2023届高考英语阅读理解专练（10）健康环保类

这是一份2023届高考英语阅读理解专练（10）健康环保类，共21页。
（10） 健康环保类

一、
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting animal species and their habitats. It is achieved partially through legislation. For example, the Endangered Species Act, the establishment and protection of public lands, and responsible public practices that conserve wild animal populations.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 is our nation’s strongest law protecting wild plants and animals. It is enforced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Under the act, a species can be designated as “threatened” or “endangered”. Threatened and endangered species are protected under the provisions of the ESA, which restricts human activities that may harm these species and their habitats. Due in part to protections under the ESA, many species have been brought back from the edge of extinction.
In order to survive, a species requires enough food, water, shelter, space, and opportunities to reproduce. In the United States, as elsewhere in the world—habitat destruction is a primary threat to the continued survival of species. Without the existence of suitable habitat, a species will eventually face extinction. Public lands include parks managed by The National Park Service and national wildlife refuges operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. These lands are set aside to be protected for animal and plant species, as well as future generations.
The introduction of invasive species from far away continents introduced by humans can bring havoc to native plant and animal species. The proliferation(激增)of chemicals in the environment including pesticides PCBs, and oil spills, has the potential to poison wild animals and reduce their reproductive capacities. Wild animal populations can also be threatened by overhunting, wildlife trafficking(非法交易), and military weapons testing.
1.What can we know from paragraph 2?
A. ESA’s duty is to classify the species of wildlife.
B. ESA has made great achievements in protection.
C. Humans’ actions made no threat to wildlife before.
D. Threatened and endangered species increase greatly.
2.Which of the following is vital in protecting wildlife from extinction?
A. Enough space. B. Proper temperature.
C. Proper living conditions. D. Vast wetlands.
3.What does the underlined word “havoc” in last paragraph mean?
A. Harm. B. Advantage. C. Nutrition. D. Inspiration.
4.What is the suitable title for the text?
A. The Main Reasons Why Wildlife Is Dying out
B. Efforts Made by Humans to Protect Wildlife
C. Wildlife Conservation’s Effects and Challenges
D. Efficient Ways to Keep Wildlife from Extinction
二、
When put to tests, bees have long proved that they've got a lot more to offer than pollinating(授粉), making honey and being loyal to a queen. The hard-working insects can change their behavior when things seem difficult, and now some scientists find there is proof that they also like to play.
Scientists from Queen Mary University of London performed an experiment, in which they setup a container that allowed bees to travel from their nest to a feeding area. But along the way, the bees could choose to pass through a separate section with some small wooden balls. Over 18 days, the scientists watched as the bees "went out of their way to roll wooden balls repeatedly, despite no apparent incentive(刺激) to do so."
Earlier studies have shown that the black and yellow bugs are willing to learn new tricks in exchange for food or other rewards. In this case, to get rid of external factors, scientists made sure the bees had adapted to their new home and that their environment was stress-free.
The finding suggests that like humans, insects also interact with objects as a form of play. Also similar to people, younger bees seem to be more playful than adult bees. "This research provides a strong indication that insect minds are far more complicated than we imagine. There are lots of animals who play just for the purpose of enjoyment, but most examples come from young mammals and birds," said Lars Chittka, a professor of sensory and behavioral ecology at Queen Mary University of London, who led the study.
The study's first author, Samadi Galpay, who is a PhD student at Queen Mary University of London, states that it is more evident that bees may be capable of experiencing feelings. "They may actually experience some kind of positive emotional states, even if basic, like other larger animals do. This finding has effects on our understanding of the sense and welfare of insects, which, consequently, encourages us to respect and protect wildlife on Earth ever more," she says.
5.What is the new finding about bees?
A. They are fond of having fun. B. They are faithful to the queen.
C. They are adaptable to changes. D. They are skilled at rolling balls.
6.How did scientists remove external influences in the experiment?
A. By teaching bees new tricks. B. By rewarding bees with food.
C. By making bees feel at home. D. By building new homes for bees.
7.What are Lars Chittka's words mainly about?
A. The forms of bees' interaction. B. The complexity of bees' minds.
C. The examples of mammals' play. D. The purpose of mammals' enjoyment.
8.What does Samadi Galpay say about the study result?
A. It backs up prior understanding of insects.
B. It reveals reasons for bees' positive feelings.
C. It drives research on animals' emotional state.
D. It contributes to wildlife conservation on Earth.
三、
Our planet is losing species at an alarming rate. As the world has become increasingly industrialized, natural habitats have been destroyed to build cities that are unlivable for wildlife. However, a pair of European designers, architect Rene Hougaard and product designer Alexander Qual, believe there are ways to encourage cities to coexist with nature. Inspired by everyday pcople who build "insect hotels" in their backyards, they've created outdoor furniture that would be beautiful to look at, but also allow bugs, birds and wildflowers to thrive(繁殖).
