Years ago, the authors conducted human-wildlife conflict surveys in the Tibet Autonomous Region’s counties,
This effort greatly expanded knowledge of the snow leopard’s distribution in this region,
Importantly, in the past few years, a number of major transportation infrastructure (基础设施) projects
2 . Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Dali City, Yunnan Province. It’s a famous attraction, as well as Dali’s main source of drinking water.
The lake used to be seriously polluted due to the rapid development of tourism and the local economy. In 2019, the local authorities began to build environmental protection system for the lake — the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor — to protect it from being polluted and to restore its natural ecosystem.
The project contains five parts: a 129-km road encircling the entire lake, a pipe system to stop wastewater flowing into the lake, the relocation of 1,806 households who lived within the protection area of the lake, the restoration of the lake’s wetlands and ecosystem, and the construction of experimental fields for wetland-restoration research.
By the end of 2020, the road encircling the lake had been basically completed. A 12-km section of the corridor has been open to the public for free since September 2020 for a test operation. The project, which is a public-private partnership, has a total investment of 9.8 billion yuan. Local authorities of Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture and Dali City are the main source of public funds. The corridor is described as a “pearl necklace” surrounding the lake, with the villages located along the shore of Erhai Lake being the “pearls”. These villages will benefit from the project economically, as they will be linked and gain access to enhanced transportation and tourism around the lake.
According to staff members of the project, the lake’s water quality has already improved a lot during the construction of the corridor. More migratory birds (候鸟) fly to the lake and there is less algae (海藻) in the water. It also provides a good place to exercise and go sightseeing for both the city’s residents and tourists.
1. Why was the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor built?A.To treat wastewater. | B.To protect wildlife. |
C.To attract more tourists. | D.To preserve local ecology. |
A.Removing wastewater from Erhai Lake. |
B.Conducting research into wetland restoration. |
C.Encouraging residents to settle around Erhai. |
D.Promoting construction in the protection area. |
A.They focus on the pearl industry. | B.They provide tourism opportunities. |
C.They bring benefits to the Erhai Lake. | D.They profit from the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor. |
A.It needs improving. | B.It works unexpectedly. |
C.It turns out to be good. | D.It has advantages and disadvantages. |
3 . My name is Miranda Gibson. I have been at the top of a tree for five months now. Some people might wonder
I have walked through this forest many times. On December 12, 2011,
Life in the tree top can be
Living on the tree has been inspiring. I am willing to
A.why | B.when | C.how | D.where |
A.water | B.animals | C.machinery | D.tourists |
A.bear | B.help | C.keep | D.spare |
A.sold | B.stolen | C.protected | D.lost |
A.grew out | B.fell short | C.ran out | D.let go |
A.refreshing | B.risky | C.challenging | D.rewarding |
A.get up | B.get away | C.give in | D.give up |
A.change | B.look | C.search | D.touch |
A.confused | B.nervous | C.sorry | D.lonely |
A.Beyond | B.Without | C.Despite | D.Unlike |
A.height | B.experience | C.background | D.position |
A.return | B.stop | C.stay | D.hide |
A.but | B.though | C.because | D.so |
A.soon | B.long | C.near | D.bad |
A.moved | B.logged | C.burned | D.missed |
Animals can become endangered for a number of reasons, but many experts believe that loss of habitat is the main cause. Some animals are put
In some cases, loss of habitat arises
Sometimes, people influence nature, indirectly causing the animals
5 . It has become common knowledge that our oceans are filled with garbage. Broken objects, used plastic bottles and so on fill our beaches and cover the ocean floor, doing huge damage to ocean creatures. Many individuals and organizations are working to remove this garbage, and recent technological developments have given them a new tool to do so: the trash-eating robot.
