1 . NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORERS

Anand Varma

In the woods near his childhood home in Atlanta, Varma discovered his passion for being immersed in the natural world. Then he picked up his father’s camera and found a way to share that enthusiasm. Now living in Berkeley, California, Varma has spent years developing innovative photography techniques to reveal aspects of science and nature, such as the rapid motions of hummingbirds that normally go unseen.

Katie Orlinsky

During almost a decade of living in and visiting Alaska, Orlinsky has been examining the effects of climate change on the Arctic. Her images of its melting permafrost appeared in the September 2019 issue of National Geographic, and for this issue she hiked solo for days in a remote stretch of Alaska to document migrating caribou. The June 2023 cover story featured her photographs of the world’s first designated wilderness area, in New Mexico.

Neil Shea

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Shea is an award-winning writer who works in print, film, television, and audio. His first book Frostlines: Dispatches From the New Arctic will be published by Ecco in 2025. It covers cultural and environmental shifts in places from Iraqi Kurdistan to East Africa.

Emma Lira

A travel writer and specialist in Spain, Lira has authored historical novels, A Lonely Planet Granada Guide, and A National Geographic Story On Tenerife’s Mummies. She’s a resident of Madrid and the Canary Islands and leads small group tours for women throughout the Islamic world.

These contributors have received funding from the National Geographic Society, which is committed to protecting the wonder of our world.

1. What is unique to Anand Varma?

A．His exploring passion.	B．His adventurous experiences.
C．His environmental awareness.	D．His new photography techniques.

2. What did Katie do for the images chosen by National Geographic in 2019?

A．She covered a long distance in Alaska alone.

B．She investigated the impact of climate change.

C．She explored the wildness area in New Mexico.

D．She spent 10 years living in and visiting Alaska.

3. What do Neil and Emma have in common?

A．They are both travel enthusiasts.	B．They are both expert in writing.
C．They have both published their books.	D．They both care about climate changes.

2 . Writing competitions

Closing date in April

Author of Tomorrow aims to find future adventure writers. Young people under 21 can send entries (参赛作品) between 1,500 and 5,000 words (under 500 words for primary-aged pupils). The prizes are £1,000 for the 16-21 age group, £100 and £150 in book tokens (购书券) for the 12-15 age group, and £100 and £150 in book tokens for the 11 and under age group. The closing date is 29th April.

Tadpole Press is running a worldwide 100-word writing competition open to writers of all ages. Entries of 100 words can be sent in any type. The competition requires a small entry fee and 1st place receives a cash prize, while 2nd and 3rd places get writing coaching and editing packages. The deadline is 30th April.

Closing date in May

The Martha Mills Young Writers’ Prize invites young people in the UK aged 11-14 to send under 500 words of “writing that is lively, unusual or otherwise original”. This year’s topic is “The Stranger” and the closing date is 22nd May.

War Through Children’s Eyes is open to children aged 7-17 in the UK and aims to “raise awareness of the impact of wars on the communities caught up in them, and particularly on the most vulnerable members of those communities: their children”: Entries of up to 1,000 words are invited, and full details about the competition are available on its website. The closing date is 10th May.

1. Which competition is suitable for a person good at writing adventure stories?

A．Tadpole Press.

B．Author of Tomorrow.

C．War Through Children’s Eyes.

D．The Martha Mills Young Writers’ Prize.

2. What do we know about Tadpole Press?

A．All types of entries are accepted.

B．It is free of charge for all writers.

C．The winners will receive cash prizes.

D．It welcomes writers across the world.

3. What do the two competitions closing in May have in common?

A．They have specific topics.	B．They close on the same day.
C．They are only for teen writers.	D．They accept entries over 500 words.

6 . Instagram is one of the most popular photo apps. Animal photos are huge on it, with creatures such as tigers, monkeys holding millions of tags (标签) each. This year Instagram reveals the top four most Instagrammable animals that can be found in the UK.

1. Rabbit — 18.7 million tags

Our clear winner is the rabbit. Popular as pets, rabbits are a common sight in many UK homes. Although it is a symbol of Easter, rabbits can be seen year-round. Shy, danger-averse animals, wild rabbits will run away when threatened, which may make it tricky to get the perfect shot of them.

2. Duck — 8.2 million tags

A variety of duck species native to the UK can be seen year-round, close to bodies of water. The Mallard with its bright yellow beak and emerald green head is well-known to many of us. Ducks tend to stick together in groups, so visit your local pond or river to try and spot a flock to photograph!

3. Robin — 4.4 million tags

The red-breasted robin is associated with winter and Christmas. Robins will protect their space aggressively and won’t hesitate to drive away interlopers (闯入者) . Interestingly, robins can often be heard singing at night in that they mistake artificial light, such as street lamps for daylight. Try to catch a quick shot of a robin singing to the street lamps at dusk!

4. Hedgehog — 4.3 million tags

Hedgehogs are nocturnal creatures and hibernate during the coldest months. You’re most likely to catch sight of one on a summer evening in dry spaces. Hedgehogs can travel as far as 12 miles in a single night!A baby hedgehog is known by the sweet name of “hoglet” and a little hedgehog family makes for the perfect picture if you can capture it without frightening the animals.

1. Which animal is associated with Easter?

A．Rabbit.

B．Duck.

C．Robin.

D．Hedgehog

2. Why are robins often heard singing at night?

A．Because they try to guard against shots.

B．Because they attempt to drive away interlopers.

C．Because they tend to mix artificial light up with daylight.

D．Because they want to express their affection for street lamps.

3. What do these four animals have in common?

A．They are all active at night.	B．They are all social animals.
C．They are all found in urban areas.	D．They are all popular on Instagram.

