1 . Cities, often seen as ecological wastelands, actually have the potential to produce exceptional biologists. While traditional biologists typically come from rural backgrounds, urban residents possess diverse skill sets that make them better ones.
Take myself as an example. Growing up in Philadelphia provided me with a unique angle to look at urban ecology. The city’s distinct seasons, plentiful squirrels, row homes, and festivals served as my first ecological classroom. It was there that I witnessed wild cats eating birds and rats, people driving bats from their homes, and snakes being killed by lawn mowers (割草机). This was ecology in action, as real as any observation in fields and forests.
The unique environment of urban areas encourages wildlife there to develop distinct feature s and behaviors that set them apart from their rural counterparts: they may be larger in size, be active at different times of the day, move differently, and even display different personalities. Some biologists argue they are even “smarter” because they balance more risks, such as exposure to roads, poisonous chemicals and diseases from domestic animals — with rewards, of course, like inhabitable parks and human-provided food.
As human residents of cities, we too adapt to the risks and challenges of urban living. This adaptation sharpens our intuition (直觉) — we learn which streets to avoid and lock our doors for safety. Our ability to assess threats and our awareness regarding safety influence our behaviors and choices, much as they do for urban wildlife. Shared experiences such as these enable us to better understand and appreciate urban wildlife.
Most of the world’s population now accesses green and blue spaces, as well as wildlife, within urban neighborhoods. Nature is no longer only untouched wilderness; it includes sounds of human laughter, trash trucks and fire alarms. We urban residents are resourceful and imaginative. We need more capacity, more participation, more energy and more innovation in science to create solutions to fight environmental degradation and reduce biodiversity loss. Identifying this talent across cities presents a practical approach.
1. What did growing up in Philadelphia teach the author?A.Philadelphia is uniquely rich in wildlife. |
B.Studying biology at school helps greatly. |
C.Urban wild creatures need protection too. |
D.Cities are far from ecological wastelands. |
A.Similar species. | B.Potential enemies. |
C.Natural resources. | D.Qualified biologists. |
A.Eco-friendly habits. | B.Risk-aware behaviors. |
C.Ill-informed choices. | D.Fast-paced urban life. |
A.Cities Build Better Biologists | B.What Makes Smarter Residents? |
C.Urban Areas Encourage Wildlife | D.Who Saves Ecological Wastelands? |
2 . Studies have shown that gardening and garden-based activities have positive impacts on childhood development, including better eating habits and stress relief.
Involve them from the very beginning
Take your kids to the store and give them options to pick from. This will allow them to select plants that they can handle and are appropriate for your home conditions. Then give them tasks suitable to their age. For example, younger kids can be assigned to water plants or just cut yellow and brown leaves.
Pick the perfect plant
To make sure your garden is a success, assess both your home environment and your kids’ attention span.
Instead, think about your goal: Growing something tasty? Filling your home with flowers? Then ask your kids to choose plants in their favorite colors.
Another way to get kids excited about gardening—and to raise lifelong nature lovers in the process—is to adopt eco-friendly methods. Seeds from ripe peppers or tomatoes can be saved and planted. Potato “eyes” can be planted and grow into potato plants.
Reuse household items as planting vessels (容器). Almost anything can be used as planters, from old food containers to kids’ toys.
A.Above all, let them make mistakes |
B.Use leftovers to feed hungry plants |
C.Make gardens environment-friendly |
D.Taking care of the plant is a great way to learn |
E.Gardening may even help them become better science students |
F.Just make sure that your planters will hold up in the environment |
G.Don’t just pick up a plant because you like how it looks or the price is right |
The sea was shining across the horizon as my husband, Michael, and I looked out over the rocky cliff(悬崖) of Gleesons Landing in Yorke Peninsula. "Careful Abby doesn't fall down the rocks here," Michael warned as he pulled out his fishing rod(鱼竿). Abby was our two-year-old rescue dog(搜救犬)we'd adopted one year earlier.
