Amazing Facts About Elf OwlsBrief Introductio...

Amazing Facts About Elf Owls

Brief Introduction

The elf owl (a kind of owl) is mostly found in the southwestern parts of the United States and Mexico. During the spring and summer seasons, it moves to Arizona and New Mexico. It returns to Mexico for the winter. The elf owl doesn’t build its nest. It lives in tree holes.

Features

The elf owl is a yellow bird. Its wings are dark and about .48-61 centimeters long. Its eyes are bright yellow. Its feet are large. It is the smallest owl of the species. It is about 12.5-14.5 centimeters long. It is also the world’s lightest owl, weighing not more than 40 grams. In general, female elf owls weigh more than male ones.

The female usually lays three eggs at a time. After the young elf owls are born，their mother　 will feed them with worms(蠕虫) for up to 3-4 weeks. After 10 weeks, the young ones are fully grown and ready to take flight.

Living Habits

The elf owls are not aggressive birds. When danger comes, they will fly away in the other direction, rather than stay and fact the danger or the enemies. Besides flying，the elf owl can also walk and climb like a parrot. The elf owl is most active after dusk，during the night, and just before dawn. It can produce many different kinds of sounds. It can live for 3-6 years in the wild. If they are kept in cages, they can live for 10-14 years. The elf owls are now in danger because of the loss of habitat. Cutting down trees will result in lack of places for them to live in.

1.According to the first and second paragraphs, an elf owl may _________ .

A. build its nest in trees　　 B. have yellow wings

C. have big and dark eyes　　 D. live in Mexico in winter

2.What can we learn from the text?

A. The female elf owl takes care of her children for about four weeks.

B. The elf owl sleeps at night and looks for food during the daytime.

C. The female elf owl lays one egg at one time.

D. The elf owl can live no longer than six years.

3.What is the character of the elf owl?

A. Shy.　　 B. Peace-loving.

C. Hard-working.　　 D. Selfish.

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Amazing Facts About ELF Owls

The elf owl is mostly found in the southwestern parts of the United States and Mexico. During the spring and summer seasons, it moves to Arizona and New Mexico. It returns to Mexico for the winter. The elf owl doesn’t build its own nest. It lives in tree holes.

The elf owl is a yellow bird with dark wings. Its eyes are bright yellow and its feet are large. It is the smallest owl of the species, only about 12.5—14.5 centimeters long. It is also the world’s lightest owl, weighing not more than forty grams. In general, female elf owls weigh more than male ones.

The female usually lays three eggs at a time. After the young elf owls are born, their mother will feed them with worms for up to three to four weeks. After 10 weeks, the young ones are fully grown and ready to take flight.

The elf owls are not aggressive birds. When danger comes, they will fly away in the other direction, rather than staying and facing the danger or their enemies. Besides flying, the elf owl can also walk and climb like a parrot. The elf owl is most active duck, during the night and just before dawn. It can produce many different kinds of sounds. It can live for three to six years in the wild. If they are kept in cages, they can live for ten to fourteen years. The elf owls are now in danger because of the loss of habitat. Cutting down trees will result in lack of places for them to live in.

1.According to the first two paragraphs, the elf owl may ________.

A. live in Mexico in winter

B. have yellow wings

C. have big and dark eyes

D. build its nest in trees

2.What can we learn from the text?

A. The female elf owl lays one egg at a time

B. The elf owl can live no longer than six years

C. The elf owl sleeps at night and searches for food during the daytime

D. The female elf owl provides her young with food for three to four weeks

3.What is a characteristic of the elf owl?

A. It prefers to live in cages.

B. It has a gentle character.

C. It is not good at climbing.

D. It is most active during the day.

4.Where can we most probably find the text?

A. In a science fiction.

B. In a tourist guide.

C. On a shopping website.

D. In a wildlife magazine.

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Seven Health Facts about Coffee

When you’re considering your morning coffee, here are some health facts to keep in mind:

1. Coffee Reduces Your Risk of Diabetes (糖尿病)

In a 2005 review of nine studies, researchers found that for those that drank four to six cups of coffee per day, versus only two or fewer, their risk for Type 2 diabetes decreased by almost 30 percent. The number decreased by 35 percent when people drank more than six cups per day. And if you’re picturing yourself running around the office with your eyes bugging out of your head, no worries because caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees provided much the same results.

2. Coffee Fights Free Radicals (自由基)

We often forget that coffee is actually a plant and like all plant foods, the coffee bean contains more than 1,000 naturally occurring substances called phytochemicals, which may help prevent disease. Many of these phytochemicals are antioxidants which protect the cells from damage from free radicals.

3. Coffee Improves Memory and Cognition

Researchers reported that volunteers who drank caffeinated coffee in the morning performed better than nondrinkers on tests that involved learning new information. Coffee can also improve cognitive function as we age. One study found that combining coffee with a sweet treat had an even bigger impact.

