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The Zebra Finch: An Owner’s Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
The zebra finch, a native of Australia, is a popular domestic pet in the United States. The bird has many attributes (特性) which allow it to be kept at home, though there are also a few negative aspects. The attributes are nest-building, breeding and a lively attitude. The potential negatives are over-breeding and the wildness of the birds.
One of the main attributes of zebra finches is their ability to breed. They are the rabbits of the domestic bird world. Once you have two birds, male and female, you will soon have six, as they breed quite easily and have strong babies, usually four at a time. An added attribute is their ability to build their own nests. You can place branch in their place along with some kind of structure, and they will create a nest on their own. It’s very pleasant to see the ways males and females divide some labors and share others, and the babies grow up quickly. Overall, zebra finches are energetic birds, and they can make every place where they live delightful lives.
On the negative side, they will breed and in-breed. Often, in-breeding does little harm and does not cause genetic defects (缺陷), as happens more often in other species. However, no one can tolerate just any population level. One has to either remove their nests altogether, which basically removes their personal living place, or check for eggs regularly once a week (the gestation period is 13 days, so even a one-week neglect can lead to births). Eggs can be replaced with false plastic eggs, and this prevents females from laying too many. If they do lay too many, they will die from mineral loss. Since these birds do not tame well, removing eggs can be an unpleasant process of repeatedly invading their personal space.
Overall, it is unfortunate that zebra finches are inexpensive birds due to their high level of breeding. They require considerable care to live happy lives. The best care-takers are true avian fanciers — people who have appropriate space for the nests and enough time to allow them to nest-build and breed without over-breeding.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Zebra finches over-breed by nature and its consequent ill effects.
B. Only people who love birds can take care of Zebra finches.
C. Domestic zebra finches require a lot of care to live happy lives.
D. Zebra finches never become completely tame.
2.By saying “They are the rabbits of the domestic bird world”, the writer means that both rabbits and Zebra finches ______.
A. have good ability to breed B. are difficult to be raised
C. live delightful lives D. share responsibilities
3.In paragraph 3, the word “gestation” probably means ______.
A. the period when eggs remain fresh
B. the time when finches build up their nest and lay eggs
C. the time required for the parents to create a nest
D. the time required for baby birds to develop and to be born
4.According to the passage, attributes of domestic zebra finches include ______.
A. their rareness and easiness to be tamed
B. their nest-building, sharing of responsibilities and delightful personalities
C. their in-breeding, which does not cause as much genetic harm as in other species
D. the fact that they are from Australia and have difficulty in adapting themselves
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Tom was very happy to be the owner of a(n) ______ car.
A. red expensive Japanese sports B. expensive red Japanese sports
C. Japanese expensive red sports D. expensive red sports Japanese
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All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy and happy, and to live longer.
________1.________ They buy tickets or turn on their TVs to watch the games. Often they get very excited when their player or team wins.
________2.________ Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy! ________3.________ Think how many lovers to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.
Some sports or game go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese wushu, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet. ________4.________ Water-skiing is one of the newest in the family of sports.
People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game together they often become good friends. ________5.________ One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace.
A．And think of people in cold countries.
B．Sports help to train a person’s character.
C．Not a few people participate in different sports competitions themselves.
D．Many people like to watch others play games.
E．People aren’t inventing new sports or games.
F．Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere take part in them.
G．People are inventing new sports or games all the time.
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Making employees feel happy and healthy at work is good for many businesses. But it isn’t always an easy thing. A study suggests that only 33% of the U. S. employees consider themselves fully engaged （投身于）in work, while 16% are greatly disengaged, and 51% are just showing up.
But there is an exception. When it comes to employee engagement, it seems that employees in small companies are doing better. According to the same research, the largest U. S. companies are at the lowest levels of engagement, while companies with fewer than 25 employees are at the highest. And in one recent report, 75% of small business workers surveyed said they were “very” or “extremely” satisfied with their role as a small company employee.
Unlike big companies, small companies are often short of resources but the employees can get more surprises there. Small companies offer excellent career opportunities to their employees. The bosses often know their staff very well and understand their personal needs. Employees of small companies are more likely to receive free meals, paid leave, and they can even bring their pets to work.
But of course ? there are many other draws in small businesses. One of the top draws is flexible scheduling (弹性工时). Another is being able to really see the fruits of one's labor. Besides, non-cash award is also a big draw. This could be something small that reflects employees’ interests and lifestyles.
While a parental leave might lead to some financial problems, small companies may do something to improve it. “It may be impossible for a five-person team to be reduced to four for six months,” writes Camillia Velasquez, head of HR management platform, Justworks. “But it could be possible to allow new parents to take on reduced hours in a work-from-home environment. ” This kind of method has been realized in some small companies.
