Karen Woolley had a dream and the only way she was going to make it come true was to purchase farmland. She and her husband, Glen, decided to buy a farm near Lakehurst, Oct., in 2000. With a barn (畜棚) built in the mid-1800s, as well as a farmhouse on the property, they were set to start purchasing animals that can be kept on a farm to fill the barn.
Karen’s love of animals kept spilling over into other parts of the bar; this is when she decided share these critters (家畜) with the world, including city kids who were rarely around farm animals, and seniors in nursing homes who had been farmers themselves for many years.
Karen bought a vehicle and started taking her animals to visit various groups in the community. Off she went with her baby rabbits, chicks, ducks, and geese. With a low fenced-in area, crowds of people excitedly picked up the critters to hold and touch as they admired nature in unusual locations.
Back on the farm, Karen’s daughter, Fiona, is in charge of the heated hen house. She feeds and cleans their pens and makes sure they are comfortable until the heat of late spring arrives. Later, all are sent out into the field to enjoy the sweet grasses and sunshine. With Glen’s help, fences are fixed, feeding stations are built and animals are fed regularly to keep everyone happy and the farm in working condition.
With her efforts coming along as planned, Karen continues to share her critters far and wide. She enjoys seeing people’s reactions when a little duck is placed in the hands of young or old alike — it provides such satisfaction to a lady who wants to share her dream.
1. What did Karen decide to do in 2000?A.To build a farmhouse on her farm. | B.To buy a farm to follow her dream. |
C.To enlarge her farm to make money. | D.To keep homeless animals on her farm. |
A.The growing number of animals on her farm. |
B.City kids having no chance to feed animals. |
C.Her increasing love for farm animals. |
D.The difficulty of managing her farm. |
A.They won huge popularity. |
B.The bothered people a lot. |
C.They were unhelpful for the farm. |
D.They encouraged people to protect wild animals. |
A.Worried. | B.Thankful. | C.Supportive. | D.Disapproving. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】100-year-old Alfred Larson has been through a lot in his lifetime, but one thing that keeps him going is bluebirds.
When Alfred retired in 1978, he wanted to find a hobby or something to do that would keep him busy and provide him with a sense of purpose. When he read a National Geographic article about crafting wooden nest boxes for bluebirds to help improve their populations, he decided to give it a try. Alfred explained that he started building nest boxes on his ranch (大牧场) using left-over pieces of wood.
More than four decades later, Alfred is still going strong and promoting bluebird conservation efforts. Alfred is now monitoring nearly 350 nest boxes on six different trails (小路) in Southwest Idaho. He said, “I settled on a simple design that was easy to build and easy to monitor. I kept adding more boxes on these trails, and these birds responded.” Alfred’s boxes give bluebirds a lot of help in survival. “Without his work, we can’t see so many bluebirds now,” said Pearman, the author of Mountain Bluebird Trail Monitoring Guide.
To celebrate his achievements, filmmaker Matthew Podolsky worked with Alfred for weeks to create a 30-minute documentary—Bluebird Man. The film explores how everything led him to the work he does today and his efforts in bluebird protection. “I remember the first trip I took to the bluebird trail with Alfred, and I was very surprised by the speed with which he moved from box to box,” said Podolsky. “He was hiking across difficult and uneven terrain (地形). I often struggled to keep up with him. Sometimes we’d check more than 100 boxes and be driving home in the dark.”
The impact he’s had on the populations of bluebirds in North America will continue.
1. How did Alfred help save bluebirds?A.By feeding them personally. |
B.By preventing illegal hunting. |
C.By making wooden nests for them. |
D.By writing articles about them. |
A.The number of bluebirds in Southwest Idaho decreases. |
B.Alfred makes a big difference to bluebird conservation. |
C.Climate change is threatening the survival of bluebirds now. |
D.Alfred’s efforts have greatly inspired others to protect bluebirds. |
A.How the natural habitat of bluebirds disappeared. |
B.How bluebirds have survived in the past four decades. |
C.What influence humans have on bluebirds. |
D.What Alfred does every day to protect bluebirds. |
【推荐2】Since the first Earth Day in 1970,Americans have gotten a lot “greener” toward the environment(环境).“We didn’t know at that time that there even was an environment,let alone that there was a problem with it,”says Bruce Anderson,president of Earth Day the USA.
