Question

【题目】 What do you think about when you think of a zoo? Small cages? Bars like those in prisons? These images might be common in people’s mind, which serve as arguments for the people who do not like zoos, as historically, traditional zoos kept animals with a very limited focus on conservation(protection of natural things or education, However, a sort of evolution (改革;进化) has occurred.

Most zoos today, especially those in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), an international organization whose members are leading zoos and aquariums, provide spacious and natural space for their animals and worked hard to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. More importantly, modern zoos not only take much better care of the animals they keep, but also engage with the protection of animals in the wild.

As the human population increases, our impact on the environment has been deadly harmful to wildlife and wild spaces. Things like climate change and severe habitat destruction are causing species to go extinct at unnatural rates. Some scientists estimate we are currently experiencing the sixth mass extinction (灭绝) in the history of life on earth. As a consoling (令人安慰的) part out of all griefs, many zoos serve as important safe-holds for endangered species populations, and in cases like that of the California Condor, captive breeding programs in AZA, which kept animals in zoos proved to be important in bringing species back from extinction. Besides, AZA, including many zoos, also fund over 2,500 conservation projects, donating 160 million dollars every year to protecting species in the wild.

The conservation impact that zoos have goes even further than direct conservation action and financial support for fieldwork. In a time when people spend less and less time outdoors, zoos serve as a place to teach children and remind adults that wildlife and wild spaces still exist, and that our society holds the future of these species’ survival in our hands.

________________________. While I am only 18, I have spent the last six years volunteering with wildlife conservation organizations. As a volunteer at the Santa Barbara Zoo, I stood outside of the Amur Leopard exhibit and educated guests about these critically endangered big cats. I saw the way that live animals can spark people’s curiosity and inspire them to love and protect nature. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend the AZA’s Legislative Conference in Washington DC, where I got the opportunity to see how zoos support conservation efforts in the wild. Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia is an organization dedicated (致力于) to saving the cheetah in the wild, but it relies heavily on support from zoos. Many zoos donate large amounts of money to CCF, but they also contribute to CCF’s mission by connecting people across the United States with cheetahs, and the issues they face in the wild.

Zoos can be controversial institutions; however, both opponents of traditional zoos and those who support modern zoos have more in common than one might think. Both groups are extremely motivated because they care so deeply about animals, their welfare, and their long-term survival on our planet. I encourage you to consider both sides of this issue and learn more about all of the conservation work zoos do, and the world-class care animals in AZA receive before determining where you stand on this issue.

【1】Images like small cages are mentioned in Paragraph 1 to explain ________.

A.why there must be an evolution of zoos

B.how much people misunderstand the zoos

C.why some people are against traditional zoos

D.how well the modern zoos are treating animals

【2】According to Paragraph 3, what do captive breeding programs do?

A.They are conservation projects donating to AZA.

B.They protect the wild habitat of endangered animal.

C.They keep endangered animals to save them from extinction.

D.They set up missions of animal protection for AZA every year.

【3】Which sentence serves best as the topic sentence of Paragraph 5?

A.However, there is still much that zoos should have done.

B.I have gotten to see many of the positive aspects of zoos up close.

C.Yet what I have personally experienced might explain why zoos have caused so much disagreement.

D.The misunderstanding of zoos, unfortunately, is still widespread, and some people are blind to the contributions zoos have made.

【4】What is TRUE according to the article?

A.Zoos in Namibia heavily reply on the Cheetah Conservation Fund

B.Traditional zoos only paid attention to conservation but no education.

C.Modern zoos bear responsibility for the animals they keep and those in the wild.

D.With the increase of human population, a huge species extinction in history is on.

【5】Which could be the best title for the article?

A.Traditional Zoos: Harmful to Wildlife

B.AZA: A Consoling Part out of All Griefs

C.Evolution of Zoos: More Changes in Need

D.Modern Zoos: Dedicated to Saving the Wildlife

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】C

【3】B

【4】C

【5】C

【解析】

文章大意：文章讲的是传统的动物园对动物的保护有限，所以现代的动物园应该有很多变化，现代动物园对它们饲养的动物和野生动物负有责任。

【1】细节理解题，根据第一段倒数第一、二行a sort of evolution (改革;进化) has occurred可知，为了解释这为什么必须有改革，故答案选A。

【2】细节理解题，根据第三段倒数第三、四行which kept animals in zoos proved to be important in bringing species back from extinction.可知，他们保护濒临灭绝的动物使它们免于灭绝，故答案选C。

【3】主旨大意题，根据第五段所给空后面讲的是我在十八岁的时候在一个动物园当志愿者的一个亲身经历，后面还提到了在华盛顿特区额参加AZA的立法会议，在这些经历中，作者都看到了动物园的积极方面。故答案选B。

【4】细节理解题，根据第二段第四、五行More importantly, modern zoos not only take much better care of the animals they keep, but also engage with the protection of animals in the wild可知，现代动物园对它们饲养的动物和野生动物负有责任，故答案选C。

【5】主旨大意题，根据文章第一段最后一行a sort of evolution (改革;进化) has occurred以及全文意思可知，讲的是动物园的进化，故答案选C。