An An, the world’s oldest captive (被圈养的) male panda, died on July 21 at age 35. The panda’s life was ended by an animal doctor due to his poor health condition, Hong Kong’s Ocean Park said online. “He was clever and lovely and we would miss him,” the park’s chairman Paulo Pong said.
An An was gifted to the park in 1999 by the Chinese central government, along with Jia Jia, a female panda that died in 2016 at age 38. The pair were seen by millions of tourists and schoolchildren over the years, many of whom posted their memories of An An online in photos and videos after its death.
On average(平均来看), a panda in the wild can live for 14-20 years, but they can live far longer with humans’ care, according to World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF). Pong said that An An lived longer than most wild pandas, which shows that the park has done a good job taking care of the pandas. The park still houses two other pandas—female Ying Ying and male Le Le—which were gifted by the Chinese government in 2007.
China has spent half a century trying to increase the population of this rare (珍稀的) animal. It has built many protected areas to save them from disappearing. It’s well known that pandas are hard to raise, but after years of decline (下降), their numbers in the wild have increased in recent years. In 2017 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) removed the animal from the list of endangered animals after their population grew nearly 17% in the past 10 years. The Chinese government also did so last year after the wild panda population increased to 1,800.
In China, pandas are considered an umbrella species, which means experts believe methods to protect them will help protect other species, as well as the larger ecosystem (生态系统).
1. Why did the animal doctor end An An’s life?| A．To save him from further suffering. | B．To help reduce the park’s pressure. |
| C．To protect other pandas from disease. | D．To find the causes of this death problems. |
| A．12 years old. | B．15 years old. | C．18 years old. | D．21 year old. |
| A．Raising An An in the park wasn’t easy. | B．The park raised An An with great care. |
| C．An An brought many good memories to him. | D．Ying Ying and Le Le will live as long as An An. |
| A．pandas are still endangered animals |
| B．pandas are easy to keep with human’s care |
| C．the number of wild pandas is rising in recent years |
| D．TUCN is working with China to protect wild pandas |
| A．ask people to protect wild pandas | B．tell the story of An An and Jia Jia |
| C．explain why An An died at age 35 | D．share the news of An An’s death |
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【推荐1】A cicada is a large insect. It is about three centimeters long. Like many other insects, it has six legs. On the forehead are two big eyes, between which is a long beak. It uses its beak to drink juice from trees. The adult cicada has two sets of wings which can shake together to produce a high, continuous sound when the weather is hot.
In its whole life, it mainly goes through two stages. In the beginning, when a cicada is under the ground, it is called a baby cicada. It drinks juice from tree roots and it is covered in a hard shell (壳). At this time, it has no wings—just legs. After coming out of the ground, it breaks out of its old shell. Under the old shell is a new shell and four wings. The cicada finds a place in the sun to dry its new shell and wings. Gradually, the baby cicada grows into an adult. After a cicada becomes an adult, it sings loudly in hot summer. That’s why it is called a born singer in nature.
At present, over two thousand kinds of cicadas are distributed (分布) around the world. All of them spend most of their life underground. You can find about four hundred and fifty kinds in Africa. Besides, there are about one hundred and twenty kinds in China. There are also about seven unusual kinds in the US that stay under the ground for many years.
| A．habits | B．looks | C．likes | D．hobbies |
| A．a large head | B．a high sound | C．a shell | D．a born singer |
| A．in the world | B．in the UK | C．in the US | D．in China |
| A．100 kinds | B．110 kinds | C．115 kinds | D．120 kinds |
| A．periods | B．feelings | C．activities | D．foods |
【推荐2】Day after day Buck pulled a sledge. They started in the morning before it was light, and stopped in the evening after it was dark, eating a piece of fish, and going to sleep in their holes under the snow. Buck was always hungry. Francois gave him 750 grams of dried fish a day, and it was never enough. The other dogs were given only 500 grams; they were smaller and could live on less food.
Buck learned to eat quickly; if he was too slow, the other dogs would steal his food. He saw Pike, one of the new dogs, steal some meat from the sledge when Francois wasn’t looking. The next day Buck stole some and got away unseen. Francois was very angry, but he thought another dog, Dub, had taken it and punished him instead of Buck.
Buck was learning how to live in the north. In the south he had never stolen, and there he had never been so hungry. He stole cleverly and secretly, remembering the beatings from the man with the club (击棍).
Buck was learning the law of club and tooth. He learned to eat any food—anything that he could get his teeth into. He learned to break the ice on waterholes with his feet when he wanted to drink. He was stronger, harder, and could see and smell better than ever before. In a way, he was remembering back to the days when wild dogs traveled in groups through the forest, killing for meat as they went. It was easy for him to learn to fight like a wolf, because it was in his blood. In the evenings, when he pointed his nose at the moon and howled long and loud, he was remembering the dogs and wolves that had come before him.
