The African elephant,the largest land animal remaining on the earth,is of great importance to African ecosystem (生態(tài)系統(tǒng)) .Unlike other animals,the African ele?phant is to a great extent the builder of its environment. As a big planteater,it largely shapes the forest and sa?vanna(稀樹(shù)草原) surroundings in which it lives,therefore setting the terms of existence for millions of other animals that live in its habitat (柄息地) .

  It is the elephant's great desire for food that makes it a disturber of the environment and an important builder of its habitat. In its continuous search for the300 pounds of plants it must have every day,it kills small trees and underbushes,and pulls branches off big trees. This results in numerous open spaces in both deep tropical forests and in the woodlands that cover part of the African savannas. In these open spaces are numerous plants in various stages of growth that attract a variety of other planteaters.

  Take the rainforests for example. In their natural state,the spreading branches overhead shut out sunlight and prevent the growth of plants on the forest floor. By pulling down trees and eating plants,elephants make open spaces,allowing new plants to grow on the forest floor. In such situations,the forests become suitable for large hoofed planteaters to move around and for small planteaters to get their food as well.

  What worries scientists now is that the African ele?phant has become an endangered species. If the elephant disappears,scientists say,many other animals will also disappear from vast areas of forest and savanna,greatlychanging and worsening the whole ecosystem.

14. What is the passage mainly about?

   A. Disappearance of African elephants.

   B. Forests and savannas as habitats for African ele?phants.

   C. The effect of African elephants' search for food.

   D. The eating habit of African elephants.

15. What does the underlined phrase" setting the terms" most probably mean?

   A. Fixing the time.

   B. Worsening the state.

   C. Improving the quality.

   D. Deciding the conditions.

16. What do we know about the open spaces in the passage?

   A. They result from the destruction of rainforests.

   B. They provide food mainly for African elephants.

   C. They are home to many endangered animals.

   D. They are attractive to planteating animals of dif?ferent kinds.

17. The passage is developed mainly by       .

   A. showing the effect and then explaining the causes

   B. pointing out similarities and differences

   C. describing the changes in space order

   D. giving examples

  Three years ago when I was just a freshman in high school,the busy spring season was approaching quickly. I was al?ready preparing to play the saxophone (薩克斯) in my school's pit orchestra for the musical that year,for state solo and ensemble (合奏) ，and softball tryouts (選拔賽〉were just around the corner.

  It was only the second day of tryouts―a Tuesday. Adults were hitting popups in the outfield as a drill (訓(xùn)練) .The drill was poorly set up,however,as two lines were formed in both the right and left outfields,the adults hit fly balls from the line towards'the centre field. When it was my turn,I stepped up and the ball was hit. I turned and started to run back,but soon realized the ball was hit too hard for me to catch. I turned around to run and get it ..-Then I recall waking up on the ground. As it turns out,when I turned to retrieve (取回) the ball,I ran into anoth?er player,my front teeth piercing her forehead. As one could imagine,I was horrified!My right front tooth was very loose and about to fall out. With the musical only four days away and state solo and ensemble a week away,it was vexatious！

  After going to the dentist and getting my tooth fixed,I went home and to bed after taking the prescribed pain?killers. That Friday* Saturday,and Sunday,I performed in the musical. I also went to state solo and ensemble the week after and received a one (the best score one can re?ceive) ，regardless of the pain and discomfort I endured. I was determined to do what I love―play music―and I did.

11. How was the drill place?

   A. It was not good. B. It was new.

   C. It was too hard. D. It was too high.

12. How were the author's teeth hurt?

   A. They were hit by the ball.

   B. They knocked into the ground.

   C. They hit a woman's forehead.

   D. They were hit by an adult.

13. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that      .

   A. there was nothing wrong with the author's teeth

   B. the accident affected the author's performances

   C. the author liked and devoted to music very much

   D. the author felt a little disappointed after taking medicine

10. Sending Sandra a letter was out of       question, because her husband might intercept (截取) it.

9. If we can keep        this speed,we should arrive there in about two days.

8. Jonathan received a promotion to the role of assistant manager and was the youngest person        (occupy) that post in this international company.

7. After arriving in New York,the Chinese college student found it rather hard to adjust to        (live) on his own.

6. We tried our best to make our garden fit in       its surroundings.

5. ―Could I get something to drink? - Sure,make        at home.

4. ―It's the second time that I        (be) to Shanghai.

―What great changes!It's ten years since I        (leave) it last time.

3. I've heard        that Elizabeth is a tough businesswoman.