Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road
----- Reported by Sheila Carrick
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more concerned with how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.
Millions of animals die each year on U.S. roads, the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U.S. today. The main reason? Road-kill.
"Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. "These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid human conflicts," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lion used the passage.
Builders of some ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.
The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass!
45. The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that_________.
A．wild animals have become more dangerous
B．the driving conditions have improved greatly
C．the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work
D．an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents
46. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is_________.
A．an underground path for cars B．a fence built for the safety of the area
C．a bridge for animals to get over a river D．a pass for animals to cross the road
47. When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, he means_________.
A．animals begin to realize the dangers on the road
B．animals begin to learn to use ecopassages
C．animals are crossing the road in groups
D．animals are increasing in number
48. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because_________.
A．wild animals may attack cars B．wild animals may jam the road
C．they may see wild animals in the park D．they may see wild animals on ecopassages
Nickname: Hawaii’s Island of Adventure
Size: 4,028 square miles
Population: 148,677. The most heavily populated areas are Hilo on the east side and Kailua-Kona on the west.
Temperature: Averages between 71℉and 77℉year around (expect the mercury(水银柱) to drop at higher heights).
Beaches: 47 Golf Courts: 20 Highest Peak: Mauna Kea, 13,796 feet.
Agriculture: The bulk of Hawaii’s farming products are grown and processed on the Big Island, including coffee, macadamia nuts and papaya.
Lodging: 9,655 rooms total; nightly rates range from $35—$5,000.
Airports: Hilo International Airport on the east side and Kona International Airport on the west side.
Rental Cars: All of the nationally known rental car companies have locations at Hilo International and Kona International Airports as well as many resorts. In addition, Hilo, Kona and the major resort areas are serviced by taxis.
Resources: Call (800) 648-2441 to order a video, poster, brochures and maps from the Big Island Visitors Bureau. See www.bigisland.org for updated information.
Shopping: The largest shopping centers are in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and the Kona Coast. _________ are mostly interested in reading the passage.
| A．Students | B．Businessmen | C．Tourists | D．Immigrants |
The average population per square mile on the island is about _________.
| A．28 | B．32 | C．37 | D．44 |
The underlined part “expect the mercury(水银柱) to drop at higher heights” means _________.
| A．Things are easy to lose weight at higher places |
| B．Dropping things from higher places is expected |
| C．Temperature is expected to be lower at higher places |
| D．Temperature is expected to be higher at higher places |
__________ are not mentioned as a traffic means to get around the Big Island.
| A．Trains | B．Planes | C．Rental cars | D．Taxis |
What can we infer from the passage?
| A．You can see www.bigisland.org for updated information. |
| B．You can call (800) 648-2441 to order some food. |
| C．You can find some courts to play tennis on the island. |
| D．You may pay a high price for spending one night on the island. |
Besides providing a perfect environment for sea plants and animals to live in, seawater has other values, one of which is that it constantly moves, and its movements produce energy.
The most obvious movements are the waves and the tides. Winds cause the waves, and the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun causes the tides. In places like the Bay of Fundy in Canada, the difference between the high and low tide level can be as much as 40 feet.
France and Britain are now trying to use energy in the tides to produce electricity. Waves can produce electricity and some experiments are taking place to learn more about this. One of the most encouraging areas of research uses the difference between the temperature of seawater at the surface and deep down to produce electricity. Waves and tides are caused by ________ .
| A．the same forces | B．different forces | C．their own movements | D．plants and animals |
It can be inferred from the passage that __________ .
| A．waves as well as the energy in the tide can produce electricity |
| B．the highest tide is 40 feet higher than the lowest one at the sea |
| C．many countries in the world have made the most of energy produced by seawater |
| D．it is being tried in some developed countries to use energy in the tides to produce electricity |
The best title for the passage is ______.
| A．Tides and Waves | B．How to Produce Electricity | C．Seawater | D．Another Cheap Energy |
Ted doesn’t like cars. He wants people to stop driving because cars make the air dirty. Ted had an idea. He said,“I’m going to cycle around North America. I want to show everyone that cycling is a fun way to get around. If more people ride bikes, the air will be cleaner.”
He left his hometown with $160 in his pocket. When he got to San Diego, he met another cyclist. The cyclist invited Ted to speak at a big meeting about the environment. He said,“We’ll pay your airfare to Texas and we’ll pay you to talk about your cycling trip.”Two hours later, Ted was on a plane to the environmental conference and to a big surprise!
While he was at the conference, he met Deanna. It was love at first sight! They talked for six hours straight.
The next day, Ted called Deanna and asked her to finish the trip with him. Deanna said yes, sold everything in her apartment, gave her notice at work, and was on the road with Ted 20 days later!
“It was difficult at first,”said Deanna. “Ted got up every morning at 6:00 a.m., but I wanted to sleep until noon.”After a few days, they started having fun. As they cycled from Florida to Montreal and then back to Vancouver, every day was an adventure. People paid for their food in restaurants and gave them extra money. Some people gave them $50 or $100. They slept in people’s backyards and drank beer with motorcycle gangs.
