How can a creature weighing over 5 tons and normally taking 150 kilograms of food and 120 litres of water per day survive in a desert environment?

   In the southwest African country of Namibia, and the Sahara lands Mali further north, the desert elephant does just that.

 Although not regarded as separate species from the African elephant, the desert cousin differs in many ways. Their bodies are smaller, to absorb less heat, and their feet are larger for easier walking across sandy surfaces. They are taller, to reach higher branches. They have shorter tusks, and most importantly, longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.

Desert elephants can travel over 70 kilometers in search for feeding grounds and waterholes, and have a larger group of families. They drink only every 3-4 days, and can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat, which is only used when badly needed. Desert elephants are careful feeders -- they seldom root up trees and break fewer branches, and thus maintain what little food sources are available. Young elephants may even eat the dung(粪便) of the female leader of a group when facing food shortage.

During drought they are unlikely to give birth to their young but with good rains the birthrate will increase greatly. Desert elephants have sand baths, sometimes adding their own urine(尿液) to make them muddy!

As we continue to overheat our weak planet, it can only be hoped that other animal species will adapt(适应) as extraordinarily well to change as the desert elephant.

61.The underlined part in paragraph 2 means_________________.

A.remains in the African countries    B.drinks 120 litres of water a day

C.manages to live in desert areas     D.eats 150 kilograms of food daily

62.Desert elephants are called careful feeders because they _________.

A.rarely ruin trees                   B.only drink every 3-4 days

C.search for food in large groups       D.protect food sources for their young

63.The author answers the questions raised in the first paragraph with___________.

A.stories and explanation               B.facts and explanation

C.examples and conclusion             D.evidence and stories

64.Why can the desert elephant drink water every few days?

A.Because they have longer trunks to dig for water in riverbeds.

B.Because they are less likely to be thirsty in a few days.

C.Because there is much rain in the desert.

D.Because they can store water in a “bag” at the back of their throat.

65.What can be inferred from the last sentence in the passage?

A.Overheating the earth can be stopped.

B.Not all animal species are so adaptable.

C.The planet will become hotter and hotter.

D.Not all animals are as smart as desert elephants.

When my grandmother was raising me in Stamps，Arkansas，she had a particular routine when people who were known to be whiners entered her store.My grandmother would ask the customer，“How are you doing today，Thomas？”

The person would reply，“Not so good today, Henderson.You see，it's this summer heat.I just hate it.It just makes me tired.It's almost killing me.”Then my grandmother would stand calmly，her arms folded，and say，“Uh－huh，uh huh.”

As soon as the complainer was out of the store，my grandmother would call me to stand in front of her.Then she would say the same thing she had said at least a thousand times，it seemed to me.“Jane，did you hear what so－and－so complained about？”And I would nod.Grandmother would continue，“Jane，there are people who went to sleep all over the world last night，poor and rich and black and white，but they will never wake again.Those dead people would give anything，anything at all for just five minutes of this weather that person was complaining about.So you watch yourself about complaining，Jane.What you're supposed to do when you don't like a thing is change it.If you can't change it，change the way you think about it.Don't complain.”

I have learned a lot from my grandmother.Her opinions always hit the nail on the head.Whining is not only impolite，but can be dangerous.

6. The underlined word “whiners” in Paragraph 1 refers to those people who ________.

A. complain often         B. enter a store regularly

C. are afraid of hot weather  D. think little of themselves

7. From what the author's grandmother said we can infer  that________.

A. she tried to comfort the whiners

B. she was impolite to the whiners

C. she was against whining

D. she shared the whiners' opinions

8. The author's grandmother told her to________.

A. be sympathetic to the dead

B. treasure every moment of her life

C. keep away from the whiners

D. get used to things she disliked

9. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A. Grandmother once owned a store in Stamps，Arkansas.

B. The author was told different things after different whiners left Grandmother's store.

C. The author was told that she could change her way of thinking about things.

D. Grandmother's opinion that people shouldn't complain was reasonable.

10. What is the purpose of the author in writing the passage?

A. To show that complaining is not only rude but harmful.

B. To tell us a story about her grandmother.

C. To show how to live one's life to the fullest.

D. To tell us people's different attitudes towards complaining.

 [1] While the Amazon may seem far away, we are all closely connected to it through our actions. Now there are largely the results of great demand for forest products and agriculture land, which makes its plant and animal species in danger. Fortunately, we can help save the Amazon rainforest by making the right choices in our daily lives. By being smart consumers, we can make a difference and help reduce human pressures on the forests and rivers.

[2] Look for forestt products that you don ’ t need to destroy forests to get. We can choose many rainforest products like Brazil nuts and coffee, which can be got without destroying forests. And at the same time the money you provide can help local people to _______________.

[3] Recycle everything possible. Such items as batteries, cloth, glass, paper in our daily life can be recycled with different techniques. For example, the collected glass pieces are taken to a glass recycling factory where they are madeinto new glass bottles through a series of processing.

[4] Buy the rightpets. Many wild animals are illegally caught in the Amazon and sold as pets and large numbers of these animals die in the process. It ’ s important to ask where the animal comes from and to require a store to give you proof when you decide to buy a pet.

[5] Carefully select the appliances( 家用电器 ) in your home . For example, order low-flow shower heads ( 喷头 ),which can reduce your use of hot water and use of energy to heat the water. So it ’ s wise to select the appliances which can save energy.

[6] Turn off appliances that you are not using and take the plug off them..Switch off TVs, computers, lights, etc. even when they are not being used and make sure the plug off the switch of some appliances that se electricity including TVs, video and audio systems, computers.

76. What is the main idea of the text ? (no more than 8 words)

________________________________________________________________________________

77. Fill in the blank in Paragraph 2 with proper words. (no more than 4 words)

And at the same time the money you provide can help local people to ________________________

78. L i st two threats to the wildlife in Amazon.(no more than 5 words)

________________________________________________________________________________

79. What ’ s the purpose of choosing the appliances carefully ?(no more than 4 words)

________________________________________________________________________________

80. What does the word “ they ” (L i ne 2, Paragraph 6) probably refer to?(no more than 1 word)