Question

【題目】The bald eagle has been an official symbol (象征) of the United States for more than 200 years. Now it will share the stage with another American animal—the bison. Last spring, this huge, hairy animal became the country’s national symbol.

Bison, also known as buffalo, are the biggest land animals in North America. They have played a big role in American history.

Long ago, millions of bison traveled across the U. S. Many lived in the grasslands of the Great Plains. For hundreds of years, American Indians in that area needed bison meat for food. They used the skins to make clothing and houses, and the bones to make tools.

Later, many settlers moved to the Great Plains to set up farms and towns. They hunted bison in large numbers. By 1900, bison had almost died out. Only about 1,000 bison were left. Since then, people have worked hard to save the bison. Today, there are more than 400, 000 bison in the U. S. They live in protected areas and all over the nation. Their comeback is seen as a great success.

To recognize the bison’s importance in U. S. history, wildlife groups and American Indian groups asked U. S. lawmakers to make the animal a national symbol. Lawmakers passed a bill, or plan for a law, to do that. The President then signed the bill into law.

U. S. Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota was one lawmaker who pushed to get the law passed. “The bison is an amazing animal,” he told Scholastic News. “It’s a great symbol for a great country.”

【1】What is the bald eagle? (不多于 7 個(gè)詞）

【2】Why had the bison almost died out by 1900? (不多于 7 個(gè)詞）

【3】How many bison are there in America today? (不多于 3 個(gè)詞)

【4】Why did people make the bison a national symbol? (不多于 8 個(gè)詞）

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】An official symbol of the United States.

【2】Because they were hunted in large numbers.

【3】More than 400,000.

【4】To recognize the bison’s importance in U.S. history.

【解析】文章講述了美洲野牛在美國(guó)歷史上的重要作用，以及現(xiàn)在美國(guó)通過(guò)法律把美洲野牛作為其中一個(gè)國(guó)家象征。

【1】An official symbol of the United States.

考查對(duì)文章的理解和概括能力。根據(jù)第一段開(kāi)頭The bald eagle has been an official symbol (象征) of the United States for more than 200 years.可知，禿鷹是美國(guó)的官方象征，故答案概括為An official symbol of the United States.

【2】Because they were hunted in large numbers.

考查對(duì)文章的理解和概括能力。根據(jù)第四段They hunted bison in large numbers. By 1900, bison had almost died out.可知，北美野牛被大量捕殺，幾乎滅絕。故答案概括為Because they were hunted in large numbers.

【3】More than 400,000.

考查對(duì)文章的理解和概括能力。根據(jù)第四段Today, there are more than 400, 000 bison in the U. S.可知現(xiàn)在美國(guó)野牛的數(shù)量，故答案概括為More than 400,000.

【4】To recognize the bison’s importance in U.S. history.

考查對(duì)文章的理解和概括能力。根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段To recognize the bison’s importance in U. S. history, wildlife groups and American Indian groups asked U. S. lawmakers to make the animal a national symbol.可知，認(rèn)識(shí)到美洲野牛在美國(guó)歷史上的重要性，美國(guó)人把美洲野牛作為國(guó)家象征。故答案概括為To recognize the bison’s importance in U.S. history.