The natural world tends to appear messy and chaotic to the human eye, but there is often method in the madness. Qual and Hougaard kept this in mind as in all the structures, they played with the concepts of order and messiness.
Qual created a large, yellow, leaf-shaped insect hotel, that's designed to be placed on a flower bed in a park. The structure contains wooden blocks with holes that are 6, 7 and 8 millimeters in diameter(直径), since different insect species prefer holes of different sizes.
Hougaard created a metal log bench with an empty space in the middle specifically designed to hold a decaying(腐烂的) log that can provide a habitat for insects and plants, along with birds and bats. While humans often shun decay, Hougaard imagines a place where people can sit down and observe the slow process in which bacteria break down the wood, creating food for insects, birds and other animals.
As for the question of whether people actually want to be so close to bugs, snakes and nesting birds, the designers acknowledge that modern humans have been trained to stay away from such creatures. But Hougaard says these structures keep animals contained, while allowing people to observe and appreciate them safely. And eventually, if we want to maintain biodiversity, humans need to become much more comfortable living alongside wildlife, rather than feeling the need to destroy it. After all, we humans need nature to survive.
9.Why did Hougaard and Qual build insect hotels?
A. To inspire more people to build one.
B. To bring biodiversity back to cities.
C.To provide a way to manage the city.
D. To slow down the process of industrialization.
10.What did Hougaard and Qual mainly consider in designing their structures?
A. The size of species. B.The variety of colors.
C.The building materials. D. The combination of order and disorder.
11.Which of the following can replace the underlined word "shun" in Para.4?
A. Avoided. B.Created. C.Observed. D. Provided.
12.What can be concluded from the last paragraph?
A. Bugs and snakes annoy people a lot.
B. Modern people have destroyed some creatures.
C. People should protect wildlife for our own good.
D. Hougaard's structures enable people to touch the animals.
四、
A volunteer team in South Africa is rescuing pangolins from illegal trade as the animals face growing threats of extinction.
Pangolins, or scaly ant-eaters as they are otherwise known, are unique species found in Asia and Africa. They are covered in hard scales(鳞甲).When they feel threatened, they roll up into a tight ball with only their scales exposed.
Pangolins are little studied and little understood species. However, they are poached and illegally traded in Asia and Africa. Their meat is considered a delicacy in many Asian countries and the scales are used in expensive clothing and handbags. But much of the illegal trade in pangolins involves their scales, which are thought to fight illnesses. High demand for their scales has resulted in poaching and illegal trade despite the fact that the species is protected.
The African Pangolin Working Group in Johannesburg is a volunteer team of veterinarians(兽医)and wildlife experts. They take care of their wounds, feed them and bring them back to health. Nicci Wright heads the group.
"When we receive those pangolins they are all very weak, whether they have been with the poachers for a few days or up to two weeks," Wright said. "They have got wounds and injuries, and it is very pitiful and very difficult to emotionally deal with that kind of suffering and abuse."
The group is not just treating pangolins. They also help police to identify and catch poachers and traders, often in undercover operations. They also work on anti-trafficking measures. The latest program is to train dogs to sniff out pangolins being hidden and transported.
It is reported that 97 tons of pangolin scales were seized from smugglers who tried to take them out of Africa last year. This amounts to about 150,000 poached animals. However, it's only about 20 percent of the total number, because the rest escaped with the poachers. "If this trend continues, there is a very likely extinction event for all species of the pangolin," Wright noted.
13.Why are pangolins considered unique mammals?
A. Their meat makes delicious food. B. They have scales to protect themselves.
C.They are in danger of dying out. D. They are little understood species.
14.What pushes the poaching and illegal trade of pangolins?
A. Food shortages in Africa. B. Health benefits of their meat.
C. Medicinal value of their scales. D. The demand of fashion industry.
15.What do the volunteer team's efforts focus on?
A. Catching the poachers and illegal traders.
B. Training dogs to find the hidden pangolins.
C. Reporting any illegal trade or poaching.
D. Treating and tending the rescued pangolins.
16.What is Nicci Wright's major concern according to the last paragraph?
