1 . Why are some animals popular while others are so unpopular? In the natural world, every animal has its place and purpose. However, people do not always realize it. For example, it’s a common misunderstanding that snakes are dangerous and will attack (攻击) humans for no reason. In fact, almost all snakes prefer to run away or hide A they’re attacked first.
Snakes aren’t the only animals that are misunderstood. People think that cockroaches (蟑螂) are dirty and like to hide in dark places. In fact, cockroaches usually clean themselves as much as cats do. They prefer to live in clean places. They have to hide wherever they can make sure to live. Luckily, they are very hard to die out. They were here on the planet B humans appeared, and they’ll probably be here after we’re gone!
Wasps (黄蜂) also have a bad fame. Many people hate wasps because they believe that wasps sting (叮) humans at a moment’s notice. Actually, most wasps don’t sting at all. Those that do sting are generally protecting their young, or reacting to humans who shout or wave their hands at the wasps.
Should we care about these misunderstood animals? Yes, we should! Every animal species plays an important role in the ecosystem (生态系统). Some help control other pest populations. Some are useful for medical research. Even misunderstood animals are necessary, because in many ways they’re good to humans.
1. Fill in each blank with one word. (根据对文章的理解，A、B处各填一词) A2. What do people think of cockroaches? （请根据短文内容回答问题）
（1）
（2）
5. What is the text mainly about? (No more than 10 words)(请根据短文内容回答问题，10词内)
2 . Save the Sharks!
Many have heard of shark fin soup. This famous and expensive dish is especially popular in southern China. But do you realize that you’re killing a whole shark each time you enjoy a bowl of shark fin soup?
When people catch sharks, they cut off their fins and throw the sharks back into the ocean. This is not only cruel, but also harmful to the environment. Without a fin, a shark can no longer swim and slowly dies. Sharks are at the top of the food chain in the ocean’s ecosystem. If their numbers drop too low, it will bring danger to all ocean life. Many believe that sharks can never be endangered because they are the strongest in their food chain. But in fact, around 70 million sharks are caught and traded in this industry every year. The numbers of some kinds of sharks have fallen by over 90 percent in the last 20 to 30 years.
Environmental protection groups around the world, such as Wild Aid and the WWF, are teaching the public about “finning”. They have even asked governments to develop laws to stop the sale of shark fins. So far, no scientific studies have shown that shark fins are good for health, so why eat them? Help save the sharks!
1. The general introduction of the passage:2. The place where shark fin soup is popular:
3. The number of sharks caught and traded every year:
4. Two environmental groups against “finning”:
5. The thing that governments can do:
3 . It’s sad to learn that a whale has died in the ocean. However, that is not the end for the whale. It gives a lot to other sea animals after death.
When a whale dies, it quickly drops to the bottom of the ocean floor. There the whale’s dead body provides food and nutrients(营养) for deep-sea animals. The remains(残骸) can last(持续) for ten years and build an ecosystem called a whale fall — an “oasis(绿洲)” of life in the deep sea.
Chinese scientists found a whale fall for the first time in the South China Sea this year. The whale fall ecosystem can stay in the deep ocean because of great pressure and cold temperature there. They can stop the body from decomposing(分解) too quickly. The depth(深度) makes it hard for scientists to find the whale fall. There are less than 50 known whale falls in the world.
The whale fall in the South China Sea is about three meters long. Scientists have found several species(物种) near the whale fall. Some fish have started to eat the whale’s tail. A scientist named Xie Wei says the whale fall might be quite recent and needs long-term observation(观察). By studying the whale fall, scientists can better understand how sea ecosystems support life.
1. What does the whale’s dead body provide for deep-sea animals?2. Where did Chinese scientists find a whale fall for the first time?
3. Why can the whale fall ecosystem stay in the deep ocean?
4. Are there any species near the whale fall in the South China Sea?
5. What does the passage mainly talk about?
4 . Cats are great hunters. Mice are often on their top five kill list. But sometimes, a cat will not kill the animal it catches. ① __________, the catch becomes kind of a toy or plaything.
The first expression is “play cat and mice with someone”.The cat seizes a mouse. Then lets it go. Catches it. Lets it go. Over and over again! It is good fun for the cat but frightening for the poor mouse. So, if you play cat and mouse with someone, you play a power game with them. You, the person with the power, are the cat. Maybe you pretend to give the other person something they want but then take it away. You toy with them.
