1 . At The Rachael Ray FoundationTM (RRF), we’re pretty big animal lovers. As a part of our work, we support a wide variety of organizations that do good for animals, from rescue to care and more. Get to know a few of them and the work we do together.
Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue TeamRRF helped enable Pittsburgh Aviation Animal Rescue Team (PAART) to purchase a new and bigger plane for its rescue missions which bring animals from danger to safety. Whether it be flying dogs in overcrowded shelters to new homes, saving animals caught in the path of natural disasters, or bringing supplies to shelters in need, the brave PAART pilots are always ready to help.
National Disaster Search Dog FoundationNational Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) works to find and train shelter dogs who have the talent and drive to become search and rescue animals. RRF supports SDF’s efforts to identify and transform rescued dogs into rescuers, to provide lifetime care for these dogs and to find homes for all dogs who enter the SDF training program.
Rachael Ray Save Them All GrantsThis is a program administered by Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) to support Best Friends’ network partners in their lifesaving efforts. The money has been awarded to organizations across the country to fund initiatives such as adoption drives and shelter intake prevention efforts.
North Shore Animal League America Disaster Relief GrantsThis program, administered by North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), provides money for animal welfare organizations impacted by disasters. RRF is proud to help NSALA in its efforts to identify needs in disaster situations and provide targeted, effective relief.
1. What is special about PAART?| A．It provides necessities for-animals in need. | B．It conducts animal rescue missions by plane. |
| C．It is supported by the Rachael Ray Foundation. | D．It assists in finding adopters for rescued animals. |
| A．SDF. | B．BFAS. | C．PAART. | D．NSALA. |
| A．They both strongly promote animal adoption. |
| B．They are both in charge of Best Friends Animal Society. |
| C．They both provide financial assistance to animal welfare initiatives. |
| D．They are both administered by welfare organizations impacted by disasters. |
2 . Time is running out for coral reefs as the climate gets hotter. So scientists are searching the globe for corals that are better at enduring heat, Now, new research shows how those “super corals” can survive: less roommate drama.
Reefs depend on a crucial partnership between the corals and the algae (海藻) that live in the corals’ tissue, The algae make food for the corals using sunlight and in exchange, get a nice spot to live. But when oceans heat up, that relationship goes bad, and the corals kick the algae out, Without their roommates, corals can die, turning a ghostly white, bleached (白化) color.
Still, some corals seem to resist bleaching better than others, A new study shows that those corals depend on algae that are better at tolerating heat. Researchers hope that pinpointing these abilities will help develop new conservation tools to preserve the world’s reefs as temperatures rise. About 1/4 of all marine life rely on coral reefs in some way, along with half 1 billion people around the world also depend on reefs for their food and livelihoods.
“Heat stress can kill a lot of corals really fast,” says Kate Quigley, a research scientist at James Cook University and the Minderoo Foundation in Australia. “I hope that nature does have some mechanisms to get us through the next few years while we get our act together.”
While the hope is that those algae could also aid in reef conservation in the future, researcher Patrick Buerger says it’s likely that it wouldn’t help all coral species. And even the toughest corals can only endure so much. Currently, the world is on track for just under 3degrees Celsius of warming by 2100, a level that would wipe out nearly all coral reefs.
“The action has to be on climate change,” he says. “This is a short-term solution that might buy some time for corals to adapt. But the main focus has to be on climate. There’s not a silver bullet to the problem.”
1. What is the feature of super corals?| A．Sun-loving. | B．Long-living. | C．Good-looking. | D．Heat-bearing. |
| A．Habitat. | B．Food. | C．Sunlight. | D．Friendship. |
| A．The population of marine life. | B．The importance of coral reefs. |
| C．The seriousness of global warming. | D．The living conditions of coral reefs. |
| A．It is useless | B．It is the last hope. | C．It is temporary. | D．It is the silver bullet. |
3 . Books to Explore Our Wild Isles
Wild Isles
This rich photographic guide accompanies the new BBC documentary series of the same name, which sees Sir David Attenborough celebrate the wonders of British wildlife across a range of habitats. Written by natural history journalist Patrick Barkham and producer Alastair Fotherginn, each chapter of the book focuses on a particular kind of wild space, from our wide variety of grasslands to our ocean shores, woodlands and scarce remaining forests, taking a deep dive into the insect, bird and mammal life they support. Harper Collins, £25.
North York Moors & Yorkshire Wolds
A “slow travel” guide to one of Britain’s most beloved landscapes, this newly updated book remains the only stand-alone guide to the region. Written by Yorkshire resident, outdoors enthusiast and travel writer Mike Bagshaw, it takes in sandy beaches, woodlands, chalk grasslands and heather-clad moors. It has information on walking and cycle paths, as well as wildlife-watching areas for otters, adders and seabirds. Whale-and dolphin-watching tours are also covered. Bradt Guides, £15.99.
