1 . Population data for European mountain birds have been for the first time combined in a recent study, with worrying results: the abundances of mountain-specialist birds has declined by as much as 10% in the 2000s.

Ecological communities in mountain areas include species not found in any other habitats. These species are also very susceptible to climate change, as global warming is reducing their liveable habitats. In principle, species may relocate further up the mountains, but closer to the top their habitat inevitably shrinks.

According to the new article, the abundance of European mountain birds has in fact declined in line with climate change projections.

The recently released study examined the population trends of 44 bird species in the 2000s in the mountain and fell regions of Fennoscandia, Great Britain, the Alps and the Iberian Peninsula. A decline was seen in 14 of the observed species, while eight of them saw significant increase.

“On average, population decline among the species studied was 7% over the 13-year research period, making the situation of mountain birds distinctly worse compared to, for example, European forest birds, whose numbers did not change during the same period,” explains Aleksi Lehikoinen, an Academy of Finland research fellow at the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus (part of the University of Helsinki), who headed the study.

The situation is the direst for species that only inhabit mountain regions and are unable to live in other European environments. For these species, known as mountain specialists, the numbers dwindled by as much as 10% during the monitoring period.

1. What can we get from the passage about European mountain birds?

A．They are newly found species.

B．They can be found at any place of the world.

C．The number of the birds has decreased greatly.

D．The number of the birds has increased greatly.

2. Why did the liveable habitats of the species reduce?

A．Air pollutions.

B．Global warming.

C．Human activities.

D．Competition with other species.

3. Which one is TRUE according to a recently released study?

A．All 44 bird species decreased.

B．Only 8 of the species declined.

C．14 of the observed species declined.

D．There was no change in the number of the bird species.

4. What does the word “direst” mean in the last paragraph?

A．Serious.	B．Useful.
C．Suitable.	D．Waterless.

2 . When I was a baby, I entertained you and made you laugh．Whenever I was “bad”, you’d shake your finger at me and ask: “How could you?”—— but then you’d give up, and roll me over for a belly scratch and I believed that life could not be any more perfect．

My housetraining was a long process, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. We went for long walks, runs in the park and car rides. We stopped for ice cream. I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. Eventually, you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a dog person, but I still welcomed her into our home. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement, I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Your wife was afraid I would bite them. But nevertheless, as they began to grow, I became their friend.

Now, you have a new job in another city and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You’ve made the right decision for your “family”, but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said: “I know you will find a good home for her.” They shrugged and gave you a pained look. The children were in tears as they waved me goodbye. And “How could you?” were the only three words that swept over my mind.

Is it better to live with hope or without hope? At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind and that this was all a bad dream.

My beloved master, I will think of you and wait for you forever. I hope you receive more faithfulness from your family than you showed to me.

1. Who tells this story?

A．A dog.

B．A child.

C．A dog’s owner.

D．A dog trainer.

2. Why did the dog’s owner take his dog to the pound?

A．He had a newborn baby.	B．His wife did not like the dog.
C．He was moving into a new building.	D．He thought the dog tootroublesome.

3. Which is true about the dog when it lived at the pound?

A．It hoped to be adopted by another family.	B．It continued to love its former owner.
C．It did not trust humans any more.	D．It was excited about the pound.

4. Which of the following words can be used to describe the dog?

A．relieved

B．aggressive

C．scared

D．loyal

3 . Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.

Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting the places for birds to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration or flight paths of almost 1,500 species. They decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas.

The major danger for migratory birds is development. Buildings and pavements have covered the places where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. One of the scientists who worked on the study says “Many of these important places have been lost to land reclamation because of urban, industrial and agricultural land expansion”.

The problem, according to scientists, is that many of these small birds die along their migration paths because they don’t have a safe place to feed and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time in protecting land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. One species that doesn’t exist now is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says.

The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopping areas for birds that pass through their boundaries. For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.

One scientist who is not connected with the report tells Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds.

He says small changes, like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of the areas birds would be likely to use, could make a big difference.

1. What mainly caused the disappearing of birds’ habitats?

A．The decrease of awareness to protect birds.	B．Natural disasters.
C．Overuse of land by human beings.	D．The rising sea level.

2. What may be the main reason for many birds’ death on the way of migration?

A．Tiredness and hunger.	B．Beast attack on the ground.
C．Hunting of humans.	D．The long journey.

3. According to the last two paragraphs, how should we protect the migrating birds?

A．By keeping fewer cats or dogs.

B．By restoring their destroyed habitats.

C．By helping change the birds’ migration paths.

D．By preserving the ecological environments on their migration paths.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To call on people to protect the birds’ habitats.

B．To analyze the reasons for disappearing of birds’ habitats.

C．To offer some solutions to the problem of birds’ habitats.

D．To tell us a huge percentage of bird species are in danger.

4 . Unbelievable Stories of Animals Acting Just Like Humans

Horses are picky eaters

Horses have an even better sense of smell than humans do. When horses raise their noses and open their nostrils (鼻孔), their nervous system allows them to sense smells we can’t sense. This might explain why they refuse dirty water and carefully move around meadows, eating only the tastiest grasses, experts say.

