1 . A rare wild flower is being re-established in Devon fields thanks to some four-legged helpers. A conservation charity called Planflife has employed donkeys as “ecosystem engineers”to encourage the return of the endangered small-flowered catchfly.

The catchfly was once found all across Britain but now it only grows in small areas of Wales and the south and west of England. Experts blame its decline on modern farming practices. The flower flourished around the edges of sandy fields where farmers grew their crops, but because of weedkillers that were used to remove “unwanted” plants, and fertilisers to boost crop yields, its habitat has largely disappeared.

Plantlife teamed up with the Donkey Sanctuary, a charity that looks after donkeys in the UK and around the world. It owns several farms across Devon and the UK, where it takes care of hundreds of rescued donkeys, as well as maintaining habitats for other wildlife. More than 20, 000 seeds have been scattered on fields at the sanctuary’s main Devon farm, and it is hoped that many will grow into plants this summer. They will provide food for threatened bird species such as linnets, yellowhammers and skylarks. Plantlife then aims to get the donkeys themselves involved, testing whether catchfly seeds benefit from being trampled into the ground as the donkeys take their exercise. Many plants have seeds that must be pressed into the soil in order to germinate.

“We’re incredibly grateful to partners like the Donkey Sanctuary who are helping these fantastically rare wild flowers come back from the edge of extinction,” Cath Shellswell of Plantlife told The Guardian newspaper. “We look forward to seeing small-flowered catchfly return and we are working with the sanctuary to ensure that this tiny plant has a thriving future. ”

1. Why are donkeys employed in Devon fields?

A．To work in the fields.	B．To restore the catchfly.
C．To avoid extinction.	D．To raise crop yields.

2. What caused the decline of the catchfly’s population?

A．Soil loss.	B．Water pollution.
C．Climate change.	D．Modern agriculture.

3. How do donkeys help the catchfly come back?

A．By pressing its seeds into the soil.	B．By working the land.
C．By providing nutrition for it.	D．By spreading its seeds.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．Donkeys help fields flower again.	B．Farmland becomes a natural habitat.
C．The biodiversity forms on Devon farms.	D．The catchfly has a thriving future.

2 . Nuclear pollution has long been a global concern, with major accidents like those at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima highlighting the serious health and environmental risks associated with nuclear disasters. These incidents not only caused immediate health issues such as radiation sickness and increased cancer rates but also led to long-term environmental damage and genetic mutations in affected populations. Consequently, nuclear pollution remains a significant worry for governments, academics, and society worldwide.

When nuclear accidents occur near coastlines, the marine environment becomes a key point due to the vital role oceans play in climate regulation, food security, and supporting billions of livelihoods globally. In recent years, escalating threats to marine ecosystems from mounting ocean pollution have spurred increased public awareness of marine environmental protection. Studies have shown that human activities pose a significant threat to marine environments, emphasizing the need for improved environmental governance and measures to address environmental risks.

Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, efforts to cool the reactors by injecting seawater led to the accumulation of a vast amount of nuclear waste within the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant’s water storage tower. Despite attempts to manage this waste, the Japanese government’s decision to discharge nearly 1.26 million tons of nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean over the next 40 years has faced opposition from neighboring countries, Japanese residents, and international environmental organizations.

This discharge poses substantial risks to marine life, fisheries, and human health. Radioactive isotopes (放射性同位素) such as tritium, carbon-14, cobalt-60, and strontium-90 present in the wastewater can accumulate in marine organisms, ultimately affecting human populations through the food chain. Therefore, further research and mitigation measures to address the wide-ranging consequences of nuclear pollution on the environment and human health are urgently needed.

In conclusion, while nuclear power may offer benefits, the potential risks, as highlighted by incidents like Fukushima, underscore the importance of stringent safety measures and thorough consideration of environmental impacts.

