1 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The day starts early for Shi Xiaogang, a wildlife ranger (护林员) at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Southwest China’s Sichuan province. He monitors the population of giant pandas and conducts long-range patrols (巡逻) in some of the most extreme environments,     1     is a challenging and, often, dangerous job.

    2     (cover) about 200,000 hectares, Wolong National Nature Reserve is home to one of the largest remaining giant panda populations in China. Thanks to the rangers’ like Shi’s efforts,     3     number of wild giant pandas in the reserve has increased from 104, in 2015, to 149 today. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature     4     (announce) that the giant panda’s status had been changed from “endangered” to “vulnerable” on its Red List of Threatened Species.

As well as “the home of giant pandas”, the reserve is     5     (wide) known as a “bio-gene bank”. It features a great number of threatened species of plants and animals, including other famous     6     (creature), such as the red panda, snow leopard and clouded leopard among the 121 species of mammals (哺乳动物)     7     (record). There are also 392 bird species.

To mark the rangers’ hard work and contribution to wildlife     8     (protect) in the reserve, last year, 20 rangers     9     (recognize) with special commendations (表扬) at an online award ceremony for the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas’ International Ranger Awards.

The commission speaks highly of their work, saying that they help stop biodiversity loss and protect the important ecosystems that serve     10     natural solutions to climate change and other global challenges.

2 . The Atlantic salmon (鲑鱼) of Scotland are hardy and determined animals. Each spring and summer, they return from the North Atlantic Ocean to lay eggs in Scotland’s shallow rivers,leaping up waterfalls and over barriers, pushing themselves upstream in enormous efforts. Some fail, and others succeed, but today they face yet another challenge.

During the mid-1980s, there were between eight and ten million salmon swimming around Scotland’s Atlantic coast; that number has now dropped sharply. There’s evidence of reducing the availability of the salmon’s prey (猎物) as climate change warms and acidifies oceans. New research suggests climate change is also bearing down on rivers, which is bad news for salmon.Adapted to life in cold water, salmon experience slow growth and population changes at high temperatures. Heat influences their health and reduces their resistance to disease.

“Now salmon are struggling to deal with the rising temperatures. There are recent records of 27°C in the upper reaches of the Dee catchment,” says Peter Cairns, director of an environmental charity. In 2018, Scotland recorded the lowest pole catch for salmon since records began. Evidence suggests that the degraded quality of river worsens the impact of our changing climate. “Atlantic salmon evolved using river systems in Scotland that were once way more forested and therefore shaded.” Yet Scotland is today one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with just 3 percent of its native woodland undamaged. Scientists have found that just 35percent of rivers in Scotland have enough tree cover for salmon survival.

A movement to get trees back on riverbanks is gathering pace. “Broad-leaf trees close tothe bank can reduce the light that enters the water,” explains fisheries scientist Anthony Hawkins. A new initiative called Riverwoods — led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and supported by Scottish Water and several other government and regulatory bodies — aims to create a network of woodlands along Scotland’s riverbanks, and has already received a number of large funds.“Money is not the pressing business. River health is complex, but tree planting is one of the most basic things we can get started with right away,”says Cairns.

1. Why do Atlantic salmon make great journeys back to the rivers?

A．They search for foods.

B．They reproduce themselves.

C．The rivers are relatively cool.

D．The seas are increasingly warm.

2. How do the rising temperatures in rivers affect salmon?

A．They grow more quickly.

B．They are more heat-resistant.

C．They are less active in water.

D．They are more likely to get diseases.

3. What is a challenge for salmon when they return to Scotland’s rivers?

A．There is a shortage of food.

B．There is much fish catching.

C．The ecology environment has changed.

D．The river systems are unsuitable for the forest growth.

4. What does Cairns really intend to tell us in the last paragraph?

A．It is urgent to plant riverbank trees.

B．It is too hard to restore the river health.

C．There is enough money for the project.

D．There are too many vital things to deal with.

3 . In recent years, lots of American companies have gotten behind a potential climate solution called carbon capture and storage, and the government has backed it with billions of dollars in tax preferences and direct investments. The idea is to trap planet-heating carbon dioxide from the smokestacks of factories and power plants and ship it to sites via thousands of miles of new pipelines. Communities nationwide are pushing back against these pipeline construction and underground sites, arguing they don’t want the pollution running through their land.

Now the U. S. Forest Service is proposing to change a rule to allow storing this carbon dioxide pollution under the country’s national forests and grasslands. “Authorizing carbon capture and storage on National Forest System (NFS) lands would support the Administration’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent below the 2005 levels by 2030,” the proposed rule change says.

