1 . Pet owners love their dogs more than their cats. Although previous studies have already suggested this finding, scientists from the University of Copenhagen wanted to research more deeply into whether cultural factors affected the results. Their findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

In the survey across Denmark, Austria and the United Kingdom, 844 dog owners, 872 cat owners and 401 people who owned both dogs and cats were asked questions about their pets. Overall, the participants had higher attachment scores for dogs than for cats. Owners were more likely to insure (给……投保) their dogs and paid more to dogs’ treatment. However, the results differed dramatically across countries. For example, the United Kingdom’s results were in favor of dogs, although only slightly. Australia had a very clear preference for dogs. Emotional attachment to dogs was highest in Denmark. The Danes were also less likely to buy insurance for their cats, compared with their dogs.

“While people care more about their dogs than their cats in these countries, the degree of difference varied between countries,” Professor Peter Sandoe of the University of Copenhagen, the study’s first author, said in a press release. “It doesn’t therefore seem to be a universal phenomenon (现象) that people care much less about their cats than their dogs.”

The difference between countries may be due to cultural differences and attitudes toward pets, the study suggested. This may be the result of the country’s history with rural animals and how often they interacted with people. These factors may have influenced societal attitudes toward pets in modern times.

“Our study only looks at three countries in Europe,” professor Clare Palmer of Texas A&M University, a co-author of the paper, said in the press release. “It raises interesting questions regarding what comparative studies of other countries might find,” she went on. “Perhaps there are countries where the level of care for and attachment to cats is, in fact, higher than dogs?”

1. What’s the writer’s main purpose of writing paragraph 1?

A．To state a widely acknowledged fact.

B．To analyze the cause of a phenomenon.

C．To introduce the topic of a new study.

D．To compare two different studies.

2. How did the researchers conduct their study?

A．By asking questions.

B．By doing an experiment.

C．By collecting data online.

D．By keeping track of pet owners’ daily life.

3. What can we infer from Sandoe’s words?

A．Not all the people in the world prefer dogs to cats.

B．People in the three surveyed countries prefer dogs to cats.

C．The levels of care for cats are the same as dogs in the world.

D．People in the world care less about their cats than their dogs.

4. What can we know from the passage?

A．Pet owners love their dogs more than their cats.

B．Culture may influence people’s preference to dogs.

C．Pet owners should care about their cats as much as their dogs.

D．People hold different attitudes toward pets in three European countries.

4 . Templer was a tour guide in Zimbabwe, leading a canoe (皮划艇) safari down the Zambezi River. During the expedition, Templer’s canoe _______ the way, with the other two canoes to follow.

Things were going the way they were supposed to go. Everyone was having a pretty good time. Eventually, they _______ a dozen hippos, which were territorial animals. That’s not _______ on the Zambezi, Africa’s fourth-longest river. They weren’t alarmed at first as they were at a safe _______.

Templer tried to steer (率领) the group safely around them. However, the third canoe was off the planned _______ and was attacked by an aggressive hippo. The guide named Evans on the canoe fell into the water. Templer went to _______ him. He was getting closer to Evans. He was _______— it was kind of a made-for-Hollywood movie — Evans was reaching up. Their _______ almost touched. And then the water between them just _______. Before he knew it, Templer was up to his waist down a hippo’s throat. His legs were trapped but his hands were ________. So he tried to hold onto the hippo’s tusks (长牙) to ________being torn apart. The hippo must have been uncomfortable because it spat him out. So he quickly burst to the ________, and breathed some fresh air. With others’ help, Templer and Evans made it out of the river.

Despite the unpleasant experience, Templer ________to work as a tour guide. He also became an advocate for hippo ________, recognizing that the animals were not inherently aggressive but were ________ defending their territory.

1.

A．made

B．found

C．led

D．wound

2.

A．encountered

B．interrupted

C．saved

D．killed

3.

A．unfortunate

B．unexpected

C．uncertain

D．unnecessary

4.

A．speed

B．angle

C．vision

D．distance

5.

A．line

B．control

C．course

D．duty

6.

A．watch

B．comfort

C．stop

D．rescue

7.

