1 . On Christmas Eve, a team of reindeer (驯鹿) will help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children all around the world. The reindeer, led by their fearless leader Rudolph, won’t be the only ones doing something special. Back in the highest Arctic, their cousins have a remarkable ability changing their eye color.

During the summer months, when the days are long and the sun is bright, reindeer’s tapetum lucidum (荧光膜), a mirror-like layer at the back of their eye, appears golden, which helps bounce the majority of light off the eyes, effectively acting like a pair of natural sunglasses. As winter comes, and the days become shorter and darker, the tapetum lucidum turns blue to absorb more light, allowing reindeer to improve their night vision and see clear in low light conditions.

With these adaptations, reindeer can adapt and thrive in one of the harshest environments on Earth. Unlike humans, reindeer can see well into the shorter Ultra Violet (UV) range. This UV vision enables them to spot food and predators more effectively in the snowy landscape. Lichens, a key part of their winter diet, absorb UV, so they show up dark against UV-reflecting white snow. Wolf and polar bear fur also absorb UV, so instead of disappearing against snow they pop out in high contrast, allowing reindeer to spot potential threats from a distance.

Reindeer change their eyes by adjusting their tapetum lucidum, which is made of collagen fibers. In winter, the collagen fibers become packed tighter, causing the tapetum lucidum to mainly reflect blue light. This change happens when reindeer dilate their pupils (瞳孔). In summer, the reindeer’s pupils return to a smaller size, which helps reindeer reduce the amount of light entering the eye.

But their unique adaptation may hurt them. Today, the increasing use of artificial lighting, especially during the winter months, poses a potential threat to their sensitive eyes. It can make reindeer lose their way, affecting their ability to survive in their challenging environment. So it is crucial for us to be mindful of our use of electricity and make efforts to minimize light pollution to ensure the well-being and survival of these magnificent creatures.

1. What do we know from paragraph 2?

A．The shape of reindeer’s eyes varies with seasons.

B．It is difficult for reindeer to live in low light conditions.

C．The tapetum lucidum helps reindeer adapt to seasonal changes.

D．Reindeer’s eyes appear golden in winter while blue in summer.

2. What is the use of UV vision for reindeer?

A．To help them see clear in dark nights.

B．To distinguish food of different colors quickly.

C．To protect their eyes from harsh sunlight in summer.

D．To better locate food and enemies during snowy days.

3. What does the underlined word “dilate” in paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Relax.

B．Expand.

C．Narrow.

D．Hide.

4. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To call on people to protect reindeer from light pollution.

B．To show the reasons for the decline in reindeer population.

C．To present humans’ great efforts to reduce artificial lighting.

D．To prove reindeer’s strong adaptability to harsh environments.

2 . A newly published study shows that chess players perform objectively worse and — make more suboptimal (次最优的) moves when there is more fine particulate matter (颗粒物) in the air.

“We find that when individuals are exposed to higher levels of air pollution, they make more mistakes, and they make larger mistakes,” says Juan Palacios, a co-author of a newly published paper detailing the study’s findings.

Scholars have produced many studies exploring the effects of air pollution on cognition. The current study adds to that literature by analyzing the subject in a particularly controlled setting. The scholars used three web-connected sensors inside the tournament venue to measure carbon dioxide, PM2.5 concentrations, and temperature, all of which, can, be affected by external conditions, even in an indoor setting.

To evaluate the matter of performance of players, meanwhile, the scholars used software programs that assess each move made in each chess match, identify optimal decisions, and flag significant errors. During the tournaments, the researchers examined and ruled out alternate potential explanations for the dip in player performance, such as increased noise. They also found that carbon dioxide and temperature changes did not correspond to performance changes. Ultimately, the analysis confirms that the findings are driven by the direct exposure to air particles.

The researchers also found that when air pollution was worse, the chess, players performed even more poorly when under time constraints. The tourmament rules required that 40 moves had to be made within 110 minutes; for moves 31-40 in all, the matches, an air pollution, increase of 10 micro-grams per cubic meter led to an increased probability of error of 3.2 percent, with the magnitude of those errors increasing by 17.3 percent. And while the focus of this particular study is tightly focused on chess players, the findings have strong implications for high-skilled office workers.

1. What does the study find about air pollution?

A．It becomes more and more serious in the gym.

