Chinese scientists have found a new plant species of Oreocharis (马铃苣苔属) in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, according to the Chengdu Institute of Biology (CIB) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The findings, made by researchers from the CIB and Guangxi Institute of Botany of the CAS,     1     (publish) recently in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

During a field     2     (investigate) on an oak community, the researchers found an unidentified specias of Oreocharis in Ninglan g County, Yunnan. By comparing the plant with several     3     (know) Oreocharis species, the researchers have confirmed it is a new species     4     has many unique characteristics.

The new species was named Oreocharis oriolus (黄鹂属)     5     the lively bird oriole, as its bright yellow flowers resemble the     6     (bird) feather color. After extensive research on vegetation cover, the researchers found that the new species has a narrow distribution,     7     (grow) in limestone (石灰岩) cracks in an area of two square     8     (kilometer).

This new species is currently listed as     9     (critical) endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. According to the researchers,     10     discovery of the plant species has further enriched diversity of Oreocharis in China, and has positive significance for the biogeography of the Hengduan Mountains in southwest China.

A golden cat was shot by an infrared (红外线的) camera in the forests in Gansu province in early September. This was the first time that an image of this rare animal     1     (capture) in the Bailongjiang forest area in Gansu.

Liu Tiantai, a senior engineer in the Bailongjiang forestry     2     (conserve) center, said that the camera captured three photos and one video of     3     precious animal. “The photos were taken on Sept 2, and     4     (feature) the animal with distinct characteristics such as unique head and ears, body and black tail tip. It was identified     5    a golden cat, a national first-class key protected wild animal,” Liu said.

The golden cat is a carnivorous (食肉的) mammal living in mountain forests,     6     footprints can be seen from humid evergreen forests to broad-leaved mixed forests at an altitude of     7     (approximate) 3,000 meters.

Bailongjiang center has completed the construction of an initial wildlife protection monitoring system     8     (equip) with 105 infrared cameras. According to monitoring data returned by these cameras in the past month, the “    9     (appear) rate” of rare wild animals such as sika deer and red foxes has greatly increased, which indicates that the ecological construction of the forest area is constantly improving and     10     biodiversity is well protected there, Liu said.

When BBC’s Planet Earth came out in 2006, the documentary series     1     (praise) for its thrilling footage of wildlife from around the world. Hosted by famed naturalist David Attenborough, this project aims to showcase the beauty and     2     (diverse) of the natural world; and, by doing so, it has urged the public     3     (take) care of our planet. Fast forward 17 years, Planet Earth III has made     4     to the airwaves (电视无线电波).

A few weeks ago, BBC shared a trailer (预告片) of Planet Earth Ⅲ,     5     whales swim across the ocean and wolves walk on a     6     (freeze) body of water. And while there are some anxiety- filled encounters, the video does point out who the real threat is. Seals are trapped by fishing nets, and primates     7     (cautious) cross a road where cars are zooming by.

Critics point out while the footage is breathtaking, there’s a layer of heartbreak to it. Some of the species     8     (have) some positive developments over the last few years. But     9     show also presents how other creatures have had to adapt not only to climate changes, but also to the direct effects humans have had     10     their habitats. Echoing Attenborough’s urgent appeal from 2022, Planet Earth III presents the hardships these creatures face and also reminds the audience why they’ re worth fighting for.

Located at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain in Nanjing, Xuanwu Lake is known as one of the “Three Great Lakes of Jiangnan”, and was the largest imperial lake garden in China’s history. The lake in the center of the scenic area is dotted with five islands, and each one     1     (fill) with statues, temples, pavilions and plants, such as pines and weeping willows. You can spend hours     2     (explorer) the park: whether walking among the cherry blossoms of the garden     3     enjoying the architecture of pagodas and pavilions.

According to legend, Emperor Sun Quan settled in the Nanjing area and had the lake     4     (create). It is named after a black water dragon thought to have been seen guarding the lake. In 1911, the historic lake was made into a public park. The park is now very popular     5     Nanjing locals on the weekend, so if you expect     6     (avoid) crowds, come during the week. You can even enjoy the park during the evenings. It is     7     (proper) lit and is a favorite with joggers and dancers at this time of day.

Xuanwu Lake Scenic Area covers     8     large area and there are several entrances, some of     9     are close to public transportation connections. After your visit, you can go to the nearby Nanjing Ming Dynasty City Wall, and walk along the top for a     10     (wonder) view over the lake and the islands.

Polar bears are being     1     (increase) threatened by the effects of climate change, but their     2     (disappear) could have far-reaching consequence. They are uniquely adapted to the extreme conditions of the Arctic Circle,     3     temperatures can reach -40°C. One reason for this is that they have up to 11 centimeters of fat under their skin. Humans would     4     (consider) to be obese and would be likely to suffer     5     diabetes and heart disease. Yet the polar bear experiences no such consequences.

