1 . A 19-foot Burmese python-the longest snake ever recorded—was caught by local hunters in South Florida’s National Preserve this week. To put the catch into view, the snake is as long as an adult giraffe is tall.

It was caught on Monday by 22-year-old Jake Waleri, who brought the python to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in his hometown of Naples. Officials there measured the snake at 19 feet and 125 pounds, and said it set a new world record for length.

A video of Waleri’s record-breaking catch shows the python attacked Waleri as he pulls the snake by its tail. Waleri and the snake fought on the ground until others joined in to help. Burmese pythons are one of the largest snakes on the planet. They’re also a species running uncontrollably through much of southern Florida. They’re threatening (威胁) the state’s native animal populations because they have no natural enemy, which is why Waleri spends his nights hunting them. “It’s surprising to be able to have an effect on South Florida’s environment,” he said. “We love this ecosystem and try to protect it as much as possible.”

The earlier record was set in 2020 by a python caught in the Everglades, 18 feet 9 inches long and 104 pounds heavy. The record for the heaviest python ever caught was set by one caught in 2022, at 215 pounds.

According to the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission, these pythons have such a big threat that hunters and local people don’t need a permit to kill them. The animals are, however, protected by anti-cruelty (反残暴) laws, which ask hunters to humanely kill the snakes. Burmese pythons feed on Florida wildlife big and small, from rabbits to foxes and white-tailed deer. And one video from 2022 shows Florida scientists removing a 5-foot-long crocodile from an 18-foot python.

The state hosts a yearly competition to keep the populations at bay. The competition attracts hunters, competing for prize money from $1,000 to $10,000.

1. Why does the author mention an adult giraffe in Paragraph 1?

A．To explain a fact.	B．To prove a view.
C．To introduce a topic.	D．To show a problem.

2. What can we learn about the 19-foot Burmese python?

A．It was at peace with native animals.

B．It was attacking and difficult to catch.

C．It was the biggest snake ever recorded.

D．It was caught in Naples of South Florida

3. What do we know from paragraph 5?

A．Pythons are in great need of protection.

B．Pythons threaten hunters and local people.

C．Pythons have a wide range of food options.

D．Pythons are not allowed to be killed by law.

4. What does the underlined words “keep the populations at bay” in Paragraph 6 mean?

A．Control the number of pythons.	B．Keep the living space of pythons.
C．Limit the food supply of pythons.	D．Protect the population of pythons.

2 . _________________________________ First, we must try to use our air conditioner less during the summer months. Second, we should try to remember to use less water while washing our hair. Third, we must not let leaky taps run all day. We should fix them as soon as possible. We should, also, try to close the fridge as quickly as possible.(Write a proper topic sentence for each paragraph.)

3 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. paid             B. recognized             C. required            D. disappeared          E. remarkable            F. turned G. built            H. home                         I. preserving            J. taken                 K. make

Care Needed for Great Wall’s Preservation

Although the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall in Huairou, Beijing, was     1    as a key heritage site under state protection as early as March 2013, for years, local villagers have     2    it to a cash cow to collect “entrance fees” and “guide fees” from sightseers without the permission of the cultural relics and tourism authorities.

As long as the fee is     3    , tourists are allowed to climb the mountains along whose ridges the Great Wall meanders. The damages inflicted by the villagers’ “business” upon the Great Wall, which was     4    in the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty (1368 —1644), are self-evident. It is not rare for tourists to bring     5    bricks from the already run — down wall as a souvenir or to carve their names on the wall.

How can the local watchdogs of the tourism industry and the cultural relics protection departments sit back with folded arms ignoring the practice for such a long time is a question that still awaits an answer.

Reportedly, some of the money the villagers     6    finds its way into the pockets of those who are legally bound to protect the Great Wall. That’s why the villagers have become so assured and bold that they claim as natives to the area at the foot of the Great Wall, they are naturally entitled to profit from it, as if the Great Wall is their private property.

Unlike the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Yanqing, Beijing, which is     7    good care of as a showpiece of the nation’s historical heritage, most parts of the Great Wall have been weather — worn over the years without repair since the Manchurians from the north put an end to the rule of the Ming Dynasty, making the once important national defense project nothing but a wall running through the middle of the large Qing Empire.

