1 . India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday developed a series of new high-producing rice species, including herbicide-tolerant（耐除草剂的）rice that can be directly planted into the soil, cutting the huge expenses on water and farm workers.
In India, the world's biggest rice exporter, the traditional method of rice growing requires farmers to grow seeds in nurseries, and then wait for 20 to 30 days before transplanting the small plants by hand into the fields that are ankle-deep in water.
With the new seed species, developed by the state-run Indian Agricultural Research Institute, farmers only need to water the field once to moisten（使湿润）the soil before planting the rice. Besides, the traditional method also uses a lot of water to control weeds as herbicides are costly and often do not distinguish between the rice and the unwanted weeds.
Government scientists said the new rice species contains a gene that would allow farmers to use a common, inexpensive herbicide without worrying about any side effects. “Our focus is very high on new seeds that can be adapted to new conditions, especially in changing climates,” Modi said.
Water conservation is likely to be the main attraction of the new rice species in India, where farmers rely heavily on monsoon（季风）rains. “The traditional method uses 3,000 to 5,000 liters（升）of water to produce 1 kg of rice. The new species could cut water use by at least 50% to 60%,” farmers and government officials say. "For farmers like us, the main concern was the management of water, and the new species takes care of that concern," said Ravindra Kajal, who grows rice on his 9-acre farmland in the northern state of Haryana.
1. What is the advantage of the new rice species?| A．It can remove all the weeds. | B．It can be planted in any field. |
| C．It needs less water to grow. | D．It needs less soil to grow. |
| A．Because the new crop species contains herbicide itself. |
| B．Because the new crop species resists a common herbicide. |
| C．Because the common herbicide is relatively cheaper. |
| D．Because the common herbicide can moisten the soil. |
| A．Its climate. |
| B．Its plentiful funds. |
| C．Its tradition. |
| D．Its lack of herbicide. |
| A．India has completely changed its rice species. |
| B．The farmers prefer planting new rice species. |
| C．India is trying to promote its new rice species. |
| D．The new rice species produces the most rice in India. |
2 . I'd shared my home with scorpions（非洲蝎子）in Africa before. But when we moved to Costa Rica which was an insect center, there were scorpions under the fridge, a stick insect and a tarantula（狼蛛）, the size of a dinner plate, wandering around the courtyard.
To begin with, I was scared to death, and got away from them as quickly as possible. But slowly things changed. With no TV, no radio and often staying at our house for days in this rainforest, I started to get used to these uninvited visitors. It was for a long time that I was gradually used to them. Then I kept an eye out for them and finally was delighted to see them no matter what they were.
Soon when a creature came to visit, I'd call the kids over, take photos and even pose with them. We'd try to work out what these creatures were doing, see where they were going and pick them up if they seemed safe. Not all the wildlife was traditionally frightening. We gently held panic-stricken hummingbirds that were trapped in the house and set them back in the wild. We listened out for the woodpeckers（啄木鸟）that decorated our garden. We practiced shouting like howling monkeys. Those feathered and furry creatures were easy to love, and we also grew to love the seemingly unlovable when traveling in Costa Rica.
Sweeping away the terror from this fresh new love, I started emailing photos of my new insect friends to human friends and family overseas. I was as proud as any new mother with my latest discoveries. Then when their replies came back saying “Disgusting!", “Ewww” or “Nasty”, I was saddened, and I could hardly remember that not so long ago I would also have been disgusted by the sight of a ten-inch cricket（蟋蟀）on my dining table.
Travel changes you in ways you never expect, and changes things you never want to change. You may not imagine you could find beauty in an insect, if you look closely at it there. You may not think you could love the unlovable. And if you take time to wonder and open your heart to the possibility, love can spread in anywhere.
