2 . During the last week of Fu Bao’s public viewing earlier this month, visitors endured waiting for 5—6 hours just to give a glance at the panda for only five minutes, as Everland Panda World restricted viewing time to manage the flood of visitors.

Born to parents Ai Bao and Le Bao in July 2020, Fu Bao is South Korea’s first naturally-born panda. In the days following her birth, Everland’s social media channels offered fans a steady diet of Fu Bao videos, pulling in more than 1.2 million subscribers and, as of February, over 500 million accumulated views. The most recent videos are now filled with warm and sincere messages from viewers.

Thanks to Fu Bao’s widespread popularity, her zookeeper has also found himself in the spotlight, becoming a bit of a social media star himself. Often referred to as her grandpa, Kang Chul-won offered hi own farewell message to Fu Bao, noting that the South Koreans’ special love for her all began with social media videos shared during the pandemic when the zoo was closed. She brought help and happiness to a society in many ways that was having a difficult time due to the virus. He said people visited the social media sites every day so it felt like he was raising her together with them. They cared so much for her and shared the same emotions of raising a baby panda together during such difficult times.

Fu Bao will be transferred to China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan Province. Everland says that she will be kept alone at Everland Panda World for a month to prepare her to adjust to her new environment before her overseas transfer, which will be carried out in accordance with international rules.

1. What can we learn about Fu Bao from the first two paragraphs?

A．She has a balanced diet.	B．She is five years old.
C．She is very popular in South Korea.	D．She came from Sichuan, China.

2. What do South Koreans think of Fu Bao?

A．She is a live symbol of luck and fortune.

B．She is an animal who can resist any virus.

C．She is an inspiration to overcome difficulties.

D．She is their common possession and business.

3. What will Fu Bao do a month before leaving South Korea?

A．She will go on show in Everland.	B．She will be separated for adjustment.
C．She will leave Everland Panda World.	D．She will be moved to a research center.

4. What does the underlined phrase “in accordance with” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．On behalf of.	B．In terms of.
C．In company with.	D．In agreement with.

3 . Security is the condition of feeling protected against danger. A lack of security causes stress, which can negatively impact your parrots’ health. Stress often leads to their picking feather (羽毛), screaming and biting.

Since parrots are flock animals, they are born to live as part of a group. It is the most important for their security. Parrots left in isolation (孤独) without the benefit of direct contact and interaction do not develop a sense of security. They need to interact with their household flock to become comfortable and develop a sense of belonging.

The decision on where to place your bird’s cage is a critical one. Placing at least one side of the cage against a wall may help your bird feel sheltered from predators (捕食性动物). Placement opposite the entry to the room allows your bird to observe who is approaching and what is going on. Also, avoid placement in a room with a ceiling fan or directly in front of a window so they can relax and stop worrying about flying predators. Making use of cage covers or tents surrounded by lots of toys can also provide a parrot with hideaway and feel more secure when they want to sleep.

Parrots are less stressed when there are household routines that provide them with the opportunity for regular sleep hours, regular feeding and watering times and special one on one time. Since they have no means to do it for themselves, caged parrots are entirely dependent on us to provide them with clean water and a nutritious diet. They need to know they can rely on this. Daily interactions also reinforce your parrot’s sense of security. For example, greetings in the morning, goodbyes when leaving for the office, game playing when coming home, silly songs during activities such as feeding or bathing all help to reassure your bird.

The earlier in life you start to expose your bird to changes of a non-threatening nature, the less likely they will be threatened by things commonly encountered (遇到) in life such as household moves, family additions, time away from their flock (vacations, business trips). Variations in diet and toys, travel, and exposure to new people and places all help to make your bird more flexible and adaptable to change.

1. What will parrots show when under stress?

A．Undesirable behaviors.	B．Joyful reactions.
C．Direct contact.	D．Lost memories.

2. What does the greatest sense of security of parrots come from?

A．Having a safe cage.	B．Living within a flock.
C．Being left in isolation.	D．Interacting with owners.

