A device called a TreeTalker is providing information about trees to people who oversee forests and woodlands. The device aims to measure the growth and general health of trees.
Scientists say forests are important because they absorb, or take in, carbon dioxide, one of the gases released by burning oil and other fossil fuels. It is a heat-trapping gas and has been linked to a general warming in the Earth's atmosphere.
The world is at a historic period for climate change because the scientific world is on guard. Many scientists say “Be careful, the ecosystem of the forests is not able anymore, as it was before, to absorb all this carbon dioxide.” Rising temperatures are placing forests under increased stress. Harmful insects and diseases are becoming more of a threat to trees. This is bad for the environment.
The TreeTalker devices serve as an early warning system for people overseeing forests. TreeTalker turns eco-physiological signals, such as growth, absorption of carbon dioxide, liquid flow from roots to leaves, into scientific information. This can help show if a tree is under attack from insects or other organisms. The TreeTalker sends its information to forest managers.
The TreeTalker device transmits data via radio and it can transmit data actually a very long distance, up to one kilometer. The information lets forestry officials take action immediately to control threats. The TreeTalker is able to measure the width of the bottom of a tree. Timber industry workers can use this information to know how much wood they are growing compared to how much they are harvesting. Another goal is to give scientists the information they need to understand how climate affects forests and the part trees play in a healthy environment.
About 300 TreeTalker devices are being tested in Italy and other countries, such as China and Russia. Another 1,700 devices are expected to be tested worldwide this year.
1.What was the TreeTalker device used for?
A.Providing information of forests change.
B.Absorbing carbon dioxide.
C.Controlling threats from nature.
D.Helping the growth and health of trees.
2.Which of the following threats to forests is the most severe?
A.Harmful insects and diseases. B.Forest managers.
C.Carbon dioxide. D.Timber industry workers.
3.What does the underlined word “This” in paragraph 4 refer to?
A.The information of an early warning system.
B.The information on the absorption of carbon dioxide.
C.The information of eco-physiological signals.
D.The information to the forest managers.
4.What’s the author’s attitude towards the TreeTalker device?
A.Promising. B.Alarming.
C.Doubting. D.Understanding.
An extraordinary new restaurant in Semarang, Indonesia is on a mission (使命) to support locals trapped in poverty, many of whom are earning less than $25 a month, by providing them with an alternative way to pay for their food.
The Methane Gas Canteen, run by husband and wife team Sarimin and Suyatmi, is located in an unexpected place for an eatery — Jatibarang Landfill. The landfill is a mountain of purifying waste, where poor locals spend their days collecting plastic and glass to sell. Meanwhile, the couple, who spent 40 years collecting waste before opening the restaurant, is busy cooking.
What makes the restaurant unusual, aside from its location, is that no cash is required to pay for meals. Poor people have the option to pay for their food with recyclable waste instead of cash. Sarimin weighs the plastic customers bring in, calculates its worth, and then deduct that value from the cost of the meal, giving any extra value back to the customer. The scheme is part of the community’s solution to reduce waste in the landfill and recycle non-degradable plastics.
“I think we recycle 1 ton of plastic waste a day, which is a lot. This way, the plastic waste doesn’t pile up, drift down the river and cause flooding,” said Sarimin in an interview with Channel News Asia. “It benefits everyone.”
The restaurant seats about 30 people and serves meals that cost between $0.40 and $0.80 each. Since opening the canteen Sarimin and Suyatmi have seen their daily income more than double to $15 a day.
“I’m happy to see our customers enjoying their meals,” Sarimin told NHK World. “The poor must also have the right to enjoy healthy eating. I want to give them that chance as much as possible.”
1.What do we know about Jatibarang Landfill?
A.An unusual restaurant for people to eat free meals.
B.A mountain where the locals live on selling waste.
C.A place where poor locals collect waste to sell.
D.A plant where waste is recycled.
2.Why did Sarimin and Suyatmi open their restaurant?
A.To double their daily income and profit.
B.To prove waste is a valuable thing.
C.To provide food for locals trying to survive.
D.To help settle the issues of poverty and trash.
3.What does the underlined word “deduct” in paragraph 3 mean?
A.Increase B.Replace
C.Remove D.Equal
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.An unusual way to pay for meals.
B.A local mission to help get rid of poverty.
C.A different scheme to reduce waste.
D.A new restaurant getting double income.
On August 5 just after 7.30 pm, Mike Estepa suffered a massive heart attack. The crazy cyclist was 40 kilometres into his Sunday ride when he stopped by the side of the road to text his family saying he’d be home in about 30 minutes. Moments later, he was lying in the ditch, unconscious.
Larissa Arthur was driving back to Calgary from a hike in Field, B. C. with a friend. It was a warm and sunny day, and the two were chatting when a flush of yellow caught Arthur's eyes, She immediately pulled off the road.
As Arthur approached the figure. she feared the worst: Estepa was covered in ants and exhibited no signs of life. There was no pulse and he wasn't breathing." says Arthur. A bystander called 911 and Arthur, a registered nurse, started chest compressions. She and two other drivers took turns carrying out CPR for the next 15 minutes before medical teams arrived and whisked Estepa away.
