3 . The pupils of Grange town High have been busy getting to know their newest and tallest classmate, a 7-meter-tall giraffe outside their school

The giraffe is a huge sculpture made by a local artist. The school's headmaster noticed the sculpture in the artist's garden as he drove past one day. He thought it would be perfect for his school. “I knew everyone would love it,” he said, “because our basketball team is known as Grange town giraffes, and they wear giraffes on their shirts. So I asked them to write a letter to the artist, asking how much it would cost to buy the giraffe. He was very kind and got it ready to deliver in six weeks - all for nothing. It was expected to arrive on Sunday morning so that the pupils would see it when they got to school on Monday - at that time they had no idea that we were getting it.

The artist, Tom Bennett, was a university professor of chemistry before he left that job in 2006 and only took up metalwork a couple of years ago. “I've always drawn pictures,” he said, “I can even remember doing it on my first day at school - I drew a horse. I wanted it to be the best horse picture ever, but I don't think I succeeded.” Tom's first metalwork was a bicycle for two that he and his wife could go cycling on together. “It was a most uncomfortable bike ever created,” he said, “So I gave up making bicycles and went into sculpture instead.”

Meanwhile, the pupils at Grange town High are very happy with their new classmate. “We are going to hold a competition to give it a proper name.” said one girl. “Everyone likes the expression on his face, so perhaps that will give us some ideas.”

1. According to the text, the giraffe _______________.

A．was as tall as a basketball player	B．was given to Grange town High for free
C．was sent to Grange town High on Monday	D．was specially made for a basketball team

2. When the pupils got to school on Monday, they probably felt _______________.

A．excited

B．nervous

C．worried

D．confident

3. What can we learn about Tom Bennet?

A．He learned a lot about sculpture at university.	B．He visited Grange town High
C．He was good at drawing, especially horses.	D．He showed interest in art at an early age.

4. What's the main idea of the text?

A．It was a difficult job to name a giraffe.

B．Tom Bennett is well-known as a sculptor.

C．A metal giraffe arrived at Grange town High.

D．The Grange town Giraffe is a strong basketball team.

4 . The sixth mass extinction of life on the Earth is unfolding more quickly than feared, scientists have warned. More than 30 percent of animals with a backbone — fish, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals — are declining in both range and population, according to the first comprehensive analysis of these trends.

Around a decade ago, experts feared that a new range wipeout of species was appearing. Today, most agree that it is underway — but the new study suggests that the die-out is already growing fast.

The loss of biodiversity has recently accelerated. Several species of mammals that were relatively safe one or two decades ago are now endangered, including cheetahs, lions and giraffes, the study showed.

There is no mystery as to why: our own ever-expanding species — which has more than doubled in number since 1960 to 7.4 billion — is eating, crowding and polluting its planetary cohabitants out of existence. By comparison, there are as few as 20,000 lions left in the wild, less than 7,000 cheetahs, 500 to 1,000 giant pandas.

The main drivers of wildlife decline are habitat loss, over-consumption, pollution, other species, disease, as well as hunting in the case of tigers, elephants, rhinos and other large animals prized for their body parts.

Climate change is thought to become a major threat in the coming decades, with some animals — most famously polar bears — already in decline due to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.

1. What does the underlined word “underway” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Doing.	B．On-going.
C．Increasing.	D．Keeping.

2. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The extinction reasons of the wild animals.

B．The disappearance of the wild animals is approaching.

C．The extinction of the wild animals is becoming faster.

D．The rising temperatures lead to the extinction of the wild animals.

3. Which word best describes the situations of the wild animals mentioned in the passage ?

A．Protected.	B．Endangered.
C．Comfortable.	D．Wonderful.

4. What is the main reason that the polar bears may disappear?

A．Climate change.	B．Humans’ hunting.
C．Loss of living areas.	D．Various illnesses.

5 . On a trip to the forests of southern India, amateur photographer Kaushik Vijayan was shocked to see some massive rodents（啮齿动物），who are maroon（紫褐色），leaping from treetop to treetop.

Vijayan uploaded the images of the four-pound rodents to Instagram, and the Internet went crazy immediately. Some had a difficult time believing that the squirrels, photographed in the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, actually exist, thanks to the animals' bright spots of black and maroon.

But the Indian giant（巨大的）squirrel, also known as the Malabar giant squirrel, is the real deal. Believe it or not, it is not alone. There are three other giants in the squirrel family, Sciuridae-each of which weighs in at two to three times the size of the gray squirrels native to the eastern United States.

＂The four species that make up this group are fascinating in their large size, brilliant coloration, and tendency for feeding on some of the massive tropical fruits on the trees, "says Koprowski.

Even among its relatives, the Indian giant squirrel stands out with its bright colors, which makes one wonder why its evolution would select fur. That would call so much attention to itself. After all, these forests are also home to predators such as lion-tailed macaques, leopards, and crested serpent eagles-all of which have been known to hunt rodents.

