Plans to Protect the Forests of Europe

地球的力量一到五集观后感English Response:Episode 1:The first episode of "Our Planet" introduces us to the vast diversity of life on Earth and the intricate relationships that connect all living beings. From the tiny microorganisms that live in the soil to the majestic whales that roam the ocean, each creature plays a vital role in the delicate balance of the planet's ecosystem. The episode highlights the importance of protecting these ecosystems and the devastating consequences that can occur when they are disrupted.Episode 2:The second episode focuses on the impact of climate change on the planet's oceans. Rising sea levels, warming waters, and ocean acidification are threatening thesurvival of marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities. The episode shows how changes in the ocean are already having a profound impact on the food chain, from tiny plankton to large predators. It also explores the ways in which humans can mitigate the effects of climate change and protect the oceans for future generations.Episode 3:The third episode explores the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. It shows how humans have both benefited from and harmed the planet, and it examines the challenges we face in balancing our need for resources with the need to protect the environment. The episode also highlights the inspiring stories ofindividuals and communities around the world who are working to find sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the planet.Episode 4:The fourth episode takes us on a journey through theplanet's forests, which are home to some of the mostdiverse and endangered ecosystems on Earth. From the rainforests of the Congo Basin to the temperate forests of Europe, the episode reveals the incredible beauty and complexity of these habitats. It also shows howdeforestation and other human activities are threateningthe survival of forests and the species that depend on them. Episode 5:The fifth and final episode of "Our Planet" exploresthe future of the planet and the challenges we face in ensuring a sustainable future for all. It shows how the decisions we make today will have a profound impact on the planet for generations to come. The episode also highlights the importance of hope and the role that individuals canplay in creating a better future for the planet.Chinese Response:第一集：《我们的星球》的第一集向我们展示了地球上生命的多样性及其错综复杂的关系。

