1 . Over the past 45 years, farmer Fu Benfa has planted countless trees on barren (不毛的) mountains near Qilita village in Suizhou, Hubei province. The task would have been a challenge for an able-bodied person, let alone a person with paralysis (瘫痪).
Fu, 65, was paralyzed in an accident in January 1978. News about green development through measures such as expanding forests in the province caught his attention. He got the idea that he might be able to contribute. Fu’s parents strongly disagreed because of his poor physical condition. But he insisted. His father finally acquiesced and made him a special shovel (铁锹) and straw mat (草席).
In the winter of 1978, Fu came to a barren mountain and began the task that would occupy him for decades. He sat on the straw mat and tried to dig a hole to plant a tree in, but he failed to finish it after working all day. He didn’t give up, however, and tried various kinds of movements until he became more efficient. Every day he spent more than 12 hours on the mountain. After a month, he had successfully planted 18 trees, 13 of which survived.
Three months later, he had planted more than 300 trees, most of which survived. Over the next 30 years, Fu brought green color to five mountains around his village. With the help of local governments, a forest protection volunteer service team was set up to carefully protect and guard the green mountains.
After years of study and exploration, Fu has gained rich experience and taken advantage of technology. He has taught more than 200 nearby farmers, free of charge, to increase their incomes by planting trees. Recent health problems have slowed Fu down. He has been recovering at home since February.
“Now it is difficult for me to continue planting trees in the mountains, but I will always guard this forest,” he said. “I will never change my dream.”
1. What does the underlined word “acquiesced” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．Quit. | B．Agreed. | C．Argued. | D．Opposed. |
| A．Fu Benfa was far-sighted. | B．Fu Benfa suffered little. |
| C．Fu Benfa was physically poor. | D．Fu Benfa was strong-willed. |
| A．To better their life. | B．To draw their interest. |
| C．To find more helpers. | D．To make more progress. |
| A．Planting Trees Changed the World |
| B．Fu Benfa Helped Farmers in the Village |
| C．An Able-bodied Man Amazed the Country |
| D．For 45 Years, a Paralyzed Man Planted Many Trees |
2 . Wetlands occur wherever water meets land. Wetlands exist in every country and in every climatic zone. Healthy wetlands store carbon, regulate the water cycle, and support 40% of the world’s biodiversity.
Jiangxi Poyang Lake Nanji Wetlands
Nanji Wetlands is located in the southern part of the main lake area of Poyang Lake, covering a total area of 33,300 hectares. It is an incredibly valuable ecosystem and serves as a vital habitat for various wetland bird species, including many national first-class and second-class protected animals.
Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve
The Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake wetland, with an area of 33,333 hectares. It is primarily set up as the wintering grounds of rare birds. Within the reserve, there are a total of 142 bird species, including 66 species of migratory (迁徙的) birds. This reserve holds the distinction of being the largest natural wintering ground for the hooded crane (丹顶鹤) population worldwide.
Gansu Yellow River Shouqu Wetlands
The Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve is located within Maqu county. It covers a total area of 203,401 hectares, with 132,067 hectares intended for wetland conservation. The primary objective of this reserve is to protect the highland wetland ecosystem, as well as the habitat of migratory birds, particularly the black-necked crane. In February 2020, it was officially approved as a Wetland of International Importance.
Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve
Established in 2003, Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve covers a total area of 35,679 hectares. In 2015, it was recognized and included in the International Important Wetlands Directory. The main focus of the reserve is to protect the unique underwater natural landscape, the ecosystems of the nearby coastal waters, the important rare and endangered marine (海洋的) animals.
1. Which wetland covers the largest area?| A．Nanji Wetlands. |
| B．Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve. |
| C．Shouqu Wetlands. |
| D．Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve. |
| A．To preserve natural landscapes. |
| B．To house rare birds in winter. |
| C．To reproduce hooded cranes. |
| D．To store freshwater. |
| A．Highland wetland ecosystem. | B．Marine ecosystems. |
| C．Underwater animals. | D．Bird habitats. |
3 . The Australian sand octopus (章鱼) was discovered in 1990 and is the only octopus species known to bury itself deep in the sand to hide from enemies. A team of researchers are studying the venom (毒液) of this kind of octopus. They have discovered that the venom may greatly slow cancer growth. And it can also help fight drug resistance in patients with a BRAF-changed skin cancer. BRAF is involved in managing cell growth. A change in it results in abnormal cell growth. These BRAF changes are seen in half of all cases of skin cancers.