Robots of various shapes have been designed to collect garbage that they find floating in the ocean. For example, the French company IADMEEYS has developed what it calls the jellyfishbot. This small robot gathers up everything it meets, including liquid hydrocarbons (碳氢化合物) such as gasoline and oil. The jellyfishbot is remotely controlled and can clean up to 1,000 square meters per hour. The jellyfishbots’ small size and ability to be easily controlled make them ideal for cleaning up crowded areas such as ports.
For larger, more open areas, a much larger robot called the Interceptor has a similar function. Designed for use on rivers, the Interceptor looks like a boat with a conveyor belt (传送带) that picks up trash. Once a sensor indicates that the rubbish bins are full, the Interceptor automatically sends a text message to onshore operators. These operators collect and empty the rubbish bins, sending the garbage to local waste management facilities.
The Interceptor’s name comes from the verb intercept because its purpose is to prevent trash from getting to the ocean. Most of the garbage in the oceans comes down rivers. Cleaning up trash that litters the ocean is good, but to keep the oceans clean, new garbage must be stopped from getting there. Therefore the Interceptor is used to stop pollution before it enters the ocean.
The Interceptor is completely solar-powered and operates on its own, which minimizes the need for human involvement.
Robots are able to clean up large amounts of garbage without humans struggling through beach cleanup by hand. Hopefully, they can be a big part of the solution to ocean pollution.
1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?A.To introduce the background. |
B.To set the readers reflecting. |
C.To state the writer ‘s intention. |
D.To give supporting details. |
A.They need no human operation. |
B.They can clean up crowded ports. |
C.They are both solar-powered. |
D.They are controlled in the distance. |
A.Stop. | B.Check. | C.Sort. | D.Collect. |
A.They collect all the garbage. |
B.They save much human labor. |
C.They get rid of water pollution. |
D.They empty the rubbish bins. |
6 . According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, the number of solar panels installed(安装)has grown rapidly in the past decade, and it has to grow even faster to meet climate goals. But all of that growth will take up a lot of space, and though more and more people accept the concept of solar energy, few like large solar panels to be installed near them.
Solar developers want to put up panels as quickly and cheaply as possible, so they haven’t given much thought to what they put under them. Often, they’ll end up filling the area with small stones and using chemicals to control weeds. The result is that many communities, especially in farming regions, see solar farms as destroyers of the soil.
“Solar projects need to be good neighbors,” says Jordan Macknick, the head of the Innovative Site Preparation and Impact Reductions on the Environment(InSPIRE)project. “They need to be protectors of the land and contribute to the agricultural economy.” InSPIRE is investigating practical approaches to “low-impact” solar development, which focuses on establishing and operating solar farms in a way that is kinder to the land. One of the easiest low-impact solar strategies is providing habitat for pollinators(传粉昆虫).
Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change have caused dramatic declines in pollinator populations over the past couple of decades, which has damaged the U.S. agricultural economy. Over 28 states have passed laws related to pollinator habitat protection and pesticide use. Conservation organizations put out pollinator-friendliness guidelines for home gardens, businesses, schools, cities—and now there are guidelines for solar farms.
Over the past few years, many solar farm developers have transformed the space under their solar panels into a shelter for various kinds of pollinators, resulting in soil improvement and carbon reduction. “These pollinator-friendly solar farms can have a valuable impact on everything that’s going on in the landscape,” says Macknick.
1. What do solar developers often ignore?A.The decline in the demand for solar energy. |
B.The negative impact of installing solar panels. |
C.The rising labor cost of building solar farms. |
D.The most recent advances in solar technology. |
A.Improve the productivity of local farms. |
B.Invent new methods for controlling weeds. |
C.Make solar projects environmentally friendly. |
D.Promote the use of solar energy in rural areas. |
A.To conserve pollinators. | B.To restrict solar development. |
C.To diversify the economy. | D.To ensure the supply of energy. |
A.Pollinators: To Leave or to Stay | B.Solar Energy: Hope for the Future |
C.InSPIRE: A Leader in Agriculture | D.Solar Farms: A New Development |
7 . Climate change and land-use change are projected to make wildfires more frequent and intense, with a global increase of extreme fires of up to 14 per cent by 2030, 30 per cent by the end of 2050 and 50 per cent by the end of the century, according to a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal.
