1 . Why do we talk the way we do? It might date back to when our ancestors left the jungle for the open plain. Between 5.3 million and 16 million years ago, Africa’s landscapes changed from thick, leafy forests to wide-open grasslands. This environmental change pushed our ancestors out of the trees and onto the ground. Along with all of the physical and behavioral changes this may have caused, researchers also believe it may have changed the way we speak.

“Open landscapes provide us with fewer objects to affect signal communication, meaning our voices can travel further compared with that in thick forests,” Charlotte Gannon, a researcher who studies language development, told Newsweek. “The move to these open spaces may have increased the effectiveness of our communication.”

By comparing the vocal calls of the orangutan (大猩猩) , Gannon and her team were able to establish how different calls could travel across different landscapes. In their study, the team played 487 calls from orangutans and measured their audibility (可听度) at set length over an overall distance of over 1,300 feet in the South African plain.

“Our results were surprising,” Gannon said, “The rule of sound spread suggests that lower-frequency (低频率) sounds (the grumphs) would have traveled further than higher-frequency sounds (the kiss squeaks). Our results actually found the opposite to this.” In these environmental settings, consonant (辅音)-like calls traveled a lot further than vowel (元音) -like calls. Actually, around 80 percent of consonant-based calls were audible at 1,300 feet, compared to only 20 percent of vowel-based calls.

Gannon said these results highlight the importance of studying living orangutan to learn about our species’ history. “We can view them as time machines that allow us to recreate key moments of our history so we can learn more about the development of our language,” Gannon said. “Despite their popularity in modern languages, consonants have often been forgotten when discussing speech development. Our research highlights not only their presence in ancient times but their importance to the development of language.”

1. What led to the speech development?

A．Behavioral change.	B．Time development.
C．Physical development.	D．Environmental change.

2. What makes communication happening 10 million years ago more effective?

A．Less block.

B．Better tools.

C．Louder voice.

D．Larger vocabulary.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The results of the study.

B．The process of the research.

C．The purpose of the program.

D．The participants of the project.

4. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A．The living orangutan can recreate our language.

B．Consonants are significant in language development.

C．The sound of grumphs travels further than that of kiss squeaks.

D．Consonant-like calls travel four times further than vowel-like calls.

2 . Macquarie Island is a tiny island that’s part of Australia. It’s about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. The island’s been made a world heritage area because it’s so untouched, but this unique environment is under threat from some unwanted visitors.

It all started when seal hunters came to the island in the early 1800s. They brought rabbits with them as a source of food for the journey, and also on board the ships were rats and mice, which made their way onto the island too. They’re being blamed for destroying the homes of marine birds, causing soil loss and ripping up plant cover, as these before-and-after photos show.

So what’s being done about the problem? It starts with a team of helicopters that fly across the island carrying these giant containers. Inside them are poisoned pellets (有毒饲料) which are dropped and spread across the island. For any rabbits that survived the baiting (诱饵) , there’s a plan B. This special team of dogs is being put through a final training. It’ll be their job to track down any remaining rabbits. They have to also learn to behave around the island’s native wildlife. The dogs could be here for years or until the task is complete. The dogs don’t actually kill the rabbits. They find them, then the hunters decide to either catch the rabbits or shoot them.

But the program has received a bit of criticism. Some people argue 25 million dollars is a lot of money to be spending on wiping out rabbits and rodents (啮齿目动物), and in the process, some native birds will be killed because of the baiting.

The reality is the problem isn’t going to be solved overnight. The people running the program say that even if one pair of rabbits is left alive, the whole task will be seen as a failure, which means these guys could be here for a long time, trying to ensure that this precious island remains protected from pests.

1. Who are these unwanted visitors?

A．Seal hunters.

B．Marine wildlife.

C．Native birds.

D．Foreign species.

2. What do the underlined words “ripping up” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Advancing.

B．Destroying.

C．Dividing

D．Balancing

3. What is being done to solve the problem of unwanted visitors on Macquarie Island?

A．Poisoned pellets are being dropped on the island from helicopters.

B．A team of hunters is being trained to catch or shoot rabbits.

C．Native birds are being protected from the unwanted visitors.

