1 . The Vjosa River, one of the last wild rivers in Europe, has been declared a national park by the Albanian government, making it become the first wild river park on the continent.
Home to more than 1,000 animal and plant species, the river flows for 270 kilometers, from Greece, through Albania and into the Adriatic Sea. Giving the credit to no dams or other artificial barriers, it is rich in aquatic species and supports a large number of wildlife species, including otters, the endangered Egyptian vulture and the critically endangered Balkan lynx.
The wild river national park will include almost 13,000 acres of land, crossing most of the body of the country, with thousands of people living in its surroundings. The decision to establish the park is more important than people may realize. For years, the Vjosa’s fragile ecosystem has been under threat: at one point as many as 45 hydropower plants (水 电 站) were planned to build across the region. But thanks to the campaigning by environmental NGOs, the tiny Balkan nation was placed at the forefront of river protection.
Albania’s prime minister, Edi Rama, described the creation of the national park as a “truly historic moment” for nature as well as social and economic development. “Today we protect the only wild river in Europe once and for all,” he said. “This is about to change a mindset. Protecting an area does not mean that you make it in isolation from the economy.” He said national parks attract 20% more tourists compared with non-protected areas.
The park will cover the 118 miles of the Vjosa in Albania, three main tributaries (支流), and some land, including areas at risk of flooding. Phase II will add other tributaries. Unlike the IUCN's Wilderness Protected Areas, which limit the number of visitors, it will allow recreational tourism and some other activities such as local fishing, particularly for 60,000 residents in the catchment.
“We hope it will inspire others to come together to protect the wild places we have left, in a meaningful way,” said Ryan Gellert, Patagonia’s CEO, adding that the park was proof that the “destruction of nature did not have to be the price of progress”.
1. What makes the Vjosa River rich in wild species?A.Sufficient water. |
B.The government's policies. |
C.The large area of fertile land. |
D.The absence of human disturbance. |
A.It helps to establish hydropower plants. |
B.It relieves the power shortage in Albania. |
C.It strengthens the protection of Vjosa's ecosystem. |
D.It promotes the development of the local wild land. |
A.Building the park is beneficial to the economy. |
B.More wild rivers need to be protected in Europe. |
C.Non-protected areas will inspire a boom in tourism. |
D.Social progress comes at the cost of the natural environment. |
A.It includes more tributaries. |
B.It limits the number of visitors. |
C.It covers areas at high risk of flooding. |
D.It combines leisure activities with tourism. |
2 . Just as we take care of our friends and families, our homes and Mother Earth take care of us. Our homes give us a place of shelter that
“Thank you, home, for allowing me to live
You can do so as often as you like and anytime you feel particularly thankful for the many gifts that you have
A.bend | B.handle | C.react | D.stand |
A.unselfish | B.skillful | C.cheerful | D.amazing |
A.animals | B.oceans | C.plants | D.waters |
A.promote | B.show | C.influence | D.satisfy |
A.sources | B.memories | C.power | D.strength |
A.Express | B.Accept | C.Ban | D.Deserve |
A.attacks | B.attracts | C.appreciates | D.provides |
A.fond | B.aware | C.informed | D.confident |
A.accused | B.robbed | C.warned | D.reminded |
A.road | B.word | C.way | D.place |
A.safe | B.dull | C.quiet | D.public |
A.though | B.because | C.unless | D.until |
A.beside | B.beyond | C.within | D.in |
A.admitting | B.supporting | C.challenging | D.surviving |
A.live | B.call | C.focus | D.feed |
A.examine | B.explain | C.experience | D.describe |
A.adventure | B.wisdom | C.loss | D.honor |
A.anger | B.worry | C.joy | D.desire |
A.brought | B.purchased | C.exchanged | D.received |
A.shocks | B.monitors | C.protects | D.follows |
3 . China formally announced its first batch of five national parks. Are any of them from your hometown?
·The Sanjiangyuan National Park
The Sanjiangyuan Natonal Park, which is the source of three major rivers — the Yangtze, the Yellow, and the Lancang Rivers — is an important source of fresh water supply in China maintaining the lifeline of water security of the country. It is also home to hundreds of species of wild animals, such as wild yaks (牦牛), snow leopards and Tibetan antelopes.
·The Giant Panda National Park
The Giant Panda National Park connects three provinces — Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu. The park holds more than 70 percent of China’s wild giant pandas. Aside from the “national treasure” of China, the park is also the habitat of highly protected animals, including the snub-nosed monkey.