Nearly one-third of the Great Wall built in the Ming Dynasty has     8    because of weathering and human causes over the past 300 years. Not to mention the parts that had been built before that.

With the Beidou satellite global navigation system in place and the advancement of technologies in other fields related to the protection of cultural heritage, the country is now better able to protect the Great Wall. But unless the malpractice of the grassroots authorities is addressed, no technology will be of practical assistance in     9    this historical legacy for future generations.

The Great Wall’s     10    length and magnificence are not reasons for its being left untended, but exactly why it should be well preserved.

6 . Wild beavers (河狸) are back! Experts say that the wild beaver families are doing well. The beavers are even boosting wildlife and the environment!

Over ten years ago, a family of beavers turned up in a part of the river Otter, in Devon. No one knew exactly where they came from. It was a big surprise wild beavers hadn’t lived in England for around 400 years!

In 2015, the government allowed the beavers to stay there as part of a test. They wanted to see if these animals could be reintroduced to the wild. The test ends in February. Some scientists from the University of Exeter already say the beavers help the wildlife in the area. One scientist called it “an amazing story”.

A lot of this is because of dams (水坝). Beavers build dams along the river. This creates deep pools in the riverbed and slows the water down. Scientists say this is perfect for many different types of plants and animals! Many plants are growing near the beavers. Different types of animals are also becoming more and more in the river. Beavers also help make flooding less, scientists say. The beavers’ dams slow down the speed of the river, especially after heavy rain.

Beavers aren’t the only animals that are being reintroduced to the wild! In 2019, red squirrels were brought back to an area of the Scottish Highlands. Further away, the world's rarest (罕见的) duck, the Madagascar pochard, is making a comeback. It was set free into the wild on the African island in 2019 and is doing well.

Who knows what other animals might be making a comeback?

1. The underlined word “boosting”in Paragraph 1 probably means “______”

A．building

B．spreading

C．helping

D．creating

2. Why did the government want a test first?

A．To reintroduce animals to the wild.

B．To introduce the beavers to the wild.

C．To build dams for the beavers in the river.

D．To grow more different plants along the river.

3. What can we know about the wild beavers?

A．They help plants grow.	B．They eat up the plants.
C．They do harm to animals.	D．They bring heavy floods.

4. How many kinds of animals have been reintroduced to the wild besides beavers?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

5. How does the writer feel about the news?

A．Worried.

B．Disappointed.

C．Tired.

D．Pleased.

7 . 阅读下面的材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I never grasped the importance of conserving and protecting nature and wildlife, but five months was all it took to turn my indifference into a passion that has changed the track of my life.

Early last year, I was lost and troubled by an anxiety that crippled (削弱) my ability to do anything, even those I loved. I felt like a storm cloud hung over me. For almost a year I struggled on, constantly staring at this wall that faced me. My pursuit of perfection was the main root of this: I wanted to be the best at whatever I did, which obviously in life is not possible. My perfectionism has always been with me. My time in a small junior school made it easy for me to rise to the top. Upon entering a bigger senior school, though, my pursuit of perfection was far from accessible. Perfectionism in small amounts is brilliant, however in overwhelming doses it can be damaging.

One day, I attended a presentation by wildlife conservationist Grant Brown at my school. His presentation not only awed and inspired me, but also helped emerge an inner desire to make a difference in the world. Luckily, as a member of the Environmental Society, I was invited to join a pre-presentation dinner with him and that smaller setting allowed me to slowly build up my courage to speak one-on-one with him—an idea that had seemed completely impossible. This first contact was where my story began.

First, an application to join the Youth For Our Planet and UK Youth For Nature groups was sent around through my high school. I decided to submit my application, and soon I found myself a part of a growing global team of young people working to protect nature and creating climate solutions. Later, Brown invited me to attend the World Youth Wildlife Conference.

注意：续写词数应为150左右。

Five months later, I found myself a group leader in the conference.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Each of these steps continued to grow my confidence.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . Suppose you find a bright yellow bike on a street corner in the city. You hop on (跨上) it and _______. But wait — isn’t this stealing? No, it isn’t._______ shouts, “Stop! Thief!” That is _______ this free ride is just fine with the city.

