As darkness falls on Chengiyuan village in northwest China, the spotlight shines on 83-year-old Jing Tingyou as his nightly show begins. The skilled shadow puppet (皮影) master takes center stage behind a white curtain, skillfully
2 . 
The day starts early for Tang Shengli, a bird protection volunteer in Lanshan county, Yongzhou, Hunan province. At about 5 am, the 60-year-old is in uniform and ready to start his day’s work protecting and recording migratory (迁徙的) birds. Located on the northern side of the Nanling Mountains, Lanshan is an important passageway for migratory birds. From September to December every year, more than 240 species of migratory birds fly from Siberia to Australia via Hunan. In the past 10 years, Tang has recorded more than 120 species of such birds with his camera. “The flight calls of the migratory birds at night attract me so much that I cannot sleep. All I want to do is get up and record them,” Tang says.
When Tang joined the Hunan provincial bird protection organization in 2013, he knew he faced a tough task. Numerous migratory birds were lost each year as a result of killing and illegal trade. At that time, poachers (偷猎者) lit up the hillside to attract the birds there and hunt them. Some nights hundreds of birds would be killed or caught, remembers Liao Changgui, an official with the local forestry bureau.
By day, Tang distributes brochures to villagers in Lanshan to raise public awareness of bird protection, while at night, he goes deep into the wilderness to tackle illegal hunting. “Many villagers didn’t think bird hunting was illegal, and some made a living from it. Our work has affected their business,” Tang explains, adding his wife was threatened at their home in order to stop him doing his work.
To stop poaching, in October 2012, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration issued a notice to prevent the illegal hunting of migratory birds. In December that year, the Hunan provincial government promised to fight against poaching and establish a bird monitoring and protection system. So far, 43 migratory bird protection stations have been built across the province, covering almost all key points on the passageway. In 2020, a “lights out” program started in Lanshan county to prevent the birds from being distracted (使分心).
On Nov 1, the Hunan provincial government issued a ban on hunting migratory birds and other wildlife listed under national and provincial protection. Nationwide, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration is carrying out a two-month special action plan to strengthen patrols and remove illegal hunting equipment in national parks, nature reserves and bird migration routes across the country.
1. Why did poachers light up the hillside according to paragraph 2?| A．To find their way around the hill. |
| B．To search for birds’ nests and catch them. |
| C．To draw the birds’ attention to catch them. |
| D．To lead the birds to fly safely and in the correct direction. |
| A．Give up. | B．Put off. | C．Call for. | D．Deal with. |
| A．Ways to punish bird poachers. |
| B．Routes migratory birds fly along. |
| C．Measures to protect migratory birds. |
| D．Reasons why poachers try to capture birds. |
| A．Ensuring birds have a safe passage |
| B．Important passageway for migratory birds |
| C．Flight calls of migratory birds at night attract Tang |
| D．Tang records more than 120 species of migratory birds |
3 . Within the beautiful scenery of Wisconsin’s Lake Chippewa lies a natural wonder that is a unique challenge for the local community. This hidden wonder is exactly a giant floating island. The island, made up of plants and trees, sometimes floats around the lake, causing a major inconvenience by blocking (阻塞) an important bridge. Later, the local people came up with a solution to this problem. Every year, local boat owners work together and push the island away from the bridge.
Lake Chippewa was born in 1923 when a vast bog (沼泽) was changed through flooding. Soon after that, many of the dark bogs started rising to the surface and became perfect growing places for plants, with seeds carried by wind and wild birds to this floating place. Over the years, these bogs have grown plants and trees and turned into full islands. As time goes by, plants take root, and the oldest islands even have trees that act as sails (船帆) when the wind blows, moving the entire floating island around the lake.
Although the years-old floating island does not relocate (重新迁移) so often, when it does, it causes trouble for the community by blocking the important bridge that serves as the only passage between the lake’s East and West sides. The only solution is to gather a group of boats, and not just one or two, but dozens of boats working together to push the island away. “It takes a community’s effort, and you must have the winds at your back to push them in,” said a resident. Moving the island also requires precision (精确), as just relocating it a short distance may result in its return within days.