1. What are three major nuclear accidents mentioned in the passage?

A．Fukushima, Hiroshima, Nagasaki

B．Chernobyl, Fukushima, Hiroshima

C．Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima

D．Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Nagasaki

2. Why is the marine environment a vital point in the context of nuclear accidents?

A．Because marine life is directly affected by nuclear pollution.

B．Because marine environments are more vulnerable to radiation.

C．Because marine pollution exacerbates the impact of nuclear disasters.

D．Because oceans play a significant role in regulating climate and supporting livelihoods.

3. What is the likely reason for the opposition to discharging nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean?

A．Concerns about potential economic benefits

B．Fear of increased fishing restrictions

C．Possible risks to marine life and human health

D．Lack of available technology for wastewater treatment

4. What is the main idea of the fourth paragraph?

A．The potential risks to marine life and human health.

B．The present research and mitigation measures.

C．The environmental and social consequences of nuclear accidents.

D．The opposition from neighboring countries and environmental organizations.

4 . Oceans are an appealing target for renewable energy production. Waves produce 32,000 terawatt-hours of natural energy per year — for reference, the entire world uses around 23,000 terawatt-hours every year.

The advantages of wave power are clear.     1     Turbines produce electricity through the power of waves, making them a completely pollution-free, renewable energy source. And the amount of kinetic energy in a wave is huge that energy is used to produce electricity. There is also a lot of potential because many countries have access to an ocean that can help power their electric systems. Also, waves are hardly interrupted and almost always in movement.     2    

But the disadvantages of wave energy are serious too. Building factories or electrical wires directly on the beach might prove challenging.     3     Local fishing zones could be affected or the factories could lead to more coastal erosion. High cost is a problem too. Wave power is a rising energy technology in the early stages of development, so calculating the costs is difficult.     4     Because constant movement can lead to more breaking, wave energy factories will most likely need regular and costly maintenance.

    5     For many ocean-bordering countries, wave energy will be a great addition to the newable energy mix. The bottom line is that wave power has enormous global potential. However, the industry needs more funding and research to finalize the technology involved so that countries can begin adding wave energy to their renewable energy source.

A．Wave energy still need to be explored.

B．They are not affordable to many countries.

C．Despite the challenges, there is a future of wave energy.

D．Wave energy does not give off greenhouse gasses when produced.

E．They can cause damage to sea life and the surrounding ecosystems.

F．Maintenance for the factories in moving saltwater is very expensive.

G．This makes electricity from wave energy a more reliable energy source.

5 . A new study by the Zoological Society of London has found that nearly one in five of the world’s 10,000 species of reptiles (爬行动物) are threatened with extinction. The study, which has been printed in the journal Biological Conservation, was carried out by more than 200 experts who assessed the risk of extinction of 1,500 reptiles selected at random from around the globe.

The primary author of the paper, Monika Bohm, explained to the Zoological Society:” Reptiles are often associated with extreme habitats and tough environmental conditions, so it is easy to assume that they will be fine in our changing world. “However, that’s far from the truth:” Many species are very high specialized in terms of habitat use and the climatic conditions they require for day to day functioning, “Bohm said.” This makes them particularly sensitive to environmental changes. “The paper highlights three critically endangered species in its research, including the jungle runner lizard Ameiva vittata, which has only ever been spotted in the Cochabamba region of the Bolivian jungle—an area under threat from the growth of agriculture and logging. The two most recent searches for the species have been unsuccessful. Meanwhile in Haiti, six of the nine species of Anolis lizard in the country risk extinction due to increasing deforestation (毁林).

Also at risk are freshwater turtles, with 50% of all species at risk of extinction from hunting; turtle parts are in high demand as ingredients in traditional medicine. According to the study 30% of freshwater reptile species are also in danger of completely disappearing.

Reptiles have a long evolutionary history: snakes, lizards, crocodiles and tuataras first appeared on earth around 300 million years ago. They are an important part of many ecosystems. ”This is a very important step towards assessing the conservation status of reptiles globally, “Philip Bowles from the IUCN Species Survival Commission said in response to the study.” Tackling the identified habitat loss is key conservation priorities in order to transfer declines in these reptiles.”