You _______ find hundreds of free yellow bikes in some US cities. The idea began in Portland, Oregon, in 1994. People saw a need for _______ transportation, and they wanted to help _______ pollution. So, to get citizens (市民)_______ their cars and onto pollution-free bikes, they _______ the Yellow Bike Project.

The _______ bikes are painted bright yellow and placed throughout the city. People can hop on the yellow bike and ride to run errands (短程差事), to work ________ to school. Then, they leave the bike for the ________ rider. There have been times when bikes have been stolen, but most people ________ the rules, because they think it is not wise to ________ the bike that’s already free.

Portland’s ________ was quickly loved by a lot of people. Within two years of its starts, similar programs were ________ in cities in six other states.

1.

A．drive away

B．ride away

C．ride back

D．run away

2.

A．No one

B．Someone

C．Anyone

D．Everyone

3.

A．whether

B．so

C．because

D．though

4.

A．have to

B．don’t have to

C．can’t

D．can

5.

A．expensive

B．crowded

C．free

D．common

6.

A．protect

B．control

C．make

D．bring

7.

A．out of

B．into

C．up

D．near

8.

A．ended

B．started

C．changed

D．refused

9.

A．public

B．private

C．clean

D．dirty

10.

A．but

B．as

C．until

D．or

11.

A．next

B．last

C．best

D．first

12.

A．break

B．make

C．discuss

D．follow

13.

A．buy

B．repair

C．produce

D．steal

14.

A．citizen

B．street

C．idea

D．school

15.

A．looked up

B．made up

C．put up

D．set up

9 . Today, you can buy a pair of sneakers (运动鞋) partially made from carbon dioxide pulled out of the atmosphere. But measuring the carbon-reduction benefits of making that pair of sneakers with carbon dioxide is complex. There’s the carbon dioxide that stayed in the ground, a definite carbon reduction. But what about the energy cost of cooling the carbon dioxide into liquid form and transporting it to a production facility? And what about when your kid outgrows the shoes in six months and they can’t be recycled into a new product because those systems aren’t in place yet?

Researchers are trying to help companies figure out how to account for each step in a product’s life.

As companies try to reduce their carbon footprint, many are doing life cycle assessments to measure the full carbon cost of products, from the obtaining of materials to energy use in manufacturing, from product transport to users’ behavior and end-of-life disposal (处理). It’s an impressively complex measurement, but such bean-counting is needed to hold the planet to a livable temperature, says low-carbon systems expert Andrea Ramirez Ramirez of the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Carbon use can be reduced at many points along the production chain—by using renewable energy in the manufacturing process, for instance, or by adding atmospheric carbon dioxide to the product. But if other points along the chain like transporting consume more energy or give off more carbon dioxide, Andrea notes, the final record may show a decrease rather than a reduction. A product is carbon-reduction only when its production actually removes carbon from the environment, temporarily or permanently.

In the rush to create products that can fight climate change, however, some companies have been charged with “greenwashing”—making products appear more environmentally friendly than they really are. Examples include labeling (用标签表明) plastic garbage bags as recyclable when their whole purpose is to be thrown away; using labels such as “eco-friendly” or “100% Natural” without official certification; and claiming a better carbon footprint without acknowledging the existence of even better choices.

1. How does the author lead in the topic of the text?

A．By listing specific figures.	B．By putting up questions.
C．By referring to documents.	D．By offering some solutions.

2. What does Andrea think of measuring the carbon cost of products?

A．Difficult but meaningful.	B．Expensive but promising.
C．Energy-saving and affordable.	D．Time-consuming and valueless.

3. What can be defined as reducing carbon use in the production chain?

A．Using renewable energy in production.

B．Changing carbon dioxide into material.

C．Reducing carbon footprint in products’ life.

D．Cutting down carbon dioxide in transporting.

4. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．Companies are sparing no efforts to reduce carbon use.

B．Plastic garbage bags must be labeled as “eco-friendly”.

C．Most products are less environmentally friendly than before.

D．There is a long way to cut some companies’ ”greenwashing“.