Jonathan the tortoise, the world’s oldest land animal, turned 190 over the weekend on the island of St. Helena, where he enjoyed a “cake” of seasonal fruits, leafy greens and vegetables, including carrots carved into the number “190”.
Jonathan was brought to St.Helena from the Seychelles in 1882 as a gift. According to Guinness World Records, Jonathan surpassed the previous record holder, Tu’i Malila, who lived in the 1770s until 1965and could be even older. He arrived in St.Helena as a fully mature tortoise, meaning he was at least 50 in 1882.
“The vet is still feeding him by hand once a week to boost his calories, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, as he is blind and has no sense of smell. His hearing though is excellent and he loves the company of humans, and responds well to his vet Joe Hollins’ voice as he associates him with a feast, Guinness World Records said.
“The tortoise enjoys the sun but on very hot days takes to the shade. On mild days, he will sunbathe his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his core,” according to Hollins. When it’s cold, Jonathan has been known to “dig himself into leaf mold or grass cuttings and remain there all day.”
In most cases, the lifespan of a tortoise or turtle depends on the species and level of care they receive. They generally live much longer in captivity than in the wild, because in the wild, they must find their own food in addition to evading predators while not getting medical treatment. Larger turtle and tortoise species also tend to live longer than their smaller counterparts. For more information about animal record holders, click here.
1. When might Jonathan be born?| A．In 1882. | B．In 1770. | C．In 1965. | D．In 1832. |
| A．Jonathan had a birthday cake made of fruits, meat, and vegetables. |
| B．Jonathan was born and raised on the island of St. Helena. |
| C．Jonathan is the Guinness World holder of the oldest land animal. |
| D．Jonathan is a very old but healthy tortoise with full senses. |
| A．Species differences. | B．Food shortage. |
| C．Lack of medical treatment. | D．Animal enemies. |
| A．In a science fiction. | B．On a news website. |
| C．In a travel brochure. | D．In a biology textbook. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】“A moth (飞蛾) to a flame” is often used to indicate an inescapable attraction, yet it is a strange example of animal behavior that continues to confuse people today. Scientists have raised a number of theories over the years to explain why. One holds that insects flying at night are following their nature to fly toward the brightest spot in their field of vision, which they mistake for the sky. Another suggests that insects are trying to warm themselves with the heat produced by the light. The most popular theory, though, is that insects are confusing lights with the moon or other celestial bodies (天体) that they normally use to navigate (导航).
To find out the real reason, the team carried out a first set of experiments in an insect flight area. The researchers used eight high-speed infrared (红外线) cameras equipped with motion-capture technologies to track 30 insects from three moth and two dragonfly species. They also flew lab-raised insects from six different insect orders that were too small for motion-capture technology, including fruit flies and honeybees, to make sure different insects all showed similar responses to light. Working with co-author Pablo Allen of the Council on International Educational Exchange in Monteverde, Costa Rica, the researchers put heavy cameras, lights and tripods in two field sites to gather behavioral data from insects in the wild.
The team was able to confirm that insects were not beelining to the light but rather circling it as they tilted (倾斜) in an attempt to turn their backs toward it. This behavior, known as a “dorsal light response”, normally helps insects to remain in an unchanging path of flight that is properly lined to the horizon (地平线). Artificial light that arrives from a point source causes them to fly in unpredictable patterns as they try to turn their backs to what they are mistaking for the sky.
Now research might have finally solved the mystery mentioned first: artificial light confuses insects’ ability to turn themselves to the horizon, confusing their sense of what is up and down and causing them to fly in circles.
1. Which theory about a moth to a flame is accepted by most people?| A．They follow their nature to fly. | B．They are blind to artificial light. |
| C．They mistake artificial light for celestial bodies. | D．They are attracted by the warmth of artificial light. |
| A．To show the study is comprehensive. | B．To introduce the purpose of the study. |
| C．To estimate the cost of the research. | D．To stress the challenge faced by the researchers. |
| A．Flying slowly. | B．Sticking. | C．Responding. | D．Going straight. |
| A．They can fly beyond the horizon. | B．They can follow a steady flight path. |
| C．They can turn their backs toward lights. | D．They can circle the light source upside down. |
Running like the wind, roaring（咆哮）like thunder, tigers have long been feared and respected as a king of the animal world. But last week a report said that there are no more than 30 wild tigers left in south China.
