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In contrast to the brightly coloured species of birds, most of mammals are browns and greys, but with a small number of exceptions, of which the most famous. is the giant panda. We've had some initial assumption about why they had their markings, but we need to confirm the reason for its mysterious pattern. 

Viewed up close in a zoo, the giant panda is a strikingly notable mix of a white bear with black shoulders and legs, and an extraordinary face with black fur around the eyes and ears. By comparing with other carnivores （食肉动物）， we learned that carnivores with white backs are found in snowy environments, and those with dark legs and shoulders are found in shady habitats. This suggested that the fur was an adaptation to be self-protective in different environments. 

Nowadays, giant pandas are confined to forests in western China, where they live on their own and there are relatively few predators （捕食者）. We are to confirm that the sort of self-protection is effective against giant pandas' former predators from the days when they ranged right across China into Vietnam. 

By comparing the amount of light reflected from the giant panda's fur with natural objects in the background, it's clear that their black fur patches （斑纹） match dark shades and tree trunks, whereas their white patches match bright leaves and snow. Also, pale brown, or muddy fur matches the color of the ground. This provides a medium color which bridges the gap between the very dark and very light visual elements in the natural habitat. Besides, a second form of self-protection lies in something termed misorderly colors and patterns-in which highly visible patches break up its outline by mixing with patches in the background. 

Giant pandas show this form of defensive outline, especially at longer viewing distances of at least 60 meters away. At these distances, the giant panda becomes hardly identifiable as the black fur patches go with the background, dark rocks and tree trunks. 

Although giant pandas in zoos are highly notable to us, it is because we see them up close and surrounded by artificial backgrounds. But when in the wild and at a distance, our research shows that they are beautifully protective to avoid detection. 

For anyone planning to fly to or from France in 2024, we've got a bit of inconvenient news-thousands of flights from four French airports are getting cancelled. It's all because much of- the air traffic control system hasn't been updated since the 1970s. 

The air traffic control systems in Paris' main airports are well overdue for an upgrade. Though the systems have received plenty of minor updates over the years, 2024 is the time for a huge improvement- it's thought that around 80 percent of the system will need to be modernized. 

Currently, workers still use an air traffic control process which was developed in the 1970s, including using paper strips to represent incoming planes. Thankfully, €1 billion is being invested into improving France's air traffic control. 

But that means there'll be a large number of cancellations. According to BFM, it's estimated that around 16, 500 flights to or from Paris' Charles de Gaulle, Orly, Le Bourget and Beauvais airports won't go ahead. The number of passengers that passed through Paris Airports in 2022 was almost 44 million. Paris' Charles de Gaulle saw 26. 1 million passengers, and Paris Orly saw 15. 7 million passengers. For the coming improvement, airlines that operate at these airports have been told to reduce their flight programme by 20 percent between March 9 and April 14. It's during this period that the new system will be tested at Athis-Mons, France's largest air traffic control centre. 

Will your flight to France be impacted? Well, it's up to each airline which flights won't run, but it's thought that long-distance routes will take priority. Air France has already cancelled some of theirs, notified passengers, and offered them same-day alternatives. 

While this could mean that travelling through Paris is a faff （忙乱） in 2024, it's estimated that 2.5 million flights pass through French airspace annually. With that much air traffic to control, it'd be good to have it all processed by something a bit more reliable than some pieces of paper. 

The Art Institute of Chicago

Visitor Information

• Museum Hours

Members: The first hour of every day, 10 a. m. -1la. m. , is reserved for member-only viewing. Monday-Wednesday Closed

Thursday                                        11a. m. -8p. m. 

Friday-Sunday                                11a. m. -5p. m. 

• Audio Guide

Audio guides can be rented at the admission counter, audio counter and outside some special exhibitions. The guide is free to visitors with visual or hearing disabilities. 

• JourneyMaker

With the digital interactive JourneyMaker, you can build custom family guides based on your child's interests-from superheroes to strange and wild creatures. Start your museum journey in the Family Room of the Ryan Leaning Center, and make your visit to the Art Institute an adventure for the whole family. 

• Official Mobile App

Your personal, pocket-sized guide to the collection, this new iOS app features podcast-style audio tours, location-aware technology, access to the digital member card, and so much more. Download it today from the App Store. 

