A global analysis of Earth's threatened and e...

A global analysis of Earth's threatened and endangered species has changed our scientific understanding about how much climate change is affecting wildlife.

The research, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, shows that 47 percent of mammals and 23 percent of birds have been negatively affected by our changing planet. Those figures are shockingly larger than previous assessments, which have shown 7 percent of mammals and 4 percent of birds were affected. Of the 873 mammal species looked at, 414 are hurt by climate change. For threatened birds, 298 of 1,272 species are experiencing negative effects, according to the findings.

However, a new study follows the analysis of threatened wildlife shows that the biggest threat to wildlife is not climate change, which gets a lot of attention, but human activities, including logging (伐木), hunting and farming. Today, three-quarters of Earth's land surface faces “human pressure", according to a global analysis professor Watson carried out in August.

When it comes to the effects of human activities on wildlife, Watson said, most studies look at what might happen to a population in the future, perhaps 50 or 100 years down the line. The problem with such forecasts is that they are absolutely unhelpful for the here and now.

“Nature is extremely resilient (能复原的) if you give it a chance," Watson said. “But the big thing is acting now, not in 20 to 50 years' time. Not make climate change and“human pressure" a future threat, but take action now. Because every day, every minute, which you delay, you lose those opportunities."

1.What has been found about the effects of climate change according to the passage?

A. Human activities are suffering severe disaster due to the climate change.

B. The species affected by climate change are more than people thought.

C. More than half of the mammal species were affected by climate change.

D. Three-quarters of Earth's land surface has been damaged by climate change.

2.What does the underlined “they" refer to?

A. Human activities. B. Negative effects.

C. Assessments. D. Forecasts.

3.What's the attitude of Watson towards the recovery of the environment?

A. Optimistic. B. Pessimistic.

C. Doubtful. D. Uncaring.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Endangered languages are languages that wouldn’t exist any longer, much like endangered species of plants or animals. Languages are considered to be endangered when parents are no longer teaching the language to their children and are not using it actively in everyday life. A language is considered to nearly disappear when it is spoken by only a few elderly native speakers.

The world faces enormous challenges in order to protect different kinds of languages. Of the more than 6,912 languages, half may be in danger of disappearing in the next several decades.

It is caused by many reasons: small numbers of speakers, the regular use of other languages, attitudes towards their languages, moving of the younger population, government policies, and languages used in education and so on. A language may lack important things such as a body of literature, and people who read and write it. A language may also lack prestige (声望) and support of its speakers.

The survival of a language is also threatened when speakers move to other areas where different languages are spoken, or when government policies improve the use of a specific language in school, official business and the media. These situations encourage people to learn the wider-known language and may cause them, especially the young, to stop using their mother tongue. Often those speaking lesser-known languages will choose to learn a more prestigious language with the hope of greater economic opportunities. Most of the world’s parents are teaching their children English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian or some other main languages instead of their own languages for social and economic reasons.

1.What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．Languages in the world.

B．Reasons why languages become endangered.

C．What an endangered language is.

D．Languages spoken by few speakers.

2.About ________languages will probably disappear in this century according to the passage.

A．more than 6,912      B．more than 3,456      C．6,912     D．less than 3,456

3.Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?

①=Paragraph1   ②=Paragraph2  ③=Paragraph3  ④=Paragraph4

4.We can infer that the best way to maintain an endangered language is to _________.

A．forbid the speakers to move about

B．pass laws to protect the language

C．raise the salaries of the people who speak the language

D．teach the language to young children and encourage people to speak it often

5.All of the following about languages are true EXCEPT __________.

A．many languages will be probably endangered in this century

B．government policies have a big effect on languages

C．the endangered language is a language that is spoken by a few people

D．languages are related to their speakers’ social and economic position

高二英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析

There are many international organizations which work to save and protect endangered species(物种)and natural environment．If you would like more information about any of the organizations listed below, you can write to the addresses given．

66．If you want to learn more about the organizations，you can         ．

A．call them      B．write them a letter    C．visit them    D．send them an e-mail

67．BirdLife International is an organization trying to             ．

A．reduce pollution                               B．defend rainforests

C．protect ocean animals                          D．save endangered birds

68．If you oppose nuclear power，you can join          ．

A．Friends of the Earth                          B．World Wide Fund For Nature

C．Greenpeace                                        D．BirdLife International

69．What can we learn about WWF?

