Great Activities for Nature Lovers
Hiking
One of the easiest and most accessible ways to get close to nature is by setting out on a good old fashioned hike. Hiking generally doesn't require any fancy equipment or special skills, just a piece of map and a thirst for adventure. This activity can be as relaxing as you make it.
Backcountry Camping
Why limit yourself to just a day hike when you can have a full weekend for a longer adventure? Backcountry camping involves packing your tent，sleeping gear ,food, and water on your back to set up camp in a remote location. I you’re an experienced hiker and camper ,this is an excellent way to test your survival skills and explore the wilderness.
Mountain and Road Biking
Unlike long hikes through the woods , biking allows you to cover more ground and travel farther in nature. Mountain biking typically involves riding up and down steep slopes , between trees , and over rocks. If this sounds too intense or your tires aren't suited for rugged terrain( 地形) , consider taking a road bike on paved trails through forest preserves or along country roads.
Gardening
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to travel beyond your own backyard to experience the beauty of nature every day. If your personality is less adventurous or your mobility restricted, consider planting a garden to grow your own vegetables , fruit , herbs，or flowers. There's something truly satisfying about mixing up a salad with fresh ingredients you grow yourself. One of the best parts about spending time in gardening is that it doesn't have to break your budget and anyone can do it.
1.W hat do hikers need for hiking?
A.Practical skills. B.Necessary equipment.
C.A useful map. D.A relaxed mood.
2.W hat's NOT the advantage of gardening according to the text?
A.You don't need to go far to enjoy the beauty of nature.
B.It gives you a sense of satisfaction when cooking with fresh ingredients.
C.It doesn't take any energy or money to do it.
D.I’s easy to start it for anyone who likes it.
3.Which of the following can take you to travel farthest?
A.Hiking. B.Backcountry Camping.
C.Mountain and Road Biking. D.Gardening.
Directions: Write an English composition in 120 - 150 words according to the instructions given below in Chinese.
同学们经历了十多年的课堂教学，也体验了两个多月的新型线上教学模式。两种教学模式各有特点。请表明你更偏爱哪种教学模式，并通过比较，阐述你偏爱的理由。
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Translate the following sentences into English, using the words given in the brackets.
1.应该高度重视对这种常见病的预防。(importance)
2.我们看似正常的行为也许会冒犯其他地方的人。(seem)
3.在科学家和医护人员共同努力下，治疗方法日趋完善，感染病毒的人数大幅下降。(so that)
4.短短两周，300多节精心设计的网课如期上线，并大受赞誉，这使他确信互联网将加速教学改革。(convince)
Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
High level of deforestation continues
We are all aware of the threats our planet is facing. Experts agree that it’s mainly us humans who are responsible for the destruction of the environment. One of the most destructive activities we are carrying out is cutting down forests - deforestation. This is done for many reasons, such as providing wood for fuel, making land available for housing or for crating space for more cattle to graze(吃草) on. This has been most noticeable in Brazil, which is home to the world’s largest rainforest. Deforestation there has hit its highest rate in a decade, according to official data. Over the course of a year, an area about five times the size of London has been destroyed.
The amount of deforestation in the Amazon and in other tropical(热带的) regions has actually seen a decline but the figures are still large. Global Forest Watch say that in 2018, an area equivalent to 30 football fields were cut down every minute. Frances Seymour from the World Resources Institute says that “If you look back over the last 18 years, it is clear that the overall trend is still upwards. We are nowhere near winning this battle.”
What’s special about places like the Amazon is that they are primary forests which exist in their original condition with some species of trees dating back thousands of years. This habitat is home to unique and rare animals and is critical for sustaining biodiversity(生物多样性). The BBC’s environment correspondent, Matt McGrath, says “These old forests really matter as stores of carbon dioxide, which is way the loss of 3.6 million hectares in 2018 is concerning.”
Brazil has taken some steps to try and decrease deforestation by introducing government policies including fines for breaking land use regulations and illegal logging. And International campaigns to stop the trade of soy and beef farmed on deforested parts of the Amazon have also had a significant impact.
Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.
Ecotourism can put wild animals at risk
Ecotourism has become increasingly popular in recent years. 1. There travelers visit natural environments to fund conservation efforts or promote local economies.
