[2026 常州期末]The freezing Antarctica, where temperatures can drop to $-60\ °\mathrm{C}$, is home to emperor penguins. These tall black-and-white birds weigh up to 45 kilograms. They have a special way to raise children: fathers warm eggs on their feet, while mothers walk a long way to find food. For hundreds of years, they lived well in this tough place. But now, their future is in danger. A study shows that their global number has dropped by 28% over the 20 years.
Global warming is their biggest threat(威胁). Unlike other penguins that build homes on land, they need sea ice to have and raise babies. As the earth warms, sea ice melts earlier and freezes later.
Baby penguins' feathers(羽毛) aren't waterproof yet, so their bodies can easily get wet—a problem that often leads them to freeze to death. Warmer oceans also make krill, their main food, die out, leaving it difficult for emperor penguins to survive.
The crisis(危机) of emperor penguins is not just about losing one kind of animal—it's a warning for the whole Antarctic ecosystem. If they disappear(消失), other animals like seals that need the same sea ice and food will also be in danger. What's worse, losing sea ice will make Antarctica even hotter. The situation of emperor penguins is a key sign of the environmental health of Antarctica.
Luckily, there are things we can do to save emperor penguins. The governments should make laws to cut greenhouse gas emissions(排放)—the main cause of rising temperatures. For us common people, we can take the bus or the underground instead of driving cars, and tell others about the emperor penguin crisis. Raising awareness can push for faster and better action.
(
A
)1. What can we know about emperor penguins according to the passage?
A. They depend on cold sea ice to survive.
B. They build homes on land to protect themselves.
C. Mothers usually keep and look after their eggs.
D. They are over 45 kilograms and look colourful.
(
A
)2. What does the underlined part "Baby penguins' feathers aren't waterproof yet" mean?
A. Baby penguins' feathers can't keep water out of their bodies.
B. Baby penguins' feathers can't take in water to protect their bodies.
C. Baby penguins' feathers can't make water stay on their bodies.
D. Baby penguins' feathers can't produce water to cool their bodies.
(
B
)3. What's the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. Melting sea ice is harmful to Antarctic animals like seals.
B. The danger faced by emperor penguins is a warning for the Antarctic ecosystem.
C. Global warming makes emperor penguins disappear fast.
D. Emperor penguins disappear faster than other sea animals.
(
D
)4. How can common people help save emperor penguins according to the passage?
A. Stop fishing in Antarctica.
B. Make laws to reduce gas emissions.
C. Drive cars more rather than take the bus. D. Share penguins' problems with more people.
(
D
)5. What is the best title for the passage?
A. Changing Climate in Antarctica
B. How to Protect Antarctic Animals
C. Krill: Tiny Food in Antarctica
D. Emperor Penguins: Fighting to Survive