A. Pangolins' suffering and abuse. B. Extinction of all pangolin species.
C. A decline in pangolin populations. D. The research on pangolin's behavior.
五、
Bee protection is a big issue these days in America, with people planting native pollinator(传粉者) gardens, setting up bee houses, and taking part in scientific activities to monitor local bee populations. And this is for good reason—in North America, a quarter of native bee species are at risk of extinction. Bees pollinate 35 percent of our global food supply and many of the wild plants our ecosystems depend on.
No Mow May, a movement that began in the UK, is now rapidly spreading throughout the US. Its popularity lies in its being simple: Just give bees a help during the crucial spring-time by removing a chore from your list and letting your lawn(草坪) grow for the month of May. This lets “lawn flowers” such as dandelions(蒲公英) grow at a time when bee foods rare.
Dandelions, despite being pretty and useful, are non-native. Then why do we promote a movement that encourages their growth? Here's the basic answer-don't let "perfect" be the enemy of "good". Sure, it'd be great to turn your entire neighborhood into a bee kingdom of native plants, but that can take lots of time and money.
While dandelions have become the poster child for No Mow May, other plants—including native species—may also appear in your lawn. "Besides dandelions, there are many other plants that are going to be there," says Dr. Claudio Gratton at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
In Massachusetts, scientists found 63 species of plants in lawns, 30 percent of which were native to the state. Most of the Americans probably loved dandelions as children but have tended to hate them as adults because of American lawn culture, which allows no flowers. "No Mow May forces us to think about our relationship with nature. We should reflect on the way we have made nature suit our needs, and realize flowers play really important roles," says Dr. Claudio Cratton.
17.What is the background to No Mow May in the US?
A. Native bee species are increasing. B. There is a tendency to protect bees.
C. Bees mainly depend on garden plants. D. More people have no time to cut lawns.
18.What do we know about the No Mow May?
A. It needs almost no cost.
B. Few Americans support it.
C. It is aimed at growing dandelions.
D. It appeals for careful attention to the lawns.
19.What does the underlined part "poster child" in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A. Slight element. B. Rare exception.
C. Typical example. D. Difficult problem.
20.Which of the following agrees with American lawn culture?
A.A bee-friendly lawn. B. A regularly cut lawn.
C. A lawn growing naturally. D.A lawn with native flowers.
六、
Even tree-planting can increase health risks to local human populations if it focuses too narrowly on a small number of species, as is often the case in commercial forests. Outbreaks of infectious diseases are more likely in areas of monoculture plantations, according to a new study.
The researchers of the study said this was because diseases are filtered(过滤) and blocked by a range of predators(食肉动物) and habitats in a healthy, biodiverse forest. When this is replaced by a palm oil plantation or soy fields, the specialist species die off, leaving generalists such as rats and mosquitoes to thrive(繁殖) and spread pathogens(病菌) across human and non-human habitats. The net result is a loss of natural disease regulation.
The researchers examined the correlation between trends for forest cover, plantations, population and disease around the globe using statistics from international institutions such as the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization. Over the period of study from 1990 to 2016, this covered 3,884 outbreaks of 116 diseases that crossed the species barrier and 1,996 outbreaks of 69 vector-borne(媒介传播的) infectious diseases, mostly carried by mosquitoes, ticks or flies.
The new study adds to a growing body of evidence that viruses are more likely to transfer to humans or animals if they live in or near human-disturbed ecosystems. This is shaped by trade patterns and consumer behavior. A quarter of global forest loss is driven by the production of commodities such as beef, soy, palm oil and wood fibre.
Morand, lead-author of the study, said his study showed that disease risks need to be added to risk-benefit analysis of new projects. “We should take the costs of public health into account when considering new plantations. The risks are first to local people, and then worldwide because we have seen with COVID-19 how quickly diseases can spread.”
Morand is now working on a more detailed study that will use satellite analysis of forest cover to examine links with disease. With more information, he believes it may be possible to predict future outbreaks and to work with local communities to build ecologically diverse and economically productive landscapes that reduce the risks.
21.Why are outbreaks of infectious diseases more likely in areas of monoculture plantations?
A.The specialist species are wiped out by their predators.
B. Biodiversity decline destroys natural disease regulation.
C.Local human populations have no knowledge of health risks.
D. Commercial forests provide food for disease-carrying insects.
22.How did the researchers get their findings?
A. By conducting data analysis. B. By referring to another study.
C.By making field investigation. D. By consulting authoritative agencies.
23.What does Morand intend to do by his words in paragraph 5?
A. Criticize policy-makers. B. Offer a solution to COVID-19.
C. Make a suggestion. D. Support evidence for his findings.
24.What does the last paragraph talk about concerning Morand-led study?
