New Yorkers were shocked in early December when a creature as big as a school bus     1     (surface) from the Hudson River. Over the next three days,    2     humpback whale (座头鲸) swam by several popular tourist destinations, where a journalist took    3    (photo) of the animal seemingly waving its tail at Lady Liberty.

Scientists say NYC0089, which hasn't been spotted in several weeks, has likely returned to deeper waters south of the Hudson. Still, the     4    (frequent) of whale sightings in the broader area has gone up rapidly in recent years.

“With these numbers increasing     5     (sharp), it's not surprising that you're seeing them in some unusual places,” says Brown — a biologist. Including the Hudson River and Staten Island.

Scientists say the     6    (rise) whale sightings are likely related to purer water and a brimming buffet of Atlantic menhaden, a fish favored by humpbacks, resulting     7     landmark environmental regulations     8    (pass) in the 1970s as well as New York city cleanup efforts.

“Seeing more whales in this area is a sign    9     the waters are cleaner and there's more food here for these whales,” Brown says. “It shows     10     we've been doing is working, so we need to keep doing that — and more — to protect these species.”

China on October 12 officially announced the first group of national parks. Home to nearly 30 percent of the key wildlife species found in China, they cover    1    protected land area of 230,000 square kilometers.

The    2     (establish) of the first group of national parks is a practical move by China to strengthen its effort     3    (promote) natural ecological protection.

The Three-River-Source National Park    4     (locate) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—known as the world’s “third pole”. The Giant Panda National Park protects the major habitats of 70 percent of the country’s wild giant pandas.    5    (obvious), the Hainan Rainforest National Park is home to China’s largest rainforest and the Hainan gibbon. Mountain National Park experimental area is the only park in China     6    is listed as a UNESCO cultural and     7    (nature) heritage site. It emphasizes sustainable development between     8    (human) and nature,    9    (reflect) China’s environmental protection principle.

Commercial activities are banned in the national parks and are all put     10    the control of the national rules for ecological protection.

The Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, bordering Russia and the North Korea,     1     (cover) an area of 14,100 square kilometers. It is the major habitat of the country’s Siberian tigers and Amur leopards and is     2     model for cross-border wildlife conservation.

Located in the central zone of the mixed coniferous (针叶的) and broad-leaved forest ecosystems in the temperate (温带的) zone of Asia, the park possesses splendid and attractive scenery     3     different seasons. In addition, there are plentiful plant species well     4     (preserve) in the park, including thousands of medical plants, eatable wild herbs, wild fruit trees and bushes. Some of them are     5     (endanger) plant species and under state protection.

The park is a perfect place for the reproduction and     6     (survive) of birds. Every spring, various forest birds start returning from the south to prepare     7     (lay)eggs. The rich soil of the park also provides a favorable living environment for cold-blooded animals. At present, a community of flesh-eating animals and a community of plant-eating animals make up a complete food chain in the national park,     8     is extremely rare to see in China. The national park will     9     (effective) protect Siberian tigers and Amur leopards,     10     (help) them continue to reproduce and live in harmony with nature.

High on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau     1    (lie) China’s “water tower” Sanjiangyuan. It is home to the headwaters of China’s three rivers: the Yellow River, Yangtze River, and Lancang(Mekong) River. It is the three rivers     2     provide water for about half the population of China. However, human activities are putting this ecosystem     3     risk. Hopefully, though, we can repair this damage. In 2016, the Chinese government established Sanjiangyuan National Park in Qinghai province. The park,     4    (schedule) to open in 2020, has increased the area’s green coverage and attracted more wildlife. The local government has also made great effort to improve biological diversity. The success of Sanjiangyuan will mark the start of a     5    (green) future. With Sanjangyuan     6    (take) the lead, nine other regions in China     7    (choose) by a field conservation station to carry out projects over the past three years,     8     will form a national park system together. The idea of a national park system is still new in China, but    9    (it) realization is urgent. After all, building an ecological civilization bears great       10    (important) in the development and progress of human civilization.

To change bad habits is never easy, even with many     1     (attempt). There is a famous saying     2     (base) on the philosophy of Aristotle: “We are what we     3     (repeat) do.” In many ways, our lifestyle is the sum of choices we have made. We make a choice to do something, and then we repeat it over and over again. Soon that choice becomes automatic and forms a habit that is much     4     (hard) to change. The good news     5     (be) that we can change, if we understand how habits work.

Then what is causing the increase in the global average surface temperature? Climate scientists often mention a key climate process called the “greenhouse effect”,     6     has two common meanings: the “natural” greenhouse effect and the “man-made” greenhouse effect. The “natural” greenhouse effect refers to the fact     7     heat from the sun enters the atmosphere and warms Earth’s surface as short-wave radiation. The heat is released back into space at longer wave lengths. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as methane and carbon dioxide, trap some of the heat,     8     (keep) Earth’s climate warm and habitable. Without this process, Earth could not sustain life. However, the “man-made” greenhouse effect has now become a big problem. When people produce huge amounts of extra greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels, more heat energy     9     (trap) in the atmosphere and causes Earth’s surface temperature     10     (rise) quickly.

Earlier 2019,the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development published    1    most comprehensive analysis up to now of how climate change will affect the glaciers of the world,    2    (warn) that about 18,00 glaciers(冰川) will disappear by 2100.

This is a bad    3    (predict) for some 1.9 billion South Asians,    4     use water from the glaciers not only for drinking but also for agriculture, hydroelectric power,and tourism. But the survey also looked at an immediate question: As the glaciers     5    (rapid) melt, where will all the water—more than a quadrillion gallons of it, almost the amount    6    (contain) in Lake Huron—go?

The answer is that the Himalaya, for example, long defined by    7    (it) glaciers,is becoming a mountain range defined by lake. In fact, another study found that from 1990 to 2010, more than 900 new glaciers-fed lakes     8    (form) across Asia's high mountain ranges.Because of those remote locations scientists must rely    9    satellites to count them ,and new lakes appear to be growing so quickly that it's difficult for scientific teams to agree on the precise number. I's all happening much    10    ( fast) than we expected it to even five or ten years ago.

Amsterdam has decided to remove gas vehicles (机动车) from the roads. By 2030 only non-polluting vehicles will be allowed in the streets. The Netherlands     1    （make）great efforts to protect the environment since the 90s.The Clean Air Action Plan,     2     is aimed at removing polluting vehicles from the city, is the newest measure. The new policy is important because air pollution in the Netherlands is above European standards,     3    （cause）risks for respiratory（呼吸的）illnesses. "Pollution is often a silent     4    （kill）,”said Ms. Sharon Dijksma, who is responsible     5     the city's traffic.

The city will stop using gas vehicles gradually and increase the use of cleaner vehicles. Charging stations    6    （offer）to those who buy electric vehicles. Fund and special parking permits will     7    （probable） be provided to encourage the use of environmentally friendly cars. In Netherland, 30percent of commuter（通勤者） travel by bike.     8    , cars are still major sources of particle matter pollution.

That is     9    they plan to ban all polluting cars.

Hopefully, this policy will encourage other cities to ban polluting vehicles as well. In fact, Brussels is already considering     10    （adopt）the policy.