英语阅读理解专题练习(及答案)及解析.docVIP

英语阅读理解专题练习（及答案）及解析 一、高中英语阅读理解 1 •阅读理解 The nu mber of giraffes is beco ming smaller across Africa, accord ing to the Giraffe Con servati on Foundation. The total population has dropped by 40 percent in the last 15 years. Surprisingly, even scie ntists have nt give n much atte nti on to giraffes. We are lear ning more about their ecology, but what we know is still way beh ind what we know about other species. Its a sile nt extinction, said Dr. Julian Hennessy, a wildlife scientist. The main reas on for the smaller nu mber of giraffes is their loss of livi ng places, said Henn essy, as an in creas ing part of land is used for farming. But hun ti ng also has a big in flue nee. You might won der why hun ters would focus on giraffes. First of all, once a giraffe is brought dow n, there is lots of meat with a small amount of effort. Besides, there is another thing encouraging the hunting. In Tanzania, Henn essy says, the latest word on the street is that eat ing giraffe meat could cure AIDS. Fresh giraffe heads and bones can be sold at prices of up to $140 per piece. Another widespread misconception about giraffes is that they are everywhere. Look at kids books which are full of giraffes. They are always in zoo collecti ons. They can be see n easily, so you dont think we have to worry about them. But the truth is that they are in dan ger of ext inction. There is a lack of right and true data. Hennessy and other researchers are now pulling together the data needed to improve the situation of the entire giraffe species and all nine subspecies （ 亚币中）.The information will be used to change the giraffes listing on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, which now lists the species as of least concern but two subspecies as endan gered. Its a lot of work to gather the necessary information, Hennessy says. And several other giraffe subspecies will be recommended for endangered listings next year or the year after. He hopes that the world will fin ally start to