Ⅰ.阅读理解
The giraffe (长颈鹿) is the tallest animal on land.It is one of the bestknown species in Africa, known for their very long necks, long legs and the brown and white patterns that cover their bodies.
Craig Hiltontaylor is head of the Red List program.He says there were between 152,000 and 163, 000 giraffes in 1985.But now, the number of them has fallen to about 98,000.“It is a huge tragedy and it's been sort of a silent disappearance that we just really haven't detected until now.” Fifty years ago, groups of giraffes usually had 20 to 30 animals in them.Now, observers are only seeing six animals in a group.Until now the disappearance of the animals has not been observed closely.They live in such a wide area across Africa.
What is causing this decrease? Hiltontaylor says, “It is due to the effect of people, whether it's people causing loss of habitat for the species, hunting the species for food or harvesting for medicine or for wood.”
He says pollution and the effects of climate change are just a few of the other problems affecting the species.Some people are moving into protected areas where giraffes and other animals live because of a lack of rain that affects food production.Sometimes the animals are killed for their meat.Also, civil wars in Africa make it more difficult to protect the animals.
Hiltontaylor says giraffes can be helped.“It's not too late, and we can turn things around.” Some of the ideas that work include community involvement and tourism.Tourism, for example, provides jobs for local people.He also says there needs to be a giraffe action plan put in place to observe and survey the animals across the continent of Africa.Hiltontaylor adds that finding answers to the problems people face, like drought linked to climate change, food shortages and civil unrest, will provide answers for people to help giraffes.
语篇解读：本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了非洲长颈鹿数量不断减少的现状，分析了其原因，并介绍了一些保护措施。
1．What does the underlined word “detected” mean in the second paragraph?
A．Changed. B．Noticed.
C．Doubted. D．Confirmed.
解析：选B 词义猜测题。第二段主要是介绍长颈鹿数量不断减少的现状。根据画线单词后文中的Until now the disappearance of the animals has not been observed closely.并结合此句中silent disappearance可知，人们没有觉察到、注意到这些动物的消失。画线词detected与noticed同义，故选B项。
2．Which is NOT a possible reason for the decrease of giraffes?
A．Civil wars in Africa.
B．Loss of the habitats.
C．Climate change.
D．Their wide living space.
解析：选D 细节理解题。文中第四段分析了长颈鹿数量减少的原因，包括污染和气候变化的影响，人类占领长颈鹿的栖息地，动物被人类捕杀，非洲的内战使保护动物更加困难。故D项(广阔的生活空间)不是长颈鹿数量减少的原因。
3．How can giraffes be helped according to Hiltontaylor?
A．By attracting more tourists to Africa.
B．By stopping the global warming.
C．By learning more about the community.
D．By moving local people away.
解析：选A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中Hiltontaylor says giraffes can be helped.“It's not too late, and we can turn things around.” Some of the ideas that work include community involvement and tourism.Tourism, for example, provides jobs for local people.可知，Hiltontaylor认为我们可以采取措施帮助长颈鹿，包括社区参与和发展旅游业，旅游业可以为当地人提供就业机会。故选A项。
4．Which might be the most suitable title for the passage?
A．Giraffes Are Changing Africa
B．Silent Disappearance of Giraffes
C．Tourism and Nature Protection
D．Wildlife Can Be Saved in Future
解析：选B 标题归纳题。本文介绍了非洲长颈鹿数量不断减少的现状，分析了其原因，并介绍了一些保护措施。第二段中It is a huge tragedy and it's been sort of a silent disappearance that we just really haven't detected until now.点明了本文主题，又能吸引读者。故B项(长颈鹿的无声消失)适合作为本文标题。
