Question

    Insects could disappear within a century at current rate of decline, says Global Review.

The world’ s insects are moving quickly down the path to dying out, indicating a disastrous collapse（崩溃）of nature’ s ecosystems is likely to happen, according to the first global scientific review. More than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered, the analysis found. The rate of extinction（灭绝）is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles.

“It should be of huge concern to all of us, for insects are at the heart of every food web—they pollinate（授粉） the large majority of plant species, keep the soil healthy, recycle nutrients, control pests, and much more. Love them or hate them, we humans cannot survive without insects,” said Prof Dave Goulson at the University of Sussex in the UK.

The analysis, published in the journal Biological Conservation, says intensive agriculture is the main driver of the declines, particularly the heavy use of pesticides（杀虫剂）. Urbanisation and climate change are also significant factors.

One of the biggest impacts of insect loss is on the many birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish that eat insects. A small number of adaptable species are increasing in number, but not nearly enough to outweigh the big losses.

Matt Shardlow, at the conservation charity Buglife, said, “It is alarming to see this collation（整理） of evidence that shows the state of the world’ s insect populations. It is increasingly obvious that the planet’ s ecology is breaking and there is a need for an intense and global effort to stop and reverse（反转）these terrible trends.”

1.What did Prof Dave stress in his speech?

A.Insects are vital to food webs.

B.Not all people love insects.

C.Scientists are concerned about insect loss.

D.Humans need certain conditions for survival.

2.Which of the following is most influenced by insect loss?

A.Animals that feed on insects. B.Adaptable animal species.

C.Pests that are used to pesticides. D.Crops produced by intensive agriculture.

3.How did Matt Shardlow sound when talking about the state of insect loss?

A.Relaxed. B.Uncaring.

C.Humorous. D.Worried.

4.What is the best title for the text?

A.The extinction rate of insects gets slowed down.

B.The failure of nature’ s ecosystems can be avoided.

C.Sharp drops in insect numbers endanger ecosystems.

D.Insect extinction harms the diversity of animal species.

Answer

1.A

2.A

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要描述了昆虫数量的下降对于生态系统的影响。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第三段内容：“It should be of huge concern to all of us, for insects are at the heart of every food web—they pollinate（授粉） the large majority of plant species, keep the soil healthy, recycle nutrients, control pests, and much more. Love them or hate them, we humans cannot survive without insects,” said Prof Dave Goulson at the University of Sussex in the UK.（“这应该引起我们所有人的极大关注，因为昆虫是每一个食物网的核心——它们为绝大多数植物物种授粉，保持土壤健康，循环利用营养，控制害虫，等等。英国苏塞克斯大学的戴夫·古尔森教授说:“不管你喜欢还是讨厌昆虫，没有昆虫我们人类无法生存。”）可知，昆虫对于食物链来说是很重要的。故选A项。

2.细节理解题。根据文章第五段第1句：One of the biggest impacts of insect loss is on the many birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish that eat insects.（昆虫消失的最大影响之一是许多以昆虫为食的鸟类、爬行动物、两栖动物和鱼类。）可知，受昆虫消失影响最大的是以昆虫为食的动物。故选A项。

3.推理判断题。根据文章末段内容：Matt Shardlow, at the conservation charity Buglife, said, “It is alarming to see this collation of evidence that shows the state of the world’ s insect populations. It is increasingly obvious that the planet’ s ecology is breaking and there is a need for an intense and global effort to stop and reverse these terrible trends.”（环保慈善机构Buglife的马特·夏德洛说:“这些证据显示了世界昆虫种群的现状，这是令人震惊的。越来越明显的是，地球的生态正在破坏，需要全球共同努力来阻止和扭转这些可怕的趋势。”）可知，Matt Shardlow 对于昆虫消失这一事件表示担忧。故选D项。

4.主旨大意题。文章体裁为说明文。结构为分分结构。其中第一段和第二段主要围绕昆虫物种较快的下降速度进行描述。第三段分析了昆虫物种在食物链中的重要性。第四段分析了消失的原因，第五段分析了其消失造成的影响，第六段讲述了担忧。总结各段主旨可知，文章主要描述了昆虫消失对于生态系统的影响。选项C. Sharp drops in insect numbers endanger ecosystems.贴合主旨。故选C项。