1 . Wildfires lit by humans have been found to be sending huge amounts of carbon into our oceans via rivers every year.

When trees and other vegetation are incompletely burned, they release black carbon into the air, which can last for centuries on land and even longer in oceans. Now we have the best global picture of how much of the stuff is making its way to the sea: around a third of all the black carbon produced by fires.

Unlike the two-thirds that stays on the land, the carbon ending up in the oceans will stay there much longer, says Matthew Jones at the University of East Anglia in the UK. “Once it reaches the oceans, it has potential for storage over tens of thousands of years. That’s why we care about it. It’s almost locked up for the distant future,” he says.

Jones and his colleagues looked at 409 measurements of black carbon dissolved in the waters of 34 major rivers globally, plus many smaller rivers, including far more data from the tropics. They then modeled how it would travel to the oceans. “It’s quite breathtaking how long-lived this material is and how much ends up in the environment,” says Jones.

The team found that the amount of black carbon being carried by rivers varies generally around the world, with the rivers in the tropics carrying twice what those in cooler regions do.

When compared with emissions from humanity’s fossil fuel use, the actual amount reaching the oceans is relatively small. However, says Jones, understanding how black carbon is being moved around is important for building better climate models and for our understanding of the global carbon cycle.

The amount being produced by fires has been relatively stable for the past two decades, with forest fires being offset by Savannah being turned into farmland, which reduces the amount of vegetation available to burn. But Jones points out that more fires are expected as the world warms, which will deliver more black carbon into the oceans.

1. What happens to the black carbon produced by forest fires?

A．One third will turn into fires.	B．It will disappear in few years.
C．The ocean covers two-thirds of its total.	D．It has more lasting storage underwater.

2. What can we learn from Paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．The research deals with 409 rivers in all.

B．Black carbon finally ends up in the ocean by rivers.

C．The research focuses on different varieties of black carbon.

D．The rivers in the tropics have less black carbon due to temperature.

3. What does Jones agree with?

A．Better climate models will be built soon.

B．The carbon produced by humans is small.

C．The amount of carbon produced by forest fire is falling.

D．The amount of carbon reaching the ocean won’t be reduced.

4. In which column of a newspaper can we read the passage?

A．Environment.

B．Science.

C．Entertainment.

D．Health.

2 . In 2004, a tsunami (海啸) around the Indian Ocean killed at least 25000 people across a dozen countries. The huge death was in part caused by the fact that many communities received no warming.     1    

Yet in the minutes and hours before the walls of water up to 9m high went through coastlines, some animals seemed to sense the coming danger and make efforts to flee. Elephants ran for higher ground, and chickens abandoned low-lying nesting areas.    2     .These accounts about animal behavior before disasters have inspired some researchers to devote serious scientific attention to the theory that animals may have inbuilt systems which can predict the upcoming natural disasters.

The researchers found evidence that the farm animals began to change their behavior up to 20 hours before an earthquake.    3     Just two weeks before the earthquake, a series of strong perturbations (扰动) happened in local atmospheric electric charges every two to four minutes.

China has already created a Quake Alert system in Nanning, monitoring the behavior of animals much closer to the ground – specifically, snakes. “    4     ”Jiang Weisong, the director of the organization said. “When an earthquake is about to occur, snakes will move out of their nests, even in winter.”

    5     . And even if they do help, animal movements alone are unlikely to be enough to provide. People will need to rely on a combination of early warning signals to get the full picture.

A．Even dogs refused to go outdoors

B．Snakes are perhaps the most sensitive creatures to earthquakes

C．Local manmade early warning systems failed to raise any clear alarm

D．Some animals will make noise to tell the human beings of the accident

E．And scientists also found what might lead to the changes in local animal behavior

F．Finally we should make full use of the animal early warning systems in scientific research

G．Not all experts think that animal early warning systems are a reliable option for predicting disasters

3 . An American buffalo (水牛) that escaped from a Wauconda farm is making a name for herself, with citizens posting photos and videos of her on social media. A local artist has painted a picture of the clever animal — called Billy by her fans.

Fans were amazed at her achievement — she appears to have crossed the Fox River — as well as her outstanding spirit, and her love of freedom. “I never thought in a million years there would be some big animals running around the suburbs like this", said the local artist who painted Billy.

Billy escaped in September, when she and her sister, both under a year old, were delivered to a farm. Billy escaped when she was released from the truck, Kryscha said. Billy's sister was unloaded successfully and has adjusted well to life on the farm, he said. The second buffalo has enthusiastically bonded with a group of cows, even trying to copy some of their behaviors, such as rolling on the ground.

