专题 02 阅读理解（说明文）
主题01 人与社会——社会问题
Passage 1
（2026・四川・高三）
As gold prices hit new highs, a gold panning trend is popular in China’s old mining towns. Tourists can sift
sand and shallow streams to find tiny gold flakes, which they can take home for free.
In Shandong and Zhejiang provinces, former mining towns now let visitors walk through underground tunnels,
learn mining skills, and look for gold in streams and sandpits. A mining-themed park in Zhejiang’s Suichang County
earned 13% more from tickets than last year by late August. During the recent 8-day National Day and Mid-Autumn
Festival holiday, over 15,000 people booked tickets there. This year, gold prices have reached record levels. On
October 8, international gold prices went above $4,000 per ounce. A visitor to the Suichang park said her husband
found a small gold flake. Though it was hard to find and not valuable, “the kids were very happy,” she added. Each
flake weighs 0.03 to 0.05 grams, worth about 35 to 60 yuan now.
The park’s entry ticket costs 126 yuan, and people pay an extra 30 yuan for the gold-panning activity. The
“panning pool” is man-made. Since the park opened in 2007, it has added 1 kilogram of gold foil to the pool, said
park manager Luo Feng. Besides gold panning, the park also offers tours of Tang (618-907) and Ming (1368-1644)
dynasty mining tunnels, plus a museum. Similar spots exist in other places: a “Gold Panning Town” and museum in
a closed mine in Shandong Zhaoyuan City, and a planned museum in Jilin’s Jiapigou (a 200-year-old major gold
mine).
Experts say this trend shows people now prefer “hands-on experiences” over just sightseeing. Luo plans to
add gold jewelry making and gold-foil art workshops to attract young people. “Gold stands for wealth and stability,
which people of all ages care about,” he said. This kind of travel is called “industrial tourism” (visiting industrial
places). It started in Europe in the mid-20th century and came to China in the late 1990s. With government support,
China now has over 1,000 such spots, from old steel mills to new electric-vehicle factories. But for long-term growth,
industrial tourism needs to go beyond “factory tours and souvenir shops”, and bring in “immersive, narrative, and
interactive designs to help bring industrial stories into everyday life,” Zeng Bowei, a professor in tourism economyat Beijing Union University, told domestic media.
1．Why does the text start with the example of “gold prices hitting new highs”?
A．To explain why gold flakes found by tourists are extremely valuable.
B．To prove that gold markets have a direct impact on Chinese tourism.
C．To encourage readers to participate in gold panning in tourism activities.
D．To introduce the topic of the popularity of gold-panning industrial tourism.
2．Why is “hands-on experience” tourism like gold panning becoming popular?
A．Because people want to make money from them.
B．Because people prefer taking part in activities actively.
C．Because there are no other interesting tourist attractions.
D．Because the government urges people to visit industrial tourism sites.
3．What can visitors NOT do in the mining-themed park in Suichang County, Zhejiang?
A．Walk through underground tunnels from the Tang and Ming dynasties.
B．Pan for gold in a man-made pool with gold foil.
C．Visit a museum about mining history.
D．Make gold jewelry in special workshops.
4．What is the author’s main purpose in writing this passage?
A．To advertise the gold-panning activities at the Suichang mining-themed park.
B．To explain the historical origin of China’s industrial tourism.
C．To introduce the popularity and development of gold-panning-themed industrial tourism.
D．To persuade readers to visit old mining towns for gold-panning experience.
Passage 2
（2026・四川绵阳）
If you ask a Westerner to name a successful Chinese consumer-goods brand, most would have struggled until
recently. Although China is the world’s leading manufacturing power, it has long fallen behind in creating imaginative,
home-grown retail (零售) brands and products. That, however, is beginning to change.
Innovative Chinese brands are appearing everywhere. From Stockholm to Sydney, the electric cars silently
passing by are increasingly likely to be Chinese. Mixue, an ice-cream and cold drinks company, has overtaken
McDonald’s to become the world’s largest fast-food chain by number of outlets. It is expanding in South America,
as is Meituan, a Beijing-based delivery app. Chagee, a chain of tea shops, is on track to have at least 1, 300 stores
outside China by the end of 2027, mostly in Southeast Asia; just a few years ago, it had almost none. Meanwhile,Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company, has created a buzz as much as Disney with its unusual grinning nine-toothed
dolls, called Labubus. It is impossible not to admire the creative force behind these successful enterprises.
Western consumers have been buying products made in China for decades. However, these goods were mostly
designed by and produced for foreign companies. Chinese brands were long regarded as low-quality and lacking
creativity.
New companies are now challenging these old assumptions. Many proudly emphasize their Chinese heritage.
For example, Chagee’s logo features a Peking Opera singer in full costume, and its name comes from “Farewell, My
Concubine,” a classic Chinese opera. The video game “Black Myth: Wukong,” one of the most successful ever,
features the Monkey King from the 16th-century novel Journey to the West.
Today, many Chinese brands compete not only on price but also on quality. Chagee’s drinks can even be as
expensive as Starbucks’. Western companies will need to wake up and take notice of bubble tea. In the future, they
will have to make more efforts to understand Chinese consumers’ unique tastes. Some may even partner with
innovative Chinese firms to gain insight and inspiration. Competition from China could eventually push Disney,
Mattel toys, and other major Western brands to reach new levels of creativity.
5．What does the underlined part “created a buzz” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A．Caused public excitement. B．Made a loud noise.
C．Lost great popularity. D．Received negative comments.
6．How did the western consumers find Chinese brands?
A．Full of imagination. B．Short of creativity. C．Quality guaranteed. D．Mass
produced.
7．What is the author’s advice for the western brands?
A．Notice different bubble tea. B．Ignore the Chinese influence.
C．Cooperate with Chinese brands. D．Lower the price of the products.
8．What is the passage mainly about?
A．The history of Chinese retail brands. B．How foreign firms win Chinese customers.
C．Why Chinese products were unpopular before.D．The rise of innovative Chinese brands globally.
主题02 人与社会——人工智能
Passage 1
（2026・四川眉山）
On the surface, it may not appear that Dr. Dolittle and artificial intelligence (AI) have much in common. One
belongs in 1900s children’s literature, while the other is firmly rooted in the 21st century. One is a physician turnedvet (兽医) who can talk to animals, and the other a computerized technology that cannot. But the dream of speaking
with animals may not be so fantastical anymore.
AI has already given us the ability to bark instructions at robots—could its potential be extended to the animal
kingdom? Could it help us understand the natural world and maybe one day allow us to “talk” to animals?
