题目内容
19．You've probably heard of sheepdogs that guard sheep．But on a small island off the coast of Australia，these specially trained little dogs protect fairy penguins from foxes．About 800 little blue penguins，once nested on Australia's Middle Island．They are the smallest species of penguin in the world．By 2015，there were fewer than 10 left on the island．The problem started when people brought red foxes to Australia in the 1800s．The foxes made their way to Middle Island and began killing off penguins and other native wildlife．Local officials wondered what could be done．
In 2014，a local farmer named Allan Marsh had an idea．He advised training Maremma sheepdogs to protect the penguins．At that time，Marsh was using the dogs on his farm to guard his chickens from foxes．At first，local officials said no to the plan because they didn't think it would work．But they changed their minds when the penguins had almost completely disappeared．"The powers wouldn't listen to me until it got down to six penguins，"Marsh told The New York Times．
The first sheepdog went to work on Middle Island in 2016，and dogs have been on duty ever since．The dogs bark at and go after foxes to frighten them away．Thanks to the sheepdogs，the number of fairy penguins on Middle Island has increased．Today，close to 200 penguins live on the island．In fact，officials report that no penguin has been killed since the dogs were on the job．
Eudy and Tula，the two dogs guarding Middle Island，are now 8 years old They are almost ready to retire（退休）．Local groups are trying to raise $ 25，000 needed to buy and train two new pups．
12．How many little penguins are living on the island now？B
A．Fewer than 10．B．About 200．C．About 800．D．More than 25，000．
13．Why did the little penguins almost completely disappear？D
A Local officials didn't support the protection plan．
B．People destroyed their living environment．
C．The dogs couldn't protect them．
D．The red foxes hunted them．
14．What new problem will the penguins he faced with？D
A．There are too many of them on the island．
B．They will disappear on Middle Island soon．
C．The two new pups won't he trained．
D．The dogs are too old to guard them．
15．From the text，we can learn thatA．
A．sheepdogs can really protect penguins on Middle Island
B．local officials didn't agree with Marsh's plan finally
C．the first sheepdog appeared on Middle Island in 2006
D．sheepdogs only guard sheep and chickens．
分析 本文向我们介绍了在澳大利亚海岸的一个小岛上，人们利用狗保护小企鹅，不受狐狸的伤害的事情．起初是Allan Marsh有了这个想法，但他的想法并没有立即得到当地政府官员的同意，直到岛上的企鹅越来越少，政府才决定试试，后来效果显著，狗真的能够保护企鹅，现在岛上的企鹅数量也有所增加．
解答 12．B；细节理解题．根据文中"Today，close to 200 penguins live on the island．"（今天，有近200只企鹅生活在岛上），可知现在岛上大约有200只企鹅．故选B．
13．D；细节理解题．根据文中"The foxes made their way to Middle Island and began killing off penguins and other native wildlife"（狐狸走上了中东岛，开始屠杀企鹅和其他本土野生动物），可知小企鹅几乎完全消失的原因是狐狸杀害它们．故选D．
14．D；推理判断题．根据文中"Eudy and Tula，the two dogs guarding Middle Island，are now 8 years old"（防范和图拉是两只守护中岛的狗，现在已经8岁了），可以推断出他们面临的新的问题是这些狗太老了，不能保护它们．故选D．
15．A；细节理解题．根据文中"In fact，officials report that no penguin has been killed since the dogs were on the job．"（事实上，官员们报告说，由于狗的工作，没有一只企鹅被杀），可知在中东地区，狗真的能够保护企鹅．故选A．
点评 本文考察学生的细节理解和推断能力以及细心程度，只要抓住文章的关键词，采用寻读的方法查找细节，就能找到正确答案．