Police aided in the search, even using a drone (无人机) . But once again, Billy avoided being caught. Part of the problem, Kryscha said, is that buffaloes, a native species in Illinois, match so well with local grasses and trees. Others have cheered the buffalo on — “Go Billy!” — or debated her sex. She is definitely female, her owners say, but she doesn't have a name yet.

Buffalos are herd animals, so Billy is probably lonely on her own, Kryscha said. Her sister is already copying the behavior of her new friends: She's been seen trying to roll on the ground to get dirt on her back, which doesn't really work for a buffalo. Billy's sister has had more success in her attempts to jump like a horse.

Billy's fans are divided as winter approaches, with some hoping she escapes forever and others saying maybe it's time to come in from the cold.

1. What did the fans think of Billy?

A．It was fun.	B．It was lovely.
C．It was ordinary.	D．It was astonishing.

2. Why is it hard to catch Billy?

A．She is too clever.	B．She has crossed the Fox River.
C．She copies the behavior of other cows.	D．She hides well in the environment.

3. What does the underlined part mean in paragraph five?

A．Animals that cat grasses.	B．Animals that live in the wild.
C．Animals that live together.	D．Animals that are endangered now.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．People paid attention to buffalos.	B．A buffalo ran away from the farm.
C．A buffalo was famous for its name.	D．A painter painted story about a buffalo.

4 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

The Best Nourishment(营养)of Life

Andrew almost thought of himself as the most unfortunate child in the world because a disease in his childhood made his leg lame(瘸的)and his teeth uneven. He was always afraid of being looked down upon. Therefore, he seldom played with his classmates. When the teacher asked him to answer questions, he always lowered his head without a word, except in biology class, which was his favorite subject.

One spring, his Dad brought home a box of flower sprouts(花苗), such as roses and carnations(康乃馨). He wanted to have them planted in front of the house. He asked each child to choose one, “I will give you a month to raise the flowers. Then I will see whose flower grows best. The winner will be bought a favorite gift.” Andrew was always longing for DK Children’s Encyclopedia(百科全书). At Dad’s words, he was especially pleased. He chose a red rose. In the following days, he, together with his brother and sister, was busy watering, feeding and tending the flower sprouts carefully. But to his sorrow, his rose sprout didn’t grow as strong as his brother’s and sister’s. Instead, it bent towards the ground and turned yellow and then brown. Obviously, it was dying. “Just my luck. As terrible as I am.”he sighed and left disappointedly, determined not to attend to it at all.

Unexpectedly, he happened to pass the flower a few days later and was surprised to find it didn’t wilt(枯萎)but grew some fresh leaves instead. Compared with the flowers of his brother and sister, his appeared greener and more lively. For the first time, he thought good luck favored him.

That night, lying on the bed, he suddenly recalled the biology teacher once said that plants generally grow at night. “Why not go to see the flower?” he thought.

注意：
1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

When he came to the courtyard, he found a familiar figure(身影).

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A month passed and then came the big day.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5 . Green tourism, a form of ecotourism, is low-impact tourism with an eye toward protecting the environment and culture of an area. As the number of tourists traveling the world has been increasing, green tourism is getting more and more popular.

In some areas, green tourism is not only preferable but a necessity. It might seem wiser to some people to protect natural habitats and fragile (脆弱的)environments by banning visitors completely to these areas.     1     Green, sustainable tourism is considered to have offered the best of both worlds, protecting the ecology of an area while keeping local schools and businesses booming.

Green tourism doesn’t necessarily mean a vacation spent with little or no comfort.    2     Ecotourism exists in almost every style and taste. From gray water recycling systems to tents on tree house, there are numerous vacationing options. Simple efforts can go toward “greening up” a standard vacation, such as keeping to pointed pathways,    3     and visiting cultural areas instead of typical tourist attractions.

A very green holiday can be spent studying the plants, animals and cultural heritage of the area, as well as learning ways to protect and preserve it. Tourists can experience all that an arca has to offer,    4    .

    5    They can help to build a school or perform other services that benefit the area and preserve the natural habitat. These vacations can be a lot of work, but many people find them to be very rewarding and interesting learning experiences.

A．It can be well worth doing

B．It can be a wonderful adventure

C．Green tourism could easily become the standard

D．eating where locally grown cuisine is served

E．making little or no impact on the environment

F．Many areas, however, depend on the income from tourism to support the local economy

G．There are also trips available in which vacationers improve the local area actively

6 . Zara Rutherford has set the world record as the youngest woman to fly alone around the world. The British-Belgian _________ started her trip worldwide on August 18, 2021.

