Question

    The killdeer, a small bird known for its high-pitched(声调高的)call, could lead to the cancellation(取消) 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(搬迁)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 of 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.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.A

【解析】

本文是说明文。对于音乐爱好者来说，非常重大的加拿大音乐事件Bluesfest,，在上周工作人员在现场发现了一只小水鸟，它在附近下了四个蛋，把主要舞台区域作为它的筑巢地，以及就主办方准备将鸟巢搬离此处引发了人们讨论。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段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.得知渥太华的Bluesfest,是一个每年吸引约30万人参加的户外节日。因此Bluesfest,对音乐爱好者来说是一个重要的事件。故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段It had laid four eggs nearby, effectively claiming the main stage area as its nesting ground. 小水鸟在舞台附近下了4个蛋，和第四段“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.音乐节执行总监说：“这是我们面临的最具挑战性的问题之一，我觉得我们可以解决这个问题”。得知 保护鸟蛋是今年Bluesfest面临挑战的事情。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据第五段The festival is now seeking permission from Environment Canada to relocate(搬迁)the nest some 50 meters away or take it to a wildlife center.得知现在该节日正在寻求加拿大环境部的许可，将鸟巢迁移到50米外，或带到野生动物中心，可以得知为了解决这个问题，节日筹备方打算把鸟巢搬到另一个地方。故选A。

4.词义猜测题。根据第五段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.得知Monahan说，为期11天的节日活动中，移动鸟巢能确保鸟儿和其幼鸟得到保护。但是极有可能，成千上万的参与者会给这只鸟和它的蛋带来巨大的问题。可以推断出当时的处境困难，故选A。