2 . Are zoos bad for animals?

Zoos have existed since ancient times and were features of the great courts of Egypt and China. The display of unusual animals from foreign countries was, for a long time, a show of wealth and power. Today, zoos focus on the preservation of animal species and education of the public.     1    

Some animals are distinctly unsuited for life in a zoo, however noble the aims of the organization. Keeping elephants in captivity (囚禁) has long caused argument among animal rights activists. Elephants in the wild wander constantly, covering a wide territory on a daily basis. In captivity, they have no choice but to stand still for long periods of time.     2     Yet elephants are a threatened species in their native environments and are heavily caught for ivory (象牙), leather and meat illegally. To protect the species from extinction, some experts feel that captive breeding programs may be the best strategy for future survival. Many elephants in captivity were rescued from circuses (马戏团), saved from natural disasters or removed from the wild due to injury or abandonment.

    3     The chances are, if a zoo has nothing but cement floors and metal enclosures, the animals will not do as well. Many famous zoos now construct enclosures allowing animals freedom of movement and native vegetation. Some zoos have even begun housing species of animals together that normally interact I the wild, such as certain types of monkeys.

Zoos are not a perfect solution for preservation.     4     They are undeniably helpful in repopulating declining animal species and encouraging a preservationist outlook, but they are unquestionably primary in their treatment of some animals. Hopefully, animal activists and zoo advocates will continue to work together, finding ways to create the best environment for captive animals in breeding and re-population efforts.

A．They can be endlessly improved as we better understand how to treat animals.

B．Experts have broken fresh ground in breeding captive animals.

C．Yet critics suggest that animals should not be kept in cages.

D．Studies have clearly shown that captive animals will live longer and be more active kept in an environment close to their native surroundings.

E．This, therefore, puts severe pressure on the legs and feet of these giants and causes long-lasting injury in some captive animals.

F．Evidences indicate that some animals depend greatly on surroundings.

3 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.

Nowadays, leaders the world over are busy mapping out blueprints for a new age with environmental protection high on their agenda. Sustainable development hits headlines almost every day. It is of utmost importance to restore the harmonious balance between man and nature, given the damage we’ve already done to it.

First of all, we must realize that man and nature are interactive. To begin with, we derive everything from nature. Among other things, I’m sure you’ve all tasted natural produce that is otherwise known as green food. And you must have noticed that nearly all beautifying products boast of being natural creams, natural lotions or natural gels. For man, nature has an irresistible appeal.

But on the other hand we must also realize that nature can be unruly. Nature is indeed like a riddle, some areas of which are beyond the reach of science and technology, at least in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the advancement of science and technology will still characterize the next millennium. The coming new age will provide many opportunities, but it will be likewise run of challenges. For instance, United Nations’ demographers predict that global population could soar from its current 5.9 billion to as many as 11.2 billion by 2050. This will worsen the current scarcity of natural resources caused by environmental degradation. More conflicts over this scarcity may occur with the ghost of nuclear wars always hiding in the background. To prevent this nightmare from coming true, governments need to work closely with each other and back up their verbal commitment by actions. However, it is not enough only to ask what governments can do to achieve the harmony between man and nature. We must ask ourselves what we as individuals can do.

Can we all be economical with food, water, electricity or other resources? Can we, or rather, some greedy ones among us, stop making rare plants and animals into delicious dishes? Can we stop using the unrecyclable style of lunch boxes? If not, one day they may bury us in an ocean of white rubbish. After all, the earth is not a dustbin; it’s our common home.

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4 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one more word than you need.

A. commercial   B. essential        C. remaining        D. permit     E. communities F. opportunity   G. encourage       H. independent     I. devoted     J. secure     K. leading

The Pacific island nation of Palau has become home to the sixth largest marine sanctuary in the world. The new marine reserve, now the largest in the Pacific, will    1    no fishing or mining. Palau also established the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009.

The tiny island nation has set aside 500,000 square kilometers—80 percent—of its maritime territory, for full protection. That’s the highest percentage of an exclusive economic zone    2    to marine conservation by any country in the world. The    3    20 percent of the Palau seas will be reserved for local fishing by individuals and small-scale    4    fishing businesses with limited exports.

“Island    5    have been among the hardest hit by the threats facing the ocean,” said President Tommy Remengesau Jr. in a statement. “Creating this sanctuary is a bold move that the people of Palau recognize as    6    to our survival. We want to lead the way in restoring the health of the ocean for future generations.”

Palau has only been an    7    nation for twenty years and has a strong history of environmental protection. It is home to one of the world’s finest marine ecosystems, with more than 1,300 species of fish and 700 species of coral.

Senator Hokkons Baules,     8    sponsor of the Palau National Marine Sanctuary Act, said the sanctuary will “help build a    9    future for the Palauan people by honoring the conservation traditions of our past”. These include the centuries-old custom of “bul”, where leaders would call a temporary stop to fishing for key species in order to give fish stocks a(n)     10     to replenish.