are predicting far worse to come. Jin Li reports on our Earth's 3.changeable (change) weather patterns.

　　In the last decade, thunderstorms, floods, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and etc. have become increasingly common. Reduced rainfall has affected large areas of Africa for years, 4.leaving (leave) irrigation canals dry. A number of nations have already been in 5.armed (arm) conflict over water.

　　Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes have always been 6._a_ threat in certain parts of the world. Indonesia has had a rough time, suffering several killer quakes. Why is nature beginning to turn 7._on us? One answer is overpopulation.People in agricultural areas, without any means to earn their living, move to the cities and then construct shabby homes from 8.whatever materials they can find on poor clay soil. These homes, seldom made of bricks, can easily fall down in earthquakes or slip and slide downhill in landslides, especially in 9.mountainous (mountain) areas.

　　Most disaster experts believe there is the potential 10.that things could get a lot worse.Professor Hou Ming, of Beijing University studies volcanoes and he warns that the world has not seen the worst nature can do.

　　Ⅴ.串点成篇微表达

　　除了(apart from)聪明之外，吉姆还很勤奋。因此(as a result)，他在学校里总是取得好成绩。他主张(advocate)每个人都应该努力学习，否则(or else)他就不会抓住(seize)好机会。总之(all in all)，你应该对你自己负责(answer for)。

　　Apart_from_being_intelligent,_Jim_is_also_hard­working._As_a_result,_he_is_always_achieving_good_results_at_school.He_advocates_that_everyone_(should)_study_hard,_or_else_he_won't_seize_the_good_opportunity.All_in_all,_you_should_answer_for_yourself.

　　二、勤练高考题型，多练自能生巧

　　Ⅰ.阅读理解

　　Three fish species face extinction due to overfishing, according to an international group.

　　In a new report, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added Pacific bluefin tuna to its list of more than 22,000 species in danger of extinction. The tuna was joined by the American eel and Chinese puffer fish.

　　For 50 years, the IUCN has kept a "Red List" of species that are becoming extinct. In an IUCN news report, Director General Julia Marton­Lefèvre said, "The frequent changes to the IUCN Red List make us realize that our planet is losing its diversity (多样化) of life, largely due to our destructive actions to satisfy our growing needs."

　　Marton­Lefèvre called for policy makers to increase the number of protected areas and to see that they are well­managed. "Experts warn that endangered species poorly represented in protected areas are reducing twice as fast as those which are well represented，" she said.

The bluefin tuna is considered a special food in many parts of the world. It is used in