1 . In 2010, a huge earthquake hit Haiti, causing the deaths of over a hundred thousand people and millions of dollars’ worth of damage.
Social media in particular has had a great impact on charity.
New, innovative ways of donating are being thought up all the time. For example, if you want to support a good cause and keep fit at the same time, you can use an app called Charity Miles.
Apps like these are growing in number, and that can only be a good thing.
| A．People were eager to aid others in trouble. |
| B．The app can track the distance you run or cycle. |
| C．News of disasters spreads quickly around the world. |
| D．Charity helps to refresh the development of social Media. |
| E．Technological advances have changed how charities work. |
| F．The international community jumped into action to provide aid. |
| G．In future, we could support our chosen cause more easily and more often. |
2 . Cows produce much methane (甲烷) the world’s second worst greenhouse gas, as they break down the grass. They are a large source of the greenhouse gases that are driving climate change. Now scientists have shown the pollution from cows can be reduced by adding a little seaweed (海藻) to their food.
Recently, the researchers from the University of California studied 21 cows on a farm for about five months. They taught the cows to get their food from inside a special hood, which allowed the scientists to know the amount of the methane the cows were giving off. They added a small amount of seaweed to the cows’ food.
The consequences were surprisingly good. In some cases, the cows produced 82% less methane. The improvement depended on the kind of food the cows were given. Even the worst-polluting cows produced 33% less methane. Over the five months, the scientists didn’t see any signs that the cows’ stomachs were getting used to the seaweed and starting to produce more methane again. What’s more, the cows that were fed seaweed gained just as much weight as the other cows.
But there are still some big problems with the idea of feeding cows seaweed. For one thing, there’s not enough seaweed to feed all of the cows in the world. So farmers would have to figure out a way to grow lots of seaweed. A bigger problem is that for most of their lives, cows live in the fields, where they eat grass. That means there’s no chance to feed them seaweed every day.
Still, as the study shows, something as simple as feeding cows seaweed can help reduce some of the pollution causing the climate crisis.
1. Why did the researchers carry out the study?| A．To test the effects of the seaweed. |
| B．To discover healthier grass for cows. |
| C．To improve the cows’ living conditions. |
| D．To measure the amount of methane in the world. |
| A．The background of the subject. | B．The results of the study. |
| C．The content of the experiment. | D．The process of the research. |
| A．Seaweed is not as tasty as grass. |
| B．Seaweed is dying out in the world. |
| C．Cows fed with seaweed gained weight easily. |
| D．Cows can hardly have daily access to seaweed. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Negative. |
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The heavy smoke from devastating Australian bushfires cloaked Auckland,
New Zealand meteorology service MetService forecast that
It is the second layer of smoke coming from the Australian bushfires,
MetService said it is possible
On Friday, the New Zealand government pledged twenty two
4 . According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), hundreds of marine (海洋的) species across the world come under endangered and critically endangered categories. Some of the endangered and recognizable marine species are named here.
Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle
The Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, also known as the Atlantic Ridley Sea Turtle, is endangered as the rarest and smallest sea turtle.
Distributed throughout the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Atlantic seaboard, they gather off the coast in northeastern Mexico and come ashore in large groups to lay eggs every year. As marine reptiles (爬行动物), they are threatened by oil spills, lack of food and marine pollution.
Vaquita
As a rare marine mammal, Vaquita is on the edge of extinction only a half-century after its first sighting.
Extensive fishing in the Gulf of California has endangered this marine species, resulting in a gradual drop in population since the 1940s. According to reports, there are only a dozen of these marine mammals left in the world since the percentage of decline in their population was as much as 90% since 2011.
Whale
Fin Whale is the second-largest mammal on the planet after Blue Whale and it is also a victim of hunting. According to estimates, the global population of Fin Whale ranges from below 100,000 to around 119,000.
Humpback Whale, another whale species, has also been listed as an endangered marine species. Before the introduction of the whaling moratorium (暂停) in 1966, the species was hunted for its fur, while the population dropped by 90%. Currently, around 2,500 Humpback Whales survive in the world.
Hawaiian Monk Seal
A native of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of the earless seals who live on warm beaches, unlike other seals.
According to recent research, only 1,400 Hawaiian Monk Seals remain on the Islands. These seals are mainly threatened by predators like tiger sharks. Besides, other reasons like habitat loss and food limitation also contribute to their critical situation.