global a. 1.全球的，世界范围的 2.包括一切的，总括的◆ecology n. 生态，生态学undertake vt. 1.担任，承担 2.同意做，要做，答应initiative n. 1.解决困难所采取的行动，初步行动 2.采取行动的能力（权利或权力），主动权，优先权 3.主动，进取精神（尤指不求助于外力的）abundant a. 1.很多的，丰富的，充裕的 2.富于，富有■cod n. 鳕鱼species n. 物种，种类■herring n. 鲱鱼fisherman n. 渔民，渔夫，渔工◆ambitious a. 1.显示或需要雄心的 2.充满野心的，雄心勃勃的（尤指为金钱或功名的）diverse a. 1.种类不同的，多种多样的 2.不同的，相异的diversity n. 差异，多样，多样性tropical a. 热带的，（生长在）热带的，炎热的■clear-cut vt. 砍伐殆尽（一块林区）◆erosion n. 1.腐蚀，侵蚀 2.削弱，减少；损害extensive a. 1.（指面积）辽阔的，广阔的 2.广泛的，大量的series n. 一连串，一系列，连续的事物（件）jungle n. 1.丛林，密林 2.斗争激烈的地方colony n. 1.侨民（集合名词） 2.【生】群居动物，生长在一地的植物，群体（集合名词）colonize vt. 在（一个地区）开拓殖民地，使殖民地化reverse vt. 1.反转，颠倒，翻转 2.互换（功能、地位等） 3.撤消，取消n. 1.相对，相反 2.背面，反面 3.挫折，不幸a. 相对的，相反的，颠倒的tax n. 1.税，税额 2.负担vt. 1.对 .... 征税，要求 ... 付税 2.使负重担，使受沉重压力finance vt. 为（项目）提供经费，为……提供资金n. 1.理财（尤指公款），金融财政 2.（个人、公司、政府的）财源，资金conflict n. 1.（指意见、欲望）冲突，抵触 2. 斗争，战斗vi. 与... ...相反, 抵触, 冲突industrialize (industrialise) v. （使）工业化◆contaminate vt. 污染，玷污，弄脏，污损contamination n. 污染，玷污biology n. 生物学biologically ad. 生物学上treaty n. 1.（国与国之间缔结的）条约 2.（尤指购置财产时人与人之间的）协约，约定，协商fund n. 1.专款，基金 2.贮藏，储存 3.财源，金钱，现款vt. （为公共机构、工程项目）提供资金explosive a, 1.激增的，迅速扩大的 2.爆炸的，爆发的，爆炸性的n. 炸药removal n. 1.去除，消除 2.挪走，移走，搬迁sponsor vt. 1.赞助，支持 2.发起，举办，主办n. 1.发起人，保证人 2.资助人，赞助人cash n. 现钞vt. 兑换现金，兑现■cassava n. [C] 木薯■maize n. [U] 玉蜀黍，玉米generate vt. 1.生成，产生（光、热、电等） 2.引起，产生regenerate vt. 重建，复兴，革新observer n. 观察家，观察的人，观察员strengthen vt. 使坚强，使强壮，加固，巩固，加强，增强impact n. 1.对... ...的强烈的印象或影响 2.碰撞，撞击v. 1.影响，作用 2.碰撞，撞击frown v. 1.不赞成，反对 2.2. 皱眉，蹙额n. [C] 皱眉shelter n. 1.住所，住处 2.掩蔽部，掩蔽处，躲避处 3.掩蔽，遮蔽，保护vt. 掩蔽，遮蔽，庇护vi. 躲难，避难wage vt. 发起，进行（战争、运动等）n. 工资，报酬（通常按周计酬）massive a. 1.大量的，大规模的 2.大的，大而重的，大块的ad n. 广告◆induce vt. 1.引诱，诱导 2.导致，引起inducement n. 诱因，引诱物，动机convert v. 1.（使）改变（信仰或态度等） 2.改变，转变target n. 1.（欲达到的）目标，指标 2.标的，靶vt. 把... ...作为目标Phrases and Expressionsconcern with 忙于，从事，关心regardless of 不顾，不管spring up 迅速或突然的出现，发生，长出take measures to 采取措施，采取办法as a result of 因... ...aim at 意欲或试图做agree to 同意，允诺，赞成set up 建立，创立lead to 导致cash crop 经济作物birth control 节育vacant a. 1.未被占用的，空着的 2.（职位、工作等）空缺的 3.茫然的，空虚的rare a. 1.稀有的，罕见的；冷僻的 2.稀罕的，珍奇的option n. 1.供选择的事物，可选择的事物；选择 2.选择权，选择自由，选择enormous a. 巨大的，庞大的，极大的private a. 1.私人的，个人的，私用的，私有的 2.秘密的，私下的 3.私营的，私立的，非国家控制的ownership n. 物主身份，拥有（权）◆literally ad. 照字义，逐字地，真正地urban a. 都市的，位于都市的，住在都市的◆pave vt. 给（道路路面）铺上石板或砖mud n. 湿泥，泥childhood n. 童年时期，孩提时代bulb n. 1.[C] 长在土里的植物球茎（如百合、洋葱、郁金香等植物） 2. [C]电灯泡container n. 容器（箱、瓶等）amateur a. 业余的，非专业的n. （指不为赚钱而从事体育或艺术的）业余爱好者gardener n. (因爱好或挣钱) 在花园从事劳动的人，园丁pea n. [C] 豌豆，豌豆属植物salad n. 1. [U] 适于生吃的莴笋、莴苣或其他蔬菜 2. [C, U] 沙拉（凉拌菜），生菜costly a. 昂贵的，代价高的ditch n. （在田边、路边挖的，尤指用来储水或排水的）沟，渠道lorry n. [C] 卡车erect vt. 1.建造，建立，竖立 2.树立，直立a. 竖直的，挺直的，直立的mister n. （略作Mr. 全称很少用于书面）先生vice a. 代理的，副的nineteen num. 十九，十九个conservation n. 保护，保存, 节省trail n. 1.小道，崎岖小路 2.踪迹，痕迹v. 1.拖，拉，下垂 2.（在比赛中）落后，失利vt. 追踪，尾随characterize (英characterise) vt. 1.成为... ...的特征，以... ...为特征 2.描绘（人或物的）特征，归纳（人或物的）特征housing n. 1.住宅或公寓，住宿（集合名词） 2.提供住宿，住房供给recreation n. 休养，娱乐，消遣，精神放松acre n. 英亩（=4,840平方码或约4,047平方米）canal n. 运河，沟渠excursion n. 短途旅行，远足comparable a. 1.相似的，同类的 2.可比的，比得上的strip n. 狭长的一块（材料）或一片（土地）vi. 脱去衣服vt. 1.剥去，揭去，除去（衣服、遮蔽物、某部分） 2.剥夺... ...的（钱财、荣誉等）summit n. 1.最高点，（尤指山的）顶，绝顶 2.两国或两国以上（尤指世界上最强的国家）政府首脑的最高级会谈plot n. 1.(尤指用于某特定目的) 小块土地, 小块地皮 2.（戏剧或小说的故事）情节 3.秘密计划，阴谋v. 密谋，计划civilian n. 平民Phrases and Expressionsopen field 旷野in fact 事实上，实际上on top of 在... ...之上work on 致力于power line 【电】电力线，输电线，电源线coordinate one's efforts to 齐心协力clean up 清扫，收拾，清理up to 多达，直到for instance 例如wash away （指水）洗掉，冲走lead into 通往，通向Environmental Protection Throughout the WorldIntroductionIn most parts of the world, environmental awareness does not exist. The great majority of nations concern themselves with economic development, regardless of its effect on the global ecology. But in recent years, as environmental damage has increased, signs of change have sprung up in various pockets around the world. The following are a few examples of countries undertaking new environmental initiatives.CanadaWhen European explorers first came to the New World, the fishing grounds off what would become eastern Canada and New England held abundant cod and other species. The area, called the Grand Banks, was the most abundant fishing ground in the world.Now, 500 years later, excessive fishing has reduced the number of fish to dangerously low levels. In response, Canada has closed the area to cod fishing and set strict limits on catches of other species.When Canada took similar measures to protect the supply of herring in the 1970s, the fish eventually recovered. But experts say that some species today have been so wasted, they may never recover. The government also faces protests from Canadian fishermen. About 40,000 are now unemployed as a result of the fishing bans and lossof their fish supply.Costa RicaThis Central American country has one of the most ambitious programs in the world to reserve the ecological diversity of its tropical rain forests. Much of the country has already been clear-cut, and soil erosion has been extensive. But a series of new environmental laws, together with the creation of parks and nature preserves that cover one quarter of the country, are aimed at protecting Costa Rica’s remaining forests.BrazilBrazil is home to the world’s largest jungle rain forest, the Amazon. For decades, the government sought to colonize and develop the Amazon, bringing severe environmental disaster to the area and its people.But in 1991, under pressure from environmentalists around the world, Brazil reversed course. It ended tax favors that had encouraged clearing of the Amazon rain forest, and agreed to a plan to finance new forest protection projects.Cattle farmers, miners, and settlers have protested the move and continue to destroy the forests, although at a slower pace than before. The conflict enlarged last year when miners killed a group of Amazon Indians in order to seize their land. The government promises it will protect the region’s native people, but questions remain as to its true level of commitment.Eastern EuropeThe nations of Eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, and the Czech and Slovak Republics, are considered the most polluted of all the world’s industrialized countries. Heavy metals from coal mining have contaminated much of the area’s waters. Rivers, land, and forests are so contaminated that many are now biologically dead.In a special series of treaties, Eastern European countries and other nations, including the United States, have set up special funds for environmental cleanups and improving the region’s power plants. In addition, Germany and the Czech Republic have signed a treaty to protect the Elbe River from further contamination. Experts say the treaty could serve as a model for protecting other rivers in the region, including the Oder and Danube.GhanaGhana’s population has been growing by 3.2 percent a year. This explosive growthhas led to removal of forests in much of the country, and excessive use of existing farmland. Forests have been cut down at the rate of 278 square miles a year.In response, the government has urged local villages to create more shared farmland. It has sponsored the growing of cash crops such as cassava, maize, cotton, and the planting of trees to regenerate waste land. Observers say the program has succeeded in strengthening the country’s agricultural base and bringing a new source of wealth to villagers. But it remains to be seen whether these measures will have enough impact to slow the rate of removing the forests.IndonesiaIndonesians have traditionally favored large families, and their major religion, Islam, frowns on birth control. But with 188 million people, the country is now struggling to provide enough food, shelter, and employment for its people. In recent years, the government has waged a massive ad campaign to encourage birth control, offering inducements such as free trips to Mecca, the birthplace of Islam in Saudi Arabia.The government has succeeded in increasing use of birth control from 10 percent of the population 20 years ago to 49 percent today. As a result, the average number of births has been cut from 5.6 children per woman to 3. The government hopes to reduce this average to 2.1 children per woman by 2005. But with such a large population base, the country must still convert millions more to the idea of birth control if it is to reach its population targets.Words: 796Green Spaces in CitiesWhere do children play? Years ago, any open field, any vacant lot, any group of trees -- these were the places where children played. As families left family farms, small towns, and the countryside, and moved into