1 . Carol-Anne O’Callaghan, a former teacher from Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, has fought hard to protect ancient oaks near her home, which she says are home to rare bats.
In February 2021, O’Callaghan was walking her dogs when she spotted yellow dots stuck on some of the 99 oak trees in a narrow country lane close to her home. The dots indicated trees marked for destruction. After she learned the trees would be felled as part of the HS2 high-speed railway works, she called the HS2 helpline and was told there was nothing that could be done as an over-road would be built. She gets choked up remembering the moment she realized many of them were to be cut down.
O’Callaghan loves that ancient line of oaks. They were planted in the 19th century. “My family and I would picnic under them,” she says, “climb them, have rope swings on them. The trees are amazing and beautiful and meant so much.” One of the last photos of her mother, taken shortly before she died, was of her sitting in a swing in their branches.
She noticed that on the other side of the lane, to the north, there were no ancient oaks. So she began campaigning to save the trees. With the help of her daughter, Blaize, she started a petition(请愿书), which went on to get nearly 43,000 signatures. “I saw someone passionate about giving a voice to those who don’t have one, someone not afraid of asking questions and calling out large, daunting businesses for doing the wrong thing,” says her neighbour Victoria.
Buckinghamshire Council has got involved, and the felling is paused. A final decision has yet to be made about the proposed over-road. “We’re optimistic that they’ll hear our argument and take the ecology of the lane into account,” says O’Callaghan. “We want them to put in a green crossing in the gaps between trees, for the bats, and we’d like the place to become a conservation area. For the trees and the bats—this is what we are fighting for!”
1. What did the yellow dots on the oaks indicate?| A．These oaks would be cut down. | B．The narrow lane would be widened. |
| C．Rare bats would get protected. | D．A railway station would be built. |
| A．Due to the oaks’ long history. | B．Due to the natural beauty. |
| C．Due to the precious memories. | D．Due to the diverse wildlife. |
| A．Creative. | B．Humorous. | C．Generous. | D．Enthusiastic. |
| A．The ecology is being improved. |
| B．The felling has been put off. |
| C．The Council canceled the proposal. |
| D．The area becomes a reserve. |
2 . Over the last two days, much of Spain has been coated with dust (灰尘) , and the skies have turned bright orange. A huge cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert is causing the strange weather. The dust cloud is expected to spread to other parts of Europe.
Across much of Spain on Tuesday morning, a thin layer (层) of red dust coated everything outside. From streets to sidewalks to balconies, everything was covered with a layer of dust. As the sun rose, the dust in the air turned the skies in some cities a strange orange. The cause of the dust and unusual sky colour wasn’t a forest fire, but dust from the Sahara Desert.
Every year, a large cloud of dust rises from the Sahara Desert. It’s called the Saharan Air Layer. Usually, it crosses the Atlantic Ocean as part of a natural cycle that helps develop farmland and beaches in Central and South America.
But sometimes, depending on the weather, the layer of dust gets forced to the north. Large sandstorms in northern Africa lift sand and dust into the air, where it gets blown towards Spain. Though the particles (微粒) in the air come from sand, they’re much more like dust than sand at a beach.
These kinds of storms aren’t unknown in Spain. In fact, it has a special name. It’s called a “calima”. This calima is so large that it can be seen from space. A NASA scientist who studies weather in the atmosphere says it’s like a river of dust in the air. That river of dust has met with a river of wet air driven by strong winds.
Spain’s weather service described the dust storm as being “very intense (强烈) ”. At one point on Tuesday, the air quality in Madrid was the worst in the world. Government health experts warned people not to go outside without a mask, and to keep their windows and doors closed at home.
1. What turned Spain’s skies orange?| A．A huge cloud. | B．Pollutant from Europe. |
| C．Dust from Sahara. | D．Heavy rainfall. |
| A．It’s helpful for farming. | B．It hits Spain every year. |
| C．It’s from South America. | D．It leads to forest fires. |
| A．Attractive. | B．Unbelievable. | C．Common. | D．Useful. |
| A．Travel. | B．Nature. | C．Science. | D．Health. |
3 . As a young girl growing up in France, Sarah Toumi dreamed of becoming a leader who could make the world a better place. Her passion to help others was awakened when, from the age of nine, she accompanied her Tunisian father to his birthplace in the east of the country during holidays. There she organized homework clubs and activities for children.
