What looks like an angry old man and lives at the bottom of the ocean? It’s the world’s ugliest animal---the blobfish(水滴鱼).

Its strange skin is shaped by its habitat. It lives 800 meters below the ocean’s surface, a depth where very few other creatures can survive.

Most fishes have a swim bladder(鱼鳔), which is filled with gas and helps them stay afloat. At the depth that the blobfish live, water pressure is 80 times higher than that at higher sea levels and any swim bladder wouldn’t be able to serve its purpose.

The blobfish don’t have a swim bladder because their skin works the same way. It helps them stay afloat without having to use any energy.

The blobfish have a pretty relaxed attitude towards eating. All they do is stay and wait for crabs or lobsters to come by.

Since the blobfish like to eat crabs and lobsters, they often get caught in nets that are used to catch lobsters or crabs and end up dying or being killed. They are not suitable for eating so they are useless for fishermen.

There’s a purpose behind the blobfish’s new title; it has become the new mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, an organization whose purpose is to preserve endangered ugly animals.

“We’ve needed an ugly face for endangered ugly animals for a long time and I’ve been amazed by the public reaction,” said the Society’s Simon Watt. “For too long cute animals have taken the limelight(风头) but now the blobfish will be a voice for those who always get forgotten.”They hope this new face will help the world know that we need to help preserve the populations of ugly animals too.

1.The biggest difference between the blobfish and most other fishes is that the blobfish_____ .

A. cannot be eaten by people

B. don’t have a swim bladder

C. only live at high sea levels

D. aren’t active in catching food

2.What makes the blobfish stay afloat?

A. Their skin. B. Their tail.

C. Their mouth. D. Their swim bladder.

3.We can learn from what Simon Watt said that _____ .

A. most ugly animals are in danger

B. the population of the blobfish is increasing

C. the blobfish have attracted the public’s attention

D. people knew nothing about the blobfish in the past

4.What is the purpose of the passage?

A. To discuss the importance of preserving animals.

B. To give the reason for starting an organization.

C. To present the results of a survey.

D. To introduce a special animal.

Parents often assume that time spent with their kids will gradually decrease in adolescence. But a new study suggests that while teens try to avoid spending a lot of time together with their parents, private parent-child meetings may actually increase in their early adolescent years. And that may raise a teenager’s self-esteem (自尊) an social confidence, especially if it is time spent with Dad, the researchers added.

The researchers created a long-term study in which they invited families in 16 school districts in central Pennsylvania to participate. In each family, a teenager, a younger sibling, their mother and their father were interviewed at home and then asked about their activities and self-worth five times over a period of seven years.

The study authors were surprised to discover that when fathers spent more time alone with their teenagers, the kids reported they felt better about themselves. Something about the father’s role in the family seemed to improve self-esteem among the teenagers in the study, said study author Susan McHale, a professor of human development at Pennsylvania State University.

“Time spent with Dad often involves joking, teasing and other playful interactions. Fathers, as compared to mothers, were more involved in leisure activities and had more friend-like interactions with their children, which is crucial for youth social development,” the study showed.

But Marta Flaum, a psychologist in Chappaqua , New York, said, “How these findings reflect the real world is a real question. The sample in the study is so small and so unrepresentative of more families in the country today that I’m not sure how much we can generalizing from it. In my community, in Westchester County, I don’t see parents and teenagers spending much time together at all. Parents are often working so hard and have less time to be together with their kids.”

However, Flaum encourages parents tom make time for their kids no matter how much work they have to do. “Research like this reminds us of how important it is. The time we have with them is so short, ” she said.

1.According to the study, when teenagers spend more time alone with their fathers, ________.

A. their social skills will be improved

B. their fathers will better understand them

C. they will be willing to help their siblings

D. their family will spend more time together

2.What is Flaun’s attitude towards the findings of the study?

A. Unconcerned B. Favorable

C. Puzzled D. Skeptical

3.What does the underlined word “it” in the last paragraph probably refer to?

A. The research by Susan McHale.

B. The work to be done.

C. Parents’ encouragement.

D. Parents’ making time for their kids.

4.Where is the passage more likely to have been taken from?

A. A science magazine B. A news report

C. A research plan D. an advertisement

Today’s museums include plenty of high culture, but you can still find shrines(圣地)to the extraordinary. Here’s a look at five curious museum stops across Canada.

Vancouver Police Museum

The setting, terrible enough, is the old Coroner’s(验尸官)Court and forensics lab, including the morgue(room where dead bodies are kept). Artifacts, from the 1870s on, include badges, uniforms, police equipment, items from criminals, and even preserved organs—all in all an arresting experience.

Vulcan Tourism & Trek Station

Designed to resemble a spacecraft, the Treck Station celebrates Vulcan’s coincidental relationship to Mr. Spock’s planet, Go to a building that features an 800-piece collection of Star Trek memorabilia — including Spock’s ears and floor-to-ceiling space paintings. If you want to know more about it, click here: http//www. Vulcantourism. com

Accordion(手风琴)Museum

Through instruments, photos and recordings, the museum traces the history of the accordion and its influence on Quebec culture. They’ve even acquired Asian instruments that show the use of the free reed— call them ancient ancestors of the accordion—that date back 4000 years.

Chocolate Museum

It’s chocoholic heaven — whole museum featuring displays on how chocolate is made, hands-on exhibits, collections of historic chocolate boxes, and antique candy- making equipment and, of course, lots of chocolate treats ,located in an old candy factory building. Click below to learn all about their hours and admission rates. http:// www. Chocolate museum .ca

Potato museum

A 14--foot high potato greets you at what’s billed as the world’s largest exhibit of potato artifacts. Explore the humble potato’s role in the economy, a collection of farm tools related to growing and harvesting potatoes, Hall of Fame.

1.If you are very interested in thrilling movies, you will probably be attracted by .

A. Accordion Museum B. Vancouver Police Museum

C. Potato Museum D. Chocolate Museum

2.We can infer from the passage that the ancestors of accordion originated in .

A.Canada B.America C.Asia D.Africa

3.The passage is most likely to be taken from .

A.a magazine B.a newspaper

C.a website D.a brochure

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