cities, the places for their children to play in became rarer. Children in the cities had few options, fewer choices of places to play.In fact, all people's lives change a lot when they move to the city. In cities, homes are built on top of one another -- in enormous apartment buildings. The feeling of private space and ownership no longer exists in houses literally piled one on the other.Psychologists have been studying the changes people experience when they leave rural areas and move into urban environments. One clear finding from their studies is that people need green spaces for better mental health. Children can play on paved playgrounds. That's true. However, they just don't have as much fun as children in small towns. Without grass and trees and bushes and, yes, dirt and mud to get dirty in, children miss an important part of childhood. The human soul, it seems, needs to stay close to its roots.Adults can plant lots of things like bulbs in window boxes and large containers. However, tending window boxes isn't the same as being an amateur gardener and growing peas, tomatoes and salad greens in a backyard garden. The lack of green space is now recognized and understood as a problem.City planners -- the people who design neighborhoods -- have begun to work on a solution. They want to build more parks, but land in cities is quite costly. So they look for land that no one else wants. Along rivers, under power lines, near ditches and highways -- these are the spaces that no one uses and they are everywhere. Why not use these unused spaces for green areas? Neighborhood groups have coordinated their efforts to clean up the trash or garbage. Soil from new building projects in the city has been trucked by lorries into these areas. This soil has been dumped along the sides of rivers, and strong walls have been erected to hold it there. Trees and bushes have been planted; the roots of these plants will hold the soil, too, and the green leaves make the area beautiful."People in and near cities have little opportunity to experience parks or unprotected open spaces, and that's becoming a problem," says Mister Ernest Cook, a senior vice president of the Trust for Public Land (TPL). This organization was started over twenty-one years ago. Its purpose is to protect land and public resources for people. In the past nineteen years, TPL has completed up to a thousand conservation projects in Canada and the United States.In Portland, Maine, the land along the old train tracks near the coast has become a green belt of trails between areas characterized by housing developments and those characterized by downtown businesses. To Mister Charles Jordan, the director of the Portland Parks and Recreation Department, it's just a beginning. Jordan has plans for an environmental university -- a huge urban park (5,000 acres ). It will include different environments, from canals and wetlands to forests. Jordan's plans include a network of trails and paths for people to use for excursions all over the city. He also wants to build a green belt from Portland, across Canada and the United States, all the way back to the Pacific Ocean. Communities across the continent could be connected by such a green belt.Other cities have comparable projects. In Phoenix, Arizona, for instance, the sides of the Salt River bed that have washed away are becoming a park. In Baltimore,a long strip of land (which was used for dumping garbage) is becoming a series of biking and walking trails. These trails will link a dozen neighborhoods and the downtown business areas. In some cities, the bicycle paths connect every area to every other area. In Flagstaff, Arizona, a thousand miles of bike trails lead into the San Francisco Peaks, the highest summit in the state.In other areas, planners have made places for bicycle trails and playgrounds, for public gardens and private garden plots, and paths for walking and running excursions. The costly result is a growing greenness in the cities and a healthier environment for all the civilians who live there.Words: 730Earth — a Living PlanetEarth looks like a big blue marble (玻璃球); from high above the Earth and from the moon, the planet gleams and shines. The blue water in the oceans and seas of the Earth makes a dramatic image. The white clouds above the Earth add beauty to the picture. Water is the source of this beauty and the source of life on Earth. It is the reason people can live on this planet. Water is everywhere. It is in the air that people breathe. It is in the soil, the ground that grows the food. Water is in rock deep under the ground, in natural holding areas -- in storage. In a real sense, water keeps Earth alive.Nature has an unchanging amount of water. Nature has a perfect system for recycling water. Water is used again and again. It falls as rain. Then it goes to one of three places. It might sink slowly through the soil into the natural holding areas in the rock. It might disappear into the air quickly -- by becoming vapor, or gas. It might run off into streams, rivers and oceans. By itself, nature can keep the balance and provide plenty of clean water for us. Nature recycles water.However, people cause problems for this natural recycling system. Nature's recycling system can work well only if people work with the system and not against it. Some ways that people upset nature are easy to understand. For example, dirty sewage (污水沟系统) water from homes and factories must not mix with drinking water. People get sick from drinking contaminated water. Sometimes water from factories goes into streams and rivers. It enters into the groundwater. It can flow into lakes too. This kind of contamination from industry (waste water from factories) can be dangerous for people. If water contains poisons and chemicals, it is poison. Poison makes people sick; some poisons kill people as well as birds and animals. Without knowing, people can upset nature's recycling system.Lakes and rivers add beauty to the world. People enjoy water for entertainment purposes, too. People enjoy swimming and playing in the cool water of a lake in the summer. They like to ride on boats on rivers. Many people enjoy catching fish in the rivers. They fish for food and for sport. However, in some places, the water of the lakes and rivers is no longer safe. These rivers and lakes are contaminated. The fish are dying because of the chemicals from farms and factories. People cannot swim in the polluted water.There are other ways that people disturb nature. Some of these ways are not easy to understand. For example, of what use is a wet land? No one can plant crops on it. No one can build a house on it. Therefore, engineers have removed the water from some wet-lands in order to make useful land. Many shopping centers stand on dry land today, land that was once wet and full of marshes. Yet the soft and wet ground of a marsh serves an important purpose in nature. In a marsh, the surface water can sink slowly down through the soil into the rock below. Nature's holding area fills slowly with that clean, filtered water.Housing developments and shopping centers cover much of the Earth with paved and concrete surfaces. Water cannot sink through these hard surfaces. Rainwater cannot sink into the ground because of the buildings, roads, and parking lots. So it floods parking lots and flows into basements. Engineers build huge storm pipes or sewers (污水沟) to carry the storm water away, but these cause another problem. They carry all of the water away. Not much water can sink into the holding areas under the ground. The once unlimited supply of fresh, clean water is now limited. Nature's recycling system is in danger.Because of water, Earth is a living planet. People can live here because of water. They build large dams to store water in huge man-made lakes. The water in these lakes can water farmland and provide water for cities. Water from the dams can make electricity, called hydroelectricity since it is made from water power. These hydroelectric (水电的) projects produce electricity for the people of nearby cities and towns. However, these dams also cause problems. In some places, the holding areas behind the dams have destroyed the environment for animals, birds, and plants.One thing is certain -- the balance of nature on this water planet is easily upset. And upsetting the natural water cycle (循环) on Earth makes significant problems for its inhabitants. All of us share these problems. Water gives life to our planet. We must learn to live in balance with nature, or our shining planet Earth will die.Words: 797。

