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In the 13th century,Marco Polo,the world-known Italian traveler,saw many wonderful things in China.One of the things he discovered was money made of paper.People in the West did not have such kind of money until the 15th century.However,the Chinese began to use it in the 7th century.
Paper was invented by a Chinese man called Cai Lun almost 2，000 years ago.But it was not made in Europe until the year 1，100.Four hundred years later,a German discovered that he could make the best paper from trees.After that,countries,rich in forests,such as Canada,Sweden,America,and Finland,became the most important ones in paper making.
Paper can be used in many ways.The common uses include newspapers,magazines and books.But do you know that paper can be used for keeping warm？In Finland,the farmers wear paper boots to keep their feet warm in the snow.And even houses can be insulated （使绝缘）from heat or cold with paper.
However,we have to understand that paper still comes from trees now.If we keep on wasting so much paper,there will not be any trees left on the earth some day in the near future.Every day people throw away about 2，800 tons of paper in our city.It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper.This means that we are cutting down nearly 48，000 trees every day.The fact is that it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow.
So we must start saving paper right now.We can use both sides of every piece of paper.We can make useful things out of used paper.We can use China cups instead of paper ones.When shopping,we can use fewer paper bags and reuse them if we have some.
In short,we should keep a balance between using paper and protecting trees,and do it now before it is too late.



When did the Chinese begin to use paper money？ ______

A. In the 5th century.
B. In the 7th century.
C. In the 6th century.
D. In the 15th century.

Why did Canada become an important country in paper making？ ______

A. It had lots of forests.
B. It was a very rich country.
C. It was a large country.
D. It produced the paper inventor.

How many trees are needed to make one ton of paper？ ______

A. 10.
B. 2，800.
C. 17.
D. 48，000.

What is Paragraph 5 mainly about？ ______

A. How we can make useful things.
B. How paper was invented.
C. How paper boots are made.
D. How we can save paper.

In all the world's cultures,people sing,play instruments,and celebrate with music.It plays such an important role in our lives that all fields focus on its study,including one looking at the biology of music.Experts find that because of the way our brains process music,learning to play an instrument or just listening to music can have a wide range of benefits.
Music education has received a lot of attention.Learning to play an instrument can help children improve math,science,and language skills.One study in Canada tracked children's IQ scores for nine months,discovering that children who studied music had the biggest test score improvements.The secret may lie in the way reading music and playing notes use several areas of the brain,increasing our ability to learn school subjects.For example,reading notes improves spatial （空间的）reasoning skills,which are helpful in solving math problems like fractions （分数）.
Music is also used for medical purposes,such as the treatment of diseases which affect memories.The secret lies in the way the brain processes music.One area near the forehead,the medial prefrontal cortex（脑前额叶外皮），connects music with memories stored in two other areas：the amygdale（杏仁核）and hippocampus（海马体）.That's why an old song can remind you of something that happened years ago.For patients suffering from diseases like Alzheimer's,listening to music can help unlock buried memories by strengthening musical pathways to memories.
With the evidence of music's benefits,it's no wonder some countries make music study a part of their education systems.People are recognizing that more than just a form of entertainment,music is also great for the brain.



According to the Canadian study,which children increased IQ scores？ ______

A. Those who already had high IQ scores.
B. Those who had always played music.
C. Those who could not play any instrument.
D. Those who studied music for a period of time.

Which of the following is a kind of disease？ ______

A. Spatial reasoning.
B. Alzheimer's.
C. The amygdale and hippocampus.
D. The medial prefrontal cortex.

Which can be the best title for the text？ ______

A. Music and health
B. Music and education
C. Music and the mind
D. Music and instruments

Scientists are studying music because ______ .

