【生态环保、自然灾害类】话题阅读练习（三）
（阅读理解9篇+完形填空1篇）
Passage 1
In the world of water, 2021 was another year for the record books. Parts of Western Europe suffered from deadly floods while large areas of the southwestern United States remained locked in a massive drought.
One might think that our impressive water management would safeguard society from such catastrophic events. Yet when it comes to water, the past is no longer a good guide for the future and most of the water engineering is unprepared for consequences of increasingly occurring extreme weather. One of the most alarming wake-up calls came from the city of Cape Town, where the water taps of 4 million residents were nearly forced to be shut off during severe drought because its reservoir (水库) dried up.
Appealing as it might be, the solution is not to further build bigger and higher dams (大坝 ) that often result in more disastrous flooding. Instead, it is to work more with natural processes.
The Netherlands avoided major damage from the historic floods in July 2021 thanks to its recently completed project, which gives rivers room to spread out by redirecting floodwaters into wetlands, lowering parts of the rivers by more than a foot. Agricultural practices offer another strategy. Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's
water-holding capacity by up to 18,000 gallons per acre, creating flexibility to both the rains and dry periods. This means farmland practices such as the planting of cover crops can not only raise output but improve water management.
Solutions don't come easily, but they are key to a livable future. While it's too late to avoid the impacts of climate change, we can avoid the worst of those impacts by investing more in such nature-based water solutions.
1. Cape Town is mentioned to show
A. the reservoir was of no use
B. new water management is in need
C. how awful it was without tap water
D. the existing water management is impressive
2. What can we learn from Paragraph 4
A. The Netherlands was spared from flood damage.
B. The river's water level was reduced to over a foot.
C. Improving soil's water-holding ability is practical.
D. Planting crops boosts organisms at the cost of production.
3. Which of the following water projects might win the author's favor
“Restoring Healthy Soil”
“Filling Wetlands”
“Strengthening Dams”
“Making Room for Rivers”
A.12 B. 23 C. 34 D. 14
4. What can be a suitable title for the text
A. Water disasters: way out of control
B. Investment in water: a key to the future
C. Nature-based solutions: ways out for water
D. Good news: farming practices working well
解析：
B.推理判断题。根据第二段Yet when it comes to water，the past is no longer a good guide for the future and most of the water engineering is unprepared for consequences of increasingly occurring extreme weather.One of the most alarming wake-up calls came from the city of Cape Town，where the water taps of 4 million residents were nearly forced to be shut off after severe drought dried up its reservoir （水库）. （然而，说到水，过去不再是未来的良好指南，大多数水利工程对日益发生的极端天气的后果毫无准备。其中一个最令人震惊的警钟来自开普敦市，在严重干旱导致水库干涸后，该市400万居民的水龙头几乎被迫关闭。）和下文如何利用水治理应对灾害的方法，可知极端天气日益频繁而以前的水利工程不适用于新的变化，开普敦就是一个例子，紧接着后文谈及应该如何做，所以提及开普敦是为了表明我们需要新的水治理方式。故选B。
2. C.推理判断题。根据第四段Agricultural practices offer another strategy.Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's water-holding capacity by up to 18，000 gallons per acre，creating flexibility to both intense rains and dry periods. （农业实践提供了另一种策略。科学家们发现，将土壤中的有机质增加1%，可以使土壤的持水能力提高到每英亩18000加仑，从而在强降雨和干旱期都具有灵活性。）可知，提高土壤有机物能提高其持水容量（从而有利于应对干旱和洪涝），这在农业实践上是可行的。故选C。
3. D.推理判断题。根据第四段Agricultural practices offer another strategy.Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's water-holding capacity by up to 18，000 gallons per acre，creating flexibility to both intense rains and dry periods. （农业实践提供了另一种策略。科学家们发现，将土壤中的有机质增加1%，可以使土壤的持水能力提高到每英亩18000加仑，从而在强降雨和干旱期都具有灵活性。）可知，提高土壤有机物，恢复土壤健康，这能提高其持水容量（从而有利于应对干旱和洪涝），这在农业实践上是可行的，说明作者赞同①"恢复土壤健康"；The Netherlands avoided major damage from the historic floods in July 2021 thanks to its recently completed project，which gives river room to spread out by redirecting floodwaters into wetlands，lowering parts of the stormy river by more than a foot. （由于最近完成的项目，荷兰避免了历史性洪灾造成的重大损失，该项目通过将洪水重新导向湿地，将暴雨河流的一部分降到一英尺以上，使河流空间得以扩展。）可知，荷兰通过最近的水利项目使河流空间得以扩展，避免了历史性洪灾造成的重大损失，说明④"为河流腾出空间"会赢得作者的青睐；可得出作者会赞同①④水利工程。故选D。
4. C.标题归纳题。根据第三段Appealing as it might be，the solution is not to further build bigger and higher dams （水坝） that often result in more disastrous flooding.Rather，it is to work more with natural processes. （尽管这可能很有吸引力，但解决办法是不要进一步建造更大、更高的水坝，这往往会导致更严重的洪水。相反，要更多地利用自然过程。）最后一段While it's too late to avoid the impacts of climate change，we can avoid the worst of those impacts by investing more in such nature-based water solutions. （虽然现在避免气候变化的影响为时已晚，但我们可以通过加大对此类基于自然的水解决方案的投资来避免最糟糕的影响。）可知，文章以灾害引入，进而举例谈及用基于自然的方法解决问题，结尾呼吁对自然方法的投资，D.Nature-based solution：a way out for water."基于自然的解决方案：水的出路"一语双关，既指自然方法提供出路，又指把水通过自然方式导出去。故选C。
Passage 2
It's a warm June afternoon, and in a group of bushes and trees, a bird sings. A small insect climbs over a leaf. The Muziekplein forest, next to an 18-story building and a railway line, is about the size of a basketball court; before it was planted in 2018, the area was a parking place. The forest is one of seven such extremely small forests in the Dutch city of Utrecht, and 144 across the Netherlands. By the end of this year, according to IN Nature Education, the organization proposing the country's initiative (计划) , there will be 200.
Since the first forest was planted in the Netherlands in 2015, the concept has become popular. Daan Bleichrodt, who launched IN's Tiny Forest initiative with the goal of making it easier for children to get into and connect with nature, said that he thought it is popular because people are becoming more aware of major environmental challenges. It's a very practical way to do something positive in the light of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Jeroen Schenkels, a senior adviser for the city of Utrecht on green planning, said he saw the mini-forests as nature-based approaches that are able to help the city weather heat waves and improve water retention (保持).But one of the biggest interests is social. " One of the most important things is that they give people the opportunity to be involved in nature in the neighbourhood," Schenkels said.
Between 2018 and 2020, 40 different plant and animal groups and 121 total animal species were found in the Muziekplein forest alone. According to Wageningen University researchers, across the 11 tiny forests in their study, volunteers observed 636 animal species. They also identified 298 plant species in addition to the original species planted in the plots. Maintenance (维护) of the forests occasionally involves removing aggressive weeds, but in general new plant species, such as wildflowers that appear, are allowed to grow.
