A
(2019·沈阳市高三教学质量检测)In 2013 alone at least 20,000 African elephants were killed for their teeth.In South Africa over the last two years more than 2,200 rhinos were killed for their horns.These numbers are alarming，because current rates of illegal hunting are faster than birth rates，which could lead to extinction of these ecologically important creatures in the environment.Indeed，some elephant and rhino populations are on track to be locally extinct within the next decade.
If you are reading this，you may already be aware of these facts.But you might not know that wildlife trafficking(非法交易)not only threatens the existence of elephants and rhinos but is also leading to extinction of other species，such as tigers，tortoises，sea turtles，and the world's most trafficked mammal(哺乳动物)—pangolins.
Pangolins are the only mammals that are entirely covered in touch scales(鳞)，which makes them look very strong.But actually they are endangered mammals.There are eight different species of pangolins，four in Asia and four in Africa，and all are threatened with extinction.Although pangolins are protected throughout most of the countries where they live，high demand in East Asia，where the delicious pangolin meat is considered a delicacy and where their scales are used in traditional medicines，is driving an illegal trade in both live animals and pangolin parts.The number of pangolin trafficking is shocking.Experts believe that over the last 10 years more than 1 million pangolins were taken from the wild.It is estimated that between 40,000 and 81,250 pangolins were killed for the illegal trade in 2013 alone.
In February，the United States released a plan to deal with wildlife trafficking，which lays out the steps we will take to fight the illegal trade in wildlife，including pangolins.We are strengthening the carrying out of the plan；building international cooperation and contribution to protect wildlife；raising awareness to drive down the demand that is fuelling the illegal trade.
Get involved and remember World Wildlife Day(Marcia 3)by spreading the plan.Use social media and tell everyone that now it is time to get serious about wildlife crime and end the demand that threatens species，big and small，from the huge elephant to the shy pangolin.
【语篇解读】 由于人们的捕猎，一些物种濒临灭绝。本文呼吁人们行动起来，保护濒危物种。
1．How many endangered creatures are mentioned in the passage?
A．4. B．5.
C．6. D．7.
【答案】 C 细节理解题。根据第一、二段可知，文章提到了大象、犀牛、老虎、陆龟、海龟、穿山甲六种濒临灭绝的动物。故选C项。
2．Which of the following is TRUE according to Paragraph 3?
A．Eight species of pangolins live on the same continent.
B．Pangolins are not protected in most of their natural habitats.
C．The scales of pangolins can be used as an ingredient for cooking.
D．High demand contributes to the illegal trade of pangolins in East Asia.
【答案】 D 正误判断题。根据第三段中的“high demand in East Asia...is driving an illegal trade in both live animals and pangolin parts”可知，高需求导致了东亚穿山甲非法交易的发生，即D项正确。
3．What can we know about the plan released by the US?
A．Social media will be used to spread World Wildlife Day.
B．Whether the plan will be worked out remains to be seen.
C．The US will work together with other countries to protect wildlife.
D．More and more people are advised to increase their needs of pangolins.
【答案】 C 推理判断题。根据文章倒数第二段中的“We are strengthening the carrying out of the plan；building international cooperation and contribution to protect wildlife；raising awareness to drive down the demand that is fuelling the illegal trade.”可知，美国将联合其他国家保护野生动物，即C项正确。
4．What is the author's intention of writing the passage?
A．To inform us something about World Wildlife Day.
B．To raise awareness of protecting endangered wildlife.
C．To explain why pangolins are illegally traded in East Asia.
D．To show how the United States is to fight the illegal trade in wildlife.
【答案】 B 写作意图题。根据文章最后一段的内容可知，作者写这篇文章的目的是增强人们保护濒危物种的意识，即B项正确。
