re_kilometers._They_think_it_is_unlikely_that_such_a_large_creature_lives_in_this_desolate_place._So_far,_there_has_been_no_firm_evidence_to_support_the_existence_of_the_Yeti.

　　二、勤练高考题型，多练自能生巧

　　Ⅰ.完形填空

　　Visitors to the dry, hot Sonoran Desert of the Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico are amazed at the many­armed 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 10 arms.

　　More __3__， the saguaro cacti still persist despite the unbearable desert climate. Those that have grown to old age have __4__ droughts, freeze, 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 season 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 10 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.

　　语篇解读：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活状况。

　　1．A.general　　　　　　　　 　B．basic

　　C．unique D．lovely

　　解析：选C　根据下文可知，树形仙人掌有多达10个手形分支，所以形状"独特"，unique 独特的，符合题意。故选C。

　　2．A.length B．height

C．size D．width