Living in South Africa, I had always taken the wildlife pretty much for granted. Not to say that we were surrounded by it, but the accessibility of game parks and wildlife sanctuaries(避难所,庇护所) always made it seem like a natural part of the environment. For this reason, I suppose that the way my European friends used to talk to me, wasn’t so strange after all. They would ask me what I thought at the time were really silly questions which got on my nerves. They’d say things like ‘Do you have a pet baboon?’ or ‘Do you travel to school by elephant?’.
When Amanda, a friend of mine who was visiting from England, invited me to join her and a group of friends on a wildlife expedition, I was not filled with enthusiasm. However, from the moment we entered the gates of the Zaluzi game reserve, I knew that this was not going to be anything like I had expected. We had been traveling along the National Road when, suddenly, we turned onto a dirt track which seemed to be hidden in the middle of nowhere. Amazingly, the scenery changed dramatically. The civilized environment took on a wild, chaotic(混沌的;一片混乱的) aspect and continued to do so as we walked deeper into the bush.
After having a good night’s sleep at one of the reserve’s bungalows, we were woken at the crack of dawn. After a quick breakfast we piled into a jeep and set off. Our guide assured us that the early start was necessary in order to have the best chance of seeing what was really worthwhile. Armed with just a thermos of coffee, we set out towards the shore of a small lake where it was expected that we could see that animals that used it as their morning watering hole.
On the way to our destination, we topped a hill and there, against the emerging morning light, were a group of animals. It was a stunning sight. As we moved closer, the animals did not appear to be alarmed by our presence. Pet baboons aside, I had never before come within such close range of a pride of lions. It did cross my mind, however, that we might be in a certain amount of danger. When I asked Timothy, our game ranger, if we were actually in any danger, he replied straightforwardly that one is never entirely safe in the bush, but his knowledge and experience allowed him to anticipate any danger with reasonable accuracy.
However, the following day there was some cause for alarm. Not having started out so early, we missed the sightings of the day before. We decided to drive around for a while, hoping to come across something of interest. Suddenly our tracker perched up on the back of our vehicle, signaled to the driver to halt and at the same moment I realized that this time we had stumbled right into a pride of lions. The driver promptly turned off the engine and in a low voice warned us to remain seated and not to make any abrupt movements. The lions were picking at what looked like the remains of a zebra. Timothy, later told us how much to our advantage this was. Had their bellies not been full, their reaction to us would surely have been otherwise. As the nearest lion was less than three meters away from the jeep, I considered that we had been very lucky indeed.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Our near miss with the lions was without a doubt the highlight, but what it taught me yet again was how easy it is to be indifferent to our surroundings and not to have a full appreciation of the beauty around us.
1.How did the writer feel about the questions her European friends asked?
A. ridiculous B. annoyed C. strange D. embarrassed
2.When did the writer’s attitude change about the expedition?
A. When she was traveling along the dirt track.
B. When she received her invitation.
C. When she arrived at the game reserve.
D. When her friend arrived from England.
3.What does the underlined word ‘It’ (in the fourth paragraph) refer to?
A. the pride of lions B. the destination
C. the top of the hill D. the morning light
4.Timothy’s experience as a game ranger was valuable because he ______________
A. could supply a straightforward answer to any question.
B. knew how to frighten the animals.
C. knew the game reserve well.
D. could identify trouble in advance.
5.What does the writer mean by the underlined sentence ‘we had been very lucky indeed’ in the fifth paragraph?
A. They had seen the lions up close. B. They hadn’t been attacked.
C. They had a good guide with them. D. They had gone on a trip.
6.What conclusion does the writer of the text come to?
