Question

All across the nation，in Americans’backyards and garages and living rooms，wild animals kept as pets live side by side with their human owners．It’s believed that more exotic animals live in American homes than are cared for in American zoos．The exotic-pet business has drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates and wildlife conservationists alike，who say it’s not only dangerous to bring wildlife into households but it’s cruel and criminal．Yet the issue is far from black or white．

The term exotic pet has no firm definition．It can refer to any wildlife kept in human households or simply to a pet that’s more unusual than the common dog or cat．Privately owning exotic animals is currently permitted in a handful of states with no restrictions in America．Adam Roberts of Born Free USA keeps a running database of deaths and injuries caused by exotic-pet ownership：In Connecticut a 55-year-old woman’s face was permanently disfigured by her friend’s lifelong pet monkey；in Ohio an 80-year-old man was attacked by a 200-pound kangaroo；in Nebraska a 34-year-old man was strangled(勒)to death by his pet snake．And that list does not include the number of people who become sick from coming into contact with zoonotic(动物传染的) diseases．

Some people see wild animals as pets as a way to connect with the natural world．Other exotic-pet owners say they are motivated by a desire to preserve threatened species．They believe climate change and human population growth could wipe out a species in record time，so having a backup population is a good idea． 

But some groups like Born Free USA and the World Wildlife Fund gay that captive breeding(圈养)of endangered species by private owners—whether for commercial，conservation，or educational reasons—serves only to continue a booming market for exotic animals．That，in turn，results in a greater risk to animals still living in their natural habitat．

1.Which word can replace the phrase“far from black or white”in Paragraph 1?

A. contradictory    B. ridiculous

C. controversial    D. universal

2.Why does the writer list some deaths and injuries in the text?

A. To give us a clear and firm definition of exotic pets．

B. To show keeping exotic animals can be very dangerous．

C. To prove humans can not be infected by animal diseases．

D. To tell us it’s illegal to have exotic-pet ownership in USA．

3.What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A. The reasons for keeping exotic animals as pets．

B. Worries about the endangered wild animals．

C. The differences between people who keep exotic pets．

D. The disadvantages of privately owning exotic animals．

4.The last paragraph of the text is intended to_______．

A. introduce some animal protection groups

B. argue against keeping exotic animals in captivity

C. warn people of the danger of animals being caught

D. prove captive breeding can encourage exotic-pet business

Answer

1. C

2. B

3. A

4. B

【解析】

这是一篇议论文。文章主要讲了一些美国人在家里饲养野生动物，他们把野生动物带入家庭很危险，各界对此事件充满争议。

1.词义猜测题。上句说The exotic-pet business has drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates and wildlife conservationists alike，who say it’s not only dangerous to bring wildlife into households but it’s cruel and criminal．说外来宠物业务引起了动物福利倡导者和野生动物物种保护者的批评，他们把野生动物带入家庭不仅很危险，而且是残酷和罪恶的。由此推知这个问题有争议，“far from black or white”意思是有争议的，A. contradictory矛盾的；B. ridiculous荒谬的；C. controversial有争议的；D. universal普遍的，故选C。

2.推理判断题。答案定位在第二段Adam Roberts of Born Free USA keeps a running database of deaths and injuries caused by exotic-pet ownership（Adam Roberts记录着因养宠物而导致的死亡和受伤情况）以及结合下面惨痛的事例，可知作者在文中列举了一些伤亡事件是为了表明饲养野生动物是非常危险的，故选B。

3.段落大意题。这一段的意思是一些人认为把野生动物当宠物是与自然世界联系的一种方式。其他外来宠物的主人说，他们的动机是希望保护濒危物种。他们认为气候变化和人口增长可能在很短的时间内消灭一个物种，所以有一个备份是一个好主意。由此推断出第三段主要讲了人们把野生动物当宠物饲养的原因，故选A。

4.写作意图题。答案定位在最后一段That，in turn，results in a greater risk to animals still living in their natural habitat．（反过来，结果在一个更大的风险中，动物仍然生活在它们的自然栖息地。）由此推断出最后一段目的在于反对圈养野生动物，故选B。