A. Its theoretical basis. B. Its appeal to the public.
C. Expectations for future studies. D. Researchers with new perspectives.
七、
A city in Denmark is about to become the first in the world to provide most of its citizens with fresh water using only the energy created from household wastewater.
The Marselisborg Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWTP) in Aarhus has undergone improvements that mean it can1 now produce more than 150 percent of the electricity needed to run the plant. The extra power can be used to pump drinking water around the city. As well as regularly powering the entire water system of 200,000 people living in the inner city area, any unwanted electricity could be sold into the local power network.
The plant produces energy from the biogas which creates out of household wastewater. Carbon is removed from the wastewater and pumped into digesters(沼气池) kept at 38℃ filled with bacteria. These produce biogas-mostly methane-that is then burned to make heat and electricity.
Upgrading the facilities in Marselisborg required nearly €3 million, but Aarhus Water expects that to be recovered in just five years. Other cities in Denmark, including Copenhagen, have been trying to copy the example of Aarhus.
When talking about copying Denmark's experience, Molly Walton, energy analyst at International Energy Agency, says, scientists and engineers would firstly have to improve energy efficiency; and it requires an enormous amount of money that could considerably increase the price of the water. Moreover, to work, the wastewater plant needs to be big enough to produce enough biogas, and even the wastewater has to be the right-mix. If it's watered down by much storm or groundwater, it will be almost impossible to recover energy, Walton says.
With rising global: temperatures, more energy will be needed to provide fresh water from other sources such as seawater. The city's action may not solve the problems, but it is a big step in the right direction.
25.What can we learn about the city Aarhus?
A. Aarhus can sell green energy to Denmark.
B. The plant in Aarhus can produce extra power.
C. The plant in Aarhus makes good use of carbon.
D. Aarhus is the first city to benefit from household wastewater.
26.Why is it difficult to practise the way of MWTP?
A. The global temperature is rising. B. Energy efficiency needs improving.
C. The plant is too big to produce biogas. D. MWTP requires demanding conditions.
27.What is Molly Walton's attitude towards copying Denmark's example?
A. Doubtful. B. Negative. C. Uninterested. D. Positive.
28.What does the passage mainly tell us?
A. Copying the example of Aarhus cost a lot.
B. MWTP has improved the processing of biogas.
C. A plant in Aarhus turns wastewater into energy.
D. The water service in Aarhus needs more energy.
八、
NASA will crash a spacecraft into an asteroid (小行星) to try to change its orbit, attempting to prevent humans going the same way as the dinosaurs.

Earth is constantly being disturbed by small pieces of debris (碎片), but they usually burn up or break up long before they hit the ground. Once in a while, however, something large enough to do significant damage makes impact. About 66 million years ago, one such crash is thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs. Someday, something similar could end human beings—unless we can find a way to tackle it.
NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (Dart) mission is the first attempt to test if such asteroid redirection is a realistic strategy: investigating whether a spacecraft can autonomously reach a target asteroid and intentionally crash into it, as well as measuring the amount of redirection. “If it works, it would be a big deal, because it would prove that we have the technical capability of protecting ourselves,” said Jay Tate, the director of the National Near Earth Object Information Center.
The 610kg Dart spacecraft is scheduled to be launched at the target—the Didymos system—a harmless pair of asteroids consisting of a 163-metre “moonlet” asteroid called Dimorphos that orbits a larger 780-metre asteroid called Didymos (Greek for “twin”). The plan is to crash the spacecraft into Dimorphos when the asteroid system is at its closest to Earth—about 6.8 million miles away.
About 10 days before impact, a miniaturized satellite called LiciaCube will separate from the main spacecraft, enabling images of the impact to be relayed back to Earth. Combined with observations from ground-based telescopes, and an onboard camera that will record the final moments before the crash, these recordings will enable scientists to calculate the degree to which the impact has changed Dimorphos’s orbit. The expectation is that it will change the speed of the smaller asteroid by approximately 1% and reduce its orbit around the larger asteroid.
Then, in November 2024, the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft will visit the Didymos system and conduct a further close-up analysis of the consequences of this snooker (斯诺克) game, recording details such as the precise makeup and internal structure of Dimorphos, and the size and shape of the hole left by Dart. Such details are vital for transforming asteroid redirection into a repeatable technique.
Even then, it is impossible that any single redirection strategy would be enough. “The problem is that no two asteroids or comets are alike, and how you redirect one depends on a huge number of variables. There is no silver bullet in this game. What you need is a whole folder of different redirection methods for different types of targets,” said Tate.
So, while this may be one small step towards planetary protection, many more are likely to be necessary to avoid destruction.
