People have used pigeons to carry messages to one another for hundreds of years. In the 12th century, the royal palaces of Iraq and Syria included pigeon houses so the kings could be kept informed of their generals’ victories and defeats on the battlefield. In fact, pigeons were a common way to send messages right up through World War II.
Many countries, such as the United States, England, France, Germany, and Italy, in both World War I and World War II, used carrier pigeons. Not only were the birds often the fastest, most reliable way to send messages, they could also be used to reach soldiers far behind enemy lines, where radios and field telephone lines were useless. Since they could easily be released (释放) from airplanes or ships, every branch of the armed services used the birds. In World War II, more than 3,000 soldiers and 150 officers were needed to care for and train the tens of thousands of birds in the U.S. Pigeon Service.
Carrying messages could be a dangerous job. Some pigeons performed with such bravery that they became famous and were even awarded medals, such as England’s Dicken Medal of Gallantry. In a few cases, pigeons even became prisoners of war. In 1918 American forces captured a pigeon named Kaiser, which had been trained to fly special missions for Germany during battle. He was taken to America, where he lived to the age of 32. The most famous pigeon of all may have been Cher Ami. Stationed in France during World War I, he carried twelve important messages for American forces. On his last mission, though wounded, he carried a message that saved the lives of 194 American soldiers. For his extraordinary service, he was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre.”
Carrier pigeons are a slightly different breed (品种) from the kind of pigeons you see on city streets. They are much thinner and taller, with longer legs. Many people find carrier pigeons ugly because of their big wattle, a bent buildup of skin on the beak（鸟嘴）; however, people who raise pigeons often enjoy this strange appearance and consider carriers the best of their breed.
Today, modern communication methods can carry information from one place to another hundreds of times faster than a pigeon could do. However, few people would argue with the fact that carrier pigeons—especially those that served in the military—have earned their place in history. Stories about brave pigeons such as Cher Ami, President Wilson, and Colonel’s Lady have the power to inspire us as no fax machine or high-speed Internet connection could ever do.
【小题1】Many countries used carrier pigeons in the war because_______.

People have used pigeons to carry messages to one another for hundreds of years. In the 12th century, the royal palaces of Iraq and Syria included pigeon houses so the kings could be kept informed of their generals’ victories and defeats on the battlefield. In fact, pigeons were a common way to send messages right up through World War II.

Many countries, such as the United States, England, France, Germany, and Italy, in both World War I and World War II, used carrier pigeons. Not only were the birds often the fastest, most reliable way to send messages, they could also be used to reach soldiers far behind enemy lines, where radios and field telephone lines were useless. Since they could easily be released (释放) from airplanes or ships, every branch of the armed services used the birds. In World War II, more than 3,000 soldiers and 150 officers were needed to care for and train the tens of thousands of birds in the U.S. Pigeon Service.

Carrying messages could be a dangerous job. Some pigeons performed with such bravery that they became famous and were even awarded medals, such as England’s Dicken Medal of Gallantry. In a few cases, pigeons even became prisoners of war. In 1918 American forces captured a pigeon named Kaiser, which had been trained to fly special missions for Germany during battle. He was taken to America, where he lived to the age of 32. The most famous pigeon of all may have been Cher Ami. Stationed in France during World War I, he carried twelve important messages for American forces. On his last mission, though wounded, he carried a message that saved the lives of 194 American soldiers. For his extraordinary service, he was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre.”

Carrier pigeons are a slightly different breed (品种) from the kind of pigeons you see on city streets. They are much thinner and taller, with longer legs. Many people find carrier pigeons ugly because of their big wattle, a bent buildup of skin on the beak（鸟嘴）; however, people who raise pigeons often enjoy this strange appearance and consider carriers the best of their breed.

Today, modern communication methods can carry information from one place to another hundreds of times faster than a pigeon could do. However, few people would argue with the fact that carrier pigeons—especially those that served in the military—have earned their place in history. Stories about brave pigeons such as Cher Ami, President Wilson, and Colonel’s Lady have the power to inspire us as no fax machine or high-speed Internet connection could ever do.

1.Many countries used carrier pigeons in the war because_______.

A．they could be believed in

B．they were easily raised

C．they could reach the enemy lines

D．they could hardly be found by airplanes

2.Which is the best example to show the bravery of carrier pigeons?

A．Carrier pigeons could fly to places where radios and telephone lines were useless.

B．For his extraordinary service, Cher Ami was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre”.

C．In World War II, more than 3,000 soldiers were needed to care for and train the pigeons.

D．In the 12th century, kings in Iraq were kept informed of the victories and defeats by pigeons.

3.From the passage, we can learn _________.

