1 . 
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 |
2 . 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. |
3 . For primary and middle school students, being able to cook has become a must. They will also need to learn how to plant vegetables, raise chickens or ducks and fix computers or fridges under new requirements for labor education. The MOE(教育部) brought out a new standard for labor education in schools last year. Starting from the 2022 fall term, students in primary and middle schools have to take courses on labor skills at least once a week.
Labor education helps students value hard work. The new standard includes three types of labor tasks: housework, school labor and community volunteer services.
Schools in China have traditionally placed more focus on studying, and many have seen housework as a waste of children’s time. But according to the MOE, labor education must be built up to help students improve social values and develop an interest in labor.
Liu Fang, am other of 6-year-old twins in Beijing, strongly supports labor education. For the past year, she has trained her daughters to do housework and make simple dishes for the family.
“The main idea is to let them share duty as family members and become independent as they can,” said Liu. “Through doing housework, their hand-eye coordination(手眼协调), time management and organization skills can be trained and it’s also good to help them relax.”
Through such education, Liu said her twins have found fun in doing housework and are more independent.
1. What CAN’T a middle school student learn through labor education?| A．How to plant vegetables. |
| B．How to be more careful in class. |
| C．How to fix computers or fridges. |
| D．How to raise chickens or ducks. |
| A．It started in the fall term of 2022. |
| B．It is for students from primary school to college. |
| C．Students have to take labor courses twice a week. |
| D．It includes two types of labor tasks. |
| A．pay more attention to students’ study | B．let students study to cook |
| C．pay more attention to students’ health | D．let students do housework |
| A．It’s too simple for students. | B．It helps students develop different skills. |
| C．It is boring for students. | D．It is a waste of students’ time. |
4 . Here is a timetable of courses in Children’s Palace.
| Monday Space Course 19: 00-20: 00 (once a week for one month) Dr. Li (the teacher from Hope School) More knowledge about the outer space. Place: Room 106 | Saturday Coconut Shell Carving (椰雕) Course 14: 00-16: 00 (once a week for three months) Hainan Coconut Shell Carving. Join us to learn it. Call Ms. Yao at 88882023. Place: Room 108 |
| Wednesday Photography Course 18: 30-19: 30 (once a week for two months) Mr. Song will show you how to take good pictures. Bring your own camera. Place: Room 218 | Sunday Chinese Shadow Puppetry (皮影戏) Course 15: 00-17: 30 (once a week for three months) Tell the story of Heroes of the Marshes (水浒传) by Mrs. Zhang. Place: Room 308 |
1. You can learn more about the outer space ________.
| A．on Monday | B．on Saturday |
| C．on Wednesday | D．on Sunday |
| A．Dr. Li | B．Ms. Yao | C．Mr. Song | D．Mrs. Zhang |
| A．Room 106 | B．Room 108. | C．Room 218 | D．Room 308 |
5 . Once upon a time in a small town of Christchurch, there lived a little dog named Buddy. Buddy was not just any ordinary dog; he was known for his bravery and loyalty. He had been trained by his owner to be alert and helpful in case of emergencies. One sunny afternoon, Buddy’s owner, Elizabeth, was taking a walk near the river when she suddenly slipped and fell into the water. She tried her best to swim, but the strong current made it difficult for her to stay afloat. Fear gripped her as she realized she might not make it out alive.
Meanwhile, Buddy had noticed his owner was missing and started looking for her. He followed the sound of splashing water and found Elizabeth struggling in the river. Without hesitation, Buddy jumped into the water and swam towards her.
Buddy grabbed onto Elizabeth’s shirt with his teeth and pulled her towards the shore. The little dog’s determination and strength were remarkable as he managed to keep them both afloat until they reached the safety of the riverbank.
Elizabeth was exhausted and shaken, but she was grateful to be alive thanks to her brave little dog. She hugged Buddy tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face. Buddy wagged his tail happily, knowing he had done his job well.
News of Buddy’s heroic rescue quickly spread throughout the town, and people couldn’t help but admire the little dog’s courage and selflessness. From that day on, Buddy became a local hero, and his story inspired many to appreciate the incredible bond between humans and their pets.
In the end, Buddy’s bravery reminded everyone that even the smallest creatures can make a big difference when it comes to saving lives.
1. What was Buddy trained to be?| A．Fast and strong for sports. | B．Obedient and well-behaved. |
| C．Protective and aggressive towards strangers. | D．Attentive and useful in a dangerous situation. |
| A．She decided to take a swim to cool off. | B．She slipped on a rock near the riverbank. |
| C．She accidentally fell while walking by the river. | D．She was pushed into the water by someone else. |
| A．He ran back home to call for help. |
| B．He barked loudly to get help from nearby people. |
| C．He jumped into the water and swam towards her. |
| D．He stayed on the riverbank and waited for her to come out. |
| A．Elizabeth gave Buddy a special treat as a reward. |
| B．Buddy became a local hero and inspired many people. |
| C．The town held a ceremony to honor Buddy’s bravery. |
| D．Elizabeth decided to adopt another dog to keep Buddy company. |
6 . A new device could save lives by sounding an alarm when children or pets are left alone in vehicles (车辆).
