1 . Standing on the ruins（废墟）after the fire where his house had been, Peter Ruprecht admitted that he was not sure how or when to rebuild. He was still shocked by what Australia's increasingly changeable climate had already delivered: first a drought, then a destructive bush fire, then a foot of rain from a storm.

"It's unstoppable," said Mr. Ruprecht, a former dairy farmer. "We speak about the warmth of Mother Nature, but nature can also be vicious and wild and unforgiving."

Australia's' hellish（地狱的）fire season has eased（缓和）, but its people are facing more than a single disaster. With floods destroying homes not far from where fires recently spread, they are facing a cycle of what scientists call "compound extremes": one climate disaster strengthening the next.

Warmer temperatures do more than just dry out the land. They also heat up the atmosphere, which means clouds hold more moisture（水汽）for longer periods of time. So droughts get worse, giving way to fires, then to heavy rains that the land is too dry to absorb.

Many Australians in disaster zones complain that their government, after ignoring climate change for years, has not yet to draw up recovery plans that are clear and that take future threats into account.

At the same time, the economic costs of a changing climate are rising quickly. Philip Lowe, the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, warned recently that Australia was already paying a price, and that it would only go up.

1. Why Peter Ruprecht is mentioned in the beginning?

A．To arouse readers' pity.	B．To introduce the topic.
C．To stress the problem.	D．To call on readers to help.

2. Which word can replace the underlined word "vicious" in Paragraph 1?

A．grateful

B．advanced

C．responsible

D．forcible

3. What is the main cause of "compound extremes" in Australia?

A．Government inaction.	B．Warmer temperature.
C．The lack of money.	D．No recovery plans.

4. Where is the text probably from?

A．guidebook.

B．A travel journal.

C．A news report.

D．A book review.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

If the world wants to control global warming, water shortage and pollution, we all need to welcome “flexitarian” diets. This means     1     (eat) mainly plant-based foods, and is a key step toward     2     environment friendly future for all in 2050, they say.

The authors say that present food industry has a number of environmental effects including being a great driver of climate change, using up freshwater     3     causing pollution through heavy use of chemical fertilizer. The study finds that no single solution will avoid the dangers, so a combined approach     4     (need). So when it comes to climate change, the authors looked at     5     they called a “flexitarian” diet.

“We can eat a range of     6     (health) diets but what they all have in common, according to the     7     (late) scientific evidence, is that they are all     8     (relative) plant-based,” said Dr. Marco from the University of Oxford. We call it a flexitarian diet over to a vegetarian (素食的) diet.

If the world moved     9     this type of diet, the study finds that greenhouse gas emissions (排放物)from farming would be reduced by more than half.     10    (accept) by the experts, this type of diet is bound to be adopted by more and more people.

3 . There are around 100 tribes that live in global isolation, mostly in South America and India.

The Sentinelese(250 people)have lived on one of the Andaman Islands in Eastern India for 60, 000 years. They protect their island by fighting against people from outside. Their language is different from any other known language.

Another Andaman tribe is the Jarawa(300 people). In the past, they were independent and fought against anybody trying to make contact with them. But in 1998, the Indian govemment built a road across their land, and since then, they’ve had more contact with the outside world.

Some Amazon tribes avoid contact because of unhappy memories. The Mashco—Piro left their vegetable gardens after rubber companies killed most of their tribe at the beginning of the 20th century. Those who survived became nomadic(游牧的)and started hunting animals in the forest.

The Awa live in the Amazon forests of Brazil. Out of 350 members, 100 have no contact with the outside world. They left their villages and adopted a nomadic lifestyle around 1850 to escape attacks by Europeans. In the following years, farmers in nearby communities started cutting the trees to expand their farmland. The Awa lost most of their hunting land.

The few Amazon tribes that still exist are fighting to keep their traditional way of life.

Survival, an organization that fights for the rights of tribal people, says that uncontacted tribes are the most vulnerable(弱势的)humans on the planet and that’s why their environment should be unavailable to the rest of us.

After years of pressure, the organization got Brazil’s government to clear invaders from the Awa land. All non-Awa people are leaving so the tribe can get their forest back. But some think it’s impossible for tribes to stay isolated forever in a connected world. Contact will be made one day. So the question is：Whose choice should it be, ours or theirs?

