Not long ago, Egypt marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Suez Canal. The canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. It helped speed world trade between the East and the West. But the man-made waterway has also helped speed the rise of other things, such as invasive(入侵的)non-native species (物种). Scientists say the invasive creatures have damaged the Mediterranean’s environment and caused native species to disappear.
The number of non-native creatures has risen since the Suez Canal was widened in 2015. The “New Suez Canal” has raised concerns in Europe and brought disagreement from many Mediterranean countries. Bella Galil is an Israeli biologist who has studied the Mediterranean for over 30 years. She says much of the ecological(生态的)damage cannot be repaired. She said urgent action is needed to ease the effects of the invasive fish and other sea life.
Galil works at Tel Aviv University’s Steinhardt Museum of Natural History. She noted that the widening and deepening of the Suez Canal has created a “moving aquarium” of species. These creatures could make coastal waters almost unusable for human beings. Galil believes the number of invasive species has reached 400. That is twice the number 30 years ago. She said this is a “historic example of the dangers of unintended consequences.”
Israel is now dealing with huge numbers of poisonous(有毒的) jellyfish that affect coastal power centers and keep people from visiting the seashore. Other poisonous species, such as the lionfish and silver-cheeked toadfish, are also appearing.
Galil said the problems of invasive species can be compared to those of climate change, pollution and over-fishing. She argues that the new species have caused a major “restructuring” of the environment. This has endangered native species.
Some experts have suggested that increasing salt levels in the canal itself could create a barrier(障碍物) that would keep invasive species out.
1.What lesson can we learn from the effects of the Suez Canal?
A.Seeing is believing. B.Every coin has two sides.
C.Let nature take its course. D.Everyone makes mistakes.
2.What’s the attitude of many Mediterranean countries towards the“New Suez Canal"?
A.Uncaring. B.Unclear. C.Supportive. D.Against.
3.What is the ecological environment like after the Suez Canal reconstruction?
A.It is from bad to worse. B.It remains the same.
C.It improves a great deal. D.It has become a completely new one.
4.Why did Galil mention climate change,pollution and over-fishing in paragraph 5?
A.To add some background information. B.To stress the harm of invasive species.
C.To solve the problem of invasive species. D.To compare their similarities and differences.
Ford is showing its first all-electric sports utility vehicle, or SUV—the Mustang Mach E, marking a major change in the U. S. car industry. Auto industry reporters got their first look at the new electric vehicle Sunday. The new Mustang can travel from 370 to 480 kilometers before needing an electrical charge(充电). Experts say the Mustang Mach E marks the start of an increase in electric vehicles offered by top U. S. carmakers.
There are 18 electric vehicle models for sale in the U. S. The research group IHS Mark it expects that number to grow to 80 by 2022. New vehicles will include pickup trucks and SUVs that are popular with American buyers.
Last year, electric vehicles made up only 1.5 percent of new vehicle sales worldwide. Auto Industry research company LMC Automotive predicts(预言) that will rise to 2.2 percent this year. In the U. S., electric vehicles were only 1.2 percent of sales in 2019. It is expected to be the same in 2020.
Automakers,however, see room for growth. They note that electric vehicles are getting 250 miles or more on a single charge. That means a buyer no longer needs to worry about running out of power during a day’s usual drive. Because of the added models and increased power, LMC predicts that they will make up 17 percent of worldwide sales and 7 percent of U. S. sales in 2030.
The first-generation of electric vehicles were simply existing models that were changed to electricity to meet government fuel economy rules. They did not sell well largely because they could not travel more than 100 miles between charges. But now, many can go farther than the average one-day driving distance. The five-passenger Mach E looks like a traditional Mustang. Engineers say the least costly model will be able to travel about 370 kilometers on one charge. The most costly model will be able to travel 483 kilometers.
1.What can be known from the first two paragraphs?
A.Americans like pickup trucks and SUVs best.
B.There will be more vehicle models to meet customers’needs.
C.Ford is the first company to make all-electric sports utility vehicles.
D.The long travel distance between charges is the car’s greatest advantage.
2.What do we know about the growth of electric vehicles in America in 2030 according to LMC?
A.It’s the fastest in the world. B.It is much below the world average.
C.It’s the same as the world average. D.It hasn’t changed very much.
3.How did the author develop the last paragraph?
A.By giving examples. B.By introducing new ideas.
C.By making comparisons. D.By following time order.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.Ford Starts New Electric Vehicles B.Electric Vehicles Are Better for Environment
C.Old Electric Vehicles Will Be Knocked Out D.Electric Vehicles Will Take Over the Market
Recently I invited a homeless man to have lunch with me at the Soup Plantation so that he could eat as much as he wanted to fill his stomach. I met him over the phone when I was calling Father Benno’s, a soup kitchen. Something within stirred me to invite him to lunch. Since he did not have a car, I offered to pick him up.
