18.These days,there are very few wild animals left in the UK.The wolves have gone.The bears have been hunted to extinction.Fortunately,there are a few badgers(獾)---Oh,well,actually,not for long as the British government has just decided to kill them too!But why?
Badgers are fascinating creatures.The black and white mammals live underground in"setts",which they dig out of the earth.They are extremely brave,fighting off larger animals such as bears and wolves.The problem is that some badgers carry"Bovine Tuberculosis"( BTB ),an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium Bovis ( M.Bovis ) which can cause TB in some other animals,including cattle.
For farmers,this is a serious issue.In 1998in the UK,almost 6,000cows were killed to control the disease.And in 2010,more than 30,000animals were destroyed.It's expensive too.Bovine TB costs the UK about£100million per year.And some believe that the disease could end up costing the economy£9billion over the next 40years if nothing is done about it.
Experts say that badgers are responsible for about 50% of the infected cattle.So,after much debate,the government has agreed to a badger cull(殺戮).This will mean about 30,000of the innocent creatures will be wiped out to fight the disease.Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman admitted that there was"great strength of feeling"about it,but said,"I believe this is the right way forward."
Of course,many are against the measure,including conservationists and animal rights activists.They claim that killing the badgers in controlled zones wouldn't work because badgers from neighboring areas would simply move into the empty setts and become infected too.Furthermore,they believe that the way cattle are raised intensively,and transported around to lots of different farms during their lives is probably the biggest cause of the spread of the disease.
Most ordinary people are against the measure too.A survey suggests about two-thirds are against killing the badgers,with majorities against killing them regardless of age,region and gender.One of the alternatives to the cull involves using vaccine(疫苗) on badgers.However,this costs an average of£2,250per year per square kilometer.Trapping and shooting badgers costs£2,500per year,but shooting free-running badgers only costs about£200per year ( per square kilometer ).ks5u
So,with that in mind,it's easy to see how the government arrived at their decision.Money talks!
25.Why does the government want to kill the badgers?B
A.Because there is no other choice to cut the spread of the disease.
B.Because badgers carry TB,a disease which can infect other animals.
C.Because they almost wiped out an entire population of cattle.
D.Because it might be an effective way to fight TB at the least expense.
26.Which of the following statements is TRUE?C
A.Some people object to culling because it costs much more to trap and shoot badgers.
B.In the following four decades,£9billion will be spent on TB.
C.Based on the survey,people of different age groups,regions and both genders are against killing the badgers.
D.Caroline Spelman thought badgers should be culled despite people's strong reaction.
27.Who is strongly for the killing the badgers according the passage?A
A.The government
B.Most ordinary people
C.Conservationists
D.Animal rights activists.
分析 本文主要講述了在英國由于獾很容易攜帶"bovine tuberculosis"--這一可傳染的疾病進(jìn)而引起大量牲畜的死亡的現(xiàn)象,因此政府下令將獾這一動(dòng)物獵殺的事情.
解答 25.B細(xì)節(jié)理解題. 根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容The problem is that some badgers carry"bovine tuberculosis"(bTB)-an infectious disease caused by the bacterium M.bovis which can cause TB in some other animals,including cattle;In 1998in the UK,almost 6,000cows were killed to control the disease 可知,badgers攜帶的病菌使得大量的動(dòng)物也被感染,由此引起大量牲畜的死亡,人們的財(cái)產(chǎn)受損.結(jié)合選項(xiàng),答案為B
26.C 細(xì)節(jié)題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,A survey suggests about two-thirds are against killing the badgers,with majorities against killing them regardless of age,region and gender.一項(xiàng)調(diào)查研究顯示,三分之二的人不分年齡、宗教以及性別都反對獵殺獾,結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選C
27.A細(xì)節(jié)題.根據(jù)文章內(nèi)容,Oh,well,actually,not for long as the British government has just decided to kill them too!英國政府下令獵殺獾,再結(jié)合選項(xiàng),故選A
點(diǎn)評 本文是一個(gè)新聞報(bào)道類閱讀,題目涉及多道細(xì)節(jié)理解題,做題時(shí)結(jié)合原文和題目有針對性的找出相關(guān)語句進(jìn)行仔細(xì)分析,結(jié)合選項(xiàng)選出正確答案.推理判斷題也是要在抓住關(guān)鍵句子的基礎(chǔ)上合理的分析才能得出正確答案,切忌胡亂猜測,一定要做到有理有據(jù).