Animal Conservation

Many animal and plant species have become extinct（灭绝的）and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve（保护）the natural world they inhabit（居住）is now more important than ever.

Dodo

The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.

Rhinos

The Rhino (犀牛) horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves（保护区）. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers（偷猎者）.

The Giant Panda

The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild． The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose（造成）one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.

Whales

The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species. Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries（保护区）, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered． Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions（碰撞）with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.

Tigers

The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.

It implies that _______.

       A．The Dodo lacked the ability to protect itself from other animals

       B．Sailors to the Island of Mauritius lived mainly on the Dodo

       C．The Dodo used to be a strong animal that liked fighting.

       D． The Dodo, pigs, monkeys and rats were the natives to the Island of Mauritius

Which group of the following animals has already ceased to exist according to the text?

       A．The Dodo, Rhino and Giant Panda． 

       B．The Rhino, Whale and South China Tiger.

       C．The Rhino, Panda, Whale and Tiger. 

       D． The Dodo and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers.

______ can serve as a cure for certain diseases.

       A．The whale’s rich oil

       B．The panda's black and white patched coat

       C．The Rhino horn and tigers’ bones and organs

       D． The Dodo’s delicious meat

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

       A．The number of South China tigers has reached crisis point.

       B．Many animals are threatened with extinction as a result of human activity.

       C．People hunt for the endangered animals for high profit.

       D． The Whale is the representing mark for the World Wildlife Fund．

Many animal and plant species have become extinct（灭绝的）and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve（保护）the natural world they inhabit（居住）is now more important than ever.

Dodo

The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.

Rhinos

The Rhino（犀牛）horn is a highly priced item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves（保护区）. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers（偷猎者）.

The Giant Panda

The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild． The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose（造成）one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.

Whales

The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species. Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries（保护区）, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered． Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions（碰撞）with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.

Tigers

The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.

56. It implies that _______.

A．The Dodo lacked the ability to protect itself from other animals

B．Sailors to the Island of Mauritius lived mainly on the Dodo

C．The Dodo used to be a strong animal that liked fighting

D． The Dodo, pigs, monkeys and rats were the natives to the Island of Mauritius

57. Which group of the following animals has already ceased to exist according to the text?

A．The Dodo, Rhino and Giant Panda．

B．The Rhino, Whale and South China Tiger.

C．The Rhino, Panda, Whale and Tiger.

D．The Dodo and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers.

58. ______ can serve as a cure for certain diseases.

A．The whale’s rich oil

B．The panda's black and white patched coat

C．The Rhino horn and tigers’ bones and organs

D． The Dodo’s delicious meat

59. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．The number of South China tigers has reached crisis point.

B．Many animals are threatened with extinction as a result of human activity.

C．People hunt for the endangered animals for high profit.

D． The Whale is the representing mark for the World Wildlife Fund．

60. What is the best title for the passage?

A. What caused the animals to go extinct?   B. Animal Conservation

C. Extinct Animals                     D. Endangered Animals

Animal Conservation
Many animal and plant species have become extinct（灭绝的）and many more are in critical danger. Finding ways to protect the earth's wildlife and conserve（保护）the natural world they inhabit（居住）is now more important than ever.
Dodo
The Dodo is a classic example of how human caused damage to the earth's biology. The flightless Dodo was native to the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. It lived off fruit fallen from the island's trees and lived unthreatened until humans arrived in 1505. The easily controlled bird became a source of food for sailors and was attacked by animals introduced to the island by humans such as pigs, monkeys and rats. The population of Dodos rapidly decreased and last one was killed in 1681.
Rhinos
The Rhino (犀牛) horn is a highly prized item for Asian medicine. This has led to the animal being hunted in its natural habitat. Once widespread in Africa and Eurasia, most rhinos now live in protected natural parks and reserves（保护区）. Their numbers have rapidly decreased in the last 50 years, and the animals remain under constant threat from poachers（偷猎者）.
The Giant Panda
The future of the World Wildlife Fund's symbol is far from certain. As few as 1000 remain in the wild. The Chinese government has set up 33 panda reserves to protect these beautiful animals and made poaching them punishable with 20 years in prison. However, The panda's distinct black and white patched coat fetches a high price on the black market and determined poachers still pose（造成）one of the most serious threats to the animals continued existence.
Whales
The International Whaling Commission is fighting to ensure the survival of the whale species. Despite the fact that one-third the world's oceans have been declared whale sanctuaries（保护区）, 7 out of 13 whale species remain endangered. Hunted for their rich supply of oil, their numbers have decreased to just 300. Collisions（碰撞）with ships, poisonous pollution and being caught in fishing nets are other major causes of whale deaths.
Tigers
The last 100 years has seen a 95% reduction in the numbers of remaining tigers to between 5000 and 7000 and The Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers are already extinct. The South China tiger is precariously close to disappearing, with only 20 to 30 still alive. Like the Rhino horn, tigers’ bones and organs are sought after for traditional Chinese medicines. These items are traded illegally along with tiger skins.

