1 . The sound of leaves underfoot is usually associated with autumn. But this year, it was the soundtrack to summer walks across Europe, as maximum temperature records fell and the continent suffered its worst drought in 500 years.

The drought had been building for months after a dry winter and spring, but it was worse by a series of fierce heatwaves over the summer, says Sim on Parry at the UK Centre for Ecology &Hydrology. In France, nuclear power plants were forced to reduce their output as low river flows meant there wasn’t enough water to cool their reactors. Water levels on the Rhine river dropped so far that ships loaded with goods in Germany and the Netherlands, including coal and petrol, were unable to travel. Besides, farmers saw crops wither(枯萎). Harvests of soya-beans and sunflower seeds were predicted to fall by between12 and 16 percent.

This was a crisis caused in large part by climate change, says Richard Allan, who is also at the University of Reading. “Warming due to human-caused climate change made this event much more extreme,” he says. Studies suggest that the drought was made at least 20 times more likely by global warming.

However, that missing rainfall ends up somewhere, says Peter Gleick at the Pacific Institute in California. This year’s disastrous floods in countries including Australia and Pakistan are the “flip side” of the droughts, he says. “The droughts and the extreme floods that we are seeing are tied together, and are part and parcel of the broader challenge of climate change,” says Gleick.

In the wake of a drought, it is critical that nature gets time to recover. But for Europe, this was the second severe drought in four years. “My grass has already recovered from this summer... but if I had a tree that survived it, that would take 10 years or more to get back to a normal state,” says Niko Wanders at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.

1. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning the sound?

A．To show the seasonal cycle.	B．To describe the beauty of autumn.
C．To emphasize the dry weather.	D．To clarify trees’ survival mode.

2. What is paragraph 2 of the text mainly about?

A．The reduction of river water.	B．The duration(持续)of the drought.
C．The causes of various losses.	D．The consequences of the disaster.

3. Which is probably the best way to tackle climate change according to the text?

A．Expanding climate monitoring.	B．Improving human behavior.
C．Promoting natural restoration.	D．Balancing water distribution.

4. What is the author’s attitude toward the climate change trend in Europe?

A．Conservative.

B．Unclear.

C．Concerned.

D．Hopeful.

3 . In 2002, Huang Hui, a researcher of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, went diving near Xisha. In addition to getting an irremovable suntan (晒黑), she was left with memories of a beautiful experience with clear water and abundant colorful corals (珊瑚). However, much of the breathtaking scenery of this reef has disappeared due to climate change and human activities. All of these factors led to the decline of the coral reef in the near shore waters. “We started to cultivate corals near the Xisha Islands in 2010, and restored more than 200,000 square meters of coral reefs,” Huang said.

In 2004, when Huang was attending the 10th International Coral Reef Symposium, she found herself the only representative from the Chinese mainland. She said she felt sad but she made up her mind to strengthen communication with other countries to improve China’s level and status in coral research. She visited top coral research institutes in the US and Australia, establishing long-term cooperation with some of the world’s top coral researchers. By far, Huang has worked on coral research and protection for 22 years. Now, China is in a leading position in terms of technology and coral planting scale.

Huang believes that people’s consciousness of coral protection matters most to the sustainable development of the coral reefs. “I want to call on more people to love nature and look at the ocean in awe,” Huang said.

Partly due to her efforts, Hainan Province released a law in 2017 banning reef exploitation (开发), trading and damaging.

Huang works as a consultant for customs and frontier police on coral protection and promotes coral protection in her local schools. Huang also provides online free training for divers to teach them proper behavior in the sea to protect coral reefs.

“A group of ‘folk scientists’ have also been trained with the hope that more people can gain awareness of the significance of coral reef protection and know how to protect them,” said Huang.

“I am 50, and when I become 60, I hope that not only a coral island will be built but a sustainable development pattern will also be created,” said Huang. “The ideal state is that the coral island should be able to support fishermen and preserve the ecosystem,” she added.

1. What impressed Huang most when going diving near Xisha in 2002?

A．A permanent sunburn on her skin.

B．A large quantity of colorful corals.

C．A sweet memory of her childhood.

D．The sudden disappearance of corals.

2. What does Paragraph 2 mainly focus on?

A．China’s advances in coral protection.	B．Huang’s devotion to coral protection.
C．Huang’s concern over coral protection.	D．People’s ignorance of coral protection.

3. What is the key to protecting corals according to Huang Hui?

A．Introduction of advanced technology.

B．Tough laws banning reef exploitation.

C．Public awareness of coral protection.

D．Communication with foreign countries.

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．Corals in South China Sea are in danger.

B．Scientist plants corals to save ecosystem.

C．China is taking the lead in planting corals.

D．Measures are to be taken to protect corals.

4 . Keeping curious kids from disrupting wildlife

Interacting with the wild, naturally curious kids tend to collect seashells at the beach or keep small wildlife as pets.     1     So how to help kids protect the wild while enjoying spending time outsides? Here are alternatives for some of the most common outdoor behavior no-nos.

Take an interest, not things. Kids show interest in picking flowers, rocks, or shells outdoors. They’re part of wildlife's habitat and play an important role.     2     Let kids explore with a magnifying glass (放大镜)instead of their curious fingers. Let whatever they find outside stay outside.

    3     It seems a fun idea to throw pieces of bread to ducks. Animals have unique dietary needs that are different from humans. Eating human food can make them sick or become dependent on human food. Bears are an example of animals that often have to be killed after developing a taste for human food.

Admire animal afar, not disrupt nearby. The urge to take a photo with a squirrel, bird, or slow-moving turtle can be strong for kids.     4     Instead, remind kids to stay away and show them how to use a camera's zoom button, or just admire with their eyes.

Take well-worn paths, not off-road romps (嬉戏). Kicking piles of leaves, stepping on bushes, and walking through forested areas can unintentionally scare wildlife. If surprised animals defend their homes, everyone could get hurt. Nobody likes having a guest come in and destroy their home and act rudely.    5    

A．Keep snacks away from animals.

B．Share food if animals are hungry.

C．Exposure to them develops kids’ love and curiosity.

D．The same rule applies to visiting wildlife in their homes.

E．Animals rely on plants for hiding; rocks and shells, for homes.

F．Approaching animals disrupts what they do for survival, such as eating.

G．Despite innocent purposes, kids’ curiosity accidentally damages the wild.