Question

    The sixth mass extinction (灭绝) is not a worry for the future. It’s happening now, much faster than expected before, and it’s entirely our fault, according to a study published Monday.

Humans have already wiped out hundreds of species (物种) and pushed many more to the edge (边缘) of extinction through wildlife trade, pollution and habitat loss. 1.

Gerardo Ceballos Gonzalez, a professor of ecology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said approximately 173 species died out between 2001 and 2014, which is 25 times more extinct species than you would expect under the normal, background, extinction speed.

2. There have been five mass extinction (大规模灭绝) events in the Earth’s history, each wiping out between 70% and 95% of the species of plants, animals and microorganisms. The most recent, 66 million years ago, saw dinosaurs disappear.

The past events were caused by terrible changes of the environment The sixth mass extinction - the one happening now - is different: it’s caused by humans.

3. But it took millions of years to restore(恢复)the number of species.

When one species in the ecosystem disappears, it destroys the entire ecosystem and pushes other species toward destruction. 4.

Hundreds of species of frogs are suffering population decrease and extinctions because of the chytrid fungus (真菌) disease, which is sometimes spread into new areas by humans. Climate change is likely making it worse.

5. The researchers also said the current COVID-19 shows how the carelessness with which people treat the natural world can backfire badly.

The researchers said this data highlights the urgency (紧急) with which the world needs to act. Later this year, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is expected to set new global goals to fight the ongoing biodiversity (生物多样性) problem in the coming decades.

A.Mass extinctions are just as serious as their name suggests.

B.This interdependency (相互依存) of different species is bad news for humans, too.

C.But the speed at which species are dying out has quickened up in recent decades.

D.We humans are destroying the biodiversity of the world we evolved into.

E.Life on Earth has recovered after each of these events.

F.The researchers use amphibians (两栖动物) as an example of this phenomena.

G.Many species have evolved to deal with climate changes.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.E

4.F

5.B

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章介绍第六次大物种灭绝的到来。通过野生动物贸易、污染和栖息地的丧失，人类已经消灭了数百种物种，并将更多物种推向灭绝的边缘。但近几十年来，物种灭绝的速度加快了。

1.

根据上文提示“通过野生动物贸易、污染和栖息地的丧失，人类已经消灭了数百种物种，并将更多物种推向灭绝的边缘。”可知，C项But the speed at which species are dying out has quickened up in recent decades.（但近几十年来，物种灭绝的速度加快了。）中的dying out has quickened up 与上文中的wiped out hundreds of species (物种) and pushed many more to the edge (边缘) of extinction相吻合。故选C。

2.

根据空后的内容“地球历史上曾经发生过五次大灭绝事件，每次都有70%到95%的植物、动物和微生物灭绝。”可知，A项Mass extinctions are just as serious as their name suggests.（大灭绝正如其名字所暗示的那样严重。）中的Mass extinctions与下文的five mass extinction (大规模灭绝) events相吻合。故选A。

3.

根据第3空下文“但物种数量的恢复却花费了数百万年的时间。”可知，E项Life on Earth has recovered after each of these events.（在这些事件之后，地球上的生命已经恢复。）中的recovered与下文中的to restore(恢复)一致。故选E。

4.

根据上文提示“当生态系统中的一个物种消失时，它会破坏整个生态系统，并将其他物种推向毁灭。”由此可知，F项The researchers use amphibians as an example of this phenomena.（研究人员以两栖动物为例来说明这一现象。）是用一个例子在解释上文中所说的现象。故选F。

5.

根据下文提示“研究人员还表示，目前的COVID-19表明，人们对待自然世界的粗心会产生严重的反效果。”由此可知，B项This interdependency (相互依存) of different species is bad news for humans, too.（不同物种之间的相互依赖对人类来说也是个坏消息。）中的bad news for humans,与下文的backfire badly相吻合。故选B。