Developed by researchers at the University of Waterloo, the device uses radar technology and artificial intelligence(AI)to detect unattended children or animals with 100% accuracy.
Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, the device is designed to be attached to a vehicle’s rear-view mirror (后视镜). It sends out radar signals that are reflected back by people, animals and objects in the vehicle. Built-in Al then analyzes the reflected signals.
“It solves a serious problem,” said George Shaker, an engineering professor at Waterloo. “The device is so affordable that it could become standard equipment in all vehicles.”
Analysis by the device determines the number of people and their location in a vehicle. That information could be used to set rates (费用) for ride-sharing services, or to qualify vehicles for car-pool lanes (共乘车道).
In primary purpose, however, is to detect when a child or a pet has been left behind by accident, a situation that can result in serous harm or death in extremely hot or cold weather. In such cases, the system would prevent vehicle doors from locking and sound an alarm to remind the driver, passengers and other people in the area that there is a problem.
“Unlike cameras, this device preserves privacy and it doesn’t have any blind spots because radar can get through seats to determine if there is a child in a rear-facing car seat,” said Shaker.
Small enough to fit in the palm of a hand, the device can recognize differences between living beings and inanimate (无生命的) objects by detecting breathing movements.
Researchers are now exploring the use to watch the signs of drivers for distraction, illnesses or other issues.
1. Why has the new device been developed?| A．Mainly to qualify vehicles for car-pool lanes. |
| B．Mainly to set rates for ride-sharing services. |
| C．Mainly to see if there is any dangerous object inside a vehicle. |
| D．Mainly to help prevent children or pets from being left behind in vehicles. |
| A．By sending signals to a driver’s phone. | B．By locking a vehicle door. |
| C．By sounding an alarm. | D．By giving out a red light. |
| A．It can protect privacy. | B．It can help people drive much faster. |
| C．Its price is reasonable. | D．Its size is rather small. |
| A．The radar of the device can get through seats. |
| B．The radar of the device can take clearer photos. |
| C．The device can send a weak voice in a vehicle to a driver. |
| D．The device can recognize living beings rather than inanimate objects. |
7 . An earthquake hit Turkey and Syria last month. Over 40,000 people lost their lives in the natural disaster, and that number is expected to climb. But people are staying strong and holding out hope as rescuers continue to search for and rescue survivors.
33-year-old Necla Camuz was trapped inside her home with her 10-day-old son, Yagiz, in her arms. She waited for 90 hours before being rescued. While Camuz was worried that they would never be found, she looked to her baby as a source of strength. “I think if my son hadn’t been strong enough to deal with this, I wouldn’t have been, either,” she shared. This story had an even happier ending. Camuz was told that her husband and 3-year-old son had also survived. They would get together after this terrible experience.
But babies and young people aren’t the only survivors. 77-year-old Fatma Gungor was trapped for 212 hours before being freed. “I am so excited. I don’t know what to say. We almost got to the point of giving up, but our struggle has ended well,” one rescuer said. Finding Gungor provides new motivation (动力) for rescuers, who have been working around the clock. They are encouraged to keep up their search.
According to Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, it’s uncommon to find survivors after they have been trapped for more than 100 hours, but low temperatures might be the factor. “On the one hand, the cold weather makes the rescue very difficult, for it is below freezing right now. On the other hand, it may reduce the demand for water. Perhaps that is the case this time,” he said.
As always, these stories give hope that there are many people still waiting to be rescued. But once people are pulled from the stones, there is a hard road ahead as people have lost their homes, and many have also lost their families. If you are looking for a way to help, consider donating to Global Giving’s earthquake fund.
1. How did Camuz live through the earthquake in her opinion?| A．By using professional skills. | B．By seeing her newborn baby’s survival. |
| C．By having trust in her family. | D．By finding some water and food. |
| A．More people can be rescued. |
| B．Old people have a stronger will. |
| C．Rescuers have to be calm enough. |
| D．Rescue work will become more difficult. |
| A．It is unusual for local people. |
| B．It can be both harmful and favorable. |
| C．It makes rescuers easier to save trapped people. |
| D．It causes trapped people to reduce demand for food. |
| A．To call on people to offer support to those suffering. |
| B．To give some tips on surviving an earthquake. |
| C．To point out the problems facing rescuers. |
| D．To stress the importance of timely rescue. |
8 . The Davis Stampede is a long-standing tradition with running and walking. The event includes 5km, 10km, and half marathon routes, which are loop (环形) courses that travel along both roadways and Davis’ tree-lined greenbelts.
Entry to the event includes a short-sleeve T-shirt, a finisher medal, timing and post-race refreshments (点心). Experienced pacers will lead pace groups in the half marathon for goal finish times from 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 2:55 to 3:00. They can help you reach your goal time, set a new personal best record and have a great race.
A free kids’ fun run is offered to kids aged 13 and under. Both a 1/4-mile course and a 1/2-mile course are offered. The kids’ runs start at 10:30.
