1 . The rainforests are alive with the sound of animals. Besides the pleasure of the din (喧嚣), it is also useful to ecologists. If you want to measure the biodiversity of a piece of land, listening out for animal calls is much easier than looking for tracks in the undergrowth. But such “bioacoustic (生物声音的) analysis” is still time-consuming, and it requires an expert pair of ears.
In a paper published on October 17th in Nature Communications, a group of researchers led by Jörg Müller, an ecologist at the University of Würzburg, describe a better way: have a computer do the job. Smartphone apps already exist that will identify birds, bats or mammals simply by listening to the sounds they make. Their idea was to apply the principle to conservation work.
The researchers took recordings from across 43 sites in the Ecuadorean rainforest. Some sites were relatively uncultivated, old-growth forests. Others were areas that had recently been cleared for grazing or cacao planting. And some had been cleared but then abandoned, allowing the forest to regrow. Sound recordings were taken four times every hour, over two weeks. The various calls were identified manually by an expert, and then used to construct a list of the species present. As expected, the longer the land had been free from agricultural activity, the greater the biodiversity it hosted.
Then it was the computer’s turn. The researchers fed their recordings to artificial-intelligence models that had been trained, using sound samples from elsewhere in Ecuador, to identify 75 bird species from their calls. “We found that the AI tools could identify the sounds as well as the experts,” says Dr Müller.
Of course, not everything in a rainforest makes a noise. Dr Müller and his colleagues used light-traps to catch night-flying insects, and DNA analysis to identify them. To their relief, they found that the diversity of noisy animals was a reliable proxy for the diversity of the quieter ones.
The results may have application outside ecology departments, too. Under pressure from their customers, firms such as L’Oreal, a make-up company, and Shell, an oil firm, have been spending money on forest restoration projects around the world. Dr Müller hopes that an automated approach to checking on the results could help monitor such efforts, and give a standardised way to measure whether they are working as well as their sponsors say.
1. What can we learn about Bioacoustic analysis?A.It makes animal calls attractive. | B.It requires special skill and time. |
C.It measures biodiversity easily. | D.It applies to many research fields. |
A.Researchers trained AI models to imitate animal calls. |
B.AI tools can identify bird species as well as the experts. |
C.Agricultural activities led to a decrease in biodiversity. |
D.Researchers used AI tools to conserve rainforests well. |
A.Accelerator. | B.Assumption. | C.Formation. | D.sign. |
A.Identifying the sponsors. | B.Evaluating the biodiversity. |
C.Monitoring the effectiveness. | D.Establishing ecology departments. |
2 . It’s late evening in the middle of the winter. The snow is deep, but off I go into the wild. Suddenly, I hear it: the howl (嚎叫) of wolves. Excitedly, I walk faster in the direction of the howling.
I’ve been working as a volunteer wolf tracker in Yellowstone National Park for over a year. It’s my job to follow wolves to record information about them. Like wolves, however, I don’t work alone. I’m one of a team of people who have been in a project to help reintroduce wolves to the park.
Humans have always feared wolves. From fairy tales to movies, the wolf is always the bad guy —a danger to humans and other animals. In the 1920s, the organizers of the park shared this view about wolves and made the decision to drive them away from the park. As a result, the number of elk (麋鹿) in the park increased. The elk started looking for food near river banks since they didn’t have to worry about wolves. This, in turn, stopped trees from growing along the rivers, doing great harm to the environment there.
The return of wolves has already made a big difference. To begin with, the elk soon learned to stay away from the rivers, so new trees have been able to grow there. The trees become home to new wildlife, such as birds, and provide food for more animals.
The park is now becoming more and more popular with those who want to see wolves in their natural environment. It has also helped the local people make more money. Tourists visit the area, stay in the local hotels, and eat in the local restaurants.
Looking at the wild animals and the beautiful sceneries around me, I am amazed at the changes the wolf has made to Yellowstone. And happily, it is playing a good guy in this story.
1. According to the passage, one of a wolf tracker’s jobs is to ________.A.catch wolves in the park | B.feed wolves in the wild |
C.stop wolves from killing elk | D.collect information about wolves |
A.The wolves were always howling at night. |
B.The elk in the park were in danger of dying out. |
C.The wolves had done great harm to the environment. |
D.The park was thought to be unsafe with wolves around. |
A.risks | B.troubles | C.changes | D.competitions |
A.Wolves are important to Yellowstone. |
B.Yellowstone has been home to wolves. |
C.The wolf and the elk live in peace now. |
D.The number of wolves is growing fast. |
3 . While riding hard on a bike, do you feel like you are saving the planet? Or do you just feel out of breath? In fact, cycling is now considered one of the best weapons mankind can use in the fight against climate change.