This was the conclusion of a team of scientists from China's State Forestry Administration and the World Nature Fund.
The South China tiger, also known as the Chinese tiger, is native to southern China. In the 1950's, there were over 4000 tigers found in mountain forests in the country. But because of the destruction of their natural habitat and uncontrolled hunting, it has been pushed on to the list of the world's top ten most endangered species.
Sixty-six of the big cats can be found in the cages of a dozen zoos around China. But they are nothing like their wild cousins. They have lost their natural skills such as hunting and killing．If they were set free they could not look after themselves.
"Breeding has damaged the quality of the species", said Pei Enle, deputy director of the Shanghai Zoo.
To reintroduce the species into the wild, the country started a programme to send five to ten young tigers to South Africa. Four of them have already arrived. Progress has been made as two elder tigers have recovered some of their instincts and can hunt wild animals by themselves at the African base.
"South Africans are very experienced in reintroducing big animals to the wild. The country has very good natural conditions for the tigers to learn in", said Lu Jun, office director of the National Wildlife Research and Development Center." We tried in Fujian Province, but it was not successful as there was not a complete eco-chain（生物链） and there was a lack of space." The tigers should return to China when the reservations in Fujian are ready.
1. What is the main reason for the South China tiger becoming one of the world's top ten most endangered species?（Please answer within 10 words.）2. What is the purpose of sending young tigers to South Africa? （Please answer within 15 words.）
3. The underlined word “instincts” in paragraph 6 refers to ________.（Please answer within 5 words.）
4. Why South Africa has been chosen as the training place? （Please answer within 15 words.）
5. What is your advice for protecting endangered animals? （Please answer within 25 words.）
【推荐3】When an editor called to ask if I could photograph a story about fireflies in Mexico, I didn’t check my schedule before I said yes. I’d seen these insects light up the forests in Tlaxcala once before, and I jumped at the chance to go back.
I had three nights to capture the magical scene in the forest. Camera stand in hand, I hiked with my colleagues into the foggy forest at dusk. According to our guides, visitors are usually not allowed to photograph the fireflies because the presence of artificial light from electronics can affect their habits. As I started shooting, I adjusted my exposures constantly to account for the fading light. In order to get the composition that I wanted, I placed my camera stand on a steep, rocky path and had to steady it during the long exposures. Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal, but the fireflies were very interested in the camera and, by extension, in me. I stood completely still while they crawled all over me—my arms, my hair, my face—and tickled (呵痒) my nose and cheeks. From what I observed, peak firefly presence happens for only about 20 minutes each night, so I had time for just a few tries.
On the last night everything came together. The weather cooperated. I had improved my method for focusing and composing in the dark with quick flashes from a powerful flashlight—and I’d grown accustomed to insects on my face. I was rewarded with the image you see here. Each spot of light is one of several bursts that a firefly makes as it travels in a 30-second exposure. You can trace the insects’ paths: Some make small circles, like those in the bottom center of the frame, while others move steadily in one direction or another.
The first time I visited the fireflies, I didn’t have the pressure of trying to capture and convey this astonishing scene. That will always be my favorite experience with these shining creatures.
1. According to the passage, the author most probably is a(n) ______.| A．field biologist | B．insect observer |
| C．expert photographer | D．mountain hiker |
| A．make up for the dying light | B．keep away from the annoying fireflies |
| C．obtain an ideal image | D．catch peak firefly presence |
| A．was accused of capturing wild fireflies |
| B．endured physically to get first-hand firefly shots |
| C．was tired of the exposure to dark forests |
| D．got his most satisfying image on the second night |
| A．Fascinating. | B．Passionate. |
| C．Surprising. | D．Miserable. |
【推荐1】Endangered polar bears are breeding (繁殖) with grizzly bears (灰熊), creating “pizzly” bears, which is being driven by climate change, scientists say.
As the world warms and Arctic sea ice thins, starving polar bears are being forced ever further south, where they meet grizzlies, whose ranges are expanding northwards. And with that growing contact between the two come increasing hybrids (杂交种).
