1 . The Antarctic’s snow-white environment is going green and facing other unexpected threats.
Scientists say that as temperatures go up in the polar areas, invading(侵袭)plants and insects, including the flies, cause a major threat.
More and more of these invaders, in the form of larvae(幼虫)or seeds, are surviving in coastal areas around the South Pole, where the temperature has risen by almost 3℃ over the past five decades. Glaciers have melted, exposing more land which has been occupied by mosses that have been found to be growing more quickly and thickly than ever before—providing potential green homes for invaders.
“The common houseflies are a perfect example of the problem the Antarctic now faces from invading species,” said Dominic Hodgson of the British Antarctic Survey. “They arrive by ship, where they exist in kitchens. They now have an increasing chance of surviving in the Antarctic as it warms up, and that is a worry. Insects like the houseflies carry bacteria that could have a deadly effect on native life forms.”
The Antarctic has several native species of insects. Together with its native mosses, these are now under increased threat from three major sources: visiting scientists, increasing number of tourists and global warming. However, it is global warming that is the main driver of the “greening” of the Antarctic.
In the 2015-2016 travel season, more than 38,000 tourists visited the Antarctic. “These tourists are often very careful about not leaving waste. But they could carry seeds or larvae on their boots when they set foot on the Antarctic,” said Dominic.
More and more invading insects and plants have been found on the Antarctic and have required removal. “The insects and plants that are native to the Antarctic have survived there for thousands of years,” said Dominic. “We have to act now if we want to save the environment.”
1. What does the underlined word “mosses” in Paragraph 3 refer to?| A．Houseflies. | B．Coastal areas. |
| C．A kind of plants. | D．A kind of animals. |
| A．They are native to the Antarctic. |
| B．They will die out because of the freezing weather. |
| C．They come to the Antarctic from nearby islands on their own. |
| D．They could severely influence the native species of the Antarctic. |
| A．The arrival of scientists. |
| B．The increasing number of visitors. |
| C．The rapid spread of native plants. |
| D．The rising temperature around the world. |
| A．The Antarctic Is Becoming Green and Energetic |
| B．Various Threats Are Putting the Antarctic at Risk |
| C．More and More Scientists Get to Explore the Antarctic |
| D．Global Warming Causes the Temperature in the Antarctic to Go Up |
2 . Killer whales, or orcas, are known for their severe attacks on sea animals but they have never posed a threat to humans. However, since late July, the normally social animals have been intentionally attacking sailboats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal.
The strange behavior first surfaced on July 29, 2020, when a 46-foot boat was repeatedly attacked for almost an hour by nine orcas, causing the boat to rotate(旋转) 180 degrees and having its engine switched off. Since then, over 30 more similar incidents have been reported. On September 23, 2020, Spain's government banned boats of less than 50 feet in length from sailing in the 60-mile stretch of the Atlantic coastline between Ferrol and the Estaca de Bares Cape, where the attacks have been occurring.
Researchers across the world are trying to explain the orcas' behavior. Some believe it could be a result of the overfishing of the bluefish tuna - the orcas' primary food source -which has left the area's killer whales starving and unable to feed their babies. "I saw them look at boats carrying fish. I think they know humans are somehow related to food shortages, "says Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research in Washington, USA. The environmentalists believe the sudden increase in boat traffic and fishing activities, after months of absence due to restrictions on human activity last spring, could also be contributing to the agitation.
However, Alfredo López, a biology professor in Galicia, Spain, thinks the attacks are defensive measures the orcas adopted to protect themselves against boat injuries. The researcher came to this conclusion after looking at the of the videos of a few incidents and noticing that two of the young killer whales involved had serious injuries. Hopefully, the experts will be able to find a way to restore the harmony between the animals and the humans soon.
1. What do we know about orcas in paragraph 1?| A．They are friendly to humans. | B．They have changed their behavior. |
| C．They are famous for hunting skills | D．They have met tough living conditions. |
| A．Ken Balcomb. | B．The environmentalists. |
| C．Alfredo López. | D．Spain's government. |
| A．The attacks. | B．Food shortages. | C．The overfishing. | D．Human activities. |
| A．How do killer whales attack humans? |
| B．Why Are Killer Whales attacking Boats? |
| C．How can we live in harmony with animals? |
| D．Why are boats banned from sailing on the sea? |
3 . “Birds” and “airports” are two words that, paired together，don’t normally paint the most harmonious picture. So it really raises some eyebrows when China announces plans to build an airport that is for birds.