A．leaning over

B．turning away

C．looking up

D．calming down

8.

A．hearts

B．fingers

C．heads

D．thoughts

9.

A．appeared

B．flowed

C．froze

D．erupted

10.

A．free

B．empty

C．hurt

D．skinny

11.

A．risk

B．avoid

C．permit

D．finish

12.

A．surface

B．bottom

C．bank

D．sky

13.

A．hoped

B．continued

C．refused

D．hesitated

14.

A．habitat

B．safety

C．conservation

D．suffering

15.

A．readily

B．finally

C．casually

D．simply

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the woman do with the thief?

A．She did as he asked.

B．She fought with him.

C．She pretended not to see him.

2. What did the thief steal?

A．A necklace.

B．Some money.

C．Nothing.

3. What does the man advise the woman to do?

A．Keep a dog.

B．Call the police.

C．Fit a home alarm system.

4. What does the man say about the woman?

A．She is puzzled.

B．She is brave.

C．She is frightened.

6 . The project, called Nemo’s Garden, is the brainchild of Sergio Gamberini, a chemical engineer who runs a scuba (水肺) diving business. In 2013, he was chatting with local farmers when he came up with the idea. Several days later, he dived to the bottom of Noli’s bay and placed a vase with seeds inside a plastic balloon. After 48 hours, the seeds were coming up and Gamberini decided to scale up the experiment.

Nemo’s Garden’s key innovation, a sub-water biosphere, is a unique type of underwater greenhouse. It can use the ocean’s positive environmental factors, temperature stability, evaporative water generation, CO₂ absorption, the abundance of oxygen, and inherent protection from pests, to create an environment ideal for crop cultivation. The plants are fed by a hydroponic (水耕法) system. Water is generated from salt-water evaporating and then condensing (冷凝), so no additional fresh water source is required. Additional power for lighting, pumps and sensors is provided by wind generators and solar panels situated on the surface. This makes the entire set-up completely eco-friendly and self-sustaining.

Inside the biosphere, it is even more impressive. Each dome has a shelf running the entire circumference on which plants, equipment and tools can be placed. There is oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity sensors, radio communication, lights, a fresh-water hose and to top it all off, Wi-Fi. You can control everything in the dome via an app on your phone from the surface. You can turn the lights on, check the conditions and even watch a live video stream of the plants growing.

Gianni Fontanesi, Nemo’s Garden project manager, has logged nearly a thousand dives to perform underwater farming. He says that being inside the greenhouse is like being in an aquarium turned inside out: “You are the fish looking out into the outside world.”

1. What does the Nemo’s Garden refer to according to the passage?

A．A scuba diving business.	B．A vase with basil seeds.
C．A farm project underwater.	D．A garden in the bottom of Noli’s bay.

2. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about?

A．How Nemo’s Garden works.	B．Why Nemo’s Garden was built.
C．What Nemo’s Garden includes.	D．Where Nemo’s Garden was set up.

3. What can help us manage Nemo’s Garden?

A．A hydroponic system.	B．Diving under the sea.
C．An app on our phones.	D．Wind generators and solar panels.

4. Which words can best evaluate Nemo’s Garden?

A．Special and eye-catching.	B．Impressive and traditional.
C．Convenient and economical.	D．Innovative and eco-friendly.

7 . Greta Thunberg may be the voice of a generation alarmed about climate change but she is also the voice of a generation failing to do much about it. A new study shows that young people, are taking less action to lower their carbon footprint than older Britons and are much worse at taking simple steps to help the environment, such as recycling.

The YouGov survey of 1,008 Britons found that more than 80 per cent of 18-to 24-year-old say they are worried about global warming compared with nearly 70 per cent of the over -65s. A higher proportion (比例) of young people also believe that urgent action is required to deal, with climate change. However, nearly 90 per cent of the over-65s say they recycle as much as possible compared with only half of young people. The over-65s are also more likely to have reduced the number of flights they take, to take steps to save water and to repair items. They are also more likely to turn the heating down and switch off lights in rooms they are not using.

