Many animal and plant species have become extinct and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth’s wildlife and protect the natural world they inhabit is now more important than ever.
Now many animals remain threatened with extinction as a result of human activity.
The dodo is a classic example of how humans caused damage to the earth’s wildlife. The flightless dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fallen fruit from the island’s trees and lived safely until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs and monkeys. The population of dodos rapidly decreased and the last one was killed in 1681.
The rhino(犀牛) horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa, Europe and Asia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animal remains constantly threatened by hunters.
The last 100years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5,000 and 7,000 and the Bali, Javan, and Daspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicine. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.
The World Wildlife Fund is actively involved in many areas of the world fighting to protect the natural habitats of endangered animals from further damage and curb the activities of hunters. Our own efforts at home and in the workplace can also make a difference. By reducing waste and pollution, saving water, wood, and energy, and reusing and recycling whenever possible, we can reduce the possibility of even more animals being lost, never to return.The purpose of this passage is to ___.
| A．call on us to protect the earth’s wildlife |
| B．let us know about the animal world |
| C．tell us many animals are in great danger |
| D．tell us why many animals are becoming extinct |
The common reason why many animals are facing extinction is that ___ .
| A．they are too easily controlled by humans |
| B．they can be made into highly prized medicine |
| C．they can provide people with delicious meal |
| D．humans kill them for their own interests |
Which of the following statements about the dodo is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．It was native to the Island of Mauritius and could fly very well. |
| B．It struggled to survive until human arrived in 1505. |
| C．Its population decreased only because pigs and monkeys were introduced. |
| D．It was possible for humans to find a dodo before 1681. |
The underlined word “curb” in the last paragraph is closest in meaning to “___”.
| A．improve |
| B．limit |
| C．cancel |
| D．criticize |
Ever wonder why there are so many people polluting the earth？Ever say to yourself：Hey，I wish that I could do more to help the environment？Have you ever thought about trying to help the earth but never really did？Well，here are some pretty easy and skillful ideas for that greenearth desire inside you.
●Turn off your computer.By leaving it on all day you are creating more CO2 than a regular passenger would，driving to and from work in one day.
●Ride your bike or carpool (合用汽车)．Obviously，you are creating less CO2，which will help the ozone (臭氧)．
● Make a garden.Even simply grow some plants in your kitchen，which will help produce more oxygen while eating up some of that evil CO2.
● Buy local groceries.It creates less impact on the environment.Besides，you’re supporting your local farmers.
●Recycle.You had to see this coming.But you have no idea how much you are helping the environment by simply reusing a water bottle instead of buying a huge pack at the store.
● Don’t run the water while brushing.It saves you money and helps the water resources.
● Open the curtains.Natural light is much prettier and it will keep the energy usage down.
● Rechargeable batteries.You have no idea how much it takes to get rid of batteries.Do yourself a favor.Save some money and some energy.The underlined word “impact” in the fourth suggestion means“________”．
| A．disadvantage |
| B．rubbish |
| C．effect |
| D．damage |
If you don’t want to create more CO2，you may________．
| A．turn off your computer or open the curtains |
| B．turn off your computer or ride your bike or carpool |
| C．reuse a water bottle or buy local groceries |
| D．use rechargeable batteries or make a garden |
Which of the following can best describe the function of the first paragraph?
| A．Leadin. |
| B．Argument. |
| C．Main body. |
| D．Conclusion. |
The main idea of the passage is about________．
| A．the importance of environmental protection |
| B．some ways about how to prevent pollution |
| C．some suggestions about how to save energy |
| D．some suggestions about environmental protection |
Every Thursday afternoon, my art history class meets not in our usual lecture hall but in the Yale University Art Gallery(美术馆）.
We spend our one-hour class discussing two or three of the paintings, many of which are by artists that we have already studied in class.
The professor begins by selecting one work of art. After giving us a quick background on the artist, he'll open up for class discussion. Everyone is strongly encouraged to give opinions to the work. Not every piece we study is necessarily famous or striking in appearance and subject matter, yet we always manage to make some interesting observations.
In America, professors always take every opportunity to push textbooks aside and expose students to real world experiences.
With some creativity, almost any subject can be applied to such beyond the classroom learning.
