1 . As someone who often mans the 24-hour hotline, I’m accustomed to early morning calls reporting various marine mammal strandings (搁浅). Even still, I doubt whether I could have fully prepared for this call. August 9 at 8: 01 am was the first time my jaw physically dropped when manning the hotline. The harbormaster reported 30 stranded dolphins in one of the trickiest areas of Wellfleet. I immediately sent all workers we had and sent out the call for any additional help we could gather.
Our team gathered at our Rescue Operations Center, grabbing all the specialized equipment we possibly could. Our trained volunteer responders arrived on the scene shortly after the initial report to give me updated information — 45 dolphins in total, 43 of which were alive. With a stranding this large, it wasn’t feasible to pull all 43 animals from the mud, get them to our mobile veterinary clinic, and transport them for release at a more favorable open-ocean location all before the tide came in. The day was getting hotter, and the animals were already suffering from both heat and sun exposure.
Upon getting on the scene, there was no time to react to the sheer chaos that lay ahead. After a quick scan of the situation — 45 animals widely distributed, only a few staff members and several volunteers — there wasn’t a second more to wait. We began the hard process of getting as many animals as we could into special slings (吊带), onto the cart, and off the marsh as quickly as possible. This was not without its own challenges. The mud trapped and enveloped our feet, adding weight with each step, most animals were highly fractious (易怒的) when approached, and the heat became unbearable in dry suits. But none of that was going to stop us from doing all we could for these animals.
1. How did the author react to the call on the morning of August 9?| A．He thought it was a joke. | B．He was shocked to the bone. |
| C．He didn’t take it seriously. | D．He was at a loss what to do. |
| A．Efficient. | B．Practical. | C．Urgent. | D．Remarkable. |
| A．The tide was coming in very quickly. |
| B．It was hard to find an open-ocean location. |
| C．The volunteers failed to contact each other. |
| D．There was deep mud around to walk through. |
| A．A rescue effort. | B．A volunteer program. |
| C．A festive activity. | D．A charity organization. |
2 . Dad had been a lumberjack (伐木工). As the years passed on, he became angry whenever he couldn’t do something he had done as a(n)
My husband, Dick, and I invited Dad to live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon and back home with a dog.
When I reached the house, I helped my
Dad just ignored me, when suddenly the dog
It was the
| A．older | B．younger | C．happier | D．luckier |
| A．rushed | B．forced | C．kept | D．transformed |
| A．consistent | B．fresh | C．gone | D．troublesome |
| A．town | B．countryside | C．city | D．state |
| A．cried | B．smiled | C．regretted | D．opposed |
| A．depression | B．disappointment | C．fitness | D．confusion |
| A．devotion | B．commitment | C．treatment | D．responsibility |
| A．prize | B．company | C．burden | D．reward |
| A．nearby | B．along | C．on | D．inside |
| A．closed | B．barked | C．annoyed | D．neared |
| A．anxiously | B．delightedly | C．patiently | D．bitterly |
| A．bringing up | B．picking up | C．pulling up | D．catching up |
| A．beginning | B．resolution | C．addition | D．display |
| A．undisturbed | B．incredible | C．inseparable | D．unattended |
| A．arose | B．decreased | C．restored | D．faded |
3 . Sentry Mead, Isle of Wight
Sentry Mead is an ideal destination with nine beautifully decorated bedrooms. The attention to detail is exceptional. Hence, each room enjoys its own uniqueness. And guests delight in features such as piles of books, homemade cupcakes, chocolates and a pillow menu. Dogs are welcomed and are allowed everywhere except the dining room. Besides walks and treats, there are blankets for them too.
The Halfway Bridge, West Sussex
The Halfway Bridge, a welcoming village pub-with-rooms, is oriented (指向的) towards rural life, famous for its delicious local and fresh food —their burgers are particularly popular. Rooms are in a single-story block behind the pub, and offer contemporary rural style. Dogs can stay in select rooms with garden access. Treats for four-legged friends are available in the lounge (大厅) and bar and there’s always a water bowl to hand.