Overall, the study found that 74 per cent of Britons are concerned about climate change and 70 per cent believe urgent action is required. However, the data suggests that the economic climate is affecting people’s willingness to act. Over half of the people questioned said that dealing with, the cost of living is a greater priority than making changes to lower their environmental impact.

Claudine Blamey, group sustainability director at Aviva, said, “The majority of UK residents believe urgent action is required to tackle environmental change. It’s heartening to see that older generations are leading the way through their climate-conscious behaviors and younger people are committing to doing more.” “It is vital that people realize making a difference is within their gift, helping their families, communities and country to get ready,” he added.

1. How did researchers of the YouGov survey support their findings?

A．By giving examples.	B．By stating arguments.
C．By quoting statistical data.	D．By presenting theoretical basis.

2. What can be known from paragraph 3?

A．Measures have been taken to get around climate change.

B．Many people in Britain are struggling with their living cost.

C．Most people are unwilling to act to protect the environment.

D．Changes made to lower environmental impact are most effective.

3. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “heartening” in the last paragraph?

A．Amusing.

B．Confusing.

C．Disturbing

D．Inspiring

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Britons Lead the Way in Protecting the Environment

B．Action Speaks Louder Regarding Climate Change

C．It Is an Urgent Need to Reduce Carbon Footprint

D．Young People Fail to Act on Carbon Concerns

8 . Beginning construction in 1632, the Taj Mahal is located in this city of Agra. It is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the world. In fact, it was named one of the new seven wonders of the world.

But it could become more difficult to see and to glimpse this glorious site because of pollution. It’s an unhealthy, even hazardous (危险的) problem for parts of India. Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai were among the 10 most polluted cities on earth this week, according to a Swiss company called IQAir.

CNN’s Michael Holmes explains what it all means. India’s iconic monument almost lost in the smog in the city of Agra. We are facing difficulty in taking pictures of Taj Mahal due to pollution. The Taj Mahal is not clearly visible. Every year, when the temperatures drop and farmers burn their fields, the air turns toxic (有毒的) in many Indian cities.

Delhi is notoriously (声名狼藉) ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. And the current air quality there has once again reached hazardous conditions, forcing primary schools to temporarily close and many people to work from home or just stay indoors altogether. The problem is so serious. A recent air quality life index report says poor air quality could shorten an average Indian’s life expectancy by more than five years, if World Health Organization guidelines on controlling pollution aren’t met. And it’s even affecting one of the country’s favorite pastimes.

India is currently hosting the Cricket World Cup with Bangladesh set to play Sri Lanka in a match in Delhi. But the air quality is so poor. Some players are wearing masks and both teams have canceled training sessions. The coach of Bangladesh’s team says the conditions have not been ideal.

1. Which is the least polluted city according to the text?

A．Agra.

B．Mumbai.

C．Delhi.

D．Kolkata.

2. What caused the air pollution in many Indian cities?

A．Forest fires and farmers’ burning.	B．Low temperature and forest fires.
C．Global warming and low temperature.	D．Low temperature and farmers’ burning.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful scenic spots.

B．All schools were forced to close in many Indian cities.

C．Indians may have a shorter lifespan if no measures are taken.

D．In the Cricket World Cup, India is set to play Bangladesh in a match.

4. What does the author want to convey in the passage?

A．To reveal the real cause for air pollution.

B．To express concern for the athletes in the match.

C．To prove the Taj Mahal has lost its charm in smog.

D．To show the impact of air pollution in India on all sides.

9 . Recently, I was walking with some parents when we came across a five-pound note lying on the ground. We stood around it for a moment, a bit awkwardly, until someone suggested putting it on a nearby bench. Then one of the parents remarked that we’d probably have behaved differently — that is, we would have just taken the money — had we been alone.

This relates to a classic question in studies of human generosity: do we behave more selfishly when we aren’t being observed? The debate goes on across the psychological and biological sciences, as well as in popular culture, about whether kindness can exist in a competitive world.