My art history class trips to the gallery are but one example.
Many other subjects also offer opportunities to learn outside the classroom, for example business psychology, art, journalism and biology.
A friend of mine from Yale taking an advanced psychology course spends every Saturday working with mentally disabled children.
Her mornings are spent playing with the kids and studying their sometimes uncontrolled behavior. Then in the afternoon she writes a report on her observations.
Students generally appreciate these unique learning opportunities. They're almost always fun and interesting, and professors like them because students learn so much in just a few short months.
No one denies (否认）the value of classroom learning. But it can only take students so far.
Slides and textbooks may do a good job of carrying facts and dates, but creativity and originality (创造性）of thought cannot be taught. They can only be got through first-hand experience. The writer studies art history __________.
| A．in a lecture hall |
| B．in an art gallery |
| C．in a simple way |
| D．in a practical way |
In American universities it is popular for professors to __________.
| A．create textbooks by themselves |
| B．teach their lectures through real world experiences |
| C．ask their students to memorize the texts |
| D．share their experiences with the students |
“Slides and textbooks” in the last paragraph refer to __________
| A．the books students may use in class |
| B．the practical experience |
| C．the theoretical experience |
| D．the advice from the professors |
The writer holds the opinion that __________.
| A．learning outside the classroom is the best way |
| B．teachers should develop students' creativity |
| C．professors had better shorten their lectures |
| D．students should put their textbooks away |
When I was in primary school, sometimes I would meet a girl of the same age as me. Lisa was never active, but she was always very sweet and nice. In the 5th grade she came to my class.
She was absent a lot, and one day I had the courage to ask why. She told me she was sick, and she explained she wore a wig(假发）because her medicine made her lose her hair. We left it at that. Anytime Lisa came to class—seldom—I would hang with her on the playground.
I received much ridicule(嘲弄）from my friends for this because they thought I was ignoring them for Lisa. My family education taught me to be nice, and I felt Lisa's needs were much more important than others I knew.
It had been months since Lisa was in our class, and one day our teacher was crying. She explained Lisa died the day before and would no longer be our classmate. She told us Lisa had fought a battle(斗争）with cancer for years.
I was shocked. Lisa never spoke of her illness as if it could kill her. Well, all these years I have kept Lisa in my mind and heart. When I go through the important events in my life, I think of Lisa.
I've had a strong wish recently to find her mother and father. I'd like to tell them that though they never met me, their daughter had a sweet effect(影响）on my life. I have no idea what her parents' first names are. I write to your column(栏目 ) and hope you can point me in the right direction.
Lisa was such a lovely girl. Maybe her parents would be comforted by the fact that after all these years they are not the only ones who remember her. The underlined sentence in Para. 2 probably means __________
| A．we kept on talking about her illness later |
| B．we discussed the topic and then left together |
| C．we just stopped talking about her illness |
| D．we went away after talking about her illness |
Why was the author being laughed at?
| A．Because she wore a wig to school. |
| B．Because she always played with Lisa. |
| C．Because she cried in the classroom. |
| D．Because she lost her friends because of Lisa. |
What did the author learn from Lisa?
| A．To keep your illness a secret. |
| B．To be nice to everyone everywhere. |
| C．To face challenges in life bravely. |
| D．To put others' needs above yours. |
The author wrote this passage mainly to __________.
| A．remember a true friend |
| B．ask for help to find a friend's parents |
| C．show her concern for a friend |
| D．tell her experience of fighting cancer |
Walter Wetzel had met Ryan Lamantia nearly eight years ago in a hospital waiting room. Both were very sick—Ryan with brain cancer, Walter with leukemia. Walter, then 9，began making silly faces at the little boy sitting across from him.
Soon after, Ryan, who was 3 at the time, made his way into Walter's room and chatted about going home to change into his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles costume and ride his Big Wheel to his cousin Catlyn's house.
Though they saw each other only a handful of times after that, Walter never forgot Ryan. “He inspired me to survive my cancer，” said Walter, now 17，a football player and snowboarder. “Seeing him happy all the time made me happy. How could I be upset if he had it so much worse than me?”
For the past few years, Walter, who lived with his family in Elgin, wondered what had happened to his little friend. Without so much as a last name, Walter asked the hospital staff to track down a number or address, but privacy laws prohibited the staff from giving out information.