1. How many species of reptiles are endangered?

A．1,000.

B．1,500.

C．2,000.

D．5,000.

2. What can we infer from paragraph 2?

A．Environmental changes cause species variation.

B．More trees are being cut down in the Bolivian jungle.

C．Reptiles can easily adapt to extreme habitats and climate.

D．Species extinction results from tough environment conditions.

3. Why are freshwater turtles at risk?

A．Because local people hunt them for fun.	B．Because their parts have medical value.
C．Because they struggle to survive in the wild.	D．Because they can be cooking ingredients.

4. How can we conserve these reptiles according to the last paragraph?

A．To reduce habitat destruction.	B．To increase the harvest of forest trees.
C．To assess the current conditions of reptiles.	D．To further the study on the evolutionary history.

6 . In winter, intense cold in China’s Jilin Province can turn tripping water into ice within seconds. Yet, 63-year-old Ren Jianguo gets up early every day to spread corn on the riverbank to make sure thousands of migratory birds(候鸟) have food to go through the cold days.

Ren lives in Jilin City which is built on the banks of the Songhuajiang River. Over the past 26 years, he has been one of the many volunteers protecting migratory birds on the river’s Changbai Island. Local residents label him as “Uncle Bird”. Winter is the busiest time for Uncle Bird as it is the season when large amounts of migratory birds fly here to avoid the biting cold days in Siberia, Russia.

On the upper reaches of the Songhuajiang River is Northeast China’s largest artificial lake. The temperature of the water stays at around 4-10℃ all year round. This allows Changhai Island to welcome countless migratory birds.

“As long as they choose to stay in this city, there should be people to take care of them. When it becomes difficult to find food in winter, I call for donations or sometimes pay for the food myself to secure their survival during the winter,” Ren said.

Jilin City, which is part of the migratory passage of birds in East Asia, is one of the few warm wetlands in northern China suitable for migratory birds to rest. To improve the environment here, the Chinese government has invested about 26.6 billion yuan for water pollution control and prevention along the Songhuajiang River since 2006.

For Ren, a small house near the riverbank has almost become his “second home”, a place from which he can patrol(巡逻) along the banks, observe birds, educate the public about bird conservation and, after a long day of work, light a fire and enjoy a warm meal.

“I simply want this to be a warm and welcoming place for birds when they choose to stay here for a temporary rest,” he said.

1. What is the best title of this passage?

A．The Tale of “Uncle Bird”

B．The Environment of Changbai Island.

C．The Survival of Birds.

D．The Protection of Wetlands.

2. Why does Ren Jianguo volunteer to protect migratory birds?

A．To keep himself from being bored.

B．To keep the birds from flying away.

C．To keep the birds from going hungry.

D．To keep the environment from being polluted.

3. Why do the birds come to Changbai Island in the winter?

A．To eat high-quality corns.

B．To see kind-hearted volunteers.

C．For a cleaner environment.

D．For a better temperature.

4. Which of the following best describes Ren Jianguo’s work?

A．Boring.	B．Professional.
C．Dangerous.	D．Meaningful.

8 . The great increase of waste that you find around the world is hard to ignore. Depending on where they live, people produce between 0.11 and 4.54 kilograms of waste every day. Even more alarming, that number is expected to increase by 70 percent by 2050.

Is there anything specific you can do to help the situation? One thing is to shop smart. Buy from companies that promote sustainable (可持续的) business practices and use recycled materials in their products.

Here are some products and companies that hit the mark for being environmentally-friendly.

Wool Runners by Allbirds

These light and comfortable tennis shoes are made from natural wool. The laces (鞋带) are made from recycled water bottles. Other shoe parts are made from bean oil, and the shoeboxes are made with recycled materials.

Women’s 711 Skinny Jeans by Levi’s

It usually takes hundreds of gallons of water to make one pair of blue jeans. However, Levis Water < Less collection uses up to 96 percent less water.