A．It helps to protect nature and save endangered animals．

B．It is the world’s largest international organization．

C．It works for private companies and rich people．

D．It is a private organization in the United States．

70．Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Environmental Protection Organizations           B．Global Traffic Problems

C．Endangered Animals                                  D．Natural Beauty

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

The Kirtland’s warbler（莺）has required protections since the foundation of Endangered Species Act (ESA), but that’s about to change. The Fish and Wildlife Service（FWS）today announced it is removing the songbird from the endangered species list

“The effort to recover the Kirtland's warbler is a successful example of how to save endangered species,” said Margaret Everson, director of FWS. “The Kirtland's warbler has responded well to active management over the half century.” In 1971, the Kirtland’s warbler population declined to approximately 201 singing males and was restricted to six counties. By 2015, the population reached 2,383 singing males and had spread geographically. FWS noted the frequent and persistent singing of male warblers during the breeding season made counting possible.

“The primary threats identified at listing and during development of the recovery plan have been managed,” said FWS. Modern wildfire suppression（扑灭）practices greatly altered the natural disturbance system, which enabled the growth of the jack pine forests favored by the species, FWS noted. Michigan state has replanted approximately 90,000 acres of Kirtland's warbler habitat over the past 30 years. Timber （木材）incomes offset the cost of replanting jack pine needed to support a survivable bird population.

But while the bird is falling off the ESA list, officials note that it remains a “conservation-dependent species." Conservation of the Kirtland's warbler will continue to require a harmonious approach for carrying out future conservation work, like partnerships and sufficient funding, FWS stated. Under the Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966, the Kirtland's warbler was federally listed as an endangered species in 1967.

“This remarkable bird has a most impressive, exemplary success story that illustrates effective conservation and cooperation at work,” added Heather Good, executive director of Michigan Audubon. Shawn Graff, vice president of American Bird Conservancy's Great Lakes program, pointed out the delisting （除名）is “cause for celebration and proof that the Endangered Species Act works.”

1.The passage is probably taken from_____.

A.a science fiction B.a news report

C.a biography D.a novel

2.What does the underlined word “offset” in paragraph 3 mean?

A.Make up for. B.Add to.

C.Fix. D.Estimate.

3.Which of the following is NOT the reason for the recovery of Kirtland’s warbler?

A.Ample funding. B.Cooperative work.

C.The foundation of FWS. D.The control of wildfire.

4.What can be concluded from the passage?

A.The male Kirtland's warblers seldom sing in the breeding season.

B.Heather Good was not very satisfied with the conservation work.

C.The Kirtland's warbler was listed as an endangered species only in one state.

D.Margaret Everson thought highly of the conservation of the Kirtland's warbler.

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Global warming threatens to hold back human progress, and make unachievable all UN targets to reduce poverty, according to some of the world’s leading international development groups.

In a report published today, Oxfam, Greenpeace, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, WWF and 15 other groups say rich governments must immediately address climate change to avoid even “unbearable levels” of worldwide poverty.

“Food production, water supplies, public health and people’s living environment are already being damaged,” the report says. “The world must meet its promise to achieve poverty reduction and also deal with climate change.”

The report, which draws on UN predictions of the effects of climate change in poor countries over the next 50 years, says poor countries will experience more flooding, declining food production, more disease and the worsening or disappearing of entire ecosystems on which many of the world’s poorest people depend.

“Climate change needs to be addressed now. The poor will bear the burden of it. The frontline experience of many of us working in international development indicates that communities are having to fight against more extreme weather conditions.”

Climate change will play havoc (浩劫) with agriculture and water supplies and will increase diseases. “By 2025 the proportion of the world’s population living in countries of great water stress will almost double, to 6 billion people. Tropical and sub-tropical areas will be hardest hit — those countries already suffering from food shortage”.

Poor countries mostly do not need high-tech solutions, but would most benefit from education, research and being shown how to farm better. The report says unchecked global warming, more than wars or political confusion, will displace millions of people and destabilize (不安定) many countries.

1.Who should play a leading role in resisting the more extreme weather conditions?

A. International groups.

B. Rich countries.

C. Poor countries.

D. Tropical and sub-tropical countries.

2.Which of the following is not true according to the text?

A. Poverty and climate change are closely linked.

B. More and more people will suffer from the water stress and food shortage.

C. What the poor countries need badly is high technology.

D. International communities have to take steps to resist the bad climate.

3.What is the best title of the passage?