In 2014, scientists     6     (compare) the genetic structure of polar bears with     7     of their closest relatives from a warmer climate, the brown bears. This allowed them     8     (determine) the genes that enable polar bears to survive in one of the toughest environments on Earth. Polar bears may therefore be an important study model to understand heart disease in humans.

The medical     9     (benefit) of the polar bear certainly have their importance in our preservation efforts,     10     these should not be the only factors taken into consideration. Polar bears are smart and they have good problem-solving abilities. If climate change were to lead to their extinction, this would mean not only the loss of potential breakthroughs in human medicine, but more importantly, the extinction of a smart animal.

The survival needs of astronauts in space depend on the amount of time in space. For short missions, they require     1     (protect) against the cold temperatures and solar glare. These needs are     2     (particular) pressing during spacewalks, when astronauts are outside their ships. Spacesuits are protective suits with oxygen tanks, active fingertip heaters and other protective     3     (measure).

There are many risks in space, not all of which can     4     (avoid). Anything in space has a small but real risk of being struck by a tiny shooting star     5     (travel) thousands of miles per hour, which would destroy any materials currently     6     (use), This is more of a risk the further a ship gets from earth. Another risk     7     increases with distance is radiation (辐射). The Earth’s atmosphere protects against many forms of radiation. Current technologies do not do much to deal     8     this risk, which accumulates the longer astronauts are in space.

Another long-term risk of space travel is bone     9     muscle degradation (退化) from weightlessness. Astronauts do exercises     10     (help) reduce the bad effects, but these are only partially effective. Future technologies may be more effective to reduce this risk.

Two giant pandas, Jinxi and Zhuyu,     1     (leave) for the Madrid Zoo in Spain next Monday for a 10-year residency, according to the China Wildlife Conservation Association on Wednesday. The panda couple come from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.

This action     2     (base) on the agreement on international conservation cooperation and research of giant pandas. It is     3     (further) the friendship of the two countries     4     (build) upon pandas. According to the reports, three Spain-born giant pandas, together with their parents, returned to China on February after living in Spain for more than a decade.

    5     all preparations made before transportation, the Chinese and Spanish sides are actively making efforts to ensure that the two giant pandas     6     (safe) arrive at Madrid Zoo. It will be helpful for them to adapt     7     the new environment.

According to the Xinhua News, the base has customized     8     special air transport cage to ensure that pandas can move freely, feed and rest inside the cage, and that the temperature inside the cabin is maintained at a     9     (suit) level. It is also arranged     10     a sufficient amount of fresh and high-quality local bamboo and bamboo shoots in Sichuan are prepared.

    1     (explore) space has been attracting mankind,     2     are always wondering about space with     3     (curious). Therefore, many satellites     4     (launch) so far to orbit around Earth. And many countries are trying to send astronauts into space, one of     5     is Yuri Gagarin. He became the first person in the world     6     (enter) space.

The Million Pound Bank Note is a famous English play     7     (write) by Mark Twain. In the play, the main character, Henry,     8     (treat) by others with different attitudes,     9     (depend) on whether he has money or not. The play shows the value of money and that we should not     10     (判断) a person from his appearance.

Canada is like a blooming flower,     1    (unfold) with breathtaking beauty and richness. It is a broad country,     2     stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Rising to the east of the Pacific coast, the grand Rocky Mountains     3    (be) home to high peaks and deep valleys. Apart     4     its geographical diversity, Canada is also one of the most     5    (ethnic) diverse nations in the world. This ethnic variety in turn brings about cultural diversity. For example, in Vancouver,     6     dynamic city with the highest percentage of Chinese Canadians, you can participate in the celebrations of the Chinese New Year.     7     you are looking for something off the beaten track, you may visit Cape Breton Island     8    (enjoy) the cultures and traditions of Celtic settlers. Given these cultural differences,     9     comes as no surprise that Canada     10    (celebrate) Multiculturalism Day since 2002.

What is causing the increase in the     1     (globe) average surface temperature? Climate scientists think it is the greenhouse effect,     2     includes “natural” and “man-made”,     3     matters. The “man-made” greenhouse effect has become     4     big problem. People produce huge amounts of green-house gases by burning fossil fuels,    5     (leave) more heat energy     6     (trap) in the atmosphere. The rise in temperature has led to an increase in extreme weather and natural     7     (disaster). Appropriate actions should be taken     8     (prevent) it.     9    , there will be a higher price to pay. Governments should make policies and take measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and individuals can also make a     10     (different) by restricting the amount of carbon dioxide our lifestyles produce.