1 . 
Panda Ya Ya returns home
Ya Ya the giant panda has just arrived in Shanghai, east China on Thursday after 20 years of stay at the Memphis Zoo in the U.S. The flight was around 15.5 hours. Both Chinese and American vets are with Ya Ya.
Ya Ya was born at Beijing Zoo on August 3, 2000. She arrived at Memphis Zoo in April, 2003. Ya Ya has become a bridge of friendship between Chinese and foreign people. She will spend a month in Shanghai before returning to her birthplace, Beijing Zoo.
We do hope all pandas that are in foreign countries can be healthy and happy.
Did you know…?
Baby pandas are born pink and measure about 15cm-that’s about the size of a pencil
Giant pandas spend up to 12 hours a day eating bamboo.
Pandas live for about 20 years in the wild, but in the zoos they can live for up to 35 years.
1. Ya Ya was born in _______.| A．Beijing | B．Chengdu | C．Shanghai ` | D．Guangzhou |
| A．Black and white. | B．Pink. | C．Yellow. | D．Gray. |
| A．Ya Ya spend up to 10 hours a day eating bamboo. | B．Shanghai Zoo is Ya Ya’s final home. |
| C．Ya Ya had a short flight coming back home. | D．Ya Ya helps foreigners know more about China. |
| A．a piece of news | B．an ad | C．a diary | D．a letter |
2 . Usain Bolt burned about 10kcal of energy to win his gold during the 200 metre spring final at the Olympic Games, which could roughly power an old 60W light bulb for 11 minutes. If you could make use of all the power generated by all the athletes during the Games, you would still be nowhere close to reaching the 29.5 billion Watts consumed overall by the athletes, spectators and organizers over the event. We take sport for granted, but do we ever consider its cost to the planet?
From the water required to maintain the golf course during The Masters tournament to the hundreds of flights it takes to bring football fans to a World Cup, major sports events are not helping much in the fight against global heating. What’s more, there is a lack of recognition within sport of its responsibilities and little discussion about possible solutions.
This is strange, given that the effect works both ways: the climate crisis is not just affected by sports, but it is already having a negative impact on many sports. When ice-climber Will Gadd set out to conquer the world’s glaciers, he didn’t realize it would become a race against climate change. “I thought glaciers are there forever.” When he arrived at the summit, Gadd was shocked: “The ice…wasn’t there. The things I planned to climb were gone.”
Global heating is noticeable in other sports. Amy Steel played professional netball until she suffered from heatstroke after playing in 39℃ conditions and unfortunately, the damage was permanent. Not only that, but extreme weather events made more frequent as a result of global heating mean sporting events are more often delayed or canceled. This has cost sport billions in potential earnings.
Yet sport can be a powerful motivator: it can unite whole nations behind its teams. Could sport have a role to play in driving climate awareness? Will Gadd and Amy Steel are among many athletes who think so? One thing is certain. Sport must put climate change at the top of its agenda and decarbonize at a Usain Bolt-like pace to make a difference.
1. What is the main focus of the first paragraph?| A．Why do sports events consume energy? |
| B．How much power do athletes generate? |
| C．What is the energy impact of sports events? |
| D．How did Bolt contribute to the environment? |
| A．They initiated eco-friendly sports practices. |
| B．They sustained permanent injuries in sports. |
| C．They fell victim to climate-related incidents. |
| D．They achieved record-breaking performances. |
| A．Stricter facility restrictions. | B．Substantial financial losses. |
| C．Higher athlete training standards. | D．Prolonged outdoor sports seasons. |
| A．Sports in the Climate Crisis |
| B．Athletes against Global Heating |
| C．The Impact of Climate Change on Sport |
| D．The Environmental Cost of Outdoor Sports |
3 . A man named Randy liked to look for big trees and old trees. He made maps to show where these trees were. He did not want to cut them down. He wanted people to take care of them.
Randy was told that there was a very tall tree on Vancouver Island. The tree was said to be 314 feet tall. That would make it the tallest tree in Canada. Randy started to find the tree.
But someone else found it first. It was found by a logger (伐木工). Loggers wanted to cut down Canada’s tallest tree and all the trees around it.
Randy made a path in the forest so people could see the tallest tree. The tree was so big and beautiful that it would bring them enjoyment. More and more people wanted to save that forest. Thanks to these people, that forest is now a park. Canada’s tallest tree is still there.
