https://www.popsci.com/environment/mystic-cownose-ray-birthday-new-england/
A big birthday party was held at a famous aquarium（水族馆）in the United States. The birthday girl was Mystic, a cownose ray（牛鼻鳐）that just turned 27 years old. You may not think 27 is very old, but for a ray it is a big (1)______. Cownose rays in the wild usually live for only 18 to 20 years.
"With excellent care, these animals can live much longer," said Rachel Moote, who has looked (2)______ Mystic for years. "Our team checks her health regularly and gives her a full exam whenever it is needed."
Mystic has lived at this aquarium for almost 20 years. After many years of swimming in the big pools, she is now (3)______ a well-earned retirement. People at the centre feed her fish and clams（蛤蜊）by (4)______ and give her vitamins every day. For her birthday, the team made her a (5)______ cake from fish and shrimp（虾）.
But the team does more than feed her well. To keep her mind active, they give her rubber balls（橡胶球）(6)______ with her favorite snacks. "She has to roll the balls around to get the snacks (7)______," Moote said. This helps her practice the skills she would use in the wild. Every week, workers also swim into the pool to clean it. They watch Mystic closely and learn how to (8)______ for her.
Mystic may be one of the (9)______ rays in any public aquarium, but she is still full of life. Her birthday story shows that love and patience can make a real (10)______ to an animal's life. Happy birthday, Mystic!
1. A.mistake B.problem C.deal D.wonder
2. A.for B.after C.into D.over
3. A.missing B.expecting C.refusing D.enjoying
4. A.hand B.chance C.accident D.heart
5. A.chocolate B.cheap C.special D.usual
6. A.covered B.mixed C.connected D.filled
7. A.away B.out C.off D.up
8. A.care B.ask C.pay D.wait
9. A.fastest B.largest C.oldest D.youngest
10. A.promise B.difference C.decision D.plan
词汇短语精讲
1. be held 被举行
例句：A big birthday party was held at a famous aquarium（水族馆）in the United States.
提示：hold 的被动形式 be held 用于描述活动、会议的举行；可以跟take place替换；主动语态可说 hold a party（举办派对）
2. turn ... years old 满……岁
例句：The birthday girl was Mystic, a cownose ray（牛鼻鳐）that just turned 27 years old.
提示：turn + 年龄表示「到某岁、满某岁」，常用于生日语境，如 turn eighteen 满十八岁
3. check her health 检查（某人的）健康状况
例句：Our team checks her health regularly and gives her a full exam whenever it is needed.
提示：check one's health 指做健康检查；名词形式为 a health check（体检）
4. in the wild 在野外，在自然环境中
例句：This helps her practice the skills she would use in the wild.
提示：in the wild 与 in captivity（圈养）相对；the wild 指自然环境
5. full of life 充满活力的
例句：Mystic may be one of the oldest rays in any public aquarium, but she is still full of life.
提示：full of life 形容人、动物精力充沛；同义表达为 full of energy
句子精讲
1. With excellent care, these animals can live much longer.
结构：句首 With excellent care 为介词短语作条件/方式状语（在悉心照料之下）；主句 these animals can live much longer 用 can 表可能性，much 修饰比较级 longer 加强程度
语法：with + 名词短语作状语 + 比较级（much + 比较级）
仿写：用 With + 名词 的短语放句首引出条件，比 If... 更简洁：With enough sleep, you can study better. 注意 much/a little 等词可修饰比较级表示程度。
2. Mystic may be one of the oldest rays in any public aquarium, but she is still full of life.
结构：主句 Mystic may be one of the oldest rays in any public aquarium：may be 表示推测（可能是），one of the + 最高级 + 复数名词 rays 表示「最…的之一」；but 连接转折分句 she is still full of life，说明她年事虽高但依然活力充沛
语法：may be 表推测 + one of the + 最高级 + 复数名词 + but 转折并列句
仿写：表达「可能是最…之一」用 may be one of the + 最高级 + 复数名词：This may be one of the most popular books this year. 用 but 连接转折句形成反差，使表达更有张力。
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