A. music can be used for medical treatments
B. music plays a very important role in our lives
C. our brains can process music in different ways
D. music education has received a lot of attention

Animals in the Arctic,including reindeer and golden eagles,are migrating earlier due to climate change,say researchers who have gathered a huge amount of data to study the behavior of 86 Arctic species over the past three decades.
"We have the ability to keep our eyes on animal movements on a very large scale," says Eliezer Gurarie at the University of Maryland."It seems that animals are unknowingly reacting and adapting to climatic changes,and have been doing for years."
Gurarie and his team used GPS and satellites to track the spring migration of more than 900 female reindeer over the past 15 years.They discovered that the females are migrating to give birth about a day earlier year on year,probably as a result of warming temperatures.Earlier birthing times can be risky in northern parts of the Arctic,says team member Gil Bohrer at Ohio State University."There are higher chances of their children facing strong and unexpected storms," he says.If they do,many will die because they cannot deal with extreme conditions.
Similarly,golden eagles - which usually nest in the Arctic area - have been starting their spring migration half a day earlier each year over the past 25 years.
"The day-to-day change of climate is very small," says Bohrer."To understand how animals react to climate change,you need a very long period of observation - something that has only recently been possible."
The researchers' archive of Arctic animal movement currently covers more than 15 million data points related to 8，000 animals."Our archive can help to advise management methods to preserve endangered species,as climate change only becomes more extreme," says Bohrer.



What can we conclude from Gurarie's words？ ______

A. Researchers can guide animal movements.
B. Animals can adapt to climate change easily.
C. Animals don't know how to react to the changes.
D. Earlier migration is animals' reaction to warmer climate.

What is a possible bad effect of animals' giving birth earlier？ ______

A. Children have less opportunity to survive.
B. There will be more unexpected storms.
C. Fewer children will be delivered.
D. They may migrate earlier in spring.

What does Bohrer want to stress in Paragraph 5？ ______

A. The small change of climate.
B. The challenge of the research.
C. The possibility of observing animals.
D. The purpose of the research.

What does the passage mainly talk about？ ______

A. The observation of animals.
B. Newly-found animals in danger.
C. The discovery of animals' migrating earlier.
D. Animals' extinction caused by global warming.

When it comes to figuring out the link between well-being and access to nature,there are big confusing factors.To begin with,what is psychological（心理的）well-being？The World Health Organization defines（下定义）mental health as "a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities,can deal with the normal stresses of life,can work productively and is able to make a contribution to his or her community".That is hard to quantify.
Then there is the question of what "access to nature" means.Some studies measure passive access,or how much green space is available in someone's local area.Others look at active access,which is the actual exposure a person gets to green space.That makes it difficult to compare results and build a coherent（协调的）picture.
A few researchers have tried to assess what the proper dose（剂量）of nature might be.A 2019 study involving almost 20，000 participants in England concluded that at least 120 minutes a week of recreational（消遣的）nature contact was connected with good health or well-being.The team,led by Mathew White,found that the effect peaks at between 200 and 300 minutes a week,with people reporting no further gain after that.
What exactly this means for you-or any individual-is unclear.As other studies indicate,the mental health benefits a person gets from access to nature are likely to be influenced by many factors,including age,gender,personality features,personal preferences and socio-economic status.Your culture matters too-and,so far,most research into the well-being effects of nature has been done in Western societies.



Which of the following might mean mental health according to WHO？ ______

A. Ignoring ones' own abilities.
B. Complaining about stresses.
C. Communicating effectively.
D. Having high productivity.

How long should people stay close to nature every week to gain the most？ ______

A. 50 minutes.
B. 150 minutes.
C. 250 minutes.
D. 350 minutes.

Why does the author feel uncertain about the finding？ ______

A. Studies haven't provided any results so far.
B. Studies haven't considered all the factors.
C. Studies were only done in Western societies.
D. Studies have misled the public over the results.

What can be a suitable title for the text？ ______

A. Why does nature affect health？
B. Who does nature influence？
C. How much nature do I need？
D. How does nature benefit people？

