53. How many animals were on the Red List in 2005?

　 A. 19.　　 　B. 22. 　　　C. 25. 　　　　D. 28.

52. According to the text, when did an ape or monkey species last die out?

　 A. In 1908.　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　 B. In 2005.

　 C. Over a hundred years ago. 　　D. Almost a hundred years ago.

51. What is the main subject of the report discussed in the text?

　 A. Climate change.　　　　 　B. Loss of animal habitat.

　 C. Endangered animals.　　　 D. Animal protection.

50. What is the author's attitude towards rickshaws?

　 A. He gives no personal opinion.　　　 　　B. He believes they will be of no use.

　 C. He thinks they will reduce pollution.　　　 D. He thinks they are old-fashioned.

C

　　　 Some of Man's closest relatives in the animal kingdom are under serious threat because of human activity, according to a recently published report.

　　　 According to the document, almost one in three of all apes and monkeys - that is non-human primate species (灵长类动物) are now considered to be in danger of dying out and disappearing from our planet, if action is not taken soon.

　　　 The report, which was produced for the World Conservation Union (WCU), states that 114 of the world's 394 primate species could be lost forever, and the main reason they are threatened is the continuing destruction of forests where most of these animals live. In addition, illegal wildlife trade, climate change and commercial hunting for meat are also pressuring existing primate populations.

　　　 What's more, the problem is getting more serious. The number of species on the organization’s Red List - listing those primate species most threatened and in very serious danger of dying out - has increased by 3 to 25 since 2005.

　　　 Russell Mittermeier, the chief researcher of the WCU report, said, "You could fit all the surviving members of these 25 species in a single football stadium. So the problem is obviously urgent."

　　　 The scientists, who drew up the Red List, believe that the situation is now so bad that if action is not taken immediately, it will result in primate species becoming extinct - something which has not happened in over a century.

　　　 The loss of habitat caused by the clearing of forests for wood, farmland and fuel continues to be the main reason for the declining number of primates, according to the report, and the problem was most severe in Asia.

　　　 The loss of forest trees is also responsible for approximately 20 percent of all greenhouse gases - more than all the cars, trucks, trains and aeroplanes in the world combined.

　　　 Mr Mittermeier added, "By preserving the world's remaining forests, we save primates and protect other animals while preventing more pollution from entering the atmosphere to warm the climate."

49. Which of the following is mentioned in the text?

　 A. Rickshaws may need to pay tax for causing traffic jams.

　 B. Rickshaws and taxis are treated differently in London.

　 C. Rickshaws will eventually take the place of taxis.

　 D. Rickshaws will always be a cheap means of transport.

48. What does the underlined sentence "This is something out of the ordinary ... you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin" (para. 7) suggest?

　 A. The passenger didn't like taking a rickshaw as it reminded him of Bangkok.

　 B. The passenger enjoyed being on holiday in Berlin more than in Bangkok.

　 C. The passenger was impressed when taking a rickshaw and considered it unusual.

　 D. The passenger disapproved of rickshaws because they were not original to Berlin.

47. Why are rickshaws no longer as widely used in India as in the past?

　 A. They are a reminder of a bad period in India's history.

　 B. They have been banned because they are too cruel.

　 C. The streets of India are too crowded for them to move through easily.

　 D. Indians now prefer to travel by car because they are richer.

46. Where are rickshaws becoming more popular?

　 A. Delhi, Berlin, Paris. 　　　　 　　B. Amsterdam, Bangkok, Delhi.

　 C. Athens, London, Berlin. 　　　　　 D. Berlin, Amsterdam, London.

45. What does the story tell us?

　 A. Success will come with the passing of time.

　 B. Struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.

　 C. Even the most distant dream can be realised with a never-say-die attitude.

　 D. The people who make a difference in our life should be remembered forever.

B

　　　 They once seemed more at home on the bustling streets of Asia like Delhi, Calcutta and Bangkok but cycle powered rickshaws (人力车) can now be seen taking people across town in many European cities. Many people believe that rickshaws are a good way of experiencing a city, close-up, while also cutting down on traffic jams and pollution.

　　　 In Berlin, one of the first cities to introduce this new mode of transport, more than 200 bike-taxis go along at 15km per hour, past many tourist attractions and city parks.

　　　 "It is completely environmentally friendly; we have new models with an engine to help the driver up the hills but they use renewable energy," said a spokesman for VELOTAXI, the leading rickshaw company which has carried a quarter of a million people this year.

　　　 While the city still has 7,000 motor-taxis, rickshaw company officials say their taxis' green ethics, speed and safety make them more than just a tourist attraction. While now increasingly out of fashion in Delhi, Berlin people have eagerly accepted the new fleet since their launch in 1997.

　　　 "It's better than a taxi, better than a bus, better than the train," said Ulf Lehman, 36, as he leapt out of a rickshaw near the world famous Brandenburg gate. "It feels so free."

　　　 "This is something out of the ordinary you feel you are on holiday in Bangkok instead of Berlin," said another traveller.

　　　 In Amsterdam, driver Peter Jancso said people like to be driven around in his bright yellow rickshaw and pretend to be a queen in a golden carriage. "I like my passengers to feel important," he said as he dropped off another passenger. Another visitor noted how cheap it was compared with a normal taxi.

　　　 Although increasingly popular in Europe, it is the opposite in India, where hand-pulled rickshaws are considered inhuman and a symbol of India's backward past.

　　　 Nearly 500 bike-rickshaws are running in London and are not required to pay the city's road tax but things may change as other taxi drivers complain of unfair treatment.

44. What can we learn about Washington's wife?

　 A. She knew sign language very well.　　　 　　　B. She was devoted to her husband.

　 C. She developed a code to communicate with her husband.

　 D. She helped her husband design the plan.