Some people have suggested destroying the floating islands to get rid of the problem. However, the big bog in Lake Chippewa has been around for many years, and during that time a variety of animal and plant species have made it their home. Therefore, local government advises they be dealt with in a way that won’t do harm to wildlife, paying more attention to the fine-drawn balance between human convenience and environmental protection. The annual tradition of relocating Lake Chippewa’s floating island is evidence to the coexistence of man and nature, a heartwarming display of community unity, and a reminder of the importance of preserving the unique areas that enrich our world.
1. What does the underlined word “solution” in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Building a new bridge. | B．Moving the floating island away. |
| C．Transforming the vast bog. | D．Rebuilding the local community. |
| A．The formation of the floating island. | B．The history of flooding in Lake Chippewa. |
| C．The varieties of species in Lake Chippewa. | D．The impact of the wind on the floating island. |
| A．It is usually finished within days. |
| B．It is a must in cooperation and precision. |
| C．It can only be carried out during windless days. |
| D．It greatly disturbs the community residents’ lives. |
| A．To save costs for local people. | B．To ensure the safety of residents. |
| C．To improve the bond between communities. | D．To protect the wildlife species on the island. |
4 . Everyone has got a plan, a goal, a target that we all want to achieve. However, for many reasons we pause to take a sigh, and most times we don’t do anything about them anymore. So how can you set goals properly?
Reading some good books about setting goals is a great place to start. These books should push you ahead of the rest, and importantly, to make you attain your set goals.
Creating Your Best Life
Written by Caroline Miller, MAPP, she takes the standard SMART formula for goal setting and goes beyond that approach. She makes a point of giving you specific exercises while also sharing related stories. It’s a great book to consider as we connect better with stories and can find more motivation to set goals in the manner that Miller outlines in her book.
The Magic of Thinking Big
“You are what you think you are,” writes David J. Schwartz, PhD in The Magic of Thinking Big. Exceeding your goals is possible when you believe in yourself. Get over the fear of failure and use the power of a positive attitude to achieve big things.
The Book of Mistakes
Skip Prichard is a wonderful storyteller and weaves that skill into this book. This book takes a figurative person who discovers nine mistakes that highly successful people never make.
Goals!
Author of dozens of books on personal development, Brian Tracy explains the 12 steps necessary to accomplish goals both large and small. The author emphasizes self-discipline and persistence and two keys to achieving your goals.
1. What’s an advantage of the books in the text?| A．They stop you complaining of facts. | B．They identify the reasons for a pause. |
| C．They help you achieve your set targets. | D．They push you to design a grand project. |
| A．Goals! | B．The Magic of Thinking Big. |
| C．The Book of Mistakes. | D．Creating Your Best Life. |
| A．Brian Tracy. | B．Caroline Miller. |
| C．Skip Prichard. | D．David J. Schwartz, PhD. |
| A．Math. | B．English. | C．Physics. |
Earthquake in northwestern China kills at least 118 people
An overnight earthquake killed at least 118 people in a cold and mountainous region in northwestern China,
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck in Gansu at a relatively shallow
By mid-morning, 105 people had been confirmed dead in Gansu and another 397 injured, including sixteen people
The earthquake
The rescue work was proceeding in
7 . Last weekend, my husband and I drove a dog to her new home. Typically, when we have a new dog in the backseat, it’s a young dog. But this passenger was a much different story. Magdalen is a 13-year-old dog. Her owner gave her up temporarily when he was sick, but when he fully recovered several months later, he said he didn’t want her back. He had had the dog since she was young but now had no place for her.
The family who had given her a temporary home had children and other dogs and was unable to give her a forever home. When Speak St. Louis, the rescue team I worked with, was contacted about the dog, they offered to take her in. She went to a vet (兽医) for a basic health check. But the vet didn’t have great news. Her mouth was swollen with all sorts of problems. Two teeth fell out during cleaning and eleven more had to be pulled out.
