Ⅰ.完形填空
Visitors to the dry, hot Sahara Desert of the Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico are amazed at the many armed giants.They are the saguaro cacti (树形仙人掌), a giant which gives the landscape its __1__ appearance.In the dry desert the saguaro cacti can live for more than 200 years, grow to a __2__ of 20 feet，and have as many as 50 arms.
More __3__， the saguaro cacti still persist despite the unbearable desert climate.Those that have grown to old age have __4__ droughts, freezes, flash floods, and bush fires as well as the __5__ caused by groups of rats that eat their seedlings (幼苗)．Like all other desert __6__， these leafless giants can store water for use during the desert's long dry seasons by __7__ water through their long roots.
Naturally, the great saguaro cacti are a(n) __8__ part of the desert life.Actually the giants may be __9__ to many animals, including woodpeckers, owls, doves, bats and insects.In addition，after a saguaro __10__ the age of 50 or so，coldresistant flowers __11__at the top of the plants once a year.These flowers __12__ birds, bats and bees, which come for the honey and for the tasty flowers with their black seeds.
__13__ the splendid saguaros are plentiful in the Southwest, they are unfortunately __14__.These giant cacti have great value in landscape gardening, and the thieves can earn thousands of dollars by uprooting and __15__them to nurseries (苗圃)．To protect these southwestern __16__， agents for the Arizona Department of Agriculture go around and __17__ the desert.It's a most important job though a hard one.But without the saguaro cacti，many desert animals would suffer a lack of __18__ and loss of nesting sites.The Southwest，too, would __19__ something of unique importance, since these desert giants have become a __20__ of the dry region.
本文介绍了生长在沙漠中的一种标志性植物——树形仙人掌的生存环境及生存状况。
1．A.general B．basic C．unique D．lovely
答案：C
解析：根据下文可知，树形仙人掌有多达50个手形分支，所以形状独特，unique“独特的”，符合题意。
2．A.length B．height C．size D．width
答案：B
解析：根据前面的“giant”及后面的“20 feet”可知，此处表示的是“高度”，height高度，符合题意。
3．A.pleasingly B．inspiringly
C．interestingly D．amazingly
答案：D
解析：根据上文可知，游客对树形仙人掌的形状惊讶不已，现在更令人惊讶的是它们的适应能力。amazingly“令人惊讶地”，符合语境。故选D。pleasingly“令人愉快地”；inspiringly“鼓舞人心地”；interestingly“有趣地”。
4．A.lived through B．broken through
C．cut through D．got through
答案：A
解析：根据上下文可知，老的树形仙人掌“经历”了恶劣环境的考验。live through“经历”，符合语境。故选A。break through“突破”；cut through“抄近路穿过；走近路”；get through“接通电话；通过考试”。
5．A.crisis B．damage
C．destruction D．load
答案：B
解析：除了要经受恶劣的气候外，树形仙人掌还要遭受老鼠的“破坏”。damage“破坏”，符合题意。故选B。crisis“危机”；destruction“毁灭”；load“负担”。
6．A.plants B．lives
C．animals D．creatures
答案：A
解析：由语境可知，此处指像沙漠里其他所有的“植物”一样。plant“植物”，符合题意。故选A。life“生命”；animal“动物”；creature“生物”。
7．A.pouring B．squeezing
C．pumping D．absorbing
答案：D
解析：树形仙人掌通过它们的长根茎吸收水。absorb“吸收”，符合语境。故选D。pour“倒；灌”；squeeze“挤压”；pump“抽水”。
8．A.independent B．vital
C．original D．mysterious
答案：B
解析：根据下文可知，作为许多动物赖以生存的食物和家园，树形仙人掌是沙漠“极为重要的”一部分。vital“极重要的”，符合语境。故选B。independent“独立的”；original“原始的”；mysterious“神秘的”。
9．A.spot B．field C．home D．camp
答案：C
解析：根据最后一段的倒数第二句“But without the saguaro cacti... loss of nesting sites.”可知，树形仙人掌可能是许多动物的栖息地。home“家园”，符合语境。故选C。spot“地点”；field“田地”；camp“营地”。
10．A.turns B．takes C．meets D．gains
答案：A
解析：树形仙人掌长到50岁左右。turn意为“达到(一定年龄或时间)”，其后可以直接跟数字。
11．A.come up B．come out
C．show off D．show up
答案：B
解析：根据上下文可知，这里指树形仙人掌开花了。come out“(花朵)开放”，符合题意。故选B。come up“走近；被提到”；show off“炫耀”；show up“露面；到达”。
12．A.call B．trap C．fascinate D．stick
答案：C
解析：根据下文中的“which come for the honey”可知，树形仙人掌的花吸引了一些动物。fascinate“使着迷；深深吸引”，符合题意。故选C。call “打电话”；trap“困住”；stick“粘贴”。
13．A.As B．But C．Although D．Yet
答案：C
解析：在西南部，尽管这壮丽的树形仙人掌很多，但它们却面临着危险。逗号前后表示让步关系，although“尽管”，符合语境。
14．A.in danger B．in demand
C．in need D．in control
答案：A
解析：根据上题解析可知，in danger“处于危险之中”，符合题意。故选A。in demand“需求大；受欢迎”；in need“需要”；in control“掌管”。
15．A.exchanging B．trading C．offering D．selling
答案：D
解析：根据此空前的“These giant cacti have great value in landscape gardening，and the thieves can earn thousands of dollars...”可知，树形仙人掌被偷去卖钱，sell“卖”，符合语境。故选D。exchange“交换”；trade“交易；以物易物”；offer“提供”。
16．A.treasures B．decorations
C．possessions D．creations
答案：A
解析：根据全文可知，树形仙人掌是应该受到保护的沙漠珍宝。treasure“珍宝”，符合语境。故选A。decoration“装饰”；possession“财产”；creation“发明；创造”。
17．A.look over B．hand over
C．watch over D．turn over
答案：C
解析：为了保护这些珍宝，农业农村部派代理人保护沙漠。watch over“监督；保护”，符合语境。故选C。look over“浏览”；hand over“移交”；turn over“翻转”。
18．A.food B．scenery
C．water D．flavor
答案：A
解析：没有了树形仙人掌，就意味着动物们“食物”的短缺。故选A。
19．A.affect B．abandon
C．increase D．lose
答案：D
解析：西南部也将失去这些极具重要性的东西，lose“失去”，符合题意。故选D。affect“影响”；abandon“遗弃；放弃”；increase“增加”。
20．A.signal B．sign C．mark D．symbol
答案：D
解析：根据语境可知，这些沙漠巨型植物已经变成了这个干燥区域的标志。symbol“标志”，符合题意。故选D。signal“信号”；sign“迹象”；mark“记号”。
