1 . Seth Magle is an urban ecologist in Chicago. In 2021, he started building a network of fellow urban animal lovers from around the world. They’re working to collect information so that it can be compared in different cities.
With the goal of trying to create more wildlife inclusive cities, the network helps reduce human wildlife conflict and increase human wildlife coexistence in the massively urbanizing areas.
In Chicago, Magle and his team have been watching their city’s wildlife for about 10 years. All together, they have over 100 camera traps set up across different types of urban environments from the downtown Loop and city parks to nature preserves and suburb golf courses.
During times of recent extreme heat, we do definitely see animals reduce movement and just stay where they are. It’s probably energetically difficult to move around when it’s so hot. Although this works for a short term in high temperature, it’s not ideal over a longer period because it means less time to search for food or a new mate.
As Magle and his network of urban researchers look toward the future and climate change, they predict bigger shifts. Temperatures everywhere are projected to warm, so wildlife in urban settings and beyond will likely have to shift their normal regions a bit further north to where it feels more comfortable and to what they’re already used to. We don’t have armadillos in Chicago, but we have them in the southern part of the state. And they seem to be migrating north.
Only time will tell how our urban wildlife reacts to these longer-term shifts in temperature.
For now, it sounds like urban animals — so long as they’re healthy — are totally capable of handling a few days of extreme heat here and there.
1. What is the aim of the network?A.To observe wildlife in different cities. | B.To compare animals’ living conditions. |
C.To collect information of urban animals. | D.To help human and wildlife coexist. |
A.The tracks of wildlife activities. | B.The movement of urban animals. |
C.The way of watching city animals. | D.The different types of urbanization. |
A.Keeping still. | B.Moving constantly. |
C.Shifting to the north. | D.Looking for food everywhere. |
A.A market report. | B.A science magazine. |
C.A biological textbook. | D.A social research report. |
2 . Coming upon a clear - cut in an old forest is a shocking experience. Tees large and small are collapsed one above the other in pile, and the ground is covered with the tracks of heavy machinery. Such was the scene when forest activist Zack Porter and I hiked a newly built logging (伐木) road in Green Mountain National Forest.
Clear - cutting in the American forests has long been widespread. But now, the Forest Habitat Creation Project represents new reasoning which is hotly debated - that clear - cutting benefits native creatures. The thinking is that clear - cutting done wisely can mimic natural disturbances, for example, from insect invasions or from storms overturning older trees that produce what ecologists call Early Successional Habitats - places where young trees and bushes get the upper hand and animals that depend on such habitat thrive.
The project also states that forests “can only be saved by being destroyed” - by keeping them young. Timber (木材) interests are enthusiastic about the approach because it lets them profit from cutting trees while claiming the significance of conservation. Hunting groups favor it because a younger, less thick forest makes it easier to find the game and birds they're tracking.
Nevertheless, Porter says, “Allowing some of the oldest standing trees in New England to be removed is equal to dereliction of duty on the part of the government, who sees the forests as commodities (商品).” “Forests can produce clean water, clean air, carbon storage, and biodiversity that we need,” he continues as we walk among lovely mixed hardwoods and evergreens that are cut down for logging. “We shouldn't be removing them for short - term gain.”
In this sense, Zack Porter's description of logging for wildlife for short - term gain - the short - term gain of favoring habitat for species people today want to see and hunt - is reasonable.
1. How does the author start the text?A.By presenting some ideas. | B.By listing some evidence. |
C.By comparing different views. | D.By stating his own experience. |
A.Profits can be made from logging. |
B.Clear - cutting is beneficial to the wildlife. |
C.The conservation of forest is of significance. |
D.Clear - cutting can cause natural disturbances. |
A.Fulfillment. | B.Promise. | C.Misconduct. | D.Exposure. |
A.A New Approach to Forest Protection |
B.A Hiking Experience in the Logging Road |
C.How to Build Early Successional Habitats? |
D.Is Clear - cutting Forests Good for Wildlife? |
1. 保护森林资源的必要性;
2. 从不同角度提出保护森林资源的具体措施。
注意:
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
参考词汇:滥砍滥伐 deforestation
Hello, everyone! I’d like to share my views on protecting the forests. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4 . For more than 100 million years sea turtles (海龟) have covered huge distances across the world’s oceans, making them among the oldest creatures on the planet. However, they are on the list of endangered species.
Different from some animals like snakes, the sex of the baby sea turtles, called hatchlings, is determined by the environment after fertilization (受精). The temperature of the eggs during a certain period of development is the deciding factor in determining sex, and small changes in temperature can cause very big changes in the sex ratio (比例). Often, eggs at low temperatures (22—27℃) produce males, while eggs at higher temperatures (30℃ and above) produce females. At temperatures in between, both sexes will be produced. If temperature reaches 36℃, no hatchlings will be produced.