No one knows for sure, says Koprowski, but the squirrel's purple patterns may serve as a way to hide the animal itself. This is because the broadleaf forests these squirrels inhabit create a pattern of sun spots and shaded areas-not unlike the rodents' markings.

In other words, what looks flashy and fun to us in an Instagram post may make the squirrels disappear when hungry mouths come to hunt. Now that's a common trick.

1. How did people feel after seeing the Malabar giant squirrel's images?

A．Nervous.

B．Incredible.

C．Embarrassed.

D．Sorrowful.

2. What makes the Malabar giant squirrel different from the rest?

A．Its size.

B．Its habitat.

C．Its color.

D．Its lifestyle.

3. Why does the Malabar giant squirrel have unusual fur?

A．To show itself off.

B．To protect itself.

C．To drive other animals away.

D．To compete with its companions.

4. Which of the following may be a potential threat to the Malabar giant squirrel?

A．Human beings.

B．Rodents' hunting.

C．The Instagram post.

D．The broadleaf forests.

6 . Can trees talk? Yes, but not in words. Scientists have reason to believe that trees do communicate with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. Then even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special smell—a signal causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty.

Communication, of course, doesn’t need to be in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar for honey. So why shouldn’t trees have ways of sending message?

1. It can be concluded from the passage that caterpillars do not feed on leaves that ______.

A．are lying on the ground	B．bees don’t like
C．have an unpleasant taste	D．have an unfamiliar shape

2. The willow tree described in the passage protected itself by ______.

A．growing more branches	B．communicating with birds and bees
C．shaking caterpillars off	D．changing its leaf chemistry

3. According to the passage, the willow tree was able to communicate with other trees by ______.

A．waving its branches	B．dropping its leaves
C．giving off a special smell	D．changing the colour of its trunk

4. According to this passage, bees communicate by ______.

A．touching one another	B．making special movement
C．smelling one another	D．making unusual sound

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Many years ago, I thought I was adopting a mini pig, but it turned out that I was wrong when it reached 650 pounds. One night, about five years ago, I was surfing the Internet in the living room. Then I received a message from a former classmate. We hadn’t communicated for a long time, so I felt a little surprised.

“Hey Steve,” she said. “I know you love animals very much. I have a mini pig that is not getting along with my dogs. I can’t keep it. Do you want it?”

It’s true that I’ve always loved animals. My first best friend was my childhood dog. So I was quite excited. A mini pig sounded lovely. The whole situation seemed a little strange, but I’ve always been a trusting person.

I replied casually, “Let me do some research and I will give you an answer later.”

But I knew I wanted the pig. I just had to figure out how to make it happen, because I had many pets and a roommate.

A few hours later, I got another message from her:

“Someone else is interested. If you don’t want her, this other person will take her.”

You’re probably smart enough to recognize this as a manipulative tactic (巧妙的策略), and normally I’m smart enough too. But I wouldn’t let that pig go. So I told her that I’d take the animal. I gave her my address, and we agreed to meet near my house the next day.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I knew nothing about mini pigs.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I felt joyful when I drove home with the newest member of our family.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . There are about 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs in the world. They are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the best­known in North America is the seven­spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red­and­black body.

In many cultures, ladybugs are thought to be good luck. Most people like them because they are pretty, lovely and do no harm to human beings. But farmers love them because they eat aphids and other plant­eating pests. One ladybug can eat up 5,000 insects in its lifetime!

Most ladybugs have dome­shaped bodies with six short legs. Depending on the kind, they can have spots, stripes, or nothing at all. Seven­spotted ladybugs are red or orange with three spots on each side and one in the middle. They have a black head. Ladybugs are colorful for a reason. They tell the enemy: “Eat something else! I taste terrible.” When threatened, they may play dead. Birds are ladybugs' main predators, but they are also eaten by frogs, spiders, and dragonflies.

Ladybugs are happy in many different places, including grasslands, forests, cities, suburbs, and along rivers. Seven­spotted ladybugs are native to Europe but were brought to North America in the mid­1900s.

Ladybugs are most active from spring until fall. When the weather turns cold, they look for a warm place to hibernate, such as in rotting logs, under rocks, or even inside houses. These hibernating places can have thousands of ladybugs.

The name “ladybug” was given by European farmers who prayed to the Virgin Mary when pests began eating their crops. After ladybugs came and wiped out the invading insects, the farmers named them “beetle of Our Lady”. This later was shortened to “lady beetle” and “ladybug”.

1. The underlined word “aphid” in Paragraph 2 is probably a kind of         .

A．pest

B．bird

C．plant

D．tree

2. From the third paragraph we can infer that         .

A．all ladybugs have spots	B．the colorful body can protect them
C．most ladybugs are red or orange	D．frogs are not one of the predators

3. What can't we conclude from the text?

A．Ladybugs can live along rivers.

