The replacement of fossil and nuclear energy sources for electricity production by renewables such as wind, sun, water and biomass is a cornerstone of Germany’s energy policy. Amongst these, wind energy production is the most important component. However, energy production from wind is not necessarily ecologically sustainable. It requires relatively large spaces for installation and operation of turbines, and bats and birds die after collisions with rotors in significant numbers. For these reasons, the location and operation of wind energy plants are often in direct conflict with the legal protection of endangered species. A recent survey on this green-green dilemma among over 500 representatives by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) concludes that the current mechanisms for the protection of bats in wind power projects are insufficient.
“We found broad consensus among participants,” states Christian Voigt, first author of the survey. “The overwhelming majority of respondents considered the protection of biodiversity to be just as important as the contribution to protect the global climate through renewable energy production.” Most stakeholders agreed that small to moderate losses in the yield of wind power plants in terms of electricity production caused by the consistent application of conservation laws must become acceptable. However, significant discrepancies also existed. For example, representatives of the wind energy industry considered compliance with climate protection targets as more important than measures to protect species.
The conflict between wind power projects and the objectives of biological conservation intensified in recent years because the rapidly rising number of wind plants – there are now around 30,000 on mainland Germany – has made suitable locations scarce. “Besides, only about 25% of wind turbines are operated under mitigation schemes such as temporary halt of wind turbine operation during periods of high bat activity even though the legal framework would require the enforcement of such measures,” adds author Marcus Fritze of Leibniz-IZW.
For the purpose of this survey, the authors selected bats as a representative group of species for all wildlife affected by wind turbines, as large numbers of bats die at turbines and they enjoy a high level of protection both nationally and internationally, and therefore play an important role in planning and approval procedures for wind turbines. The results of years of research led by Voigt at the Leibniz-IZW show that fatalities at wind turbines in Germany affect bat populations in Germany as well as populations in other European regions from where these bats originate.
On the basis of the survey results, the authors argue in favour of a stronger consideration of nature conservation objectives in the wind energy industry. They suggest ways in which the cooperation of those involved in wind power projects can be improved so that both wind energy production and the goals of biological conservation can be satisfied.
1.What does the first paragraph mainly talk about?
A.The real cornerstone of Germany’s energy policy.
B.Problems with poor installation and operation of turbines.
C.Germany’s impressive achievements to promote renewable energy.
D.The conflict between wind plants and insufficient wildlife protection.
2.The underlined word “discrepancies” in Paragraph 2 most probably means ________.
A.assumptions B.disagreements C.diversities D.adjustments
3.Bats were chosen to represent all wildlife affected by wind turbines because ________.
A.more bats have been killed than any other species
B.bats play an important role in keeping natural balance
C.they can greatly affect the planning and approval of wind projects
D.they will die out quickly in Germany if not protected immediately
4.What do the authors of the survey think are possible solutions?
A.Building fewer number of wind plants and selecting more suitable locations.
B.Negotiating severe laws and strictly carrying them out in wind energy plants.
C.Focusing on protecting biodiversity and slightly reducing wind plant production.
D.Stressing natural protection and improving cooperation in wind power industry.
Late in 1990, when Paul Kagame was hiding on the Congolese side of the Virunga mountains preparing to invade Rwanda, his army were not the only inhabitants of that thickly forested volcanic range. The Virungas are also home to mountain gorillas (大猩猩). Soldiers are notoriously excited when it comes to wildlife, but Mr. Kagame ordered his men not to shoot the apes. “They will be valuable one day,” he said. He was right.
By 2017, with Mr. Kagame now installed as Rwanda’s president, that country’s wildlife-tourism industry, of which gorilla-watching on the Rwandan side of the Virungas accounts for 90%, was worth around $438 million a year. But now the world’s gorillas, and also their great-ape cousins, the chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans, face another threat from their human neighbours: covid-19.
Great apes share about 98% of their DNA with human beings, and are vulnerable to many of the same diseases. So far, there have been no reported cases of wild apes sickening with the new coronavirus (冠状病毒). But research done by Amanda Melin of the University of Calgary, in Canada, and her colleagues, suggests that many primates are at risk.
The virus infects people by locking onto ACE2, a protein found on the surface membranes (细胞膜) of certain cells - particularly those of the airways into the lungs. The ape version of ACE2 is, Dr Melin has discovered, identical to the human variety, so apes are likely to be particularly susceptible to SARS-COV-2.