With characteristics that could give the hybrids an advantage in warming northern habitats, some scientists guess that they could be here to stay. “Usually, hybrids aren’t better suited to their environments than their parents, but these hybrids are able to search for a broader range of food sources,” Larisa DeSantis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Vanderbilt University, told Live Science.
The rise of “pizzly” bears appears with polar bears’ decline: their numbers are estimated to decrease by more than 30% in the next 30 years. This sudden fall is linked partly to “pizzly” bears taking up polar bears’ ranges, where they outcompete them, but also to polar bears’ highly specialized diets.
“Polar bears mainly consumed soft foods even during the Medieval Warm Period, a previous period of rapid warming,” DeSantis said, referring to fat meals such as seals. “Although all of these starving polar bears are trying to find alternative food sources, like seabird eggs, it could be a tipping point for their survival.” Actually, the calories they gain from these sources do not balance out those they burn from searching for them. This could result in a habitat ready for the hybrids to move in and take over, leading to a loss in biodiversity if polar bears are replaced.
“We’re having massive impacts with climate change on species,” DeSantis said. “The polar bear is telling us how bad things are. In some sense, “pizzly” bears could be a sad but necessary compromise given current warming trends.”
1. Why do polar bears move further south?| A．To create hybrids. | B．To expand territory. |
| C．To relieve hunger. | D．To contact grizzlies. |
| A．Broader habitats. | B．More food options. |
| C．Climate preference. | D．Improved breeding ability. |
| A．A rare chance. | B．A critical stage. |
| C．A positive factor. | D．A constant change. |
| A．Polar bears are changing diets for climate change. |
| B．Polar bears have already adjusted to climate change. |
| C．“Pizzly” bears are on the rise because of global warming. |
| D．“Pizzly”bears have replaced polar bears for global warming. |
【推荐2】Thousands of years of domestication have left dogs with a remarkable capacity to comprehend human speech, and new research reveals that the brains of our four-legged friends are even able to differentiate between languages. Appearing in the journal Neuroimage, the new study is the first to detect such an ability in any non-human animal.
To conduct their research, the study authors trained 18 pet dogs to lie motionless inside a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner so that their brain activity could be recorded while they listened to audio recordings of human speech. Two of the dogs involved in the study came from homes that spoke Spanish, while the remaining 16 belonged to Hungarian-speaking families.
While in the scanner, each dog listened to an excerpt (节选) from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince in both Spanish and Hungarian. They also heard scrambled (杂乱的) versions of these recordings that made no sense and sounded completely unnatural.
When examining the responses of the dogs’ brains to these recordings, the researchers noted that activity patterns within the animals’ primary auditory cortex (听觉皮层) differed depending on whether they heard actual speech or scrambled nonsense. This suggests that dogs are indeed able to tell the difference between speech and non-speech, regardless of the language spoken.
The researchers also found that this response to language was more pronounced in older dogs, leading them to conclude that longer exposure to human speech enables pet dogs to improve their language recognition skills.
In a statement, study author Attila Andie explained these findings indicate that “the capacity to learn about the regularities of a language is not uniquely human.” However, it remains to be seen “whether this capacity is dogs’ specialty, or general among non-human species.”
“Indeed, it is possible that the brain changes from the tens of thousands of years that dogs have been living with humans have made them better language listeners, but this is not necessarily the case.”
1. What is the requirement for the dogs in the study?| A．They must be smart. | B．They can study languages. |
| C．They must keep still. | D．They can train their partners. |
| A．By consulting language experts. | B．By collecting clinical data. |
| C．By observing the dogs’ body movements. | D．By analyzing the dogs’ brain activity. |
| A．They have proved his assumption. | B．They need further confirming. |
| C．They are in line with the former ones. | D．They apply to non-human species. |
| A．Older Dogs Can Learn New Tricks |
| B．Dogs Are Good Language Learners |
| C．Older Dogs Are Humans’ Perfect Partners |
| D．Dogs Can Distinguish Different Languages |
【推荐3】The preventive measures for forest fires include some pre-emptive ( 抢先的 ) methods that can help reduce the risks of fires and control their severity and spread, and thus, maintain ecological balance and protect natural resources. Close monitoring of forest fires caused by natural factors can help prevent their spread to a large extent. To contain forest fires, fire departments usually use water and chemical fire retardants ( 抑制剂 ) that can be dropped from planes and helicopters. To control the spread of a wildfire, firefighters usually create a control line by removing all fuel from an area so that the fire cannot travel across it.
