Koalas live in the eucalyptus (桉树) forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. They depend on the eucalyptus tree for both habitat and food. In fact,they seldom leave these trees. When not sleeping, they’ re usually eating. They can eat more than a pound of eucalyptus leaves a day. Eucalyptus is poisonous, so the koala’ s digestive (消化的) system has to work hard to digest it, breaking down the poisons and taking in the limited nutrients (营养). That’s why koalas sleep for 18 to 22 hours a day — they get very little energy from their diet.
Koala numbers decreased in the late 19th and early 20th century from hunting for their fur. Now they face serious threats from habitat loss. Land clearing and bush fires — especially the 2019-2020 Australia Bushfire Season — have destroyed much of the forest they live in. Koalas are easy to be affected by climate change. Increasing greenhouse gas in the air is decreasing the nutritional quality of eucalyptus leaves and causing longer, more serious droughts and wildfires. To deal with drought, koalas are forced to stop sleeping and come down from the trees to find water, putting them at a higher risk of being killed.
Koalas have been identified by the Australian government as one of the 113 animals requiring immediate help. Ensuring there’s the right kind of forest for them to return to is extremely important. State governments should create new koala reserves and persuade landowners not to cut down eucalyptus trees. Meanwhile, getting the public to understand koalas’ living habits and their health will throw light on koala biology, which helps to develop plans to better protect the species.
12. What can we learn about koalas?
A. They like moving around very much.
B. They often get ill for eucalyptus leaves.
C. They can be seen everywhere in Australia.
D. They have developed smart survival skills.
13. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about?
A. The possible threats to Koalas.
B. Koalas’ newly-formed habits.
C. Koalas’ decreasing population.
D. The outcomes of greenhouse gas.
14. What is the most important thing to do right now to protect koalas?
A. Conduct the research on their living habits.
B. Realize they’re sensitive to climate change.
C. Reserve the proper habitat they are living on.
D. Raise the public awareness of protecting them.
15. From which is the text probably taken?
A. A travel brochure.B. A cartoon book.
C. A nature magazine.D. A sports newspaper.
【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了北京的胡同,主要包括其含义、建成时间、历史演变及其中居民的生活。
【8题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段中“The word “hutong” was borrowed from the Mongolian word to mean “water well” about 700 years ago. (大约700年前,“胡同”一词从蒙古语中借用过来,意为“水井”)”可知,“胡同”一词最初的意思是“水井”。故选C项。
【9题详解】
词句猜测题。根据画线词的下文“to build roads, tall buildings and modern houses (修建道路、高楼大厦和现代住宅)”可推知,为了修建道路、高楼和现代住宅,胡同应该是被“拆除”了,画线词意思应该与Destroyed“摧毁”接近。故选B项。
【10题详解】
细节理解题。根据第四段中“In 2002, Beijing listed 40 protected historical areas and increased its efforts to rebuild some key relics and older streets in the city. (2002年,北京列出了40个历史保护区域,并加大了对城市一些重要遗迹和老街道的重建力度)”可知,2002年北京的一些胡同被列入保护范围。故选A项。
【11题详解】
主旨大意题。根据最后一段中“Hutong that still exist are like oases (绿洲) of calm in the noisy city. Walking through them, it’s common to see groups of elderly people sitting together playing cards, mahjong (麻将) or Chinese chess. In the early mornings and evenings, they gather to practice traditional forms of exercise such as Taijiquan as well as dancing and singing songs or Peking Opera. (现在仍然存在的胡同,就像喧闹的城市中宁静的绿洲。走过那里,经常能看到一群群老人坐在一起打牌、打麻将或下象棋。在清晨和晚上,他们聚在一起练习传统的运动,如太极拳以及跳舞、唱歌或京剧)”可知,本段描述了现存胡同里人们闲适而丰富的生活画面,展现了胡同生活宁静美好的一面。故选B项。