A. We often do not realize how attractive our environment really is.
B. It is not clever to unnecessarily put ourselves in dangerous situations.
C. We don’t respect wild animals enough.
D. We should protect our surroundings.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
Living in South Africa, I had always taken the wildlife pretty much for granted. Not to say that we were surrounded by it, but the accessibility of game parks and wildlife sanctuaries(避难所,庇护所) always made it seem like a natural part of the environment. For this reason, I suppose that the way my European friends used to talk to me, wasn’t so strange after all. They would ask me what I thought at the time were really silly questions which got on my nerves. They’d say things like ‘Do you have a pet baboon?’ or ‘Do you travel to school by elephant?’.
When Amanda, a friend of mine who was visiting from England, invited me to join her and a group of friends on a wildlife expedition, I was not filled with enthusiasm. However, from the moment we entered the gates of the Zaluzi game reserve, I knew that this was not going to be anything like I had expected. We had been traveling along the National Road when, suddenly, we turned onto a dirt track which seemed to be hidden in the middle of nowhere. Amazingly, the scenery changed dramatically. The civilized environment took on a wild, chaotic(混沌的;一片混乱的) aspect and continued to do so as we walked deeper into the bush.
After having a good night’s sleep at one of the reserve’s bungalows, we were woken at the crack of dawn. After a quick breakfast we piled into a jeep and set off. Our guide assured us that the early start was necessary in order to have the best chance of seeing what was really worthwhile. Armed with just a thermos of coffee, we set out towards the shore of a small lake where it was expected that we could see that animals that used it as their morning watering hole.
On the way to our destination, we topped a hill and there, against the emerging morning light, were a group of animals. It was a stunning sight. As we moved closer, the animals did not appear to be alarmed by our presence. Pet baboons aside, I had never before come within such close range of a pride of lions. It did cross my mind, however, that we might be in a certain amount of danger. When I asked Timothy, our game ranger, if we were actually in any danger, he replied straightforwardly that one is never entirely safe in the bush, but his knowledge and experience allowed him to anticipate any danger with reasonable accuracy.
However, the following day there was some cause for alarm. Not having started out so early, we missed the sightings of the day before. We decided to drive around for a while, hoping to come across something of interest. Suddenly our tracker perched up on the back of our vehicle, signaled to the driver to halt and at the same moment I realized that this time we had stumbled right into a pride of lions. The driver promptly turned off the engine and in a low voice warned us to remain seated and not to make any abrupt movements. The lions were picking at what looked like the remains of a zebra. Timothy, later told us how much to our advantage this was. Had their bellies not been full, their reaction to us would surely have been otherwise. As the nearest lion was less than three meters away from the jeep, I considered that we had been very lucky indeed.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. Our near miss with the lions was without a doubt the highlight, but what it taught me yet again was how easy it is to be indifferent to our surroundings and not to have a full appreciation of the beauty around us.
1.How did the writer feel about the questions her European friends asked?
A. ridiculous B. annoyed C. strange D. embarrassed
2.When did the writer’s attitude change about the expedition?
A. When she was traveling along the dirt track.
B. When she received her invitation.
C. When she arrived at the game reserve.
D. When her friend arrived from England.
3.What does the underlined word ‘It’ (in the fourth paragraph) refer to?
A. the pride of lions B. the destination
C. the top of the hill D. the morning light
4.Timothy’s experience as a game ranger was valuable because he ______________
A. could supply a straightforward answer to any question.
B. knew how to frighten the animals.
C. knew the game reserve well.
D. could identify trouble in advance.
5.What does the writer mean by the underlined sentence ‘we had been very lucky indeed’ in the fifth paragraph?
A. They had seen the lions up close. B. They hadn’t been attacked.
C. They had a good guide with them. D. They had gone on a trip.
6.What conclusion does the writer of the text come to?
A. We often do not realize how attractive our environment really is.
B. It is not clever to unnecessarily put ourselves in dangerous situations.
C. We don’t respect wild animals enough.
D. We should protect our surroundings.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
An extreme drought is threatening South Africa's wildlife industry. Farmers are keeping fewer animals and vacationers are visiting in smaller numbers. Parts of the country have been affected by repeated years of hotter than normal weather and below average rainfall. The conditions have burned feeding grass and dried up watering holes. In 2015, the area saw the driest year on record. The agency Wildlife Ranching South Africa ( WRSA) collets data on more than 9,000 wildlife ranches ( 牧场) in the nation. It estimates that the Northern Cape Province has lost more than .two thirds of its game over the last three years. WRSA is talking to ranchers around the country to gather information on animal loss and the financial impact the drought is having.
