| A．The price. | B．The food. | C．The environment. |
1. What is the main purpose of the weather warning system?
| A．To warn people outdoors to get inside. |
| B．To let people test the warning system. |
| C．To inform people without radios of danger. |
| A．Local media. | B．Local officials. | C．Local residents. |
| A．To the park. | B．To the public shelter. | C．To the inside of a building. |
| A．A warning system. | B．A weather report. | C．An accident. |
3 . For years, scientists have debated whether humans or the climate have caused the population of large mammals to decline dramatically over the past several thousand years. A new study from Aarhus University confirms that climate cannot be the explanation.
About 100,000 years ago, the first modern humans migrated out of Africa in large numbers. They were very good at adapting to new habitats, and they settled in almost every kind of landscape — from deserts to jungles to the icy taiga in the far north.
Part of the success was human’s ability to hunt large animals. With clever hunting techniques and specially built weapons, they perfected the art of killing even the most dangerous mammals.
But unfortunately, the great success of our ancestors came at the expense of the other large mammals.
It is well-known that numerous large species went extinct during the time of worldwide colonization by modern humans. Now, new research from Aarhus University reveals that those large mammals that survived also experienced a dramatic decline.
By studying the DNA of 139 living species of large mammals, scientists have been able to show that the abundances of almost all species fell dramatically about 50,000 years ago. This is according to Jens-Christian Svenning, a professor and head of the Danish National Research Foundation’s Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO) at Aarhus University and the initiator of the study.
“We’ve studied the evolution of large mammalian populations over the past 750,000 years. For the first 700,000 years, the populations were fairly stable. But 50,000 years ago, the populations fell dramatically and never recovered,” he says, and continues: “For the past 800,000 years, the globe has fluctuated (波动) between ice ages and interglacial periods about every 100,000 years. If the climate was the cause, we should see greater fluctuations when the climate changed 50,000 years earlier.But we don’t. Humans are, therefore, the most likely explanation.”
1. What do the underlined words “the success” mean in Paragraph 3?| A．The evolution of large mammals. |
| B．The prosperity of various habitats. |
| C．The achievement of human migration. |
| D．The progress in hunting techniques. |
| A．Populations of large mammals significantly dropped. |
| B．Living conditions of large mammals remained stable. |
| C．Global climate dramatically changed. |
| D．A large number of glaciers suddenly melt. |
| A．Species. | B．Place. | C．Time. | D．Climate. |
| A．Climate Impact on Animals |
| B．Changes of Prehistoric Environment |
| C．Evolution of Large Mammal Populations |
| D．Human Influence on Giant Mammals |
4 . For some climate challenges, there are relatively straightforward fixes. For example, renewable energy sources can already replace much of the energy needed to power buildings, cars and more.
There’s no substitute for food, but shifting what we eat is possible. If everyone on the planet ate vegetables, greenhouse gas emissions from the food system could be cut by more than half; a planet of vegetarians would reduce food emissions by two thirds. If we stopped consuming conventional food and relied on a lab-grown nutritional food instead of soil or water-produced food, we could prevent about 1 degree centigrade of future warming, according to a recent paper that considered the unique thought experiment.
“What this work says is: Hey, look, we can still get pretty big wins even if we’re not making these really big changes in dietary composition,” says Clark. “I think that’s really powerful, because a lot of people just don’t want to make those really big dietary changes, for many reasons. While vegetarian diets are becoming more common in America and some European countries, it’s absolutely ridiculous to assume that everyone will be eating a vegetarian diet 30 years from now,” he says.
Food choices are personal, deeply connected to cultural, religious, emotional, economic concerns and so much more. “Rather than dictate how to do it, it’s much better to try to give choices,” says Naglaa, a food, nutrition and environment researcher at Tufts University. This approach aims to inform people so that they can make choices that correspond with their needs and values instead of waiting for the authority’s rules and orders. As a whole, those choices can benefit both human health and the planet. For that to happen, it is necessary to work alongside large-scale efforts to reshape industrial food production.
“But what people choose to eat daily is far from insignificant,” says Clark. “We don’t all have to become vegetarians overnight. Small changes can make a big difference.”