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution (决议) in March supporting bicycles as a tool for dealing with climate change. The resolution calls on member states to “add the bicycle to public transportation, in the city and countryside, in developing and developed countries”, with all 193 members of the UN agreeing upon the resolution.
The decision has received positive comments from different groups in support of cycling and the environmental awareness internationally. “It’s an important step toward the recognition of cycling as an important means of transport,” said the European Cyclists Federation.
The resolution from the UN comes at a time when climate change has returned to the center of the world’s attention. On February 28, the UN published a new report assessing (评估) recent climate change trends (趋势). The report warns that the world’s average temperature will rise by 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), with more than 40% of the world’s population being “easily affected” to these temperature changes.
Cycling is an environmentally friendly means of transport. Choosing to take a bike instead of a car just once a day can reduce a person’s carbon emission (碳排放) from transport by 67 percent, according to a research by the University of Oxford. The research also found that cyclists produced 84 percent lower CO 2 emissions from all daily travel than non-cyclists.
Cycling has grown in popularity as people who take public transport to work wish to stay away from crowded public transport and also like taking any opportunity to exercise. Cycling culture has been further encouraged with the influence of COVID-19. In May 2020, bike sales in Spain increased 22 times compared with 2019. In London, large parts of the city are being closed off to cars so that people can walk and cycle safely.
More importantly, the resolution focuses on bike-sharing services, which could be seen as recognition of China’s bike-sharing success, noted CGTN. China has some of the largest bike-sharing systems in the world. This means of transport that produces zero emissions reduces the amount of CO2 sent out into the atmosphere (大气层) by 4.8 million tons every year, according to a 2020 report from the World Resources Institute.
1. What is the resolution aimed at?A.Winning all member states’ support. |
B.Making bicycles part of public transport. |
C.Dealing with the problem of climate change. |
D.Making people healthier and more athletic. |
A.The whole world’s attention on climate change. |
B.Cycling is encouraged in numerous countries. |
C.China’s success in Bike-sharing systems. |
D.More people wish to exercise more. |
A.It get people to exercise and stay healthy. |
B.It can largely reduce our carbon footprint. |
C.It can reduce the influence of the COVID-19. |
D.It helps us stay away from crowded public transport. |
A.Cycling to improve health | B.Cycling to a climate solution |
C.Why is cycling so important | D.A new resolution by the UN |
4 . The world itself is becoming much smaller by using modern traffic and modern communication means. Life today is much easier than it was hundreds of years ago, but it has brought new problems. One of the biggest problems is pollution. To pollute means to make things dirty. Pollution comes in many ways. We see it, smell it, drink it and even hear it.
Man has been polluting the earth. The more people, the more pollution. Many years ago, the problem was not so serious because there were not so many people. When the land was used up or the river was dirty in one place, man moved to another place. But this is no longer true. Man is now slowly polluting the whole world.
Air pollution is still the most serious. It’s bad for all living things in the world, but it is not the only one kind of pollution. Water pollution kills our fish and pollutes our drinking water. Noise pollution makes us angry more easily.
Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. They stop people from burning coal in houses and factories in the city, and from putting dirty smoke into the air. Pollution by S02 is now the most dangerous kind of air pollution. It is caused by heavy traffic. We are sure that if there are fewer people driving, there will be less air pollution.
The earth is our home. We must take care of it. That means keeping the land, water and air clean. And we must care about the rise in pollution at the same time.
1. Why is our world becoming much smaller?A.Thanks to the development of science. |
B.Because of the rise in pollution. |
C.Because the earth is being polluted day and night. |
D.Because the earth is blown away by the wind every year. |
A.Rubbish. | B.Water pollution. |
C.Air pollution. | D.Noise pollution. |
A.Because it’s bad for all living things in the world. |
B.Because it makes much noise. |
C.Because it has made our rivers and lakes dirty. |
D.Because it makes us become angry more easily. |
A.Many countries are making rules to fight pollution. |
B.The problem of pollution is not so serious because there are not so many people living on the earth. |
C.The pollution of the earth grows as fast as the world population does. |
D.If people could go to work by bus or bike instead of car or motorbike, it would be helpful in fighting against the problem of S02. |
5 . According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the number of solar panels installed(安装)has grown rapidly in the past decade, and it has to grow even faster to meet climate goals. But all of that growth will take up a lot of space, and though more and more people accept the concept of solar energy, few like large solar panels to be installed near them.
Solar developers want to put up panels as quickly and cheaply as possible, so they haven’t given much thought to what they put under them. Often, they’ll end up filling the area with small stones and using chemicals to control weeds. The result is that many communities, especially in farming regions, see solar farms as destroyers of the soil.