WRSA Chief Adri Kitshoff-Botha told Reuters News Agency the drought has continued for some time. “In some areas we've seen it has been going on for six years, ”she said. The wildlife industry brings money to South Africa's economy through tourism, hunting, breeding and meat production. Hunting —the shooting of carefully chosen animals in particular—made $ 140 million in 2016, topping the list of the four mentioned, above, breeding ranking the least, though.
In the past, the lodge (度假区) was home to around 4,500 wild animals—including 35 different species from antelope to rhino. But it has lost around 1 ,000 animals because of the drought. Now, dead animals sit in old and unused mines on the edge of the property. “The lodge has seen its spending rise as it buys more feed for animals for the sake of the drought. At the same time, hunters are paying less, and fewer tourists are visiting because the animals are in poor condition over the past year,” said WRSA’s Kitshof-Botha. The drought has also hit other parts of South Africa. In Botswana, more than 100 elephants died in two months in 2019. Botswana is home to almost one-third of Africa's elephants.
1.Which is the indirect result of the drought?
A.Economy is barely declining. B.Feeding grass has been burned.
C.Watering holes have dried up. D.Vacationers are becoming fewer.
2.Which took the lead in South Africa's wildlife industry in 2016?
A.Hunting. B.Breeding.
C.Tourism. D.Meat production.
3.The lodge's expense is going up because_____
A.some local species need more attending in hot weather
B.the animals in poor condition are dying out in the drought
C.the lodge has to offer animals more food due to the drought
D.dead animals' bodies need to be buried in' old and unused mines
4.What does the passage mainly talk about?
A.South Africa's wildlife industry is under the threat of an extreme drought.
B.The rapid decreasing of national economy affects wildlife in South Africa.
C.Most wildlife ranchers in South Africa are suffering a lot from the drought.
D.Wildlife industry is playing a vital part in South Africa's national economy.
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
The US plans to extend its endangered species protection to lions in Africa.US Fish and Wildlife Service(FWS)will classify lions in southern and eastern Africa as threatened.The move will place tighter restrictions on the import of lion“trophies”,such as paws or heads.
While the US cannot regulate hunting in other countries,the move is significant because around half of a11 lion hunting in Africa is conducted by Americans.According to FWS data,more than 5,600 lions have been killed and imported by American hunters over the past decade.
Under the new FWS rules,bringing lion parts to the US will be banned in most circumstances if the animal is from a country where lions are endangered.Hunters will have to show the trophies were“legally obtained”from countries that have“a scientifically sound management program that benefits the subspecies in the wild”·
This regulation is expected to place a far greater burden of proof upon hunters who claim that the money from lion hunting has been used to help communities in Africa and the overall conservation of lions.The persistent downward trend in lion numbers,due to habitat loss and hunting by locals and foreign tourists,suggests there has been little conservation benefit from organized hunts.
An international study,published in September,found African lion numbers have decreased by half since 1993,with a further 50%decline expected over the next 20 years for populations in west,central and east Africa·
“The lion is one of the planet’s most beloved species and an irreplaceable part of our shared global heritage,”said Dan Ashe,director of the FWS.“If we want to ensure that healthy lion populations continue to wander around the African savannas and forests of India,it’s up to all of us—not just the people of Africa and India—to take action.
1.Why will lions be classified as endangered in southern and eastern Africa?
A.No lion is protected in Africa.
B.Lion trading has been banned.
C.Its numbers have been decreasing.
D.Both locals and tourists hunt lions.
2.Where do most of the lion hunters come from?
A.Southern Africa.B.America.
C.Eastern Africa. D.India.