The paper calls for a complete change in government spending on wildfires, changing their investments from reaction and response to prevention and preparedness.
The report, Spreading like Wildfire: The Rising Threat of Extraordinary Landscape Fires, finds a higher risk even for the Arctic and other regions previously unaffected by wildfires. The report had been released before representatives of 193 nations held a meeting in Nairobi for the restarted 5th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.2), between 28 February and 2 March, 2022.
The publication calls on governments to adopt a new “Fire Ready Formula” with two-thirds of spending devoted to planning, prevention, preparedness, and recovery, with one third left for response. Currently, direct responses to wildfires typically receive over hall of related cost, while planning and prevention receive less than one per cent.
To prevent fires, authors call for a combination of data and science-based monitoring systems with native knowledge and for a stronger regional and international cooperation.
“Current government responses to wildfires are often putting money in the wrong place. Those emergency service workers and firefighters on the frontlines who are risking their lives to fight forest wildfires need to be supported. We have to reduce the risk of extreme wildfires by being better prepared: invest more in fire risk reduction, work with local communities, and strengthen global commitment to fight climate change.” said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director.
Wildfires disproportionately (不成比例地) affect the world’s poorest nations. With an impact that extends for days, weeks and even years after the flames die down, they block progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Coals and deepen social inequalities.
1. What does the paper appeal to the government to do with wildfires?A.Invest more money on forecast. |
B.Give advanced warning to wild animals |
C.Focus on the act of stopping them from happening, |
D.Plant more tress to make up for the loss of forests. |
A.Supportive. | B.Critical. | C.Unfair. | D.Unconcerned. |
A.The areas hit by climate change. |
B.The names of the world’s poorest nations. |
C.The relationship between wildfires and health. |
D.The bad effects of wildfires on different fields. |
A.Wildfires are spreading worldwide. |
B.The UN held a meeting to discuss wildfires. |
C.Governments should prepare themselves for wildfires. |
D.The UNEP Executive Director released a report on wildfires. |
On a hot September afternoon, Peter and his friend Isabel were on their way to the library. When they passed by Tubman park, Isabel suggested cutting through it to get to the library. As they entered the park, the sight of the swings (秋千) and the merry-go-round brought back a flood of memories of their childhood spent there. But now everything looked so old, sad, and dirty. Litter lay on the ground next to an overflowing trash bin. There were still young schoolchildren playing there but they had to avoid the trash that littered the playground. A little boy told them that the city took the other trash cans away and the remaining one never got emptied often.
As they headed toward the library, the two high school students wrinkled their forehead. In the library, they encountered Mrs. Evans, their kind-hearted fifth-grade teacher, retired yet still passionate. Mrs. Evans listened as Isabel and Peter eagerly explained what they’d seen. Finally, she recommended them to go to the City Hall to voice their concerns.
The next day, Isabel and Peter went into the building of the City Hall but were met with an impatient officer. They were informed that the city couldn’t help with their problem due to a tight budget. Discouraged, they left and turned to Mrs. Evans for help.
Under her guidance, they decided to ask Go Green, a non-profit organization whose goal is to protect the environment, for help. “This group is good at raising money for projects just like yours, ” said Mrs. Evans. She promised to arrange them to present their ideas to Go Green. Hearing this, their face lit up.
Two main tasks remained ahead: researching ways to clean up the park and preparing a convincing presentation. As Isabel was good at researching while Peter always had a talent for speaking, they cooperated quite well. Isabel learned from a science magazine that a new type of trash bin can squeeze the trash down without being emptied often, which saves time, money, and energy. Based on this, Peter practiced his presentation over and over again.