1. What could be learnt about the Sentinelese from the text?

A．They speak the same language as the Jarawa.

B．They resist contact from the outside world.

C．There are about 350 members in their tribe.

D．They received help from the Indian government.

2. Why did the Awa adopt a nomadic lifestyle?

A．To avoid being attacked by Europeans.

B．To avoid being robbed by rubber companies.

C．To protect their hunting land.

D．To maintain their traditional way of life.

3. What is Survival’s view of the tribal people?

A．They should fight for their rights by themselves.

B．We should show them respect and not disturb them.

C．It’s impossible to stay isolated from the outside world.

D．We should help them get used to the connected world.

4. How does the author describe the isolated tribes?

A．Doubtfully.

B．Critically.

C．Indifferently.

D．Objectively.

4 . When Julie got back home from school that afternoon, she noticed a pigeon sitting very closely to the front door of her ______. It seemed the pigeon hadn't moved at all. Julie moved ______. She noticed the pigeon had a wound on its wing. She was worried that a dog or a cat would eat the ______ animal. Julie ran upstairs to tell her mom about the pigeon.

"We have to help it!" Julie insisted. Julie's mom made a disgusted face. "I don't want to. Pigeons have diseases," she said. Julie began to cry. This made Julie's mom feel bad. She ______, but she gave Julie some ______. The pigeon had to stay in the kitchen in a storage bin. Julie's mom didn't want to touch the ______ bird.

While Julie tried to feed the bird bits of moist bread, Julie's mom looked online for local animal ______ organizations. She felt silly trying to save an injured pigeon though. Finally she found an organization that would take the bird, but not until the next morning. Julie stayed up all night ______ the bird.

The next morning Julia and her mother took the ______ to the bird rescue organization. Many people on the train gave Julie and her mother ______ looks. Julie's mother just shrugged. When they got to the destination, the worker smiled warmly, "It's so kind of you to do this. This means ______ to the pigeon!" ______ goodbye to the worker, Julie looked so ______ with a slight flush on her cheeks. On their way home, leaning on her mother' shoulder. Julie said softly, "Thank you, mom, for your ______ and company." Julie's mom patted her head, "I'm proud of you, sweetheart. You've taught me ______: Every life deserves to be respected and loved."

1.

A．school

B．classroom

C．flat

D．campus

2.

A．farther

B．closer

C．further

D．deeper

3.

A．injured

B．frightened

C．destroyed

D．surprised

4.

A．gave up

B．gave out

C．gave in

D．gave away

5.

A．rules

B．sources

C．comments

D．lectures

6.

A．kind

B．friendly

C．lovely

D．dirty

7.

A．volunteer

B．rescue

C．fitness

D．emergency

8.

A．watching

B．playing

C．affecting

D．cheating

9.

A．bus

B．subway

C．taxi

D．flight

10.

A．angry

B．concentrated

C．anxious

D．strange

11.

A．a few

B．a bit

C．a lot

D．a little

12.

A．Exchanging

B．Greeting

C．Seeing

D．Waving

13.

A．curious

B．content

C．calm

D．confident

14.

A．words

B．touch

C．support

D．pity

15.

A．everything

B．something

C．anything

D．nothing

5 . Doug Falter, an American photographer, returned home, teary-eyed and exhausted. He pouted online that evening, "I lost my baby." That "baby" referred to a surfboard that had been custom-made for him. Hours earlier, a big wave had separated Falter from this prized possession.

Months passed with no sign of the surfboard. Falter saved money to buy a new surfboard for $ 1,500. But Falter never completely forgot the surfboard, which - six months later and more than 5,000 miles away from where it disappeared-floated to the southern Philippines.The local fisherman who found it didn't have much use of his unusual catch of the day, so he sold the board for s 40 to Giovanne Branzuela, an elementary school teacher. Branzuela hoped to learn to surf and one day share the skill with his students,who regularly accompany him on beach clean-ups.

The once-blue board had faded to a pale straw color during its journey, but its distinctive markings were still there: two elephants, one at either end. Underneath the elephants were the words "Doug Falter Surfboard".