“We and other groups have previously discovered that other animals-snakes, spiders, bees-have anticancer properties,” said Dr. Maria, the study’s lead author. “However, in my current knowledge, the anticancer properties of an octopus species have never been studied or confirmed before.”
Current treatments face a few challenges including low response rates, poisoning and side effects, as well as drug resistance. The octopus venom slows the growth of BRAF-changed skin cancer. More importantly, it is safe to be used in large quantities — it is not poisonous. Therefore, in combination with other drugs, the treatments could potentially achieve better and safer patient outcomes.
It is very unlikely that the octopus has specifically developed its venom to contain an anticancer substance. According to the researching team, the octopus venom contains over 1,000 unique substances with several functions such as reducing pain and anticancer.
“In this study, we have shown that the octopus venom specifically targets BRAF-changed skin cancer. The next step is to examine whether similar promising results are applicable for other BRAF-changed cancers.” said Dr. Maria. “Before it can be used on patients, the team will need to perform several rounds of lab testing and clinical trials to understand how it works and its full potential as a drug against skin cancer.”
1. What can we know about BRAF?| A．It is a change in cells. | B．It controls cell growth. |
| C．It can cause a deadly illness. | D．It helps to cure a skin cancer. |
| A．A medicine to cure cancers. | B．A substance contained in animals. |
| C．The medical value of octopus species. | D．The anticancer effect of an octopus venom. |
| A．It is of large quantity. | B．It has no side effects. |
| C．It is less expensive. | D．It has lower risks. |
| A．Its application requires further work. |
| B．It helps treat BRAF-changed cancers. |
| C．Its safety needs more clinical testings. |
| D．It has already been put into wide use. |
Over the summer break, a wave of fashionably
“Citywalk” means the act
“Kaifeng is one of China’s first national historical and cultural cities, boasting a deep-seated cultural heritage. It’s an ideal destination for unhurried exploration, encouraging visitors
5 . Growing plants at home is a fun and enjoyable activity to do and can be developed as a new hobby.
Gardening reduces stress. Gardening is one of the most effective, and fun ways to free yourself from the physical, mental, and emotional stress you have been carrying since the beginning of the week. If you are overworking yourself during the weekdays or seeing yourself drowning in stressful thoughts, try to spend your weekends gardening at home.
Gardening is good for your heart. Gardening requires our body to move around by doing simple tasks such as digging the ground, planting seeds, pulling out weeds, and carrying a water container’s load.
By spending our free time gardening and monitoring our plants’ growth, we are also taking care of ourselves as we gain lots of health and emotional benefits. It is a worthwhile activity because we get to see the results of our hard work when our plants start growing fonder and healthier. The way we take care of our plants reflects the way we take care of ourselves.
| A．Gardening is an act of self-love. |
| B．Gardening is good for your bones. |
| C．Gardening helps your body against diseases. |
| D．You will see a significant change in your mind. |
| E．These simple gardening tasks can be considered a low-level exercise. |
| F．It also has several positive health and emotional benefits that you can enjoy. |
| G．Returning home to a place full of beautiful plants helps us enjoy the freshness of the air. |
6 . The behavior of beavers and other animals has often inspired expressions in English. If someone is very industrious or hard-working in tackling many things at once, we can say the person is “as busy as a beaver.” This phrase hints at one of the characteristics of these wild animals—they are indeed active creatures.
With their large teeth, which are orange due to iron in the tooth enamel (牙齿的珐琅质), beavers can cut down trees and change their environments like no other animals except humans. They use these fallen trees to build dams, creating safe, watery environments. The busy beavers build homes — called lodges — in the ponds created by the dams. The only way to get in and out of lodges is by entering an underwater opening of the structures. This offers beavers protection from predators such as bears, wolves, or coyotes.
