World Wildlife Day
Celebrated annually on March 3rd, World Wildlife Day is a holiday that not only celebrates the diversity of the world's wild animals and plants but also raises awareness about the dangers they face due to human activities. Wildlife today faces many different challenges, which include, but are not limited to, loss of habitat, industrialized farming and commercial development. 1.
While extinction is a natural phenomenon, many scientists estimate that we are losing around 10,000 times the number of animals that are naturally caused by extinction. 2. As many as half of all current species may be extinct by the mid-21st century.
Proposed by Thailand at a United Nations General Assembly, World Wildlife Day was established as an international holiday on December 20th, 2013. 3. That is the day on which the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted.
Since World Wildlife Day is a U.N. sanctioned(认可的)observance day and not a public holiday, then schools, businesses, and government buildings are not closed on this day — if it falls during normal operation hours. 4. There are usually all different kinds of seminars and presentations highlighting the plight(困境)of the world's wildlife. Activities are held to help raise money for the rangers involved with the protection of endangered animals so they can buy new equipment. 5.
A.However, it is celebrated in a variety of different ways.
B.It was decided that it would be celebrated on March 3rd.
C.You can celebrate World Wildlife Day on your own or with others.
D.This means that dozens of species are going extinct every single day.
E.At that time hundreds of endangered species were being endangered every year.
F.There are also a number of other charity drives to raise money for endangered animals.
G.Illegal trade in animal hides, tusks or fur also brings significant risks to several species including tigers, rhinos, and elephants.
Flying has shrunk the world! It's now possible to travel around the globe quickly and easily. Jumping on a plane and jetting off on holiday or a business trip is the norm for many of us, and with the rise of budget airlines, the number of people taking to the skies is increasing. But while air travel is costing us less, the cost to the environment is going up.
Climate change is something we're all aware of now, and aviation (航空)companies know that some of the blame for this is being pointed at them.
While we could think twice about taking a flight in the first place, particularly a short-haul trip that could be made by train, technology might be the answer to reducing emissions and minimising the environmental damage.
Recent developments have focused on reducing the amount of fuel airliners bum. Making flying green and sustainable was the hot topic at the recent Dubai Air Show. There was talk of advances in engine technology, making them more efficient, and possibly using bio-fuel to power aircraft.
Alejandro Rios Galvan, a bio-energy professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, told the BBC that "these have the capacity to reduce the carbon footprint anywhere between 50-80 percent when you compare them to fossil fuels."
Phil Curnock, chief engineer of the civil future programme at Rolls-Royce, also suggested that electric hybrid engines could play a part for smaller aircraft, covering shorter distances, which offers the possibility of a carbon-neutral flight for a limited range.
Of course, aircraft manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to make their planes more fuel efficient. Boeing's Dreamliner, for example, is already in operation and uses 25 percent less fuel per passenger compared with aircraft of a similar size. Other improvements include better aircraft aerodynamics (空气动力),changes to ways aircraft taxi on runways, and the use of lighter materials.
If we can't kick the flying habit, it seems these are the developments we need to make in order to ensure air travel is as green as possible. But aviation experts agree it’s going to take time.
1.What idea was presented in the recent Dubai Air Show?
A.Reducing budget airlines globally.
B.Replacing fossil fuels with bio-fuels.
C.Employing hybrid engines in aircraft.
D.Reducing carbon footprint via technology.
2.Why did the author mention Boeing's Dreamliner?
A.To show improvements in reducing fuel airliners bum.
B.To compare different aircraft of a similar size.
C.To prove the efficient use of lighter materials.
D.To inform the readers of an advanced aircraft.
3.Which is practical for us to do according to the text?
A.Cut down on our travel by plane.
B.Ensure our own air travel is green.
C.Look forward to technological development.
D.Call on aviation companies to reduce emissions.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A.Making flying greener for the environment.
B.Reducing the carbon footprint anywhere.
C.Blaming aviation companies for pollution.
D.Seeking answers to technological problems.
I had always heard that North Americans value independence, and that Europeans value, togetherness. But I never fully understood it until 2 months ago, when I left my Ph.D. lab in Canada for a 4-month research in a lab in France. On my first day, Pierre — a Ph.D. student whose desk is across from mine — tapped me on the shoulder and asked: "Coffee?" I nodded and followed him down the hallway to the common room, where other grad students were filing in. I sat there, cautiously sipping the bitter liquid five times stronger than my normal Americano and trying hard not to reveal my uncultured tastes, while lab chatter（闲聊）filled the air.
Coffee breaks are a routine part of work life here. The chatter sometimes turns to serious scientific topics. But mostly, the meetups offer a chance to unwind — to share stories about life inside and outside the lab and to connect with people who understand what you're going through.
The lighthearted atmosphere and sense of community is a welcome contrast to my life in Canada, where I spent most of my workdays all alone. I went into the lab each morning with set goals for my day. At lunch, I'd keep my eyes glued to my computer while I shoveled（大量送入）forkfuls of salad into my mouth, trying to power through my to-do list.
Our lab held weekly meetings where we'd take turns presenting our latest, work and getting feedback from colleagues. But we didn't take daily coffee breaks. My labmates and I were too busy collecting data and publishing papers.