D．A special team of dogs is being sent to kill the rabbits.

4. What is the goal of the program?

A．To spend as little money as possible.

B．To protect native birds from the unwanted visitors.

C．To ensure that no pair of rabbits survive on the island.

D．To train dogs to track down the rabbits on the island.

3 . About Byron

Whether you’re in Byron for fun or work, there are plenty of things to do to fill your spare time.

Byron, Georgia makes travel sweeter with its slower pace and breathtaking attractions. It’s full of historic sites, museums, shopping malls, and more. In this city at the center of Georgia’s peach industry, you can take a vacation that leaves you rested, not annoyed.

Events

Georgia Peach Festival-June

Fall Market Days-September

Georgia National Fair-October

Byron Christmas Parade-December

Local attractions

Byron Welcome Center

Located in the Peach Shops, the Byron Welcome Center is your first stop in our area. The Byron Welcome Center is ready to help you make the most of your stay in Byron, Georgia.

North Peach Park

North Peach Park is the place for traditional festivals, movies in the park, and many other events. The park has picnic shelters, playgrounds, football fields and soccer fields all year round. North Peach Park also has an indoor, climate-controlled multi-purpose room.

The Big Peach Shopping Mall

One of Georgia’s major shopping malls, and Central Georgia’s biggest and best variety of goods, the Big Peach has something for everyone! Open seven days a week and located directly off I-75, the Big Peach is Central Georgia’s favorite shopping destination.

Party Playground Indoor Fun Center

Let the kids work out some energy with an hour or two at the Party Playground Indoor Fun Center. This room full of safe and soft play equipment will let your little ones run, jump and play, rain or shine. It’s also a great place to have a birthday party.

Contact us

For more information, contact us at (478) 956-2409

Email: byronwelcomecenter@gmail.com

1. When is the best time to enjoy delicious peach in Byron?

A．June.

B．September.

C．October.

D．December.

2. Which attraction best suits people with children?

A．North Peach Park.

B．Byron Welcome Center.

C．The Big Peach Shopping Mall.

D．Party Playground Indoor Fun Center.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A course plan.

B．A travel brochure.

C．A journal.

D．An encyclopedia.

4 . 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。

Everyone makes     1     mistake at some point, but when we hurt our parents     2     love us all their life, it’s especially heartbreaking. The good news is that their big hearts have room for forgiveness if we just ask. Anna, a senior high school student, argued with her parents, and she     3     (write) a letter to his parents for forgiveness yesterday.

Dear Mom and Dad.

I’m sorry about my argument with you. I haven’t been the girl as you are expecting. My behavior was impolite. All I have done was just so stupid. I haven’t been focusing     4     what is more important. The two of you are always working hard for my brother and me. I’m sorry to miss the understanding of how hard you have been working for our family, and I just didn’t value anything I have. I now realize how you want everything to be perfect for     5     (we). It is wrong of me     6     (take) advantage of you giving me the first, the second, and the     7     (three) chances. I know if I keep     8     (perform) badly like this, I will never be a winner in the future. I want to go to college, and I want to make you take     9     (proud) in me. I promise to do better from now on.

Yours,

Anna.

Such an apology(道歉) letter is a     10     (use) way to start a conversation, and Anna’s parents forgave her.

5 . One day, Fainsilber Katz, who is 60 years old, went to visit her favorite ______ . She parked her car and ______ the beach with everything she ______ for the day: a chair, a beach umbrella, flippers, sunglasses and a cooler. With so many things, it was ______ for her to keep her body balance when climbing over some rocks.

When she reached a part of the beach entrance, she found there was a large step down. Unsure whether she could take the step ______ , she stopped, ______ what to do. ______ a young man, about 30 years old came over to Fainsilber Katz, and asked, “Do you need some ______ ?” “Sure!” Fainsilber Katz ______ .

The man took some of the things that Fansilber Katz was ______ . Then he gave Fainsilber Katz his ______ to walk her down the ______ . Fainsilber Katz felt ______ .

The man’s act of ______ comforts Fainsilber Katz and reminds her that when life gets hard, one doesn’t have to do it ______ . Where there is a help, there is a hope.

1.