It’s also interesting to note that beavers have another reason for cutting down trees aside from building dams. Beavers can digest cellulose, so wood is a significant food source for them, with their diet 15 also consisting of leaves and aquatic plants. Chewing on trees also helps beavers keep their teeth sharp, making it easier for them to keep chopping down trees.
Of course, no discussion about beavers would be complete without mentioning their most noticeable feature their large, flat tails, which have different uses. One is that they act as a rudder, helping them steer in the water. Another is that the animals pound their tails on the water to warn other beavers of danger. Since beavers work so hard building their homes and warning others of potential harm, it’s no surprise that busy as a beaver is a common phrase.
1. Which of the following usages of “as busy as a beaver” correct?| A．My cat is as busy as a beaver since it always lies on the sofa. |
| B．This kind of tree is as busy as a beaver because it takes hundreds of years for it to be used as timber. |
| C．Hanna is having a cup of coffee and listening to music in the living room. She is truly as busy as a beaver. |
| D．Oliver is responsible for two projects and has to train the three new employees, so he has been as busy as a beaver recently. |
| A．What countries beavers are found in. | B．How beavers keep themselves safe. |
| C．The animals that threaten beavers. | D．The food that beavers eat. |
| A．The wood is very strong. |
| B．The water from dams helps beavers digest wood. |
| C．Dams make it harder for other animals to catch. |
| D．Dams provide beavers with lots of water to drink. |
| A．Tail | B．Teeth | C．Paw | D．Head |
7 . Without shiny black solar panels (太阳能板) on the roof, the residents in an apartment building in Illinois are enjoying the benefits of “community solar” — a program in which residents can buy electricity from nearby solar farms, reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions (排放) and receiving discounts on their electric bills.
The solar energy in community solar doesn’t actually flow into your home, but flows into your area’s power grid (电网), providing electricity to homes and businesses in your region, and you get the benefits of government solar rewards in the form of lower electricity bills.
Among those signing up for the program is Dickerson, 73, of Oak Park, Illinois. “Try it; you’ll like it,” he said. “You’ll save money, and you’ll feel good about saving the planet — at least a little bit.” Proudly showing charts of their electricity costs in a recent interview, Dickerson and his fellow members of the community green committee, said they’re all paying less with community solar for their individual homes as well as the community’s common space.
Community solar was pioneered in the mid-2000s as a way to bring clean energy to the many American households without access to solar panels for various reasons. “Community solar is about to boost everywhere in terms of access,” said Nicole Steele, a senior advisor in the U. S. Department of Energy. “It’s just another way to be part of the clean energy transformation and see the actual benefits.”
Dickerson and his neighbour Johnson have been protecting the planet since childhood, such as leaving no litter in the forest and sorting recyclables. Therefore, they found it easy to accept community solar. Now, the building’s green newsletter, edited by Johnson, is trumpeting community solar savings. “As a parent and grandparent, it’s kind of like a heritage,” Johnson said of this work. “How could I do something that’s bad for the world in which my grandchildren are going to live?”
1. How does community solar work?| A．By directly transporting energy to households. |
| B．By equipping residents’ rooftops with panels. |
| C．By storing electricity in nearby solar farms. |
| D．By providing electricity through the power grid. |
| A．To prevent greenhouse gas emission. |
| B．To reduce cost and help save the planet. |
| C．To experience a more convenient energy. |
| D．To get rewards from the local government. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Dismissive. | C．Conservative. | D．Approving. |
| A．Admitting shyly. | B．Stating critically. |
| C．Explaining secretly. | D．Announcing proudly. |
8 . There are two ways to forget about troubles in life: music and cats.
At the Hey Cat Cafe in Wuhan, Hubei Province, you can have both. About 30 furry creatures, each wearing a red burp cloth with its name on it, welcome and “serve” the guests. The “employees” are all stray (流浪的) black cats, most of whom were rescued by caring people after being abandoned by their owners.
Opened in September 2021, the cafe is one of the first nonprofit cat cafes in China. Manager Du Fan told China Daily that all the profits are used to help homeless animals.