·The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park
In the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park in Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces the high-tech monitoring system was launched to provide real-time protection for plants and animals. Thanks to the establishment of the national park, at least 12 Siberian tiger cubs and 11 Amur leopard cubs have been born so far.
·The Wuyi Mountain National Park
The Wuyi Mountain National Park is the only national park in China which is both a biosphere reserve and heritage site. The park has the most complete, most typical, and largest area of the central subtropical (中亚热带的) native forest ecosystem at the same latitude on Earth. It is known as a birds’ paradise, the kingdom of snakes and the world of insects.
·The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
In the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, the protection of Hainan gibbons (长臂猿) has become a success story for animal preservation worldwide. Being the animals native to the South China island, Hainan gibbons are the world’s rarest primate (灵长类动物). Under the effective protection, its population has increased from as few as 7 to 9 in the 1980s to 35 today.
1. What does the Sanjiangyuan National Park influence most?A.Land resources. |
B.Water resources. |
C.Forest resources. |
D.Living resources. |
A.The Sanjiangyuan National Park. |
B.The Wuyi Mountain National Park. |
C.The Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. |
D.The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. |
A.In a novel. |
B.In a research report. |
C.In a travel handbook. |
D.In a nature magazine. |
4 . Tom Brown’s orchard (果园), known as Heritage Apples, is home to 700 varieties of apples. They are among the 1,200 endangered varieties that Brown has recovered from six southern states. Many of these have not been sold for a century or so. In fact, he cloned some of the apples from the last remaining trees of their kinds.
Before Brown discovered lost apples, he was a chemical engineer who, along with his wife, Merrikay Brown, enjoyed visiting farmers’ markets. It was at one, in 1999, that he became fascinated by baskets full of heritage apples with unfamiliar names such as Kane, Lawver, Rusty Coat, and Rambo. These apples had shapes, colors, and tastes like no apples Brown had ever seen before. The seller Maurice Marshall told him other lost apples might still be found in the area. Interested, Brown went in search of them.
Brown advertised in area newspapers seeking information about old apple trees. The response was exciting, but few brought concrete information. Actually, most of the leads about the whereabouts of these old trees come from people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, many of whom he met at local businesses and at festivals where he exhibited heritage apples. When Brown finds a tree, he cuts a branch off and returns during fruiting season to identify them. He compares leaves and apples to historical seed catalogs, and uses photos to correspond with experts for further confirmation.
In 1905, there were more than 7,000 apple varieties in the United States. Then people moved to urban areas and grew less of their own food while large agribusinesses preferred selling fewer varieties, ones that were familiar and shipped easily. Saving the long-forgotten fruits is a race against time. Now, the 79-year-old has to drive over 30,000 miles a year and devotes around three days a week to apple-hunting. He hopes to recover another 100 varieties or more in his lifetime.
1. What do we learn about the apples in Brown’s orchard?A.They are rare species. | B.They are mostly clones. |
C.They sell well in the market. | D.They adapt to different climates. |
A.Help him promote fruits. | B.Recover the lost apples. |
C.Learn to plant fruit trees from him. | D.Taste the apples mentioned by him. |
A.By referring to documents. | B.By putting advertisements. |
C.By consulting the elderly. | D.By communicating with experts. |
A.His colorful retirement life. |
B.His work in protecting fruit trees. |
C.His love for popularizing gardening. |
D.His contributions to saving lost apple species. |
5 . Darwin’s Arch, a famed rock formation in the Galapagos Islands has taken on a new shape.
The top of the Arch collapsed this week into the Pacific Ocean due to natural forces.
“Obviously all the people from the Galapagos felt it was a shame because it’s something we’re familiar with since childhood, and to know that it has changed was a bit of a shock,”
Washington Tapia said, “However, from a scientific point of view, it’s part of the natural process.
It normally happens on our planet.”
Darwin’s Arch,which is made of natural stone, at one point would have been part of the island. Named after famed naturalist Charles Darwin, it is not accessible by land. But the area around the islands is a popular diving spot, particularly to observe sharks and other sea species.
“Unfortunately today, our guests of the Galapagos Aggressor III experienced a once in a lifetime event,” the travel company Agressor Adventures posted on Facebook. The group added, “This morning at 11:20 am local time, the world-famous Darwin’s Arch collapsed in front of their eyes. There are now only two pillars (柱子) remaining. Some in the dive & travel industry are already referring to this now as ‘The Pillars of Evolution (进化)’.”
