The Adélie penguin, who has been named Pingu, was discovered by a local resident Harry Singh “looking lost” on the shores of New Zealand, over 3,000 kilometers away from its natural habitat.
“At first I thought it was a soft toy,” Singh told the BBC. “But suddenly the penguin moved his head, so I realized it was real. It didn’t move for one hour... and looked exhausted.” He then called penguin rescuers as he was concerned that it was not getting into the water, making it a potential target for any predatory (捕食性的) animals wandering on the beach.
On arriving at the scene, Thomas Stracke, who has been rehabilitating (康复) penguins on New Zealand’s South Island for the last 10 years, was shocked to find that the penguin was an Adélie — a species that lives exclusively on the Antarctic peninsula. Stracke said, “It is quite unusual since they are known only living in the Antarctic area. Fortunately, apart from being a bit starving and severely dehydrated, he was actually not too bad, so we gave him some fluids and some fish smoothie.”
It is only the third recorded incident of an Adélie penguin being found on New Zealand’s coast — the previous were in 1962 and 1993 — and although sitings remain incredibly rare, if they become more common it could be a worrying sign, say experts.
“I think if we started getting annual arrivals of Adélie penguins, we’d go actually, something’s changed in the ocean that we need to understand,” Otago University zoology professor Philip Seddon told The Guardian. “More studies will give us more understanding where penguins go, what they do, what the population trends are like — they’re going to tell us something about the health of that ocean ecosystem in general.”
Pingu has now been released into a bay on the Banks Peninsula, and it is hoped he may be able to make the journey home.
1. What happened to Pingu?A.He was hunted by local people. | B.He lost his food and looked upset. |
C.He was finding a new natural habitat. | D.He landed New Zealand by accident. |
A.Introduce a new topic to discuss. | B.List numbers to prove an opinion. |
C.Add some background information. | D.Summarize the previous paragraphs. |
A.The number of penguins is on the decrease. |
B.The health of ocean ecosystem should be concerned. |
C.More studies about penguins have been undertaken. |
D.Adélie penguins have built habitats in New Zealand. |
A.Unexpected Arrival of Rare Penguin | B.Dangerous Situation of Adélie Penguins |
C.Amazing Discovery by Local Resident | D.Magical Travel to New Zealand |
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【推荐1】People have known for a long time that plants can hear, see, smell and communicate with each other. Now, they have been recorded making sounds when stressed.
In a study, Itzhak Khait and his team found that tomato and tobacco plants can make ultrasonic( 超声的 ) noises. The plant “cry out” due to lack of water, or when they are cut. The sound is just too high for human to hear.
Microphones were placed 10 centimeters away from the plants and picked up sounds in the range of 20 to 100,000 hertz( 赫兹). Human hearing usually ranges from 20 to 20,000 hertz. On average, “thirsty” tomato plants made 35 sounds an hour, while tobacco plants made 11. When plant was cut, tomato plants made an average of 25 sounds in the following hour, and tobacco plants 15.
Perhaps most interestingly, different types of stress led to different sounds. The researchers used a special machine to separate the plants’ sounds from those of wind, rain and other noises of the greenhouses. In most cases, it correctly told whether the stress was caused by dryness or a cut. Water-hungry tobacco made louder sounds than cut tobacco, for example. Although Khait and his team only looked at tomato and tobacco plants, they thought other plants also made sounds when stressed. Khait’s report also suggested that insects could hear the sound up to 5 meters away and respond.
The team said if farmers could hear these sounds, they could give plants the water they need. As climate change causes more droughts(干旱), they said this would be important information for farmers, for the sound that drought-stressed plants made could be used in agriculture.
If plants are screaming for fear of their survival, should we be thankful we can’t hear them?
1. Which did Khait and his team find from their research?A.Only tomato plants could make ultrasonic noises. |
B.Humans can hear plants crying while cutting them. |
C.Plants were able to produce sounds when stressed. |
D.Plants made ultrasonic noises to communicate with each other. |
A.Cut tobacco plants made weaker sounds than drought-stressed ones. |
B.Tomato plants reacted to different stresses with the same sound. |
C.Cut tomato plants produced more sounds than water-hungry ones. |
D.Tobacco plants made louder sounds than tomato plants when short of water. |
A.Farmers imagine what the future agriculture will be like. |
B.Farmers have contributed a lot to the research. |
C.Farmers can apply the result of the research to agriculture. |
D.Farmers will face lots of challenges in the future. |
A.A nature magazine. | B.A novel. | C.A diary. | D.A guidebook. |
【推荐2】Everybody hates rats (big mice). But in the earthquake capitals of the world — Japan, Los Angeles and Turkey — rats will soon be man’s best friends.