Leaving Michael to his fishing, Abby and I wandered off. We'd been walking for a while when we saw a small path that led down the side of the cliff towards the beach. Abby raced off and as I followed, my leg caught on a rock and I fell down the cliff. Landing three meters down, my left leg cracked violently. Shocked, I tried to keep myself calm. I couldn't feel any pain but when I tried to get up, my body just fell back down. "Go and get Daddy," I signaled to Abby as she paced nervously beside me. At first she refused to leave my side. But somehow she realized I needed her and raced off.
Alone and staring out to sea, my world faded to black. Staying awake some time later, I discovered Abby hadn't returned. Suddenly, I heard movement coming from above. "Sue?" Michael called out. Relief flooded through me as I looked up and saw Michael and Abby. "I think I broke my leg," I shouted back. "I'll go get help," he promised. "If I try to reach you myself, they'll be rescuing two of us."
Faint and tired, I held on to consciousness. Abbey came down to me and kept me company until the rescuers arrived. They carried me on a stretcher(担架) to a helicopter, where I was flown to hospital in Adelaide while Michael and Abby drove.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
At the hospital, the pain caused by the fall finally hit me.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“She led me to the exact spot where you were,” Michael explained.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . It was in the cold midwinter, and the homeless couple struggled through the night snow, seeking shelter. The father-to-be
That December night, Gus Kiebel, a county wildlife officer, was driving home from work when he
“You cannot put them
The Kiebels prepared a bed for the dogs on their warm home, where the
It’s a simple story, but it speaks to the
A.looked | B.headed | C.searched | D.figured |
A.companion | B.company | C.friend | D.effort |
A.scared | B.attracted | C.appealed | D.spotted |
A.scared | B.approached | C.attracted | D.appealed |
A.put | B.laid | C.made | D.stretched |
A.brought up | B.took out | C.warmed up | D.put down |
A.down | B.up | C.back | D.aside |
A.disappointed | B.lovely | C.unparalleled | D.exhausted |
A.afford | B.offend | C.intend | D.succeed |
A.turning | B.driving | C.signing | D.giving |
A.welcomed | B.received | C.adopted | D.presented |
A.pet | B.pair | C.family | D.reward |
A.bottom | B.basis | C.fundamental | D.best |
A.kindness | B.curiosity | C.generosity | D.patience |
A.achievement | B.miracle | C.career | D.job |
5 . In the vast desert plains of northwest Namibia, rhino (犀牛) trackers start a journey to monitor the desert-adapted black rhinos. These creatures, known for their poor eyesight, walk freely in this remote region.
Led by Sebulon Hoeb, the principal field office r of Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, the tracker carefully approach a grazing rhino named Matty 2. identified by his partner Ebson Mbunguha. Despite the windy conditions working in their favor, they maintain a safe distance, aware of the potential danger of encountering these massive animals.
Every day and night, devoted trackers and local community ranger s patrol (巡逻) the vast expanse of land, totaling 25, 000 square kilometers, where the desert-adapted black rhino thrives. Armed with extensive knowledge of the rhinos’ behaviors and characteristics, they carefully document their observations, contributing to conservation efforts and fighting poaching (偷猎), which remains a constant threat due to the high demand for rhino horns.
Despite challenges, Namibia’s community conservation model has succeeded in protecting the rhino population. By prioritizing the preservation of wildlife and ensuring local communities to benefit from their natural resources, Namibia has become a lighthouse of conservation efforts in Africa. Save the Rhino Trust, established in 1982, has played a vital role in this achievement, witnessing a remarkable recovery in the black rhino population.
The significance of community conservation is stressed by Namibia’s commitment to environmental protection, written in its constitution since gaining independence in 1990. With the establishment of shared conservancies covering over 20% of the country’s territory, Namibia has pioneered a sustainable approach that balances conservation with economic development.
For the rhino rangers who devote their lives to safeguarding these iconic creatures, the job is rewarding. Living under the vast southern sky, they bear weeks of tented living, braving the dangers of tracking rhinos on foot. Despite the challenges, their serious commitment ensures the continued survival of the desert-adapted black rhino, a testament to the power of community-driven conservation efforts in preserving Earth’s oldest mammals.
