【推荐3】Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.

Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting locations to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas.   The major danger for migratory birds is development in human society. Building and paving has covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic flying all the way to the southern earth in Australia and New Zealand stopping at Yellow Sea mudflats in China along the way.

One of the scientists who worked on the study says “many of these critical sites have been taken up owing to urban, industrial and agricultural expansion.” The problem, according to researchers, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don’t have a safe place to eat and rest to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. In addition, many of the sanctuaries(避难所) are not wide enough to cover the paths of migratory birds.

One species that doesn’t exist any longer is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says. The researchers say if one country might have preserved safe zones for migratory birds while a neighboring country might not, a bird might die.

One scientist who is not involved in the report says that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes--- like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use--- could make a big difference.

1. Why is development in human society considered as the major danger for migratory birds?

A．Construction activities occupy birds’ paths.

B．Serious industrial pollution damages birds’ habitats.

C．Hunting activities happen more frequently.

D．Airplane flights directly harm birds’ safety.

2. What’s the current situation of protecting migratory birds?

A．Countries in East Asia don’t want to make any changes.

B．The progress still remains at the primary stage.

C．Some of the efforts of humans aren’t working well.

D．Not many countries are involved in the activities.

3. According to the researchers, __________.

A．governments need to work together and provide safe areas

B．safe zones in neighboring countries need to be combined together

C．more bird species will die out if they continue migrating through countries

D．human activities should give way to the birds when the migrating season comes

4. What can we know about the migratory birds according to the passage?

A．They always travel from the north to the south.

B．They need to stop during the migration to correct directions.

C．All of them are endangered because of lacking protection.

D．Some of them take rests or feed in cities.

5. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．The migration of birds influences society development.

B．Migratory birds are dying from losing their homes.

C．Countries need to work together to protect migratory birds.

D．Protecting migratory birds is very necessary.

【推荐2】Still seeking a destination for your weekend break? There are some places which are probably a mere wall away from your college.

King’s Art Centre

A day at the Centre could mean a visit to an exhibition of the work of one of the most interesting contemporary artists on show anywhere. This weekend sees the opening of an exhibition of four local artists.

You could attend a class teaching you how to learn from the masters or get more creative with paint – free of charge.

The Centre also runs two life drawing classes for which there is a small fee.

The Botanic Garden

The Garden has over 8,000 plant species; it holds the research and teaching collection of living plants for Cambridge University.

The multi-branched Torch Aloe here is impressive. The African plant produces red flowers above blue-green leaves, and is not one to miss.

Get to the display house to see Dionaea muscipula, a plant more commonly known as the Venus Flytrap that feeds on insects and other small animals.

The Garden is also a place for wildlife-enthusiasts. Look for grass snakes in the lake. A snake called Hissing Sid is regularly seen lying in the heat of the warm sun.

Byron’s Pool

Many stories surround Lord Byron’s time as a student of Cambridge University. Arriving in 1805, he wrote a letter complaining that it was a place of “mess and drunkenness”. However, it seems as though Byron did manage to pass the time pleasantly enough. I’m not just talking about the pet bear he kept in his rooms. He spent a great deal of time walking in the village.

It is also said that on occasion Byron swam naked by moonlight in the lake, which is now known as Byron’s Pool. A couple of miles past Grantchester in the south Cambridgeshire countryside, the pool is surrounded by the fields. The cries of invisible birds make the trip a lovely experience and on the way home you can drop into the village for afternoon tea. If you don’t trust me, then perhaps you’ll take it from Virginia Woolf ,a famous writer,—over a century after Byron, she reportedly took a trip to swim in the same pool.

1. The passage is mainly about__________.

A．interesting stories of Lord Byron

B．an approach to becoming creative in art

C．the colorful life in the countryside

D．some places for weekend break

2. If you are a wildlife enthusiast, you’d better go to__________.

A．Byron’s Pool	B．the Botanic Garden
C．King’s Art Centre	D．Cambridgeshire

3. The author’s purpose in mentioning Virginia Woolf is to show__________.

A．she was a famous writer

B．she was keen on swimming

C．she was Byron’s admirer

D．Byron’s Pool is a pleasant place

【推荐3】Don’t miss out on student competitions available from NASA.Check this page often for new additions.

NASA Earth & Space Air Prize

Audience:Higher Education Students

Registration Deadline:Dec.13,2020

The competition asks individuals to design and develop sensors(探测装置) useful in spaceflight as well as on Earth.Three finalists will receive $50,000 each to build a functioning sensor according to their suggestions.The winner will receive a $100,000 award.

Future Engineers:Two for the Crew Challenge

Audience:K12 Students

Registration Deadline:Dec.19,2020

Use your head to create a tool that combines the functions of two objects already being used by crew aboard the International Space Station!Visit the Challenge Website to find out about space station tools and to get brainstorming resources to help you create a design.The site provides links to free 3D design software.The winning design will be 3D printed on the station.Prizes include “3D Printing in Space” prize packs,a 3D printer for your school and a trip to Washington D.C.!

Mission X:Train Like an Astronaut—Walk to the Moon Challenge

Audience:All Educators and Students,Home School Parents and Afterschool Groups

Registration Deadline:Dec.31,2020

Mission X encourages children of all ages to seek healthy lifestyles based on training like an astronaut.Mission X is challenging fit explorers around the world to work together to perform activities in which all will move online mascot(吉祥物) Astro Charlie the 478 million steps required to walk from the Earth to the moon!That’s 238,857 miles,or 384,403 kilometres!The challenge starts in January.Visit the website for full challenge details.

1. Who is NASA Earth & Space Air Prize most likely intended for?

A．High school students.

B．Home school parents.

C．College students.

D．College educators.

2. What can we know about the“Mission X”?

A．It kicks off in the year of 2020.

B．It aims to find potential astronauts.

C．It allows of an experience of flying.

D．It provides participants with cash prizes.

3. What’s the purpose of this passage?

A．To call on people to visit NASA.

B．To stress the importance of creativity.

C．To introduce the development of NASA.

D．To attract people to NASA competitions.