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Four Wild Animal Species Were Endangered
Maybe you can still see them at the zoo. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing alright in the wild.
Tigers
All six tiger species are endangered, with Sumatran tigers and South Chin tigers at a seriously endangered status. The main reasons for their population decline are illegal hunting and destroyed habitats(栖息地), as humans clear forests to gather timber（木材）and build roadways. Only about 3890 tigers presently live in the wild.
Ground squirrels
That’s right, even squirrels are endangered, specifically the San Joaquin ground squirrel. Native to California, USA, these guys have been disappearing since 1979 on account of the construction and human developments going through their habitat. Their total population is unknown , but it could be anywhere between 124000 and 413000.
Giraffes
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature recently put giraffes at a vulnerable status, the level just before endangered. The giraffe population has declined 40 percent in the last 30 years, primarily due to loss of habitat and illegal hunting. Some giraffes are killed just for their tails, which are considered status symbols in Africa.
Asian elephants
The main threat to Asian elephants, one of the most intelligent animals, is their shrinking habitat. As the human population grows, people invade their land to build roads and railway tracks. Elephants in Myanmar are at an especially high risk for being captured and traded or used illegally in the tourist industry. Fewer than 50000 are left on the entire continent.
1.What is the total population of tigers living in the wild?
A. Around 3890.
B. 50000.
C. 124000.
D. 413000.
2.Which of the following is considered one of the most intelligent animals?
A. Tigers.
B. Giraffes.
C. Ground squirrels.
D. Asian elephants.
3.What is the common threat to the four wild animals?
A. Illegal hunting.
B. Disturbed habitat.
C. Developing tourism.
D. Unnecessary construction.
4.Which word can best describe the present situation for protecting wild animals?
A. Satisfactory.
B. Optimistic.
C. Urgent.
D. Stable.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
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Toddler World Nursery was delighted to employ a trainee---twenty-two-old Jonathan Brown—as their first male nursery schoolteacher. He was also the only man who applied for the job, but, insists Margery Bowman, head teacher of Toddler World, by far the best applicant. “Both boys and girls will benefit from the experience of having a male role model in the nursery.” Says mother of two, Margery.
Jonathan has always been interested in childcare. His own mother is a childminder and his father is a teacher. “I’ve always helped Mum with looking after all the children.” he says. “I’m used to changing nappies, feeding babies, reading stories and playing with Lego.”
But Jonathan is a rare male in a female world. Only 2% of nursery teachers are men and this hasn’t changed for ten years. Roger Olsen of the National Nursery Trust said, “Men are often viewed with anxiety and suspicion(怀疑)in a children’s environment. Or they are expected to do things the way women would do them. But men bring different things into childcare and this has to be recoginsed.” Jonathan agrees. He is a qualified under-7s football coach, and plants to introduce football lessons to the nursery for boys and girls.
What do Jonathan’s friends think of his choice of career?
“Actually, most of them are pretty cool about it now.” he says, “though they do make jokes about nappies. And I’ve found that girls are actually quite impressed – so that’s good!”
1.Why was Jonathan employed by Toddler World Nursery?
A. He was the best among all the applicants.
B. He was the only man who applied for the job.
C. He would be able to teach kids to play football.
D. He would do things the way women would do them.
2.Which of the following can replace the underlined word “childminder” (Para.2)?
A. Instructor.
B. Superior.
C. Baby-sitter.
D. Coach.
3.What did Roger Olsen say about the job of childcare?
A. It has been women-specific.
B. It requires people’s understanding.
C. It takes time to make some changes.
D. It needs men teachers to bring something different.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
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A girl became a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, which meant visiting and taking care of a patient suffering from an incurable disease with days numbered.
The girl was assigned to look after an old man suffering from cancer whose children lived abroad. Their living conditions were not satisfactory while the old man had a lot of savings. She was expected to comfort him and keep up his spirits. Every Saturday the girl came on time to keep his company, telling him stories. When he was having an intravenous drip (静脉滴注), she would help massage his arms. The doctor found the patient much improved mentally. The old man began to involve himself actively in the medical treatment and he seldom shouted at others.