3.What may be the result of the move ?
A.The import of lion parts will be strictly limited.
B.Lion-hunting will be illegal all over the world.
C.Communities in Africa will benefit a lot.
D.Lion parts will not be legally obtained.
4.What does Dan Ashe really want to tell us in the last paragraph?
A.Almost everybody loves lions.
B.It’s everyone’s duty to protect lions.
C.Lion populations will increase rapidly.
D.Measures must be taken to keep lions fit.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读下面材料,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
One of the workers in Africa’s largest wildlife preserve said the last time an elephant in the Niassa Reserve 1. (record) killed by a poacher was on May 17, 2018.
“The drastic decline in poached elephants is owed to a new rapid-intervention police force,” said Joe Walston, 2. local official.
“ Any one of those things alone isn’t going to be 3. (success), which is why it has taken so long to be able to get 4. (we) to a point 5. we’ve been able to get poaching 6. control,” Walston told CNN.
7. (situate) in a remote region of northern Mozambique, the Niassa Reserve has seen thousands of animals killed in recent years. The rapid-intervention police force is 8. (well) armed than the reserved normal rangers and has 9. (right) to arrest suspected poachers. Walston said that the ability to make arrests is important to prevent poachers from 10. (come) to the reserve.
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Pretoria.South Africa—Hundreds 0f swimmers Play in the water along a South African beach.Suddenly a huge shark appears offshore and heads for the bathers.Before it can get close to the swimmers,the shark,for some mysterious reason,starts swimming parallel to the beach.Then it turns away from shore and heads out to sea,leaving the swimmers untouched.
Such a scene will soon become common along shark infested(鲨鱼出没)shores.An electrical engineer from the University of Pretoria has developed an electrical system that repels(击退)sharks by controlling their movements.Confused by this action,the sharks end up turning away from the beach.
In this unusual shark repellent method,an insulated(绝缘)cable is buried on the bottom of the sea around a beach from which people swim.When an electric current is sent though the cable,an electric field is produced in the water above the cable.
When the shark swims into the electric field,nerve cells just below the shark’s skin detect the field.The electricity produces a reflex(反射)action in the shark’s muscles,causing the dangerous animal with sharp teeth to swim parallel to the cable.Contused by increasing loss of control of its muscles,the shark suddenly changes its direction and heads seaward,away from the electric field.
In a test of the invisible new shark-repellent system,a cable was placed around a beach in St.Lucia an island in the tropics.A protective net,which had been installed around the beach a long time ago to keep sharks from swimmers,was left in place during the experiment.
When the electric field was 1eft on for more than a year and a half,no sharks were found in the nets.However,when the power was turned off,89 sharks ended up in the nets.
Using the electric wall method instead of nets to protect bathers would avoid the needless death of many sharks,say biologists.Currently,thousands of sharks die each year when they become trapped in protective nets that surround holiday resorts in Africa and Australia.About 10 to 15 humans are killed by sharks annually.
1.In the first passage,why doesn’t the shark attack the swimmers?
A.Because they are many swimmers in the water.
B.Because the shark doesn’t want to eat the swimmers。
C.Because of some mysterious reason from the God.
D.Because there is an invisible electric field confusing the shark.
2.An electrical engineer from the University of Pretoria has developed________.
A.A protective net B.A new shark-repellent system
C.The electric field D.An insulated cable
3.An electric field is produced in the water above the cable ________.
A.only when the shark swims into the electric field
B.an insulated cable is buried on the bottom of the sea around a beach from which people
swim
C.only when an electric current is sent though the cable
D.only when the sharks are trapped in protective nets
4.Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
A.Protective nets had been installed around the beach earlier than the new shark repellent system.
B.This new kind of shark repellent system wilt take place of the protective nets.
C.Thousands of sharks die and about 10 to 15 humans are killed by sharks each year in Africa and Australia since this new system was Put into use.