Described as the world’s first-ever bird airport, the proposed Lingang Bird Sanctuary(保护区）in the northern coastal city of Tianjin is, of course,not an actual airport. Rather，it's a wetland preserve specifically designed to accommodate hundreds-even thousands-of daily takeoffs and landings by birds traveling along the East Asian-Australian Flyway. Over 50 species of migratory (迁徙的）water birds，some endangered, will stop and feed at the protected sanctuary before continuing their long journey along the flyway.
Located on a former landfill site，the 150-acre airport is also open to human travelers.(Half a million visitors are expected annually.) However，instead of duty-free shopping，the main attraction for non-egg-laying creatures at Tianjin’s newest airport will be a green-roofed education and research center, a series of raised “observation platforms” and a network of scenic walking and cycling paths totaling over 4 miles.
“The proposed Bird Airport will be a globally significant sanctuary for endangered migratory bird species, while providing new green lungs for the city of Tianjin.” Adrian McGregor of an Australian landscape architecture firm explained of the design. Frequently blanketed in smog so thick that it has shut down real airports, Tianjin is a city---China’s fourth most populous----that would certainly benefit from a new pair of healthy green lungs•
1. The underlined phrase “non-egg-laying creatures” in Paragraph 3 refers to?| A．Visitors. | B．Designers. |
| C．Endangered water birds. | D．Planes. |
| A．People cannot watch birds up close here. |
| B．It is located on a 150-acre landfill site. |
| C．It functions as an actual airport and a wetland preserve. |
| D．It provides migratory birds with food and shelter. |
| A．The airport will become a permanent home for birds. |
| B．Tianjin will win worldwide fame in the future. |
| C．Tianjin’s air quality will improve thanks to the airport. |
| D．Tianjin will be able to accommodate more people. |
| A．Airports shut down and open up. |
| B．China is to open the first Bird Airport. |
| C．Airports turn into green lungs. |
| D．Birds are no longer enemies to airports. |
4 . This winter, the U. S. state of California received unusually large amounts of rain and snow. Now, people worry that some areas will flood as the snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains melts (融化).
Ron Caetano lives about half-way between the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. He is preparing to leave in case his community, called the Island District, floods.
More than 100 years ago, the Island District area was under a large lake named Tulare Lake. At one time, Tulare Lake was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. But reservoirs (水库) and watering systems for agriculture caused it to disappear. However, in very rainy years, farmland can still get covered with water.
Experts say reservoirs near the area will likely receive three times more water than they can hold this year. That means officials must increase the amount of water they release (释放) from the reservoirs. If too much water is released, the area might flood.
The Island District has organized a community network to help prepare for floods. People are placing sandbags close to elderly neighbors’ houses to block possible flooding. And they are looking at reports from water officials, county officials, and from each other.
California has had very dry weather in recent years. Both cities and farm communities acclaimed this year’s winter rains. If the weather gets warmer slowly, the snow will not melt quickly and there may be little or no flooding. But if the weather gets hot quickly, that will bring trouble from too much melting snow.
Officials announced plans to close parts of Yosemite National Park because of threats of flooding. The park is about 270 kilometers east of San Francisco in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Nicholas Pinter is with the University of California, Davis Center for Watershed Sciences. He said the lake’s size has always changed because of California’s weather. He described the surrounding area this way. “It has been an engineering problem all along,” he said. “This is a bathtub (浴缸) with no way out.”
1. What made Tulare Lake disappear?| A．Lack of rainfall. | B．Natural disasters. |
| C．Human behaviors. | D．Climate warming. |
| A．Feared. | B．Prevented. | C．Stored. | D．Welcomed. |
| A．The government can help them escape. | B．The weather will gradually get warm. |
| C．There will be more rain there. | D．Officials won’t let off water. |
| A．It is difficult to deal with the flood. | B．It is easy to keep the snow water. |
| C．The surrounding area is unfit to live. | D．The lake is already overflowing. |
The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, bordering Russia and the North Korea,
Located in the central zone of the mixed coniferous (针叶的) and broad-leaved forest ecosystems in the temperate (温带的) zone of Asia, the park possesses splendid and attractive scenery
The park is a perfect place for the reproduction and
6 . Helping the environment and protecting our resources are very important activities.
