1 . Pangolins (穿山甲) are strange-looking creatures, covered with hard scales (鳞). They can roll up into a ball to protect themselves from enemies and have tongues that are longer than their bodies.

Pangolins have recently become the focus of Chinese people. A screenshot (截屏) of a micro blog post showed some people eating pangolins at a feast spread. A few days later, people were angered again by pictures showing people eating protected animals, including pangolins.

Yet this is only the tip of the iceberg. Many more pangolins have been hunted or killed. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 1 million of them have been killed or sold in the last 10 years. It also said that they are the most illegally traded mammals in the world. In September 2016, the IUCN added the pangolin to the world’s “endangered animals list”. They are now more endangered than pandas．

A growing trade of their scales and meat is the main reason for their decline in numbers. Many people in Asia and Africa consider pangolin meat is delicious. Some people even think pangolin scales have medicinal qualities. However, their scales are made of keratin (角蛋白), the same material human fingernails are made of.

Luckily, the situation is getting better. World Pangolin Day is on the third Saturday of February each year. It's a day to help people know more about pangolins. The government now stops anyone from buying and eating pangolins in China. Breaking this law is regarded as a crime. The trade of pangolins across the world is also not allowed, according to the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

1. Pangolins have caught people's attention these years because ________.

A．they look strange

B．they appear in some movies

C．they are killed and eaten by people

D．they have something to do with pandas

2. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Pangolins can roll up into a ball to attack enemies.

B．More than 1 million pangolins were killed or sold last year.

C．Pangolins were named the most endangered animal in 2016.

D．The pangolin is a kind of mammal traded illegally worldwide.

3. The real aim of World Pangolin Day may be to ________.

A．attract people to the zoo to watch pangolins

B．raise people's awareness of protecting pangolins

C．remind people of pangolins' medical value

D．explain the protection law to the public

4. What might be the author's attitude towards the measures taken to protect pangolins?

A．Positive.	B．Negative.
C．Disappointed.	D．Unconcerned.

2 . 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.

3 . You may be concerned about how to clear clutter (杂乱的东西) from your bedroom and basement.     1     As May planting season is drawing near, turn your attention towards what can help your garden grow.

Define “weeds” for yourself.

I have always defined weeds as “unwanted plants”. Some, like clover (三叶草),have positive characteristics like enriching the soil. Others, like dandelion greens, can be eaten. So one gardener's weeds might be another gardener's dinner! Decide what you truly value.     2    

Enjoy the weeding process.

Weed removal is a never-ending process. Try to treat the activity in a positive way. You can casually pull weeds as you spot them when walking by your gardens.     3     Whatever attention you are able to give to your weeds is OK — even though you'll never feel quite “finished”, remind yourself that every weed pulled means progress.

    4    

After months of being absorbed in colorful garden catalogue, I often hit the nursery (苗圃) in May, filled with inspiration and adventure. “This year,” I say, “I'll try everything!” But time has taught me that this wild ambition can work against me. If I choose too many plants to experiment with, my plantings will crowd each other out. Try making a map of your garden before you head to the garden center, using the recommended spacing to guide your design.

Reassess your garden tool collection.

Just like indoor clutter, garden clutter can result from having too many tools. Some tools are necessary for every gardener.     5     They can build up and collect dust or dirt. So go through your tools and decide which tools don't work for you and which are your forever garden companions.

A．Make a clear garden plan.

B．Sort out your garden tools.

C．But what about clutter in your garden?

D．And then pull the rest, without hesitation.

E．Weeds can crowd out your intentional plantings.

F．But too many of them can also cause trouble to you.

G．Or you can set aside time to go all out for weed removal.