With only about 1, 000 pandas left in the world, China is desperately trying to clone(克隆) the animal and save the endangered species(物种). That’s similar to what Texas A＆M University researchers have been undertaking(负责) 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(氮). If certain species should become extinct, 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.

Chinese scientists said they grew an embryo 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(过程) 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 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 effort 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 of _______. 

A. available panda eggs                             B. host animals

C. qualified researchers                             D. enough money

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 cat

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

C. Kraemer will work with Chinese scientists in clone researches

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

“The child’s life is not in danger any more,” the doctor said ________.

A．in service         B．in relief           C．in peace          D．in order

 

The scientific research on how to protect the rare animals is ________. Many scientists are working hard to find new way to raise the animals by man.

  A. in danger                        B. in control                  C. in order                     D. in progress

 

Little Robby, our neighbour’s nephew, carefully drew some water into a bowl and started for the door. How I hated this water rationing (定量供应). We were forced to bathe in the deep little pond we shared with Jessie, our cow. Wells were dry, and crops transformed to dust.

I watched Robby sitting down onto the steps to my house. Bees buzzed circling his hair, and he buzzed with them. I remembered his aunt’s words: I don’t know what I was thinking when I took him in. The crash killed my sister, and he wasn’t hurt, but he can’t talk. He’s in a world of all his own.

Why couldn’t she see the wonderful gifts this boy possessed? He was blessed with a loving nature and a deep admiration for all living things, and I knew he could talk to animals. My heart ached for Robby, who was to stay with us for the summer, and had already been the dearest part of our world, eagerly tending the garden with me and my husband, Tom.

On a string around Robby’s neck hung a whistle, in case he was ever lost or in danger. After all, he could not call out for help. But he knew perfectly well that the whistle was not a toy. Blowing on it would bring us both running. I had told him the story of the boy who cried wolf, and I knew he understood me.

I sighed as I cleared up the last supper dish. Every ounce of recycled water was saved for a tiny vegetable garden Robby had planted. Tom turned to me. “You know, honey, I’ve been thinking about...”

Before he could continue, a scream from the yard made us jump. My God! It’s Robby’s whistle! When we reached him, he was pointing excitedly to the sky. Looking up, we saw the most magnificent sight: Rain Clouds! “Robby! Quick! We need all the pots and pans!”

Robby raced with me to the house. A drop of water fell on my pot and then another. Soon the yard was enveloped in soaking, glorious rain. We all stood with faces held upward to feel the comfort of it. Tom picked up Robby and danced about the pots, shouting and whooping, “Rain for Robby!” Tom swung about to show me Robby’s face: he was laughing right out loud, “W-W-Wobby’s!” “Wobby’s … wain … Mom,” giggling（咯咯地笑）, and stretching out one tiny hand in the shape of a cup to catch the rain.

I hugged them both, tears of joy mixing with the rain.

1.The underlined phrase “the wonderful gifts” in the 3rd paragraph refers to Robby’s ______.

A．love for nature and all living things

B．kindness to help others around

C．independence since his childhood

D．readiness to accept what happened to him

2.It was because ______ that the author and her husband would run on hearing the whistle.

A．it was going to rain

B．Robby often surprised us with his whistle

C．something bad might happen to Robby.

D．Robby might find something special

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A．Robby was old enough, but still couldn’t speak.

B．Robby’s aunt regretted bringing Robby home.

C．Robby didn’t accept the author and Tom as his parents.

D．Robby happened to find the rain cloud and was terrified.

4.It can be concluded from the passage that ______.

A．we should show mercy for the disabled children

B．every child has his own talent however young he is

C．children from poor families take responsibilities earlier

D．children’s sensitive hearts are worthy to be taken care of

 

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从21—40各题所给的四个选项中，选出最佳选项。

Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. However, I was not thinking about the golden chain when I had to help people whotheir way and parked in front of my house.

I was growing tired of helping so many people. Almost every I was awaken during a sound night’s sleep and had to someone out. Many times I was  by some penniless motorists who did not even thank me for the helps that they received and some even complained that I could have done .

One day, a young man with a week – old beard climbed out of a automobile. He had no money and no food. He asked if I could give him some , offering him gasoline and a meal. I told him that if he wanted to work for me, he could cut the grass, but the work wasn’t necessary.

Though sweaty and hungry, he worked hard. After working all day, he sat to cool himself. I thanked him for his work and gave him the money he . I then offered him some money for a task particularly well done, but he , shaking his head.

I never saw him again. He probably thinks I helped him out that day, but that is not it was. I didn’t help him. He helped me to people again to repay their trust in me. He helped me to once again want to do something for those who are . I wish I could thank him for some of my belief in the basic  of others and for giving me back a little of the I had lost. Because of him, I once again felt part of a golden chain of kindness that us to others.

I may have fed his body that day, but he fed my .

A．fought   B．found       C．made D．lost

A．morning B．afternoon  C．night D．evening

A．bring     B．help  C．carry D．drive

A．taken for granted  B．put up with      C．turned down     D．taken up with

A．less B．more C．worse       D．enough

A．fashionable    B．famous     C．flashy       D．shabby

A．money   B．food  C．water D．work

A．actually  B．specially   C．particularly      D．generally

A．in the sun      B．in the shade      C．in the field       D．in the car

A．asked   B．begged     C．needed      D．charged

A．old       B．extra C．small D．good

A．accepted      B．received    C．refused     D．denied

A．the condition      B．the thing   C．the issue   D．the way

A．believe in    B．watch over       C．look after  D．care about

A．in trouble    B．in danger  C．in tears     D．in fear

A．forgetting    B．losing       C．restoring   D．finding

A．goodness     B．happiness  C．pleasure    D．nature

A．weakness     B．strength    C．optimism  D．pessimism

A．adapts  B．adjusts      C．devotes     D．connects

A．heart    B．soul   C．head  D．mouth