Wild animals seem to have escaped the Indian Ocean tsunami (海啸), adding weight to ideas they possess a “sixth sense” for disasters, experts said on Thursday. Sri Lanka wildlife officials have said the giant waves that killed over 24,000 people along the Indian Ocean Island's coast seemingly missed wild beasts, with no dead animals found.
“No elephants are dead, not even a dead hare or rabbit. I think animals can sense disaster. They have a sixth sense. They know when things are happening,” H. D. Ratnayake, deputy director of Sri Lanka’s Wildlife Department said on Wednesday.
The waves washed floodwaters up to 3 km (2 miles) inland at Yala National Park in the southeast, Sri Lanka's biggest wildlife reserve (自然保护区) and home to hundreds of wild elephants. “There has been a lot of evidence about dogs barking or birds migrating before volcanic eruptions or earthquakes. But it has not been proved,” said Matthew van Lierop, an animal behaviour specialist at Johannesburg Zoo. “There have been no specific studies because you can't really test it in a lab or field setting,” he said.
Other authorities agreed with this conclusion. “Wildlife seems to be able to pick up certain phenomenon, especially birds. There are many reports of birds detecting coming disasters,” said Clive Walker, who has written several books on African wildlife.
Animals certainly rely on the known senses such as smell or hearing to avoid danger such as predators(食肉动物). The idea of an animal “sixth sense” is a lasting one that the evidence on Sri Lanka's damaged coast is likely to add to.
1.This passage is mainly about .
A. the damage that was caused in the Indian Ocean tsunami
B. why animals can save themselves from natural disasters
C. how to protect the wildlife when disaster happens
D. the different opinions about animals’ natural power
2.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. It has been proved that animals have a sixth sense.
B. Research has been made on the special movements of animals before disasters.
C. It's generally considered that animals can sense the coming of disasters.
D. It can be tested that animals have the known sense to escape from the disasters.
3.What does the term “sixth sense” in the passage mean?
A. It is the natural ability of animals that can't save them from danger.
B. It is the animal's imagination in the brain.
C. It is some hidden power to say in advance that something will happen.
D. It is a kind of sense that is the same as smell or hearing.
4.Which section does the passage most probably appear in a newspaper?
A. Entertainment. B. Discovery. C. Future. D. Culture.
Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October, 1995 when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.
Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people's home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90yearold woman in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.
So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercises every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes(基因) from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.
A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: Sorry, I’m still alive!
1.How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?
A. She is miserable and unhappy.
B. She is cheerful and humorous.
C. She would like to live much longer.
D. She feels she is going to die very soon.
2.We can owe Jeanne Calment's good health and long life to .
A. smoking only a little every day
B. her giving up smoking and drinking
C. drinking two glasses of strong red wine every day
D. the good genes from her parents, a healthy diet and some exercise
3.Which of the following word could best replace the word "move" in the fourth paragraph?
A. deal B. trick C. march D. sport
4.Why does Jeanne Calment say "Sorry, I'm still alive" to the local lawyer every year on her birthday?
A. Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage.
B. Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed.
C. Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house.
D. Because the house she sold to the lawyer isn’t worth the money he has already paid.
阅读下面的短文，掌握其大意，然后从各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In the United States more than 80 colleges now accept just only women. Most of them were founded in the 19th century. They were set up to 1women the education they could not get anywhere else. At that time 2of the universities and colleges 3only men. In the past 20 years many young women have 4to study at colleges that accept both men and women. As a 5，some women's colleges decided to accept men students, too. Others still refused to change. Now the women's colleges are 6again.
The president of Trinity College in Washington D. C said by the end of the 1980s women had come to 7that studying at the same colleges with men and women did not mean 8had the same chance to 9. The president of Smith College in Massachusette said “A women’s college 10women to choose classes and activities 11. For example, if a woman student wants to learn maths, she will be given the chance. So the percentage of students who like to study maths in a women’s college is 12than that in a college with men and women. ”
Experts say men students in the United States 13have enough courage to speak in class. 14, women students can't. In a women’s college, women feel free to say 15they want to. According to a report, women colleges also 16leadership ability in many fields. At a women college, every 17office is held by women. Recent studies 18that this leadership continues after 19. The studies also prove that it is easier for the American women who went to women’s college to 20successful jobs later in life. Maybe that is why this kind of college is liked by people now.
1.A. make B. elect C. offer D. call
2.A. some B. most C. few D. none
3.A. liked B. accepted C. attracted D. helped
4.A. chosen B. failed C. regretted D. hated
5.A. goal B. model C. result D. level
6.A. separate B. troublesome C. special D. popular
7.A. forget B. realize C. expect D. remember
8.A. students B. presidents C. men D. women
9.A. work B. visit C. choose D. survive
10.A. permits B. forbits C. forces D. reminds
11.A. obviously B. freely C. exactly D. immediately
12.A. smaller B. more C. higher D. lower
13.A. usually B. never C. sometimes D. seldom
14.A. Finally B. Therefore C. However D. Besides
15.A. how B. what C. when D. where
16.A. bring down B. bring over C. bring round D. bring about
17.A. governing B. cleaning C. serving D. booking
18.A. mean B. show C. warn D. conclude
19.A. school B. work C. graduation D. death
20.A. hold B. gather C. lose D. require
The child walked quietly to the bird. into the forest when he was about to catch it.
A. Flew it away B. Away flew it C. Flew away it D. Away it flew
You spent 300 yuan on a pair of cotton gloves. Such a pair of cotton gloves be worth so much.
A. mustn't B. wouldn't C. can't D. needn't
With more forests being destroyed, huge quantities of good earth each year.
A. is washing away B. are being washed away
C. are washing away D. is being washed away
