1 . The first apes evolved 20 million years ago in the forests where they would go up a tree to get their food, and then come back down to move on to the next tree. Getting out of a tree presents all kinds of new challenges. Big apes can’t afford to fall because it could kill or badly injure them. Natural selection would have favored those with body structures that allowed them to descend safely.

Dartmouth researchers report in the journal Royal Society Open Science that apes probably evolved free-moving shoulders and flexible elbows to slow their descent from trees as gravity pulled on their heavier bodies. These flexible body parts passed on from ancestral apes would have allowed early humans to climb trees at night for safety and comedown in the daylight unhurt. When early humans transitioned from forests to open savannas (热带稀树草原), flexible shoulders and elbows were crucial for gathering food and using tools for hunting and defense.

The researchers used sports analysis and statistical software to study how primates(灵长目动物) like chimpanzees and small monkeys called mangabeys climbed in the wild. They found that chimps and mangabeys scaled(攀爬) trees similarly, with shoulders and elbows mostly bent close to the body. When descending, however, chimpanzees extended their arms above their heads to hold on to branches, much like a person using a ladder, to counteract(抵消) their heavier weight pulling them downward.

Luke Fannin, the lead author of the study, emphasized that their findings highlight the importance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans. He explained, “Our research introduces the idea that down climbing played a significant role in shaping the structural differences between monkeys and apes, which eventually manifested in humans.”

“Our field has thought about apes climbing up trees for a long time, but we’ve been ignoring the second half of this behavior,” said Professor Jeremy DeSilva, “The findings are among the first to identify the significance of “down climbing” in the evolution of apes and early humans.

1. According to paragraph 1, apes would have been favored by natural selection if                .

A．they have sufficient food resources.

B．they come down from trees securely.

C．they master skills of climbing up trees.

D．they cure themselves when they’re injured.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The similarity of two primates in tree climbing

B．The evolution of two primates’ adaptation to nature.

C．The analysis of primates’ tree scaling and descending

D．The application of different research methods and tools.

3. Which of the following statement might DeSilva agree with?

A．Descending trees has been neglected by researchers for a long time.

B．The study is the first to recognize the significance of down climbing

C．The evolution of apes and early humans is a result of down climbing.

D．Studies on climbing down trees are more likely to have new findings.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Chimpanzees and Mangabeys: Researches in Natural Settings

B．Apes and Humans: A Comparative Study of Climbing up Trees

C．Shoulders and Elbows: Evolved as Brakes for Downclimbing Apes

D．Apes’ Climbing Strategies: How to Use Different Body Parts Flexibly

2 . 语法填空

My friend and I have arrived in Katherine,     1    is a town in Australia’s Northern Territory. We’re here to learn about the life and     2    (custom) of the Aborigines, who are native     3     Australia. The Aboriginal population might be small, but     4    (it) influence is still visible. For example, “Bondi” in “Bondi Beach” is an Aboriginal word which     5    (mean) “water breaking over rocks”.

    6    (survive) in the vast land on the ocean, the Aborigines had to be in close contact with nature, which shows in their music, too, like     7    (celebrate) the natural world and the     8    (spirit) world around them. Most of their musical instruments are really just sticks     9     (find) on the ground, among which there is     10     amazing instrument called the didgeridoo.

3 . 请Let’s save ______为题，写一篇短文，呼吁大家保护野生动物或具体某种动物，如pandas。要求：1. 包括该种动物的外形特征和饮食(生活)习惯。2. 它们的主要栖息地和象征意义。3. 呼吁大家保护它们。可适当发挥。

Let’s save ______

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4 . Children returned to school after a big wildfire in Northern California. But the influence is so huge that it will be some time before the life of students there returns to normal.

Eight schools were lost to the wildfire. Government officials were not sure how many of their nearly 3,500 students would report to temporary (临时的) schools. Some families have left California. Others are staying with friends. It is too far for some of them to drive to one of those schools every day.

