Question

    Sunny days in Seattle are quite rare. I’d planned to spend my weekend in the sun, potting flowers outdoors. But that was before the pair of crows（乌鸦） arrived. Out of nowhere, they had set up their base camp in our backyard.

We first discovered our feathered enemies on Friday morning. It was early, and the sound the birds made traveled through our neighborhood. I figured they’d go away soon. But, no. They were getting louder and probably annoying my neighbors nearly as much as us with the noise. I admit I got a little desperate.

Then, on Sunday afternoon, I looked out of the kitchen window to see our dog Quatchi staring at something on the ground. I went to explore and found a small coal-black bird in the grass. Its eyes were milky, and it stayed perfectly still as my dog walked towards it. Only when Quatchi touched his nose to its head did it walk away. I grabbed the dog and locked him inside and came back with my camera.

It never occurred to me that the young would be hanging out on the ground, growing and gaining strength as its parents guarded it from above. The second I saw this little creature I forgave the crows.

To be honest, I’ve never been much of a bird person. I also have a healthy respect for birds and by healthy, I mean slightly fear-based.  They’re basically living dinosaurs.

I wish they’d chosen another backyard. There are only so many sunny days in Seattle, and I still can’t do any gardening out there. But I’m also grateful that I got to see this little bit of nature unfold up close. It’s pretty amazing.

The experience has also strengthened my desire to create a beautiful backyard garden that attracts lots of bees, butterflies, and yes, birds. They are welcome here.

1.The arrival of the two crows ______.

A. disturbed the author’s life B. frightened the author’s dog

C. angered the author's neighbors D. damaged the author's backyard

2.Why did the author lock her dog up?

A. She wanted to take some photos.

B. The dog kept making loud noises.

C. She wanted to protect the little bird.

D. The parent crows were to attack the dog.

3.After seeing the little crow, the author ______.

A. decided to help look after it

B. planned to drive the crows away

C. fell in love with the pair of crows

D. appreciated knowing its growing process

4.By saying “They’re basically living dinosaurs” in paragraph 5, the author means  ______

A. birds are rare B. birds are very ugly

C. she is afraid of birds D. she is respectful to birds

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文是记叙文。作者讲述了自己对在后院安家的乌鸦从讨厌到怜爱的态度转变过程。也告诉我们对待小动物也要一视同仁。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中的They were getting louder and probably annoying my neighbors nearly as much as us with the noise. I admit I got a little desperate.（他们的声音越来越大，可能会让我的邻居和我们一样心烦意乱。我承认我有点沮丧。）可知，这对乌鸦的到来扰乱了作者的生活。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中的Its eyes were milky, and it stayed perfectly still as my dog walked towards it. Only when Quatchi touched his nose to its head did it walk away.（它的眼睛是乳白色的，当我的狗朝它走去时，它一动不动。夸季特用鼻子碰了碰它的头，它才走开。）可知，作者看到小乌鸦的处境后将狗关了起来，主要是害怕狗伤害到小乌鸦。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段中的It never occurred to me that the young would be hanging out on the ground, growing and gaining strength as its parents guarded it from above.（我从来没有想过这只幼崽会在地面上玩耍，在它的父母从上面保护它的时候，它会变得越来越强壮。）及第六段中的But I’m also grateful that I got to see this little bit of nature unfold up close.（但我也很感激我能近距离地看到这大自然的一点点展现。）可知，看到这只新孵化出来的小乌鸦后，作者对它的生长过程产生了浓厚的兴趣。故选D。

4.推理判断题。根据上文" I also have a healthy respect for birds, and by healthy I mean slightly fear-based.（我对鸟类也有一种健康的尊重，我所说的健康是指有点害怕。）"可知，作者把它们视为"活恐龙"是因为她怕鸟，故选C。