In 1981, there were more than 1.3 million elephants in Africa. But in 1991, that number was cut down to 600,000. African elephants are hunted for their valuable ivory tusks(象牙). More have been killed by poachers(偷猎者). Poachers are hunters who kill animals illegally. An adult(成年) elephant eats as much as 300 pounds a day. In their search for food, elephants often move great distances. When they cannot find the grasses they prefer, they may strip(剥光) the land of trees.

Today, the area in which elephants herds live is smaller than it used to be. Many areas in their path have been turned into farms. And some elephants have been killed by farmers for trampling(践踏)their crops.

What can we do here in our country about a threatened animal that lives so far away? Our government has passed a law to protect it. People cannot import or bring in items made from ivory or any part of the elephant’s body.

Most countries throughout the world have also stopped ivory imports. It is hoped that the ban(禁令) on the sale of ivory will help save the African elephant. But the world’s largest land animal needs other help. The countries where these animals live are often poor and unable to manage the herds. If the elephant is to survive, this animal is going to need our support for many years to come.

1.The number of the elephant in Africa in 1991 was      .

  A. the same as that ten years ago     B. more than that ten years ago

  C. a little less than half of that in 1981        D. a little more than half of that in 1981

2.African elephants have been killed mainly because _____.

  A. they eat a lot                     B. they have beautiful tusks

  C. poachers kill for fun              D. there are too many of them

3. The areas where African elephants live are much smaller today because ___.

  A. they tend to live in herds

  B. there are not so many of them today

  C. many of these areas have been turned into farms

  D. farmers have been killing them to save their crops

4.It is mentioned in the passage that our country has ____.

  A. officially stopped ivory imports

  B. banned the killing of elephants in Africa

  C. threatened the elephants that live far away

  D. helped the African countries where elephants live

5. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

  A. Poachers have a license(执照) to hunt for animals.

  B. Elephants do a lot of good for the farmers in Africa.

  C. We live too far away to help to save the African elephants.

  D. The African elephant needs the world’s support for its survival

III 阅读理解（共25小题；每小题2分，满分50分）
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。                                 
It doesn't matter when or how much a person sleeps, but everyone needs some rest to stay alive. That's what all doctors thought, until they heard about Al Herpin. Al Herpin, it was said, never slept. Could this be true? The doctors decided to see this strange man themselves.
Al Herpin was 90 years old when the doctors came to his home in New Jersey. They thought for sure that he got some sleep of some kind. So they stayed with him and watched every movement he made. But they were surprised. Though they watched him hour after hour and day after day, they never saw Herpin sleeping. In fact, he did not even own a bed. He never needed one.
The only rest that Herpin sometimes got was sitting in a comfortable chair and reading newspapers. The doctors were puzzled by this strange continuous sleeplessness. They asked him many questions, hoping to find an answer. They found only one answer that might explain his condition. Herpin remembered some talk about his mother having been injured several days before he was born. But that was all. Was this the real reason? No one could be sure.
Al Herpin died at the age of 95. 
41.The main idea of this passage is that _______
A. everyone needs some sleep to stay alive
B. people can live longer by trying not to sleep
C. large numbers of people do not need sleep
D. a person was found who actually didn't need any sleep
42.The doctors came to visit Herpin, expecting ______
A. to find out whether his sleeplessness was really true
B. to find out why some old people didn't need any sleep
C. to find a way to free people from the need of sleeping
D. to cure him of his sleeplessness
43. After watching him closely, the doctors came to believe that Al Herpin ____
A. needed no sleep at all                    B. needed some kind of sleep   
C . was too old to need any sleep       D .often slept in a chair
44.One reason that might explain Herpin' s sleeplessness was ______
A. his mother's injury before he was born
B. his magnificent physical condition
C. that he had gradually got rid of the sleeping habit
D. that he hadn't got a bed
45.Al Herpin' s condition could be regarded as ______
A. a common one     B. very healthy      C. one that could be cured    D. a rare one

Sometimes a part of us must die before another part can come to life. Even though this is a       and necessary stage of our growth, it is often painful or       if we don’t realize what’s happening. In fact, confusion is often the       that tells us a change is taking place within us. These changes happen throughout the lives of all humans, as we move from babyhood to       to teenage years and beyond. With each change from one       to another, we find ourselves       goodbye to an old friend, the identity (个性，身份) that we       in order to move through that particular time.