1. What do we know about the author when she arrived in Costa Rica?| A．She missed TV and radio very much. | B．She quickly got used to the life there. |
| C．She enjoyed sharing her home with insects. | D．She was afraid of the insects at first. |
| A．Because the insects looked really disgusting. |
| B．Because she was not so good at taking photos. |
| C．Because her love to insects was not understood. |
| D．Because she missed her friends and family overseas. |
| A．The insects are not poisonous as imagined. | B．Travel changes our views about the world. |
| C．Not all lives should be equally treated. | D．Travel helps us change nature as we like. |
| A．How did I fall in love with insects? | B．Welcome to the insects centre! |
| C．Search for fun in Costa Rica! | D．How did I start my travel? |
During summer vacation, I went on a three-day camping expedition (远足). We had to carry all of our own clothes and food, as well as tents, cooking pots and first aid kits(急救药箱).
On the first day, our instructor taught us how to read maps. It's not too difficult
On the second day, we had to find our own way to the next campsite. My group set
I learned so much from this expedition—not just map reading skills,
4 . Many livestock farmers (牧场主) in the western world are becoming worried by a longer-term threat to their income from the growing popularity of vegetarian (素食的) diets. Here comes the question whether to eat meat or not. Before airing our view, we should consider seriously the three reasons that vegetarians give for refusing animal products.
The easiest point to argue against is that eating meat is unhealthy. Nothing is healthier than a varied diet, including fiber, vegetable, fruit and meat. Although studies show that eating red and processed meat may raise the risk of some cancers, it is important not to overstate the effect. This week, for example, Cancer Research UK reported that eating an extra piece of bacon every day raised the risk of bowel cancer by 20 per cent. But that means just eight extra (largely curable) cases in every 10,000 people over six years.
Our treatment of farm animals is an issue that vegetarians find more troubling. A common view is that raising animals in a small area cause unacceptable suffering. In this regard, agricultural authorities should take up the responsibility to enforce welfare standards that give each animal enough space to stand and move around comfortably. Also, consumers have an important role to play in improving conditions for farm animals. For example, the dislike of “battery hens”led to an EU ban in 2012 on keeping chickens in barren cages.
The environmental impact of livestock farming is its greatest problem in a century. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that farmed animals account for 14.5% of greenhouse gas emission. Although changes in grazing（放牧）practices could substantially reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming, it will always use more resources than producing the same number of calories from plant crops. Meat production should focus on the world’s traditional grasslands, without taking up new land.
1. Which of the following is NOT the reason against animal products given by vegetarians?| A．It harms human health. |
| B．It causes animal suffering. |
| C．It damages the environment. |
| D．It threatens the income of farmers. |
| A．To prove that eating too much meat is unhealthy. |
| B．To persuade people out of eating too much meat. |
| C．To show that eating meat is not as unhealthy as vegetarians think. |
| D．To present the fact that eating too much bacon may cause cancer. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Negative. |
| C．Indifferent. | D．Unclear. |
| A．The changes in feeding practices. |
| B．The challenges that livestock farming faces. |
| C．The negative effects of livestock farming on the environment. |
| D．The measures to reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming. |
5 . Everyone wants to be regarded as a reliable person. Being reliable is really necessary when it comes to maintaining(维系)friendships and doing well at work. Read on for ways to be more reliable.
Try not to over-promise.
Don't demand credit. People who demand praise for the things they've done often lose the goodwill that comes from the help they provided.
Respect everyone's time. The biggest rule of reliability is to have respect for other people's time. If you tell someone you can meet at a certain time, you've made a promise.
Be as truthful as possible. If you failed to finish the work on time, say so. If you don't understand the task, be honest about it. Don't hide or bend the truth and avoid spreading unreliable information.
| A．Change plans in advance. |
| B．Hang out with other reliable people. |
| C．It' s impolite to say "no" to a friend's request. |
| D．Your friends and co-workers know that you helped out. |
| E．Being on time shows others that you are a person of your word. |
| F．Saying "yes” to everything seems to be agreeable and thoughtful. |
| G．Telling the truth will let people come to see you as a person of reliability. |