1. What do we know about the Muziekplein forest
A. It is newly planted.
B. It sits in an urban area.
C. It grows along a railway.
D. It is shaped like a basketball court.
2. What's the purpose of the Tiny Forest initiative
A. To make people realize environmental challenges.
B. To make nature more accessible to children.
C. To increase the Netherlands' biodiversity.
D. To call for action on climate change.
3. What does Paragraph 3 focus on
A. Benefits of mini-forests in cities.
B. Ways to keep neighbourhoods green.
C. Inspiration for planting forests in cities.
D. Importance of being exposed to nature.
4. How does the author state the forests effect on biodiversity
A. By listing figures.
B. By giving examples.
C. By doing experiments.
D. By making comparisons.
解析：
B推断题。根据第一段中的"TheMuziekplein forest.nexttoan18-storybuilding...aparking place"可知,Muziekplein森林附近有一座18层的高楼和一条铁路线,它所在的区域曾经是个停车场。由此可推知，该森林位于城镇区域，故选B
B理解具体信息题。根据第二段中的"withthe goal of making it easier for children lo get into
and connect with nature" MI KIl. Daan Bleichrodt '*起的微型森林计划的目的是让孩子仃更容易接近大自然，故选B、
A理解主合要义题。根据第三段中的"hesees the mini-forests be involved in nature in the ncighbourhood"可知，城市里的微型森林不仅可以帮助城市抵御热浪，提高蓄水能力,还使人们有更多机会接触周鬥的自然环境,故本段主耍关注的是城市里的微型森林的益处，故选A。
A推断题。根据最后一段中的"40different plant and animal groups and 121 total animal species...forest alone" " across the 11...636 animal species" " identified 298 plant species in addition totheoriginalspecies"可知，作者用了列数字的方法来说明城市里的微型森林对生物多样性的
影响,故选A。
Passage 3
On the face of it, the Laysan albatross（信天翁）is doing fairly well. Its population is around 1.6 million, and may be growing. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as " nearly endangered" and places it on the second level from the bottom of the organization's seven ladders to extinction. However, like the reasonably abundant monarch butterfly(帝王蝶），the Laysan albatross has an Achilles heel. Though monarchs range across much of North America, many have lived over winter in the same few small woods in central Mexico. Destroy those trees and you would endanger the species. The Laysan albatross is alike in this respect.
Adult birds cross much of the Pacific Ocean. But more than 90% of the Laysan albatross started life on one of two sites, Midway and Laysan, which have been developed from their original mountainous volcanic islands to their current state, only coral rocks sticking out a few meters above sea level. Wipe out those breeding (繁殖）places and the Laysan albatross would shoot right up the IUCN ladder.
And that is just what some experts fear, for both Midway and Laysan, which are among the oldest parts of the Hawaiian chain, have been damaged over time. A storm in 2011 destroyed hundreds of thousands of nests, and thousands are lost even in normal years. Rising sea levels may make this worse. Then it is time to spread the species' risk by building breeding places for the Laysan albatross elsewhere.
A project set up by a group called Pacific Rim Conservation(PRC) began to do so in 2015. They moved albatross eggs to Oahu, home of Hawaii's capital Honolulu. After developing and hatching, they are shifted to a wildlife shelter and hand-fed for five months until they mature and leave the island.
The group also broadcasts albatross calls and places some model birds, hoping these tricks will encourage the baby birds to come there to breed as adults. That seems reasonably good. Of the 46 Laysan albatrosses successfully raised, seven have so far returned. And, as a bonus, the model birds and calls have also attracted hundreds of adult Laysan albatross visitors, including the four pairs that have begun to nest.
1. What's the similarity between the monarch butterfly and the Laysan albatross
A. They are native to central Mexico.
B. Their habitats are greatly destroyed.
C. Their populations are on the increase.
D. They rely much on certain conditions.
2. What are some experts afraid of
A. Rising sea levels.
B. The harmful storms.
C. Loss of albatrosses' living places.
D. Destruction of the Hawaiian chain.
3. Which of the following best describes the PRC project
A. It's never too late to mend.
B. Actions speak louder than words.
C. Prevent trouble before it happens.
D. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
35. Why does the group use albatross calls and model birds
A. To attract the albatross back to nest.
B. To help keep the ecosystem balanced.
C. To make the conservation more lively.
D. To offer chicks a healthy environment.
解析：
D 理解具体信息题。根据第一段中的”Destroythose trees and you would endanger the species. The Laysan albatross is alike in this respect" 和第二段中的"Wipe out those breeding(繁殖）places and the Laysan albatross would shoot right up the IUCN ladder"可知.黑背信天翁和市王蝶的相似之处是他们都非常依赖某中环境
C理解具体信息题。根据第二段的最后一句及第三段中的"for both Midway and Laysan have been damaged over time. A storm in 2011 destroyed hundreds of thousands of nests. Rising sealevelsmaymakethisworse"可知，一些专家担忧的是黑背信天翁的栖息地会丧失,进而导致其灭绝，故选C
C推断题。根据第二段中的"Wipe out those breeding(繁殖）places..uptheIUCNladder"及第三段的最后一句可知,黑背信天翁面临着严重的生存威胁，需要在其他地方建立繁殖地米降低这一风险。再结合第四段的内容可知,环大平洋环境保护组织的项目早在2015年就这样做了。该项目把信天翁的蛋我移到夏威夷首府檀香山所在的瓦胡岛。在发育和孵化后，它们被转移到一个野生动物收容所并由人工喂养五个月,直到亡们成熟并离开该岛。由此可推知.环太平洋环境保护组织的做法是防忠手未然的体现,故选C。A项意为"亡羊补牢.犹木晚矣";B项意为"行动胜于语言";项意为"有志者事竞成"
A理解具体信息题。根据最后一段中的"Thegroup also broadcasts albatross calls... encourage the chicks to come there to breed as adults" if Al该组织使用信天翁叫声和模型马是为了吸引信天翁回来筑巢,故选A.
Passage 4
Sewing can be fun and creative. But have you ever thought that a sewing machine can also mean the world to many people around the globe that use it as their main source of income
When Margaret Jankowski discovered this, she decided to found The Sewing Machine Project, an organization that collects donated used machines and redistributes them in remote places like Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Guam, and Kosovo. It also aims to help those in Detroit and New Orleans.
In 2004, when a tsunami(海啸）hit Sri Lanka,Margaret was deeply touched by the story of a particular woman. After the village she lived in was destroyed by the natural disaster, she lost everything, including her sewing machine, her approach to future earnings. This story made Margaret decide to collect used sewing machines and send them to Sri Lanka. After attending a local news program where she presented her idea, she started receiving scores of sewing machines.
The Sewing Machine Project covers a basic yet necessary need of many impoverished people around the world. For them, sewing can be a tool for survival. Whether in a factory or at home, a sewing machine can be the door to brighter financial opportunities.
After Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, a community of New Orleans that wears skilfully made suits for their own traditional festival lost many of their sewing machines. Since then, the non-profit organization has distributed hundreds of machines among the creators of the costumes, helping them maintain their cultural identity as well as their income.
1. Why does the author raise the question in the first paragraph
A. To make readers reflect. B. To lead up to the project.
C. To stress the role of sewing. D. To introduce sewing machines.
2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A. Destruction of the 2004 tsunami. B. Inspiration for the organization.
