Animals play so many important roles in our lives. Some, like cows and sheep, provide us with food; pets are our friends; other animals work for us. Above all, every animal — big or small — can fill us with a sense of the wonder of the natural world.

Unluckily, we don’t always value this. Many animals are endangered because of our actions, and millions of animals in the world are badly treated. World Animal Day reminds us, at least for one day a year, “to celebrate animal life in all its forms” and “to be thankful for the way in which animals enrich (使丰富) our lives.”

World Animal Day was started in 1931 in Florence, Italy. It made us pay attention to the problem of endangered animals around the world. It is now celebrated in most countries around the world. The day falls on October 4th every year.

All over the world on this day, volunteers raise money for animal centers and social organizations. Museums and zoos organize special events. Schools have also joined animal projects. No matter what is done, the idea is to remind us of the importance of animals and to show us how we could improve our relationship with animals.

If you want to take part, you could help an animal or organize a money-raising event for a local charity. The important thing is just taking an active part. We should offer animals as much as they offer us.

Many have     1     (hear) of shark soup. This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in     2     (south) China. But do you realize that you are killing a whole shark. Each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup. When people catch sharks, they     3     (cut) off their fins and throw the     4     (shark) back into the ocean. This is not only cruel, but     5     harmful to the environment.     6     (with) a fin, a shark can no longer swim and slowly dies. Sharks are     7     the top of the food chain in the ocean’s ecosystem. If their numbers drop too low, it will bring danger to all ocean life. Many believe that sharks can never be     8     (endanger) because they are the strongest in their food chain. But in     9    , around 70 million sharks are caught and traded in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have fallen by over 90% in the last 20-30 years. Environmental protection groups around the world are teaching the public about finning. They have even asked the governments to     10     (develop) laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown that shark fins are good for health. So why eat them? Help save the sharks!

5 . ①Many people like to pet (抚摸) animals because petting can make the relationship (关系) with their pet better. When you’re feeling blue, petting animals is a good way to make you happier. But how to pet animals? Different animals like different ways.

②Dogs like you to pet their heads, necks and shoulders. If you are petting a strange dog, you should come near to it slowly, get down to its height and hold out a closed fist (拳头) for it to smell. After the dog smells you and its body becomes relaxed (放松的), you can slowly touch around its heads and shoulders.

③Cats like people to pet their heads, chins (下巴) and faces. When you are going to pet a cat, let it come near to you first. Sit down and put your hand out for it to smell. If it wants your gentle touch, it will get close to your body.

④Rabbits like you to pet their heads, shoulders and faces. Rabbits are easily afraid of people. So you should come near to them slowly, sit down on the ground and put out your hand for them to smell. If your rabbit comes near to you, use your hand to lightly pet its head.

⑤Pet birds lightly on the head and don’t touch other areas. Building trust (信任) with birds takes time, so come near to them slowly and watch for their body language. If they like you to pet them, they will keep quiet.

⑥Pets are really lovely animals. Pet and take care of them carefully, and they will bring you a lot of fun.

a                                             b                                                       c

6 . Hi, my name is Duoduo. I’m not a girl, and I’m not a boy. I am a brown dog and I am four.

I’m in a big family and now we are in Chengdu, China. Here is a photo and you can see me in the middle of it.

The girl in the photo is Judy Black. She is six and she likes red. The boy is Joey Black, Judy’s brother. He is five and he likes green. They are my good friends.

In the photo, you can see Judy and Joey’s parents and grandparents, too. They are nice and they are good to dogs! How lucky I am!

On weekends, I have a good time. I go to the zoo with my     1    . The zoo is very big, and there are many     2     kinds of animals in it. I like pandas best     3     they are so interesting. So I come     4     the pandas first. They are playing happily. I take a lot of pictures of them     5     we come to the Monkey House. The monkeys are so active（活跃的）and     6    . They bring a lot of     7     and laughter（笑声）to us. We also see the koalas in the zoo. They are     8     Australia, and they seem（似乎）to live a     9     life there. I     10     love these cute animals.

8 . Sally is an 8-year-old girl. She likes _______ very much. She thinks they are people’s friends. Of all the animals, pandas are her favorite because the panda is one of _______, and she goes to the zoo to see them every month.

One Sunday afternoon, Sally goes to the zoo with her parents by bus. When they _________ there, she runs to the pandas’ house quickly. There are two pandas in the zoo. They are Lucy and Lily. She is happy _______ them every time.

But when Sally gets to the pandas’ house, she sees lots of people talking in front of the house. And it’s kind of _______ . “What’s wrong with the pandas?” Sally asks anxiously(焦急地).

“Oh! Don’t worry(担心), little girl. The pandas are _________,” an old woman answers.

Then Sally looks into the house. Lucy and Lily are in the house. They _________ with a ball. And she also finds another panda in it.

“_________ is he?” she asks.

“He’s Peter. He _________ another zoo,” a man in uniform(制服) says. “Next year, you may see a small panda here.”

“A small panda! I love that,” Sally says __________.

Little Mary’s grandparents have a farm. On the farm there are many kinds of ____, like dogs and cats. She likes to play with them because they can make her happy. On the farm there is also a little elephant. It has no mother. ____ it never plays with other animals. It always walks around by itself. Mary thinks this is why she likes it so ____. Many times, Mary says to the elephant how sorry she is for the death (死亡) of its ____. She loves talking with it and the elephant becomes ____ to Mary. When it sees Mary on the farm, it runs to her ____ a little dog. Mary always gives some food to it. Bananas are its favorite. Sometimes it ____ her into a wood (树林). There Mary sits on the ground and reads a book; the little elephant stands by Mary. Her grandfather always asks her, “____ does the elephant like you a lot?” “Oh, because I love it, Grandpa.” Mary answers. Grandpa thinks Mary is ____. Animals are our ____. We should love them.

Scott often goes to supermarket for shopping. One day, he went to shop at the supermarket     1     usual. While he was looking for a parking space, he saw a goose (鹅 ) standing in the middle of the road. He thought it might be injured, he parked the car and     2     a look. However, the goose looked angry and tried to drive him away. He could do     3     but leave.

When Scott finished shopping and walked out of the supermarket, he was surprised     4     what he saw. The goose was still walking around the parking lot, and there was     5     goose not far away. A few traffic cones( 锥形警告路标 ) had been put around it. Scott knew it was a female from its feather. A man from the supermarket told Scott they had done so in order to     6     "the family". The family? Yes, the female goose was found laying     7    .

A few hours ago, Scott shared this     8     story on the Internet. Indeed, it was just a small thing, but showing the     9     of human nature. If all of us can    10     peacefully with animals, we believe that our earth will become better.