1 . Have you ever heard of the Northward Family, a herd of Asian elephants that made their journey in Yunnan? They were a bit naughty for they invaded villagers’ fields. Scientists who took part in scientific research and conservation have also used unmanned aerial vehicles (无人机) and other advanced means to carry out monitoring and early warning of the herd’s arrival. The government also made fences around villagers’ houses, which make effective protection of elephants from humans, making sure the safety of humans and elephants.
In addition, safety signs, warning signs and solar-powered street lights have been fixed along the roads where the herd may appear, to remind passers-by to be careful. The government has also set up a “canteen” for the elephants, providing them with food such as banana, corn and so on.
Is this amazing “migration” just a journey or a “survival revolution” in search of a new home? A lot of friends who care about the Northward Family are wondering: Is elephants’ migration related to the destruction of their living environment? Only time will tell.
What do humans think of the elephant’s journey? On the one hand, it is no accident. We humans can help elephants by respecting their activities. It is within our power to respect science, follow the advice of experts, guide and urge our friends and children to keep their distance. If elephants really become our “neighbors”, how to deal with the “neighborly relations” will certainly become a problem we have to face.
On the other hand, the elephant’s journey has shown China’s achievements in protecting its natural environment and wildlife in recent decades. There is no doubt that the normal rotation of the earth cannot depend on the human species alone. The preservation of biodiversity is the “secret” of the earth’s ecological sustainability. When nature becomes something that animals and plants desire, humans will live a wonderful life too.
1. Why was the Northern Family described naughty?| A．They destroyed the scientific research. | B．They walked into fields of the village. |
| C．They ate a lot of bananas on the way. | D．They escaped from where they lived. |
| A．They fed the herd with food that is proper. |
| B．They paid attention to the elephants’ movement. |
| C．They removed the fences around villagers’ houses. |
| D．They blocked the roads where the herd might appear. |
| A．They loved traveling. | B．They were searching for food. |
| C．Their purpose was still unknown. | D．Their living habitat was destroyed. |
| A．Keeping away from elephants is necessary. |
| B．Protecting elephants is our impossible mission. |
| C．Dealing with elephant’s journey is beyond human’s ability. |
| D．Great efforts have been made in protecting wildlife in China. |
2 . A little girl was enjoying the beautiful garden in her home. Her father had a good collection of rare and prized plants, which he
The girl was
She worked out a plan to clean the plant. She
Later her father came to the garden and spotted the uprooted plant, which had lain
The father showed her how her treatment had nearly killed the plant and told her that the filthy soil was the best
A great gardener mixes the
| A．weeded out | B．brought up | C．attended to | D．fed on |
| A．frightened | B．attracted | C．attacked | D．shocked |
| A．recalled | B．noted | C．recognized | D．concluded |
| A．formation | B．presentation | C．presence | D．composition |
| A．held | B．picked | C．pulled | D．pushed |
| A．flowers | B．branches | C．leaves | D．roots |
| A．deed | B．deal | C．operation | D．project |
| A．burning | B．bathing | C．breathing | D．dying |
| A．confirm | B．exhibit | C．evaluate | D．celebrate |
| A．innocently | B．distantly | C．decisively | D．thoughtlessly |
| A．shelter | B．medicine | C．medium | D．venue |
| A．right | B．same | C．dirty | D．loose |
| A．Moreover | B．Likewise | C．Rather | D．Nevertheless |
| A．environment | B．mode | C．neighbourhood | D．opportunity |
| A．invisible | B．disorganized | C．proper | D．unpleasant |
3 . A video circulated on social media earlier this year, showing a tourist opening the door of a vehicle, reaching out an arm and attempting to stroke a passing lion. The lion shrugged the tourist off, but it could have easily gone horribly wrong.
Reckless behaviour around wildlife risks the safety of both people and animals. People risk being attacked, mauled (撕咬) and possibly killed, while animals can be harmed, removed or even put down, regardless of whether they were only defending themselves. Animal attacks can also cast a destination in a negative light, causing temporary closures or scaring off visitors. All just so someone could boast that they had stroked a lion or captured a moment on a camera phone.
“Tourists are getting more and more reckless around wildlife and the source of the problem is social media.” says wildlife photographer Anette Mosshachers. “People risking their lives or doing stupid things with wildlife are after ‘likes’ and followers, something to show off on social media,” says Mossbacher. “The greater the risk, the more ‘likes’ they get. With some clients, it seems like a sickness or addiction.”
Yet social media is not entirely to blame. People have always taken risks for an experience. Foolish behavior and a tendency to get cocky around dangerous animals must have been around since the dawn of humanity. A hunger for attention online might drive some of the current madness, but some individuals might be trying to recreate a piece of the action they have seen on television. Perhaps the adrenaline (肾上腺激素) rush when close to wild animals causes a disappearance of common sense.