“Solar projects need to be good neighbors,” says Jordan Macknick, the head of the Innovative Site Preparation and Impact Reductions on the Environment(InSPIRE)project. “They need to be protectors of the land and contribute to the agricultural economy.” InSPIRE is investigating practical approaches to “low-impact” solar development, which focuses on establishing and operating solar farms in a way that is kinder to the land. One of the easiest low-impact solar strategies is providing habitat for pollinators(传粉昆虫).
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change have caused dramatic declines in pollinator populations over the past couple of decades, which has damaged the U.S. agricultural economy. Over 28 states have passed laws related to pollinator habitat protection and pesticide use. Conservation organizations put out pollinator-friendliness guidelines for home gardens, businesses, schools, cities—and now there are guidelines for solar farms.
Over the past few years, many solar farm developers have transformed the space under their solar panels into a shelter for various kinds of pollinators, resulting in soil improvement and carbon reduction. “These pollinator-friendly solar farms can have a valuable impact on everything that’s going on in the landscape,” says Macknick.
1. What do solar developers often ignore?A.The decline in the demand for solar energy. |
B.The negative impact of installing solar panels. |
C.The rising labor cost of building solar farms. |
D.The most recent advances in solar technology. |
A.Improve the productivity of local farms. |
B.Invent new methods for controlling weeds. |
C.Make solar projects environmentally friendly. |
D.Promote the use of solar energy in rural areas. |
A.To conserve pollinators. | B.To restrict solar development. |
C.To diversify the economy. | D.To ensure the supply of energy. |
A.Pollinators: To Leave or to Stay | B.Solar Energy: Hope for the Future |
C.InSPIRE: A Leader in Agriculture | D.Solar Farms: A New Development |
6 . Live with roommates? Have friends and family around you? Chances are that if you’re looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle, not everyone around you will be ready to jump on that bandwagon.
I experienced this when I started switching to a zero waste lifestyle five years ago, as I was living with my parents, and I continue to experience this with my husband, as he is not completely zero waste like me. I’ve learned a few things along the way though, which I hope you’ll find encouraging if you’re doing your best to figure out how you can make the change in a not-always-supportive household.
Zero waste was a radical lifestyle movement a few years back. I remember showing my parents a video of Bea Johnson, sharing how cool I thought it would be to buy groceries with jars, and have so little trash! A few days later, I came back with my first jars of zero waste groceries, and my dad commented on how silly it was for me to carry jars everywhere. It came off as a bit discouraging.
Yet as the months of reducing waste continued, I did what I could that was within my own reach. I had my own bedroom, so I worked on removing things I didn’t need. Since I had my own toiletries (洗漱用品), I was able to start personalising my routine to be more sustainable. I also offered to cook every so often, so I portioned out a bit of the cupboard for my own zero waste groceries. Perhaps your household won’t entirely make the switch, but you may have some control over your own personal spaces to make the changes you desire.
As you make your lifestyle changes, you may find yourself wanting to speak up for yourself if others comment on what you’re doing, which can turn itself into a whole household debate. If you have individuals who are not on board, your words probably won’t do much and can often leave you feeling more discouraged.
So here is my advice: Lead by action.
1. What do the underlined words “jump on that bandwagon” mean in the first paragraph?A.Share an apartment with you. | B.Join you in what you’re doing. |
C.Transform your way of living. | D.Help you to make the decision. |
A.He disapproved of it. | B.He was favorable to it. |
C.He was tolerant of it. | D.He didn’t care about it. |
A.She is quite good at cooking. | B.She respects others’ privacy. |
C.She enjoys being a housewife. | D.She is a determined person. |
A.How to get on well with other family members. |
B.How to have one’s own personal space at home. |
C.How to live a zero waste lifestyle in a household. |
D.How to control the budget when buying groceries. |
7 . As a new mother in 2016, Tash Gorst was scrolling (翻阅) through her phone when she fell down the rabbit hole of reading about plastic pollution. Fast-forward to 2019 and she had opened Gather, an organic zero-waste shop.
Customers come to Gather to refill their own containers with everything from rice to beauty products. And it’s not only the produce that is sustainable — the shop is powered by renewable energy and financed by a more sustainable bank, while all the units inside have been made from waste materials, mostly by Gorst herself.
Zero-waste shops have become an increasingly common feature on the streets in recent years. Where they have gone, supermarkets now look set to follow, with Morrisons, Marks & Spencer and Waitrose all recently agreeing to add refill stations in shops by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Asda has introduced refill aisles (过道) to more of its supermarkets following successful trials.
As small startup businesses aiming to make responsible decisions without cutting ethical (道德上的) corners, refill shops tend to be more expensive than supermarkets and chains. Gorst acknowledges that not everyone can afford to buy from them.
“But if you can, you should. You’ll feel good about the small decision that you’ve made in contributing to your local economy and doing something that’s better for the planet,” she says.
Emily, Drabble is a regular Gather customer. She buys everything that would “normally be encased in plastic”, from cleaning products to food like pasta, which she puts into glass containers. “When I get home, I love unpacking my shopping, throwing nothing in the bin,” Drabble says.
