In China, the history of people planting and using bamboo can date back as far as 7000 years. As early as the Shang Dynasty, bamboo was being used in ancient peopled dally lives. It was used for food, clothing, housing, transportation,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (music) instruments and even weapons.

The {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(apply) of bamboo in science and technology is thrilling. In 251 BC, Li Bing, in Sichuan,{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (lead) the local people in building the Dujiang Weirs, the first irrigation network in the world, in which bamboo played {#blank#}4{#/blank#}important role. The world's oldest water piper was also {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) of bamboo. During the Han Dynasty, the people in Sichuan {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(success) sank a 1600-metre-deep well with thick bamboo ropes. This technology did not spread to Europe{#blank#}7{#/blank#}the 19th century, and it was by using the technology {#blank#}8{#/blank#} the Americans drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania in 1859.

    In Chinese culture, bamboo is well-known as {#blank#}9{#/blank#}of the “four gentlemen” in plants. To many distinguished men，bamboo is a symbol of goodness and honesty. It is always closely related to people of positive spirits. Bamboo culture contributes to encouraging People to hold on when {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(face) tough situations.

In 1990, over 100 countries signed {#blank#}1{#/blank#} international agreement to make it illegal to buy or sell ivory, which is mainly used for jewelry. Most ivory is made from the tusks(象牙) of African elephants. These tusks are {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(terrible) valuable—one pair is worth more than three times the income of an African farmer or a factory worker in a year.

    Hunting elephants was so profitable {#blank#}3{#/blank#}from 1979 to 1989 the number of elephants in Africa fell from 1.3 million to 600,000. It was feared that by the year 2020 there would be none {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(leave). However, thanks{#blank#}5{#/blank#} the international agreement, there {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(be) much less illegal hunting since 1990.

    But considering {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(vary) of aspects, it costs a lot of money to preserve elephants. Games wardens (看守人) must be hired to protect them. Land must be set aside for them, and when they destroy a farmer's crops, the farmer must {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(pay) compensation.(赔偿金)

    Zimbabwe and four other African countries say that some of the elephants should be killed legally. This would help keep the population stable, and selling the ivory would help pay for preserving the elephants. But conservationists say that {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(make) ivory legal to sell would lead to even more illegal hunting. Others say {#blank#}10{#/blank#}is wrong is to kill elephants because they are sensitive animals that feel emotional pain at the death of other elephants.

    On May 28th, we observe World Hunger Day. It is an effort to focus attention on {#blank#}1{#/blank#}fact that despite there being enough food globally, some 21,000 people die every day from hunger.

    People do not go hungry because the world does not produce enough food for everyone. According to the world Hunger Education Service, recently the percentage of people {#blank#}2{#/blank#}cannot get enough food chronically（长期地）has reduced from 34% to 15%. The main problem is that many people in the world still do not have resources{#blank#}3{#/blank#} (purchase) or grow enough food.

    Indeed, hunger{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (be) a result of poverty, and also one of its causes. Hunger exists because many countries lack social safety nets; because in many countries women, although they do most of the farming, do not have as much access {#blank#}5{#/blank#} men to training or land.

    Over the past decade, a global push to reduce hunger and extreme poverty{#blank#}6{#/blank#} (mark) some significant successes, partly thanks{#blank#}7{#/blank#} the efforts of many international{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(organization). But on world Hunger Day, let us not forget that with over 815,000 people still{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (live) in daily food insecurity, we still have a long way to go before we can {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(safe) say that no child goes to bed hungry most nights.

    The powerful Hurricane Barry weakened but remained a weather nightmare on Tuesday. It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (strike) parts of Arkansas with at least six{#blank#}2{#/blank#} (inch) of rain and caused flash flooding that drowned {#blank#}3{#/blank#}animal shelter and killed a puppy.

    Heavy rains were falling. The Humane Society of Clark County issued an SOS after flooding drowned its recently rebuilt shelter. "SOS! We are flooded. It's on the building! "the official said in a Facebook post. "We need help! Can any of you keep a dog {#blank#}4{#/blank#}two at your houses? Help! Help! Help!" Video from the scene showed wet dogs wandering loose in the shelter, the floor covered in water. Many offered their homes and yards {#blank#}5{#/blank#}the animals. A short time {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(late), the official posted an update on Facebook{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(say) foster homes have been found for all 72 dogs. "We are so blessed! People from all over have come to {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (we) rescue. Donations. Cleaning. Fostering. It's really{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (impress)." the post said. After the rainfall, a ray of sunshine shone brightly in the states {#blank#}10{#/blank#}the storm burst last week.