African savanna elephants are the largest species of elephant and the biggest animal on land. They are easily recognized by their very large ears which allow them【小题1】(give) off heat—and front legs which are noticeably longer than the back legs.

African savanna elephants are found in 23 countries and live in a variety of habitats【小题2】open and wooded grasslands to even some deserts and forests. The largest populations【小题3】(be) in Southern and Eastern African countries.

African savanna elephants always can be seen within the open areas where they live, so they are well studied【小题4】their populations are easily estimated (估算). Each family unit is【小题5】(usual) made up of around 10 females and their【小题6】(baby). Several family units often join together to form a group in【小题7】there are up to several hundred members【小题8】(lead) by a female elephant. Due to their habitat, savanna elephants are often found eating grass in a field, but they also Cat a wide variety of plants and fruits. The situation changes【小题9】(depend) on the time of year; during the【小题10】(rain) season the elephant will feed more on grass than during the dry season.

On my way home, traffic was held up in front of the University stadium-it is a busy area 【小题1】 I saw a young woman trying 【小题2】 (get) a tiny (maybe 8 weeks old) cat out of 【小题3】 road. The kitten (小猫) 【小题4】 (terrify) and she finally got the little one but dropped him. The kitten ran to the roadside and lay there in shock. I pulled over and got out as she had gone back into her truck (maybe since the kitty was out of the road her part was done) and 【小题5】 (simple) took him to safety.

As I was doing so, two beautiful young men pulled over and asked if I needed help. Well, I said, maybe. I showed them the kitten and put him 【小题6】 the cab of their truck. They were instantly in love. They also knew where the 【小题7】 (shelter) were in town.

I told them I could take the kitten to one if they couldn’t, but they told me they would take the kitten and if they didn’t keep him, they would take him to a shelter. As I left, I heard one say, “kittens deserve 【小题8】 (well) than this.” There 【小题9】 (be) some truly wonderful young people out there. My heart broke with 【小题10】 (happy) to see these guys caring so obviously.

“Only about 366 iconic North Atlantic right whales are left,” experts say, 【小题1】 (represent) a shocking 8% decline in a single year and the lowest number in about 20 years for this 【小题2】 (critical) endangered species. Human influences — getting stuck in fishing nets and crashing into ships — remain the biggest threats to the 【小题3】 (survive) of this species across eastern Canada and the United States.

North Atlantic right whales have been decreasing since 2011 when the species’ estimated number was about 481. In the past 10 years, the species 【小题4】 (drop) by 30%. Recent research shows that these threats are influencing their overall health, leaving them less energy to devote 【小题5】 growth and reproduction. Researchers estimate there are fewer than 100 breeding 【小题6】 (female) alive and more than 86% of 【小题7】 (identify) whales have been stuck at least once in their lifetime.

There is still hope: In 2021, scientists tracked 18 mother-calf pairs, 【小题8】 number that is cause for optimism — though still well below the annual average of 23 pairs from the previous decade.

“It’s going to be 【小题9】 (challenge), but everyone involved in right whales conservation is hopeful that we can create an environment in 【小题10】 right whales can bounce back,” said Chris Johnson, the global lead for WWF Protecting Whales and Dolphins Initiative.