Though much effort and many resources have been spent on protecting the endangered giant panda, research by an international team of scientists shows that much suitable panda habitat is outside the nature reserves and areas where the panda is reported to live.

       “This research can help the Chinese government and international nongovernmental organizations develop full strategic(战略上的) plans for more effective conservation of the panda,” said Jianguo “Jack” Liu, MSU University Distinguished Professor of fisheries and wildlife.

       “Overall, about 40 percent of the suitable habitat for pandas is inside the nature reserves,” said Andres Vina, a specialist. “But we have also identified potentially suitable habitat outside the reserves.”

       The giant panda is the rarest member of the bear family. Pandas once ranged throughout most of China, northern Vietnam and northern Myanmar. Today, fewer than 1,600 giant pandas live in the wild in three Chinese provinces; Gansu, Shanxi and Sichuan. Human actions—including logging(伐木), residential development and the expansion of farming—are considered the main reasons for the dramatic decrease of the giant panda’s habitat.

       The research team developed habitat models using geographical and environmental information gathered by satellites overlaid with information on panda occurrence. After analyzing six mountain regions in the three provinces where pandas are known to live, the scientists developed a habitat suitability index(索引) for the entire 48,328 square-mile area. The range-wide habitat analysis model gives the government and other agencies a new tool as they develop conservation strategies not only for pandas but also for many other endangered species.

       “The Chinese government plans to add about 69,500 square miles of land to the country’s nature reserve system between 2010 and 2020,” said Zhiyun Ouyang, director of the Lab of Urban and Regional Erology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. “So opportunities exist to create new reserves, to expand existing reserves and to create pathways that increase the connectivity among the reserves. On the basis of our results, we suggest some new areas be included in China’s nature reserve system.”

66.Which of the following is NOT true?

       A.China has made lots of efforts to protect the giant panda.

       B.Pandas live better only outside the nature reserves.

       C.More plans should be created to protect the giant pandas.

       D.Liu Jianguo is a professor who devotes himself to fisheries and wildlife.

67.According to the passage, the giant pandas               .

       A.have the same living habit as bears

       B.are only suitable to live in Gansu, Shanxi and Sichuan

       C.will all be protected in the nature reserves

       D.are endangered mainly due to the damage to their habitat

68.The purpose of developing habitat models is              .

       A.to know where pandas actually live in China

       B.to build a larger nature reserve for the pandas

       C.to develop conservation strategies for endangered species

       D.to give governments a warning

69.The underlined word “overlaid” in the fifth paragraph probably means “        ”.

       A.covered                  B.connected               C.coped                     D.varied

70.What can we learn from the last paragraph?

       A.Zhiyun Ouyang hopes more areas will become nature reserves in China.

       B.China has about 69,500 square miles of nature reserves now.

       C.The existing reserves will remain the same.

       D.The existing reserves shouldn’t be expanded.

       Thoreau and other naturalists have praised the benefits of nature to your state of mind in their works, but there are some researches showing how nature makes you smarter. A study has found that exposure to the great outdoors improves cognitive(认知的) function. Experts have called this attention restoration therapy(注意力修复治疗).

       In the study, researchers from the University of Michigan asked a group of volunteers to complete a take designed to challenge memory and attention. The volunteers then took a walk in either a park or in downtown Ann Arbor. After the walk, volunteers returned to the lab and were retested on the task. The performance on the memory and attention task greatly improved in people following the walk in the park, but did not improve in those who walked downtown.

       Why nature makes you smarter? According to the experts, one reason has to do with how nature affects your attention. You have two types of attention. One is involuntary, where your attention is attracted by some stimuli(刺激物). And the other one is directed attention, where you control your attention. Directed attention is important for memory, resolving conflict and reducing absent mind.

       Being in nature exposes you to soothing stimuli that engages your involuntary attention. It gives your directed attention a rest and a chance to become renewed. When you are in a city, you are constantly vigilant(警觉的), your directed attention is turned on and cannot get a rest.