The Falcondale, Wales
The Falcondale is a romantic destination. Stay in a valley-view room and enjoy the teapot. coffeepot and shortbread available in all rooms. Dogs not only enjoy the landscape, but can sit with you in part of the restaurant. There’s a luxury Canine Retreat package available. Bowls, blankets, towels, mess bags, leads, a torch and an outdoor tap are provided, as well as treats, a temperature-controlled dog bat h and a dog dining menu.
The Traddock, Austwick
The place to go for walking, especially if you choose to bring the dog with you. The Traddock is a welcome country house in the Yorkshire Dales national park. Homely and warm, rooms are decorated in comforting style but with a clear sense of luxury too. Locally sourced food always takes center stage. The personal welcome extends to four-legged friends who will love the many surrounding walks and the peaceful garden. After a day outdoors, they can relax in the lounge and bar.
1. What is special about Sentry Mead?| A．It welcomes dogs. | B．It is detail-focused. |
| C．It has luxury rooms. | D．It has fine decorations. |
| A．To have dogs examined. | B．To create a database of dogs. |
| C．To take good care of dogs. | D．To promote some dog food. |
| A．They are dog-friendly. | B．They are in the downtown. |
| C．They have rural scenery. | D．They have dog shelters. |
4 . As our human population and resource need grow, we are leaving less and less room for wildlife. But the good news is that each of us can play a role in helping wild animals by making the world a better place for them.
Take a walk and enjoy the wildlife all around you- the birds, butterflies, elephants and the like. Spend more time outside appreciating, enjoying and learning about wildlife.
Speak up for wildlife.
Become a voice for wildlife on social media. Speak up and speak out against wildlife illegal hunting, wild animal experiment, the illegal pet trade, wild animals used for entertainment, and much more. Learn about the lives and problems many animals are facing today.
Pick up rubbish around you.
Never buy products from threatened or endangered species.
When traveling to a foreign country, shopping overseas, or shopping in your local area, never buy gifts or products that support the illegal wildlife trade, or are from animals in danger.
| A．Contact the local government. |
| B．Then spread them on social media. |
| C．Go outside and connect with wildlife. |
| D．Your choice could make a big difference. |
| E．Take a free online class on wildlife protection. |
| F．Collecting rubbish can save the life of an animal. |
| G．We can help by putting the following ideas into practice. |
5 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.
Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.
The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!
1. What did Sandy feel it hard to overcome?| A．The casual humanity. | B．The cruelty of humanity. |
| C．The kind human nature. | D．The weakness of kindness. |
| A．She suffered a serious illness. |
| B．She had nothing to eat or drink. |
| C．She got lost far away from home. |
| D．She was scared and in poor health. |
| A．She will stop taking medicine. |
| B．She will continue further treatment. |
| C．She will have a perfect match for home. |
| D．She will get on well with Sandy forever. |
| A．A Warm Home for CiCi |
| B．Dog Saved Heart Fulfilled |
| C．A Terrible Experience of CiCi |
| D．Saving Dogs Saving Themselves |
6 . A petting zoo is also called a children’s zoo. It is a place with domesticated (家养的) animals and some wild species.
Petting zoos have a long history. In addition to independent petting zoos, many general zoos have a petting zoo. In 1938, the London Zoo included the first children’s zoo in Europe and the Philadelphia Zoo was the first in North America to open a special zoo just for children.
Some petting zoos are also mobile (流动的) and will travel to a home for a child’s party or event. One of the first mobile petting zoos in Australia was Kindifarm. Because of its popularity, many Australians use the term “kindy farms” to describe petting zoos. In Australia, mobile petting zoos are allowed in schools and child care centers.
Petting zoos are popular with small children, who like feeding the animals. Food is supplied by the zoo.
| A．Not all animals are friendly. |
| B．It may help improve animals’ health. |
| C．After all, some foods don’t suit animals. |
| D．Visitors can feed them and even touch some of them. |
| E．People should protect themselves from the health effects of petting zoos. |
| F．For many children, these petting zoos give them the first chance to see and touch animals. |
| G．During the 1990s, Dutch cities began building petting zoos in many neighborhoods. |
7 . WHY SHENNONGJIA?
