题型组合练——阅读理解＋完形填空＋应用文写作
Ⅰ. 阅读理解
(2022·全国重点中学模拟)On the face of it, the Laysan albatross (信天翁) is doing fairly well. Its population is around 1.6 million, and may be growing. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies it as “nearly endangered” and places it on the second level from the bottom of the organisation's seven ladders to extinction. However, like the reasonably abundant monarch butterfly (帝王蝶), the Laysan albatross has an Achilles heel. Though monarchs range across much of North America, many have lived over winter in the same few small woods in central Mexico. Destroy those trees and you would endanger the species. The Laysan albatross is alike in this respect.
Adult birds cross much of the Pacific Ocean. But more than 90% of the Laysan albatross started life on one of two sites, Midway and Laysan, which have been developed from their original mountainous volcanic islands to their current state, only coral rocks sticking out a few metres above sea level. Wipe out those breeding (繁殖) places and the Laysan albatross would shoot right up the IUCN ladder.
And that is just what some experts fear, for both Midway and Laysan, which are among the oldest parts of the Hawaiian chain, have been damaged over time. A storm in 2011 destroyed hundreds of thousands of nests, and thousands are lost even in normal years. Rising sea levels may make this worse. Then it is time to spread the species' risk by building breeding places for the Laysan albatross elsewhere.
A project set up by a group called Pacific Rim Conservation (PRC) began to do so in 2015. They moved albatross eggs to Oahu, home of Hawaii's capital Honolulu. After developing and hatching, they are shifted to a wildlife shelter and handfed for five months until they mature and leave the island.
The group also broadcasts albatross calls and places some model birds，hoping these tricks will encourage the chicks to come there to breed as adults. That seems reasonably good. Of the 46 Laysan albatrosses successfully raised, seven have so far returned. And, as a bonus, the model birds and calls have also attracted hundreds of adult Laysan albatross visitors, including the four pairs that have begun to nest.
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。黑背信天翁的数量在160万左右，可能还在增长。但黑背信天翁目前仅有两个主要的筑巢地，一旦筑巢地遭到破坏，它们就会面临灭绝的危险。
1. What's the similarity between the monarch butterfly and the Laysan albatross?
A. They are native to central Mexico.
B. Their habitats are greatly destroyed.
C. Their populations are on the increase.
D. They rely much on certain conditions.
D 细节理解题。根据第一段中的“Destroy those trees and you would endanger the species. The Laysan albatross is alike in this respect.”和第二段中的“Wipe out those breeding (繁殖) places and the Laysan albatross would shoot right up the IUCN ladder.”可知，黑背信天翁和帝王蝶的相似之处是它们都非常依赖某种环境。故选D。
2. What are some experts afraid of?
A. Rising sea levels.
B. The harmful storms.
C. Loss of albatrosses' living places.
D. Destruction of the Hawaiian chain.
C 细节理解题。根据第二段的最后一句及第三段中的“for both Midway and Laysan ... have been damaged over time. A storm in 2011 destroyed hundreds of thousands of nests ... Rising sea levels may make this worse.”可知，一些专家担忧的是黑背信天翁的栖息地会丧失，进而导致其灭绝。故选C。
3. Which of the following best describes the PRC project?
A. It's never too late to mend.
B. Actions speak louder than words.
C. Prevent trouble before it happens.
D. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.
C 推理判断题。根据第二段中的“Wipe out those breeding (繁殖) places ... up the IUCN ladder.”及第三段的最后一句可知，黑背信天翁面临着严重的生存威胁，需要在其他地方建立繁殖地来降低这一风险。再结合第四段的内容可知，环太平洋环境保护组织的项目早在2015年就这样做了。该项目把信天翁的蛋转移到夏威夷首府檀香山所在的瓦胡岛。在发育和孵化后，它们被转移到一个野生动物收容所，并由人工喂养五个月，直到它们成熟并离开该岛。由此可推知，环太平洋环境保护组织的做法是防患于未然的体现。故选C。
4. Why does the group use albatross calls and model birds?
A. To attract the albatross back to nest.
B. To help keep the ecosystem balanced.
C. To make the conservation more lively.
D. To offer chicks a healthy environment.
A 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“The group also broadcasts albatross calls ... encourage the chicks to come there to breed as adults.”可知，该组织使用信天翁叫声和模型鸟是为了吸引信天翁回来筑巢。故选A。
