Koalas look so cute that you want to give them a hug. Of course. Koalas don’t hug or do they? During the hot season in Australia, scientists noticed something unusual. As the temperatures rose, koalas high in the trees climbed down from the treetops. They sat on lower tree limbs and looked as if they were hugging the trees. But why would koalas hug trees?

Scientists have studied koalas for years. They know that koalas cannot sweat(出汗). The animals have few ways to stay cool during the hottest days. They can lick or pant like dogs to keep cool. However, both ways can dry them out. They could leave the safety of their trees to search for water, but water is difficult to find.

The scientists decided to do some study. They followed 37 koalas. First, they noted their posture(姿势) and where they stayed in trees. When the weather was warm, the koalas sat high up in the treetops. They ate tree leaves or rested. However, as the weather turned hot, the koalas climbed farther down. They kept their bodies close to tree trunks(树干). Next, scientists used technology to find out why the koalas acted differently because of the weather. They used a special camera to take photos. The camera made thermal images(热成像). In thermal images, darker colors show cooler temperatures. Lighter colors show hotter temperatures.

These images showed that koalas hug trees to keep cool. They showed that the tree trunks were up to nine degrees cooler than the air around them.

Koalas were using the trees to keep cool. By hugging the cooler trees, the animals could lower their temperatures as much as 68 percent. This allowed the koalas to keep the water in their bodies. Clearly, hugging trees offers relief to koalas when temperatures rise.

The “Kemusan” dance, or “Subject Three” dance has become the latest Internet event at home and abroad (国内外). 【小题1】 But what exactly is the “Kemusan” dance?

The “Kemusan” dance is widely believed to originate from (起源于) a lively wedding celebration in southern China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region where local people danced together happily. 【小题2】 Including quick wrist-twisting moves (绕腕动作). They dance to music that sounds like a mix of western disco music and the traditional Chinese folk singing.

【小题3】 They are singing folk songs as Subject One, slurping rice noodles (嗦粉) as Subject Two and dancing as Subject Three.

【小题4】 To “unlock” the new service at the hot pot restaurant, guests have to say the secret word “Kemusan” to the waiters. In video shared online, some guests seem to enjoy it so much that they join stuff (员工) in the dance.

【小题5】 The Russian Royal Ballet (俄罗斯皇家芭蕾舞团) performed the “Kemusan” dance at the curtain call (谢幕) of Swan Lake at the Shengjing Grand Theatre in Shenyang, bringing the house down (轰动一时).