When a big ship is in very rough(不平坦的) sea, it has to be able to bend(弯) a little, otherwise it may break in two. If one end of the ship is on the top of one huge wave, and the other end is on the top of another, with the middle of the ship hanging in between; or if one huge wave comes up under the middle of the ship, leaving the two ends hanging, the ship's own weight will break its back if it is quite stiff(硬的).

　　To make a big ship elastic(有弹性的) enough to avoid (避开) this danger, it has joints where the sections of the ship come together above the water-line, and these joints (连接处) open and shut slightly as the waves lift one section(部分) of the ship or another. This is enough to save the ship from breaking into pieces.

　　One day a sailor was walking along a passage-way in a big ship during a storm when he was surprised to see a boy sitting comfortably in a chair at the end of the passage-way, which was opposite one of the ship's joints. The boy had a bag of nuts beside him, and every time the ship was lifted by a wave and the joint opened, he put a nut in it. As the ship came down again, the joint closed and cracked(压碎) the nut, gently but firmly. The boy then took it out and put the next one in as the joint opened again.

1．What does a big ship have to do when it is in very rough sea?

2．If one end of the ship is on the top of one huge wave, and the other end is on the top of another, with the middle of the ship hanging in between, what will happen to the ship if it is quite stiff?

3．Why does a big ship have joints?

4．What do these joints do?

5．Where was a sailor walking during the storm in this story?

6．What was he surprised to see?

7．What did the boy have beside him?

8．What did he do?

9．How was the nut cracked?

10．What did the boy do then?

A thousand years ago Hong Kong was covered by a thick forest. As more and more people came to 　31　 in Hong Kong, these trees were cut down and burnt. Now there is　32　 forest left, though there are still some small areas covered with trees. We call these woods.

　　Elephants, tigers and many　33　 animals were living in the thick forest. When people came to live in Hong Kong, the　34　 began to die out. Early farmers grew rice and　35　 pigs and chickens in the valleys. They cut down the trees and burnt them. They needed　36　 to keep themselves warm in winter, to cook their food and to keep away the dangerous animals. Elephants quickly disappeared because there was not enough food for them. 　37　 did most of the wolves and tigers. Monkeys and many other animals soon　38　 in the same way.

　　You might think that there are no longer any animals in Hong Kong　39　 in the zoos. But there are still about 36 different animals　40　 there. One of the most interesting of Hong Kong's animals is the barking deer. These are beautiful little animals　41　 a rich brown coat and a white patch (补丁) under the tail. They look like deer but they are much smaller. They are less than two feet　42　. They make a noise rather like a dog　43　. In Hong Kong the barking deer has only a real enemy--　44　. People hunt these little animals though it is illegal (违法的). There are now not many barking deer left. So it is important　45　 people to protect wild animals.

A thousand years ago Hong Kong was covered by a thick forest. As more and more people came to 　1　 in Hong Kong, these trees were cut down and burnt. Now there is 　2　 forest left, though there are still some small areas covered with trees. We call these woods.
Elephants, tigers and many 　3　 animals were living in the thick forest. When people came to live in Hong Kong, the 　4　 began to die out. Early farmers grew rice and 　5　 pigs and chickens in the valleys. They cut down the trees and burnt them. They needed 　6　 to keep themselves warm in winter, to cook their food and to keep away the dangerous animals. Elephants quickly disappeared because there was not enough food for them. So did 　7　 of the wolves and tigers. Monkeys and many other animals soon 　8　 in the same way.
You might think that there are no longer any animals in Hong Kong 　9　 in the zoos. But there are still about 36 different animals 　10　 there. One of the most interesting of Hong Kong's animals is the barking deer. These are beautiful little animals 　11　 a rich brown coat and a white patch (补丁) under the tail. They look like deer but they are much smaller. They are less than two feet（英尺） 　12　. They make a noise rather like a dog 　13　. In Hong Kong the barking deer has only a real enemy--　14　. People hunt these little animals though it is illegal (违法的). There are now not many barking deer left. So it is important 　15　 people to protect wild animals.