Pangolins (穿山甲), the world’s only mammals with scales (鳞片), have existed on earth for about 60 million years. Pangolins are very sensitive creatures and most of them don’t like staying indoors. In the wild, they’re slow to reproduce and give birth to only one baby at a time. Pangolins are alone and shy — nearly impossible for even the most devoted field researchers to catch sight of.
However, over recent ten years, their wild population has decreased greatly. More than a million pangolins are believed to have been taken from the wild in Asia and Africa. In the first eight days of April 2019 alone, authorities caught two 14-ton shipments of pangolin scales in Singapore, representing about 72,000 animals and worth a combined $90 million. In February, Malaysian seized a 33-ton shipment of mostly whole, frozen pangolins.
“The present scale of trade could drive this species to extinction,” said an Indian official.
If the illegal pangolin trade continues at such high levels, it’s thought that another 10 years might see them die out altogether. The trade is caused by a series of factors, but the fact that the local government doesn’t make strict laws against it plays a major role.
Another big challenge facing pangolins is that so few people know what they are and why they’re in such danger. As National Geographic Photo Ark photographer Joel Sartore says, “You won’t save what you don’t love.”
1.According to Paragraph 1, pangolins ______.
A.are rare mammals B.like living indoors
C.are outgoing but sensitive D.are easily found in the wild
2.What is the main reason for pangolins’ trade?
A.People in Africa like hunting pangolins.
B.Strict laws against it haven’t been made.
C.Pangolins’ population is increasing rapidly.
D.Pangolins have existed on earth for a long time.
3.What is the Indian official’s attitude towards the scales of trade?
A.Uncaring. B.Puzzled.
C.Supportive. D.Worried.
4.What is the main idea of the text?
A.Pangolins are hunted in Asia.
B.Pangolins are facing extinction.
C.People are trying to save Pangolins out of love.
D.Many countries are taking action to protect Pangolins.
If you want to make music but never had lessons as a kid, don’t lose hope. Music teachers say it’s never too late. And as it turns out, the most difficult things are not stiff (不灵活的) hands or an aging brain.
Scot Hawkins, a piano teacher in Silver Spring, says that ability is low on the list of what’s required for adult students. Instead, attitude — especially patience — is everything. “Adults come in with unreasonable goals about what they can achieve, and how quickly,” he says. They want to skip (跳过) steps one through five, and get to step six. And unlike children, no one forces adults to practice, so they may never spare time for it.
But adults have advantages, too. They can see and hear things in the music that completely escape children. David Conrad is one of Hawkins’ students. He started learning the piano with his son Simon when Simon was 8. When learning a new piece, Conrad spends hours studying the music before he sits down to play it. He wants to understand how the notes are organized to figure out what the music is trying to show.
David and Simon Conrad have had their musical difficulties over the years but they haven’t given up. Simon, who is now 16, still takes lessons. A few months ago, he started teaching himself the saxophone. His dad learned some Jazz music, so now, when Simon needs a break from his homework, they play duets (二重奏).
It may be hard but playing music with someone you love or working towards a lifelong goal can be very enjoyable and useful.
1.What is the most important when it comes to learning music?
A.Age. B.Attitude.
C.Teachers. D.Brain.
2.What is an advantage for adults to learn music?
A.They have reasonable goals.
B.They are able to learn quickly.
C.They can teach their children by themselves.
D.They can work out what the music is trying to express.
3.What can we learn from David and Simon?
A.They always give in to difficulties.
B.They have great desire to learn music.
C.They are both good at teaching themselves.
D.They really want to become great musicians.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Sports. B.Science.
C.History. D.Music.
Order food online with your iPhone or iPad using the Takeaway.com app. Super easy!
Are you feeling like a delicious pizza, salad, burger or kebab? You can easily order the most delicious meals from thousands of restaurants. Order pizza, schnitzel, lunch, pasta, Chinese or Indian takeaway online: You’ll have your meal within 30-45 minutes (depending on the restaurant’s availability).
Benefits of our app:
• Map view available for all restaurants.
• Pay safely with a credit card or PayPal.
• Log in with your account and (re)order easily.