On their way back to Vancouver, they stopped in Edmonton to visit Ted’s relatives. During the stopover, they got married. People tied a “Just Married”sign and tin cans to the backs of their bikes. They now want to write a book about their trip. “We want people to know that you can be an environmentalist and still have fun, ”Ted said. Ted got paid for ______.
| A．giving a talk about his cycling trip | B．cycling throughout North America |
| C．traveling around North America by air | D．attending conferences on cycling |
The “big surprise” he had at the conference was that _______ .
| A．he met another cyclist who wanted to join him | B．he fell in love with a girl there |
| C．he gave a long talk lasting 6 hours | D．he had a lot of fun talking about his cycling trip |
The underlined part “gave her notice at work” probably means __________ .
| A．Deanna was fired by her boss for not going to work |
| B．Deanna asked for a long leave from work to join Ted in his trip |
| C．Deanna told people beforehand that she would leave her job |
| D．Deanna handed in the notice that she were asked to finish before |
During the trip, Ted and Deanne ___________.
| A．found it hard to get up early | B．were attacked by motorcycle gangs |
| C．never pay for their meals in restaurants | D．got married |
Few people would ever think of beginning a career at the age of 76, but one American most famous artist did just that. Anna Mary Robertson, better known as “Grandma Moses”, turned to painting because she could no longer take an active part in the funning of her farm. As she searched for something to do, she discovered painting--- an activity she had loved as a child.
Grandma Moses painted in primitive style, and her works are simple and basic — almost childlike in their composition. She first painted only for her own pleasure, and then began to sell her works for small sums of money.
In 1939, an art collector named Louis Caldor chanced to see several of Granma Moses’ works hanging in a store. He liked them, bought them at once, and set out to look for more. Caldor held a show to introduce the works of Grandma Moses to the art world.
Grandma Moses passed away on December 13,1961, at the age of 101, who had enjoyed a second career that lasted a quarter of a century.Before becoming an artist, Grandma Moses _______ .
| A．wrote several good books | B．managed a farm | C．was a housewife | D．worked as a nurse |
Grandma Moses’ art career lasted ______ .
| A．101 years | B．76 years | C．25 years | D．22 years |
Even if no one had bought her paintings, Grandma Moses probably would have ________.
| A．continued to paint anyway | B．gone back to farming |
| C．given up painting | D．spent the rest of her life in peace |
The story is mainly about_______ .
| A．pictures in primitive style | B．a successful art collector |
| C．a great American artist | D．the secret of living longer |
Rescue workers at the San Jose gold and copper mine in northern Chile had reason to sing this week．A small hole drilled into the earth became a passage（通道） to freedom for thirty-three trapped miners．They spent sixty-nine days underground．"Never have people been trapped for so long so deeply," says a doctor at NASA, the American space agency, which helped in the rescue．
But the chief medical officer for the miners said most are in good enough health to leave the hospital within a day or so．The first three were released from the hospital Thursday night．
For much of the day the miners relaxed with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera．The thirty-two Chileans and one Bolivian still wore special sunglasses to protect their eyes．
A partial mine collapse（坍塌） on 5th of August trapped them more than half a kilometer underground．They had to stretch a two-day food supply．For two weeks no one knew if they were alive or dead．
Later, they received supplies（供给） and a video link lowered through drill holes．That link was how Ariel Ticona watched his wife give birth to their daughter．
The miners have apparently agreed to share the money they earn from selling their story．
They have already received gifts of money and travel offers．Edison Pena has been invited to the New York City Marathon and to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee．Mr．Pena described how he ran in the mine tunnels to ease the stress．And he led the miners in singing Elvis songs．
The first miner rescued on Wednesday was Florencio Avalos．The second was Mario Sepulveda, who talked about how the experience tested his faith．He said: "I was with God and I was with the devil, they fought me, but God won．He took me by my best hand, the hand of God．"
The last miner up was Luis Urzua．He was the shift leader when his crew became trapped．
Rescuers used a metal cage to pull the miners to safety in less than twenty-four hours -- faster than expected．The rescue capsule was a half-meter wide and known as the Phoenix．How many miners had been rescued according to the report?
| A．Three | B．Sixty-nine | C．Thirty-three | D．Thirty-two |
According to the passage, when the miners were trapped, some of them did the followings except ________．
| A．sharing money | B．Running to ease stress |
| C．Watching a video showing his wife giving birth | D．Singing songs |
Edison Pena was invited to Graceland probably because ________________．
| A．he ran in the mine tunnel． | B．he prayed to God． |
| C．he led the miners in singing Elvis songs． | D．he was the shift leader． |
From the passage, we can infer the followings EXCEPT that _______________．
| A．Rescue workers were happy about their rescue work． |
| B．People felt surprised to find the miners safe and sound． |
| C．People might have been quite worried about the miners’ safety． |
| D．The trapped miners drilled a small hole themselves to escape． |
What would be the best title for the report?
| A．A mining accident | B．Miners saved, safe and sound |
| C．A difficult rescue | D．Miners trapped deep underground |
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