As we know, in 2016, Shennongjia made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List. But there are so many important places not yet on this list. So you might ask: why Shennongjia?
UNESCO awarded Shennongjia this status because it meets two criteria required by the list. It contains a naturally-balanced environment that allows the many and various species to live and prosper. It is also one of the rare locations in the world where scientists can observe in real time the ecological and biological processes that occur as the plants and animals develop and evolve.
For the first criterion, Shennongjia is apparently one of the most “complete” natural areas in the world. The region rises from about 400 metres to over 3, 000 metres above sealevel, giving it the name the “Roof of Central China”.
For the second criterion, we can see that Shennongjia has incredible biodiversity. Look at this slide. According to official statistics, over 3, 000 plant species have been recorded there. This represents more than ten percent of China’s total floral richness.
It is a challenge to look after so many species. In winter, scientists brave heavy snow and freezing temperatures to supply food to the Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. Thanks to their efforts, the monkey’s population has doubled since the 1980s.Their number reached over 1, 300 in 2015 and continues to grow.
But the most impressive aspect of Shennongjia is the local people, who take things from nature without causing damage. I visited a local village which is known for its home-made honey. What is special about the honey is that it is produced by the earliest species of Chinese bee. All of this explains why Shennongjia earned—and deserves—its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as highlighting how understanding, awareness and hard work have contributed towards protecting a unique and wonderful part of our natural world.
1. Why is Shennongjia included in the UNESCO World Heritage List?| A．Because its forests stretch on and on like great green seas. |
| B．Because it is the legendary father of Chinese herbal medicine. |
| C．Because it satisfies the two requirements for the status. |
| D．Because it has the mysterious creature called “Yeren”. |
| A．Roof of Central China | B．Roof of Northern China |
| C．Roof of Eastern China | D．Roof of Southern China |
| A．Patient. | B．Careful. | C．Confident. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．A local village. | B．The local people. |
| C．Some special monkeys. | D．The wild bees. |
8 . In 1670, two Scottish doctors set up a garden in the city of Edinburgh to find out connections between plants and medicine. That first garden wasn’t very big — about the size of a tennis court. Fast-forward 350 years, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) now covers an area bigger than 1,000 tennis courts. The RBGE’s goal is to “explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future”.
After doctors and distant cousins Robert Sibbald and Andrew Balfour graduated from university in the mid-17th century, they shared the goal of improving Scottish medicine by looking into botanical (plant-related) research. They found some land near Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh and started to collect plants. They taught students how to grow exotic (外来的) plants and use them to make medicines. As the collection expanded (增加), the garden moved to different sites, including what is now Edinburgh’s Waverley Station.
In 1823, the garden was moved to its current location in Inverleith, a suburb of Edinburgh. It took three years to move the collection of plants and trees using specially built machines. The Tropical Palm House was built in 1834, and it was joined by the larger Temperate Palm House in 1858. Both are still popular with visitors. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the RBGE continued to search for new specimens (标本) from around the world.
The RBGE has about 13,500 species of living plants in its collection today. The herbarium — a collection of dried and protected species — includes more than three million plant samples, which represent more than half of the world’s known plants. The oldest specimen dates back to 1697. Experts continue to recognize new species each year, as well as growing plants that are extinct in their own habitats. The RBGE also works with botanical gardens around the world, including in Africa and South America, and supports them with conservation projects, education and training.