But what began as nothing important in public affairs has grown into a social movement.Business people,political leaders,university professors,and especially millions of grass-roots Americans are taking part in the movement.“The understanding has increased many,many times,”says Gaylord Nelson,the former governor from Wisconsin,who thought up the first Earth Day.
According to US government reports,emissions (排放)from cars and trucks have dropped from 10.3 million tons a year to 5.5 million tons.The number of cities producing CO beyond the standard has been reduced from 40 to 9.Although serious problems still remain and need to be dealt with,the world is a safer and healthier place.A kind of “green thinking” has become part of practices.
Great improvement has been achieved.In 1988 there were only 600 recycling(回收利用)programs;today in 1995 there are about 6,600.Advanced lights,motors,and building designs have helped save a lot of energy and therefore prevented pollution.
Twenty-five years ago,there were hardly any education programs for environment.Today,it’s hard to find a public school,university,or law school that does not have such a kind of program.“Until we do that,nothing else will change!” says Bruce Anderson.
1. According to Anderson,before 1970,Americans had little idea about______.A.the social movement |
B.recycling techniques |
C.environmental problems |
D.the importance of Earth Day |
A.The grass-roots level. |
B.The business circle. |
C.Government officials. |
D.University professors. |
A.They have cut car emissions to the lowest. |
B.They have settled their environmental problems. |
C.They have lowered their CO levels in forty cities. |
D.They have reduced pollution through effective measures. |
【推荐3】What exactly are white lions? “They are a color variation of regular lions,” says William Swanson, director of animal research at the Cincinnati Zoo, in Ohio.
White lions are the result of a rare color gene mutation(变异). When both a male and a female lion carry the same white genes, there is a good chance that one or more of their cubs(幼兽) will be born with white fur.
Not many lions carry the white mutation. In nature, it’s rare. A mutation can make an animal’s survival more difficult. For example, being white makes it harder for the animal to mix with its surroundings. Mutations also can cause physical problems, so those animals generally do not survive long enough to reproduce.
But sometimes white lion cubs are born among wild lions, especially in two areas of South Africa.
In 1975 two white cubs were spotted in the wild in South African reserve. They were seized and sent to a zoo. Today about 500 cubs of those two white lions and a few others known to have the white color gene live around the world in zoos, circuses, farms and private preserves.
White lions may be extremely rare in the wild, but breeders (饲养动物的人) know how to create more of them. This has created serious concern and debate.
White lions continue to exist only because they are inbred by people—fathers and daughters, sisters and brothers. Scientists worry that it also will cause health issues for white lions.
Inbreeding to create white lions as moneymaking attractions is only one concern. Another concern is that some people want to release captive-bred(人工繁殖的) white lions into the wild in South Africa to restore balance to the ecosystem. However, not everyone agrees that releasing these white lions into the wild is a good idea. Dan York of Hillsdale College has been studying white lion genetics and is worried. He says that because so many of today’s white lions are inbred, it could spread health problems. If they breed with wild lions, they’ll pass on the genetic problems to the wild population.
Instead of releasing captive-bred white lions, York suggests that South Africa concentrate on protecting all of its wild lions. That would ensure the safety of the wild population of lions, which may produce healthy white cubs in the future.
