Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize in no more than 60 words the main idea of the passage and how it is illustrated. Use your own words as far as possible.
Since the dawn of civilization, crop diversity has always been holding an important position as the foundation of agriculture. Food plants have been domesticated, selected, exchanged, and improved by farmers in traditional ways, within traditional production systems. This process has been hugely accelerated and focused by scientific crop improvement, leading to the steady rise in yields since the 1960s. Half of the increase in food production globally can be attributed to genetic improvement.
But experts say the number of crops has decreased sharply during the past century. One of the world’s largest seed conservation projects has predicted further losses. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is warning that up to one hundred thousand plant species could permanently disappear. The rich collection of genes that decide their qualities would disappear with them.
Many experts blame climate change for damaging plant life. Rising temperatures, changing seasonal patterns and increasing frequency of extreme weather events are the invisible hand behind the great reduction. Others say human activities and poorly planned, overly heavy use of land also are responsible. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says modern business farming is responsible for loss of farmers’ traditional crop varieties. Though the use of modern commercial farming methods saved millions of people from starvation, some traditional crops were lost during the process.
More recently, the UN Sustainable Development Goals have called for global efforts to highlight the protection and revival of crop diversity as an important means to ensure that crop diversity is conserved and made available for food and nutritional security to feed the increasing population of our planet. On top of the agenda is to maintain the genetic diversity of seeds and cultivated plants through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels. Equally important, more government funds be channeled into rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in less developed countries.
Directions: Complete the following passage by using the sentences given below. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
Climate change is changing the flavor of French wine
Records going back 700 years show that Burgundy’s wine grapes have been feeling the heat of the past three decades.
The summer of 1540 was burning hot in the vine-covered hills of Burgundy, France—so hot as to be “almost unbearable,” according to one written account from the time. 1. In the Alps, glaciers melted, their snouts retreating up steep-sided valleys. Fires burned from France to Poland. And in the wine country of central France, the grapes withered to raisins (葡萄干) on the vine, so sugary the wine made from them was syrupy and extra-alcoholic.
2. the look of the vines before they bud; the look of the vines as they mature over long seasons; and the fat, sugary, fragrant curve of the grapes when they’re ready to be made into wine. Normally, winemakers harvested grapes at the very end of September or early October. But that year, they had to rush to get overripe grapes off the vine weeks earlier than usual.
Now, a nearly 700-year-long record of harvest shows that early harvest dates like the one from 1540 are now par for the course, thanks to climate change. 3. “We can clearly see the reaction of the grapes to the rise in temperature,” says Thomas Labbé, an historian at the University of Burgundy. “We can predict, using modeling, the harvest will occur around about the 15th of August, in the core of summer.”
4. Already, as temperatures worldwide have warmed, the alcohol content of wines has bumped up from about 12 percent in the 1970s to about 14 percent today, though that number varies from region to region. Part of that, though, is winemaker preference, part of it is because grapes are maturing faster in the heat. The more sugar they accumulate, the more of it is converted to alcohol during the winemaking process.
A. Though the kind of heat hasn’t settled into Burgundy yet, it’s probably coming.
B. Winemakers have kept careful track of the harvest dates for centuries.
C. That will almost certainly affect the way wines taste and feel, and how strong they are.
D. In fact, it was hot all across Europe that year.
E. The subtle feel resulting from more alcoholic wine is not favored.
F. Winemakers know the growth stages intimately.
There’s more fresh water hidden below Earth’s surface in underground aquifers (含水层) than any other source besides the ice sheets. That groundwater earns an unshakably important place for rivers worldwide, keeping them running even when droughts bring their waters low.
But in recent decades humans have pumped trillions of gallons out of those underground reservoirs. In a new research, water experts and scientists are taking a global look at where groundwater is already being extracted at such a rate that it has caused water levels to drop so much in rivers and streams that they will slip into the ecological danger zone.
Much of that water is being removed much faster than it can be refilled. That has enormous potential consequences for people and crops in areas that don’t get enough rain. But far before those impacts emerge, the effects will fiercely hit rivers, streams, and the habitats around them. Hundreds of rivers and streams around the world would become so water-stressed that the entire ecological system would hit a danger point, says Inge de Graaf, the lead author of the research. “We can really consider this ecological effect like a ticking time bomb,” she says. “If we pump the groundwater now, we don’t see the impacts until like 10 years further or even longer.”
But the severity of the impacts might still be underestimated. As a baseline, they used the global water demand in 2010 and spun their climate model forward to predict how stresses on groundwater systems might develop. But as populations swell and the demand for food rises, those stresses could skyrocket for reasons other than climate change, speeding along the extraction from underground water sources.