       Richard Luov created the term “nature deficit(缺乏) disorder disorder” to describe a condition of being so out of touch with nature that we lose humility, our spirituality, our humanity and we also are at higher risk of obesity(肥胖), depression and other disease. His first book, Last Child in the Woods, was about the negative effects of a nature deficit on children, but his new book. The Nature Principle, describes how adults are equally at risk if they seldom spend time with nature.

       If you can’t be in nature today, get a screen saver of nature. In another part of the study, people who were simply shown photos of nature did better on cognitive function than those shown urban images. But I think it will be better for you to go out and experience the real things.

61.Which of the following probably belongs to the attention restoration therapy?

       A.Doing exercise in the gym.

       B.Reading Thoreau’s works at home.

       C.Jogging around in the shopping mall.

       D.Walking or running through a local park.

62.From the second paragraph, we can learn all EXCEPT that       .

       A.the study was conducted by experts of University of Michigan

       B.the study is about people’s memory and attention

       C.the study indicates nature has a good effect on memory and attention

       D.the participants should walk in both the park and downtown

63.According to the passage, when one is considered to engage your involuntary attention?

       A.Remembering things.                                  B.Relaxing in nature.

       C.Solving problems.                                       D.Being cautious.

64.Which is the CORRECT information about Richard Luov?

       A.He found the reason for obesity.

       B.He wrote a book about children’s problems.

       C.He has published a new health book.

       D.He created a term to describe people who spend little time in nature.

65.which of the following would the author highly advise readers to do?

       A.Get a picture of nature.

       B.Avoid watching urban images.

       C.Set your screen with an image of nature as the background.

       D.Go out and spend time in nature.

       The River Thames was once described as “biologically(生物学地) dead”. A waterway polluted with so much industrial waste that no wildlife could survive in it.

       But today it has become a thriving (繁荣的) natural habitat and a team of conservationists restoring the famous river have been offered a top environment award for their work.

      Ncarly 40 miles of the river have been improved in the last five years through almost 400 Environment Agency restoration projects. As a result, the river is now home to some 125 species of fish, while many others are returning. The river mouth supports shellfisheries and is a nursery ground(育苗场) for bass (鲈鱼) stocks, and the water quality of the Thames has improved.

       Alastair Driver, the Environment Agency’s national conservation manager, said that in the last 150 years, the Thames had been polluted seriously and that it had taken thousands of people decades to restore it to its current condition. “Strict regulations for polluting industries and our work with farmers, businesses and water companies to reduce pollution and improve water quality have helped to make the Thames a living river once again.” But he warned that the river’s recovery was still “fragile”, since it was under the pressure from a growing population and climate change. He said advanced projects and cooperation with various people and organizations aim at dealing with the problems the Thames faces and ensuring(确保) it still a famous river for  many centuries to come.

       Actor, David Suchet, a skillful boater and chairman of the River Thames Alliance, said, “I am fortunate in my life to have traveled widely and enjoyed many other rivers worldwide. But the River Thames is priceless and it is one of the most glittering jewels in the crown of our English heritage.”

       Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said, “The Thames is one of our most precious resources, so I am excited to see that efforts to improve and preserve its good health are being praised on the world stage.”

       The £ 220,000 prize, awarded at the International Rive Symposium in Australia, will go to the Thames Rivers Restoration Trust.

56.Which one of the following statements is NOT true?

       A.The River Thames h as become a nursery ground now.

       B.The River Thames has been a well-known river in England.

       C.Many agencies took part in the restoration projects on the River Thames.

       D.The River Thames was once polluted by industrial waste.

57.What can we learn about David Suchet?

       A.He said some factories have been regulated to reduce pollutants.

       B.He is an actor who is good at boating.

       C.He has traveled to al rivers in the world.

       D.He is a manager of the Environment Agency.

58.What does the underlined word “fragile” in the fourth paragraph mean?

       A.Closely protected.                                       B.Most visited.

       C.Easily damaged.                                          D.Strongly praised.

59.What was Boris Johnson’s attitude towards the honor?

       A.Excited.                  B.Moved.                   C.Concerned.             D.Disappointed.

60.According to the passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT      .

       A.people are trying to bring more life to the Thames nowadays

       B.the Mayor of London thinks the restoring work is worthwhile

       C.David Suchet thinks highly of the Thames

       D.Australia was also awarded in the competition

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