The first difficulty in “translating” animal communication is understanding what that communication looks
like. Human language is made up of verbal (口头的) and non-verbal cues, and animal communication is no different.
Dogs wag their tails, for example, to convey a range of emotions. However, there is some debate as to whether this
can be considered a “language”. According to Dr. Herzing, Research Director, Wild Dolphin Project, AI could help
put it to bed.
“We currently don’t know if animals have a language,” Herzing said. “But AI can help us look for language-
like structures which might suggest animals have parts of a language.”
Scientists have been collecting sounds, calls and various animal vocalizations (发声) for decades. Research
has shown that animal vocalizations carry many types of information from their identity to external objects. The hope
is that AI models being developed can work like what ChatGPT does for human input, and turn those vocalizations
into something more recognizable to humans.
With a better understanding of the animals around us, can we still justify practices that slaughter (屠宰) them?
This could have far-reaching influences, including for the treatment of animals in entertainment, research and
agriculture. From a human perspective, there is also a lot we could learn, not just about ourselves but about animals
and, maybe, other life forms.
1．Why does the author mention Dr. Dolittle in paragraph 1?
A．To present a classic figure. B．To highlight literary-real gap.
C．To inspire animal talk fantasy. D．To indicate tech realizes fairytale.
2．What does “put it to bed” underlined in paragraph 3 refer to?
A．Solve the problem. B．Suspend the research.
C．Continue the discussion. D．Reconsider the definition.
3．What are AI models expected to do?
A．Interpret human language patterns.
B．Assess the general state of animals.
C．Make animal voices understandable.
D．Record major events in the natural world.
4．What will a better understanding of the animals lead to?A．A new life form exploration. B．The better animal welfare.
C．A deeper reflection on humans. D．The advanced slaughter technology.
Passage 2
（2026・四川眉山）
Traditional art education has long focused on copying classic styles, but artificial intelligence (AI) is changing
this way of teaching. Up to now, many schools around the world have started using Microsoft Copilot, a tool that
combines two AI functions in their art classes. This tool helps students not only understand classic art works better
but also create new works based on them.
The teaching process follows three clear steps: learn, analyze and recreate. First, students study great works
of art in class. For example, they learn how Van Gogh used colors to show his feelings, or how he used brush lines
to catch light and shadow. Next, they use one part of Copilot to analyze the key features of these styles and list the
main points of a style, which helps them go deeper than just surface learning. Then, they use another part of Copilot to
create their own works. They write simple descriptions, like “change Van Gogh’s Starry Night into a modern city
with bright neon lights (霓虹灯)”, and the AI generates several initial versions. Students then refine these versions
and add their own hand-drawn parts to make the works unique.
This new method keeps the good parts of traditional education while bringing in new ideas. It helps students
develop creative thinking and solves problems caused by different learning abilities. As for art teachers, they agree
that AI is a helpful tool to make students create works, but there is a lack of soul in their creation. They insist that
hand-drawing is still the most fundamental and important skill.
5．What does the underlined word “refine” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?
A．Improve. B．Copy. C．Simplify. D．Abandon.
6．According to the passage, which of the following steps involve the use of AI?
A．Learn and analyze. B．Analyze and recreate.
C．Learn and recreate. D．Learn, analyze and recreate.
7．What is the teachers’ attitude towards using AI in art classes?
A．Negative. B．Supportive. C．Cautious. D．Worried.
8．Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A．AI Helps Enhance Art Teaching.
B．The Best AI Tools for Art Students.
C．How to Learn Classic Art Styles with AI.
D．AI Takes the Place of Hand-Drawing in Class.主题03 人与社会——科普知识
Passage 1
（2026・四川广安・高三一模）
Scientists may have found a new energy carrier that could help with our efforts to transition away from fossil
fuels — and it could be hiding in the mountains. Using advanced simulations (模拟), a German research team believes
it has found vast reserves of clean hydrogen gas (H₂) produced by rocks that are millions of years old.
As an energy carrier, H₂ is more sustainable than fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases and cause climate
change by trapping heat in the atmosphere. Yet now, our predominant method of producing H₂ is through a
synthetic (合成的) process that, ironically, requires fossil fuels.
The impediment to natural H₂ extraction (提炼) has been the absence of a reserve sufficiently large to be
viable — that is, cost-effective to develop. However, the research team’s findings could change this situation. “Overall,
we may be at a turning point for natural H₂ exploration,” said Dr Frank Zwaan, one of the team members. “As such,
we could be witnessing the birth of a new natural hydrogen industry.”
The most promising natural method for large-scale production of H₂ is through a geological process known as
‘serpentinization’, which refers to how rocks from deep in Earth’s mantle (地幔) react with water. Essentially, the
minerals in these rocks undergo chemical transformations, forming new minerals that belong to the serpentine group
and releasing H₂ gas in the process.
The researchers think that when these rocks are found near Earth’s surface, they could create significant
hydrogen-rich zones. To get to the surface, the rocks are ‘tectonically exhumed’ (构造折返) through more than 2,900
km of mantle over millions of years. This process occurs through two main modes: continents breaking apart (allowing
the mantle to rise) and the formation of mountains (pushing mantle rocks up to the surface).
When researchers modelled the two processes, they found that mountain formation created the best conditions
for serpentinization. In fact, their simulations showed that rocks emerging through mountain formations promised 20
times more H₂ capacity than those pushed to the surface through continental rifting.
Researchers have already found indications of natural hydrogen generation in mountains including the Pyrenees,
the Alps and the Balkans.
1．What is the problem with fossil fuels according to the text?
A．They are difficult to access.
B．They account for global warming.
C．They are costly for mass production.
D．They lack sources for H₂ extraction.2．What does the underlined word “impediment” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A．Major barrier. B．Basic method.
C．Unexpected benefit. D．Key requirement.
3．What’s the purpose of paragraph 5?
A．To present the location of rock discovery.
B．To illustrate the principle of mountain formation.
C．To explain the procedure of tectonic exhumation.
D．To describe the creation of hydrogen-rich zones.
4．What is the author’s attitude towards natural H₂?
A．Doubtful. B．Hopeful.
C．Neutral. D．Critical
Passage 2
（2026・四川德阳・高三一模）
Mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue, kill thousands of people per year. In 2023 alone,
malaria killed over 500,000 people in 83 countries. These illnesses are often difficult to control, and mosquitoes have
gotten better at resisting chemical pesticides that used to work.
However, fighting nature with nature could be one solution. Since mosquitoes are drawn to flowers, a team of
researchers created a new variety of the Metarhizium fungus that copies a flower’s sweet smell, which comes from a
chemical called longifolene in many types of flowers. The lab-grown fungus in this study essentially uses the
longifolene to trick the mosquitoes to their deaths and is described in a study recently published in the journal Nature
Microbiology.