1. Why did Randy make maps of big trees and old trees?| A．To carry out his duty carefully. | B．To avoid getting lost in forests. |
| C．To show where these trees were. | D．To get information for selling them. |
| A．Take care of it. | B．Cut it down. |
| C．Take pictures of it. | D．Make it famous. |
| A．To help people cut it. | B．To help people see it. |
| C．To help people water it. | D．To help people move it. |
| A．It is now a park. | B．People burned it down. |
| C．It will disappear soon. | D．People lost interest in it. |
4 . Blowing Up Balloons with CO₂
Chemical reactions (化学反应) make for some great experiments. You can make use of the CO₂(carbon dioxide) given off by a baking soda (小苏打) and lemon juice reaction to blow up your balloon!
What you’ll need:
●Balloon ●About 40ml of water ●Soft drink bottle
●Juice from a lemon ●I teaspoon of baking soda
Instructions:
●Before you begin, make sure that you pull the balloon long to make it as easy as possible to blow up.
●Put the 40ml of water into the soft drink bottle.
●Add the baking soda and mix it with water.
●Put the lemon juice in and quickly put the balloon over the mouth of the bottle.
What’s happening?
If all goes well, then your balloon should inflate! Adding the lemon juice to the baking soda creates a chemical reaction and produces CO₂. The gas rises up and escapes (逸出) through the soft drink bottle. It doesn’t, however, escape the balloon, pushing it outwards and blowing it up.
1. Which of the following do you need for the experiment?| A．Two cups. | B．Apple juice. |
| C．250 ml water. | D．A teaspoon of baking soda. |
| A．Heat the water. | B．Drink some juice. |
| C．Blow up the balloon. | D．Pull the balloon long. |
| A．To describe an experiment. | B．To introduce a game. |
| C．To produce soft drinks. | D．To save some chemicals. |
5 . Pet-friendly train rides
Why not consider a great pet-friendly train ride on your next trip? You can enjoy the local landscapes while making wonderful memories with your pet.
Skunk Train—California
Located in Northern California’s Mendocino County, the 131-year-old Skunk Train travels through grasslands and mountains. It offers two route choices.
Noyo River Canyon—Leaving from Fort Bragg, this trip runs along the Pudding Creek Estuary and then snakes along the Noyo River.
Coastal Range and Redwoods—Leaving from Willits and traveling to Northspur, this mountainous route travels 8.5 miles of track.
Pet Policy: Dogs are the only pets allowed on the plane, and you need to pay $10 for your dog to ride the train.
Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad-Oregon
The Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad runs daily coastal trips between Garibaldi and Rockaway Beach from mid-June to early September. Weekend service lasts from late May to the end of September.
Pet Policy: Well-behaved dogs are welcome. The staff asks that families with dogs sit in the open cars, which offer more space to them.
Monticello Railway Museum—Illinois
The Monticello Railway Museum is open for train rides on Saturdays and Sundays from May through October as part of the museum’s educational mission. Visitors can get on the train at two stations. You’re welcome to visit the the museum gift shop.
Pet Policy: pets can ride the train for free. All types of pets are welcome.
Oil & Creek Titusville Railroad—Pennsylvania
This train ride leaves from Perry Street Station in Titusville, Pennsylvania. On this 3-hour round-trip ride, you’ll learn about the history of Pennsylvania’s oil industry while you watch for ducks, deer, and possibly a black bear.
Pet Policy: Dogs can ride the train at a cost of $5. Someone must stay with the dog at your seat; you cannot walk around the train with your dog.
1. What is special about Skunk Train?| A．It is free for pets. | B．It has two routes available. |
| C．It features educational trips. | D．It is a newly-started train ride. |
| A．Skunk Train | B．Monticello Railway Museum |
| C．Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad | D．Oil Crock & Titusville Railroad |
| A．Watch wild animals along the trip. |
| B．Visit the gift shop at either station. |
| C．Walk around the train with their dog. |
| D．Learn about the history of Illinois’ oil industry. |
6 . Wetlands occur wherever water meets land. Wetlands exist in every country and in every climatic zone. Healthy wetlands store carbon, regulate the water cycle, and support 40% of the world’s biodiversity.
Jiangxi Poyang Lake Nanji Wetlands
Nanji Wetlands is located in the southern part of the main lake area of Poyang Lake, covering a total area of 33,300 hectares. It is an incredibly valuable ecosystem and serves as a vital habitat for various wetland bird species, including many national first-class and second-class protected animals.
Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve
The Anhui Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake wetland, with an area of 33,333 hectares. It is primarily set up as the wintering grounds of rare birds. Within the reserve, there are a total of 142 bird species, including 66 species of migratory (迁徙的) birds. This reserve holds the distinction of being the largest natural wintering ground for the hooded crane (丹顶鹤) population worldwide.