We had a wonderful four-hour lunch. I learned a lot about his struggles but more importantly, I finished lunch, feeling greater gratitude(感激) for a roof over my head, a warm shower, a comfortable bed , and food on the table—all of which we may not think twice about. He, too, enjoyed the connection, his lunch, and a rest from spending his afternoon on the streets.
I learned long ago that one person alone cannot solve the problem of the homeless people in California or the United States of America. However ,each person can make an effort to help the homeless in their own way. Do you know that 40% of the U.S. population live paycheck (薪水) to paycheck? Should a sudden financial(财务的) case appear, any one of those 40% can end up homeless in the streets.
For this holiday season, perhaps you may want to try something new. Buy a meal for the person asking for money instead of giving them spare change. If you can make the time and find courage, invite them to share a meal with you. Jesse Jackson once said, “Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up,” and Rumi told us, “When we practice loving kindness and pity, we are the first one to benefit from it.”
1.What does the underlined word “stirred” in the first paragraph probably mean?
A.Limited. B.Allowed. C.Begged. D.Encouraged.
2.What was the author thankful for?
A.The homeless man. B.The length of the lunch.
C.The condition of his life. D.The connection with the man.
3.What does the author think of those who live on paycheck?
A.They live a comfortable life. B.They just make ends meet.
C.They are really homeless people. D.They look down upon the homeless.
4.Which of the following doesn’t the author advise us to do?
A.Try something new. B.Buy a meal for a person.
C.Give money to the homeless. D.Invite a person to share a meal.
These Children’s Books Written by Celebrities(名人) Are Perfect for Your Little Kids
Kelly Clarkson Wrote a Book Inspired by Her Daughter
When Kelly Clarkson wrote River Rose and the Magical Lullaby, she named the main character after her young daughter. The story follows Rose, who finds herself in a magical dream world, guided by the voice of her mother. Writing the book offered the American Idol winner a new challenge. She said, “It’s so helpful with learning.”
Jim Carrey Is on a Roll with This Book
Jim Carrey’s 2013 book, How Roland Rolls, however, is very much for the little ones. The winner of the 2013 Gelett Burgess Children’s Book Award, How Roland Rolls is about a wave who worries about what will happen when he finally hits the beach. His fear disappears when he realizes he’s more than just a wave, but he’s the entire ocean! Coming up, this horror film star isn’t trying to scare(使害怕) any kids with her book.
Jamie Lee Curtis Has Been Writing Since the 1990s
You might know her best from the Halloween series movie. This Is Me is a story about immigration(外来移民). Curtis says she has no political intentions with her book, saying, “Every person has an immigrant story about their ancestors, and we’re losing that. I thought it was important to connect that thread back to who we are.”
Steve Martin’s Books Prove He’s a Comedian for All Ages
You may have ever read one of his books, like Shopgirl. If you’re a fan of his and you have kids, you’ll be happy to know that now your kids can read his books, too. Since getting into children’ literature, Martin has written and published several books, including Late for School and The Alphabet From A to Y with Bonus Letter Z. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a poem by Marin.
1.Which book describes a character that is not a human being?
A.This Is Me. B.Late for School.
C.How Roland Rolls. D.River Rose and the Magical Lullaby.
2.What can This Is Me remind readers of when they read it?
A.Their roots. B.Their dreams. C.Their children. D.Their school life.
3.Who wrote a book about the English alphabet?
A.Jim Carrey. B.Steve Martin. C.Kelly Clarkson. D.Jamie Lee Curtis.
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. My boys were from three months to seven years, and their sister was two.
I cleaned up the kids until they looked brand new, and then put on my best homemade dress. I put them into the old car and drove off to find a job. The seven of us went to every factory, store and restaurant in our small town. No luck.
The last place we went to was now called the Big Wheel, and an old lady named Granny owned the place. Finally she told me she needed someone to work from 11 at night to seven in the morning. She paid 65 cents an hour, and I could start that night. I returned and left the children at home.
Then I left to start my new job at the Big Wheel. As the weeks went by, the tires(轮胎)on the old car began to leak(漏气). I had to fill them with air on the way to work and again every morning before I could go home.
One cold fall morning, I dragged myself to the car to go home and found four tires in the back seat. New tires! There was no note, just those beautiful brand new tires.
Christmas was coming, and I knew there would be no money for toys for the kids. So, I found a can of red paint and started repairing and painting some old toys. Then I hid them in the basement so there would be something for Santa to deliver on Christmas morning. Clothes were a worry too. I was sewing patches(补丁)on top of patches on the boys’ pants, and soon they would be too far gone to repair.
假定你是李华，你的美国网友John来信询问你一周当中最喜欢哪一天。请用英语写一封回信，内容包括：
1. 你喜欢哪一天；2. 喜欢这一天的原因。
注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear John,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