Once the fungus are put into a container, the longifolene chemicals are released instantly. They can be effective
for months because they also come out gradually and not in one initial burst. When attracted mosquitoes approach,
they contact the fungus and become infected and die within a few days.
Crucially, this fungal trap is safe for humans and specifically targets mosquitoes. Using a natural alternative
like this fungus may also make it difficult or impossible for mosquitoes to avoid, as they have with chemical
alternatives. “If mosquitoes evolve to avoid longifolene, that could mean they’ll stop responding to flowers,” St.
Leger, a study co-author and entomologist at the University of Maryland, explained. “But they need flowers as a food
source to survive.”
The team of this study is currently planning on larger-scale outdoor trials of the new mosquito control method
to submit for regulatory approval. “It’s not as if you’re going to necessarily find a silver bullet to control mosquitoeseverywhere, but we’re trying to develop a very diverse and flexible set of tools that people in different parts of the
world can use and choose from,” St. Leger added.
5．What is the first paragraph mainly about?
A．Irresistible global death rate. B．Development of chemical pesticides.
C．Treatment of mosquito-borne diseases. D．Dangerous and adaptable mosquitoes.
6．What can we learn about the Metarhizium fungus?
A．It exists in mosquitoes. B．It smells like real flowers.
C．It is shaped like mosquitoes. D．It is easily accessible in the wild.
7．What makes the fungal trap difficult for mosquitoes to avoid?
A．Their natural desire for food. B．Their underdeveloped senses.
C．Their resistance to longifolene. D．Their preference for bright colors.
8．What will the team of this study do next?
A．Raise fund for the research. B．Conduct broader experiments.
C．Predict the evolution of mosquitoes. D．Integrate chemical pesticides into the fungal trap.
Passage 3
（2026・四川自贡・高三一模）
Until the invention of artificial lighting, the sun was the major source of lighting, and people spent their
evenings in (relative) darkness. Now, in much of the world, streets and homes are lit up at night, and we don’t think
twice about having so much light whenever we want it.
But we may be paying a price for bathing in all that light. At night, light throws the body’s biological clock in
disorder. Sleep suffers — people take longer to fall asleep, wake up more often during the night, and feel less rested
in the morning. Over time, this disruption may seriously affect both mental and physical health.
Not all colors of light have the same effect. Blue wavelengths, which are beneficial during daylight hours
because they boost attention, reaction time, and mood, seem to be the most disturbing at night. And the popularity of
electronics with screens is increasing our exposure to blue wavelengths, especially after sundown.
While light of any kind can affect the release of melatonin (褪黑素) , blue light at night does so more
powerfully. Harvard researchers and their colleagues conducted an experiment comparing the effects of 6.5 hours of
exposure to blue light to exposure to green light of comparable brightness. The blue light holds up melatonin for
about twice as long as the green light.
In another study of blue light, researchers at Toronto compared the melatonin levels of people exposed to
bright indoor light who were wearing blue-light blocking goggles (护目镜) to people exposed to regular soft lightwithout wearing goggles. The levels of melatonin were about the same in the two groups. It suggests that shift workers
and night owls could perhaps protect themselves if they wore eyewear that blocks blue light.
9．What is modern people’s attitude to wide use of artificial light?
A．They attempt to avoid using it.
B．They take it as a normal part of life.
C．They are concerned about its harm.
D．They consider it as a waste of energy.
10．What do we know about blue light?
A．It’s easy to block. B．It’s harmful all day.
C．It worsens emotions. D．It has opposite effects.
11．What can be concluded from the Harvard experiment?
A．Six hours of light exposure is safe.
B．Green light hardly affects melatonin.
C．Brightness controls melatonin release.
D．Blue light affects melatonin more strongly.
12．Why did researchers at Toronto make the comparison?
A．To test if goggles effectively work.
B．To prove goggles are widely usable.
C．To find out which light is more harmful.
D．To check whether goggles are comfortable.
Passage 4
（2026・四川内江・高三一模）
Chenyang Lin, a brain expert at Boston University, grew up in a coastal city in southern China, far from forests.
So, when he hiked in New Hampshire last year, he was amazed by the squirrels in towering trees. That hike is stuck
in Lin’s memory. So, oddly, are the more familiar chickens he saw on the way to the hike.
Now, Lin’s research helps explain why both animals are clearly remembered. Events that have a strong
emotional impact help people remember moments they would otherwise forget, Lin and colleagues report in Science
Advances. The brain even seems to connect similar things and events together. That’s probably why Lin remembers
chickens along with those cool squirrels.
Since the 1990s, researches have suggested that pairing a weak memory with a strong one can strengthen it —
a theory called “tag and capture”. Everyday memories leave neuronal (神经元的) tags that disappear within hours.But a powerful memory triggers a protein storm in the hippocampus (海马体). Then the tagged neurons capture those
proteins, thus gluing weak memories to powerful ones.
Lin and his team tested that idea by having over 100 people observe animals and everyday tools on a computer.
First, participants simply viewed dozens of images. Next, they viewed similar images with a reward attached to each.
About half the participants received a large reward for labeling animals and a low reward for labeling tools, while
the other half received the opposite.
The next day, the team surprised participants with a memory test of what they’d seen the day before. Receiving a
big reward after seeing animals improved people’s memories of those animals by about 5 percent, compared with
those getting small rewards. However, big rewards for tools had no effect. Lin suspects that’s because people formed
stronger early memories of the tools than the animals.
“Routine memories are known to exist in this temporary state,” says cognitive neuroscientist Joseph Dunsmoor
of The University of Texas, “But this is among the first papers to show that weak memories are more likely to get
captured when they relate to the strong memory.”
13．Why does Lin remember the chickens?
A．They were in his way of hike. B．They were rarely seen in daily life.
C．They differ from those in hometown. D．They are associated with the squirrels.
14．What is paragraph 3 mainly about?
A．The cause for protein storm. B．The structure in hippocampus.
C．The theory behind the phenomenon. D．The process of memory formation.
15．What can we learn from Lin’s research?
A．Image type has less impact on memory.
B．Tools are naturally easier to remember than animals.
C．Memory improvement through comparing is quite effective.
D．Rewards may enhance memory of items with weaker initial memories.
16．What does Joseph think of the research?
A．Its objective is clear. B．Its future is promising.
C．Its findings are pioneering. D．Its method needs improving.
