A day in the clouds

主題語境：藏羚羊的保護篇幅：377詞建議用時：7分鐘

1The air is thin and we have to rest several times on the short hike from camp.To our left,snow-covered mountains disappear into clouds that seem almost close enough to touch.On the plain in front of us,we can just make out a herd of graceful animals.This is why we're here—to observe Tibetan antelopes.

2Tibetan antelopes live on the plains of Tibet,Xinjiang,and Qinghai.Watching them move slowly across the green grass,I'm struck by their beauty.I'm also reminded of the danger they are in.They are being hunted illegally for their valuable fur.

3My guide is Zhaxi,a villager from Changtang.He works at the Changtang National Nature Reserve.The reserve is a shelter for the animals and plants of north-western Tibet.To Zhaxi,the land is sacred and protecting wildlife is a way of life.“We're not trying to save the animals,” he says.“Actually,we're trying to save ourselves.”

4The 1980s and 1990s were bad times for the Tibetan antelope.The population of the Tibetan antelope dropped by more than 50 percent.Hunters were shooting antelopes to make profits.Their habitats were becoming smaller as new roads and railways were built.

5In order to save this species from extinction,the Chinese government placed it under national protection.Zhaxi and other volunteers watched over the antelopes day and night to keep them safe from attacks.Bridges and gates were added to let the antelopes move easily and keep them safe from cars and trains.The measures were effective.The antelope population has recovered and in June 2015,the Tibetan antelope was removed from the endangered species list.The government,however,does not intend to stop the protection programs,since the threats to the Tibetan antelope have not yet disappeared.

6In the evening,I drink a cup of tea and watch the stars.I think about the antelopes and what Zhaxi told me.Much is being done to protect wildlife,but if we really want to save the planet,we must change our way of life.Only when we learn to exist in harmony with nature can we stop being a threat to wildlife and to our planet.

Reading

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Detail 1.Why does the author go to Tibet?

A.To change our way of life and protect wildlife.

B.To observe Tibetan antelopes.

C.To save the antelope from extinction.

D.To go for a short hike from camp.

Inference 2.What does Zhaxi think of protecting wildlife?

A.It's useless.

B.It's easy.

C.It's necessary.

D.It's costly.

Gist 3.What's paragraph 5 mainly about?

A.The population of the Tibetan antelope.

B.The danger faced by the Tibetan antelope.

C.The beauty of the moving Tibetan antelope.

D.The measures taken to protect the Tibetan antelope.

Inference 4.Which statement may the author agree with according to paragraph 6?

A.The wildlife programs can be stopped gradually.

B.Changing our way of life is important to save the planet.

C.New roads and railways should be built for people on the plains.

D.We can hardly get along well with the Tibetan antelope.

Language

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Ⅰ.日積月累

reserven.保護區

sheltern.避難所

extinctionn.滅絕

savev.拯救

endangeredadj.瀕危的

disappear into 消失在……

a herd of 一群（牲畜）

be struck by 被……打動

be reminded of 意識到；想起

make profits 獲取利潤

be removed from 被從……移除

Ⅱ.單句填空

1.You remind me________your father when you say that.

2.The mountain gorilla is on the verge of________(extinct).

3.I was struck________her youth and enthusiasm.

4.She pushed her way through a herd________lunchtime drinkers.

5.She saved a little girl________falling into the water.