We’d been flying for hours, deeper and deeper into the desert of southeastern Niger. The mission: to find what is probably the last wild population of the great Saharan antelope called the addax (旋角羚)—the most endangered animal of its size in Africa.
Pilot Peter Ragg flew our bright red helicopter low over two parallel dunes (沙丘). The pale sand below us was dotted by the black bushes, the plants that are favorite food for the addax. Then, almost as if the dune extruded (使突出) them, two perfect addaxes appeared. Their long tails swung from side to side as they ran, heads held high on thick necks, horns reaching for the sky. We made a few turns in the plane, then let them be. In just a few seconds they were swallowed again by the Sahara. Soon they could just as easily disappear from the planet.
In September 2004 the government of Niger and a small NGO called SOS Faune du Niger surveyed this last known pocket of wild addaxes. They counted 128 individuals. Since then, the number has dropped as hunters have taken more for meat. How many addaxes remain in the Sahara is anybody’s guess, but those that do survive could be considered the living dead: There may not be a viable (能生存的) population left to reproduce.
I’m now helping to make an emergency plan for the last wild addaxes. With a few hundred thousand dollars, some trucks, and a strong group with the local Toubou guides, we may just be able to save these guys from extinction.
36. What do the addaxes in the passage usually eat?
A. Vegetables. B. Black bushes. C. Grass. D. Fruits.
37. All of the following descriptions of the addax are true EXCEPT that ____.
A. its tail is long B. its neck is thick
C. its legs are short D. its horns are long
38. What does the writer probably mean by saying that “There may not be a viable population left to reproduce”?
A. Wild addaxes will die out soon unless effective measures are taken.
B. The number of wild addaxes will increase if they are not hunted.
C. Wild addaxes cannot support themselves any longer.
D. Humans cannot survive without enough addaxes.
39. It can be inferred that the writer of the passage might be ____.
A. a journalist B. an official C. an engineer D. a zoologist
完形填空(共20小题;每小题1分,满分20分)
When someone has deeply hurt you, it can be extremely difficult to let go of your anger. But forgiveness is possible—and it can be surprisingly 16 to your physical and 17 health.
“People who always forgive others 18 less depression, anger and stress and more hopefulness,” says Frederic Luskin, Ph.D., the 19 of Forgive for Good. “So it can help 20 on the wear and tear on our organs, reduce the wearing out of the immune(免疫的) system and 21 people to feel more vital.”
So how do you start the forgiveness? Try 22 these steps:
Calm yourself. To defuse your 23 , try a simple stress-management technique. “Take a couple of breaths and think of 24 that gives you pleasure: a 25 scene in nature, someone you love,” Luskin says.
Don’t 26 an apology. “Many times the person who hurt you has no 27 of apologizing,” Luskin says. “They may have wanted to hurt you or they just don’t see things the same 28 . So if you wait for people to apologize you could be waiting a(n) 29 long time.” Keep in mind that forgiveness does not necessarily mean 30 to the person who upsets you.
Take the control away from your offender. Mentally replaying(重播) your 31 gives power to the person who caused you pain. “ 32 focusing on your hurt feelings, learn to look for the love, beauty and kindness 33 you,” Luskin says.
Try to see things from the other person’s view. If you empathize(把感情移入) with that person, you may 34 that he or she was acting out of ignorance, fear—even love.
Recognize the benefits of forgiveness. Research has shown that people who always forgive others will get more energy, better 35 and better sleep.
Don’t forget to forgive yourself.“For some people, forgiving themselves is the biggest challenge,” Luskin says. But it can rob you of your self-confidence if you don’t do it.”
16. A. beneficial B. harmful C. helpless D. suitable
17. A. chemical B. wealthy C. technical D. mental
18. A. own B. show C. direct D. prove
19. A. author B. owner C. professor D. publisher
20. A. protect B. save C. wait D. depend
21. A. have B. wish C. make D. allow
22. A. coping B. turning C. following D. accepting
23. A. sadness B. anger C. hunger D. energy
24. A. something B. anything C. nothing D. everything
25. A. thoughtful B. dull C. beautiful D. still
26. A. call for B. hunt for C. long for D. wait for
27. A. invention B. invitation C. intention D. attention
28. A. way B. means C. method D. approach
29. A. helpfully B. carefully C. patiently D. awfully
30. A. giving in B. giving away C. giving up D. giving out
31. A. wound B. hurt C. cut D. damage
32. A. Because of B. Despite of C. Instead of D. In search of
33. A. around B. above C. beneath D. below
34. A. tell B. realize C. see D. recognize
35. A. housing B. appearance C. figure D. appetite
Does it matter much _____ the sales manager won’t attend the meeting tomorrow?
A.if |
B.what |
C.when |
D.that |
We should always remember the soldiers who _____ for the revolution of China.
A.blood |
B.bleeded |
C.bleed |
D.bled |
Because of the bad management, the company will _____ by another one.
A. be swallowed up B. be swallowed C. swallow D swallow up
Everyone present at the party thought his jokes were _____, so none of them laughed.
A.in good taste |
B.in bad taste |
C.in good tastes |
D.in bad tastes |