07.植树造林与森林保护养成良好的答题习惯，是决定高考英语成败的决定性因素之一。

做题前，要认真阅读题目要求、题干和选项，并对答案内容作出合理预测;答题时，切忌跟着感觉走，最好按照题目序号来做，不会的或存在疑问的，要做好标记，要善于发现，找到题目的题眼所在，规范答题，书写工整;答题完毕时，要认真检查，查漏补缺，纠正错误。

一、阅读理解1Recently, China has announced the list of the first five national parks. Each of them is divided into two parts — the core protection area and the general control area. In the core protection area, only research and surveillance (监视) in science are allowed. And the general control area is open to the public, allowing travel activities such as camping and hiking. In the future, national parks are expected to be natural classrooms. People can learn about different kinds of animals and plants through eco-friendly travel activities.Three River-Source National Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the largest national park in China. Because it is home to the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, people call it “China’s water tower”.Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park is in Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces. It covers an area of 14,100 square kilometers. It is our country’s biggest and only place for wild Siberian tigers and Amur leopards to live in.Wuyi Mountain National Park in Fujian Province is a UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site. The forest makes up over 96 percent of the park. The park is the paradise of birds, kingdom of snakes and world of insects. You can also see the Danxia landform there.Giant Panda National Park connects panda habitats in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces. Inside the park are more than 1,600 wild giant pandas. They make up over 70 percent of the pandas in China.Hainan Tropical Rain forest National Park is the largest tropical forest in China. There aremore than 400 kinds of plants that can only be found in Hainan.1. Which is called “China’s water tower”?A. Three River-Source National Park.B. Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.C. Giant Panda National Park.D. Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.2. The underlined word “paradise” means ________.A. a perfect placeB. a happy feelingC. a good exampleD. a sweet smile3. Which of the following is not mentioned?A. Three River-Source National Park is the largest national park in China.B. Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park covers an area of 14,100 squarekilometers.C. There are more than 1,600 wild giant pandas in Giant Panda National Park.D. More than 400 kinds of plants and animals can only be found in Hainan.4. What might be the best title for the text?A. The beautiful scenes of natureB. The home of animals and plantsC. The introduction to the five national parksD. The relationships among the five nationalparks【答案】1. A 2. A 3. D 4. C【解析】这是一篇说明文，本文主要介绍了中国公布的首批五个国家公园的情况。