Gansu Yellow River Shouqu Wetlands
The Gansu Yellow River Shouqu National Nature Reserve is located within Maqu county. It covers a total area of 203,401 hectares, with 132,067 hectares intended for wetland conservation. The primary objective of this reserve is to protect the highland wetland ecosystem, as well as the habitat of migratory birds, particularly the black-necked crane. In February 2020, it was officially approved as a Wetland of International Importance.
Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve
Established in 2003, Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve covers a total area of 35,679 hectares. In 2015, it was recognized and included in the International Important Wetlands Directory. The main focus of the reserve is to protect the unique underwater natural landscape, the ecosystems of the nearby coastal waters, the important rare and endangered marine (海洋的) animals.
1. Which wetland covers the largest area?| A．Nanji Wetlands. |
| B．Shengjin Lake National Nature Reserve. |
| C．Shouqu Wetlands. |
| D．Guangdong Nanpeng Islands Reserve. |
| A．To preserve natural landscapes. |
| B．To house rare birds in winter. |
| C．To reproduce hooded cranes. |
| D．To store freshwater. |
| A．Highland wetland ecosystem. | B．Marine ecosystems. |
| C．Underwater animals. | D．Bird habitats. |
7 . Pet parents — cats and dogs under 20 pounds — can travel on Capitol Corridor for $30 one-way! If your furry family member fits the bill, take them on your next adventure. Check out the information below and how to book your next trip. Our check-in process is simple, making traveling with your four-legged friend easy and enjoyable.
What to Know
As you plan your next train trip with your pet, note that we welcome a maximum (最大) of 6pets per train. Booking needs to happen in advance and only one pet reservation is allowed per customer. Pets cannot be booked with multi-ride tickets, bus connections or unaccompanied minors (未成年人).
When at the station, your pet must always travel in a carrier, which counts as one piece of carry-on baggage, and the combined weight of your pet and carrier is 20 pounds. While aboard trains, it must be able to sit, lie down and remain entirely inside without touching the sides of the carrier. It is not permitted in the Café, or Quiet Cars.
How to Book
Select your trip on the booking machine.
Add your travel details and proceed until you see the option to customize (定制) your trip.
Add a pet to your booking for $30.
Contact 800-USA-RAIL if you need to change your reservation.
The Rules
Your pet must be at least eight weeks old and be unsmelly, harmless, not disruptive, and require no attention during travel.
You confirm that your pet is up to date on all vaccinations and accept responsibility for your pet by signing the pet release document at check-in.
1. How much does a pet owner have to pay for the pet for a round-trip?| A．$15. | B．$30. | C．$45. | D．$60. |
| A．Book ahead of schedule. | B．Take a carrier weighing 20 pounds. |
| C．Buy a multi-ride ticket. | D．Contact 800-USA-RAIL first. |
| A．Eat in the Café. | B．Sleep in Quiet Cars. |
| C．Travel in a carrier. | D．Lie behind the door. |
8 . It is late autumn—millions of gardeners across the northern hemisphere, pulled on their thickest sweaters, spent hours clearing large piles of leaves and packed them into plastic bags at the end of driveways.
In the US alone, nearly 10 million tonnes of garden waste go to landfill every year. That is a large amount of effort, not just from an environmental viewpoint but from that of our aching backs, too. So where does this advice come from? Well, it largely comes from the belief that thick fallen leaves can make plants under them unable to breathe, especially shorter grass. They shut down important photosynthesis (光合作用) and get in the way of the growth of the shorter grass. However, this received wisdom has recently been questioned by researchers at Wisconsin University.
The key finding of their new research was that although clearing fallen leaves is one of the most common gardening practices, it makes very little sense. In natural ecosystems, fallen leaves help return nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth to the soil, which greatly improves soil condition. Removing leaves year after year breaks this ecological (生态的) balance. Letting some leaves stick around to cover your garden is a great way to help your grass and the local ecosystem.
They further explained that if up to 50percent of your grass lawn (草坪) is covered by fallen leaves, you might as well go back indoors and put your feet up. The advantages of this light leaf coverage far outweigh the disadvantages—the leaves will quickly break down and help next year’s lawn grow far better than if you had cleared them. Only at over 50 percent coverage do the Wisconsin researchers recommend clearing.
So why not consider leaving the leaves? Save time, carbon and effort, and in exchange get a healthier lawn from this garden waste—that seems like a pretty good deal. And how many plastic bags could be saved by simply not binning fallen leaves every year? In the US alone, about 700 million.