Two days later, when Estepa woke up in the hospital, he was shocked to learn he had gone into cardiac arrest (心脏骤停). How did this happen, and ,why was he lucky enough to have survived? He was full of gratitude and needed to speak with the woman who had saved him, whom he named his "angel” .
“It was emotional,” says Arthur of her meeting with Estepa a few weeks later. Saving his life had extra importance for her: the bike she was returning from that day was one of 100 she's planned to honour her father, who died in 2017 after he fell during a hike that Arthur was meant to be on. "I couldn't save my father's life." Arthur says, "but this was a chance for me to save someone. "
1.Why did Mike Estepn stop while riding?
A. He suffered a heart attack. B. He wanted to send a message.
C. He would like to lie in the ditch. D. He was too far away from his home.
2.What do we know about Arthur?
A. She was an amateur nurse. B. She was scared of ants.
C. She knew how to do CPR. D. She went cycling with a friend.
3.What did Arthur think of her saving Estepa?
A. Grateful. B. Lucky.
C. Significant D. Natural.
4.What's the best title of the text?
A. A Miracle to Return to Life B. An Angel on the Roadside
C. A Risky Cycling Alone D. A Chance to Save Life
Welcome to enjoy the weekend and learn the outdoor skills you’ve always wanted to master!
Participants must be 10 and up. (17 and under must be accompanied by a registered adult.)
We offer various classes including archery, basic camping, cold weather survival, map and compass and more. Here are details just for four of them:
Archery:
Participants will be introduced to natural archery shooting techniques and will have the opportunity to improve their shooting skills through instructor guidance. Participants should wear appropriate shoes (hiking shoes or boots are best). If you have your own bow /arrows, you're more than welcome to bring it/them to the class for use.
Basic Camping:
If you'd like to try camping but are unsure where to start, this is the class for you! Here you can learn the basic skills and how to select necessary equipment needed for a simple outing.
Cold Weather Survival:
During a survival situation, cold weather can rob you of the ability to think clearly and weaken your will to survive. You’ll learn invaluable skills, proper planning and how to select appropriate equipment needed to better prepare yourself for surviving.
Map and Compass:
Do you know how to use a map and compass to navigate(导航) to a destination? This course covers the basics of map and compass navigation such as what's on a map or compass, determining distances and following a path of travel. After a short overview of skills the class will be outside for “hands-on” navigation in a woodland setting.
COST:
$155. Price includes meals, lodging, and instruction for the entire weekend.
SCHEDULE:
Friday 4:00-5:00 pm check-in 5:30-6:30 dinner 7:00-7:30 opening ceremony 8:00-9:30 evening activities | Saturday 7:00-7:45 am breakfast 8:00-11:45 session 1 12:00-1:00 lunch 1:15-5:00 session 2 drop-in activities 6:00-7:00 dinner | Sunday 7:00-7:45 am breakfast 8:00-11:45 session 3 12:00 lunch/evaluation & departure |
1.What is required of the participants?
A.Attending at least four classes. B.Staying together with an adult.
C.Paying 155 dollars for meals. D.Reaching ten years old.
2.Which class encourages participants to bring their own equipment?
A.Archery. B.Basic Camping.
C.Cold Weather Survival. D.Map and Compass.
3.What is scheduled as the last activity?
A.Carrying out a questionnaire.
B.Joining in the evening activities.
C.Holding the closing meeting after lunch.
D.Making assessments about what was learned.
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
The first week of my summer vacation was exciting, and my sense of freedom was so intense that it felt like I had to pack everything into that single week. The next week was a little calmer, But by the third week my two best friends had left for summer camp and my activities Wound down into boredom, Getting up later catch morning, I was spending more and more time with my cellphone and in front of the TV, That is when Mom reacted, declaring my phone and the TV off limits between 6:00 in the morning and 6:00 at night, It was shocking just to hear her say it.
In that first hour I felt I'd lost my senses of sight and hearing; The silence was numbing. I circled the house, going from room to room looking for something to do, asking myself what I can do? What can I do? What can I do? When I encountered Mom in the kitchen, I asked her, too, “What can I do?"
"That's up to you," she said without looking in my direction. Through the day I posed my question to her several more times, getting much the same result. Then late in the afternoon, while she was working at her computer, I dared to ask again. Instantly she swung around to look at me, and I could see that my question had a definite effect on her expression. She looked as though she had been shocked. Her jaws clenched, like she was holding her words between her teeth as they struggled to get out. She looked me straight in the eye, then smiled and said, “Well，are you up for a challenge?”
"Sure what?"
"Your challenge is to follow the same ant for ten minutes,”
"What is so tough about that?"
She smiled again. "You might be surprised."
Sometime later Mom stood beside me, timer(计时器) in hand. “I'll set the timer for ten minutes when you find your winning ant."
注意:
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右：
2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Para l:
Some of the ants I saw seemed to be eating something.
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Para 2:
I heard Mom's timer ring and then “You win, sweetie,' she said.
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假定你是李华，英国姐妹学校的Wendy同学来信，表示到访期间想参加你校的升旗仪式(flag-raising ceremony)，并询问相关信息。请你回信，内容包括：
1．表示欢迎；
2. 仪式的时间、地点；
3．仪式的意义。
注意:1、词数80左右；
2、可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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