SC May W4 Reading_1003

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1. The only _____ of this new cellphone is its poor-quality screen.

2. My daughter’s _____ in English has improved greatly this year.

3. As the officials meet tonight, they will _____ with discussion of a new trade agreement.

4. During the 1970s, the dominant _____ in the car industry was toward fuel-efficient cars.

5. The temperature inside the device remained _____ throughout the experiment.

II. Cloze Test Dragon boat racing is a well-honored tradition in China. It’s also the __6__ of the Dragon Boat Festival. Each year in June, boat teams race each other on rivers. The fastest team wins first prize. Becoming part of a dragon boat team is no piece of cake. It’s a major time __7__ and hard work, too. Every new paddler must learn correct posture and technique. It takes paddlers a minimum of three years to __8__ these skills. All of the paddlers must have them in order to achieve team synchronization. In 2021, the dragon boat championships were postponed from June to October. When the day of the __9__ arrived, a typhoon was near the island. It contributed to the fierce winds, a strong current and choppy waters on the river. __10__, 40 teams took part in the races. Only one came out on top. 

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III. Reading Comprehension 

   Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents. When they are eating grass, these slow-moving animals can look like hairy hippos from a distance.

   Capybaras are so calm that some people say they’re the world’s friendliest rodent. They love the water, and their webbed toes make them great swimmers. They mostly eat water plants and grass and a lot of it — over 3.5 kilograms a day. As cute as capybaras are, keeping one as a pet is a bad idea. These animals must be around lots of water and plants. If they aren’t, they won’t be able to engage in their favorite activity, namely, swimming. Capybaras live in groups of 10 to 20 animals, and each male lives with multiple females. Thus, keeping just one capybara as a pet will prevent the animal from living a normal life. 

   Another South American rodent is the Patagonian mara. Smaller than capybaras, Patagonian maras live on dry land, where they consume grass, fruit, flowers, and seeds. Their long legs enable them to not only run but also hop quickly on two or four feet. Each male Patagonian mara spends his life with just one female and is protective of her. Each female is equally faithful to her life partner. A Patagonian mara pair produces one litter per year. The babies are born out in the open. Immediately after birth, they are moved to a small underground chamber called a burrow. Up to 15 Patagonian mara pairs may share a burrow. However, only one pair will use the burrow at a time. The female is responsible for caring for the babies, which nurse for up to 75 days. The male’s job is to protect the burrow. He keeps guard outside the entrance, watching for animals that may pose a danger to his family. 

   Like capybaras, Patagonian maras are not suitable as pets. To be happy, these wild animals need to live in their natural environment, not in a cage. They are also not as well-behaved as a dog or cat. 

11. What does this article imply about Patagonian maras?

12. Write out what Patagonian maras feed on.

13. Look at the illustration shown below. According to the article, what can be put in “BOTH”?

14. 鸡肉和鸡蛋，以及大豆都富含蛋白质。（… as well as…）

15. 当提到摩托车，我认为越大台并不总是越好。（When it… in my…）