Although traditional pet stores are somewhere you buy an animal to be your friend at home, there’s a new kind of pet store where you spend some quality time with the animals and just walk away, without taking anything. What really matters is the experience.
I visited one of these stores in the Sanlitun area in Beijing. I was targeting call ducks, which are famous for their cute looks and, of course, their sky-high prices, each of them can easily cost a few thousand yuan. Since I was not planning to spend so much on a duck, visiting them in one of these—what I’d call “mini-zoos”—seemed to be the perfect option.
There were a total of five call ducks at the store—among other animals—and we spent a good three hours with them. We got to learn much about them.
Call ducks are not as obedient as cats,so playing with them would include a lot of running from our side and quacking(呱呱叫) from theirs. Also, don’t expect them to be house-trained, one of the ducks actually pooped(排便) while sitting on my leg. But none of these little incidents reduced the pleasure of holding them in my hands and touching their full chests. It was like the whole world’s joy was in my hands, for those call ducks are fun and comforting—something I would hardly ever expect from work.
That’s the magic of animals: You don’t have to own them—simply spending time with them is enough.
1. What can you do in this pet store? (no more than 10 words)2. What are call ducks famous for? (no more than 8 words)
3. What does the underlined word “obedient” in paragraph 4 mean? (1 word)
4. Why did the author say “It was like the whole world’s joy was in my hands.”? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you like the style of spending time with animals? Give your reasons. (no more than 25 words)
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【推荐1】Puy du Fou is the second most visited theme park in France, after Paris Disneyland, and the world’s greatest, and most authentic, living history park.
Founded in 1977 by a young local aristocrat with a passion for history, Philippe de Villiers, the theme park has developed to become a multi-attraction historic theme park providing a trip back in time to different ages and times of the past.
Unlike Disneyland, Puy du Fou — while making sure that the attractions all provide a great visitor experience — also takes pride in ensuring a fair degree of historical accuracy. The sets and the shows are pictures of the world as it really was... with a few special effects added in.
In the summer holiday period (June to mid September), climax of the day is the famous “Cinéscénie”. the original event around which the Puy du Fou theme park has subsequently developed and expanded. This magnificent after-dark spectacular of light, fireworks, sound and action, set against the backdrop of the old Château du Puy du Fou, has been seen over the years by over 10 million spectators, lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes, involving 1200 actors and extras, and performed over a 50 acre stage.
Puy du Fou ticket prices at the gate-2022
Entrance to the site, with daytime shows
One day: Adult:€ 43 Children 5-13:€32
Two days: Adult:€ 61 Children 5-13:€45
Entrance to the site, daytime shows + Cinéscénie (Fri. Sat. from 9th June to 15th September—must be booked in advance)
One day: Adult: € 61 Children 5-13 :€ 50
Two days: Adult:€84 Children 5-13:€66
Three days: Adult: € 89 Children 5-13: €70
Children under 5: Free
1. Which of the following highlights Puy du Fou?| A．Passion for historic conservation. | B．The increasing popularity in France. |
| C．A rediscovery of historic life. | D．A record of special effects in the past. |
| A．It is an emerging show. | B．It is a night-time show. |
| C．It is a solo show. | D．It is a show of the past. |
| A．€43. | B．€ 86. | C．€122. | D．€136. |
| Registration Form for League Baseball-Oak Mountain League Your Name___________ Parent/Guardian Name(s)__________ Address______________ ZIP Code _____________ Phone _______________ Birth Date_____________ School ______________ Grade ________________ COST: $40,00 (includes team T-shirt) Enclose a check(支票)made payable to Oak Mountain League and mail to: Oak Mountain League *P. O. Box 40096* Campbell, California 95008 |
| Registration deadline(最后期限): January 30 Hotline for information: 555-7589 |
| Oak Mountain League Baseball Registration Information 1. Who may play? All students living within the boundaries(界限)of Oak Mountain League may play. The boundaries are Smithville a Road on the north. Western Hills Drive on the west, Interestate 41 on the east, and White Boulevard on the south. 2. How old must I be? League members must be between the ages of 9 and 14. League age is determined by actual age on September 1 of the previous year. 3. How many divisions are there? There are three divisions: A ages 9-10 AA ages 11-12 AAA ages 13-14 4. When are the tryouts? Tryouts will be held to help the coaches create teams with equal skill levels. All tryouts will be held at Remington Field, which is at the corner of Sunshine Avenue and Ocean View Drive. Division A Monday February 10 5:00-7:00 p. m. Division AA Tuesday February 11 4:30-6:30 p. m. Division AAA Wednesday February 12 5:30-7:30 p. m. 5. May I request to be on a team with my friends? Coaches will try to place players on teams according to the schools they are in. if you have a special request, please tell a coach before the tryouts. The coaches will consider such requests but cannot promise that the requests will be satisfied. 6. When is the registration deadline? Registration forms are due on January 30. Additional forms are available at sports shops, area schools, and the public library. If your registration form is not in by the requested date, you will be charged an extra $5,00. |