Use reusable bags. Plastic bags that get thrown out end up in landfills or in other parts of the environment.
Use reusable drink containers. Instead of buying individually packaged drinks, consider buying a reusable water bottle.
Save electricity. Use energy-efficient light bulbs (灯泡) instead of regular bulbs. They last longer, which will save you a bit of money. What’s more, make sure you turn off lights, the TV, and other devices when you are not using them. Turn off your air conditioning or heat when it’s not necessary.
Save water. More water is wasted than we realize. Turn off the water tap when you are brushing your teeth. Don’t turn your shower on until you’re ready to get in and wash your hair. Limit your water usage as you wash dishes.
| A．This is especially true as the seasons change. |
| B．And students without doubt can make a difference. |
| C．They last longer, which will save you a bit of money. |
| D．Everyone should take measures to fight against the water pollution. |
| E．These can kill animals who get stuck in them or mistake them for food. |
| F．Not only will this help protect the environment, but help you save money. |
| G．Developing these habits will be good for both the environment and your wallet. |
7 . Portugal’s white storks (鹳) were once a migratory bird (候鸟), known to leave the area each winter to travel to Africa’s warmer climate, but recently they have been staying put.
Surprisingly, though, the storks’ number has actually been on the rise. There are now thought to be more than 14,000 birds in Portugal in winter — a ten-time increase over the last 20 years. Any unusual change of an animal’s natural behavior often has negative influences.
It has been thought that their increase has a close relationship with a growing number of landfill sites (垃圾填埋场) in the area, providing the birds with a supply of fatty and dirty rubbish to eat, including junk food. Was it the junk food that stopped them migrating, or is Europe’s warming climate to criticize? Researchers sought to figure out exactly why their natural behavior had changed in this way. To understand, a team kept an eye on 48 white storks by equipping them with small GPS computers, which recorded their movements five times a day, checking how often they traveled to landfill sites as well as how fast they flew.
The conclusions were shocking. The birds also established more homes next to landfill sites — the team said that 80% of white storks were spending most of their time by the rubbish all year round, according to the results. The storks eat almost anything. “Every time after a truck with rubbish came, they collected what they could,” says Aldina Franco of the University of East Anglia in the UK. The storks have even been known to eat plastic, including old computer parts. “Really what they are trying to get at is rubbish that we throw away... like hamburgers, burnt meat and fish,” said Franco.
This rich and colorful supply of food will soon become hard to find, though, as new laws from European Union (EU) order that waste food be recycled. Open-air landfills will also be replaced by covered equipment, which birds will not be able to eat.
The white storks therefore face an uncertain future. Will they migrate to Africa as they had done for hundreds of years before, or will they stay put? No one knows. “I wonder what the Portuguese storks will do once the landfill sites are all closed, and we are going to continue to watch these storks and see how they will respond to the changes,” said Aldina Franco.
1. What do you know about the team’s research?| A．Researchers equipped 48 small computers on white storks. |
| B．The GPS computers were used to record white storks’ movements. |
| C．The conclusions the team got were the same as they predicted. |
| D．Researchers found Europe’s warming climate accounted for storks’ staying put. |
| A．The landfill made the storks lose their homes. |
| B．The landfill helped increase the number of storks. |
| C．Open-air landfills will be replaced and storks will die out. |
| D．The landfill gave the storks food and in turn, influenced where they lived. |
| A．He will continue to do research on white storks. |
| B．The Portuguese storks can eat whatever we throw away. |
| C．People should prepare more healthy food for white storks. |
| D．White storks will migrate to Africa if the landfill sites are closed. |
| A．White Stork Will Migrate Again After Rubbish Is Recycled |
| B．White Storks’ Staying Put Contributed to Rubbish Recycling |
| C．White Storks’ Staying Put in Winter Concerned Scientists |
| D．Climate Change will Be the Test for White Storks’ Migration |
World Olive Tree Day takes place on 26 November every year. It
The olive tree, especially the olive branch, holds an important place
Protecting and growing the olive tree is
World Olive Tree Day is set up
There is much to learn, share and celebrate on World Olive Tree Day, and UNESCO encourages everyone to participate in
9 . An Edinburgh inventor has created a fully biodegradable bottle that is made from paper and a secret combination of plant materials, and it could help save the planet's oceans from plastic pollution and can also be eaten by sea creatures.
