1 . As a permaculture designer and consultant, I have been involved with a range of ecosystem restoration projects. These include both small-scale and landscape-scale projects to repair damage to degraded environments, boost biodiversity, and build toward a better future.

It is clear to me, as it will no doubt be clear to readers, that ecosystem restoration is crucial. As we seek to ease and adapt to climate change, and work to reverse (逆转) biodiversity losses, restoration is an important part of the global solution. But while it is widely understood that ecosystem restoration is the right thing to do, there is far less understanding about what exactly it means, and how it is to be achieved.

One of the most obvious misunderstandings about ecosystem restoration is that it is all about action, especially planting trees. It is important to understand that forest and woodland ecosystems are not the only crucial environments to restore. Ecosystem restoration consists of a huge range of different systems from farmland soils and grassland systems to our seas and oceans.

Ecosystem restoration is not always about actively intervening (干预). In many instances, passive intervention can be just as effective, if not more so, than active. This involves simply letting nature take the reins (掌管). In short, in ecosystem restoration, what we don’t do can be as important as what we do. Often nature already has the answers. But there are situations in which humans have damaged the environment to such a degree that natural restoration is impossible. This is when carefully designed action is required.

Another key thing to remember is that we cannot succeed in ecosystem restoration without local people’s involvement or, ideally, their leadership. When a community feels a sense of belonging and a deep connection with the land, this provides a firm foundation for future conservation and restoration work.

While I dislike taking an overly human-centered view, environmental issues cannot be separated in our complex modern world from socio-economic ones. We need to look at people and the planet as a whole and appreciate the complex web of human life and its interaction with the natural world in order to form practical restoration solutions. It is important to understand how nature can boom and still provide humans with the things we need. It is only when we consider the natural environment and human society as interconnected that we can really continue to make progress.

1. Which shows the proper understanding of ecosystem restoration?

A．Community-led efforts should be reduced.

B．Ecosystem restoration involves a variety of systems.

C．Direct action on forest ecosystems should be avoided.

D．The more trees we plant, the better the ecosystems will be.

2. In what case is active intervention a must?

A．Nature fails to restore itself to health.

B．The cost of passive intervention is high.

C．A large population relies on natural resources.

D．Active intervention can improve the local economy.

3. According to the last paragraph what should be done to make practical restoration plans?

A．Focusing on the interests of us humans.

B．Making nature conservation a top priority.

C．Conducting a survey of local natural resources.

D．Taking both social factors and nature into account.

4. What is mainly talked about in the text?

A．How people can benefit from ecosystem restoration.

B．What challenge people face in ecosystem restoration.

C．How we can repair damaged ecosystems more effectively.

D．Why ecosystem restoration becomes increasingly urgent.

2 . A new UK-based study on the effects of artificial light on local insect populations found that light pollution from street lamps disturbs insect behavior, leading to an overall loss of insects.

“We found that street lighting strongly reduced moth (飞蛾) population compared with unlit sites... and affected moth development,” the study stated.

The study’s results apply to a localized level and cannot be used to determine whether national-level populations are declining due to light pollution. However, it adds further weight to existing research on how light pollution affects ecosystems and biodiversity hotspots and highlights the need to shift to alternatives in artificial light that would tone down these effects.

The effects on insect populations are wide-ranging. More specifically, artificial light affects how moths lay their eggs and puts them at a higher risk of being spotted by predators (捕食性动物). It also affects moths’ feeding behavior, which subsequently leads to declines in their population too. Light pollution thus joins a host of factors, such as climate change and deforestation, as one of the determinants of insect population decline.

While previous studies examined the effects of lighting on bats and other vertebrates, this study focused on their prey—creatures lower down in the food chain—and, as a result, complementing (补充) previous studies. Therefore, the study is concerning because it suggests an alarming loss of insects caused by artificial light, which will have far-reaching consequences for all the wildlife and ecosystems that depend on them.

