The Mount Changbaishan Geopark, along with five other Chinese geoparks,     1     (recognize) as a Global Geopark by UNESCO on March 27. The number of Global Geoparks in China has increased to 47, making     2     the country with the most such geoparks in the world.

“China is rich in geological heritage, with a broad distribution and a complete range of geological types,” Ren Fang,     3     expert with the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, told People's Daily. “It is one of the first countries worldwide to propose and establish national geoparks.”

China set up national-level geoparks and began applying for Global Geopark status in 2003 in response to UNESCO's initiative     4     (establish) the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) . In 2004, Beijing witnessed the First International Conference on Geoparks,     5     17 European geoparks and eight Chinese geoparks joined the GGN. The network aims to promote best     6     (practice) and high standards for the conservation of geological heritage and the promotion of     7     (sustain) regional economic development.

The Mount Changbaishan Geopark, newly     8       (add) to the GGN network, is situated in Jilin Province and is home     9     the “millennium eruption,” a massive volcanic event that occurred roughly1, 000 years ago. Renowned for its Quaternary volcanic landforms, the park, spanning 2, 723 square km,     10     (feature) giant compound volcanic cones, ancient eruptions and their deposits, and the splendid Tianchi lake. With over 380 craters, it boasts the highest number, greatest density, and widest distribution of volcanic rock types in East Asia.

Over 100 great white shark attacks happen each year. As a result, often     1     (refer) to as “man-eaters”, great whites are thought to hunt and kill humans. However, this is actually wrong, since great whites have rarely killed their human victims. If Steven Spielberg     2     (make) his film Jaw s in a different way, people would have had a positive impression on great whites. In fact, a person has a greater chance of being killed by lightning     3     by a great white.

One of the most common     4     (cause) for great white attacks is that great whites don’t see well. It is thought that they often mistake a person for a seal or a sea lion,     5     many people find hard to believe. But there is reason to doubt this. Some research now shows that great whites can actually see very well. When     6     (attack) seals, great whites move up to the surface and bite with great force. However, when they approach humans, they often move in slowly and bite     7     (little) hard. They take a bite, feel them over, then move on.

Great whites “attack” because they are actually curious animals that want     8     (investigate) things. Experts believe that it’s possible that great whites use their bite not just to kill and eat,     9     also to gather information. According to this idea, once a great white identifies what it is biting, it simply lets go. They are     10     (simple) trying to learn what they are.

Recently     1     agreement has been signed between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the San Diego Zoo in the US for giant panda conservation,     2     selects two giant pandas to be sent to the San Diego Zoo for a 10-year international conservation partnership.

    3     (ensure) the well-being of the giant pandas in the US, in March, experts from the China Wildlife Conservation Association     4     (travel) to the US to participate     5     in-depth discussions and technical exchanges with the San Diego Zoo regarding panda care, living environment, and health requirements.

In line with the agreement, both parties are     6     (active) progressing with the preparations for the pandas’ journey to the US. China     7     (select) a pair of pandas, Yun Chuan (male) and Xin Bao (female), from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, and has arranged for experienced caretakers and veterinarians to accompany them to the US.

The San Diego Zoo is one of the world’s top five     8     (zoo). In 1996, the two parties officially started panda cooperation, with Bai Yun and Shi Shi     9     (become) the first pair to live at the San Diego Zoo. Currently, the zoo has gathered a professional team with expertise in panda care, daily nursing, and related scientific research,     10     (gain) through study and exchange programs in China.

Homegrown nature documentary “Snow Leopards and Friends” is the first Chinese factual film about snow leopards (雪豹).

It     1     (document) how three herdsmen (牧民) photographers from Xizang, who may be the people     2     (close) to snow leopards in the world, track the trail (踪迹) of snow leopards and finally become protectors of the species.     3     addition to being about snow leopards, the film also explores a new way of coexistence between human beings and wild animals. The documentary     4     (screen) during the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival, which kicked off on June 9, and won great praise.

It took director Xi Zhinong and the photographers six years     5     (shoot) the film on the snow-covered highland,     6     the severe environment is tough not only for snow leopards, but also for other species like brown bears and antelopes.

Many of the movie’s viewers were touched by the power and     7     (strong) of life shown in the film. The documentary presents the most primitive forces of nature through its visual wonders and     8     (act) creatures. It also caused viewers to reflect on wildlife and conservation of nature.     9     movie viewer said that the film is also a course on     10     (respect) life and nature and everyone needs to learn this lesson.

Are there plenty of birds in your neighborhood? This is good news for your mental health because birdsong can help relieve     1     (anxious). This is the latest finding of a study published in the journal Scientific Reports,     2     (explain) the remarkable healing power of birdsong.

In     3     effort to understand the influence of birdsong on mental health, researchers at the Max Planck Institute     4     (join) scientists from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf to evaluate     5     birdsong and man-made traffic noise affected mood. Before and after hearing the sounds, the participants completed questionnaires (调查表) assessing     6     (they) mental health.

“Healthy people can also experience negative thoughts. The questionnaires enable us     7     (identify) people’s tendencies without their having a diagnosis of depression and to investigate the effect of the sounds of birds or traffic on these tendencies,” says Emil Stobbe. Results showed that birdsong     8     (be) useful in reducing uneasiness. In contrast, traffic noise worsened depression.

What makes birdsong so beneficial     9     mental health? Study authors believe birdsong is an indication of the entire natural environment. It distracts the listener from other stressors that they would     10     (normal) view as a threat.