Sometimes we shape these identities in relationships or jobs, and when we change, those areas of our life become      . Usually, if we take the time to look into the changing surface of things, we will find that a change is taking place       us. For example, we may go through one whole part of our lives creating a protective shell around ourselves       we need it in defense of ourselves. One day,      , we may find ourselves feeling limited and bored, wanting to move outside the       we used to need; the new part of ourselves cannot be born within the       of the shell our old self needed.

We may feel a strange       of excitement and sadness as we say goodbye to a part of ourselves that is       and make way for a whole new identity to       in its place. We may find inspiration in working and studying when we think of the image of an animal who sheds (蜕毛；蜕皮) in order to       way for new skin, fur, or feathers to      . For example, keeping a piece of snake skin, or some other symbols of change, can       us that death and rebirth are simply nature’s way of growing. We can give in to this process, letting go of our past self with great love and gratitude, and       the new with an open mind and heart, ready for our next stage of life.

1.A. natural       B. dusty     C. humorous     D. rare

2.A. moving       B. confusing      C. tiring     D. scared

3.A. report        B. notice   C. sign       D. idea

4.A. brotherhood      B. neighborhood       C. adulthood     D. childhood

5.A. animal        B. people  C. school   D. stage

6.A. saying         B. speaking        C. telling   D. reading

7.A. showed      B. left        C. shaped D. realized

8.A. influenced B. remained     C. defended      D. directed

9.A. of       B. within   C. for         D. between

10.A. although  B. while     C. until      D. because

11.A. moreover         B. therefore      C. however        D. so

12.A. area          B. shelter  C. room     D. space

13.A. limits        B. contents        C. connection   D. requirement

14.A. influence B. mixture          C. appearance  D. relation

15.A. dying        B. coming C. escaping       D. running

16.A. come back        B. come down   C. come out       D. come across

17.A. become   B. reach    C. name    D. make

18.A. appear     B. disappear      C. go D. exist

19.A. convince B. remind C. warn    D. tell

20.A. hoping     B. imaging C. welcoming    D. supplying

原创（四）
It is universally known that friendship is one of the permanent themes in the literature of all languages. Friends are people who willingly and readily help us when we are in trouble, and show   36  for us when we are in misery. This is   37   human beings were born to need the warmth and laughter of friends. Some of us like    38  friends, while others different friends. Personally,I prefer both.
It goes without saying that having similar friends has many    39  , We can feel a renewed sense of    40  when we have a group of old friends who would    41    our sufferings and happiness.   42  ,  old friends always  know  how to   43  mutual trust（互信）and how to avoid    44   conflicts. I always feel    45   when I meet an old friend after a long   46  . Immediately, hearty laughter    47   the atmosphere.
Nevertheless I believe that a mixture of friends is    48  advantageous. One can ___49___ various sorts of friends in three aspects. First, frequent    50   with different friends broadens my world   51   ．Just as various kinds of nutriments keep you healthy, making a   52   of friends keeps you lively. Secondly , I have found that the   53  friends cannot only    54  new adventures but alse show me new   55  to success in life. Thirdly, they can help me with whatever difficulties I encounter in life.
To conclude, I prefer to have both types of friends and as many as possible. Of course, I will not forget friends wisely.
36．A．direction         B．respect                    C．sympathy         D．anxiety
37．A．because          B．why                       C．how                D．What
38．A．true                B．right                       C．same               D．similar
39．A．problems        B．advantages             C．disadvantages   D．duties
40．A．tension           B．challenge                C．strength          D．oppression
41．A．share             B．convey                   C．guarantee         D．cause
42．A．Therefore       B．Otherwise               C．However          D．Moreover
43．A．lack               B．abandon                  C．bear                D．maintain
44．A．obvious          B．impossible                 C．impressive              D．hidden
45．A．stressed          B．worried                  C．delighted         D．confused
46．A．experience      B．departure                C．work               D．discussion
47．A．fills               B．weakens                  C．ruins               D．buries
48．A．eagerly           B．equally                  C．bitterly            D．rarely
49．A．make with             B．benefit from            C．result from       D．appeal to
50．A．quarrel           B．contact                   C．argument               D．view
51．A．attitude           B．position                  C．outlook         D．ambition
52．A．range                     B．series                      C．quantity           D．variety
53．A．strange           B．doubtful                 C．available          D．different
54．A．result from     B．stick to                   C．attend to          D．lead to
55．A．avenues         B．appeal                    C．benefit             D．attitude

The amount of money _______for the seriously sick child was soon collected.

A. to need     B. needed     C. needing     D. which needed