Flight Paths
Swallows, redwings, nightingales: spring brings new bird life to UK shores, but until recently little was known about seasonal avian (鸟类) journeys. Bird enthusiast and science writer Rebecca Heisman uncovers the mysteries of bird migration, profiling (收集资料) the eccentric group of ornithologist, engineers and scientists who dedicated (奉献) their life to birds’ flight paths, behaviours, destinations and the challenges they face. It brings much needed insight into how best to protect the birds that visit our islands and destinations far beyond. Swift Press, £16.99.
1. Which would you buy if you want to know wildlife-watching areas for otters?| A．Flight Paths. | B．Wild Isles. |
| C．British Woodland. | D．North York Moors &Yorkshire Wolds. |
| A．She lives in Yorkshire. | B．She works as a photographer. |
| C．She loves birds and science. | D．She knows the wildlife-watching areas. |
| A．They are written by bird enthusiasts. |
| B．They describe something about birds. |
| C．They have a documentary of the same name. |
| D．They are guides to Britain’s most beloved landscapes. |
4 . Since the rise in car ownership in the 1950s, the US has started building roads in cities and across the country to provide enough room for automobiles. Houston, like many cities, is turning back the clock to make room for passers-by, cyclists and parks.
Memorial Park in Houston, Texas was halved by the Memorial Drive Highway in the1950s. It has now been reunited. The highway is still there, but the road goes underneath the 1,500-acre park.
The restoration (修复) of Memorial Park is part of a larger plan that was made after the city suffered from a serious drought. It was thought that 80 percent of the forested canopy (树冠) was dead. One of the ways to fight that was to reintroduce native plants and animals.
The city hired the landscape architectural company, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, to work with the Houston parks and the Memorial Parks Conservancy. The architects, led by Woltz, were inspired by wildlife crossings in the Northwest US and explored the possibility of using this idea in Memorial Park. Over the years, the park was cut into 20 pieces that were divided by highways, roads and parking lots. The only crossing was a 12-foot bridge.
After 10 years of planning and constructing, the Kinder Land Bridge officially opened in early February, 2023. The bridge consists of 100 acres of greenery, and while designed for people, has reconnected wildlife corridors (廊道). The reconstruction added 45 acres of native Gulf Coast prairie (草原) that’ll increase biodiversity in the park. “This project is not just about creating a passage or a bridge. This project is about ecology, it’s about biodiversity and water management. This project is a bridge into Houston’s future.” said Shellye Arnold, president of the Memorial Park Conservancy.
1. What led to the restoration of the Memorial Park?| A．A company’s suggestion. | B．A terrible natural disaster. |
| C．The demand from the public. | D．The recovery of native plants. |
| A．They knew how to restore the Memorial Park. |
| B．They got the inspiration for rescuing animals. |
| C．They gained a sense of achievement for working. |
| D．They developed a new way to protect the landscape. |
| A．It is about 12 feet in length. | B．Its aim is to save water. |
| C．It benefits the wild animals. | D．Its birth is a short process. |
| A．A Highway Connects a Park in Houston |
| B．The Importance of Building Land Bridges |
| C．Efforts to Restore Parks in American Cities |
| D．Houston Creates a Creative Way to Restore Nature |
5 . In the heart of Texas, “Bee Czar” Walter Schumacher is saving the world—one hive (蜂群) at a time. And he does it without wearing a protective bee suit. What is his technique? He “communicates” with the bees to avoid being bitten. Walter and his team at the American Honey Bee Protection Agency rescue hives from places that are unwanted—inside the walls of a house or 30 feet up in a neighborhood tree, and relocate the hives where the bees can grow and pollinate (授粉) in peace.
According to Walter, every third bite of food we eat was pollinated by bees; without them, life would cease existing. But saving bees costs money, so they have got to sell honey to make money.
Walter’s business once was booming with $200,000 in yearly sales. But after losing everything in the past three years, Walter wants to rebuild his honey business so that he can afford to rescue unwanted hives. With his oldest son Will and a small but dedicated team, Walter has a plan to transform their old family farm into their new headquarters, to save more bees and sell more honey.
Saving bees is a big affair. Will runs the business, trying to keep his dad organized; Walter teaches his younger sons Bodhi and Odin the skills of keeping bees, and Will’s wife Meredith is experiencing her first bee rescue. Walter also invites bee technician Jonathan who seeks inner calm by rescuing bees and scaffolding (脚手架) pro Sandy, who can reach angry bees in places ladders can’t and dreams of talking to bees herself. Walter brings audiences into the hive when he trains beekeepers to safely handle millions of bees Will plans to sign big contracts selling honey to businesses like restaurants and supermarkets, meanwhile undertaking dangerous hive rescues.