Half of the world's coral reefs have died in the last 30 years. Now scientists are racing to ensure that the rest will survive.
"The threat to coral reefs isn't something that's going to happen 100 years from now. We're losing them right now," Julia Baum told the Associated Press. She is a marine biologist at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. "We're losing them really quickly, much more quickly than I think any of us ever could have imagined."
Even if global warming were in stop right now, scientists predict that more than 90% of corals will die by 2050. If no major steps are taken to address the issue, the reefs may be headed for total extinction.
The planet's health depends on the survival of coral reefs. They are often described as underwater rainforests, because they are ecosystems that provide habitats for one in four of all marine species. In addition, the reefs serve as barriers that protect coastlines from the full force of powerful storms. Corals are used in medical research for cures to diseases. They are key to local economies, as well, since the reefs attract tourists, the fishing industry, and other businesses, bringing in billions of dollars of revenue（收入）.
"To lose coral reefs is to fundamentally damage the health of the human race," Ruth Gates, director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, said.
Corals are animals that lack a backbone. They live mostly in tropical waters. The corals release a substance called calcium carbonate（碳酸钙）， which forms protective skeletons around them. The skeletons grow and take on vivid colors. This is the result of the corals' mutually beneficial relationship with algae（藻类） that live in their tissues（组织） and give them energy.
But corals are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature. A rise of just 1 to 2 degrees Celsius can force the corals to drive out the algae. Then the corals' skeletons turn white in a process called "bleaching". Corals can survive in these higher temperatures only for a few months.



What can we know about the world's coral reefs？ ______

A. The number of the world's coral reefs is on the decrease.
B. 45% of the world's coral reefs have died in the last 30 years.
C. Global warming has no influence on the world's coral reefs.
D. Scientists have taken major steps to address the issue of world's coral reefs.

Paragraph 4 is mainly about ______ .

A. economic value of coral reefs
B. the challenges faced by coral reefs
C. the medical functions of coral reefs
D. the importance of coral reefs.

What makes corals take on different colors？ ______

A. Changes in temperature.
B. Ocean waters.
C. Algae living inside corals.
D. Protective skeletons.

The corals' skeletons turn white when ______ .

A. there is not enough oxygen.
B. there are no algae in the corals' skeletons.
C. water pollution is worsening.
D. the ocean temperature is too low.

The scientists placed underwater speakers in areas where coral had been dying in Australia's northern Great Barrier Reef.They played certain sounds over a period of about 6 weeks and studied the results.The team reported that twice as many fish arrived in areas where the sounds of healthy coral were played.Among the arriving fish were species that feed on all major food sources.
The researchers noted the importance of having many different kinds of fish return to the area.Different species of fish perform many activities that support the ocean environment and sea life. "Damaged reefs have a higher chance of recovery if they have healthy fish population," the scientists wrote in the report.
Steve Simpson said that "healthy coral reefs are remarkably noisy places." They contain the sounds of many kinds of shrimp,fish and other sea creatures.Young fish listen for these sounds when they are looking for a place to settle.He added that reefs "become ghostly quiet" when they suffer destruction that is usually related to human-caused pollution.Coral damage can cause unappealing smells and sounds that drive shrimp and fish away.
Mark Meekan is a fish biologist.He said that the return of these fish is the first step to seeing major improvements in reef health."Recovery is underpinned by fish that clean the reef and create space for corals to regrow," he said.Tim Gordon says he believes sound can be used to bring back dead coral in areas suffering major destruction in oceans across the world.
University of Bristol professor Andy Radford said the underwater sounds are a promising way to fight coral reef damage at the local community level.But he noted that other threats need to be reduced as well.These include climate change,pollution and overfishing.From local management innovations to international political action,we need meaningful progress at all levels to paint a better future for reefs worldwide.



Why did researchers attract fish by playing sounds underwater？ ______

A. To study the population of fish.
B. To catch fish as major food sources.
C. To recover damaged reefs naturally.
D. To record the sounds of healthy corals.

How did Steve explain the coral reefs？ ______

A. By presenting the research results.
B. By making comparisons.
C. By listing some specific data.
D. By giving some examples.

What does the underlined word "underpinned" in Para.4 mean？ ______

A. Destroyed.
B. Affected.
C. Supported.
D. Attacked.

What does Professor Andy stress？ ______

A. Reef needs protection at all levels.
B. Climate change is more serious than reef damage.
C. Overfishing threatens world coral reef.
D. Pollution needs international political action.