Branzuela couldn't believe it on realizing how far the surfboard had traveled. He reached Falter online and sent him a photo of the surfboard. Falter was shocked to learn that his "baby"had drifted(漂流) across the world's largest ocean and survived. He was overjoyed.

But the story was far from over. Falter wanted to thank Branzuela with some surfing supplies for his kind act, but the teacher asked for school supplies instead, such as backpacks for his students and materials to help them learn English.

Falter said it made him raise money for the kids. So far, he has collected $ 2,500,which he has used to buy and ship maps, puzzles, classroom posters, textbooks, and workbooks.

1. What happened to Doug Falter that afternoon?

A．His baby was lost on the beach.	B．The sea carried away his surfboard.
C．He took excellent photos of the surf.	D．His custom-made camera was damaged.

2. Why did Giovanne Branzuela buy the surlboard?

A．He liked the pale straw color of it.

B．He found it belonged to Doug Falter.

C．He found the fisherman charged low for it.

D．He wanted to learn a new skill to teach his students.

3. What can we infer about the surfboard?

A．Branzuela kept it as a prized possession.

B．Branzuela's students learned surfing with it.

C．It was returned to its owner after a long journey.

D．Falter sold it to help Philippine children.

4. Which of the following can best describe Giovanne Branzuela?

A．Selfless.	B．Merciful.
C．Generous.	D．Knowledgeable.

6 . Over the past 10 years, Chen Jinying, 90, has paid off 20.77 million yuan to her lenders. Chen used to be a doctor and she discovered there was a _________ market for down coats for elderly people, so after she retired in the early 1990s, she _________ her own company. Her business went well for the first few years and Chen was also_________ in public welfare, _________ 570,000 yuan for elderly people. But in 2011, the company_________ poor sales. She was forced to_________ her factories.

In 2012, Chen rented a factory to produce the coats, _________ sales would turn better. But the stock piled up and she even had no money to pay her workers, so she stopped _________ in 2016. Some people suggested she _________ bankruptcy (破产) to avoid paying the debt, but she __________ to do so. “I will try my best to pay off the debt, __________ I won’t feel at ease.” Chen said.

Chen’s story gained media __________. People were moved and came to her __________. When asked if she worried about having so much debt, she replied with a smile. “I have to keep myself healthy so I have the__________ to pay back the loans. People cared for me, and I want to __________ that care.”

1.

A．promising

B．terrible

C．challenging

D．attractive

2.

A．took up

B．put up

C．set up

D．picked up

3.

A．interested

B．active

C．expert

D．fortunate

4.

A．paying

B．making

C．saving

D．donating

5.

A．encountered

B．watched

C．controlled

D．stimulated

6.

A．destroy

B．build

C．design

D．sell

7.

A．predicting

B．hoping

C．advertising

D．imagining

8.

A．production

B．preparation

C．progress

D．order

9.

A．argue for

B．1ook for

C．apply for

D．fight for

10.

A．agreed

B．refused

C．urged

D．hesitated

11.

A．while

B．thus

C．otherwise

D．instead

12.

A．attention

B．resistance

C．attraction

D．exposure

13.

A．apartment

B．mind

C．store

D．aid

14.

A．luck

B．ability

C．idea

D．courage

15.

A．pass on

B．give away

C．ignore

D．discover

7 . When I was seven, my parents explained to me that my sister would be different.     1     But now I realize I see the world in a much different way, all thanks to her.

Throughout our lives, my sister has often got stared at because she has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征), which makes her appear abnormal. There were times when I had to struggle with her.     2     I simply thought. “Everyone else is just staring and that is wrong. They should offer us help instead of staring at us like it’s a circus act (马戏表演).”

I had this in mind when I was traveling alone recently and saw a mother and a son with special needs at the airport gate.     3     They were heading towards the gate of their second departure of the day. The mother was obviously stressed out and trying to keep her son calm while some items were falling out of her un-zipped (拉开拉链的) backpack. The son was pulling strangers’clothes, and she appeared to be embarrassed about it. Then the boy began to scream, looking very scared and confused.