The 41-year-old said he opened the black cat cafe to dispel (消除) the myth that such cats are “inauspicious”, as described in some movies and TV dramas. Over the past 17 years, a lot of people have come to Du to adopt cats, but many said they didn’t want black cats. “Actually, in traditional Chinese culture, black cats can drive away evil spirits and bring luck. They should be mascots (吉祥物),” he said. So are black cats as reserved and mysterious as folk tales suggest? Well, perhaps not.
Hearing two young women open the door, six or so passionate “cafe workers” waited and greeted them. When the visitors sat down, one cat rubbed against the bottom of one woman’s pants, while another climbed onto her knee. Some of the cats simply fell asleep against the guests’ legs.
While these cats are rescued, they also help people with developmental or social anxiety disorders learn to open their hearts. “Cats possess certain qualities that humans don’t have,” Du added. “Many people with psychological problems can find comfort in cats.”
1. How do the cats “serve” guests at the Hey Cat Cafe?| A．They can bring coffee to customers. |
| B．They can really serve the guests. |
| C．They can help reduce people’s anxiety. |
| D．They can wear a red burp cloth. |
| A．Loving and charitable. | B．Cat-addicted and strange. |
| C．Creative and modest. | D．Moody and generous. |
| A．Stupid. | B．Lovely. | C．Unlucky. | D．Lazy. |
| A．To make an introduction to a cat cafe. |
| B．To call on people to protect homeless animals. |
| C．To inform people that black cats can be mascots. |
| D．To introduce what people can do with homeless cats. |
9 . Wildfires, when allowed to burn in areas without human development, can contribute to the restoration of the surrounding watershed(集水区), renewal of the soil, and resetting the clock for the ecosystem.
Many forests cannot sustain themselves without natural wildfire, including pine barrens, lodgepole pine forests and many more. These forests require canopy fires, which primarily affect the upper layer of plants in a forest, to reproduce because the trees in the forest are adapted to only produce seeds following a major fire event. Hence, fires can be restorative for the forest, and without them many of these forest types would decline on the landscape. How is a fire restorative for the watershed? It restores in many ways including, but not limited to, improving water quality, offering habitat for insects that serve as food for fish, promoting the growth of fire adapted plants, etc... Not to mention renewal of the soil chemistry which is vital to the forest and the watershed.(My attitude is that of someone who has studied wildfire and streams since the disastrous 1988 Yellowstone wildfires.) The science backs up how natural wildfire can be favorable through research publication after publication.
It’s like “resetting the clock” on the ecosystem, allowing it to smoothly all over again for another 200 years. By the way, a canopy fire such as Yellowstone in 1988 also results in the reproduction of younger trees after fire which act to stop the spread and progress of a potentially destructive wildfire immediately. Without it, future wildfires are very likely to become bigger and bigger.
The bottom line is that we may need today’s natural wildfires on our forested landscape to prevent more serious fire events in the future. That lesson was learned in 1988 Yellowstone wildfires which was a year of disastrous large-scale fires despite more than 50 years of thorough and tight fire monitoring.
1. What does the underlined word “them” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．Seeds. | B．Wildfires. | C．Trees. | D．Ecosystems. |
| A．Making wildfires easier to be spotted. | B．Reducing occurring rates of wildfires. |
| C．Stopping a major wildfire in its tracks. | D．Preventing potential wildfires completely. |
| A．We should accept wildlife on its own terms. | B．Fire monitoring in Yellowstone was successful. |
| C．Natural fires may reduce the risk of larger ones. | D．Serious wildfires are caused by human activities. |
| A．The beneficial effects of wildfires. | B．Impacts of wildfires on development. |
| C．The necessity of watershed preservation. | D．Measures to prevent large-scale wildfires. |
1. What is the talk mainly about?
| A．What to do to protect animals. |
| B．Whether to keep animals in zoos. |
| C．How to improve zoos’ environment. |
| A．Allowing wild animals to be killed. |
| B．Protecting animals in a well-founded area. |
| C．Teaching people more about wild animals. |
| A．They do harm to animals. |
| B．They are poorly founded. |
| C．They can give animals protection. |
| A．A scientist. | B．A teacher. | C．A zookeeper. |