Moreover, white light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were found to have the worst impact on local insects and ecosystem processes. The researchers thus call for shifting away from white LEDs or employing processes such as motion sensors to make the lights less bright and changing colors and filters to avoid the negative impacts. If the findings of the study are anything to go by, local insect ecosystems will suffer considerable consequences- which will, in turn, affect the wildlife that depends on them and, ultimately, could perhaps even upset agricultural balances.

1. What can we learn about the new study?

A．It is conducted on a local basis.

B．It highlights the value of artificial light.

C．It focuses on the preservation of insects.

D．It matters more than the existing research.

2. What effect does artificial light have on moths?

A．It may put them in danger.

B．It prevents them from feeding.

C．It may lead to their extinction.

D．It disables them from laying eggs.

3. What do the researchers advise us to do with the LEDs?

A．To shift to green alternatives.

B．To adopt brighter colors and filters.

C．To avoid adopting white-light LEDs.

D．To replace them with motion sensors.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Artificial Light and Wildlife Protection

B．Light Pollution and the Endangered Species

C．Artificial Light Has Negative Effects on Agriculture

D．Light Pollution from Street Lights Could Drive Insect Loss

3 . The “no-mow (不割草)” movement is catching people’s attention, and I’ve joined it after having the luck to see how beautiful a natural meadow (草地) can be.

Several years ago, I moved to a tiny town in Oregon. When we pulled up to the house where we would be staying, I took one look at what I saw as the overgrown grass. The sea of grass took my breath away. “This is going to be a huge job,” I thought to myself.

I grew up in New York. My grandfather taught me how to mow our lawn (草坪) when I was 8 years old．And I took care of that lawn until I left for college. Later, I bought my own house in Connecticut, and the house came with a small lawn. By then I had been writing for Audubon magazine and had learned how pointless lawns were. I wanted to build a butterfly garden and plant some plants. I was sick of mowing. But I kept the lawn, as I was concerned about the future resale value of a house without a back lawn.

Once I had spent several weeks getting used to Oregon life, learning the local culture and finally settling down, I realized the meadow that surrounded my new home wasn’t an untidy lawn, but one of the local types of ecosystems. And in my first weeks enjoying my new favorite place in the world, I was pleased with the huge amount of life the meadow supported.

There are lots of insects, but that only means lots of healthy food for the songbirds that I now share my home with. Because of the birds, many insects are eaten, so I’ve not had any insect problems. Contrary to what many people expect from high grasses, I’ve found that I have fewer harmful insects, because it is a balanced system. There are butterflies, vegetables and beautiful wildflowers. The meadow is never the same. It changes from week to week because it’s a living system.

1. How did the author feel when she first arrived at the new house in Oregon?

A．Tired

B．Embarrassed

C．Shocked

D．Interested

2. How was the author’s life in Oregon?

A．She started enjoying the natural grass there.

B．She failed to join the “no-mow” movement.

C．She was worried about the untidy environment there.

D．She was busy improving the locals’ living conditions.

3. What does the author mainly say about the meadow in the last paragraph?

A．It provides a more balanced ecosystem.

B．It supplies many kinds of food to the author.

C．It causes many insect problems for the author.

D．It helps reduce the author’s writing pressure.

4 . According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the number of solar panels installed(安装)has grown rapidly in the past decade, and it has to grow even faster to meet climate goals. But all of that growth will take up a lot of space, and though more and more people accept the concept of solar energy, few like large solar panels to be installed near them.

Solar developers want to put up panels as quickly and cheaply as possible, so they haven’t given much thought to what they put under them. Often, they’ll end up filling the area with small stones and using chemicals to control weeds. The result is that many communities, especially in farming regions, see solar farms as destroyers of the soil.

“Solar projects need to be good neighbors,” says Jordan Macknick, the head of the Innovative Site Preparation and Impact Reductions on the Environment(InSPIRE)project. “They need to be protectors of the land and contribute to the agricultural economy.” InSPIRE is investigating practical approaches to “low-impact” solar development, which focuses on establishing and operating solar farms in a way that is kinder to the land. One of the easiest low-impact solar strategies is providing habitat for pollinators(传粉昆虫).

Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change have caused dramatic declines in pollinator populations over the past couple of decades, which has damaged the U.S. agricultural economy. Over 28 states have passed laws related to pollinator habitat protection and pesticide use. Conservation organizations put out pollinator-friendliness guidelines for home gardens, businesses, schools, cities—and now there are guidelines for solar farms.

Over the past few years, many solar farm developers have transformed the space under their solar panels into a shelter for various kinds of pollinators, resulting in soil improvement and carbon reduction. “These pollinator-friendly solar farms can have a valuable impact on everything that’s going on in the landscape,” says Macknick.

1. What do solar developers often ignore?

A．The decline in the demand for solar energy.

B．The negative impact of installing solar panels.

C．The rising labor cost of building solar farms.

D．The most recent advances in solar technology.

2. What does InSPIRE aim to do?

A．Improve the productivity of local farms.

B．Invent new methods for controlling weeds.

C．Make solar projects environmentally friendly.

D．Promote the use of solar energy in rural areas.

3. What is the purpose of the laws mentioned in paragraph 4?

A．To conserve pollinators.	B．To restrict solar development.
C．To diversify the economy.	D．To ensure the supply of energy.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Pollinators: To Leave or to Stay	B．Solar Energy: Hope for the Future
C．InSPIRE: A Leader in Agriculture	D．Solar Farms: A New Development

5 . Live with roommates? Have friends and family around you? Chances are that if you’re looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle, not everyone around you will be ready to jump on that bandwagon.

I experienced this when I started switching to a zero waste lifestyle five years ago, as I was living with my parents, and I continue to experience this with my husband, as he is not completely zero waste like me. I’ve learned a few things along the way though, which I hope you’ll find encouraging if you’re doing your best to figure out how you can make the change in a not-always-supportive household.

Zero waste was a radical lifestyle movement a few years back. I remember showing my parents a video of Bea Johnson, sharing how cool I thought it would be to buy groceries with jars, and have so little trash! A few days later, I came back with my first jars of zero waste groceries, and my dad commented on how silly it was for me to carry jars everywhere. It came off as a bit discouraging.

Yet as the months of reducing waste continued, I did what I could that was within my own reach. I had my own bedroom, so I worked on removing things I didn’t need. Since I had my own toiletries (洗漱用品), I was able to start personalising my routine to be more sustainable. I also offered to cook every so often, so I portioned out a bit of the cupboard for my own zero waste groceries. Perhaps your household won’t entirely make the switch, but you may have some control over your own personal spaces to make the changes you desire.

As you make your lifestyle changes, you may find yourself wanting to speak up for yourself if others comment on what you’re doing, which can turn itself into a whole household debate. If you have individuals who are not on board, your words probably won’t do much and can often leave you feeling more discouraged.

So here is my advice: Lead by action.

1. What do the underlined words “jump on that bandwagon” mean in the first paragraph?

A．Share an apartment with you.	B．Join you in what you’re doing.
C．Transform your way of living.	D．Help you to make the decision.

2. What was the attitude of the author’s father toward buying groceries with jars?

A．He disapproved of it.	B．He was favorable to it.
C．He was tolerant of it.	D．He didn’t care about it.

3. What can we infer about the author?

A．She is quite good at cooking.	B．She respects others’ privacy.
C．She enjoys being a housewife.	D．She is a determined person.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．How to get on well with other family members.

B．How to have one’s own personal space at home.

C．How to live a zero waste lifestyle in a household.

D．How to control the budget when buying groceries.

6 . The area of the Yellow River Wetland Park in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, was once a place local people avoided: the waste water caused awful smells and almost no grass could grow on the land.

Now, the park has not only become a popular destination for locals to take a walk, but also a habitat frequented by migratory birds (候鸟).

As secretary general of Ningxia’s bird observation association, Li Zhijun witnessed the huge changes at the park. According to him, the Yinchuan wetland park, together with other wetland areas along the Yellow River in Ningxia, has become a famous spot for bird photographers. More habitats for migratory birds are appearing as the environment improves, added Li in an interview with China Daily.

