1 . Singapore Zoo
Singapore

Singapore Zoo allows animals to walk around in spacious environments that are similar to their natural habitats (栖息地). Kids can join in learning about the animals of Singapore Zoo in educational programs, guided tours and camps, including the Sleep with the Beasts Family Camp. wrs.com.sg

Chester Zoo
Cheshire, England

The most visited zoo in the United Kingdom, Chester Zoo asks a team of experts (专家) who do research on six key areas around the world to develop programs that hope to prevent animals from dying out. The zoo runs a number of activities, such as Sing for Songbirds, a partnership with singer/songwriter Ashley Fayth, which tries to make people notice the danger facing songbirds in Indonesia. chesterzoo.org

Wellington Zoo
Wellington, New Zealand

Wellington Zoo is green in more ways than one. The zoo works very hard to reduce (减少) waste and reuse rain water. The zoo supports conservation (保护) programs, and its animal hospital, The Nest TeKōhanga, has treated over 3,400 wildlife patients since its opening in2009. wellingtonzoo.com

San Diego Zoo
San Diego, USA

Over 3,500 endangered animals call San Diego Zoo home, but the biggest achievement of this zoo is the number of endangered animals that are sent back into the wild. The zoo's breeding (饲养) programs provide valuable information on the behavior and health of endangered species in over 45 countries. San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research also asks over 200 conservation scientists to protect some animals from dying out. zoo.sandiegozoo.org

1. Where can people camp with their family?

A．At Wellington Zoo.	B．At San Diego Zoo.
C．At Singapore Zoo.	D．At Chester Zoo.

2. Which of the following websites will a songbird-lover be most likely to visit?

A．wrs.com.sg.	B．chesterzoo.org.
C．wellingtonzoo.com.	D．zoo.sandiegozoo.org.

3. What do we know about the San Diego Zoo?

A．It has been the most popular zoo in the USA for years.

B．It runs an animal hospital to treat wild animals.

C．It has helped some animals go back to nature.

D．It helps American endangered animals only.

2 . Cat lovers finally have the chance to understand what their pets are saying thanks to a smart collar that can interpret meows and translate them into human speech. Named Catterbox, the collar supposedly has a digital sensor that detects meows, and uses a special program to interpret the meaning behind them.

Developed by London ad agency adam&eveDDB, for Temptations cat treats, the invention comes preloaded（预装）with a dictionary of cat meows and several other sounds to make the interpretation as accurate as possible. “We're fascinated by cats, so we set out on a mission to get to know them better.” said Pete Simmons, global brand director of Temptations.

The promotion video of the smart collar claims that Catterbox, the world's first talking cat collar, is designed to finally help humans understand the meaning of meows. “Cats are often thought of as independent pets quite hard to get to know, so we set up The Temptations Lab to find creative ways to inject even more pleasure into a cat and owner's relationship,” said Richard Brim, executive creative director of adam&eveDDB.

“Studies show cats only meow in order to communicate with humans,” the video adds. “So we set out on a mission to get to know them better. By analyzing different cat meows, we've designed a digital sensor that detects a cat's meow and uses a unique program to turn it into a human voice.” So by using the collar, owners can speak to their cats and expect a meaningful response. The responses are delivered in a British accent, in a voice of the owner's choice, selected through a smartphone app paired with the collar.

A few sample responses are shown on the company's YouTube channel-they are quite funny, but obviously not very convincing. In all probability, Catterbox is useless though it has a very clever marketing means.

1. Why did the researchers set up The Temptations Lab?

A．To help cat lovers get more fun in keeping cats.

B．To tell cat lovers how to get along with cats.

C．To do some research on cat's habits.

D．To prove cats are really difficult to understand.

2. What can we know about Catterbox according to this passage?

A．It is selling well among cat lovers now.

B．It can also help cats understand their owners' languages.

C．It can translate meows into different languages.

D．It can be set by a paired smartphone app.

3. What's the author's attitude towards the smart collar?

A．Positive.

B．Uncaring.

C．Doubtful.

D．Opposed.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A smart collar that translates cat meows into human speech.

B．Cat lovers who want to understand what cats say.

C．Scientists who are devoted to inventing a smart collar.

D．A dictionary of cat meows and other sounds.

3 . From picture-perfect beaches to mountains, wildlife and iconic structures, New South Wales, Australia, offers plenty to enjoy. This beautiful state is located on Australia's breathtaking eastern coast. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's most populated city, accommodates more than 5million people.

No trip to Sydney would be complete without a visit to Australia's most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House. Its unique appearance was designed to resemble a ship's sails and its historic importance is recognized by people all over the world. The Opera House welcomes more than 8 million visitors each year, making it the country's most popular tourist spot. It is also one of the world's busiest performing arts centers, featuring more than 2,000 performances annually.

The Opera House is open 363 days a year, and admission is free. Tours are available throughout the day in seven different languages. For those who arrive hungry, Opera House restaurants offer everything from snacks to fine dining.

“Stunning natural beauty” describes the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. This wilderness area, also on the World Heritage list, is a large, mountainous region that covers 1.03 million hectares. It is home to a vast number of Australia's birds and other forms of wildlife. One of the most visited sites is the Three Sisters, named for its unique rock formations.

Off the coast of New South Wales lies a remote island called Lord Howe Island. Created by a volcano, the island is surrounded by beautiful reefs. Two mountains tower over a bay with sandy, white beaches. Visitors can enjoy beach walks, mountain hikes, water activities (above and below the water), exceptional bird watching and more. About 380 people live on it, and a maximum of 400visitors can visit at one time.

New South Wales offers its visitors an abundance of experiences to choose from and many memories that will last a lifetime.

1. How is the importance of Sydney Opera House expressed?

A．By offering supportive views.	B．By stating personal experiences.
C．By listing facts and numbers.	D．By describing its unique appearance.

2. What can we know about the Opera House?

A．It's highly recommended to bring your own food.

B．Language probably won't be a barrier during tours.

C．The admission fee is acceptable for most people.

D．It is open all year round on account of its popularity.

3. What does the underlined word “it” refer to in Paragraph 5?

A．New South Wales.

B．Lord Howe Island.

C．Blue Mountains.

D．Three Sisters.

4. What is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Unforgettable 'Tour in the Opera House.	B．Charming Places to Visit in Sydney.
C．Unique Geographical Features of Australia.	D．Striking Beauty of New South Wales.