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How could we possibly think that keeping animals in cages in unnatural environments－mostly for entertainment purposes－is fair and respectful?
Zoo officials say they are concerned about animals. However, most zoos remain “collections” of interesting “things” rather than protective habitats.Zoos teach people that it is acceptable to keep animals bored, lonely, and far from their natural homes.Zoos claim to educate people and save endangered species, but visitors leave zoos without having learned anything meaningful about the animals’ natural behavior, intelligence, or beauty. Zoos keep animals in small spaces or cages, and most signs only mention the species’ name, diet, and natural range. The animals’ normal behavior is seldom noticed because zoos don’t usually take care of the animals’ natural needs.
The animals are kept together in small spaces, with no privacy and little opportunity for mental and physical exercise. This results in unusually self-destructive behavior called zoochosis. A worldwide study of zoos found that zoochosis is common among animals kept in small spaces or cages. Another study showed that elephants spend 22 percent of their time making repeated head movements or biting cage bars, and bears spend 30 percent of their time walking back and forth, a sign of unhappiness and pain.
Furthermore, most animals in zoos are not endangered. Captive breeding(圈养繁殖) of endangered big cats, Asian elephants, and other species(物种) has not resulted in their being sent back to the wild. Zoos talk a lot about their captive breeding programs because they do not want people to worry about a species dying out. In fact, baby animals also attract a lot of paying customers. Haven’t we seen enough competitions to name baby animals?
Actually, we will save endangered species only if we save their habitats and put an end to the reasons why people kill them. Instead of supporting zoos, we should support groups that work to protect animals’ natural habitats.
29. What does the author think of the zoos?
A. They love to collect interesting things.
B. They are not worthy of the public support.
C. They do not treat animals as human beings.
D. They teach people to save endangered animals.
30. The author develops his opinion mainly by _______.
A. using evidence he has collected at zoos
B. pointing out the wrong doings of the zoos
C. questioning the way animals are protected
D. discussing the advantages of natural habitats
31. Though arguing against zoos, the author has to admit that _______.
A. zoos have to keep animals in small cages
B. most animals in zoos are endangered species
C. some endangered animals are reproduced in zoos
D. it’s acceptable to keep animals away from their habitats
D
There has been much debate since Titanic became one of the most successful films of all time: Did Rose leave Jack to die by not letting him up on the makeshift lifeboat as they floated in the ocean?A U.S. television show, the Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters recreated the dangerous conditions after the Titanic sank in 1912, and through a chain of hypothermia(体温过低) tests, has discovered Leonardo DiCaprio’s character would have survived the disaster had he lifted himself onto the board from which Rose, played by Kate Winslet, was rescued.
As fans of the film remember, Jack remains in the freezing water while Rose lies on a floating piece of the destroyed ship as he doesn’t want it turned over.
In the Oscar-winning film, Jack dies from hypothermia while Rose is rescued. Titanic director James Cameron told Mythbusters he believed the board wouldn’t have supported both Jack and Rose.
But the team found if Rose had taken off her life jacket and put it under the board it would have given them enough buoyancy to keep both of them floating.
In the film Rose was one of the last to be rescued. Historical documents show that the Officer Harold Lowe, who was made to rescue Rose, looked for survivors for 45 minutes.
In a separate test the team found that had Jack remained in the freezing water for over an hour he would have died from hypothermia.
Cameron, however, had the last word telling the TV show that Jack had to die as that’s what the plot called for. He said, “I think you’re missing the point here. The plot says Jack died. He has to die. So maybe we should have made the board a tiny bit smaller, but he’s still going down.”
32. The U.S. TV show did tests on Jack’s death ______.
A. after creating a difficult condition
B. by tying Rose’s life jacket to the boat
C. after talking to the US director James Cameron
D. by testing how long one can hold out in cold water
33. What does the underlined word “buoyancy” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?
A. Force. B. Warmth. C. Softness. D. Space.
34. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A. Rose was the last one to be rescued.
B. Finally Cameron agreed with the team.
C. Cameron thought the board was hard enough.
D. Kate Winslet’s character died from hypothermia.
35. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Jack’s Death for Nothing
B. A TV Show’s Similar Tests
C. Cameron’s Unreasonable Argument
D. Jack’s Deep Love with Kate Winslet
