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The koala is an unusual creature. Native to Australia and a bit bigger than a rabbit, it spends most of its time in eucalyptus trees（桉树），feeding on leaves that are poisonous to nearly every other animal on the planet.
The koala sleeps about 22 hours a day and spends the remainder of its time eating and resting. It might spend 10 minutes a day moving, experts say, usually from one tree to another. It has a soft pad at the end of its spine and extra thick fur on its rear end to make the effort, of sitting more comfortable.
Threats and protective measures
The unique lifestyle of the koala has helped it prosper, but today the cute and iconic creature is facing threats from habitat loss, disease and a changing climate. Koala populations are expected to decline by 50 percent in the next 20 years according to the Australian Museum.
To help protect these animals, which bring in an estimated $1.1 billion to Australia each year through koala-related tourism, an international team of researchers has published the first complete genome（基因组）of the koala. Their hope is that the keys to the marsupial’s（有袋动物）long-term survival might be planted in its genetic code.
“The ultimate goal is that we won’t have to…rescue them from the edge of extinction,”said Rebecca Johnson of the Australian Museum Research Institute in Sydney, who led the work.
“Now we have a really good understanding of the koala genome, and we are in a fantastic position to use that knowledge to help us manage them.”
Early findings
An elementary analysis of the koala’s genome, published in Nature Genetics, has already yielded some interesting findings.
For example, the authors found that, compared to other mammals, the koala’s DNA includes an expansion in the number of genes that encode for enzymes involved in anti-poison. That allows them to have a diet that depends almost entirely on eucalyplus leaves which are unusually high in poison. However, it also means that koalas metabolize（代谢）medicines like anti-chlamydia antibiotics faster than other animals.
The koala genome also revealed why koalas are such famously picky eaters. They are known to consume leaves from just 20 of Australia’s 60 known eucalyplus species. And even when they are in one of their preferred trees, koalas take leaf selection very seriously.
Information waiting to be discovered
Johnson said that the information encoded in the koala’s DNA is already being included in management strategies by conservation groups. However, she said the findings described in the new paper represent the early stages of what can be gleamed from the marsupial’s genome.
“The data is public, and I would love for anyone to start mining it and see what other amazing things they can find,”she said.“Once you have a genome of this quality, the sky’s the limit with what you can do with it.”
1.What can be concluded from the passage?
A. The research on the Koala’s DNA has prevented its extinction successfully.
B. Scientists are trying to rescue Koalas by providing more eucalyptus leaves.
C. Koala’s extinction is being controlled effectively in Australia.
D. Scientists are trying to find a way based on Koala’s gene to save them.
2.According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE?
A. Koalas can digest poisonous leaves thanks to their gene.
B. Koalas are particular about leaves because of their taste.
C. Koalas are being extinct just due to human’s activities.
D. Koalas will move to other continents in order to survive.
3.“The sky’s the limit”in the last sentence most probably means ___.
A. The sky is the restriction
B. The sky is too high to reach
C. There is no limit
D. There is no possibility
4.The passage is mainly about ___.
A. Koala-a Special Creature in Australia
B. scientific research on Koalas
C. scientific efforts to save the Koalas
D. Koala’s Characters and Preference
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The home ________ the lion is Africa while the koala bear is native ________
Australia.
A．of；of B．to；to
C．of；to D．to；of
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The Zebra Finch: An Owner’s Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet
The zebra finch, a native of Australia, is a popular domestic pet in the United States. The bird has many attributes (特性) which allow it to be kept at home, though there are also a few negative aspects. The attributes are nest-building, breeding and a lively attitude. The potential negatives are over-breeding and the wildness of the birds.
One of the main attributes of zebra finches is their ability to breed. They are the rabbits of the domestic bird world. Once you have two birds, male and female, you will soon have six, as they breed quite easily and have strong babies, usually four at a time. An added attribute is their ability to build their own nests. You can place branch in their place along with some kind of structure, and they will create a nest on their own. It’s very pleasant to see the ways males and females divide some labors and share others, and the babies grow up quickly. Overall, zebra finches are energetic birds, and they can make every place where they live delightful lives.
