1 . Some people think that all wild animals are dangerous. Actually, very few of them will attack a man if he leaves them alone. If you met a lion or an elephant, I suppose you would run away; but even a lion will keep away from a man unless it is very hungry. Lions and tigers only kill and eat men when they have grown too old and too weak to catch their usual food, such as deer and other small animals. If you saw a wild elephant, perhaps you would be frightened. Elephants usually run away at once unless you attack them. Some animals get very frightened if they only smell a man; some take no notice at all but quietly walk in another direction. Wild animals only attack hunters when they are afraid that the hunters mean to harm their young ones, or then the hunters shoot at them and make them angry.
1. Lions and tigers will not kill or eat men ____________| A．unless men try to run away | B．if they are too old and too weak |
| C．if they are able to get enough food | D．however men act towards them |
| A．when they grow old | B．if they are left alone |
| C．while they are looking for food | D．when their young ones are in danger |
| A．how to protect wild animals | B．how animals look for their food |
| C．how to make friends with wild animals | D．how animals act towards men |
2 . We all love butterflies. Their beautiful wings attract us, and their presence lights up our garden. Well, that’s our view of butterflies, but have you ever wondered what plants think of them?
The butterflies’ eggs lie on the underside of the leaves. The eggs themselves don’t damage plants. However, upon coming into contact with the eggs, the plants become oversensitive. It means that once a plant recognizes a pest, it will cause death in the contacted plant part. When these dead leaves or partial leaf parts break away from the plant, the eggs on them fall off. Along with the hypersensitivity response, plants also produce something special, which can attract animals to cat the eggs, thus preventing damage in the future.
After the baby butterflies come out of their eggs, the caterpillar (毛虫) stage begins. Most caterpillars feed on the leaves of the plants, damaging some of the plants in your own garden. Incredibly, they are major plant pests that bring about major losses to farmers. The next stage is pupa (蛹). The caterpillars begin their change into an adult. They don’t depend on the energy that the leaves provide. Finally, they become adult butterflies that have wings and move from one plant to the other. They feed on the sweet liquid produced by flowers.
While on their search for food, the butterflies carry pollen (花粉) on their body. They are key pollinators that place pollen from one flower to another in ecosystem. Plants that have flowers will create some special features to draw these pollinators’ attention. Certain plants have flowers giving off smells that can charm butterflies when they are looking for a mate. Some plants even have flat flowers to assist butterflies when landing.
Butterflies aid in pollination during their final adult stage. Thus, they change into beneficial insects to plants. This change makes butterflies an important friend of plants, despite being a hated enemy in previous life cycle stages!
1. How does a plant respond to butterflies’ eggs?| A．It tries to get rid of them. | B．It tries to appeal to them. |
| C．It grows a little better with them. | D．It protects them from being eaten. |
| A．In the period of egg-laying. | B．In the period of pupa. |
| C．In the period of caterpillar. | D．In the period of adult. |
| A．Describe the process of pollination. |
| B．Show how flowers attract butterflies. |
| C．Stress the importance of pollination. |
| D．Explore how adult butterflies develop. |
| A．Why do flowers need butterflies’ pollination? |
| B．How do plants defend themselves from pests? |
| C．Are butterflies’ life cycles similar to the plants’? |
| D．Are butterflies beneficial or harmful to plants? |
3 . Animals, including humans, feel sound as well as hear it, and some of the most meaningful communication happens at frequencies (频率) that people can’t hear. Elephants, for example, use these low-frequency sounds to, among other things, find family or a mate across long distances. Whales do it, too.
But you don’t have to weigh a ton to make a sound. In fact, you don’t have to be bigger than a pea. Consider, for example, the tree-hopper, a curious little animal that lives on the stems (茎) of the leaves. University of Missouri biologist Rex Cocroft has spent much of his time listening closely to tree-hoppers with his team.
The team discovers that all the sounds being heard from tree-hoppers are produced by males. They do it by vibrating (振动) their abdomens (腹部) to make a wide variety of strange sounds. There is almost no airborne sound produced with these vibrational sounds. Cocroft explained, “If a tree-hopper were to stand on your finger and produce a sound, you would feel the vibration but hear no sound.”
They showed that some sounds, not surprisingly, seem to be aimed at attracting females. And some are aimed at other males.
Cocroft explained, “When two males meet each other, or when they are mate-searching on a branch, we’re hearing ‘purring, bdddddrrrr…’ sounds that males give.” Normally, a person couldn’t hear any of this, because the sound travels along the stem, inside it. And that’s how other tree-hoppers detect it.
Cocroft said tree-hoppers have very sensitive legs. And they stand around on stems, which are good at spreading vibrations. So they just use what nature gives them to communicate with each other.