Toumi witnessed first-hand the destructive effect of desertification (沙漠化). “Within 10 years rich farmers became worse off, and in 10 years from now they will be poor. I wanted to stop the Sahara Desert in its tracks.” A decrease in average rainfall and an increase in the severity of droughts have led to an estimated 75 percent of Tunisia’s agricultural lands being threatened by desertification.
Toumi recognized that farming practices needed to change. She is confident that small land areas can bring large returns if farmers are able to adapt by planting sustainable crops, using new technologies for water treatment and focusing on natural products and fertilizers rather than chemicals.
In 2012, Toumi consolidated (巩固) her dream of fighting the desert. She moved to Tunisia, and set up a programme named Acacias for All to put her sustainable farming philosophy (理念) into action. “I want to show young people in rural areas that they can create opportunities where they are. Nobody is better able to understand the impact of desertification and climate change than somebody who is living with no access to water.”
By September 2016, more than 130, 000 acacia trees had been planted on 20 pilot farms, with farmers recording a 60 percent survival rate. Toumi estimates that some 3 million acacia trees are needed to protect Tunisia’s farmland. She expects to plant 1 million trees by 2018. In the next couple of years, Toumi hopes to extend the programme to Algeria and Morocco.
1. How did Toumi’s holiday trips to Tunisia influence her?| A．They made her decide to leave the country. |
| B．They helped her better understand her father. |
| C．They aroused her enthusiasm for helping others. |
| D．They destroyed her dream of being a teacher. |
| A．Low rainfall. | B．Soil pollution. | C．Cold weather. | D．Forest damage. |
| A．To create job opportunities for young people. |
| B．To help the children obtain a basic education. |
| C．To persuade the farmers not to use fertilizers. |
| D．To promote the protection of their farmland. |
| A．Saving Water in Tunisia | B．Holding back the Sahara |
| C．Planting Trees of Native Species | D．Fighting Poverty in North Africa |
4 . Wildfires have captured headlines around the globe in recent years. These intense and widespread fires worry scientists. Besides causing billions of dollars in property damage, wildfires can erase the habitat of valued wildlife. They also fill the air with choking pollution. And when they burn near cities, they put the lives of whole communities in danger.
But scientists are interested in these fires for another reason. The black carbon-rich smoke from their flames is made of the ash from burned trees, grass and shrubs. The intense heat of some wildfires can cast this ash to high altitudes and it can travel around the globe.And the warming sunlight absorbed by dark particles(微粒)at high altitudes won't reach Earth's surface.
Scientists refer to those tiny particles of ash,dust and more as aerosols(气溶胶). One important trait is how well they reflect light. Snow and white ice reflect the most light. Dark things absorb the sun's light, mostly as heat. So the color of aerosols is important. Those aerosols can either warm or cool the air. Overall, researches showed that smoke aerosols cool the atmosphere. As intense fires cause dark ash aerosols high into the air, they mix with clouds and mostly prevent the sun's energy entering the earth.
The warming climate that can lead to wildfires may experience a temporary cooling when serious wildfires do erupt. Meanwhile, fire aerosols also can have bad effects when they fall back to Earth. And that fallout can sometimes be up to half a world away from where a fire took place.
Many studies show that intense wildfires are becoming more common, partly because of global warming. As the planet warms and new fires occur, scientists will continue to explore the big impact of tiny fire aerosols that temporarily occupy our atmosphere.