Some people gave the son and mother strange looks, the same kind of looks my sister and I would sometimes get.     4     I tried to help calm the boy down by assuring him he was going to see his grandmother as his mom kept telling him. When the boy finally calmed down, I returned to my seat. At the time, an older gentleman turned around and said to me. “I thought about doing what you did, but I just thought about it. You did it.”

To be honest. I didn’t even really regard what I did as something different or good.     5    

A．They had got off another plane.

B．People would stare at us even more.

C．I don’t know what I should do to help.

D．But I went up and asked if I could lend a hand.

E．I just consider it as the only choice in that situation.

F．I was so angry that I shouted loudly at the strangers.

G．I had no idea what impact she would have on my daily life.

8 . What Is Stealing Your Time in 2020 and How to Get It Back

A survey from jobs site Glassdoor found that 79% of U.S. employees say they would prefer more time-related benefits over a pay raise - including vacation days (37%), paid sick days (32%) and a flexible schedule (30%).

“This year has made us all more value things that are truly important in life, and changed our relationship to work, ” says Ashley Whillans, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School. “At the end of the day, time is our most valuable resource, and we can never get it back.”    1    .

Arrange it.

    2    . And then take a hard look at the results. Probably, far too much time is being spent on unproductive periods like commutes (通勤); browsing anxiety-producing news feeds; or doing stuff you really dislike, mainly because you think you have to.

    3    .

Yes, you can essentially find more free time for yourself, like cleaning your house. It will cost you in some terms, but if you can afford it, the effect on your life happiness will be wildly disproportionate.

Leisure time matters.

The point of generating more time for yourself is not that you can spend it all playing games on your smart phone or zoning out in front of a TV screen.

    4    — but aim for more “active” leisure that is proven to produce real happiness, like having meals with friends, volunteering, exercising, or engaging in your favorite hobbies.

“It doesn’t necessarily require major life changes, like quitting your job or retiring early, ” Whillans said.    5    Use your hours deliberately, with more intention, and it will have powerful effects on your happiness.”

A．Save your time

B．Buy more time

C．Here are three tips from Whillans

D．That is “passive” leisure, and it is fine in moderation

E．There are some findings on what is stealing your time

F．Write down how you are spending your days, down to the minute

G．It can also be about smaller changes, like how you use the next 30 minutes

9 . More than a fifth of the world’s plant species face the threat of extinction, a trend with potentially disaster effects for life on Earth, according to research released on Wednesday. But a separate study warned that extinction of mammals had been estimated too highly and suggested some mammal species thought to have been wiped out may yet be rediscovered.

Stephen Hopper said the report on plant loss was the most accurate mapping yet of the threat to the planet’s estimated 380, 000 plant species. This study confirms what we already suspected, that plants are under threat and the main cause is human-caused habitat loss, Hopper said. The study, carried out by Kew with the Natural History Museum in London and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), set a “major baseline” for future conservation efforts, he said.

“We cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear—plants are the basis of all life on Earth, providing clean air, water, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depends on them, and so do we”, Hopper added, The study comes ahead of a meeting in Nagoya, Japan, from October 18 to 29, where members of the UN’s Biodiversity Convention will set new targets to save endangered wildlife.

Craig Hilton of the IUCN said he hoped the Nagoya meeting would set the goal of preventing the extinction of any known threatened species by 2020. “We want to make sure that plants will not be forgotten”, he said. In their study, researchers assessed almost 4, 000 species, of which 22 percent were classed as threatened, especially in tropical rain forest. Plants were more threatened than birds, as threatened as mammals and less threatened than amphibians (两栖动物)or coral (珊瑚), it said.

1. The underlined part “been wiped out” in the first paragraph can be replaced by ________ .

A．turned out

B．broken out

C．died out

D．run out

2. According to Hopper, the plants are under threat________.

A．because too many animals eat them as food

B．owing to their competition against each other

C．mostly because humans destroy their living areas

D．for the growing air and water pollution

3. What do scientists suggest for plants?

A．Sitting back and watching them disappear.

B．Making them supply more food to humans.

C．Preventing humans from using plant products.

D．Trying to protect them from dying out.

4. Which of the following are least likely to be endangered?

A．Birds

B．Plants

C．Amphibians

D．Coral