1. It’s difficult for a white lion to survive because ______.a.its fur contrasts sharply with the surroundings
b.the mutation may cause physical problems
c.it is likely to be attacked by wild lions
d.it is hunted by human beings
A.a, d | B.a, b | C.a, c | D.b, d |
A.kept in enclosed space and unable to run away |
B.bred in human-controlled environments with restricted settings |
C.born among wild lions and kept in the zoo |
D.produced by breeding among closely related members |
A.their fur can be of great use |
B.they can bring people a profit |
C.people want to keep white lions as pets |
D.people want to study the genes of white lions |
A.It’s useless studying white lion genetics. |
B.White lions shouldn’t be kept in zoos or circuses. |
C.White lion cubs born among wild lions are more healthy than captive-bred ones. |
D.The ecosystem in South Africa is being seriously damaged. |
A.color gene mutation is common among lions |
B.white lions are seldom seen in the wild |
C.South Africa is taking strict measures to protect its wild lions |
D.white lions will disappear from the earth soon |
【推荐1】One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. My interest was aroused only by the fact that the word “Poems” appeared in big, hot pink letters.
“Is it good?” I asked her. “Yeah,”she answered. “There’s one I really like and you’ll like it, too.” I leaned forward. “ ‘Patty Poem,’ “ she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began:
She never puts her toys away,
Just leaves them scattered (散乱的)where they lay,...
The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly:
When she grows and gathers(稳重的)poise,
I’ll miss her harum-scarum(莽撞的) noise,
And look in vain for scattered(徒劳地)toys.
And I’ll be sad.
A terrible sorrow washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock.
“It’s you, honey,” My mother said sadly.
To my mother, the poem conveyed a parent’s affection when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the “she” in the poem was horror. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible. I burst out crying.
“What’s wrong?” my mother asked.
“Oh Mama,” I cried. “I don’t want to grow up ever!”
She smiled. “Honey, it’s okay. You’re not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I’ll still love you, okay?”
I calmed down.But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After several years, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a simple puzzle easy to understand, yet it was still beautiful. I was now attracted by the idea of poetry, words that had the power to make or break a person’s world.
I have since fallen in love with other poems, but “Patty Poem” remains my poem. After all, “Patty Poem” gave me my love for poetry.
1. Why was the writer attracted by the book Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again?A.It was a thick enough book. |
B.It has a significant title. |
C.I was attracted by something on its cover . |
D.Her mother was reading it with interest. |
A.depressed | B.thrilled | C.puzzled | D.terrified |
A.suffer from great homesickness | B.find the power of poetry |
C.discover her eagerness to grow up | D.realize her love for puzzles |
【推荐2】As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a group of little Gentoo penguins (企鹅) longing to say hello. These gentle, lovely gatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni would never forget.
Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love for travel. Throughout her career (职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in the UK, but always longed to explore further. When she retired from dancing and her sons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.
After taking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travel the world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile. And it was in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships going to Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the South American mainland. “I just decided I wanted to go,” she says. “I had no idea about what I'd find there and I wasn't nervous, I just wanted to do it. And I wanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.”
In March 2008, Ginni boarded a ship with 48 passengers she'd never met before, to begin the journey towards Antarctica. “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the whole experience was amazing. Antarctica left an impression on me that no other place has,” Ginni says. “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it just rose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it was smiling at us. You could still hear the operatic sounds it was making underwater.”
The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected by humans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni.
1. Which of the following best explains “take the plunge” underlined in paragraph 2?A.Try challenging things. | B.Take a degree. |
C.Bring back lost memories. | D.Stick to a promise. |
A.Lovely penguins. | B.Beautiful scenery. |
C.A discount fare. | D.A friend’s invitation. |
A.It could be a home for her. | B.It should be easily accessible. |
C.It should be well preserved. | D.It needs to be fully introduced. |
【推荐3】In Saskatchewan, Canada, vegetables have a short growing season. So a very unique farm in Hudson Bay is growing fresh, pesticide-free(无农药的)vegetables in a hydroponic(水培的)farm all year long. There the plants are grown in water instead of soil.
Growing vegetables in the middle of nowhere, about 300 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, may seem like a big risk, but there is no other place for people to get locally grown food. Produce is available in local supermarkets but it is trucked in from far away.