3. What does the underlined word “hideaway” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Strategy.

B．Adventure.

C．Fitness.

D．Shelter.

4. What can be inferred about parrots from the last paragraph?

A．Might is right.	B．Change is good.
C．Practice makes perfect.	D．Nature creates ability.

4 . The cry of the fishing cat sounds like the quack of a duck, and the rest of this midsize cat also enables it to hunt in the water. Its streamlined head is perfect for moves in the mangrove swamps (红树林沼泽地) and wetlands of South and Southeast Asia, and its pointy ears even fold (折叠) down when it jumps into deep water. The short and strong tail helps control its direction. The extra-thick coat keeps it warm and dry while swimming.

“I found fishing cats to be very ingenious,” says Tiasa Adhya, co-founder of The Fishing Cat Project, a research and conservation group based in eastern India. Her research recently showed that the animal has two methods of catching fish. In deep waters, the cat stays still on the banks for hours before jumping into the water for the kill. In shallow (浅的) waters, though, the cat actively drives the fish out of their hiding places by moving about with heavy steps.

Now the fishing cat is facing another challenge: humans. The world has lost almost 90 percent of its wetlands since the 1700s, with Asia suffering the greatest loss. These days, industrialized fish farming, pollution and other human behaviors have destroyed the living condition of freshwater fish and set fishing cats against farmers, as the hungry cats steal farmed fish, and the farmers get even with them (报复). Once found along river systems from Pakistan to Vietnam, the cats have disappeared from large areas of their range.

Researchers are testing new methods, including the commercial launch (商业化推出) of a type of native rice variety. Depending on nutrients (营养物) washed in by rains rather than on chemicals, the rice creates living space for the fishing cat and its food. The idea is that in healthy lakes where there is plenty to feed fishing cats and fishermen alike, killings will be unnecessary. “Nobody takes a loss,” Adhya explains, “when somebody takes a fish.”

1. What does the author want to explain about fishing cats in the first paragraph?

A．Why they moved to South and Southeast Asia.

B．What helps them swim well in the water.

C．What pushes them to live with ducks.

D．Why they love staying in the water.

2. What does the underlined word “ingenious” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Friendly.

B．Alarmed.

C．Clever.

D．Lazy.

3. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．The battle between fishing cats and humans.

B．The decision to protect freshwater fish.

C．The importance of stopping pollution.

D．The method of increasing wetlands.

4. What can we infer about the new method mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．It will do some harm to the environment.

B．It will create a win-win situation.

C．It will increase food production.

D．It will cost a lot of money.

5 . “A moth (飞蛾) to a flame” is often used to indicate an inescapable attraction, yet it is a strange example of animal behavior that continues to confuse people today. Scientists have raised a number of theories over the years to explain why. One holds that insects flying at night are following their nature to fly toward the brightest spot in their field of vision, which they mistake for the sky. Another suggests that insects are trying to warm themselves with the heat produced by the light. The most popular theory, though, is that insects are confusing lights with the moon or other celestial bodies (天体) that they normally use to navigate (导航).

To find out the real reason, the team carried out a first set of experiments in an insect flight area. The researchers used eight high-speed infrared (红外线) cameras equipped with motion-capture technologies to track 30 insects from three moth and two dragonfly species. They also flew lab-raised insects from six different insect orders that were too small for motion-capture technology, including fruit flies and honeybees, to make sure different insects all showed similar responses to light. Working with co-author Pablo Allen of the Council on International Educational Exchange in Monteverde, Costa Rica, the researchers put heavy cameras, lights and tripods in two field sites to gather behavioral data from insects in the wild.

The team was able to confirm that insects were not beelining to the light but rather circling it as they tilted (倾斜) in an attempt to turn their backs toward it. This behavior, known as a “dorsal light response”, normally helps insects to remain in an unchanging path of flight that is properly lined to the horizon (地平线). Artificial light that arrives from a point source causes them to fly in unpredictable patterns as they try to turn their backs to what they are mistaking for the sky.