Controlled burns are often employed by government authorities to reduce fuel build-up, and clean up the fallen leaves, and thus, prevent the spread of forest fires to a vast area. Regular controlled burns can also help maintain biodiversity ( 生物多样性 ), as the smoke and heat produced in the process can facilitate ( 促进 ) the growth of seeds of certain plant species. Apart from these, responsible human behaviour can help reduce the number of forest fires to a great extent. In fact, we can reduce the number of wildfires dramatically by not leaving behind any source of fire in the forest.
Forest fires can affect climate and weather to a great extent, besides causing severe damage to valuable trees. Wildfires can increase the level of greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, etc), and therefore increase pollution and global warming. However, they are also an important part of the ecosystem, and many plants depend on the heat and smoke generated by wildfires for their growth and reproduction. But large wildfires can cause extensive damage to the ecosystem，which again highlights the importance of effective control and prevention of forest fires.
1. Firefighters get rid of all fuel in all area in order to________.| A．keep close monitoring of forest fires |
| B．prevent the forest fire from occurring |
| C．stop the wildfire from spreading |
| D．protect the animals there |
| A．burn the rubbish and keep the forest clean |
| B．help keep the ecological balance of nature |
| C．provide reasonable conditions for some animals’ growth |
| D．reduce fuel build-up and limit forest fires’ spreading area |
| A．it promotes the development of some seeds |
| B．a new forest will appear soon |
| C．nature keeps its balance only by wildfires |
| D．it makes the trees grow faster than before |
| A．the greenhouse gases are caused mainly by wildfires |
| B．wildfires have both positive and negative effects |
| C．people should be aware of the necessity of wildfires |
| D．all the valuable trees disappear owing to wildfires |
【推荐1】We have heard some interesting ways that 5G wireless technology might change our lives in the future.
5G, short for the 5th generation mobile communication technology, promises Internet speeds between 50 to 100 times faster than current 4G systems. While 5G is set to be used in some limited areas of America this year, much of the world is not expected to receive widely available service until 2023.
One project in Britain, however, is already testing this superfast technology on an unlikely group of Internet users-cows. The project was developed by American technology company Cisco Systems. It also receives money from the British government. Cisco says the program seeks to explore the future of 5G connectivity in rural areas around the world.
Testing areas were set up at farms in three rural areas of England. The cows are equipped with 5G-connected devices (装置) that link up to a robotic milking system, which uses sensors and machine learning to fully automate the process. System designers say technology takes over after a cow feels ready to be milked and walks toward an automatic gate. The device is designed to recognize each individual cow. It then positions equipment to the right body position for milking. During the process, machines release food for the cow as a reward.
Other 5G technology tools include automated brushes that turn on when the cow rubs up against them. Sensors also control the amount of light to the cows’ living areas depending on the weather. And, an automatic feeding system makes sure the animals always get enough to eat.
Duncan Forbes, head of the project, told Reuters that the project shows the farm’s cow operations can be greatly improved with 5G technology and that the experiment provides strong evidence that 5G technology can be widely used in the future, not just on farms in Britain, but in rural communities across the world.
1. What is the purpose of Cisco Systems’ program?| A．To win financial support from British government. |
| B．To test the effects of 5G technology on animals |
| C．To promote its technological development in Britain |
| D．To expand the future use of 5G in rural communities. |
| A．The project. | B．The company. |
| C．The technology. | D．The group. |
| A．It is no worse than 4G in terms of speed. |
| B．It is already widely available in the world. |
| C．It enables cows to control their own milking. |
| D．It is based on sensors and machine learning. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Lifestyle. |
| C．Education. | D．Technology. |
【推荐2】On Sept. 12, 2023, Apple made an announcement. It said it will use the USB-C connector for all its new iPhone 15 models. This is a big deal. It means that all new iPhones will have the same connector. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. The C refers to the third type. It follows types A and B.
