1 . In China, people call a man of great virtue a gentleman. In the world of flowers, plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemums are known as the four gentlemen in China because these plants’ natural characters have something in common with human virtues.
Plum blossoms
Plum blossoms are cold-resistant flowers that bloom in early spring and together with pines and bamboos they are considered as the “three trends in winter” “Without going through the bone-chilling cold, how can the plum blossom smell fragrant?” By praising the strong character of plum blossoms, the motto poem aims to inspire people to overcome difficulties and make achievements with firm determination.
Orchids
Orchids are one of the top ten well-known flowers in China. With delicate fragrance refreshing people’s minds, and the elegant figures swaying slightly in the wind, orchids are equal to elegance in Chinese people’s eyes. It is said that Su Shi, a famous poet in Song Dynasty, once painted orchids with some thorns between them, implying that a gentleman can put up with a mean person.
Bamboo
In traditional Chinese culture, bamboo is a metaphor of energy, elegance, plainness, longevity and perseverance. Their firm and unbeatable willpower was admired by many ancient literati (文人). Famous poet Su Shi once wrote down “Rather eat without meat than live without bamboo” in his poem to express his deep love for bamboo.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemum is a traditional flower loved by Chinese people. When nearly all the flowers are dried-up and bare in late autumn, only the chrysanthemums resist the heavy frost and bloom energetically in graceful shapes and bright colors. Chrysanthemums have been given more meanings under the pen of literati. The most well-known poem about chrysanthemums comes from the amous poet Tao Yuanming. Drinking, showing the leisure of Tao’s reclusive life.
1. Which can be used to describe a person who is tolerant?| A．Chrysanthemums. | B．Plum blossoms. | C．Orchids. | D．Bamboo. |
| A．They bloom in spring. | B．They can resist cold. |
| C．They imply energy. | D．They stand for elegance. |
| A．Health. | B．Culture. | C．Nature. | D．Science. |
2 . Houses covered in ivy are an attractive sight to see. But many gardeners fear that ivy causes major structural damage to buildings and long to remove it whenever they can, right? Not so, says James Wong, a botanist and science writer.
“I am always surprised by how often gardening can be so driven by fear.” he says. “The thinking behind this is that climbers harm brickwork and can cause structural damage to buildings.” But few fears are based on any scientific evidence. And frequently, the exact opposite is true.
In a 2020 study from the Royal Horticultural Society, climbing plants like ivy were found to have a protective effect on model brick buildings constructed for the experiment. The shade by the plants’ leaves cooled the surface of the buildings in summer by as much as 5.7°C. What’s more, ivy didn’t significantly raise humidity levels (湿度) －rather, it helped stabilize them, minimizing the damage to the buildings’ surfaces. The living coating also lowered summer temperatures inside the buildings by up to 7.2°C and reduced heating bills by as much as 20 percent in winter.
What about real-world, well-used buildings, whose outside may have experienced centuries of environmental damage? Another study from 2011 found that in five historic buildings across England, bare walls experienced average maximum temperatures 36 percent higher and minimum temperatures 15 percent lower compared with those coated in ivy. The researchers concluded that the living insulation (隔热) provided by ivy would “reduce the likelihood of frost and salt damage to the building materials, thus contributing to their conservation”. They also found in another study that the leaves’ ability to trap pollution could reduce the damage to historical walls.
Imagine if there was a new material that could cool cities and cut energy bills. The truth is that we have had this miracle material all along, but rather than appreciating it, we have spent huge amounts of time worrying about how to get rid of it.
1. Why do gardeners want to remove the ivy?| A．To get rid of their fear of ivy. |
| B．To make the houses more attractive. |
| C．To confirm previous scientific evidence. |
| D．To protect the brickwork and structure of the building. |
| A．Climbing plants increase heating bills in winter. |
| B．Climbing plants can severely damage brickwork. |
| C．Climbing plants raise humidity levels against brickwork. |
| D．Climbing plants reduce the temperature of buildings in summer. |
| A．It improves the visual appeal of old buildings. |
| B．It removes pollutants from the surroundings. |
| C．It protects building materials from frost and salt damage. |
| D．It promotes the energy efficiency of historical structures. |
| A．Ivy: a troublemaker of preserving the old building |
| B．Ivy: an unexpected helper in buildings conservation |
| C．The environmental Impact of ivy on modern architecture |
| D．The need for a new material to cool cities and cut energy bills |
3 . “Red tide” is a natural phenomenon that frequently occurs in many places around the world. The phenomenon is the result of extreme growth of tiny algae (海藻) called K. Brevis, which has a red color, giving the water surface a very noticeable red color. K. Brevis will give off chemicals that can attack the nervous systems of animals, which often leads to deadly results.
