In ancient times(古代), people thought that their gods(神) lived on the tops of mountains. They believed that anything above them was nearer to their gods than them. They thought that birds were messengers(信使) from the gods. There were many beliefs(信念) about how to treat birds. Some people even believed that killing a bird was an act against the gods and would bring bad luck. In some parts of the United States, people believe that if they hear an owl(猫头鹰) in the early evening, it means death. Another link(联系) with these past beliefs is in an English expression. People no longer believe that birds are messengers of the gods, but when someone knows a secret about another person, he or she might say, "A little bird told me about it."
In ancient times birds were thought to be_______.

A．the ones bringing news from the gods

B．gods, too

C．the ones bringing news from human beings

D．bad

In some parts of the USA now, people believe that _______ means death.
A. seeing an owl in the morning
B. seeing an owl outside their houses
C hearing an owl in the early evening
D. killing an owl in the evening