1. 1.

   It implies that _______.

   1. A.
      The Dodo lacked the ability to protect itself from other animals
   2. B.
      Sailors to the Island of Mauritius lived mainly on the Dodo
   3. C.
      The Dodo used to be a strong animal that liked fighting.
   4. D.
      The Dodo, pigs, monkeys and rats were the natives to the Island of Mauritius
2. 2.

   Which group of the following animals has already ceased to exist according to the text?

   1. A.
      The Dodo, Rhino and Giant Panda.
   2. B.
      The Rhino, Whale and South China Tiger.
   3. C.
      The Rhino, Panda, Whale and Tiger.
   4. D.
      The Dodo and the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers.
3. 3.

   ______ can serve as a cure for certain diseases.

   1. A.
      The whale’s rich oil
   2. B.
      The panda's black and white patched coat
   3. C.
      The Rhino horn and tigers’ bones and organs
   4. D.
      The Dodo’s delicious meat
4. 4.

   Which of the following statements is NOT true?

   1. A.
      The number of South China tigers has reached crisis point.
   2. B.
      Many animals are threatened with extinction as a result of human activity.
   3. C.
      People hunt for the endangered animals for high profit.
   4. D.
      The Whale is the representing mark for the World Wildlife Fund.

Fading beauty

   She is widely seen as proof that good looks can last for ever. But, at nearly 500 years of age, time is catching up with the Mona Lisa.  

The health of the famous picture, painted by Leonardo Da Vinci in 1505, is getting worse by the year, according to the Louvre Museum (卢浮宫博物馆) where it is housed.   

“The thin, wooden panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted in oil has changed shape since experts checked it two years ago,” the museum said. Visitors have noticed changes but repairing the world’s most famous painting is not easy. Experts are not sure about the materials the Italian artist used and their current chemical state (状态).  

Nearly 6 million people go to see the Mona Lisa every year, many attracted by the mystery of her smile. “It is very interesting that when you’re not looking at her, she seems to be smiling, and then you look at her and she stops,” said Professor Margaret Livingstone of Harvard University. “It’s because direct vision (视觉) is excellent at picking up detail, but less suited to looking at shadows. Da Vinci painted the smile in shadows.”

However, the actual history of the Mona Lisa is just as mysterious as the smile. Da Vinci himself loved it so much that he always carried it with him, until it was eventually sold to France’s King Francis I in 1519.  

In 1911, the painting was stolen from the Louvre by a former employee, who took it out of the museum hidden under his coat. He said he planned to return it to Italy. The painting was sent back to France two years later.  

During World War II, French hid the painting in small towns to keep it out of the hands of German forces.   

Like many old ladies, the Mona Lisa has some interesting stories to tell.

What does the writer mean by “time is catching up with the Mona Lisa”?

A. The painted woman is not so beautiful any more. 

B. Ageing is something that affects us all.

C. The painting needs repairing.  

D. At such an old age, she is no longer popular.

What makes the repair work difficult?

A. The wooden panel is thin and old.

B. No one knows exactly what materials were used to create the painting and how it might respond to treatment.

C. The health of the painting is suffering

D. Experts can’t agree on how to carry out repairs.

What makes her smile so mysterious according to Professor Livingston?

A. The materials the Italian artist used. B. The way she smiles.

C. The way Da Vinci painted the smile. D. It plays a trick upon the human mind.