XI'AN - China's conservation work for the endangered crested ibis(朱鹮)is facing new challenges, including an increasing mortality rate due to inbreeding, and the conflict between the need to expand natural habitats and local communities' economic interests, bird experts have warned.
The crested ibis, once widespread in Japan, China, Russia and the Korean Peninsula, almost became extinct in the first half of the 20th century.
Before 1981, when seven crested ibis were accidentally found in Yangxian county, in Northwest China's Shaanxi province, academics thought the species had been extinct in China for almost 17 years.
Due to the huge effort put into species protection since 1981, the number of crested ibis in China has risen to an estimated 1,617, including 997 in the wild, the State Forestry Administration said at a meeting on crested ibis protection in Xi'an on Monday.
However, although the ibis population exceeds 1,000, the birds are still not free from the threat of extinction, said Fang Shengguo, director of the State Conservation Center for Gene Resources of Endangered Wildlife at Zhejiang University.
“Ornithologists used inbreeding in the early stages of protection so that numbers of the precious birds could increase quickly, but that method had consequences,” Fang said.
"Studies have proved that as a result of inbreeding, crested ibis have the lowest genetic diversity of all endangered birds," Fang said.
"It means a high mortality rate and more physical defects for hatched chicks."
“The government should collect genetic information from all crested ibis and establish a genetic database as soon as possible, then design a scientific mating plan for the species,” Fang said.
So far, about 90 percent of crested ibis live in Shaanxi province, and fewer than 140 ibis live in three zoos in other parts of the country, including Beijing Zoo, according to Liu Dongping, an assistant researcher at the National Bird Banding Center of China, which is affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Forestry.
The bird has lost the ability to migrate, he said, adding that if an unexpected natural disaster occurred in Shaanxi province or an infectious disease spread through the area, the ibis population could be greatly reduced.
Experts also warned that the increased population of ibis, whether in the wild or in captivity, requires a larger and more varied natural habitat.
Rampant hunting, the massive loss of habitat caused by deforestation and the overuse of pesticides, which killed aquatic insects on which the ibis feed, are believed to be the main reasons for the sharp reduction in the ibis population before 1981.
So, in 1983, a State-level natural reserve was set up in Shaanxi province to protect the bird. But the struggle for living space between human and animal has never stopped, said Lu Baozhong, deputy director of the Shaanxi Crested Ibis Conservation Station.
"For example, ibis often look for loaches in farmers' rice fields. Sometimes their claws trample the rice seedlings. In another case, villagers discovered some land with abundant mineral resources which happened to be a habitat for ibis," said Lu, who has devoted 30 years to ibis protection.
A long-term win-win solution for ibis and local communities needs to be developed, one that would provide ecological compensation for local residents, Lu said.
小題1:. What’s the best title for the passage?
A.The Rare Bird in ChinaB.New Problems for the Crested Ibis
C.The Way to Save the Crested IbisD.The Reason for the Crested Ibis’s Extinction
小題2:  Which of the following statement is TRUE ?
A.The crested ibis is a native of China.
B.Before 1981, the crested ibis was extinct in China.
C.The crested ibis is now free from the threat of extinction.
D.Most of the crested ibis are in Shaanxi province.
小題3:. Why did the experts adopt the way of inbreeding to protect the crested ibis?
A.To increase the mortality rate.
B.To increase the number of the crested ibis.
C.To get more physical defects for hatched chicks
D.To have the lowest diversity of the endangered bird.
小題4:. What may be the reason for the reduction in the population of the crested ibis before 1981?
A.inbreedingB.economic development
C.over huntingD.sandstorm
小題5:. What can we learn from the passage?
A.Due to our great efforts, the crested ibis lives in the wild well.
B.Scientists will choose a better habitat for the crested ibis.
C.The problems of the crested ibis have not been solved now.
D.The government has established a genetic database of the crested ibis.