The Yinchuan wetland park mirrors China’s achievements in wetland protection. On Nov 10, seven Chinese cities were awarded “international wetland cities” at the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP 14). So far, there are 13 wetland cities in China, showing a great variety of patterns and styles.

For example, Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, is known as a “city of a hundred lakes”. The city has five large wetland reserves, where tens of thousands of birds come to stay in wintertime, noted the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

Liangping district in Chongqing, however, is totally different from natural wetland. It is more closely tied to human activity. People built small wetlands in rural areas. What’s more, they have combined these wetlands with organic farms, homestays, and healthcare centers, which has resulted in an income increase of 52,000 yuan per household.

Panjin in Liaoning province is another amazing wetland city. In the past, the city has long suffered from environmental problems caused by oil production. But now in the coastal wetlands, seagrass turns a breathtaking red every autumn, creating beautiful “red beaches”.

Chen Zhihai, a local fishery worker, said to Panjin Daily, “In the past, there were almost no wild fish and shrimp. Thanks to the efforts of ordinary Panjin people, now the wetland is back again!”

1. Why is the Yellow River Wetland Park mentioned at the beginning of the article?

A．To compare it with other famous wetlands.

B．To explain why it has become a popular destination.

C．To show China’s achievements in wetland protection.

D．To explain the importance of wetlands to migratory birds.

2. How do wetlands in Liangping differ from other wetlands with more natural scenery?

A．Thousands of birds stay there in winter.

B．Small wetlands were built near lakes.

C．They are more closely connected to human activity.

D．They are popular destinations for people to take a walk.

3. What is special about the coastal wetlands in Panjin?

A．The water there is purple.

B．They have beautiful “red beaches”.

C．They are home to different types of shrimp.

D．They are an ideal destination for fishing.

4. Which part of a newspaper will you probably find the article?

A．Lifestyle.	B．Sports.
C．Travel.	D．Business.

10 . Somalia, Kenya, and now Ethiopia are warning of a serious drought (干旱)that affects millions of people in Eastern Africa. In Ethiopia’s Somali area, people have seen the failures of what should have been three straight rainy seasons. Droughts do come and go over the years. However, the lack of rainfall has led to the driest conditions in 40 years in parts of Somalia and Ethiopia.

UNICEF is the United Nation’s children’s agency. Local Zaynab Wali told a visiting team with UNICEF that she and her seven children had never seen a drought like this. She said the government gave out food for animals during the last drought five years ago. “This time, we even don’t have enough food for our family.”

Children walk among the bodies of dead animals, which died from lack of food and energy. Somalia Consortium works to improve international aid for Somalia. It said in a separate statement that in Somalia, more than 7 million people need emergency help. It is asking international organizations to give much more to the country.

“We are just one month into the long dry season, and I have already lost 25 goats and sheep,” Hafsa Bedel in Ethiopia’s Somali area told UNICEF. She also lost four camels, a large desert animal, as well. She said there was nowhere for her animals to eat. She added that there was not enough food for her own family, including her six children.

UNICEF thinks that more than 150,000 children in such areas of Ethiopia have dropped out of school. They are needed to help find the limited amount of water and help their families with other work.

One young boy was seen supporting an animal, a donkey. The donkey was once important for carrying goods. But now, it had become too weak to walk on its own.

1. Why did Zaynab Wali mention the last drought?

A．To show the need to protect animals.	B．To express her disappointment this time.
C．To prove the high frequency of drought.	D．To praise the government for its timely help.

2. What is Somalia Consortium trying to do now?

A．Get more foreign help.

B．Warn people of the risk of drought.

C．Offer more education to the children there.

D．Make clear the number of people in need.

3. What does the last paragraph mainly want to tell us?

A．The sweet picture of the boy and the animal.

B．The functions of animals in farming.

C．The importance of taking care of the weak animal.

D．The seriousness of the drought.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Drought in Eastern Africa Leaves Animals in Danger

B．Drought Makes People of Eastern Africa Leave Their Home

C．UN Officials Care for Children Affected by Drought

D．Millions Face Risk as Drought Affects Eastern Africa