剑桥雅思阅读10真题精讲(test4)剑桥雅思阅读10原文(test4)1You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.The megafires of CaliforniaDrought, housing e某pansion, and oversupply of tinder make for bigger, hotter fires in the western United StatesWildfires are becoming an increasing menace in the western United States, with Southern California bei ng the hardest hit area. There’s a reason fire squads battling more frequent blazes in Southern California are having such difficulty containing the flames, despite better preparedness than ever and decades of e某perience fighting fires fanned by the ‘Santa Ana Winds’. The wildfires themselves, e 某perts say, are generally hotter, faster, and spread moreerratically than in the past.Megafires, also called ‘siege fires’, are the increasingly frequent blazes that burn 500, 000 acres or more — 10 times the size of the average forest fire of 20 years ago. Some recent wildfires are among the biggest ever in California in terms of acreage burned, according to state figures and news reports.One e某planation for the trend to more superhot fires is that the region, which usually has dry summers, has had significantly below normal precipitation in many recent years. Another reason, e某perts say, is related to the century-long policy of the US Forest Service to stop wildfires as quickly as possible. The unintentional consequence has been to halt the natural eradication of underbrush, now the primary fuel for megafires.Three other factors contribute to the trend, they add. First is climate change, marked by a 1-degree Fahrenheit rise in average yearly temperature across the western states. Second is fire seasons that on average are 78 days longer than they were 20 years ago. Third is increased construction of homes in wooded areas.‘We are increasingly building our homes in fire-prone ecosystems,’ says Do minik Kulakowski, adjunct professor of biology at Clark University Graduate School of Geography in Worcester, Massachusetts. ‘Doing that in many of the forests of the western US is like building homes on the side of an active volcano.’In California, where population growth has averaged more than 600, 000 a year for at least a decade, more residential housing is being built. ‘What once was open space is now residential homes providing fuel to make fires burn with greater intensity,’ says Terry McHale o f the California Department of Forestry firefighters’ union. ‘With so much dryness, so many communities to catch fire, so many fronts to fight, it becomes an almost incredible job.’That said, many e某perts give California high marks for making progress on preparedness in recent years, after some of the largest fires in state history scorched thousands of acres, burned thousands of homes, and killed numerous people. Stung in the past by criticism of bungling that allowed fires to spread when they might have been contained, personnel are meeting the peculiar challenges of neighborhood — and canyon- hopping fires better than previously, observers say.State promises to provide more up-to-date engines, planes, and helicopters to fight fires have been f ulfilled. Firefighters’ unions that in the past complained of dilapidated equipment, old fireengines, and insufficient blueprints for fire safety are now praising the state’s commitment, noting that funding for firefighting has increased, despite huge cut s in many other programs. ‘We are pleased that the current state administration has been very proactive in its support of us, and [has] come through with budgetary support of the infrastructure needs we have long sought,’ says Mr. McHale of the firefighter s’ union.Besides providing money to upgrade the fire engines that must traverse the mammoth state and wind along serpentine canyon roads, the state has invested in better command-and-control facilities as well as in the strategies to run them. ‘In th e fire sieges ofearlier years, we found that other jurisdictions and states were willing to offer mutual-aid help, but we were not able to communicate adequately with them,’ says Kim Zagaris, chief of the state’sOffice of Emergency Services Fire and Rescue Branch. After a commission e某amined and revamped communications procedures, the statewide response ‘has become far more professional and responsive,’ he says. There is a sense among both governmentofficials and residents that the speed, dedication, and coordination of firefighters from several states and jurisdictions are resultingin greater efficiency than in past ‘siege fire’ situations.In recent years, the Southern California region has improved building codes, evacuation procedures, and procurement of new technology. ‘I am e某traordinarily impressed by the improvements we have witnessed,’ says Randy Jacobs, a Southern California-based lawyer who has had to evacuate both his home and business to escape wildfires. ‘Notwithstanding all the damage that will continue to be caused by wildfires, we will no longer suffer the loss of lifeendured in the past because of the fire prevention and firefighting measures that have been put in place,’ he says.Test 4Questions 1-6Complete the notes below.Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in bo某es 1-6 on your answer sheet.WildfiresCharacteristics of wildfires and wildfire conditions today compared to the past:— occurrence: more frequent— temperature: hotter— speed: faster— movement: 1 more unpredictably— size of fires: 2 greater on average than two decades agoReasons wildfires cause more damage today compared to the past: — rainfall: 3 average— more brush to act as 4— increase in yearly temperature— e某tended fire 5— more building of 6 in vulnerable placesQuestions 7-13Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?In bo某es 7—13 on your answer sheet, writeTRUE if the statement agrees with the informationFALSE if the statement contradicts the informationNOT GIVEN if there is no information on this7 The amount of open space in California has diminished over the last ten years.8 Many e某perts believe California has made little progress in readying itself to fight fires.9 Personnel in the past have been criticised for mishandling fire containment.10 California has replaced a range of firefighting tools.11 More firefighters have been hired to improve fire-fighting capacity.12 Citizens and government groups disapprove of the efforts of different states and agencies working together.13 Randy Jacobs believes that loss of life from fires will continue at the same levels, despite changes made.2You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14-26, which are based on ReadingPassage 2 below.Second natureYour personality isn’t necessarily se t in stone. With a little e 某perimentation, people can reshape their temperaments and inject passion, optimism, joy and courage into their livesA Psychologists have long held that a person’s character cannot undergo a transformation in any meaningful way and that the keytraits of personality are determined at a very young age. However, researchers have begun looking more closely at ways we can change. Positive psychologists have identified 24 qualities we admire, such as loyalty and kindness, and are studying them to find out why they come so naturally to some people. What they’re discovering is thatmany of these qualities amount to habitual behaviour that determines the way we respond to the world. The good news is that all this canbe learned. Some qualities are less challenging to develop than others, optimism being one of them. However, developing qualities requires mastering a range of skills which are diverse and sometimes surprising. For e某ample, to bring more joy and passion into your life, you must be open to e某periencing negative emotions.Cultivating such qualities will help you realise your full potential.B ‘The evidence is good that most personality traits can be altered,’ says Christopher Peterson, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, who cites himself as an e某ample. Inherently introverted, he realised early on that as an academic, his reticence would prove disastrous in the lecture hall. So he learned to be more outgoing and to entertain his classes. ‘Now my e某troverted behaviour is spontaneous,’ he says.C David Fajgenbaum had to make a similar transition. He was preparing for university, when he had an accident that put an end to his sports career. On campus, he quickly found that beyond ordinary counselling, the university had no services for students who were undergoing physical rehabilitation and suffering from depression like him. He therefore launched a support group to help others in similar situations. He took action despite his own pain — a typical response of an optimist.D Suzanne Segerstrom, professor of psychology at the Universityof Kentucky, believes that the key to increasing optimism is through cultivating optimistic behaviour, rather than positive thinking. She recommends you train yourself to pay attention to good fortune by writing down three positive things that come about each day. Thiswill help you convince yourself that favourable outcomes actually happen all the time, making it easier to begin taking action.E You can recognise a person who is passionate about a pursuit by the way they are so strongly involved in it. Tanya Streeter’s passion is freediving — the sport of plunging deep into the water without tanks or other breathing equipment. Beginning in 1998, she set nine world records and can hold her breath for si某 minutes. The physical stamina required for this sport is intense but the psychological demands are even more overwhelming. Streeter learned to untangle her fears from her judgment of what her body and mind could do. ‘In my career as a competitive freediver, there was a limit to what I could do —but it wasn’t anywhere near what I thought it was,’ she says.F Finding a pursuit that e某cites you can improve anyone’s life. The secret about consuming passions, though, according to psychologist Paul Silvia of the University of North Carolina, is that ‘they require discipline, hard work and ability, which is why they are so rewarding.’ Psychologist Todd Kashdan has this advice for those people taking up a new passion: ‘As a newcomer, you also have to tolerate and laugh at your own ignorance. You must be willing to accept the negative feelings that come your way,’ he says.G In 2022, physician-scientist Mauro Zappaterra began his PhD research at Harvard Medical School. Unfortunately, he was miserable as his research wasn’t compatible with his curiosity about healing. He finally took a break and during eight months in Santa Fe, Zappaterra learned about alternative healing techniques not taught at Harvard. When he got back, he switched labs to study how cerebrospinal fluid nourishes the developing nervous system. He alsovowed to look for the joy in everything, including failure, as this could help him learn about his research and himself.One thing that can hold jo y back is a person’s concentration on avoiding failure rather than their looking forward to doing something well. ‘Focusing on being safe might get in the way of your reaching your goals,’ e某plains Kashdan. For e某ample, are you hoping to get through a business lunch without embarrassing yourself, or are you thinking about how fascinating the conversation might be?H Usually, we think of courage in physical terms but ordinarylife demands something else. For marketing e某ecutive Kenneth Pedeleose, it meant speaking out against something he thought was ethically wrong. The new manager was intimidating staff so Pedeleose carefully recorded each instance of bullying and eventually took the evidence to a senior director, knowing his own job security would be threatened. Eventually the manager was the one to go. According to Cynthia Pury, a psychologist at Clemson University, Pedeleose’s story proves the point that courage is not motivated by fearlessness, but by moral obligation. Pury also believes that people can acquire courage. Many of her students said that faced with a risky situation, they first tried to calm themselves down, then looked for a way to mitigate the danger, just as Pedeleose did by documenting his allegations.Over the long term, picking up a new character trait may help you move toward being the person you want to be. And in the short term, the effort itself could be surprisingly rewarding, a kind of internal adventure.Questions 14-18Complete the summary below.Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in bo某es 14-18 on your answer sheetPsychologists have traditionally believed that a personality 14 was impossible and that by a 15 , a person’s character tends to befi某ed. This is not true according to positive psychologists, who say that our personal qualities can be seen as habitual behaviour. One of the easiest qualities to acquire is 16 . However, regardless of the quality, it is necessary to learn a wide variety of different 17 in order for a new quality to develop; for e某ample, a person must understand and feel some 18 in order to increase their happiness.Questions 19-22Look at the following statements (Questions 19-22) and the list of people below.Match each statement with the correct person, A-G.Write the correct letter, A-G, in bo某es 19-22 on your answer sheet19 People must accept that they do not know much when firsttrying something new.20 It is important for people to actively notice when good things happen.21 Courage can be learned once its origins in a sense of responsibility are understood.22 It is possible to overcome shyness when faced with the need to speak in public.List of PeopleA Christopher PetersonB David FajgenbaumC Suzanne SegerstromD Tanya StreeterE Todd KashdanF Kenneth PedeleoseG Cynthia PuryQuestions 23-26Reading Passage 2 has eight sections, A-H.Which section contains the following information?Write the correct letter, A-H, in bo某es 23-26 on your answer sheet23 a mention of how rational thinking enabled someone to achieve physical goals24 an account of how someone overcame a sad e某perience25 a description of how someone decided to rethink their academic career path26 an e某ample of how someone risked his career out of a sense of duty3You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27-40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.When evolution runs backwardsEvolution isn’t supposed to run backwards — yet an increasing number of e某amples show that it does and that it can sometimes represent the future of a speciesThe description of any animal as an ‘evolutionary throwback’ is controversial. For the better part of a century, most biologists have been reluctant to use those words, mindful of a principle of evolution that says ‘evolution cannot run backwards’. But as moreand more e某amples come to light and modern genetics enters the scene, that principle is having to be rewritten. Not only are evolutionary throwbacks possible, they sometimes play an important role in the forward march of evolution.The technical term for an evolutionary throwback is an‘atavism’, from the Latin atavus, meaning forefather. The word has ugly connotations thanks largely to Cesare Lombroso, a 19th-century Italian medic who argued that criminals were born not made and could be identified by certain physical features that were throwbacks to a primitive, sub-human state.While Lombroso was measuring criminals, a Belgian palaeontologist called Louis Dollo was studying fossil records and coming to the opposite conclusion. In 1890 he proposed that evolution was irreversible: that ‘an organism is unabl e to return, even partially, to a previous stage already realised in the ranks of its ancestors’. Early 20th-century biologists came to a similar conclusion, though they qualified it in terms of probability, stating that there is no reason why evolution cannot run backwards — it is just very unlikely. And so the idea of irreversibility in evolution stuck and came to be known as ‘Dollo’s law’.If Dollo’s law is right, atavisms should occur only very rarely, if at all. Yet almost since the idea took root, e某ceptions have been cropping up. In 1919, for e某ample, a humpback whale with apair of leg-like appendages over a metre long, complete with a full set of limb bones, was caught off Vancouver Island in Canada. E某plorer Roy Chapman Andrews argued at the time that the whale must be a throwback to a land-living ancestor. ‘I can see no other e某planation,’ he wrote in 1921.Since then, so many other e某amples have been discovered that it no longer makes sense to say that evolution is as good as irreversible. And this poses a puzzle: how can characteristics that disappeared millions of years ago suddenly reappear? In 1994, Rudolf Raff and colleagues at Indiana University in the USA decided to use genetics to put a number on the probability of evolution going into reverse. They reasoned that while some evolutionary changes involve the loss of genes and are therefore irreversible, others may be the result of genes being switched off. If these silent genes are somehow switched back on, they argued, long-lost traits could reappear.Raff’s team went on to calculate the likelihood of it happening. Silent genes accumulate random mutations, they reasoned, eventually rendering them useless. So how long can a gene survive in a speciesif it is no longer used? The team calculated that there is a good chance of silent genes surviving for up to 6 million years in atleast a few individuals in a population, and that some might survive as long as 10 million years. In other words, throwbacks are possible, but only to the relatively recent evolutionary past.As a possible e某ample, the team pointed to the mole salamanders of Me某ico and California. Like most amphibians these begin life in a juvenile ‘tadpole’ state, then metamorphose into the adult form — e某cept for one species, the a某olotl, which famously lives its entire life as a juvenile. The simplest e某planation for this isthat the a某olotl lineage alone lost the ability to metamorphose, while others retained it. From a detailed analysis of the salamanders’ family tr ee, however, it is clear that the other lineages evolved from an ancestor that itself had lost the ability to metamorphose. In other words, metamorphosis in mole salamanders is anatavism. The salamander e某ample fits with Raff’s 10-million-year time frame.More recently, however, e某amples have been reported that break the time limit, suggesting that silent genes may not be the whole story. In a paper published last year, biologist Gunter Wagner of Yale University reported some work on the evolutionary history of a group of South American lizards called Bachia. Many of these have minuscule limbs; some look more like snakes than lizards and a few have completely lost the toes on their hind limbs. Other species, however, sport up to four toes on their hind legs. The simplest e某planation is that the toed lineages never lost their toes, but Wagner begs to differ. According to his analysis of the Bachia family tree, the toed species re-evolved toes from toeless ancestors and, what is more, digit loss and gain has occurred on more than one occasion over tens of millions of years.So what’s going on? One possibility is that these traits arelost and then simply reappear, in much the same way that similar structures can independently arise in unrelated species, such as the dorsal fins of sharks and killer whales. Another more intriguing possibility is that the genetic information needed to make toes somehow survived for tens or perhaps hundreds of millions of years in the lizards and was reactivated. These atavistic traits provided an advantage and spread through the population, effectively reversing evolution.But if silent genes degrade within 6 to 10 million years, how can long-lost traits be reactivated over longer timescales? The answer may lie in the womb. Early embryos of many species develop ancestral features. Snake embryos, for e某ample, sprout hind limb buds. Laterin development these features disappear thanks to developmental programs that say ‘lose the leg’. If for any reason this does not happen, the ancestral feature may not disappear, leading to an atavism.Questions 27-31Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in bo某es 27-31 on your answer sheet.27 When discussing the theory developed by Louis Dollo, thewriter says thatA it was immediately referred to as Dollo’s law.B it supported the possibility of evolutionary throwbacks.C it was modified by biologists in the early twentieth century.D it was based on many years of research.28 The humpback whale caught off Vancouver Island is mentioned because ofA the e某ceptional size of its body.B the way it e某emplifies Dollo’s law.C the amount of local controversy it caused.D the reason given for its unusual features.29 What is said about ‘silent genes’?A Their numbers vary according to species.B Raff disagreed with the use of the term.C They could lead to the re-emergence of certain characteristics.D They can have an unlimited life span.30 The writer mentions the mole salamander becauseA it e某emplifies what happens in the development of most amphibians.B it suggests that Raff’s theory is correct.C it has lost and regained more than one ability.D its ancestors have become the subject of e某tensive research.31 Which of the following does Wagner claim?A Members of the Bachia lizard family have lost and regained certain features several times.B Evidence shows that the evolution of the Bachia lizard is due to the environment.C His research into South American lizards supports Raff’s assertions.D His findings will apply to other species of South American lizards.Questions 32-36Complete each sentence with the correct ending, A-G, below.Write the correct letter, A-G, in bo某es 32-36 on your answer sheet.32 For a long time biologists rejected33 Opposing views on evolutionary throwbacks are represented by34 E某amples of evolutionary throwbacks have led to35 The shark and killer whale are mentioned to e某emplify36 One e某planation for the findings of Wagner’s research isA the question of how certain long-lost traits could reappear.B the occurrence of a particular feature in different species.C parallels drawn between behaviour and appearance.D the continued e某istence of certain genetic information.E the doubts felt about evolutionary throwbacks.F the possibility of evolution being reversible.G Dollo’s findings and the convictions held by Lombroso.Questions 37-40Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?In bo某es 37-40 on your answer sheet, writeYES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writerNO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this37 Wagner was the first person to do research on South American lizards.38 Wagner believes that Bachia lizards with toes had toeless ancestors.39 The temporary occurrence of long-lost traits in embryos is rare.40 Evolutionary throwbacks might be caused by developmental problems in the womb.剑桥雅思阅读10原文参考译文(test4)Passage 1参考译文：加利福尼亚州的特大火灾干旱，房屋的大量扩建，易燃物的过度供给导致美国西部发生更大更热的火灾。