There are not enough classrooms for middle and high schools. So for the l3 days before the start of the traditional winter break in the school year, students will learn through independent study. They will be given homework online and be able to visit a special drop-in center in Chico, California. Children going there can get help from teachers or visit other classmates.

Loren Lighthall, a spokesman for one school there, said studying will be less important than dealing with pain and reconnecting with friends. “They don’t have their school, they don’t have their work, they don’t have their friends, they don’t have books and we’re asking them to do homework?” Light hall said. “It’s less important at this point. We’re going to do it. But what is important now is to deal with the pain left.”

Search members have stopped looking for the lost in burned cars and houses. But they remain available whenever there is need for help.

1. What does the underlined “those schools” in the second paragraph refer to?

A．The schools being built.	B．The online schools.
C．The 8 schools lost to the fire	D．The temporary schools.

2. Why do the students have to learn through independent study?

A．Because there aren’t enough classrooms for them.

B．Because the traditional winter break is coming soon.

C．Because the students want to start a new way of study.

D．Because the teachers ask them to do their homework online.

3. What does Loren Lighthall mean by his words?

A．Students should go to school immediately.

B．It is important to deal with the pain.

C．Students should be given much homework.

D．It is not necessary to study after the fire.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Life of students in North California has come to normal.

B．Search members have not stopped looking for the missing.

C．The wildfire in North California influences students greatly.

D．Classrooms are prepared for students affected in the wildfire.

5 . Wouldn’t it be great to spend a few days in the woods walking around and exploring nature?     1     Simply getting from A to B isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially in the wilderness. Luckily for all of us, there are some excellent tips that can help you when you’re lost in the forest.

Stay calm.     2     If you don’t stay calm, you won’t be able to think clearly and make good decisions. Remember if your heart is racing and your blood pressure has skyrocketed (剧增), it will be much harder for you to survive.

Stay positive. Remember that you’re out in the forest for a reason, whether it’s to experience new things, build memories with friends and family, or simply relax and enjoy life. Remembering what brought you to the forest in the first place will help keep your mind positive.    3    

Build a shelter and start a fire. Your first order of business when you lose your way is to build a shelter and start a fire.     4    By morning, everything might look better. Plus, if you        have survived until daybreak, there’s a chance that search parties looking for you probably know where to find you.

    5    It’s not easy to wait for help without complaining or becoming annoyed when you lose your way in the forest. However, it’s much safer than wandering around aimlessly. If you don’t want to get hurt by animals or pass out from fatigue (疲乏), it’s best not to make decisions hurriedly. Survival takes time!

A．Be hurry.

B．Be patient.

C．Of course, it would, but it’s easy to get lost.

D．ackpackers are usually very adventurous types.

E．Panic is often what leads you to lose their way in the forest.

F．This will help keep you warm and safe throughout the night.

G．If you take a positive attitude, chances are much higher that you’ll make it back alive.

6 . Soil is one of the most important materials of daily life. It’s necessary for growing the food and resources we depend on, protecting against drought (干旱) and flooding and storing carbon dioxide for years to come. But the dirt under our feet is constantly in danger because of rising temperatures and loss of biodiversity caused by climate change. Although we may think soil is simple, it’s pretty hard to know what’s really going on deep in the ground from the surface.

Scientists in Italy, however, think they may have a robotic solution—a seed-inspired (受种子启发的) robot. Scientists at the Bioinspired Soft Robotics (BSR) Lab have developed the first 4D-printed seed-inspired soft robot, which can act as sensors for monitoring pollutants, CO2 levels, temperature and humidity (湿度) in soil.

They were inspired by a South African geranium (a garden plant). The seeds of the plant have the ability to change shape in response to how humid their environment is. When the time comes for the seeds to leave the plant, they can separate themselves from the plant and move independently to find their way through soil. The curly seeds can find a home for themselves simply by becoming bigger or smaller depending on the water content in the air. The team imitated the seeds and developed robots that use materials that also change shape when exposed (暴露) to humidity.

