When you think of penguins, you may picture them in white snow. However, there is one kind of penguin that loves warmer climates. African penguins live in colonies(聚居区) on the coast and islands of southern Africa.
Also called jackass penguins, they make donkey-like braying(驴叫) sounds to communicate. They can dive under water for up to 2.5 minutes while trying to catch small fish.
The African penguins are about 60 cm tall and weigh up to 3.6 kg. Their short tails and flipper-like wings help them swim in the water, while their feet help push them forward.
To keep dry and insulated(隔离) in cold water, African penguins are covered in dense, waterproof feathers. These feathers are white on the stomach and black on the back.
African penguins do not travel to give birth. The penguins' nests are in the holes they dig out of their own excrement(粪便), called guano, or in areas under bushes. People now take away the guano for fertilizer(肥料). It has forced the penguins to change their habits and nests mainly under bushes. Their nests protect eggs and chicks from the sun and the animals like cats and seagulls. Eggs are laid in pairs. And both parents help keep eggs warm by sitting on them until they hatch. Both parents also feed the newly-born chicks. After 2—4 years, the chicks will mature and lay their own eggs.
African penguins can live for an average of 10—15 years. However, many do not reach their full lifespan, and populations have been slowly decreasing. African penguins are losing their nesting places. And their food is not enough because of overfishing and pollution. As such, African penguins are now in danger. This means there is a high risk they may die out.
If you would like to help the African penguins, you can volunteer, donate, or adopt(收养) a penguin through the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds.
1.The underlined word “mature” in Paragraph 5 means “_________”.
A.get up B.show off C.grow up D.be sick
2.What can we learn from the passage?
A.African penguins can communicate by talking loudly.
B.African penguins use tails, wings and feet when they swim.
C.African penguins are black on the stomach and white on the back.
D.African penguins change their habits and nests mainly in holes now.
3.The number of African penguins is changing because ________.
①the guano has been taken away
②the climate becomes hotter and hotter
③people catch too many fish
④the sea is polluted
⑤they are killed for meat
A.①②③ B.①③④ C.②③④ D.①③⑤
4.Which one can be the best title for the passage?
A.The African Culture Has Changed a Lot B.We Should Save African Environment
C.African Penguins Don't Live in Snow D.Some Facts about African Penguins
Susan Boyle was born as the ninth child in a Catholic family. She suffered from learning disabilities ever since her birth because of her mother's poor health.
School was difficult for Susan and she was bulled（凌辱） because of her different behaviour.Her siblings,who were much older,had life experiences that were unknown to their little sister.From the time of her birth,Susan was a screamer.The only really safe place that she would use as a repeat was her bedroom.There she would hang posters of her musical heroes on the walls and sing popular music into a hairbrush that she pretended was a microphone.
One by one her brother and sisters moved away from home and then Susan's father died.This left her alone with an old mother and a cat.She tried volunteer work.Her best state of mind,however,was found when she was singing and so she would regularly join others in karaoke or pubs where she could show her skills and receive appreciation（欣赏）from the crowd.
When Susan announced at Christmas that she was planning to take part in the Britain's Got Talent competition,her brothers and sisters tried to discourage her.It was a wonder that she was even able to do the audition（试唱）considering the troubles she faced just physically getting to the right place.
The Woman I Was Born to Be is a beautiful story written in the simple but humorous voice of the author,Susan Boyle.She tells her story from birth to the present in an interesting and educational manner.
I love this book ! In fact,I read the whole thing in one day! There is something in the stories that not only teaches the reader but also encourage us to reach for our dreams-no matter how impossible they may seem to be!
1.What does the underlined part "Her siblings" in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Susan's parents. B.Susan's friend.
C.Susan's classmates. D.Susan's brothers and sisters.
2.What can we learn about Susan from Paragraph 3?
A.She liked being alone. B.She was good at singing.
C.She had different hobbies. D.She disliked volunteer work.
3.We learn that the book The Woman I Was Born to Be ________ .
A.is based on Susan's life stories B.is written to please readers
C.is very sad to read D.is difficult to understand
4.What does the author probably think of Susan's life stories?
A.Encouraging. B.Humorous. C.Worried. D.Boring.
Languages are powerful, sometimes more than one can imagine .Most recently an ancient saying“山川异域,风月同天”has deeply touched the Chinese people, which means even though the landscapes are different, we share the wind and moon under the same sky.
The saying was printed on packages of masks sent to Wuhan, Hubei Province from Japan when the novel coronavirus broke out in China. On the packages, there were also Chinese and Japanese national flags, as well as encouraging Chinese characters “加油,中国”. It’s not only the friendship behind the masks, but also the special beauty of the ancient Chinese language.
Although it is written in ancient Chinese language, the saying is from a Japanese prince. The ancient saying first appeared on the frocks(袈裟) which were sent to the monks in the Chinese Tang dynasty.