1. What does paragraph 1 focus on?| A．Wildfire-related air pollution. | B．Cities suffering from wildfires. |
| C．Harmful effects of wildfires. | D．Scientists' concern over wildlife. |
| A．By absorbing the sun's heat. | B．By reflecting most sunlight. |
| C．By blocking out dark clouds. | D．By clearing away clouds. |
| A．Uncaring | B．Cautious. | C．Disapproving. | D．Supportive. |
| A．How wildfires affect the climate. | B．Why warming causes wildfires. |
| C．Common occurrence of wildfires. | D．Serious damage from wildfires. |
5 . The urge for most of us is to throw something away, even if it means we have to buy anew one for more money. Most people think it's often
After a repair shop opened in the neighborhood, hundreds of residents began
The shop is called Remade, and it's looking to change the way Britain
One regular customer said she had a changing moment when an extension cable( 扩展电缆) she owned
| A．greener | B．funnier | C．cheaper | D．easier |
| A．change | B．expand | C．break | D．grow |
| A．performance | B．responsibility | C．explanation | D．expense |
| A．bringing in | B．showing off | C．mixing up | D．taking apart |
| A．accepting | B．finding | C．resisting | D．assessing |
| A．habit | B．fear | C．choice | D．problem |
| A．consumes | B．communicates | C．travels | D．relaxes |
| A．throw | B．fix | C．sell | D．collect |
| A．exchange | B．replace | C．connect | D．compare |
| A．promote | B．decorate | C．destroy | D．lack |
| A．comments | B．donations | C．invitations | D．requirements |
| A．stopped | B．kept | C．continued | D．risked |
| A．controversial | B．challenging | C．immediate | D．permanent |
| A．permission | B．ability | C．way | D．need |
| A．open | B．shut | C．silent | D．ruined |
| A．advice | B．thought | C．worry | D．promise |
| A．improper | B．hard | C．right | D．illegal |
| A．potential | B．symbol | C．blessing | D．burden |
| A．Strangely | B．Fortunately | C．Similarly | D．Particularly |
| A．desiring | B．failing | C．regretting | D．pretending |
When it comes to wildlife
Billions of trees are being cut down every year
7 . Water conservation (保护) means using limited water supply wisely and caring for it properly. Since each of us depends on water to support life, it is our responsibility to learn more about water conservation and how we can help keep our sources pure and safe for generations to come. Below are some of the main reasons why it's important to conserve water.
It diminishes the effects of drought and water shortages. Even though our need for fresh water is always increasing because of population and industry growth, the supply we have stays the same. Even though water eventually returns to the Earth through the water cycle, it's not always returned to the same spot, or with the same quantity and quality. By reducing the amount of water we use, we can better protect against future drought years.
It guards against a series of social problems. Failing to conserve water, can eventually lead to a lack of water supply, which can have bad results. These include rising costs, reduced food supplies, health dangers, and even political conflict. Many fears have been expressed that water wars will occur in the future as water is becoming scarcer and scarcer (更稀缺的).
It helps to protect our environment. Reducing our water usage reduces the energy required to process water and deliver it to businesses, farms, and communities, which, in turn, helps to reduce pollution and conserve energy.
It builds safe and beautiful communities. Hospitals, gas stations, health clubs, gyms, and restaurants all require large amounts of water to provide services for communities. Reducing our usage of water means that these services can continue to be provided. Much of our fresh water can also be used for beautifying our surroundings — trees, flowers, vegetable gardens, as well as filling public fountains.
Water conservation requires effort, and every little bit helps. Don't think that what you do does not matter. We can all make changes in our lifestyles to reduce our water usage. The trick is making water conservation a way of life — not just something we think about once in a while.
1. What does Paragraph 1 mainly show?| A．Conserving water is very difficult. |
| B．Everyone should learn to conserve water. |
| C．Many people don't care about water waste. |
| D．Water shortage will influence the later generations. |
| A．Proves. | B．Reduces. |
| C．Examines. | D．Removes. |
| A．To explain what services need water the most. |
| B．To show water is widely used in our daily life. |
| C．To explain why people today love to conserve water. |
| D．To show conserving water benefits our communities. |
| A．Why Do Water Resources Become Scarcer? |
| B．How Can We Make Our World a Better Place? |
| C．Why Should We Conserve Water in Our Daily Life? |
| D．How Can We Conserve Water to Protect Our Earth? |
8 . 
“What kind of rubbish are you?” This question might normally cause anger, but in Shanghai it has brought about complaints over the past week. On July 1st, the city introduced strict trash-sorting regulations that are expected to be used as a model for our country. Residents must divide their waste into four separate kinds and put it into specific public bins. They must do so at scheduled times, when monitors are present to ensure compliance（服从）and to inquire into the nature of one’s rubbish.
Violators face the possibility of fines and worse. They could be hit with fines of up to 200 yuan ($29). For repeat violators, the city can add black marks to their credit records, making it harder for them to obtain bank loans or even buy train tickets.
Shanghai authorities are responding to an obvious environmental problem. It generates 9 million tonnes of garbage a year, more than London’s annual output and rising quickly. But like other cities in China, it lacks a recycling system. Instead, it has relied on trash pickers to sort out the waste, picking out whatever can be reused. This has limits. As people get wealthier, fewer of them want to do such dirty work. The waste, meanwhile, just keeps piling up. China produces 80 billion pairs of disposable(一次性的)chopsticks a year.