Tree planting used to be regarded as an effective means of controlling climate change. Perhaps it's time for us to rethink this practice. Trees pull carbon dioxide or CO2 from the air. This effectively removes CO2 from the atmosphere, making trees an important part of the fight against climate change. But trees only hold onto carbon dioxide as long as they're alive. Once they die,trees decay （腐烂） and release that CO2 back into the atmosphere.
Recent studies have found that trees around the world are growing faster than ever. Rising atmospheric CO2 is probably driving that rapid growth, said Roel Brienen. High levels of this gas are boosting temperatures, which in turn speeds tree growth in those areas, he added. The faster trees grow, the faster they store carbon. It seems like good news. However, it is known that fast-growing tree species, in general, live shorter lives than their slow-growing relatives.
In order to see whether this is a universal phenomenon,Brienen and his colleagues analyzed over 210，000 individual tree ring records of 110 tree species from more than 70，000 sites worldwide. "By measuring tree rings' widths one can tell how fast trees grew, while counting rings provides information on tree ages and allows making inferences about trees' maximum lifespan （寿命）." Brienen explained.
The team also created a computer program that modeled a forest. Early on, it showed that "the forest could hold more carbon as the trees grew faster"， Brienen reported. But after 20 years, these trees started dying and losing this extra carbon again. "We must understand that the only solution to bring down CO2 levels is to stop emitting （排放） it into the atmosphere," said Brienen.



What is the first paragraph mainly about？ ______

A. Why trees against climate change should be rethought.
B. Whether trees will be planted or not.
C. Why the atmosphere can remove carbon dioxide.
D. Where carbon dioxide or CO2 is.

Why are trees growing faster than ever according to recent studies？ ______

A. They give off and store lots of CO2 .
B. They belong to fast-growing species.
C. Rising atmospheric CO2 may help them.
D. The surrounding trees may affect them.

According to tree rings' widths, we can know a tree's ______ .

A. growth speed
B. height
C. age
D. top lifespan

What might be talked about in the following paragraph？ ______

A. Why the team founded the computer program.
B. Why the faster trees grow, the longer they live.
C. How to make the old trees live a little longer.
D. How to deal with dying trees emitting their extra carbon.

The Sidamo lark（西达莫歌百灵），discovered by scientists in 1968，is known only from a small area of southern Ethiopia.The bird is one of the most ancient types of larks known anywhere.
The Sidamo lark has brown feathers.Male and female Sidamo larks look alike.It calls with a series of quick and short sounds,typically heard as it flies high into the sky.The Sidamo lark has very special habitat requirements,having only been found in grassland with a few bushes.For thousands of years,both the wild animals and humans kept the grassland in good condition.This habitat is now being destroyed.Wild animals are too few to stop bushes growing,while increasingly developed agriculture is damaging the grassland.The Sidamo lark is thought to have a very small population now.
The Sidamo lark could soon be the first bird on mainland Africa to die out since modern records began.Research has found that just a few hundred of the larks survive in Ethiopia.Unless action is taken to save it,the bird will disappear.It will be the first recorded bird dying out on the continent.
To save the bird from extinction,environmentalists have suggested the creation of small fields in which cattle could eat grass.This would stop damage to the grassland and protect the grass cover.Bushes should also be removed,while a limit should be placed on crops coming further into the bird's habitat.



What kind of habitat does the Sidamo lark need？ ______

A. Grassland with thick bushes.
B. Grassland with many wild animals.
C. Grassland covered with bushes here and there.
D. Grassland with a few bushes.

What do we know about the Sidamo lark's habitat now？ ______

A. It is under good protection now.
B. It has been replaced by small fields in which cattle eat grass.
C. It is being damaged by agriculture.
D. It has been removed to some other places.

What can we infer from the passage？ ______

A. Thick bushes are harmful to the survival of Sidamo larks.
B. Africa has the most kinds of larks in the world.
C. Larks only exist in African mainland.
D. Larks are found where there is grassland.