    1     (locate) in the suburbs of the capital, the Beijing Grand Canal Museum opened its doors to the public for the first time on December 27, 2023. China’s Grand Canal, which     2     (construct) initially during the Spring and Autumn Period, is the longest and largest ancient canal system in the world. It remains an important symbol of traditional Chinese culture,     3     (witness) important changes in Chinese society over the past centuries.

This newly opened smart museum has     4     total construction area of around 99,700 square meters, integrating function halls ranging from exhibition display areas and social education spaces to cultural heritage restoration workshops.     5     (celebrate) its opening, the Beijing Grand Canal Museum has launched a series of exhibitions centered around the close relationship     6     the Grand Canal and the city of Beijing, focusing on the themes of people, water, and the city.

As the highlight of the museum, the core exhibition showcases over 1,000 cultural relics     7     artworks following a timeline that follows the development of the Grand Canal. In addition to displaying the cultural heritage of the Grand Canal, the museum’s exhibits also highlight     8     (technology) skills. In the earthquake prevention exhibition hall, there is a piece of glass through     9     a seismic (地震的) isolation bearing is visible. Underneath the exhibition building, there are around 240 such     10     (facility) supporting the entire museum, significantly improving the safety of the building.

Farmers begin to grow cacao trees in some provinces in South China.     1     (origin), the trees grow in the shady areas of rainforests near the Earth’s equator, which require     2     exact amount of water, warmth, soil and protection. After about five years, cacao trees start producing large fruits     3     (call) pods, which grow near the trunk of the tree. The seeds inside these pods are harvested to make chocolate. There are several kinds of cacao trees. Most of the world’s chocolate     4     (make) from the Forastero cacao tree. But Chinese farmers can also grow Criollo or Trinitario cacao trees. Growing cacao trees     5     (be) very hard work for farmers because cacao trees grow n on farms are much     6     (easily) threatened by diseases and insects than wild trees are. They have to find many ways to deal with the damage.

Today, chocolate industry is developing Chinese elements as chocolate shapes. The “big chocolate     7     (consume)”, such as Belgium, Italy, Germany and other European countries, also have designers to integrate Chinese elements into the chocolate modeling. In recent years, cultural and creative chocolates have been introduced     8     a variety of ways. From delicate cloth coins and silver locks to national     9     (treasure) and ancient buildings, they can be turned into delicious food on the tip of the tongue,     10     people can taste buds through the time tunnel and feel the history and culture.

While there is growing consumer     1     (realize) of the environmental impact of fast fashion, can the same be said about fast furniture? The chairs and tables that fill many of our homes and everyday spaces are manufactured on a mass scale, and the cheaper items often end up     2     landfills.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2020 over 12 million tons of furniture     3     (throw) out in America and some into the forest illegally. Buying furniture can be     4     (incredible) expensive. Many of us switch over to cheaper, instant brands like IKEA,     5     manufacturers use materials harder to recycle, which is likely to damage the environment.

With growing calls for sustainability, many brands are announcing to change though it remains     6     (see) whether they will keep these promises. In     7     (it) current sustainability strategy, IKEA commits itself to using only recyclable materials in all its products in an effort to practice “circular” design and cut emissions to net-zero. The concept of circular design     8     (win) increasing concern up to now. In     9     circular system, furniture products would be designed to last longer and be fully recyclable, thus forming a     10    (close) loop (环).

Thousands of animal and plant species in decline across the UK

One sixth of species on the state of UK nature is at risk of     1     (disappear) from England, Scotland and Wales. The conservation organisations behind the report are calling for an urgent expansion of nature-friendly farming schemes     2     (prevent) the ongoing loss of UK wildlife. The abundance of more than 700 land and freshwater species in the UK     3     (decrease) by 19 per cent, on average, since 1970, the study found. This average figure includes a decline in 38 percent of land and freshwater species and     4     increase in the abundance of 27 per cent of these species. On a positive note, localised efforts to restore nature have led to the     5     (recover) of species such as the Duke of Burgundy butterfly (Hamearis lucina) and natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita), he says. “We just need to do it on a larger scale.” Now, the UK has agreed to restore 30 percent of land and sea by 2030. “    6     (take) action will be good for people’s well-being, mental health, and support     7     (health) food, fibre and clean air,” says Gregory. On 28 September, Packham will also join dozens of organisations in protests calling for stronger policies to support nature-friendly farming, fishing and forestry in the UK. “My view is that agricultural schemes     8     support biodiversity need to be     9     (effective) implemented, need massive public investment and they need to be decentralised so farmers are empowered to adapt them    10     their farms.”

There was a time, not long     1    , when peace between the Pokot and the Ilchamus seemed impossible. The two communities in Kenya had spent years fighting war over cattle, land, and water —turning one of the     2     (country) most biodiversity regions into a battlefield.

In 2006 Pokot and Ilchamus elders reached an agreement.They agreed that     3     (build) unity and trust, the former enemies would work together to bring back the wildlife that their conflict helped drive out, starting    4     the Rothschild’s giraffe.

The Rothschild’s giraffe went extinct after decades of conflict and poaching. Eager to see these giraffes return to their homeland, the community members got to work     5     (active). Within a year, they had established a 44,000-acre community reserve     6     both the Pokot and IIchamus work. “It wasn’t easy, ” says Rebby Sebei, manager of the reserve.” But both sides were keen for change.”

In 2011 the reserve received its very     7     (one) group of Rothschild’s giraffes: eight animals relocated from other areas in hopes that they’d multiply and repopulate the area. The giraffes     8     (place) on a peninsula in Lake Baringo. The species’ return to Lake Baringo attracted tourists, giving the local economy    9    much-needed boost. The relocated animals, and their babies     10     (bear) on the peninsula, became” a symbol of peace, unity, and a source of community wealth,” Sebei says.