Scientists who try to predict earthquakes have gotten some new helpers recently—animals.
　　That’s right, animals. Scientists have begun to understand what farmers have known for thousands of years. Animals often seem to know in advance that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by acting in strange ways. Before a Chinese quake in 1975, snakes awoke from their winter sleep early only to freeze to death in the cold air. Cows broke their halters (缰绳) and tried to escape. Chickens refused to enter their cage. All of this unusual behavior, as well as physical changes in the earth, warned Chinese scientists of the coming quake. They moved people away from the danger zone and saved thousands of lives.
　　One task for scientists today is to learn exactly which types of animal behavior predict quakes. It’s not an easy job. First of all not every animal reacts to the danger of an earthquake. Just before a California quake in 1977, for example, an Arabian horse became very nervous and tried to break out of his enclosure. The Australian horse next to him, however, remained perfectly calm. It’s also difficult at times to tell the difference between normal animal restlessness and “earthquake nerves”. A zoo keeper once called earthquake researchers to say that his cougar had been acting strangely. It turned out that the cat had an upset stomach.
　　A second task for scientists is to find out exactly what kind of warnings the animals receive. They know that animals sense far more of the world than humans do. Many animals can see, hear, and smell things that people do not even notice. Some can sense tiny changes in air pressure, gravity, or the magnetism of Earth. This extra sense probably helps animals predict quakes.
　　A good example of this occurred with a group of dogs. They were shut in an area that was being shaken by a series of tiny earthquakes. (Several small quakes often come before or after a large one.) Before each quake a low booming sound was heard. Each boom caused the dogs to bark wildly. Then the dogs began to bark during a silent period. A scientist who was recording quakes looked at his machine. It was acting as though there were a loud noise too. The scientist realized that the dogs had reacted to a booming noise. They also sensed the tiny quake that followed it. The machine recorded both, though humans felt and heard nothing.
In this case there was a machine to monitor what the dogs were sensing. Many times, however, our machines record nothing extraordinary, even though animals know a quake is coming. The animals might be sensing something we measure but do not recognize as a warning. Discovering what animals sense, and learning how they know it is a danger signal, is a job for future scientists.
【小题1】Through the passage the writer hopes to explore __________.

Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like wild animals. They will soil your house, destroy your belongings, bark excessively, fight other dogs and even bite you. Nearly all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities that occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing. The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect its normal behavior to outlets that are acceptable in the domestic setting.

　　One of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself is to train its obedience. Obedience training doesn’t solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Training opens up a line of communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want it to do.

Training is also an easy way to establish the social rank order. When your dog obeys a simple request of “come here, sit,” it is showing obedience and respect for you. It is not necessary to establish yourself as top dog or leader of the pack（群）by using extreme measure. You can teach your dog its subordinate（从属的）role by teaching it to show submission to you. Most dogs love performing tricks for you to

pleasantly accept that you are in charge.

　　Training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog. It can enrich your relationship and make living together more enjoyable. A well-trained dog is more confident and can more safely be allowed a greater amount of freedom than an untrained animal.

51. Behavior problems of dogs are believed to _______.

A. be just part of their nature

　 B. worsen in modern society

　 C. occur when they go wild

　 D. present a threat to the community

52. The primary purpose of obedience training is to _______.

　 A. teach the dog to perform clever tricks

　 B. make the dog aware of its owner’s authority

　 C. provide the dog with outlets for its wild behavior

　 D. enable the dog to regain its normal behavior

53. Effective communication between a dog and its owner is _______.

　 A. essential to solving the dog’s behavior problems

　 B. the foundation for dogs to perform tasks

　 C. a good way to teach the dog new tricks

　 D. an extreme measure in obedience training

54. Why do pet dogs love performing tricks for their masters?

　 A. To avoid being punished.

　 B. To show their affection for their masters.

　 C. To win leadership of the dog pack.

　 D. To show their willingness to obey.

55. When a dog has received effective obedience training, its owner _______.

　 A. can give the dog more rewards

　 B. will enjoy a better family life

　 C. can give the dog more freedom

　 D. will have more confidence in himself

Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like wild animals. They will soil your house, destroy your belongings, bark excessively, fight other dogs and even bite you. Nearly all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities that occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing. The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect its normal behavior to outlets that are acceptable in the domestic setting.
　　One of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself is to train its obedience. Obedience training doesn’t solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Training opens up a line of communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want it to do.
Training is also an easy way to establish the social rank order. When your dog obeys a simple request of “come here, sit,” it is showing obedience and respect for you. It is not necessary to establish yourself as top dog or leader of the pack（群）by using extreme measure. You can teach your dog its subordinate（从属的）role by teaching it to show submission to you. Most dogs love performing tricks for you to
pleasantly accept that you are in charge.
　　Training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog. It can enrich your relationship and make living together more enjoyable. A well-trained dog is more confident and can more safely be allowed a greater amount of freedom than an untrained animal.
51. Behavior problems of dogs are believed to _______.
A. be just part of their nature
　 B. worsen in modern society
　 C. occur when they go wild
　 D. present a threat to the community
52. The primary purpose of obedience training is to _______.
　 A. teach the dog to perform clever tricks
　 B. make the dog aware of its owner’s authority
　 C. provide the dog with outlets for its wild behavior
　 D. enable the dog to regain its normal behavior
53. Effective communication between a dog and its owner is _______.
　 A. essential to solving the dog’s behavior problems
　 B. the foundation for dogs to perform tasks
　 C. a good way to teach the dog new tricks
　 D. an extreme measure in obedience training
54. Why do pet dogs love performing tricks for their masters?
　 A. To avoid being punished.
　 B. To show their affection for their masters.
　 C. To win leadership of the dog pack.
　 D. To show their willingness to obey.
55. When a dog has received effective obedience training, its owner _______.
　 A. can give the dog more rewards
　 B. will enjoy a better family life
　 C. can give the dog more freedom
　 D. will have more confidence in himself