Some experts, like June Sekera, a research fellow with Boston University, question the timing of the proposed rule change, given community pushback across the country to pipelines planned on private land. Yet she says the Forest Service proposal to open up national parks for CO2 storage is “an end run around local towns and counties. And it’s a much simpler and way less expensive route.”

In an email, Scott Owen, press officer for the Forest Service, writes that the proposed rule change would allow the Forest Service to consider proposals for carbon capture and storage projects. He writes that any proposals must still pass through a secondary screening, adding, “The Forest Service has been ‘screening’ proposals for use of NFS lands for over 20 years as a means to be increasingly consistent in our processes and also be able to reject those uses that are inconsistent with the management of the public’s land. ” He notes the Forest Service currently does not have any carbon capture project proposals under consideration. The Forest Service has opened public comments on the proposed rule change until Jan. 2, 2024.

1. What does the Forest Service intend to do by changing a rule?

A．Answer the appeals of communities.	B．Provide legal space for carbon storage.
C．Enlarge national pipeline storage capacity.	D．Loosen tax burden on American companies.

2. What does the underlined phrase “an end run” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．An eventful act.	B．A desperate try.
C．An alternative way.	D．A breathtaking race.

3. What can we infer about carbon capture project from the last paragraph?

A．It is still up in the air.	B．It is dead in the water.
C．It is widely recognized.	D．It is far from satisfactory.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．A fruitful research.	B．A timely rule change.
C．An authorized project.	D．A controversial proposal.

4 . A new international organization, ReShark, including partners from 15 countries and 44 aquariums, is challenging the shark statistics. According to National Geographic, ReShark’s goal is to release 500 endangered zebra sharks in Indonesian waters to increase a wild population that is on the edge of extinction. This is the first-ever attempt to reintroduce captive sharks into the wild.

Marine reintroductions present significant challenges due to the complexity and shortage of ocean life, as well as the difficulty in managing threats, according to National Geographic. Team ReShark understands that the reintroduction may go up in smoke. Unlike land animals that have been successfully reintroduced in the past, such as giant pandas in China, young sharks are more likely to suffer from diseases and be killed by other animals, and they struggle to find food on their own.

Sharks have a remarkable history as one of the oldest vertebrate species, surviving five mass extinctions over a period of 420 million years. They play an important role in marine ecosystems by influencing the ocean’s food chains. However, they are now facing the second-highest rate of disappearance. Research shows that more than 37 percent of the shark species are at risk of extinction due to overfishing, both legal and illegal. Sharks are hunted for their meat. Nearly 100 million sharks are killed by human hands each year, according to the organization Sentient Media.

Despite the alarming decline in shark populations globally, top shark scientists are hopeful that ReShark’s efforts will succeed. Given these challenges, Simon Fraser University ecologist Dulvy initially had some doubts about ReShark’s plans. However, after asking some questions, he was surprised by what the initiative could produce. “This initiative is different,” Dulvy explained. Similarly, Rima Jabado, Dulvy’s successor, recognized ReShark as a unique project that could provide a lifeline for endangered shark species. “It may provide an opportunity for species not to go extinct,” she said.

1. What’s the ReShark’s intention of releasing sharks?

A．To conduct shark data collection.

B．To study the living habits of sharks.

C．To save the endangered shark species.

D．To test new ways of keeping sharks.

2. What does the underlined part “go up in smoke” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Disappear.

B．Fail.

C．Work.

D．Influence.

3. How does the Paragraph 3 develop?

A．By giving examples.	B．By giving descriptions.
C．By making comparison.	D．By making classifications.

4. What does Rima Jabado think of ReShark’s project?

A．Special and promising.	B．Hopeful and effortless.
C．Risky and costly.	D．Doubtful and immature.

5 . Watford and her family have lived in Curtis Bay, Baltimore for generations. Her community has faced environmental injustice. Heavy industries continued to move in her community. As a result, her neighbors have had to live with serious respiratory (呼吸的) problems.

When she knew a plan to build the nation’s largest trash-burning incinerator (焚化炉) less than a mile away from her high school, she realized she had to take action. The incinerator was being sold wrongly as clean, renewable energy equipment but actually it would be a source of brain-damaging chemicals and would release 200 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, both worse than coal burning. Watford felt she had a responsibility to warn her community to work together to shut this plant down.

She co-founded Free Your Voice (FYV), a 10-person student organization devoted to community rights and social justice. Together, they decided to start a campaign to take down Energy Answers, the incinerator’s developer. They went door-to-door talking to neighbors and organizing protests.

When it was discovered that Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) was going to be a customer of Energy Answers, the organization fought with the board and presented their case, urging BCPS to withdraw from the project. BCPS was convinced to cancel their contract, which in turn inspired 22 other customers to do the same. Without any financial gain, Energy Answers had no market to move forward with its plan.