Florida citizens are no stranger to “red tide”, which occurs along the state’s Gulf Coast annually. However, the most recent outbreak of red tide has so far lasted much longer and spread across nearly 145 miles of the coastline in southwestern Florida.
The long season has caused the death of tons of fish and other animals which were washed up on the beaches all the way from Tampa to Naples. The smell of the dead animals has kept away thousands of locals and tourists that frequent the area’s long beaches. In view of that, in August, Florida declared a state of emergency for the seven places where K. Brevis has been growing quickly, providing $ 3 million to help with research, cleanup, and wildlife rescue.
Recently, the situation of red tide in Florida may be exacerbated due to an outbreak of algae Trichodesmium in the waters offshore of Manatee County. Trichodesmium floats on the water’s surface sucking nitrogen (氮) from the air while K. Brevis lives below the surface obtaining nitrogen from the water. If these two masses of algae mix, the dying Trichodesmium may end up providing nitrogen for K. Brevis, lengthening its stay in the area.
Researchers recently are exploring the idea of introducing other algal species to Florida. Among the possibilities is the Diatom. It’s a kind of algae that can grow quickly in the water. Its growth will consume a large amount of nitrogen from the water. So it competes with K. Brevis for nitrogen. Another possibility is algae known to give off chemicals that stop the growth of red tide.
The 10-month-long red tide outbreak in Florida may be the result of a combination of heavy rainfall, warmer ocean temperatures, and pollution. Now it’s time for us to do something.
1. What can we learn about K. Brevis?| A．It’s caused by red tide. | B．It can harm ocean life. |
| C．It’s facing dying out. | D．It exists mainly on land. |
| A．The researchers’ study of algae. | B．The tourism potential in Florida. |
| C．The possible ways to deal with red tide. | D．The consequences of red tide in Florida. |
| A．Worsened. | B．Studied. | C．Handled. | D．Ignored. |
| A．To change the color of K. Brevis. |
| B．To help reduce K. Brevis’ food supply. |
| C．To damage K. Brevis using some chemicals. |
| D．To increase fishes’ resistance to K. Brevis’ attack. |
4 . If you’re lucky enough to live near forests, you’ll know that it’s cooler under the trees during hot mid-days. Even if you live in a city with more buildings than trees, visiting a local park or garden can help you stay cool.
A study from the University of Surrey in the UK found that botanical gardens can make city air cooler by up to 5 degrees Celsius. Wetlands and rain gardens aren’t far behind, cooling the air by about 4.7 and 4.5 degrees Celsius. Trees along streets also help, lowering air temperatures by 3.8 degrees Celsius, while city parks can make it 3.2 degrees Celsius cooler.
The paper notes that an air temperature of 40.3℃ (104.5℉) broke records in the UK on July 19, 2022. Some 62, 862 deaths were linked to summer heat across Europe in the same year, while the 2003 heatwave in Europe led to an economic loss of €16 billion due to drought and crop failures. According to the IPCC, “green and blue urban infrastructure (基础设施) elements, including parks, engineered greening projects, wetlands, green walls, and botanical gardens, are particularly effective in reducing air temperatures in cities”.
We’ve already seen a number of architecture projects around the world employ large amounts of greenery to promote local cooling, along with beneficial landscaping. However, it’s important to recognize that there isn’t one simple solution to suit every site, and much will depend on effective planning.
“Our paper confirms just how many ways there are to keep cool,” added Professor Maria de Fatima Andrade at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. "But it also reveals how much work is left to do. Institutions around the world need to invest in the right research-because what’s very clear from our study is that there is no universal solution. It depends on what works for your community.”