Yom Kippur is a Jewish (犹太人的) religious holiday when Jewish people fast and ask for forgiveness for the wrongs they’ve committed. One of the points of Yom Kippur is to behave better regardless of who is watching. There’s an evolutionary beauty to the teachings of Yom Kippur, which are the products of thousands of years of cultural changes and evolution.

The Maasai people of Kenya practice osotua: relationships between people that operate based on need. When someone forms an osotua relationship with another, they enter into an unwritten contract to help their partner in times of need. And hunter-gatherer groups, which can represent the circumstances our species evolved in, have many similar examples.

Cultural evolution helps to explain the existence and complexity of these systems. Cultural changes are far faster than biological evolution, allowing intelligent species like humans to develop behavioral adaptations for managing complex social environments. Osotua, or any other practice that helps to maintain good treatment of others in society, is the result of tens of thousands of years of cultural trial and error. The customs passed down over time are those that help us to develop as cultural groups.

The study of those changes has helped us to understand how we successfully spread around the world as cooperative groups. Biological evolution has helped humans be more cooperative, but cultural changes have accelerated this process.

Cultural evolution helps us to overcome our selfish natures. Try to understand rules before you ignore them — and next time you find a fiver on the ground, you might think about the awkward situation your discovery represents.

1. What made the parents feel a bit awkward?

A．The difficulty sharing the money.

B．The difficulty finding the owner of the money.

C．The thought of putting the money on the bench.

D．The thought of keeping the money for themselves.

2. Why is “Yom Kippur” talked about in the text?

A．To highlight a fact.	B．To draw a conclusion.
C．To make a comparison.	D．To support an argument.

3. How is biological evolution different from cultural evolution?

A．It evolves much slower.	B．It takes much less time.
C．It is a more complex process.	D．It makes humans more cooperative.

4. What does the author intend to explain in the text?

A．How cultural evolution takes place.	B．Why people sometimes behave selfishly.
C．Why kindness exists in a competitive world.	D．How kindness spreads throughout the world.

10 . One strategy for reducing food waste’s environmental impact seems contrary to common sense: Open more grocery stores. That’s according to new research from Elena Belavina, an expert in operations management and supply chains.

The food we throw out because it goes bad when cleaning out the fridge makes a surprisingly large contribution to global warming. One-third of all food produced is wasted, a problem responsible for carbon emissions (排放物) equivalent to all road transportation, said Belavina.

When consumers can purchase food nearby, they shop more often but buy less each time, ultimately wasting less. “The more stores you have, the lower food waste is going to be,” said Belavina. “Very small increases in store density (密度) can have a very high impact.”

Belavina found that in Chicago, which she said is typical of many American cities, adding just three or four markets within a 10-square-kilometer area would reduce food waste by 6% to 9%. That would achieve an emissions reduction comparable to converting (改装) more than 20,000 cars from petrol to electric power.

Most big cities are well below the ideal density of grocery stores that would minimize food waste, the research determined. In Chicago, that would be about 200 markets within a 10-square-kilometer area — compared to 15 currently — but most of the benefit from reduced emissions would be achieved by about 50 markets. New York City, with its abundance of produce stands and neighborhood markets, comes closest to its ideal density.

Urban planners, city governments and activists should pursue policies encouraging an ideal density of grocery stores based on each city’s population, she said. Chain stores’ sustainability plans should analyze how their store networks and supply chains contribute to food waste and emissions overall.

“We actually see some moves toward going a little bit back in time and those small corner stores and mom-and-pop stores are making a comeback,” she said.

1. Why can higher store density reduce food waste?

A．There are more stores to supply fresh food.	B．There are more stores to deal with food waste.
C．Consumers can spend less time on buying food.	D．Consumers needn’t overbuy their groceries.

2. How many markets are there per 10 square kilometers in Chicago now?

A．15 markets.

B．About 4 markets.

C．About 50 markets.

D．About 200 markets.

3. What does Belavina think of small corner stores and mom-and-pop stores?

A．They are helpful.	B．They are a problem.
C．They are of little help.	D．They do better than grocery stores.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Buy Less, Eat Less	B．Ideal Density of Grocery Stores
C．Food Waste and Global Warming	D．More Grocery Stores, Less Food Waste