• Photography

We encourage you to take pictures of the collection and special exhibitions for personal use. Signs indicate the few works that are not allowed to be photographed due to a lender requirement. 

• Phones

You are welcome to use your phone to take pictures, text, and use the museum's app-anything that does not disturb other visitors. If you need to make a phone call, please do so in a non-gallery space. 

• Valet Parking

Art Institute visitors can drop off their cars at the Modern Wing entrance（159 East Monroe Street） and walk right into the museum. The valet service is available daily from 10;30_a. m. until one-half hour after closing. 

• Admission

Adult: $ 32

Student: $ 26

Child（aged 13 and under）: Free

Help us protect the collection-please do not touch the art.

"The cleaners said I could pick up our things today,"Jet's mom said on the drive to school. "Do you think they were able to clean Big Dog?"Jet asked, trying not to sound too worried.

But he was worried. Big Dog was his favorite stuffed ( 填充) animal. Grandpa had won it for him at the fair when he was five years old. Jet was eight now, and he didn't need to sleep with it or anything. But he did need it. He needed it to sit on the shelf (架子) above his bed — the shelf that had been burned by the house fire.

"I'm not sure what they were able to save,"Mom said."They said they weren't able to save our photo albums (相册). I sure will miss those pictures."

Jet could tell she was really sad."I'll pick you up after school, and we'll go through the boxes together,"Mom said before she drove off.

Jet tried to focus on his schoolwork all day, but he couldn't keep his mind off Big Dog.

He held his backpack through the halls as if he were carrying his old stuffed friend. During library time, he checked out a book about dogs.

RRRRRINNNGGG! Time for art class. Mr. Light said it was"artist's choice"day, so they could work on whatever they wished.

Jet stared at an empty page. He thought of his mom picking up the boxes of things that had been damaged by the fire.

Then he remembered how sad his mom was about the photo albums. Most things could be replaced (替换) at the store. But the pictures were gone forever. He knew what to draw.

Jet drew a picture of himself opening presents in front of a Christmas tree. Then one of him and his mom camping. There was one of him playing baseball and one of their visit to see Grandpa. By the time class was over, Jet had made a small album.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150 左右；2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

When Jet's mom picked him up from school, Big Dog was in the back seat.

As they looked at the pictures, Jet's mom laughed and cried, and she noticed a blank (空白的) page at the end of the book.

旅游资源: 许多世界著名的风景名胜，如：九寨沟（湖泊：清澈见底；色彩斑斓）都江堰水利工程（2000多年历史；仍在发挥作用）

相关信息: 气候适宜；交通方便

注意：1. 词数100左右，信的格式及开头已为你写好（不计入总词数）。2. 可根据内容要点适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。3. 参考词汇：省份province；湖泊lake；都江堰水利工程Dujiangyan Irrigation Project

发挥作用play a part

Dear Nick,

I'm glad to hear that you're coming to Sichuan in August.

Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

On August 24, 17-year-old Rutherford   (land) his Shark airplane in Sofia, Bulgaria, and became   youngest person to fly solo (单独地) around the world.

Rutherford was 16 when he set out from Sofia  March 

23. He flew about 30, 000  (mile) over 52 countries and spent 221 hours in the air. He stopped in 30 countries along the way  (rest).

On the journey, Rutherford faced extreme heat in Dubai, sandstorms in Sudan,   Heavy rains in India. After  (fly) for 10 hours over the Pacific Ocean, he slept on an Alaska island.

Although there were challenges, Rutherford described his trip as " (wonder)." Although his next goal is to catch up on schoolwork, he will (certain) continue flying. "We should follow (we) dreams," he said. "No matter how old we are."

Many years ago not long after we were married, my wife, Margaret, and I went to her parents' place for a weekend visit in the fall. They happened to be pouring cement ( 浇筑水泥) for a new step and walkway outside their back door, so I 1 them. We completed the job and were quite 2 of the result.

Later that night after dinner, I 3  that my wedding (婚礼) ring was4 . The whole family searched the house with no luck. The next day I was not5 . After breakfast we 6  to search outside but again, no luck. At that point we came to the conclusion (结论) that the7  must have slipped off (滑落) my finger while I was doing the cement work and now it was 8 .

