Orang-utans

Orang-utans live deep in the jungle of South-East Asia. For years, they were a complete mystery to humans. Hunters sometimes saw these shy animals from 【小题1】distance, but rarely got a good look at them. No one was certain 【小题2】they were a race of humans or a kind of monkey. Indeed, the name “Orang-utan” means “man of the forest”. Finally, about 150 years ago, scientists confirmed that orang-utans were a species of ape. Since then, people 【小题3】(be)able to come into increased contact with orang-utans. Consequently, we have learnt 【小题4】about them.

While the advance of civilization has brought us more knowledge about orang-utan, it has cause the orang-utan many problems, and now these wonderful creatures are threatened with extinction. In 1900, there were several hundred thousand orang-utans 【小题5】(live)in the wild. Now there are fewer than 24,000 【小题6】(leave)in the world. Some experts even believe that orang-utans will become extinct by the year 2023.

Humans are largely 【小题7】(blame)for this decline. Altogether, 80% of the orang-utan’s natural habitat has been destroyed by companies cutting down trees for financial gain. 【小题8】problem is the trade in orang-utan babies. Every year, thousands of these babies are smuggled to other countries,【小题9】they serve as zoo animals or as pets. Unfortunately, to capture an orang-utan baby, its mother must be killed as well.

In order to save the orang-utan, many conservation centres have been set up to preserve their natural habitats. Governments and volunteers are also working to rescue pet orang-utans and return them to the wild. However, this 【小题10】be too little, too late. The extinction of orang-utans is at a critical stage. People must take dramatic action if orang-utans are to survive in the future.

In early autumn, pandas in the forests of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in the Wolong National Nature Reserve, in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, attract many 【小题1】 (tour).

In March 1999, two pandas, Jia Jia and An An, 【小题2】 (send) to Hong Kong from Si chuan, settled in the Ocean Park. It was the first time 【小题3】 Hong Kong had pandas living in 【小题4】 (it) zoo. In 2007, another pair of giant pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le, also came to Hong Kong from Sichuan 【小题5】 (join) Jia Jia and An An.

On May 12, 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake 【小题6】 (cause) huge damage to the center and the buildings were 【小题7】 (complete) destroyed. During the post-disaster reconstruction (重建), Hong Kong helped by 【小题8】 (donate) 1.42 billion yuan for more than 23 assistance projects. After more than five years of reconstruction efforts, the new center — the Chinese Giant Panda Park — was successfully opened on May 11, 2016. In the five years since then, more than 120 giant panda cubs have been born at the park.

“Thanks 【小题9】 the giant pandas, we are establishing more cooperative exchanges with Hong Kong, especially in breeding,” said Li Guo, 【小题10】 expert at the Center’s management office.

A grape seed that falls into the soil of Xinjiang is very fortunate, as Xinjiang is 【小题1】 (well)suited for growing grapes than anywhere else. Here, a grape seed can grow to its full potential. 【小题2】 its high altitudes(海拔), long periods of dry weather and abundant sunshine, Xinjiang produces fruits with extremely high sugar content. Every fall, a large number of grapes【小题3】(ship) from Xinjiang to other parts of China, and the rest are made into raisins for easy storage.

In the vineyards of Moyu, thanks to the hot and dry climate that 【小题4】 (result) from being surrounded by the desert, huge quantities of large and 【小题5】 (juice) grapes with very thin skins are produced. These grapes bring wealth as well as their delicious 【小题6】 (sweet) to the locals.

In mid- September, 【小题7】 their Seedless White grapes ripen, local farmers are busy picking grapes to be transported to other parts of the country. Bunches of glowing white grapes hang on the vines, waiting to be picked. If you pick one and put 【小题8】 in your mouth, you will 【小题9】(sure) never forget the wonderful taste produced by the 【小题10】(burn) sun and the desert wind of southern Xinjiang.