When tested in a soil sample, the robot was able to rock from side to side, adapt its shape to the space, and get into holes in the ground like a natural seed. Not to mention, it was capable of lifting things about 100 times its own weight. First author Luca Cecchini said that the robot is easy to break down and causes no harm to the soil. It could be used as a wireless, battery-free tool for surface soil exploration and monitoring.

1. What can be learned about soil from paragraph 1?

A．It is at risk.	B．It can be easily polluted.
C．It is seldom studied by scientists.	D．It is partly responsible for climate problems.

2. What is the scientists’ purpose of inventing the robot?

A．To deal with climate change.	B．To improve farming efficiency.
C．To monitor the condition of soil.	D．To test the 4D-printing technology.

3. What is the basic design feature of the seed-inspired robot?

A．Controlling the soil temperature.	B．Changing the shape of plant seeds.
C．Carrying the seeds to the right place.	D．Adapting to humidity changes in soil.

4. What did Luca Cecchini say about the robot?

A．It is highly affordable.	B．It is environment-friendly.
C．It doesn’t perform well in the field.	D．It works well under extreme conditions.

7 . Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting plant and animal species and their habitats. As part of the world’s ecosystems, wildlife provides balance and stability to nature’s processes. Wildlife conservation is aimed to ensure the survival of these species and educate people on living sustainably with other species.

The number of people has grown to more than eight billion today, and it continues to rapidly grow. The economic growth endangers the habitats and existence of various types of wildlife around the world, particularly animals and plants that may be displaced for land development, or used for food or other human purposes. This threat is at top of the list and means natural resources are being consumed faster than ever by the billions of people on the planet. The introduction of invasive species from other parts of the world is another threat to wildlife. Other threats include climate change, pollution, fishing and hunting.

International organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, Wildlife Conservation Society and the United Nations work to support global animal and habitat conservation on many different fronts. They work with the government to establish and protect public lands, like national parks and wildlife protection areas. They help write legislation(法规), such as the Endangered Species Act(ESA)of 1973 in the United States, to protect various species. They work with law enforcement to charge those with wildlife crimes. They also promote biodiversity to support the growing human population while preserving existing species and habitats.

National Geographic Explorers, like conservation biologists Camille Coudrat and Titus Adhola, are working to slow the extinction of global species and protect global biodiversity and habitats. Environmental filmmakers and photographers, like Thomas P. Peschak, are essential to conservation efforts as well, documenting and bringing attention to endangered wildlife all over the world.

1. Which is a goal of wildlife conservation according to the text?

A．To stop introducing invasive species.	B．To encourage harmonious coexistence.
C．To control the number of world people.	D．To increase the use of natural resources.

2. What is the biggest threat to wildlife?

A．Hunting.

B．Human activity.

C．Pollution.

D．Climate change.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The activities of protection areas.

B．The importance of biodiversity promotion.

C．The relevant efforts of international organizations.

D．The great impact of wildlife crimes on ecosystems.

4. What does the author want to present in the last paragraph?

A．The necessity of legislation.

B．The wildlife conservation’s achievements.

C．The individuals’ contributions to the environment.

D．The statistics about the wildlife conservation efforts.

8 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where is the ship?

A．3,000 meters beneath the ice.

B．1,000 meters beneath the ice.

C．300 meters beneath the ice.

2. How did the British explorer feel about the ship?

A．A little frightened.

B．A bit dissatisfied.

C．Very surprised.

3. What did the exploring team do to the ship?

A．They lifted it from the deep sea.

B．They left it in the deep sea.

C．They took away some parts of it.

9 . Our two-year investigation into caged (关在笼中) tigers in America sent us through 32 US states—with some truly shocking experiences. But as the deadline neared, I still needed a powerful and hopeful image.

When we began our reporting in 2017—Sharon, writing; me taking photos; and our son, NickRuggia, filming—more tigers likely lived in cages in the US than remained in the wild. The number ranged from 5,000 to 10,000, but without strict government oversight, no one knew for sure.