1. Why do Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtles land on the beach in large groups?| A．To nest. | B．To reproduce. | C．To avoid attack. | D．To hunt foods. |
| A．Global warming. | B．Lack of food. | C．Natural enemies. | D．Habitat pollution. |
| A．Vaquita. | B．Fin Whale. | C．Humpback Whale. | D．Hawaiian Monk Seal. |
5 . An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.
Fragile items like those made of glass are easily broken and should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them in the cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly and not on you.
There is a strong chance of short circuits (短路) and fire during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.
During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases at all times.
If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.
If trapped in debris (瓦砾堆), cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or the wall so that rescuers (营救人员) can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is available. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match because you may burn yourself. Do not move about or kick up dust.
1. The purpose of the passage is to tell readers .| A．what to do in earthquakes |
| B．how to prevent earthquakes |
| C．the damage caused by earthquakes |
| D．the rescue work after earthquakes |
| A．Easily found | B．Expensive | C．Easily broken | D．Heavy |
| A．take shelter under a tree |
| B．drive to a safe place quickly |
| C．go out of the building at once |
| D．turn off electricity and gas immediately |
6 . A Fish and Wildlife Service proposal would protect the whitebark pine as an endangered species. Whitebark pines can live for up to 1,000 years and grow at elevations (海拔) as high as 12,000 feet. Environmentalists had requested the government in 1991 and again in 2008 to protect the trees. A nonnative fungus (真菌) has been killing whitebark pines for a century. More recently, the trees have proved vulnerable (易受伤的) to tiny insects that have killed large areas of forest.
The whitebark pines have almost disappeared in some areas, including the eastern edge of Yellowstone National Park, where they are a source of food for threatened grizzly bears (灰熊). This makes the government’s declaration of the Yellowstone area’s grizzly bears as a restored species a lie.
After being blamed for not taking steps to protect the trees, wildlife officials in 2011 admitted that whitebark pines needed protection, but they didn’t act rapidly, saying other species faced more immediate threats.
A lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, which made the formal request for protection in 2008, expressed his disappointment that it took so long but said the proposal was still worth celebrating.
The government’s proposal described the threats to the trees as immediate and said the whitebark pines were one of many plants expected to be harmed as climate change moves faster than they can adapt. “Whitebark pines survive at high elevations already, so there is little remaining habitat in many areas for the species to move to higher elevations in response to warmer temperatures,” Fish and Wildlife Service officials wrote.
Government officials are working with researchers and private groups on plans to gather seed from trees, grow them in greenhouses and then plant them back on the landscape, according to Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Amy Nicholas. A proposal of that nationwide restoration is expected by the end of this year. “We do have options to restore this species,” Nicholas said.
1. What do we know about whitebark pines?| A．They are long-lived, high-elevation trees. |
| B．They have a strong resistance to nonnative fungi. |
| C．The government used to care about protecting them. |
| D．They and small insects depend on each other for survival. |
| A．Grizzly bears are no longer threatened. |
| B．The whitebark pines have almost disappeared. |
| C．The population of grizzly bears has increased greatly. |
| D．The government is actually doing nothing to protect bears. |
| A．Better late than never. | B．All roads lead to Rome. |
| C．Never do things by halves. | D．The first step is the hardest. |
| A．Irresponsible. | B．Doubtful. | C．Optimistic. | D．Uncertain. |
7 . A shark moving around the coastline is normally a worrying sight，but this waterborne drone(无人机)threatens floating rubbish instead of people.
Developed by Dutch company RanMarine, the WasteShark takes nature as its inspiration with its whale shark-like mouth. Responsible for collecting waste, the drone will begin operations in Dubai Marina in November after a year of trials with local partner Ecocoast.
According to RanMarine, the WasteShark is available in both autonomous and remote-controlled models. Measuring just over five feet by three-and-a-half feet(1.5 meters by 1.1 meter)，it can carry up to 352 pounds of rubbish(159.6 kg)and has an operational battery life of 16 hours.
By 2016 there were approximately 150 million tons of plastic in the world's oceans. One paper from December 2014 estimated that over a quarter of a million tons of ocean plastic pollution was afloat.
