19.You've probably heard of sheepdogs that guard sheep.But on a small island off the coast of Australia,these specially trained little dogs protect fairy penguins from foxes.About 800 little blue penguins,once nested on Australia's Middle Island.They are the smallest species of penguin in the world.By 2015,there were fewer than 10 left on the island.
The problem started when people brought red foxes to Australia in the 1800s.The foxes made their way to Middle Island and began killing off penguins and other native wildlife.Local officials wondered what could be done.
In 2014,a local farmer named Allan Marsh had an idea.He advised training Maremma sheepdogs to protect the penguins.At that time,Marsh was using the dogs on his farm to guard his chickens from foxes.At first,local officials said no to the plan because they didn't think it would work.But they changed their minds when the penguins had almost completely disappeared."The powers wouldn't listen to me until it got down to six penguins,"Marsh told The New York Times.
The first sheepdog went to work on Middle Island in 2016,and dogs have been on duty ever since.The dogs bark at and go after foxes to frighten them away.Thanks to the sheepdogs,the number of fairy penguins on Middle Island has increased.Today,close to 200 penguins live on the island.In fact,officials report that no penguin has been killed since the dogs were on the job.
Eudy and Tula,the two dogs guarding Middle Island,are now 8 years old They are almost ready to retire(退休).Local groups are trying to raise $ 25,000 needed to buy and train two new pups.
12.How many little penguins are living on the island now?B
A.Fewer than 10.B.About 200.C.About 800.D.More than 25,000.
13.Why did the little penguins almost completely disappear?D
A Local officials didn't support the protection plan.
B.People destroyed their living environment.
C.The dogs couldn't protect them.
D.The red foxes hunted them.
14.What new problem will the penguins he faced with?D
A.There are too many of them on the island.
B.They will disappear on Middle Island soon.
C.The two new pups won't he trained.
D.The dogs are too old to guard them.
15.From the text,we can learn thatA.
A.sheepdogs can really protect penguins on Middle Island
B.local officials didn't agree with Marsh's plan finally
C.the first sheepdog appeared on Middle Island in 2006
D.sheepdogs only guard sheep and chickens.
分析 本文向我們介紹了在澳大利亞海岸的一個小島上,人們利用狗保護小企鵝,不受狐貍的傷害的事情.起初是Allan Marsh有了這個想法,但他的想法并沒有立即得到當?shù)卣賳T的同意,直到島上的企鵝越來越少,政府才決定試試,后來效果顯著,狗真的能夠保護企鵝,現(xiàn)在島上的企鵝數(shù)量也有所增加.
解答 12.B;細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文中"Today,close to 200 penguins live on the island."(今天,有近200只企鵝生活在島上),可知現(xiàn)在島上大約有200只企鵝.故選B.
13.D;細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文中"The foxes made their way to Middle Island and began killing off penguins and other native wildlife"(狐貍走上了中東島,開始屠殺企鵝和其他本土野生動物),可知小企鵝幾乎完全消失的原因是狐貍殺害它們.故選D.
14.D;推理判斷題.根據(jù)文中"Eudy and Tula,the two dogs guarding Middle Island,are now 8 years old"(防范和圖拉是兩只守護中島的狗,現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)8歲了),可以推斷出他們面臨的新的問題是這些狗太老了,不能保護它們.故選D.
15.A;細節(jié)理解題.根據(jù)文中"In fact,officials report that no penguin has been killed since the dogs were on the job."(事實上,官員們報告說,由于狗的工作,沒有一只企鵝被殺),可知在中東地區(qū),狗真的能夠保護企鵝.故選A.
點評 本文考察學生的細節(jié)理解和推斷能力以及細心程度,只要抓住文章的關鍵詞,采用尋讀的方法查找細節(jié),就能找到正確答案.