The killdeer, a small bird known for its high-pitched ( 声调高的) call, could lead to the cancellation of one of Canada’ biggest music festivals.
The first hint of trouble for Ottawa’s Bluesfest, an outdoor festival that draws around 300,000 people each year, came last week after workers at the site found one of the birds.
It had laid four eggs nearby, effectively claiming the main stage area as its nesting ground. “This is one of the most challenging problems we’ve been presented with, but we feel we can work through this,” said Mark Monahan, executive director of the festival.
“Anything that changes the schedule has a major effect, so we’re taking it very seriously.” The discovery meant that government officials rushed to protect the nest and the eggs, hiring a security guard to watch over them 24 hours a day. Environmentalists were also brought in.
“We don’t know when the eggs might hatch,” said Monahan. What is known is that the young killdeer will likely leave the nest soon after they are hatched, leading many to hope that the eggs hatch in the next day or so.
The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center.
Moving the nest would also ensure the bird and its young would be protected during the festival’s 11-day run, said Monahan. It’s highly likely that the festival’s thousands of attendees would cause huge problems for the bird and its eggs.
Monahan was confident that the festival would go on as planned, however.
“Most of the people we’re working with are looking for a positive solution,” Monahan said. “There is no one saying that the festival can’t go on.”
As news of the dilemma spread, it left residents divided. Some supported the bird, saying that moving the nest might result in the eggs being abandoned.
Others expressed annoyance that protecting the eggs of the small bird, which is widespread across North America, was risking an annual festival that contributes millions of dollars to the local economy.
The killdeer’s tendency to build its nest in open fields or flat areas has caused issues in other areas of the US: earlier this year, construction on a health center in Wisconsin was temporarily stopped after a killdeer and its four eggs were discovered.
1.What can we learn about Bluesfest?
A.It is the first music festival in Canada.
B.It is an important event for music lovers.
C.It is a music festival held every two years.
D.It is a challenging outdoor activity in Ottawa.
2.What was especially challenging for Bluesfest this year?
A.Pressure from the government.
B.Disagreements with the public.
C.The need to protect the bird’s eggs.
D.The lack of experience in hosting the event.
3.How did the festival plan to deal with the problem?
A.Move the nest to another place.
B.Ask government officials for help.
C.Seek advice from environmentalists.
D.Hire security guards to protect the eggs.
4.What was Monahan’s attitude toward hosting the festival?
A.Negative. B.Positive.
C.Unsure. D.Indifferent.
5.The underlined word “dilemma” is closest in meaning to “ ”.
A.a difficult situation
B.an extreme situation
C.a dangerous situation
D.an encouraging situation
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There’s a program for middle schools called Treps that teaches kids about business and product development. The students are given the task to learn to _______ products on their own, and at the end of the program the school gym is _______ up like a trade show where all the kids get to sell the products. They each get a_______, make signs and dress up a little. The school gym is open to the public and_______ a crowd.
Some of the kids there _______have a crowd at their stand, because the products made by themselves are unique and interesting. But there are some other kids, with _________that aren’t very good, just don’t stand out, aren’t getting attention. At first, they stand there with a _______ face but later you can see the _______in their eyes because everyone walks by the stands uninterested. I always think it _______to visit the stands of those kids, buy something, and ________ them for how hard they must have worked on it. Just the confirmation that someone likes what they make and notices their effort can________ them. I usually bring $100 to this event merely for this __________. As the night goes on, ________ they still haven’t sold much, I will send my daughter over there to buy something from them.
The other day, as an education expert, I was________ with some parents about this. They asked me why I encouraged the kids who made terrible products, saying “________ confirmation means they won’t learn anything”. I told them, “These kids know their products aren’t a________ , but that doesn’t mean they should________. It takes courage to________ there and try to sell their products. If nobody buys anything, or nobody________ their effort, they will probably quit next time.” Hearing these, all the parents agreed.
A little encouragement can go a long way and sometimes a small lie can be a big________ in the right direction.
1.A.introduce B.deliver C.design D.pack
2.A.turned B.rolled C.put D.set
3.A.guide B.shelter C.stand D.cottage
4.A.meets B.promotes C.inspires D.draws
5.A.always B.never C.seldom D.again
6.A.creations B.targets C.situations D.signs
7.A.angry B.curious C.cheerful D.serious
8.A.disappointment B.excitement C.misunderstanding D.expectation
9.A.enough B.simple C.strange D.necessary
10.A.allow B.reward C.praise D.command
11.A.shake B.value C.teach D.encourage
12.A.concern B.purpose C.trial D.experience
13.A.if B.though C.unless D.before
14.A.agreeing B.dealing C.discussing D.comparing
15.A.constant B.false C.direct D.selfish
16.A.challenge B.hit C.contribution D.standard
17.A.fall in B.slip away C.shout out D.give up
18.A.stand up B.step forward C.back away D.work out
19.A.needs B.appreciates C.announces D.stresses
20.A.burden B.experiment C.push D.mind
I knew a lot about the subject already, but her talk was interesting _____
A.besides B.otherwise C.nevertheless D.moreover
The old couple sat in front of the house every evening, happy _____ those lovely children running and playing around.
A.to watch B.watching C.watched D.to have watched
The book I have chosen is Fu Lei’s Family Letters _____ Fu Lei shared his views about art and life.
A.that B.whose C.where D.who