A. International Development Brings in Climate Change

B. Global Warming Is a Bigger Threat to the Poor

C. International Groups Work Together to Reduce Poverty

D. Worldwide Poverty Shall Be Avoided

________

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Global warming is the increase of the earth’s average surface temperature due to the effect of greenhouse gases, for example, carbon dioxide, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from the earth. After the trees are cut down and more greenhouse gases are released, the “blanket” around the earth called the ozone layer (臭氧层), will get thicker. This catches more heat and makes the earth hotter. Luckily, there are many things that every citizen of the earth can do to help reduce the effects of global warming, and it’s never too late or too early for children to take action.

The children should learn what a carbon footprint is. A carbon footprint is the amount of carbon and greenhouse gases people make as they lead the daily life and go about the normal activities. In other words, the carbon footprint is a measure of the environmental impact (冲击) the life has. To live an environmentally friendly life that doesn’t contribute to global warming, people want to have the smallest carbon footprint possible.

Almost everything people do contributes to global warming and is related to fossil fuel consumption. These can be direct uses of fossil fuels, like riding in a gasoline-powered car, or indicrect contributions to greenhouse gases, such as eating fruits or vegetables that had to be shipped from far way to reach their tables.

If a child wants to make a contribution to reducing global warming, he should ride a bicycle to the near park, school, his friend’s house, or anywhere else instead of taking the car. Or he may try to walk or jog, which is also helpful. In addition, although trains and buses often run on fossil fuels, on average, each person uses less energy and produces less pollution to run. Next time if children with their parents have to get around town or it’s too far to walk or bike, take the bus or other public transportation instead of asking for a ride.

1.What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A.A brief description of carbon footprint

B.The serious water pollution.

C.The protection of ozone layer.

D.The causes of global warming

2.Which of the following can describe the carbon footprint?

A.Useless. B.Expensive.

C.Helpful. D.Attractive.

3.What can kids do if they want to help reduce global warming?

A.Go to the near park by bus.

B.Walk or cycle as much as possible.

C.Keep staying at home or school.

D.Go around the town with parents by car.

4.What can be a suitable title for the text?

A.What Can People Do to Use Less Energy?

B.How Can Kids Help Reduce Global Warming?

C.How Does Carbon Footprints Measure Pollution?

D.Why Global Warming Affects Humans’ Life?

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Global warming is the process of earth's atmosphere heating up. Over the last 100 years, the average temperature of earth's atmosphere has gone up 1 Fahrenheit. The weather has not changed exactly the same way in every area of the planet. But scientists think that the rise in average temperature is already affecting the earth, s climate.

Many scientists now believe that global warming is caused by cutting down trees, producing more trash, and polluting the environment are some of the that the temperature has gone up. Many scientists believe that the biggest causes of global warming are new human technologies that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect is not new. Certain gases in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, prevent heat energy from escaping back into space. In the past, the climate didn’t change much because nature produced just the right amount of greenhouse gases to deal with it.

Today, most scientists are pretty sure that the rising temperature can,, t be blamed on nature. Ever since the industrial revolution in the 1700s, humans have relied on machines for daily life. And many of those machines give off a lot of greenhouse gases. An increase in the release of greenhouse gases from human activities is throwing nature off balance.

The climate is a very complicated thing, but many scientists agree that the rising atmospheric temperature has already damaged the environment. Sheets of ice, called glaciers, are melting in Antarctica and other parts of the globe. As glaciers break off and melt into the oceans, they are adding warm water to the oceans and causing the sea level to rise.

Over the past last 100 years, the sea level has risen 6-8 inches around the world. That means land along the coasts is beginning to disappear under water. Bigger and warmer oceans are also adding to other weather problems caused by pollution in the atmosphere. Some places have received more rain, others have had bigger storms and a few areas in the world have experienced unusual droughts.

1.What is mainly talked about in this passage?

A.The melting of glaciers. B.Global warming.

C.The world's weather. D.The earth's temperature.

2.What causes global warming according to scientists?

A.Human activities B.The nature itself

C.The earth's atmosphere D.New discoveries

3.From passage we can see that global warming will bring about________.

A.the pollution in the atmosphere. B.the rise of glaciers.

C.noisy pollution. D.natural disasters.