Now, scientists have analyzed more than 100 research studies on how ecotourism affects wild animals. They find the presence of humans changes the way animals behave, and those changes may put them at risk. Therefore, they concluded that such trips can be harmful to the animals.
When animals interact in seemingly kind ways with humans, they may let down their guard. 2.. If this transfers to their interactions with predators（捕食者）, they are more likely to be injured or killed.
The presence of humans can also discourage natural predators. It creates a kind of safe place for smaller animals that may make them bolder. For example, in Grand Teton National Park, elk and pronghorns in areas with more tourists are less alert and spend more time eating.
3. “If animals become accustomed to tourists and if tourism practices enhance this taming, we might create unintended consequences - affecting the behavior or population of a species and influencing the species’ function in its community,” the researchers write.
Ecotourism has effects similar to those of animal domestication and urbanization. Research has shown that domesticated silver foxes become more obedient and less fearful. Fox squirrels and birds that live in urbanized areas are slower to flee from danger. 4.
Scientists hope the new analysis will encourage more research into the interactions between people and wildlife. It is essential to develop further understanding of how various species in various situations respond to human interaction and under what conditions human exposure may place them at risk.
A.As animals learn to relax in the presence of humans, they may become bolder in other situations.
B.This massive amount of ecotourism can be one of the drivers of rapid environmental change.
C.The phenomena result from evolutionary changes, but also from regular interactions with humans.
D.Do not import or release living animals or plants into the wild that could harm native species.
E.In many cases it involves close interaction with wildlife.
F.Interacting with people can cause great change in the characteristics of various species over time.
Getting active in midlife could be as good for you as starting young when it comes to reducing the risk of an early death, researchers have suggested. But experts say the study also shows that the benefits fade once exercise declines.
“If you maintain an active lifestyle or participate in some sort of exercise from youth to middle age, you can reduce your risk for dying,” said Dr. Pedro Saint-Maurice, the lead author of the research. “If you are not active and you get to your 40s - 50s and you decide to become active, you can still enjoy a lot of those benefits.”
The study was based on data from more than 300,000 Americans aged 50 - 71 who undertook a questionnaire(问卷) in the late-1990s. They were asked to recall the extent of their moderate to vigorous leisure exercise at different stages of their life. Researchers then used national records to track who died in the years up to the end of 2016. After taking into account factors including age, sex, smoking and diet, the team found that those who were exercising into middle age had a lower risk of death than those who had never carried out any leisure exercise. However, when the team looked at different patterns in the way people were active over their life, it found a surprise.
Men and women who started exercising at the age of 40 - 50 reduced their risk of death from any cause by about 35%. The benefit was similar to that seen for people who reached and maintained similar activity from their teens or 20s onwards.
However, the study found that the protective effect of exercise did not last forever. People whose levels of leisure exercise decreased by middle age had no difference in the risk of an early death to those who had always been couch potatoes. “If you have been active and you slowly decrease your exercise participation as you age, you lose a lot of the benefits that we know are associated with exercise,” Saint - Maurice said.
But the study has limitations, including that it is based on individuals recalling how active they were many years before. What’s more, the research looked only at death records, not other aspects of health such as levels of sickness and disease. Nonetheless, he said, the message was positive. “This adds to the growing body of evidence about the importance of physical activity and exercise across he life course, and indicates that it is never too late to start.”
1.Which of the following is TRUE about the study?
A.The study took about two decades to complete.
B.The study involved around 30,000 elderly Americans.
C.Questionnaires and interviews were the sources of data.
D.The participants in the study took regular physical exercise.
2.According to the passage, what does “a surprise” (Para.3) refer to?
A.The earlier you exercise, the greater your health benefits will be.
B.Participating in exercise from youth to middle age benefits one’s health greatly.
C.The benefit of getting active in midlife is similar to that of starting young.
D.The benefits of exercising in midlife will decline once you stop exercising.
3.It can be inferred from the passage that _________.
A.an active lifestyle will not necessarily bring positive health benefits.
B.participants’ memories may affect the reliability of the study result
C.people exercising from their teens can maintain health forever
D.women benefit more from vigorous exercise than men do
4.Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?
A.Exercise has its limitations, studies show
B.Getting active when young, experts suggest
C.Health benefits fade with age, doctors warn
D.Never too old to start, researchers say
