In the eyes of dog lovers, the dog is man’s best friend. But for much wildlife, loose dogs may be a dangerous enemy, according to a study by a biologist from Utah State University in the US.
Based on much existing research and their own case studies, Julie Smith of Utah State University and four other scientists conclude that loose dogs may represent a huge danger to wildlife, especially endangered species, by hunting down or worrying them and by spreading diseases. They also found that dogs, their worldwide numbers around 500 million, can cause more damage to wildlife and livestock(牲畜) than wolves and other enemies of these animals.
Smith gave examples from the US state of Idaho, where research showed the presence of dogs reducing some deer populations. On the Navajo American Indians’ reservation in northeastern Arizona, packs of loose dogs are attacking livestock. They have killed populations of small animals such as rabbits and act as a disease carrier for rabies(狂犬病) among people and other animals, she said. Loose dogs also were to blame for distemper(温热病) outbreak leading to a die-off of endangered black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming in the 1980s.
The phenomenon is not just limited to US; it’s a global problem. Julie Smith once studied three endangered species in central Asia: wild sheep, gazelles and antelope. The rate of injury and death to these animals by loose dogs was very high. In another case, Smith found that dogs, not wolves, as originally suspected, were responsible for a large number of livestock killings in the mountainous Basque country between Spain and France.
Authors of the new study said the problem is likely to worsen as communities expand. Then how to deal with it?
Indeed, in many countries, leash(拴狗的皮带) laws permit punishment of dog owners whose pets attack wildlife. But lawbreakers are rarely punished because the police lack both people and money.
Smith has low-cost solutions to the problem for dog lovers, though. They include public dog-training programs and vaccinating (预防接种) dogs against rabies and other illnesses.
【小题1】Julie Smith’s study mainly tells us that _______.

A.many species are endangered because they are killed by loose dogs.
B.wild dogs are immune to many diseases.
C.wolves are still the greatest enemy of livestock.
D.loose dogs are a great danger to wildlife.
【小题2】Which of the following statements about loose dogs is TRUE according to the research?
A.There are around 500 million loose dogs around the world.
B.The black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming were once the main food source of local loose dogs.
C.The problem caused by loose dogs is the most serious in the US.
D.People used to think that wolves, rather than loose dogs killed livestock in the Basque country.
【小题3】Which of the following is among Julie Smith’s solutions to the trouble caused by loose dogs?
A.More strict leash laws
B.Public dog-training programs.
C.Vaccinating people against rabies and other illnesses.
D.More support from the police.
【小题4】What is the main point of the article?
A.A global disaster caused by loose dogs.
B.What makes the dog man’s greatest friend.
C.The problem of loose dogs and the possible solutions.
D.The danger of the increasing numbers of dogs.

In the eyes of dog lovers, the dog is man’s best friend. But for much wildlife, loose dogs may be a dangerous enemy, according to a study by a biologist from Utah State University in the US.

Based on much existing research and their own case studies, Julie Smith of Utah State University and four other scientists conclude that loose dogs may represent a huge danger to wildlife, especially endangered species, by hunting down or worrying them and by spreading diseases. They also found that dogs, their worldwide numbers around 500 million, can cause more damage to wildlife and livestock(牲畜) than wolves and other enemies of these animals.

Smith gave examples from the US state of Idaho, where research showed the presence of dogs reducing some deer populations. On the Navajo American Indians’ reservation in northeastern Arizona, packs of loose dogs are attacking livestock. They have killed populations of small animals such as rabbits and act as a disease carrier for rabies(狂犬病) among people and other animals, she said. Loose dogs also were to blame for distemper(温热病) outbreak leading to a die-off of endangered black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming in the 1980s.

The phenomenon is not just limited to US; it’s a global problem. Julie Smith once studied three endangered species in central Asia: wild sheep, gazelles and antelope. The rate of injury and death to these animals by loose dogs was very high. In another case, Smith found that dogs, not wolves, as originally suspected, were responsible for a large number of livestock killings in the mountainous Basque country between Spain and France.

Authors of the new study said the problem is likely to worsen as communities expand. Then how to deal with it?

Indeed, in many countries, leash(拴狗的皮带) laws permit punishment of dog owners whose pets attack wildlife. But lawbreakers are rarely punished because the police lack both people and money.

Smith has low-cost solutions to the problem for dog lovers, though. They include public dog-training programs and vaccinating (预防接种) dogs against rabies and other illnesses.

1.Julie Smith’s study mainly tells us that _______.

A.many species are endangered because they are killed by loose dogs.

B.wild dogs are immune to many diseases.

C.wolves are still the greatest enemy of livestock.

D.loose dogs are a great danger to wildlife.

2.Which of the following statements about loose dogs is TRUE according to the research?

A.There are around 500 million loose dogs around the world.

B.The black-footed ferrets in northwestern Wyoming were once the main food source of local loose dogs.

C.The problem caused by loose dogs is the most serious in the US.

D.People used to think that wolves, rather than loose dogs killed livestock in the Basque country.

3.Which of the following is among Julie Smith’s solutions to the trouble caused by loose dogs?

A.More strict leash laws

B.Public dog-training programs.

C.Vaccinating people against rabies and other illnesses.

D.More support from the police.

4.What is the main point of the article?

A.A global disaster caused by loose dogs.

B.What makes the dog man’s greatest friend.

C.The problem of loose dogs and the possible solutions.

D.The danger of the increasing numbers of dogs.

 

Islamabad, Pakistan, June 22nd---Two mountain climbers surprisingly survived (幸免于) a fall of over 500 feet on the 25,530-foot mountain in Pakistan, Saturday. The two climbers were climbing an ice-covered wall of the mountain when they suddenly lost their footing and fell about 560 feet to a narrow snow-covered ledge(悬崖突出部分) below. “We were lucky that ledge was there,” said the climbers, “Otherwise, we would have fallen over 2,000 feet.” If the ledge had not been there, the two climbers almost certainly have met their death. “It’s a wonder,” the climbers said, “that we landed on the ledge, and the snow was loose enough to cushion(缓冲) our fall. We’re thankful that we survived.”

When a reporter asked them if they planned to give up mountain climbing after their narrow escape(九死一生), the two climbers replied, “Not at all. We’ll be going back up there just as soon as we get out of the hospital.”

1. The mountain climbers survived because _____.

A. they had fallen only 500 feet down     B. of the ledge and the loose snow on it

C. of their strong bodies                 D. they were very good climbers

2. If there had not been the snow-covered ledge, _____.

A. they wouldn’t have fallen down           B. they would have them wounded

C. they would have lost their lives           D. they would fall into the deep snow

3. How high was the ledge from the foot of the mountain?

A. 2,560 feet high          B. 2,000 feet high  

C. 25,530 feet high         D. More than 1,400 feet high 

4. Choose the right order which shows what happened to the two climbers.

a. talked with a reporter           b. lost their footing 

c. was sent to a hospital           d. fell to a ledge     

e. started to climb an ice-covered wall

A. b-d-c-e-a          B. e-d-b-c-a        C. e-b-d-c-a       D. a-c-b-d-e

 

 

 

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