The _________ was supposed to take three months. But bad weather and visa delays kept her grounded and _________ the trip by about two months. And then she started in Belgium and _________ west over Britain, Iceland, and Greenland. The path took her over Canada and the United States.

Rutherford couldn’t leave Alaska due to weather and visa delays. A winter storm forced another long _________ in Russia before she traveled to Korea, the Middle East, and _________ to Europe.

To meet the _________ for a round-the-world flight, Rutherford had to land on two points opposite each other on Earth: Jambi in Indonesia and Tumaco in Colombia. The last part of her trip had been _________ , for she had to deal with rain and snow. But she was happy to be _________ by the Belgian Air Force before landing, which she felt grateful for their company.

Rutherford has been __________ traveling in small planes with her parents since she was six. She gained her pilot’s license in 2020 and started flying herself at 14. She __________ being an astronaut and she hopes her trip will get more women __________ in science, technology, and aviation.

Rutherford said, “Boys are taught to choose their __________ as scientists, astronauts, CEOs or presidents. Girls are often __________ to be beautiful, kind, helpful and sweet. With my flight, I want to show young women that they can be __________ and make their dreams come true.”

1.

A．surfer

B．soldier

C．engineer

D．pilot

2.

A．challenge

B．passage

C．flight

D．sailing

3.

A．extended

B．developed

C．designed

D．explored

4.

A．directed

B．forced

C．headed

D．pushed

5.

A．pause

B．holiday

C．sleep

D．rest

6.

A．moved

B．returned

C．travelled

D．rushed

7.

A．curiosity

B．deadline

C．requirement

D．permission

8.

A．difficult

B．necessary

C．secure

D．dependent

9.

A．rescued

B．watched

C．accompanied

D．praised

10.

A．yet

B．ever

C．still

D．always

11.

A．dreams of

B．cares about

C．insists on

D．relies on

12.

A．upset

B．interested

C．included

D．puzzled

13.

A．careers

B．hobbies

C．chances

D．responsibilities

14.

A．reminded

B．warned

C．encouraged

D．informed

15.

A．energetic

B．confident

C．logical

D．ambitious

7 . On a sunny day in May at the Saline Royale in Arc-et-Senans, France, a group of about 20 primary schoolchildren, armed with a notebook about plants, flowers and nature, are getting practical experiences with the world of gardening and learning about the natural environment.

The children then explore the gardens of the Saline Royale, where each class is led by a professional gardener. Students are able to dig, plant, use tools and develop skills while learning about the flowers and plants around them.

It’s all part of the Manuterra program, a project for schools, started by the Foundation Enterprise Hermes. The program began in September 2021, and invites students aged 6 to 18 from Arc-et-Senans to design, make and tend a garden. Combining educational and environmental issues, the themes for each class will also be adapted to the children’s ages and abilities.

The program is designed to offer the participants a brief introduction of many environmental issues such as the life of the soil, biodiversity, the making and use of organic fertilizers and the influence of climate change. The program also encourages young children to work together and maintain the precious ecological (生态的) balance as well as become familiar with their everyday natural surroundings.

The program hopes that as the students learn from the gardens of the Saline Royale, they will be able to take away knowledge to cultivate their own space where they can grow various plants and flowers and preserve biodiversity for future generations.

“There is a drive to pass on knowledge to preserve the planet,” said Laurent Pejoux, director of this program. “Climate change makes us take responsibility, and Manuterra is a response to this in order for the younger generations to protect the environment.”

1. What are these children doing at the Saline Royale?

A．Performing some physical activities.	B．Getting some knowledge on agriculture.
C．Protecting the natural environment.	D．Getting hands-on experiences in a project.

2. What is the purpose of the Manuterra program?

A．To strengthen the children's sense of teamwork.

B．To introduce the children to environmental issues.

C．To help the children know the value of hard work.

D．To offer the children a chance to survive the wild.

3. What does the underlined word “cultivate”in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Develop.

B．Support.

C．Imagine.

D．Record.

4. What is implied in Laurent Pejoux’s words in the last paragraph?

A．Everyone should adapt to climate changes.

B．It's beneficial for us to protect the environment.

C．The program makes a difference to the children.

D．The children need a drive to protect the environment.

8 . 阅读下面文章，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一个完整短文。

On his way home, Jonathon saw a gray, long-haired cat sitting on the sidewalk. As he stopped to pet her, he noticed that she was not wearing a collar. She rubbed her head against his hand and began to purr (发呼噜声). She reminded Jonathon of Smoky, the cat he had when he was younger. Smoky’s fur had been long and gray too.