4. Coffee Can Increase Osteoporosis (骨质疏松)

It’s true that coffee can cause the body to excrete calcium in urine. We don’t want the body to rid itself of calcium because this can lead to osteoporosis. According to The Diet Channel, about five milligrams of calcium is lost per every six ounces of coffee consumed. But these calcium losses can be counter balanced with two tablespoons of milk or yogurt per cup of coffee.

5. Coffee Causes Wrinkles

Even though coffee has antioxidants, if you drink too much of it, it can cause wrinkling of the skin. This is a result of dehydration (脱水) which is the worst thing for your skin. So when you’re drinking that morning cup or two, make sure that you’re pairing it with water. Even better, add one tablespoon of chia seeds to your water and let them sit for 30 minutes. The chia seeds keep you even more hydrated than regular water.

6. Coffee Can Actually Cause Weight Gain

The blood sugar changes that a caffeine high produces can contribute enormously to a strong desire for it, according to iVillage. Coffee is also socially connected to food. For example, we pair coffee with dessert or that morning powdered doughnut. Additionally, when we crash from our caffeine high that’s when we reach for all sorts of fatty snacks to keep us going.

7. Conventional Coffee Is Laden with Pesticides (杀虫剂)

The coffee plant is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. It’s coated with chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides, nothing you’d want to be swallowing. If you do drink coffee, make sure that it’s the organic variety, free from assorted chemicals that leech into our ground water and can make us sick down the road.

If you switch to decaffeinated coffee, make sure the caffeine (咖啡因) is removed in a natural way without the use of chemicals to do it. Often times, conventional decaffeinated coffee has more chemicals than regular.

1.   If you want to decrease the risk of diabetes by 35%, you need to take at least _____ cups of     coffee every day.

2.If you are a heavy drinker of coffee, a far better way to avoid wrinkling of your skin is to drink water _____.

3.   Which of the following statements is wrong?

4.   The author has a/an _____ attitude towards drinking of coffee.

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Can a fish hear fishermen moving along the stream? What are the facts about the ability of a fish to see? Can they tell the difference between colors?

The sharp hearing of a fish has been proved by two scientists, who trained a fish to expect its food when it heard the sound of a whistle. And a slight sound two hundred feet away could drive fishes away. That should make fishermen start thinking.

One scientist had made experiments to prove fish can recognize different colors such as red, brown, yellow and green.

Fish also have an eye for different shapes. One scientist proved this by teaching fish to connect certain patterns with food. He used a small circle and a square. If the fish swam towards the circle, they received food as a reward. If they swam towards the square, they received nothing. The fish learned in time to go to the circle but not to the square. Does this mean that in time fish might learn to leave alone all food on hooks that they have seen often before? Here is something for all fishermen to think about!

These facts help to make more believable some of the “believe it or not” stories that have been told about fish. It is clear that fish have sometimes shown their ability to gain knowledge as man does. A good example of what we might call “thinking” by a fish is given by an experience of Dr. Andrew Gage. Fishing over a bridge, he hooked a fish. It struggled and dragged the line two hundred feet away before he stopped it. Then it swam back to the bridge. The clever fish then swam round a pile and, with a sudden push, broke the line. If the story ended there, one could say that the fish had freed itself by chance. However, Gage went on fishing. Below him he could see the fish that had broken loose. After another twenty minutes the fish again seized the food on the hook. This time it did not swim out but swam round one of the piles and again broke the line.

Many stories are told of the fish that get away and the clever “old hand” ones that can’t be caught. The more often a fish is nearly caught, the more difficult it will be to interest it next time.

1.The last two paragraph’s mainly discuss _________.

A. whether a fish can think as man does

B. how a fish could escape from danger

C. how to catch a fish more easily

D. whether a fish is believable

2. What’s the best title of the passage?

A. Fish can hear and see

B. How clever is a fish?

C. Fish can play tricks

D. How scientists help fishermen.

3.We can infer from the last paragraph that _________.

A. it’s difficult to catch fish;

B. fish are cleverer sometimes than fishermen

C. fish seem to learn by their experience

D. fewer people will be interested in fish

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Dogs and humans have been living side-by-side for about 15,000 years, but there are tons of facts about dogs that perhaps we have never heard of.

Night vision

Dogs have good night vision. Their large pupils let more light in and the rods (视杆细胞) work better in poor light. But the biggest factor is the tapetum (反光组织), which reflect light at the back of the eye. Besides, dogs’ whiskers (胡须) also help them “see” in the dark because they pick up on very small changes in air, providing dogs with information about the size, shape, and speed of things nearby.

