3 . In the vast desert plains of northwest Namibia, rhino (犀牛) trackers start a journey to monitor the desert-adapted black rhinos. These creatures, known for their poor eyesight, walk freely in this remote region.

Led by Sebulon Hoeb, the principal field office r of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, the tracker carefully approach a grazing rhino named Matty 2. identified by his partner Ebson Mbunguha. Despite the windy conditions working in their favor, they maintain a safe distance, aware of the potential danger of encountering these massive animals.

Every day and night, devoted trackers and local community ranger s patrol (巡逻) the vast expanse of land, totaling 25, 000 square kilometers, where the desert-adapted black rhino thrives. Armed with extensive knowledge of the rhinos’ behaviors and characteristics, they carefully document their observations, contributing to conservation efforts and fighting poaching (偷猎), which remains a constant threat due to the high demand for rhino horns.

Despite challenges, Namibia’s community conservation model has succeeded in protecting the rhino population. By prioritizing the preservation of wildlife and ensuring local communities to benefit from their natural resources, Namibia has become a lighthouse of conservation efforts in Africa. Save the Rhino Trust, established in 1982, has played a vital role in this achievement, witnessing a remarkable recovery in the black rhino population.

The significance of community conservation is stressed by Namibia’s commitment to environmental protection, written in its constitution since gaining independence in 1990. With the establishment of shared conservancies covering over 20% of the country’s territory, Namibia has pioneered a sustainable approach that balances conservation with economic development.

For the rhino rangers who devote their lives to safeguarding these iconic creatures, the job is rewarding. Living under the vast southern sky, they bear weeks of tented living, braving the dangers of tracking rhinos on foot. Despite the challenges, their serious commitment ensures the continued survival of the desert-adapted black rhino, a testament to the power of community-driven conservation efforts in preserving Earth’s oldest mammals.

4 . Virginia’s McAfee Knob is one of the most famous spots along the Appalachian Trail, offering a beautiful view of forests and valleys. Thousands of hikers visit it each year to take in the scenery. Recently, a new agreement was reached to protect much of this view forever. Two conservation groups, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and The Conservation Fund, have bought 850 acres of land from six different owners below the Knob. This area, now called the McAfee Vista Preserve, will not only maintain the view but also help restore wildlife habitats.

Heather Richards from The Conservation Fund expressed joy at the completion of the deal. She praised the cooperation between the organizations involved and the landowners for their commitment to conservation.

McAfee Knob is extremely popular, with around 50,000 visitors annually. It is so iconic that when Google featured the Appalachian Trail in the Doodle on their homepage in October, they used an illustration of McAfee Knob. However, this popularity has led to some challenges. For instance, there have been concerns about garbage attracting bears and the need for better management of visitor numbers and facilities.

This recent acquisition is part of ongoing efforts by the ATC to protect views along the trail. Over the past four years, they, along with partners like The Conservation Fund and the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, have purchased about 1,300 acres from various landowners.

However, the funding for this purchase has raised some controversy (争议). A significant part of the money came from the Mountain Valley Pipeline project, which has faced opposition due to its potential impact on the environment. Despite initially opposing the plan, the ATC entered into an agreement with its developers to receive funding for conservation efforts.

The ATC also received support from other sources, such as the Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s Forest CORE Fund and donations from members of both the ATC and the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club.

7 . In recent years, seasonal allergies, also called ha y fever or allergic rhinitis (过敏性鼻炎), have been hitting people around the world especially hard. Seasonal allergies cause great trouble to people, such as sneezing, tiredness, a runny nose or a congested nose which makes it hard for people to breathe.

In 2021, as many as 81 million Americans experienced seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The main cause for seasonal allergies is the spread of pollen (花粉), and researchers are blaming climate change for it.

As the planet warms, scientists are seeing two main changes to allergy seasons. Allergy season length is longer and pollen levels are increasing. With warmer winter temperatures, the frost-free season starts earlier in the spring and ends later in the fall. In a research done by William Anderegg, an associate professor at the University of Utah, US, he saw pollen seasons starting about 20 days earlier this year than they did in the 1990s.

Pollen levels have also been increasing in the US. Anderegg’s research found about a 21percent increase in the amount of pollen in the air from 1990 to 2018.

This increase is likely fueled by a combination of higher temperatures and higher carbon dioxide levels in the air, according to Anderegg. The burning of fossil fuels — a primary cause of global warming — increases carbon dioxide. As CO₂ levels go up, plants and trees produce more pollen, according to NBC.

Increased rainfall brought on by global warming may be making allergies worse too. “Thunderstorms, pressure changes, and humidity changes that we see through climate change break down pollen spores (孢子) into even smaller pieces, and these pollen spores can then more easily enter the lungs,” Brooke Lappe, a doctoral student at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, said to NBC.

9 . Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune is widely considered one of the best sci-fi books ever written. It is also one of the first to take environmental concerns_________.

“It’s really calling attention to the_________ to think ecologically,” says Gerry Canavan, co-editor of the history of science fiction. “Prior to that moment, people just weren’t thinking in that way.”

Herbert _________ to find a publisher for Dune, facing 23 rejections before it was finally _________ by Chilton Book Company. As the book gained_________ -winning two most prestigious(有声望的)prizes in science fiction and eventually selling around 20 million copies_________ -it began to affect pop culture.

Dune _________ the environmental movement, which Herbert largely embraced. “I’m _________ to be put in the position of telling my grandchildren ‘Sorry, no more world for you. We have _________ all the resources,’” Herbert said at the first Earth Day in 1970.

Herbert was one of the earliest to__________ renewable energy ,installing(安装) his own solar collector and windmill. He believed that understanding the__________ of human actions could reduce environmental damage.

The __________ for Dune came from Herbert’s visit to Oregon’s sand dunes in 1957, where he __________ efforts to stabilize the landscape from local people. His novel serves as a cautionary tale about humanity’s relationship with the environment and the disastrous effects of __________ resource exploitation(开发).Dune challenges readers to consider the impact of their actions on the planet and serves as a__________ of the importance of sustainable living.

Forests are like a big, green blanket that covers the Earth.     1     They help clean the air and give us fresh oxygen. Forests are home to many animals and plants, making them very special places on our planet.

Imagine forests as huge gardens that take in bad air and change it into good air for us to breathe. They are very important because they are home to more than half of all the animals and plants we know.     2     This makes forests very important for keeping our Earth healthy and full of life     3     森林覆盖了地球陆地的三分之一。 They are found all around the world, from hot, wet rainforests to cold. snowy forests. Each forest has its own types of trees, plants, and animals that cannot live anywhere else.

But, forests are in danger because of cutting down trees and clearing land for farms or buildings.     4     这对动物、植物甚至我们都是有害的。 We need to take care of forests because they help keep our air clean and give us water and food.

In short, forests are very important for our planet. They help keep the air clean, are homes to many animals and plants, and make Earth a beautiful place.     5     We should all help protect forests so they can keep being the Earth’s green blanket.