A.Thanks to | B.Thanks | C.Thank to | D.Thank |
2 . European shepherds (牧羊人) and ranchers (大牧场主) are taking the lead in forest fire prevention, by leading their animals to clear away underbrush that allows fires to grow too big, a new study shows.
In thinner forested areas, large herbivores (食草动物) were found in a study to be greatly effective in reducing forest fire risk. “In general terms, it is clear that wild and semi-wild herbivores like horses can reduce wildfire risk through their eating grass,” says Julia Rouet-Leduc, lead author of the study. “Such herbivores can be particularly effective in remote areas, where careful management can prevent wildfire and benefit wild nature in other ways.”
Smaller animals like goats and sheep are ideal for areas that lack natural predators (捕食者). There are no large predators in all of Italy, and without the risk of losing an expensive animal, the eating habits of these smaller animals kept on a farm make them perfect for clearing underbrush and things which larger herbivores can’t stomach.
But there were laws that prevent goats and sheep from entering woods in order to protect them. Since natural numbers of red deer, and other native herbivores have long since disappeared from European forests, the loss of sheep and goats meant that nothing prevented grass from spreading in forests, turning brushfires into dangerous disasters.
That’s why shepherds on Sardinia have written a letter to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, asking not only to allow their animals to eat grass within the woods, but to create a restoration project of rural areas in Montiferru, where Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years recently burned its way from the mountain tops to the sea.
Their plan is to bring in more shepherds to better control the fires, and encourage eco-tourism in the area, to incentivize the shepherds to stay. This is already seeing success through both private and public inspiring measures in Catalunya, Spain.
1. What do Julia Rouet-Leduc’s words mainly show?A.Shepherds should keep large herbivores. |
B.Herbivores can greatly help reduce wildfires. |
C.Better management is needed to protect forests. |
D.Wild and semi-wild herbivores lack natural predators. |
A.They were not allowed by law. |
B.They couldn’t feed well there. |
C.They had been killed by hunters. |
D.They had been eaten up by predators. |
A.To ask permission to raise more sheep. |
B.To protect woods from hungry goats and sheep. |
C.To offer a way of protecting forests from wildfires. |
D.To draw attention to Italy’s worst wildfire in 40 years. |
A.Pay. | B.Prove. | C.Remind. | D.Encourage. |
3 . For those in search of safe, non-medicine sleep aids (助手), sound machines are a popular choice. The National Sleep Foundation recently found that 5% of Americans sleep with a “sound conditioner”. It can be a fan, phone app, or other noise-producing machines.
Michael Grandner, director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the University of Arizona, says a sound conditioner is a lifesaver if you live where loud nighttime noise is common. But even if your bedroom is very quiet, sound machines can still be helpful if you’re the type of person unsettled by a total absence of noise, or if you’re a light sleeper who wakes from even the softest sound.
Research supports the idea that a little background sound can help people fall asleep. For a study in the journal Sleep Medicine, the researchers asked sleepers to listen to recorded hospital sounds either with or without a white noise machine. They found that those who slept with the white noise machine were hardly affected by the hospital sounds, while others who slept without white noise were easily awakened.
There’s also so-called “pink noise” and “brown noise”, which can sound similar to white noise. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence yet to say one type is better than another,” says Michelle Drerup, a sleep psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “I know from talking with my patients that some people prefer natural sounds, like a rainstorm. But others don’t want a sound at all when they sleep,” she says. “It all comes down to the individual (个人).”
For some, the best sound might be none. “Biologically (生物学上), you don’t need this sound to sleep,” says Michael Grandner, “and if you use it every night, you can get so used to it that you can’t sleep without it.” Most sleep experts agree. “I wouldn’t suggest people use sound machines to sleep unless they’re reporting difficulties with outside noises,” an expert says.
