Question

    Every year, hundreds of millions of Monarch Butterflies (黑脉金斑蝶) from Canada and the United States journey as far as 2, 500 miles to the forests of Michoacan, Mexico, a place which has the world’s largest insect migration. It’s such a breathtaking sight, but as always, human greed is threatening to destroy it.

The Monarch Butterflies start to arrive in Michoacan in late October to make their winter home in the trees high up in the mountains of the natural reserve. Once there, they gather together in large masses. These masses often become so heavy that they cause tree branches to bend or even break. But there’s a purpose of all these massing - it allows the butterflies to survive in the low nighttime temperatures at these high altitudes.

The Michoacan Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (保护区) is most impressive during the months of February and March, just before the winged insects begin their long journey home.

Mexico’s Butterfly Forest is a shelter protected by law, and one of the country’s most popular sights, but that hasn’t stopped people from slowly but steadily destroying it.

Illegal woodcutting in the heart of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve has been a longstanding problem, but criminals are rarely brought to justice. They are often set free after paying some money.

Just last month, an even greater threat rose in Michoacan’s butterfly home. The country’s largest mining corporation gained the right to reopen an old mine in the heart of the monarch reserve. Experts believe that if the mine is reopened, it will likely spell the end of this magical place.

And as if all this wasn’t bad enough, the increasing use of herbicides (除草剂) in the American corn belt has led to the decrease of a plant which is essential to the monarchs’ development from egg into butterfly.

1.When do the Monarch Butterflies begin to fly back to Canada?

A.In January. B.After March. C.In October. D.In December.

2.What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A.The weather. B.The reserve. C.The massing. D.The forest.

3.What can we know about the protection of Monarch Butterflies in Mexico?

A.It is very satisfying.

B.It should be strengthened.

C.It cost the government a lot.

D.It has saved many butterflies.

4.What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A.Monarch Butterflies have a worrying future.

B.America has many mines waiting for exploration.

C.Monarch Butterflies live in the centre of an old mine.

D.The use of herbicides will let Monarch Butterflies lay fewer eggs.

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了每年冬天从加拿大迁徙到墨西哥过冬的黑脉金斑蝶数量减少甚至灭绝的情况。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第三段中“The Michoacan Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary (保护区) is most impressive during the months of February and March, just before the winged insects begin their long journey home.”可知，黑脉金斑蝶一般在二月份或三月份开始飞回加拿大。结合选项，故选B。

2.词义猜测题。根据文章第二段中“These masses often become so heavy that they cause tree branches to bend or even break. But there’s a purpose of all these massing - it allows the butterflies to survive in the low nighttime temperatures at these high altitudes”可知，此处it指蝴蝶在树上聚集这种行为。结合选项，故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据文章第四段中“Mexico’s Butterfly Forest is a shelter protected by law, and one of the country’s most popular sights, but that hasn’t stopped people from slowly but steadily destroying it.”以及文章第五段中 “

Illegal woodcutting in the heart of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve has been a longstanding problem, but criminals are rarely brought to justice. They are often set free after paying some money”可知，墨西哥的蝴蝶森林是一个受法律保护的庇护所，也是该国最受欢迎的景点之一，但这并没有阻止人们缓慢但稳步地破坏它。犯罪分子往往在缴纳一定数量的钱后就被释放。由此可以推断墨西哥对蝴蝶的保护需要加强。结合选项，故选B。

4.推理判断题。分析文章最后两段可知，这两段主要介绍了黑脉金斑蝶生存的两种情况，且是不容乐观的情况。故黑脉金斑蝶的未来是令人担忧的。结合选项，故选A。