8 . 阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The world in a university

The recently held Peking University 20th International Culture Festival was a spectacular showcase of unity and cross-cultural     1     (communicate).

Upon my arrival at the square of Peking University Hall on Oct 21, I     2     (immediate) found I was involved in a lively atmosphere. Students and alumni (校友) from over 100countries and regions had gathered     3     (celebrate) the university’s 20th International Culture Festival (ICF), with the theme of “Meeting the World at PKU”.

The International Culture Carnival featured a series of experiences, ranging from card games     4     creative activities. Each booth (摊位) that had been set up     5     (serve) as a gateway to another culture.

As I wandered around, I was invited to join a dance at the Malaysian booth. In no time, I found     6     (I) in the midst of a large dance circle, where people from different backgrounds celebrated together with     7     (energy) movements and joyful laughter.

Beside me were a girl from Inner Mongolia, China, and a girl from Russia     8     were excited to discover that their hometowns were right next to each other, despite being in different countries.

As I visited each booth, I engaged in conversations with students from different countries,     9     (share) thoughts and experiences on the carnival’s vibrant displays.

Manohar Kumar,     10     Indonesian student from the School of Chemistry, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting global understanding, tolerance, acceptance, and harmony. “It is a testament to the beauty of diversity and the power of cultural exchange,” he said.

9 . Like many people, Stimpson, who is nearly 80, has noticed an alarming loss of wildlife in his lifetime. The clouds of swifts(雨燕) of his childhood have disappeared.

A loss of nesting sites is driving the decline of swifts in the UK, whose numbers are believed to have dropped by about 57% in 22 years. These birds—which are now on the UK’s red list—are site-specific, meaning each spring they come back to the same spot after flying thousands of miles from Africa. The problem is that lots of old barns and houses have been upgraded and repaired so that nesting sites have disappeared.

Thirteen years ago, no one was making swift boxes, so Stimpson started. “I’m not a carpenter, I’m a salesman, but I thought I’d certainly give it a go,” he says. When he started, he could make three a day, and now on a really good day he can make 30. “The government and big wildlife organizations don’t end up doing much to stop wildlife loss. We seem to have too many pen-pushers and not enough workers,” he says. “We could do an awful lot more than we’re doing.”

He believes local action groups are much more effective and has been working with a number of them. “The number of swift groups that have started up in the last five to eight years is quite staggering. And they seem to go from strength to strength,” he says.

“Swifts are the one thing where an individual can make a significant difference,” says Dick Newell, from Action for Swifts, who has 66 pairs of nesting swifts in his village of Landbeach in Cambridgeshire, 20 of them nesting on his house.

Newell says developers should put a swift brick in every new building, and he has been working with housebuilding company Taylor Wimpey to make this happen. Exeter city council has started incorporating them into new buildings, as well as the Duchy of Cornwall, and local councils are getting on board. Others are working on bee bricks and hedgehog(刺猬) holes in new developments.

1. What leads to the swifts’ decrease in the UK?

A．A lack of nesting sites.	B．The construction of more buildings.
C．Their being removed from the red list.	D．Their deaths during their long journey.

2. What is Stimpson’s attitude to the practice of the government and big wildlife organizations?

A．Satisfied.

B．Negative.

C．Indifferent.

D．Favorable.

3. What does the underlined word “staggering” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Confusing.

B．Reasonable.

C．Astonishing.

D．Changeable.

4. What does Newell advise developers to do?

A．Reduce houses made of bricks.	B．Build fewer buildings in rural areas.
C．Include a swift brick in new buildings.	D．Give special attention to bees and hedgehogs.

10 . Welcome to Mounts Botanical Garden!

Discover our 80-thousand-square-meter tropical oasis(绿洲), where you’ll find more than 7,000 species among our collection of tropical and sub-tropical plants.

Garden walkways provide easy access for all. Whether you’re planning an outing with family and friends, or just need a space for yourself, Mounts Botanical Garden is here to inspire, educate and surprise you with the wonders of nature.

Garden Hours
●Tuesday—Sunday
●9:00 am—3:00 pm (June—October, last entry at 2:00)
●9:00 am—4:00 pm (November—May, last entry at 3:00)

Closed on Mondays and all Palm Beach County holidays. (2023 Holidays: February 20, May 29, June 19, July 4, September 4, October 9, November 23—24, and December 25—26)

Garden Admission
●Adults: $15
●Seniors (65+): $12
●College students with ID: $12
●Children (6—17): $7
●Children (under 6): Free
Make the Most of Your Garden Visit
●For admission and shop purchases: bank cards only; no cash.
●We suggest wearing sunscreen, bringing plenty of water and an umbrella to protect you from both the sun and rain.
●Smoking is not allowed in the Garden.
●Children must be closely watched at all times.
●Dogs are welcome to join their humans on the 2nd Sunday of each month—except during events and plant sales.
●Sensory bags, including tools to help children and adults calm down, are sold at the Welcome Center & Gift Shop for visitors with sensory sensitivities, which are designed to help families feel more prepared and confident to take part during their visit to the Garden.
Parking

A parking lot is located at the front of Mounts Botanical Garden. There is no charge for parking.

Contact
Address: 531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida 33415
Phone: (561) 233-1757
1. How much should a couple in their forties pay if they take their 17-year-old son to the Garden?

A．$31.

B．$42.

C．$30.

D．$37.

2. Which of the following can visitors do in the Garden?

A．Have a smoke.	B．Enjoy tropical plants.
C．Buy gifts with paper money.	D．Make sensory bags with families.

3. What do we know about the Garden?

A．Free parking is provided.	B．It welcomes dogs every Sunday.
C．It is open for half a day on Mondays.	D．Visitors can enter at 10 am on Christmas Day.