“They have so many different forms of social behavior and grouping,” Cocroft explained. “And once there are animals living in groups, then there will be all sorts of interesting possibilities for communication.”
1. What does Cocroft’s research focus on about tree-hoppers?| A．Their variety. | B．Their communication. |
| C．Their living areas. | D．Their numbers. |
| A．They sense sounds by legs. |
| B．They knock the stems to make sounds. |
| C．Their sounds can be easily heard by humans. |
| D．Females make sounds to meet each other |
| A．It is key to their survival. |
| B．It drives an increase in their numbers. |
| C．It often leads to communication. |
| D．It contributes much to the division of animal types. |
| A．A Magic Moment in Nature | B．A Journey to the Wildlife |
| C．Learning From Nature | D．Communication Sounds Among Animals |
4 . Dogs can’t speak, but their brains respond to spoken words. Every dog owner knows that saying “Good dog!” in a happy, high voice will make their pet joyfully wag its tail. That made scientists curious: What exactly happens in your dog’s brain when it hears praise, and is it similar to the way our own brain processes such information?
When a person gets others’ compliments, the more primitive, subcortical auditory regions (皮层下听觉区) first react to the intonation — the emotional force of spoken words. Next, the brain taps the more recently evolved auditory cortex (听觉皮层) to figure out the meaning of the words, which is learned.
In 2016, a team of scientists discovered that dogs’ brains, like those of humans, compute the intonation and meaning of a word separately — although dogs use their right brain to do so, whereas we use our left one. Still, a puzzle remained: Do their brains go through the same steps to process approval?
It’s an important question, because dogs are a speechless species, yet they respond correctly to our words. For instance, some dogs are capable of recognizing thousands of names of individual objects, and can link each name to a specific object.
When the scientists studied scans of the brains of pet dogs, they found that theirs, like ours, process the sounds of spoken words in this manner — analyzing first the emotional component with the older region of the brain, the subcortical regions, and then the words’ meaning with the newer part, the cortex.
See why dogs are so successful in partnering us? Dogs and humans last shared a common ancestor some 100 million years ago, so it’s likely that our brains respond to sounds in a similar way. As domesticated animals that have evolved alongside humans in our homes for the past 10,000 years, dogs make special use of it to process human emotions. You know, what we say really matters to dogs!
1. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “domesticated”?| A．Abroad. | B．Home. | C．Gentle. | D．Intelligent. |
| A．Linking it to an object. | B．Analyzing the emotion. |
| C．Working out its meaning. | D．Tapping the auditory cortex. |
| A．By comparing opinions. | B．By raising examples. |
| C．By providing answers to questions. | D．By analyzing causes and effects. |
| A．Dogs — Good Listeners |
| B．Dogs — Perfect Partners |
| C．Dogs and Humans Share a Common Ancestor Actually |
| D．Dogs Understand Spoken Words the Same Way We Do |
5 . From 7 to 4,400, the protection of the crested ibis(朱鹮)is successful.
The crested ibis is an elegant bird with a red face and claws. During the breeding(繁殖)season, you may notice its white feather turning grey. The color change is due to a kind of black powdery substance(物质)the bird gives out at this special time.
However, its population around the world dropped rapidly in the 1960s due to the loss of living areas and the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Their low breeding ability and weak ability against natural enemies further pushed them to the brink of dying out.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s, scientists thought the chances of bringing back the bird were not great. In 1963, Russia announced the bird’s dying out in the country and it hasn’t been seen on the Korean Peninsula since 1979.
There were only five wild crested ibises left in Japan in 1980. A captive(圈养的)breeding program was set up to increase the number of the group, but in 2003, Kin, Japan’s last crested ibis born in the wild, died. The only hope of saving the bird was left to China.
The crested ibis hadn’t been recorded in China since 1964. A group of five scientists still decided to find the bird’s historical living areas in 1978. Finally, in May 1981, a farmer in Yangxian County, Shaanxi said he had seen the bird and led the group to find the last seven crested ibises in the county.
Shortly after this exciting discovery, a special group was set up to protect the bird. The local government also stopped hunting, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, and land clearing near their living areas, which enabled the family of the crested ibis to enlarge. According to the incomplete data, its number in China in 2020 increased to about 4,400, with 4,100 located in Shaanxi, one of their biggest living areas. Its home range also increased from less than five square kilometers to 15,000. The crested ibis is among several species successfully saved from dying out.
