Question

Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in order to cut he greenhouse gases they send out, which are thought to be responsible for global warming.

Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence(腸胃氣脹)contains no methane(甲烷)and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who produce large quantities of the harmful gas.

While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack (煙囪) pushing out carbon dioxide, farm animals’ passing wind contribute a sur­prisingly high percentage of total emissions (排放物)in some countries.

“Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia are from enteric methane from cattle and sheep,” said Athol Kleve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government.

“And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 percent, ” he said.

Researchers say the bacteria also make the diges­tive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.

But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate (分離) the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep.

Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.      

The idea is controversial (有爭議的), but about 20 percent of health-conscious Australians are believed to eat the national symbol already.

“It's low in fat, it’s got high protein levels and it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the free-range (放養的) animal,” said Peter Amp of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies.

1.Scientists intend to put bacteria into cattle and sheep _________.

A. so that they can make full use of special bacteria

B. to help Australian farmers to earn more money

C. so that they can protect Australian ecosystem

D. to prevent them from sending out harmful gases

2.Athol Kleve seems to believe that ________.

A. cattle and sheep produce more carbon dioxide

B. less cattle and sheep are raised in New Zealand

C. farm animals are responsible for greenhouse gases

D. New Zealand has the most animals in the world

3.What do the underlined words “the idea” in para­graph 9 refer to?

A. Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.

B. The bacteria could make the digestive process much more efficient.

C. Australians should give kangaroo - style stomachs to cattle and sheep.

D. The bacteria could save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.

4.Which of the statements is the advantage Peter Amp lists about kangaroo?

A. it is rich in protein                                    B. it is cheaper than beef

C. it is high in fat                                                       D. it is more delicious than sheep

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.A

【解析】

試題分析：文章主要是介紹了一項最近關于溫室氣體排放的研究。為了減少導致全球變暖的溫室氣體的排放，澳大利亞科學家目前正在想辦法將牛羊胃變成袋鼠式的胃。袋鼠胃中有一種特殊的細菌能使其放的屁中不含有甲烷。科學家想將這種細菌移至牛羊的胃中，以抑制它們所排放的大量有害氣體。另一組科學家建議澳大利亞人應少養牛羊，多吃袋鼠肉。

1.考查推理判斷。從文章第一﹑二自然段“為了減少導致全球變暖的溫室氣體的排放，澳大利亞科學家目前正在想辦法將牛羊胃變成袋鼠式的胃。袋鼠胃中有一種特殊的細菌能使其放的屁中不含有甲烷。科學家想將這種細菌移至牛羊的胃中，以抑制它們所排放的大量有害氣體。”可推斷得知D

2.考查細節理解。從第四段的句子：“Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia is from enteric(腸的) methane from cattle and sheep,” said Athol Klieve, 可知Athol Klieve認為,溫室氣體越來越多主要是因為農場的動物造成的。選C

3.猜詞題：從上面第八段的內容：Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.可知另一組科學家建議澳大利亞人應少養牛羊，多吃袋鼠肉。這里的另外一種想法就是這個，選A。

4.細節題：從最后一段的句子：“It's low in fat, it’s got high protein levels and it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the free-range (放養的) animal,” 可知Peter Amp 認為袋鼠肉富含蛋白質，選A

考點：考查科普類短文