1. According to the text, who should sleep with a sound conditioner?A.Those who fall asleep fast. |
B.Those who wake up easily. |
C.Those who live in a quiet street. |
D.Those who are afraid to sleep alone. |
A.Pink noise and brown noise are better. |
B.Sleeping without any noise is the best. |
C.It all depends on personal preferences. |
D.Natural sounds are the best for people. |
A.To use sound machines as little as possible. |
B.To see a doctor with your sleeping problems. |
C.To find a very quiet place to treat sleeping problems. |
D.To break the habits of sleeping with sound machines. |
A.Most Americans have a bad sleep. |
B.White noises are good for humans. |
C.Sound conditioners are a safe, non-medicine sleep aid. |
D.Not everyone should sleep with white noise machine. |
4 . Joshua trees — some of the most unusual and famous plants of the American Southwest — have survived as a species for some 2.5 million years in the Mojave Desert. Now, they may face extinction due to climate change.
In a new study published in the journal Ecosphere, researchers and volunteer scientists surveyed nearly 4,000 trees in southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park to figure out where the oldest trees grew the best during historic periods of extreme heat and drought. Then, the researchers estimated (估算) how many of these Joshua safe areas would survive to the end of the century based on a range of climate change predictions.
The study authors found that if greenhouse gas emissions (排放物) are seriously limited and summer temperatures are limited to an increase of 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit, about 19% of the park’s Joshua tree habitat (栖息地) would survive after the year 2070. If no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and summer temperatures rise by 9 degrees Fahrenheit or more, however, only 0.02% of the tree’s habitat would survive to the end of the century, leaving the tree close to extinction.
One way to save the Joshua trees from extinction is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, even if the habitats survive, these trees will still be in danger because of wildfires, which have also been happening more often as the climate warms. According to the researchers, fewer than 10% of Joshua trees survive when wildfires rush through their habitats.
“Removing grass is a way park rangers (护林员) are helping to protect the area from fire today,” Sweet, a plant ecologist at the University of California, said. “By protecting the trees, they’re protecting a host of other native insects and animals that depend on them as well.”
1. Why did the researchers survey some Joshua trees?A.To predict the number of Joshua trees. |
B.To know their past and predict their future. |
C.To make sure they will be safe from disasters. |
D.To set up more nature reserves for Joshua trees. |
A.Their future is in humans’ hand. |
B.Their numbers are dropping greatly. |
C.They may adapt to rising temperatures. |
D.They are suffering most from climate change. |
A.Another way to save Joshua trees. |
B.Another threat Joshua trees may face. |
C.The importance of Joshua trees’ habitats. |
D.The chance of fire happening to Joshua trees. |
A.Skilled. | B.Challenging. |
C.Creative. | D.Worthwhile. |
5 . For the past 10 years I have been cycling on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Every summer vacation, I spend a month biking across the plateau.
In 2014, I set out on a cycle route with five other people in the far west of the Tibet autonomous region. Our 2,000-kilometer route started in Lhasa in the east, passed through the northern part of the prefecture (辖区) and ended in the west.
Titled the “top of the Roof of the World”, the plateau, which has a small population, has incredible scenery. Travelers can see the snowy mountains, clean blue lakes, lots of animals during the day, and clear, starry skies at night.
The route consists of dirt, even broken stones and paths, which have been formed over time by passing vehicles. Animal attacks are a potential risk in the wild. One night, we had to camp near a forest where there were potential animal attacks, especially from wolves. We found a house in a locked yard, but no one answered our calls from the gate. It was the time of the seasonal migration, so maybe the people had moved to another place for better water and grass. Then we had to camp outside. One of us was very experienced and careful. He placed some hay bales (干草捆) alongside the wall and said that if something dangerous happened, we could use them to jump into the yard and shelter (躲避) in the house.
Luckily, we didn’t meet any wolves or other animals, though we could hear them calling. Animal attacks remain a major cause of injuries on that route. Before the trip, we read online that a traveler had been bitten by wolves. The temporary “step” our companion built made us feel safer.