1. What does the author describe in paragraph 1?| A．An amazing autumn game. | B．A common sight in gardens. |
| C．A hot attraction in the north. | D．An extreme weather event. |
| A．Fallen leaves need not be cleared. |
| B．Fallen leaves protect shorter grass. |
| C．Fallen leaves block photosynthesis. |
| D．Fallen leaves are hard to break down. |
| A．it ruins city image | B．it breaks gardening rules |
| C．it affects local economy | D．it causes ecological damage |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Positive. | C．Unclear. | D．Worried. |
9 . It was the day before Thanksgiving and Kaleb Benham was wandering around outside his home in Noring California. His 90-pound pit bull (斗牛犬), Buddy, was playing around nearby, doing what dogs do: getting into trouble. And this time, Buddy was getting into a whole lot of trouble.
The unmistakable sound that no one wants to hear alone in the woods caught Benham’s attention. It was the deep, strange roar of a black bear. Benham wheeled around to see the beast, which Benham figured weighed around 350 pounds, some 100 feet away. In an instant, the bear fastened on to Buddy’s head and started dragging him away.
Benham, a thin, fit, 24-year-old, took off after them. “Honestly,” he told CBS13, “the only thing I could think of was ‘save my baby’.” He lowered his shoulder and ran quickly towards the bear. But it only seized Buddy tightly. Benham grabbed the bear by the throat. Nothing. He tried getting its mouth open but the jaw was locked tight. Benham resorted to street fighting —punching the bear over and over around its mouth and nose. It worked. The bear dropped the dog and ran off into the woods.
Buddy was in bad shape. His face was bloodied. He had a bite mark clear through his lip and one that barely missed an eye.
“My first thought was that I was going to lose him,” Benham said. He picked up Buddy, put him into his car, and sped off to a nearby veterinarian. Buddy’s surgery took nearly four hours. Benham watched the procedure through a window, waiting for a miracle.
This was the second time Benham had rescued Buddy, says CBS13. The first was from a shelter a few years ago. “If it was your kid, what would you do?” he asked. Nodding toward Buddy, he added, “That’s my kid.”
1. What is the text mainly about?| A．A brave rescue. | B．A regular routine. |
| C．A fearless pet dog. | D．A demanding surgery. |
| A．To prove the excitement of Benham. |
| B．To describe the fear in Buddy’s heart. |
| C．To indicate the difficulty of the rescue. |
| D．To show the bear’s starvation and fierceness. |
| A．Benham defeated the beast by grabbing its throat. |
| B．Benham ra n towards the beast with dropped shoulder. |
| C．Benham punched the beast’s mouth and nose repeatedly. |
| D．Benham forced open the beast’s mouth by unlocking its jaw. |
| A．Buddy once saved Benham. |
| B．They used to share a shelter. |
| C．Benham had no kid but Buddy. |
| D．They had very close relationship. |
10 . Pets are part of our family so it’s important to factor them in when planning a trip that you’re not taking them with you on. Pet charity Blue Cross advises planning well in advance so you know that your pet will be comfortable.
Family and friends
Leaving your pet in the care of a trusted friend or neighbour will give you peace of mind that it will be well cared for. Your pet will be able to stay with them in their home.
Things to consider if your pet is staying in another house:
· Do they have another dog or pet and will they get on with your pet?
· Do they have a garden? Is the garden secure so your pet can’t escape?
Pet sitter
Pet sitters stay in or visit your home to look after your pet while you’re away for a fee. This is a good option which allows your pet to stay in a familiar environment and you will receive regular updates.
How to find a good pet sitter:
· Ask friends and family for recommendations for pet sitters.
· Pet sitters don’t need a license to work, but reputable ones will be able to show you training and insurance certificates.
· Check reviews online from independent review sites.
Home boarder
Home boarders are people that take pets into their own homes to look after for a fee.
How to find a good home boarder:
· Check their home has no obvious dangers, like exposed wires, toxic substances and unsecured fences.
· Your pet is invited round to get to know the home and meet the family it’ll be staying with.
· You can easily find and view their license to home board pets from the local council as well as their insurance details and training.
Boarding kennels
Kennels are an option, but it depends whether your pet is comfortable being left alone in a kennel environment around other pets.
How to find a boarding kennel:
· Get a personal recommendation, and check the kennel is licensed.
· Ask if you can visit before you book.
· Ask about insurance cover and the procedure for contacting a vet (兽医).
1. If you prefer your pet to stay in a familiar environment, you can leave it with _____.| A．a friend | B．a pet sitter | C．a home boarder | D．a boarding kennel |
| A．Call the insurance company. |
| B．Check the license from the local council. |
| C．Check reviews from independent review sites. |
| D．Invite him over to your home and meet your family. |
| A．A vet who desires to change his job. |
| B．A man who is considering adopting a dog. |
| C．A couple who are planning to rent a house. |
| D．A pet owner who will take a business trip. |