1. Why did Robert and Andrew build up the garden?| A．To teach people some knowledge about exotic plants. |
| B．To do research on plants and medicine. |
| C．To protect endangered wildlife. |
| D．To practice their tennis skills. |
| A．In the mid-17th century. | B．In the 20th century. |
| C．In1834. | D．In1858. |
| A．It has made achievements in growing extinct plants. |
| B．It has collected less than half of all known plants. |
| C．It is going to expand its sites in other countries. |
| D．It collects native plants only. |
| A．How the RBGE has expanded. | B．The progress of saving endangered plants. |
| C．Why a botanic garden was built. | D．An introduction to the RBGE. |
9 . One of my most treasured memories of childhood was watching those magical fireflies (萤火虫) light up a field at night. I remember how comforting it was to have the night lightened by countless fireflies announcing their place in the world.
In my adult years, however, I’ve noticed far fewer of these insects. A lot of my friends and families have made the same observation. This is why I was so happy to see a good number of fireflies in our small lawn (草坪) the other night.
My 9-year-old daughter, a girl to not one — but two biologists — is following in her parents’ footsteps already. She is crazy about all wild things. Needless to say, she was pleased with the chance to put off bedtime and to explore a new natural wonder with Mama when I called: “Honey! Come out and see all the fireflies!”
Without wearing shoes, she rushed into the summer night to look at one of the most magical shows of nature — a field of fireflies! It was a moment I would never forget.
So, what’s changed? Why are so many of us seeing fewer fireflies? It mainly has to do with habitat loss caused by increased development and our American obsession (痴迷) with large lawns and “tidy” views.
In our case, we are seeing more fireflies because we’ve recently let parts of our lawn “go”. A neighbor asked us the other day, “Do you guys mow (割草)?!” In some places we do; in others we only mow once a year. We now have a lovely little lawn under our apple trees that is delivering big rewards. We enjoy the free-growing wildflowers by day and the tall plants support more fireflies for us to enjoy at night.
1. What can we learn about the author when she was a child?| A．She had no lights at home at night. |
| B．She was greatly impressed by fireflies. |
| C．She noticed fireflies disappearing gradually. |
| D．She showed great interest in studying insects. |
| A．She is studying biology. |
| B．She likes playing outdoors at night. |
| C．She lives in the city most of the time. |
| D．She has been influenced by her parents. |
| A．Her wild lawn attracted them. |
| B．Her lawn was in good condition. |
| C．She built houses for fireflies in her lawn. |
| D．She grew many apple trees in her garden. |
| A．Create a happy childhood for your kids. |
| B．Teach children to care for the environment. |
| C．Bring the magic of fireflies back home again. |
| D．Improve the environment through our efforts. |
10 . One day, a woman walked into a pet store to buy a bird for her Thanksgiving Day party. The guy said, “We only have one parrot. But I think you do not want it because it can talk…” The woman said happily, “That’s great. I’ve always wanted a talking bird.” So the guy said, “Since you are a nice lady, I’ll give it to you as a gift.”
And the lady went home and put the bird on her bed and walked out of the room. But as soon as she walked into the kitchen, the bird started to speak dirty words as loud as it could. The woman walked back into the room thinking, “I can’t have this at my party!” So she took the bird and put it in the fridge. A few hours later, while the woman was eating, she remembered that her bird was still in the fridge. Quickly, she opened the door and found it was shivering. Then she took out the bird at once. She said to the bird, “I’ll keep you out of there if you don’t use that language again. Do you agree with me?”
The bird nodded and asked, “Can I just ask a quick question?” The lady nodded and said, “Yes, you may.” The bird pointed at the turkey behind him and asked, “What did he do?”
1. The woman went into the pet store because ________.| A．there were lots of nice birds in it |
| B．she wanted to buy a bird to make a big meal |
| C．she wanted to buy a bird for Thanksgiving Day party |
| D．she wanted to buy a bird for his son’s birthday |
| A．发抖 | B．睡觉 | C．生气 | D．跳动 |
| A．how the turkey was put into the fridge. | B．why itself was in the fridge. |
| C．who could be in the fridge. | D．why the turkey was in the fridge. |
| A．she wanted to cook it on Thanksgiving Day | B．the bird spoke dirty words |
| C．the bird liked living in the cold place | D．she thought it’s the best place for it to live in |