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。
A week later, Peter stood nervously at the back of the hall where Go Green was meeting.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the meeting, Isabel excitedly told Peter the good news.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________9 . As a result of pollution,Lake Erie, on the borders of the USA and Canada, is now without any living things.
Pollution in water is not simply a matter of “poisons” killing large numbers of fish overnight. Very often the effects of pollution are not noticed for many months or years because the first organisms (生物体) to be affected are either plants or plankton(浮游生物). But these organisms are the food of fish and birds and other creatures.When this food disappears, the fish and birds die too. In this way a whole food chain can be wiped out, and it’s not until dead fish and water birds are seen at the river’s edge or on the seashore that people realize what is happening.
Where do the substances which pollute the water come from? There are two main sources of sewage (污水) and industrial waste. As more detergent (洗涤剂) is used in the home, so more of it is finally put into our rivers, lakes and seas. Detergents harm water bird, dissolving the natural substances which keep their feathers waterproof. Sewage itself, if not properly treated, makes the water dirty and prevents all forms of life in rivers and the sea from receiving the oxygen they need. Industrial waste is even more harmful as there are many highly poisonous things in it, such as copper and lead (铅).
So, if we want to stop this pollution,the answer is simple: sewage and industrial waste must be made clear before flowing into the water.It may already be too late to save some rivers and lakes, but others can still be saved if the correct action is taken at once.
1. Pollution of water is noticed ________.A.when the first organisms are affected |
B.when a good many fish and birds die |
C.when poisonous things are poured into water |
D.as soon as the balance of nature is destroyed |
A.water | B.waste |
C.poison | D.oxygen |
A.Organisms. |
B.Plants and plankton in the water. |
C.Waste water from cities. |
D.Industrial waste made clear before flowing into the water. |
A.realize the serious situation clearly |
B.put oxygen into the water |
C.make the waste harmless before it flows into the water |
D.make special room in the sea for our rubbish |
10 . Killer whales, or orcas, are known for their severe attacks on sea animals but they have never posed a threat to humans. However, since late July, the normally social animals have been intentionally attacking sailboats off the coasts of Spain and Portugal.
The strange behavior first surfaced on July 29, 2020, when a 46-foot boat was repeatedly attacked for almost an hour by nine orcas, causing the boat to rotate(旋转) 180 degrees and having its engine switched off. Since then, over 30 more similar incidents have been reported. On September 23, 2020, Spain's government banned boats of less than 50 feet in length from sailing in the 60-mile stretch of the Atlantic coastline between Ferrol and the Estaca de Bares Cape, where the attacks have been occurring.
Researchers across the world are trying to explain the orcas' behavior. Some believe it could be a result of the overfishing of the bluefish tuna - the orcas' primary food source -which has left the area's killer whales starving and unable to feed their babies. "I saw them look at boats carrying fish. I think they know humans are somehow related to food shortages, "says Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research in Washington, USA. The environmentalists believe the sudden increase in boat traffic and fishing activities, after months of absence due to restrictions on human activity last spring, could also be contributing to the agitation.
However, Alfredo López, a biology professor in Galicia, Spain, thinks the attacks are defensive measures the orcas adopted to protect themselves against boat injuries. The researcher came to this conclusion after looking at the of the videos of a few incidents and noticing that two of the young killer whales involved had serious injuries. Hopefully, the experts will be able to find a way to restore the harmony between the animals and the humans soon.
1. What do we know about orcas in paragraph 1?A.They are friendly to humans. | B.They have changed their behavior. |
C.They are famous for hunting skills | D.They have met tough living conditions. |
A.Ken Balcomb. | B.The environmentalists. |
C.Alfredo López. | D.Spain's government. |
A.The attacks. | B.Food shortages. | C.The overfishing. | D.Human activities. |
A.How do killer whales attack humans? |
B.Why Are Killer Whales attacking Boats? |
C.How can we live in harmony with animals? |
D.Why are boats banned from sailing on the sea? |