主题04人与自然——动植物
Passage 1
（2026・四川成都・高三一模）
You know immediately when someone is speaking to an infant or small child. Sentences become shorter,sounds are exaggerated, and the overall speech is more musical. A recent study found that female bottlenose dolphins
change their tone when addressing their babies. Researchers recorded the whistle of 19 mother dolphins in Florida,
when they were accompanied by their children and when they were swimming alone or with other adults.
The dolphin whistle is a unique and important signal. “They use these whistles to keep track of each other.
They’re saying, ‘I’m here, I’m here,” said study co-author Laela Sayigh. They also found that the whistles of dolphin
mothers had a greater range of frequencies when their children were nearby. They use baby talk. The high pitches (音调)
were higher and the lows were lower.
Obtaining this data was not easy. Over more than three decades, scientists placed special microphones several
times on the same wild dolphin mothers to record their whistles. This included years when they had babies and when
they didn’t. On average, baby dolphins stay with their mothers for three years, and sometimes longer. “This is
unprecedented, absolutely fantastic data,” said Mauricio Cantor, a marine biologist.
Why people, dolphins or other creatures use baby talk isn’t certain. Scientists believe it may help children
learn to pronounce new sounds. Earlier research found that human infants may pay more attention to speech with a
greater pitch range. Female rhesus monkeys may change their calls to attract their children’s attention. And Zebra
finches slow down their songs to address baby birds, perhaps making it easier to learn bird songs.
For the dolphin study, the researchers focused only on the whistle call. They don’t know if dolphins also use
baby talk for other conversations or whether it helps their children learn to “talk” as it seems to do with humans.
1．What is the purpose of dolphin whistles?
A．To scare enemies. B．To attract mates.
C．To find enough food. D．To pay attention to others.
2．What do dolphin mothers do when they address their babies?
A．They start singing. B．They swim faster.
C．They use baby talk. D．They jump out of water.
3．What can we learn from paragraph 3?
A．Much effort was made to obtain the data.
B．Mauricio Cantor didn’t quite believe the data.
C．Scientists used special whistles to train dolphins.
D．Baby dolphins usually stay with their mothers for ten years.
4．What is the last paragraph mainly about?
A．How dolphin parents teach babies. B．What conversations dolphins make.
C．The study’s limitations and unknowns. D．Methods for recording dolphin calls.Passage 2
（2026・四川资阳・高三一模）
When Montana and Idaho held their first regulated wolf hunts in 2009, one of their stated goals was to reduce
pressure on ranchers (牧场主). Rebounding wolf populations were killing livestock (牲畜). Fewer wolves, the
thinking went, should mean fewer killed cows and sheep.
The same logic is being used today in wolf management plans and is now also being discussed in Europe,
which recently voted to downgrade the protected status of wolves in the European Union.
A new study, though, finds that wolf hunting in the Western U. S. has had little impact on the loss of livestock.
Nor has it reduced the number of times federal or state wildlife officials have been called to cull problematic
wolves.
The study looked at data from two states that have allowed public wolf hunts, Montana with an estimated
1,100 wolves and Idaho with over 1,200, and two states that have not, Oregon and Washington. Researchers looked
at wolf abundance, the number killed in wolf hunting and by government removals, and livestock eaten by wolves
from 2001 to 2005, and found the amount of livestock saved by killing a wolf roughly equaled 7% of a single cow.
In other words, you would have to kill roughly 14 wolves to save a cow.
If protecting livestock is the goal, Merz, one of the study’s co-authors, said, “Based on how many wolves you
would have to kill while trying to match conservation goals, but also allowing ranchers to continue with their
livelihoods, it might not be the best solution.” Other strategies, like adding fencing, or paying people to watch over
their ranches, have long been used in many states. But Merz said the cost of those methods often falls on the ranchers,
who are dealing with a lot of other pressures like wildfires and drought.
Merz, who has worked in wildlife conservation and human-wildlife conflict in Africa, said, “This paper isn’t
about whether or not we should be hunting. We’re talking about finding a management tool that will help ranchers
manage livestock predation (捕食).”
5．Which is the idea behind Idaho’s wolf management?
A．No livestock, no wolves. B．The more wolves, the better.
C．No law of the jungle, no wolves. D．The fewer wolves, the more livestock.
6．What does the underlined word “cull” in paragraph 3 probably mean?
A．Kill. B．Track. C．Observe. D．Estimate.
7．What can be concluded from paragraph 4?
A．The cost to kill a wolf is high.
B．Not all states in the U.S. have wolves.C．People conducted the study by tracking wolves.
D．It is impractical to protect livestock by killing wolves.
8．Why did Merz carry out the study?
A．To predict the effect of wolf hunting. B．To seek ways to reduce livestock predation.
C．To ensure the protected status of wolves. D．To ease the ranchers’ financial pressure.
Passage 3
（2026・四川・高三一模）
Honey from Australia’s stingless “sugarbag” bees has been found to have amazing antimicrobial (杀菌的)
abilities, meaning it could be used to treat infections. But what gives it such amazing power?
A study led by Dr Kenya Fernandes of the University of Sydney has shown the remarkable antimicrobial
qualities of honey from three species of native Australian stingless bees, commonly called “sugarbag bees”. Their
honey has long been served as food and a traditional treatment for health issues like itchy skin and sores among
Australia’s native communities.
The research reveals that stingless bee honey keeps its infection-fighting power even after heat treatment and
long-term storage. These distinctive features set it apart from honey from honeybees. With antibiotic resistance (抗
生素耐药性) becoming a vital global health problem, Dr Fernandes noted, “Given the growing medical challenge of
antimicrobial resistance, our findings suggest stingless bee honey could provide a valuable alternative to man-made
antibiotics.”
Earlier studies have shown that unlike conventional antibiotics, microbes rarely develop resistance to honey.
But unlike European honeybee honey, which mainly relies on hydrogen peroxide (过氧化氢) for antimicrobial effects,
Australian stingless bee honey has high levels of both hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide activity, making it
effective for health use.
However, a major challenge is low yield. Each stingless beehive produces only about 0.5 litres of honey a year,
making large-scale production difficult. Dr Ros Gloag explained, “While the yield is small, these hives require less
maintenance than traditional beehives, allowing beekeepers to manage larger numbers.”
The research team plans to further explore its non-peroxide activity. Dr Fernandes said, “While we have yet
to test the honey’s against antibiotic-resistant bacteria specifically, the presence of multiple antimicrobial factors
significantly reduces the possibility of resistance developing.”
9．What do we know from the second paragraph?
A．How stingless bees make special honey. B．How stingless bee honey is used for food.
C．Australian native communities live on honey. D．Sugarbag bees’ honey has some medical value.10．What is special about stingless bee honey according to related study?
A．It is rich in antimicrobial factors. B．It loses antimicrobial power after heating.