Covid-19 is novel, but primatologists (灵长类动物学家) like Dr Wrangham, who is familiar with the harm caused by diseases of human origin, are already worried. They estimate that Ebola virus alone is responsible for the deaths of a third of the world’s wild gorillas over the past three decades. Jane Goodall, a primatologist doing research on chimpanzees in Tanzania is also worried. The country has not enforced a full anti-covid lockdown, so villagers who live around the park could spread the disease to the chimps. Worse still, mountain-gorilla groups are normally harems that have several females but only a single adult male. If this silver-back were to die of covid-19, the females - likely to have been infected as well - would probably disperse to join other groups, spreading the virus further.
Mr. de Merode says that if a gorilla tested positive for covid-19, his park “would consider a veterinary (兽医的) intervention to isolate (隔离) and treat the individual, but we would then be in unknown territory”. Most primatologists think isolating a sick ape would be impractical. Rather, laments Dr Wrangham, “we would just have to sit back and watch.”
1.From Melin’s research, we can learn that ______.
A.wild apes have sickened with covid-19
B.many primates are at the risk of dying off
C.ACE2 is merely founded in the lungs
D.apes are likely to be infected by covid-19
2.Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?
(① to ⑥ represent paragraphs 1 – 6)
A.
B.
C.
D.
3.From the last paragraph, we can infer that the attitude of the experts concerned towards isolation is ______.
A.uncertain and passive B.disapproving and pessimistic
C.optimistic and active D.enthusiastic and confident
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The Roll of a Lifetime
Since the age of three, Chelsie Hill had dreamed of becoming a dancer. That ambition _________ ended one night in 2010. Then a car accident left her paralyzed(瘫痪的) from the waist down. For most people, that would have _________ any hope of a dancing career. For Hill, it was the beginning. Far from being a(n) _________ , her wheelchair offered her courage. She wanted to prove that she was still ‘normal’, whatever normal meant.
Normal for her meant _________, so Hill did it in her wheelchair right _________ her nondisabled high school dance team. Half of her body was taken away from her. It definitely took a lot of _________ and patience.
After graduation, Hill wanted to _________ her dance network to _________ women like her. She met people online who had _________ various spinal cord injuries but shared her __________, and she invited them to dance with her.
Hoping to __________ more people in a larger city, Hill moved to Los Angeles and formed a team of dancers with disabilities she calls the Rollettes. Dancing on __________, the Rollettes discovered, can be just as fast-paced and fulfilling as the footbased variety. In disabled dance competitions around the country, they’re having fun, and as the audiences’__________ reactions indicate, the fun is infectious.
Hill has __________ what many of us never will: her childhood dream. The Rollettes have helped her find something else just as __________. Every year she holds a dance camp for wheelchair users and in 2019, 173 participants from ten countries attended. For many, being part of the Rollettes was really great. It was the first time they’d felt they __________. “I had a girl say it was the most empowering thing when she __________ into a room and everyone was at eye level,” Hill told CBS News.
The dancers aren’t the only ones feeling __________. One woman saw a YouTube video of the team competing and commented, “You guys are so __________! ! ! I’m in tears because you rock! To be in a wheelchair and __________ be so beautiful makes me know I can be beautiful too!”
1.A.simply B.nearly C.suddenly D.really
2.A.approached B.abandoned C.raised D.ruined
3.A.accident B.obstacle C.injury D.disability
4.A.dream B.performance C.dancing D.teamwork
5.A.alongside B.in C.among D.for
6.A.bumping B.innovating C.turning D.learning
7.A.design B.expand C.employ D.change
8.A.include B.contact C.draft D.cure
9.A.suffered B.witnessed C.treated D.escaped
10.A.accomplishment B.identification C.determination D.requirement
11.A.interview B.entertain C.educate D.reach
12.A.wheels B.mats C.stages D.feet
13.A.immediate B.enthusiastic C.extreme D.distant
14.A.absorbed B.applied C.attained D.accumulated
15.A.fulfilling B.relaxing C.convincing D.interesting
16.A.lived B.succeeded C.appeared D.belonged
17.A.walked B.rolled C.rushed D.wandered
18.A.devoted B.determined C.inspired D.delighted
19.A.talented B.awesome C.energetic D.special
20.A.just B.ever C.only D.still
—The loud music is really starting to get on my nerves.
— ________ I can’t focus my attention on my homework.
A.I’ll bet. B.I got it .
C.You have me there. D.You have my word.
Everybody is ________ to hear that Xuzhou Metro Line 2 and Line 3 will be opened soon.
A.on cloud nine B.on their last legs
C.crossing their fingers D.killing the fatted calf