Which would be the best title for the passage？ ______

A. The Sidamo lark,a beautiful bird in Africa
B. The Sidamo lark soon to be extinct
C. The ways to protect the Sidamo lark
D. The Sidamo lark and its habitat

Sleeping is important,and we all know that.Many people have experienced strange sleeping patterns,weird （奇怪的） dreams and a feeling of restlessness and tiredness despite a good night's sleep.So what sort of things can help you to improve your sleep？
There are a lot of myths related to sleep,some of which can be quite damaging for our health.Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher famously claimed that she only slept for five hours a night.But according to experts,this is harmful to health.Likewise,sleeping in front of the TV is another thing to avoid.The bright lights can prevent you from entering a deep sleep.
From a young age we're told to count sheep to help us to fall asleep,with some choosing to stay in bed to battle with insomnia.However,some experts advise getting up and doing something mindless,like folding socks,to help us get in the mood to fall asleep.
Psychologist Seth J.Gillihan PhD recommends walking to help in the battle against the issue.He talks about a sleep study published in the journal Sleep Health which suggests that those who walk slightly more will experience better quality and length of sleep.Watching what you eat or drink can also improve the amount of rapid eye movement you experience.
If you're a snorer（打鼾者），you might also want to take note.While most snoring is harmless,it could be a sign of sleep apnoea （室息），with people suffering from the condition more likely to have heart attacks,irregular heartbeats or high blood pressure.
Finally,a good nap（小睡），or even a power nap,can help you to be more alert,calm and focused.So while there are some good tips like exercising or folding socks to help us get a good night's sleep,sometimes a good afternoon's sleep can help us face the day ahead.



What is opposed by the experts？ ______

A. Sleeping with the window open.
B. Sleeping in front of a switched-on TV.
C. Exercising before going to bed.
D. Sleeping over five hours per night.

What does the underlined word "insomnia" probably mean？ ______

A. Sleeplessness.
B. Headache.
C. Confusion.
D. Unconsciousness.

What should a snorer pay attention to？ ______

A. Unusual blood pressure.
B. Regular heartbeats.
C. Chances of heart disease.
D. The possibility of sleep apnoea.

What's the best title for the text？ ______

A. How to Fall Asleep Fast.
B. The Myths of Sleeping Patterns.
C. How to Improve Your Sleep.
D. The Power of a Good Night's Sleep.

If you think of pumpkin as a kind of orange-colored squash（南瓜属植物的果实）which is the key ingredient for holiday season pies,you wouldn't be wrong.
But there's much more to pumpkin,which is full of nutrients that provide an impressive collection of health benefits,says Lisa Jones,a registered dietitian based in Philadelphia. "Pumpkin may be good for carving,but it's even better for a variety of healthy nutrients," she says. "Pumpkin provides a diverse of nutritional benefits in addition to being an ingredient in pies or festival decoration. "
The best part about pumpkin is that it's so easy to work it into your daily food.When preparing various dishes,add pumpkin to things like soups or bake with it in bread.There are so many things you can do with pumpkin beyond pumpkin pie.Pumpkin is seasonal,ripening in the fall.But you can get pumpkin products,like canned puree or soup,in many stores throughout the year.
Consuming pumpkin can help fight cancer,says Mahmoud Ghannoum,professor and director of the Center for Medical Mycology.Pumpkin has plenty of beta-carotene（胡萝卜素），which is an antioxidant,playing an important role in protecting the body from cancers.Pumpkin is a good source of minerals,vitamin C and fiber,all of which are associated with heart health and keep your skin healthy and,hopefully,wrinkle-free.The squash also contains a healthy amount of vitamin E，which helps reduce damage caused to your skin by ultraviolet light（紫外线）.Besides,the fiber in pumpkin can help you feel full,which,in turn,boosts your odds of consuming healthy portions of food.Pumpkin is also low in calories：a cup of cooked pumpkin contains about 50 calories,which helps assist with weight management.



What does Lisa Jones think of pumpkin？ ______

A. It's more than used in dishes or decoration.
B. It suits people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
C. It is easy to carve pumpkin into diverse patterns.
D. It can be used in various western dishes.

Which of the following is the biggest advantage about pumpkin？ ______

A. it can be made into various products.
B. It can be bought all the year round.
C. It ripens in the fall.
D. It's not hard to add it to daily dishes.

What is the fourth paragraph mainly about？ ______

A. Different ways to consume pumpkin.
B. The characteristics of pumpkin.
C. The classification of pumpkin.
D. The potential benefits of consuming pumpkin.

From which is the text probably taken？ ______

A. A science fiction
B. A travel guidebook.
C. A health website.
D. A book review.