1.What can we know about employees in big and small companies?
A. Employees can develop better in small companies.
B. Employees can earn more money in small companies.
C. Employees in big companies are hard to be satisfied.
D. Employees in small companies are more engaged in work.
2.What can we learn from Paragraph 3?
A. Working for small companies has many benefits.
B. All the employers in small companies know every staff member very well.
C. Staff in small companies may face many challenges.
D. Staff in big companies have more material benefits.
3.Compared with big companies, what is the advantage of small companies?
A. Employers in small companies have more choices.
B. Small companies have more attractions to employees.
C. Employees of small companies may have higher salaries.
D. Employees of small companies have fixed working time.
4.What can be most probably inferred from the passage?
A. Small companies may have more employees with much happiness.
B. Big companies should learn from some small companies.
C. Employees should have their own hobbies and lifestyles.
D. Employers should pay more attention to the staff’s needs.
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Your children are watching you. 1. According to the Health Program, developing healthy habits is an important part for your children. And when it comes to developing healthy habits, parents influence their children more than anyone else.
2.What happens during those early years can influence children for the rest of their lives. This includes some eating and exercise habits. Children are very careful, even at a young age. Children watch what others do carefully and imitate the behaviors of those closest to them. As parents, you should do the following: 3. If you do that, your children are more likely to be enthusiastic about developing theirs.
Let your children see you taking care of your own physical health by eating fruits and vegetables. Talk to them about healthy habits in appropriate terms and at a proper time.4.
5. Computers, televisions and other forms of technology are a major part of life in the 21st century. Unfortunately, as the use of technology in the home increases, so docs the time spent watching TV or playing on the computer. So as parents, you should also arrange the time for your children wisely.
A. Don’t get rid of technology, but use it wisely.
B. Take part in physical activities and exercise regularly.
C. Be enthusiastic about developing healthy habits of your own.
D. Your actions are speaking to them louder than your words will.
F. Children prefer to imitate their parents rather than listen to them.
F. This can be helpful to teach your children to form good eating habits.
G. It s easy for the children to form their healthy habits when they are young.
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Your children are watching you. 1. According to the Health Program，developing healthy habits is an important part for your children. And when it comes to developing healthy habits, parents influence their children more than anyone else.
2. What happens during those early years can influence children for the rest of their lives. This includes some eating and exercise habits. Children are very careful, even at a young age. Children watch what others do carefully and imitate the behaviors of those closest to them. As parents, you should do the following: 3. If you do that, your children are more likely to be enthusiastic about developing theirs.
Let your children see you taking care of your own physical health by eating fruits and vegetables. Talk to them about healthy habits in appropriate terms and at a proper time. 4.
5. Computers，televisions and other forms of technology are a major part of life in the 21st century. Unfortunately, as the use of technology in the home increases, so docs the time spent watching TV or playing on the computer. So as parents, you should also arrange the time for your children wisely.
A. Take part in physical activities and exercise regularly.
B. Don’t get rid of technology, but use it wisely.
C. Be enthusiastic about developing healthy habits of your own.
D. Your actions arc speaking to them louder than your words will.
F. Children prefer to imitate their parents rather than listen to them.
F. This can be helpful to teach your children to form good eating habits.
G. It s easy for the children to form their healthy habits when they arc young.
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Even if we have an extremely healthy diet and lifestyle, the human body is programmed to wear out at a maximum of about 120 years, and usually less. We all have a biological clock inside us which determines the moment when our organs cease to function properly. This is because our cells have stopped renewing themselves and our body can no longer repair itself. This is also the moment when we are more likely to begin to suffer from the diseases of old age such as arthritis and Alzheimer’s. However, rapid advances in DNA research are beginning to throw light on the secrets of the ageing process. By the end of this century we could literally have the power of life over death.
Although it has long been accepted that humans have a fixed lifespan, it is also a fact that certain other organisms, such as reptiles and amphibians, appear to live indefinitely. The only reason we do not see 500-year-old alligators is because in the wild their lives are always in danger, from man, from pollution and from other animals. When they are kept in zoos they do not seem to age at all after they are fully grown. The same is true of some species of fish, which grow indefinitely and show no signs of ageing. The existence of animals with no fixed lifespan seems to indicate that an age gene really does exist. It is this gene which scientists are searching for, which may delay or repair damage to the body caused by ageing.