A．how carrier pigeons developed in history

B．how to train carrier pigeons to get victory

C．carrier pigeons played an important role in the wars in the old days

D．pigeons inspired soldiers to fight before high-speed Internet invented

People have used pigeons to carry messages to one another for hundreds of years. In the 12th century, the royal palaces of Iraq and Syria included pigeon houses so the kings could be kept informed of their generals’ victories and defeats on the battlefield. In fact, pigeons were a common way to send messages right up through World War II.
Many countries, such as the United States, England, France, Germany, and Italy, in both World War I and World War II, used carrier pigeons. Not only were the birds often the fastest, most reliable way to send messages, they could also be used to reach soldiers far behind enemy lines, where radios and field telephone lines were useless. Since they could easily be released (释放) from airplanes or ships, every branch of the armed services used the birds. In World War II, more than 3,000 soldiers and 150 officers were needed to care for and train the tens of thousands of birds in the U.S. Pigeon Service.
Carrying messages could be a dangerous job. Some pigeons performed with such bravery that they became famous and were even awarded medals, such as England’s Dicken Medal of Gallantry. In a few cases, pigeons even became prisoners of war. In 1918 American forces captured a pigeon named Kaiser, which had been trained to fly special missions for Germany during battle. He was taken to America, where he lived to the age of 32. The most famous pigeon of all may have been Cher Ami. Stationed in France during World War I, he carried twelve important messages for American forces. On his last mission, though wounded, he carried a message that saved the lives of 194 American soldiers. For his extraordinary service, he was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre.”
Carrier pigeons are a slightly different breed (品种) from the kind of pigeons you see on city streets. They are much thinner and taller, with longer legs. Many people find carrier pigeons ugly because of their big wattle, a bent buildup of skin on the beak（鸟嘴）; however, people who raise pigeons often enjoy this strange appearance and consider carriers the best of their breed.
Today, modern communication methods can carry information from one place to another hundreds of times faster than a pigeon could do. However, few people would argue with the fact that carrier pigeons—especially those that served in the military—have earned their place in history. Stories about brave pigeons such as Cher Ami, President Wilson, and Colonel’s Lady have the power to inspire us as no fax machine or high-speed Internet connection could ever do

1. 1.

   Many countries used carrier pigeons in the war because_______

   1. A.
      they could be believed in
   2. B.
      they were easily raised
   3. C.
      they could reach the enemy lines
   4. D.
      they could hardly be found by airplanes
2. 2.

   Which is the best example to show the bravery of carrier pigeons?

   1. A.
      Carrier pigeons could fly to places where radios and telephone lines were useless
   2. B.
      For his extraordinary service, Cher Ami was awarded the French “Croix de Guerre”
   3. C.
      In World War II, more than 3,000 soldiers were needed to care for and train the pigeons
   4. D.
      In the 12th century, kings in Iraq were kept informed of the victories and defeats by pigeons
3. 3.

   From the passage, we can learn _________

   1. A.
      how carrier pigeons developed in history
   2. B.
      how to train carrier pigeons to get victory
   3. C.
      carrier pigeons played an important role in the wars in the old days
   4. D.
      pigeons inspired soldiers to fight before high-speed Internet invented

Dear reporters，

It has been over one yea since tile earthquake（地震）in Sichuan．People all over the world are caring about people there．Do you want to know what Sichuan is like now? Come and join our tour group!

★Oct．11-12，arrive at Chengdu，and then visit Provincial Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base；

★Oct．13-14，arrive at Dujiangyan，and then visit Dujiangyan Middle School and Dujiangyan hydro project．Listen to reports given by the leaders of Chengdu and Dujiangyan．

★Oct．15．arrive at Deyang and Mianyang，and then visit the factories and countryside；

★Oct．16-17，arrive at Beichuan，and then visit some schools and representatives of the disabled（残疾人代表）．Listen to reports given by the leaders of Wenchuan and Beichuan．

If you are interested in this tour，please fill in the form and send it to us by email or by fax before 11:00 am on October 4,2010．Remember that only reporters are needed．

All the costs，except the cost of transportation，will be borne（负担）by yourselves．

Contact person：Song Xintao

Telephone：65964312，65964313，65882585

Fax：65963392

E-mail：ipcd@mfa.gov.cn

1．The tour will last for ________．

A．three days               B．five day                  C．a week                   D．two weeks

2．What will the tour group do on October 12，2010?

A．Go to see pandas．

B．Visit schools in Beichuan．

C．Visit Dujiangyan hydro project．

D．Visit the factories in Deyang and Mianyang

3．________are allowed to join the tour group．

A．Students                                                    B．People who love travelling

C．Only reporters                                                  D．People all over tile world

4．Who will give reports on October 17，2010?

A．Members of the tour group．

B．Representatives of the disabled．

C．The leaders of Chengdu and Dujiangyan．

D．The leaders of Wenchuan and Beichuan．

5．Which of the following is TRUE?

A．If you want to join the tour group，you can call Song Xintao at 65963392．

B．People can contact the tour group office by e-mail．

C．If you want to join the tour group，you can fill in the form after 11:00 am on October 4．2010．

D．Members of the tour group have to pay for the buses during the tour．