小題1:.B
小題1:.D
小題1:.B
小題1:.C
小題1:.C
練習(xí)冊系列答案
相關(guān)習(xí)題

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Whether I’m looking for a good chat with some old Mends or a quiet place to meet a colleague, the pub will be the place I always choose.
I could, of course, go to a bar. But a pub, I always find, is far more comfortable and has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Many people in the UK also have a favorite pub at the end of the road where they live or nearby to where they work. I can almost always guarantee that I’ll bump into someone I know at my “l(fā)ocal”, as we British call our nearest pub.
In fact, many people from the UK say that the pub is a cornerstone (基礎(chǔ)) of British life. Coming together over a drink, usually of beer, is generally con­sidered the best way to catch up with friends. For those who are a little reserved (內(nèi)向的), as the British sometimes are, it’s the best way to open up and get chatting.
However, this habit is slowly changing among some British people. According to a survey completed in August by UK trade magazine The Publican, eating, rather than drinking, has become the main source of income for our 52,000 pubs.
The gastropub (美食酒吧), with its greater emphasis on food, is primarily responsible. All over the country, this more expensive type of pub has been springing up, providing a place for more formal meetings with business partners. Wine is often drunk instead of the traditional beer.
But not everyone’s happy. Many people hate the fact that some local pubs are closing because new gastropubs are proving more profitable. “Beer sales are sinking and many pubs are struggling to survive,” Rob Haward, of the British Beer and Pub Association, told UK newspaper The Daily Mail.
For my part, I’m going to do all I can to keep the local British pub alive. It will be the first place I visit when I go back home.
小題1:.  The article is mainly about         .
A.the British pub losing popularity B.the author’s love of pubs
C.how the British socialize D.the local British pub
小題2:. Many British people say that the pub is a cornerstone of British life because         .
A.it is nearby and convenient
B.it is a great place for meeting friends
C.it is far more comfortable than a bar to have a drink
D.it is easy to bump into people they know in a pub ,
小題3:. From the text, we can conclude that gastropubs         .
A.will replace the local pubs
B.a(chǎn)ttach more importance to drinks
C.a(chǎn)re somewhere between a restaurant and a bar
D.a(chǎn)ttract beer lovers as well as wine lovers
小題4:.  Which of the following is TRUE according to the article?
A.The author is in favor of gastropubs.
B.Wine is thought to show one’s class and taste.
C.British people do not go to pubs as often as be­fore.
D.Local pubs are being seriously affected by gastropubs.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

For a 400-year-old art form, opera had a bad fame: overweight actresses singing the words which were hard to understand in one of those romantic languages you were supposed to learn in high school. And with tickets costing as much as $145 a performance, operagoers also had a certain appearance in people’s mind: rich, well-dressed and old.
But now opera companies around the country are loosening their ties and kicking off their shoes in an attempt to keep opera alive and take it to a younger and not so wealthy audience.
Opera producers have found that to attract this crowd, they need to associate opera with the common people. That means no formal suits, old-styled theatre or bank-breaking ticket prices. And because young people don’t or won’t come to the opera, companies are bringing the opera to them, giving performances in such usual places as parks, libraries and public schools.
The Houston Grand Opera’s choice is the public library, where it performs “mobile operas”, shortened versions of child-friendly operas. This summer’s production is Hansel & Gretel. By performing smaller versions of large productions, producers are able to make people interested while keeping costs at a reasonable level. The San Francisco Opera, which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, is staging Cinderella free of charge, keeping costs down by employing students from its Young Artists’ Training Program.
小題1:Which is the main idea of this passage?
A.Opera is famous for its long history.
B.Opera is only performed for rich people.
C.Opera companies are trying to keep opera alive.
D.Young people are not interested in opera.
小題2:The underlined phrase in the second paragraph means _________.
A.breaking up the old rulesB.changing the dresses
C.making the audience at easeD.a(chǎn)dvertising themselves
小題3:Opera companies prefer to perform short versions because _________.
A.they can be performed in public libraries
B.short versions are easy to perform
C.it is hard to find long versions
D.they can make people interested
小題4:The San Francisco Opera employs students in order to _________.
A.celebrate its 75th anniversary
B.reduce the cost
C.a(chǎn)ttract young people
D.make Cinderella popular
小題5: From the passage we can infer that _________.
A.the tickets for opera are very expensive
B.opera is performed in a difficult language
C.opera is not so popular an art form today
D.students enjoy performing opera very much