1. What causes the crested ibis to change its color?| A．The weather change. | B．The environmental impact. |
| C．The need to guard against enemies. | D．The black substance produced in the body. |
| A．Costly. | B．Unsuccessful. | C．Instructive. | D．Traditional. |
| A．It is dying out. | B．It has a strong breeding ability. |
| C．China’s way to protect it works. | D．It can survive easily. |
| A．Rules of Protecting the Crested Ibis | B．Efforts to Protect the Crested Ibis |
| C．A Shared Value of Crested Ibis’s Protection | D．Problems of the Living Areas Faced by the Crested Ibis |
6 . One Christmas Eve, our birder friend called us with a request. “Do you have room in your car for a (n)
He dropped off the bird in a cardboard box and
Once or twice, our oldest son
I bent over my daughter to
| A．male | B．injured | C．single | D．healthy |
| A．ride | B．home | C．friend | D．ticket |
| A．confused | B．relaxed | C．worried | D．excited |
| A．in debt | B．in peace | C．in need | D．in shape |
| A．washed | B．covered | C．checked | D．marked |
| A．took off | B．gave up | C．set off | D．showed up |
| A．fell asleep | B．passed by | C．settled down | D．came alive |
| A．though | B．because | C．until | D．while |
| A．ignored | B．interrupted | C．remembered | D．witnessed |
| A．talk | B．refuse | C．touch | D．panic |
| A．turned around | B．ran away | C．stood up | D．dropped in |
| A．Finally | B．Generally | C．Suddenly | D．Gradually |
| A．happy | B．shocked | C．quiet | D．discouraged |
| A．justice | B．honour | C．warmth | D．freedom |
| A．protect | B．stop | C．warn | D．observe |
| A．sorrow | B．embarrassment | C．relief | D．amusement |
| A．trouble | B．opportunity | C．message | D．challenge |
| A．wheel | B．car | C．test | D．risk |
| A．necessary | B．impossible | C．fortunate | D．interesting |
| A．important | B．disappointing | C．difficult | D．unforgettable |
7 . Spiders don’t have ears like we do, and many have poor eyesight. But they can sense vibrations (振动). Instead of eardrums that turn soundwave pressure into signals for our brains, spiders hear using tiny, sensitive hairs that move in response to sounds.
Previously, researchers had measured how a single thin piece of spider silk moved in response to sounds in the air. They found that the web silk itself is really good at detecting sounds. In a new study, Ron Miles from Binghamton University and his co-authors provided the first evidence that spiders can pick up sounds in another way through their webs.
To study hearing in animals, researchers placed orb-weaving spiders, which are known to make large, wheel-shaped orb webs, in a specially designed quiet room. They tracked how the spiders reacted to different sounds played on a loudspeaker Depending on how loud the sound was, spiders stretched, turned or raised their forelegs. Researchers noticed that the spiders turned their bodies toward the sound, suggesting they knew where the noise originated.
The ability to use a web like a giant extended ear could help spiders detect prey (猎物). If an insect is flying nearby, for instance, “That’s going to cause the web to vibrate because of the sound,” Miles said “That kind of gets the spider’s attention.”
Spiders might even use their webs to tune in to a variety of sounds “We suspect that the spider is actually able to sort of adjust the tension in the web in order to pick up certain frequencies,” Miles said.
Most microphones today work by sensing pressure and turning it into an electronic signal. But in the natural world, “spiders aren’t sensing pressure.” Miles said “Most animals don’t hear that way, they sense the motion of the air” Future microphones, like those used in hearing aids, could be designed with this in mind.
1. What did the new study find?| A．Spiders do not have eardrums. | B．Spiders indeed have poor eyesight |
| C．Spiders rely on sensitive hairs to hear | D．Spiders can use their webs to detect sounds |
| A．How the study affected spiders. | B．How the study was conducted. |
| C．How loud the sound was in the study. | D．How spiders made the web in the study. |
| A．By shifting its position on the web. | B．By sensing different levels of pressure. |
| C．By changing the tension of its silk. | D．By making full use of different parts of its body. |
| A．It could help improve microphones. |
| B．It could bring attention to spider web-making. |
| C．It could highlight the role of electronic technology. |
| D．It could heighten public awareness of insect protection. |
1. Why did Tracy bring dogs to the children？
| A．To teach them to love anunals. |
| B．To help them gain confidence. |
| C．To protect them from dangers. |
| A．They may misbehave. |
| B．They may get huit. |
| C．They may carry diseases. |
| A．Give a talk. | B．Meet the children. | C．Take some photos. |
9 . In the office of remote sensing scientist Liu Shaochuang, there is a huge photograph of a camel he snapped a decade ago in Xinjiang. He crouched for hours by a pool of water in the Gobi Desert to capture the image.
Since 2012, he has led a team in tracking and studying wild camels using satellite remote sensing technology.