On the negative side, they will breed and in-breed. Often, in-breeding does little harm and does not cause genetic defects (缺陷), as happens more often in other species. However, no one can tolerate just any population level. One has to either remove their nests altogether, which basically removes their personal living place, or check for eggs regularly once a week (the gestation period is 13 days, so even a one-week neglect can lead to births). Eggs can be replaced with false plastic eggs, and this prevents females from laying too many. If they do lay too many, they will die from mineral loss. Since these birds do not tame well, removing eggs can be an unpleasant process of repeatedly invading their personal space.
Overall, it is unfortunate that zebra finches are inexpensive birds due to their high level of breeding. They require considerable care to live happy lives. The best care-takers are true avian fanciers — people who have appropriate space for the nests and enough time to allow them to nest-build and breed without over-breeding.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A. Zebra finches over-breed by nature and its consequent ill effects.
B. Only people who love birds can take care of Zebra finches.
C. Domestic zebra finches require a lot of care to live happy lives.
D. Zebra finches never become completely tame.
2.By saying “They are the rabbits of the domestic bird world”, the writer means that both rabbits and Zebra finches ______.
A. have good ability to breed B. are difficult to be raised
C. live delightful lives D. share responsibilities
3.In paragraph 3, the word “gestation” probably means ______.
A. the period when eggs remain fresh
B. the time when finches build up their nest and lay eggs
C. the time required for the parents to create a nest
D. the time required for baby birds to develop and to be born
4.According to the passage, attributes of domestic zebra finches include ______.
A. their rareness and easiness to be tamed
B. their nest-building, sharing of responsibilities and delightful personalities
C. their in-breeding, which does not cause as much genetic harm as in other species
D. the fact that they are from Australia and have difficulty in adapting themselves
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It is ______ work of art that the museum has decided to buy and keep it .
A such an unusual B a so unusual C such unusual D so unusual
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“Sam” the koala, the most famous survivor of Australia's worst-ever wildfires, is healing well thanks to the efforts of caretakers at a rescue—and she even has a new boyfriend, “Bob”
Sam, who captured hearts around the world after she was photographed drinking from a firefighter's water bottle, has also won the affection of "Bob", another koala whose paws were scorched, caretaker Lynn Raymond said Thursday.
Neither koala is likely to be healthy enough for release for at least four months, and both are being comforted by caretakers for their scorched paws every few hours.
Global interest in the fate of Sam has been intense since a photograph of firefighter David Tree offering her a bottle of water in a burned-out forest was splashed across the Internet, in newspapers and on television broadcasts. The telephone at the shelter has rung continually with callers eager for update on the creature's condition.
“It's crazy,” Raymond said with a laugh. "（But） everybody has been absolutely wonderful."
Sam was found moving on scorched paws by a fire patrol Sunday. Tree then held out a bottle of water for her to drink, which she eagerly accepted, holding Tree's hand as he poured water into her mouth.
After suffering second-and-third-degree burns to her paws, Sam has been sharing a cage with Bob, who took an immediate interest in her when she arrived on Sunday.
Both Sam and Bob were given painkillers when they first arrived, but they're off the drugs now. The two are still receiving antibiotics（抗生素）and have their bandages changed regularly to avoid infections.
The koalas are likely to be in the shelter at least four months, depending on how quickly their burns heal.
1.What is Sam well-known for?
A．Her falling in love with Bob. B．Her taking part in fighting the fire.
C．Her saving a firefighter. D．Her drinking a firefighter's water.
2.How do people show their concern about Sam?
A．They call the shelter to learn about her latest condition.
B．They take care of her via the media.
C．They donate bottles of water or money for her.
D．They send many photos of her to the Internet.
3.From the passage we know that Bob and Sam .
A．are taking some drugs other than painkillers
B．are still under treatment
C．have completely healed from the treatment
D．are free of infections
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One of Australia’s “Big Things”，The Giant Koala, is situated midway between the Victorian towns of Stawell and Horsham at a small town called Dadswells Bridge. Dadswells Bridge is regarded as the gateway to the Grampians Ranges. The Giant Koala is the “Guardian of the Grampians”.
Stop in for breakfast, lunch or dinner or just drop in for some takeaway food, a hot drink or a nice cold ice cream. Try our range of old style boiled lollies or make a selection from our lolly shop with a large range of chocolates & lollies. You can even have your next function/party at the Giant Koala in the newly landscaped courtyard fed with our famous camp oven roasted meats.