D.Using the electric wall method instead of nets to protect bathers would avoid the needless death of many sharks.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The poaching,or illegal killing,of rhinos(犀牛) in South Africa is growing worse each year.The government recently reported that a record number of rhinos were poached in 2014,a year which had more rhino killings in South Africa than ever before.
The World Wildlife Fund,or WWF,says about 20,000 rhinos live in South Africa.That is more than 80 percent of the rhinos in the world.Edna Molewa,South Africa’s environmental issues minister,says,“During 2014,we are sad to say this,1,215 rhinos were killed.This is a rise in the number of poached rhinos from 1004 in 2013 and indeed very worrying.”
The animals are hunted for their horns(犀牛角).Many people in Asia believe the horn has curing power,which drives poachers,at all costs,mad for more horns.But there is no scientific evidence for this belief.The horn is made of keratin.That is the same thing as human hair, fingernails and toenails.
Ms.Mo1ewa said 386 suspected poachers were arrested last year,an increase from the year before.But rhino protection workers say poachers often go unpunished after arrest.South Africa’s legal system is ineffective.Ms.Molewa said more needs to be done and South Africa is taking strong measures to protect rhinos.The efforts include moving some of the animals to secret places in neighboring countries.“Now approximately 100 rhinos have been moved to neighboring states in the SADC region during 2014 and 200 more rhinos will be moved this year”Molewa said.
Jo Shaw,the rhino program manager at the WWF,said,“we’re talking about a loss of a hundred rhinos a month.Or more than three a day.We really need to see effective action not just at a national level but internationally.”She says officials should find the criminal groups responsible for the poaching and punish them.Government officials are to meet in Botswana in March at the Inter-governmental Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
1.What do we know about rhinos?
A.Half of the rhinos live in South Africa.
B.Less than 1,000 rhinos were killed in 2013.
C.The killing reached the highest point in 2014.
D.There are only 20,000 rhinos left in the world.
2.What is the main reason for people to hunt rhinos?
A.To get more keratin.
B.To protect the farmland.
C.To use them for decoration.
D.To make money from horns.
3.Jo Shaw thinks that_________.
A.many criminal groups are well organized
B.new laws are needed to punish the killers
C.rhino protection needs international cooperation
D.conferences about protecting rhinos are to be held every year
4.What can we infer from the text?
A.Rhino protection has a long way to go.
B.No one would like to buy horns in the future.
C.The illegal killing of rhinos will soon disappear.
D.Rhinos living in South Africa will move to other countries.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The poaching,or illegal killing,of rhinos(犀牛) in South Africa is growing worse each year.The government recently reported that a record number of rhinos were poached in 2014,a year which had more rhino killings in South Africa than ever before.
The World Wildlife Fund,or WWF,says about 20,000 rhinos live in South Africa.That is more than 80 percent of the rhinos in the world.Edna Molewa,South Africa’s environmental issues minister,says,“During 2014,we are sad to say this,1,215 rhinos were killed.This is a rise in the number of poached rhinos from 1004 in 2013 and indeed very worrying.”
The animals are hunted for their horns(犀牛角).Many people in Asia believe the horn has curing power,which drives poachers,at all costs,mad for more horns.But there is no scientific evidence for this belief.The horn is made of keratin.That is the same thing as human hair, fingernails and toenails.
Ms.Mo1ewa said 386 suspected poachers were arrested last year,an increase from the year before.But rhino protection workers say poachers often go unpunished after arrest.South Africa’s legal system is ineffective.Ms.Molewa said more needs to be done and South Africa is taking strong measures to protect rhinos.The efforts include moving some of the animals to secret places in neighboring countries.“Now approximately 100 rhinos have been moved to neighboring states in the SADC region during 2014 and 200 more rhinos will be moved this year”Molewa said.
Jo Shaw,the rhino program manager at the WWF,said,“we’re talking about a loss of a hundred rhinos a month.Or more than three a day.We really need to see effective action not just at a national level but internationally.”She says officials should find the criminal groups responsible for the poaching and punish them.Government officials are to meet in Botswana in March at the Inter-governmental Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
1.What do we know about rhinos?
