1 . Nalini Nadkarni didn’t play with Barbies as a girl. She was too busy climbing the maple trees in her front yard in Bethesda.
“When I was growing up in Bethesda, we tried to live simply,” Nadkarni, a University of Utah biology professor who studies rainforest canopies, said. “And a Barbie didn’t quite fit in with living a simple life.” Instead, said Nadkarni, she and her sisters were encouraged by their parents to create their own fun. For Nadkarni, that meant tree climbing.
Nadkarni is doing research in Costa Rica on trees. It has never been more important, Nadkarni said, to share what she has learned with a new generation.
“In 2003, I’d been thinking of ways to help get girls more interested in science, and I looked to my young daughter. I knew that girls wanted to play with Barbies and look like Barbies,” Nadkarni said. “But what if Barbie had field clothes on and came with a little booklet about canopy plants?” Mattel, the company that makes Barbies, wasn’t interested in her idea, but she persisted. She finally created her own treetop dolls. Mattel agreed that she could produce the dolls on a small scale.
Last year, Nadkarni was thrilled to learn that National Geographic was working with Mattel to come up with a new line of adventure dolls, and that they wanted her advice.
Since sales of the explorer Barbies began in the summer, Nadkarni said, she has heard from girls coast to coast, thanking her for her work in rainforests and asking questions about how they can make a difference to help trees in their own communities.
“When I started hearing from these young kids, I realized they truly understood the terrible situation our forests were in,” she said. “They really care, and they want us grown-ups to do something to save our environment. I love climbing trees and learning all I can about them. But getting children excited about protecting our forests is one of the most important things I do.”
1. What can we learn about Nadkarni when she was a child?| A．She found joy in climbing trees. | B．She used to play with Barbies. |
| C．Her parents were strict with her. | D．She was asked to behave like a boy. |
| A．To amuse her daughter. | B．To attract girls to Barbies. |
| C．To represent her scientific achievements. | D．To fire girls’ enthusiasm for science. |
| A．Regret. | B．Delight. | C．Nervousness. | D．Astonishment. |
| A．Nadkarni created the explorer Barbies. |
| B．Girls thanked Nadkarni for the new dolls. |
| C．The explorer Barbies have a great influence on girls. |
| D．Young kids don’t care about the environment. |
1. 表达自己的歉意；
2. 阐述道歉的原因(至少2条)；
3. 表达自己的友好之情，提倡(advocate)相互理解、相互尊重。
注意：
1. 词数100左右。
2. 文中不得提及考生所在学校和本人姓名。
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3 . Can everything be recycled? No, not all things can be recycled. But you might be surprised to learn how many things can be recycled. You may already know about plastic bottles. Did you know you can also recycle glass?
Glass can be recycled to make all sorts of things. Recycling glass really helps the planet. Making new products from recycled glass causes less air and water pollution. It also uses less energy than making new glass.
When glass arrives at a recycling plant, people and machines sort it by color. Similar colors of glass must be recycled together. That way, recycled products are as pure as possible. This makes them stronger and less likely to break. Once the glass is sorted, it's washed. That's when the breaking begins. That's right! To be recycled, glass has to be broken to make a material called cullet(碎玻璃).
Glass manufacturers love cullet. It's cheaper than the raw materials they'd need to make new glass. It also melts at a lower temperature. That means they save energy during the production process. Glass manufacturers mix cullet with other materials like sand and soda ash. Then they heat it to over 2,600℉. This makes liquid glass, which can then be poured into a mold (模具). There, it cools and forms a finished glass product.
Most recycled glass is used to make new glass containers, such as jars and bottles. However, recycled glass can also find its way into all sorts of other products including a variety of construction products.
Do you recycle at home or school? What glass products should you be sure to recycle when you’ re done with them? With everyone doing their part, recycling glass can make a huge difference to the planet!
1. What is the first step in recycling glass?| A．Sorting it according to color. | B．Cleaning it with water. |
| C．Removing the color in it. | D．Breaking it into cullet. |
| A．It is easy to get. | B．It helps cut costs. |
| C．It can be easily broken. | D．It can be mixed with other materials. |
| A．To call attention to home or school environment. |
| B．To help readers classify glass products at home. |
| C．To encourage glass recycling among readers. |
| D．To encourage readers to use fewer glass products. |
| A．Recyclable things that you might have ignored. |
| B．The difficulty in glass recycling. |
| C．How to recycle at home or school. |
| D．How glass is recycled. |
4 . Now Sea World on the Gold Coast is the only dolphin park in Australia to continue keeping dolphins in captivity. This wouldn't have been possible without thousands of warm-hearted supporters being a voice for dolphins protection over many years.