Whale says thanks

In 2018, a whale expert spotted a humpback whale trapped in a fishing net and spent an hour freeing it. Afterward, in an hour-long display of thanks, the whale swam near their boat and leaped into the air about 40 times.

Pandas like to be naughty

Is there anything more lovely than a baby panda, except maybe a human baby? In fact, baby pandas sometimes behave like human babies. They sleep in the same positions and value their thumbs. Pandas are shy by nature for its shy behaviors such as covering its face with a paw or ducking its head when confronted by a stranger.

A cat honors its owner

Paper towels, and a plastic cup are just a few of the gifts that Toldo, a devoted three-year-old gray-and-white cat, has placed on his former owner Iozzelli Renzo’s grave every day since the man died in September 2018. Renzo adopted Toldo from a shelter when the cat was three months old, and the two formed an inseparable bond. After Renzo passed away, Toldo followed the coffin to the cemetery, and now “stands guard” the grave for hours at a time.

1. What can horses do to pick delicious grasses?

A．Feel them.

B．Taste them.

C．Smell them.

D．Observe them.

2. What do the whale and the cat have in common according to the passage?

A．They are clever.

B．They have a grateful heart.

C．They are active and lovely.

D．They have a good sense of smell.

3. Which of the following acts like a human baby according to the passage?

A．The whale

B．The cat.

C．The horse.

D．The panda.

5 . The Amazon rainforest is as undisturbed a place as most people can imagine, but even there, the effects of a changing climate are playing out. Now, research suggests that many of the region’s most sensitive bird species are starting to evolve in response to warming.

Birds are often considered sentinel (哨兵) species — meaning that they indicate the overall health of an ecosystem — so scientists are particularly interested in how they’re responding to climate change. In general, the news has not been good. For instance, a 2019 report by the National Audubon Society found that more than two-thirds of North America’s bird species will be in danger of extinction by 2100 if warming trends continue on their current course.

For the new study, researchers collected the biggest database so far on the Amazon’s resident birds, representing 77 non-migratory species and lasting the 40 years from 1979 to 2019. During the study period, the average temperature in the region rose, while the amount of rainfall declined, making for a hotter, dryer climate overall. According to the report on November 12 in the journal Science Advances, 36 species have lost substantial weight, as much as 2 percent of their body weight per decade since 1980. Meanwhile, all the species showed some decrease in average body mass, while a third grew longer wings.

Because of the study’s long time series and large sample sizes, the authors were able to show the morphological (形态学的) effects of climate change on resident birds. However, the researchers themselves are unsure and wonder what advantage the wing length changes give the birds, but suppose smaller birds may have an easier time keeping cool. In general, smaller animals have a larger rate of surface area to body size, so they dissipate more heat faster than a bigger animal. Less available food, such as fruit or insects, in dryer weather might lead to smaller body size.

1. Why are scientists fond of doing research on birds?

A．They have small body sizes.	B．They are sensitive to hot weather.
C．They are ecological balance indicators.	D．They live in an undisturbed rainforest.

2. What can we learn from the new study?

A．Two-thirds of species showed a considerable decrease in weight.

B．About 26 species responded to climate change with longer wings.

C．36 species lost 2% of their body weight every year from 1979 to 2019.

D．A third of species have been extinct for a decade due to the hotter climate.

3. What does the underlined word “dissipate” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Put off.

B．Give off.

C．Put away.

D．Give away.

4. What would probably the researchers further study?

A．Why it is easier for smaller animals to keep cool.

B．Why the Amazonian birds have lost substantial weight.

C．Whether bird species in Amazon will be extinct in 2100.

D．What effects the wing length changes have on birds.

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。

Saving nature is at the very heart of what we do as World Wildlife Fund(WF). For nearly 60 years, we have made it our mission    1    (find)solutions that save the amazing herd of life on our planet by     2     (apply)the best science available and working closely with local    3     (community). But our work is far from done. Humans     4     (be)behind the present rate of species extinction,     5     is at least 10—1, 000 times    6     (high) than nature intended. We’ve seen     7     surprising 60% drop in the size of populations of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles in just over 40 years, according to WWF’s Living Planet Report 2018. And the influences will reach far beyond the possible cultural loss of some species like tigers, rhinos and whales. The good news is that we’ve also seen what’s working. WWF has been part of     8     (success)wildlife recovery stories, from southern Africa’s black rhinos     9     blackbucks(印度羚羊)in the Himalayas. And this, in turn, is helping to protect rich and various ecosystems while ensuring people continue benefiting from nature.

This is clear: we cannot afford to fail in     10     (we)mission to save a living planet.

8 . As we "happen to be" the best creature in the world, it's our duty to look after other species. Here are some points which might help to protect wildlife.

Join organizations like Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund. They have devoted themselves to protecting the earth and its animals. Many volunteers join organizations like these and work for the environment.     1    

    2     Don't buy anything made from ivory or things like this. Baby seals are hunted for their skin, as it is used to make expensive coats. Don't buy them.