Roadside zoos that allowed tourists to take pictures of young tigers were the main cause of what’s been called a US tiger crisis (危机). Caged cats often ended up in the illegal wildlife trade. Young tigers, parted from their mothers at birth, were fed poorly and touched by hundreds of people. When they grew too big and dangerous to pet at around 12 weeks, young tigers were put on show, or simply disappeared.

While we documented the unpleasant part of this industry, we also wanted to show the good life these impressive animals could have. With two weeks left before my deadline, I headed to the Wild Animal Sanctuary near Denver, where well-cared cats walked freely in their habitat.

There I met Clay, Daniel, and Enzo, three of 39 tigers rescued from an animal park in Oklahoma. These nearly grown cats raced beside our car, which I’d seen only in the wild. It was a hot July day and soon two of the cats jumped into a pool to cool off. The third rested beside them on the ground. I crossed the road to take a picture of them. Then quietly, I came up close, trying not to disturb (打扰) them. I had the shot.

1. Why did the author start her reporting?

A．To dig out the dark truth of caged tigers.	B．To explore the amazing land in the country.
C．To tell people that baby tigers are harmless.	D．To share the happy moment during the trip.

2. What is the main cause of the US tiger crisis according to the text?

A．Forest fires.

B．Climate change.

C．Roadside zoos.

D．Water pollution.

3. What can we learn about these young tigers from paragraph 3?

A．They prefer to stay indoors.	B．They are badly treated.
C．They get used to the changes.	D．They are traded legally.

4. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the Wild Animal Sanctuary?

A．To praise her family for their effort.	B．To explain what the animals suffered.
C．To introduce a special kind of tigers.	D．To show some tigers lead an easy life.

10 . A study led by a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology has updated the fossil (化石) record of mosquitoes (蚊子) by nearly 30 million years and has discovered that ancient male mosquitoes also fed on blood.

The study was published online on Monday in the journal Current Biology, which discovered the oldest-known mosquito fossils --- two males dating back 130 million years near the town of Hammana in Lebanon.

Dany Azar, who led the study, said the fossils not only told us the ancient origins of mosquitoes but also their feeding habits during the early stages of their growth. “We find that the mosquito group is developing, which gives us an idea about their behavior of feeding on blood” said Azar, who has been working on the subject for more than 25 years.

Before the recent findings and their study, only female mosquitoes were known to feed on blood, which they need for protein to produce their eggs. Males, which lack skin-piercing (刺入皮肤的) mouthparts, mostly feed on honey and plant juices.

“The feeding habits of insects, such as feeding on blood, are believed to have developed from their piercing mouthparts. However, studying the development of this behavior has been challenging due to the lack of insect fossil records.” Azar said.

While reexamining the mosquito fossils last year, Azar found that their unique piercing mouthparts, very similar to those of female mosquitoes today, had been kept well. Their sharp mandibles (下颌骨) gradually disappeared over the centuries.

Based on the findings, the researchers agreed that male mosquitoes fed on blood 130 million years ago. Azar, who is now a professor at the Nanjing institute, said he hopes that joint scientific explorations can be widely carried out in the future to promote more discoveries.

1. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Female mosquitoes feed on blood for protein to produce eggs.

B．A minority of male mosquitoes feed on honey and plant juices.

C．Two female mosquito fossils were found near the town of Hammana.

D．Male mosquitoes have the same feeding habits as female mosquitoes.

2. According to Azar, why is the study on the development of feeding on blood challenging?

A．Because his team lacks money.

B．Because there is no talent studying it.

C．Because his team wants to study another subject.

D．Because his team is short of insect fossil records.

3. What conclusion can we draw from mosquito fossils?

A．Female mosquitoes fed on blood 130 million years ago.

B．Male mosquitoes’ sharp mouthparts gradually disappeared.

C．The mouthparts of the female mosquitoes have been kept well.

D．Male mosquitoes once shared similar mouthparts with female today.

4. What’s the article mainly about?

A．The mosquito group is developing.

B．Ancient male mosquitoes probably fed on blood.

C．The oldest-known mosquito fossils were discovered.

D．Female and male mosquitoes share similar feeding habits now.