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

I have never heard about a “Fashion Week” outside of New York, London or Milan. But then one just happens to turn up in Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Actually, I’m ignorant of all those countries in Central Asia, whose names are always ending in “stan.” For decades, even centuries, Central Asia has been out of focus, a blank on the map of empires. Just as the introduction from Turusbek Mamashov, from the Tourism agency of the president of the Kyrgyz Republic, says, “Throughout this Fashion Week project, we need to create a revolution in the minds of our people, preparing the country for the international tourism market. It is an opportunity as well as an investment.” What he says is right. If you just give it a glimpse (一瞥), you’ll find out that the flavor (風(fēng)情) of the Silk Road is still there.
As part of the route for Silk Road traders and migrating tribes through its epic(史詩的) history, Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, is a vast place of desert, grassland and mountain ranges. It is not widely known that Kyrgyzstan is the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai’s birthplace.
Bishkek, the place holding Fashion Week, is the capital and industrial center of independent Kyrgyzstan. It is a relaxed, handsome place with wide streets and large amounts of greenery. Especially in the autumn of November, the yellow leaves falling everywhere make the whole city a legend in fall. The mountains are just at its rear, in that case a unique scene of picturesque beauty is composed by snow-white peaks, lakes and the urban Landscape.
Today, Ala-Too Square is the center of the poetic places worth seeing in Bishkek. The “White House,” the seat of the Kyrgyzstan Government, is just at the west of the square. Behind this is Panfilov Park, a great place to head for a national holiday. The State Museum of Fine Arts is opposite, which is also called the Gapar Aitiev Museum of Applied Arts, featuring Kyrgyz jewelry, rugs and works by local artists.
One of the joys besides the scenery is the openness of the people. Bishkek is a city without a big population but mainly good-natured people from many races, 47 percent are Russian and about a third are Kyrgyz. Most travelers vote Kyrgyzstan as the most appealing, accessible and welcoming of the former Soviet Central Asian republics. It is written by a tourist that Kyrgyzstan is the country Russians most desperately want to keep: hills always covered with grass and wild flowers. Kyrgyz men always ride a horse wearing a photogenic hat.
小題1:   According to the passage, Kyrgyzstan used to be ___________.
A.a(chǎn)n international fashion centreB.a(chǎn)n important part of Silk Road
C.the focus of the worldD.a(chǎn) vast desert land in Central Asia
小題2:   The Fashion Week in Bishkek is supposed to __________.
A.start a revolution in KyrgyzstanB.a(chǎn)ttract foreign investment to Kyrgyzstan
C.promote tourism in KyrgyzstanD.celebrate the independence of Kyrgyzstan
小題3:   Which of the statements is NOT ture according to the passage?
A.Bishkek is a crowded modern city surrounded by mountain ranges.
B.Panfilov Park is a popular destination for local people during holidays.
C.The majority of the population in Bishkek are Russian and Kyrgyz.
D.The famous poet Li Bai is thought to have been born in Kyrgyzstan.
小題4:   What is the most important message the author wants to convey in the passage?
A.Reflections and thoughts on the glorious history of the Silk Road.
B.Feelings about the ongoing Fashion Week project in Bishkek.
C.The geographic features and imposing history of Kyrgyzstan.
D.The natural and cultural characteristics and attractions in Kyrgyzstan.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

When the shooting of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was complete, it was much more than a movie wrap-up (結(jié)束).
Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley, told The Sunday Times that he’s happy to have the time for romance now filming is over. Emma Watson, who is Hermione Granger in the movies, said she looked forward to “finally being free, being my own person” – a change signaled by her new haircut.
Daniel Radcliffe, who has been the face of the boy wizard since 2001, said that he “did cry like a little girl” when the last movie finished.
“It’s like the ending of a relationship,” he told The Vancouver Sun. “There’s a sense of, ‘God, what am I going to do now?’” He said he was eager to see “what life holds for him beyond Hogwarts”.
Along with the three actors, Harry Potter fans, now in their late teens, came of age with J.K. Rowling’s characters. For them, the last film isn’t just a goodbye to a decade of magic, but the close of their childhoods.
“We are the Harry Potter generation,” Canadian Andrea Hill, 19, told The Vancouver Sun. “We started in elementary school, reading about a boy our age who was going through the same things we were going through. We grew up, so did he.”
For Emily Chahal, an 18-year-old student, the series has been an inspiring journey. “That first book was what started my love of literature. It was the inspiration for everything – really teaching me to appreciate my friends, and to face difficulties with a sense of courage,” she said. “I have a sense of sadness. The end of the movies is kind of the end of my childhood, too.”
Fortunately, to the delight of die-hard fans, there are many things that keep the boy wizard alive. For example, in June this year, a Harry Potter theme park opened in Florida, US.
Some schools in the US and UK also have Quidditch teams – players ride broomsticks. “We’re not waiting anymore to see what happens to Harry next,” Hill told The Vancouver Sun. She founded a Quidditch club at Carleton University in Canada. “We’re still engaged in that magical world.”
小題1:.
How did Emma Watson feel when she finished the shooting of the Harry Potter series?
A.She cried like a little girl.
B.She was ready to move onto something new.
C.She was happy to have the time for romance.
D.She felt it was like the end of a relationship.
小題2:.
. What did Daniel Radcliffe mean by saying he was eager to see “what life holds for him beyond Hogwarts”?
A.He was bored with life in Hogwarts.
B.He couldn’t wait to graduate from Hogwarts.
C.He missed life in Hogwarts now he had left.
D.He was looking forward to new life out of Hogwarts.
小題3:.
. The series has brought Emily Chahal all the following EXCEPT _______.
A.the chance to live in a magical world
B.the courage to face difficulties
C.the appreciation of her friends
D.encouragement to love literature
小題4:.
What is the main focus of the article?
A.Celebration of the close of childhood.
B.Fans’ love for the Harry Potter series.
C.Mixed feelings about the end of the series.
D.Excited anticipation of the opening of the Harry Potter theme park.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.
When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you smile at someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly”, but you are not using speech. You are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”
Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hands. He is using sign language.
Many years ago, a French priest(神父), Charles Michel de Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet (字母表). It is still in use. People can make the sign for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. The only university for the deaf is Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C.
Today, in the United States, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The newsreader tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen.
The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwich. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean quiet. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations under water.
How many hand signs do you use every day?
小題1:. Which of the following about sign language is TRUE?
A.It is a special language used in a few countries in the world.
B.It is a way to express one’s ideas without words.
C.It is only used by the deaf.
D.It can be heard.
小題2:. If you want to express the idea that “I am very friendly” to someone, you will ______.
A.raise your handB.put one hand onto the other
C.smile to the personD.make a roof with your hands
小題3:. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A. Hand signs instead of finger signs are used everyday.
B. There are schools, colleges and universities for the deaf in the USA.
C. The French priest Charles invented sign language.
D. Even babies are using sign language.
小題4:.The passage is mainly about ______.
A.a(chǎn)n introduction to sign languageB.the importance of sign language
C.a(chǎn) famous priest in FranceD.how to use sign language

