Dragons, a famous     1     (imagine) beast, are often present in stories in the west and east. In both cultures, dragons are generally recognized as massive creatures capable of flight. They have great power and are often associated with magical     2     (ability).

However, due to their different cultural roots and images, there     3     (be) significant differences in the way dragons are regarded in the west and east,     4     (particular) in China. Chinese dragons look like snakes, and have four claws (爪) and no wings. They often have features of other animals,     5     (include) carp (鲤鱼), tigers, and eagles. In the contrast, Western dragons look like huge lizards (蜥蜴) with big claws and large bat-like wings, and are often shown with spines or rough scales.

In traditional Chinese culture, a dragon is     6     symbol of luck, power and high status. They can cause weather changes and bring rainfall to the fields to ensure rich harvests. They are considered divine (神圣的) creatures,     7     hold an important position as the head of the four spirits. Therefore, to symbolize their power, ancient Chinese emperors decorated their clothes with dragon patterns. These clothes are known as dragon robes.

Many Chinese view the dragon as a national symbol, proudly referring to     8     (they) as “descendants (后裔) of the dragon”. In the west, however, a dragon symbolizes an evil creature that spreads violence and terror throughout the land. They     9     (believe) to be transformed by the devil, with the ability     10     (breathe) fire or spit poison. Many western tales show dragons being defeated and killed to protect people from danger.

4 . In Shark Bay, Australia, unrelated bottlenose dolphins have exhibited a remarkable behavior— they have been observed teaching each other a novel way to use a tool. This is a behavior that, until recently, scientists had only witnessed in humans and other great apes. Furthermore, this marks the first known instance of dolphins passing down such knowledge within the same generation, rather than across generations.

The dolphins engage in a practice known as shelling. They chase fish into abandoned giant snail shells lying on the seabed. After that, they bring these shells to the surface and shake them with their noses, removing the water and capturing the fish that escape.

“The fact that shelling is socially transmitted among dolphin peers rather than between mother and child sets an important milestone,” senior study author Michael Krutzen said.

In 2007, Krutzen launched a study of Shark Bay’s dolphins, identifying more than a thousand individual dolphins over 11 years. During this time, scientists observed shelling 42 times among 19 dolphins. Half of these events occurred after a marine heatwave in 2011, which may have caused a die-off among giant sea snails, leading to more shells on the seafloor.

Because of the length of their study, scientists had very detailed knowledge of the individual dolphins’ family histories, ages, sexes and behavior, making it easier for them to study the 19 dolphins that practiced shelling. For instance, they observed that the dolphins that practised shelling hung out with other shellers, so it’s likely that they copied from those they spent time with, says study lead author Sonja Wild.

The team knew that environmental factors- specifically, whether shelling dolphins did so simply because they lived in a shell-rich area-could explain this peer-to-peer transmission. A genetic characteristic among a family group was another possible reason.

So the researchers combined their data on the dolphin sightings, as well as genetic and environmental data, into a computer model that proposed various ways shelling could be transmitted between dolphins. The model that supported horizontal (横向的) transmission was the strongest outcome, according to the study.

5 . Last week, an owl named Flaco made a daring escape from his cage at New York’s Central Park Zoo when it was broken. This set off a bird-hunt led by local police and park rangers. The zoo officials were concerned about Flaco’s ability to survive in the wild, as he had been living in the cage for 13 years. They attempted to lure (引诱) him back with his favorite treats.

However, Flaco proved to be too clever to be caught so easily. He was spotted soaring above 5th Avenue and the skating rink in Central Park. His escape attracted the attention of many city dwellers and many New Yorkers flocked to the park to catch a glimpse of Flaco, taking photos with excitement.

But this week, zoo officials announced they accepted that Flaco remained in Central Park because they observed him bringing up bones and fur from the park’s community of rats. “He has been very successful at hunting and consuming lots of rats in the park.” zoo officials told the New York Post. “It’s truly remarkable. He’s hunting independently and his flying has improved. It appears that Flaco is quite content with his new life and enjoys his freedom outdoors.”

This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by wildlife in urban environments. Owls, being nocturnal creatures, are active searching for food at night and rest during the day. Yet some residents who are unaware of proper bird-watching behavior reportedly see Flaco sleep in a tree during the day, and begin to make loud noise and shout at him. It interrupts his daytime naps. Flaco can’t try to say “shh, shh” with the traditional New York reply. After all, a bird can’t give someone the bird.

Among all the members in the cat family, the Siberian tiger is the largest in size. Also known as the Northeast Tiger in China, the Siberian tiger is one of the most     1     (endanger) animals in the world, mainly living in Russia’s Far East and Northeast China. Now about 500 Siberian tigers are believed to be living in the wild. Long ago, Siberian tigers     2     (be) all over Northeast Asia and Russian Far East, but today they are found mainly along the Chinese-Russian border and     3     (possible) in North Korea. The main reason for their decrease in numbers is the     4     (disappear) of their natural habitat. Fortunately, steps     5     (take) to save this magnificent creature in recent years and as a consequence numbers are     6     the rise.

Recently, a wild Siberian tiger has been spotted in a forest area in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang province.     7     (suggest) the ongoing improvement of the local ecological environment, according to forest rangers (护林人). News report says that footprints and excrement (排泄物) of a suspected Siberian tiger were found by local forest rangers and they checked the infrared (红外线) cameras in the area and saw     8       appeared to be an adult wild tiger. A DNA test of the tiger’s excrement has confirmed that it is     9       new adult male tiger. rather than the one rescued and later released into the wild in 2021. “This is the fifth adult wild Siberian tiger     10     has been spotted in the Muling forest-area in recent years,” they said.

9 . A survey by the Kennel Club has found almost one in five would rather have a dog than be in a relationship.

The research, which asked 2,612 dog owners for their thoughts on romance, found just under a quarter agreed that having a dog would make them feel less concerned about not being in love.

Perhaps the findings are unsurprising, as celebrities have long used dogs as their plus-ones. Hollywood legend Glenn Close took her Havanese dog Pip to the Oscars last year, describing her pet as “the best date a girl can have”. Jennifer Aniston has credited her dogs and female friends with making her happy, stating: “I’ve had more fun post-40 than I can remember.”

Bill Lambert, a spokesman for the Kennel Club, said: “There certainly seems to be a growing number of dog-lovers who would rather share their lives with a four-legged friend instead of a human partner. This could be due to the many benefits that come with dog ownership — from the psychological to the physical. Dogs help their owners relax, whether that’s with a daily walk in fresh air, or with a cuddle (依偎) on a sofa. They can also be great listeners, help their owners fight stress, and can play a part in improving the health and fitness of their two-legged owners.”

Nevertheless, for those dog owners who are still looking for love, the research suggests their pet might help.

More than a fifth of those questioned said they had been asked out on a date or found love while out with their dog, with beagles, springer spaniels and German Shepherds appearing best for attracting a potential partner. People who owned golden retrievers and corgis were also very likely to say their pet may have helped them out romantically.

Mr Lambert said: “This is quite unsurprising when you consider that dogs are a great ice-breaker, when strangers may otherwise not look twice at each other, and that we tend to have very positive associations about people who love dogs.”

Among those responding to the survey, 21 percent said they were more likely to date someone who also had a dog.