If you like to take a walk in the woods in the United States or you prefer to decorate a tree at Christmas, you should know that climate change is making both of those activities a lot more 41 .
Looking at two 42 and economically important species——the Douglas fir and the Ponderosa pine —— scientists found that fires and drought 43 by climate change make new growth difficult, especially in low-elevation forests, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Some forests in four regions in California, Colorado, the Northern Rockies and the southwestern part of the United States have crossed “a(n) 44 climate tipping (转折) point for post-fire tree generation,” the study says.
Climate conditions over the past 20 years have 45 changes that would have taken decades or even centuries to 46 across broad regions of the country. This is leading to the sudden 47 of trees and making these lands increasingly unsuitable for tree regeneration.
“Climate change is 48 our forests now, not just in some distant future. Maybe in areas where there are really 49 seed sources, there could be some trees, but it is becoming really hard to get these trees back due to climate change,”said study co-author Kim Davis.
The problem probably won’t get any better, as climate change is making intense wildfires much more 50 . Western foresters say there used to be a fire season. But devastating and 51 fires have become a reality all year long. In 2018, fire cost California more than $9.05 billion, according to the USA insurance commissioner, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season in the 52 history.
A higher number of fires and low seed availability means a high probability that these trees in these regions won’t come back, Davis said. This study 53 on the driest and hottest areas of the Western forests, but researchers will next try to focus on how much will be impacted.
54 , there are some things people can do to ease some of this problem. Forest management plans that reduce high-severity burns can help. Increasingly, forest managers are considering allowing some fires to burn under more moderate conditions, Davis said. Forest 55 can also replant trees after fire, at least in the areas where climate conditions will allow.
41. A. convenient B. difficult C. encouraging D. frustrating 42. A. ecologically B. apparently C. physically D. financially 43. A. destroyed B. worsened C. extended D. established 44. A. necessary B. enormous C. critical D. invisible 45. A. accelerated B. delayed C. eliminated D. strengthened 46. A. transform B. spread C. preserve D. escape 47. A. extinction B. decline C. tragedy D. increase 48. A. sustaining B. abandoning C. facilitating D. endangering 49. A. sufficient B. limited C. moderate D. approximate 50. A. occasional B. common C. essential D. temporary 51. A. astonishing B. hopeless C. costly D. irreversible 52. A. world B. state C. human D. forest 53. A. concentrated B. depended C. insisted D. commented 54. A. As a result B. For example C. In fact D. What’s more 55. A. savers B. managers C. researchers D. advocates
Section B
Directions: Read the following three passages. Each passage is followed by several questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the one that fits best according to the information given in the passage you have just read.
(A)
EU members’ states have agreed to ban a toxic substance widely found in clothing because it poses an “acceptable risk” to the environment. Countries voted in favor of extending existing restrictions on nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) to imports of clothing and other textile products.
The measure is intended to protect species in water. Use of NPE in textile manufacture in Europe was banned over 10 years ago but the substance is still released into the water environment through imported textiles being washed.
NPE degrades in the environment into substances including nonylphenol (NP), which accumulates in the bodies of fish and disturbs their hormones, harming fertility, growth and sexual development.
NPE is used in textile manufacture as a cleaning and dyeing agent. The EU decision notes that several studies have found NPE to be present in textile items.
A 2011 study by Greenpeace found NPE in two-thirds of clothes tested, including items sold by big-name brands such as Adidas, H&M, Lacoste, and Ralph Lauren. The NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) argued that although concentrations of NPE found in the clothes were low, the chemical’s existence in the environment posed a risk.
The new ban on textiles containing NPE in concentrations equal to or greater than 0.01% will enter into force five years after it is adopted by the European Commission, which is likely to happen in September.
In comments submitted to ECHA (European Chemicals Agency), clothing and textile firms have warned that obeying the restriction will be difficult because NPE is ubiquitous in the supply chain and has numerous uses.
The new restriction will not apply to second-hand goods or recycled textiles because it is assumed that these will already have been washed several times so they contain negligible (微不足道的) amounts of NPE.
EU countries must eliminate pollution of water bodies by NP as it is a priority substance under the Water Framework Directive. A 2013 study by the UK environment agency warned that emissions from textiles could prevent progress towards this objective. It found 29% of imported cotton underwear contained NPE, which was released during the first two washes by the consumer.