B．It can help evaluate chess players’ performance.

C．It may affect more people with mental processes.

D．It can’t be affected by indoor surroundings.

2. Why were software programs used in the study?

A．To measure carbon dioxide and temperature.

B．To assess the performance of players.

C．To help players make great moves.

D．To distinguish players’ errors in time.

3. What does the underlined word “constraints” probably mean?

A．Limit.

B．Freedom.

C．Consumption.

D．Measurement.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Various reasons for chess players’ mistakes.

B．A new research on chess players’ performance.

C．Scholars’ concern about chess players’ health.

D．The influence of air pollution on chess players.

4 . There are many kinds of pollution, which can be classified by environment, including air pollution, water pollution, and land pollution. Modern society is also concerned about specific types of pollution, such as noise pollution, light pollution and plastic pollution. Pollution of all kinds may not only have negative effects on the environment and wildlife, but also do harm to human health and well-being.

Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events such as forest fires and active volcanoes, use of the word “pollution” generally means that the wastes have an anthropocentric source—that is, a source created by human activities. Pollution has accompanied humankind ever since groups of people first congregated and remained for a long time in any one place. Indeed, ancient human settlements are frequently recognized by their wastes, Pollution was not a serious problem as long as there was enough space available for each individual or group. However, with the establishment of permanent settlements by great numbers of people, pollution became a problem, and it has remained one ever since.

By the middle of the 20th century, an awareness of the need to protect air, water, and land environments from pollution had developed among the general public. In particular, the publication in 1962 of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring focused attention on environmental damage caused by improper use of pesticides such as DDT. In response, major pieces of environmental law and regulation were passed in many countries to control the environmental pollution.

Great efforts are made to limit the release of harmful substances into the environment. Unfortunately, attempts at pollution control are surpassed by the scale of the problem, especially in less-developed countries. Noxious levels of air pollution are common in large cities. To control the pollution completely, we still have a long way to go.

1. What does paragraph 1 mainly talk about?

A．The history of pollution.	B．The types of pollution.
C．The causes of pollution.	D．The effects of pollution.

2. What is the original cause of pollution according to this passage?

A．Natural disasters.	B．Forest fires.
C．Volcanoes.	D．Human activities.

3. What does the underlined word “congregated” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Gathered.	B．Separated.
C．Attended.	D．Lived.

4. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A．No measures have been taken by the government to control the problems of pollution.

B．The book Silent Spring helped to improve the awareness of protecting the environment.

C．Silent Spring concentrated on the improper use of plastic bags.

D．The pollution has been controlled in less-developed countries.

5 . Conifers (针叶树) are generally better than broad-leaved trees at purifying air from pollutants. But deciduous (落叶的) trees may be better at taking in particle-bound pollution. A new study led by the University of Gothenburg shows that the best trees for air purification depend on the type of pollutants involved.

Trees and other greener in cities provide many benefits that are important for the well-being of residents. Leaves and needled on trees filter air pollutants and reduce exposure to poisonous substance in the air. But which trees purify the air most effectively? Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have collected leaves and needle from eleven different trees growing in the same place in the Gothenburg Botanical Garden (GBG) to analyse which cub-stances they have absorbed.

“This tree collection provided a unique opportunity to test many different species of trees with similar environmental conditions and exposure to air pollutants,” said Jenny Klingberg, a researcher of the GBG

A total of 32 different pollutants were analysed, some of which are bound to articles of various sizes. Others are gaseous. This project has focused on paths (多环芳烃). In cities, traffic is the biggest source of these pollutants, which are released due to incomplete burning in engines.

“Our analysis show that different species of trees have different abilities to absorb air pollutants. Conifers generally absorb morn gaseous paths than broad-leaved trees. Another advantage of conifers is that they also act as air purifies in winter, when air pollution is usually at its highest,” said Jenny Klingberg.

“This study contributes to improving our understanding of the ability of trees to clean the air and which species are best at absorbing air pollutants,” said Jenny Klingberg. This known-edge is important for urban planning when designing sustainable cities. While trees and green-era can contribute to better air quality in cities, at the end of the day, the most important measure is to reduce emissions.

1. Which is the determining factor in choosing the most suitable tries to purify air?

A．Air quality.