C．It requires careful storage for the natural taste.D．It depends on antibiotic to prevent infections.
11．What can we say about the research team?
A．They’ll expand the sales of the honey. B．They’ll improve traditional beehives.
C．They’re optimistic about the future study. D．They’ve proved the honey’s side effect.
12．Which is the best title for the passage?
A．Different Bees Having Different Potentials
B．A Sweet Hope Against Antibiotic Resistance
C．Three Species of Native Australian Stingless Bees
D．Man-made Antibiotics Coming onto the Market Soon
Passage 4
（2026・四川泸州・高三一模）
Scientists are using some unusual helpers in their efforts to predict earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other
natural phenomena. They are signing up thousands of dogs, goats, and other farmyard animals — as well as a wide
range of wildlife — in studies that will monitor their movements from space.
The program uses tiny equipment fitted to animals. Their movements will be tracked from space. “The aim is
not only to study how they react to upcoming natural events but also to examine animal migration, the spread of
diseases among animals, and the impact of climate change,” said project leader Martin Wikelski.
“Early experiments in Sicily on the sides of Mount Etna have shown promising results,” said Wikelski. “We
have found that the behavior of goats is quite effective in predicting large volcanic eruptions.” The animals become
nervous before an eruption and refuse to go to higher areas they would usually visit gladly. “They have a premonition o f
what is coming. We don’t know how they do it, but they do,” said Wikelski. Similarly, researchers monitoring dogs,
sheep, and other farm animals in the Abruzzo mountains found that these animals had foreseen even out of eight
major earthquakes in the region over the past 12 years.
“We are now able to track most things,” added Wikelski. “For example, we can survey wildlife health from
space,” he said. Electronic ear tags fitted to wild pigs weigh only 30 grams. Changes in an animal’s movements show
if the pig develops a disease. Knowing when a disease outbreak occurs in the wild can help control its impact on
farms, researchers say. “This is a big change for wildlife disease monitoring,” said Kevin Morelle, a scientist at the
Max Planck Institute.
The technology should also help scientists understand the processes that drive migrations Their movementscould soon uncover the secret behind the 2,000-mile migrations they make between Europe and Africa every year.
“We will also be able to study how animal populations react to habitat changes caused by global warming,” said
Wikelski.
13．What is the main purpose of the program mentioned in the text?
A．To track animal migration routes globally.
B．To research the impact of climate change on wildlife.
C．To monitor the spread of diseases among farm animals.
D．To predict natural disasters and study ecological issues.
14．What does the underlined phrase “have a premonition of” in paragraph 3 mean?
A．Guess randomly. B．Predict in advance. C．ignore instinctively. D．Monitor on
purpose.
15．Why are electronic ear tags fitted to wild pigs?
A．To keep track of their migration paths. B．To study their reaction to global warming.
C．To monitor their health and disease outbreaks.D．To predict volcanic eruptions in this region.
16．What can we infer about the technology in studying migrations?
A．It focuses on how habitat changes affect migration routes.
B．It has already uncovered the secret of 2,000-mile migrations.
C．It is mainly used to track endangered species during migrations.
D．It will help explain the reasons behind animals’ long-distance journeys.
主题01 人与社会——社会问题
Passage 1
（2026・四川凉山州・高三一模）
Carmakers — including BMW, Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot — warned that the worldwide semiconductor
processor (半导体处理器) shortage will continue. The shortage has affected both production and sales of automobiles (
汽车).
Last year, carmakers had to shut down plants because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now they have to compete
with the consumer electronics industry for the limited supplies that were also affected by the health crisis. Automobiles
have become increasingly dependent on processors, also known as chips (芯片). They are needed for computers tohelp engines with better fuel economy and assist drivers in emergency braking. Without a good supply of chips,
carmakers have centered production on higher-profit models. The higher prices keep their businesses going even
though they are selling fewer cars.
Richard Palmer is the chief financial officer of Stellantis. The company sells cars under 14 brands including
Fiat, Chrysler and Peugeot. He said the company did not expect chip supply to improve before the last three months
of the year. That would mean a production loss of around 1.4 million vehicles for 2021.
BMW, so far, has been less affected by the chip shortage than others. That is because of its strong relations
with its suppliers. But the German carmaker warned that there will be more problems during the second half of this
year. “The longer the supply bottlenecks last, the more tense the situation is likely to become,” BMW chief financial
officer Nicolas Peter said in a statement. “We expect production restrictions to continue in the second half of the year.
Those restrictions will cause a lower number of sales,” he added.
German chip-maker Infineon Technologies confirmed the shortage. The company said the latest wave of
COVID-19 cases slows the production of materials in Asia. And the amounts of goods available have now hit all-
time lows. Reinhard Ploss is the Chief Executive Officer of Infineon. He told economists that sharply limited supplies
are hurting the recovery of worldwide car markets. He observed that “it will take time to get back” to a balance
between supply and demand. “In our view, this will take until well into 2022,” he added.
1．How do carmakers deal with reduced sales?
A．By improving production technology. B．By selling cars with lower fuel consumption.
C．By offering better emergency braking systems.D．By producing high-priced cars.
2．Why does the author mention Richard Palmer and Nicolas Peter?
A．To stress the seriousness of the present situation.
B．To provide a solution to the reduced sales.
C．To convey their expectation of the car production.
D．To highlight the importance of chips for carmakers.
3．What’s Reinhard Ploss’ attitude towards car production and sales?
A．Hopeful. B．Indifferent. C．Worried. D．Skeptical.
4．What is the best title of the passage?
A．The Decline of Car Sales. B．Chip Shortage and its Influence.
C．The Restrictions of Production. D．The Balance between Supply and Demand.
Passage 2
（2026・四川绵阳・普明中学・高三一模）Gen Z is changing the rules of work, and the results are redefining what professional success looks like in
2025. According to a new Glassdoor report, “career minimalism” is at the heart of this shift.
In Glassdoor’s survey of more than 1,000 U. S. professionals, a striking 68% of Gen Zrespondents said they
wouldn’t pursue management if it weren’t for paycheck or title, signaling a rejection of the traditional corporate climb
favored by previous generations and a belief that management is something of a poisonous chalice (圣杯).
The survey, however, is somewhat at odds with other data collected by Glassdoor. Daniel Zhao, chief economist
for the company, told Fortune that an earlier report had found Gen Zentering the ranks of management at the same
rates as older generations did. “Management is not for everybody, and that’s okay,” he said, “but it is still seen as the
best path for climbing the career ladder.”