And customers at refill shops get more than just physical goods, notes Gorst. Besides employing four local people, Gather, for example, holds free events, including a monthly book club for reading about sustainability, workshops for kids and so on. “I also see it as a place to bring people together,” she says.
1. Why does the author mention Gorst’s random reading in paragraph 1?A.To share a parenting experience. | B.To offer background information. |
C.To attach importance to motivation. | D.To show advantages of digital reading. |
A.It is run in an ecologically friendly way. | B.It sells sustainable goods at bargain prices. |
C.It is only favored by customers with a green concept. | D.It differs from supermarkets in low-carbon awareness. |
A.Amused. | B.Critical. | C.Objective. | D.Enthusiastic. |
A.People may regard refill shops as fitness clubs. |
B.Refill shops ought to share some social responsibilities. |
C.People can benefit more from refill shops than expected. |
D.Refill shops need to hold various events to promote sales. |
8 . Debris flow (泥石流) is a kind of destructive geological disaster. July to August is the most frequent period of debris flow in China.
Don’t overlook your surroundings while hiking. Pay attention to the surrounding environment and pay special attention to whether you hear thunder-like sound from the valley in the distance. If you hear it, you should raise the alarm.
Don’t panic and escape in the direction of debris flow. When meeting with debris flow, stay calm.
Don’t think it’s safer in the area where the debris flow just happened. Sometimes the debris flow will happen intermittently (间歇地).
A.Don’t try to stay in your car |
B.It is likely to be a sign of debris flow |
C.Try to determine the safe path to escape |
D.Don’t drive a car for a trip in the mountain |
E.Stay calm and look at the map on your phone |
F.If you know some emergency knowledge about debris flow |
G.If you are walking through the area where the debris flow just happened |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下面画一横线,并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
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I won't forget the Earthquake for the rest of life.When it strikes, I was alone sleeping. Suddenly I felt my bed shaking. I jumped out of it, and I couldn't stand up because of the whole building seemed like it was moving back and forth. I was so scaring and felt hopeless. I felt myself very closely to God. And I thought that I was going to die. Seconds late the quake stopped and I rushed outside. But the scene shocked me to died.The high buildings beside mine had collapsed to the ground. I suffered for quite the long time after that. I was in great pain. Now I'm feeling more better and I think I've walked out the shadow of it and found the strength to move on.
10 . Most people know something about the greenhouse effect. Factories send gasses such as carbon dioxide, or CO2, into the atmosphere, the air around the earth. In the past, this wasn’t a problem because trees absorbed the CO2. But now people in many countries are cutting down billions of trees all around the world. At the same time, factories are sending more CO2 into the atmosphere. It’s difficult to believe, but factories put billions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. One ton is over 2000 pounds, so it is a lot of pollution. There is too much CO2 and there aren’t enough trees, so the world is getting warmer. In other words, we have a greenhouse effect. This is terrible for the environment.
What can we do about this? Firsts we can stop using so much coal and oil. We can learn to use different kinds of energy: the sun, wind, steam from volcanoes,and heat from inside the earth. Second, instead of cutting down trees, we should plant more trees. One tree can absorb ten pounds of carbon dioxide every year.
The trees are good for the earth’s atmosphere and for Guatemala (拉丁美洲国家危地马拉).In small towns and villages in Guatemala, most women are poor and have hard lives. Trees help them in three ways. First, the Connecticut factories pay them to plant the trees. Their pay is com, not money. The com is good for their children. Second, these women know a lot about their environment. They know where to plant when to plant, and what kinds of trees to plant. For example,they plant many fruit trees. The fruit gives them vitamins for their families’ s diets. Other trees are good for firewood. In a few years, the women won’t spend so much time looking for firewood. Third, all these trees are good for the soil. Now rain can’t wash the soil down from the mountains so easily.
This plan isn’t enough to stop the greenhouse effect. However, it’s a start. The woman of Guatemala are helping themselves and helping their environment.
1. Which of the following statement is NOT true?A.Factories send more CO2 into the atmosphere. |
B.Trees can’t absorb the same CO2 as they did in the past. |
C.Billions of trees are being cut down throughout the world. |
D.The greenhouse effect is extremely bad for the environment. |
A.The reasons why we should plant more trees. |
B.Ways we can adopt to take heat from volcanoes. |
C.Measures to be taken to forbid the use of coal and oil. |
D.Things we can do to stop or reduce the greenhouse effect. |
A.By preventing the greenhouse effect. |
B.By developing their skills of planting trees. |
C.By enabling them to earn more money to support their family. |
D.By making them get com and fruit to feed their family in return. |
A.Critical. | B.Neutral. |
C.Positive. | D.Doubtful. |