An owl (猫头鹰) named Flaco escaped New York’s Central Park Zoo last week after his cage was broken. This set off a bird-hunt of police officers and park rangers (护林员). Zoo officials worried that Flaco, who had been kept in his zoo cage for 13 years, may have lost the survival abilities he needed in the wild. They placed some of his favorite treats in the open air to attempt to trap him.
Flaco was not fooled. Instead, he was sighted flying over5th Avenue, and Central Park’s skating rink. A number of New Yorkers came into Central Park to try to catch a glimpse of Flaco, taking photos with excitement.
But this week, zoo officials announced they accepted that Flaco remained in Central Park because he had been seen bringing up bones and fur from the park’s community of rats. “He has been very successful at hunting and consuming lots of rats in the park.” zoo officials told the New York Post.“ And that’s amazing. He’s hunting on his own. He’s flying better. Flaceo really seems to be enjoying himself out there.”
There is a caution attached to this story of an owl who is making it on his own in the city that never sleeps. Owls are nocturnal. They go around searching for food at night. They sleep during the day, or try to, like lots of people who work the overnight shift. Yet some New Yorkers who don’t know proper bird-watching behavior reportedly see Flaco sleep in a tree during the day, and begin to shout at him. It interrupts his sleep. Flaco can’t try to say “shh, shh” with the traditional New York reply. After all, a bird can’t give someone the bird.
1. Why were zoo officials concerned about Flaco’s ability to survive?| A．Because his favourite food was too little. | B．Because he might be attacked by police. |
| C．Because his cage was severely damaged. | D．Because he was kept in his cage for long. |
| A．He has adapted to the wild. | B．He has found his previous home. |
| C．He still faces great challenges. | D．He dislikes the rats in the park. |
| A．Scary-looking. | B．Shy and quiet. |
| C．Active at night. | D．Badly-behaved. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Favorable. | C．Unclear. | D．Disapproving. |
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【推荐1】Scientists have an unlikely new helper while exploring the Earth’s crust (地壳) deep beneath the ocean: Fin whales. New research, published Thursday in Science, finds these Fin whale calls’ sound waves can help create images of the seafloor down to 2. 5 kilometers.
Seafloor imaging, which is important for studying things like earthquake mechanics and carbon storage capacity, usually uses large air guns that send waves of sound downwards. The sound waves go through the crust and bounce back to instruments on the seafloor, carrying information about the structures they travel through. But such surveys are expensive, and the guns’ explosive noise may interrupt sea creatures that use sound to communicate.
Vaclav Kuna, the study co-author, was studying earthquakes when he noticed strange readings on the seafloor seismic (地震的) instruments, which turned out to match the frequencies of fin whale calls. Whale songs often appear in such instruments’ records, says Emily Roland, a marine seismologist at the University of Washington. Seismologists usually see these signals as annoyance. Kuna, however, noticed that the signals were not coming directly from the whales, but were echoes bouncing back from within the crust.
This technique does have limitations, Kuna says. Fin whale songs are limited in frequency, meaning the subsurface images are not as clear as those made with air guns. Additionally, a relatively flat seafloor is needed to triangulate (作三角测量) the whales’ positions while multiple stations would be needed in uneven or mountainous regions, he says.
Nevertheless, these whales are found almost everywhere except the ice-covered areas of the Arctic. The whale calls’ wide existence means they could provide new insight into old seismic datasets, Roland says. “At least the whale songs can serve as an additional source of signals. They are free and they are always there,” Kuna says. “It’s a win-win.”
1. What do we know about seafloor imaging in Paragraph 2?| A．It may affect some sea animals. | B．It can help predict earthquakes. |
| C．It is not completely accurate. | D．It is environmentally-friendly. |
| A．They can help scientists to locate their habitats. |
| B．They are easy to record and measure in the ocean. |
| C．They are likely to be used for seafloor imaging. |
| D．They have different frequencies among fin whales. |
| A．Exchanging messages between whales. |
| B．Working as an extra source of signals. |
| C．Providing useful insights into whales. |
| D．Exploring the ice-covered areas of the Arctic. |
| A．Fin Whale Calls Reveal Structure beneath Ocean Floor |
| B．Fin Whales Communicate by Singing Special Songs |
| C．Fin Whale Protection Is a Win-win Move for All |
| D．Seafloor Imaging Helps to Locate More Resources |
【推荐2】A ten-year-old sperm whale(抹香鲸）was found dead on a beach in Scotland.A necropsy(尸检）revealed that nearly 100 kilograms of plastic and other trash had formed clumps(硬块）in its digestive system.The tragedy quickly made headlines.Why would a top predator in the ocean eat gloves,rope,and plastic cups?
Conventional wisdom suggests that marine animals eat plastic because it is there and they don't know any better.It is true that plastic may smell like food to some of them.But that doesn't explain why only certain types of whales-deep-diving toothed whales,such as sperm whales and pilot whales-turn up dead on beaches with stomachs full of plastic.
