Question

It’s easy to see how the sawfish got its name. These frightful creatures can grow to be more than 6 meters long. Their bodies are flat and winged, like underwater airplanes. And their noses are shaped like chainsaws.

Sawfish are food hunters of the sea. When a sawfish is hungry, it waves its sharp-toothed snout（口鼻部）through a group of fish. Then, it lifts its nose and uses its mouth to draw the injured victims.

Hardy（适应力强的）population of sawfish thrived in warm waters along coastlines around the world for thousands of years. Over the past 200 years, however, human actions have severely endangered sawfish. Threats include fishing nets that trap the huge animals, often by mistake.

Some people collect sawfish’s snouts as prizes: One snout recently sold for nearly $ 1,600 online. In some Asian cultures, the toothy snouts are used in ceremonies to drive evil and disease away. And sawfish are also delicious. A growing demand in Asia for the fish’s fins for a pricey soup has contributed to the fish’s loves. Compared with other fish, sawfish give birth late in life and at slow rates, which makes it hard for them to recover from overfishing.

New efforts now aim to restore sawfish population. Beginning next month, an international agreement will provide protection for all seven of the world’s sawfish species. Scientists are hoping that it’s not too late to save the sawfish.

Until 1998, “this fish had never been formally studied in the United States,” says Tonya Wiley of the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Fla. “We didn’t know such basic things as where they live, what habitat they use, how often they breed, how many young they have — even what age sawfish are when they begin breeding.”

Through historical studies and field research, scientists have become aware of how much the fish’s numbers have decreased. Today, there may be 90 percent fewer sawfish than there used to be. Wiley estimates that only 3,000 to 6,000 sawfish remain in US waters.

Sawfish

Descriptions Size

1.__________

2. __________    Body: Flat and winged   Nose: Like a chainsaw

3.__________  of hunting for food    Attacking fish with

4.__________.

Drawing the injured victims with its mouth.

5.__________       Sawfish’s disappearance 

6.__________

Sawfish’s snout relates business.

Its

7._________ and slowly which makes it hard to recover from overfishing.

8._________  Only 10 % sawfish left

3,000 to 6,000 remain in US watersEfforts  

9.__________ Measure

Restoring sawfish population

10.__________ all seven of the world’s sawfish species

 

Answer 1

【答案】

1. Shape / Appearance                   

2.Over 6-meter long

3. Steps                                

4. its sharp-toothed snout

5. Factors / Reasons for / Causes of        

6.People’s fish-catching activities / Human actions

7. giving birth / breeding late             

8.Present / Today’s situation  

9.Aim / Goal / Purpose                     

10.Providing protection for

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要介绍了Sawfish所面临的灭绝的危险，文章分析了具体的原因以及人们现在所采取的措施。

1.Shape / Appearance                

根据文章第1,2行These frightful creatures can grow to be more than 6 meters long.可知讲述的这种鱼的外貌。

2. Over 6-meter long

根据文章第2行more than 6 meters long.可知描述的是这种鱼的长度。

3. Steps                               

根据文章第二段When a sawfish is hungry, it waves its sharp-toothed snout（口鼻部）through a group of fish. Then, it lifts its nose and uses its mouth to draw the injured victims.可知讲述的是这种鱼捕猎的过程。

4. its sharp-toothed snout

细节题。根据it waves its sharp-toothed snout（口鼻部）through a group of fish.可知他使用自己的sharp-toothed snout来捕鱼。

5. Factors / Reasons for / Causes of        

细节题。根据文章第三段Over the past 200 years, however, human actions have severely endangered sawfish. Threats include fishing nets that trap the huge animals, often by mistake.可知本部分是关于这种鱼消失的原因介绍。

6. People’s fish-catching activities / Human actions

根据Over the past 200 years, however, human actions have severely endangered sawfish. Threats include fishing nets that trap the huge animals, often by mistake.可知这种鱼的消失主要是因为人类的捕捞。

7. giving birth / breeding late

细节题。根据Compared with other fish, sawfish give birth late in life and at slow rates可知这种鱼的出生率很低，导致它们的数量不多。

8. Present / Today’s situation  

文章最后3段主要讲述这种鱼的现状。

9. Aim / Goal / Purpose        

细节题。根据New efforts now aim to restore sawfish population.可知讲述的是人们努力的目标。

10. Providing protection for

细节题。根据Beginning next month, an international agreement will provide protection for all seven of the world’s sawfish species.

考点：考察环保类短文阅读

点评：本文主要介绍了Sawfish所面临的灭绝的危险，文章分析了具体的原因以及人们现在所采取的措施。本文细节题居多，答题时在文章找到对应的地方，用笔进行标记，这有利于后期有时间检查时可以立刻找到答案的位置。仔细理解作者所讲的意思，再结合选项，通过排除法和自己对全文的把握，得出正确答案。