The USB Implementers Forum is made up of over 1,000 companies. They promote and support USB technology. The group developed the USB-C connector. It replaces the older USB connectors. It also replaces other types of ports (端口). These include HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA. The aim is to create a single, universal connector for a wide range of devices.
The key features and benefits of USB-C include a reversible (可逆的) connector. You can insert it in either end. It also allows some cables to have the same connector on both ends for connecting between devices and connecting devices to chargers, unlike most earlier USB and Lightning cables.
USB-C’s widespread adoption in the electronics industry is likely to lead to a universal standard. This reduces the need for multiple types of cables and adapters. Also, its slim and compact shape allows manufacturers to make thinner and lighter devices.
Why does USB-C matters? Due to the fragmented (支离破碎的) nature of technology evolution, computer users a decade ago were struggling. They had too many connectors: USB for data; power cables for charging; HDMI or DisplayPort or VGA for video; and Ethernet for internet. This called for an industrywide effort to convergence on an all-purpose connector. Since its introduction in 2014, USB-C has gained widespread popularity. It has already become the connector of choice for most non-Apple devices. Apple converted the iPad Pro to USB-C in 2018. Now, it is doing the same for the best selling Apple device, the iPhone. Some market forecasts suggest there will be close to 4 billion USB-C connector sales by 2025 and 19 billion by 2033.
1. Which organization developed the USB-C connector?| A．Universal Serial Bus | B．The USB Implementers Forum. |
| C．Apple Inc. | D．HDMI, DisplayPort and VGA |
| A．To replace all USB connectors with USB-C. | B．To take the place of other types of ports. |
| C．To create a universal connector for various devices. | D．To develop a connector for Apple devices. |
| A．It has a reversible connector. | B．It requires adapters for most devices. |
| C．It is slim and has a compact shape. | D．It supports only Apple devices. |
| A．2014. | B．2025. | C．2033. | D．2018. |
【推荐3】Arriving in Yunhe, a small county in Lishi city, Zhejiang province, you can’t help but wonder if you’ve just stepped into a dream-like painting, with the Oujiang River winding through its misty mountains, hills and valleys.
But there is more than natural beauty in Yunhe. It is also a treasure trove of wooden toys. Wooden toy-themed cultural and amusement parks line the main roads, shops and stores selling wooden toys are everywhere, children play with locally made toys and board games in kindergarten as part of preschool education, hotels and home stays are often featured with wooden toys, and even street lamps, bus stops and the country’s highway tollgates are built in the shape of wooden toys and castles.
“My grandfather, who was then 44 years old, went to Shanghai in 1972 in search of a market for wooden toys, and when he returned, he brought back several samples,” said He Bin, head of Zhejiang Hexin Toys and who is also 44 years old, stating the time his grandfather He Shouzhen earned Yunhe’s first export order. After a year and a half of repeated trials in his simple workshop, He Shouzhen successfully produced a batch of spinning tops, castanets and yo-yos, which were then sold through a trading company in Shanghai to Japan for a total of 4, 000 yuan ($570).
Last year, Yunhe’s wooden toys created the income of 9. 19 billion yuan, and over 31, 000 people—roughly a quarter of its population—were employed in the country’s manufacturing companies.
Known as the “Hometown of China’s Wooden Toys”, Yunhe boasts 1, 093 manufacturers, producing thousands of wooden playthings every year. In fact, 56 percent of China’s wooden toys and 40 percent of the world’s are made in Yunhe. These toys are exported to 76 countries and regions including the United States and Europe.
1. What are the characteristics of Yunhe?| A．Education and wooden toys. | B．Colorful and attractive kindergartens. |
| C．Wooden gun-themed amusement parks. | D．Natural beauty as well as wooden toys. |
| A．Because his grandfather was a well-known businessman. |
| B．Because his grandfather had been to Shanghai for business and made it. |
| C．Because his grandfather simply produced some wooden castanets and yo-yos. |
| D．Because his grandfather was a success on account of making wooden toys. |
| A．Ambiguous. | B．Optimistic. | C．Critical. | D．Negative. |
| A．Small wooden toys realizing dreams of prosperity. |
| B．A small county importing plenty of wooden toys. |
| C．A successful craftsman making small wooden toys. |
| D．Amusement parks concentrating on wooden street lamps. |