The post received nearly 200 comments including one person who wrote, “What a shame! Geologic (地质的) time is so much different from human time that we forget that it’s always going on. That’s why I like to spend a lot of time among the arches in Southern Utah. You never know when it could be the last time before geology does its work.”
The Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been called a “living museum and showcase of evolution”. The islands are situated about 621 miles from the coast of Ecuador. They are home to many interesting animals including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and many types of finches.
1. What does Tapia think of the collapse of Darwin’s Arch?A.It is a disastrous memory especially for kids. |
B.It is a little bit disappointing but acceptable. |
C.It is a rare natural phenomenon in the world. |
D.It is such a wonder hard to explain in science. |
A.Diving to observe some sea species. |
B.Catching sharks around the islands. |
C.Climbing Darwin’s Arch carefully. |
D.Visiting the office of Charles Darwin. |
A.The magical power of the geology. |
B.The novel description of the pillars. |
C.The witness of the fall of the Arch. |
D.The reason for the loss of the Arch. |
A.To advertise for Aggressor Adventures. |
B.To introduce the theory of evolution. |
C.To praise Darwin for his contribution. |
D.To add some background information. |
6 . The following properties which the World Heritage Committee has decided to include on the List of World Heritage are in danger according to Article 11 (4) of the Convention (公约).
Virunga National Park (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Virunga National Park, covering an area of 790,000 ha., includes an outstanding diversity of habitats, ranging from swamps and steppes (沼泽和平原) to the snowfields. Mountain gorillas are also found in the park.
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley (Afghanistan)
The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley stand for the artistic and religious developments which from the 1st to the 13th centuries characterized ancient Bakhtria. The area contains a number of Buddhist monastic ensembles (佛教寺院), as well as strong buildings from the Islamic period.
Okapi Wildlife Reserve (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The reserve contains threatened species of primates and birds surviving in the wild. It also has some amazing scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters.
Historic Center of Vienna (Austria)
Vienna developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It played an important role as a leading European music center, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century.
1. Which of the following world heritage sites is located in Afghanistan?A.Virunga National Park. | B.Historic Centre of Vienna. |
C.Okapi Wildlife Reserve. | D.Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley. |
A.It’s closely related to Buddhism. | B.It has some fascinating natural scenery. |
C.It has an outstanding variety of habitats. | D.It plays an important role as a leading music center. |
A.They are all in danger. | B.They are open to the public. |
C.They are inhabited by local people. | D.They are to be removed from the World Heritage List. |
7 . John “Charlie” Veron-widely known as “the Godfather of Coral Reef (珊瑚礁)”-is a celebrated expert who has personally discovered nearly a quarter of the world’s coral species and has spent the past 45 years diving Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. But now the 73-year-old is raising the alarm about its future. The Great Barrier Reef, one of the natural wonders, is 2, 300 kilometers long and is the only living organism that can be seen from space. It is considered a World Treasure Site due to its biodiversity (生物多样性)with 30 species of whales, dolphins and sharks. Within the reef itself, there are also a number of tiny organisms and fishes.
However, its health is threatened. After the recent mass bleaching (白化)events, Veron dived in many areas of the Great Barrier Reef to see the damage for himself. “I was seeing and feeling it and it was absolutely shocking, ” he says.
Veron says the mass bleaching events in the past few years-and the possibility of losing one of nature’s greatest treasures-were a wake-up call for the world in the wider battle against climate change, which, together with the rising sea temperature, is considered the greatest threats to the reef.
Fortunately, earlier this year, the Australian government announced nearly 400 million dollars in new funding towards scientific projects designed to help the reef.
There has been criticism in Australia about the slow process for the funding. “It won’t be wasted, though,”Veron says. “As scientists will be able to create a sort of seed bank to protect the species until the climate is good enough to rebuild the reef. What the scientists hope to do is to help nature along a bit after the big carbon dioxide increase is over and it starts to come down.”
1. Why is the Great Barrier Reef considered a treasure site?A.It is a natural wonder. |
B.It can be seen from space. |
C.It has a rich variety of species. |
D.It is home to a great many fishes. |
A.Climate change is threatening biodiversity. |
B.The Great Barrier Reef is in danger of extinction. |
C.Scientists have found major factors in the reef’s blenching. |
D.Veron has made great contributions to environmental protection. |
A.Uncaring. | B.Doubtful. | C.Uncertain. | D.Positive. |
A.A news report. | B.A travel guide. |
C.A research plan. | D.A journal entry. |
8 . It’s safe to say Yellowstone National Park is still looking good at the ripe old age of 150. The park, which stretches into Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, is known for its unique natural scenery, bountiful wildlife, and deep history. It also helped usher (引领) in the broader national park movement in the U.S., according to Chuck Sams, the director of the National Park Service.