C. The story of a woman in Sri Lanka. D. The experience of Margaret in 2004.
3. What does the underlined word " impoverished"Paragraph 4 mean
A. Disabled. B. Suffering. C. Poor. D. Displaced.
4. Why is the community in New Orleans mentioned the end
A. To introduce its cultural identity.
B. To prove the importance of keeping traditions.
C. To explain the project's achievement.
D. To show another function of sewing machines.
解析：
B.推理判断题。根据第二段中When Margaret Jankowski discovered this she decided to found The Sewing MachineProjectan organization that collects donated used machines and redistributes them in remote places like Sri Lanka，Guatemala，Guam，and Kosovo.（当玛格丽特 扬科夫斯基发现这一点时，她决定成立缝纫机项目，该组织收集捐赠的旧机器，并将其重新分发到斯里兰卡、危地马拉、关岛和科索沃等偏远地区。）并结合下文可知，文章主要讲述了Margaret Jankowski 创立了一个公益组织，募捐旧缝纫机并重新分配给有需要的人们，帮他们维持生计，同时也使人们保留他们的文化认同。由此可知，第一段提出问题的目的是为了引出这个公益组织的话题。故选B。
B.段落大意题。根据第三段中This story made Margaret decide to collect used sewing machines and send the mto Sri Lanka.（这个故事让玛格丽特决定收集二手缝纫机，并将其送到斯里兰卡。）可知，第三段主要讲述了Margaret成立The Sewing Machine Project的灵感。故选B。
C.词义猜测题。根据第四段The Sewing Machine Project covers a basic yet necessary need of many impoverished people around the world.For them，sewing can be a tool for survival.Whether in a factory or at home，a sewing machine can be the door to brighter financial opportunities.（缝纫机项目涵盖了世界各地许多贫困人口的基本需求。对他们来说，缝纫可以成为生存的工具。无论是在工厂还是在家里，缝纫机都是通向更光明的经济机会的大门。）可知，划线词"impoverished" 意为"贫穷的"。结合选项：A.Disabled残疾的；B.Exhausted疲惫的；C.Poor贫穷的；D.Pessimistic悲观的。故选C。
A.推理判断题。根据最后一段的A sewing machine can also enable many to preserve their cultural identity. After Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005，a community of New Orleans that wears skillfully-made suits for their own traditional festival lost many of their sewing machines.（缝纫机也能使许多人保持他们的文化身份。2005年卡特里娜飓风发生后，新奥尔良一个为自己的传统节日穿着精心制作的西装的社区失去了许多缝纫机。）可知，缝纫机也能让更多人保持他们的文化。由此可知，最后一段提到New Orleans是为了突出它的文化特色。故选A。
Passage 5
Plastics are amazing materials, which are widely used in our daily life. Besides, they're often cheap to make. About 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced to date. That's about 1,400 times the weight of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Some of that plastic is still in use. But about 5. 8 billion metric tons have been thrown away.
All that plastic waste is an environmental scourge（祸根）. Only about 9 percent of plastic waste has been recycled. Another 12 percent has been burned. The remaining 79 percent has wound up in landfills or in nature. And that plastic, like a single Lego block, takes a long time to decompose(分解）.
Plastic litters the world from the highest mountaintop to the deepest seafloor. Many animals mistake this rubbish for food. If they get full, these animals may forget to eat real food and suffer. Plastic rubbish in the oceans also leaves birds, turtles and other wildlife in a jam.
Big pieces of plastic aren't the only problem. Abandoned plastic can break into tiny bits called microplastics. Winds blow these bits far and wide. Ocean currents can spread them throughout the sea. These pollutants build up inside animals. They also get into our food and drinking water. Each American is likely to consume more than 70,000 microplastic pieces per year. Right now, no one knows what risk that might bring.
Scientists have some ideas about how to clean up this mess. The Ocean Cleanup is developing cleanup systems to fish out plastic pieces from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Microbes or mealworms with an appetite for plastic might someday eat the garbage. And new nanotechnology could help microplastics decompose in the environment. But many of these plans are still far from effective so far. The best way to help Earth right now is to stop buying so much plastic - and then throwing it out - in the first place.
1. What does the Lego block show about plastic waste
A. It is hard to break down.
B. Little of it has been burned.
C. It is easy to accumulate.
D. Most of it ends up in landfills.
2. How might the plastic rubbish influence animals
A. By starving them.
B. By reducing their food.
C. By piling up in their homes.
D. By changing the environment.
3. What is the author's attitude to the present methods of cleaning plastic waste
A. Opposed. B. Supportive. C. Objective. D. Doubtful.
4. Why does the author write the text
A. To criticize plastic production.
B. To suggest ways to handle plastic.
C. To advocate environmental protection.
D. To introduce the state of plastic pollution.
解析：
1. A 理解具体信息题。根据第二段中的"And that plastic, like a single Lego block, takes a long time to decompose(分解）”可知，像乐高积木那样的塑料 垃圾很难分解，故选A。
A推断题。根据第三段中的"Many animals mistake this rubbish for food...suffer'"可推知，许多动物会将塑料垃圾当成食物吃掉，吃饱之后，它们可能就忘记吃真正的食物，这最终很可能导致它们饿死
26.D理解态度题。根据最后一段中的"But many of these plans are still far from effective so far'"可知，作者对现行的清理塑料垃圾的方案持怀疑态度，故选D
C 由每段段首可知，作者对塑料污染带来的危害持有否定态度，并且表达出塑料污染“难处理”“难分解”“对生态的影响”，最后一段并呼吁我们减少塑料制品的购买，所以是想宣扬环境保护的重要性。
Passage 6
ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil and gas company, has rented over 34,000 sq km of land in one of the last great wildernesses in Africa for plans to develop a new oilfield. The exploratory work has started, and experts disclose that the new oilfield could be among the biggest of recent years. But conservationists are afraid that the oilfield across Botswana and Namibia would lead to the devastation of local wildlife and communities.
The plans are the latest threat to elephants in the area, hundreds of which have passed away in the past years. Scientists are making efforts to discover the cause of their death but believe global heating provides the perfect environment for algae(藻类）to fast grow and that when there is a large quantity of algae in their waterholes, deadly poisons can be produced.
" It is incomprehensible that ReconAfrica's hunt for fossil (化石) fuels is pressing ahead," Rosemary Alles from Global March for Elephants and Rhinos said."Here we are with hundreds of elephants dying, but a few kilometers away they want to start drilling for yet more oil. " She noted that vibrations (颤动 ) and noise from exploratory work are known to disturb elephants, and the increase in construction, roads and traffic would not only drive the animals away but also open the area up to hunters.
The Namibian government said only exploratory licences had so far been given, adding that the
exploratory wells Were not found in any "environmentally sensitive region and will have no significant effect on our wildlife". But environmentalists and local communities said the project could harm main water supplies. " Every part of this operation —from new roads to drilling locations —will threaten the regional ecosystem," said Nnimmo Bassey, director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation.
1. What does the underlined word " devastation" mean in the first paragraph
A. Division. B. Destruction. C. Difference. D. Defence.
2. What might have directly caused elephants' death
A. The overuse of fossil fuel.
B. An increasing amount of algae.
C. Climate change on the earth.
D. Poisonous water polluted by oil.
3. What does Alles think of ReconAfrica's plans
A. Unfavourable. B. Challenging. C. Urgent. D. Illegal.
4. What is the text mainly about
A. The ecosystem in Africa is being damaged.
B. ReconAfrica plans to construct a new oilfield.
C. A new oilfield threatens the survival of elephants.
D. The number of African elephants is declining.
解析：
B 根据划线词所在句中的but和afraid可知，面线词所在句与环保人士对开发油田的担忧有关。再结合下文讲到的油田计划会干扰大象、污染主要的水源、威胁油田所在地区的生态系统可知，画线词所在句表示环保人士担心油田会影响当地野生生物的生存，破坏动植物群落,故面线词与B项"破坏，毁坏"的意思最为接近。
2. B理解具体信息题。根据第二段的"global heating provides the perfect environment. deadly poisons can be produced”可知，全球热化为藻类的快速生长提供了完美的环境，而大象饮水的水坑中的大量藻类会产生致命的毒素，由此可知,近几年造成大象死亡的直接原因很可能是不断增加的藻类，故选B。
3. A理解具体信息题。根据第三段的"vibrations（颤动）and noise from exploratory work are known to disturb elephants... open the area up to hunters"可知,Alles认为油田开采作业带来的颤
劲和噪声会干扰大象，不仅会驱使它们逃离，还会让猎人进人该地区，即油田开发计划会让大象陷人危险，故Alles认为油田开发计划是有害的。
C理解主旨要义题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了加拿大的公司ReconAfiica计划在非洲开发的油田可能会破坏该地区的生态系统,尤其会威胁当地大象的生存,故选C
Passage 7
We're all familiar with migration（迁徙）：Wildebeests dash across Africa; monarch butterflies fly across the Americas... But did you know that forests migrate, too
In his new book The Journeys of Trees, science writer Zach St. George explores an extremely slow migration, as forests creep inch by inch to more pleasant places.