A.Half of the rhinos live in South Africa.
B.Less than 1,000 rhinos were killed in 2013.
C.The killing reached the highest point in 2014.
D.There are only 20,000 rhinos left in the world.
2.What is the main reason for people to hunt rhinos?
A.To get more keratin.
B.To protect the farmland.
C.To use them for decoration.
D.To make money from horns.
3.Jo Shaw thinks that_________.
A.many criminal groups are well organized
B.new laws are needed to punish the killers
C.rhino protection needs international cooperation
D.conferences about protecting rhinos are to be held every year
4.What can we infer from the text?
A.Rhino protection has a long way to go.
B.No one would like to buy horns in the future.
C.The illegal killing of rhinos will soon disappear.
D.Rhinos living in South Africa will move to other countries.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
For six hours we shot through the landscape of the Karoo desert in South Africa. Just rocks
and sand and baking sun. Knowing our journey was ending, Daniel and I just wanted to remember all we had seen and done. He used a camera. I used words. I had already finished three notebooks and was into the fourth, a beautiful leather notebook I’d bought in a market in Mozambique.
Southern Africa was full of stories. And visions. We were almost drunk on sensations. The roaring of the water at Victoria Falls, the impossible silence of the Okavango Delta in Botswana . And then the other things: dogs in the streets, whole families in Soweto living in one room, a kilometre from clean water.
As we drove towards the setting sun, a quietness fell over us. The road was empty -- we hadn’t seen another car for hours. And as I drove, something caught my eye, something moving next to me. I glanced in the mirror of the car; I glanced sideways to the right, and that was when I saw them. Next to us, by the side of the road, thirty, forty wild horses were racing the car, a cloud of dust rising behind them -- brown, muscular horses almost close enough to touch them, to smell their hot breath. I didn’t know how long they had been there next to us.
I shouted to Dan: “Look!”, but he was in a deep sleep, his camera lying useless by his feet. They raced the car for a few seconds, then disappeared far behind us, a memory of heroic forms in the red landscape. When Daniel woke up an hour later I told him what had happened.
“Wild horses?” he said. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“I tried. But they were gone after a few seconds.”
“Are you sure you didn’t dream it?”
“You were the one who was sleeping!”
Typical, he said. “The best photos are the ones we never take.”
We checked into a dusty hotel and slept the sleep of the dead.
1. During their journey in Africa, the two travelers______.
A.made friends with local residents |
B.complained about the poor living conditions |
C.enjoyed the sunset in the Karoo desert most |
D.recorded their experiences in different ways |
2. What did Daniel think when he woke up and was told what had happened?
A.He always missed out on the best thing. |
B.He had already taken beautiful pictures. |
C.A sound sleep was more important. |
D.The next trip would be better. |
3. What is the passage mainly about?
A.How to view wildlife in Africa. |
B.Running into wildlife in Africa. |
C.Tourist attractions in southern Africa. |
D.Possible dangers of travelling in the desert. |
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The poaching(偷猎), or illegal killing, of rhinos(犀牛) in South Africa is growing worse each year.The government recently reported that a record number of rhinos were poached in 2015,a year which had more rhino killings in South Africa than ever before.
The World Wildlife Fund,or WWF,says about 20, 000 rhinos live in South Africa.That is more than 80 percent of the rhinos in the world.Edna Molewa,South Africa’s Environment Minister,says, “During 2015,we are sad to say this,1,215 rhinos were killed.This is a rise in the number of poached rhinos from 1,004 in 2014 and indeed very worrying.”
The animals are hunted for their horns(角).Many people in Asia believe the horn has curing power,which drives poachers, at all costs,mad for more horns. But there is no scientific evidence for this belief.The horn is made of keratin(角蛋白).That is the same thing as human hair,fingernails and toenails.