In August last year, Ben Pearson, our head of campaigns in Australia and New Zealand, appeared before the NSW upper house inquiry into the use wild animals for entertainment to put forward our case for ban on captive Dolphin breeding in the state. “If a dolphin were bred today, it may still be alive in 2070. This regulation frees future dolphins from being kept in lockdown at a time when the public acceptability of keeping dolphins in captivity for entertainment is declining. As the tide turns against using marine mammals in captivity for entertainment, conversation about what will happen to the dolphins at Sea World needs to start now. First step is a ban on further breeding,” Ben Pearson said.
Major travel brands including Tripadvisor and Booking. com have already committed to stop selling tickets to dolphin shows and encounters. As well as these great changes for dolphins from the travel industry, Canada recently passed a ban on keeping dolphins and whales for entertainment. This is part of a global movement towards better treatment of these wild animals, which includes the nations of Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK.
Dolphins are magnificent, intelligent animals. They belong in the wild and should not be bred in captivity for entertainment. In their natural environment, dolphins swim freely in 100 square kilometres of ocean, sometimes more, but the average dolphin in captivity has a fraction of that space. Together, we can make this the last generation of dolphins in captivity.
1. What makes Sea World on the Gold Coast the only dolphin park?| A．Dolphins take too long a time to feed. |
| B．People's awareness of protecting dolphins. |
| C．Sea World on the Gold Coast has enough money. |
| D．Dolphins in Sea World on the Gold Coast like people's voice. |
| A．Wave. | B．Support. | C．Opinion. | D．Doubt. |
| A．More parks for dolphins will be built. | B．More dolphins will be kept in parks. |
| C．Wild animals will live a better life. | D．More countries will feed wild animals. |
| A．Make Dolphins Live Freely | B．Protect Sea World on the Gold Coast |
| C．Change the Ways of Entertainment | D．Prevent People from Feeding Animals |
5 . More reasons to hate humidity: it expands global warming, a prof says.
Andrew Dessler, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences who specializes in research on climate, says that warming due to increases in greenhouse gases will lead to higher humidity in the atmosphere. And because water vapor itself is a greenhouse gas, this will cause additional warming. This process is known as water vapor feedback and is responsible for a significant portion of the warming predicted to occur over the next century.
“It’s a vicious cycle-warmer temperatures mean higher humidity, which in turn leads to even more warming,” Dessler explains.
The perspective by Dessler and co-author Steven Sherwood of the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South Wales is published in the current issue of Science magazine. In the article, they review and summarize the peer-reviewed evidence in support of a strong water vapor feedback and conclude that the evidence supporting it is overwhelming. “For years, there was a debate over this mechanism, with some even questioning if the water vapor feedback existed at all. But recent work on this feedback has moved its existence and strength beyond argument,” Dessler adds.
Predictions of significant global warming over the next 100 years by climate models require a strong water vapor feedback. Recent estimates suggest the earth will warm from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius (4 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit) over the next century—a scenario that could have devastating long-term consequences.
“Everything shows that the climate models are probably getting the water vapor feedback night, which means that unless we reduce emissions, it is going to get much, much warmer on our planet by the end of the century,” he adds.
Many scientists believe such warming rates are already happening. They can point to the summer of 2003, when a prolonged heat wave gripped Europe. According to the Earth Policy Institute, more than 35,000 people died that summer, with France recording over 14,000 deaths and Germany more than 7,000. Additionally, warmer temperatures are having an adverse effect in the Arctic, where rapid loss of ice is now occurring. “The only possible way future warming won’t be significant is if there exists some sort of off-setting negative feedback, which has yet to be discovered,” Dessler notes. “Most scientists, myself included, judge that to be a pretty unlikely possibility.”
