The African elephant,the largest land animal remaining on earth,is of great importance to African ecosystem.Unlike other animals,the African elephant is to a great extent the builder of its environment.As a big plant-eater,it largely shapes the forest-and-savanna(大草原) surroundings in which it lives,therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat.
It is the elephant’s great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat.In its continuous search for the 300 pounds of plants it must have every day,it kills small trees and under-bushes,and pulls branches off big trees.This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas.In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.
Take the rainforests for example.In their natural state,the spreading branches overhead shut out the sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor.By pulling down trees and eating plants,elephants make open spaces,allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor.In such situations the forests become suitable for large hoofed plant-eaters to move around and for small plant-eaters to get their food as well.
What worries scientists now is that the African elephant has become an endangered species.If the elephant disappears,scientists say,many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna,greatly changing and worsening the whole ecosystem.
1.What does the underlined phrase “setting the terms” most probably mean?
A.Improving the quality. B.Worsening the state.
C.Fixing the time. D.Deciding the conditions.
2.The passage is developed mainly by .
A.showing the effect and then explaining the causes
B.giving examples
C.pointing out similarities and differences
D.describing the changes in time order
3.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Forests and savannas as habitats for African elephants.
B.The eating habit of African elephants.
C.Disappearance of African elephants.
D.The effect of African elephants’ search for food.
4.What do we know about the open spaces in the passage?
A.They are home to many endangered animals.
B.They result from the destruction of rainforests.
C.They are attractive to plant-eating animals of different kinds.
D.They provide food mainly for African elephants.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。非洲象对非洲森林和大草原的生态系统十分重要,它们的觅食对生态环境有很大影响。现在,令科学家们担忧的是,非洲象正濒临灭绝,这也就意味着整个非洲的生态系统正在遭受威胁。
答案及剖析:
1.D 词义猜测题。根据第一段内容可知,非洲象对非洲的生态系统十分重要,它们在很大程度上是生态环境的创造者,它们塑造了非洲的森林和大草原的环境。由此可推断出,非洲象决定了在它们的栖息地上生活的其他动物的生存条件。因此,“setting the terms”的意思应为“决定了条件”。故选D。
2.A 写作手法题。根据文章内容可知,第一段内容主要介绍了非洲象对整个非洲生态环境的重大影响,接下来的三段话主要解释了为什么它们会有这么大的影响。因此全文应是按照先给出结果、再说明原因的方式展开的。故选A。
3.D 主旨大意题。根据文章内容可判断出,本文主要讲述了非洲象对非洲森林和大草原的生态系统的重要性,它们的觅食对生态环境有很大影响。故选D。
4.C 细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other plant-eaters.可知,那些开阔的地方对各种食草动物很具吸引力。故选C。