"WasteShark also has the abilities to gather air and water quality data, remove chemicals out of the water such as oil，and heavy metals，and scan the seabed to read its depth and outlines，"said Oliver Cunningham, one of the co-founders of RanMarine. "Fitted with a collision-avoidance system, the drone uses laser imaging detection and ranging technology to detect an object in its path and stop or back up if the object approaches."
"Our drones are designed to move through a water system, whether it's around the perimeter(周边) or through the city itself. The drones are that last line of defense between the city and the open ocean," added Cunningham. "WasteSharks are operating in Dubai, South Africa and the Netherlands and cost $ 17,000 for the remote-controlled model and just under $ 23,000 for the autonomous model."
Dubai-based operator Ecocoast has two WasteShark drones. Co-founder Dana Liparts says they will clean waterfronts for clients including hotels and environmental authorities and that Ecocoast' intention is to have the collected rubbish recycled or upcycled. However, Liparts argues that cleaning waterways doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution and requires a combination of new technology, preventative measures and changing people's attitudes towards littering.
1. What do we know about the WasteShark?| A．It can frighten sharks away. | B．It is an ocean explorer. |
| C．It is a rubbish collector. | D．It can catch fish instead of people. |
| A．The causes of ocean pollution. | B．The dangers of using plastics. |
| C．The severity of ocean garbage pollution. | D．The importance of ocean protection. |
| A．Avoid crashing into it. | B．Break it into pieces. |
| C．Swallow it. | D．Fly over it. |
| A．The WasteShark should be used more widely. |
| B．More measures should be taken to make water clean. |
| C．The production cost of WasteSharks should be reduced. |
| D．People should take a positive attitude to new technology. |
1. How does the woman feel about the recycling rules?
| A．Confused. | B．Confirmed. | C．Content |
| A．Cans. | B．Bottles. | C．Envelopes. |
| A．It is too big. | B．It is too dirty. | C．It is broken. |
| A．On Tuesday. | B．On Wednesday. | C．On Thursday. |
9 . The early life of the green sea turtle (海龟) is full of danger. Only one in 1,000 baby sea turtles survive to adulthood (成年). From its home in the sand, it breaks its egg with an egg tooth. Its mother is not there to help it. Instead, it is greeted by crabs, coyotes, and dogs waiting to eat it for dinner. To survive, the baby turtle must hide in the sand until night. Then, it moves slowly to the sea.
The small turtle must swim hard to reach the ocean waters. In the sea, it tries hard to find food. It must also keep itself from being food for fish.
As dangerous as the sea turtle’s life is in the natural world, its most dangerous enemies are humans. The rubbish left by humans in the ocean causes problems for the small green sea turtle. A little turtle might eat a piece of plastic (塑料) in the sea. It might also eat oil on the ocean’s surface. Young turtles also get caught in fishing nets. There are laws against hunting sea turtles. Still, many are hunted, both for their meat and for their shells (壳). All of these dangers must be prevented.
Sea turtles that do survive to grow into adulthood go through many changes. For example, adult green sea turtles weigh about 500 pounds. They stop eating jellyfish and other meat and eat only plants. And they may plan a trip to go back home again. A mother sea turtle goes back to the beach where she was born. This is the only place where she will lay eggs. Even if it has been forty years since she was a baby, she always knows her way back home.
1. Why do baby turtles move to the sea at night?| A．They dislike sunshine. |
| B．They prefer lower temperatures. |
| C．They can find food easily then. |
| D．They need to avoid enemies. |
| A．Pitiful. | B．Careless. |
| C．Interesting. | D．Courageous. |
| A．They mainly feed on fish and meat. |
| B．They always produce eggs at their birthplaces. |
| C．They can live for around forty years. |
| D．They visit their beach homes several times a year. |
| A．The homes of green sea turtles. |
| B．How sea turtles find their food. |
| C．The dangers faced by sea turtles. |
| D．How young turtles become adults. |
1. What do we learn from the speaker?
| A．More can be done to reduce the damage of earthquakes. |
| B．Earthquakes always cause serious damage. |
| C．Nothing can be done to reduce the damage of earthquakes. |
| A．75,000. | B．Nearly 310,000. | C．More than 6,000. |
| A．Engineers do not have the knowledge. |
| B．Protection is too costly at present. |
| C．No one takes earthquakes seriously. |
| A．5. | B．3. | C．4. |
