Question

While elephants are respected by the people of Thailand, they are also used as beasts of burdens (馱獸). Today, these majestic animals are extensively used to help carry wood for the logging industry. It is therefore nice to hear that on National Elephant Day the mighty mammals are treated like a king, and served with meals fit for a king.

One of the biggest celebrations took place at the Pattaya Resort in Thailand’s Chonburi Province. Fifty-two elephants, some wearing beautiful clothes, arrived bright and early (大清早) for the big day. Each was first blessed with holy water by a professional elephant rider and then led to the grand feast, which served an unlimited supply of their favorite treats—bananas, dragon fruits (火龍果), pineapples, assorted melons, apples and the list went on and on! The elephants ate till they were satisfied before walking back with their owners for a good night’s rest.

Though called National Elephant Day, the celebrations that took place on March 13th this year stretched out for an entire week. Besides providing a well-deserved treat and break for the hard-working animals, the celebrations were also aimed to raise awareness about the mammal’s dwindling (減少的) population. One smart elephant even helped show the message by painting a dead elephant and the words “Don’t kill me”, right beside it .

And horrible as the message may sound, there is a sad ring of truth to it. Since the 1900s the number of elephants in Thailand has gone from over 100,000 to just 3,000-4,000 because of the destruction of their natural habitat and illegal killing. Asian elephants are not the only ones that are in trouble. African elephants are facing the same fate (命運). Hopefully, the public and officials are now working together to save these mighty animals from disappearing from the world.

1.Nowadays elephants in Thailand are

A. still used to help fight battles

B. never used as beasts of burdens

C. used to do tasks that need strength

D. less respected because of the development of the society

2.The celebrations held at the Pattaya Resort aimed to ______.

A. show visitors the elephants’ great performance

B. honor elephants for their devotion to the country

C. encourage people to play with elephants

D. show visitors the beautiful scenery in Thailand

3.The underlined word “it” (Para 3) probably refers to_______.

A. the elephant rider

B. the words “Don’t kill me”

C. the elephant that was painting

D. the dead elephant

4.What can we learn from the text?

A. Elephants are protected very well in Thailand.

B. Elephants also face the risk of being killed in Thailand.

C. The number of elephants is increasing gradually in Thailand.

D. Elephants could enjoy a grand feast every week in Thailand.

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

試題分析：本文主要介紹了在泰國大象的地位以及大象節的一些具體的內容，除此之外，還介紹了目前大象的生存境況和現狀。

1.細節理解題。根據第一段they are also used as beasts of burdens (馱獸). Today, these majestic animals are extensively used to help carry wood for the logging industry.可知，大象是馱獸，是搬運木材的。也就是說它做的是力氣活。故選C。

2.While elephants are respected by the people of Thailand 以及It is therefore nice to hear that on National Elephant Day the mighty mammals are treated like a king, and served with meals fit for a king.可知該節日的設定是為了對大象表示尊敬。故選B。

3.詞義猜測題。這道題目主要猜測指示代詞代指的內容，此時需要注意該代詞的上文。通過第三段One smart elephant even helped show the message by painting a dead elephant and the words “Don’t kill me”, right beside it .可知，一頭聰明的大象還畫了一頭死去的大象并在旁邊寫了一些字，因此這里的it代指的應該是上文出現的一頭死去的大象。故選D。

4.推理判斷題。通過最后一段Since the 1900s the number of elephants in Thailand has gone from over 100,000 to just 3,000-4,000可知選項A和C錯誤。通過最后一段because of the destruction of their natural habitat and illegal killing. 可知選項B正確。選項D未提及。故選B。

考點：考查說明文閱讀