Luckily, a good friend of mine, a dog trainer with a soft heart for seniors, had agreed to adopt Magdalen. On the trip to the trainer’s home, the sweet senior looked so relaxed in our backseat. I felt a great sense of relief and pleasure.
It’s understandable that her owner needed some temporary help when he was sick. But I can’t imagine why he wouldn’t have wanted her back now. I think of my own dog and dogs we lost to old age in the past. We’re family and we stay that way forever. She’d be able to live a good life, I hoped, in her new home!
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The former owner of the dog. | B．Where the dog was treated. |
| C．Why the dog’s mouth was swollen. | D．The problems the dog met with. |
| A．Training old dogs. | B．Looking for homes for dogs. |
| C．Treating sick dogs. | D．Searching for lost dogs’ owners. |
| A．Hopeful and proud. | B．Relieved and happy. |
| C．Nervous and grateful. | D．Surprised and curious. |
| A．She was certain he would regret. | B．She believed it was painful for him. |
| C．She didn’t understand his behaviour. | D．She thought he made a wise decision. |
8 . DESIGN-A-LOGO CONTEST
We need a logo (标志) that will be the perfect sign of our great new Wellsville Skate Park. We would like those of you who are counting the days until the grand opening to design a perfect logo that can be used on stationery, business cards, fliers, brochures, posters and T-shirts. A well-designed logo will provide an opportunity for young artists to receive recognition as well as great prizes. If you are interested, here are the things you need to know:
Logo Requirements
◆Your design mustn’t have copied anyone else’s.
◆Your design must include no more than two colors.
◆The words “Wellsville Skate Park” must appear in the logo.
◆The logo should be presented on 8×11 paper in every shape.
Submission (提交) Details
◆Your name and address must appear on the back of the logo design.
◆You need to include a one-page written explanation of the design.
Deadline
◆Mails will be accepted between July 10 and August 15.
◆Winning designs will be posted on our website at www. wellsville. skatepark. com on August 20.
Prizes
◆First Prize: a digital camera
◆Second Prize: a one-year pass to Wellsville Skate Park
◆Honorable Mention: a T-shirt with the prize-winning logo
MAIL DESIGNS TO:
Wellsville Skate Park Logo Contest
Riverside Recreation Center
1295 New Rockford Hwy, Riverside, VA 23226
1. In Paragraph 1, the advertisement tries to encourage readers to enter the con test by ________.| A．offering great prizes | B．explaining the rules |
| C．attending the grand opening ceremony | D．offering free visits to Wellsville Skate Park |
| A．June 10 | B．August 16 | C．July 15 | D．September 15 |
| A．By mail. | B．On the website. | C．On the TV. | D．By telephone. |
Across the world, people prepare and drink tea in many
Chinese people
Tea sets (茶具) have been
In order to protect skills
10 . Animals are living creatures and most of us often forget about this. Although they can’t speak our language, they can understand us. But some people treat them badly.
Volunteer at the local animal shelters
If you can’t give money to animal shelters, you can visit a local animal shelter and offer your help. You don’t have to have any special skills to help animals.
Report any form of animal abuse (虐待)
If you know someone beats their pets to death or doesn’t feed them for weeks, report the case of animal abuse.
Have a plant-based diet
Break the habit of buying things that contain animal products. Many beauty items, especially face creams and lipsticks, contain animal products. So be sure you don’t buy them. Everyone should avoid anything that includes leather, silk or fur.
Animals deserve to live their lives free from abuse, pain and suffering. They are sensitive, emotional, and intelligent. They are living creatures that need our help. Don’t neglect (疏于照顾) them.
| A．Stop buying items that contain animal products |
| B．Some diseases are linked to eating animal products |
| C．No one has the right to abuse animals or leave them hungry or sick |
| D．It is one of the easiest ways to reduce the demand for animal products |
| E．You can take an injured animal to an animal hospital if you happen to see one |
| F．You can do the simplest things such as feeding animals or taking dogs for a walk |
| G．Being stronger than them doesn’t mean that humans have the right to treat them badly |