1. What does water vapor feedback in the passage mean?| A．Water vapor will lend to a significant portion of the warming. |
| B．The increases of greenhouse gases will lead to higher humidity. |
| C．Increasing humidity from global warming is making the earth warmer. |
| D．Higher humidity has caused the earth to warm from 2 to 4 degrees Celsius. |
| A．Scientists had a heated argument over the water vapor feedback. |
| B．The existence and strength of water vapor feedback is without question. |
| C．Andrew Dessler wrote an article to support his idea of water vapor feedback. |
| D．There was no significant evidence for the existence of water vapor feedback. |
| A．Scientists could find the offsetting negative feedback in the future. |
| B．There exists some sort offsetting negative water vapor feedback. |
| C．The warming of the earth will have destructive short-term consequences. |
| D．We may decrease the speed of global warming by reducing the emissions. |
| A．Positive. | B．Supportive. | C．Neutral. | D．Pessimistic. |
In a recent business magazine article, a president said, laughter in the workplace is a waste of time. This is a place to do business, not to laugh, some researcher, however, disagree with his words. As scientists have learned more about the brain, they’ve discovered that smiles and laughter stimulate the brain, which can help increase happiness and reduce pain. Why do we need laughter in our lives? Laughter is a powerful tool for our health. In a number of studies that were carried out, it was shown that people who are more humorous have stronger immune systems while people who feel stressed have weaker immune systems(免疫系统). Humor can help make your immune systems stronger.
Here are some tips to add more humor to your life.
Laugh at yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Have a positive attitude towards yourself and your worries will become lighter, too.
Don’t worry when people laugh—just appreciate it. Be funny. Look for the humorous side of otherwise difficult situation.
Prepare a first-aid laughter source. This could include books, cartoons, CDs or videos. Write down the amusing things that happen and save them for a sad day.
Be open to silly things. Humor the child within yourself.
Laugh with others what they do, rather than what they are.
Research has shown that laughter is indeed the best medicine, so make time for humor now.
1. What is the best title for this passage? (please answer within 8 words.)2. List three suggestions that might help you add humor to your life according to the passage. (Please answer within 15 words.)
3. According to the passage, how do people benefit(受益) from laughter?
(Please answer within 20 words.)
4. Please translate the sentence underlined into Chinese.
5. According to the passage, why humor can help people keep healthy?(Please answer within 15 words.)
7 . Whether you’re interested in green agriculture and rainforest conservation or supporting sustainable sources, organizations worldwide are investing time and effort into various environmental protection projects. Volunteers are always needed to help with the different initiatives to protect the environment.
The past years have been bothered by an endless report of natural disasters occurring in geographically weak locations. Floods are affecting the places that previously never faced this problem while heat waves, droughts and earthquakes are becoming the norm (常态). Important wildlife and plant species are disappearing and threatening the planet’s biodiversity. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), there are other problems: deforestation (毁林), pollution, water scarcity, illegal fishing and wildlife trade.
The ongoing industrialization and the lack of awareness are taking its toll (毁坏) and it’s time for that to change. Most people remain inactive, believing small changes won’t make a difference. However, there are many ways to help. Small changes carried out by some people do make a difference.
Excellent examples of this are organizations that believe small initiatives have a significant impact. These projects are growing steadily and positively affecting the environmental conservation and influencing the local community. They are creating awareness among others and helping them understand the importance of environmental conservation while creating volunteer opportunities to help the environment.
The organizations will learn valuable skills about environmental conservation but most importantly, they are moving towards change. There are enough environmental volunteer opportunities that need your help and there’s no time to waste! Continue reading about environmental volunteer programs abroad and take steps toward environmental conservation.