B．Geographical location.

C．The height of plants.

D．The kind of pollutants.

2. Why did the researchers collect leaves and needled from GBG?

A．To compare their shapes.	B．To create a tree collection.
C．To figure out what they absorb.	D．To display them on exhibition.

3. What may cause more paths to be released?

A．Fuel vehicle’s.

B．Electric engines.

C．Traffic accidents.

D．Complete burning.

4. What is the most effective way to better air quality in cities?

A．Decreasing emissions.	B．Planting more conifers.
C．Raising public awareness.	D．Designing sustainable cities.

6 . Recycling is a great way of doing your bit for the environment and helping to protect the earth’s precious resources. However, a new study has revealed that our desire to be sustainable maybe doing more harm than good. According to waste company Biffa, this is because of “wish-cycling” — assuming that items such as disposable coffee cup sand pizza boxes will be recycled if put in the recycling bin. In fact, pollution from those items or other non-recyclables can result in recyclable items that have been put in the correct bin going to landfill. David Heaton, a business director at Biffa, said: “Pollution happens when items are disposed of in the wrong bins or haven’t been cleaned before being recycled.”

Experts at Biffa analyzed the amounts of non-target and non-recyclable materials that entered UK material recycling facilities between 2016 and 2020. It was found that, in 2016, the average pollution rate of recycling waste was 13.4 percent, rising over four years to 17 percent by the end of 2020. This shows that, even as people are becoming more eco-conscious, wish-cycling is increasing both in households and businesses.

The Biffa experts say that one of the best ways to prevent pollution of recycling is to clean recyclable waste before putting it in the bin. They suggest cutting off the top of old pizza boxes and only recycling that part to avoid pollution from the grease (油脂). Check the on-packaging recycling label to check it can actually be recycled When it comes to plastics, Biffa recommends checking the resin code, the number in the plastic triangle, to know whether it should go in the recycling bin. In general, resin codes 1, 2, 4 and 5 are recyclable, while 3, 6 and 7 are not. Larger items, like electronics, furniture and batteries, can also be recycled but often can not go in household recycling bins as they need specialist separating. These will need to be taken to recycling centers or sustainable waste management companies.

“It’s vital as a nation that we get better at effective ‘pre-cycling’— sorting waste correctly before collection to reduce pollution rates,” added Mr. Heaton.

1. What’s the truth of “wish-cycling” according to the first paragraph?

A．The desire to lead a sustainable life.

B．The good intention to help recycling.

C．The habit of throwing items that end up in landfills.

D．The practice of recycling items that can not be recycled.

2. What has experts at Biffa concluded after their analysis?

A．People are becoming more eco-conscious.

B．Wish-cycling is on the rise in recent years.

C．Pollution happens less frequently in recycling facilities.

D．People are used to cleaning recyclable waste before putting it in the bin.

3. Which of the following is a proper way of recycling?

A．Dispose of electronics together with household waste.

B．Skip the step of checking the on-packaging recycling label.

C．Check the resin code of plastics to see whether it is recyclable or not.

D．Cutoff the top of old pizza box and throw the rest to the recycling bin.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Recycling: a Big Project	B．Wish-cycling: a New Trend
C．Wish-cycling: a Growing Concern	D．Pre-cycling: an Effective Method

7 . A new study suggests that pollution of all kinds kills nearly 9 million people worldwide each year. Air pollution from industrial processes and the expansion of cities accounted for about 75% of the deaths, researchers found. The study was based on examinations of worldwide death rates and pollution levels.

The study separated traditional pollutants from modern pollutants. Examples of traditional pollutants are indoor smoke or wastewater. Modern pollutants include air pollution from vehicles or industrial activities and poisonous chemicals. The researchers found that deaths from traditional pollutants are dropping worldwide. But they remain a major problem in Africa and some other developing countries. In some countries, state programs to cut indoor air pollution and improvements in sanitation (卫生) have helped reduce death rates. In Ethiopia and Nigeria, for example, such efforts cut deaths by two-thirds between 2000 and 2019, the study found.

Modern kinds of pollution are rising in most countries, especially developing ones, the researchers said. Deaths caused by modern pollutants — heavy metals, agricultural chemicals and carbon emissions—are “skyrocketing,” said study co-writer Rachael Kupka. She heads the New York-based Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. Kupka said deaths linked to modern pollutants had risen 66% since 2000.

