More than 40% of the insects around us could become extinct in next few decades. Simultaneously, the population of the adaptable and general species like that of houseflies, cockroaches and fleas is likely to bloom.
Although some species of insects are vectors (带菌者)of serious diseases, or others destroy crop, but a world without insects is inconceivable. Their importance in interconnected ecosystems and food chains can never be undermined. Insects have essential roles in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems as herbivores, carnivores and decomposers.
There are 17 times as many insects as humans, and these numbers are essential for proper functioning of all ecosystems. Insects are responsible for pollinating around 75% of the crops in the world and also serve as food for other creatures. They replenish soils and keep the number of pests in check.
The primary cause of this extinction is loss of habitat. Be it the grasslands or wetlands, everything is vanishing in man's quest towards intensive agriculture and urbanization.
Another cause of this decline is the excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers and introduced invasive species. As if this wasn't enough, climate change and pollution of all sorts have already started worsening their lives. Climate change may also cause emergence of new pests and other vector-borne insects.
The biggest threat of Insect Armageddon comes from Germany, where 75% of insect population have declined in just 30 years and from Puerto Rico, where due to 2 degree rise in temperature, there has been 60 fold decline in invertebrate (无脊椎的)population since the 1970s.
However, the fact that insects getting extinct is a global crisis is undisputed. But the neat thing about insects is, we all can do our bit to save them. We all can maintain pesticide-free kitchen gardens and organic farms. We can plant flowers and trees and invite them to nest again.
Maybe this tragedy would have never arisen in the first place and you would not have to read this article, if the world had stopped using all kinds of pesticides immediately after Rachel Carson had published the Silent Spring. Conserving the insect biodiversity is not our responsibility. It is a necessity because if they go, so will we.
1.Why can't we stand a world without insects?
A.For their parts in global ecology.
B.For their longer history than humans'.
C.For their shockingly large population.
D.For the appearance of new insect species.
2.What does the underlined word '"undisputed" in Paragraph 7 mean?
A.Possible. B.Doubtless
C.Exact D.Flexible.
3.Which of the following may best explain the extinction of insect species?
A.Climate change.
B.Human activities.
C.The abuse of chemicals.
D.The agriculture.
4.What is the author's purpose in writing the text?
A.Calling on us to do something to save insects.
B.Introducing the urgent situation insects are facing.
C.Presenting us ways to handle the global crises.
D.Treating differently beneficial and harmful insects.
Recent years have witnessed the growth of luxury(奢侈品) brands. It's clear that a new generation of young, materialistic people is increasingly relying on luxury brands to improve its self-image.
I am a fashionista too, at least in spirit —I love to look at clothes and shoes. But I don't understand why people spend lots of money on designer labels. When a young woman buys a handbag that costs two months of her salary, that's a scary thing.
What's interesting is that scientists have found that having luxury things doesn't lead to happiness.
Study after study has shown that although we want material things, when we get them we don't suddenly become "happy" people. In fact, a series of studies have shown that individuals who spend money on travel and similar experiences get more pleasure than those on material things. That's because experiences are more easily integrated into a person's identity. If I travel to Yunnan, that adventure affects how I think in the future. My memories become a part of me. Moreover, as Van Boven has observed, young people who pursue happiness through “things" are liked less by their peers. People prefer those who pursue happiness through experiences.
It's natural to want to express yourself through your appearance. So my advice is: create a look that isn't tied to a designer label. Convey your own message. Take some lessons from the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. He was always in Levis jeans and a black turtleneck. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, routinely appears in hoodies and sneakers. These people, successful people, have style.
You don't have to break the bank to send a message about who you are. Take a trip. Go out into the world. Then come back and confidently create your own signature look.
1.What's the author's attitude towards luxury consumption?
A.Favorable. B.Negative. C.Positive. D.Unconcerned.
2.What's the main idea of the fourth paragraph?
A.Material things can't bring about joy. B.Experiences sink into personality.
C.It's better to invest in experiences. D.Others' preference is of importance.
3.Why are Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg mentioned in the text?
A.To honor the two successes. B.To advocate their experience.
C.To support the author's argument. D.To inspire young people's ambition.
4.What is the underlined sentence intended to express?
