Emperor penguins are the largest penguins on Earth． Each adult is over a metre tall， and can weigh up to 40 kilograms．
For many months each year， emperors live near the sea in large groups called colonies． However， in May， the weather gets colder and ice covers large areas of ocean． Each colony moves many kilomtres from the water．
Sharing the work
There， each mother penguin lays just one egg． Then all the hungry mothers must walk back to the ocean to find food． The father penguins put their eggs on top of the feet， under a special piece of skin called the brood pouch． For two months， the father penguins keep the eggs safe and warm． Antarctica． Most animals leave for warmer places， but the father penguins stay． In this time， without food， a father penguin can lose almost half of his weight．
New life
Then the babies begin to hatch! The mother penguin returns just in time to see her baby come out of its egg． The chick is then moved to her bored pouch． This can be difficult． If the chick falls， it can freeze quickly， so the penguin parents must be very careful! Once this is done， the father penguin can go back to the ocean to find food．
Growing up
Over the next few months， penguin parents take turns to go to the ocean for food． They each make the trip several times， bringing back food for the chick． The chick grows quickly and is always hungry．
Into the water
By December， winter is ending． The chick is five months old and can live on its own． Soon it enters the water for the first time． It will swim and eat until next April， and then return here． After a few more years， it， too， will start its own family．
The Secret Soldier
A young soldier， Robert Shurtliff， lay dying in a hospital bed． He was too （1） to speak or move． Two men stood over him．
"I think this young man has （2） ， " one man said．
"I'll take his jacket and boots， " said the other．
Robert gathered all of his strength to （3） ， "I…I'm alive． "
The doctor came running over as Robert fell into a coma（昏迷）． "We can （4） him， " he said as he examined the young soldier， "Oh， my! He's a （5） ! "
It was true． The young soldier， Robert Shurtliff， was really Deborah Sampson． （6） who was she？
Deborah Sampson had grown up in Massachusetts， living as a servant． She （7） of having great adventures （冒险）． （8） the Revolutionary War broke out in 1775， women were not allowed to serve in the army． But Deborah （9） herself as a man and became a solider． She called herself Robert Shurtliff．
One day， during an attack， Deborah was shot in the neck and （10） ． Another soldier lifted Deborah into his horse and rode her to the （11） ． A doctor treated the wound on her back and asked if （12） had any other injuries． Deborah lied and said no． She was afraid that if the doctor examined her leg， he would discover her （13） ． Using a pocket knife， Deborah got the bullet（子弹）out of her own leg． She （14） to fight as a soldier．
After the war ended， Deborah got married and had children． But she still longed for （15） ． So she put on her soldier's uniform and travelled around the country telling of her life as young， brave soldier， Robert Shurtliff．
（1）A． busy |
B． weak |
C． surprised |
D． strong |
（2）A． got up |
B． lost heart |
C． passed away |
D． got lost |
（3）A． whisper |
B． cry |
C． shout |
D． laugh |
（4）A． accept |
B． kill |
C． support |
D． save |
（5）A． soldier |
B． mother |
C． woman |
D． father |
（6）A． Though |
B． But |
C． Or |
D． However |
（7）A． died |
B． talked |
C． heard |
D． dreamed |
（8）A． When |
B． While |
C． Until |
D． Since |
（9）A． worked |
B． dressed |
C． acted |
D． lived |
（10）A． arm |
B． hand |
C． leg |
D． stomach |
（11）A． hospital |
B． library |
C． studio |
D． bedroom |
（12）A． she |
B． he |
C． it |
D． they |
（13）A． appearance |
B． ability |
C． beauty |
D． secret |
（14）A． failed |
B． continued |
C． agreed |
D． planned |
（15）A． home |
B． fashion |
C． peace |
D． adventure |
There are long rivers， and there are famous rivers． The Nile（尼罗河）is the world's longest and most famous river． It runs 6，650 kilometers． Crocodiles and hippos（河马）live in its waters． Pyramids built by ancient Egyptians rise along its banks．
The main branch of the Nile， the White Nile， starts just above Lake Victoria， the world's second largest fresh﹣water lake， in east central Africa． Then it flows to the north． At Sudan's capital， another great river called the Blue Nile joins the White Nile． Together， they form one very powerful river． Then it goes through Egypt's famous Nile Valley before reaching the Mediterranean Sea．
Ancient Egypt， the first great African civilization（文明）， started along the banks of the Nile more than 5，000 years ago． Ancient Egypt ruled the Nile Valley for thousands of years． Great pyramids and temples were built on the banks and we can still visit them today．
Without the rich farmland along the banks of the Nile， there might be no ancient Egypt civilization． Every year， the Nile flooded its banks． The floodwaters covered the banks with a rich soil． The Nile's banks were easy to farm and produce crops．
The Nile also made a perfect highway for boats． The river runs north， but the wind on the river blows south． To go south， boaters put up sails to catch the wind． To go north， they took the sails down． Ancient people traded along the river for hundreds of miles．
The Nile ﹣ the （1） and most famous river in the world |
|
Where does the Nile flow？ |
• The White Nile is the （2） ___ branch of the Nile． It starts （3） ____ Lake Victoria and then runs to the north． • The Blue Nile joins the White Nile at the （4） __ of Sudan． They form a powerful river． • Then the Nile goes through the Nile Valley． Finally it （5） ___ the Mediterranean Sea． |
The Nile's long and rich （6） . |
• Ancient Egypt started along the banks of the Nile over 5.000 years ago． Its people （7） ___ pyramids and temples we can still visit today． • Every year the Nile flooded its banks． The floodwaters covered the banks with a rich soil． Rich farmland made this ancient civilization（8） ． • The Nile made a perfect highway for boats． To go south， boaters put up sails to catch the wind． To go （9） ， they took the sails down． Ancient people bought and （10） ___ goods along the river for hundreds of miles． |
My favourite clothing is an old biker jacket． It （1） （make） of thick black leather and it has a red lining． It belonged to my mother when she was young， so it's very old now!
Why do I love my jacket？ Because it （2） （be） once my mother's and because it is very practical． I （3） （not need） to iron it and I never need to get it cleaned． It （4） （keep） me warm and dry， so I wear it all the time， except in summer． Also， leather jackets never go out of fashion and you can wear them with jeans， skirts and dresses．
The other day， I was in a cafe and I left the jacket on the back of my chair． I （5）___ （realize） it when I was on the bus and I thought I'd lost it forever． At that moment a young guy jumped onto the bus and he （6） （hold） my jacket in his hand! He had run after me down the road with it． We started chatting and I made a new friend． Now I think of it as my lucky jacket．
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