Ⅰ.阅读理解
Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing.
Traditional migration (迁徙) paths take birds through countries that are not protecting the places for birds to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration or flight paths of almost 1,500 species. They decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas.
The major danger for migratory birds is development. Buildings and pavements have covered the places where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. One of the scientists who worked on the study says, “Many of these important places have been lost to land_reclamation because of urban, industrial and agricultural land expansion.”
The problem, according to scientists, is that many of these small birds die along their migration paths because they don't have a safe place to feed and rest. There is no place to restore (恢复) their energy for the next part of their journey. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time in protecting land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. One species that doesn't exist now is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species，” one of the scientists says.
The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopping areas for birds that pass through their boundaries. For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.One scientist who is not connected with the report tells Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds.
He says small changes, like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of the areas birds would be likely to use, could make a big difference.
本文是一篇生态环境类短文。随着城市化建设和工农业发展，候鸟栖息地遭到严重破坏，这将直接导致大量鸟类物种的消失。
1．The disappearance of the bird habitats is mainly caused by ________.
A．development B．the change of climate
C．filling seas to grow grain D．the loss of land and water
答案：A
解析：细节理解题。根据第三段中的The major danger for migratory birds is development. Buildings and pavements have covered the places where birds stop and feed和Many of these important places have been lost to land_reclamation because of urban, industrial and agricultural land expansion可知，导致大量鸟类栖息地消失的主要原因是发展，具体表现在城镇、工业和农业用地的扩张。故选A。
2.What do the underlined words “land reclamation” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A．Abusing the farming land.
B．The disappearance of good land.
C．Causing the land quality to get worse.
D．Making land suitable for farming or building.
答案：D
解析：词义猜测题。根据文章第三段because of urban, industrial and agricultural land expansion及前后内容可知，由于城市、工业和农业用地的扩张，可以猜测出land reclamation意为“土地开垦”，所以Making land suitable for farming or building.的表述符合该词义。故选D。
3．Many birds die on the way of migration mainly because they ________.
A．are harmed by humans
B．are killed by other animals
C．have to take a long journey
D．have no safe place to rest and eat
答案：D
解析：细节理解题。根据第四段中的The problem, according to scientists, is that many of these small birds die along their migration paths because they don't have a safe place to feed and rest. There is no place to restore (恢复) their energy for the next part of their journey.可知，迁徙中死去的鸟主要是因为在迁徙途中没有可供休息和进食的安全地点。故选D。
4．According to the researchers, how can we protect the migrating birds?
A．By keeping fewer cats or dogs.
B．By stopping the urban development.
C．By helping change the birds' migration paths.
D．By preserving the local ecological environments.
答案：D
解析：推理判断题。文章最后两段是说，各国需要合作，为路过的鸟类提供安全的栖息地。各国可以做一些工作，把该国的城镇区域变成鸟类安全的栖息地。结合最后所列举的两项举措我们可推知，要保护好迁徙的鸟类，我们就要保护好地方生态环境。故选D。