“Nine million deaths is a lot of deaths,” Philip Landrigan told The Associated Press about the study’s results. He is director of the Global Public Health Program at Boston College in Massachusetts. “The bad news is that it’s not decreasing,” Landrigan added. “We’re making gains in the easy stuff, and we’re seeing the more difficult stuff, outdoor industrial air pollution and chemical pollution, still going up.”

The study makes several suggestions for ways to cut the number of deaths. These include creating better recording and reporting methods and stronger government policies to reduce pollution linked to industrial activities and vehicle emissions.

“We absolutely know how to solve pollution problems,” said the study co-author Richard Fuller. “What’s missing is political will.”

1. What can be learned from the study about pollution?

A．Air pollution killed 9 million people last year.

B．Cutting indoor air pollution is the best policy.

C．Traditional pollution is very serious in Nigeria.

D．Traditional pollutants cause less death than before.

2. What does the underlined word “skyrocketing” probably mean in paragraph 3?

A．Improving.

B．Increasing.

C．Reducing.

D．Worsening.

3. What can be inferred from Philip Landrign’s words?

A．It is easy to fight modern pollution.	B．Outdoor air pollution is decreasing.
C．Modern pollution still concerns people.	D．It is hard to tell the reasons for pollution.

4. What might be talked about in the paragraph that follows?

A．Methods to reduce pollution.	B．Government’s response to pollution.
C．Suggestions for industrial activities.	D．The damage caused by vehicle emissions.

9 . People depend on insects to pollinate the plants that make many of the fruits, nuts and vegetables we eat. Past studies had shown urban air pollution might veil the smells insects use to find flowers. Computer models predicted this would cause problems for insects, seeking flowers for a meal. But scientists weren’t sure that would happen in real life.

James Ryalls, a biologist, and his team decided to find out if it would. Working in a field, his group crafted a system made up of large rings. Each area was open, so nearby insects could fly into it. The researchers pumped pollutant gases into these rings. Then during each field season, the scientists recorded how many times pollinators visited the flowers in each ring.

“The results were much more severe than we thought,” Ryalls says. Adding pollution “caused up to 90 percent fewer insects to be able to find the flowers that they need for food,” he says. This was in comparison to the pollutant-free rings. In some cases, only some 30 percent of the pollinating insects even entered the circles with polluted gases.

Counting insects proved easier than getting the pollution into the rings, notes Ryalls. He spent much of his time working on parts of the system that needed fixing. Along the way, gas spills occurred. “By the end of each summer experiment I smelt like a petrol station,” he says. One effect: “Insects now avoid me.”

Later, they counted seed pods on the plants. Overall, only around seven in every 10 flowers had been pollinated. That means there were far fewer seeds in polluted circles. If these were fruit or vegetable plants, there would have been far less food produced.

This study focused on insects finding flowers. But insects also use smells for communication and attracting mates. If air pollution covers those smells too, these tiny animals might face more threats to their survival.

1. What does the underlined word “veil” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Add.

B．Mask.

C．Release.

D．Form.

2. What did scientists do in the experiment?

A．They counted insect visits to flowers.	B．They studied different polluted gases.
C．They drove some insects into the rings.	D．They pollinated flowers by themselves.

3. What is the finding of Ryalls’ experiment?

A．Pollution can result in fewer flowers.	B．Insects are afraid of the rings in the field.
C．Insects struggle to find flowers in polluted air.	D．Plant flowers depend on insects to pollinate.

4. What is most probably talked about in the next paragraph?

A．The aim of the study.	B．Ways to help pollinators.
C．Insects’ various survival skills.	D．Insects’ means of communication.

10 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the man doing?

A．Giving a lecture.

B．Chairing a meeting.

C．Making an announcement.

2. What does the new study find about the output of greenhouse gases?

A．It grows faster than expected.

B．It goes beyond control.

C．It is below the preindustrial levels.

3. In which year did greenhouse gas output decline?

A．In 2015.

B．In 2019.

C．In 2020.

4. What is the talk mainly about?

A．Global warming caused by greenhouse gases.

B．The urgent need of reducing greenhouse gases.

C．The disasters resulting from greenhouse gases.