What the new survey suggests is that management is now seen as a career-ladder move, not something good
in its own right. Gen Z approaches life’s traditional milestones with “reasoned skepticism”. They are hungry for
coaching and welcome in-office collaboration yet also desire the death of the nine-to-five mentality and embrace
flexibility.
If Gen Z isn’t less ambitious yet isn’t thrilled about corporate management, where’s that energy going? The
report cited Harris Poll findings that 57% of Gen Z currently have a side hustle (副业) compared to 48% of millennials
and 31% of Gen Xers.
Side hustle s are central to Gen Z’s identity, offering creative or activist outlets that main jobs cannot supply.
For many, the “day job” simply finances the “passion project” — as one Glassdoor community member put it: “I
always joke that I don’t dream of labor… If people were truly passionate about their job, it wouldn’t pay anything.
Passion is for your five-nine after the nine-five.”
When Gen Zers do move into management, Glassdoor finds that they’ re rewriting the traditional book. Gen
Z is reconsidering what it means to be successful at work in this moment. They’ re not rejecting ambition — they’ re
redirecting it toward sustainable career path s that prioritize both financial security and personal fulfillment.
5．Why is Daniel Zhao quoted in paragraph 3?
A．To draw attention to a new concept.
B．To confirm the accuracy of the report.
C．To raise awareness of a worrying trend.
D．To offer another perspective on the survey.
6．What might a typical Gen Zer do?
A．Make critical remarks. B．Leave work no later than 5.
C．Seek guidance from seniors. D．Avoid working with colleagues.7．What factors may Gen Z consider in side hustles?
A．High pay and grand titles. B．Short hours and easy work.
C．Personal identity and flexibility. D．Benefits and working conditions.
8．What is the professional success defined by Gen Z?
A．Earning money with meaning.
B．Winning power through effort.
C．Dropping promotion for hobbies.
D．Staying put for financial security.
主题02 人与社会——科普知识
Passage 1
（2026・四川广安前锋区）
Have you ever wondered why certain songs or paintings feel deeply satisfying? Language expert Jay Keyser’s
research finds that repetition makes art speak to us.
Artists like jazz musician Duke Ellington and painter Andy Warhol purposefully use repetition — not simply
as copying, but as a clever “same, but different” skill. In Ellington’s Satin Doll, for example, the rhythm repeats
while the notes stay high or low, and the song’s words mirror this pattern. Warhol’s soup cans appear alike at first
sight, yet each design changes a little. This skill called “same/except” by Jay Keyser in his book Play it again,
Sam — makes art feel richer and more pleasant to our brains.
Interestingly, discovering repetition brings much more. Consider a photograph of the US city of Albuquerque
that is often discussed for its meaning. Look closer, and you may find that a dog sits in the center with a street sign
shadow to its right copying its shape. Recognizing this hidden pattern, as Keyser suggests, repays us with unexpected
pleasure and more. Training our eyes to notice such patterns — whether in poetry, paintings or songs — unlocks new
meaning.
Why does repetition create such a connection? According to Keyser, science offers an answer: the mere
exposure effect (单纯曝光效应). Just as a baby grows fond of a mother’s face through repeated sights, we naturally
develop a liking for familiar patterns. Advertisers use this by repeating product names to build trust. Artists harness it
too — Warhol’s repeated cans or a song’s repeated catchy parts make us feel comforted and connected.
Keyser shows great art works with the brain’s makeup. When artists repeat certain parts with changes, the art
is in line with how our minds seek order, expect patterns, and gain joy from “finding” connections — though we are
not aware of it. By studying how artists skillfully apply the “same/except” skill across mediums, and by connecting
these choices with science, we gain the key to admiring creativity’s universal magic. This makes everyday experienceswith music, paintings, and words much richer.
1．What does the “same/except” skill focus on?
A．Non-traditional artistic styles.
B．Combining different art forms.
C．Repetition with slight variations.
D．Breaking all patterns completely.
2．What does the example of the Albuquerque photo highlight?
A．Fun designs attract more attention.
B．Admiring street art lifts one’s spirits.
C．Repetition enriches art experiences.
D．Famous art deserves lasting discussion.
3．What does the underlined word “harness” in paragraph 4 probably mean?
A．Take advantage of. B．Turn down.
C．Have control of. D．Make out.
4．What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?
A．Art sometimes matches our mindset.
B．Science explains artistic techniques.
C．Artists use repetition unconsciously.
D．Creativity is the key to admiring art.
Passage 2
（2026・四川泸州泸县）
There is plenty we don’t know about criminal behavior. Most crime goes unreported so it I hard to pick out
trends from the data, and even reliable sets of statistics can be difficult to compare. But here is one thing we do know:
those with a biological predisposition to violent behavior who are brought up in abusive homes are very likely to
become lifelong criminals.
Antisocial and criminal behavior tends to run in families, but no one was sure whether this was due mostly to
social-environmental factors or biological ones. It turns out both are important, but the effect is most dramatic
when they act together. This has been illustrated in several studies over the past six years which found that male
victims of child abuse are several times as likely to become criminals and abusers themselves if they were born with a
less-active version of a gene for the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) , which breaks down neurotransmitters
crucial to the regulation of aggression.Researchers recently made another key observation: kids with this “double whammy” of predisposition and
an unfortunate upbringing are likely to show signs of what’s to come at a very early age. The risk factors for long-
term criminality-attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, low IQ, language difficulties-can be spotted in kindergarten.
So given what we now know, shouldn't we be doing everything to protect the children most at risk?
No one is suggesting testing all boys to see which variant of the MAO-A gene they have, but what the science is
telling us is that we should redouble efforts to tackle abusive upbringing, and even simple neglect. This will help any
child, but especially those whose biology makes them vulnerable. Thankfully there is already considerable enthusiasm
in both the US and the UK for converting the latest in behavioral science into parenting and social skills: both
governments have schemes in place to improve parenting in families where children are at risk of receiving poor
care.
Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of early intervention because it implies our behavior becomes
“set” as we grow up, compromising the idea of free will. That view is understandable, but it would be negligent to
ignore what the studies are telling us. Indeed, the cost to society of failing to intervene-in terms of criminal damage,
dealing with offenders and helping victims of crime-is bound to be greater than the cost of improving parenting. The
value to the children is immeasurable.
5．It seems that researchers try to explain violent behavior ______.
A．in terms of physical environment
B．from a biological perspective
C．based on the empirical data
D．in a strictly statistical way
6．When we say that antisocial and criminal behavior tends to run in families, we mean that ______.
A．a particular gene may be passed on in families
B．child abuse will lead to domestic violence
C．the male victims of child abuse will pass on the tendency
D．the violent predisposition is closely related to child abuse
7．Based on the recent observation, what should be done to check the development of antisocial and criminal
behavior?