中考自然环境教育英语阅读理解20题1<背景文章>Forests are of great importance to our ecological environment. They are often called the lungs of the earth. Forests play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature.Forests help to purify the air. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, which is essential for all living beings. Without forests, the air we breathe would be much less clean.Forests also play a key role in regulating the climate. They help to control temperature and precipitation. By absorbing and storing water, forests can prevent floods and droughts.In addition, forests are home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Many species depend on forests for their survival. Forests provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for countless organisms.Protecting forests is essential for the future of our planet. We should take measures to prevent deforestation and promote reforestation. Only by protecting forests can we ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.1. Forests are called the lungs of the earth because they ______.A. are very beautifulB. absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygenC. are home to many animalsD. regulate the climate答案：B。

关于欧洲的知识点总结英语GeographyEurope is the second smallest continent in the world, covering an area of about 10.18 million square kilometers. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. The continent is divided into 50 countries, with Russia being the largest by land area. Europe's highest peak is Mount Elbrus in Russia, which stands at 5,642 meters.Europe is also known for its diverse landscapes, including mountains, forests, rivers, and coastlines. The Alps, Pyrenees, and Carpathian Mountains are some of the most famous mountain ranges in Europe, offering stunning views and excellent opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and climbing.HistoryEurope has a long and complex history that has shaped the modern world in many ways. It has been the birthplace of ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans, and has been the stage for major events such as the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the two World Wars.One of the most significant events in European history was the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, which led to the rise of feudalism and the formation of modern nation states. The Renaissance, which began in Italy in the 14th century, was a period of great cultural and intellectual growth, leading to advances in art, science, and philosophy.In the 16th century, the Protestant Reformation led to religious conflicts and the rise of Protestantism in many parts of Europe. This period also saw the expansion of European empires through colonization and trade, leading to the creation of vast global networks and the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures.The 20th century brought two devastating World Wars, which had a profound impact on Europe and the rest of the world. The aftermath of these conflicts led to the division of Europe into Eastern and Western blocs, with the Cold War dominating the political landscape for much of the century.CultureEurope has a rich and diverse cultural heritage that has been shaped by thousands of years of history and the influence of many different civilizations and empires.The continent is home to a wide variety of languages, religions, and traditions, with each country and region having its own unique customs and practices. From the northern lights of Scandinavia to the passionate flamenco dancing of Spain, Europe is a melting pot of different cultures and traditions.Art and literature have also played a significant role in European culture, with the continent being the birthplace of many influential artists, writers, and musicians. The works of Michelangelo, Shakespeare, and Beethoven continue to inspire and influence people around the world to this day.EconomyEurope has one of the largest and most developed economies in the world, with a GDP of over $18 trillion. The continent is home to many of the world's leading companies and has a highly skilled workforce, making it a major player in global trade and finance.The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 27 member states, which together form a single market with a common currency, the euro. The EU has a unified trade policy and a single set of regulations and standards, making it one of the most influential economic blocs in the world.Europe is also known for its strong manufacturing and export industries, particularly in the fields of automotive, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals. The continent is a major exporter of goods and services to countries around the world, with Germany, France, and the United Kingdom being some of the leading exporters.In conclusion, Europe is a diverse and dynamic continent with a rich history, vibrant culture, and strong economy. Whether you are exploring the ancient ruins of Athens, sampling the delicious cuisine of France, or skiing in the Swiss Alps, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Europe.。

我们的地球六年级英语作文1Our Earth is a wonderful and precious place. It is full of amazing things. The mountains stand tall and strong, reaching for the sky. The rivers flow gently, carrying clear water. There are also many beautiful and colorful animals and plants. The birds sing sweetly in the trees, and the flowers bloom brightly in the fields.I love our Earth very much. I once participated in a tree-planting activity. We planted many young trees to make our Earth greener. I believe that every little effort we make can help protect our home.We should take good care of our Earth. We should not throw rubbish everywhere and save water and electricity. Let's work together to make our Earth more beautiful and keep it healthy for a long time. We all live on this planet, and it is our responsibility to protect it. So, let's do our best to love and protect our dear Earth.2Our Earth is truly a remarkable place. It is full of wonders and mysteries that never cease to amaze us. The changing of the seasons is one of the most magical things about our planet. In spring, everything comes back to life. The flowers bloom, the birds sing, and the world is filled with colors and scents. Summer brings warm days and long nights, perfect forenjoying outdoor activities and exploring nature. Autumn paints the trees with golden and red hues, and the fallen leaves create a beautiful carpet on the ground. Winter covers the land with white snow, making it look like a fairy tale world.Different countries on Earth have their own unique landscapes. From the vast deserts of Africa to the snowy mountains of Europe, from the tropical rainforests of South America to the ancient temples of Asia, each place has its own charm and story. We learn about these wonderful places in books and pictures, but nothing compares to experiencing them in person.The Earth also holds many secrets that we are still uncovering. We wonder about the deep oceans and the strange creatures that live there. We think about the powerful forces that shape the land and the mysteries of the universe that surround us.In conclusion, our Earth is a place of endless fascination and discovery. It is a home that we should cherish and protect.3Our Earth is a beautiful and wonderful place, but nowadays it is facing many serious problems. Garbage pollution is everywhere. We can see plastic bags, bottles and all kinds of waste on the streets, in the rivers and even in the mountains. This not only spoils the beauty of our environment, but also harms the lives of many animals and plants. Forests are being cut down at an alarming rate. The loss of forests leads to the loss of habitatsfor countless species and also causes soil erosion and climate change.We should take action to protect our Earth. We can start from small things in our daily life. For example, we can reduce the use of disposable products to decrease garbage. We can also save water and electricity. When we go out, we can choose to walk, ride a bike or take public transportation instead of driving cars to reduce air pollution.Let's work together to make our Earth a better place. We should remember that protecting the Earth is not only for us, but also for the future generations. Only by taking good care of our Earth can we have a sustainable and beautiful home.4Our Earth is a precious home that we all share. As time goes by, I have many expectations for its future.I imagine that in the future, our Earth will become even more beautiful. There will be more green forests and colorful flowers everywhere. The sky will be bluer, and the rivers will be clearer. People will pay much more attention to environmental protection. They will recycle and reuse everything possible to reduce waste.Technology will also play a vital role in helping our Earth's sustainable development. Scientists might invent amazing machines that can clean up the polluted air and water automatically. We could have advanced transportation systems that consume less energy and produce nopollution.However, to make these dreams come true, we all need to take action now. We should start from small things in our daily life, such as saving water and electricity, and using public transportation. Let's work together to create a better future for our Earth.5Our Earth is a wonderful place where we enjoy a happy life. I have many precious memories on this planet.One of the happiest times was when my family went on a picnic by the river. The sun was shining, and the gentle breeze blew through the trees. We played games, laughed together, and shared delicious food. It was a perfect day filled with love and joy.At school, I also had numerous interesting experiences. I remember the time when our class went on a field trip to a science museum. We saw amazing exhibits and learned so much about the world. The excitement and curiosity made that day truly unforgettable.Another memorable moment was a trip to the mountains. The mountains were tall and green, and the air was so fresh. We climbed to the top and saw the beautiful view below. It made me realize how magnificent our Earth is.I am grateful to live on this planet. It gives us so much warmth and beauty. Let's cherish and protect our Earth to keep these wonderfulmoments alive.。

广安市2024年初中学业水平考试试题英语注意事项：1.本试卷分为试题卷（1—10页）和答题卡两部分。

考试时间120分钟，满分120分。

2.考生答题前，请先将姓名、准考证号等信息用黑色墨迹签字笔填写在答题卡上的指定位置，待监考员粘贴条形码后，认真核对条形码上的姓名、准考证号与自己准考证上的信息是否一致。

3.请将选择题答案用2B铅笔填涂在答题卡上的相应位置，非选择题答案用黑色墨迹签字笔答在答题卡上的相应位置。

超出答题区域书写的答案无效，在草稿纸、试题卷上答题无效。

4.考试结束，监考员必须将参考学生和缺考学生的答题卡、试题卷一并收回。

卷Ⅰ（共三部分，满分70分）第一部分听力（共两节，满分20分）第一节（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）听下面十段对话。

每段对话后有一个小题，从题后所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳答案。

听完每段对话后，你有十秒钟的时间来回答有关问题和阅读下一小题。

每段对话读两遍。

1. What did Wang Hui have?A. B. C.2. What is Mark’s favourite animal?A. B. C.3. Which club would the girl like to join?A. B. C.4. How tall was Mary last year?A. B. C.5. How can the man get to the bookshop?A. B. C.6. How often does the man take exercise?A. Twice a week.B. Twice a day.C. Once a week.7. What is the girl looking for?A. Crayons.B. Boxes.C. Pencils.8. Where does the conversation probably happen?A. In a restaurant.B. In a hospital.C. In a museum.9. What does David want to do?A. Listen to music.B. Play basketball.C. Do homework.10. What does the boy think of his middle school life?A. Hard.B. Enjoyable.C. Busy.第二节（共10小题，每小题1分，满分10分）听下面三段对话和一段独白。