Now, let's leave the game of cat and mouse and talk about playing in a different way. Let's imagine a classroom filled with young children. The teacher must leave the room for a couple of minutes. At first, everybody is well-behaved. ②But the longer the teacher is gone, the naughtier the class will be. It starts out slowly. Someone throws a piece of paper. A couple of students get up and walk around. Others start laughing loudly. Someone yells! Suddenly, all of the students are doing things they would never do with the teacher in the room.
But you know what we say: When the cat's away, the mice will play!
③_____________ So, the teacher is the cat and the students are the mice. We often use this expression when talking about children and parents, employees and office supervisors and even people in committed relationships.
1. What’s on top of the kill list of cats?2. 根据上下文在①处填入恰当的单词, 使句子意思完整。
3. Translate the underlined sentence at ②into Chinese.
4. 在③处选入适当的选项。_______________________
| A．This expression means that students should behave well whenever teachers are in the classroom or not. |
| B．This expression means that people sometimes behave badly when no one is there to watch them. |
| C．This expression means that some people act like mice when there are no cats around them. |
| 70 | |
Victoria Amazonica | The Victoria Amazonica is native to（原产于）South America. It is famous for itssize and strength. Its huge leaves grow to 2.5m in diameter（直径）, and a fully-grown leaf can support a little kid sitting in the center. Its flowers are also big— up to 40cm in diameter. However, you can only enjoy the sight of the flowers for a short time, because they last for only 48 hours or so. |
Calceolaria Uniflora | The Calceolaria Uniflora is a plant from the southern area of South America. It looks like a slipper（拖鞋）. It is also known as Darwin’s Slipper Flower, because itwas first discovered by Charles Darwin in his trip around South America. These amusing flowers also look like little orange aliens walking together over the rocks, so sometimes they are nicknamed the Happy Alien Plant. |
Azorella Compacta | The Azorella Compacta looks like a beanbag sofa, but actually it is made up of thousands of flowering buds（花蕾）on long stems（茎）. It can support the weightof a human. The plant is native to the high Andes in South America. It grows very slowly, nearly 15mm per year. It is also one of the oldest living things in the world. Many of the Azorella Compactas we see are thought to be over 3,000 years old. |
1. How long is the Victoria Amazonica in flower?
2. There are another two names for the Calceolaria Uniflora. What are they?
3. How fast does the Azorella Compacta grow?
4. Are the Victoria Amazonica and the Azorella Compacta weak or strong?
5. Please give a suitable title for the article.
It’s the first time I write to you, my Children. I sent you many messages in the past, but you didn’t take them seriously. So I decide to write you a letter.
First, let me tell you more about our family. Dear humans, besides you, I have many other children. Some of them fly in the sky; some of them swim in the water; some live in ice-covered places; some run in the grasslands.
They might be very close to you, or even live in your house. But there are others that you may never have the chance to meet.
You bring them home to be your pets, friends and helpers. You put them in the zoos. You kill them for their meat and fur. And you even hunt them for fun. They bring you money and happiness, but they also bring you illness and death.
I hope you remember that wild animals are not your food, clothes or furniture. They are not killers, either. They are, in fact, your brothers and sisters. You should grow up together. I’m worried that one day you will be lonely if you keep killing them.
So, grow up, humans. Grow up to be more loving and caring. I hope you and all the wildlife can live happily in my arms.
Yours,
Mother Earth
1. Who are “they” in the third paragraph?2. Why do humans kill “them” according to the letter?
3. Do you think humans will listen to Mother Earth’s words? Why or why not.
7 . Eight years ago, 1-week-old Diandian was left behind. When people found her in the reeds (芦苇) of a lake, she looked too weak to survive. Now she is the mother of three milu, thanks to the workers’ attention and care at the East Dongting Lake National Nature Reserve.
Li is the president of a milu conservation association in Yueyang and head of a local milu and bird rescue center, where 11 deer, including Diandian, have their families. Li and his workmates need to work extra hours to take care of the animals from March until mid-May. He remembers March 18 this year. He fed Diandian some fresh shoots and leaves for breakfast as usual, and moments later when he returned, a newborn milu was right beside her. Since it is her third baby and born in the third month of the year, people named it Sansan, referring to “three-three”. Li has developed a deep affection for milu and made up his mind to protect them. “As our country is paying more attention to environmental and wildlife protection, people are increasingly aware that milu are state-protected animals,” Li said.