Follow your order to your doorstep:
Do you want to know where your order is? Follow your order from kitchen to doorstep with Food Tracker ®. We’ll text you to update you about the status of your order. You’ll receive three texts: one to confirm (确认) your order, another one to let you know that your food is being prepared and the last one to inform you when your food is on its way.
All advantages at a glance:
• The design is clearer, cleaner and cooler than ever!
• New! Choose whether you want to pick up your food or have it delivered.
• Map View: see the exact location of every restaurant on a map.
• Popular Dishes: overview of the restaurant’s most popular dishes.
• The app is available in 4 languages. Switch to Dutch, English, French or German anytime.
• Addresses: all your saved addresses will be available in the app for your next order.
1.By using the Takeaway.com app, you can ______.
A.book a restaurant table B.learn how to cook
C.order some delicious food D.cancel your meal for free
2.If you want to know where your order is, you may turn to ______.
A.Food Tracker B.Map View
C.Popular Dishes D.Addresses
3.Which of the following statements is not the advantage of the app?
A.You can make it clear where the restaurant is.
B.The app provides more than one language for the users.
C.You need to fill in your address each time you order some food.
D.It can help you find out the most popular dishes in the restaurant.
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。
I peered over my grandma’s shoulder as she sewed pieces of cloth together. The two pieces became one faster than I’d imagined. The colors, however, looked ugly when put together and none of the patterns matched. All the patches (补丁) on this blanket seemed to disagree.
“Grandma， that’s the ugliest quilt (棉被) I’ve ever seen.”
“Oh, sweetie, it’s warm and beautiful,” said Grandma, pointing to a pile of crazy patterned shirts and suits. “I can take these old clothes that Grandpa and I will never wear again and turn them into something useful and good. It’s not the quilts appearance but the love that sews it together that makes it beautiful. This quilt will keep you warm on a cold night like tonight. And I know that for a fact.” Grandma put her hand on my shoulder, “Not everyone is as lucky as we are. Here, put on your coat. We’ll get a second opinion about how ugly my quilts are.”
Grandma folded a finished quilt and tucked it into a shopping bag. Afterwards, we got in the car and drove downtown. The white snow turned grayer as we got to the city. Eventually, Grandma pulled up at a dark alley (胡同) and we got out of the car. The terrible smell of rotting garbage made me feel sick and pinch my nose shut. Grandma took my hand and led me to the street lamp. I could see the snow shimmering (发出微光) in the light.
Grandma paused. “There’s usually somebody down this alley. It’s quiet and out of the wind--a good place to stay on cold nights. A nice warm quilt might make it even better.”
The dark engulfed (吞没) Grandma and I as we stepped deep into the alley. The pavement was cracked and missing in spots. Chicken bones and stained boxes littered their way. And Grandma’s shoes made a loud sound with each step. Feeling frightened, I squeezed Grandma’s hand. Grandma squeezed my hand back. “Its OK.” she smiled.
“Who’s there?” shouted a voice out of the darkness.
Paragraph 1:
“I have a nice warm quilt, if you want it,” said Grandma.
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Paragraph 2:
Back home, I found a worn-out quilt by accident in a cupboard.
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假定你是李华，你校象棋（ Chinese chess）俱乐部将举办象棋比赛。请你用英语给你的交换生朋友 Leslie写一封电子邮件，邀请他参加，内容包括：
1. 比赛时间和地点；
2. 参加比赛的意义；
3. 报名方式及日期。
注意1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Today we know Antarctica as an extreme environment 1. (contain ) ice and snow. But new research provides evidence that the area was very different in the past, 2. was found inside a piece of Earth sediment (沉淀物) gathered by researchers 3. under the seafloor off the coast of Antarctica.
In the sediment, they 4. (find) forest soil estimated to be about 90 million years old and this would have been in the Cretaceous Period, when dinosaurs were the main land 5. (animal). Johann Klages, who was the lead writer of a study on the findings 6. (publish) in the journal Nature, said the sediment collection was from 7. depth of about 30 meters below the ocean floor. Klages said an examination showed that the material formed on land, not in the ocean.
The Earth has experienced in the past and is 8. (current ) undergoing today. The researchers said that the rainforest environment in Antarctica was especially surprising, because each year the area 9. (experience) a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to fuel plant life. Klages said no ice sheets were present during the time, but 10. (season) snowfall was likely.