Now research might have finally solved the mystery mentioned first: artificial light confuses insects’ ability to turn themselves to the horizon, confusing their sense of what is up and down and causing them to fly in circles.

1. Which theory about a moth to a flame is accepted by most people?

A．They follow their nature to fly.	B．They are blind to artificial light.
C．They mistake artificial light for celestial bodies.	D．They are attracted by the warmth of artificial light.

2. What’s the author’s purpose in using the figures in paragraph 2?

A．To show the study is comprehensive.	B．To introduce the purpose of the study.
C．To estimate the cost of the research.	D．To stress the challenge faced by the researchers.

3. What does the underlined word “beelining” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Flying slowly.

B．Sticking.

C．Responding.

D．Going straight.

4. What benefit can insects get from “dorsal light response”?

A．They can fly beyond the horizon.	B．They can follow a steady flight path.
C．They can turn their backs toward lights.	D．They can circle the light source upside down.

6 . Any schoolchild knows that a whale breathes through its blowhole. Fewer know that a blowhole is a nostril (鼻孔) slightly changed by evolution into a form more useful for a mammal that spends its life at sea. And only a dedicated expert would know that while toothed whales, such as sperm whales, have one hole, baleen (鲸须) whales, such as humpback and Rice whales, have two.

Even among the baleen whales, the placing of those nostrils differs. In some species they are close together. In others, they are much further apart. In a paper published in Biology Letters Conor Ryan, a marine biologist at the Scottish Association for Marine Science, suggests why that might be. Having two nostrils, he argues, helps whales smell in stereo (立体空间).

Many types of baleen whales eat tiny animals known as zooplankton (浮游动物), which they catch by filtering (过滤) them from seawater using the sheets of fibrous baleen that have replaced teeth in their mouths. But to eat something you first have to find it. Toothed whales do not hunt by scent. In fact, the olfactory bulb—the part of the brain that processes smell—is absent in such creatures. But baleen whales still have olfactory bulbs, which suggests smell remains important. And scent can indeed give zooplankton away. Zooplankton like to eat other tiny creatures called phytoplankton (浮游植物). When these are under attack, they release a special gas called dimethyl sulphide, which in turn attracts baleen whales.

Most animals have stereoscopic senses. Having two eyes, for instance, allows an animal to compare the images from each in order to perceive depth. Having two ears lets them locate the direction from which a sound is coming. Dr Ryan theorized that paired blowholes might bring baleen whales the same sorts of benefits.

The farther apart the sensory organs are, the more information can be extracted by the animal that bears them. The researchers used drones to photograph the nostrils of 143 whales belonging to 14 different species. Sure enough, baleen whales that often eat zooplankton, such as the North Atlantic right whale, have nostrils that are farther apart than do those, such as humpback whales, that eat zooplankton occasionally. Besides allowing them to breathe, it seems that some whales use their blowholes to determine in which direction dinner lies.

1. What do we know about whales’ nostrils according to the first two paragraphs?

A．They are adapted ones.	B．They are developed merely for smell.
C．They are not easy to detect.	D．They are fixed universally in numbers.

2. What plays a role when baleen whales hunt zooplankton?

A．The teeth that baleen whales have.

B．The smell that phytoplankton send.

C．The sound waves that zooplankton create.

D．The chemical signals that zooplankton give off.

3. How is the concept of stereoscopic senses explained in paragraph 4?

A．By quoting a theory.	B．By using examples.
C．By making contrast.	D．By making inferences.

4. What is the position of nostrils related to according to the last paragraph?

A．The sense of smell.	B．The possibility to attract food.
C．The ability to locate food.	D．The ability to communicate.

7 . Australia Post is celebrating the 10th anniversary of BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count with three of our most commonly seen birds set to be flying across the globe on a commemorative stamp issue launch today.