1. If Rudy’s friend John lives north of Smithville Road, John will ____________.
| A．be on Rudy’s team | B．be in Division AAA |
| C．be unable to play in the league | D．not have to wear the team T-shirt |
| A．Players can pay the fee either by credit card or by check |
| B．The registration form will not accepted after January 30 |
| C．The coaches will meet all the players’ special needs and requests |
| D．Players will be on different teams according to skill levels and schools |
| A．In a school | B．In a bookshop |
| C．In a sports club | D．In a public museum |
【推荐3】In some countries, many families are choosing camping as an affordable way to vacation due to the cost-of-living crisis (危机).
Camping needs careful planning. Making a detailed list of what to bring ensures nothing important is forgotten. It is advised to pack light and easy-to-set-up tents (帐篷). It’s also important to choose equipment suitable for the season. For families, bringing comfort items like favorite books or toys can make the new environment more welcoming for kids.
Camping is more than just setting up a tent.
All in all, camping is a fantastic way to enjoy the outdoors and spend quality time with family.
| A．Use the experience to teach life skills. |
| B．Camping should be an enjoyable adventure. |
| C．It also includes preparing and planning meals. |
| D．Allow the kids to take part in planning process. |
| E．Since children can get untidy, packing extra clothes is necessary. |
| F．With the right preparation and attitude, it can be an unforgettable experience. |
| G．However, for first-time campers, especially those with kids, the experience can be challenging. |
【推荐1】Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami, adding weight to the idea that they have a “sixth sense” for disasters, experts said on Thursday.
Sri Lanka wildlife officials have said the waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean island’s coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.
“No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a ‘sixth sense’. They know when things are happening,” H.D. Ratnayake, director of Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department, said on Wednesday.
The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km(2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the southeast, Sri Lanka’s biggest wildlife reserve and home to hundreds of wild elephants. “There has been a lot of evidence (证据)about dogs barking or birds migrating (迁徙)before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proved.” said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo. “There have been no specific studies because you can’t really test it in a lab or field setting,” he said. Other authorities agreed with this conclusion.
“Wildlife seems to be able to pick up certain signs, especially birds. There are many reports of birds detecting coming disasters,” said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.
Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators (掠食动物),The idea of an animal “sixth sense” is a lasting one that the evidence on Sri Lanka’s damaged coast is likely to add to.
1. What happened after the Indian Ocean tsunami?| A．Many people died but wild animals survived. |
| B．The ”six sense“ of wild animals developed |
| C．Wild beasts were killed or went missing |
| D．The coast was found in good condition. |
| A．He is a zoo keeper. |
| B．He is a wildlife official. |
| C．He is a movie director. |
| D．He is an animal behaviour expert. |
| A．Taking up. | B．Putting up. | C．Picking up. | D．Bringing up. |
| A．Why animals can save themselves from natural disasters. |
| B．The different opinions about animals’ natural power. |
| C．How to protect wildlife when disasters happen. |
| D．The serious damage of the Indian Ocean tsunami. |
【推荐2】If you’ve ever watched a dog nap, you’ve probably wondered if animals dream. It’s a complicated question. We still don’t know exactly why humans dream. Studying animal dreams is even harder; dogs can’t tell us what made them whine (哀鸣) during a nap. However, a recent study suggests spiders may experience REM-like (类快速眼动) sleep and even visual dreams. It sounds unusual, but it may be true.
Rats recall maze memories
After rats run a maze (迷宫) during the day, they can rerun the same course while asleep,research has shown. When awake, a rat’s hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for making and storing memories, remembers the neuron (神经元) pattern of navigating the maze. Later when asleep, the brain reproduces the identical pattern, suggesting the rat remembers the maze.
