2 . Scientists have created a healthy clone of a black-footed ferret by using DNA from a ferret that died over 30 years ago. The cloned animal is called Elizabeth Ann.

Large numbers of black-footed ferrets once lived in the American West. The ferrets live mainly on the prairie dogs they catch. But when farmers began killing off prairie dogs, lots of ferrets died, too. By the 1970s, most experts believed that black-footed ferrets were extinct.

Then, in 1981, a group of black-footed ferrets were found in Wyoming. The US Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) caught 18 of these ferrets to try to raise them in captivity so that they could be shielded. All but seven died.

At present, there're between 400 and 500 black-footed ferrets remaining. Some are still in captivity. Others have been released into the wild. But all black-footed ferrets living today are related to the seven animals saved from Wyoming.

Normally, when there're large numbers of a type of animal, they have many small differences. The DNA of the animals gets mixed up when different pairs of animals have babies. The small differences in their DNA can help protect the group as a whole. But because all living black-footed ferrets are closely related, they all have similar weaknesses.

But Elizabeth Ann is cloned from an animal that lived over 30 years ago, so her DNA is very different. Scientists hope that when this DNA is mixed back in, future black-footed ferrets will be healthier in general.

Elizabeth Ann was born on December 10, 2020. Blood tests have proven her to be 100% black footed ferret. It's the first native endangered species ever cloned in the US. Elizabeth Ann seems normal and healthy, and enjoys spending her days in her cage.

She won't ever be released into the wild, but soon, she may have some cloned brothers and sisters. And later, she'll probably have babies. Sooner or later, her children will have babies with wild black-footed ferrets, and her DNA will begin to spread.

1. What does the underlined word “shielded” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Donated.

B．Served.

C．Treated.

D．Protected.

2. What is the biggest threat to the captive black-footed ferrets?

A．Their unusual appearance.	B．Their biological weaknesses.
C．Their poor living conditions.	D．Unfriendly human activities.

3. Elizabeth Ann was most probably cloned from a wild ferret that died ______.

A．in the 1960s

B．in the 1970s

C．in the 1980s

D．in the 1990s

4. What attitude does the author hold towards the future of Elizabeth Ann?

A．Uncaring.

B．Doubtful.

C．Dissatisfied.

D．Positive.

3 . The phone vibrated（震动）and Amy's name appeared on the screen. “They found something,”she said , and then , trying to put me at ease , “Don't worry . They'll go in and remove it . It'll be alright.”Eighteen months later, the cancer ended her life. Amy's disease and death were astonishing for us all.

In spite of pain and fear, Amy's humor and compassion（同情）remained. In the middle of a life interrupted, Amy continued to display a concern for others. She once said, before sitting down to a lovely meal on a small island in Maine, as family and friends gathered to celebrate her forty-sixth birthday,“Wouldn't it be nice if everyone with cancer could have a special day like this?”I'm certain that every one of us wondered whether this would be her last birthday. And yet, in that moment, Amy was not thinking of herself but of others who have a cancer.

With her passing away, Amy's family and friends contributed thoughts and ideas so that we could create a foundation that was most like the individual we hoped to honor. We wanted to fulfill her wish that“everyone with cancer could have a special day”.

Less than six months after Amy passed away, our foundation“Amy's Treat”was registered. Since its beginning, Amy's Treat has helped thousands of people whose lives have been changed by cancer for free. It has given out over a million dollars' worth of direct aid, services and access to a“special day”.

Volunteering for Amy's Treat has restored in me a once shaking faith in the thoughtfulness of humankind. We wouldn't be successful without the generous kindness of so many people who will never meet the person or families that their checks and donations will benefit.

“Wouldn't it be nice if everyone with cancer could have a special day like this?”Amy once said. Because she lived and because she died , many have. I think she'd be pleased with how it all turned out.

1. What words can best describe Amy according to the author?

A．Kind and respectable.	B．Smart and brave.
C．Able and confident.	D．Lovely and hardworking.

2. What can we know about Amy's Treat?

A．It is a cancer research center.	B．It is a non-profit organization.
C．It is set up by Amy.	D．It is aimed at the poor.

3. What plays an important role in Amy's Treat's success according to paragraph 5?

A．The staff's hard work.	B．The support from Amy.
C．So many people's generosity.	D．The ideas of Amy's friends.

4. What should we do according to the text?

A．Never get tired of doing kind things for others.

B．Try our best to be resistant to deadly diseases.

C．Be socially active to serve those poor patients.

D．Involve ourselves in healthcare-related research.