Looking back now, I realize how much we were missing. Researchers need community because good ideas don't just come from reading literature and thinking deep thoughts; it's helpful to bounce ideas off others, particularly in a nonthreatening environment. It's also helpful to have a spot to share the day-to-day ups and downs of life as a grad student. How else are you supposed to know that you're not the only one suffering from challenges like anxiety?
1.What can we learn about the author from the first paragraph?
A.He has a European dependent personality.
B.He was ill at ease in the new environment.
C.He was ashamed of his uncultured background.
D.He is too vain to work with other grad students.
2.The author takes coffee breaks as a way to .
A.break away from his work life in Canada.
B.get involved in serious scientific topics.
C.relax and exchange ideas with people.
D.collecting data from his colleagues.
3.Which of the following best describes the authors work life in Canada?
A.Demanding but satisfactory.
B.Impersonal but efficient.
C.Challenging and tiresome.
D.Stressful and independent.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Why Scientists Should Take Coffee breaks?
B.Coffee Inspires Creativity in Scientists
C.Lighthearted Atmosphere Counts
D.North American Life VS. European Life
Our emotions can vary considerably depending on many factors, including our health, wealth, relationships and where we live. But sometimes we need to take a step back and think about what happiness really means and how we can find it.
Maybe we should take a leaf out of Finland's book — last year the UN's World Happiness Report found the country to be the happiest place on earth. The report looked at "subjective well-being". That's how happy people feel they are and why — based on factors such as economic strength, social support, life expectancy, freedom of choice and generosity.
Research has also suggested that while personal feelings of pleasure are the accepted definition of happiness in Western cultures, East Asian cultures tend to see happiness as social harmony, and in some parts of Africa and India it's more about shared experiences and family.
Author Helen Russell has been looking at the positive characteristics of a country's population to see what makes them happy and found Japan to be one of the most content. She said this was due to their concept of wabi-sabi —"This traditional Japanese concept around celebrating imperfection... it's this idea that there is a beauty in ageing, it's to be celebrated rather than trying to disguise it." So, basically, we should be happy with who we are and rejoice in our faults and individuality.
But if you're feeling down in the dumps because your home country doesn't have a happiness concept to follow, consider some self-help ideas which include being virtuous, finding something to be passionate about, enjoying the here and now and being altruistic — helping others. However, our pursuit of happiness could make us miserable as we try to meet society's expectations and goals, making us anxious and stressed. Also, having too little experience of negative emotions can make us less adept (熟练的)at facing new challenges.
1.What is happiness in East Asian cultures?
A.Personal pleasure. B.Harmony of society.
C.Subjective well-being. D.Shared experiences and family.
2.What does the underlined word "rejoice" in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.Be restless. B.Be tolerant.
C.Be delighted. D.Be ashamed.
3.What is the author's advice in the last paragraph?
A.Setting up a happiness concept of your home country.
B.Giving others in need a helping hand unselfishly.
C.Thinking twice about accepting new challenges.
D.Sticking to meeting society's expectations.
4.What is this text most likely from?
A.A diary. B.A guidebook.
C.A novel. D.A magazine.
In May 2020, on the occasion of the 73rd World Health Assembly, WHO will host the first-ever Health for All Film Festival in Geneva.
Whether you are an amateur filmmaker seeking to tell the story of change-makers in your community through the lens of your smart phone or you're working with a production company to promote dialogue around global health challenges and solutions, WHO wants to see your story.
Filmmakers are invited to submit a short video for one of the following 3 categories.
CATEGORY 1: Video reports （3-8 minutes long）
Video reports showing human-interest stories about health from individuals, communities, and/or healthcare workers navigating a local or global health challenge, championing solutions, or driving change.
CATEGORY 2: Animation videos （1-5 minutes long）
Animation videos that include challenges and solutions to achieving health and well-being for all, or to educate about a health issue.
CATEGORY 3: Videos about nurses and midwives （3-8 minutes long）
Any audiovisual narration style will be accepted for this special theme for the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife in 2020.
Eligibility criteria （合格标准）
Only films completed between 1 January 2017 and 30 January 2020 are qualified to participate in this festival. Closing date for entries is 30 January 2020.
The video can be submitted in any language. If the video is not in English, it must contain English subtitles.
Submit the video via your Facebook account, Google account, or email.
Awards
Maximum 15 videos per category will be selected for the Health for All Film Festival. The list of selected videos will be announced in March 2020 and the selections screened in Geneva in May.
An independent jury will nominate （提名）a winner in each category, and there will be a special prize for videos made by students.
1.Which video is suitable for the festival?
A.A 5-minute video about nurses and midwives.
B.An 8-minute animation video about a health issue.
C.A 4-minute video report about a health challenge.
D.A 6-minute video about a human-interest story
2.To enter for the festival, the video should be submitted .
A.by mail B.in English
C.with subtitles D.before 30 Jan. 2020
3.How many prizes will be awarded?
A.3 B.4
C.15 D.45
由于疫情（Covid-19）原因，你所在国际学校原定下周举行的生命科学周将改为网上进行。你受学生会委托写一则英文通知，内容包括：
1.变更原因；
2.具体活动；
3.期待参与。
注意：
1. 词数100左右：
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Notice
May 18, 2020
Life Science Week
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The Student’s Union