— Adapted from The Call of the Wild
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?| A．Buck was good at learning. | B．Buck ate meals very slowly. |
| C．Buck was angry with other dogs. | D．Buck didn’t get on with Francois. |
| A．The east. | B．The south. | C．The west. | D．The north. |
| A．that Buck ate other dogs. | B．that Buck became very weak. |
| C．that Buck missed his hometown. | D．that Buck got his wildness again. |
| A．Dog food. | B．A dog keeper. | C．A dog. | D．A winter. |
【推荐3】Do you know panda bears? They live in southwestern China. There are two main kinds of pandas. They are the giant (巨大的) black-and-white panda and the red panda. They weigh anywhere from 175 to 275 pounds. They get anywhere from five to six feet in height. They are born blind and are completely helpless. So they need to live with the help of their mothers. But they grow up quickly, and by the age of 3 months, they are already starting to become active. Once a baby panda leaves its mother, it will live all alone.
Pandas are active during both the day and night. The most important plant in the life of a panda bear is bamboo. They spend about 12 hours of their day eating bamboo. They usually eat the soft part of the bamboo, such as the bamboo leaves. Pandas also eat grasses, fish, fruit, and rice.
To protect themselves from the cold, pandas build up fat in their body. They have a thick coat of fur and they live in places with dense (浓密的) bamboo forests.
Pandas move in a very slow and orderly way. Unlike some bears, the panda bear does not hibernate. Where they live is able to make them be active and eat all year round.
根据短文内容选择最佳答案。1. What do pandas eat ?
| A．Bamboo. | B．Bamboo leaves. | C．Bamboo, grasses, fish fruit and rice. |
| A．About 12 hours. | B．About 84 hours. | C．About 60 hours. |
| A．play games | B．sleep in winter | C．climb trees |
| A．Pandas can’t see anything when they’re born. |
| B．Pandas don’t become active until the age of three months. |
| C．A panda lives with its mother all the time. |
| A．The kinds of the panda. |
| B．The living habits of the panda. |
| C．The introduction of the panda. |
| Willow Branches(树枝) at the Olympics Closing Ceremony | Comments(评论) Chosen from Weibo |
 In ancient China, when relatives or friends said goodbye, people often broke willow branches down and gave them to those who would leave, and hoped they would come back. In Chinese, “willow” has the similar pronunciation to a Chinese word “留”, which means asking a person to stay. It’s not “goodbye” but “see you again soon”. At Beijing Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony, the whole world enjoyed an amazing performance. The performers perfectly acted with the LED floor to show the picture of willow branches. It showed the strong feelings of a sad but sweet goodbye. 365 people holding willow branches were in the center of the Bird’s Nest, showing the missing of 365 days. It fully showed the theme of “One World, One Dream”. |  |
| A．Hugs | B．Willow branches | C．Flowers | D．Red lanterns |
| A．杏树 | B．桃树 | C．杨树 | D．柳树 |
| A．Common | B．Moving | C．Convenient | D．Lively |
| A．When the performers were trained. |
| B．Where the closing ceremony was held. |
| C．What the performance wanted to show us. |
| D．How Chinese showed their feelings at the closing ceremony. |
Most of us have learned the virtue (美德) of honesty from some stories. The story of Pinocchio teaches the importance of telling the truth to us. Every time Pinocchio lies, his nose grows longer. These types of stories show children that “honesty is the best”.
One reason people lie is to hide a mistake. While it is true that everyone does something wrong from time to time, some people do not have the courage to admit their mistakes because they are afraid that they will be blamed (责备). For example, students might lie to their teachers about unfinished homework. They might say that they left the homework at home.
| A．In fact, they did not do the homework at all. |
| B．But why do so many people lie? |
| C．People lie for many reasons, both good and bad. |
| D．What should children do if a stranger calls while their parents are out? |
| E．Another reason for lying has to do with self-protection. |
| F．The protective lies are useful and necessary for children. |
【推荐3】Imagine you are in Africa. Suddenly, a group of spots streaks past you. What was it? It may have been a cheetah, the fastest animal on land. It can run up to 70 miles per hour, which is faster than most cars moving on the highway!
In many ways, the cheetah is built for speed. Even though this animal is a cat, its paws are much more like a dog’s paws. The paws allow the cheetah to make quick turns. A cheetah also has long legs that help it take big steps. It can jump as far as 20 feet in one leap! Even the cheetah’s backbone helps it move quickly. The backbone acts as a spring (弹簧), moving the cheetah forward with sudden burst (迸发) of energy. Although the cheetah can run fast, it cannot run for long distance. It uses its energy quickly and becomes tired. If the cheetah cannot catch its dinner in a hurry, it will have to rest a while before trying again.
A cheetah is also made to be a great hunter. It has sharp eyesight. A cheetah can see other animals up to three miles away. Good eyesight helps the cheetah find its prey so it can plan an attack. A cheetah’s coat is also very useful. The coat is light brown with black spots. It allows a cheetah to hide in the tall, brown grass in Africa. Other animals do not see it hiding, so a cheetah can get close to rabbits, birds, and other animals quietly.
Today the cheetah is in danger. Parts of Africa are being turned into farms. This change forces the cheetah and other animals to find new places to live, which is not always easy. Cheetahs are also being hunted by other animals such as lions and hyenas. However, zookeepers and wildlife experts are trying to save the cheetah. Maybe with their help, cheetahs will grow larger in number.