Secret tail code

Dogs can use their tails to communicate. They wag their tails to the right when they are relaxed or happy, and to the left when nervous or threatened. When they’ re aggressive, the tails will stick straight-up in the air. A broad wag is friendly while a slow wag is neutral, neither excited nor anxious.

Dreams

We often see a dog’s body making sudden movements in its sleep. Dogs have the same brain wave patterns as humans’ while they are asleep, so they dream just like we do.

Super nose

Dogs can find their way home despite long distances. Their noses are a vital part of their incredible sense of direction. The part of a dog’s brain that controls smell is 40 times larger than humans’. They’re able to follow smells for miles. Furthermore, dogs have an amazing ability to recognize the smells given off by the abnormal cells in human bodies, including cancer. This is something scientists are eager to explore further. And interesting, a dog’s “fingerprint” is on its nose. The patterns on dogs’ noses are so distinct that they can actually be used to identify the animals.

A sixth sense

Dogs act strangely before something bad, like a storm or earthquake, happens, for they are sensitive to low frequencies that humans can’t sense. So don’t let their strange behavior go unnoticed next time. It could save your life.

1.Which of the following indirectly helps dogs see well in the dark?

A. Their rods.　　 B. Their tapetum.

C. Their whiskers.　　 D. Their pupils.

2.If a dog holds up the tail, it indicates ________.

A. happiness　　 B. attack

C. friendliness　　 D. relaxation

3.What hasn’t been discovered about a dog?

A. Why it can sense natural disasters.　　 B. Why it has an acute sense of smell.

C. What emotions it shows with its tail.　　 D. How it can smell humans’ illnesses.

4.In what way are dogs like humans?

A. They dream when they sleep.　　 B. They have good night vision.

C. They have distinct nose patterns.　　 D. They can react to low frequencies.

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In 1974, the Chinese made 1. amazing discovery--the stories about Emperor Qin and his great army. An army of more than 8,000 soldiers 2. (make) of terra cotta(赤土陶), baked reddish clay, is buried beneath the earth not far from the tomb 3. Emperor Qin is believed to be buried.

Farmers digging a well in a field 4. (strike) the head of a terra-cotta soldier, The news that Emperor Qin and his great army were discovered 5. (quick) spread, and archeologists rushed to the site. After many 6. (effort)，archeologists learned that about 8,000 terra-cotta warriors(兵马俑) were placed beneath the ground.

So far, archeologists have dug up and pieced together about l,000 0f the soldiers. The soldiers stand about six feet tall, and each appears to have his own separate 7. (personal). Some are almost smiling; some look very serious. Each 8. (have) his own little mustache and little changes to his hairstyle.

Visitors coming 9. different countries can see the special army in three museums built above the site. And they can look to the tree-covered Mount. Li nearby and reflect on all the discoveries that are yet 10. (uncover).

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The story of Juno and Lucas is one of the most touching stories about the amazing relationship between humans and their companion animals.

Juno is a Belgian Malinois（比利时马犬）. The dog was beautiful but was given up by its owners, as they did not want to take on the responsibility.

Lucas, a little boy, had a strange illness, a condition that stops the body’s ability to process enzymes(酶).As his life continues, he will lose the ability to speak and his physical and mental abilities will degrade till he is left in a vegetative（植物人的）state. The average life expectancy for the patients is 15 years.

Chester, the boy’s father, wanted his child to enjoy his life on earth as much as possible and looked into getting a service dog for the child. However, Lucas wasn’t a good candidate due to his deteriorating（恶化的）abilities, not to mention the $15,000 cost of the animal.

Not terrified by all of this, Chester looked into adopting a dog for his son. He found Juno on a website and drove two hours to meet her. Chester had worked with the breed(品种) in the police force and was familiar with how to train them. He put in patience and hard work, and trained Juno while allowing her to become accustomed to Lucas. Now, not only will Juno not leave Lucas’ side, she is also helping with his illness. Chester said, “She has the ability to notice his neurological changes. Now she reminds us when Lucas is about to have a seizure(疾病发作) or if his oxygen levels drop really low. She has saved him several times.”

Companion animals are beautiful things and they establish a bond that can’t be described without experiences. I know that I held my adopted dog a little closer after hearing this story. There are a lot of dogs out there that need good homes and that won’t be as lucky as Juno. So, if you think you’re prepared, you should consider giving one a nice home.

1.Chester wanted to find a service dog to __________.

A. protect Lucas from being injured

B. help the boy recover from the disease

C. accompany Lucas to enjoy his time left

D. show their love for the beautiful dog

2.Chester got the dog Juno by ____________.

A. asking for help from the police force

B. donating a lot of money

C. picking it up near the house

D. searching on the Internet

3.Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A. The author has also adopted a dog and loves it.