What happens after an earthquake?We send in rescue dogs. Why?Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work?First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal (信号). This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signal. When the rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. Christian Linster at Cornell University, New York, says, “Robots’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark. They are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished, but Julie Ryan of International Rescue Organization in Scotland says, “It would be wonderful. A rat can get into spaces we can’t get to, and a rat will get out if it isn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).
1. In the world earthquake capitals, rats will become man’s best friends because they can .A.take the place of man’s rescue jobs |
B.find the position of living people who are trapped in buildings |
C.serve as food for living people who are trapped in buildings |
D.get into small spaces |
A.the noise made by the rat | B.the rat’s unusual behavior |
C.the signal sent by the radio on the rat’s back | D.the smell given off by the person |
A.they are more lovely than other animals |
B.they are less expensive to train than dogs |
C.they don’t need electricity |
D.they are small and can get into small places |
A.at present rats have taken the place of dogs in searching for people |
B.the “rat project” has been completed |
C.people are now happy to see a rat in a building |
D.now people still use dogs and robots in performing rescues |
【推荐3】Though fireworks (烟花) on bonfire night bring joy to many people, it is likely to be a night of fright and pain for the UK’s geese (鹅).
Research by Anglia Ruskin University has found that fireworks displays (表演) cause wild birds to suffer significant pain, and researchers have recommended that displays should not take place in areas with large wildlife populations. A study, published in the journal Conservation Physiology, is one of the first carried out into the effects of fireworks on wildlife. It found that the heart rate (率) of geese increases by 96% when they are influenced by fireworks displays.
The study involved 20 wild grey lag geese fitted with recorders to record their heart rate and body temperature, which are measures of physiological stress. Claudia Wascher, who led the research, found that the average heart rate increased from 63 to 124 beats per minute, and their average body temperature increased from 38℃ to 39℃, in the first hour of fireworks displays. It took the geese about five hours before the birds displayed normal body temperatures, with average readings returning by 5 am.
“Ours is one of the first scientific studies to examine whether fireworks disturb wildlife. There have been previous studies showing that fireworks can cause anxiety in pets, for example in dogs, but little research has been done into how animals in the wild react. We need to carry out further research to conclusively tell whether the geese are reacting to the noise or the light pollution from the fireworks, or a combination of both. Many people get a lot of enjoyment from fireworks but it’s important that we consider animals both pets and wildlife — whenever planning a display,” Wascher said.
1. What advice do researchers give according to the findings of the study?A.Geese should be protected especially at night. |
B.Great attention should be paid to the UK’s geese. |
C.Fireworks displays should be held without harming wildlife. |
D.Fireworks displays should take place to bring joy to people. |
A.To compare the heart rates between them. |
B.To make them safe and sound in the wild. |
C.To keep their body temperature normal. |
D.To measure their physiological stress. |
A.About five hours. | B.About four hours. |
C.About two hours. | D.About one hour. |
A.The relations between light pollution from fireworks and geese. |
B.The effects of noise and light pollution from fireworks on geese. |
C.Whether fireworks influence other wild animals. |
D.The influence of a display on pets and wildlife. |
【推荐1】Born in Balmain, New South Wales in 1937, Dawn Fraser is the youngest of eight children from a working-class family. In 1952, her great swimming ability was noticed by coach Harry Gallagher, who took over her training and set the 1956 Olympics as their goal.
In 1955 Dawn won her first Australian title in the 220 yards freestyle and. during that summer season, went on to rewrite the record books: setting new Australian records in all freestyle events up to 880 yards. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics she became an Australian national hero and world swimming star, winning the 100 metres freestyle gold medal in world record time as well as taking gold in the 100 metres freestyle relay and silver in the 400 metres freestyle.
Dawn won two more gold medals at the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales, and another gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960 for the 100 metres freestyle. By this time she had become a legend of the first rank in Australian sport. Back then, as today, she remained untouched by her achievements.
After winning four gold medals at the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. Dawn finished her international swimming career at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964, silencing her critics by winning a gold medal in the 100 metres freestyle at the age of 27. This took her Olympic medal count to four gold medals and four silver medals. She has continued to give back to her sport and other sports by being a mentor(良师) for Abled and Disabled Australian Olympic Teams since 1988.