"The migration of a forest is just that many trees sprout（发芽）in the same direction," St.George writes. "Through the fossils that ancient forests left behind, scientists can track their movement over thousands of years. They move back and forth across continents, sometimes following the same route more than once, like migrating birds or whales. " This has happened over thousands of years, and climate change tends to be the driving force.
Of course, today, climate change is speeding up, and trees can't keep pace. Take California for example: It's getting hotter and drier and scientists estimate that—Before too long, Sequoia National Park may not be able to keep giant seguoias（巨杉）.
"The scientists there had never seen anything like St. George says. " They worried, and I think at some point we will lose these ancient trees and that we will have to think about what we do with the places, and whether we should plant new groves where they are easy to grow. "
This is known as " assisted migration" - humans plant trees in other places where they're more likely to flourish. But this process carries risks—people can accidentally introduce insects and diseases to new places, where they may wipe out entire native populations.
So, St. George writes, there's a debate among conservationists and foresters today: Should humans help the trees escape
" There may be cases where people are probably going to step in and help species move to places where they'll be more suitable in the future," St. George says. "So far, there are no huge movements of citizen groups moving trees north. But that is kind of one vision of the future that the people I interview sort of hope to see. "
1. What can be learned about the migration of a forest
A. It is mainly the result of climate change.
B. It often follows certain migrating species.
C. It takes thousands of years to complete it.
D. It is very difficult to track the migration.
2. Why does the author mention Sequoia National Park
A. To stress the park is facing a severe situation.
B. To show trees fail to adapt to climate change.
C. To prove "assisted migration" carries risks.
D. To state scientists are hopeful about the environment.
3. What does the underlined word " flourish " in Paragraph 6 mean
A. Become valuable. B. Develop rapidly. C. Grow well. D. Escape diseases.
4. What's St. George's attitude towards helping the trees escape
A. Skeptical. B. Supportive. C. Objective. D. Disapproving.
解析：
A.细节理解题。根据原文第三段This has happened over thousands of years，and climate change tends to be the driving force.（这已经发生了数千年，而气候变化往往是驱动力。）可知，这主要是气候变化的结果。故选A。
B.推理判断题。根据原文第四段Of course，today，climate change is speeding up，and trees can't keep pace.Take California：it's getting hotter and dryer and scientists estimate that before too long，Sequoia National Park may not be able to keep giant sequoias（巨杉）.（当然，今天，气候变化正在加速，树木无法跟上。以加州为例：天气变得越来越热、越来越干燥，科学家估计，不久之后，红杉国家公园可能无法留住巨型红杉了。）可知，说红杉国家公园的状况是为了表明句首提到的"树木不能适应气候变化"这一观点。故选B。
C.词义猜测题。根据原文倒数第二段This is known as "assisted migration"—humans planting trees in other places where they're more likely to flourish.But this process carries risks—people can accidentally introduce insects and diseases to new places，where they may wipe out entire native populations.（这被称为"辅助迁移"--人类在其他地方种树，那里树木更有可能生长茂盛。但这一过程也有风险--人们可能会意外地将昆虫和疾病带到新的地方，在那里它们可能会消灭整个本地种群。）可知，划线处为树木生长得"好/茂盛"之意。A.Become valuable.变得有价值；B.Develop rapidly.发展迅速；C.Grow well.长得好；D.Escape disease.躲避疾病。故选C。
C.观点态度题。根据原文末段"There may be cases where people are probably going to step in and help species move to places where they'll be more suitable in the future，" St.George says. "So far，there are no huge movements of citizen groups moving trees north.But that is kind of one vision of the future that the people I interview sort of hope to see."（在某些情况下，人们可能会介入，帮助物种迁移到未来更适合它们的地方，"圣乔治说。"到目前为止，还没有公民组织将树木移到北方的大规模行动。但这是我采访的人希望看到的未来愿景。"）可知作者是持客观的态度。故选C。
Passage 8
When you walk on a sandy beach, it takes more energy than walking down a sidewalk - because the weight of your body pushes you into the sand. It turns out that the same thing is true for vehicles driving on roads.
"The weight of the vehicles creates a very shallow indentation （四痕）in the pavement — like it's continuously driving up a very shallow hill," said Jeremy Gregory, a scientist at MIT. He modeled with his teammates how much energy could be saved and how much greenhouse gases could be avoided by simply hardening the nation's roads and highways.
And they found that hardening 10 percent of the nation's roads every year could prevent the emission equal to 440 megatons of carbon dioxide over the next 5 decades - that amount is equal to how much CO, you'd spare the planet by keeping a billion barrels of oil in the ground or by growing 7 billion trees for a decade. It reduces 0. 5% of projected transportation emissions over that time period.
As for how to harden roads, Gregory says you could combine small amounts of certain fibre with high technology into paving materials. Or you could pave the roads with specially-made concrete, which is harder than ordinary construction materials.
This system could also be a way to shave carbon emissions without some of the usual barriers. " Usually, when it comes to reducing emissions in the transportation sector, you're talking about changing policies related to vehicles and also driver behavior, which involves millions and millions of people — as opposed to changing the way we design and preserve our pavements. That's just on the order of thousands of people who are working in transportation agencies. " And when it comes to improving our streets and highways - those agencies are where you might say the rubber meets the road.
1. How does the author develop Paragraph 3
A. By giving examples. B. By making classification.
C. By listing figures. D. By analyzing causes.
2. What does Gregory suggest for hardening roads *
A. Mixing fibre with special concrete.
B. Changing regular paving materials.
C. Creating hi-tech computer models.
D. Using ordinary building materials.
3. What is an advantage of the road-hardening system
A. It reduces construction costs.
B. It profits transportation agencies.
C. It regulates driver behavior.
D. It avoids involving too many people.
4. What can be a suitable title for the text
A. Walking Down Beaches or Sidewalks
B. Hardening Roads Helps Save Energy
C. How to Cut Down Carbon Emissions
D. A System of Hardening Roads
Passage 9
How important is fish farming Very. Although it's an ancient business, the rise of aquaculture has been one of the biggest revolutions in food supply over the past half century.
Aquaculture has made fish more affordable for consumers around the world, popularizing the consumption of what used to be expensive, and easing the pressure on hard-pressed wild stocks. Aquaculture also has many clear environmental benefits: compared with other ways of growing animal protein, it uses little or no land, and has low greenhouse emission. And while the world has traditionally had a bad record of regulating wild fishing, fish farming generally occurs within the boundaries of governments, meaning it should, in theory, be much easier to ensure that good practices are upheld.
Crowding large numbers of fish into limited spaces means that waste products, including waste, uneaten food and dead fish, are poured into the surrounding waters, polluting them. Besides, the pesticides and drugs used to treat conditions that upset fish in Concentrated numbers can also affect local wildlife.Many farmed fish are fed on other fish, so the industry also puts pressure on wild stocks: about a fifth of all caught fish, some 18 million tonnes, are used for fish oil and fishmeal production. There is also the problem of fish escaping, with potentially dangerous effects on surrounding ecosystems.
In 2018 the Scottish Parliament's environment committee published a report on the fish farming industry's environmental effects, stating that key problems simply hadn't been tackled, and that the Scottish government's plan to double salmon output by 2030 could cause" irrecoverable damage" to ecosystems. Since then, protection has been toughened. There is now more pressure from regulators to situate farms in remote, deep-water locations. Meanwhile, though, catches of Scottish wild salmon have fallen to their lowest level since records began in 1952. "There are good reasons for fish farming and real dangers to it as well," concludes an official. "The question is how to make it work. "
1. How has fish farming benefited people
A. It has many clear environmental effects.
B. It can monitor the wild fish in limited areas.
C. It makes it easier for more people to consume fish.
D. It's easier for the government to make fish product.
2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A. The reasons for fish farming.
