What’s cuter than a panda? A brown panda! The quirky creature is one of a rare subspecies that exists only in the remote Qinling Mountains in 【小题1】 (west) China. Panda-lovers now have a new place outside Chengdu to enjoy the lovable creature — the Qinling panda Breeding Research Centre in Shaanxi Province. From May 28, people can see various rare wild animals there, one of whom is the world’s only captive brown panda. The panda, named Qizai, which means “the 【小题2】 (seven) son”, is 13 years old and in good health.

Brown giant pandas are 【小题3】 (extreme) rare in China as only few pandas of such kind have been living in Qinling area. They have dark and light brown fur, rather than the commonly seen black and white. Although they are close 【小题4】 (relative), the two species have been separated for 3000, 000 years.

Thanks 【小题5】 the constant efforts to improve the ecological environment in the Qinling Mountains, the population of giant pandas has increased in recent years. And the Qinling Mountains have become the easiest place on Earth 【小题6】   (encounter) wild pandas.

Qizai 【小题7】 (find) as a weak baby panda in 2009 in Qinling Mountains. After 【小题8】 (abandon) him, his mother disappeared into a jungle. The motherless panda had 【小题9】 really tough time in his childhood.

People wonder 【小题10】 Qizai is brown, given that his mother is black and white. Scientists guess that it’s due to some genetic mutation (基因突变).

An Israeli woman accidentally stepped on a garden snail (蜗牛). Rather than simply ignoring the snail, she picked up all the pieces of 【小题1】(it) broken shell and took it to Halclinica, a local animal clinic. She was lucky enough 【小题2】(find) a committed medical worker who, instead of refusing her request for help, spent hours 【小题3】(glue) the snail's shell back together.

"For the broken shell, we need a 【小题4】(combine) of patience and skill with the glue,” the clinic wrote in a post 【小题5】 its Facebook page. “We make sure the glue stays outside the shell 【小题6】 does not harm the snail's body. ”

【小题7】(lucky), their hard work paid off and they were able to not only fix the snail's shell, but also put it back on the slimy owner. The operation was a success, 【小题8】.

The snail will still need a few weeks, or even months, to fully recover. So far the staff of Halclinica 【小题9】(have) a liking for their tiny patient. They have even named it Chevy. "I am happy to see Chevy is getting 【小题10】 (strong) day by day,” one of the staff said. He'll remain under their care as he recovers and animal lovers are welcome to visit him during his stay at the clinic.

Meilun and Meihuan, two Chinese pandas born in the US, have been back in China. However, they have not got rid of their old habits; they still prefer American crackers（饼干）to Chinese bread, and know English 【小题1】 (well) than Chinese.

The pandas arrived at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on Nov. 5. Meilun is vey lively, often 【小题2】 (jump) onto the roof and hanging upside down from a rail. Unlike her elder sister, Meihuan is much calmer. She prefers 【小题3】 (sit) still and observe her new environment, sometimes snacking on bamboo.

Pandas are shy with strangers and need company, 【小题4】 (explain) Luo Yunhong, a breeder at the panda base. Luo’s main worry about the pandas’ transition（过渡）is that they both love American crackers so much 【小题5】 everything they eat ‒ from bamboo to apples and even water ‒ must 【小题6】 (mix) with the crackers. To help them get used to food in China, Luo has been replacing the crackers little by little with Chinese bread.

Another problem is that Meilun and Meihuan cannot understand Sichuan dialect; only hearing 【小题7】 names can make them raise their heads. In contrast, they react 【小题8】 a number of basic words in English, such as “Come here”.

Luo has been recording the stool sample（粪便样本）and body temperatures every day, as well as 【小题9】 (provide) daily udates to the Exit-Entry and Quarantine Bureau of Chengdu. According to the officer, the sister are 【小题10】 (gradual) getting used to their new lives.