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

Explore the State of California
California is one of the most interesting states of America that offers a lot of wonderful sceneries and fun attractions. It is also the most populated state and the third largest in land area. Anyone who has been to California would agree that it is indeed a place that offers a lot to tourists of all ages. Here are some top picks of the best places to visit in California State.
San Francisco Bay Area - Witness the famous San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge which is one of the city's landmarks; and enjoy the beauty of Fisherman's Wharf that offers a lot of seafood restaurants. You should not miss the city's world-famous Cable Car System which is by far the only manually operated cable car system in the whole world.
Yosemite National Park - This is one of the very first wilderness parks in the whole of America. It is known for its natural beauty and breathtaking sceneries. It offers a breath of fresh air away from the city life. Major places to visit include the Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Dome, El Capitan, Mariposa Grove and Glacier Point among many others.
Los Angeles - Explore the home of the L.A. Lakers and do not fail to visit the Disneyland which is one of the major attractions of the city. The warm weather in Los Angeles makes it possible to do a lot of outdoor activities especially during the summer months. It is a family-friendly place that offers a wonderful shopping and dining experience. For those who particularly love the city and night life, L.A. can offer the best of almost everything.
Napa Valley - With over a million visitors every year, Napa Valley is indeed a place you should not miss if you are in California. It is California's most popular wine growing region. You can also experience the Wine Train and hot air balloon ride over the valley.
小題1: From the first paragraph, we know that_____.
A.the State of California has the largest population in the US
B.California offers a lot to tourists of young people
C.California is also the largest in land area
D.California is the most interesting state of America
小題2:. According to the passage, if you want to breathe the fresh air, you’ll go to _____.
A.San Francisco Bay Area
B.Yosemite National Park
C.Los Angeles
D.Napa Valley
小題3:. The underlined word “region” in the last paragraph may probably mean _____.
A.companyB.valleyC.factoryD.a(chǎn)rea
小題4:. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A.Napa Valley will bring us a wonderful shopping and dining experience.
B.San Francisco Bay Area is California's most popular wine growing region.
C.Los Angeles allows us to visit the Disneyland and enjoy almost everything.
D.In Yosemite National Park, we can see the Yosemite Falls, Golden Gate Bridge.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