The effects of over-pumping groundwater take years, if not decades, to become visible. Changes in rain have immediate, obvious effects on river flow. When it pours, rivers often rage. But groundwater is hidden and changes don’t always manifest in the place where the pumping occurs and are programmed to “wait for the perfect moment”. That makes aquifer management issues extra challenging. In the meantime, rivers and streams are the signal that says we’re using water in an unsustainable fashion, we need to take a hard look at what we’re doing.”.
1.The underground water is of critical importance to rivers due to the fact that ________.
A.it helps to maintain the same water level of rivers
B.it stops the running of rivers during dry spells
C.it leaves rivers drying out due to droughts
D.it ensures the flow of rivers throughout the year
2.The phrase “slip into the ecological danger zone” (in the second paragraph) suggests that ________.
A.it is thrilling to explore the ecological danger zone
B.pumping underground water is convenient though dangerous
C.the underground water level has dropped to an alarming level
D.the constant drop of water level prevents people feeling secure
3.Why does the author say “the severity of the impacts might still be underestimated” (in the fourth paragraph)?
A.Because the water demand data in 2010 was not accurate.
B.Because the water demand has soared ever since 2010.
C.Because the water demand was not stressful in 2010.
D.Because the water demand prediction didn’t consider climate change.
4.Over-pumping groundwater doesn’t show immediate effect because _________.
A.the changes are waiting for a heavy rain
B.underground water is used sustainably
C.the changes take longer to come to light
D.underground water is inexhaustible
FitQuest 2000 Price: $199 Available: Most large department stores.
The following is a consumer report published in Fitness Journal
The FitQuest 2000 turned out to be a great little home gym. It was not the most expensive, nor did it offer the most options, but it was fast, easy to use, and left me feeling like I’d had a real workout. The first pleasant surprise was opening the box to find it fully assembled. The FitQuest easily unpacked and unfolded, and within 10 minutes, I was working out! The machine is fast. The only adjustments between exercises are to the incline and the cables, and are simple and easy to accomplish. Bottom line: If you can’t join a gym, this is a good alternative. | |
FITQUEST 2000 | 5-Year Limited Warranty If your FitQuest 2000 fails structurally during normal usage, we will repair or replace it without charge to you. Parts, cables, and labor are included. This warranty is not transferable and does not cover the failure of FitQuest 2000 machines used commercially or for institutional purposes. The warranty excludes failure caused by unreasonable or abusive use or failure to provide reasonable and necessary care and maintenance. Please consult the User’s Manual for maintenance and care instructions. FitQuest Inc. shall not be liable for shipping or packaging charges to or from the factory for returned items. To obtain service, contact the FitQuest Customer Service Department at the number provided in the User’s Guide. Money Back Guarantee All FitQuest products come with a 30-day all money back guarantee. Returns should be made in the original box. Please include a copy of the original sales receipt with the date of purchase clearly marked. Make sure that all parts are returned with the machine. Please attach a letter detailing any damage. It is requested that you also provide an explanation of why you were dissatisfied with the machine, which is optional and will be used by FitQuest only to improve our products. |
1.According to the Consumer Report, the FitQuest 2000 is an ideal model for potential users because ________.
A.it boasts far more workout options than similar models
B.it takes less than 10 minutes to assemble and unpack
C.it proves really convenient to operate and adjust
D.it outperforms any gym models though a lot cheaper
2.The FitQuest 2000 warranty does not include ________.
A.machines which have a manufacturing defect
B.machines that fail structurally during normal usage
C.shipping or packaging charges for returned items
D.fees paid to workers for their repair work
3.A customer can still get full refunds if he doesn’t ________.
A.return the machine within 30 days after purchase
B.pack the machine in the original box
C.enclose a clear copy of the original sales receipt
D.justify his dissatisfaction with the machine
4.The article is mainly written to ________.
A.persuade the readers of the machine’s good value for money
B.courage the readers to find out more about fitness
C.convince the readers to subscribe to the Fitness Journal magazine
D.discourage the readers from working out in the gyms
FIRE plays an important role in maintaining woodland ecosystems but fire introduced to undergrowth too often destroys too much; as humans remain the leading cause of wildfire, the responsibility to minimize the damage done falls on our shoulders. Here are four man-made fires that highlight the mission to fight fire and help to replant the world’s forests to counter the effects of deforestation.