There are plenty of options once you decide to become an environmental volunteer. The tasks will depend on the project you have decided to volunteer with and can vary greatly. With over 130 projects focused on the environment, you’ll find projects that match both your skill set and travel preference.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．The threats the earth is facing. |
| B．The influence of natural disasters. |
| C．The need to know natural disasters. |
| D．The difficulty in protecting the earth. |
| A．They make small changes. | B．They help each other. |
| C．They keep sitting by. | D．They try to find ways. |
| A．It’s easier said than done. | B．It’ll be all right on the night. |
| C．Where there’s life, there’s hope. | D．There is no time like the present. |
| A．To call on people to be environmental volunteers. |
| B．To show the serious problems of the environment. |
| C．To discuss the ways of environmental conservation. |
| D．To explain the reasons for protecting the environment. |
8 . Music has long been considered to be an enjoyable pastime for many people．
Many people enjoy relaxing music in the evening prior to going to bed．
When it comes to heart health，there is speculation （推测） that it's not the style of music， but rather the tempo that makes it so good for your heart health．In one European study，participants listened to music as the researchers monitored their heart rates and blood pressure．
| A．This feeling can also result in many other health problems． |
| B．Some experts say that music can be harmful if it is too loud． |
| C．This idea is a little off-the-wall but still has scientific backing． |
| D．They say it can play a big role in calming the brain enough to sleep． |
| E．The implications of music on overall well-being are really impressive． |
| F．It is also highly popular due to the individualized effects on stress and anxiety． |
| G．Interestingly，the more cheerful the music was，the faster their heart rates were． |
9 . If you are planning to start a career in the field of education，science，or culture，then an internship（实习） at UNESCO will be ideal for you．
Who can apply？
You have completed your full-time university studies；or．
You are studying in a graduate program for a master's degree．
Applicants in technical assignments must have reached the last year of their studies in a technical institution．
What are the requirements？
You must be at least 20 years old．
You should have a good command （掌握） of either English or French．
You must have an excellent knowledge of office-related software．
You should be able to work well in a team and adapt to an international working environment．
You should possess strong interpersonal and communication skills．
What do you need to prepare？
Visa：You should obtain the necessary visas．
Travel：You must arrange and finance your travel to and from the location where you will do your internship．
Medical insurance：You must show proof of a comprehensive health insurance valid（有效的）in the target country for the entire period of the internship．UNESCO will provide limited insurance coverage up to USD30,000 for the internship period．
Medical certificate：You must provide a medical certificate indicating you are fit to work．
Motivation letter：You should have your motivation letter ready before filling out the application form．
Your application will be accessed by UNESCO managers and will stay in our database for six months．We do not respond to every candidate．If selected，you will be contacted by a manager．If you do not receive any update within six months，it means that your application has not been successful．
1. According to this passage，applicants are required to________．| A．hold a master's degree in science |
| B．have international work experience |
| C．be fluent in either English or French |
| D．present a letter from a technical institution |
| A．Limited medical insurance coverage． |
| B．Training in communication skills． |
| C．A medical certificate for work． |
| D．Financial support for travel． |
| A．Contact UNESCO managers． | B．Get access to the database． |
| C．Keep a motivation letter at hand． | D．Work in a team for six months． |
10 . I remember the day during our first week of class when we were informed about our semester（学期） project of volunteering at a non-profit organization．When the teacher introduced us to the different organizations that needed our help，my last choice was Operation Iraqi Children （OIC）．My first impression of the organization was that it was not going to make enough of a difference with the plans I had in mind．
Then，an OIC representative gave us some details，which somewhat interested me．After doing some research， I believed that we could really do something for those kids．When I went online to the OIC website，I saw pictures of the Iraqi children．Their faces were so powerful in sending a message of their despair（绝望） and need that I joined this project without hesitation．We decided to collect as many school supplies as possible，and make them into kits——one kit，one child．
The most rewarding day for our group was project day，when all the efforts we put into collecting the items finally came together．When I saw the various supplies we had collected，it hit me that every kit we were to build that day would eventually be in the hands of an Iraqi child．Over the past four months，I had never imagined how I would feel once our project was completed．While making the kits，I realized that I had lost sight of the true meaning behind it．I had only focused on the fact that it was another school project and one I wanted to get a good grade on．When the kits were completed，and ready to be sent overseas，the warm feeling I had was one I would never forget．
In the beginning，I dared myself to make a difference in the life of another person．Now that our project is over，I realize that I have affected not only one life，but ten．With our efforts，ten young boys and girls will now be able to further their education．
1. How did the author feel about joining the OIC project in the beginning？| A．It would affect his/her initial plans． |
| B．It would involve traveling overseas． |
| C．It would not bring him/her a good grade． |
| D．It would not live up to his/her expectations． |
| A．Images of Iraqi children． | B．Research by his/her classmates． |
| C．A teacher's introduction． | D．A representative's comments． |
| A．become OIC volunteers | B．further their education |
| C．study in foreign countries | D．influence other children |
| A．One's potential cannot always be underrated． |
| B．First impression cannot always be trusted． |
| C．Actions speak louder than words． |
| D．He who hesitates is lost． |