But something that happened made the doctor uneasy and puzzled. Each time the girl left, the old man would give her some money. The doctor did nothing to interfere (干涉), unwilling to offend the old man. A month later the old man showed evident signs of decline after suffering coma (昏迷) a few times. When rescued from the latest coma, the old man told the doctor his last wish, “ I have deep sympathy for the girl. Will you be kind enough to help her finish her studies?” But the doctor knew that her family was well-off and she had no difficulty pursuing her studies. Sometimes she even came to the hospital in her father’s car.
When the girl came at the weekend after the death of the old man, the doctor told her the bad news. She was very sad and burst into tears. Then she handed $ 500 to the doctor, saying, “ The old man had all along thought I came to do the job because of poverty. He gave me money so that I could continue my schooling.” Now he got the answer to the puzzle. In the last period of his life, the old man found it a real pleasure to be able to help a girl badly in need.
1.What kind of people do volunteers attend to in Deathbed Care?
A. The patient in need of operations.
B. The people suffering from cancer.
C. The people suffering from diseases.
D. The patient without many days left.
2.What can we infer about the old man according to Paragraph 2?
A. He had abundant savings and he was cheerful.
B. He frequently lost his temper before he met the girl.
C. He was suffering from cancer and helped a poor girl.
D. He asked the doctor to help the girl finish her study.
3.What is the real reason resulting in the old man’s mental improvement?
A. His children’s progress in their career.
B. The intravenous drip that he had every Saturday.
C. The pleasure of being helpful to people in need.
D. The girl’s good comfort and care in his daily life.
4.Why did the girl take the old man’s money?
A. To keep him in high spirits.
B. To continue her schooling.
C. To gather experience on voluntary work.
D. To involve him actively in the treatment.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
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Television has changed the lifestyle of people in every industrialized country in the world. In theUnited States, where sociologists have studied the effects, some interesting observations have been made.
Television, although not essential, has become an important part of most people’s lives. It alters people’s ways of seeing the world; in many ways, it supports and sustains (维持) modern life.
Television has become a baby-sitter, an introducer of conversations, the major transmitter of culture, and a keeper of tradition. Yet when what can be seen on TV in one day is critically analyzed, it becomes evident that television is not a teacher but a sustainer; the poor quality of programming does not elevate (提高) people into greater understanding, but rather maintains and encourages the life as it exists.
The primary reason for the lack of quality in American television is related to both the history of TV programming development and the economics of TV. Television in America began with the radio. Radio companies and their sponsors first experimented with television. Therefore, the close relationship which the advertisers had with radio programs became the system for American TV. Sponsors not only paid money for time within programs, but many actually produced the programs. Thus, in American society, television is primarily concerned with reflecting and attracting society rather than experimenting with new ideas. Advertisers want to attract the largest viewing audience possible. To do so requires that the programs be entertaining rather than educational, attractive rather than challenging.[
Television in America today remains, to a large extent, with the same organization andstandards as it had thirty years ago. The hope for further development and true achievement toward improving society will require a change in the entire system.
1.According to the author, American television is poor in quality because _________.
A. it is controlled by radio companies
B. the programs have to be developed partly for economic reasons
C. advertisers are interested in experimenting with new ideas
D. it is still at an early stage of development, compared with the radio
2.In the author’s view, American TV should _________.
A. be entertaining and attractive
B. reflect society and attract society
C. maintain and encourage the life as it exists
D. change with the development of society
3.Based on the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. TV has become a must in the American’s life.
B. One can expect to improve his understanding significantly from watching TV.
C. American TV is important to most people as it affects their life in many ways.
D. American TV nowadays has some different standards from the past.
4.The author’s attitude towards American television is _________.
A. negative B. positive
C. indifferent D. sympathetic
难度: 中等查看答案及解析