56. The 2011 study by Greenpeace found ____________________. A. 29% of imported cotton underwear contained NPE B. NPE had limited effects on aquatic species C. NPE was widely present in textile products
D. clothes of good quality had no concentrations of NPE
57. What’s the possible meaning of the underlined part “is ubiquitous” in Paragraph 7? A. is legally protected B. is not easy to be found C. seems to be everywhere D. is uncommon
58. What can we learn from the text?
A. The original ban on use of NPE was very effective. B. Recycled textiles contain less NPE.
C. The new ban on imports of textiles has come into force.
D. The UK environment agency is optimistic about the new ban.
59. Which section of the website does the text come from? A. Lifestyle. B. Technology. C. Business. D. Environment. (B) Letters Comments on the March Issue 40 Smart Ways to Save at the Supermarket Your caution not to fall for fake sales reminded me of when I was a stock boy at my neighborhood grocery in the 1950s. One time, we got a delivery of off-band vegetables. I priced them at ten cents a can. I don’t think we sold more than six cans—until I put up a sign that said “Special: Nine for $1.” I set them out Thursday evening, and by noon on Saturday they were gone. Edward Deckerd, Perryville, Missouri Bill’s Last, Best Gift Tracy Grant’s article resonated (与......产生共鸣) deeply with me. Twelve years ago, my husband, Don, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. As his caregiver, I, too, learned to appreciate the people and things around me and not to sweat the small stuff, and in the long run, I became a much better person. Don also gave me his last, best gift of love and peace. Antia Lawrence, San Diego, California Trapped Inside a Glacier Reading about John All’s experience on Mount Himlung was very inspiring to me. A man with 15 broken bones and bleeding internally being able to climb up a 70-foot wall of ice and survive for 18 hours at 20,000 feet is something that I would have thought to be impossible. I am 16 years old and a lifelong reader. Out of all the great content in Reader’s Digest, stories like his are the ones I enjoy the most. Sam Kieffer, Richardson, Texas Dishes Professional Chefs Cook in the Microwave Microwaving live lobsters is inhumane and cruel. Because lobsters feel pain, Switzerland has recently outlawed the practice of boiling them live. A similar law was passed in Italy, where it is now illegal to put lobsters on ice before cooking them. I hope you provide an update to your story promoting humane practices instead of cruel and violent ones. Janet Toole, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 60. How did Antia Lawrence react to her husband’s diagnosis? A. She felt very painful.
B. She gained some life lessons.
C. She paid more attention to her own health. D. She showed deep sympathy for her husband.
61. According to Sam Kieffer’s letter, what can be learn about John All? A. He is an expert in mountaineering.
B. He wrote the article entitled Trapped Inside a Glacier.
C. Not all people could survive in the same situation as he did.
D. His story is the best one that Sam Kieffer has ever read in Reader’s Digest.
62. Who is likely to disagree with what is said in the commented article? A. Edward Deckerd. B. Antia Lawrence. C. Sam Kieffer. D. Janet Toole
(C)
What makes us love some things and hate others? We know that sometimes even the tiniest change can result in a huge difference in how we perceive something, so is there any rhyme or reason to our tastes and preferences? Here are three factors which play a role. 1. Conforming to expectations
In London a few years ago, two talented rappers called Silibil N’ Brains took to the stage to perform at a music industry show for unsigned bands. They were an instant hit. Their outrageous West Coast-American style, brilliant rap lyrics and couldn’t-care-less attitude had the music industry’s talent spotters falling over themselves to sign the pair. In a short space of time, Silibil N’ Brains had a deal with a top management company, a contract with a major record label and an advance of $70, 000 — and they hadn’t even made a record. Before long, they were on tour with Eminem and out partying with Madonna. They were living the dream.
But two years ago the same two rappers were laughed off stage by the same talent spotters for singing the same songs. So what was the difference? Amazingly, it was their accent. You see, Silibil N’ Brains weren’t, in fact, from West Coast U.S.A. at all. They were from Dundee in Scotland. During the first audition they had used their Scottish accents when rapping and it hadn’t gone down well. “They just laughed at us,” recalled Brains. “We were heartbroken. We went back to Scotland with our tail between our legs.” The lesson for them was that to succeed, you have to conform to expectations and at that time everyone expected rappers to be American. 2. The benefit of hindsight
Some people are simply ahead of their time. It’s common knowledge that Vincent van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime — the other 900 or so were unknown and unloved until after his death. Monet’s paintings, at least in his early career, was considered incomplete and ugly by critics at the time, while Vermeer, the painter of Girl With a Pearl Earring, even had to use his mother-in-law as a guarantor when he borrowed money — so unable was he to sell any of his
