When we are talking about animals in China, the most precious (珍贵的) animal we would think of is the panda. In fact, we have one kind of bird as precious as the panda,1many people don't know much about it. The bird is called crested ibis (朱鹮) . It is as2as snow with a red face and looks very beautiful. It is also in danger like the panda.

Crested ibises3in tall trees by small rivers or rice fields. They look for small fish and4small animals for food. About one hundred years ago,5crested ibises lived in China, Russia and Japan. Later, as they lost their homes,6them was getting smaller and smaller. Between 1965 and 1980, people didn't see any of them living in the wild. Luckily, on May 23, 1981, scientists7seven of them in the south of Shanxi Province. 8protect crested ibises in the wild, the Chinese government is setting up nature parks and developing other plans. Now scientists are doing a lot of research to help them to9more babies. Today there are about 1,500 crested ibises living in the wild. Zoos and research centres10after about 500 crested ibises.

    We always think that it's OK for us to leave our plants home during our vacation as plants won't scream like pets, right?

    A recent study done by a group of scientists at the Tel Aviv University has discovered that some plants will scream when they are under stress.

    The research was carried out on tomato plants and tobacco plants by cutting their stems (茎) and depriving (剥夺) them of water. A microphone was placed 10cm away from them. When their stems were cut, the plants started "screaming" between 20 and 100 kilohertz, and the scientists guess that this scream is probably meant to warn other plants nearby.

    When the tomato plants' stems were cut, 25 ultrasonic (超声的) pain sounds were recorded in an hour, and at the same time, 15 ultrasonic pain sounds were recorded from the tobacco plants. When they were deprived of water, the tomato plants recorded even more pain sounds with 35 pain sounds in an hour while the tobacco plants recorded about 11 pain sounds.

    The plants also acted differently to different kinds of stresses. For example, the tobacco plants gave out a stronger "scream" when they were deprived of water than when their stems were cut. But plants that were in no immediate (立刻的) danger gave out less than one ultrasonic sound per hour.

    The group of scientists said that plants are not as quiet as we had always thought, but in fact their voices are so high-pitched that we just can't hear them.

    Last year, another study has found out that plants feel pain when they are touched or hurt and they will give off a terrible smell.

Kunqu Opera (昆曲),also known as Kun Opera, is a kind of Chinese musical drama (戏剧).But it is more than just drama. It is actually a kind of art{#blank#}1{#/blank#}history, music, dancing and others.

It is {#blank#}2{#/blank#}believed that Kunqu Opera is the beginning of all the other forms of Chinese opera. With a long history of over 600 years, Kunqu Opera started in the city of Kunshan at the end of the Yuan Rynasty. It became quite {#blank#}3{#/blank#}in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2001,Kunqu Opera was {#blank#}4{#/blank#}as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (人类口述和非物质遗产代表作).

    We are lucky to live in a rich country where we have many things. However, most of us usually {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (waste) some things.

    Electricity is one thing that we waste most. Lights, TVs, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (radio) and other things are often kept on even when no one is using them. We should turn them off {#blank#}3{#/blank#} we do not need them. It takes  {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (little) than a second to do it. Anyhow, not wasting electricity saves money, because we do not have to pay for the electricity we do not use. The {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (two) thing that we often waste is water. Fresh water is precious, so it shouldn't be wasted. It is only a simple matter of turning {#blank#}6{#/blank#}a tap. I am sure everybody can do this {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (easy) if he wants to. Another big waste is food. My mother used to cook so much food that much of it was thrown away. I told her we had wasted so much {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (food). She thought I was right and now cooks mainly what we can eat.

    It is not right to be wasteful. I find there is a simple way of not wasting things. That is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (use) only what we need. Do not touch what we do not need. {#blank#}10{#/blank#}this way, we can stop being wasteful.

Giraffes are the tallest animals on the Earth. Male giraffes can grow to a h{#blank#}1{#/blank#}of about 17 feet. An adult giraffe can look into your bedroom window on the second floor.

Giraffes only live on the continent of Africa. The only giraffes in China are f{#blank#}2{#/blank#}in zoos or animal parks. V{#blank#}3{#/blank#}love to see the giraffes because they are so tall.

Giraffes love to eat leaves. With their longest necks, they can e{#blank#}4{#/blank#}eat leaves from the tops of trees. Giraffes don't d {#blank#}5{#/blank#}much water. They get much of the water they need from the leaves they eat.

Gardening is a popular activity all around the world. But what about people who do not have the space to garden? Not to worry! Today, we will give you information about growing beautiful window boxes. 

Location and safety

Window boxes are not just for the outside edge of the window, they can also sit on other places such as, walls, porches, or front steps. This window box can be on the front steps to a home and the owners can entered their window boxes. 

But safety first: People do get killed by falling window boxes. Make sure your window boxes are safe so they will not come down in a storm. If you feel your window box could be unsafe, you can have an indoor window box.

Light and water

Before you choose plants, check your window box location for light and rain. Window boxes dry out faster than in-ground plants, so they need more water. And if a window box is close to a wall or other structure, it may not get enough rainwater. 

Even if all your windows get little sun, do not give up. You can get a great look using plants that love the shade. Many shade-loving plants like spiderworts and verbenas，have leaves in beautiful colors and interesting shapes. 

The "wow" factor

What gives some window boxes their "wow" factor while others are just so-so? Create a theme! This is a central idea for the plants. For example, you may have a window box that is all cactuses or all edible plants. Or you could select only purple violets or green basil, then you'll have a color-themed window box. 

Besides having a theme, upkeep is also important. You should cut off anything dead, water your window boxes often and change things a lot.