Watford continues to work with Curtis Bay residents toward fair development. They have a vision for the future which includes building a zero-waste movement, a solar farm, and green jobs. She wants the entire human family to join the fight for environmental justice because survival as a species depends on our ability to take action.

1. What caused respiratory problems in Watford’s community?

A．Poor medical care.	B．Terrible environmental conditions.
C．Constant bacterial infection.	D．Unbalanced distribution of resources.

2. What is Watford’s attitude to building the incinerator?

A．Unfavourable.

B．Doubtful.

C．Unclear.

D．Indifferent.

3. What was the result of their campaign?

A．BCPS lost financial support.	B．Energy Answers stopped its plan.
C．The investors found new market.	D．Many customers revised their contracts.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．A teenage hero against urban pollution

B．A teenage hero fighting for an advanced city

C．A battle for Baltimore’s sky by a teenage hero

D．The social justice challenge for a teenage hero

6 . It may come as a surprise that the fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in the world, especially when it comes to carbon emissions and water usage.     1     Clothing production releases 10% of worldwide carbon emissions. Although cotton is often offered as a more sustainable material, one cotton shirt requires 2, 700 liters of water to make, which is enough for one person to drink eight cups per day for 2.5 years.

    2     However, it’s undeniable that sustainable companies like Reformation and Organic Basics are out of most people’s price ranges. Fast-fashion clothing companies have the advantage of low prices, and when it comes down to it, most people will choose low prices over sustainability. So, how can people buy sustainable clothing when it’s not affordable?    3    

Actually, there are other ways to practice sustainable habits. Of course, the best way to limit waste is to not buy any new clothes. For example, saving up to buy more sustainable clothes and then wearing them for many years is healthier for the environment and your wallet.     4     Then you can combine them with your statement pieces to get a variety of new outfits that still feel stylish and don’t generate waste. Certainly, buying second-hand clothing is also a great option.

With ever-changing fashion trends moving at breakneck speed, consumers are easily persuaded into buying latest designs to stay stylish and sustainable.     5     Honestly, it’s unnecessary. Wearing what makes you feel confident will make you look good, and the earth will thank you for your efforts.

A．The reality is frightening.

B．However, trend is hard to keep up.

C．They have no choice but to follow suit.

D．They can’t, and moreover, they don’t have to.

E．A similar resolution is to own some basic pieces.

F．Sustainable fashion has been on the rise in recent years.

G．Industrial development is pursued at the price of pollution.

7 . From airplanes to apartments, most spaces are now designed with sound-absorbing materials that help decrease various sounds of everyday life. But most of the sound-absorbing materials that can cancel out human voices, traffic noise and music are made from plastic foams (泡沫) that aren’t easily recycled or degraded. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have created a biodegradable film (薄膜) obtained from seaweed, which effectively absorbs sounds in this range.

Controlling and optimizing the way sound moves throughout a room is the key to creating functional spaces. Foam sound-absorbing panels are a common solution, and they come in a variety of materials and thicknesses tailored to specific sound requirements. Most of these foams, however, are made from a type of plastic material and other chemical substances that are obtained from natural oil or petrol. To avoid petrochemicals, researchers have explored more renewable sources and biodegradable sound-absorbing alternatives. But many current options are made from plant fibers that don’t effectively decrease noises in the most useful range of sound frequencies, or they are too thick or difficult to produce. So, Chindam’s team wanted to develop a biodegradable material from a plant, which would be simple to produce and could absorb a range of sounds.

The team created films of agar (琼脂), a material that comes from seaweed, along with other additives developed from plants and varied the thickness of the films. After running the materials through a battery of tests, the researchers measured how well the films reduced sound across a range of frequencies. To do this, the team created a sound tube in which a speaker is placed at one end, and the test film is fitted over the other end. Microphones in the middle of the tube measured the amount of sound sent by the speaker and the amount of sound reflected off the film. These experiments showed that the films with many small holes made with the highest concentrations of agar had the greatest sound-absorbing qualities and performed similarly to traditional sound-absorbing foams. The researchers plan to explore ways to change the agar films to give them other desirable properties, such as flame resistance, and will explore other biologically obtained film materials.

1. What is the disadvantage of plastic foams?

A．They take up, too much space.	B．They cannot absorb sounds effectively.
C．They cannot meet specific sound requirements.	D．They have difficulty achieving sustainable use.