Scientists who try to predict earthquakes have gotten some new helpers recently—animals.

　　That’s right, animals. Scientists have begun to understand what farmers have known for thousands of years. Animals often seem to know in advance that an earthquake is coming, and they show their fear by acting in strange ways. Before a Chinese quake in 1975, snakes awoke from their winter sleep early only to freeze to death in the cold air. Cows broke their halters (缰绳) and tried to escape. Chickens refused to enter their cage. All of this unusual behavior, as well as physical changes in the earth, warned Chinese scientists of the coming quake. They moved people away from the danger zone and saved thousands of lives.

　　One task for scientists today is to learn exactly which types of animal behavior predict quakes. It’s not an easy job. First of all not every animal reacts to the danger of an earthquake. Just before a California quake in 1977, for example, an Arabian horse became very nervous and tried to break out of his enclosure. The Australian horse next to him, however, remained perfectly calm. It’s also difficult at times to tell the difference between normal animal restlessness and “earthquake nerves”. A zoo keeper once called earthquake researchers to say that his cougar had been acting strangely. It turned out that the cat had an upset stomach.

　　A second task for scientists is to find out exactly what kind of warnings the animals receive. They know that animals sense far more of the world than humans do. Many animals can see, hear, and smell things that people do not even notice. Some can sense tiny changes in air pressure, gravity, or the magnetism of Earth. This extra sense probably helps animals predict quakes.

　　A good example of this occurred with a group of dogs. They were shut in an area that was being shaken by a series of tiny earthquakes. (Several small quakes often come before or after a large one.) Before each quake a low booming sound was heard. Each boom caused the dogs to bark wildly. Then the dogs began to bark during a silent period. A scientist who was recording quakes looked at his machine. It was acting as though there were a loud noise too. The scientist realized that the dogs had reacted to a booming noise. They also sensed the tiny quake that followed it. The machine recorded both, though humans felt and heard nothing.

In this case there was a machine to monitor what the dogs were sensing. Many times, however, our machines record nothing extraordinary, even though animals know a quake is coming. The animals might be sensing something we measure but do not recognize as a warning. Discovering what animals sense, and learning how they know it is a danger signal, is a job for future scientists.

1.Through the passage the writer hopes to explore __________.

2. During an earthquake in China in 1975, _________.

3.Which of the following is one of earthquake nerves according to the passage?

4.The scientists did an experiment with a group of dogs to _________.

I stole your dog.No，I didn't set a foot on your house，but from the condition of your dog，I can imagine what it looks like—the word “rubbish” comes to mind.

I found her along a road，with a heavy chain wrapped around her neck，still attached to rotten boards from her doghouse.Not only did I know that most of the town people had already ignored her，judging by the place where I found her，but I knew that if she had gotten into the woods，the “cross” that she dragged behind her would have wrapped itself around a tree until starvation or thirst killed her.

She has a beautiful name now.Already in the first week she has come to look more like she should.Her eyes sparkle and she has learned to wag her tail in greeting.She has stopped flinching(畏缩) when I make a sudden movement，because she knows now that I won't beat her.In fact，she rarely leaves my side.She's even become brave enough to bark at a cat and today I looked out of the window as she attempted to play with other dogs.No，it's clear that she does not miss you or her former life on a chain.

It's not clear yet whether she'll remain here or whether I'll find her a loving home where she can count on more individual attention than I can give her，but one thing is certain，this is a bit of stolen “property” which is never returning to you.So sue me，accuse me，plead with the court that she is rightfully yours...I'm convinced that this is the best “crime” I've ever committed.Hardly anything has pleased me more than the day when I stole your dog.I need only look into her beautiful brown eyes to know that she'd defend my decision with her life.If we have one prayer，it is that you will not replace her，and if we have one special day to celebrate together，it is the day I stole your dog and the day she stole my heart.

1．What's the author's attitude towards the former owner of the dog?

A．Puzzled. 　　　　　 B．Angry.

C．Shocked. 　　　　　 D．Satisfied.

2．It can be inferred from the passage that________.

A．the dog is not lovely

B．the dog tried to find a kind master

C．the dog was treated badly by its former master

D．the author will be charged with stealing the dog

3．What did the author think of his theft?

A．He was afraid of being punished.

B．He thought he had to do it.

C．He believed that the law would allow him to do so.

D．He did it with pride.