It's possible,says Savoca,that plastic trash sounds like food to toothed whales.These species
hunt deep in the ocean,sometimes nearly 500 meters below the surface,where it's pitch black(漆黑）。They use echolocation(回声定位）to hunt for food,typically squid(乌贼）。
By contrast,baleen whales(须鲸），including humpbacks and blue whales,have natural filters(过滤器）for their food.Baleen,the brush-like filter-feeding system they have in place of teeth,as well as their narrow throats,keeping them from swallowing anything much larger than the krill(磷虾群）that forms the basis of their diet.That could help explain why baleen whales are not ending up with plastic filled stomachs.
Fifty years ago,there was almost no plastic in the ocean.The lifespan of a large whale can be
twice that long.In the lifetime of a single whale,we went from an ocean with no plastic to hundreds of thousands of tons of it.Plastic comes on top of other factors affecting life in the ocean-climate change,overfishing,shipping traffic,and noise pollution."it's a real shame because their lives are challenging enough even without the additional pressure we put onto them,"says Savoca.
1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
| A．That plastic smells like food to toothed whales. |
| B．That marine animals started to eat plastic decades ago. |
| C．That a number of toothed whales are found dead on beaches every year. |
| D．That conventional wisdom about why marine animals eat plastic doesn't apply to all whales. |
| A．They don't feed on krill. |
| B．They live in the dark depths of the ocean. |
| C．They are not born with brush-like filter-feeding systems. |
| D．They don't determine the location of their food with their eyes. |
| A．Whales have a longer lifespan than humans. |
| B．Plastic has a negative effect on climate change. |
| C．Great changes have taken place in the ocean in the past 50 years. |
| D．Plastic pollution has worsened already serious issues affecting marine life. |
| A．Different diets,different fates |
| B．Silent killers in the ocean |
| C．Plastic trash in-the ocean |
| D．Saving whales |
【推荐3】Can animals be artistic? Some experts think so. Painting and music are part of efforts to keep animals happy at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Zookeepers there believe that animals need enrichment just like people do.
A sloth bear (长毛熊) called Francois is one of the National Zoo’s artists. He began his artistic career two years ago. Francois has a very unusual way to paint. He uses his breath to paint. His zookeeper, Stacey Tabellario, says that although the technique may look strange, it is actually a very natural behavior for sloth bears. They have got big lungs and they can breathe out a huge amount of air. The zookeepers fill one of those tubes fill of paint and ask them to breathe through it And they blow all of the paint onto the canvas (画布), making the really cool paintings.
Animal artists come in all shapes and sizes at the Zoo. They use many kinds of techniques to create their works of art. Apes use paintbrushes. Many use their paws or claws — much like a human painter would use his or her hands.
Stacey Tabellario says Francois seems to enjoy expressing himself through his art. “When I set up the materials for painting activity, he comes and sits next to them and waits until we are ready to start painting. He does that every time. I also see where his eyes go. He dose see the paints come out of the tube and land on the canvas.” But not every animal wants to paint.
Music is another part of the arts enrichment program. Physically and mentally interesting (有趣味的) activities are an important part of the daily care of the animals. Trainers have a set of tools, from tablet computers to small toys.
Kenton Kerns says the program helps the animals and the zookeepers in many ways. Every interaction between keepers and their animals creates some sort of connections. The one-of-a-kind works of art created by the animals are popular with zoo visitors. Many are sold at the zoo’s fundraising events.
1. What is the best title for the text?| A．Art Works in the Zoo |
| B．Zoo Animals Show Artistic Side |
| C．Animals can Earn Money |
| D．Animals Enjoy Painting |
| A．Francois is a two-year-old artist at the National Zoo. |
| B．Francois’ way to paint is unusual for sloth bears. |
| C．Francois’ big lungs determine the way it paints. |
| D．Francois paints with the help of his feet. |
| A．is fond of painting |
| B．likes to stay with other animals |
| C．often shows the painting to the audience |
| D．wants to get attention from the zookeepers by painting |
| A．It enriches the keepers’ life. |
| B．It makes the animals clever. |
| C．It intends to collect money for the zoo. |
| D．It deepens the relationship between animals and keepers. |
【推荐1】Robert and Henry were going home for lunch from school when, on turning a corner, Robert cried out, “A fight! Let’s go and see!”
“No.” said Henry, “let’s go home quietly and not meddle with(参与) this fight. We have nothing to do with it, and may get into trouble. ”
“You are a coward, and afraid to go,” said Robert, and off he ran. Henry went straight home, and in the afternoon went back to school, as usual. But Robert had told all the boys that Henry was a coward, and they laughed at him a great deal.
However, Henry knew that true courage was far more than that. He knew that he should be afraid of nothing but doing wrong.
A few days later, Robert was swimming with some schoolmates and got out of his depth. He struggled and cried for help, but nobody answered. The boys who had called Henry a coward got out of the water as fast as they could and did not even try to help him.
Robert was going down fast when Henry threw off his clothes and jumped into the water. He reached Robert just in time. With great effort, and with much danger to himself, he brought Robert to the riverbank and saved his life.
