Two hours from the tall buildings of Manhattan and Philadelphia live some of．the world’s largest black bears．They are in northern Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains，a home they share with an abundance of other wildlife．

  The streams, lakes，mountains and forests that make the Poconos an ideal place for black bears have also attracted more people to the area．Open spaces are threatened by plans for housing and important wild animals are endangered by highway construction．To protect the Poconos’natural beauty from irresponsible development．the Nature Conservancy(保护协会)named the area one of America’s“Last Great Places”．

    Operating out of a century—old schoolhouse in the village of Long Pond，Pennsylvania，the conservancy’s partner Cook is working with local people and business leaders to balance economic growth with environmental protection．By forming partnerships with people like Francis Altemose，the Conservancy has been able to protect more than14，000 acres of environmentally important land in the area．

    Altemose’s family has farmed in the Poeono area for generations．Two years ago Francis worked with the Conservancy to include his farm in a county farmland protection program．As a result，his family’s land can be protected from development and the Altemoses will be better able to provide a secure financial future for their 7-year-old grandson．

    Cook owes the Conservancy’s SUCCESS in the Poconos to having a local presence and a commitment to working with local residents．

    “The key to protecting these remarkable lands is connecting with the local community．”Cook said．“The people who live there respect the land．They value quiet forests，clear streams and abundant wildlife．They are eager to help with conservation effort．”

    For more information on how you can help The Nature Conservancy protect the Poeonos and the world’s other“Last Great Places．”please call l一888—5646864 or visit us on the World Wide Web at WWW．tnc．org．

1．More people are attracted to Pocono Mountains because         ．

    A．there live the world’s largest black bears

    B．transportation is convenient in the area

    C．many houses are being built there

    D．natural conditions are wonderful there

2．The purpose in naming the Poconos as one of America’s“Last Great Places”is to      ．

    A．gain support from the local community

    B．protect it from irresponsible development

    C．make it a better home for black bears

    D．provide financial security for future generations

3．We can learn from the passage that        ．

    A．Francis is voluntary to cooperate with the Conservancy

    B．wildlife in the Pocono area is dying out rapidly

    C．the security of the Pocono residents is being threatened

    D．farmlands in the Pocono area are shrinking fast

4．What is important in protecting the Poconos according to Cook?

    A．The setting up of an environmental protection website．  

    B．Support from organizations like The Nature Conservancy．

    C．Cooperation with the local residents and business leaders．

    D．Inclusion of farmlands in the 81"ca protection program．

5．The passage most probably is         ．

    A．an official document                  B．a news story

    C．an advertisement                   D．a research report

E
Paynes Prairie
Have you ever heard of Paynes Prairie? It is one of the most important natural and historical areas in Florida. Paynes Prairie is located near Gainesville. It is large, 21 000 acres. This protected land is called a preserve. The Florida Park Service manage the preserve.
The Paynes Prairie basin was formed when limestone dissolved and the ground settled. It is covered by marsh(沼泽)and wet prairie vegetation. There are areas of open water. During brief periods it has flooded enough to be considered a lake. Except for that, the basin has changed little through time.
Man has lived on Paynes Prairie a very long time. He lived there as far back as 10000 B. C. At one time, the Seminoles lived there. The prairie is thought to have been named after King Payne, a Seminole chief. During the late 1600s, the largest cattle ranch in Florida was on Paynes Prairie. Today, Paynes Prairie is preserved land. It is occupied by visitors and Florida Park Service employees.
William Bartram visited Paynes Praire. Bartram was the first person who described nature through personal experience as well as scientific observation. He lived 200 years ago. He visited Paynes Prairie in 1774. At that time he described it. He called Paynes Prairie the "great Alachua Savannah."
Most of the animal life, which Bartram described, is still here. A large number of sand hill cranes, hawks and waterfowl are here in winter. The animal diversity is increased by the presence of pine flatwoods, hammock, swamps and ponds.
The Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is open year round. The Florida Park Service works hard so that the park will appear as it did in the past. It offers many opportunities for recreation. At the park you can camp and picnic. You can hike and bike. You can boat and fish. You can ride on horse trails. And you can see lots of nature and wildlife. You can see Florida as it was in the early days.
Paynes Prairie is a part of our Florida history. It is an example of our Florida natural resources. It is a place for recreation. Paynes Prairie is an important experience of the Real Florida.
57. How was the Paynes Prairie basin formed?
A. By the Seminole Indians.
B. By the Florida Park Service.
C. From dissolved limestone and the ground settling.
D. From lots of flooding and wet prairie vegetation.
58. The underlined word "diversity" means “_______.”      
A. variety        B. society        C. population         D. area
59. All of the following are true EXCEPT that _______.
A. Paynes Prairie has changed little through time
B. Paynes Prairie is covered by wet prairie grasses
C. there used to be a big cattle farm on Paynes Prairie
D. William Bartram was the first person~ to visit Paynes Prairie
60. The purpose of the passage is to_______.
A. call on people to protect wildlife
B. attract people to this preserved park
C. show you the formation of Paynes Prairie
D. introduce the recorded history of Paynes Prairie

Paynes Prairie

Have you ever heard of Paynes Prairie? It is one of the most important natural and historical areas in Florida. Paynes Prairie is located near Gainesville. It is large, 21 000 acres. This protected land is called a preserve. The Florida Park Service manage the preserve.

      The Paynes Prairie basin was formed when limestone dissolved and the ground settled. It is covered by marsh(沼泽)and wet prairie vegetation. There are areas of open water. During brief periods it has flooded enough to be considered a lake. Except for that, the basin has changed little through time.

      Man has lived on Paynes Prairie a very long time. He lived there as far back as 10000 B. C. At one time, the Seminoles lived there. The prairie is thought to have been named after King Payne, a Seminole chief. During the late 1600s, the largest cattle ranch in Florida was on Paynes Prairie. Today, Paynes Prairie is preserved land. It is occupied by visitors and Florida Park Service employees.

     William Bartram visited Paynes Praire. Bartram was the first person who described nature through personal experience as well as scientific observation. He lived 200 years ago. He visited Paynes Prairie in 1774. At that time he described it. He called Paynes Prairie the "great Alachua Savannah."

    Most of the animal life, which Bartram described, is still here. A large number of sand hill cranes, hawks and waterfowl are here in winter. The animal diversity is increased by the presence of pine flatwoods, hammock, swamps and ponds.

     The Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is open year round. The Florida Park Service works hard so that the park will appear as it did in the past. It offers many opportunities for recreation. At the park you can camp and picnic. You can hike and bike. You can boat and fish. You can ride on horse trails. And you can see lots of nature and wildlife. You can see Florida as it was in the early days.

     Paynes Prairie is a part of our Florida history. It is an example of our Florida natural resources. It is a place for recreation. Paynes Prairie is an important experience of the Real Florida.

57. How was the Paynes Prairie basin formed?

      A. By the Seminole Indians.

    B. By the Florida Park Service.

    C. From dissolved limestone and the ground settling.

    D. From lots of flooding and wet prairie vegetation.

58. The underlined word "diversity" means “        .”      

    A. variety        B. society        C. population         D. area

59. All of the following are true EXCEPT that        _.

    A. Paynes Prairie has changed little through time

    B. Paynes Prairie is covered by wet prairie grasses

    C. there used to be a big cattle farm on Paynes Prairie

    D. William Bartram was the first person~ to visit Paynes Prairie

60. The purpose of the passage is to         .

    A. call on people to protect wildlife

    B. attract people to this preserved park

    C. show you the formation of Paynes Prairie

D. introduce the recorded history of Paynes Prairie