1. What is the primary role of the rhino trackers?A.To relocate rhinos to other habitats. |
B.To record the exact population of rhinos. |
C.To offer rhinos food when necessary. |
D.To learn about the current situation of rhinos. |
A.They favor windy conditions. | B.They will go extinct. |
C.They are easy to approach. | D.They can be violent. |
A.Limited. | B.Fruitful. | C.Inconsistent. | D.Unnoticed. |
A.The community-driven rhino conservation efforts. |
B.The challenges facing rhino trackers in Namibia. |
C.The history of rhino poaching in Africa. |
D.The dangerous situation of rhinos. |
Alice sat in the car while palm trees seemed to speed by the car window. Eight-year-old Alice began to get nervous, the way she always did in new surroundings. She felt a thin shine of sweat above her lip in spite of the car’s cool air. “The aquarium (水族馆) won’t be crowded, I bet, and people are going to notice me. I hate wearing this prosthesis leg (假肢).” She felt tears coming from behind her eyes. “Not being normal is the worst,” she thought to herself.
Entering the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, around a corner of a tank, she noticed an animal that looked unusual. “Is that a dolphin with a a prosthetic tail instead of a real tail?” she asked an aquarium staff member. He nodded and replied, “Yes, that’s Betty. She’s a very special dolphin.” “What happened to her?” “This girl dolphin was found off the coast of Florida, caught in a crab trap. The ropes from the trap cut off the blood circulation to her tail. So she lost her tail,” Alice caught her breath. “She’s just like me.” “But she struggled to survive. Now she wears a prosthetic tail to help her swim like a dolphin’s supposed to swim,” the staff member continued. “Every day, Betty shows us anything is possible if we believe.”
Alice felt her heart was touched. She waved at Betty. Looking at Alice, Betty raised her flippers(鰭), came to her and lifted her head. “She’s swimming right into my arms,” Alice said tearfully. They made eye contact. She seemed to be speaking to Alice: We’re the same.
Back home, all Alice talked about was Betty. For two weeks, she cried and begged her mother to take her back to Clearwater.
Unfortunately, another blow hit Alice. She fell on the hardwood floor at home and broke her other leg. Alice suffered the pain in her leg. After a through examination, the doctor explained bad news to them that she would need some surgery on her leg. Years of a living hell (地狱) came back to her.
She started fearing surgery again and refused to go to hospital for treatment.
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。
“How can I persuade Alice to undergo the surgery?” Alice’s mom said to herself.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Encouraged by Betty, Alice changed her mind and did what her mother and doctor had told her to.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 . My family went to London for visiting specialists. The day before we
Six weeks later, a
Finally, we made a
One cold morning eight months after, my father had a call from an old lady who said she was putting food out “for a very old dog”. My father’s eyes were lighted up with
A.sailed | B.parked | C.boarded | D.camped |
A.alive | B.away | C.accompanied | D.apart |
A.letter | B.story | C.service | D.test |
A.fallen ill | B.got stuck | C.lost life | D.run away |
A.confusing | B.shocking | C.moving | D.touching |
A.announced | B.advertised | C.posted | D.blogged |
A.Unfortunately | B.Luckily | C.Hopefully | D.Eventually |
A.attend to | B.take over | C.look around | D.search for |
A.decision | B.discussion | C.advice | D.plan |
A.as to | B.except for | C.instead of | D.due to |
A.lead | B.place | C.risk | D.pace |
A.silence | B.dissatisfaction | C.excitement | D.praise |
A.pulled up | B.drove off | C.stepped in | D.calmed down |
A.special | B.familiar | C.painful | D.empty |
A.expectation | B.creativity | C.generosity | D.determination |
8 . Nicole Graham from Melbourne, Australia owns 10 horses. One afternoon, she and her
Speaking of the
Stacey Sullivan, the vet who
A.daughter | B.friend | C.vet | D.husband |
A.absorbed | B.trapped | C.buried | D.engaged |
A.rescue | B.raise | C.wash | D.drive |
A.Fortunately | B.Sadly | C.Apparently | D.Quickly |
A.awake | B.informed | C.calm | D.quiet |
A.Immediately | B.Incredibly | C.Subsequently | D.Ultimately |
A.awkward | B.frightened | C.relieved | D.impressed |
A.safety | B.normal | C.life | D.justice |
A.send out | B.pull out | C.bring up | D.clean up |
A.terrible | B.urgent | C.confusing | D.successful |
A.crash | B.disaster | C.incident | D.event |
A.breathtaking | B.heartbreaking | C.awesome | D.troublesome |
A.posters | B.traps | C.tracks | D.signs |
A.treated | B.discovered | C.kept | D.comforted |
A.rescuer | B.owner | C.reporter | D.fighter |
9 . A six-year-old longing to keep a unicorn (独角兽) in her backyard figured she’d get the hard part out of the way first.