The Edinburgh-based Durham University chemistry graduate James Longcroft started a non-profit bottled water company two years ago. He wanted to put all his profits into a charity that provided clean drinking water to countries in Africa.
However, after concerns about the environmental impact of plastic bottles, Mr. Longcroft decided the Edinburgh and London-based company, Choose Water, should go plastic-free. So he came up with a new type of water bottle—a waterproof paper bottle.
“The outside is made from recycled paper, but the inside has to be waterproof, and provides strength so the bottle would keep its structure, and keep the water fresh,” Mr. Longcroft said.
When the bottle is thrown in the ocean the degrading process begins within hours leaving the bottle totally degraded (分解)within weeks. The steel cap breaks down within a year.
Mr. Longcroft now believes these novel bottles could revolutionise the industry and says the cost of producing the bottle is around 5 pence more than one made from single-use plastic.
“The main difficulty we face is breaking into a saturated (饱和的)market and competing with an old industry,” he said. “Changing an industry will be a big uphill battle, but with the support from the public, we will change the way we look at bottled water.”
Researchers warn that eight million tonnes of plastics currently find their way into the ocean every year which will stay in the environment for centuries.
“We really want to get our bottles on shelves and into people's hands as soon as possible—if we can stop even one plastic bottle ending up in the environment it will be worth it,” said Mr Longcroft.
1. What is special about the bottle?| A．It can be recycled. | B．It is plastic-free. |
| C．It purifies sea water. | D．It can be used for food. |
| A．To raise money for charity. | B．To keep the water fresh |
| C．To reduce ocean pollution. | D．To prompt the sale of bottled water. |
| A．They face stiff competition to enter market. |
| B．They are more costly than plastic ones. |
| C．They still lack in the public support. |
| D．They take a long time to break down. |
| A．Cutting down on plastic pollution. | B．Providing clean water to the public. |
| C．Stopping the use of the plastic bottles. | D．Getting people to accept the new bottles. |
10 . Ashtyn Perry, with other 35 students from Springville, was planting baby sequoias in an area where a wildfire happened last year. The 13-year-old girl has a higher purpose: to plant baby sequoias that could grow into giants and live for thousands of years!
Last year, a wildfire broke out in the California mountain community of Sequoia Crest and destroyed dozens of its signature giant trees. To save the trees, a lot of measures have been taken, including replanting baby sequoias. The efforts are part of a project led by the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive, a nonprofit, to plant offspring from some of the largest and oldest trees. Their purpose is to archive the genetics of ancient trees, breed them and replant them.
Sequoias have massive trunks and can grow 90 meters tall. They grow naturally only in a 260-mile (420 kilometers) belt of forest in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The giant sequoia is the world's largest, and one of the best fire-resistant trees. Thick bark protects its trunk, and its canopy (树冠) is so high that it is out of reach of flames.
In recorded history, large sequoias had never damaged by fires before 2015. Destruction of the majestic trees hit unprecedented levels last year, when approximately 10% to 14% of the estimated 75, 000 trees larger than 4 feet (1.2 meters) in diameter burned, and thousands more were potentially lost this year.
An initial assessment was recently released last week, saying that climate change and a century of policies that emphasize extinguishing wildland fires are to blame for the fire. In fact, letting some burn can reduce the buildup of undergrowth around the trees and prevent bigger future fires. Hotter droughts have led to more intense fires that have burned through fuels accumulated through fire suppression.
To protect the trees, many measures are being taken, including replanting 150 of the 7-year-old seedlings. Ashtyn said she'd like to return once a year to see how they're growing, and she hopes they become giants.
1. What did Ashtyn and her friends do to save sequoias?| A．Planting young trees. | B．Protecting the old trees. |
| C．Preventing the wildfire. | D．Transforming their genes. |
| A．It's the oldest tree globally. | B．It's easily destroyed by fire. |
| C．Its canopy is fire-resisted. | D．It's unique to California. |
| A．To call for immediate action. | B．To prove the fires were severe. |
| C．To warn the trees are dying out. | D．To show the loss is huge. |
| A．Locals are responsible for the fires. | B．Wildfires are not necessarily bad. |
| C．Dry weather causes bigger fires. | D．Preventing wildfires is a solution. |
