1 . A recent study suggests that logging (cutting down trees to use the wood) does not necessarily mean that things can’t live in the left-over forest any more. In fact, chopping down trees sometimes attracts more plants and wildlife than in forests where the trees have been left untouched.

Experts believe that about 70% of the world’s forests have had at least some logging. Until recently it wasn’t clear exactly what impact this had on other wildlife in forests. However, new research carried out on the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia, shows that logging can encourage healthy animal and plant life.

Scientists from Oxford University used tens of thousands of camera traps (cameras connected to sensors that only photograph when movement is detected) to find out how many animals were in forests that had been logged and how many were in forests where the trees just died naturally. The scientists worked out that the total weight of birds in logged forests was more than double, and for mammals it was more than three times as much. They also found that animals in logged forests get two and a half times as much energy from food than in untouched forests. The scientists think there is more food available in logged forests because more light reaches the forest floor when some of the canopy (dense tree tops) has been cleared away. This extra light helps smaller plants grow bigger, giving more food to wildlife like insects, deer and wild pigs. Yadvinder Malhi, an ecologist, said, “The whole forest gets more edible and more tasty.”

The study makes it clear that although more animals and plants might be able to live there, logging even part of a forest is still bad. That’s because untouched forests, with more and bigger trees, absorb lots of carbon dioxide, a gas that causes climate change. However, the study is important because conservationists didn’t think logged forests were important to protect. The new research shows that even damaged forests can have lots of wildlife that needs protecting.

1. What does the recent study find?

A．More plants and wildlife will live in forests where humans don’t cut down the trees.

B．Cutting down the trees in a forest will attract more plants and animals to live there.

C．70% of the world’s forests have had at least some logging.

D．Plants and wildlife can’t live in the left-over forest any more.

2. What are the camera traps intended for?

A．Monitoring the changes in the number of animals.

B．Detecting how many trees in the forests died naturally.

C．Finding out how many animals were in the forests.

D．Connecting the sensors to detect any movement.

3. What is the Yadvinder Malhi’s attitude toward logging in forests?

A．Ambiguous.

B．Objective.

C．Doubtful.

D．Favorable.

4. What can we learn about the last paragraph?

A．Conservationists are supposed to protect the wildlife in the logged forest.

B．Logging forests is the direct reason that causes climate change.

C．Conservationists think untouched forests are more important than the logged ones.

D．Compared with untouched forests, Logged forests can’t absorb any carbon dioxide.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What kind of plant can you start with according to the speaker?

A．Something big.

B．Something easy.

C．Something safe.

2. How long do potatoes need sunlight one day?

A．At least six hours.

B．About five hours.

C．Less than four hours.

3. Why does the garden need a fence?

A．To keep it safe from thieves.

B．To keep it safe from hungry animals.

C．To prevent kids from entering.

4. Where does the passage come from?

A．A radio program.

B．A newspaper.

C．A scientific research.

3 . Houseplants have been rising in popularity for good reasons. They can brighten our spaces, freshen the air and benefit our mental health. While the benefits aren't quite as measurable as getting our daily minerals and vitamins, plenty of positive findings show plants help us thrive.

Plants bring color and vitality to our worlds. Though maybe only subtly, our mood can be impacted by the surroundings. Green plants and cheery flowers are known to have a positive effect on mood because the mind equates plant life to the soothing, uplifting area of nature.

    1    Pops of white, pink, red, yellow or purple bring an extra dose of happiness.

Taking care of plants gives us a sense of pride and achievement.     2    But the quiet success of getting them to thrive makes it all worthwhile. Studies have shown tending plants helped patients who were hospitalized with mental health issues feel pride and a sense of achievement.

Plants' presence can cut down on stress. Interacting with plants reduce signs of both psychological and physical stress. When we engage in positive tasks that require mindful focus, we can absolutely benefit on both physical and psychological levels.     3    Each time you water them, use your senses to notice the colors, textures, and smells of the plant.

    4    It can be really difficult to adapt to change and new normals. Plants are constantly growing, sometimes struggling, not always blooming. They serve as an excellent physical reminder of our ever-changing lives.

We don't necessarily need houseplants to survive, but they certainly can make a positive difference in our lives when we bring them into our homes. The benefits of indoor plants are undeniable.     5    .

A．Parenting plants can be tough.

B．Treat plant care as a mindfulness practice.

C．So give plant-parenting a shot for yourself.

D．Plants remind us that change is a part of life.

E．Keeping plants reminds us of our link to people around us.

F．Green gives the mind a comforting sense of calm and positivity.

G．Caring for plants during leisure time is beneficial to housewives.

4 . There's nothing better than a walk in the countryside for lifting our spirits. Connecting with nature has been proven to help our mental health. For some, the best medicine is to take a walk through a forest, but as we admire the trees that surround us. It's worth knowing these trees are doing more than just being nice things to look at.

We’re already aware of the healing properties of trees—they produce oxygen and clean the air we breathe by absorbing about a quarter of all human-caused carbon dioxide emissions. But there's more to these impressive forms of plants than we might think. Researchers have discovered evidence that proves they are actually clever.

It's thought that trees talk and share resources right under our feet, using a fungal network. Under the ground are tree roots, and “communication” among them, along with bacteria, are thousands of superfine hyphae. And research has shown that they are all interconnected. They can help each other by sharing nutrients, and can even warn of approaching threats. Scientists say its like the trees are talking to one another.

Ecologist Suzanne Simard has called this network the Wood Wide Web. She discovered that parent trees use this network to help their offspring. Speaking to the BBC, she said: “We found that the parent trees would favour those seedlings that were of their own kind” by sending them more nutrients. She also found that trees are smart enough to change their behaviour and have managed to adapt and survive in a changing environment.

So it seems trees really are the stars of our natural world, and with around three trillion of them on our planet, it's time to show them some respect if we want them to flourish.

1. How do trees help improve the air quality?

A．By taking in carbon dioxide emissions.	B．By taking on a nice and clean look.
C．By share resources right under the ground.	D．By communicating with each other.

2. What is the key to the interconnection of trees?

A．Roots.

B．Sunshine.

C．Water.

D．Hyphae.

3. What does the underlined word “offspring” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Friends.

B．Sisters.

C．Neighbors.

D．Children.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．How Trees Help	B．Intelligent Trees
C．Stars of Our Natural World	D．Properties of Trees