Question

    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

Answer

1.B

2.C

3.A

4.B

5.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要讲述了一种以高音调而闻名的小鸟，有可能导致取消加拿大最大的音乐节之一。

1.细节理解题。结合文章第二段中的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.可知，这个节日每年吸引大约30万人来参加。由此可知，对于音乐爱好者而言，这是一个很重要的节日。故选B项

2.细节理解题。根据文章第三段中的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.可知，这只鸟把四颗蛋产在了主舞台区，执行董事说的话可以看出，今年最具挑战的是需要保护鸟蛋。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据第六段中的The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center.可知，这个节日现在正在寻求加拿大环境部的许可，将鸟巢搬迁到50米以外的地方，或者把它带到野生动物中心。由此可知，节日打算把鸟巢移到另一个地方来解决这个问题。故选A项。

4.推理判断题。结合第八段中的Monahan was confident that the festival would go on as planned, however.可知，Monahan对本次音乐节如期举行充满信心。故选B项。

5.词语猜测题。首先定位词汇所在的倒数第三段中的…it left residents divided. Some supported the bird, saying that moving the nest might result in the eggs being abandoned.（它使居民产生了分歧。一些人支持那只鸟，说移动巢可能会导致卵被抛弃）及倒数第二段中的Others expressed annoyance that protecting the eggs of the small bird（其他人则对保护小鸟的蛋表示不满）可知，人们对于此举还是很难决定。由此推知，这一个“进退两难的消息”。 故选A项。