Rainbow Lorikeet: Known for its kaleidoscopic colors, the Rainbow Lorikeet has been the number one most seen bird every year of the Aussi e Bird Count. These social and energetic birds are often spotted in urban areas, parks, and gardens, feeding on flowering native plants and spreading joy with their playful calls, though in cities to which they have been introduced such as Perth and Hobart their presence is not so welcome as they out-compete local parrot species.

Noisy Miner: As the name suggests, the Noisy Miners are highly vocal birds with a complex range of calls. They are skilled communicators, using a variety of sounds to defend their home and communicate with their group. These fascinating honeyeaters are essential pollinators, but the number of these bold birds has increased so much that they have started to drive away many of our smaller bush birds.

Australian Magpie: The iconic Australian Magpie, with its distinctive black and white feathers, holds a special place in the hearts of many Australians. Known for their beautiful, melodious song, magpies are highly intelligent and form strong social bonds. They are also famous for their swooping (俯冲) behaviour during the nesting season, as their protective instincts kick in to safeguard their weak chicks in the nest.

The stamp issue includes various products, such as the Aussie Bird Count First Day Cover (Gummed Stamps), the Aussi e Bird Count First Day Cover (Minisheet), and a set of three Maxicards, which can be used as postcards and posted worldwide. Starting today, the stamps are available for purchase through Australia Post’s official website: https://auspost.com.au//stamps.

1. What can we learn about the Aussie Bird Count?

A．It takes charge of BirdLife Australia.	B．It has existed for about ten years.
C．It has branches across the world.	D．It mainly focuses on three species.

2. Which can be spotted easily in Australia?

A．Rainbow Lorikeet.	B．Noisy Miner.
C．Bush Magpie.	D．Australian Magpie.

3. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To call on people to protect local birds.

B．To persuade people to count the number of local birds.

C．To encourage people to buy stamps about local birds.

D．To inform people of the situation of the endangered birds.

8 . Finding a California condor in the wild would be the most unusual treat. perhaps even more unusual than finding a wolf in Yellowstone National Park. In fact, the wolf was what opened my eyes to the fact that humans could bring an animal back to the place where it had disappeared.

In 1987, there were only 27 California condors left, none of which were in the wild, only in captive breeding programs, It was those breeding programs that contributed to their population rise, enough that by 1991 some of them could be freed into the wild.

Still, the hope of seeing a California condor, which remains an endangered species, is very low, let alone getting a photo of one. California condor population dropped mostly due to human factors, such as poaching and living areas destruction-these are challenges California condors still face today.

Although this is just a bird’s-eye view of the challenges California condors face and there are many others, it is part of why the opportunity to work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service team and their partners helping their recovery is so special to me as a photographer. I am not only able to photograph the birds in their wild living areas, but also understand and record how difficult the work is of those people on the front lines of the protection.

I am grateful for the work of the team, and my hope is that California condor population will continue to rise allowing future generations an opportunity I never had when I first got here-to look to the sky and see one flying around.

1. What helped the increase of the California condor population in 1987?

A．Rules for hunters.	B．Captive breeding programs.
C．The improved natural environment.	D．The enlargement of wild living areas.

2. What does the author say about taking photos of a California condor in the wild?

A．It is difficult.

B．It is easy.

C．It is boring.

D．It is dangerous.

3. What did the author do when working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service team?

A．He guided ways for them.	B．He made records by photos.
C．He helped the birds to recover.	D．He rebuilt the birds’ living areas.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．New Way, New Hope	B．Wolves and California Condors
C．A Photo of a California Condor	D．The California Condor’s Coming Back

9 . The behavior of beavers and other animals has often inspired expressions in English. If someone is very industrious or hard-working in tackling many things at once, we can say the person is “as busy as a beaver.” This phrase hints at one of the characteristics of these wild animals—they are indeed active creatures.