A．farm

B．beach

C．bookstore

D．museum

2.

A．headed for

B．cleaned up

C．showed off

D．looked up

3.

A．doubted

B．learned

C．discovered

D．needed

4.

A．difficult

B．easy

C．strange

D．interesting

5.

A．seriously

B．tiredly

C．safely

D．heavily

6.

A．warning

B．begging

C．explaining

D．wondering

7.

A．For example

B．In short

C．At the moment

D．In addition

8.

A．time

B．help

C．praise

D．water

9.

A．answered

B．required

C．ordered

D．recorded

10.

A．buying

B．carrying

C．throwing

D．choosing

11.

A．bag

B．coat

C．hand

D．gift

12.

A．stage

B．chair

C．hill

D．step

13.

A．natural

B．thankful

C．sad

D．afraid

14.

A．kindness

B．shyness

C．impatience

D．confidence

15.

A．simply

B．angrily

C．alone

D．willingly

6 . 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。

Over 50 Indian youths on Thursday attended a dialogue with Chinese astronauts     1     board the orbiting Chinese Tiangong space station.

The event “Tiangong Dialogue-SCO students talk with astronauts of Shenzhou-15 spaceship”     2     (organize) by China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Committee. Teachers and students from SCO member countries were invited     3     (attend) the interaction through virtual mode. During the dialogue, Chinese astronauts at the Tiangong space station answered questions of the participants, including those     4     (raise) by Indian youths.

The Indian young people were welcomed into the dialogue by Ma Jia, an officer of the Chinese Embassy in India. She introduced achievement s of China’s space industry while     5     (note) that India has made great progress in     6     field of space.

India is the sixth country in the world to launch a satellite in geosynchronous orbit on its own, the first in Asia and the fourth in the world to     7     (successful) explore Mars. It shocked the world with its record-breaking launch of 104 satellites on one rocket.

Ma said that both China and India are committed to the national     8     (develop) and rejuvenation (复兴). She added that the two countries have great potential for exchange and cooperation in     9     (vary) fields including space science, and     10     the youth from the two neighbouring countries can promote the exchange among civilizations for a bright future for all.

7 . Tall, long-necked giraffes are famous for their spots which are believed to help the animals hide from their enemies. Just like no two humans have the same fingerprints, each giraffe has its own special pattern of spots. However, a Tennessee zoo made headlines recently after it welcomed one of the world’s most uncommon giraffes.

On July 31, a baby giraffe was born at Brights Zoo with light brown fur which is a reticulated (网状的) giraffe, one of the four different kinds of giraffes. Unlike most giraffes, she was born without spots, a unique feature of the reticulated giraffe. At six feet tall, this baby giraffe is growing well under her mother’s care. She shows typical baby giraffe behavior, such as eating rocks.

Experts said the young giraffe was the only single-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet. The last time this happened was 1972 in Japan. A giraffe’s pattern of spots is created when the animal is still growing inside its mother. That means that this giraffe will never have spots.

“The new giraffe might not have survived if she had been born in the wild. Being single-colored, she may not be able to hide quite as well,” said Mr. David Bright, who runs the zoo, “It will easily be a key target for poachers (偷猎者) because she’s so unusual.”

Brights Zoo stressed that reticulated giraffes had already become imperiled. In 2018, they were officially listed as “threatened”. Thirty-five years ago, there were 36,000 reticulated giraffes. Now, the number has been cut by more than 50%. Only about 16,000 reticulated giraffes remain.

This brown giraffe’s birth is not only a rare and fascinating event, but also an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges faced by giraffes in the wild. By supporting efforts like this, we can contribute to the conservation of these large creatures and ensure their survival for generations to come.

1. What do we know about the spots of giraffes?

A．They help protect giraffes.	B．They are the same pattern.
C．They look like giraffes’ footprints.	D．They appear on giraffes occasionally.

2. What makes the young giraffe born at Brights Zoo special?

A．Its extremely large size.	B．Its light brown fur.
C．Its unusual eating habit.	D．Its absence of spots.

3. What does the underlined word “imperiled” mean in paragraph 5?

A．Recognized.

B．Endangered.

C．Doubled.

D．Balanced.

