Through an agreement signed today, the much-loved animals will continue to delight visitors for anot

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Through an agreement signed today, the much-loved animals will continue to delight visitors for another three years, through December 7, 2023. “We’re all very excited,” says Steve Monfort, the director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “It’s very good that we can continue our cooperation with our Chinese colleagues.”
The female giant panda Mei Xiang and male Tian Tian, will return to China at the end of 2023 at the relatively elder panda ages of 25 and 26 respectively （分别地). The probable lifetime for giant pandas is about 15 to 20 years in the wild, and about 30 years in captivity (圈养). Likely to travel with the two is Xiao Qi Ji （Little Miracle）, who was born on August 21, 2020. The 15-week-old male cub is the fourth of Mei Xiang’s four surviving cubs.
By long-standing agreement, cubs born in captivity at the zoo are sent to China before four. When Xiao Qi Ji was born, his mother Mei Xiang became the oldest giant panda to give birth in North America.
The public has yet to see Xiao Qi Ji in person. Normally, it would be at about this time, a little over 100 days, that a cub would be able to be shared with the public. Over 1.6 million people have watched the Zoo's Panda Cam since the August birth, with a total of 8.8 million page views. Just this week, his parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian marked 20 years in Washington, D.C..
The extension agreement means that the National Zoo and China will reach a half century of conservation and cooperation between the U.S. and China. “It shouldn't be surprising to people that cooperation is the foundation of the way that one does the work.” Monfort says, “In protecting species, no one organization and often not even one government can theoretically save a species without partnership.”
8. What is the agreement about?
A. Two pandas' three more years in the USA.
B. Cooperation between the Zoo and China.
C. The first public appearance of Xiao Qi Ji.
D. The way to return home for three pandas.
9. What do we know about Mei Xiang?
A She has been abroad for 20 years. B. She has been sent back to China.
C. She was born in the National Zoo. D. She's the oldest panda to give birth.
10. What's the public's attitude towards the newly-born panda?
A. Uncaring. B. Enthusiastic.
C. Cautious. D. Sympathetic
11. What is the best title for the text?
A. Mei Xiang Has Given Birth to Xiao Qi Ji
B. Cooperation Is Key to Animal Protection
C. Extension Agreement on Pandas Is Reached
D. Lifetime for Giant Pandas Is Figured Out
【答案】8. A    9. A    10. B    11. C
【解析】