With their large teeth, which are orange due to iron in the tooth enamel (牙齿的珐琅质), beavers can cut down trees and change their environments like no other animals except humans. They use these fallen trees to build dams, creating safe, watery environments. The busy beavers build homes — called lodges — in the ponds created by the dams. The only way to get in and out of lodges is by entering an underwater opening of the structures. This offers beavers protection from predators such as bears, wolves, or coyotes.

It’s also interesting to note that beavers have another reason for cutting down trees aside from building dams. Beavers can digest cellulose, so wood is a significant food source for them, with their diet 15 also consisting of leaves and aquatic plants. Chewing on trees also helps beavers keep their teeth sharp, making it easier for them to keep chopping down trees.

Of course, no discussion about beavers would be complete without mentioning their most noticeable feature their large, flat tails, which have different uses. One is that they act as a rudder, helping them steer in the water. Another is that the animals pound their tails on the water to warn other beavers of danger. Since beavers work so hard building their homes and warning others of potential harm, it’s no surprise that busy as a beaver is a common phrase.

1. Which of the following usages of “as busy as a beaver” correct?

A．My cat is as busy as a beaver since it always lies on the sofa.

B．This kind of tree is as busy as a beaver because it takes hundreds of years for it to be used as timber.

C．Hanna is having a cup of coffee and listening to music in the living room. She is truly as busy as a beaver.

D．Oliver is responsible for two projects and has to train the three new employees, so he has been as busy as a beaver recently.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

A．What countries beavers are found in.	B．How beavers keep themselves safe.
C．The animals that threaten beavers.	D．The food that beavers eat.

3. How does building dams protect beavers?

A．The wood is very strong.

B．The water from dams helps beavers digest wood.

C．Dams make it harder for other animals to catch.

D．Dams provide beavers with lots of water to drink.

4. If a beaver sees a pack of wolves approaching, which body part will it use to alert others?

A．Tail

B．Teeth

C．Paw

D．Head

10 . In the animal kingdom, there are many species that give birth to spotted young, from deer to birds and fish. Even species that we don’t typically link with spots, such as lions, wear the pattern as babies, only to lose it later in life.

But what purpose do these spots serve, and why do only some species seem to have them? Kiyoko Gotanda, a biologist at Brock University, said it is likely so common because it functions as excellent camouflage.

For example, spotted young tend to be more common in species that live in habitats with some high grass or forests, and less common in environments that are plain, like pack ice. Indeed, baby seals (海豹) born on pack ice are pure white, and develop spots only when they leave the ice for rocky beaches because spots are easy to be seen on pack ice, which may get them into difficulties.

In other rarer cases, spots actually help babies stand out. Young garibaldi, a fish found in California — have bright-blue spots that advertise their low social positions. As the fish grow and start to engage in the social ranking order, their spots disappear.

Other species may lose their spots as they age because their color goes on to serve another purpose. Lions are born with many spots, yet the spots mostly disappear in adulthood. Males, in particular, trade their spots for thick hair, which can help them attract female ones. Reproducing, rather than hiding, becomes the main focus.

It’s unclear why an animal like a cheetah would maintain its spots while a lion doesn’t. Gotanda said it may come down to hunting practice. Lions hunt in groups, while cheetahs tend to hunt alone and rely more heavily on the smokescreen power of their spots to get near prey (猎物).

1. Which can best replace the underlined word “camouflage” in paragraph 2?

A．Guidance.

B．Reminder.

C．Attractant.

D．Protection.

2. Which young animals use spots to mark their identity?

A．Cheetahs.

B．Seals.

C．Garibaldi.

D．Lions.

3. Which statement might Gotanda agree with?

A．White spots need more energy to grow and maintain.

B．The way of hunting may affect the existence of spots.

C．Male lions tend to use spots to attract strong female ones.

D．Spotted young animals often appear in featureless environments.

4. What is mainly talked about in the text?

A．How spots help animals escape danger.

B．Why so many baby animals have spots.

C．Which kind of young animals have spots.

D．What might happen to spotted young animals.