1. How does the author show the effects of dietary changes in paragraph 2?| A．By analyzing the reasons. | B．By using a quotation. |
| C．By answering questions. | D．By listing data. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Skeptical. | C．Favorable. | D．Negative. |
| A．Command. | B．Persuade. | C．Perceive. | D．Describe. |
| A．How small changes to our diets can benefit the planet |
| B．Small changes in life choices can make a big difference |
| C．Why renewable energy sources can reduce gas emissions |
| D．Lab-grown nutritional food could prevent future warming |
5 . Eradajere Oleita thinks she may have a solution to two of our country’s long-lasting problems: garbage and poverty. It’s called the Chip Bag Project. The 26-year-old student and environmentalist from Detroit is asking a favor of local snack lovers: Rather than throw your empty chip bags into the trash, donate them so she can turn them into sleeping bags for the homeless.
Chip eaters drop off their empty bags from Doritos, Lay’s, and other favorites at two locations in Detroit: a print shop and a clothing store, where Oleita and her volunteer helpers collect them. After they sanitize the chip bags in soapy hot water, they slice them open, lay them flat, and iron them together. They use padding and liners from old coats to line the insides.
It takes about four hours to sew a sleeping bag, and each takes around 150 to 300 chip bags, depending on whether they’ re single-serve or family size. The result is a sleeping bag that is “waterproof, lightweight, and easy to carry around,” Oleita told the Detroit News.
Since its start in 2020, the Chip Bag Project has collected more than 800,000 chip bags and, as of last December, created 110 sleeping bags.
Sure, it would be simpler to raise the money to buy new sleeping bags. But that’s only half the goal for Oleita-whose family moved to the United States from Nigeria a decade ago with the hope of attaining a better life-and her fellow volunteers. “We are dedicated to making an impact not only socially, but environmentally,” she says.
1. What does the underlined word “sanitize” mean?| A．Clean. | B．Burn. | C．Color. | D．Dry. |
| A．It helps to shake off poverty. |
| B．It has gathered over 900,000 bags. |
| C．It was put forward by chip lovers. |
| D．It helps the poor and environment. |
| A．Because they are forbidden to litter them. |
| B．Because they happen to print things there. |
| C．Because they want to help Eradajere Oleita. |
| D．Because they can use them to trade clothes. |
| A．Chipping Away at Poverty | B．Chip Eaters Do a Big Favor |
| C．A Story about Eradajere Oleita | D．Good Ways to Save Environment |
6 . Five months ago, a new species of box jellyfish was discovered in Hong Kong. It is a relative of the deadly Australian box jellyfish, one of the most venomous (有毒的) animals on Earth. One sting (刺伤) from it can kill a person in minutes.
A university team in Hong Kong, led by Qiu Jianwen from the Hong Kong Baptist University, discovered it at the Mai Po Nature Reserve, a local wetland area. It was the first discovery of a new box jellyfish species in Chinese waters.
But it’s not the first time biology professor Qiu has discovered a new creature. He’s made more than 30 discoveries in about 20 years spent exploring new marine (海洋的) animals.
Qiu doesn’t go looking for new species on purpose. In 2014, he did research on the health of coral in Hong Kong waters. To learn more, Qiu and his team needed to find all of the coral species involved. And in doing so, they discovered four new coral species.
Finding new species reminds Qiu of how biologically diverse Hong Kong’s waters are. Hong Kong takes up just 0.03 percent of China’s total marine area, yet it is home to more than 25 percent of all marine species recorded in China, a report by the University of Hong Kong showed.
However, Hong Kong’s marine animals face threats, due to factors including habitat loss, climate change and overuse of natural resources.
Although action is being taken, it focuses more on bigger creatures, like dolphins and birds. “Many marine species are small and they are often overlooked. If these species were to become extinct, few people would notice or care. But for me, each one has its rightful place,” said Qiu.
He hopes everyone can recognize the importance of the ocean. “When more people show concern for the ocean, we are, in fact, acting for our own benefit,” he said.
1. Where was the new species of box jellyfish found?| A．In a university lab of HK. | B．In the ocean of Australia. |
| C．In a nature reserve of HK. | D．In a wetland of Australia. |
| A．To find new species of coral for the study. |
| B．To study the health condition of coral. |
| C．To study the living environment of coral. |
| D．To find all coral species in the world. |
| A．All of them are dying out. |
| B．No action is being taken to protect them. |
| C．Habitat loss is the biggest threat to them. |
| D．Some of them were discovered by chance. |
| A．Small marine species aren’t protected as they deserve. |
| B．Bigger creatures like dolphins and birds should be better protected. |
| C．People are now taking action to better protect small marine species. |
| D．More and more people are aware of the extinction of small marine species. |
7 . Beginning construction in 1632, the Taj Mahal is located in this city of Agra. It is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the world. In fact, it was named one of the new seven wonders of the world.