It's not every week that England's greatest playwright William Shakespeare hits the headlines, but the Bard of Avon (艾芬河的吟游詩人) has been the subject of two news stories in recent days as new information has come to light about the writer and his working environment.
In the first development, a portrait of Shakespeare, which is believed to be the only picture painted of him during his lifetime, was unveiled in London.
The artwork has been dated back to 1610, meaning it was painted six years before the writer's death.
The painting had been owned by a family descended from Shakespeare's literary patron (文學(xué)贊助人) tor hundreds of years without them ever knowing who the man in the picture was.
Alec Cobbe, who inherited the portrait, realized that the painting was a likeness of Shakespeare after visiting an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery where he saw a portrait that had, until 70 years ago, been accepted as a life portrait of Shakespeare.
Mr Cobhe immediately realized he was looking at a copy of the painting that had been in his family for centuries.
The painting will now go on display in Shakespeare's hometown Stratford-upon-Avon.
In a separate story, archaeologists in London believe they have unearthed the remains of Shakespeare's first theatre.
The site was excavated(發(fā)掘) by a team from the Museum of London last summer, and is believed to have been built in 1576.
Experts think that Shakespeare himself acted at the theatre, which may have been where the play Romeo and Juliet was premiered (首次公演).
It is believed that 25 years after construction, the building was pulled down and moved timber by timber to the South Bank of the Thames, where a reconstruction of the theatre now stands.
小題1:.What is the story mainly about?
A.The remains of the first theatre.B.Shakespeare's portrait.
C.Early life of Shakespeare.D.Great works of Shakespeare.
小題2:.What does the underlined word "unveiled" mean in the passage?
A.made publicB.found outC.on saleD.sold out
小題3:.Before visiting the exhibition, Alec Cobbe ___   _.
A.knew his painting was a copy of the portrait of Shakespeare
B.thought his painting was a little like Shakespeare
C.realized his painting was very valuable
D.was unknown who the man in the painting was
小題4:.Which of the following is true?
A.The site was the first theater Shakespeare built.
B.Romeo and Juliet was first put on in 1576.
C.The theatre was pulled down to make place for a new one.
D.The theatre rebuilt stands on the South Bank of the Thames.

查看答案和解析>>

科目:高中英語 來源:不詳 題型:閱讀理解

After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at retaliatory(報復(fù)的) action against China for its “significantly undervalued” currency, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged the IMF to pressure China to adopt “more flexible, more market-directed exchange-rate management”. This is a coded message to China: You’re keeping on purpose your currency cheap, and the U.S. economy is paying the price. So cut it out --- or else. The normally dull IMF meeting became the latest battleground for the U.S. to be against a fast developing China.
Our new conventional wisdom is that China’s policy leads to make trade deficits (逆差) greater and the loss of American jobs. Dozens of candidates have run ads attacking a competitor for allowing China to take advantage of us. In the election-year view, China grew 10% annually for the past decade while maintaining low inflation(通漲) only by taking advantage of its artificially low currency. The idea that the U.S. is not responsible for its own economy is a black-is-white view. It argues that China and its currency are causing the lion’s share of harm.
This is an argument born of fear. It covers a fact that the economies of China and the U.S. have become beneficial to each other. Those trillions in reserves that China accumulates: Where do they go? Back to the U.S. in the form of lending money to the federal government. Those made-in-China goods that account for the trade deficit: Whom do they benefit? China, yes, but also American consumers and companies. Without China, American companies could not have maintained their profitability in recent years. Take two brand names, Caterpillar and Nike. Both have their products made in China, but both also view China as a fast-growing market for their products.
George Soros warned recently that a currency war could put the world into disorder more damaging than anything caused by the financial crisis of the 1930s. He’s right. Whether we like it or not, we live in a global system. The zero-sum attitude toward China and its currency is a relic, the remaining of an earlier time when nations defined economic life.
China is far from perfect and seeks its own advantage, but holding it accountable for our domestic problems is beyond outdated. It reflects a dangerous refusal to deal with the world as it is. Retaliating against China over currency will not regain high-end jobs in the U.S., which needs more our own demand. It will not renew construction or retool the American labor force. It will not rebuild rotting bridges or create a next-generation energy network.
小題1:Which of the following argument can be supported by the writer?
A.China is the winner in the Sino-US trade.
B.China’s rapid development over the past ten years is based on its low inflation.
C.The world’s economy will benefit from China’s policy changes on its currency.
D.The US will get hurt if it tries hard on damaging China’s economy.
小題2:This passage is in a tone that is ____________.
A.in favor of China
B.in the shoes of US
C.blaming China’s low currency policy
D.helping IMF solve the world’s economic problem
小題3:The writer makes his point of view clear through the passage by using _____________.
A.reasonable analysis
B.leaders’ quotations
C.figure examples
D.moving stories
小題4:China’s currency policy ________.
A.will help increase the demand in the US
B.is unable to equip the American labor force with new working skills
C.could guide the world economy for the next decade
D.is to be controlled by the international currency groups

查看答案和解析>>

同步練習(xí)冊答案