San Francisco has its cable cars.Seattle has its Space Needle.And, Longview has its squirrel bridge.The bridge, which has attracted international attention, is now a local landmark.
The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.
The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds.Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels.Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.
One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day's coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety.The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council(市政会).The Council approved, and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”
After architects designed the bridge, Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction, They built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose(消防水带).It cost 1,000.
It didn't take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started.Squirrels were even seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes.The story was picked up by the media, and Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world.
In 1983, after 20 years of use, Peters took down the worn-out bridge.Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced.The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983, hundreds of animal lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge.
Peters died in 1984, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project.
(1)
The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in order to ________.
[ ]
A.
offer squirrels a place to eat nuts
B.
set up a local landmark
C.
help improve traffic
D.
protect squirrels
(2)
What happened over the coffee break discussion?
[ ]
A.
The committee got the Council's blessing.
B.
The squirrel bridge idea was born
C.
A councilwoman named the bridge
D.
A squirrel was found dead.
(3)
What does the underlined phrase “teaching them the ropes” probably means in the text?
[ ]
A.
passing them a rope
B.
Directing them to store food for winter
C.
Teaching them a lesson
D.
Showing them how to use the bridge.
(4)
Which of the following is true of the squirrel bridge?
Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego(UCSD)for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, “Versed”.
“I'm delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win,” said Armantrout.
“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising.”
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor's degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master's in creative writing from San Francisco State University.She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for “Versed.”
“This book has gotten more attention,” Armantrout said, “but I don't feel as if it's better.”
The first half of “Versed” focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq.The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not.“Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry,” said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
“Versed”, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2,700 copies.The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.
(1)
According to Rae Armantrout, ________.
[ ]
A.
her 10th book is much better
B.
her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected
C.
the media is surprised at her works
D.
she likes being recognized by her readers
(2)
Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?
[ ]
A.
She published a poetry textbook.
B.
She used to teach Denise Levertov.
C.
She started a poets' group with others.
D.
She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley.
(3)
What can we learn about “Versed”?
[ ]
A.
It consists of three parts.
B.
It is mainly about the American army.
C.
It is a book published two decades ago.
D.
It partly concerns the poet's own life.
(4)
Rae Armantrout's colleagues think that she ________.
[ ]
A.
should write more
B.
has a sweet voice
C.
deserves the prize
D.
is a strange professor
(5)
What can we learn from the text?
[ ]
A.
About 2,700 copies of “Versed” will be printed.
B.
Cancer made Armantrout stop writing.
C.
Armantrout got her degrees at UCSD.
D.
“Versed” has been awarded twice.
阅读理解
Rae Armantrout, who has been a poetry professor at the University of California San Diego(UCSD)for two decades, has won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in the poetry category for her most recent book, “Versed”.
“I’m delighted and amazed at how much media recognition that the Pulitzer brings, as compared to even the National Book Critics Award, which I was also surprised and delighted to win,” said Armantrout.
“For a long time, my writing has been just below the media radar, and to have this kind of attention, suddenly, with my 10th book, is really surprising.”
Armantrout, a native Californian, received her bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley, where she studied with noted poet Denise Levertov, and her master’s in creative writing from San Francisco State University.She is a founding member of Language Poets, a group in American poetry that analyzes the way language is used and raises questions to make the reader think.
In March, she won the National Book Critics Circle Award for “Versed.”
“This book has gotten more attention,” Armantrout said, “but I don’t feel as if it’s better.”
The first half of “Versed” focuses on the dark forces taking hold of the United States as it fought the war against Iraq.The second half looks at the dark forces casting a shadow over her own life after Armantrout was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
Armantrout was shocked to learn she had won the Pulitzer but many of her colleagues were not.“Rae Armantrout is a unique voice in American poetry, ” said Seth Lerer, head of Arts and Humanities at UCSD.
“Versed”, published by the Wesleyan University Press, did appear in a larger printing than her earlier works, which is about 2, 700 copies.The new edition is scheduled to appear in May.
(1)
According to Rae Armantrout, _________.
[ ]
A.
her 10th book is much better
B.
her winning the Pulitzer is unexpected
C.
the media is surprised at her works
D.
she likes being recognized by her readers
(2)
Which of the following is true of Rae Armantrout?
[ ]
A.
She published a poetry textbook.
B.
She used to teach Denise Levertov.
C.
She started a poets’ group with others.
D.
She taught creative writing at UC Berkeley.
(3)
What can we learn about “Versed”?
[ ]
A.
It consists of three parts.
B.
It is mainly about the American army.
C.
It is a book published two decades ago.
D.
It partly concerns the poet’s own life.
(4)
Rae Armantrout’s colleagues think that she _________.