题目内容
Grasslands need time to recover when cattle and other animals feed on them. Moving animals from one field to another can provide the 21 needed for new growth. This is called rotational grazing(轮流放牧), and here’s more about how it 22 .
Rotational grazing is good for the land and the animals, and it can save money. This farm of grazing can decrease the need for pesticides(杀虫剂) by reducing the 23 of weeds. And it can 24 the need for chemical fertilizers by letting animal waste do the job of natural fertilizer. Rotational grazing can even help prevent wildfires by keeping 25 in good condition.
Letting animals feed constantly in the same grazing areas can require 26 planting. Animals eat the most 27 growth first. When that keeps happening, the roots do not have enough time to recover. 28 , less wanted plants may replace them. Heavily used grassland are also harmed as the soil is 29 pressed down under the weight of heavy animals.
While rotational grazing can save money over time, it also requires 30 . And that starts with a good map to mark fences, water supplies and grazing areas.
21.A.cattle | B. time | C. space | D. help |
22.A.works | B. happens | C. does | D. grows |
23.A.cost | B. size | C. growth | D. availability |
24.A.spread | B. meet | C. dismiss | D. limit |
25.A.soil | B. cattle | C. grasslands | D. weeds |
26.A.costly | B. unnecessary | C. priceless | D. immediate |
27. A. rapid | B. common | C. necessary | D. desirable |
28. A. On the other hand | B. In short | C.As a result | D. In fact |
29. A. surprisingly | B. continually | C. gently | D. accidentally |
30. A. training | B. planning | C.co-operation | D. determination |
BACDC ADCBB

Watching bison up close is fascinating, like watching a grass fire about to leap out of control. With their huge, wedge-shaped heads and silver-dollar-size brown eyes, the 2,000-pound animals are symbols of another place and time. More than 100 bison now roam the 30,000-acre American Prairie Reserve in eastern Montana — the first time they’ve inhabited that region in a century. Direct descendants of the tens of millions of bison that once populated the Western plains, they represent an epic effort: to restore a piece of America’s prairie to the national grandeur that Lewis and Clark extolled two centuries ago. During that famous expedition across the Western states to the Pacific, the two explorers encountered so many bison that they had to wait hours for one herd to pass.
In order to protect what’s here and reintroduce long-gone wildlife (something the World Wildlife Fund is helping with), the American Prairie Foundation began purchasing land from local ranchers in 2004. It now owns 30,000 acres and has grazing privileges on another 57,000. Its goal over the next 25 years is to assemble three million acres, the largest area of land devoted to wildlife management in the continental United States.
Already, herds of elk, deer, and pronghorn antelope roam the grasslands, where visitors can camp, hike, and bike. Cottonwoods and willows are thriving along streams, creating habitats for bobcats, beavers, and other animals.
Not everyone shares APF’s vision. Some residents of Phillips County (pop. 3,904) worry that the area could become a prairie Disneyland, overcrowded with tourists. But the biggest obstacle is the ranchers themselves, whose cattle compete with prairie dogs and bison for grass and space.
“People like me have no intention of selling their ranches,” says Dale Veseth, who heads the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance of 35 families in Phillips County and whose family has been ranching here since 1886. “They’ve been a labor of love through the generations.” Instead, he wants APF to pay or subsidize ranchers to raise bison. This would be far less costly for the foundation, he argues, than buying the land directly.
【小题1】If you go to the American Prairie Reserve in eastern Montana, you will see ________.
A.the burning fire moving across the grassland |
B.hundreds of bison travelling through the prairie |
C.tens of millions of bison occupying the farmland |
D.groups of experts examining the dead bison |
A.They have borrowed much money and developed new habitat. |
B.They have hired many farmers to raise bison on their farms. |
C.They have turned grassland into Disneyland to attract tourists. |
D.They have bought large land from farmers for bison to live on. |
A.give money to | B.borrow money from |
C.provide land to | D.exchange land with |
A.The exciting scenery in eastern Montana |
B.Great changes in raising bison in America |
C.The return of the American prairie |
D.The challenge in protecting the grassland |
New research shows sheep are clever
People often make jokes about how dull sheep are, but new research shows they may be cleverer than we think. Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that Welsh mountain sheep have brainpower that equals rodents (啮齿动物). Tests found that the sheep can map the area they live in, and some may even be able to plan ahead.
Young fish prefer noisy neighbors
A new study has shown that young fish like to live on reefs with noisy neighbors! Researchers from the universities of Auckland and Bristol found that young fish looking for a home choose areas where other noisy fish live. The scientists produced all kinds of sounds which had been recorded in different natural environments. The young fish seemed to prefer the sounds of natural reefs, complete with noisy animals! The scientists compared the choice to a music fan wandering around at a music festival, choosing to set up a tent closest to the music they like best!
Butterflies are disappearing
A new study has shown that 17 species (物种) of butterfly found in Europe have dropped by 70% in the last 20 years. The information collected from 3,000 sites across 15 countries shows it may be caused by the loss (减少) of grasslands covered with flowers. You can encourage butterflies to come into your garden by planting flowers.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some new studies about animals. |
B.People’s wrong ideas about animals. |
C.Why the number of animals has dropped. |
D.The importance of protecting animals. |
A.are less clever than rodents | B.can find their home |
C.can read maps | D.are good planners |
A.The species of grass in grasslands. |
B.The species of trees in grasslands. |
C.The number of flowers in grasslands. |
D.The number of animals in grasslands. |
A.Geography. | B.Culture. | C.Travel. | D.Nature. |
New research shows sheep are clever
People often make jokes about how dull sheep are, but new research shows they may be cleverer than we think. Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that Welsh mountain sheep have brainpower that equals rodents (啮齿动物). Tests found that the sheep can map the area they live in, and some may even be able to plan ahead.
Young fish prefer noisy neighbors
A new study has shown that young fish like to live on reefs with noisy neighbors! Researchers from the universities of Auckland and Bristol found that young fish looking for a home choose areas where other noisy fish live. The scientists produced all kinds of sounds which had been recorded in different natural environments. The young fish seemed to prefer the sounds of natural reefs, complete with noisy animals! The scientists compared the choice to a music fan wandering around at a music festival, choosing to set up a tent closest to the music they like best!
Butterflies are disappearing
A new study has shown that 17 species (物种) of butterfly found in Europe have dropped by 70% in the last 20 years. The information collected from 3,000 sites across 15 countries shows it may be caused by the loss (减少) of grasslands covered with flowers. You can encourage butterflies to come into your garden by planting flowers.
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A.Some new studies about animals. |
B.People’s wrong ideas about animals. |
C.Why the number of animals has dropped. |
D.The importance of protecting animals. |
2. According to the first paragraph, we may infer that sheep _____.
A.are less clever than rodents |
B.can find their home |
C.can read maps |
D.are good planners |
3. Which seems to have to do with the number of butterflies?
A.The species of grass in grasslands. |
B.The species of trees in grasslands. |
C.The number of flowers in grasslands. |
D.The number of animals in grasslands. |
4.In which part of a newspaper can we most probably read the passage?
A.Geography. |
B.Culture. |
C.Travel. |
D.Nature. |