“There’s a worrying lack of awareness that animals several times our size, weight, speed and strength can easily hurt us,” says wildlife photographer David Lloyd. “I don’t think parks are doing enough to raise awareness. Tourists need to know how their presence can affect wildlife. A good example is cheetahs (猎豹) on vehicle rooftops. It may be a thrill for the bystanders, but the consequences if a mother cheetah falls off would be severe. She would no longer be able to hunt, so her cubs could easily starve.”
“People aren’t getting the education about why they need to stay away from wildlife, including avoiding diseases, keeping people secure and letting wildlife be wild,” says Philip Muruthi, vice president of species conservation and science for the African Wildlife Foundation. “We need to educate tourists through signs, pamphlets and frontline drivers. We should stick to guidelines, and there needs to be enforcement through the law.”
1. What can we learn about reckless behaviour around wildlife?| A．It may get animals killed for defending themselves. |
| B．It may bring more profits to a tourist destination. |
| C．It enables tourists to get intimate with animals. |
| D．It harms tourists more than animals. |
| A．sympathetic | B．disapproving | C．indifferent | D．doubtful |
| A．over-sensitive. | B．over-confident | C．over-frightened. | D．over-shocked. |
| A．Punishment rather than education can stop people taking silly risks around wildlife. |
| B．Parks are expected to take more responsibilities for educating tourists. |
| C．More regulation of the tourist industry is the key to raising tourists’ awareness. |
| D．Raising tourists’ awareness means stressing the danger of animals to them. |
4 . Hammond is the only wheelchair nurse in the UK with an assistance dog. Having disabilities most of her life, she was always
She loves being able to
Her assistance dog, Ocho aids Hammond with her
Hammond would love to see more disabled doctors and nurses working in this field. Like her, they would bring their own
| A．uncertain | B．surprised | C．afraid | D．aware |
| A．pass on | B．hold back | C．wake up | D．result in |
| A．shape | B．inspire | C．force | D．follow |
| A．deliver | B．update | C．access | D．express |
| A．depression | B．fortune | C．sympathy | D．freedom |
| A．struggled | B．waited | C．worked | D．retired |
| A．duties | B．challenges | C．excuses | D．hobbies |
| A．schedule | B．track | C．purpose | D．guard |
| A．comment | B．award | C．behave | D．rediscover |
| A．secret | B．social | C．physical | D．financial |
| A．safe | B．worn | C．private | D．remote |
| A．visit | B．operation | C．accident | D．tour |
| A．guess | B．response | C．service | D．choice |
| A．temporarily | B．gradually | C．generally | D．casually |
| A．honors | B．experiences | C．researches | D．needs |
5 . To the human ears, a field of flowers is silent, except the noise of birds and insects. To certain animal ears, however, a field of flowers is full of conversation. Now, scientists have discovered that plants actually make noise as a way of communicating. In other words, they talk!
It has long been known that plants communicate when they are stressed. You need only watch a houseplant to realize that a plant lowers its head when it needs water, or turns yellow when it has been watered too much. Some plants also send out a bad smell when stressed to try and stop insects from taking advantage of their stressed state and eating them up.
Now, a new study that was published in Cell and conducted by researchers at Tel Aviv University, shows that not only do plants express themselves in the above ways when stressed, they also make sounds, like talking.
According to NoCamels, plants send out sounds at frequencies (频率) between 40 to 80 kilohertz—out of the range (范围) of human ears, but within the range of some animals. “Bats (蝙蝠) make sounds in these ranges all the time, and mice, dogs and cats can partly hear within it,” Dr. Lilach Hadany, one of the authors of the study, told NoCamels.
What is surprising about Hadany’s study is that the researchers have managed to understand and group the sounds that plants make for the first time. Plants that are not stressed make about one noise per hour, but plants that are stressed, thirsty, or injured make many hundreds of sounds per hour; and each of these sounds seems to show the certain type of stress the plant is under.
This type of information could be key for agriculture (农业). Knowing what sounds their plants are making will help farmers determine whether their plants are in danger or disease and allow them to make the necessary changes to allow their plants to grow well.
1. Why do some plants send out a bad smell?| A．To show they hate birds. | B．To say they are in need of water. |
| C．To protect themselves from danger. | D．To tell people to stop watering them. |
| A．Humans. | B．Cats. | C．Dogs. | D．Bats. |
| A．The big problems farmers have been facing. |
| B．The possible application of the new study. |
| C．The ways for farmers to learn plants’ languages. |
| D．The points needed to be improved for the study. |
| A．Plants Change Their Looks to Ask for Help |
| B．Necessary Changes Are Made to Agriculture |
| C．Plants Can Make Sounds to Communicate |
| D．A Field of Plants Is Silent to the Human Ears |
6 . While you may get flowers or a card from the one you love on Valentine’s Day, it can be hard to know how our four-legged friends feel about us.
Happy greeting
It’s great to be welcomed home by our pet and your dog isn’t doing this to show welcome to you;
When your pet chooses to look at you with soft, relaxed eyes, they trust you and are happy in your company, accepting you as non-threatening. And, it could be argued, that trust is the highest form of love.