“We now celebrate something much bigger than the park itself —the beginning of the national park idea, an idea that spread through the country and around the world, inspiring governments to protect natural and cultural treasures ‘for the benefit and enjoyment of the people,’” he said in a statement.
Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Bears, wolves, coyotes, moose, and a large population of small animals can be found in the park. It’s also the only place in the U.S. where bison (野牛) have lived continuously since prehistoric limes. It was looking risky for a period in the 1900s, when die animal was hunted down from a previous high of tens of thousands to less than two dozen. This bison conservation effort continues to this day.
Yellowstone shut its gates in March 2020 due to coronavirus concerns and remained closed for nearly two months. But the park broke attendance records after it reopened. The park reported 4.9 million recreation visits in 2021 — up 28% from 2020 and making it the busiest year on record, July 2021 was die most-visited month in Yellowstone’s history and the first lime visitation exceeded l million visits in a single month. It’s Yellowstone’s natural beauty and deep history that brings millions of visitors each year.
“Yellowstone’s 150th anniversary will be an important moment in time for the world,” said Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly. “It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the lessons of the old days while focusing our efforts to strengthen Yellowstone and our many partnerships for the future.”
1. What does Paragraph 1 mainly tell us about Yellowstone National Park?A.Its vast area. | B.Its long history. |
C.Its significant role. | D.Its fantastic views. |
A.An increase in the park’s income. | B.A growth in bison population. |
C.Damage to local ecology. | D.Improvement of species richness. |
A.Positive. | B.Unclear. | C.Disapproving. | D.Concerned. |
A.It reminds participants to strive for a shared future. |
B.It leads people to rethink the idea of the park. |
C.Its celebration mil take place as scheduled. |
D.Its past shows long-term conservation efforts count. |
1. 基本情况;
2. 文化特色。
注意:1. 词数100左右;
2. 可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3. 题目自拟。
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10 . Vietnam aims to solve the relations between economic development and cultural preservation. Vietnamese cultural departments and activists have tried to preserve the historical and cultural relics in the country.
Vietnam now has more than 40,000 historical relics. These relics of various forms and history are treasures for future generations.
However, hundreds of relics are severely damaged due to the negative influence of time, war and human activities. Head of Hanoi Relics Management Board, Nguyen Doan Tuan, says rescue work must preserve the relics' soul: "We cannot replace ruined construction with new materials. We must preserve its shape, size and style. We need to pay attention to every brick replaced so that it looks exactly like the original."
Most relics have to rely on tourist fee for repair and rescue work. Director of Van Mieu Cultural and Science Center, Dang Kim Ngoc, says that the relics must be promoted widely to attract more visitors and bring in more income for repair and preservation: "We provide constant guide services for visitors so that they understand more about our relics. At the same time, a natural surroundings of the relic has been ensured, including the grass field and garden to improve its scenic value "
The local government agreed that the relics must be turned to the community for shared efforts in the preservation work. Director of Vietnam Revolution Museum DangQuoc Quan, said that the community must be guided in the preservation and protection, "The UNESCO aims to let local community take part in the preservation of relics. We have seen limitations in the preservation of relics, especially festival related groups of buildings. This requires management and guidance by the government.”
Nguyen ThiMinh Ly from the Department of Heritage says the community should be guided in proper behaviors towards relics: "This will ensure the protection of cultural relics in later generations. Creative restoration(修复)must be based on previous values.”
Experts have called for a systematic(系统的)guidance by the state in local level preservation while promoting creative thinking in restoration for each relic.
1. From which is the passage probably taken?A.A school report. | B.A geography research paper. |
C.A health magazine. | D.A newspaper report. |
A.Poor building materials. | B.Human activities. |
C.War influence. | D.The passing of time. |
A.turn to advanced countries for financial help |
B.care less about the natural environment of the relics |
C.make full use of the money raised by the local people |
D.encourage the community to join in the rescue work |
A.Vietnam Is a Scenic Country |
B.All of Relics in Vietnam Are In Ruins |
C.It's a Good Idea to Replace the Ruined Construction with a New Style |
D.Experts Call for a Systematic Way to Preserve Relics |