Nearly a
2 .
A.The harm done by single-use plastics. |
B.The topic for the woman’s composition. |
C.Environmental issues. |
D.Some recent hot news. |
3 . Wetlands occur wherever water meets land. Wetlands exist in every country and in every climatic zone. Healthy wetlands store carbon, regulate the water cycle, and support 40% of the world’s biodiversity.
Jiangxi Poyang Lake Nanji Wetlands
Nanji Wetlands is located in the southern part of the main lake area of Poyang Lake, covering a total area of 33,300 hectares. It is an incredibly valuable ecosystem and serves as a vital habitat for various wetland bird species, including many national first-class and second-class protected animals.
Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve
The Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake wetland, with an area of 33,333 hectares. It is primarily set up as the wintering grounds of rare birds. Within the reserve, there are a total of 142 bird species, including 66 species of migratory (迁徙的) birds. This reserve holds the distinction of being the largest natural wintering ground for the hooded crane (丹顶鹤) population worldwide.
Gansu Yellow River Shouqu Wetlands
The Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve is located within Maqu county. It covers a total area of 203,401 hectares, with 132,067 hectares intended for wetland conservation. The primary objective of this reserve is to protect the highland wetland ecosystem, as well as the habitat of migratory birds, particularly the black-necked crane. In February 2020, it was officially approved as a Wetland of International Importance.
Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve
Established in 2003, Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve covers a total area of 35,679 hectares. In 2015, it was recognized and included in the International Important Wetlands Directory. The main focus of the reserve is to protect the unique underwater natural landscape, the ecosystems of the nearby coastal waters, the important rare and endangered marine (海洋的) animals.
1. Which wetland covers the largest area?A.Nanji Wetlands. |
B.Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve. |
C.Shouqu Wetlands. |
D.Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve. |
A.To preserve natural landscapes. |
B.To house rare birds in winter. |
C.To reproduce hooded cranes. |
D.To store freshwater. |
A.Highland wetland ecosystem. | B.Marine ecosystems. |
C.Underwater animals. | D.Bird habitats. |
A.The sea is getting smaller. |
B.The sea is being polluted. |
C.The sea is getting cleaner. |
5 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.
In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.
The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.
They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.
So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.
1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?A.An amazing autumn game. | B.A common sight in gardens. |
C.A hot attraction in the north. | D.An extreme weather event. |
A.Fallen leaves need not be cleared. |
B.Fallen leaves protect shorter grass. |
C.Fallen leaves block photosynthesis. |
D.Fallen leaves are hard to break down. |
A.it ruins city image | B.it breaks gardening rules |
C.it affects local economy | D.it causes ecological damage |
A.Doubtful. | B.Positive. | C.Unclear. | D.Worried. |
6 . It was July 15, 2021, and my friends had helped me celebrate my 31st birthday.
Earlier in the day I had prepared for the
As I drifted off to sleep, I was awakened by the
I admit it, I began to
Any effects of the celebratory drinks I’d had earlier were now gone. I heard the garden door starting to crack under the
I tried to pull the door open, but the force of the water wouldn’t
If I had
I came close to drowning that day. But rather than keep thinking about that, I prefer to
A.unimportant | B.unlikely | C.unnoticed | D.unbearable |
A.warning | B.report | C.challenge | D.statement |
A.Besides | B.Moreover | C.Therefore | D.Still |
A.air | B.sand | C.water | D.someone |
A.laughed at | B.appreciated | C.blamed | D.shouted at |
A.coldness | B.push | C.sound | D.fear |
A.moved | B.excited | C.inspired | D.shocked |
A.grabbed | B.lost | C.forgot | D.left |
A.operate | B.reflect | C.panic | D.cry |
A.powerful | B.quiet | C.broad | D.winding |
A.guidance | B.control | C.protection | D.pressure |
A.equipment | B.belongings | C.surroundings | D.escape |
A.thrown away | B.cut up | C.torn apart | D.broken into |
A.help | B.let | C.stop | D.influence |
A.managed | B.tried | C.determined | D.expected |
A.bedroom | B.backyard | C.hallway | D.basement |
A.woken up | B.jumped down | C.moved away | D.run out |
A.secretly | B.tragically | C.accidentally | D.possibly |
A.request | B.recall | C.realize | D.research |
A.survived | B.recovered | C.matured | D.refused |
7 . Tian Wangui and his wife Lu Min are villagers in Qiantian Village, Liaoning Province. They began planting trees over forty years ago. With their hard work, the two barren (贫瘠的) mountains are covered by trees now.
After leaving the army in the 1980s, Tian got back home and began planting fruit trees on the hills. In 1982, the couple got the contract rights (承包经营权) of two mountains. At first, they planted some young fruit trees on part of the land. In order to water them, they had to carry water up to the top of the mountains many times a day by themselves.
Now, the two mountains are covered by more than 50,000 trees of over 20 kinds. More than 2,000 birds live in the trees in the mountains.
“We cared for the mountains and trees as we cared for our children,” said Lu. “Even as we grow old, our children will protect the woods, watch over the birds and keep our dream alive.”
1. What did Tian Wangui do before he began planting trees?A.He served in the army. |
B.He watched over the birds. |
C.He cared for the children. |
D.He carried water up to the mountains. |
A.Determined. | B.Friendly. | C.Curious. | D.Brave. |
A.A couple got the contract rights by planting trees. |
B.A couple taught their children to plant trees for over forty years. |
C.A couple kept planting trees on the mountains for over forty years. |
D.A couple helped the villagers plant trees on the mountains for over forty years. |
8 . Flood (洪水) Safety Guidelines (指南)
Flood (洪水) is one of the most dangerous natural disasters. It may come suddenly and sweep away (冲走) everything. It is important to learn some safety guidelines and get prepared for a flood, especially for those living near a river.
Things to do before a flood
●
Move to a safe place immediately if there is an order. Prepare enough food and clean water.
Remember to prepare a first aid kit (急救箱).
Try to move to a place high enough to keep clear of floodwater. Hold to a tree or a woodblock if you are in water. Keep away from electricity.
Things not to do during a flood
Do not take too many personal things with you.
Although flood is dangerous,
A.never give up hope |
B.Things to do during a flood |
C.Here are some tips on flood safety |
D.Do not drink floodwater because it is not clean |
E.Listen to the weather warnings (警告) firstly |
1. What is Dr. Tilly expert in?
A.Renewable energy. |
B.Educational courses. |
C.Sea life conservation. |
A.They weren’t efficient. |
B.They harmed some sea life. |
C.They didn’t have enough power. |
A.A journey to the sea. |
B.A chance to create devices. |
C.An opportunity to work at a lab. |
A.Plastic. | B.Paper. | C.Glass. |