A．Boys should be screened for the biological predisposition.
B．High-risk kids should be brought up in kindergarten.
C．Genes for the risk factors should be accurately determined.
D．Active measures ought to be taken at an early age.8．What does the author emphasize in defending early intervention?
A．The immeasurable value of furthering the current research.
B．The consequences of compromising democracy.
C．The relatively easy solution to improving parenting skills.
D．The greater cost of failing to tackle the known issue.
Passage 3
（2026・四川眉山仁寿）
From tiny hummingbirds (蜂鸟) to giant whooping cranes, roughly half of the world’s more than 10,000 bird
species migrate (迁徙). Longer wings and powerful flying muscles often help these birds cross vast expanses of air.
But a study of nearly all bird species suggests many migrators share another unexpected flight aid: lighter-colored
feathers.
Being a bit more lightly colored than non-migrating birds may help these long-distance fliers stay cool as they
work hard under the hot sun to fly, researchers report December 6 in Current Biology.
It’s known that color can help birds hide from predators (捕食者) by blending in, or attract mates by standing
out. But color has subtle effects too, including regulating temperature by absorbing or reflecting light, says Kaspar
Delhey, an expert at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany. For example, bird eggs laid in colder
climates tend to be darker, which may help keep them warm.
Migrating birds push their bodies to the physiological limit, which creates much heat. Some species cope by
rising to cooler air during daytime. “If overheating is a problem in migratory birds, another way of dealing with that
would be to evolve lighter colors that absorb less heat,” Delhey says.
Delhey and his colleagues analyzed over 20,000 illustrations of 10,618 bird species, ranking feather lightness
for each species and comparing that with how far the birds fly. On average, lightness slightly increased with migratory
distance, the team found. The longest-distance migrators were about 4 percent lighter than non-migrators, an effect
that wasn’t explained by size, climate or habitat type for different species.
“It’s not a big difference,” Delhey says, noting that many migrators are darkly colored, perhaps for reasons
unrelated to flight. But the trend was remarkably consistent.“Very different groups with very different biologies show
this pattern,” Delhey says.“That surprised us.”
9．Which of the following ignored previously help migratory birds fly?
A．Longer wings. B．Vast expanses of air.
C．Lighter-colored feathers. D．Powerful flying muscles.
10．What does the underlined word “subtle” in paragraph 3 probably mean?A．Smart. B．Terrible. C．Ambiguous. D．Tender.
11．How do migrating birds deal with overheating in them?
A．By evolving lighter colors. B．By reaching bodies’ limit.
C．By flying higher to the sky. D．By absorbing more lights.
12．What can be inferred from Delhey’s study?
A．10,618 bird species fly over a long distance altogether.
B．Species of migrating birds’ feathers vary significantly.
C．Migrators with dark feathers are clearly related to flight.
D．Migratory distance can be judged by feathers’ lightness.
主题03 人与自然——环境保护
Passage 1
（2026・四川广安）
Countless thousands of city dwellers in Britain and elsewhere have, in the past two years, become acutely
aware of the green spaces in their midst. Indeed, many people only discovered them during lockdowns, when escaping
to the great outdoors was a vital factor in maintaining physical and mental wellbeing.
Many south Londoners who have found solace in nature owe thanks to campaigners who, over the past 40
years and more, have put pressure on local and national bodies to protect precious green space. Although it is hard to
envisage today, until the end of the 18th century extensive oak woodlands stretched for some seven miles across what
is now suburban south London. What remains of them is the nearest ancient woodland to central London.
Ancient woodland, as defined by the government agency Natural England, is land on which the tree cover
has been in continuous existence since 1600; before that date, plantation was rare, so woods that existed in 1600 are
considered to have developed naturally. According to the Woodland Trust, ancient woodland covers just 2.5 per cent
of the land area of England and Wales.
The Ancient Woodland Inventory, set up by the Nature Conservancy Council in 1981 and maintained by
Natural England, says some 7 per cent of ancient woodland that was present in 1930 has been grubbed up for farming
or other uses, and 38 per cent has been replaced with plantations, often of single-species conifers that offer little
diversity of habitat.
The reasons the old North Wood survived for so long when surrounding areas were converted to farmland
was that the steep terrain was unsuitable for arable or pasture, and because it lay on the sparsely populated margins
of several parishes. It was also a valuable economic resource: for at least a millennium, the wood was intenselycultivated to provide timber, for furniture, tools and shipbuilding and charcoal for London’s blacksmiths, bakeries
and brick and tilekilns.
1．Why did campaigners put pressure on local and national bodies according to the second paragraph?
A．To demand more gyms for public exercise.
B．To protect existing green spaces from destruction.
C．To request open spaces for planting new vegetation.
D．To promote the development of suburban housing.
2．What does the underlined phrase “grubbed up” in Paragraph 4 most likely mean?
A．Use up natural resources.
B．Dig out and remove completely.
C．Take up quickly for development.
D．Preserve carefully for the future.
3．What can be inferred from the passage?
A．British people have long been aware of the importance of green space protection.
B．The ancient woodland nearest to central London is entirely made up of conifers.
C．The replacement of ancient woodland with single-species plantations has harmed habitat diversity.
D．Only 7% of ancient woodland present in 1930 remains today.
4．Why did the old North Wood survive for so long according to the passage?
A．Its steep land was unsuitable for farming or animal grazing.
B．It was located in a densely populated and well-protected area.
C．The government had listed it as a protected area very early.
D．Local residents jointly prevented any external development.
Passage 2
（2026・四川巴中・高三一模）
With rapid advances in medicine, human doctors can perform amputations, or removal of an arm or leg after
a serious injury to prevent infection or disease, significantly improving chances of survival. But humans are not alone
in doing them. New research shows that Florida carpenter ants can do the same.
Scientists said they observed these ants treating injured ants in two ways. They either cleaned the wound using
their mouthparts or amputated the limb, or leg, by biting it off. When it was further up the leg, they always amputated.
When it was further down, they never amputated.
Frank, the lead writer of the research, said that the study describes for the first time how a non-human animaluses amputations on another individual to save their life. He mentioned that the ants’ “medical system” to care for
the injured is the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom and compares well to human medicine.
The researchers studied injuries to the upper part of the leg, the femur, and the lower part, the tibia. Frank said
how the ants decide between amputating the leg or spending more time caring for the wound is unknown, but they
do know why the treatment differs, which has to do with the flow of hemolymph (血淋巴). Injuries further down the
leg have an increased hemolymph flow and harmful bacteria can enter the body within five minutes. An amputation
would not help infection after that time. Injuries further up the leg have a much slower hemolymph flow, giving
enough time for timely and effective amputations which needs at least 40 minutes and sometimes more than three
hours. The study found that after an upper leg injury, an ant amputated has a survival rate of over 90%. For lower one
where just cleaning was performed, the survival rate was about 75%.
