1 . For centuries, elephants have played a big role in the world’s economies, culture and religion. The African elephant used to be found all over Africa and the Asian elephant moved from Syria to China to Indonesia. Nowadays, elephants are found in small groups in the south of the Sahara Desert and scarcely in Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and India.

In the early twentieth century, there were close to ten million elephants, and now the elephant number is as low as 252,000 and expected to drop down to 160,000 by 2025. Between 2007 and 2014, the elephant population fell by at least 30%, or 144,000 elephants. As researchers have traveled over the African plains, they only spotted one herd of 36 elephants in an area like the size of Mexico. It is clear that these gentle mammals are disappearing right before our eyes.

There are many reasons why the elephant population has been decreasing, one of which is their habitat. Humans are competing with elephants for living space, and as more and more humans clear the land that is being used by elephants, the elephants have less space. Elephant hunting or “poaching” has been a major factor for the disappearance of this species, and they are killed only for their valuable ivory tusks. Although the trade of tusks is illegal, it is still a common practice in many places.

Often, all the local people living among elephants would be farmers, and found that they could make more money by selling the tusks of one elephant, than doing manual labor for twelve years. That alone makes it really hard to prevent them from killing the elephants.

Some places such as Botswana, have put in extra effort to protect their wildlife from poachers by founding their Botswana Defense Force, which is made up of around 700 specially-trained soldiers that are stationed in 40 different areas. You may feel worried about the present situations elephants are in, but there are ways to help. To find out how you can help elephant conservation, adopt an elephant, or donate, click here.

1. The numbers listed in Paragraph 2 show that       .

A．humans don’t care for elephants

B．elephants have been next to extinction

C．elephants have become gentler than before

D．elephants have gained more attention

2. What is the biggest factor for the disappearing elephants?

A．Less space.	B．A lack of food.
C．Suffering from a disease.	D．Elephant hunting.

3. Why is it hard to ban killing the elephants among the farmers?

A．Their tusks are profitable.

B．Elephants are destroying their fields cruelly.

C．Farmers hope to make a living by selling their meat.

D．Farmers practice their hunting skills by killing elephants.

4. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To persuade readers to make a donation.

B．To guide readers how to protect elephants.

C．To encourage readers to help protect elephants.

D．To introduce the decreasing number of elephants.

2 . Check out some fun weekend activities from our friends at Arizona Parenting.

Walk in the Wild: Walk or run for wildlife at the Phoenix Zoo's Walk in the Wild 2016. Put on your favorite animal dress and take part in the one mile or 5K, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Zoo. Walk in the Wild includes a morning full of unique activities you won't find at any other valley walk, including all day zoo admission and a lakeside after party .

Register online. 6－10 am. Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602－286－3800.

Free Museum Day: It is hosted by Sesame Street and HBO at the Children's Museum of Phoenix.   Kids can participate in activities, enjoy a performance by the Sesame Street Muppets and get to join the Everyday Heroes Club. An act of kindness is all it takes to become a member. Performances and activities will take place at 10：30－11：30 am and 1：30－2：30 pm.

9 am－4 pm. Children's Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. 7th Street, Phoenix. 602－253－0501.

Sunday A'Fair: Sunday A'Fair features free outdoor concerts in Scottsdale Civic Center Park by top Arizona musicians, along with an artsandcrafts market, fun activities for children and families, guided tours of the sculptures in the park and free admission to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA). Guests are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs or picnic baskets, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of great entertainment. Delicious foods, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks are also available for purchase.

12－4 pm. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. 480－994－ARTS (2787)．

1. What can children do at Walk in the Wild?

A．Join in the 5mile walk.	B．Attend courses for free.
C．Wear animal shaped clothes.	D．Enjoy good company of wild animals.

2. What qualification is needed to join the Everyday Heroes Club?

A．Do a good deed.	B．Donate money to the club.
C．Be active in school activities.	D．Be ready to help protect wildlife.

3. Where can one go to buy some works of art?

A．The Phoenix Zoo.

B．Scottsdale Civic Center Park.

C．The Children's Museum of Phoenix.

D．Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.