Here are four pieces of news from China Daily.
United Nations
Picture of your world
A prize of US$5,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Youth category (aged 15 to 24), in the fourth International Photographic Competition on the Environment.
The competition, titled “Focus on Your World”, is being run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP,联合国环境规划署) from July till December. Both amateur (业余的) and professional photographers of all nationalities and ages are welcome to enter. For more information, go to www.unep-photo.com .
Australia
Goodbye to the bears
Koalas, a symbol of Australia, may die out within 15 years as the growth of towns along the east coast destroys their fragile (易毁坏的) habitats.
A survey of the koala habitats found that about 30 percent were no longer home, while 60 percent had suffered much destruction. The Australian Koala Foundation has written to the government urging it to declare the koala an endangered species. At present, there are about 100,000 koalas in Australia.
Iraq
Rebel attacks worsen
More than 100 people, including three US soldiers, were killed in bloody attacks in five Iraqi cities last Thursday. At least 300 people were wounded.
The violence was part of efforts made by Iraqi rebels (反抗者) and foreign militants to ruin the formal handover to Iraqi rule in six days’ time. A group headed by al-Qaida-linked (和基地组织有联系的) terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said they were responsible for the attacks.
Shenzhen’s salaries are the best
A survey showed average annual income in Shenzhen last year reaching 25,500 yuan, the highest in the country, followed by Beijing and Shanghai. Shenzhen plans to issue a salary guidebook listing average salaries in different occupations, so people working there can better understand their career situation — or perhaps even argue with the boss.
1. According to the passage, the fourth International Photographic Competition on the Environment will last _______.
A. seven months B. six months
C. six days D. seven weeks
2. According to the survey, in Australia there were about _______ koalas that were no longer home.
A. 1,000 B. 30,000 C. 60,000 D. 100,000
3. According to the passage, over 100 people were killed in bloody attacks by _______.
A. US soldiers B. al-Qaida
C. Iraqi policemen D. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