29.What is the purpose of Paragraph 2?
A.To explain the necessity of launching a spacecraft.
B.To examine the impact of dinosaurs’ extinction.
C.To highlight the crisis threatening human beings at present.
D.To show the damage caused by small pieces of debris.
30.Which of the following pictures illustrates the mission?
A. B.
C. D.
31.What is the function of LiciaCube?
A.Helping the satellite separate from the spacecraft.
B.Recording the scientists’ ground-based observations.
C.Sending impact data back to Earth.
D.Calculating the length of Dimorphos’s orbit.
32.What does the underlined sentence “There is no silver bullet in this game” mean?
A.There is no possibility to satisfy NASA’s needs.
B.There is no challenge too big to overcome.
C.There is no strategy to help make an obvious decision.
D.There is no single solution to the complex problem.
答案以及解析
一、
1.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。从第二段Due in part by protections under the ESA, many species have been brought back from the edge of extinction.可知,在ESA的努力下,很多物种从被灭绝的边缘拯救回来,因此ESA在动植物保护方面取得了成就。
2.答案：C
解析：细节理解题。从第三段Without the existence of suitable habitat, a species will eventually face extinction.可知,生存环境对物种的延续至关重要。
3.答案：A
解析：词句猜测题。根据最后一段第一 句“The introduction of invasive species from far away continents introduced by humans can bring havoc to native plant and animal species.(人类从遇远的大陆引入入侵物种，会给当地的植物和动物物种带来havoc.)”可知，这里是说引入入侵物种会给动植物带来灾害。故选A项。
4.答案：C
解析：主旨大意题。文章前半部分讲述了The Endangered Species Act在野生动植物保护方面所取得的效果,文章最后一段讲述野生动植物所面临的威胁,因此C项最能概括全文。
二、
5.答案：A
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段The hard-working insects can change their behavior when things seem difficult, and now some scientists find there is proof that they also like to play.(当事情看起来困难时,努力工作的昆虫可以改变它们的行为,现在一些科学家发现有证据表明它们也喜欢玩耍。)可知关于蜜蜂的新发现是它们喜欢玩乐。故选A。
6.答案：C
解析：推理判断题。根据第三段In this case, to get rid of external factors, scientists made sure the bees had adapted to their new home and that their environment was stress-free.(在这种情况下,为了摆脱外部因素,科学家们确保蜜蜂已经适应了他们的新家,并且他们的环境没有压力)可推知,为了消除外部因素,他们让蜜蜂适应新家,让他们有了家的感觉,从而对环境感觉不到压力。A.By teaching bees new tricks.通过教蜜蜂新技巧;B.By rewarding bees with food.用食物奖励蜜蜂;C.By making bees feel at home.让蜜蜂有家的感觉;D.By building new homes for bees.为蜜蜂建造新的家园。故选C。
7.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段Lars Chittka说的话This research provides a strong indication that insect minds are far more complicated than we imagine. There are lots of animals who play just for the purpose of enjoyment, but most examples come from young mammals (哺乳动物)and birds(这项研究有力地表明,昆虫的思维远比我们想象的复杂。有很多动物只是为了享乐而玩耍,但大多数例子来自于年轻的哺乳动物和鸟类)可知,Lars Chittka的话表明了昆虫的思维非常复杂。故选B。
8.答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段Samadi Galpay所说的话This finding has effects on our understanding of the sense and welfare of insects, which, consequently, encourages us to respect and protect wildlife on Earth ever more.(这一发现对我们理解昆虫的感觉和福利产生了影响,从而鼓励我们更加尊重和保护地球上的野生动物)可知,该研究结果有助于保护地球上的野生动物。因此D. It contributes to wildlife conservation on Earth.(它有助于保护地球上的野生动物。)符合题意。故选D。
三、
9.答案：B
解析：细节推断题。根据第一段提到我们的星球的物种正以惊人的速度消失。“However, a pair of European designers, architect Rene Hougaard and product designer Alexander Qual, believe there are ways to encourage cities to coexist with nature.然而两个欧洲设计师,Rene Hougaard及Alexander Qual相信有办法鼓励城市与自然共存。”可知这两个设计师建造“昆虫旅馆”是为了使城市恢复生物多样性。故选B。
