In 1981, there were more than 1.3 million elephants in Africa. But in 1991, that number was cut down to 600,000. African elephants are hunted for their valuable ivory tusks(象牙). More have been killed by poachers(偷猎者). Poachers are hunters who kill animals illegally. An adult(成年) elephant eats as much as 300 pounds a day. In their search for food, elephants often move great distances. When they cannot find the grasses they prefer, they may strip(剥光) the land of trees.
Today, the area in which elephants herds live is smaller than it used to be. Many areas in their path have been turned into farms. And some elephants have been killed by farmers for trampling(践踏)their crops.
What can we do here in our country about a threatened animal that lives so far away? Our government has passed a law to protect it. People cannot import or bring in items made from ivory or any part of the elephant’s body.
Most countries throughout the world have also stopped ivory imports. It is hoped that the ban(禁令) on the sale of ivory will help save the African elephant. But the world’s largest land animal needs other help. The countries where these animals live are often poor and unable to manage the herds. If the elephant is to survive, this animal is going to need our support for many years to come.
1.The number of the elephant in Africa in 1991 was .
A. the same as that ten years ago B. more than that ten years ago
C. a little less than half of that in 1981 D. a little more than half of that in 1981
2.African elephants have been killed mainly because _____.
A. they eat a lot B. they have beautiful tusks
C. poachers kill for fun D. there are too many of them
3. The areas where African elephants live are much smaller today because ___.
A. they tend to live in herds
B. there are not so many of them today
C. many of these areas have been turned into farms
D. farmers have been killing them to save their crops
4.It is mentioned in the passage that our country has ____.
A. officially stopped ivory imports
B. banned the killing of elephants in Africa
C. threatened the elephants that live far away
D. helped the African countries where elephants live
5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Poachers have a license(执照) to hunt for animals.
B. Elephants do a lot of good for the farmers in Africa.
C. We live too far away to help to save the African elephants.
D. The African elephant needs the world’s support for its survival
It was on a warm day last summer. I was walking by the sea. The waves came and went. But I didn’t see them. I was lost in my thoughts.
A row of small holes soon caught my eyes. They lay in the sandy earth by the side of a road. In a minute I would have stepped on them.
What are these holes? I wondered. It had an answer soon. A fat, hairy insect crawled up from the earth. It had a wide tail. It was using the tail to dig in the ground.
The insect moved round and round in one spot(地点). Soon it had made another hole. When it was finished, the insect hid at the bottom. It covered its head with sand.
By now my thoughts of the early morning had gone. This new hole and the insect were all my world. So I sat quite still by the side of the road. And I waited.
As I watched, a small ant crossed the road. It passed my foot, and then it crossed the sandy earth. In a little while it reached the edge of the hole. I saw it start to fall in. The ant tried to turn back. But it couldn’t.
And then I knew. I knew why the holes were there. For just then the fat insect came up out of the hole. It ate the ant who was trapped there.
Later I learned the insect’s name. It’s called ant lion. It digs holes to catch ants.
I’ll never forget that day. The holes looked so small to me. But to the ant and the ant lion they were the whole world.
I took my walks by the sea that summer. But I never again learned as much as I did on the one.
1. What did the ant lion use to dig holes?
A. Its tail B. Its feet. C. Its head D. Its whole body
2. Why did the ant lion hide in the hole?
A. To keep the sun away B. So no one would catch it.
C. So the ant wouldn’t see it D. To keep warm.
3. Why did “I” sit down by the side of the road?
A. To think B. To eat her lunch
C. To watch the little holes D. To catch ants.
4.Why did the ant lion dig the holes?
A. To play a game B. To catch its food
C. To hide its eggs D. To hide from its enemy
5.Why did “I” never forget that day?
A. Learned something B. Had a nice time
C. Saw the ant lion whenever she took a walk
D. Felt sorry for the ant.
Dick was a twenty-year-old man. His father was a teacher and taught chemistry in a middle school and his mother worked in a shop. They lived a happy life until his parents died one night when suddenly an earthquake broke out. Luckily his sister took him to see their aunt in the city and they did not stay at home. Everything was destroyed in the earthquake and the two children got into trouble. Thanks to their aunt who was not rich enough, they grew up but they lived a hard life. His sister was so sad that she became a nun(修女). After he finished middle school, he was introduced to an owner of a hotel and began to work there.
One day the young man fell to the ground while he was cleaning a window on the second floor. He was sent to the hospital and the doctor looked him over. One of his legs was broken and he had to be in hospital. He said to the nurse, “I’m a poor man, madam. Arrange a third-class ward(病房) for me, please.”