Heilongjiang Fire—China, 1987
One of the largest fires ever to occur in history, the Heilongiiang Fire devoured three million acres of forest in the Greater Khingan Range. Reports attributed the fire’s easy spread to dry conditions in the area-but it was excessive logging activity without any effort to let the forest regrow that really let it rage unhindered. 34,000 soldiers were deployed to put the fire out, and 33,000 people were left homeless.
Wallow Fire—USA, 2011
Still the largest wildfire in Arizona’s history, Wallow got its name when two men accidentally started it while camping in the Bear Wallow Wilderness. Their campfire blew out of control and burned through over half a million acres of land, costing $72 million to extinguish, and a further $37 million to clean up and rebuild after the damage. More than 6,000 people had to be evacuated.
Uttarakhand fires—India, 2016
Throughout the year, man-made fires plagued the pine forests of the Uttarakhand Region. Widespread media coverage eventually spurred the government on to intervene, sending Indian Air Force helicopters to put them out. It’s suspected that these increased numbers could be the result of honey or seed collectors trying to frighten off animals.
Brandenburg Fire—Germany, 2018
Largely thanks to longer, dryer summers than usual—the forested area of Brandenburg, Germany, caught alight. Results of investigation suggested that evidence pointed to arson (纵火). Brandenburg lost nearly 1,000 acres of its forested land and three nearby villages had to be evacuated. A choking, smoky haze drifted twelve miles to Berlin, causing residents to have to shut themselves in their home.
1.The underlined word “counter” in the first paragraph has the closest meaning to ________.
A.reverse B.multiply
C.achieve D.enhance
2.Which of the following is true about the four fires?
A.The dry condition of the Greater Khingan Range was mainly responsible for the rage of Heilongjiang Fire.
B.A total of $72 million was poured in putting out the Wallow Fire alone.
C.Uttarakhand fires claimed so many lives that Air Force helicopters came to the rescue.
D.Excessive heat from the Brandenburg Fire confined the residents nearby to their homes.
3.The most suitable title for this passage might be ________.
A.hot weather setting the globe on fire
B.forest blazes caused by human hands
C.forest fires consuming people and money
D.uncontained forest fires raging worldwide
India announced a complete ban on the sale of all e-cigarettes, saying the products posed a health risk, especially to young people.
Some 35 million people around the world are believed to be using e-cigarettes or the newer heat-not-burn products. They are popular among smokers in many places who are trying to kick the habit, as they _________ the urge for nicotine while removing exposure to the tar and toxins of burned tobacco. These novel _________ come with attractive appearances and multiple flavors and their use has increased enormously and has _________ epidemic proportions in developed countries, especially among youth and children.
Unfortunately, though e-cigarettes got promoted _________ as a way in which people can get out of the habit of smoking cigarettes, many people worry they’re _________ new addictions to nicotine, particularly among young people.
“It is time that we immediately made a decision so that the health of our citizens, of our young, is not _________ to a risk, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting. Sitharaman said the outbreak of lung injuries associated with e-cigarettes had added to local _________ about the impact of e-cigarettes on people’s health. Hundreds of people are being _________ for lung illness in 36 US states and researchers are investigating if those illnesses are related to the use of e-cigarettes. _________, an emergency ordinance (法令) banning the use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) will be __________ in the coming days. The ordinance will be taken up during the next session of Parliament and converted into law.
Sitharaman added that the ban would __________ e-cigarette production, manufacturing, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement. It includes all forms of ENDS, heat-not-burn products and e-hookah devices, according to a press release. People who __________ the ban once could face up to one year in prison or a fine of 100,000 rupees ($1,400) or both. __________ e-cigarettes would also be punishable with up to six months in prison and a 50,000-rupee ($700) fine.
The nationwide __________ came after almost a dozen Indian states had taken similar action. Vendors with existing stock will have to declare and deposit their __________ e-cigarettes and cartridges at the nearest police station, the statement added.
1.A.resist B.satisfy C.desire D.survive
2.A.bans B.devices C.risks D.sales
3.A.elevated B.reserved C.acquired D.deprived
4.A.sensibly B.initially C.accidentally D.reliably
5.A.polishing B.paving C.rejecting D.creating
6.A.thrown B.addicted C.accustomed D.entitled
7.A.passions B.charged C.requests D.concerns
8.A.secured B.charged C.treated D.granted
9.A.Currently B.Accordingly C.Lately D.Previously
10.A.issued B.relieved C.realized D.approached
11.A.bridge B.liberate C.disclose D.cover
12.A.violate B.regulate C.lift D.disapprove
13.A.Banning B.Smoking C.Storing D.Refusing
14.A.option B.move C.applause D.rescue
15.A.expensive B.scarce C.remaining D.fake
