Question

    The chicken-loving dog spent last month guarding the island’s penguin colony, with great success.

A SOUTH-WEST Victorian chicken farmer known as Swampy and his dog Oddball may have found a way to save some of Australia’s endangered wildlife from enemies. After Warrnambool’s once flourishing penguin population was killed in large numbers by foxes and dogs until only 27 remained, Allan Swampy Marsh hatched an effective plan to save the birds. His four sheepdogs had been protecting his chickens against enemies for a decade. He figured they could do the same for the penguins. “The difficulty was trying to convince all the wildlife wallies to think outside the square,” Mr Marsh said. “It’s not an unselfish view of penguins or chicks but the sense of territory (领地) that makes the dogs work, and it is far stronger in these dogs than any other trained breed.”

Oddball’s work as guardian of Middle Island’s colony last month was a success. At the end of the month, 70 pairs of happy feet were counted returning to the island. About 2,000 penguins occupied the island in the 1990s. “Oddy is really protective of the chicks, so to her the penguins were only chicks in dinner suits,” Mr Marsh said. Highly territorial dogs have been bred in Italy to guard livestock for 2,000 years. They manage to keep off trouble makers such as foxes and dogs. The trial’s success has generated interest from overseas. The use of guard animals such as dogs — and even alpacas, which also stop foxes — is now being considered to save other endangered species such as the eastern barred bandicoot.

1.What had happened to most of Middle Island’s penguins?

A.They had been killed by other animals.

B.They had been scared away by people.

C.They had stopped breeding for no obvious reason.

D.They had been taken to another island for protection.

2.About how many penguins were on the island when it had the largest number?

A.27. B.70.

C.1990. D.2000.

3.What reminded Allan Marsh of using dogs to guard penguin?

A.Dogs’ interest.

B.Dogs guarding chicks.

C.Dogs’ believable strength.

D.Dogs’ training in protecting animals.

4.What feature of the dogs is most important in this story?

A.They come from Italy. B.They are very territorial.

C.They are an ancient breed. D.They are large with messy fur.

5.The purpose of the last paragraph is to suggest that________.

A.people should think globally but act locally

B.Allan ‘Swampy’ Marsh is a typical Australian

C.it may be possible to use this local idea more widely

D.every environmental problem needs a unique solution

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.B

4.B

5.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。Middle Island的大多数企鹅被其他动物杀死了。这只爱鸡的狗上个月守护着岛上的企鹅群，取得了巨大的成功。文章建议有可能更广泛地使用当地的一些动物来保护其他濒危物种。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中After Warrnambool’s once flourishing penguin population was killed in large numbers by foxes and dogs until only 27 remained,可知，Warrnambool曾经繁盛的企鹅种群被狐狸和狗大量捕杀，只剩下27只。由此可知，Middle Island的大多数企鹅被其他动物杀死了。故选A。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段中About 2,000 penguins occupied the island in the 1990s.可知，20世纪90年代，大约2000只企鹅占领了该岛。由此可知，当岛上的企鹅数量最多的时候，共有2000只。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中Oddy is really protective of the chicks, so to her the penguins were only chicks in dinner suits可知，Oddy真的很保护小鸡，所以对她来说企鹅只是穿着晚餐服的小鸡。由此可知，“狗看守小鸡”让阿兰·马什想到用狗来看守企鹅。故选B。

4.细节理解题。根据第三段中Highly territorial dogs have been bred in Italy to guard livestock for 2,000 years.可知，2000年来，意大利人一直饲养高度有领地意识的狗来看守家畜。由此可知，在这个故事中，狗最重要的特征是他们很有领土意识。故选B。

5.推理判断题。根据最后一段中The use of guard animals such as dogs — and even alpacas, which also stop foxes — is now being considered to save other endangered species such as the eastern barred bandicoot.可知，利用狗，甚至羊驼等能阻挡狐狸的动物来保护其他濒危物种，比如东部禁止的袋狸。由此可知，最后一段的目的是建议有可能更广泛地使用当地的一些动物来保护其他濒危物种。故选C。