1. Suddenly, a group of spots streaks past you. “Streaks” means “________”.| A．searches for food | B．gets close quietly |
| C．moves with great speed | D．plans a sudden attack |
| A．protects the cheetah from the sun | B．helps the cheetah hide in the grass |
| C．keeps the cheetah cool after a long run | D．lets the cheetah move with great speed |
The chart shows some information from the article. Which can be put in the empty box?
| A．Cheetahs hide in the tall, brown grass. | B．People in Africa hunt lions and hyenas. |
| C．Wildlife experts send cheetahs to the zoo. | D．The number of cheetahs becomes smaller. |
| A．it gives the names of two cheetahs |
| B．it catches the readers’ attention |
| C．it explains how cheetahs act in the wild |
| D．it describes two facts about cheetahs |
【推荐1】Do you feel lonely? The World Health Organization (WHO) recently said that loneliness is a pressing health threat (威胁). It called for countries to deal with the problem more seriously.
People often wrongly mix loneliness with being alone. In fact, people become lonely when they are feelings of isolation (孤独). At the same time, they still want social connections. Their mind is usually in pain because they aren’t connected with others. Being alone, on the other hand, is something people choose. People who enjoy spending time alone can continue to socialize with others cheerfully whenever they want, according to the Very well Mind website.
Social isolation has a bad influence on the health of all age groups across the world. According to he WHO, one in four old people experience social isolation. Among teenagers, between 5 and 15 percent f them experience loneliness, but the numbers are likely to be underestimations (低估), said the organization.
Social disconnection in teenagers can lead to poorer education results because lonely high school students are more likely to drop out of university. Also, although loneliness is a feeling, it can be connected to anxiety (焦虑) and depression (抑郁). A 2015 study said that lonely people may have less immunity (免疫力) and are 30 percent more likely to have heart diseases.
Loneliness can even lead to an early death. The WHO stressed this by comparing it to other early death reasons like smoking, obesity (肥胖) and air pollution. Loneliness has a far-reaching influence on health, similar to smoking up to 15 cigarettes (香烟) a day, according to a 2017 study.
1. From the passage, we know that people experiencing loneliness _______.| A．prefer being alone to socializing | B．enjoy socializing with others |
| C．cannot feel connected with others | D．feel other people isolate them on purpose |
| A．It is harder for older people to avoid it. |
| B．Teenagers are usually not influenced by it. |
| C．People from all age groups may experience it. |
| D．Adults experience it mainly due to work stress. |
| A．By giving the results of studies. | B．By asking the readers some questions. |
| C．By interviewing lonely people. | D．By telling personal stories. |
| A．call on people to care about health | B．give advice on how to prevent social isolation |
| C．remind people of the danger of loneliness | D．warn people against being alone |
【推荐2】You may feel curious (好奇的) about students in other countries: Do they also have so much homework? What do they do in their free time?
On April 8, a report came out on the lives of high school students in China, Japan, South Korea and the US. It surveyed around 6,200 students from the four countries last year. You will find the answers to many of your questions in this report.
Who studies hardest?
Chinese students spend the most time studying. Nearly half of Chinese students spend more than two hours on their homework every day. That’s much more than students of the US (26.4%), Japan (8.2%) and South Korea (5.2%).
Who sleeps most often in class?
Japanese students fall asleep in class most often. About 45% of them said they sometimes doze off (打瞌睡) in class. In South Korea, it’s 32%; in the US, 21%; and 5% in China.
South Korean students don’t like taking notes. About 70% said they write down what the teacher says in class, many fewer than in Japan (93%), China (90%) and the US (89%).
Who is the most distracted (分心的)?
American students are the most active in class, but also the most distracted: 64.2% said they chat with friends in class; 46.9% said they eat snacks in class; and 38.9% said they send e-mails or read unrelated (无关的) books in class.
What do they do after school?
In their spare time, most Chinese students study or surf the Internet. Most American students hang out with their friends. Most Japanese students do physical exercises. Most Korean students watch TV.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．93% Japanese students like taking notes in class. |
| B．Most Chinese students do physical exercise after class. |
| C．38.9% American students talk with friends in class. |
| D．South Korean students fall asleep in class most often. |
| A．Do physical exercise. | B．Study or surf the Internet. |
| C．Watch TV. | D．Go out with friends. |
| A．It is a report about the students’ lessons in four countries. |
| B．It is an article about the students’ study and life in four countries. |
| C．It is a story about students’ sports after class. |
| D．It tells us that American students don’t like studying. |
Like many animals, leopards are disappearing because people hunt them. They kill them for their beautiful coats. The Sinai leopard, for example, from Egypt, is now probably extinct（绝种的）.
1. Leopards________.
| A．live in family groups |
| B．live alone |
| C．live together |
| D．live with other animals |
| A．sleep | B．jump |
| C．wait and catch small mammals | D．rest |
| A．Leopards have beautiful fur |
| B．Leopards eat animals and plants |
| C．Leopards sleep 12 hours a day |
| D．The Sinai leopard probably extinct |
| A．they kill them for their meat |
| B．they attack people all the time |
| C．they are dangerous |
| D．they kill them for their coats |
