Save the Sharks!

Many have heard of shark fin soup. This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you’re killing a whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?

When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw the sharks back into the ocean. This is not only cruel, but also harmful to the environment. Without a fin, a shark can no longer swim and slowly dies. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in the ocean’s ecosystem. If their numbers drop too low, it will bring danger to all ocean life. Many believe that sharks can never be endangered because they are the strongest in their food chain. But in fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have fallen by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.

Environmental protection groups around the world, such as Wild Aid and the WWF, are teaching the public about “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown that shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!

Do you like dogs? Is your city dog-friendly (对狗狗有利的)? Here are the most dog-friendly cities in the world.

Geneva, Switzerland

If you want to own a dog in Geneva, you have to pass a written and practical exam first. It’s kind of like getting a driver’s license (证件), but it’s a license to own a best friend. Being a pet owner is a serious thing.

Berlin, Germany

In Berlin, dogs need their own tickets to board (上) a train. And the tickets are half-priced because people there think that they’re better than humans!

Paris, France

Dogs are allowed (允许) in cafes in Paris… Oh, and they get their own chairs!

Tel Aviv, Israel

You can bring your dog to any café, store, restaurant in Tel Aviv. Dogs are allowed on city buses, trains, as well as taxis. There are also 4 dog beaches and over 70 dog parks around the city. Tel Aviv is the dog capital of the world!

Which is the most dog-friendly city in the world? That’s a simple question but hard to answer.

When we talk of plants, most of us will think of things that grow from the ground and have green leaves, but there are plants that do not look or act like other plants. Some of these belong to a special class of plants called fungi.

Fungi may appear almost everywhere. ①________________________Because fungi do not have green leaves to make their own food, fungi must take their food from animals, other plants or water. Some fungi live on dead or rotting wood, while others grow on living trees or in dirt or moss(苔藓). Mushrooms(蘑菇) are the best-known fungi.

②___________________For example, cauliflower mushrooms are found in forests from July to October. They can grow to be as heavy as fifty pounds! They grow at the foot of trees. Squirrel’s bread(松茸) is another kind of wild mushroom. Its appearance and use can explain its name. These fungi look like small golden cakes. Squirrels can easily eat them or carry them off to their hole to eat later.

③食品店里的蘑菇是人们精心种植的，可安全食用。People are warned never to touch or taste wild mushrooms, because some of them are deadly. Even less dangerous ones can still make a person very sick.