B．Seven­spotted ladybugs were brought to Europe from North America.

C．Ladybugs are very active in autumn.

D．The name “ladybug” came from “beetle of Our Lady”.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Seven­spotted Ladybugs	B．The Development of Ladybugs
C．The History of Ladybugs	D．Ladybugs

9 . James Sulikowski, from the Shark and Fish Conservation Lab at the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences at Arizona State University, was one of the scientists who captured the seven foot porbeagle (鼠鲨) shark in the Atlantic.

In a Facebook post, the lab said the shark had been growing for years with a plastic strap around its gills. “Photos ... show the female shark’s head was slowly being sliced off by the unyielding strap,” it said. “The piece of circular plastic had become lodged around her neck when she was younger. As she grew, it began to cut through her skin into her muscle, if we had not removed it, she surely would have died.”

In a message to Newsweek, Sulikowski said the strap was probably one that would normally go around a bait box. “The box went overboard, and the porbeagle shark, when younger, ate the fish in the box,” he said. “While doing so, [the] strap got wrapped around the sharks head. As the shark grew, the strap dug into the shark’s flesh. If we didn’t remove it, the shark would have surely died.”

The photos of the shark being strangled follow the discovery of a dead minke whale that had been killed by a piece of fishing line. The male minke whale was found on a beach in Dennis, Massachusetts. The fishing line had become “wrapped around its head and through its mouth, creating a bridle,” the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said in a Facebook post.

The IFAW said the initial autopsy (验尸) suggests the whale died from injuries caused by the entanglement. It also said there were signs of possible infection. “The entanglement likely contributed to the cause of death, though additional lab results are pending.”

The problem of plastic pollution in the ocean is getting worse. It is thought there is currently over 150 million metric tons of plastic in the world’s oceans, and more and more is entering every year. A report published earlier this year estimated the amount of plastic entering the ocean every year will have doubled by 2040, amounting to 600 million metric tons.

More than one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals are killed every year by plastic waste. “Plastic in all forms are an issue,” Sulikowski said. “We need more research to understand the extent of the long term effects of this type of pollution.”

1. What do you know about the shark?

A．Her head was sliced off.

B．The strap cut through her skin when she was younger.

C．She was in more danger as she grew.

D．Scientists had not removed the strap.

2. According to the initial autopsy, the cause of the whale’s death is ______.

A．the entanglement.	B．a piece of fishing line.
C．infection.	D．not decided.

3. What can you infer from the text?

A．The present amount of plastic in the ocean is about 300 million tons.

B．The next 20 years will see an increase of 450 million tons of plastic in the ocean.

C．More than 150 million metric tons of plastic is going into ocean every year.

D．About 300 million tons of plastic is going into ocean every year.

4. What can be the best title of the text?

A．Scientists saved a shark whose head was being sliced off.

B．The death of a whale and a shark worried IFAW.

C．Plastic pollution is threatening certain animals’ lives.

D．Plastic pollution is getting worse and worse.

10 . Lack of airflow in your home can cause indoor air pollution and worsen health issues. Your furniture, the materials in your walls and your carpet can hold poisons, Before buying an expensive air cleaner,you'd better try out a few houseplants first 一they' re much cheaper and look a lot nicer.

Snake Plant

Perfect for your bedroom, this plant is unique in its ability to give off oxygen at night. Snake plants are also able to produce enough oxygen in an air-sealed room for people to breathe normally.It's one of the best plants for filtering (过滤) some harmful gases. Water it once a week, being sure to let the soil dry in- between waterings, and keep it by a window.

Peace Lily

If you' re somebody that loves flowers in the house, this is a great option for you. A peace lily produces fragrant flowers all summer long , and effectively removes formaldehyde(甲醛) from the air. It grows best in shady areas and with the soil kept damp. Be careful though, as this plant can be poisonous if eaten by children or pets.

Bamboo Palm

This fast growing houseplant looks splendid and is safe for children and pets. It will add damp to the air in the dry winter months and remove indoor air pollutants. It grows well in indirect sunlight away from any cold drafts. .Take care of it by keeping the soil wet and misting ts leaves.

Red Edged Dracaena

This drought tolerant plant is good for beginners. It grows well in sunlight. Wipe the underside of the leaves regularly with a damp cloth to make sure it can properly filter your air.Place it in a semi-shaded area and mist the soil with room-temperature water. Careful,it's not pet-friendly.

1. How does a snake plant help you?

A．It produces enough oxygen.	B．It gives off a fragrant smell.
C．It keeps the indoor air wet.	D．It makes the bedroom prettier.

2. Which of the following can be kept in the sun?

A．A snake plant.

B．A peace lily.

C．A bamboo palm.

D．A red-edged dracaena.

3. What do the four plants have in common?

A．They prefer dry conditions.	B．They do good to kids and pets.
C．They reduce indoor pollution.	D．They're suitable for beginners.