1. Which of the following can best describe Walter’s work of rescuing bees?| A．Interesting. | B．Tough. | C．Tiring. | D．Simple. |
| A．They are important to us. | B．They are not in danger. |
| C．They can’t grow in peace. | D．They can bite many people. |
| A．To find more hives. | B．To expand his team. |
| C．To rebuild his business. | D．To train more bee raisers. |
| A．Why Walter started the big affair. |
| B．What Walter’s family do to save bees. |
| C．Whether Walter sticks to his business. |
| D．How Walter teaches his sons to keep bees. |
1. What is the woman’s favorite animal?
| A．The dog. | B．The bird. | C．The cat. |
| A．They can teach kids responsibility. |
| B．They are not easy to care for. |
| C．They are kids’ friends. |
My husband Erik and I had promised the kids a Labrador puppy.
I’d seen the ad at the local hardware store. “Thirteen puppies in all, “Sally, the owner, said when I called. ”There’ re only three left. “I decided to take a look the next day. The boys jumped and shouted excitedly as I copied down directions and hung up the phone.
Early the next morning, still discussing names, we wound our way through the mountains to meet our family’s new best friend. Our boys had simple names: Ike, Sam, Ben, and Dom, so they Preferred simple names like Rosy ,too. Finally, we met the sweet little dog. ” Rosy, “the boys called it softly. Our little puppy cocked her head. ” She likes it,“they cheered and set about making Rosy comfortable for the long drive home. They offered her a chew toy and lifted her up so she could see out the window. They took turns holding her in their arms lovingly and offered her a snack.
Though small, Rosy grew strong and healthy beneath her shiny black coat. And, just as I’d hoped, she was a calming addition to our houseful of noisy boys. But something was wrong. “It’s like she doesn’t know how to play,” Sam commented one day after school. “Dogs have different personalities, just like people,”I said. “Besides, she’s still very young. ” “But her legs aren’t very long, and one eye is smaller than the other,”Ike added, trying to make sense of why Rosy was different from other puppies he’d met.
I looked across the room to where Rosy sat between the boys. The last golden rays of autumn sunshine shone brightly on her face. Sure enough, one eye was misshapen. Not only that, it didn’t glint (闪光) in the afternoon light. I drew in a breath. Rosy, our puppy with a name as short as her four little legs, was blind in one eye.
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。
Everyone in the room became serious and sad.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Surprisingly, the boys refused to give the little puppy back.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1. What’s the speakers’ original plan?
| A．To walk a dog. | B．To meet a friend. | C．To visit the shelter. |
| A．Colleagues. | B．Friends. | C．Husband and wife. |
1. What is the woman’s favorite animal?
| A．The dog. | B．The bird. | C．The cat. |
| A．They can teach kids responsibility. |
| B．They are not easy to care for. |
| C．They are kids’ friends. |
10 . Best places to see wildlife in Canada
Whether you’re keen to see the mysterious spirit bears or listen to the songs of beluga whales, Canada’s varied landform offers dozens of wildlife adventures that are bound to impress you. So grab your camera and set out for a few of the best places to see Canada’s incredible wildlife.
Search for the mysterious spirit bears in the Great Bear Rainforest,British Columbia
Spirit bears are one of the most special animals found in Canada.They are a rare species protected by Canada and can only be found in the Great Bear Rainforest. which is a remote protected area mainly accessible by boat.
Listen to beluga whales sing in Churchill,Manitoba
About 136,000 beluga whales can be found here in Canadian waters in the summer.They are white in color and are nicknamed the“canaries(金丝雀)of the sea”thanks to the sounds they make, which are used to navigate.
Spot a moose (麇鹿) or two at Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
The moose are one of the most-loved species in Canada,but are surprisingly difficult to find in the wild. If you have your heart set on seeing a moose or two,head to Algonquin provincial Park in Ontario, where you might catch sight of them at dusk or dawn, especially in the spring.
Witness the monarch butterfly migration at Point Pelee National Park,Ontario
Every year thousands of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada to Mexico,where the spend the winter. One of the main points of this migration route is Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. Head there just before sunset or early in the morning for the best views
1. Which species is unique to Canada?| A．Spirit bears. | B．Beluga whales. |
| C．Moose. | D．Monarch butterflies. |
| A．At dusk in the winter. |
| B．At dawn in the spring. |
| C．At midday in the autumn. |
| D．After sunset in the summer. |
| A．Churchill, Manitoba, |
| B．Algonquin Provincial Park,Ontario. |
| C．Point Pelee National Park,Ontario. |
| D．The Great Bear Rainforest,British Columbia. |