Climate change has a powerful effect on turtle nesting (筑巢) sites. It changes sand temperatures, which then affects the sex of the hatchlings. Scientists have found that unusually warm temperatures caused by climate change are upsetting the normal ratios, resulting in fewer male hatchlings. The past four hottest summers in Florida have seen only female sea turtles. And an Australian study has shown a similar effect in which 99% of the hatchlings are female.
In addition to rising temperatures, turtles are also facing the threat of too much plastic in the oceans, along with a number of other threats. “Plastic pollution is a problem for turtles as they can mistake plastics for food easily. Even a single piece of plastic can kill a turtle,” Dr Couper, working at the Queensland Museum, said. “We have collected some plastics taken from turtles’ stomachs to show people what kinds of things are showing up on beaches. I want it to be an eye opener.”
1. Which temperature is good for a balanced sex ratio of turtle hatchlings?A.26℃. | B.29℃. | C.31℃. | D.36℃. |
A.Sea turtles will build their nesting sites elsewhere. |
B.Global warming is an extreme threat to sea turtles. |
C.Climate change is much more obvious in Australia. |
D.Over 90% of the turtle hatchlings are female globally. |
A.Turtles do not have enough food sources. |
B.Turtles do not have a good sense of smell. |
C.People should clean up beaches more often. |
D.People should raise environmental awareness. |
5 . In the west of the Greek capital Athens, the fish market of Keratsini is busy early in the morning, with trucks waiting nearby to be loaded with fishes. But on his fishing boat, Arapakis sorts out something different—bottles, boots, plastic pipes and fishing nets, all dragged from the bed of the Aegean Sea.
“We are swimming in plastic,” said Arapakis, whose family has fished for five generations. “By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the sea,” he said, as recent reports noted.
That morning’s plastic catch weighed “about 100 kilograms,” said the founder of Enaleia, a nonprofit that encourages fishermen to collect marine (海洋的) waste caught in their nets. Since its establishment in 2018, it has worked with more than 1,200 fishermen in Greece to raise concern over the degradation of the marine environment.
Active in 42 ports throughout Greece, Enaleia provides fishermen with large bags for marine waste that they can put in garbage cans once back at port. For every kilogram of plastic they deliver, they receive a small amount of money, which is enough for a drink. Since October, fishing crews have dragged out 20 metric tons of plastic and old fishing equipment each month. Nearly 600 tons have been collected over the last five years. The collected plastic is transported to a recycling plant in the industrial area of Megara near Keratsini, to make new products such as socks, swimwear or furniture.
Arapakis said he went about the cleanup project after a trip to Greece’s Cyclades islands, where he saw fishermen throwing the waste gathered by their nets back into the sea.
Arapakis is convinced there has been a “mentality change” among Greece’s fishermen. “Previously we caught large quantities of plastic, but we only kept the fish. All waste was thrown into the sea,” said Mokharam, team leader on the Arapakis family’s boat. “The project brings practical benefits for fishing boats. In the past, the anchor was often caught by waste, especially nets, and the engine would go out. But now things have changed,” he added.
1. What can we learn about Arapakis from the first 2 paragraphs?A.He was a successful fish trader. | B.He collected waste from the sea. |
C.He liked swimming in the sea. | D.He had a large family to support. |
A.Impact. | B.Worsening. | C.Improvement. | D.Research. |
A.It will be sold at a high price. | B.It will be exchanged for food. |
C.It will be thrown back into the sea. | D.It will be well dealt with for reuse. |
A.Fishing is a tough job for fishermen. | B.The sea in Greece is seriously polluted. |
C.He thinks highly of the cleanup project. | D.He still feels ashamed for fishermen’s behavior. |
1. Where is the man doing a project about the environment?
A.At a library. | B.At school | C.At a lab. |
A.To get information about a project. |
B.To know about her job. |
C.To do research on greenhouse effect. |
A.Solve the woman’s problem. |
B.Move some books. |
C.Do some reading. |
7 . Each year there is an increasing number of cars on roads and streets as millions of new cars and trucks are produced. One out of every six Americans works at putting together the parts of cars, driving trucks, building roads or filling cars and trucks with gas. Americans won’t live without cars!
Most Americans would find it hard to think what life would look like without cars. However, some have realized the serious problems of the air pollution that is caused by the car. The polluted air becomes poisonous and dangerous to health.
One way to get rid of the polluted air is to build a car that does not pollute. That’s what several of the large car factories have been trying to do. But to build a clean car is easier said than done. Progress in this field has been slow.
Another way is to take the place of the car engine by something else. Inventors are now working on steam cars as well as electric cars. Many makers believe that it will take years to develop a practical model that pleases man.
To prevent the world from being polluted by cars, we’ll have to make some changes in the way many of us live. Americans, for example, are encouraged to travel and go to work by bicycle. Bicycling is thought to help keep the air clean.
