Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

There are many reasons why some cats are bad-tempered; their temperament can be influenced by their upbringing or they are simply born that way. However, even the sweetest, most affectionate cats can suddenly become bad-tempered and behave out of character. According to veterinarian Dr Katrina Warren, the problem can generally be solved, but you’ll need to look for underlying issues.

Changes in a cat’s behaviour can often be explained by a health problem. Pain can cause cats to behave very differently, and it’s easy to mistake a problem as behavioural, when in fact it is medical. Should you observe a significant change in your cat’s behaviour, then a visit to the vet is the best place to start? Watch out for changes in eating, drinking or litter-box habits. Also hiding and avoiding being touched. Be sure to report all changes to your vet. There are many cat health problems that can be readily treated to ease symptoms and pain for your cat.

It pays to remember that cats don’t like to share or queue. Sharing of ‘resources’ such as litter trays and foodbowls can cause stress and anxiety for many cats. It’s always a good idea to provide each cat with their own litter box, food, water bowls and bed as a minimum. One litter box for each cat plus a spare is even better, as are multiple sleeping spots and extra scratching posts. A lack of space to hide from or avoid other cats, competition for territory and lack of individual attention can also add to household friction. If your cat is feeling anxious, offering it an elevated place to sit, such as a climbing tree, can be helpful.

Moving to a new house, the arrival of a new baby, new pets and other types of change can seriously impact cat behaviour. Cats are creatures of habit and tend to be territorial, so a change in routine may cause them to react in a number of ways, including withdrawal or aggression. Try to keep your cat’s environment as calm as possible and make sure there are places where they feel safe. Sometimes confining them to a single room with a litter box, bedding and home comforts can help them to settle.

Some cats simply do not like being touched and handled. These are often cats that received limited socialisation with humans when they were kittens. These cats do best in a quiet household without children and need understanding and patience to help build their confidence.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Get the Facts on Wolves

Read this leaflet from an environmental group to learn about this feared animal.

They resemble big dogs, with long legs, a wide head and thick fur. In fact, all of our domestic dogs probably came from wolves many years ago. Wolves are about 1.5 to 2 metres long, and are about three quarters of a metre in height. So long as a wolf gets enough food, it will weigh about 40-50kilograms.

Although wolves usually prey on small mammals such as mice, rabbits and deer, they also hunt together to kill larger animals such as moose. When they kill a big animal, they gorge themselves, and then may not eat again for up to two weeks. If they are very hungry, they eat berries and seeds. What is their family life like? Wolves live in groups, which are called packs, with about six to eight wolves in a pack. Only one pair of wolves will bear cubs, but all of the members of the pack will help feed and protect the cubs.

Are they dangerous to people? Since in many stories and films wolves attack people, it is natural that people should think they are fierce and dangerous. However, the truth is different. There is no proof that a wild wolf has ever harmed a human being. Indeed, usually wolves run away when they see people.

Where do wolves live? It really depends on the type, but most wolves live in the northern hemisphere, on three continents: Europe, Asia and North America. They are very adaptable: they can live in forests, on open plains, or in the snows of the Arctic. If you mean gray wolves, then Canada, United States, Alaska, Europe and Asia. You won’t see wolves in the tropics, or anywhere highly populated with humans but some might wander into places like that for short periods or pass through, but not usually permanently there in heavily populated areas.

Are they in danger from people? Yes, very much so. Wherever people have spread in the world, they have killed wolves, usually to protect their own livestock such as sheep and cattle. As a result, the number of wolves has been greatly reduced. They are extinct in many countries. In Britain, for example, wolves became extinct around 1650. Similarly, there used to be thousands of wolves in America, but now there are fewer than 2,000.

What’s being done to help them? About 20 or 30 years ago, people started to realize that wolves were threatened with extinction, and they slowly began initiating programs to protect them. In many European countries, wolves are now protected by law. In Germany, for instance, where there are now very few wolves, a campaign has started to save them. It has several objectives. One is to better publicize the truth about wolves so that people will not hate and kill them. Another aim is to preserve natural habitats for the wolves to live in. This has the advantage of helping many other forms of wildlife, as well. A third objective is to work out practical ways in which both people and wolves can live together. In a modern world, wolves cannot manage on their own without human support. Unless we help them in positive ways, they will disappear forever.

Peter heard his little sister Eva’s weak cries as Mother wrapped her in a heavy blanket. Peter’s parents would be heading to town soon to take Eva to the doctor. “Remember to keep the stove going,” Father said, “And check on the cow now and then in the barn (畜棚). Her calf (小牛) may come at any time.” “I will,” said

Peter. Peter promised as his parents walked out into the cold. He didn’t want to add to their worry.

“Today I must manage on my own,” Peter said out loud to make himself feel braver. Father often said they all had to pull their own weight (尽本分) in their new home on the farm. Peter hoped he could do that.

The tiny one-room house felt big with only him in it. He carefully added one piece of wood to the small iron stove.

The morning passed quickly as Peter worked on the sled he was making. After eating at noon, he took melted-snow water to the cow. In the afternoon, Peter heard the winds increase. He decided he’d better check on the cow again.

Peter put on his heavy woolen coat and stepped out of the door. The wind blew snow crystals into his face and his breath froze into a patch (小片) of ice on his scarf before he arrived.

Lying on the dirt floor was a newborn calf, on whose tiny body ice had already begun forming. The cow mooed (哞哞叫) and licked her newborn. Peter knew this calf was important to his family. But the calf looked weak, shivering on the ground. “I have to get the calf to the house or it’ll freeze to death,” Peter thought.

Para. 1: He tried to lift it, but it was too heavy.

Para. 2: “I need to fetch some milk for it,” Peter said to himself.