Ms.Molewa said 386 suspected poachers were arrested last year,an increase from the year before.But rhino protection workers say poachers often go unpunished after arrest. South Africa’s legal system is ineffective. Ms. Mo1ewa said more needs to be done and South Africa is taking strong measures to protect rhinos.The efforts include moving some of the animals to secret places in neighboring countries. “Now approximately 100 rhinos have been moved to neighboring states in the SADC region during 2015 and 200 more rhinos will be moved this year,” Molewa said.
Jo Shaw,the rhino program manager at the WWF,said, “We’re talking about a loss of a hundred rhinos a month,or more than three a day.We really need to see effective action not just at a national level but internationally.” She says officials should find the criminal groups responsible for the poaching and punish them. Government officials are to meet in Botswana in March at the Inter-governmental Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
1.According to paragraph 2, we know ________.
A.half of rhinos live in South Africa
B.less than 1,000 rhinos were killed in 2014
C.the killing in 2015 was more than that in 2014
D.there are only 20,000 rhinos left in the world
2.What is the main reason for people to hunt rhinos?
A.To get more keratin.
B.To protect the farmland.
C.To use them for decoration.
D.To make money from horns.
3.Jo Shaw thinks that ________.
A.many criminal groups are well organized
B.new laws are needed to punish the killers
C.rhino protection needs international cooperation
D.conferences about protecting rhinos are to be held every year
4.What can we infer from the text?
A.Rhino protection has a long way to go.
B.No one would like to buy horns in the future.
C.The illegal killing of rhinos will soon disappear.
D.Rhinos living in South Africa will move to other countries.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
The poaching (偷猎),or illegal killing,of rhinos(犀牛) in South Africa is growing worse each year.The government recently reported that a record number of rhinos were poached in 2015,a year which had more rhino killings in South Africa than ever before.
The World Wildlife Fund,or WWF,says about 20, 000 rhinos live in South Africa. That is more than 80 percent of the rhinos in the world. Edna Molewa, South Africa’s Environment Minister,says, “During 2015,we are sad to say this,1, 215 rhinos were killed.This is a rise in the number of poached rhinos from 1,004 in 2014 and indeed very worrying.”
The animals are hunted for their horns(角).Many people in Asia believe the horn has curing power, which drives poachers, at all costs, mad for more horns. But there is no scientific evidence for this belief.The horn is made of keratin(角蛋白).That is the same thing as human hair,fingernails and toenails.
Ms.Molewa said 386 suspected poachers were arrested last year,an increase from the year before.But rhino protection workers say poachers often go unpunished after arrest. South Africa’s legal system is ineffective. Ms. Mo1ewa said more needs to be done and South Africa is taking strong measures to protect rhinos.The efforts include moving some of the animals to secret places in neighboring countries. “Now approximately 100 rhinos have been moved to neighboring states in the SADC region during 2015 and 200 more rhinos will be moved this year,” Molewa said.
Jo Shaw,the rhino program manager at the WWF,said,“We’re talking about a loss of a hundred rhinos a month,or more than three a day.We really need to see effective action not just at a national level but internationally.” She says officials should find the criminal groups responsible for the poaching and punish them. Government officials are to meet in Botswana in March at the Inter-governmental Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade.
1.According to paragraph 2, we know ________.
A.half of rhinos live in South Africa
B.less than 1,000 rhinos were killed in 2014
C.the killing reached the highest point in 2014
D.there are only 20,000 rhinos left in the world
2.What is the main reason for people to hunt rhinos?
A.To get more keratin. B.To protect the farmland.
C.To use them for decoration. D.To make money from horns.
3.Jo Shaw thinks that ________.
A.many criminal groups are well organized
B.new laws are needed to punish the killers
C.rhino protection needs international cooperation
D.conferences about protecting rhinos are to be held every year
4.What can we infer from the text?
A.Rhino protection has a long way to go.
B.No one would like to buy horns in the future.
C.The illegal killing of rhinos will soon disappear.
D.Rhinos living in South Africa will move to other countries.
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