【明報專訊】The world's oldest captive giant panda Basi (巴斯) has died aged 37 — more than 100-year-old in human years. She died of multiple illnesses at the Strait Giant Panda Research and Exchange Centre in Fuzhou (福州), China. Her body will be put in Basi Museum, which is being constructed for people to remember her forever.
Basi was born in the wild. She was rescued at the age of four after a farmer spotted it floating on a half-frozen river in Sichuan Province in China. She became an animal star at her zoo after being trained to perform various sports stunts, such as weight lifting and bike riding. She visited the zoo in America in 1987 and attracted around 2.5 million visitors during her stay. She was also invited to perform on television shows.
The official described Basi "an angel of friendship both at home and abroad." Basi was also the original model of panda "Panpan", the mascot for the first Asian Games in 1990.
Giant pandas are regarded as symbols of China and are highly protected. The average lifespan of giant pandas is 18-20 in the wild, and 30 in captivity. The oldest panda ever in captivity is Jia Jia (佳佳) who passed away in 2016 at the age of 38 in Hong Kong.
(Sources: Ming Pao, Daily Mail)
■English highway﹕Lifespan
"Lifespan" is the average length of time that someone lives or that something continues to work.
e.g. The average human lifespan in the developed countries has increased over the last hundred years.
■Photo Story
Flowers were put around Basi's body after the panda passed away.
■Quiz
Answer the following questions. (Answers on next text)
1. Is the following sentence true or false?
Basi was born and raised in the zoo. True/False
2. What stunts could Basi perform?
__________________________________
3. Find in paragraph 2 a word that is similar in meaning to "saved". ______________
4. Which of the following is/are correct about Basi?
(1) Basi was a female panda.
(2) Basi was the oldest panda ever in captivity.
(3) Basi was born in China.
(4) Basi was the inspiration of the mascot for Beijing Olympics.
a. (1) only
b. (1) and (3)
c. (2) and (3)
d. All of the above
■Glossary
captive (adj) 圈養的
multiple (adj) 多種的
stunt (n) 特技表演
mascot (n) 吉祥物
[Smarties' Power English 第193期]
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