Reactive Drawstring Family Tote by Vera Bradley

These pretty bags put recycled water bottles to good use, using 23 of them per bag.

The Sunrise Reborn^TM Pack by ASICS

ASICS’s new shoes were created with sustainability in mind. The material is dyed (染色), using a special method. The technique uses up to 80 percent less water than regular dyeing methods. The process also uses fewer chemicals and less energy.

Regarding their future footwear lines, ASICS has made a promise. Over 95 percent of their new running shoes will be made from recycled materials. The technology behind Sunrise Reborn puts ASICS one step closer to reaching their sustainability goals. The company has promised to leave a lighter environmental footprint for future generations.

1. What do the data in Paragraph 1 show?

A．The danger caused by waste materials.	B．The existing problem ignored by people.
C．The serious problem of increasing waste.	D．The growing amount of poisonous waste.

2. What do the four products have in common?

A．They only use recycled materials.	B．They’re made from natural materials.
C．The techniques behind them are very special.	D．Their companies share the sustainability goals.

3. Where may the text be found?

A．In a life magazine.	B．In a fantasy book.
C．In a research paper.	D．In a business report.

9 . In July 2017, Hoh Xil became a world heritage (遗产) site and there live more than 70, 000 Tibetanantelopes. Every year, pregnant (怀孕的) Tibetan antelopes migrate (迁徙) to Hoh Xil between the end of May and early June to give birth and leave with their children around August. Zonag Lake at the heart of Hoh Xil is known as the “delivery room” for the species.

About 40 female Tibetan antelopes with three young were spotted crossing the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Saturday. Experts say that in recent years, the number of young Tibetan antelopes among the migrating groups consisted of between a fifth and quarter of the population.

“In the early stage of migration, Tibetan antelopes face a high risk of falling prey to predators (盗猎者) so the number of young Tibetan antelopes is relatively small, and there may even be none,” said Lian Xinming, an associate research fellow at Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

According to research, the number of Tibetan antelopes that migrate back has been rising. A total of 5, 952 Tibetan antelopes were spotted migrating in 2020, and 233 more in 2021. “This year’s migration season is expected to finish in early September. The population is expected to continue to increase,” Lian said.

Tibetan antelopes are mostly found in Tibet autonomous region, Qinghai province, and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The species is under first-class state protection in China.

In the 1980s, the Tibetan antelope population declined sharply from 200, 000 to 20. 000, due to illegal hunting. It has recovered thanks to the country’s efforts to improve its habitat and crack down on poaching (盗猎).

To make sure the species go back to their habitats safe and sound, the reserve’s management bureau has staff monitor their migration. When they come over in large groups, they temporarily close some sections of the road to make way for the animals and prevent them from having interactions with humans.

1. What can we learn from the text?

A．Tibetan antelopes migrate to Hoh Xil to find mates.

B．Baby Tibetan antelopes are born in Zonag Lake.

C．Female Tibetan antelopes made up a fifth of the population.

D．Migrating Tibetan antelopes’ number is 6,185 in 2021.

2. What does Lian Xinming think of the future of Tibetan antelopes?

A．Promising.

B．Concerning.

C．Perfect.

D．Unpredictable.

3. Why are some sections of the roads closed sometimes?

A．To offer delivery place.

B．To catch unlawful predators.

C．To stop poaching Tibetan antelopes.

D．To avoid animals meeting people.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．The Habitats of Tibetan Antelopes

B．The Migration of Tibetan Antelopes

C．The Methods to Stop Poaching Tibetan Antelopes

D．The Measures of Protecting Tibetan Antelopes

10 . 假定你是某国际学校学生会李华, 你校正在开展垃圾分类活动，请你代表学生会用英语写封倡议信，向全校学生发出“垃圾分类，从我做起”的倡议。内容包括：
1.活动的目的和意义。
2.提出倡议。
注意：
1.写作词数应为 80 左右；
2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear fellow students,
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