The Chinese monk Jianzhen was touched by these Chinese characters at that time and decided to start his journey to Japan. He tried six times in 11 years before finally arriving in the country and then helped a lot with the development of Japanese arts and medical studies .Jianzhen was known as the messenger of culture between China and Japan. He was remembered by the people of both countries.
Now once again, the Chinese are deeply touched by the meaning in the ancient saying : understanding, sharing, and support. It feels like walking into the house from outdoors in the freezing winter and having a cup of hot tea. The warmth is inside.
1.What can be seen on the packages sent to Wuhan from Japan?
A.all kinds of masks. B.The Chinese national flag
C.The beautiful scene of China D.The beautiful scene of Japan
2.Who created the ancient saying“山川异域,风月同天”?
A.A Chinese tourist B.A Japanese tourist
C.A Chinese prince D.A Japanese prince
3.Which word can describe the Chinese monk Jianzhen’s journey to Japan?
A.Exciting B.Dangerous C.Difficult D.Interesting
4.What is the passage mainly about ?
A.The masks from Japan B.The friendship under the same sky
C.The power of the ancient Chinese language D.The culture messenger between China and Japan
| A. Tickets for London Eye Flight (30 mins,＄22) | ||
The London Eye－a famous symbol for this famous city. The world’s largest sightseeing wheel offers a way to see over 55 of London’s famous buildings! | |||
B. Tickets for Madame Tussauds (Flexible,＄25) |
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In this waxwork(蜡像) museum, visitors will find Henry VIII and his six wives, the present Queen and many other famous people, including sports or pop stars. It is a must-see place in London. | |||
| C. London Duck Tours (80 mins, ＄30) | ||
Don’t miss the exciting adventure for visitors to London, taking in the sight by road and river! No one has ever seen anything like it before! It is more than a sightseeing tour－it’s an adventure. Don’t miss this one! | |||
D. The Traditional London Sightseeing Tour (24 hours pass, ＄40) |
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See London’s important sights on an open-top double-decker bus and see every sight in London including the Tower of London, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Piccadilly. Simply “Get on and Get off” at your choice of famous places. | |||
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1.What is the famous symbol of London?
A.The London Eye. B.The Waxwork Museum.
C.The Tower of London. D.St. Paul’s Cathedral.
2.If you want to see many famous people, you can______.
A.take the London Eye B.go to the Madame Tussauds
C.take the London Duck Tours D.take the double-decker bus
3.For young people who wants to try new things, they could visit London by____.
A.taking the boat B.taking the double-decker bus
C.joining the Duck Tours D.taking the taxi
I still remember my kindergarten(幼儿园)teacher, Mrs, White. She looked just like Snow White,_______ she had the same bright eyes and short dark hair.
We used to _______ a lot . And I would show what I wrote to Mrs. White for correction(批改). She would look at my writing and see many mistakes in it. But she _______made any red correction and she always gave a star. I was feeling _______of my writing each time I got a star. But it _______my mother. So one day, when she met Mrs. White at a parent-teacher meeting. Mum asked her why she never corrected my_______and why she never said no to her child.
Mrs. White said, “The children are just beginning to get _______about using words. Spelling and grammar can wait. We can’t_______that interest with a red pen.” As it was a long time ago, my mother could only remember the main idea of _______ Mrs. White said about my writing. However, I grew up learning to use words with loving care and ____________like that.
If Mrs. White had used her red pen more often, I ____________wouldn’t be telling you about this now, Whenever I look back on those encouraging ____________ from Mrs. White, I feel they just look____________real ones in the night sky-bright, shiny, and guiding me on my way somewhere. I do believe she was such a ____________ teacher, who tried to use a red pen less to keep the joy, wonder and excitement in a child’s ____________.
Thanks to Mrs. White, I have no fear about writing. Also, I’m not afraid of any mistake in my life!
1.A.because B.though C.if D.but
2.A.run B.cry C.write D.speak
3.A.always B.never C.often D.sometimes
4.A.lonely B.tired C.helpless D.proud
5.A.protected B.worried C.pleased D.attracted
6.A.spirits B.designs C.mistakes D.messages
7.A.nervous B.excited C.afraid D.bored
8.A.stop B.keep C.save D.show
9.A.that B.when C.which D.what
10.A.sadness B.fear C.confidence D.pains
11.A.probably B.gently C.hardly D.luckily
12.A.dreams B.stars C.gifts D.pens
13.A.at B.through C.for D.like
14.A.careless B.strict C.wonderful D.common
15.A.mind B.hand C.arms D.eyes
—Do you mind my opening the window? It’s a bit hot in here.
—________, as a matter of fact.
A.Go ahead B.Yes, my pleasure C.Yes, I do D.Come on
