UN officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they believe about 160 people died in flooding in the capital Kinshasa earlier this week. The Congolese government said 120 died in torrential rains on Tuesday and has not revised that figure. Three days of national mourning have now ended.

Scientists are warning that the climate crisis could cost the Earth more than a tenth of its plant and animal species by the end of the century. The researchers have used a supercomputer to model Earth with virtual species to show extinctions in the coming decades. As temperatures rise predators will lose their prey and flowering plants their pollinators.

Environmentalists in Ecuador say they’ve discovered a new “nursery” where the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark raises its young. It’s off Isabela Island in the Galapagos National Park and offers refuge for the sharks during mating and the early stages of a pup’s development. A park ranger said the find was important for species closely associated with the reserve but it was on the edge of extinction. 

A US military office set up by the Pentagon earlier this year has so far found no evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth from outer space. Officials of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office told journalists they had received several hundred new reports of unidentified flying objects, but they had not yet seen anything to suggest that, say, an alien visitation or crash landing. 

The Hollywood star Angelina Jolie has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency after more than 20 years. She said she now wanted to work with groups led by people most directly affected by conflict. Writing on Instagram, Jolie said she would continue to do everything in her power to support refugees and other displaced people. UNHCR thanked the actress for her tireless work and described her as one of the most influential proponents of refugee rights.

1. torrential adj. (of rain) falling in large amounts 倾泻的；如注的

2. revise v. to change sth., such as a book or an estimate, in order to correct or improve it 修改，修订（书刊、估算等）。例如：a revised edition of a textbook课本的修订版

3. predator n. an animal that kills and eats other animals 捕食性动物。例如：the relationship between predator and prey 捕食性动物与猎物之间的关系

4. prey n. an animal, a bird, etc. that is hunted, killed and eaten by another 猎物。例如：The lion will often stalk its prey for hours. 狮子经常悄然跟踪猎物达几个小时。

5. pollinator n. 传粉者

6. on the edge of 在边缘

7. alien n. a creature from another world 外星人；外星生物。例如：aliens from outer space 外星人

8. crash landing 紧急着陆

9. displace v. to force people to move away from their home to another place 迫使（某人）离开家园

10. proponent n. (formal) a person who supports an idea or course of action 倡导者；支持者；拥护者

1. The Congolese government say they believe about 160 people died in flooding in the capital Kinshasa earlier this week. 

2. According to the Congolese government, 120 people died in torrential rains on Tuesday.

3. Scientists are warning that the climate crisis could cost the Earth more than 10% of its plant and animal species by the end of the century. 

4. As temperatures drop, predators will lose their prey.

5. Scientists in Ecuador say they’ve discovered a new “nursery” where the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark raises its young. 

6. A US military office has so far found some evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth from outer space. 

7. Angelina Jolie has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency after more than 12 years. 

8. UNHCR described Angelina Jolie as the most influential proponent of refugee rights.

(F) 1. The Congolese government say they believe about 160 people died in flooding in the capital Kinshasa earlier this week.（正确表达）UN officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they believe about 160 people died in flooding in the capital Kinshasa earlier this week. 

(T) 2. According to the Congolese government, 120 people died in torrential rains on Tuesday.

(T) 3. Scientists are warning that the climate crisis could cost the Earth more than 10% of its plant and animal species by the end of the century. 

(F) 4. As temperatures drop, predators will lose their prey.（正确表达）As temperatures rise, predators will lose their prey.

(F) 5. Scientists in Ecuador say they’ve discovered a new “nursery” where the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark raises its young.（正确表达）Environmentalists in Ecuador say they’ve discovered a new “nursery” where the critically endangered scalloped hammerhead shark raises its young. 

(F) 6. A US military office has so far found some evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth from outer space.（正确表达）A US military office has so far found no evidence to suggest that aliens have visited Earth from outer space. 

(F) 7. Angelina Jolie has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency after more than 12 years.（正确表达）Angelina Jolie has announced that she will be stepping down from her role as an ambassador for the UN refugee agency after more than 20 years. 

(F) 8. UNHCR described Angelina Jolie as the most influential proponent of refugee rights.（正确表达）UNHCR described Angelina Jolie as one of the most influential proponents of refugee rights.