Many residents appear to support the idea of recycling in general but are frustrated by the details. Rubbish must be divided according to whether it is food, recyclable, dry or hazardous（有害的）, the differences among which can be confusing, though there are apps to help work it out. Some have complained about the rules surrounding food waste. They must put it straight in the required public bin, forcing them to tear open plastic bags and toss it by hand. Most upset are the short windows for throwing trash, typically a couple of hours, morning and evening. Along with the monitors at the bins, this means that people go at around the same time and can keep an eye on what is being thrown out; no one wants to look bad.
1. What does the underlined word “Violators” in Paragraph 2 refer to?| A．People who don’t sort the waste. |
| B．People who argue with the monitors. |
| C．People who don’t throw the trash on time. |
| D．People who are against the regulations. |
| A．The massive traffic. | B．The increasing garbage. |
| C．Lack of a recycling system. | D．Lack of trash pickers. |
| A．Complex distinction among the four categories of trash. |
| B．Short scheduled time for throwing the trash. |
| C．Being observed by monitors when throwing the garbage. |
| D．Being fined when blamed due to improper behavior. |
| A．A Restart of Trash-sorting | B．A Great Change in Tackling Litter |
| C．New Times of Garbage Classification | D．A Craze for Learning Waste Sorting |
Escaping a fire is a serious matter. Knowing what to do during a fire can save you life. It is important to know the ways you can use and show them to everyone in the family， such as stairways and fire escapes， but not lifts.
From the lower floors of the buildings， escaping through windows is possible， learn the best way of leaving by windows with the least chance of serious injury.
The second floor window is usually not very high from the ground. An average person， hanging by the finger-tips will have a drop of about six feet to the ground. It is about the height of an average man. Of course， it is safer to jump a short way than to stay in a burning building.
Windows are also useful when you are waiting for help. Be sure to keep the door closed. Or smoke and fire may be drawn into the room. Keep your head low at the window to be sure you get fresh air rather than smoke that may leaked（渗） into the room.
On a second or third floor， the best windows for escape are those that open onto a roof. From the roof a person can drop to the ground more safely. Dropping onto cement（水泥） might end in injury. Bushes（灌木丛） and grass can help to break a fall.
根据以上短文内容，然后从每题所给的四个选项中选择最佳选项。
1. It is important to _______.
| A．put out the fire in the burning house |
| B．know the ways to escape the fire |
| C．jump off a burning house |
| D．keep the door closed |
| A．if there are some bushes on the ground |
| B．if you are strong enough |
| C．if you live on a lower floor |
| D．If you have a long rope |
| A．You can escape though stairways. |
| B．You can choose fire escapes. |
| C．Escape from the windows that open onto a roof. |
| D．Use a lift to come down at once. |
| A．you can get fresh air | B．you can call for help |
| C．you can easily jump off | D．you can be seen first |
| A．Escaping from the Windows |
| B．Save Yourself in the Burning House |
| C．Knowledge on Fire |
| D．Waiting for Help |
Some of the threats are natural, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, floods and so on. But the biggest threats to the food chain come from you and me. These threats include overhunting, overfishing, logging, farming, development, pollution, etc. The food chain is endangered anywhere humans have had an effect on the natural environment.
A recent study shows that the overfishing of large sharks is damaging the food chain along the US Atlantic coast. Canadian and American scientists say sharks are being killed in great numbers for their meat and fins(鳍). Now, not enough sharks are around to eat the cownose(牛鼻) ray. The ray’s population has increased and they have eaten up the shellfish to the point where it has hurt commercial(商业的) fishing.
Many of us disturb the natural environment in our own backyards. It’s up to us to take care of the environment and try not to disrupt the natural food chain. If we don’t act responsibly, animals will start disappearing.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?
| A．The food chain is not easy to be broken. |
| B．The energy of an animal usually disappears when it dies. |
| C．Increasing the links will not break the balance of nature. |
| D．Breaking the food chain is bad for the biodiversity of the environment. |
| A．human activities can be a big threat to the food chain |
| B．we are all responsible for the breaking of the food chain |
| C．natural disasters are hard to break the food chain |
| D．hunting large sharks for meat is beneficial |
| A．explain what the food chain is |
| B．tell us something interesting about Nature |
| C．suggest that we stop eating meat to save animals |
| D．suggest that we not disrupt the natural food chain |