B. The downside of aquaculture.
C. The development of sea exploring.
D. The effects on surrounding ecosystems.
3. What do we know about fish farming according to the Scottish report
A. The massive fish farming may damage ecosystems.
B. The problems of fish farming are likely to be solved.
C. The fish farming industry has no effect on the environment.
D. The Scottish government plans to double fish output now.
4. What is the writer's attitude towards aquaculture
A. Objective. B. Doubtful. C. Critical. D. Disapproving.
解析：
C.推理判断题。根据第三段And they found that hardening 10 percent of the nation's roads every year could prevent emissions equal to 440 megatons of carbon dioxide over the next 5 decades—that amount is equal to how much CO，you'd spare the planet by keeping a billion barrels of oil in the ground or by growing 7 billion trees for a decade.It reduces 0.5% of projected transportation emissions over that time period.他们发现，每年对全国10%的道路进行硬化，可以在未来50年内防止相当于440兆吨二氧化碳的排放---这个数量相当于你将10亿桶石油留在地下或在十年内种植70亿棵树，就可以使地球免受多少二氧化碳。它减少了该时间段内预计交通排放的0.5%。可知，作者通过列数字展开第三段。A.By giving examples通过举例；B.By making classification通过分类；C.By listing figures通过列数字；D.By analyzing causes通过分析原因。故选C。
B.细节理解题。根据第四段Or you could pave with specially-made concrete，which is harder than ordinary construction materials.（或者你可以用比普通建筑材料更硬的特制混凝土铺路。可知，Gregory建议硬化道路更换常规铺装材料。故选B。
D.细节理解题。根据最后一段This system could also be a way to shave carbon emissions without some of the usual barriers. "Usually，when it comes to reducing emissions in the transportation department，you're talking about changing policies related to vehicles and also driver behavior，which involves millions and millions of people—as opposed to changing the way we design and preserve our pavements.That's just on the order of thousands of people who are working in transportation agencies.这一系统也可能是一种减少碳排放的方法，而不存在一些常见的障碍。"通常，当涉及到交通部门的减排时，你谈论的是改变与车辆和司机行为相关的政策，这涉及到数百万人，而不是改变我们的设计和保护人行道的方式。这只是成千上万在运输机构工作的人的要求。可知，道路硬化系统的优点是可以避免涉及太多的人。故选D。
B.标题归纳题。根据第二段He modeled with his teammates how much energy could be saved-and greenhouse gases avoided—by simply hardening the nation's roads and highways.他和他的队友们一起模仿，仅仅通过加固国家的公路和高速公路，就可以节省多少能源，并避免温室气体的排放。结合文章主要说明了对道路进行硬化可以减少二氧化碳的排放，更节省能源。介绍了这种措施的优势和操作方式。可知，B选项"硬化道路有助于节约能源"最符合文章标题。故选B。
Passage 10
On a cold November night, Layton was on his way home when he got an urgent call from his mother. "The mountain's on fire," she 1. " and many rental guests are up there. "
Layton's family 2. a dozen rental cottages on Shields Mountain. At the thought of this, Layton 3. the gas.
He 4. first to their rental cottages to make sure that their guests were 5. Fortunately, all their guests were. At that point, he made up his mind to 6. their cottages to rescue tourists 7. other cottages nearby.
Over the next two hours, he travelled through the 8. mountain, knocking on doors and leading 9. people to safety. Knowing the mountain so well, he drove one after another family down the mountain on roads 10. in smoke in his pickup. When one family was 11. from the fire, Layton would take the pickup 12. up the mountain in search of another 13. person. He helped one elderly woman flee barefoot 14. the hot road surface to reach her car. He also found a man nearly unconscious in a burning cottage and 15. him to his pickup. He helped 14 people out of danger despite the fact that he 16. escaped burns.
17. his brave and immediate action, the fire didn't 18. a single life on Shields Mountain. And though his home and business were destroyed, Layton remains 19. . " I wasn't worried about the property 20. , not when I saw those families trapped on the mountain," he says. "I knew I was gonna help them. "
41. A. explained B. declared C. whispered D. screamed
42. A. shared B. owned C. discovered D. built
43. A. hit B. watched C. caught D. picked
44. A. walked B. flew C. headed D. ran
45. A. gone B. missing C. scared D. awake
46. A. fix B. save C. sell D. leave
47. A. touring B. renting C. repairing D. deserting
48. A. smoky B. foggy C. cloudy D. rainy
49. A. confused B. hesitant C. curious D. panicked
50. A. highlighted B. ruined C. covered D. lost
51. A. happy B. safe C. absent D. tired
52. A. back B. home C. away D. out
53. A. disabled B. excited C. stubborn D. trapped
54. A. across B. into C. through D. over
55. A. led B. pulled C. carried D. pushed
56. A. unfortunately B. narrowly C. accidentally D. generally
57. A. Apart from B. Due to C. Except for D. As for
58. A. claim B. spare C. protect D. drop
59. A. intelligent B. generous C. philosophical D. critical
60. A. income B. price C. value D. damage
解析：
D．考查动词动词辨析及句意理解．A．said说；B．replied回答；C．shouted 喊叫；D．screamed尖叫．根据句意根据内容山上着火了，可见是尖叫着说出的．所以选D．
A．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．hit打击；B．filled填满；C．fueled 加油；D．started开始．根据句意莱顿立刻打油门．所以选A．
B．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．reducing 减少；B．blocking 拥堵；C．directing 指导；D．controlling控制．根据句意发现经常堵满了所有的主要道路．所以选B．
C．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．folding 折叠；B．rising升高；C．winding蜿蜒；D．changing改变．根据句意上山的路应该是蜿蜒的路．所以选C．
D．考查短语辨析及句意理解．A．worked out计算出；B．came up上来；C．broke out 爆发；D．gave up放弃．根据句意车上不去了．所以选D．
A．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．headed向前；B．walked 走；C．ran 跑；．escaped逃脱．根据句意先去莱顿的出租屋．所以选A．
A．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．gone离开；B．lost 迷路；C．involved涉及到；D．stuck粘着．根据句意我想确定我们的客人都走了．所以选A．
B．考查名词辨析及句意理解．A．challenge 挑战；B．choice 选择；C．puzzle 迷惑；D．difficulty困难．根据句意试着去救他的小屋或者去救附近租其他小屋的人．这应该是一种选择，所以选B．
A．考查名词辨析及句意理解．A．locals当地人；B．tourists旅游的人；C．policemen 警察；D．firefighters消防员．根据句意山上的人大部分都是游客，所以是没有当地人．所以选A．
B．考查名词辨析及句意理解．A．road 道路；B．mountain 山；C．cabin 小屋；D．car车．根据句意那两个朋友穿过冒着烟雾的山．所以选B．
C．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．depressed 沮丧的；B．injured受伤的；C．panicked 惊慌失措的；D．burned烧伤的．根据句意带领惊慌的人们去到安全的地方．所以选C．
D．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．come来；B．sit坐下；C．go去；D．jump跳跃．根据句意Layton跳进卡车的司机座位上开着车下山．所以选D．
C．考查形容词辨析及句意理解．A．unbearable无法忍受的；B．unbelievable难以置信的；C．invisible 看不见的；D．inconvenient不方便的．根据句意在几乎看不见的路上开车送一家人下山．所以选C．
D．考查副词辨析及句意理解．A．absolutely完全地；B．truly真实地；C．immediately马上；D．exactly确切地．根据句意"我对那座山非常了解，"莱顿说，"我可以开车去了解准确地说，我只是时间旅行．．所以选D．
C．考查形容词辨析及句意理解．A．tired疲倦的；B．terrified 害怕的；C．trapped 被困的；D．upset不安的．根据句意他们返回寻找被困人员．所以选C．
C．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．avoid避免；B．drive 驾驶；C．flee 逃跑；D．run跑．根据句意他们帮助一位老妇人赤脚逃离，发现一名男子在燃烧的小屋中几乎失去知觉，14人在镇上死亡．．所以选C．
B．考查形容词辨析及句意理解．A．dead死的；B．unconscious 失去知觉的；C．dizzy 眩晕的；D．desperate绝望的．根据句意他们帮助一位老妇人赤脚逃离，发现一名男子在燃烧的小屋中几乎失去知觉，14人在镇上死亡．．所以选B．
A．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．claim 索取；B．kill 杀掉；C．threaten恐吓；D．risk冒险．根据句意但大火并没有夺去希尔兹山上的一条命．所以选A．
D．考查动词辨析及句意理解．A．abolished 抛光，打磨；B．established 已确立的；C．hurt 伤害；D．destroyed破坏．根据句意尽管他的家和生意都被毁了．所以选D．
B．考查名词辨析及句意理解．A．equipment 设备；B．property 财产；C．material材料；D．income收入．根据句意当我看到有人被困在山上时，我并不担心财产损失．我知道我会帮助他们的．"．所以选B．
资料整理【淘宝店铺：向阳百分百】
资料整理【淘宝店铺：向阳百分百】【生态环保、自然灾害类】话题阅读练习（三）
（阅读理解9篇+完形填空1篇）
Passage 1
In the world of water, 2021 was another year for the record books. Parts of Western Europe suffered from deadly floods while large areas of the southwestern United States remained locked in a massive drought.