Hugs (on your pet’s terms)
Your dog can choose to curl up wherever they like, so when they hug you, they are actively choosing you. This can range from full body hugs to them leaning into you to ask for some love. However, any hug must always be on your pet’s conditions and personalities.
Tail wagging
A wagging tail can display a whole range of emotions from your dog, but you’ll know it’s a sign of love when they treat you to a full body wiggle. Their tail will turn around in circular movements like helicopter propellers (螺旋桨).
Licking you
Your dog may lick you for a variety of reasons, but one of them is affection and love. They are ultimately seeking attention from you because they want to interact with you.
| A．Soft eye contact. |
| B．Cheerful and excited barking. |
| C．Actually, it’s a sign that they are pretty happy to see you. |
| D．In actuality, it’s a sign that they are hungry and eager for some treats. |
| E．Some dogs will find having someone’s arms around them stressful and uncomfortable. |
| F．Our cats and dogs can’t tell us how they feel, so what are the other signs that you share a special connection? |
| G．This type of tail wagging is usually reserved for people that are special to them, and is mostly used when dogs see their owners. |
1.保护野生动植物的重要性；
2.你校的宣传活动；
3.你的建议。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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Most gardeners will probably say gardening is good for you. According to a study, people who garden have a
9 . In the 1970s, a new supermarket selling LPs arrived in my hometown and I began devoting my pocket money to acquiring records. I swiftly developed an affection for Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, harboring dreams of performing that music myself. Despite the absence of a piano at home, there was one at my grandmother’s care home, where I learned to play Beethoven by ear, with pigeons cooing and farmers working in the fields. It was truly magical.
Entering the Royal Academy of Arts at 16 marked the beginning of my artistic journey. In my 30s, I took another significant step in life-marriage. My wife worked at Elephants World, a reserve dedicated to the care of rescued domestic elephants. These elephants have worked for humans all their life and many are blind or disabled from being treated badly, so I wanted to make the effort to carry something heavy myself. For my 50th birthday, my wife successfully persuaded the manager to allow us to bring a piano into the reserve, bringing music to the elephants’ lives.
Initially, when I started playing, it was hard to hear the piano above the sounds of nature and the elephants chewing grass. However, everything changed when a blind elephant ceased eating and tuned into my playing. It struck me that this elephant, trapped in a world of darkness, had a profound love for music. From that moment on, there was no longer any concern about disturbing their peace. We occasionally film these performances, and now, we proudly have nearly 700,000 YouTube subscribers.
I continue to play for these elephants that run freely in the reserve, despite the constant potential danger. Surprisingly, it’s the moody male elephants who show the most fascination with the music. I firmly believe it has a calming effect. These elephants’ breathing actually slows down when I play, which tells me they are relaxed and happy. I’ve even witnessed elephants seemingly dancing to Beethoven’s tunes. With their exceptional hearing and the ability to sense vibrations (震动) through their feet, I am convinced that elephants grasp the language of human expression. This serves as a powerful illustration that music serves as a universal language, connecting us all.
1. What motivated the author’s early affection for music?| A．Exposure to Beethoven’s music. | B．Employment at Elephants World. |
| C．Attendance at the Royal Academy of Arts. | D．Piano teaching at his grandma’s care home. |
| A．Personal achievements in music. | B．A combination of music and care. |
| C．Successful fundraising for the reserve. | D．Recognition for the author’s artistic journey. |
| A．Emotional recovery. | B．Physical exercise. |
| C．Financial support. | D．Artistic expression. |
| A．Save the Mistreated Elephants | B．Connect the Elephants with Music |
| C．Play the Piano for Rescued Elephants | D．Make the Hearing of Elephants Sharp |
10 . In April last year, I saw a post on the PNP (Pilots N Paws) website from a family in Topeka. They had to move to Virginia but they were on a very tight
It just
When I met Tiffy’s owners, they seemed very
After some goodbyes, I asked George and his wife to help me
The flight was
| A．schedule | B．investment | C．budget | D．connection |
| A．food | B．shelter | C．medicine | D．transportation |
| A．secretly | B．originally | C．desperately | D．temporarily |
| A．proved | B．happened | C．appeared | D．showed |
| A．offered | B．hurried | C．failed | D．waited |
| A．see off | B．pick up | C．hand over | D．look after |
| A．curious | B．confused | C．annoyed | D．nervous |
| A．perfect | B．common | C．hard | D．lucky |
| A．stranger | B．neighbor | C．coworker | D．facilitator |
| A．figure out | B．work out | C．turn out | D．run out |
| A．feed | B．change | C．follow | D．load |
| A．join | B．call | C．leave | D．serve |
| A．unexpected | B．unnecessary | C．uneventful | D．unavoidable |
| A．returned | B．flew | C．fought | D．accompanied |
| A．proud | B．generous | C．sympathetic | D．grateful |