1. What can we conclude from the first two paragraphs?| A．Green spaces help keep people cool. |
| B．Wetlands and rain gardens are less effective. |
| C．Botanical gardens are the best way to stay cool. |
| D．More trees in urban areas mean cooler temperatures. |
| A．To discuss specific consequences of heatwaves. |
| B．To emphasize the widespread impact of urban heat. |
| C．To illustrate the seriousness of heatwaves with examples. |
| D．To provide context for temperature records and their impacts. |
| A．The significance of global research support. |
| B．The variety of cooling methods available. |
| C．The requirement for universal cooling solutions. |
| D．The importance of tailoring solutions to fit local needs. |
| A．The Cooling Power of Urban Green Spaces |
| B．The Economic and Health Impacts of Heatwaves |
| C．Innovative Architectural Solutions for Urban Cooling |
| D．The Role of Botanical Gardens in Urban Temperature Regulation |
5 . Off Australia’s northern coast, the remains of ancient coral reefs (珊瑚礁) form the bedrock of wooded islands, which are home to diverse animals and plants, including mangrove (红树林) forests that blanket their coasts and serve as vital habitats and carbon storers. A recent survey shows that expanding seas might have led to a massive mangrove increase, researchers report November 1 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Mangroves absorb carbon dioxide and store it as “blue carbon”, a term for carbon that is hidden away in ocean environments. “There’s a lot of interest in using mangrove blue carbon to lessen climate change,” says Kerrylee Rogers, an environmental scientist at the University of Wollongong in Australia. But there remain a lot of questions around their capacity to adapt to sea level rise.
In 2021,a team led by Wollongong environmental scientist Sarah Hamylton visited the Howick Islands to do a related research. They walked through the seawater to assess the plant diversity and measure individual trees. Using the measured widths and heights of several mangroves, the team calculated tree widths for the rest of the forest from the data to estimate the total mangrove quantity. The islands host nearly 54,000 metric tons of mangroves, the team estimates, which is roughly 10,000 more metric tons than there was in 1973.
The Howick Islands are uniquely suited to supporting mangroves as the ocean rises. At the end of the Last Glacial Maximum, around 12,000 years ago, water levels rose around northern Australia, and coral reefs grew upward to fill the space that had opened for them.
When sea levels fell thousands of years later, the exposed reefs became sediment (沉积物). With sea levels now rising again, the mixture of saltwater and sediment makes a perfect home for the salt-tolerant mangroves.
Rogers and Hamylton are now working on a bigger effort to study mangoves around Australia. “If we’re going to invest in mangroves to provide us blue carbon and to protect shorelines, we need to understand how dynamic they are,” Rogers says.
1. What can be known about blue carbon?| A．It is produced by ocean water. | B．It is massively present in the air. |
| C．It is friendly environment. | D．It is nutritious for mangroves. |
| A．To measure the size of mangroves. |
| B．To figure out where to plant mangroves. |
| C．To confirm whether local natural environment is polluted. |
| D．To see how the mangroves respond to sea level rise. |
| A．The diversity of ocean life. |
| B．The increase of coral reefs. |
| C．The combination of salt water and sediment. |
| D．The formation of the bedrock of wooded islands. |
| A．Climate Change Causes Sea Level Rise |
| B．Sea Level Rise Helps Mangroves Boost |
| C．Environment on Australia Islands Is Improving |
| D．Climate Warming Poses Dangers To Mangroves |
6 . A garden is a project that often requires a fairly large initial investment of both time and money from the start — as well as a commitment to maintain it.
If you’re lucky enough to have a backyard, you can imagine the enjoyment you’d receive from changing that dusty, weedy dead space into a green, relaxing environment.
So, how can you build a pleasant home garden? Some clever gardeners use drought-resistant plants such as cacti (仙人掌), and a little bit of watering and inspiration to produce spaces that are both relaxing and pleasing to the eye.
There are many popular home garden books and magazines.
| A．A trip to the library can help you get started |
| B．However, it is a deserving challenge for many people |
| C．A home garden can be a good workout as well as a place to relax |
| D．The shape of the space is often as important as its contents or size |
| E．Some do it for exercise and spend a little time outdoors on a sunny day |
| F．No matter what the circumstances, it’s possible to create a lovely home garden |
| G．Many gardeners also enjoy employing touches such as stone paths to create a nice atmosphere |
7 . Old trees are in big trouble. The whole forests of giant sequoias (红杉) up to 3,000 years old have recently gone up in flames in California. Baobabs (猴面包树), the world’s longest-living flowering plants, are starting to become bent as a result of drought conditions in southern Africa. The cedars (雪松) of Mount Lebanon, ancient symbols of longevity, are now struggling to survive in the area’s warmer, drier conditions.
Globally speaking, this is a great reduction: fewer massive trees, fewer ancient trees, fewer old-growth forests, fewer ancient species, and fewer species overall.