One might think that our impressive water management would safeguard society from such catastrophic events. Yet when it comes to water, the past is no longer a good guide for the future and most of the water engineering is unprepared for consequences of increasingly occurring extreme weather. One of the most alarming wake-up calls came from the city of Cape Town, where the water taps of 4 million residents were nearly forced to be shut off during severe drought because its reservoir (水库) dried up.
Appealing as it might be, the solution is not to further build bigger and higher dams (大坝 ) that often result in more disastrous flooding. Instead, it is to work more with natural processes.
The Netherlands avoided major damage from the historic floods in July 2021 thanks to its recently completed project, which gives rivers room to spread out by redirecting floodwaters into wetlands, lowering parts of the rivers by more than a foot. Agricultural practices offer another strategy. Scientists have found that boosting organic matter in the soil by 1% can increase the soil's
water-holding capacity by up to 18,000 gallons per acre, creating flexibility to both the rains and dry periods. This means farmland practices such as the planting of cover crops can not only raise output but improve water management.
Solutions don't come easily, but they are key to a livable future. While it's too late to avoid the impacts of climate change, we can avoid the worst of those impacts by investing more in such nature-based water solutions.
1. Cape Town is mentioned to show
A. the reservoir was of no use
B. new water management is in need
C. how awful it was without tap water
D. the existing water management is impressive
2. What can we learn from Paragraph 4
A. The Netherlands was spared from flood damage.
B. The river's water level was reduced to over a foot.
C. Improving soil's water-holding ability is practical.
D. Planting crops boosts organisms at the cost of production.
3. Which of the following water projects might win the author's favor
“Restoring Healthy Soil”
“Filling Wetlands”
“Strengthening Dams”
“Making Room for Rivers”
A.12 B. 23 C. 34 D. 14
4. What can be a suitable title for the text
A. Water disasters: way out of control
B. Investment in water: a key to the future
C. Nature-based solutions: ways out for water
D. Good news: farming practices working well
Passage 2
It's a warm June afternoon, and in a group of bushes and trees, a bird sings. A small insect climbs over a leaf. The Muziekplein forest, next to an 18-story building and a railway line, is about the size of a basketball court; before it was planted in 2018, the area was a parking place. The forest is one of seven such extremely small forests in the Dutch city of Utrecht, and 144 across the Netherlands. By the end of this year, according to IN Nature Education, the organization proposing the country's initiative (计划) , there will be 200.
Since the first forest was planted in the Netherlands in 2015, the concept has become popular. Daan Bleichrodt, who launched IN's Tiny Forest initiative with the goal of making it easier for children to get into and connect with nature, said that he thought it is popular because people are becoming more aware of major environmental challenges. It's a very practical way to do something positive in the light of climate change and loss of biodiversity.
Jeroen Schenkels, a senior adviser for the city of Utrecht on green planning, said he saw the mini-forests as nature-based approaches that are able to help the city weather heat waves and improve water retention (保持).But one of the biggest interests is social. " One of the most important things is that they give people the opportunity to be involved in nature in the neighbourhood," Schenkels said.
Between 2018 and 2020, 40 different plant and animal groups and 121 total animal species were found in the Muziekplein forest alone. According to Wageningen University researchers, across the 11 tiny forests in their study, volunteers observed 636 animal species. They also identified 298 plant species in addition to the original species planted in the plots. Maintenance (维护) of the forests occasionally involves removing aggressive weeds, but in general new plant species, such as wildflowers that appear, are allowed to grow.
1. What do we know about the Muziekplein forest
A. It is newly planted.
B. It sits in an urban area.
C. It grows along a railway.
D. It is shaped like a basketball court.
2. What's the purpose of the Tiny Forest initiative
A. To make people realize environmental challenges.
B. To make nature more accessible to children.
C. To increase the Netherlands' biodiversity.
D. To call for action on climate change.
3. What does Paragraph 3 focus on
A. Benefits of mini-forests in cities.
B. Ways to keep neighbourhoods green.
C. Inspiration for planting forests in cities.
D. Importance of being exposed to nature.
4. How does the author state the forests effect on biodiversity
A. By listing figures.
B. By giving examples.
C. By doing experiments.
D. By making comparisons.
Passage 3
On the face of it, the Laysan albatross（信天翁）is doing fairly well. Its population is around 1.6 million, and may be growing. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as " nearly endangered" and places it on the second level from the bottom of the organization's seven ladders to extinction. However, like the reasonably abundant monarch butterfly(帝王蝶），the Laysan albatross has an Achilles heel. Though monarchs range across much of North America, many have lived over winter in the same few small woods in central Mexico. Destroy those trees and you would endanger the species. The Laysan albatross is alike in this respect.
Adult birds cross much of the Pacific Ocean. But more than 90% of the Laysan albatross started life on one of two sites, Midway and Laysan, which have been developed from their original mountainous volcanic islands to their current state, only coral rocks sticking out a few meters above sea level. Wipe out those breeding (繁殖）places and the Laysan albatross would shoot right up the IUCN ladder.
And that is just what some experts fear, for both Midway and Laysan, which are among the oldest parts of the Hawaiian chain, have been damaged over time. A storm in 2011 destroyed hundreds of thousands of nests, and thousands are lost even in normal years. Rising sea levels may make this worse. Then it is time to spread the species' risk by building breeding places for the Laysan albatross elsewhere.
A project set up by a group called Pacific Rim Conservation(PRC) began to do so in 2015. They moved albatross eggs to Oahu, home of Hawaii's capital Honolulu. After developing and hatching, they are shifted to a wildlife shelter and hand-fed for five months until they mature and leave the island.
The group also broadcasts albatross calls and places some model birds, hoping these tricks will encourage the baby birds to come there to breed as adults. That seems reasonably good. Of the 46 Laysan albatrosses successfully raised, seven have so far returned. And, as a bonus, the model birds and calls have also attracted hundreds of adult Laysan albatross visitors, including the four pairs that have begun to nest.