"As I was going to bed one night, it popped in my head：6Google it. Google what you know，"said Walter's mother, Erzsi Gemzsi. She typed in "Ryan Lake in the Hills brain tumor”. Much to her surprise a link to a Facebook page for Ryan came up. Finally, they had found him. But when she clicked her mouse, the news was devastating.
Ryan had died on Sept. 8，2005. He was 6.
When she picked up Walter from school the next day, she broke it to him. “It hit me pretty hard，” Walter said. “ I was crying for a week straight. ”
The Facebook page was for the Ryan Lamantia Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that Ryan's family formed after his death. The organization raises money for pediatric (小儿科的）brain tumor research.
Walter logged on right away and left this message：
"I have wanted nothing more than to talk to (Ryan's) parents and tell them ( their) son is my hero. My trips to（the hospital)were always dreadful, until the day I(met) Ryan. ”
Ryan's mom's eyes filled with tears as she read Walter's post. She said，“It made us so proud. ”What made a deep impression on Walter Wetzel?
| A．Ryan's way to communicate with others. |
| B．Ryan's love for his costume and Big Wheel. |
| C．Ryan's panic when suffering from brain cancer. |
| D．Ryan's happiness though suffering from brain cancer. |
What can be learned from the passage?
| A．Ryan was working for a foundation. |
| B．Walter was recovering from his leukemia. |
| C．Walter and Ryan often wrote to each other after they left the hospital. |
| D．After Ryan left the hospital, he was in good health. |
The underlined word "prohibited" in Paragraph 4 is the closest to "__________" in meaning.
| A．banned |
| B．permitted |
| C．advised |
| D．published |
How did Walter manage to know Ryan's information?
| A．One of his friends came to tell him. |
| B．Ryan's mother telephoned Walter and told him. |
| C．His mother googled Ryan's information and found it. |
| D．The Ryan Lamantia Foundation contacted him and told him. |
They were sitting together on a dull afternoon when Hannah hurried in with a telegram. Mrs March read and dropped it with her hands shaking. Jo picked up the telegram and read it in a frightened voice：Mrs March, your husband is very ill. Come at once. S. Hale, Blank Hospital, Washington.
The girls moved close to their mother. All their happiness vanished in a moment.
“I shall go at once，” said Mrs March. “Oh, my children！” For several minutes, there was only the sound of crying, and then Hannah hurried away to get away to get things ready for the long journey.
"Where's Laurie? " Mrs March asked. "Here，" said the boy. "Oh, let me do something! " "Send a telegram back，" said Mrs March. “The next train goes early in the morning. Now, I must write a note to Aunt March. ”
Jo knew that the money for the journey must be borrowed from Aunt March, and she wanted to do something to help her father. Laurie went off to take the note to Aunt March and to send the telegram. Jo got some things from the shops.
“Father will need good food and wine to help him get better, and there won't be much at the hospital，" said Mrs March. "Beth, go and ask Mr Laurence for a couple of bottles of wine. ，，
Laurie came back with a letter and money from Aunt March, but Jo did not return. It was in the late afternoon that Jo came back and gave her mother some money.
“That's to help make Father comfortable and bring him home，99 she said.
“Twenty-five dollars!” said Mrs March. “My dear, where did you get it?” Jo took off her hat. "My dear, there was no need for this，" said Mrs March. "Don't cry, Beth，" said Jo. “I'll soon have curly hair again. ”
After their mother went away, they all helped Hannah with housework. News of their father came, telling them he was slowly getting better. The underlined word “vanished” in Paragraph 2 probably means __________.
| A．burst |
| B．disappeared |
| C．jumped |
| D．rushed |
What can be inferred from the passage?
| A．Mrs March was not rich. |
| B．Hannah was younger than Jo and Laurie. |
| C．The children didn't care about their father. |
| D．Mrs March left for the hospital immediately. |
How did Jo get the money?
| A．By asking her friends for help. |
| B．By helping others work. |
| C．By selling her nice hair. |
| D．By breaking her pig bank. |
It can be learned from the passage that Mrs March's children were __________.
| A．selfish |
| B．kind |
| C．helpful |
| D．delighted |