Another new area of research involves the oxidation（氧化） theory, which says that ageing is caused by the same process that makes iron rust. In controlled experiments, the lifespans of certain animals were shown to be lengthened with anti-oxidants; for example, the lifespan of mice can be increased by 30%. Antioxidants are already being used in face creams and other cosmetics, and they are likely to play an important part in keeping people physically young.
Perhaps the most immediate advance we are likely to see in the battle to halt（停止）the ageing process will be organ replacement. By the year 2020 it is likely that we will be replacing injured bones or even organs like livers and kidneys with ones “grown” in laboratories. By 2050 perhaps every organ in the body, except the brain, will have become commercially available. Recent experiments also show that it may one day be possible to “grow” new organs inside our body to replace worn-out ones, something which lizards and alligators already do.
Suddenly immortality（不死，不朽） seems within reach. We can begin to imagine a future where we are born, we grow to maturity, but we never grow old and die. But do we really want to live forever?
1. When all humans reach a certain age, ________.
A．they suffer the effects of their diet and lifestyle
B．the organs stop to perform appropriately
C．their cells continue to renew themselves
D．they develop arthritis and Alzheimer’s
2. The purpose of showing the case of alligators is to prove ________.
A．alligators are in danger in the wild because of the threat from man, pollution and other animals
B．it is widely accepted that humans have a fixed lifespan
C．there exists an age gene which may control ageing
D．the age gene damages the body
3.The underlined phrase “live indefinitely” in Paragraph 2 probably mean ________.
A．live for a period of time without a fixed end
B．live without a clear aim
C．live in an uncertain way
D．live without being fully grown
4.It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 that ________.
A．by 2050 we might have most of our worn-out organs replaced with new ones commercially
B．never can the ageing process be avoided
C．livers and kidneys are sure to be grown in laboratories by the year 2020
D．lizards and alligators grow new organs inside their body to replace worn-out ones
5. What is the main topic of this passage?
A．DNA researches show how our cells renew themselves.
B．Anti-oxidants are likely to play an important part in keeping people young.
C．How our biological clock works?
D．Eternal（永恒的） youth: new developments in anti-ageing research.
6.By saying “But do we really want to live forever”, the author may probably mean ________.
A．a future where we are born, we grow to maturity, but we never grow old and die is on its way
B．he is uncertain whether we can live forever
C．it remains to be seen whether immortality is a blessing or a curse
D．immortality is no longer a dream
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Waiting for the airplane to take off, I was happy to have a seat by myself．Just then, an air hostess approached me and asked, “Would you mind 26your seat? A couple would like to sit together．” The only 27 seat was next to a girl with her arms in casts（石膏），a black-and-blue face, and a sad expression．“ 28am I going to sit there,” I thought immediately．But a soft voice spoke, “She needs help．” Finally, I 29to move to that seat．
The girl was named Kathy．She 30in a car accident and now was on her way for 31 When the snack and juice arrived, it did not take me long to 32that Kathy would not be able to 33 herself．I considered 34to feed her but hesitated, as it seemed too 35to offer a service to a 36．But then I realized that Kathy’s need was more 37than any of my discomfort．I offered to help her eat, and 38 she was uncomfortable to accept, she 39as I expected．We became closer and closer in a short period of time．By the end of the five-hour trip, my heart 40, and the 41was really better spent than if I had just sat by myself．
I was glad I had reached 42my comfort zone to sit next to Kathy and feed her．Love43flows beyond human borders and remove the fears that keep us 44 ．When we45to serve another, we grow to live in a larger and more rewarding world．
1.A．losing B．changing C．taking D．giving
2.A．comfortable B．suitable C．available D．favorable
3.A．No problem B．No way C．Nowhere D．No doubt
4.A．decided B．wanted C．regretted D．promised
5.A．was B．would be C．used to be D．had been
6.A．treatment B．travel C．pleasure D．business
7.A．know B．say C．realize D．recognize
8.A．eat B．feed C．choose D．support
9.A．offering B．needing C．stopping D．trying
10.A．impolite B．far C．close D．fast
11.A．girl B．neighbor C．passenger D．stranger
12.A．unusual B．direct C．important D．shameful
13.A．when B．although C．since D．as
14.A．refused B．wondered C．cried D．did
15.A．had warmed B．had jumped C．had broken D．had cheered
16.A．life B．money C．time D．energy
17.A．below B．through C．across D．beyond
18.A．seldom B．never C．hardly D．sometimes
19.A．separate B．independent C．silent D．upset
20.A．happen B．stretch C．wait D．continue
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. Early to bed and early to rise ______ a man healthy, happy and wise.
| A．making | B．to make | C．make | D．Makes |
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The boy felt quite happy because he was closer now to ______ an answer of his own.
A. have found B. find C. finding D. having found