Make use of our BBQ, and bring your own meat and have a picnic out in our courtyard or among the animals in the zoo. The Giant Koala has a large range of gifts and souvenirs for all ages so that you can take a soft toy koala away with you as a reminder of your visit.
The new owners of The Giant Koala, Rob & Julie-Anne, have recently added a zoo which is home to two very affectionate koalas and other native Australian animals and some farm animals.
You can have your photo taken with our Koalas for a small fee. We have just completed a children’s “Petting Zoo” where they can pat animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, baby turkeys, chickens.
The Giant Koala made an appearance on the Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson movie Charlie and Boots and was featured in the Telstra Bigpond advertisements this year.
A series of eight “Big Things” in Australia has just been released on Redhead Matches and The Giant Koala was selected to be part of this series and you can find them in Supermarkets now.
1.What is the best title of the passage?
A. Have Lunch at The Giant Koala
B. Australia’s “Big Things”
C. Welcome to The Giant Koala: an Unforgettable Experience
D. Best Gifts You Can Buy at The Giant Koala: Soft Toy Koala
2.It can be inferred from the passage that The Giant Koala is ________.
A. a small town B. a sighting seeing place
C. a famous camp D. a very large creature
3.The passage is most likely to be taken from ________.
A. a tourist website B. a food column
C. an English textbook D. a research study
4.The underlined word “fed” can be replaced by “________”.
A. eaten B. encouraged
C. regarded D. supplied
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Two-thirds of Australia kangaroos and ______ are native ______the area which_______ dry and desert.
A. dingoes; to, is B. dingos; on, are
C.dingoes; to ,are D. dingos; by, is
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The tall manchineel tree that is native to the Caribbean, Florida, South America, Central America and the Bahamas, looks particularly attractive. But you may be wise to notice the warning given that the tree holds the Guinness World Record for “the world’s most dangerous tree”.
The deadliness begins with the sweet-smelling fruit. As British radiologist Nicola Strickland and her friend discovered, even a single bite of the green apple-like produce can lead to hours of suffering. The scientist says within minutes of eating the fruit, she and her friend experienced “a strange peppery feeling” in their mouths. A few hours later, the two could barely swallow any solid food. Fortunately, the symptoms started to reduce after about eight hours and the fruit did not cause any long-term damage.
Many plants have poisonous bark and leaves to prevent grass-eating animals. However, the fruits are usually edible allowing animals to feed on them or carry seeds to help with reproduction. But since the manchineel fruits are largely transported by ocean tides, the tree does not need help to reproduce.
The tree’s thick and milky white sap (树液) is equally dangerous. Contact with the skin can lead to symptoms that range from headaches to respiratory(呼吸) problems. Exposure to the eye can even cause “temporary painful blindness”. Given that the sap’s most dangerous toxin is highly water soluble, experts advise not using the tree for shade during a rain shower, as raindrops carrying the sap could easily burn your skin.
The fear has resulted in almost destroying the tree in Florida where it is on the list of endangered species. While removing it altogether may seem like the logical solution, experts argue that the manchineel trees are important for local ecosystems. In addition to protecting against ocean winds, the dense manchineel trees also prevent ocean erosion in Central America. The tree’s wood is very popular with Caribbean carpenters who have learned to neutralize its poisonous sap by drying the bark in the sun. In Central and South America, the locals use the bark to treat body swelling caused by injury and infection.
1.Which of the following best explains “edible” underlined in Paragraph 3?
A.Fit to eat. B.Easy to pick. C.Hard to find. D.Nice to look at.
2.Which of the following about the manchineel tree is true?
A.Its fruits taste sweet.
B.It reproduces by ocean tides.
C.Your eyes may be blind at the sight of it.
D.You have difficulty breathing in its shade.
3.What is mainly talked about in the last paragraph?
A.The medical use of the manchineel trees.
B.The important role of the manchineel trees.
C.The urgent need of protecting the manchineel trees.
D.The way of removing poisonous sap from the trees.