So why do ants do these amputations? Just to save resources! Frank noted that if an ant could be saved with
little effort to remain productive, there is a very high value of doing so. But for a heavily injured individual, the ants
will just leave her behind to die.
5．Why are amputations by human doctors mentioned in Paragraph 1?
A．To illustrate the humans’ rapid developments in medicine.
B．To emphasize the significance of amputations in saving lives.
C．To bring up the same amazing capacity of ants.
D．To show the detailed process of amputations.
6．What did the choice of care depend on?
A．The severity of the injury. B．The location of the injury.
C．The type of the injury. D．The curability of the injury.
7．What can we infer from Frank’s words in Paragraph 3?
A．The “medical system” of ants is the most sophisticated in the animal kingdom.
B．This is the first time that amputations on other individuals have been described.
C．Amputations in ant world are as impressive as that in human world.
D．Both ants and humans are willing to care for the injured.
8．Which can best describe the amputation of Florida carpenter ants?
A．Efficient. B．One-of-a-kind. C．Cost-effective. D．Innovative.
Passage 3
（2026・四川合江・高三一模）
Rise with the sun and rest at sunset — this was the way of life for our ancestors. Thanks to artificial light,which improves visibility at night, we can enjoy a much safer society and around-the-clock productivity. For wildlife,
however, studies have shown it disturbs animals’ natural sleep cycles, affects amphibian (两栖的) reproduction and
throws migrating birds off course.
New research in Frontiers in Plant Science investigated how artificial light impacts plant-insect relationships.
Researchers from Chinese Academy of Sciences noticed tree leaves in cities typically showed fewer signs of insect
damage than those outside of cities, so they analyzed 5,500 leaf samples from two tree species throughout Beijing.
Researchers found more artificial light in a given area meant tougher leaves. And the tougher the leaf, the less
evidence of hungry insects. They don’t fully understand why, but assume that trees under artificial light at night might
be extending their photosynthesis (光合作用) time.
“Plants distribute their limited resources, such as nutrients, water and energy, among various functions like
growth, reproduction and defense, depending on the environment. Light can affect how plants use resources,” says
Ellen Cieraad, a plant ecologist from New Zealand. “Since plants use light for growth, artificial night light could be
unnaturally increasing the time trees spend on photosynthesis, allocating more resources to chemical compounds that
make leaves tougher.”
“If the same applied to leaves of other species, this would be bad news for insects,” researchers said. Changes in
plants, and in interactions between plants and animals, can significantly impact the entire urban ecosystem. Herbivorous
insects, which rely on leaves for food, may struggle to survive, disrupting the food chain. Fewer herbivorous insects
could lead to declines in predators like birds, affecting biodiversity. Insects also play vital roles as pollinators (传粉
媒介) and eat decaying plants, helping to break down leaves and returning nutrients to soil. In cities, healthy soil and
healthy plant life supported by insects are good for humans, as plants provide shade and reduce heat trapped in cities.
Moving forward, researchers are committed to refining their discovery, aiming to guide people to take corresponding
actions.
9．What influence does artificial light bring according to the text?
A．It toughens tree leaves.
B．It shortens animals’ sleep hours.
C．It illuminates birds’ migrating routes.
D．It increases amphibian reproduction rates.
10．Why is Ellen Cieraad quoted in paragraph 3?
A．To raise a concern. B．To introduce a concept.
C．To support an assumption. D．To clarify a misunderstanding.11．Which of the following best summarizes the phenomenon in paragraph 4?
A．Time heals all wounds. B．Nature always finds a way.
C．A chain is as strong as its weakest link. D．A small move may affect the bigger picture.
12．What will the following research probably focus on?
A．Approaches to enhancing soil quality.
B．Ways of improving urban biodiversity.
C．Standards for selecting plant species in cities.
D．Solutions to reducing impacts of nighttime light.
Passage 4
（2026・四川攀枝花・高三一模）
Researcher Rujia Hu said wildlife habitat in crowded places like south Ohio is becoming increasingly
fragmented (碎片化的) as forests give way to new construction. Eventually, this could make trouble to animals like
Ohio pileated woodpecker.
Pileated woodpeckers have the nickname carpenter birds for their never-ending natural woodworking. They
peck out holes in trees for their nests every year, creating lots of valuable homes for animals like foxes, squirrels and
owls. “They make new nests every year. They won’t reuse old ones,” Hu said. “Other animals depend on them.”
Pileated woodpeckers are private birds that are more often heard than seen. Studying them can be especially
difficult. So Hu turned to citizen science for help. To identify where woodpeckers have been seen, she used eight
years of sightings collected by birders and logged into the website eBird, a free online tool and app that anyone can
use to record their observations and locations. She overlaid these sightings with remote sensing (遥感) data and found
that corridors along rivers with abundant mature trees and deadwood helped the birds adjust to their increasingly
fragmented urban landscape.
“With fragmented forests, many habitats that were once suitable for wildlife are broken up,” Hu said. “Wildlife
is unable to find habitat big enough to meet their survival needs. And even if there are suitable habitats, the distance
between them can be too great. Wildlife corridors link up these small habitat areas. Since wildlife can travel and
migrate from one area to another, the probability of finding food and shelter is higher.”
“There are so many species in urban areas that we don’t pay attention to, especially when they’re not considered
endangered,” Hu said. “With development gradually destroying more forest in this crowded county, the tipping
point (临界点) could come quickly and unexpectedly. You can’t fix it overnight. It’s not just about planting more
trees. The birds need mature forest, so it could take 30 to 50 years to replace their habitat. At least we can protect
these riverside forest corridors and see that existing trees reach maturity.”13．Why do pileated woodpeckers have the nickname carpenter birds?
A．They make tree holes for new homes year after year.
B．They create valuable homes for other animals.
C．They are often heard but not seen by people.
D．They are good at making wood construction.
14．What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A．The effect of Hu’s research. B．The process of Hu’s research.
C．The hardship of Hu’s research. D．The application of technology.
15．What role do wildlife corridors play for birds?
A．Ensuring them a stable and safe habitat.
B．Making them adjust to deadwood quickly.
C．Providing them with enough food for survival.
D．Helping them survive in the fragmented landscape.
16．What does Hu imply in the last paragraph?
A．Kill two birds with one stone. B．Be wise after the event.
C．Prepare for a rainy day. D．Think twice before you act.