We returned home without one wedding ring. I felt9 at the thought and kept 10 myself why I hadn't taken it off before doing the cement work. This was a very hard 11 for me to learn. My wife's family said they would continue12 just in case as you never know — they might get 13 and find it.

The following spring, we got the miracle (奇迹) phone call. It seems that my ten-year-old brother-in-law, Mike, was outside playing in the yard and guess what he 14 ? My mother-in-law phoned to give me the good news.

Luckily, the 15  ended well for us and was quite a learning experience for me!

The start of a school year can be discouraging, but with your own team of imaginary cheerleaders (啦啦队), you can feel confident and supported.

What is an imaginary cheer leading team?

Cheerleading teams are seen at sporting events. An imaginary cheerleading team is a group of people you think about when you need a boost (鼓励). One of the advantages of an imaginary team is that you don't have to see them in person. Your team is there to inspire and support you. Any time you face a challenge, you can think to yourself, "What would my team say?"

You can choose anyone. They might be real or fictional (虚构的); they can be living or from the past.

  You can even add a pet.

Keeping your team with you

When you've decided who's on your team, write out a list. You could find pictures of the members and make a team collage (拼贴画) poster for your bedroom. Or you can share it with your family or friends.

A. Who is part of the team?

B. How can you build your team?

C. You can keep your team to yourself.

D. Think big and let your team grow as you do.

E. You can think of them whenever you'd like encouragement.

F. And they are there to support, encourage and cheer on the athletes.

G. They could be someone you've never met or someone you know very well.

Julie Thornton Johnson woke up at 4 a. m. one night in May. She could feel one of the dogs sleeping between her and her husband, Jimmy. The couple owns three dogs. Their pets often climb into bed during the night. Julie went back to sleep. She woke up again a few hours later. She heard her husband talking quietly.

"Julie, whose dog is this?" he asked. She was half-awake. She saw a 90-pound dog on her bed. "Jimmy and I were surprised. And I was like. That's not our dog," Julie said. The dog looked well cared for. It belonged to someone.

Julie posted on Facebook at 8:30 a.m. She posted pictures of the dog lying next to her husband. "This is the strangest post I have ever had to make," Julie wrote. "Is this your dog?" She shared the post on local Facebook pages. Two hours later, Cris Hawkins and Felecia Johnson wrote back. They said the dog was theirs. Her name is Nala. She left her home the day before and ran away. They thought she would find her way home.

Julie thinks Nala got inside when the couple let their dogs out for the last time that night. It was after 2 a.m. on a stormy night. Jimmy didn't lock the door. High winds must have blown it open.

The couple's three dogs are named Zeppelin, Mollis, and Jupiter. They often bark (吠叫) at other animals.

But they didn't bark at Nala. They didn't seem to mind her being there at all. "I guess they had a secret pact (条约) to have a spend-the-night party," Julie said. "They chose not to tell me about it."

Felecia came to pick up Nala at 11:30 that morning. The two Tennessee couples met up for an ice cream party about two weeks later.

Students usually go to school from Monday to Friday. But some schools in the USA are getting shorter weeks. Classes go for four days instead of five.

There are some reasons for this change. School leaders hope longer weekends may give teachers a good rest. And schools could spend less money on buses or electricity.

But is a four-day school week better for students and parents?

Some experts did research to find out the effects. They talked to people about the change. "Some people really like it," said Christopher Doss, an expert. "Parents get to spend more time with their kids. And they think everyone can be less stressed and sleep more."

The experts didn't just want opinions though. They looked at the data. "In fact, we could not find a lot of data to support the parents," Doss said. Parents did spend more time with their kids. But the study didn't find that they were less stressed.

The experts also discovered a problem. "We found that kids probably learned a little less every year," Doss said. "That can add up to a lot less." So the question is while the change is welcomed, is it worth having kids learn less?

Many students have their own ideas about the change. "I think weeks should be four days," Chris said. "Every Sunday, I wish for just one more day to prepare for school." Maya is more in the middle. "I don't mind a four-day week, but I still like school," she said. "The bad side is that Tuesday will feel like Monday!"

Are you for a four-day week? Or are you OK with five?