Text 4 polar bears

Biologists estimate⃰ there are about 20 thousand polar bears in the world. They live in Canada, Russia, Greenland, Norway and Alaska. Unfortunately, the recent reports say that the population of polar bears is getting smaller. Two thirds of these wild creatures⃰ could disappear by mid-century. In May 2008, the U.S. listed the polar bear as a threatened⃰ species.

Polar bears love the Arctic climate, where winter temperatures can plunge⃰ to – 45C. Polar bears are protected by two layers of fur, which keep them warm. They also have a thick fat layer. In addition, their compact ears and small tails also prevent heat loss. In fact, polar bears have more problems with overheating than they do from cold – especially when they run.

Polar bears depend on seal fat, which is the highest calorie food source⃰ possible. That’s why, a lot of polar bears live in areas where they can hunt seals at openings in the sea ice. Greenhouse gases⃰ lead to rapid loss of sea ice. Polar bear specialists say these ice losses are the biggest danger to polar bear survival. If they can’t hunt seals they are endangered⃰.

Polar bears are right at the top of the arctic food chain⃰. They balance nature by preventing an overpopulation of the seals. Smaller seals are accessible⃰ to younger bears and females. Male bears hunt seals that are larger. Other types of food that polar bears may get there don’t provide them with all the fat they need, because of their massive body size.

Females give birth to their first litter⃰ when they are between four and eight years old. The cubs appear in November and December in snow caves called maternity dens⃰. These have the best conditions for small cubs. Most mothers choose sites in snowdrifts⃰ along mountain slopes⃰ or hills. They try to choose favorable locations near the shore.

Polar bears have their own good manners. For example, nose-to-nose greetings are a way a bear asks another bear for something, such as food. When polar bears want to play, they start shaking their heads from side to side to attract others. Mother bears scold⃰ cubs with a low roar. Most often, polar bears use a combination of body language and vocal sounds to express their ideas.

⃰estimate - оценивать; creature - существо; threatened – находящийся в опасности; plunge – падать; source - источник; greenhouse gases – парниковые газы; endangered – исчезающий; food chain – пищевая цепочка; accessible - доступный; litter - потомство; maternity den – берлога матери; snowdrift - снежный занос; slope – склон; scold – ругать.

Text 5 giant pandas

Giant pandas are peaceful creatures with a characteristic black and white coat. They are adored⃰ by the world and are considered a national treasure⃰ in China.

The rarest member of the bear family, pandas live in bamboo forests high in the mountains in Central China. These bamboo forests are cool and wet just as pandas like it. Pandas once lived on lowland areas, but farming and forest clearing made them move to the mountains.

The giant panda has a body typical of bears. It has black fur on ears, muzzle⃰, legs and shoulders. The rest of the animal’s coat is white. The panda’s thick, wooly coat keeps it warm in the cool forests. Although scientists do not know why these unusual bears are black and white, some suppose that such coloring provides effective camouflage⃰ and helps them hide in snowy and rocky mountains.

Giant pandas have large teeth and strong jaw muscles for crushing tough bamboo. A wild giant panda’s diet is very simple. It’s almost only bamboo. They very rarely eat other grasses, small animals and birds. At the same time at the zoos, giant pandas are fed bamboo, sugar, rice, special biscuits, carrots, apples, and sweet potatoes. Millions of Zoo visitors enjoy watching giant pandas eat. A panda usually eats while sitting upright, in a pose that is similar to how humans sit on the floor. It’s a very funny sight. Children love it.

Many people find these heavy, clumsy⃰ animals very cute, but giant pandas can be very dangerous as any other bear. Also, these animals are excellent tree-climbers and swimmers despite their big weight.

The giant panda is listed as endangered⃰ in the Red List of Threatened Species. There are only about 1000 giant pandas left in the wild and perhaps 100 live in the zoos. Much of what we know about pandas comes from the study of the zoo animals, because pandas living in the wild like privacy and it’s not easy to observe and study them.

⃰adore - обожать; treasure - сокровище; muzzle - морда; camouflage – камуфляж, маскировка; clumsy - неуклюжий; endangered – исчезающий, вымирающий. TEXT 6 SHARKS

Sharks are probably the most feared of all sea animals. There are more than 360 kinds of sharks in the waters of the world. But scientists say, only some species are dangerous to man. They live in oceans throughout the world but are usually found in warm waters.

Sharks are remarkably successful animals. The first sharks lived on our planet more than 420 million years ago. They are fast and strong. They have very few parasites and are hardly ever ill. They have no enemies except other sharks.

Some people think that all sharks are big. But some kinds of sharks are no bigger than your hand. The smallest shark is about 16 centimeters long and weighs about 28 grams. The biggest shark and the largest of all fish – is the whale shark. It may grow up to 12 meters long and may weigh over 14 tons, over twice as much as an average African elephant!

The whale shark has three thousand teeth but it will never bite you. It is quite harmless. It only eats tiny shrimps and fish. Different sharks have different habits. Some kinds live in the depths of the ocean and are very seldom seen. Others are found near the surface. A few species enter rivers and lakes. Scientists believe that one species, The Ganges River shark of India and Pakistan, lives only in the rivers.

Some sharks are loners, others like to gather in packs⃰. Blue sharks are called the wolves of the sea as they always stay together in packs.

Most fish lay eggs. But most sharks don’t. Their babies are born alive and completely developed. They do not need parental care⃰. A baby shark is called a pup⃰. The pup of the great white shark is almost the size of a man. As soon as they are born, the pups go their own way, as it’s not very safe to stay near a hungry mother.

A shark’s brain is small but its teeth are big. It has many rows of teeth. When a tooth breaks off a new tooth moves up to take its place. In some species new teeth replace the rows of older ones as often as once a week. What do sharks eat with all these teeth? Fish and more fish, other sharks, seals, turtles, crabs, almost anything that swims in the sea. Sometimes sharks eat things that are not food. All these things have been found inside big sharks: a wallet⃰, a drum⃰, a bottle of wine, a chest of jewels⃰ and a suit of armor⃰!

Do sharks eat people? Yes, they do. If a person is near a shark, the shark may attack. But it doesn’t happen very often. Fewer than 100 shark attacks a year are reported throughout the world. However, specialists say, more people die from bee stings than from shark attacks. Sharks do not go hunting for people. But people do go hunting for sharks. And, then, people have to be careful. A shark may look dead. Then all of a sudden it can “wake up” - and attack!

⃰pack – стая; pup – детеныш; parental care – родительская забота; wallet –бумажник; drum – барабан; chest of jewels – ларец с драгоценностями; suit of armor – рыцарские доспехи.