10.答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段“Qual and Hougaard kept this in mind as in all the structures, they played with the concepts of order and messiness. Qual和Hougaard牢记在所有的建筑结构中,他们运用了有序与凌乱的理念”可知他们在设计中考虑的是将有序与无序进行了结合。故选D。
11.答案：A
解析：猜测词义题。根据第四段“While humans often shun decay, Hougaard imagines a place where people can sit down and observe the slow process in which bacteria breakdown the wood, creating food for insects, birds and other animals.” decay在前一句中有解释,意为“腐烂”,在这里“while”意为尽管,与该句主句部分形成对比关系,Hougaard设想一个人们能坐下来观察细菌分解木头,给昆虫、鸟类及其他动物的缓慢过程,因此“shun”的应该为“躲避,远离”之义。故选A。
12.答案：C
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段“if we want to maintain biodiversity, humans need to become much more comfortable living alongside wildlife, rather than feeling the need to destroy it. After all, we humans need nature to survive.如果我们想要保持生物多样性,人类就要更加习惯与野生物种一起共存,而不是认为有必要破坏他。毕竟人类要依赖自然来生存”可知,人类为了自身的利益也应该保护野生物种。故选C。
四、
13.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段第一句“Pangolins, or scaly ant-eaters as they are otherwise known, are unique species found in Asia and Africa. When they feel threatened they roll up into a tight ball with only their scales exposed.(穿山甲,或称有鳞食蚁动物,是在亚洲和非洲发现的独特物种。当它们感到受到威胁时,它们会蜷缩成一个紧密的球,只露出鳞片)”可知,穿山甲之所以独特,是因为在遇到威胁时它们可用鳞保护自己。故选B项。
14.答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段第三句“But much of the illegal trade in pangolins involves their scales, which are thought to fight illnesses.(但穿山甲的非法贸易大多涉及它们的鳞片,人们认为它们可以对抗疾病)”可知,之所以有大量穿山甲非法贸易,主要是由于其鳞片的药用价值。故选C项。
15.答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段第二句“They take care of their wounds, feed them and bring them back to health.(他们照顾它们的伤口,喂养它们,让它们恢复健康)”以及第六段第一句“The group is not just treating pangolins.(该组织不仅仅是在治疗穿山甲)”可知,该组织主要工作是照顾穿山甲的伤口,喂养它们,让他们恢复健康,除此之外,也做一些别的工作。故选D项。
16.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句"If this trend continues, there is a very likely extinction event for all species of the pangolin," Wright noted.(Wright指出: "如果这种趋势持续下去,所有种类的穿山甲都很可能灭绝。")可知,Wright主要担忧的就是穿山甲的灭绝。故选B项。
五、
17.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第一段内容Bee protection is a big issue these days in America, with people planting native pollinator(传粉者) gardens, setting up bee houses, and taking part in scientific activities to monitor local bee populations. And this is for good reason—in North America, a quarter of native bee species are at risk of extinction. Bees pollinate 35 percent of our global food supply and many of the wild plants our ecosystems depend on.(如今,蜜蜂保护在美国是一个大问题,人们种植本地传粉昆虫园,建立养蜂场,并参加科学活动来监测当地蜜蜂种群。这是有充分理由的,在北美,四分之一的本土蜜蜂物种面临灭绝的风险。蜜蜂为我们全球35%的食物供应和生态系统所依赖的许多野生植物授粉。)可知,在美国,人们对蜜蜂保护问题越来越重视,采用了各种方法来为蜜峰打造一个良好的环境,这是No Mow May运动在美国得以扩展的背景信息。故选B。
18.答案：A
解析：推理判断题。根据第二段第二句Its popularity lies in its being simple: Just give bees a help during the crucial spring–time by removing a chore from your list and letting your lawn(草坪) grow for the month of May.(它的受欢迎之处在于它很简单:只需在关键的春天帮助蜜蜂,从你的清单中删除一件家务,让你的草坪在五月生长。)可知,No Mow May运动旨在让草坪生长,人们只需要在五月期间不进行修剪草坪的活动即可。由此推知,这项运动几乎不用任何费用。故选A。
19.答案：C
解析：词义推测题。根据后文other plants—including native species—may also appear in your lawn.(包括本地物种在内的其他植物也可能出现在你的草坪上。)可知,划线词所在部分表达的意思是"虽然蒲公英是No Mow May运动扩展后常见的花",由此推断,划线部分意为“典型例子”。A.Slight element.轻微因素;B.Rare exception.罕见的例外;C.Typical example.有代表性的例子;D.Difficult problem.难题。划线词与C项词义接近,故选C。
20.答案：B