1. What's the similarity between the monarch butterfly and the Laysan albatross
A. They are native to central Mexico.
B. Their habitats are greatly destroyed.
C. Their populations are on the increase.
D. They rely much on certain conditions.
2. What are some experts afraid of
A. Rising sea levels.
B. The harmful storms.
C. Loss of albatrosses' living places.
D. Destruction of the Hawaiian chain.
3. Which of the following best describes the PRC project
A. It's never too late to mend.
B. Actions speak louder than words.
C. Prevent trouble before it happens.
D. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
35. Why does the group use albatross calls and model birds
A. To attract the albatross back to nest.
B. To help keep the ecosystem balanced.
C. To make the conservation more lively.
D. To offer chicks a healthy environment.
Passage 4
Sewing can be fun and creative. But have you ever thought that a sewing machine can also mean the world to many people around the globe that use it as their main source of income
When Margaret Jankowski discovered this, she decided to found The Sewing Machine Project, an organization that collects donated used machines and redistributes them in remote places like Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Guam, and Kosovo. It also aims to help those in Detroit and New Orleans.
In 2004, when a tsunami(海啸）hit Sri Lanka,Margaret was deeply touched by the story of a particular woman. After the village she lived in was destroyed by the natural disaster, she lost everything, including her sewing machine, her approach to future earnings. This story made Margaret decide to collect used sewing machines and send them to Sri Lanka. After attending a local news program where she presented her idea, she started receiving scores of sewing machines.
The Sewing Machine Project covers a basic yet necessary need of many impoverished people around the world. For them, sewing can be a tool for survival. Whether in a factory or at home, a sewing machine can be the door to brighter financial opportunities.
After Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, a community of New Orleans that wears skilfully made suits for their own traditional festival lost many of their sewing machines. Since then, the non-profit organization has distributed hundreds of machines among the creators of the costumes, helping them maintain their cultural identity as well as their income.
1. Why does the author raise the question in the first paragraph
A. To make readers reflect. B. To lead up to the project.
C. To stress the role of sewing. D. To introduce sewing machines.
2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A. Destruction of the 2004 tsunami. B. Inspiration for the organization.
C. The story of a woman in Sri Lanka. D. The experience of Margaret in 2004.
3. What does the underlined word " impoverished"Paragraph 4 mean
A. Disabled. B. Suffering. C. Poor. D. Displaced.
4. Why is the community in New Orleans mentioned the end
A. To introduce its cultural identity.
B. To prove the importance of keeping traditions.
C. To explain the project's achievement.
D. To show another function of sewing machines.
Passage 5
Plastics are amazing materials, which are widely used in our daily life. Besides, they're often cheap to make. About 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced to date. That's about 1,400 times the weight of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Some of that plastic is still in use. But about 5. 8 billion metric tons have been thrown away.
All that plastic waste is an environmental scourge（祸根）. Only about 9 percent of plastic waste has been recycled. Another 12 percent has been burned. The remaining 79 percent has wound up in landfills or in nature. And that plastic, like a single Lego block, takes a long time to decompose(分解）.
Plastic litters the world from the highest mountaintop to the deepest seafloor. Many animals mistake this rubbish for food. If they get full, these animals may forget to eat real food and suffer. Plastic rubbish in the oceans also leaves birds, turtles and other wildlife in a jam.
Big pieces of plastic aren't the only problem. Abandoned plastic can break into tiny bits called microplastics. Winds blow these bits far and wide. Ocean currents can spread them throughout the sea. These pollutants build up inside animals. They also get into our food and drinking water. Each American is likely to consume more than 70,000 microplastic pieces per year. Right now, no one knows what risk that might bring.
Scientists have some ideas about how to clean up this mess. The Ocean Cleanup is developing cleanup systems to fish out plastic pieces from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Microbes or mealworms with an appetite for plastic might someday eat the garbage. And new nanotechnology could help microplastics decompose in the environment. But many of these plans are still far from effective so far. The best way to help Earth right now is to stop buying so much plastic - and then throwing it out - in the first place.
1. What does the Lego block show about plastic waste
A. It is hard to break down.
B. Little of it has been burned.
C. It is easy to accumulate.
D. Most of it ends up in landfills.
2. How might the plastic rubbish influence animals
A. By starving them.
B. By reducing their food.
C. By piling up in their homes.
D. By changing the environment.
3. What is the author's attitude to the present methods of cleaning plastic waste
A. Opposed. B. Supportive. C. Objective. D. Doubtful.
4. Why does the author write the text
A. To criticize plastic production.
B. To suggest ways to handle plastic.
C. To advocate environmental protection.
D. To introduce the state of plastic pollution.
Passage 6
ReconAfrica, a Canadian oil and gas company, has rented over 34,000 sq km of land in one of the last great wildernesses in Africa for plans to develop a new oilfield. The exploratory work has started, and experts disclose that the new oilfield could be among the biggest of recent years. But conservationists are afraid that the oilfield across Botswana and Namibia would lead to the devastation of local wildlife and communities.
The plans are the latest threat to elephants in the area, hundreds of which have passed away in the past years. Scientists are making efforts to discover the cause of their death but believe global heating provides the perfect environment for algae(藻类）to fast grow and that when there is a large quantity of algae in their waterholes, deadly poisons can be produced.
" It is incomprehensible that ReconAfrica's hunt for fossil (化石) fuels is pressing ahead," Rosemary Alles from Global March for Elephants and Rhinos said."Here we are with hundreds of elephants dying, but a few kilometers away they want to start drilling for yet more oil. " She noted that vibrations (颤动 ) and noise from exploratory work are known to disturb elephants, and the increase in construction, roads and traffic would not only drive the animals away but also open the area up to hunters.
The Namibian government said only exploratory licences had so far been given, adding that the
exploratory wells Were not found in any "environmentally sensitive region and will have no significant effect on our wildlife". But environmentalists and local communities said the project could harm main water supplies. " Every part of this operation —from new roads to drilling locations —will threaten the regional ecosystem," said Nnimmo Bassey, director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation.
1. What does the underlined word " devastation" mean in the first paragraph
A. Division. B. Destruction. C. Difference. D. Defence.
2. What might have directly caused elephants' death
A. The overuse of fossil fuel.
B. An increasing amount of algae.
C. Climate change on the earth.
D. Poisonous water polluted by oil.
3. What does Alles think of ReconAfrica's plans
A. Unfavourable. B. Challenging. C. Urgent. D. Illegal.
4. What is the text mainly about
A. The ecosystem in Africa is being damaged.
B. ReconAfrica plans to construct a new oilfield.
C. A new oilfield threatens the survival of elephants.
D. The number of African elephants is declining.
Passage 7
We're all familiar with migration（迁徙）：Wildebeests dash across Africa; monarch butterflies fly across the Americas... But did you know that forests migrate, too
In his new book The Journeys of Trees, science writer Zach St. George explores an extremely slow migration, as forests creep inch by inch to more pleasant places.
"The migration of a forest is just that many trees sprout（发芽）in the same direction," St.George writes. "Through the fossils that ancient forests left behind, scientists can track their movement over thousands of years. They move back and forth across continents, sometimes following the same route more than once, like migrating birds or whales. " This has happened over thousands of years, and climate change tends to be the driving force.
Of course, today, climate change is speeding up, and trees can't keep pace. Take California for example: It's getting hotter and drier and scientists estimate that—Before too long, Sequoia National Park may not be able to keep giant seguoias（巨杉）.
"The scientists there had never seen anything like St. George says. " They worried, and I think at some point we will lose these ancient trees and that we will have to think about what we do with the places, and whether we should plant new groves where they are easy to grow. "
This is known as " assisted migration" - humans plant trees in other places where they're more likely to flourish. But this process carries risks—people can accidentally introduce insects and diseases to new places, where they may wipe out entire native populations.
