Question

The largest land animal remaining on the earth, the African elephant is of much importance to African ecosystem. Unlike other animals, the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment. As a giant plant-eater, it significantly shapes the forest-and-savanna (大草原) surroundings in which it lives, therefore deciding the conditions of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat.

It is the elephant’s great desire for food that makes it both a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day, it kills small trees and underbushes, as well as pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in not only deep tropical forests but also the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas. In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth, which attract a variety of other plant-eaters.

Take the rain forests for example. In their natural state, the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants, elephants create open spaces, allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor. In such situations, the forests become suitable for large-hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small-sized plant-eaters to obtain their food as well.

Scientists are worried now that the African elephant has become an endangered species. If the elephant dies out, scientists say, many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna, greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Disappearance of African elephants.

B. Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants.

C. The effect of African elephants' search for food.

D. The eating habit of African elephants.

2.The African elephant influences the ecosystem in the following ways except that          .

A. it creates open areas in deep tropical forests as well as woodlands

B. it pulls off the branches and leaves, shutting out the sunshine

C. its eating habit can be made use of by large-hoofed and small-sized animals

D. it encourages some kinds of plants growing in an indirect way

3.According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A. Numerous grown plants are the favorites of plant-eaters.

B. The extinction of the African elephant has nothing to do with the ecosystem.

C. Quantities of plants are consumed by African elephants, including branches and underbushes.

D. The forest floor in rain forests is scarcely dotted with new shoots.

4.The passage is developed mainly by            .

A. presenting the changes in time order

B. making comparisons and giving examples

C. classifying similarities and differences

D. showing the effect and then explaining the reasons

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要叙述的是非洲大象对于非洲草原的生态系统有巨大的影响，同时分析了原因。

1.C 主旨大意题。本文主要讲述的是非洲大象对于非洲生态系统的重要作用，，非洲大象在寻找食物的时候会把很多树木掀翻，这样就给地表植物带来阳光的照射。这对整个非洲草原的生态系统影响很大。故C正确。

2.B 细节题。根据第三段1、2句Take the rain forests for example. In their natural state, the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants, elephants create open spaces, allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor.可知树枝会遮住阳光，让地表植物无法生长。非洲大象把树木掀翻，这就给地表植物吸收阳光带来了机会。C项的说法与之相反。故C项说法是错误的。

3.C 细节题。根据文章第二段第二句In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day, it kills small trees and underbushes, as well as pulls branches off big trees.可知非洲大象每天要吃掉大量的食物，包括灌木和小树。故C正确。

4.

考点：考查科普类阅读