    3     You can write a heartfelt and logical letter to the government, stating your ideas about this problem and how it can be solved.

Recycle and reuse. It will reduce the need to have more raw materials to produce something like paper or tissue.     4     And wild animals' home will not be destroyed.

Governments should create more safe zones and national parks for wild animals.     5     Governments should apply strict laws to stop hunting.

I hope you find this post helpful. Share your views about this issue and let your voice be heard.

A．Stop hunting for pleasure.

B．Feedback to the government.

C．As a result, fewer trees will be cut down.

D．You can build a bird house and feed local birds.

E．Refuse fur coats and medicines made from rare animals.

F．You can find some organizations like these and join them.

G．There they will be able to move freely without worrying about hunters.

9 . The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short trip from camp. On the plain (平原), we can just see many wild animals. This is why we're here to observe Tibetan antelopes.

Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet,Xinjiang and Qinghai.Watch them move slowly across the green grass. I'm attracted by the lovely animals.I'm also reminded of the danger they are in. They are being killed for their valuable fur.

My guide Zhaxi works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve. The reserve is a place for the animals and plants of northwestern Tibet. To Zhaxi, protesting the wildlife is a way of life."We're not tying to save the animals.” he says,"Actually, we're trying to save ourselves."

Between the 1980s and 1990s, the population of the Tibetan antelope dropped by over 50 percent. People were shooting antelopes to make profits. Their living places were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.

In order to save the animals, the Chinese government placed them under national protection. Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks. Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.

The measures were effective. The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015.the Tibetan antelope was removed from the list of animals in danger. The government, however,does not intend to stop the protection programs, since the threats (威胁) to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.

Much is being done to protect wildlife but if we really want to save the planet, we must change our way of life. We can stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet only when we learn to exist in peace with nature.

1. The author went to Tibet in order to     .

A．breathe fresh air in Tibet	B．enjoy the scene in Tibet
C．learn the history of Tibet	D．observe Tibetan antelopes

2. Where does Zhaxi work?

A．In Tibet.	B．In Xinjiang
C．In Qinghai.	D．In Sichuan

3. What happened to the Tibetan antelope between the 1980s and 1990s?

A．Tibetan antelopes were well protected.

B．Tibetan antelopes population dropped

C．Tibetan antelopes lived in peace with people

D．Tibetan antelopes destroyed new roads and railways,

4. According to Paragrah6, the measures taken by the Chinese government were .

A．Useless

B．basic

C．successful

D．simple

5. What's the purpose of the text?

A．To kill the Tibetan antelope.	B．To study the Tibetan antelope.
C．To watch the Tibetan antelope.	D．To protect the Tibetan antelope.

10 . Nougat and Clarence became best friends almost as soon as Nougat moved into the retirement home. Nougat likes to rest his head on the back of Clarence as often as he gets the ____. The dogs live at Vintage Pet Rescue, a non-profit organization that ____ elder animals from local shelters (收容所) that are ____ to find a new home. The organization aims to give dogs a comfortable, loving environment at the ____ of their lives.

Kristen Peralta, the founder of Vintage Pet Rescue, takes care of 27 mostly senior dogs. While she and her husband have unofficially been ____ older dogs for some time, Peralta turned her passion into a full-time job in 2017.

In some ways, elder dogs may be less ____ to care for because they prefer sitting still than little ones. But their futures aren’t always so ____. There are many organizations, like Peralta’s, ____ on rescuing elderly pets and giving them protection outside of animal shelters, in part because senior dogs in shelters have a(n) ____ rate of just 25 percent, while younger dogs have a 60 percent rate.

A life spent ____ two dozen older dogs can be very busy. Peralta ____ vet appointments at least once a week, gives out individual medications and does a lot of bathing and petting. But the work is rewarding, and she thinks it’s helping to show more and more people are beginning to ____ just how special senior dogs are. “You can just tell how much they ____ it when they’re helped in trouble,” Peralta said. “They’re ____ that they’re with you and you love them. It’s so special to know that you saved a dog’s life and that you’re going to make a ____to the rest of its life.”

1.

A．idea

B．mercy

C．chance

D．point

2.

A．takes in

B．takes along

C．takes off

D．takes over

3.

A．committed

B．unlikely

C．lucky

D．familiar

4.

A．beginning

B．bottom

C．edge

D．end

5.

A．surrounding

B．rescuing

C．inviting

D．contributing

6.

A．efficient

B．risky

C．difficult

D．valuable

7.

A．reliable

B．negative

C．different

D．bright

8.

A．succeeding

B．insisting

C．resulting

D．specializing

9.

A．death

B．adaptation

C．survival

D．crime

10.

A．looking after

B．bringing in

C．relying on

D．toying with

11.

A．adjusts

B．impresses

C．schedules

D．indicates

12.

A．adopt

B．agree

C．explore

D．realize

13.

A．appreciate

B．consume

C．comfort

D．support

14.

A．hopeful

B．surprised

C．sorrowful

D．doubtful

15.

A．decision

B．living

C．fortune

D．difference