4. Which word can best describe the birth of the young giraffe?

A．Awkward.

B．Worrying.

C．Meaningful.

D．Foreseeable.

8 . Animals being extinct from the Earth is a serious issue. When this happens in order to use their fur or skin for fashion, it is even worse, since it’s not even for a matter of human survival. That’s why a London zoo decided to make a powerful statement at the Siamese crocodile enclosure (鳄鱼围栏).

When visitors come in expecting to see a crocodile, they’re greeted with the handbag instead, making a very effective and powerful point about illegal wildlife trade and the harm it takes on the species involved.

A sign by the enclosure reads, “This bag used to be found swimming in slow-moving rivers and streams across Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Over the last 75 years, more than 80% of Siamese crocodiles have disappeared. Many, like this one, were hunted for their skins as part of the illegal wildlife trade.”.

Native to parts of Southeast Asia, Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered and have become virtually extinct in the wild. Due to hunting as well as habitat loss, they are now absent from nearly 99% of their original range. A huge part of the decline of population is due to humans using their wetland habitat for rice farming, and things only took a turn for the worse when large-scale hunting for their skin for commercial purposes began in the 1950s.

The particular handbag that is on display at the zoo was confiscated at a UK airport, according to Benjamin Tapley, leader of reptiles and amphibians at ZSL London Zoo.

Tapley told The Huffington Post, “We made this exhibit, within ZSL London Zoo’s Reptile House, to draw visitors’ attention to the destructive impact the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is having on species around the world. At ZSL, we are working globally with governments and local communities to protect wildlife, support law enforcement (执法) that targets illegal trade networks, empower local communities affected by IWT and reduce demand for threatened wildlife.”

1. Why does the sign say this handbag used to swim?

A．It is made of a crocodile’s skin.

B．It is made into a crocodile shape.

C．It is light enough to float on water.

D．It was kept in flowing river at first.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Wildly hunting of Siamese crocodiles.

B．Destruction of Siamese crocodiles’ habitats.

C．Commercial value of Siamese crocodiles.

D．Causes to make Siamese crocodiles endangered.

3. What does the underlined word “confiscated” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Seized.

B．Sold.

C．Found.

D．Stolen.

4. What does Tapley’s words focus on?

A．The importance of wildlife protection.

B．The crisis endangered animals are facing.

C．The purpose to show the handbag.

D．The harm IWT caused.

9 . 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。

Though once secluded (与世隔绝的), even inaccessible, Kazakhstan today welcomes intrepid travelers with open arms.

Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked (内陆的) country, and the     1     (nine) largest in the world. The country is one of the most economically advanced in Central Asia, thanks to     2     (it) abundant oil reserves and other valuable minerals.

Even for some     3     (experience) travelers, Kazakhstan is still     4     unfamiliar state. While home to the raw beauty of the steppe (草原) and mountain scenery, there are no yurts (蒙古包) like in Kyrgyzstan     5     Mongolia. The country also has a fascinating history of medieval (中世纪的) Islamic architecture.

But for those     6     have stepped foot in the country, its most     7     (attract) features are its unique landscapes and freedom.

Panfilov Park in the eastern-center of Almaty has plenty     8     places of interest that offer a whistle-stop tour of the city’s history. Not far behind the     9     (large) of them is the yellow, green and red Tsaristera Ascension Cathedral (大教堂), a visually attractive structure that is claimed to be one of the tallest wooden     10     (build) in the world.

10 . 阅读下面短文, 根据篇章语境, 以及首字母或中文提示, 填入最佳单词, 并注意使用其正确形式, 使短文内容完整.

Agriculture is a fundamental     1     (概念) that     2     (占据) a central role in our lives. People e     3     a variety of methods to plant crops and raise livestock, assuming that nature is a r     4     partner. However, when     5     (极为恶劣的) weather conditions strike, such as droughts or storms, these a     6     can be called into question. Crop yields may d     7     and farmers     8     (怀疑) their thoughts. To adapt and thrive, farmers are c     9     that they must continually learn and apply new techniques and practices. Learning to     10     (消化) this knowledge is essential for green agriculture. By doing so, they not only improve their own livelihoods but also contribute to the global food supply.