Scientists have discovered that     1     (stay) in the cold could help us lose weight.Researchers at the University of California found that exposure to the cold increases levels of a protein that helps form brown fat — the type of fat that produces heat and keeps us warm.Brown fat burns energy,     2     helps us lose weight.White fat stores extra energy, which results     3     weight gain.

The researchers said that because air conditioning and heating give us constant,     4     (comfort) temperatures, our body’s need for brown fat has decreased.They found that: “Outdoor workers in northern Finland who     5     (expose) to cold temperature have a significant amount of brown fat when     6     (compare) to sameaged indoor workers.”

The research was conducted on two different control groups of mice.    7     group was injected with the protein that helps create brown fat.This group later gained 30% less weight after both groups were fed highfat diets.The researchers say this could be good news in the fight against obesity.People who are obese have     8     (low) levels of brown fat than thinner people.Head researcher Hei Sook Sul said, “This protein could become an important target for research into the treatment and     9     (prevent) of obesity and obesityrelated diseases.” She added, “If you can somehow increase levels of this protein, you could     10     (possible) lose more weight even if eating the same amount of food.”

2 . Sydney—A shark savaged a schoolboy’s leg while he was surfing with his father at a beach in Sydney on February 23. It was the third shark attack along the coast of Australia’s largest city in a month.

The 15-year-old boy and his father were in the water off Avalon, on Sydney’s northern beaches, around dawn when he was attacked. The city’s beaches are packed with locals and tourists during the summer months.

“The father heard a scream and turned to see his son thrashing (激烈扭动) about in the water,” police said.“Fortunately, the shark swam away and the boy was helped to the shore by his father.”

Lifesaving Club spokesman Nick Miller said, “It got him around the top of his left leg and the father came and dragged him out of water.” He said the boy was bleeding heavily when he was brought to the shore.“There was a lot of pain, as you can imagine.” The teenager was airlifted to hospital for treatment for leg injuries.

Police said the bites “cut through to the bone”, but the boy did not appear to have sustained any fractures (骨折). He was in a stable condition now.

Several beaches were closed after the attack. Water police and lifeguards were searching for the shark, while police hoped to identify its species by the shape of the bite marks. But they said it was too early to say what type of shark attacked the boy. “I don’t even know if he saw it,” Miller said.

Many shark species live in the waters off Sydney’s beaches, but attacks on humans are still relatively rare. However, there were two attacks on successive days earlier this month, one on a navy diver in Sydney harbor, not far from the famous Opera House, and the other on a surfer at the city’s world-famous Bondi beach.

Fishermen say shark numbers are on the rise. There is a ban on commercial fishing in the harbor, which has increased fish stocks. Marine experts also claim environmental protection has created a cleaner environment, attracting sharks closer to the shore as they chase fish. Many shark species are protected in Australian waters.

Pollution's serious effects on the environment have become more obvious in recent years. Most scientists agree that efforts are necessary to protect our environment from further harm.

As we know, the construction industry consumes a large quantity of energy and resources and creates a huge amount of pollution. So green buildings are in great need.

The environmental benefits of green buildings includes the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity(生物多样性)，improved air and water quality, less waste flowing into streams and the protection of natural resources. Green buildings can also result in lower operating costs because they typically use less energy and fewer materials and improve indoor air quality, improving the health of people who live there.

The process of building green houses includes technical and artistic planning with nature protection in mind. Building designs often reflect the surrounding environment and natural resources and use renewable building materials such as bamboo and straw. In addition, recycled resources found locally are used for green buildings, reducing the cost and air pollution associated with transporting materials long distances.

Care site selection is important to minimize human effects on the surrounding environment. For example, placing a structure in an area that allows it to take advantage of cool breezes and sunlight can reduce energy use and expenses. More energy and expenses are needed for large buildings as well? so it is important to build the small ones.

Green roofs are another feature of green houses that reduce energy use and costs. These roofs are partially or completely covered with plants? which helps to keep heating and cooling costs low? prevent water running off and deal with pollutants.

Other features of green buildings often include energy and water protection, recycling and waste reduction. In addition, renewable energy sources such as solar power, water power and wind power are used for heat and electricity, which greatly reduces costs and decreases the influence on the environment.

Shark attacks can be deadly,     1     they are not common. Each year, sharks usually kill fewer than 10 people worldwide, and about 100 people are injured. People are more likely to be attacked in parts of the sea     2     tourists throw in food to bring in sharks. However, people are dangerous to sharks, too. 60 million sharks     3     (kill) for food and medicine every year. As a result, some kinds of sharks may die out completely.     4     (protect) these wonderful animals, some countries have made programs to help them survive.

9 . The Amazing Penguin Rescue

In the summer of 2016, the ship MV Treasure sunk, creating an oil spill. Thirteen hundred tons of fuel oil were flowing right in the middle of the African Penguins’ habitat. Soon the oil covered about 20,000 penguins. Without swift help, the seabirds would have no chance of survival. Volunteers were showing up by the thousands and I also took part in what was the largest animal rescue operation ever.

A warehouse was turned into a rescue center near the habitat and hundreds of pools were built to hold about 100 oiled birds each. When walking into the center, I couldn’t believe my ears. I had expected to walk into a chorus of honking and squawking(尖声叫). Instead, the center sounded like a library. The penguins were dead silent. My heart ached for the painful birds. Cleaning them all seemed like an impossible task. But we had to carry on like doctors in an emergency room. There was no time for doubt. Cleaning oil off a penguin wasn’t easy. Even with more than 12,500 volunteers, it took a month to bathe all 20,000 birds at the center.

While volunteers were busy bathing the oiled penguins, another crisis(危机) was developing. Oil from the spill had started moving north. Tens of thousands of penguins were in the oil’s path. But we already had our hands full with 20,000 recovering birds. If any more birds were oiled, we wouldn’t have enough resources to save them.

One researcher came up with an idea: What if the penguins were temporarily moved out of harm’s way? Experts decided to have a try. Volunteers rounded up the penguins and released them 500 miles away. The hope was that by the time the seabirds swam home, the oil would be gone. The plan worked! Another 20,000 penguins were saved.

The entire penguin rescue took about three months. More than 90% of the oiled penguins were successfully returned to the wild. Looking back on the rescue, I am still amazed by the work of the volunteers. What I could hardly believe was that we accomplished an impossible task.