解析：推理判断题。根据第二段第二句Its popularity lies in its being simple: Just give bees a help during the crucial spring-time by removing a chore from your list and letting your lawn(草坪) grow for the month of May.(它的受欢迎之处在于它很简单:只需在关键的春天帮助蜜蜂,从你的清单中删除一件家务,让你的草坪在五月生长。)及最后一段第二句Most of the Americans probably loved dandelions as children but have tended to hate them as adults because of American lawn culture, which allows no flowers.(大多数美国人可能小时候喜欢蒲公英,但成年后往往讨厌蒲公英,因为美国的草坪文化不允许开花。)可知,在美国,修剪草坪是一项常见的家务活动,美国的草坪文化是不会放任草坪上有花的。由此判断,一块定期修剪的草坪才是符合美国草坪文化的。故选B。
六、
21.答案：B
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段When this is replaced by a palm oil plantation or soy fields, the specialist species die off, leaving generalists such as rats and mosquitoes to thrive and spread pathogens across human and non-human habitats. The net result is a loss of natural disease regulation.可知,物种多样化的下降会破坏大自然对疾病的管控。
22.答案：A
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段Over the period of study from 1990 to 2016, this covered 3,884 outbreaks of 116 diseases that crossed the species barrier and 1,996 outbreaks of 69 vector-borne infectious diseases, mostly carried by mosquitoes, ticks or flies.可知,研究人员是通过分析数据的方式得出研究结论的。
23.答案：C
解析：推理判断题。根据第五段Morand, lead-author of the study, said his study showed... because we have seen with COVID-19 how quickly diseases can spread.可知,Morand是在给出建议。
24.答案：C
解析：推理判断题。根据最后一段With more information, he believes it may be possible to predict future outbreaks and to work with local communities to build ecologically diverse and economically productive landscapes that reduce the risks.可知,最后一段讲述了Morand对未来研究的期许。
七、
25.答案：B
解析：推理判断题。根据第二段The Marselisborg Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWTP) in Aarhus has undergone improvements that mean it can now produce more than 150 percent of the electricity needed to run the plant. The extra power can be used to pump drinking water around the city.(奥胡斯的马塞利堡污水处理厂(MWTP)经过了改进,这意味着它现在可以生产运行该厂所需电力的150%以上。额外的电力可以用来在城市周围抽取饮用水。)可知,奥胡斯的污水处理厂可以产生额外的电力。故选B。
26.答案：D
解析：推理判断题。根据第五段When talking about copying Denmark's experience, Molly Walton, energy analyst at International Energy Agency, says, scientists and engineers would firstly have to improve energy efficiency; and it requires an enormous amount of money that could considerably increase the price of the water. Moreover, to work, the wastewater plant needs to be big enough to produce enough biogas, and even the wastewater has to be the right-mix. If it's watered down by much storm or groundwater, it will be almost impossible to recover energy, Walton says.(国际能源署(International energy Agency)能源分析师莫莉·沃尔顿(Molly Walton)在谈到复制丹麦的经验时表示,科学家和工程师首先必须提高能源效率;这需要大量的资金,这可能会大大提高水的价格。此外,废水处理厂需要足够大,才能产生足够的沼气,甚至废水也必须是正确的混合物。沃尔顿说,如果它被暴雨或地下水淹没,几乎不可能恢复能源。)可知,马塞利堡污水处理厂的经验很难复制是因为它需要苛刻的条件。故选D。
27.答案：A
解析：观点态度题。根据第五段When talking about copying Denmark's experience, Molly Walton, energy analyst at International Energy Agency, says, scientists and engineers would firstly have to improve energy efficiency; and it requires an enormous amount of money that could considerably increase the price of the water. Moreover, to work, the wastewater plant needs to be big enough to produce enough biogas, and even the wastewater has to be the right-mix. If it's watered down by much storm or groundwater, it will be almost impossible to recover energy, Walton says.(国际能源署(International energy Agency)能源分析师莫莉·沃尔顿(Molly Walton)在谈到复制丹麦的经验时表示,科学家和工程师首先必须提高能源效率;这需要大量的资金,这可能会大大提高水的价格。此外,废水处理厂需要足够大,才能产生足够的沼气,甚至废水也必须是正确的混合物。沃尔顿说,如果它被暴雨或地下水淹没,几乎不可能恢复能源。)可推知,莫莉·沃尔顿认为要复制丹麦的做法很困难,对其持怀疑的态度。A.Doubtful.怀疑的;B.Negative.否定的;C.Uninterested.没有兴趣的;D.Positive.积极的。故选A。