Last November, Madeline wrote a letter to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control with a straightforward request. “Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one. Please send me a letter in response.”
Director Mayeda replied two weeks later. The department does in fact license unicorns, she said, under certain conditions. Those include polishing the unicorn’s horn at least once a month with a soft cloth, feeding it watermelon at least once a week, covering it with only sparkles and giving it regular access to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows. And, because unicorns are indeed very rare to find, the department is also giving Madeline a toy unicorn to keep her company during her search, as a token of appreciation.
“It is always rewarding to hear from young people who thoughtfully consider the requirements of providing a loving home for animals,” Mayeda wrote in the letter. “I like your sense of responsible pet ownership to seek permission in advance to keep a unicorn in Los Angeles County.”
Mayeda told the Washington Post that this is the first time the department has received a request for a license for a unicorn or any mythical creature. They were impressed with the first-grader for wanting to ask permission in the first place, and doing her research to work out how to go about that. She and her colleagues deal with a lot of “life-and-death” issues on the job, whether that’s seeing cases of animal abuse or animals hurting people or making decisions about having to put down dangerous or sick animals. So Madeline’s letter has considerably brightened their spirits, and she is due to visit the department this week to discuss her unicorn license application. Safe to say, she’s in for a magical surprise.
1. Why did Madeline write the letter?A.To apply to visit a unicorn. | B.To ask permission to keep a pet. |
C.To learn to provide animal care. | D.To figure out how to find a unicorn. |
A.Her application was disapproved. | B.She was presented with a live unicorn. |
C.Requirements should be met for the license. | D.Guidance was given for her search. |
A.Imaginative. | B.Convincing. | C.Indifferent. | D.Understanding. |
A.Because they are touched with the girl’s deeds. |
B.Because animal protection is a life-and-death issue. |
C.Because they are worn out with their daily work. |
D.Because it is the first application letter for a pet. |
10 . Are worms the heroes we didn’t know we needed? You might think that worms are only useful to fishermen.
The British naturalist Charles Darwin said that no other animal has “played such an important part in the history of the world as these lowly organized creatures”. They have lived on Earth for 600 million years and have even survived five mass extinctions (大规模灭绝).
Earthworms literally move the earth, and this is why farmers love them. As they travel, they loosen, mix and oxygenate (输氧) the soil, which increases the ground’s capacity to hold and get rid of water.
In 2022, a group of scientists at the Margarita Salas Center for Biological Research separated enzymes (酶) found in wax worm spit (蜡虫唾液) which are plastic-eating.
So, next time you see a worm, show it a little respect. They really are changing the world!
A.So, what do worms do that is so great? |
B.And worms are even inspiring the building industry. |
C.They are effectively a small but very efficient farming tool. |
D.They are undoubtedly unsung heroes of the natural world. |
E.Why have these simple creatures been so successful for so long? |
F.However, there is more to the humble (卑微的) worm than meets the eye. |
G.These can break down some plastics that normally degrade (降解) over many years. |