Unlike zoologists who focus on species, Liu has studied the interrelationship between endangered animals and their environment, which he believes will help develop better protection strategies in the face of climate change.
His interest in wild camels began when his team tested a prototype(雏形)design of the lunar rover Yutu in the desert. Living in the harsh deserts in northwestern China and southwestern Mongolia, camels are listed as critically endangered animals. Experts estimate that the population of this species is currently less than 1, 000, of which around 650 are in China.
“Ten years ago, the research relied solely on human observation, which was very primitive, ”Liu says. Because camels are fully migratory and can travel over long distances, scientists used to learn their habits by studying hoof prints and droppings. It was hard to find one camel in the desert, let alone track it. But Liu thought his expertise in satellite navigation(导航)and remote sensing might come in useful in the study of wild camels.
It was not easy at first. Liu learned zoology from scratch. His team had to spend several weeks each year braving dust and sandstorms in the vastness of the Gobi Desert seeking out camels. A scar on his right eyebrow is the result of a rollover accident on a rugged mountain road in Xinjiang.
“The most exciting moment was attaching a satellite positioning collar to a wild camel. ”The tracking collar, equipped with special receivers, weighs only a few hundred grams. It can detach automatically and will not have a negative impact on the daily lives of the animals. The locations of the tracked animals are transmitted via satellite every day. Based on the data, scientists can get to know their migratory paths, living environments and possible threats they may meet with.
For Liu, it is worth the significant sci-tech effort to study such a rare species. He adds wildlife protection and research will become more precise and efficient with the help of technology.
1. What was it that made tracking wild camels difficult?| A．The number of camels experienced a sharp decline. |
| B．Massive migration made camels cover huge distances. |
| C．Primitive tools were used in human observation. |
| D．Hoof prints and droppings were never to be seen. |
| A．His carelessness in carrying out his research. |
| B．His inexperience at the very beginning of his work. |
| C．The rough conditions under which he worked. |
| D．The stress he met with in his work. |
| A．The formation of the tracking collar. |
| B．The definition of the tracking collar. |
| C．The importance of the tracking collar. |
| D．The function of the tracking collar. |
| A．Generous and ambitious. | B．Confident and grateful. |
| C．Creative and determined. | D．Optimistic and modest. |
10 . “You should get a cat, ”my therapist(治疗专家)said. “A cat?” I couldn’t even look after myself. . I took a deep breath and carefully considered the idea of welcoming a feline (猫科的)friend into my life. This seemed like too easy a fix for the fact that I couldn’t leave the house without bursting into tears.
When my partner and I found Cinnamon, her adoption profile made her out as the perfect kitten. We filled out the paperwork and prepared for her arrival.
When she came home, it became increasingly obvious that Cinnamon didn’t understand “no”, “stop it” or “don’t do that”. She was the worst cat I’ve ever owned. I was beginning to doubt my therapist’s advice.
After visiting our vet, she concluded that Cinnamon just wanted our attention. She fought tooth and nail to get a bite of our meals. She’d fearlessly lick sharp knives when left unattended for a split second. Cinnamon stole my heart with her bravery and kept me busier than I’d ever expected.
We decided to start taking her for walks. I could barely leave the house before, but my heart couldn’t say no to Cinnamon. Cinnamon showed me what bravery looked like. She didn’t stop to consider every possible outcome of a situation; she simply went for it. If there was a dog at a park, she would run toward it. She jumped without knowing where she would land. She loved adventure. I found myself mirroring her behavior after a while, jumping out of bed without a second thought. I began to find the motivation to get out of bed in the morning.
Cinnamon unfortunately passed away after a medical accident. I’m no stranger to sadness or grief, but losing my pet so suddenly was the most confusing emotional experience I’ve had to date. She no longer wakes me up at 5 am begging for breakfast, but she’s still the reason I get up every morning.
Our time is often cut unpredictably, unmistakably short. It would be a shame to live life being anything less than brave and adventurous.
1. Why did the author’s therapist recommend that she get a cat?| A．To learn how to interact with animals. | B．To help the author fill up her spare time; |
| C．To solve the author’s fear of going out. | D．To distract the author’s attention from her pain. |
| A．Thrilled. | B．Amazed. | C．Pleased. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．Walking Cinnamon outdoors became an adventure for the author. |
| B．The author was positively affected by Cinnamon’s courageous behavior. |
| C．Cinnamon loved going outside and took consequences into consideration. |
| D．The author decided to take Cinnamon outside as she was too troublesome to stay in. |
| A．Life is short and unpredictable. | B．The loss of a pet can be painful. |
| C．We should have the courage to take risks. | D．Animal-assisted therapy is the best cure for mental illness. |