28.答案：C
解析：主旨大意题。根据第一段A city in Denmark is about to become the first in the world to provide most of its citizens with fresh water using only the energy created from household wastewater.(丹麦的一座城市即将成为世界上第一个仅使用家庭废水产生的能源为大多数居民提供淡水的城市。)和第二段The Marselisborg Wastewater Treatment Plant(MWTP) in Aarhus has undergone improvements that mean it can now produce more than 150 percent of the electricity needed to run the plant. The extra power can be used to pump drinking water around the city. As well as regularly powering the entire water system of 200,000 people living in the inner city area, any unwanted electricity could be sold into the local power network.(奥胡斯的马塞利堡污水处理厂(MWTP)经过了改进,这意味着它现在可以生产运行该厂所需电力的150%以上。额外的电力可以用来在城市周围抽取饮用水。除了定期为生活在市中心地区的20万人的整个供水系统供电外,任何多余的电力都可能被出售到当地的电网中。)可知,这篇文章主要介绍丹麦奥胡斯的马塞利堡污水处理厂将废水转化为能源的事情。因此C.A plant in Aarhus turns wastewater into energy.(奥胡斯的一家工厂将废水转化为能源。)是本文的主旨大意。故选C。
八、
29.答案：A
解析：推理判断题。由第二段“Earth is constantly being disturbed by small pieces of debris (碎片), but they usually burn up or break up long before they hit the ground. Once in a while, however, something large enough to do significant damage makes impact. About 66 million years ago, one such crash is thought to have wiped out the dinosaurs. Someday, something similar could end human beings—unless we can find a way to tackle it. (地球经常被小碎片所扰动,但它们通常在落地前很久就烧毁或碎裂了。然而,有时候,大到足以造成重大损害的东西会造成撞击。大约6600万年前,一次这样的撞击被认为消灭了恐龙。总有一天,类似的东西会毁灭人类,除非我们能找到解决的办法)”可知第二段主要介绍了地球可能会被太空其它物体(如小行星)撞击而导致人类毁灭的后果,结合第一段“NASA will crash a spacecraft into an asteroid (小行星) to try to change its orbit, attempting to prevent humans going the same way as the dinosaurs.(美国宇航局将让一艘航天器撞击一颗小行星,试图改变它的轨道,阻止人类毁灭)”可知,地球可能会被太空其它物体(如小行星)撞击而导致人类毁灭的后果,所以美国宇航局试图改变它的轨道,试图阻止人类重蹈恐龙的覆辙。由此可推知,第二段的目的是解释美国宇航局Dart任务的必要性。故选A项。
30.答案：C
解析：细节理解题。由第四段The 610kg Dart spacecraft is scheduled to be launched at the target—the Didymos system—a harmless pair of asteroids consisting of a 163-metre “moonlet” asteroid called Dimorphos that orbits a larger 780-metre asteroid called Didymos(Greek for “twin”). The plan is to crash the spacecraft into Dimorphos when the asteroid system is at its closest to Earth—about 6.8 million miles away.(重达610千克的Dart航天器计划发射到目标Didymos小行星,这是一对无害的小行星,被称作Dimorphos的163米直径的小行星,围绕一个直径更大、被称为Didymos(希腊语“双胞胎”)的780米小行星运转。计划是在小行星系统离地球最近的地方—大约680万英里外—让航天器撞上Dimorphos)可知,小行星Dimorphos绕着小行星Didymos运转,此original orbit(原始轨道)更大；让Dart航天器在小行星系统离地球最近的地方撞上Dimorphos,会产生new orbit(新的轨道)；结合图形,C项图形表明中间为小行星Didymos,较小的是小行星Dimorphos,二者有original orbit (原始轨道),航天器在小行星系统离地球最近的地方撞上小行星Dimorphos,产生new orbit(新的轨道)。故选C项。
31.答案：C
解析：细节理解题。根据倒数第四段中的“About 10 days before impact, a miniaturized satellite called LiciaCube will separate from the main spacecraft, enabling images of the impact to be relayed back to Earth.(在撞击前大约10天,一颗名为LiciaCube的小型卫星将与主航天器分离,使撞击图像能够传回地球)”可知,LiciaCube的功能是将撞击数据发送回地球。故选C项。
32.答案：B
解析：词句猜测题。根据倒数第二段划线句前后“The problem is that no two asteroids or comets are alike, and how you redirect one depends on a huge number of variables. (问题是,没有两颗小行星或彗星是一样的,你如何重新定向一颗小行星或彗星取决于很多变量)”和“What you need is a whole folder of different redirection methods for different types of targets(你需要的是一整套不同类型目标的重新定向方法)”可知,重新定向一颗小行星或彗星取决于很多变量,需要一整套不同类型目标的重新定向方法,所以解决方案并不是单一的,由此可知划线句意为“这个复杂的问题没有单一的解决方案”。故选D项。