The idea to turn the no longer used Stewart Hawke school into a farm came to the Nels when Hudson Bay asked for bids (投标)for the building in 2018. It was empty and if an alternative use wasn’t found, it would be pulled down. “We started looking for ideas, and we went and proposed doing this, ”Jan Nel said. “And they loved it. ”
After the proposal was accepted, the family worked together to prepare the building in January 2019 and they planted the first seeds in just one classroom the next month.
The company has grown and is now using several rooms thanks to the quality of the produce and the fact that it is local, according to June Nel. “It’s not two weeks old;it hasn’t travelled across the country or across the world, ”she said. “It actually tastes like lettuce. Lots of people have commented on our herbs. It actually still tastes fresh when you get it, and there’s no pesticide used. ”
She expects more producers to turn to hydroponics in the future but notes that the technology is limited to only some fruits and vegetables and doesn’t work for potatoes or grains. “It’s not the answer to the food security question or challenge, but it will play an increasingly larger role, ”she adds.
1. What can we learn from the first two paragraphs?A.Vegetables are plentiful in Saskatchewan. |
B.People in Saskatchewan can’t get fresh vegetables. |
C.Hydroponic farms are very popular in Saskatchewan. |
D.The climate in Saskatchewan is not good for farming. |
A.A supermarket. | B.A school. |
C.A garden. | D.A factory. |
A.They are cheap. | B.They are fresh. |
C.They are nutritive. | D.They are delicious. |
A.A New Way Helps Deal with Food Security |
B.A Family Devote to Improving People’s Life |
C.A Used School Turns into a Hydroponic Farm |
D.An Innovative Practice Boosts the Future of Farming |
【推荐1】I was in my early 30s, seeking a creative outlet unrelated to boring housework and raising little kids. At 65, George had recently retired and was seeking a rewarding hobby for his golden years. For both of us, painting was “it” and we met at a local painting class. Thus began a friendship that was to last for 25 years - until the day he died.
George took to painting with an awe-inspiring (令人惊叹的) level of passion and commitment, even changing the spare bedroom of his home into a studio. How I envied him, as in my own home and I had neither the space nor the the funds for such a luxury. His painting equipment was comprehensive. George housed many of these items in a tool box- a red metal tool box. For about six years George and I studied together through various units until the completion of the course.
Fast-forward some years and George was now about 80 years old. One day, he rang and told me that he was giving up painting and giving away all his “stuff”. “I can’t paint, Bev. I don’t know why I ever thought I could,” he declared. Actually, he was mistaken about his painting ability because he had turned out some unique and wonderful works. However, George had decided he was through with painting, and no amount of talking could persuade him otherwise. And so that was why George left all his painting equipment to me. “You have the best talent and are most likely to use it,” he said. After considerable persuasion, I accepted this precious gift on condition that he could get it back at any time. He never did, of course.
I still use much of his equipment today. As I paint, I often remember George, his big personality, generous spirit and unfailing encouragement. The most treasured item is the red tool box, still in good shape. The original shop sticker is till firmly in place although the price has long since worn off. But that’s all right because to my mind some things, like friendship, are beyond price.
1. What does the underlined word “it” refer to?A.A desire to create. | B.A hobby to kill time. |
C.An escape from chores. | D.A chance to make fortune. |
A.George once created some fine paintings. |
B.George didn’t like his painting equipment. |
C.George always wanted to give painting. |
D.George misunderstood the author’s painting ability. |
A.To admit his own failure. |
B.To present his painting tools. |
C.To ask the author a favor. |
D.To make an explanation |
A.A Lesson from My Old Friend. |
B.Inspiration for Art from My Partner. |
C.Nice George: An Artist with Great Passion. |
D.A Red Tool Box: A Bond Between Two Friends. |
【推荐2】When my father was dying, I traveled a thousand miles from home to be with him in his last days. It was far more heartbreaking than I’d expected, one of the most difficult and painful times in my life. After he passed away I stayed alone in his apartment. There were so many things to deal with. It all seemed endless. I was lonely. I hated the silence of the apartment.
