on this project, you will be involved in a wide variety of activities. Volunteer’s work ranges from enrichment activities, such as toy-making and farm work, to educating the visitors. Volunteers will also directly care for the cats by preparing food or feeding them as well as maintaining their living space.
Program Fee: $1,450 for 2 weeks
1. What is the monthly project fee for volunteers in Sri Lanka?A.$1,280. | B.$1,680. | C.$2,560. | D.$2,960. |
A.Having previous experience. |
B.Working night shifts sometimes. |
C.Applying for the project in advance. |
D.Having a good knowledge of wildlife. |
A.Study the habits of big cats. |
B.Help to sell some toys about cats. |
C.Guide visitors to the habitat of the cats. |
D.Do daily routines in the cats’ living space. |
9 . It's just past 7 a.m.on a February morning in Maya Bay, several weeks after authorities reopened what is one of Thailand's most popular tourist attractions to the world for the first time since June 2018 following a massive restoration program.
In the hours to follow, a slow but steady flow of tourists becomes in great numbers as dozens of tourists make their way to the white﹣sand beach, phones at the ready as they take photos. Swimming is not allowed, though visitors can take a few steps in. It's disappointing, but a huge improvement over what visitors once experienced here.
Maya Bay is located in a Thailand's national park.The destination was made famous by the 2000 film The Beach,starring Leonardo DiCaprio.As the film's popularity grew,so did tourists' desire to visit the location where much of it was shot —Maya Bay.
"Around 40 years ago, Maya Bay was already a tourism destination, but mainly for Thai tourists because you didn't have speedboats at that time, " says Thon, a marine biologist and professor who requested authorities to close the bay four years ago. Over the years, the number of tourists rose from less than 1, 000 to as many as 7, 000 or 8, 000 visitors a day at its peak. On average, around 5, 000 people entered the bay each day.
In 2018, the Thai government closed the bay and began to restore the damaged ecosystem.
Since then, Thon and a team of fellow marine experts and volunteers have replanted over 30, 000 pieces of coral, much of it grown off the coast of a nearby island. Meanwhile, the wildlife also returned and has been growing. "Only three months after we closed the bay, the blacktip sharks came back and gave birth…so there are a lot of things happening in Maya Bay."
1. What do the first two paragraphs mainly tell us about Maya Bay?A.Its business hours. |
B.Its massive restoration |
C.Its huge improvement. |
D.Its reopening. |
A.Maya Bay. |
B.The 2000 film The Beach. |
C.Leonardo DiCaprio. |
D.A Thailand's national park. |
A.The benefit from tourism. |
B.The long history of Maya Bay. |
C.The rapid growth in tourists. |
D.The reason for the film's popularity. |
A.the protection efforts for Maya Bay was a little late. |
B.the protection efforts for Maya Bay has no support from the government. |
C.the protection efforts for Maya Bay remains to be seen whether it's useful. |
D.the protection efforts for Maya Bay has been effective. |
10 . Kids want to spend their summer vacations having fun in the sun with their friends. Reading may not even be on their list. But if you add a lovely dog, that could make reading a pleasant activity.
Now a new study found that reading to dogs helps to improve reading ability because dogs provide a nonjudgmental and supportive atmosphere(氛围).
Three educators from the college decided to look at new ways to get kids to read more after the Education Ministry expressed concern over a great drop in reading scores in fourth-grade students.
These students had reading difficulties because they did not go through school in person during the last three years. They missed out on reading practice with their peers(同龄人)during the second and third grades.
“We want to find an original way that would encourage students to practice their reading,” Har-Zvi, head of the special-education track and senior lecturer at the college said. “And to create that encouragement, we decided to do experiments with dogs.”
Reading to pets encourages kids to acquire confidence and interest in reading, according to the pet food company Purina. That’s not only because the practice of reading to dogs is used in home-schooling to help the kids acquire reading ability, but also because pets are comforting and nonjudgmental. Einat Artzi, whose daughter took part in the experiment, told Ynet that her daughter Michaela ”has loved dogs from a young age. Her experience of reading to dogs greatly increased her desire to read, and in her opinion, it improved her reading abilities. All in all, the experience of introducing dogs into the classroom made her feel comfortable and safe, and she began to enjoy going to school. Michaela is now considered one of the top readers in her class and has a very rich vocabulary. Thanks to this, we also took in a dog.“
1. What led three educators to try to get kids to read more?A.Kids’ difficulty in making friends. | B.Teachers’ passive teaching methods. |
C.Their worry about students’ health. | D.Concerns of education leaders. |
A.The quiet listening of the dogs. | B.The kids’ love for the dogs. |
C.The parents’ joining them. | D.The guidance from the teachers. |
A.It made her fall in love with dogs. | B.It bettered her reading ability greatly. |
C.It improved her relationships with others. | D.It allowed her to take a dog to school. |
A.Dogs Are Good Friends to Kids | B.Kids’ Reading Scores Are Dropping |
C.Dogs Help Make Kids Better Readers | D.Kids Studying at Home Brings Problems |