Former conjoined (连体) twins Nima and Dawa Pelden have celebrated their seventh birthday, more than five years after surgical separation in Australia. The twins, who were born joined at the chest and abdomen (腹部), were pictured smiling and walking hand-in-hand in a video posted on social media last week.
The sisters were just 14 months old when they flew from their home country of Bhutan to Melbourne to be separated in life-changing surgery at Royal Children’s Hospital in 2018. Conjoined twins, or twins whose bodies are physically connected, are very rare and aren’t always able to be separated if they share limbs or organs. But Nima and Dawa were able to be separated from one another during the six-hour operation.
Their proud mum Bhumchu Zangmo said the twins were in Year 2 back home in Bhutan. “They are indeed growing up so well and mature,” she said. “(They) even ask me if I need any helping hand from them.” She said they loved making toys and building houses together. “They enjoy playing together,” she said. “Also to draw and to paint, even sometimes they enjoy watching YouTube tutorials (学习指南).”
She shared photos of her daughters lighting candles at a temple, and out for dinner with the family. Mrs Zangmo said they normally cut cake with friends and have a small celebration for their birthday. “But this time they wanted something different,” she said. She said the twins chose to visit their local temple and offer food to the elderly. “They enjoy every little thing,” she said.
While doctors don’t know exactly how conjoined twins are formed, they believe it happens during the early stages of pregnancy. Conjoined twins are very rare and only occur in about one in every 50,000 pregnancies. Sadly, many conjoined twins die before they are born. While Nima and Dawa were joined by the chest and abdomen, other conjoined twins have been born joined at the head, or have shared one set of legs. Not all conjoined twins can be safely separated, especially if they share a vital organ such as a heart or brain.
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1.How’s the twins’ health?
A They often feel tired.
B They are very well now.
C They are easily to get ill.
D They share the same chest.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第一段的“were pictured smiling and walking hand-in-hand in a video posted on social media last week”在上周社交媒体上发布的一段视频中，他们微笑着手牵手散步，和第三段的“They are indeed growing up so well and mature”可知，该双胞胎现在健康状况很好。故选B。
2.What can we know about the surgical separation?
A It happened in New Zealand.
B The operation lasted for half a day.
C The doctor made a minor mistake.
D The twins were about one year old.
解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段的“The sisters were just 14 months old when”可知，在接受手术的时候，双胞胎14个月大，即一岁左右。故选D。
3.According to Mrs Zangmo, the twins are ________.
A kind-hearted
B open-minded
C strong-willed
D far-sighted
解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据倒数第二段最后两句这对双胞胎做的善事可知，他们很善良。故选A。
4.What’s the best subtitle of the last paragraph?
A TWINS NIMA AND DAWA FLYING HOME TO BHUTAN
B LETTERS CHEER UP TWINS AHEAD OF SURGERY
C DOCTORS TO SEPARATE CONJOINED TWINS
D FACTS ABOUT CONJOINED TWINS
解析：选D。D 段落大意题。根据最后一段内容可知，该段主要讲了一些关于连体双胞胎的科普知识。故选D。