But this change does not come easily. A large number of workers may find themselves without jobs if a car factory closes down. Thus the problem of air pollution would become less important than that of unemployment.
Although cars have led us to a better life, they have also brought us new problems.
1. How many ways to get rid of air pollution are suggested in this article?A.Four. | B.Three. |
C.Two. | D.One. |
A.to have no work to do | B.to keep the air clean |
C.to get a better life | D.to go to work by bike |
A.Bicycling is the only way out. |
B.The number of cars must be cut down. |
C.Cars bring us nothing but serious problems. |
D.Cars bring us not only a better life but serious problems. |
内容包括:1. 表达感谢;2. 活动的反响和同学们的收获;3. 再次表达感谢。
注意:1. 词数80左右;2. 可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
Dear Professor Wang,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
9 . Our Conservation & Environment Projects are ideal for people who want to help with environmental conservation efforts, and carry out fieldwork in fascinating habitats. You’ll be actively involved in conservation efforts, which include educating local people about the importance of protecting the environment. We share the same mission: to guard our planet for years to come. So get your backpack because you’re going on an environmental travel adventure!
If you love working on projects to help the environment and animals, you can unleash your passion in different ways like:
Jungle Reforestation
Volunteers can travel to the Amazon rainforest in Peru to assist with reforestation. Volunteers must stay for at least two weeks to get the most out of this program-learn more and sign up!
Sri Lanka Elephant Experience
If you want to go on a tropical getaway where you can also do good voluntary work, check out the Sri Lanka Elephant Experience, where you’ll have the chance to work alongside a mahout to care for elephants. This program starts for two weeks at $600 — learn more here!
Marine Conservation in South Africa
Check out the marine conservation volunteer program in South Africa, where you can get up close to marine wildlife. Program fees are $525 to start for one week, and you can stay up to three months — learn more and sign up here!
South Africa Big 5 Wildlife Experience
You can visit South Africa and volunteer on a world-class wildlife reserve, where you will get up close to elephants, lions, rhinos and other amazing animals. This program starts from $795 for your first two weeks — click here to learn more and to sign up!
You’ll support and learn from professional environmentalists and scientists, as well as people from the local community. We offer safe, ethical, and sustainable wildlife and environmental conservation projects, and you’ll always be aware of the impact of your work. In addition to making a difference in an animal care program, you’ll develop important skills for working in wildlife conservation.
1. What is the common goal of Conservation & Environment Projects?A.To protect our planet. | B.To educate local people. |
C.To experience adventures. | D.To improve the local community. |
A.Jungle Reforestation. | B.Sri Lanka Elephant Experience. |
C.Marine Conservation in South Africa. | D.South Africa Big 5 Wildlife Experience. |
A.To present how to care for wildlife. | B.To call on people to protect wildlife. |
C.To recommend volunteer programs on wildlife. | D.To explain the importance of protecting wildlife. |
10 . One million species face extinction, more than ever before in human history, according to a UN report released in May. And humans should be responsible.
The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) based the assessment (评估) on some 15,000 sources considering the causes and results of environmental changes over the past 50 years.
The findings are clear and alarming. The researchers have found that about 25 percent of the world’s plants and animals are at risk of extinction. These include sea and land animals. Even the domesticated (驯养的) animals are at risk: Over 9 percent of the domesticated animal species used for food and agriculture might have been lost.
There are some big problems. This rapid decrease of the natural world endangers global food safety and quality of life. For example, about 4 billion people rely on natural medicines, produced by the disappearing species, for their health care. And losses of species that pollinate (授粉) plants threaten up to $ 577 billion in crops each year.
The researchers identified five drivers responsible for the unpleasant news. They think at the top of the list is the change of land and sea use. The change in ecosystems towards agriculture, aquaculture and other human developments has led to changes in the natural living space of species. It is followed by the direct overuse of creatures (harvesting crops, cutting down the trees, hunting and fishing) and climate change, including rising sea levels and increasing extreme-weather events, wildfires, floods and droughts. The final causes of species extinction are pollution, especially plastics, and the spread of non-native species that can displace or kill native plants and animals.
The researchers say it is time for humans to make a change. They think maybe a new global way to save food and refuse waste in our everyday life could turn the tables. Whether that is possible is an open question.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?A.To introduce the topic of the text. |
B.To introduce the schedule of the report. |
C.To introduce humans’ sense of responsibility. |
D.To introduce the history of human development. |
A.The reliability of the findings. |
B.The species of animals worldwide. |
C.The seriousness of species’ reduction. |
D.The risky experiences of the researchers. |
A.Climate change. |
B.Natural disasters. |
C.Changes of their living space. |
D.The direct overuse of creatures. |
A.Ignoring the food problem. |
B.Spreading non-native species. |
C.Limiting native plants and animals. |
D.Changing some habits in our daily life. |