1. Which one is true according to the first two paragraphs?A.The author often take part in recycling race. |
B.Whenever the spring comes, the author will recycle to Tibit. |
C.In 2014’s cycling route, the author set out from Lhasa. |
D.In 2014’s cycling route, the author rode eastern form west. |
A.Why the plateau is called the “top of the Roof of the World”. |
B.Why it’s hard to travel around the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. |
C.The small population of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. |
D.The beauty of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. |
A.Slight. | B.Terrible. | C.Possible. | D.Additional. |
A.To make them feel safer. |
B.To keep themselves warm. |
C.To feed cows for the villagers. |
D.To help the villagers make a fire. |
6 . Avett Ray is a little boy with a disability. It may seem
The young piano genius (天才) was born
Avett Ray is very
A.strange | B.easy | C.unlucky | D.unfair |
A.gift | B.dream | C.choice | D.task |
A.perfect | B.blind | C.strong | D.smart |
A.controlled | B.shared | C.used | D.began |
A.goal | B.skills | C.time | D.scores |
A.changed | B.educated | C.amazed | D.helped |
A.agreed | B.admitted | C.doubted | D.tried |
A.moment | B.suggestion | C.band | D.chance |
A.active | B.careful | C.nervous | D.certain |
A.director | B.manager | C.singer | D.fan |
A.calmed | B.served | C.persuaded | D.encouraged |
A.understand | B.comfort | C.protect | D.believe |
A.borrowed | B.found | C.wrote | D.bought |
A.Simply | B.Clearly | C.Gradually | D.Usually |
A.special | B.brave | C.ordinary | D.equal |
Once upon a time there were two boys living in a palace,
One day, he saw a big vase filled with
Before they all arrived, the other boy told the boy
As soon as the boy admitted having taken the flowers, the King went red with anger, but after
8 . Gossip is the sharing of personal information about someone else who is not present. All of us have probably caught ourselves, from time to time, allowing ourselves to enjoy the pleasure of gossiping more than we would like to admit. Someone says the words, “Don’t tell this to anyone.”
Gossip has some characteristics (特点). First, gossip is an activity that is done with other people.
Researchers studied volunteers, including women and men, to find out some facts about gossip. They found that most gossip was neutral (不偏袒的).
A.We can’t do it alone or only in our head. |
B.Women gossip more than men, but only neutrally. |
C.So people express their angry feelings by gossiping. |
D.What’s more interesting is who gossips and how much. |
E.And the information was interesting for the present people. |
F.But moments later, we may tell it to someone else with the exact same warning. |
G.It means people were simply sharing information about a person who wasn’t present. |
9 . Things to do in London this weekend
Sheep & Wool Fayre, Sunday 11 am
Sheep & Wool Fayre is one of Spitalfield’s City Farm’s biggest community events and this year it’s still going ahead virtually (虚拟地) celebrating all woolly things with all its usual shows and competitions.
Order take-away pints(一品脱的啤酒)
Buy a pint and head for some of that daily exercise — or a rest — in the park. Just remember: parks in the capital are still largely closed right now, so check their opening hours ahead of time. And many parks close at 5 pm or 7 pm each evening.
Royal Botanic Gardens, all weekend
The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens has been allowed by the government to welcome visitors. Of course, it will be going under strict social distancing rules and all visitors, including members, will have to book tickets online ahead of time.
Camden Market, Saturday 10 am
Camden Market — along with the rest of London — has been closed because of COVID-19 for the last two months, but it is opening its stores again. Head along to pick up some top-quality things — only fresh produce will be sold at this time. When you visit, there will be strict social distance rules.
Maltby Street Market, all weekend
Outdoor markets have been officially allowed to be re-opened to the public — but with strict social distance rules in place. Maltby Street Market is making a comeback today. For now, it’ll be returning as the “Maltby St. Produce Market”, having “a small number of carefully selected fresh produce traders”.
1. Which can only be enjoyed online right now?A.Sheep & Wool Fayre. | B.Royal Botanic Gardens. |
C.Camden Market. | D.Maltby Street Market. |
A.It’s open to all visitors. |
B.Local government runs it. |
C.It is very well-known in the world. |
D.Tickets must be booked beforehand. |
A.Top-quality clothes. | B.Wool products. |
C.Fresh produce. | D.Pints. |
1. Who was going to give a party for Mary?
A.Mr Green. |
B.Mary’s friends. |
C.Mrs Green. |
A.Thirty. | B.Twenty. | C.Thirteen. |
A.Some fruit like apples, oranges and bananas. |
B.Some food like cakes, bread and meat. |
C.Some drinks like tea, coffee and milk. |
A.At three o’clock. |
B.Before three o’clock. |
C.After three o’clock. |