This 2001 finding was one of the first to suggest that animals had complex dreams. Those rat brain studies show that when maze memories occur during sleep, the visual imagery that went along with them is also reactivated, meaning the sleeping rats saw what they had seen in the maze while awake. The same has been found for auditory(听觉) and even emotional areas that reactivate when the rat reruns the maze during REM sleep.
Zebra finches remember songs
Despite being known for their lyrical songs, zebra finches aren’t born singers. The birds must learn by listening, practicing, and, perhaps, by dreaming.
In 2000 researchers learned that neurons in the birds’forebrains fire with a distinct pattern while they sing a song. While the birds sleep, their brains reproduce this same pattern, replicating the song they heard and sang that day, suggesting the birds remember and practice songs in their sleep.
Do dreaming birds relive their waking experiences? Or are singing dreams more like algorithms(算法) running without conscious awareness? Scientists may be getting closer to finding out.
Researcher Mourrain says, “I would not be surprised if actual dreams were found in animals, and I think eventually we’ll be able to show that scientifically. You did something in the daytime,and your brain will replay it, integrate it, and mix it with other experiences. We’re not the only species capable of remembering and learning.”
1. Why is it more difficult to study animal dreams?| A．Animals rarely dream. | B．Animals do not speak. |
| C．Animals seldom snooze. | D．Animals do not experience REM. |
| A．It makes and stores memories. | B．It remembers the pattern of the maze. |
| C．It enables rats to have complex dreams. | D．It helps sleeping rats to see the maze clearly. |
| A．What we found in animals now are not actual dreams. |
| B．The science today is unable to prove that animals do dream. |
| C．The fact that animals dream will sooner or later be confirmed. |
| D．All animals in the world have the ability to remember and learn. |
| A．They want to find out the relationship between sleep and memory. |
| B．They hope to prove that humans are the only species that dream. |
| C．They try to understand animals’“dreams”and their influence on memory. |
| D．They attempt to improve the learning ability of these animals. |
【推荐3】“The main surprise is how widespread the effects were,” says senior author Martin Genner, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Bristol. “We found the same trend across all groups of marine life we looked at, from small forms of plants and animals to marine invertebrates (无脊椎动物), and from fish to seabirds.”
The new study builds on early evidence of the impact of climate changes on the distribution, diversity and seasonality of marine species. Based on those findings, Genner’s team reasoned that marine species should be doing well at the leading (pole-ward) edge of their ranges but poorly at their trailing (equator-ward) side. They also realized that existing global species distribution databases could be used to test this idea.
Based on a thorough search of available data in the literature, the researchers now report on a global analysis of diversity trends for 304 widely distributed marine species over the last century. The results show that — just as predicted — diversity increases have been most obvious where sampling has taken place at the pole-ward side of species ranges, while diversity declines have been greatest where sampling has taken place at the equator-ward side of species ranges.
The findings show that large-scale changes in the diversity of species are well underway. They also suggest that marine species haven’t managed to adapt to warmer conditions. The researchers therefore suggest that projected sea temperature increases of up to 1.5°C over pre-industrial levels by 2050 will continue to lead to shifts in the diversity of marine species, including those of importance for coastal livelihoods.
“This matters because it means that climate changes are not only leading to diversity changes, but naturally affecting the performance of species locally,” Genner says. “We’re seeing fewer and fewer species like emperor penguins as water becomes too warm at their equator-ward edge, and we see some fish such as European seabass growing well at their pole-ward edge where historically they were uncommon.”
The results show that the effects of climate changes on marine species are highly uniform and not a little. “While some marine life may benefit as the ocean warms, the findings point toward a future in which we will also see continued loss of marine life,” Genner says.
1. According to the passage, what did Genner’s team conclude?| A．Climate changes have a great effect on the growth of fish. |
| B．Species data can be used to test the study. |
| C．Arctic marine species grow better than those at the equator. |
| D．Marine species can adapt to the warm environment. |
| A．Some sea creatures may benefit from warming oceans. |
| B．Climate Changes have little to do with the richness of species. |
| C．The effect of climate changes on marine life has improved. |
| D．Marine life will benefit from ocean warming in the future. |
| A．similar and slight | B．nowhere and a little bit |
| C．everywhere and enormous | D．nothing and uneventful |
| A．Study of the Disappearance of Marine life. |
| B．Impact of Climate Changes on Marine Species. |
| C．Analysis of Species Distribution Database. |
| D．Comparative Analysis of Ocean Temperatures. |
