A
A Wolf in Danger
What is happening to the timber wolf (森林狼) today?
Native Americans and early settlers often went to sleep to the sound of a lonely lullaby (催眠曲). It was the song of the wolf howling in a distant forest. There were many wolves then. One kind was the North American timber wolf.
Wolves are important to the balance of nature because they eat sick and weak animals. In Colorado, people tried to help deer by shooting wolves. But then there were so many deer that many of them starved to death.
The timber wolf is on the endangered special list . Animals on this list are in danger of disappearing from the earth. People drove the wolves away by cutting down the forests to build houses, towns, and highways. Timber wolves are now found only in Canada, Alaska, Michigan, and Minnesota.
This special animal may soon disappear from our forests forever. Then, its lonely howl will never be heard again.
1. Animals that are in danger of disappearing from the earth are called a(n)_______species.
A. endangered
B. living
C. alive
D. lived
2. Wolves help the balance of nature because they _______.
A. are an endangered species
B. eat sick and weak animals
C. no longer live in forests
D. help the farmers
3. At one time, the timber wolf was found _______.
A. in many parts of North America
B. only in Colorado and Canada
C. in towns and cities in Alaska
D. in many parts of Africa
4. Which of the following happened first?
A. People built towns and highways.
B. The timber wolf was driven away from its home.
C. People cut down the forests.
D. Timber wolves are endangered species.
【答案】1. A 2. B 3. A 4. C
【解析】
【分析】这是一篇说明文。本文讲述了北美地区由于人为造成的森林破坏，致使森林狼数量减少，被列入了濒危物种，也许很快它们会永远消失。
【1题详解】
推理判断题。根据第四段“The timber wolf is on the endangered special list . Animals on this list are in danger of disappearing from the earth.(森林狼在濒危特别名单上。这个名单上的动物有从地球上消失的危险)”可知，那些有从地球上消失危险的动物被称为濒危动物。故选A。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据第三段“Wolves are important to the balance of nature because they eat sick and weak animals. (狼对自然界的平衡很重要，因为它们吃生病和虚弱的动物)”可知，狼有助于自然界的平衡，因为它们以生病和虚弱的动物为食，故选B。
【3题详解】
细节理解题。根据第二段“Native Americans and early settlers often went to sleep to the sound of a lonely lullaby (催眠曲). It was the song of the wolf howling in a distant forest. There were many wolves then.(美国原住民和早期定居者经常伴着一曲孤独的催眠曲入睡。那是远处森林里狼的嚎叫之声。那时有很多狼)”可知，过去曾经有一段时间，北美许多地区有许多森林狼，故选A。
【4题详解】
推理判断题。根据倒数两段中“People drove the wolves away by cutting down the forests to build houses, towns, and highways.(人们为了建造房屋、城镇和公路通过砍伐森林来驱赶狼)”和“This special animal may soon disappear from our forests forever.(这种特殊的动物可能很快就会从我们的森林中永远消失)”，并结合所给选项可知，森林狼的濒危过程中，人类的活动起了决定性作用，即：人们为了建造城镇和公路而去砍伐森林，将森林狼驱逐出自己的家园，从而导致森林狼的数量减少，列入了濒危物种。由此可知，这一结果首先是人们砍伐森林造成的。故选C。