Date: Sunday, December 17, 2023
Location: Playfields Park, South Davis
Distance: 5km, 10km, half marathon, kids’ run.
Post-race email: Please read out post-race email (sent to all registered athletes on Sunday, December 17) here.
Photos: Available here
Status of medals: All medals have been distributed to Fleet Feet’s as indicated in the above email, or shipped (based on the county of residence). You can view our list of shipped medals and the shipping date in the email. For those whose medals were shipped, if your medal hasn’t arrived, contact us so that we can track it.
1. How can experienced pacers help people?| A．By teaching them running and walking skills. |
| B．By completing a full marathon with them. |
| C．By relaxing their muscles after a race. |
| D．By helping them get their best results. |
| A．It has a fairly short history. |
| B．It is held in the countryside. |
| C．It is intended for professional runners. |
| D．It offers free courses for children under 13. |
| A．The competitor list. | B．The schedule of the race. |
| C．The shipping date of medals. | D．The organizing committee of the event. |
9 . Mosquitoes are one of the few unpleasant parts of summer. As the temperature rises, these disease-carrying pests become a common sight, especially around standing water. Thankfully, these tiny annoying creatures don’t follow us into the winter, right? Wrong. According to researchers in Florida, climate change will likely keep mosquitoes active even in the colder months of the year. “In tropical (热带的) areas, mosquitoes are active all year, but that isn’t the case for the rest of the world. Outside of the tropics, winter temperatures cause mosquitoes to go into a kind of hibernation called diapause (滞育). We call these mosquitoes ‘cold bounded’ because their activity is limited by these lower temperatures,” says Brett Scheffers, assistant professor in the wildlife eco logy and conservation department, in a university release.
“However, with climate change, summers are to get longer and winters are to become shorter and warmer. What will that mean for those cold bounded mosquitoes? How will they respond?” To see just how adaptive mosquitoes are already becoming to changing temperatures throughout the year, researchers collected these insects during each season in Gainesville, Florida.
Study authors caught over 28,000 insects from 18 different mosquito species during their experiment. Scientists lured the pests by using a trap that produces carbon dioxide. Mosquitoes seek out this gas, which both humans and animals blow out when they breathe. For these pests, the gas signals that a tasty meal is nearby. The team randomly selected 1,000 of these mosquitoes to test in their lab temperature experiment. They placed each insect in a test tube before putting it in water. From there, researchers continued to change the temperature, from cold to hot. At the same time, the team monitored when each mosquito became inactive—marking their upper or lower temperature thresholds (阈点).
As for what is allowing mosquitoes to make these rapid adjustments to the weather, the answer is still unclear. However, researchers believe evolution could be working at a much faster rate in tinier creatures. Study authors believe their findings will help communities better prepare for insect season as climate change continues to lengthen summer.
1. What does Brett Scheffers think of those cold bounded mosquitoes’ behaviors?| A．Less active. | B．More alarming. | C．More annoying. | D．Less consistent. |
| A．To find out why summer gets longer. |
| B．To see how mosquitoes spread in tropical areas. |
| C．To learn how mosquitoes are adapting to climate change. |
| D．To learn why climate change is related to species evolution. |
| A．Killed. | B．Attracted. | C．Changed. | D．Protected. |
| A．Cold bounded mosquitoes are easily trapped |
| B．Wildlife ecology helps better prepare for insect season |
| C．Mosquitoes will be a year-long problem due to climate change |
| D．The cause of mosquitoes’ rapid adjustments to the weather is clear |
10 . Welcome to Santa Cruz County. It is home to rough coastline and it’s the main destination for many hiking adventurers!
California King Tides Are Coming!
California King Tides are coming back to Santa Cruz County, and this season you have even more opportunities to enjoy these impressive tides! These naturally occurring and predictable events are when the highest and lowest tides hit our shores and create an even more dramatic coastline.
Winter Wildlife Getaway!
This season marks the start of the best wildlife watching on the California coast! Migrating whales and many special birds make December and January the perfect time for a wildlife adventure.
Magic Monarch Butterfly!
In Santa Cruz, we like to celebrate all creatures great and small, especially those of the migrating variety. On one hand, we are attracted by the sight of a whale surfaceing from the depths of the sea and, on the other hand, we delight in the attractive magic of a flying monarch butterfly.
County Shores!
Explore Santa Cruz County shores, and you’ll delight in rock y tide pools full of unique sea creatures. While exploring local tide pools, remember to have respect for your surroundings.
Care & Safety
Never turn your back on the ocean. Sleeper waves are a real phenomenon, and can sweep you away at any time.
We know how wonderful it might be to touch a plant or catch a fish from its waters, but disrupting tide pool life harms its inhabitants. Even if you think you’re saving a fish that appears to be pushed out of water, it’s best to leave it be. The tide will finally return it.
1. What are California King Tides like?| A．Unpredictable. | B．Splendid. | C．Ordinary. | D．Destructive. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．Handle them gently. | B．Catch them immediately. |
| C．Leave them where they are. | D．Take them back to the ocean. |
