Great Ants (蚂蚁)
Ants are everywhere! We usually feel angry about them. However, these little ones also teach us something.
Never give up
Have you noticed (注意) that when something is in front of ants, they do not sit down or become sad? They just keep (保持) going.
One day, I watched a small ant taking a bug back to its nest (巢穴). A leaf in the way was a big problem, but the ant was not giving up. It tried very hard to work out a way. Finally, the ant got that bug over the leaf and into the nest.
Ask for help
Think about it, have you ever seen an ant move something too big by itself? That never happens. When a load (负荷) is too big, the ant signals (发信号) to the others for help.
Why don't we do more of this? Sometimes, we are just too afraid to ask someone to share the load. Sharing can make our life much easier.
Think winter in summer
Ants know there are seasons. They collect food and build the nest all through the summer even when they still have enough to eat. So when the cold days of winter come, the ants can stay in their warm nest and never worry about being hungry. They plan for their life!
How great the ants are!
1. How do people usually feel about ants according to the writer?2. What do ants do when something is in front of them?
3. What does the ant do when a load is too big?
4. What can ants teach us?
Chinese dragons aren’t real animals, but they are very important in Chinese culture.
●Ruler (统治者) of water
Long long ago, Chinese people built temples (庙宇) for the “Dragon King”. When there was drought or flood (旱灾或水灾), people went to the temples to worship (敬奉) the “Dragon King”.
●A symbol of strength (实力)
For Chinese people, the dragon is a symbol of strength. If a person is excellent, they usually compare him to a dragon.
● A symbol of emperors
In China, emperors usually used the dragon as a symbol of their power (权力). They called their beds “Dragon Beds”
●Chinese dragons VS Western dragons
In Chinese culture, dragons are kind and friendly. However, in Western culture, dragons are bad. So dragons are always killed by brave people in Western stories.
Chinese dragons | |
| Ruler of water | ★In old times, Chinese people ★They worshiped the “Dragon King” when there was drought or flood. |
| A symbol of | Chinese people usually compare a(n) |
| A symbol of emperors | They called their beds “Dragon Beds”. |
| Chinese dragons are | |
My name is Mary and I have a cat. She’s two years old. She’s from my friend Ann. She’s yellow and white and she likes fish best. She’s cute.
My name is Tony. I have a three-year-old pig. He’s from my uncle. He’s black and vegetables are his favorite food. He’s lazy—he sleeps all day!
I’m Tom. My pet is a brown dog. He’s from my cousin. He’s one year old. His favorite food is meat. He’s very smart.
| Pet | Mary’s cat | Tony’ s pig | Tom’s dog |
| Age | Two years old | One year old | |
| From | Mary’s | Tony’s uncle | Tom’s cousin |
| Color | Black | Brown | |
| Favorite food | Fish | Meat | |
| Description Word | Cute | Lazy |
4 . Wild animals are our friends, but many of them are getting fewer and fewer. We should try to protect them. The four animals below are now in danger.
Tibetan Antelopes
Tibetan antelopes（藏羚羊）mainly feed on grass. They are usually found in groups of about 20. They are killed for their wool, which is warm, soft and fine and can be made into expensive clothes. The number of them is dropping year by year. There are less than 75, 000 Tibetan antelopes left in the world.
Golden Monkeys
Golden monkeys are mainly found in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces. Golden monkeys have golden-orange fur（皮毛）. They move around in the daytime. They feed on fruits and young leaves of bamboos. But people are destroying the environment where they live. Trees and bamboos are disappearing, so golden monkeys have less and less to eat.
Elephants
Elephants are very big and strong. They are bigger than any other animals on land. They have poor eyesight, but very good hearing and smell. They can lift heavy things and break down branches with their trunk（象鼻）. Now, there are very few elephants in the world. The number of them is becoming smaller and smaller because their living areas are used for farming. Also, people hunt them for their tusks.
Wolves
Wolves are not very big. They have grey fur. Wolves have very good eyesight, hearing and smell. They eat animals, insects and snails. They are friendly to each other and never attack（攻击）people. Wolves are in danger, too. They are losing their living areas because people cut down forests. Soon they will have no home or food.
1. ________
2. ________
3. ________
4. ________
5. ________