It is estimated that Earth’s “tree cover”—three trillion plants—covers roughly 30 percent of all available land. However, this tree cover is increasingly composed of trees that have been planted for wood, to take in greenhouse gas or to preserve soils from wind. It’s young stuff. Old-growth communities are rare and getting rarer.
Ancient trees provide such services too, but they are, in the first place, gift givers. Of all their gifts, the greatest is ethical (道德上的). They inspire long-term thinking and encourage us to be wise. If we could only recognize the urgency with which they are calling upon us to care for them, then we would not hesitate to start slowing climate change down now, and paying it forward to our future generations. In order to ensure their survival, they will need to receive a planet rich in biodiversity from us.
Besides, old trees are necessary for sustaining the rich communities of species in forests. They drop seeds that are then eaten and used by animals on the ground. Up high, they host epiphytes (附生植物) and birds. As the ecologist Meg Lowman put it, there’s a lively “eighth continent” in the tall branches. The ecosystem under them might as well be the ninth. Research has shown that big old trees are of great importance, serving as hubs (枢纽) for hundreds of other trees. The destruction of old growth destroys not just standing trees but also the underground links among them.
However, some organizations have single-mindedly pursued tree planting to cushion their emissions. Obviously these efforts are not a fix-all solution. Protecting our planet’s existing old-growth forests should take priority over generating new tree cover.
1. The author lists the examples of old trees in Paragraph 1 to___________.| A．remind people of the dangers of climate change |
| B．highlight their historical and cultural significance |
| C．introduce famous species of trees around the world |
| D．warn people of the global challenges faced by old trees |
| A．The inspiration and encouragement they give to us. |
| B．Their ability to absorb carbon dioxide and protect the soil. |
| C．The valuable data and information they provide for scientific research. |
| D．The vital role they play in the survival and conservation of the ecosystem. |
| A．Take account of. | B．Soften the effect of. |
| C．Put a price on. | D．Keep away from. |
| A．Different types of trees serve different purposes. |
| B．Planting younger trees is of little environmental value. |
| C．Ancient trees are worthy of our attention and good care. |
| D．Old-growth communities are in short supply and growing ever more so. |
8 . One of the most common questions I get from concerned gardeners is how to deal with climbing plants, like ivy. The thinking behind this is that climbers are a dragon brickwork and can cause structural damage to buildings. But when you actually look at the science, very few of these f cars are based on any evidence.
A 2020 study of a range of climbing plants on model brick buildings found that the shade cast by the plants’ leaves cooled the surface of the buildings in the summer by as much as 5.7℃, reducing the wide swings between day and night temperatures-a key driver of surface structural damage. It also lowered summer temperatures inside the buildings by up to 7.2℃, and was even projected to reduce heating bills by as much as 20 percent in the winter. Despite concerns that plant strap moisture (水分) against brickwork, leading to damp issues, the same trial showed ivy didn’t significantly raise moisture levels-rather, it helped stabilise them, minimising changes that could damage the buildings surfaces
It is worth bearing in mind that these results were from model buildings with new brickwork. What about well-used buildings? Well another study, this one from 2011, found that in five historical buildings, bare walls experienced average maximum temperatures 36 percent higher and minimum temperatures 15 percent lower compared with those coated in leaves.
The researchers concluded that the living protection provided by those climbing plants would “reduce the likelihood of frost and salt damage to the building materials, thus contributing to their conservation”. They also found that the leaves’ ability to trap pollution could reduce the damage to historical walls.
Imagine if there was a new material that could cool cities and cut energy bills, all while looking beautiful. Did I mention it was also self-cleaning and carbon negative? The truth is that we have had this amazing material all along, but rather than appreciating it we have spent huge amounts of time worrying about bow to tear it down.
1. What are gardeners commonly concerned about?| A．Poor quality of brickwork. | B．Weeds competing for space. |
| C．Damage caused by construction. | D．Potential dangers of climbing plants. |
| A．A temperature adjuster. | B．A moisture tester. |
| C．A pollution monitor. | D．An air purifier. |
| A．Possible doubts about the findings. | B．Analysis of the experimental data. |
| C．Supporting evidence for the findings. | D．Explanation for the research process. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Dismissive. | C．Appreciative. | D．Tolerant. |
9 . Native plants planted by the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia near the GA-10 Loop in Athens, Ga., are changing the area from being covered in kudzu back to a more natural state.