2. What kind of sound-absorbing material would Chindam’s team develop?

A．One obtained easily and effectively.	B．One produced toughly and tiredly.
C．One developed from petrochemicals.	D．One made from plant fibers.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The purpose of film research.	B．A series of tests on the new material.
C．A tool of measuring the film thickness.	D．The difficulty of searching the new material.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An Eco-friendly Sound-absorbing Material from Seaweed

B．Plastic Foams: the Worst Choice of Absorbing Sounds

C．A Tube for Measuring the Amount of Underwater Sounds

D．Seaweed: a Better Sound-absorbing Underwater Plant

8 . For the past 13 years, Martin Burrows has been working as a long-distance truck driver. Spending up to five nights a week on the road can be a lonely business, leaving him with plenty of time to notice his surroundings. “I kept seeing more rubbish everywhere and it was getting on my nerves. I decided I had to do something about it,” he says. One day, he stopped his vehicle, took out a trash bag and started picking up the garbage. The satisfaction after clearing a small area was remarkable.

Before his time on the road, Burrows spent over two decades in the military as a vehicle driver. His service saw him stationed throughout Europe and also on tours in Afghanistan. After returning to civilian life, he was diagnosed with PTSD (创伤后应激障碍) and had a mental health crisis in 2017. His involvement in fundraising for Help for Heroes led him to meet a man who used model-building as a distraction from PTSD. Burrows realized that his act of roadside cleanup had a similar calming effect on his mental well-being.

By 2019, Burrows had begun using his free time on the road to regularly clean up garbage. A passerby encouraged him to set up a Facebook group, which he called Truckers Cleaning Up Britain. “I was worried I’d be the laughing stock of my town for putting videos and photos up of me cleaning but people started to join,” he says. “I was amazed. The local council stepped in and gave me litter-picking supplies and we’re up to almost 3,000 members now.”

Since truckers are so often on the move, the Facebook page acts as a means of raising awareness rather than a platform for organizing cleanups. Burrows expressed his intention to continue the cleanup efforts as long as his physical condition allowed, as he still found joy in the process.

1. What initially caused Burrows to pick up roadside garbage?

A．He wanted to kill time by picking up litter.

B．He aimed to raise fund for soldiers with PTSD.

C．He felt annoyed to see the increasing rubbish.

D．He received the assignment from his employer.

2. How did collecting roadside garbage affect Burrows’ PTSD?

A．It resulted in his embarrassment.	B．It increased his sense of isolation.
C．It worsened his stress and anxiety.	D．It brought him comfort and relief.

3. What concerned Burrows when he started Truckers Cleaning Up Britain?

A．He feared being teased for his action.

B．He was lacking in advanced cleanup tools.

C．He was unsure about the group’s development.

D．He worried about the local council’s disapproval.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A Joyful Volunteer Experience	B．A Trucker’s Cleanup Initiative
C．A Fighting Hero against PTSD	D．A Platform for Environmentalists

9 . 假定你是李华，校英语口语社正在组织“节约电力资源”主题演讲活动，请你以Be Energy Smart为题，写一篇倡议书参赛，谈一谈日常生活如何节电的做法(至少两点)。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Be Energy Smart

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10 . Damon Carson calls himself a matchmaker (媒人) of the never-ending waste of American society, trying not to pair people with people, but things with people.

In the late 1990s, Carson was on break from business school in Vail, Colorado, when he discovered the vast world of waste. He began thinking about creating a secondhand store that would sell old materials and keep them out of being wasted. As a result, in 2010, his company, Repurposed Materials appeared.

For nearly ten years, his company, Repurposed Materials, has not been looking to recycle the waste he gets — breaking it down to make something new — but rather finding new homes for thrown-away goods in their original forms.

Carson, a husband and father of three adult children, is far from wasteful. Frugal is how he describes himself. The clothes he’s wearing all came from a charity shop; his truck was bought with 290, 000 kilometers driven.

“Why break something down, why melt something down, if it still has value?” he asks. An old oil-field pipe might be melted down and turned into a car bumper, but it still takes an amount of power to finish the complete change. Why not leave it as a steel pipe? Why not turn it into a fence post on a farm? The only cost is transport.

American industrial facilities create and throw about 7.6 billion tons of unwanted industrial materials every year. For the moment, Carson’s unique business finds new lives for millions of kilograms of industrial waste every year.

1. What is paragraph two mainly about?

A．Carson’s school lessons.

B．Carson’s journey to Colorado.

C．The start of Carson’s business.

D．The serious waste of materials.

2. What is Repurposed Materials aimed at?

A．Marketing wastes to people in need.

B．Breaking down the wasted goods.

C．Manufacturing industrial products.

D．Recycling the thrown-away stuffs.

3. How does Carson describe his life?

A．Economical.

B．Poetic.

C．Tough.

D．Risky.

4. What can we learn from Carson?

A．Well began, half done.

B．Innovative thinking counts.

C．One is never too old to learn.

D．Hard work will pay back.