4.Which of the following can best show the structure of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
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Dodder is an unusual and unwanted plant that attacked other plants. Except for its flower, the plant looks like spaghetti, a kind of noodles in the shape of long thin pieces that look like string when they are cooked. Its almost leafless, thread-like stems hang down on top of other plants that dodder needs to stay alive. Dodder does not produce its own food. Instead, it steals food from other plants. It feeds by sucking juices from the plant which is wrapped around, often making its host very weak or even killing it.
Dodder can find other plants by their smell. When a young dodder plant starts growing, it follows the smell of plants it prefers, like tomato plants, potato plants, or other farm crops. Unlike most plants that usually grow in the direction of light or warmth, a dodder plant will grow in the direction of , for example, tomato smell-if a tomato happens to be growing nearby.
However, a young dodder plant must find a host plant quickly. It no longer needs its root once it is attached to the host and wrapped around it. If it cannot catch a smell of potential host within a few days, it will dry up and vanish even if there is plenty of water around. Once it finds a host, the young dodder plant will attach itself to it and start growing faster. At that point the dodder plant will drop its root.
Dodder is thus a difficult weed to manage and a real headache for farmers. When it does get out of hand, dodder can greatly reduce a farmer’s harvest or even destroy crops completely. Before sowing their produce, especially farmers in warm parts of the world often check to make sure no unwanted dodder seeds have mixed with their crop seeds. This is a good way to stop dodder plants from making their way to a crop field secretly.
1.Why does the author mention spaghetti in the first paragraph?
A. To analyze the content of some food. B. To introduce the topic of this passage.
C. To tell the usage of the dodder plants. D. To describe the shape of dodder plants.
2.What does the underlined word “vanish” in the third paragraph mean?
A. invade B. grow
C. escape D. disappear
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Dodder doesn’t produce its own food. B. Dodder gives off smell to attract plants.
C. Dodder can affect farmer’s income. D. Dodder can only survive in the shade.
4.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce a new variety of farm crops.
B. To introduce plants that are harmful to humans.
C. To introduce the special abilities of a dangerous plant.
D. To introduce recent improvements in farming methods.
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Dodder is an unusual and unwanted plant that attacks other plants. Except for its flowers, the plant looks like spaghetti, a kind of noodles in the shape of long thin pieces that look like string when they are cooked. Its almost leafless, thread-like stems (茎) hang down on top of other plants that dodder needs to stay alive. Dodder does not produce its own food. Instead, it steals food from other plants. It feeds by sucking juices from the plant which is wrapped around, often making its host very weak or even killing it.
Dodder can find other plants by their smell. When a young dodder plant starts growing, it follows the smell of plants it prefers, like tomato plants, potato plants, or other farm crops. Unlike most plants that usually grow in the direction of light or warmth, a dodder plant will grow in the direction of, for example, tomato smell—if a tomato happens to be growing nearby.
However, a young dodder plant must find a host plant quickly. It no longer needs its root once it is attached to the host and wrapped around it. If it cannot catch a smell of a potential host within a few days, it will dry up and disappear—even if there is plenty of water around. Once it finds a host, the young dodder plant will attach itself to it and start growing faster. At that point the dodder plant will drop its root.
Dodder is thus a difficult weed to manage and a real headache for farmers. When it does get out of hand, dodder can greatly reduce a farmer’s harvest or even destroy crops completely. Before sowing their produce, especially farmers in warm parts of the world often check to make sure no unwanted dodder seeds have mixed with their crop seeds. This is a good way to stop dodder plants from making their way to a crop field secretly.
1.Why does the author mention spaghetti in the first paragraph?
A. To analyze the content of some food.
B. To describe the shape of dodder plants.
C. To explain where the dodder plants come from.
D. To argue that dodder plants can be used.
2.What will happen if a dodder plant starts growing where there are no other plants around?
A. It will die sooner or later.
B. It will grow deep roots.
C. It will attract other plants.
D. It will cover the entire area of soil.
3.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. Dodder does not produce its own food.
B. Dodder can affect farmers’ income.
C. Dodder can only survive in the shade.
D. Dodder only grows in the warm areas.
4.What is the main topic of the passage?
A. A new variety of farm crops.
B. Plants that are harmful to humans.
C. The special abilities of a dangerous plant.
D. Recent improvements in farming methods.