But one evening the silence was broken: I heard crying outside. I opened the door to find a little cat on the steps. Thin and poor, he looked the way I was. I brought him inside and gave him a can of fish. He ate it and then almost immediately fell sound asleep.
The next morning I checked with neighbors and learned that the cat had been given up by his owner who’d moved out. So the little cat was there all alone, just like I was. As I walked back to the apartment, I tried to figure out what to do with him. Having something else to take care of seemed like the very last thing I needed. But as soon as I opened the apartment door he came running and jumped into my arms. It was clear from that moment he had no intention of going anywhere. I started calling him Willis, in honor of my father’s best friend.
From then on, things grew easier. With Willis in my lap, time seemed to pass much more quickly. When the time finally came for me to return home I had to decide what to do about Willis. There was absolutely no way I would leave without him.
It’s now been five years since my father died. Over the years, several people have commented on how nice it was of me to rescue the cat. But I know that we rescued each other. I may have given him a home but he gave me something greater.
1. How did the writer feel when she first saw the cat?A.Happy. | B.Sad. | C.Doubtful. | D.Excited. |
A.The author needed to do something else badly. |
B.The author lacked the experience of raising a cat. |
C.The author couldn’t decide what to do in the situation. |
D.The author was too busy and heartbroken to keep a cat. |
A.He ensured the safety of the apartment. | B.He didn’t like staying in the apartment. |
C.He was abandoned by his previous owner. | D.He was found outside the author’s own home. |
A.To highlight the benefits of being one with nature. |
B.To share tips on how to take good care of animals. |
C.To remind people to cherish their family members. |
D.To appreciate the cat’s company and healing power. |
【推荐3】For 25 years, Olga Perina lived in the Czech Republic. During that time, she seldom ate any fast food, but enjoyed the local dumplings and cabbage dishes. Then in May 2016, her mom died and she moved to the United States. As she dealt with her sadness and the move, she turned to American food for comfort.
After years of enjoying “delicious” fast food, she became much overweight and caught Stage 3 chronic kidney disease (慢性肾病) in the fall of 2020.
“It was really a shock,” Perina said “I learned online that your kidney s have to work twice as hard when you’re overweight. Then I made a decision.” She stopped eating junk food and drinking soda, and avoided sweets, bread and potatoes while adding more fish, fruit and vegetables to her diet. Moreover, she also reduced her salt intake.
While it felt difficult at times, she knew that eating health y food would improve her quality of life. After changing her eating habits, she began to lose weight. “Within a week, I lost seven pounds, and I thought to myself, ‘Oh dear! Am I sick? Is there another disease?’” she recalled how perturbed she was then. But soon she realized that it was eating more fruit, vegetables and lean protein (瘦蛋白) that helped her get rid of the pounds.
Later she began to walk daily and also tried adding extra movement to her day, like climbing the stairs of her apartment building. To stay motivated and draw her attention from emotional eating, she started spending more time with her daughter outside, writing a book and knitting. Since October 2020, she’s lost 57 pounds, her blood pressure has dropped, and her kidney function has improved.
Perina is pleased with her progress and has found that giving herself encouraging talks has helped her. “I always said to myself, ‘You’re beautiful. You’re lovely. Look at you. You can surely do this,’” she said. “I lost weight successfully by encouraging myself to look at myself and telling myself these things.”
1. What happened after Perina developed Stage 3 chronic kidney disease?A.She tried to follow a balanced diet. | B.She was shocked by others’ diets. |
C.She became out of work due to her illness. | D.She suffered from mental health problems. |
A.Calm. | B.Excited. | C.Worried. | D.Disappointed. |
A.Her story was widely reported. | B.Her great efforts finally paid off. |
C.She became a successful writer. | D.She taught her daughter to value health. |
A.Family encouragement matters a lot. | B.Losing weight scientifically is effective. |
C.It’s helpful to follow inspiring examples. | D.It’s important to love and trust yourself. |