How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 liters of water per day survive in a desert environment?
In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands of Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.
Although not regarded as a separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger foreasier walking across sandy surfaces, they are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks（象牙）, and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.
Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3 –4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders – they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung（粪便）of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.
During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine（尿液）to make them muddy!
As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.
1.The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means “ ”.
A．remains in the African countries B．drinks 120 liters of water a day
C．manages to live in desert areas D．eats 150 kilograms of food daily
2.Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they _________.
A．rarely ruin trees B．drink only every 3-4 days
C．search for food in large groups D．protect food sources for their young
3.The author answers the question raised in the first paragraph with __________.
A．stories and explanation B．facts and descriptions
C．examples and conclusion D．evidence and argument
4.What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?
A．Overheating the earth can be stopped.
B．Not all animal species are so adaptable.
C．The planet will become hotter and hotter.
D．Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.
Dad came in the midnight. We heard every sound, but we pretended to be asleep.
Next morning he looked weak and thin, sitting in a chair by the kitchen fire. The light of the fire shone through his long empty sleeve. Everything went as usual. Grandma found something to do in the bedroom. Grandpa went out for some water. Mother, with her back to us, was getting the cakes ready for breakfast.
But nothing was right. When grandma came out of the bedroom, she walked on tiptoe. When grandpa came back, he said nothing about the weather. At breakfast Mother passed us the fruit and said something, but her voice was too high.
At last my sister, Lou, pushed back her chair. “It’s your turn to wash the dishes.” But I had washed the dishes the night before. I said nothing because it was not right to quarrel in front of Dad just home with the empty sleeve.
“It is your turn,” Lou said again. I looked at her in surprise.
“It is not,” I said because I suddenly remembered Mother had told us to go on as usual.
“Children, children,” Mother said in a quiet, glad kind of voice.
And Dad was smiling because he felt at home at last.
1.What do you know happened to Dad in the story?
A．He was badly ill. B．He had a long journey.
C．He drank too much. D．He lost one of his arms.
2.The family when they saw Dad’s empty sleeve.
A．was too surprised to do anything B．felt sad and cried a lot
C．tried not to show their feelings D．showed no worry at all
3.From the story, we know .
A．the two sisters often quarreled about who should wash the dishes
B．the family liked seeing the two sisters quarrelling after breakfast
C．Dad loved the two sisters very much though they often quarreled
D．Mother told the two sisters to quarrel with each other the night before
4.Which of the following can be the best title of the story?
A．The Quarrelling Sisters B．Dad Was Back
C．After the Accident D．An Empty Sleeve
Children, especially boys, tend to idealize their fathers when they are young．Every little boy wants to grow up to be just like his father, and every little girl thinks her father is the smartest man on the earth．It’s not very easy to be a good father, but it’s not that difficult either．Children will truly enjoy spending time with their fathers, not just when they are kids, but even when they are adults．
Not all children communicate well with their fathers．Communication is often left to mothers, while fathers dispense advice as and when necessary．Don’t expect all conversations to centre around the dinner table．Go to your children’s bedrooms and talk to them about school, their teachers or their friends．Remember that the conversation cannot be one-sided．When your children open up to you, you also need to open up to them．
If your children come home from school feeling upset, go up to them and ask them what is the matter．And if it is something which seems to you to be a silly reason to be upset, don’t voice your opinion．It may be silly to you, but to your children it is important enough．So don’t wave the topic away by telling them not to bother about such stupid things．Simply discussing their problems with them will help them feel better．
Don’t shy away from having discussions about your teenage children’s love lives．Generally speaking, your children are definitely not going to discuss intimate details with you．Try to let them know that you are relaxed about topics on love．Tell your children how you met your wife．It is perfectly normal for children to go through feelings for the opposite sex as they grow up, and by keeping the topic closed for discussion, you are only shutting them off from discussing their feelings with you．All they will do is turn to their friends．
1.To children their fathers are usually very _____．
A．kind B．great C．serious D．strong
2.From the second paragraph we can know that _____．
A．some children don’t like their fathers at all
B．talking with children around the dinner table is unnecessary
C．it is better for fathers to communicate more with their children
D．mothers should communicate less with their children．
3.Suppose your children are worried about something you should _____．
A．have a talk with them Ｂ．express your opinion
C．keep silent D．let them alone
4.Which of the following has the closest meaning to the underlined word “intimate” in Paragraph 4?
A．Public B．Personal C．Strange D．Serious
Any housewife who went to the new supermarket wished to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. This was what the 21 just inside the entrance 22 .It said: “Remember, 23 ,one of our customers gets 24 goods. THIS MAY BE YOUR LUCKY DAY!” For quite a long time Mrs. Edwards 25, like many of her 26, to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never 27 hoping. The 28 in the kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her 29 buying so many things but failed. She 30 dreamed of the DAY when the manager of the supermarket would come up to her and say, “Madam, THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY. Everything in your 31 doesn’t need to be paid!” One Friday afternoon Mrs. Edwards shopped 32 .But she was not the lucky customer. No sooner had she just put the things inside her 33 than she found that she had forgotten to 34 tea. She dashed back to the 35 , got some tea and went towards the 36 .As she did so, she saw the 37 came. 38 his hand he said, “I want to 39 you. You are our LUCKY CUSTOMER this week! Everything you have in your basket 40 !”
1.A .notice B. report C. board D. newspaper
2. A. did B. promised C. made D. agreed
3.A. every day B. every month C. twice a week D. once a week
4.A. excellent B. free C. extra D. unexpected
5. A. waited B. came C. hoped D. went
6.A. friends B. neighbors C. relatives D. customers
7. A. got rid of B. got along with C. gave up D. gave out
8.A. counter B. cushion C. food D . cupboard
9. A. against B. for C. with D. about
10.A. often B. always C. usually D. seldom
11.A. bill B. hand C. car D. basket
12.A. anxiously B. seriously C. crazily D. wonderfully
13.A. pockets B. car C. basket D. house
14. A. buy B. find C. take D. have
15.A. shop B. counter C. department D. supermarket
16.A. door B. entrance C. cash-desk D. shelves
17.A. secretary B. policeman C. manager D. salesman
18. A. Putting out B. Holding out C. Shaking D. Waving
19.A. congratulate B .tell C. inform D. thank
20.A. is yours B. means nothing C. belongs to you D. costs nothing
John is the tallest boy in the class, _______ according to himself.
A. six feet as tall as B. as tall as six feet
C. as six feet tall as D. as tall six feet as
What the science teacher does and says ____ of great importance to college students.
A. was B. are C. is D. were