Milu habitats (栖息地) are usually centered around water, and fishing equipment that used to be a threat to the animals is no longer seen in nature reserves. On May 27, a team of experts went to watch milu near Dongting Lake. It takes time and luck to meet one and count them especially when they live in the thick reeds that are 4 to 5 meters tall. The team leader Song, saw a milu for the first time when he was studying for his doctorate in zoology early in 2009. Since then, he has helped protect the habitats at Dongting Lake. As the flood season is coming, Song and his workmates will go around the lake area day and night to save deer in trouble, and provide feed for the animals when needed.
As the environment improves in and around Dongting Lake, China’s second-largest freshwater lake, the wetland has become cover once again for wildlife. “We will continue to protect these rare animals and their living environment,” Song said.
1. How was Diandian when she was found in the reeds eight years ago?2. Why do people call Diandian’s new baby Sansan?
8 . Wild animals are our friends, but many of them are getting fewer and fewer. We should try to protect them. The four animals below are now in danger.
Tibetan Antelopes
Tibetan antelopes（藏羚羊）mainly feed on grass. They are usually found in groups of about 20. They are killed for their wool, which is warm, soft and fine and can be made into expensive clothes. The number of them is dropping year by year. There are less than 75, 000 Tibetan antelopes left in the world.
Golden Monkeys
Golden monkeys are mainly found in Sichuan, Gansu, and Shaanxi provinces. Golden monkeys have golden-orange fur（皮毛）. They move around in the daytime. They feed on fruits and young leaves of bamboos. But people are destroying the environment where they live. Trees and bamboos are disappearing, so golden monkeys have less and less to eat.
Elephants
Elephants are very big and strong. They are bigger than any other animals on land. They have poor eyesight, but very good hearing and smell. They can lift heavy things and break down branches with their trunk（象鼻）. Now, there are very few elephants in the world. The number of them is becoming smaller and smaller because their living areas are used for farming. Also, people hunt them for their tusks.
Wolves
Wolves are not very big. They have grey fur. Wolves have very good eyesight, hearing and smell. They eat animals, insects and snails. They are friendly to each other and never attack（攻击）people. Wolves are in danger, too. They are losing their living areas because people cut down forests. Soon they will have no home or food.
1. ________
2. ________
3. ________
4. ________
5. ________
9 . I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboreturn in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick animals can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown because the woman had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to-3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could find the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to build a nest and fix it in a tree.
The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I told the owner what she should do and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometime the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all－LUNCH! The owl parents gave the owl chick lunch and would probably continue to do so.
1. Why did the writer get a recue call from a woman in Muttontown?2. Where did the writer put some pine branches?
3. What did the writer give the homeowner?
4. Who gave lunch to the owl chick?
5. What is the passage mainly about?
10 . In order to get away from the busy life in the big city, two young men decided to spend a holiday in the countryside. They enjoyed the beautiful scenery and fresh air there. One day, while taking a walk together, they crossed a large field.
“Look out!” one of the young men shouted, because a bull（公牛） appeared and began to chase（追赶）them. The bull looked like a monster and made a terrible roar（咆哮）, rolling its big eyes. They were very scared. They ran as fast as they could, but the bull kept running after them.
Finally, one of the men climbed up a tree. The other jumped into a hole, but soon he came out of it. And then the bull chased him back into the hole.
“Stay there!” his friend shouted, but soon the man came out again, and again the bull chased him right back.
The same thing went on another three times.
At last, the man in the tree got angry and shouted to his friend, “How foolish you are! I have told you to stay in the hole for a while! Why are you always coming out?”
“It's easy for you to say,” the other man said more angrily. “But there is a bear in the hole!”
So you see, sometimes things are not what they appear to be. We should always try to stand in others' shoes and look from there.
1. Where did the two young men spend a holiday?2. What animal appeared and began to chase them?
3. How many times in total did the man in the hole come out of it?
4. What did the man in the tree think of the man in the hole?
5. Why was the man in the hole always coming out?
