Pandas Arrive in Taiwan

      For most people, 2008 was a year of tough economic times and financial uncertainty. However, there was one bright spot for the people of Taiwan at the end of the year—the arrival of two pandas last December.

        The Taipei Zoo in Muzha is now the new home of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan. These two bears left Chengdu, Sichuan, on December 23, and arrived in Taiwan the same day on a special three-hour, direct flight on EVA Airlines. After spending a month in quarantine, the pandas were expected to make their public debut on January 26, which is right at the start of the traditional Chinese New Year.

        Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan will certainly be living in style and comfort in Taiwan. With sponsorship from the Shin Kong Group, the Taipei Zoo was able to build the pandas a brand-new three-story facility, which was reported to have cost as much as NT$300 million to construct. The pandas’ new home features an outdoor play area and an indoor sleeping room with all-season air conditioning.

        According to Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, as many as 6 million visitors are expected to visit the Taipei Zoo in 2009 in order to see the pandas. So, those wanting to catch a glimpse of these cute black-and-white bears should be prepared for long lines. The Taipei Zoo has already announced special extended visiting hours for the pandas’ first week’s public appearance. The zoo will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

        For those who don’t want to brave the crowds, the Taipei Zoo has set up a special website at http://www.zoo.gov.tw/panda/ to keep people updated about the pandas. The site features information in both Chinese and English. TV news has also been frequently showing footage of Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan as they adjust to their new environment in Taipei.

         So, despite all of the economic challenges to be faced in the year ahead, many people are happy to know that there is at least one thing to look forward to in 2009—the opportunity to see two cute and cuddly panda bears here in Taiwan for the first time.

Reading Comprehension

(   ) 1. When did the pandas arrive in Taiwan?

(A) December 23, 2008.
(B) December 26, 2008.
(C) January 23, 2009.
(D) January 26, 2009.

(   ) 2. Which of the following statements of the pandas’ new home is NOT correct?
(A) It is a three-story facility.
(B) It costs NT$300 million to build.
(C) It has an indoor sleeping room.
(D) It has a play area with air conditioning.

(   ) 3. If you are planning to see the pandas at the Taipei Zoo, which of the following situations would happen?
(A) Seeing the pandas without waiting in long lines.
(B) Seeing the pandas on Chinese New Year Eve.
(C) Entering the zoo at 9 a.m.
(D) Entering the zoo without buying tickets.

(   ) 4. What does the word “brave” mean in the fifth paragraph?
(A) Having courage.
(B) Dealing with the situation.
(C) Fighting.
(D) Being angry with the situation.

(   ) 5. Which of the following statements is correct?
(A) It costs NT$6 million to build the pandas’ new home.
(B) It is expected that 300 million tourists will visit the Taipei Zoo for the pandas.
(C) The pandas have to be kept in quarantine for a month, starting from January 26.
(D) The pandas arrived in Taiwan on a special direct flight.

Vocabulary and Phrases

1.          tough [t^f] adj. 棘手的，困難的

2.          economic [&ik1`nAmIk] adj. 經濟的

3.          financial [f1`n8nS1l] adj. 財務的

4.          uncertainty [^n`s3tNtI] n. 不確定

5.          quarantine [`kwOr1n&tin] n. 隔離，檢疫

6.          debut [dI`bju] n. 首度公開露面，首度登台

7.          certainly [`s3tNlI] adv. 必定，無疑地

8.          sponsorship [`spAns2&SIp] n. 贊助

9.          facility [f1`sIl1tI] n. (供特定用途使用的) 場所，設備

10.      construct [k1n`str^kt] v. 建造

11.      air conditioning [Er k1n`dIS1nI9] n. 空調系統

12.      according to  根據…

 13.          glimpse [GlImps] n. 一瞥

14.          extended [Ik`stEndId] adj. 延長的

15.          website (= site) [`wEb&saIt] n. 網站

16.          update [^p`det] v. 更新 (資訊等)

17.          frequently [`frIkwEntlI] adv. 經常地

18.          footage [`f5tIdZ] n. (影片的) 連續鏡頭，片段

7.          adjust [1`dZ^st] v. 調整…以適應

8.          despite [dI`spaIt] prep. 儘管

9.          cuddly [`k^dlI] adj. 令人想擁抱的

團團圓圓到台灣

    對多數人而言，2008年是經濟時局艱困與金融情勢令人不安的一年，然而，2008年年底對台灣民眾來說，卻有件值得高興的事，那就是兩隻大貓熊在去年12月抵達台灣了。

    位在木柵的台北動物園，現在已經成了團團、圓圓的新家，這兩隻大貓熊在12月23日離開四川成都，搭乘長榮航空3小時直飛的班機，在同一天抵達台灣。預計經過一個月的隔離後，大貓熊將於1月26日初次公開亮相，也是傳統農曆春節的大年初一。

    團團和圓圓在台灣一定會過得豪華且舒適。在新光集團贊助下，台北動物園得以為大貓熊打造全新的三層樓設施，據說建造經費高達三億台幣。大貓熊新家的特色是坐擁一間戶外遊戲區，以及全年空調的就寢空間。

    根據台北市長郝龍斌預估，2009年將有600萬遊客前來台北動物園參觀大貓熊。因此，想一睹這些黑白兩色可愛貓熊的民眾，要有大排長龍的準備。台北動物園方面已經宣布，大貓熊首度公開現身的那個禮拜，將延長參觀時間，當天園區開放時間為早上八點半到下午五點半。

    至於那些不想人擠人的民眾，台北動物園也已設立網站專區：http://www.zoo.gov.tw/panda/，讓民眾掌握大貓熊的最新消息，網站上中、英文資訊俱全。在團團、圓圓適應台北新環境的同時，電視新聞也會不時會播放牠們的影片。

    所以，儘管去年面臨各種經濟上的挑戰，但在得知2009年至少有一件值得期待的事，許多人都感到欣慰，那就是首次有機會在台灣當地，看到兩隻可愛又惹人疼惜的大貓熊。