B. Juno has gained some skills accompanying Lucas.

C. Chester was very satisfied with Juno’s performances.

D. Lucas recovered from the disease accompanied by Juno.

4.Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A. Unlucky boy, lucky dog

B. A love for a dog, a companion for a boy

C. A faithful friend—Juno

D. Love me, love my dog

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World Elephant Day is the perfect time to find out more about these amazing animals and what we can do to preserve them so they do not go the way of the mammoth（猛犸象）.

World Elephant Day was created in 2011 by two Canadian filmmakers Patricia Sims and Thailand’s Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and was first celebrated on August 12, 2012. They made the documentary Return to the Forest, a fascinating 30 minute film about the reintroduction of caught Asian elephants to the wild.

Currently, the demand for ivory（象牙）is becoming bigger and bigger, whose price is higher than that of gold, making elephants bigger targets than ever. Habitation loss is also a danger to the world’s elephant population as it robs elephants of the hundreds of pounds of food they need every day, making it more difficult for them to breed and making it easier for hunters to track them down. Circuses and tourism are also serious threats to the animals’ well-being.

The best way to celebrate this day is to take the opportunity to educate yourself about these magnificent（巨大的）mammals and share your knowledge with others. As ever, simply spreading the word about the dangers these magnificent mammals face via social media can actually make a real change. Expose that “training” elephants often involves tying and beating them daily for months on end. If you want to get a bit more involved, you could choose to make a donation to a foundation dedicated to protecting elephants from hunters or relocating them to locations better suited to their needs.

Whichever way suits you best, make sure that you spend this day in a way that helps elephants all over the world, so we, in turn, can continue to wonder at them and their uniquely fascinating way of life.

1.What is the main purpose of World Elephant Day?

A. To collect donations for elephants.

B. To do researchers on elephants’ life.

C. To protect the elephants from extinction.

D. To make films about all kinds of elephants.

2.Which of the following is the biggest threat to elephants?

A. Human being.

B. Severe climate.

C. Natural environment.

D. Limited food resource.

3.What does the author advise doing to celebrate World Elephant Day?

A. Watching the elephant shows.

B. Making your own films about elephants.

C. Appealing to focus on elephant protection.

D. Traveling to Thailand to ride trained elephants.

4.According to the text, what is the best way to protect elephants?

A. Supplying enough food for elephants.

B. Catching and raising elephants in the cages.

C. Replacing elephants in suitable wild habitations.

D. Attracting elephants to live together with human beings.

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D

　　Award­winning author Emma Donoghue's latest book, Room, is a unique and amazing story about a boy's experience living in a small，windowless room with his mother. The 11' x 11' space between the walls of the room is actually all the boy knows because he was born there and has never left. Room will horrify ，surprise, sadden, and finally delight you. Attracted from the start, readers of all sorts won't want to put Room down.

◆First published in the U. S. in September 2010

◆Publisher: Little Brown

◆321 Pages                                                                                                                                     

　Literary master Ian McEwan returns with Solar, a novel about a Nobel prize­winning physicist. The physicist's personal life is in a mess as his fifth marriage breaks，but this time he actually loves his wife and wants to make things better. Solar is a funny story, completely unusual and as good as anything the writer has ever written.

◆Published in March 2010

◆Publisher: Knopf Doubleday

◆304 Pages                                                                                                                                     

　One Day by David Nicholls was an international bestseller before it was released in the U. S. in June. Although it is well written and funny at times, don't be fooled—this isn't a good­feeling romantic comedy. If you decide to read it, be prepared for some heavy moments.

◆Published in the U．S. in June 2010

◆Publisher: Vintage Contemporaries

◆437 Pages                                                                                                                                     

　Fall of Giants by Ken Follett is the first book in a new trilogy (three books)that will take readers through the major events of the twentieth century by following five families. In Fall of Giants, most of the action centers on World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution. Although Fall of Giants is more than 1,000 pages and has many characters，the story is remarkably connected.

◆Published in September 2010

◆Publisher: Dutton

◆1,008 Pages                                                                                                                                  

1.Which of the following is NOT true according to the text?

A. Ian McEwan once won the Nobel Prize.

B. Fall of Giants is mostly set in wars.

C. One day is written by David Nicholls.

D. Solar is a funny story about a physicist.

2.We can know from the text that ________.

A. the main character of Room has a wide range of knowledge

B. Solar is the only book that Ian McEwan has ever written

C. all the four books were not published in the same month

D. One Day is a funny romantic comedy that sells very well

3.We can infer from the passage that ________.

A. the sixth of Ian McEwan's marriages broke

B. Room by Emma Donoghue has a happy ending

C. the publisher of One Day is Little Brown

D. Dutton and Ken Follett are both publishers

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It’s amazing that an Australian girl sailed around the world alone in about 200 days.

That’s an inspiring story. Her courage is really ________.

A. acceptable　　 B. adjustable　　 C. admirable　　 D. accessible

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