Question

5．For centuries，in the countries of south and Southeast Asia，the elephant has been an important part of the culture，economy and religion．And nowhere more so than in Thailand．Unlike its African cousin，the Asian elephant is easily domesticated（驯化）．The rare so-called white elephants have actually lent the power of royalty to its rulers，and until the 1920s the national flag was a white elephant on a red background．To the early Western visitors，the  country's romantic name was"Land of the White Elephant"．
Today，however，the story is very different．Out of work and out of land，the Thai elephant   struggles for survival in a nation that no longer needs it． The elephant has found itself more or less deserted by previous owners who have moved on to a different economic world and a society in  the western part．And while the elephant's problems began many years ago，now it has a very low  national advantage．
How does the national symbol turn into ignored animals？It is a story of worse environment and the changing lives of the Thais themselves．According to Richard Lair，Thailand's expert on  the Asian elephant and author of the report Gone Astray，at the turn of the  last century，there may well have been as many as 100，000 national elephants in the country．
In the north of Thailand alone，it was estimated （估计） that more than 20，000 elephants were employed in transport，1，000 of them alone on the road between the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Saen．     
This was at a time when 90 percent of Thailand was still forest--a habitat that not only supported the animals but also made them necessary to carry goods and people．Nothing ploughs through thick forest better than lots of sure-footed elephants．
By 1950 the elephant population had dropped，but still to the number of 13，397．However，today there-are probably no more than 3，800，with another l，350 wandering free in the national parks．But now，Thailand's forest covers only 20 percent of the land．This deforestation（采伐森林） is the central point of the elephant's difficult situation，for it has effectively put the animals out of work．This century，as the road network grew，the elephant's role as a beast of Burden decreased．
41．What can we know about African elephants from the passage？B
A．It is easy to domesticate them．
B．It is hard to domesticate them．
C．They are living a better life than Asian elephants．
D．Their fate is quite similar to that of Asian elephants．
42．Thailand was once called"Land of the White Elephant"becauseA
A．white elephant was a national symbol until the 1920s
B．white elephant is rarely seen and thus very special
C．white elephant has helped kings to gain the ruling authority
D．this name was so romantic that it was popular among visitors
43．Why is the Thai elephant"out of work"，according to the author？D
A．Because there are too many elephants but too few jobs．
B．Because the elephants can't do labor work any longer．
C．Because the government pays little attention to the problem．
D．Because the elephants are no longer useful to their owners．
44．Which of the following statements is TRUE about the elephant population at various times？D
A．There were 100，000 domesticated elephants at the turn of the last century．
B．20，000 elephants were employed in transport in Thailand at the turn of the century．
C．By 1950 the elephant population in Thailand has been quite small．
D．Today the elephant population is estimated at 5，150．
45．The passage is most probably fromC
A．a travel magazine                                      
B．a history book
C．a research report                    
D．an official announcement．

Answer 1

分析 文章介绍了亚洲象的现状．在泰国，亚洲象在历史上有很高的地位，曾经是国家的象征．但现在，因为很多原因，亚洲象的数量急速下降，大象作为最能负重的动物形象渐渐消失在人们的印象里．

解答 答案：41．B 推理判断题．文章第一段说Unlike its African cousin，the Asian elephant is easily domesticated和非洲近亲不同，亚洲象很容易驯化．可以推断出非洲象不容易驯化．故选B．
42．A 细节判断题．根据文章第一中的"until the 1920s the national flag was a white elephant on a red background．"可知当时白象是泰国的国家象征．故选A．
43．D 细节判断题．文章有几处解释了大象失业的原因，如第二段中的"a nation that no longer needs it （Thai elephant）"及最后一段的最后一句"the elephant's role as a beast of burden declined"．故选D．
44．D 事实细节题．此题考查的是大象数量变化的情况．四个选项中的数字惟有选项D没有直接出现，但根据第四段很容易推算出来（3800+1350）．故选D．
45．C 推理判断题．从本文所用的大量客观的数据和数字可以推断这是一篇研究报告．本文趣味性不足，因此不能选A．选项B不能选，是因为历史书不可能如此大篇幅的描述大象的问题．选项D也不是正确答案，因为政府公告通常是一些规定，而不是客观的陈述．

点评 阅读理解是考查语篇理解能力．常考的题型有：推理判断题；主旨大意题；细节理解题；猜测词意题．近几年又出现了两种新的考查方式：写作态度判断题和文章结构题．解题时，在读懂文章的基础上，还有特别注意掌握题型的特征，尤其是细节题和推断题不可混淆：细节题是文章信息的再现；推断题是文章信息的提取．本题是广告类文章，考查主要是以细节题为主，细节题要注意常用的出题陷阱有：夸大，缩小，张冠李戴，偷梁换柱，无中生有等，做题时要看清看准．