Jonathon petted the cat for a while. Then he said, “I have to go,” and continued home. To his surprise, the cat followed him.

When Jonathon was home, he walked up the porch steps and went in the kitchen. The cat followed him up the steps and sat quietly outside the door, watching him closely. Jonathon made a sandwich. The cat continued to stare at him. Jonathon sighed. “I know it’s not a good idea to feed a stray cat,” he said, “but you look so hungry! I can’t sit here and eat without feeding you too!”

Jonathon put some turkey on a plate for the cat. As Jonathon watched, she ate every scrap of turkey and then began to clean her face and paws. “Wow!” Jonathon said, “You must have been starving. I wonder how long it has been since someone fed you.”

Jonathon finished his sandwich and looked at the cat. Her long fur was matted (乱蓬蓬的). Jonathon remembered that Smoky’s brush and toys were stored in the garage. “I’m going to clean you up a little,” Jonathon said to the cat.

Jonathon found Smoky’s brush and got to work. As the dirt came out, the cat’s fur began to get lighter. “Hey!” Jonathon said, realizing the truth. “You’re not gray—you’re white!”

After her brushing, the cat climbed onto Jonathon’s lap and purred. “You’re so friendly, you probably belong to someone,” Jonathon said. “I bet you’re just lost.” When Jonathon’s father came home, Jonathon showed him the cat that had stretched out in a patch of sun on the porch. “Why don’t you make some signs to place in the neighborhood,” his father suggested.

注意：
1. 续写字数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

His father said that if no one called about the cat after a week, Jonathon could keep her.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Okay,” Jonathon’s father finally said, “I think you’ve waited long enough.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . 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。

Scientists have discovered the world’s fastest ant. It is the Saharan silver ant. It runs     1     a speed of just over 3kph. The ant runs 108 times the     2     (long) of its own body every second. This is     3     (quick) than an Olympic 100-meter runner. The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, ran the 100 meters     4     (use) 4 strides (大步) a second while the Saharan silver ant uses up to 50 strides a second. The scientists say this much movement almost breaks the limits of     5     is physically possible for a living thing. Each of the ants’ feet makes contact with the ground for just seven milliseconds before they take     6     next stride.

The scientists said the Saharan silver ant runs so fast because it lives in the hot desert     7     the sand can reach temperatures of up to 60 degrees Celsius, so the ant desires     8     (spend) as little time as possible with its feet on the scorching ground. Another reason is that if the ants’ feet spend a longer time on the sand, they     9     (sink)a little and slow down. Professor Wolf told CNN, “We knew these ants would be fast, but nobody knew how fast     10     (exact), and how they would achieve that speed.”

10 . China is one of the countries with the most serious natural disasters in the world. There are many kinds of disasters, with wide distribution, high frequency and heavy losses. In the background of global climate change, major natural disasters occur from time to time.     1     It makes China face even much severe and complex situation. In order to rase the awareness of disaster prevention and minimize the losses, warnings and instructions are give to the public.     2     Let’s have a look.

Fire

When a fire breaks out, smoke threatens mostly.     3     Roll on the ground if you find your clothes on fire. It is too dangerous to take the elevator in this situation, so it is better to use a bundle of rope and safely slide down from the balcony. Jumping off the building blindly will cause serious injuries.

Mud-rock flow

Rainstorm may cause mud-rock flow, an it’s really dangerous to stay downstream. When you try to escape from it, instead of going along the bottom of the ditch, it is much wiser to climb up the mountain horizontally quickly. Please escape from ditch when selecting camping field. It’s important to check the weather when going into the mountain

Flood

    4     We could use a wooden bed or table to make a raft and tie it to a big tree with a safety.   rope. We have to prepare food and warm clothes to get through it.

Lightning strike

On cloudy and rainy days, a lightning strike may happen.     5     Of course, you also should stay away from iron tower poles. We need to pay attention to it even when we stay at home. Close the doors, windows and cut off the power.

A．Cut off the power and shut off water sources.

B．Please don’t stand under the tree in such kind of weather.

C．Try to find a higher place, but staying on a roof isn’t a good choice.

D．First you need to take shelter, then find a gap under the table or bed.

E．Losses caused by natural disaster in China are continuously increasing.

F．They also play a part in popularizing the knowledge and self-rescue skills.

G．In that case, please cover your nose and your mouth with a wet towel.