A.Do mind your financial security. B.Do try to make more money.
C.Don't rob a bank for luxuries. D.Don't spend much on your image
The "cloud war" is taking place as the dispute between the United States and China about data hacking and computer network security grows stronger. Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Baidu and Huawei are expanding within their country and gaining customers in other countries. They are creating data centers in multiple countries and trying to sell data management services throughout the world.
The increasing competition in cloud computing and storage incurs the new challenge and worries some experts. They are concerned about the safety of data. After all, companies often use the cloud to store important, confidential information and to operate such activities as data-driven machinery, telecommunications, banking and transport systems — including plans for driverless vehicles.
Lee Branstetter is an associate professor of economics at the Heinz School of Policy and Management of the Carnegie Mellon University. He told many multi-national companies "have serious concerns about the protection of their intellectual property （知识产权）."Branstetter said some of these large companies already believe they have lost valuable information.
Sheila Jasanoff is the director of the program on science, technology and society at Harvard's Kennedy School. She called the cloud computing industry "unruly". In other words, the industry is not strictly governed.
"People （in the business） are making rules as they go along or taking advantage of the lack of rules," Jasanoff said. She said cloud computing companies are not clear about what security measures they are promising customers. She is worried that a major accident may happen before governments realize the need for stronger rules in the cloud computing industry. She believes there should be internationally-accepted rules to meet the new challenge. But she does not believe an international agreement will be reached anytime soon.
1.What does the "cloud war" refer to?
A.The war up in the sky.
B.Some kind of cold war.
C.The China-US relationship.
D.The competition on the "cloud".
2.What concerns some experts according to Paragraph 2?
A.Information security.
B.Wars among countries.
C.The storage of “cloud”.
D.The lack of technology.
3.Which of the following may be consistent with Jasanoff's opinion?
A.A major accident is bound to take place soon.
B.An agreement is to be reached in the near future.
C.The cloud industry needs guiding and monitoring.
D.Governments have kept an eye on cloud industry.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.China's Rise or Not
B.New War, New Challenge
C.Chances on Cloud Information
D.Growth of Cloud Computing Industry
The following properties which the World Heritage Committee （世界遗产委员会）has decided to include on the List of World Heritage are under threat.
Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley （Afghanistan）
The cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamiyan Valley stand for the artistic and religious developments which from the 1st to the 13th centuries characterized ancient Bakhtria. The area contains a number of Buddhist monastic ensembles, as well as strong buildings from the Islamic period.
Historic Centre of Vienna （Austria）
Vienna developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It played an important role as a leading European music centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural buildings, including Baroque castles and gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.
Okapi Wildlife Reserve （Democratic Republic of the Congo）
The Okapi Wildlife Reserve occupies about one-fifth of the Ituri forest in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congo river basin, of which the reserve and forest are a part, is one of the largest drainage systems in Africa. The reserve contains threatened species of primates and birds surviving in the wild. It also has some amazing scenery, including waterfalls on the Ituri and Epulu rivers. The reserve is inhabited by traditional nomadic pygmy Mbuti and Efe hunters.
1.Which of the following heritage sites is located in Asia?
A.Okapi Wildlife Reserve.
B.Historic Centre of Vienna.
C.The Austro-Hungarian Empire.
D.Cultural Landscape and Archaeological Remains of the Bamiyan Valley.
2.Who may get interested in Historic Centre of Vienna?
A.Music composers.
B.Birds researchers.
C.Modem building lovers.
D.Natural Scenery Photographer.
3.What do the three world heritage sites have in common?
A.They are all in danger.
B.They are closed to the public.
C.They feature lots of ancient buildings.
D.They are to be removed from the World Heritage List.
假定你是李华，是一名高二学生。最近，你校广播站向全体学生招募两名英语播音员，你打算应聘。请根据以下要点写一封自荐信。
1.个人简介；2.个人特长；3.希望被录取。
Dear Sir or Madam,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I have a dream. To tell you a truth, my dream is to be a doctor. There was a time that I was in hospital. I saw with my own eye that a doctor fought a whole night save a baby’s life. I was great touched and then I made up my mind to be a doctor. I hope I can help people keep health. I wish I can devote myself to serve patients. If my dream come true, I will try my best to offer to them the best service.