The project, funded by Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful, was planted in November 2021. Volunteers and students from the UGA College of Environment and Design all participated to plant the area along the entrance ramp (斜坡) next to the GA-10 Loop at Milledge Avenue.
Zach Wood, the grasslands coordinator (协调人) at the State Botanical Garden, said all the plants chosen for the project are native to Georgia. He said that they selected hardy species of plants they felt pretty confident would survive. In total, 22 native plant species are planted at the site.
“Native plants function to support their ecosystem, and that’s important because our roadsides are turning into monocultures of non-native species that don’t support our native wildlife,” Wood said.
He added that non-native species don’t filter (过滤) water as well as native species, which is significant on roadsides to handle stormwater runoff.
When they’ve checked on the plants, all the species planted were established and growing. Wood said there was concern the plants would succumb to drought, but the value of native plants is their ability to survive in stressful conditions.
The team doesn’t water the area at all.
“It would go against the spirit of doing it, “Wood said. “We’re trying to figure out the least effort to put native plants back into a place that’s been kind of beat up.”
“This project is so important because it’s so visible,” Wood said. “It’s going to demonstrate an alternative way of managing roadsides.”
“We’re always looking for ways to make things sustainable,” said Richard Littleton, state agronomist (农学家) manager at GDOT. “The more we can do that’s natural, it helps everything. It’s the right thing to do to be a good caretaker of our lands.”
1. Why was kudzu replaced?| A．Ugly-looking. | B．Too large. | C．Nonnative. | D．Artificial. |
| A．Survive from. | B．Give in to. | C．Add to. | D．Get rid of. |
| A．Environmentally. | B．Financially. | C．Academically. | D．Politically. |
| A．Planting Green Species at Roadside Areas. |
| B．Choosing Right Plants to Support Ecosystem. |
| C．Replacing Non-native Species for Survival. |
| D．Restoring Native Plants to Roadside Areas. |
10 . Mosquitoes can carry various diseases and one of the most popular is dengue (登革热). Dengue is caused by any one of the four related viruses spread by mosquitoes, because of which numerous Filipinos died. One of the easiest ways to prevent mosquitoes is to use repellents. In the market, there are many commercial mosquito repellents available. The commonly used repellent in the Philippines is quite unaffordable. Meanwhile, it contains chemicals that may cause irritation (刺激). These account for why researchers seek to develop an alternative mosquito repellent.
The researchers plan to use natural components. Since the component is natural, the new mosquito repellent to be made from it is effective yet inexpensive and poses no risks to health or environment. One of the major components being explored is from lemongrass.
Lemongrass has natural anti-microbial features, suitable for use on various types of skin infections, usually as a wash, and is especially effective on skin diseases. It has mosquito repelling effects and is used to make a mosquito repellent. In using this product, you will spray it over all exposed skin areas. Contact with eyes should be avoided. If irritation occurs, wash off immediately and discontinue using. The very importance of this product is to prevent the spread of multiple diseases caused by mosquito bites. The new mosquito repellent containing lemongrass extract (提取物) also helps control the outbreak of other insect-borne diseases such as Malaria, Lyme Disease and West Nile Fever. After all, lemongrass is a popular plant found commonly in the country and its extract is used for medicinal and food products.
The new study is significant because there’s an increasing number of deaths concerning mosquitoes. While there are alternative solutions, Filipinos cannot deny their brothers and sisters living in poverty cannot afford to buy repellents. Yet, currently the researchers aim to test how effective their natural product is in repelling mosquitoes within households. This initial study will evaluate the product’s effectiveness before further trials in broader applications.
1. Why do the researchers want to create an alternative repellent?| A．The effect of original products is doubted. |
| B．There are too many mosquitoes to get rid of. |
| C．The providers fail to meet the market demands. |
| D．The existing products are costly and harmful. |
| A．Its unique property. | B．Its distributing style. |
| C．Its easy extracting. | D．Its lower risk on eyes. |
| A．It will be long before being evaluated. |
| B．It is a popular mosquito-proof product. |
| C．Its cheapness is its crucial selling point. |
| D．Its natural makeup often appeal to its users. |
| A．A Therapy Fighting back Mosquitoes |
| B．A Cost-Effective Natural Mosquito Repellent |
| C．Dengue: A common Disease from Mosquitoes |
| D．Lemongrass: A Compound Extract from Nature |