But it could become more difficult to see and to glimpse this glorious site because of pollution. It’s an unhealthy, even hazardous (危险的) problem for parts of India. Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai were among the 10 most polluted cities on earth this week, according to a Swiss company called IQAir.
CNN’s Michael Holmes explains what it all means. India’s iconic monument almost lost in the smog in the city of Agra. We are facing difficulty in taking pictures of Taj Mahal due to pollution. The Taj Mahal is not clearly visible. Every year, when the temperatures drop and farmers burn their fields, the air turns toxic (有毒的) in many Indian cities.
Delhi is notoriously (声名狼藉) ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. And the current air quality there has once again reached hazardous conditions, forcing primary schools to temporarily close and many people to work from home or just stay indoors altogether. The problem is so serious. A recent air quality life index report says poor air quality could shorten an average Indian’s life expectancy by more than five years, if World Health Organization guidelines on controlling pollution aren’t met. And it’s even affecting one of the country’s favorite pastimes.
India is currently hosting the Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh set to play Sri Lanka in a match in Delhi. But the air quality is so poor. Some players are wearing masks and both teams have canceled training sessions. The coach of Bangladesh’s team says the conditions have not been ideal.
1. Which is the least polluted city according to the text?| A．Agra. | B．Mumbai. | C．Delhi. | D．Kolkata. |
| A．Forest fires and farmers’ burning. | B．Low temperature and forest fires. |
| C．Global warming and low temperature. | D．Low temperature and farmers’ burning. |
| A．Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful scenic spots. |
| B．All schools were forced to close in many Indian cities. |
| C．Indians may have a shorter lifespan if no measures are taken. |
| D．In the Cricket World Cup, India is set to play Bangladesh in a match. |
| A．To reveal the real cause for air pollution. |
| B．To express concern for the athletes in the match. |
| C．To prove the Taj Mahal has lost its charm in smog. |
| D．To show the impact of air pollution in India on all sides. |
8 . As the world struggles to deal with climate change, some companies are working to capture(捕捉) polluting carbon dioxide(CO₂) from the air.
The heavy use of fossil fuels(化石燃料) over the last 150 years has released massive amounts of greenhouse gases, like CO₂, which have caused the Earth to warm up.
Scientists say large amounts of CO₂must be removed from the atmosphere and stored. Plants and trees do this naturally. But there’s so much CO₂in the atmosphere that just planting trees and protecting forests won’t solve the problem. And, when plants and trees die, the carbon they’ve stored gets released again. That means humans need to come up with ways of removing carbon from the air and storing it. This is called Direct Air Capture(DAC).
A company called Heirloom has just opened the first DAC plant in the United States. Heirloom’s process uses limestone, a common rock, to capture CO₂. The company heats up the limestone to separate out the CO₂, which is then locked away in concrete. Heirloom uses renewable electricity to produce the heat, so the process, though expensive, doesn’t produce more CO₂. The new plant can remove 1, 000 tons of CO₂a year. That’s a tiny amount compared to how much carbon needs to be removed from the atmosphere. But the company says it hopes to remove a billion tons per year by 2035. Graphyte, another US company working on DAC, collects unwanted plants and wood products and dries them completely so they can’t break down. Graphyte then smashes them into small bricks and buries them deep underground.
Not everyone is excited about carbon removal. Some experts worry that it will take too long for DAC technology to become powerful enough to make a difference. Others worry that focusing on removing carbon could take attention away from more important climate actions, like switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
1. What does the author try to say in paragraph 3?| A．Protecting forests is necessary. | B．The climate crisis is unavoidable. |
| C．Why DAC has come into being. | D．Why there’s much CO₂in the air. |
| A．It’s hard to find proper limestone. | B．The process produces more CO₂. |
| C．It needs an amount of electricity. | D．It doesn’t capture enough CO₂ now. |
| A．It promotes renewable energy. | B．It has a long way to go. |
| C．It can beat climate change. | D．It is so cost-effective. |
| A．Exploring Methods of Removing CO₂ |
| B．Building Two Plants to Capture CO₂ |
| C．Planting Trees to Fight Climate Crisis |
| D．Replacing Fossil Fuels by Using DAC |
9 . On September 7, 1991, the costliest hailstorm (雹暴) in Canadian history hit Calgary’s southern suburbs. As a result, since 1996 a group of insurance companies have spent about $2 million per year on the Alberta Hail Suppression Project. Airplanes seed threatening storm cells with a chemical to make small ice crystals fall as rain before they can grow into dangerous hailstones. But farmers in east-central Alberta — downwind of the hail project flights — worry that precious moisture (水分) is being stolen from their thirsty land by the cloud seeding.