“Can’t anybody help you?”
“No, madam,” answered Dick. “I have only a sister. She’s a nun and she’s poor, too.”
“I don’t think so,” the nurse said angrily. “Nuns usually marry God. And God is the richest in the world, you know!”
“Well, then,” Dick said with a smile. “Please arrange a first-class ward for me and post the bill(账单) to my brother-in-law(姐夫).
1.Dick’s parents died _____.
A. in an accident B. in the war C. in the earthquake D. from the disease
2. Dick and his sister escaped from the earthquake because ____.
A. they played outside B. they were in a safe place
C. their parents saved them D. the aunt saved them
3. The sister and brother lived a hard life because ____.
A. they lost all B. they were too young
C. they were hurt in the earthquake D. they had to look after themselves
4.After Dick finished middle school, ____.
A. he stayed at home B. he began to look for a job
C. he broke his leg D. he began to work in the hotel
5. Which of the following is true?
A. The nurse would arrange a third-class ward for Dick.
B. The nurse would arrange a first-class ward for Dick.
C. The nurse would post Dick’s bill to God.
D. Dick had a rich brother-in-law.
完形填空（共10分）
We live in the “computer age”. People like scientists, teachers, writers and even students use computers to do 16 work. But more than 40 years ago, 17 couldn’t do much. They were very big and expensive. Very 18 people were interested in them and knew how to use them. Today computers are smaller and 19 . 20 they can do a lot of work, many people like to use them. Some people even have them at home.
Computers become very important because they can work 21 than men and make fewer mistakes. Computers can 22 people do a lot of work. Writers now use computers to write. Teachers use them to help teaching. Students use them to study and children use them to play games. Computers can also remember what you put 23 them. Computers are very 24 and helpful. They are our good friends.
Do you want to 25 a computer?
1. A. many of B. all kinds of C. a lot D. very much
2. A. scientists B. teachers C. students D. computers
3. A. few B. little C. a few D. a little
4.A. cheap B. cheaper C. expensive D. more expensive
5.A. But B. And C. Since D. If
6.A. slow B. slower C. fast D. faster
7.A. help B. make C. use D. stop
8.A. in B. into C. on D. up
9.A. beautiful B. careful C. useful D. heavy
10.A. pay B. sell C. lend D. have
In the sentence “ she rose to her feet in one swift movement ”, what does “swift” mean?
A. short B. quick C. immediate D. hurry
Hallmark arrived in my hometown of Calcutta, India when I was 16. On Valentine’s Day(情人节), I waited in line with many other teenagers just for a chance to get into the store. I remember wishing two things. One of them is that the good-looking boy whom I could see through the store window was picking out a gift for me. Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day passed and I received nothing but a lecture from my father on how Western capitalism(资本主义) was ruining your culture.
The next Valentine’s Day, I still didn’t have a boyfriend, but I did receive a greeting card from a secret admirer. I can’t remember what it exactly said inside the card, but it hardly mattered. I know I’m not the only one who’s had the blues because of being single on Valentine’s Day.
It’s not just on Valentine’s Day that I’m reminded of these feelings. One night, my friend and I were at the subway station in New York City waiting for the local to arrive. The station was mostly full of college students, and later an older couple walked in. Just at that moment, a street musician started playing She’s Only a Woman to Me. The couple began dancing around the station and lost in their own world. On the train, I found myself recalling the time when I was with a date at the subway station, and there he picked me up in his arms like I was a ballerina(芭蕾舞女演员).
My view of romance has changed from when I was 16 in Calcutta to now, 23, and living in Manhattan. This year, I won’t focus all my romantic expectations on one particular day. I’ll spend Valentine’s Day with friends in New York City. But I won’t try to hide somewhere or turn off my cellphone. Instead, I’ll help my coupled-up friends pack for their weekend trips to Rome.
1.The underlined word “Hallmark” in Paragraph 1 probably refers to a .
|
A．city |
B．street |
C．store |
D．man |
2.We can infer that in the opinion of the writer’s father .
|
A．his daughter should have received a gift |
|
B．people in India shouldn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day |
|
C．people in India should welcome Western culture |
|
D．his daughter should know more about capitalism |
3.According to Paragraph 2, if someone has the blues, he or she is probably .
|
A．lucky |
B．angry |
C．excited |
D．sad |
4.What is implied in the passage?
|
A．The writer now has a boyfriend. |
|
B．The writer now is afraid of Valentine’s Day. |
|
C．The writer will go to Rome with her coupled-up friends. |
|
D．The writer’s attitude towards Valentine’s Day has changed. |
