二、完形填空(本大题共10小题，每小题1分，共10分)
从选择项中选择一个最适合短文的选项，错选、多选或未选均无分。
Koalas look like teddy bears, ___21___ they are not bears at all. They are really animals called marsupials.
These animals carry their young in pouches, like kangaroos ___22___ .
Koalas live in the forests of Australia. They spend most of their lives in eucalyptus trees. They ___23___ never come down even for a drink of water. In fact, their names means “no drink.” The koalas have a ___24___ of knowing which trees they can feed on safely. They eat each leaf the same way. ___25___ , they bite the leaf off the stem and then they chew it from base to ___26___ .
When a koala is born, it is less than an inch long. The baby crawls into the mother’s ___27___ right away and stays there for six months. After that, the baby rides piggyback or hangs on ___28___ the mother’s front paws and legs. Young koalas stay with their mothers for at least a year.
The koala is a strong climber. Its paws end with sharp claws, ___29___ he can get a good grip on tree branches. Koalas sleep in the eucalyptus trees on most of the day and eat at night. Koalas may live alone or in small ___30___ . Males sometimes use their sharp claws as weapons. Most of the time, koala families live together peacefully.
21. A. while B. but C. when D. however
22. A. carry B. do C. doing D. carrying
23. A. nearly B. hardly C. rarely D. scarcely
24. A. means B. manner C. way D. point
25. A. However B. Whatever C. First D. Notwithstanding
26. A. foil B. top C. tip D. end
27. A. breast B. bosom C. pouch D. heart
28. A. along B. between C. off D. by
29. A. and B. as C. so D. because
30. A. amount B. number C. groups D. deal