So, St. George writes, there's a debate among conservationists and foresters today: Should humans help the trees escape
" There may be cases where people are probably going to step in and help species move to places where they'll be more suitable in the future," St. George says. "So far, there are no huge movements of citizen groups moving trees north. But that is kind of one vision of the future that the people I interview sort of hope to see. "
1. What can be learned about the migration of a forest
A. It is mainly the result of climate change.
B. It often follows certain migrating species.
C. It takes thousands of years to complete it.
D. It is very difficult to track the migration.
2. Why does the author mention Sequoia National Park
A. To stress the park is facing a severe situation.
B. To show trees fail to adapt to climate change.
C. To prove "assisted migration" carries risks.
D. To state scientists are hopeful about the environment.
3. What does the underlined word " flourish " in Paragraph 6 mean
A. Become valuable. B. Develop rapidly. C. Grow well. D. Escape diseases.
4. What's St. George's attitude towards helping the trees escape
A. Skeptical. B. Supportive. C. Objective. D. Disapproving.
Passage 8
When you walk on a sandy beach, it takes more energy than walking down a sidewalk - because the weight of your body pushes you into the sand. It turns out that the same thing is true for vehicles driving on roads.
"The weight of the vehicles creates a very shallow indentation （四痕）in the pavement — like it's continuously driving up a very shallow hill," said Jeremy Gregory, a scientist at MIT. He modeled with his teammates how much energy could be saved and how much greenhouse gases could be avoided by simply hardening the nation's roads and highways.
And they found that hardening 10 percent of the nation's roads every year could prevent the emission equal to 440 megatons of carbon dioxide over the next 5 decades - that amount is equal to how much CO, you'd spare the planet by keeping a billion barrels of oil in the ground or by growing 7 billion trees for a decade. It reduces 0. 5% of projected transportation emissions over that time period.
As for how to harden roads, Gregory says you could combine small amounts of certain fibre with high technology into paving materials. Or you could pave the roads with specially-made concrete, which is harder than ordinary construction materials.
This system could also be a way to shave carbon emissions without some of the usual barriers. " Usually, when it comes to reducing emissions in the transportation sector, you're talking about changing policies related to vehicles and also driver behavior, which involves millions and millions of people — as opposed to changing the way we design and preserve our pavements. That's just on the order of thousands of people who are working in transportation agencies. " And when it comes to improving our streets and highways - those agencies are where you might say the rubber meets the road.
1. How does the author develop Paragraph 3
A. By giving examples. B. By making classification.
C. By listing figures. D. By analyzing causes.
2. What does Gregory suggest for hardening roads *
A. Mixing fibre with special concrete.
B. Changing regular paving materials.
C. Creating hi-tech computer models.
D. Using ordinary building materials.
3. What is an advantage of the road-hardening system
A. It reduces construction costs.
B. It profits transportation agencies.
C. It regulates driver behavior.
D. It avoids involving too many people.
4. What can be a suitable title for the text
A. Walking Down Beaches or Sidewalks
B. Hardening Roads Helps Save Energy
C. How to Cut Down Carbon Emissions
D. A System of Hardening Roads
Passage 9
How important is fish farming Very. Although it's an ancient business, the rise of aquaculture has been one of the biggest revolutions in food supply over the past half century.
Aquaculture has made fish more affordable for consumers around the world, popularizing the consumption of what used to be expensive, and easing the pressure on hard-pressed wild stocks. Aquaculture also has many clear environmental benefits: compared with other ways of growing animal protein, it uses little or no land, and has low greenhouse emission. And while the world has traditionally had a bad record of regulating wild fishing, fish farming generally occurs within the boundaries of governments, meaning it should, in theory, be much easier to ensure that good practices are upheld.
Crowding large numbers of fish into limited spaces means that waste products, including waste, uneaten food and dead fish, are poured into the surrounding waters, polluting them. Besides, the pesticides and drugs used to treat conditions that upset fish in Concentrated numbers can also affect local wildlife.Many farmed fish are fed on other fish, so the industry also puts pressure on wild stocks: about a fifth of all caught fish, some 18 million tonnes, are used for fish oil and fishmeal production. There is also the problem of fish escaping, with potentially dangerous effects on surrounding ecosystems.
In 2018 the Scottish Parliament's environment committee published a report on the fish farming industry's environmental effects, stating that key problems simply hadn't been tackled, and that the Scottish government's plan to double salmon output by 2030 could cause" irrecoverable damage" to ecosystems. Since then, protection has been toughened. There is now more pressure from regulators to situate farms in remote, deep-water locations. Meanwhile, though, catches of Scottish wild salmon have fallen to their lowest level since records began in 1952. "There are good reasons for fish farming and real dangers to it as well," concludes an official. "The question is how to make it work. "
1. How has fish farming benefited people
A. It has many clear environmental effects.
B. It can monitor the wild fish in limited areas.
C. It makes it easier for more people to consume fish.
D. It's easier for the government to make fish product.
2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A. The reasons for fish farming.
B. The downside of aquaculture.
C. The development of sea exploring.
D. The effects on surrounding ecosystems.
3. What do we know about fish farming according to the Scottish report
A. The massive fish farming may damage ecosystems.
B. The problems of fish farming are likely to be solved.
C. The fish farming industry has no effect on the environment.
D. The Scottish government plans to double fish output now.
4. What is the writer's attitude towards aquaculture
A. Objective. B. Doubtful. C. Critical. D. Disapproving.
Passage 10
On a cold November night, Layton was on his way home when he got an urgent call from his mother. "The mountain's on fire," she 1. " and many rental guests are up there. "
Layton's family 2. a dozen rental cottages on Shields Mountain. At the thought of this, Layton 3. the gas.
He 4. first to their rental cottages to make sure that their guests were 5. Fortunately, all their guests were. At that point, he made up his mind to 6. their cottages to rescue tourists 7. other cottages nearby.
Over the next two hours, he travelled through the 8. mountain, knocking on doors and leading 9. people to safety. Knowing the mountain so well, he drove one after another family down the mountain on roads 10. in smoke in his pickup. When one family was 11. from the fire, Layton would take the pickup 12. up the mountain in search of another 13. person. He helped one elderly woman flee barefoot 14. the hot road surface to reach her car. He also found a man nearly unconscious in a burning cottage and 15. him to his pickup. He helped 14 people out of danger despite the fact that he 16. escaped burns.
17. his brave and immediate action, the fire didn't 18. a single life on Shields Mountain. And though his home and business were destroyed, Layton remains 19. . " I wasn't worried about the property 20. , not when I saw those families trapped on the mountain," he says. "I knew I was gonna help them. "
41. A. explained B. declared C. whispered D. screamed
42. A. shared B. owned C. discovered D. built
43. A. hit B. watched C. caught D. picked
44. A. walked B. flew C. headed D. ran
45. A. gone B. missing C. scared D. awake
46. A. fix B. save C. sell D. leave
47. A. touring B. renting C. repairing D. deserting
48. A. smoky B. foggy C. cloudy D. rainy
49. A. confused B. hesitant C. curious D. panicked
50. A. highlighted B. ruined C. covered D. lost
51. A. happy B. safe C. absent D. tired
52. A. back B. home C. away D. out
53. A. disabled B. excited C. stubborn D. trapped
54. A. across B. into C. through D. over
55. A. led B. pulled C. carried D. pushed
56. A. unfortunately B. narrowly C. accidentally D. generally
57. A. Apart from B. Due to C. Except for D. As for
58. A. claim B. spare C. protect D. drop
59. A. intelligent B. generous C. philosophical D. critical
60. A. income B. price C. value D. damage
