A few weeks ago a group of scientists produced a report about global warming and the natural world．They wanted to find out if global warming was dangerous for plants and animals．The scientists were surprised by what they found．They say that during the next 50 years about 25% of land animals and plants will become extinct(灭绝的)．More than 1 million plant and animal species will become extinct by 2050．

The head of the research team, Christ Thomas, who is professor of conservation biology at Leeds University, said the results of their research were frightening．More than 10% of all plants and animals will become extinct．It is too late to save many plants and animals because of the greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere．But the scientists say if we control greenhouse gases now, we could save many more plants and animals from extinction．

The scientists studied some areas of the world with a very rich biology．These areas were Europe, Australia, Central and South America, and South Africa．Their studies showed that species living in mountainous areas had a better chance of survival because they could move uphill to get cooler．In flat areas, such as deserts, plants and animals would have to move very long distances to get cooler, so they are in greater danger of extinction．The scientists found many surprising things．For example, they found that half of the 24 species(物种) of butterfly they studied in Australia would soon become extinct．

64．According to this passage, global warming could be best described as ________ to many plants and animals．

A．deadly                  B．surprising                C．disappointing         D．frightening

65．What’s the purpose of the research led by Christ Thomas?

A．To protect animals and plants from global warming．

       B．To call on people to control greenhouse gases．

       C．To warn us of the extinction of many animals and plants．

       D．To study the effects of global warming on animals and plants．

66．Why did species living in mountainous areas have a better chance of survival?

A．Mountains helped keep them out of more heating．

       B．Global warming had no effect on mountainous areas．

       C．There were no greenhouse gases in mountainous areas．

       D．There were more water in mountains than in deserts．

67．Which of the following is NOT true?

       A．It is certain that many plants and animals will die out．

B．Half of the Australian butterflies would die out．

C．Many more animals and plants still can be saved．

D．Europe is one area which has a very rich biology．

68．What can be the best title of this passage？

A．Greenhouse effect and global warming

B．Extinct animals in the world

C．A terrifying discovery concerning global warming

D．Disappearance of butterflies

With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species．That’s a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark”．

Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos（胚胎）, semen and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen．If certain species should become extinct（灭绝）, Dr．Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M’s College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future．

It is estimated that as many as 2, 000 species of mammals, birds and reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years．The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years．

This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit．They are now trying to implant（移植） the embryo into a host animal．

The entire procedure（程序） could take from three to five years to complete．

“The nuclear transfer（核子移植） of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes．“They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy （having a baby）．It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works．They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A & M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog．

“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark．We’re both trying to save animals that face extinction．I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn from what they are attempting to do．It’s a research that is very much needed.”

1．The aim of “Noah’s Ark” project is to _______.

  A．make efforts to clone the endangered pandas

  B．collect DNA of endangered animals to study

  C．save endangered animals from dying out

  D．transfer the nuclear of one animal to another

2．According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be the lack of _______.

  A．host animals                          B．available panda eggs

  C．qualified researchers                            D．enough money

3．From the passage we know that _______.

  A．about two thousand of species will probably die out in a century

  B．Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog

  C．scientists try to implant（移植） a panda’s egg into a rabbit

  D．Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches

4．Which of the following should be the best title for the passage?

  A．China’s Success in Pandas Cloning．

  B．The First Cloned Panda in the World.

  C．China —the Native Place of Pandas Forever．

  D．Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas.

With only about 1,000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone the animal and save the endangered species. That’s a move similar to what a Texas A & M University researchers have been undertaking for the past five years in a project called “Noah’s Ark.”?

Noah’s Ark is aimed at collecting eggs, embryos（胚胎）, semen （精液）and DNA of endangered animals and storing them in liquid nitrogen（氮）. If certain species should become extinct（灭绝的）, Dr. Duane Kraemer, a professor in Texas A & M’ s College of Veterinary Medicine, says there would be enough of the basic building blocks to reintroduce the species in the future.?

It is estimated that as many as 2,000 species of mammals, birds reptiles will become extinct in over 100 years.The panda, native only to China, is in danger of becoming extinct in the next 25 years.

This week, Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo by introducing cells from a dead female panda into the egg cells of a Japanese white rabbit. They are now trying to implant the embryo into a host animal.?

The entire procedure could take from three to five years to complete.?

“The nuclear transfer（核子移植）of one species to another is not easy, and the lack of available (capable of being used) panda eggs could be a major problem,” Kraemer believes.” They will probably have to do several hundred transfers to result in one pregnancy (having a baby). It takes a long time and it’s difficult, but this could be groundbreaking science if it works. They are certainly not putting any live pandas at risk, so it is worth the effort,” adds Kraemer, who is one of the leaders of the Project at Texas A & M, the first-ever attempt at cloning a dog.?

“They are trying to do something that’s never been done, and this is very similar to our work in Noah’s Ark. We’re both trying to save animals that face extinciton. I certainly appreciate their effort and there’s a lot we can learn form what they are attempting to do. It’s a research that is very much needed.”?

1. The aim of “Noah’s Ark”project is to_______ .?

       A. make efforts to clone the endangered pandas?

       B. save endangered animals from dying out?

       C. collect DNA of endangered animals to study?

       D. transfer the nuclear of one animal to another

2. According to Professor Kraemer, the major problem in cloning pandas would be

   the lack to_______.?

       A. available panda eggs       B.host animals  

3. The best title for the passage may be_______ .?

       A . China’s Success in Pandas Cloning?     

       B. The First Cloned Panda in the World?

       C. Exploring the Possibility to Clone Pandas?

       D. China—the Native Place of Pandas Forever

4. From the passage we know that            .?

       A. Kraemer and his team have succeeded in cloning a dog?

       B. scientists try to implant a panda’s egg into a rabbit?

       C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches?

       D. about two thousand of species will probably die out in a century