New Yorkers were shocked in early December when a creature as big as a school bus     1     (surface) from the Hudson River. Over the next three days,     2    humpback whale (座头鲸) swam by several popular tourist    3    (destination), where a journalist took photos of the animal seemingly waving its tail at Lady Liberty.

Scientists say NYC0089, which hasn’t been spotted in several weeks, has likely returned to deeper waters south of the Hudson. Still, the    4    (frequent) of whale sightings in the broader area has gone up rapidly in recent years.

“With these numbers increasing     5    (sharp), it’s not surprising that you’re seeing them in some unusual places, says Brown—a biologist. ”Including the Hudson River and Staten Island.

Scientists say the    6    (rise) whale sightings are likely related to purer water and a brimming buffet of Atlantic menhaden, a fish favored by humpbacks, resulting    7    . landmark environmental regulations    8    (pass) in the 1970s as well as New York city cleanup efforts.

“Seeing more whales in this areas shows that the waters are cleaner    9    there’s more food here for these whales,” Brown says.“It is a sign that what we’ve been doing     10    (work), so we need to keep doing that — and more — to protect these species.”

In southern China, there is a famous road built across Poyang Lake, which lies in the north of Jiangxi Province, China and is known as China’s second largest lake. People in China also call it “    1     most beautiful road under the water.”

This road is sure     2     (attract) a lot of attention towards the end of May every year. A lot of people come out of     3     (curious). The water level of the lake is so close to the surface of the road,     4     (make) the view ahead broad and bright when people drive along. It’s as though they     5     (be) taking a boat across the lake. The feeling is     6     (simple) wonderful!

It is for the next few months     7     this road is not above the surface but under the water. When the water level of Poyang Lake starts to go up, the road surface becomes     8     (see). However, drivers can still drive across the lake safely by watching the guardrails (防撞护栏) fixed on either side of the road. For motorists who desire a strong feeling of excitement, it’s     9     driving an amphibious (水陆两栖的) super car. Then in a few days, the entire road     10     (flood) with the continuously rising water. A few months later, the road will reappear.

My time here in China is going well. I love my new school and     1     (classmate). Over the October holiday, my parents and I     2     (plan) to go to Xi’an to see the terracotta Army. I’ve heard that it is     3     amazing sight, and I can’t wait     4     (go). To me, the story of the Terracotta Army is almost     5     (believe). It’s     6     (real) amazing that there are more than 8, 000 statues, and no one in modern times knew about them     7    the 1970s.

We’re also planning to visit several other places in Xi’an. My dad and I are both looking forward to going to the Shaanxi History Museum, because     8     loves history. I have heard     9     this museum is known     10     a “Chinese treasure house”! We’re also going to the Xi’an City Wall and a few other famous sights.

Last summer, my family    1    (plan) a trip to Shanghai City. Besides my hometown, Hong Kong, I had never been to such a great city.

I    2    (impress) by what I saw there. There were many more ways than my hometown for one to get to one place from    3    . Everywhere people were driving, riding shared bikes, waiting for buses,    4    rushing underground to the subway stations.

In addition to the people and transportation, I found the buildings were    5    (amaze) . Each street was filled with buildings    6    were built side by side and a number of skyscrapers were present throughout the city as well.    7    (stand) on the top of the Oriental Pearl Tower, I could hold almost the entire city from this view. Some stores were also as large or even larger than the ones in my hometown.

My visit to Shanghai City was like discovering a new way of life. I felt anxious    8    (grow) up and I dream about moving to such a great city. My    9    (one) trip to Shanghai City was one of the most unforgettable     10    (experience)   of my life.

Chengdu has dozens of new millionaires, Asia’s biggest building, and fancy new hotels. But for tourists like me, pandas are its top     1    (attract).

So it was a great honour to be invited backstage at the not-for-profit Panda Base, where ticket money helps pay for research. I     2    (allow) to get up close to these cute animals at the 600-acre centre. From tomorrow, I will be their UK ambassador. The title will be     3    (official) given to me at a ceremony in London. But my connection with pandas goes back     4     my days on a TV show in the mid-1980s,     5     I was the first Western TV reporter     6    (permit) to film a special unit caring for pandas rescued from starvation in the wild. My ambassadorial duties will include     7    (introduce) British visitors to the 120-plus pandas at Chengdu and others at a research centre in the misty mountains of Bifengxia.

On my recent visit, I held a lively three-month-old twin that had been rejected by     8    (it) mother. The nursery team switches him every few     9    (day) with his sister so that while one is being bottle-fed,     10     other is with mum—she never suspects.