高二英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

As global warming increases, the Earth will become less and less suited to life, and many species will face ______.

A.extinction B.direction C.calculation D.application

高二英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Today, nearly 400 animals are listed as threatened or endangered animals in the United States. Many are at risk of becoming extinct or disappearing permanently. Unless efforts to save these vulnerable(易受攻击的) animals succeed, many of the country's greatest creatures will be lost forever. From the facts listed, guess which animals are endangered. Click on the picture to find out more about each of these animals in trouble.

American Crocodile

●American crocodiles are about 12 feet long. They live on land and in shallow water, swamps and marshes.

●American crocodiles like to float in the water with only their eyes and noses above the water surface.

●American crocodiles eat mostly small animals, which they grab with their strong jaws and sharp teeth.

●American crocodiles lay eggs. They hide their eggs under twigs and leaves, or bury them in the sand.

●Some crocodiles help their young hatch, and then carry them to the water in their mouth.

Habitat

Southern Florida, Mexico, Central and South American, Caribbean islands.

Why It's Endangered

Overhunted for its skin and habitat destruction.

Peninsular Bighorn Sheep

●Bighorn sheep can weigh as much as 280 pounds and stand about 3 feet tall.

●They live in dry, desert mountain ranges, near rocky cliffs.

●Bighorn sheep eat grass, twigs and leaves.

●Male sheep are called rams and can be recognized by their huge, brown horns. The horns curl back over the ears, down，and up past the cheeks.

●They live in herds or groups. The male sheep with the biggest horns are usually in charge. Male horns can weigh as much as 30 pounds.

●Males will use their massive horns to fight. The fights can last as long as 24 hours.

●Females are called ewes. They are smaller than rams and have shorter, smaller horns.

Habitat

Nevada and California to west Texas and south into Mexico.

Why It's Endangered

Loss of habitat, hunting illegally, drought and disease.

1.Where can the article be found according to the passage?

A．Newspaper.　　　　 B．Website.

C．Student book.　　 D．Magazine.

2.Which of the following is NOT true according to the description about American crocodiles?

A．American crocodiles live on land and in swamps and marshes.

B．American crocodiles hide their eggs under leaves, or bury them in the sand.

C．American crocodiles grab small animals with their strong jaws and sharp teeth.

D．American crocodiles like to float with their eyes and nose below the water surface.

3.Where can we find both American crocodiles and Bighorn sheep according to the passage?

A．Southern Florida.　　　 B．California.

C．Mexico.　　　　　　　　 　　 D．West Texas.

4.Rams make use of their massive horns to ________.

A．master the herds　 　 B．show their beauty

C．fight with others　　 D．hunt for food

5.What can be the best title?

A．Animals in Danger

B．American Crocodile

C．Peninsular Bighorn Sheep

D．How to Save Animals in Danger

高二英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析

Endangered Species Day is a bittersweet event. While it's heartbreaking to think back on all the species we have already lost during our last few generations, and all we stand to lose in the next few.1..

Make a donation to a conservation organization. Every penny helps these local, national and interactional groups to do on-the-ground work in protecting habitats and species.2..

Visit your local natural history museum virtually. You'll learn a lot about your local wildlife including species that may be threatened with decline. Endangered species aren't just rhinos in Africa or leopards in Asia- they're also the insects, birds, mammals and even plants right in our own backyards, and many times there is the opportunity to protect them.

Join a wildlife conservation organization. There are many organizations to choose from including the National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Wildlife Conservation Network and more.3.. Your membership shows your ongoing support and also provides a way to stay in the loop about what's happening and how you can help.

4.. Today is the perfect day to send a few tweets, add a few Facebook updates, photos about endangered species conservation. You can be a source of information and awareness today and perhaps inspire even more people to get involved!

Stay informed! Make it a daily practice to check in on news about endangered species on a local, national or global level. You'll be able to see when and how you can help.

Many species are endangered now, but we can change that; we can end poaching, habitat destruction, pollution and so many other factors causing declines around the world,5..

A.Even if it's just $5, it helps

B.It is time to get involved and make a difference

C.So let's celebrate it with as many people as possible

D.It's also a chance to look at some ways we can get started

E.Volunteer to work in some wildlife conservation organizations

F.Take to social media with information about endangered species

G.You can join a larger organization or even one that focuses on specific species or habitats

高二英语七选五简单题查看答案及解析