One of the world's most important and lovely animals is quickly disappearing. Can you guess which one it is? It {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (have) the longest neck among all animals. Yes, it's the giraffe.

    In 1985, there were between 152,000 and 163,000 giraffes, and they. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (live) in the plains (平原) and forests of Africa. "The number of giraffes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (fall) by as much as 40 percent since the 1980s,"says a new report on endangered wild animals and plants.

    Why are there fewer and fewer giraffes? Because humans {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (cut) down many trees to build more houses. And they are also killing the animals {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (eat) their meat. A report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (国际自然保护联盟) says, "Giraffes {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (disappear) silently in the near future. And it is time that we do something for the giraffe before it is too late.

    People think giraffes are everywhere. Kids' books are full of giraffes, and there {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (be) always giraffes in zoos. But giraffes are in great danger now. Humans should stop killing off certain endangered wild animals and try hard to help save them.