Robert and his schoolmates were ashamed of having called Henry a coward. They realized that he had more courage than all of them.
Never be afraid to do good, but always fear to do bad.
1. What did Robert want to do when he and Henry saw a fight?| A．To go away quietly. |
| B．To tell his friends about the fight. |
| C．To watch a fight that was happening. |
| D．To meddle with some troublemakers. |
| A．you can face danger by yourself. |
| B．you are not brave and easily scared. |
| C．you aren't afraid of doing anything. |
| D．you follow others in the face of danger. |
| A．He jumped into the water to save him as soon as possible. |
| B．He got out of the water and ran away. |
| C．He called the police to help Robert. |
| D．He cried for help to other boys. |
| A．The Meaning of True Courage |
| B．The Troubles of Being a Coward |
| C．The Common Fears of Doing Wrong |
| D．The Importance of Listening to Others’ Advice |
【推荐2】He was driving home one evening, on a country road. Work, in this small community, was as slow as his broken Pontiac.
But he never quit looking. Since the factory closed, he’d been unemployed. And with winter approaching, the cold days had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Very few people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had left. But he stayed on. After all, he had his root here.
It was getting dark, and snow was coming down. He’d better get a move on. Suddenly he saw an old lady on the roadside and obviously needed help.
So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. She was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He looked poor, hungry, and ... dangerous.
He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He said, “I’m here to help you, Ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm? By the way, my name is Joe.” The car had a flat tire. Joe crawled under the car and soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was turning the screws (螺丝), she rolled down her window and began talking to him and said she couldn’t thank him enough for coming to her aid.
She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the terrible things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was simply helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had lent him a hand before.
He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Joe added “… and think of me.”
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small café. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off. It was a dirty-looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair.
She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude.
The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, she handed the waitress a $100 bill. When the waitress came back with the change, she found the lady was gone and something written on a napkin.
Reading the note, there were tears in her eyes. It said, “You owe me nothing. I’ve been there too. Someone once helped me out, like I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, don’t let the chain of love end with you.
That night when she got home from work, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written.
With the baby due soon, life would be harder. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft, “Everything’s gonna be alright; I love you, Joe.”
1. We can know from the first four paragraphs that Joe ______.| A．was living a tough life without a job |
| B．was hopeless about his job and future |
| C．was eager to leave where he lived now |
| D．usually gave a bad impression on others |
| A．expected to be remembered for his kindness |
| B．struggled for a living, depending a lot on other people |
| C．was always changing tires for strangers free of charge |
| D．often offered a helping hand without expecting anything in return |
| A．impress the waitress with her generosity |
| B．show pity to the woman expecting a baby |
| C．bring love forward by helping those in need |
| D．express thanks for the waitress’ quality service |
【推荐3】Some little boys are addicted to Legos. Others can’t get enough of dinosaurs. But it is Blackpool Tower in England that has captured one 6-year-old’s imagination.
The Blackpool Tower was built in 1894. It is twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty in NYC. Now Charlie Barratt has achieved his dream by becoming the voice of the attraction’s lift (电梯). Charlie did a project about the tower at school, recording his own version of the lift’s existing speech. In the voice-over, Charlie welcomes visitors to the attraction. He also offers interesting facts about the tower. One of his teachers contacted Kenny Mew, the tower’s operation manager, and told him about Charlie’s love for the 518-foot (157 meter) structure.
Mew told BBC Radio Lancashire, “His school reached out to me and said they had this young boy who was passionate about Blackpool Tower and had actually recorded the lift speech and I was thinking to myself: how’s he done that? I played it back and he had the speech word for word that we’d had recorded already in the lift and it just sounded amazing. And we thought we were going to give Charlie the opportunity to do it. He was absolutely brilliant. He’s done an amazing job, and we’re really proud of what he’s done.”
Charlie was then invited into a professional recording studio to perform his version and his mum, Wendy, is as thrilled as he is. She told the BBC, “He adores the tower.” Wendy first took Charlie to visit the tower when he was a baby. She said he loved it “from the minute he can walk”.
Now Charlie is the voice of the attraction’s lift. As well as the lift, there are plans in progress for Charlie to lend his voice to other areas in the future.
1. Why does the author mention other boys in the first paragraph?| A．To imply that Blackpool Tower is better than Legos and dinosaurs. |
| B．To highlight that Charlie Barratt has a unique passion. |
| C．To indicate that Charlie Barratt cannot get along with other boys. |
| D．To criticize other boys who fail to achieve their dreams. |
| A．It did not have a lift speech until Charlie made one. |
| B．Its manager attempted to find a boy to record lift speech. |
| C．It is now using Charlie’s remade recording in its lift. |
| D．It is the highest tower in England with interesting facts. |
| A．His mother Wendy inspired him. |
| B．His teacher encouraged him to do so. |
| C．He had a strong interest in Blackpool Tower. |
| D．He decided to attract more tourists to it. |
| A．Passionate and unselfish. |
| B．Hard-working and persuasive. |
| C．Promising and kind. |
| D．Enthusiastic and committed. |
