《2025年学习指要八年级英语上册人教版》

Ⅳ 任务型阅读。
Meerkats (猫鼬) have become popular animals around the world. Many people know them from cartoons or nature documentaries. Meerkats live in the deserts (沙漠) of Southern Africa, like Botswana and Namibia. (博茨瓦纳和纳米比亚) They are small animals with long, slender bodies and sharp claws, which help them dig burrows (地洞).
Meerkats are social animals and live in groups called "clans" (族群). Each clan can have up to 30 members. They work together to find food, protect their home, and take care of their young. One of the most interesting things about meerkats is their "sentinel" (哨兵) behavior. While most of the clan is busy searching for food, one meerkat will stand on its hind legs (后腿) and keep watching for danger. If the sentinel spots a predator (捕食者), it will make a warning call (警报声), and the whole clan will quickly hide in their burrows. Meerkats eat insects, small animals, and plants. They are active during the day and sleep in their burrows at night. Meerkats have a strong sense of family and community. The young meerkats stay close to their mothers and learn important skills from them, like how to find food and avoid danger.
Meerkats are not endangered, but they do face threats (威胁) from predators and habitat (栖息地) loss. In some areas, people try to protect them by creating special wildlife reserves (野生动物保护区) where they can live safely.
1. Are meerkats social animals?Yes, they are.
2. Where do meerkats live?They live in the deserts of Southern Africa, like Botswana and Namibia.
3. Why do meerkats stand on their hind legs?They stand on their hind legs to keep watching for danger.
4. Do you think it is important to protect meerkats? Why or why not?Yes, I think it is important to protect meerkats. Because they are part of the ecosystem and have a strong sense of family and community. Protecting them helps maintain ecological balance and biodiversity.

答案： 1. Yes, they are.
2. They live in the deserts of Southern Africa, like Botswana and Namibia.
3. They stand on their hind legs to keep watching for danger.
4. Yes, I think it is important to protect meerkats. Because they are part of the ecosystem and have a strong sense of family and community. Protecting them helps maintain ecological balance and biodiversity. (答案不唯一，合理即可)