Twenty years later Dawn returned to public life. She has since kept an active role in the sporting and wider community as patron(代言人) of the Cerebral Palsy Sports Association, the Wheelchair Sports Association of Victoria and of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. She is also a member of the NSW Sports Advisory Board and is a director of the Wests Tigers Football Club, Balmain Leagues Club and Balmain Football Club.
1. What happened when Dawn was 18?A.She broke records in different events. |
B.She drew Harry Gallagher’s attention. |
C.She found a new way of training. |
D.She became a national hero. |
A.After she finished her international swimming career in 1964 |
B.After she won gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960. |
C.At the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth. |
D.At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. |
A.She has been working in the sporting business. |
B.She has set up organisations to help athletes. |
C.She has started to train young athletes. |
D.She has been busy with her family life. |
A.By showing opinions. | B.By giving instructions. |
C.By following time order. | D.By providing research results. |
【推荐2】There was a man playing the piano in a bar. He was a good piano player and always performed in this bar. People came in just to hear him play. But one night, a customer told him that he didn’t want to hear him just play the piano any more. He wanted him to sing a song.
The man said, “I don’t sing.”
But the customer was persistent. He told the bar manager, “I’m tired of listening to the piano. I want that man to sing!”
The manager shouted across the room, “If you want to get paid, sing a song. Our customers are asking you to sing!”
So he did. He sang a song. A piano player who had never sung in public did so for the first time. And everyone was surprised by his song — Mona Lisa. He got lots of applause (掌声) that night.
He had such a talent for singing, but he just had been sitting on his talent for the past years! If without such a chance, he may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar. However, now he had become one of the best-known singers in America.
You, too, have skills and abilities. Maybe your “talent” is not as great as the singer above, but it may be better than you think! And with effort, most skills can be improved. So, in your life, you should be brave enough to try doing different things and find out what talents you really have!
1. Why did the man start to sing?A.Because he wanted to make more money. |
B.Because the bar manager said he liked his song. |
C.Because the manager asked him to sing at the request of a customer. |
D.Because he wanted to show that he had a talent for singing. |
A.Strict. | B.Rude. | C.Patient. | D.Kind. |
A.He hated to sing. | B.He didn’t sing. |
C.He had no talent for singing.. | D.He didn’t discover his talent. |
A.Some people really have no skills or abilities. |
B.None of us is as great as the singer. |
C.No skills can be improved even if you try. |
D.Sometimes through effort we can know our talent. |
【推荐3】I hesitated when my friend suggested that we join the school’s new Tai Chi club. I used to think that tai chi was for the elderly. However, the first class changed my previous understanding of tai chi. A year later, I can say that tai chi has had a huge impact on me.
The first few tai chi classes were fun and easy, and the moves with descriptive names really caught my imagination, like “white crane spreading its wings” and “golden rooster standing on one leg.” When I asked my coach where these interesting names came from, he told me about the history of tai chi. Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, was said to have invented tai chi after drawing inspiration from a fight between a snake and a bird. However, nowadays people tend to believe that Chen Wangting, a 17th-century master of Chinese martial arts, developed tai chi based on martial arts skills.
After the first few basic tai chi lessons, I found myself bored and aching from doing the same slow moves over and over again. Fortunately, my coach taught me how to relax my muscles and focus on peace of mind during ever, day practice. With these requirements of tai chi in mind, I found to my satisfaction that my balance and flexibility slowly improved, that I was able to do more difficult moves, and that my love for tai chi returned stronger than ever.
Meanwhile, I started to explore the ancient Chinese culture behind tai chi. I discovered that tai chi is deeply rooted in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang, which are believed to form the the unity of opposite. Neither can exist independent of the other. The practice of tai chi aims to keep the balance of yin and yang in the body through opposite movements: forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right, breathing in and breathing out. Ultimately, tai chi brings about a state of physical balance and mental peace.
The experience of a year of tai chi has affected my everyday life positively. I sleep more soundly at night, and feel more energetic during the day. I feel happier and more confident. Tai chi has taught me to relax my mind, enabling me to stay calm in stressful situations. I am sure I will continue to practise tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.
1. Why did the author join the Tai Chi Club?A.Because of his friend’s advice. | B.Because of his interest in it. |
C.Because of the school’s request. | D.Because of his parents’ suggestion. |
A.Quick and beautiful. | B.Quick and free. |
C.Slow and beautiful. | D.Slow and boring. |
A.Tai chi is influenced by Laozi’s philosophy of water. |
B.Tai chi can have a positive effect in people’s lives. |
C.You can find the origin of tai chi in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. |
D.Tai chi can make people feel energetic and confident. |
A.Finally | B.Sometimes | C.Firstly | D.Constantly |