Norman Stienwand, who farms in that area, has been addressing public meetings on this issue for years. “Basically, the provincial government is letting the insurance companies protect the Calgary-Edmonton urban area from hail,” Mr. Stienwand says, “but they’re increasing drought risk as far east as Saskatchewan.”
The Alberta hail project is managed by Terry Krauss, a cloud physicist who works for Weather Modification Inc. of Fargo, North Dakota. “We affect only a very small percentage of the total moisture in the air, so we cannot be causing drought.” Dr. Krauss says. “In fact, we may be helping increase the moisture downwind by creating wetter ground.”
One doubter about the safety of cloud seeding is Chuck Doswell, a research scientist who just retired from the University of Oklahoma. “In 1999, I personally saw significant tornadoes form from a seeded storm cell in Kansas,” Dr. Doswell says. “Does cloud seeding create killer storms or reduce moisture downwind? No one really knows, of course, but the seeding goes on.”
Given the degree of doubt, Mr. Stienwand suggests, “It would be wise to stop cloud seeding.” In practice, doubt has had the opposite effect. Due to the lack of scientific proof concerning their impacts, no one has succeeded in winning a lawsuit against cloud-seeding companies. Hence, private climate engineering can proceed in relative legal safety.
1. What does the project aim to do?| A．Conserve moisture in the soil. | B．Forecast disastrous hailstorms. |
| C．Prevent the formation of hailstones. | D．Investigate chemical use in farming. |
| A．Managers of insurance companies. | B．Farmers in east-central Alberta. |
| C．Provincial government officials. | D．Residents of Calgary and Edmonton. |
| A．To compare different kinds of seeding methods. | B．To illustrate the development of big hailstorms. |
| C．To show the link between storms and moisture. | D．To indicate a possible danger of cloud seeding. |
| A．Scientific studies have proved Stienwand right. | B．Cloud-seeding companies will continue to exist. |
| C．The doubt about cloud seeding has disappeared. | D．Private climate engineering is illegal in Canada. |
10 . In Xihu district, Hangzhou, among the mountains, lies a unique garden, with breathtaking views in the forests. This site, once an abandoned mine (矿场), was discovered in 2019 by landscape designers Yu Weizeng and Chai Rong.
Yu and Chai share a deep passion for the beauty of mountains and water, and a love for life itself. They and two other partners spent years working on it and managed to change it from a wasteland into an attractive garden.
“On fine days, we set up tents outside for camping together with friends. Gathering around a huge rock, we enjoy simple pleasures such as drinking coffee and playing the guitar. On rainy days, the sound of raindrops pattering against the surface of the pool creates a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. During full moon nights, we lie on the rocks, admiring the moonlight,” Yu says.
A key feature in the garden is a reflective water pool set in the main space. As the sun sets, its light bathe the cliff (峭壁) in various colors, with the mountain’s reflection mirrored in the pool.
“We aimed to bring nature even closer,” Yu says.
In a quiet corner of the garden, there’s a narrow entrance leading to a space where a thin upright window has been artfully placed. Outside the window, a red maple tree has been planted, offering a picturesque view.
“In the past, people lived in harmony with the natural world. They could step outside to see mountains and cross rivers. However, the rapid pace of urbanization (城市化) has disrupted this connection,” he says.
“Our approach involves using our technical talent to solve certain problems, and then allow nature to take its course,” Yu says.
1. Why did Yu and Chai keep on building the garden?| A．They wanted to change the wasteland. |
| B．They both have a strong love for nature. |
| C．They intended to attract people to visit it. |
| D．They thought they could make money from it. |
| A．What they see. | B．What they do. |
| C．What they think. | D．What they enjoy. |
| A．Cut off. | B．Cut in. | C．Cut up. | D．Cut out. |
| A．Man can defeat nature. |
| B．Man can change nature. |
| C．Man should be at one with nature. |
| D．Man should make the most of nature. |
