Two-thirds of Australia kangaroos and ______ ...

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

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

As everybody knows，kangaroos are native________Australia and are often regarded as one of Australia’s national treasures.

A．in　　    B．to

C．from 　    D．with

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Pandas are _____ to the mountains of central China and only about 1,000 remain in the wild.

A. native    B. sensitive    C. relate    D. familiar

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

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

高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

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

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

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

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

________more and more forests in Australia damaged, some animals and plants are facing the danger of dying out.

A.As B.For C.With D.By

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Not all parts of the interior (腹地) of Australia are easily _____, because it is very hot and not many people live there.

A. admirable              B. available     C. adjustable      D. accessible

高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

MELBOURNE, Australia – A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat.

Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater.

When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face.

"I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people."

"I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me.”

He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to — it might bring back a couple of bad memories.”

Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened.

Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there.

Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water.

1.Rickard and his pet dog were attacked when _________.

A. swimming in the pond                     B. he was teasing a kangaroo

C. he was walking his dog                    D. dragging his dog out from water

2.In Australia, kangaroos ________.

A. get along rather peacefully with people        B. are only seen in zoos

C. frequently attack people and pets             D. can be found swimming in ponds

3.The kangaroo attacked the man and his dog probably because ________.

A. the man struck it in the throat               B. it wanted to drown the dog

C. the man wanted to drown it                 D. the dog chased it

4.As a result of the attack, ________.

A. the kangaroo was killed

B. Rickard was left a deep impression

C. kangaroos should be under stricter protection

D. the dog was drowned dead

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

MELBOURNE, Australia – A kangaroo frightened by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, throwing the pet underwater and hitting the owner in the stomach with its back legs. The Australian, Chris Rickard, was in stable condition Monday after the attack, which ended when the 49-year-old struck the kangaroo in the throat.

Rickard said he was walking his blue dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek northeast of Melbourne. The dog chased the animal into a pond, when the kangaroo turned and knocked the pet underwater.

When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him, attacking with its back legs and tearing a deep cut into his stomach and across his face.

"I thought I might take action to drag the dog out from under his grasp, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me," Rickard, 49, told The Herald Sun newspaper. "It was a shock at the start because it was a kangaroo, about 5 feet high, they don't go around killing people."

"I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just attacked me.”

He added, "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I struck him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to watch kangaroo programs quite the same as I used to — it might bring back a couple of bad memories.”

Kangaroos rarely attack people but will fight if they feel threatened.

Dogs often chase kangaroos, which have been known to lead the pets into water and defend themselves there.

Rickard said he ended the attack by hitting the kangaroo in the throat adding Rocky was "half-drowned" when he pulled him from the water.

1.Rickard and his pet dog were attacked when _________.

A. he was teasing a kangaroo                B. he was walking his dog

C. swimming in the pond                   D. dragging his dog out from water

2.In Australia, kangaroos ________.

A. are only seen in zoos

B. frequently attack people and pets

C. get along rather peacefully with people

D. can be found swimming in ponds

3.The kangaroo attacked the man and his dog probably because ________.

A. the man struck it in the throat              B. the dog chased it

C. the man wanted to drown it                D. it wanted to drown the dog

4.As a result of the attack, ________.

A. the dog was drowned dead

B. the kangaroo was killed

C. kangaroos should be under stricter protection

D. Rickard was left a deep impression

高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析