www.ks5u.comModule 6 课下能力提升（二十一）阅读理解A2013 was a recordbreaking year for rhinoceroses but not in a good way. That year, a total of 1,004 rhinos were poached (illegally hunted) in South Africa, the country where almost all of the worlds rhinos live. Thats an increase of more than 50 percent from 2012 when 668 rhinos were killed. It was also the most South African rhinos killed in one year.“The worlds rhinos are facing great danger，” says Dr. Naomi Doak of TRAFFIC, a conservation group that works to stop the trafficking (buying and selling) of wildlife.The rise in poaching is due to an increasing demand for rhino horns in Asian countries such as Vietnam and China, where the horns are used as key ingredients in traditional Asian medicines. Some people believe taking groundup rhino horn can help treat pain, fevers, and cancer (though these uses have not been medically proven to be effective). The demand is so great that rhino horns can sell for more than D|S30,000 a pound in Asia.Poaching has already had extremely serious results for rhinos. The Western black rhino became extinct in the last ten years. The Javan rhinoceros has almost completely disappeared from Vietnam, with fewer than 50 remaining. Now, African black rhinos and white rhinos are facing disaster. The black rhino is listed as “highly endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Fewer than 5,000 exist. White rhinos are considered “near threatened”， with about 20,150 in the wild.Many nations are now taking steps to protect rhinos. The governments of several countries have signed agreements to fight rhino poaching by making the sale of rhino horns illegal, catching poachers and smugglers (走私者)，and increasing public awareness about the problem.South Africa has signed agreements with Vietnam and China to fight wildlife trafficking between the countries. It is developing similar agreements with Mozambique，Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia.“These countries must join together if they hope to stop this stealing of southern Africas natural heritage (遗产)，”says Tom Milliken, TRAFFICs rhino expert.“Rhinohorn trafficking represents a threat to the basic structure of society.”语篇解读：本文是说明文。偷猎犀牛使得全世界的犀牛濒临灭绝，多国已采取措施保护犀牛。1Why was 2013 a recordbreaking year?AMore rhinos were trafficked than ever.BThe largest number of rhinos was killed.CIt saw the highest increase in rhino prices.DThe number of rhinos dropped to the lowest.解析：选B细节理解题。由第一段中的“a total of 1,004 rhinos were poached”和“It was also the most South African rhinos killed in one year”可知，2013年共有1 004头犀牛被偷猎，是南非最多犀牛被捕杀的一年。2Why do some Asians want to buy rhino horns?ATo seek pleasure.BTo do experiments.CFor health benefits.DFor personal collection.解析：选C推理判断题。由第三段中的“the horns are used as key ingredients in traditional Asian medicines”和“Some people believe taking groundup rhino horn can help treat pain, fevers, and cancer”可知，在一些亚洲国家，人们出高价来买犀牛角，因为他们认为吃犀牛角粉有利于健康。3What is the focus of Paragraph 4?AThe serious situation of rhinos.BThe importance of protecting rhinos.CThe measures taken to protect rhinos.DThe causes of rhinos being endangered.解析：选A段落大意题。由第四段的描述可知，本段主要讲述了目前世界上犀牛的处境堪忧。4What does Tom Milliken think of rhino poaching?AIt endangers other wildlife.BIt is dangerous and damaging.CIt helps to develop the economy.DIt has been brought under control.解析：选B推理判断题。由最后一段中的“stop this stealing of southern Africas natural heritage”和“Rhinohorn trafficking represents a threat to the basic structure of society”可知，Tom Milliken 认为偷猎犀牛是对非洲南部自然遗产的偷窃，走私犀牛角是对社会基本结构的威胁。B“Once there was the Stone Age, then the Bronze Age, and now we are in the middle of the Plastic Age，” said teenager Boyan Slat. “Every year, we produce 300 million tons of plastic. Much of it reaches our oceans.”At the age of 16, Boyan Slat scuba dived off Greece in the Mediterranean Sea seeing more rubbish floating on and under the surface. He said, “At first, I thought I was swimming through strange jellyfish. Instead, I swam through more plastic bags than fish.” Seeing all the ocean trash, he asked himself，“Why not clean it up？”Slat quit his Aerospace Engineering studies to create www. theoceancleanup. com in order to fund his research on how to pick up all the plastic trash floating on the oceans of the world. Researchers discovered that 46, 000 pieces of plastic float on every square mile of the oceans, produced by billions of humans around the planet throwing their plastic into rivers, streams and directly into the oceans. Whats worse, plastic does not break down.Today, we find plastic in the tissue of about every creature in the oceans. Additionally, millions of tons of plastic gather in giant oceangoing garbage patches (垃圾带). You may Google “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch”. It grows from 60 to 90 feet deep in places. It kills millions of sea birds, turtles, sharks, dolphins and whales.Being a brilliant, innocent teenager