Ever since it was claimed that a medicine made from the Chinese three-striped box turtle could cure cancer, demand for the product has increased, making the turtle the most expensive to be found in China’s food markets. Huge sums of money have been made selling the medicine.The turtle — along with a few other Cuora species — was once imported into China by the pet trade.
Exporters obtained the specimens in the food markets rather than going out to collect them in the wild. Treatment of the turtles prior to reaching the markets resulted in many of them being diseased. Packed tightly into crates, often for journeys of several weeks without food, it is little wonder that many specimens exported to western countries fared poorly when purchased as pets.
Throughout the Far East turtles and tortoises have featured in various cultures and certain religions. They have also been used for hundreds of years for food and medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine is probably the greatest threat to the three-striped box and to the thousands of other turtles that are imported yearly into China. Turtles are well known for their longevity, which it is thought will be passed on to those eating them. Turtle blood, bones and shells — particularly the plastron (ventral part of the shell) — are thought to have medicinal properties and be able to cure a number of ailments. Turtle eggs are also used for food and medicine. The medicinal value of the turtles is open to question, and it is possible that herbs could produce the same effects. Any beneficial substances from the turtles could also be synthesized chemically, so as to prevent the killing of turtles.
The southern part of China has become more prosperous in recent years, and the demand for turtles has increased dramatically. Turtle dishes are served in restaurants and regarded as an expensive delicacy, even a status symbol.
As turtle supplies in China dwindled, traders started importing the animals from Vietnam. As a result, many Vietnamese turtles have now disappeared from their haunts in the wild. To satisfy growing demand, importers have now turned to sources farther afield, including Cambodia, Laos, Nepal, India, Bhutan and Indonesia.
Since biologists started studying turtles in Chinese food markets, several previously unknown and extremely rare species have been found; some are on Appendix I of CITES. At the present rate of collection such specimens, and even species not yet discovered, could soon be extinct. The three-striped box turtle is simply one among dozens of other species flooding into China, but its high value makes it a special target for collectors.
According to this passage, turtles are of great importance in China because they are _________.
本题是细节题。第一段第一句提到：自从有人声称中国的三线箱龟制成的药物能治疗癌症后，这种产品的需求量增加了，这使得金钱龟成为中国食品市场上最昂贵的东西；前面提到的三线箱龟也即是后面的金钱龟，因此答案为D。
The noun phrase “the medicine” underlined in Paragraph 1 refers to the _________.
本题是词义题。参考上题的解析，可知这里的“这种药物”指的就是B项的“用金钱龟制成的药物”。
Turtles are well-known throughout the world for reasons except its _________.
本题是是非题。纵观全文，第三段第四句中提及选项A的内容：Turtles are well known for their longevity(乌龟以长寿著称)；在第三段后几句有提及选项B的内容，如：龟血、龟骨、龟壳、尤其是龟的胸甲 (位于龟壳的两侧)(Turtle blood, bones and shells — particularly the plastron (ventral part of the shell))都认为有药用价值，龟蛋(Turtle eggs)可以食用也可药用，这些都是对人们有好处的物质；最后一句提到选项C的内容：but its high value makes it a special target for collectors；第四段中只提到“龟类菜肴在餐馆中被当作一种名贵菜肴，甚至是地位的象征，没有提及选项D的内容；因此D为答案。
“The turtle — along with a few other Cuora species — was once imported into China by the pet trade.” in Paragraph 1 means _________.
本题是语义题。第一段最后一句提到：The turtle — along with a few other Cuora species — was once imported into China by the pet trade.(这种龟和其它几种闭壳龟属物种曾经是是由宠物业作为宠物进口到中国的)；因此答案为C。
Which of the following can be concluded from the author’s statement “Any beneficial substances from the turtles could also be synthesized chemically, so as to prevent the killing of turtles” in Paragraph 3 ?
本题是语义题。第三段最后一句提到：Any beneficial substances from the turtles could also be synthesized chemically，so as to prevent the killing of turtles.，意思是：从乌龟身上提取的有益物质也能通过化学合成而得到，这样就可阻止对乌龟的杀害了。由此可知作者为大规模的屠杀乌龟而感到遗憾。因此答案为A。
The reason why turtles are imported into China lies in that _________.
本题是细节题。第五段第一句：As turtle supplies in China dwindled，traders started importing the animals from Vietnam. ——由于在中国市场上乌龟供应的缩小，商人们开始从越南进口这种动物；所以可知“供过于求”是其原因；因此答案为C。
The phrase “even a status symbol” in Paragraph 4 means _________.
本题是词义题。第四段提到：Turtle dishes are served in restaurants and regarded as an expensive delicacy, even a status symbol. (餐馆供应龟类菜肴，这种菜被当作名贵的佳肴，甚至是地位的象征)，由此可知因为价格昂贵，只有有钱或有地位的人才能享用；所以答案为C。
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the last paragraph?
本题是是非题。第六段第一句中有提及选项A，B的内容；第六段第二句中有提及选项C的内容；所以答案为D。
From the passage we learn that _________.
本题是主旨题。从全文可知，文章最想表达的是作者为乌龟大量被杀，成为餐桌上的佳肴的事感到遗憾和难过；但又讲到从龟类身上达到治病防病的目的是人们的初衷，所以建议化学合成龟身上的有益物质；所以答案为B。
This passage is most probably taken from _________.
本题是推断题。纵观全文可知，文章介绍了食用龟类的前因后果，还提出了建议；不应该是B项的“新闻报道”，也不是D项的“科幻小说”，更不是C项的“谈论磁体的课本”了；所以答案为A。