As a boy, Ramirez Cruz loved hiking with his grandfather up into the mountains of central Mexico. While the old man hunted for wild mushrooms, Ramirez would play among the monarch butterflies that migrated 3,000 miles to this forest each autumn, turning the blue sky into a sea of orange.
Ramirez is 75 now and each winter he still goes looking for butterflies. But these days, he might spend hours searching the forest without catching sight of a single one.
The world is losing monarch butterflies at a surprising rate, as many human activities destroy their natural habitats. But the biggest threat yet has only recently come into focus. Climate change, with its extreme storms, is destroying the forest that serves as the butterfly’s winter home.
To help his beloved butterflies, Ramirez has partnered with scientists on an experiment: They are trying to move an entire forest 1,000 feet up a mountain. He agrees with scientists that it is necessary to create an ecosystem where the butterflies will be able to survive.
Over the last several years, the team of researchers has overseen the relocation(迁移) of about 1,000 trees that were growing at lower altitudes up to higher and cooler areas. Ramirez and the scientists hope to expand the project and establish the trees at even higher altitudes on other nearby mountains if temperatures continue to soar.
After checking on the trees, Ramirez went off to look for the butterflies. He found a few butterflies then a few more. There weren’t as many as he remembered from his childhood, but it was still a sight to see. Ramirez eased himself down to sit on the soft forest floor and watched in silence. The only sound was the whistle of the wind and the gentle flapping(拍打) of their wings.
1. What does “sea of orange” refer to in paragraph 1?2. Why is the forest important to the monarch butterflies according to paragraph 3?
3. What is the project Ramirez has been working on in paragraph 5?
4. How did Ramirez probably feel when he sat on the soft forest floor?
Last fall,my dad and I visited Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary,which is located in the mountains of Northern Thailand. Although our stay was short, it turned out to be the most memorable part of our holiday.
Upon arrival,we headed to the base to learn about the elephants that were in the care.The eldest,Too Meh, had spent much of her life giving tourists rides with a heavy iron seat tied to her back.Her daughter,Mae Doom,and grandsons,Dodo and Gen Thong,had also spent years in chains doing hard work to entertain tourists. It broke our hearts to hear their sad stories.
Early the next morning, we saw Too Meh and Mae Doom exploring the forest and Dodo playing by the river. Seeing them free was a heartwarming experience. Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary was founded with the goal of protecting the welfare of elephants, and that is why this place does not offer elephant rides or elephant performances of any kind. Instead, it tries to educate visitors about these amazing animals.
But we did more than just get to know the elephants. We also cooked and ate together with our host family, learned about the language of the local people, and helped teach English to the children in the village. In doing these activities, we were able to experience the local customs and culture firsthand.By providing such opportunities for visitors, the place gives back to the village by helping the villagers make more money and learn English. It's a win-win situation.
If you want to see elephants in their natural environment,Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary is the nice place to go. It's an experience you won't forget.
1. What was the most memorable part of the author's holiday？2. What does the author think of using elephants to entertain tourists?
3. What did the author learn by doing activities with local people?
4. What's the purpose of the last paragraph?