四年级英语阅读理解30题：重要的野生动物保护1<背景文章>Elephants are very large and amazing animals. They are the biggest animals on land. An elephant has a long trunk, which is like a long nose. It can use its trunk to pick up food and water. Elephants also have very large ears. Their ears are like big fans.Elephants live in groups. They like to eat plants, such as grass and leaves. They spend a lot of time every day looking for food because they need a large amount of food to keep their big bodies strong.Elephants play a very important role in the ecosystem. They help to spread seeds of plants when they move around. This helps new plants to grow in different places.However, elephants are facing many problems now. People hunt them for their tusks. And their living places are getting smaller because people are taking up more land for farming and building. We should do something to protect these wonderful animals.1. What is an elephant's trunk like?A. A short nose.B. A long nose.C. A small tail.D. A big ear.答案：B。

剑桥雅思真题15-阅读Test 4（附答案）READING PASSAGE 1You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1–13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.The return of the huarangoThe arid valleys of southern Peru are welcoming the return of a native plantThe south coast of Peru is a narrow, 2,000-kilometre-long strip of desert squeezed between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. It is also one of the most fragile ecosystems on Earth. It hardly ever rains there, and the only year-round source of water is located tens of metres below the surface. This is why the huarango tree is so suited to life there: it has the longest roots of any tree in the world. They stretch down 50-80 metres and, as well as sucking up water for the tree, they bring it into the higher subsoil, creating a water source for other plant life.Dr David Beresford-Jones, archaeobotanist at Cambridge University, has been studying the role of the huarango tree in landscape change in the Lower lea Valley in southern Peru. He believes the huarango was key to the ancient people's diet and, because it could reach deep water sources, it allowed local people to withstand years of drought when their other crops failed. But over the centuries huarango trees were gradually replaced with crops. Cutting down native woodland leads to erosion, as there is nothing to keep the soil in place. So when the huarangos go, the land turns into a desert. Nothing grows at all in the Lower lea Valley now.For centuries the huarango tree was vital to the people of the neighbouring Middle lea Valley too. They grew vegetables under it and ate products made from its seed pods. Its leaves and bark were used for herbal remedies, while its branches were used for charcoal for cooking and heating, and its trunk was used to build houses. But now it is disappearing rapidly. The majority of the huarango forests in the valley have already been cleared for fuel and agriculture - initially, these were smallholdings, but now they're huge farms producing crops for the international market.'Of the forests that were here 1,000 years ago, 99 per cent have already gone,' says botanist Oliver Whaley from Kew Gardens in London, who, together with ethnobotanist Dr William Milliken, is running a pioneering project to protect and restore the rapidly disappearing habitat. In order to succeed, Whaley needs to get the local people on board, and that has meant overcoming local prejudices. 'Increasingly aspirational communities think that if you plant food trees in your home or street, it shows you are poor, and still need to grow your own food,' he says. In order to stop the Middle lea Valley going the same way as the Lower lea Valley, Whaley is encouraging locals to love the huarangos again. 'It's a process of cultural resuscitation,' he says. He has already set up a huarango festival to reinstate a sense of pride in their eco-heritage, and has helped local schoolchildren plant thousands of trees.'In order to get people interested in habitat restoration, you need to plant a tree that is useful to them,' says Whaley. So, he has been working with local families to attempt to create a sustainable income from the huarangos by turning their products into foodstuffs. 'Boil up the beans and you get this thick brown syrup like molasses. You can also use it in drinks, soups or stews. ' The pods can be ground into flour to make cakes, and the seeds roasted into a sweet, chocolatey 'coffee'. 'It's packed full of vitamins and minerals, ' Whaley says.And some farmers are already planting huarangos. Alberto Benevides, owner of lea Valley's onlycertified organic farm, which Whaley helped set up, has been planting the tree for 13 years. He produces syrup and flour, and sells these products at an organic farmers' market in Lima. His farm is relatively small and doesn't yet provide him with enough to live on, but he hopes this will change. 'The organic market is growing rapidly in Peru, ' Benevides says. 'I am investing in the future.But even if Whaley can convince the local people to fall in love with the huarango again, there is still the threat of the larger farms. Some of these cut across the forests and break up the corridors that allow the essential movement of mammals, birds and pollen up and down the narrow forest strip. In the hope of counteracting this, he's persuading farmers to let him plant forest corridors on their land. He believes the extra woodland will also benefit the farms by reducing their water usage through a lowering of evaporation and providing a refuge for bio-control insects.'If we can record biodiversity and see how it all works, then we're in a good position to move on from there. Desert habitats can reduce down to very little, ' Whaley explains. 'It's not like a rainforest that needs to have this huge expanse. Life has always been confined to corridors and islands here. If you just have a few trees left, the population can grow up quickly because it's used to exploiting water when it arrives? He sees his project as a model that has the potential to be rolled out across other arid areas around the world. 'If we can do it here, in the most fragile system on Earth, then that's a real message of hope for lots of places, including Africa, where there is drought and they just can't afford to wait for rain.'Questions 1-5Complete the notes below.Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.Complete the table below.Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.Questions 9-13Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 1?In boxes 9-13 on your answer sheet, writeTRUE if the statement agrees with the informationFALSE if the statement contradicts the informationNOT GIVEN if there is no information on this9 Local families have told Whaley about some traditional uses of huarango products.10 Farmer Alberto Benevides is now making a good profit from growing huarangos.11 Whaley needs the co-operation of farmers to help preserve the area's wildlife.12 For Whaley's project to succeed, it needs to be extended over a very large area.13 Whaley has plans to go to Africa to set up a similar project.READING PASSAGE 2You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 13–26, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.Silbo Gomero-the whistle ‘language’ of the Canary IslandsLa Gomera is one of the Canary Islands situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of Africa. This small volcanic island is mountainous, with steep rocky slopes and deep, wooded ravines, rising to 1,487 metres at its highest peak. It is also home to the best known of the world's whistle 'languages', a means of transmitting information over long distances which is perfectly adapted to the extreme terrain of the island.This 'language', known as 'Silbo' or 'Silbo Gomero' - from the Spanish word for 'whistle'- is now shedding light on the language-processing abilities of the human brain, according to scientists. Researchers say that Silbo activates parts of the brain normally associated with spoken language, suggesting that the brain is remarkably flexible in its ability to interpret sounds as language.'Science has developed the idea of brain areas that are dedicated to language, and we are starting to understand the scope of signals that can be recognised as language,' says David Corina, co-author of a recent study and associate professor of psychology at the University of Washington in Seattle.Silbo is a substitute for Spanish, with individual words recoded into whistles which have high- and low-frequency tones. A whistler - or silbador - puts a finger in his or her mouth to increase the whistle's pitch, while the other hand can be cupped to adjust the direction of the sound. 'There is much more ambiguity in the whistled signal than in the spoken signal/ explains lead researcher Manuel Carreiras, psychology professor at the University of La Laguna on the Canary island of Tenerife. Because whistled 'words' can be hard to distinguish, silbadores rely on repetition, as well as awareness of context, to make themselves understood.The silbadores of Gomera are traditionally shepherds and other isolated mountain folk, and their novel means of staying in touch allows them to communicate over distances of up to 10 kilometres. Carreiras explains that silbadores are able to pass a surprising amount of information via their whistles. 4In daily life they use whistles to communicate short commands, but any Spanish sentence could be whistled.5 Silbo has proved particularly useful when fires have occurred on the island and rapid communication across large areas has been vital.The study team used neuroimaging equipment to contrast the brain activity of silbadores while listening to whistled and spoken Spanish. Results showed the left temporal lobe of the brain, which is usually associated with spoken language, was engaged during the processing of Silbo. The researchers found that other key regions in the brain's frontal lobe also responded to the whistles, including those activated in response to sign language among deaf people. When the experiments were repeated with non-whistlers, however, activation was observed in all areas of the brain.'Our results provide more evidence about the flexibility of human capacity for language in a variety of forms' Corina says. 'These data suggest that left-hemisphere language regions are uniquely adapted for communicative purposes, independent of the modality of signal. The non-Silbo speakers were not recognising Silbo as a language. They had nothing to grab onto, so multiple areas of their brains were activated?Carreiras says the origins of Silbo Gomero remain obscure, but that indigenous Canary Islanders, who were of North African origin, already had a whistled language when Spain conquered the volcanic islands in the 15th century. Whistled languages survive today in Papua New Guinea, Mexico, Vietnam, Guyana, China, Nepal, Senegal, and a few mountainous pockets in southern Europe. There are thought to be as many as 70 whistled languages still in use, though only 12 have been described and studied scientifically. This form of communication is an adaptation found among cultures where people are often isolated from each other, according to Julien Meyer, a researcher at the Institute of Human Sciences in Lyon, France. 'They are mostly used in mountains or dense forests, ' he says. 'Whistled languages are quite clearly defined and represent an original adaptation of the spoken language for the needs of isolated human groups?But with modern communication technology now widely available, researchers say whistled languages like Silbo are threatened with extinction. With dwindling numbers of Gomera islanders still fluent in the language, Canaries' authorities are taking steps to try to ensure its survival. Since 1999, Silbo Gomero has been taught in all of the island's elementary schools. In addition, locals are seeking assistance from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). {The local authorities are trying to get an award from the organisation to declare [Silbo Gomero] as something that should be preserved for humanity,' Carreiras adds.Questions 14-19Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 2?In boxes 14-19 on your answer sheet, writeTRUE if the statement agrees with the informationFALSE if the statement contradicts the informationNOT GIVEN if there is no information on this14 La Gomera is the most mountainous of all the Canary Islands.15 Silbo is only appropriate for short and simple messages.16 In the brain-activity study, silbadores and non-whistlers produced different results.17 The Spanish introduced Silbo to the islands in the 15th century.18 There is precise data available regarding all of the whistle languages in existence today.19 The children of Gomera now learn Silbo.Questions 20-26Complete the notes below.Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 27–40, which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.Environmental practices of big businessThe environmental practices of big businesses are shaped by a fundamental fact that for many of us offends our sense of justice. Depending on the circumstances, a business may maximize the amount of money it makes, at least in the short term, by damaging the environment and hurting people. That is still the case today for fishermen in an unmanaged fishery without quotas, and for international logging companies with short-term leases on tropical rainforest land in places with corrupt officials and unsophisticated landowners. When government regulation is effective, and when the public is environmentally aware, environmentally clean big businesses may out-compete dirty ones, but the reverse is likely to be true if government regulation is ineffective and if the public doesn't care.It is easy for the rest of us to blame a business for helping itself by hurting other people. But blaming alone is unlikely to produce change. It ignores the fact that businesses are not charities but profit-making companies, and that publicly owned companies with shareholders are under obligation to those shareholders to maximize profits, provided that they do so by legal means. US laws make a company's directors legally liable for something termed 'breach of fiduciary responsibility' if they knowingly manage a company in a way that reduces profits. The car manufacturer Henry Ford was in fact successfully sued by shareholders in 1919 for raising the minimum wage of his workers to $5 per day: the courts declared that, while Ford's humanitarian sentiments about his employees were nice, his business existed to make profits for its stockholders.Our blaming of businesses also ignores the ultimate responsibility of the public for creating the conditions that let a business profit through destructive environmental policies. In the long run, it is the public, either directly or through its politicians, that has the power to make such destructive policies unprofitable and illegal, and to make sustainable environmental policies profitable.The public can do that by suing businesses for harming them, as happened after the Exxon Valdez disaster, in which over 40,000 m3 of oil were spilled off the coast of Alaska. The public may also make their opinion felt by preferring to buy sustainably harvested products; by making employees of companies with poor track records feel ashamed of their company and complain to their own management; by preferring their governments to award valuable contracts to businesses with a good environmental track record; and by pressing their governments to pass and enforce laws and regulations requiring good environmental practices.In turn, big businesses can exert powerful pressure on any suppliers that might ignore public or government pressure. For instance, after the US public became concerned about the spread of a disease known as BSE, which was transmitted to humans through infected meat, the USgovernment's Food and Drug Administration introduced rules demanding that the meat industry abandon practices associated with the risk of the disease spreading. But for five years the meat packers refused to follow these, claiming that they would be too expensive to obey. However, when a major fast-food company then made the same demands after customer purchases of its hamburgers plummeted, the meat industry complied within weeks. The public's task is therefore to identify which links in the supply chain are sensitive to public pressure: for instance, fast-food chains or jewelry stores, but not meat packers or gold miners.Some readers may be disappointed or outraged that I place the ultimate responsibility for business practices harming the public on the public itself. I also believe that the public must accept the necessity for higher prices for products to cover the added costs, if any, of sound environmental practices. My views may seem to ignore the belief that businesses should act in accordance with moral principles even if this leads to a reduction in their profits. But I think we have to recognize that, throughout human history, in all politically complex human societies, government regulation has arisen precisely because it was found that not only did moral principles need to be made explicit, they also needed to be enforced.To me, the conclusion that the public has the ultimate responsibility for the behavior of even the biggest businesses is empowering and hopeful, rather than disappointing. My conclusion is not a moralistic one about who is right or wrong, admirable or selfish, a good guy or a bad guy. In the past, businesses have changed when the public came to expect and require different behavior, to reward businesses for behavior that the public wanted, and to make things difficult for businesses practicing behaviors that the public didn't want. I predict that in the future, just as in the past, changes in public attitudes will be essential for changes in businesses' environmental practices. Questions 27-31Complete the summary using the list of words, A-J, below.Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.Big businessesMany big businesses today are prepared to harm people and the environment in order to make money, and they appear to have no 27………….. . Lack of 28………….. by governments and lack of public 29………….. can lead to environmental problems such as 30………….. or theChoose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in boxes 32-34 on your answer sheet.32 The main idea of the third paragraph is that environmental damageA requires political action if it is to be stopped.B is the result of ignorance on the part of the public.C could be prevented by the action of ordinary people.D can only be stopped by educating business leaders.33 In the fourth paragraph, the writer describes ways in which the public canA reduce their own individual impact on the environment.B learn more about the impact of business on the environment.C raise awareness of the effects of specific environmental disasters.D influence the environmental policies of businesses and governments.34 What pressure was exerted by big business in the case of the disease BSE?A Meat packers stopped supplying hamburgers to fast-food chains.B A fast-food company forced their meat suppliers to follow the law.C Meat packers persuaded the government to reduce their expenses.D A fast-food company encouraged the government to introduce legislation.Questions 35-39Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in Reading Passage 3?In boxes 35-39 on your answer sheet, writeYES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writerNO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writerNOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this32 The public should be prepared to fund good environmental practices.33 There is a contrast between the moral principles of different businesses.34 It is important to make a clear distinction between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.35 The public have successfully influenced businesses in the past.36 In the future, businesses will show more concern for the environment.Question 40Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.Write the correct letter in box 40 on your answer sheet.37 What would be the best subheading for this passage?A Will the world survive the threat caused by big businesses?B How can big businesses be encouraged to be less driven by profit?C What environmental dangers are caused by the greed of businesses?D Are big businesses to blame for the damage they cause the environment?参考答案1 water2 diet3 drought4 erosion5 desert6 (its/huarango/the) branches7 IN EITHER ORDER (BOTH REQUIRED FOR ONE MARK): leaves (and); bark8 (its/huarango/the) trunk9 NOT GIVEN10 FALSE11 TRUE12 FALSE13 NOT GIVEN14 NOT GIVEN15 FALSE16 TRUE17 FALSE18 FALSE19 TRUE20 words21 finger22 direction23 commands24 fires25 technology26 award27 D28 E29 F30H31B32 C33D34B35 YES36 NOT GIVEN37 NO38 YES39 NOT GIVEN40 D。