For many years, people have watched wild animals doing tricks in circuses(马戏团) and marine parks. Elephants parade around a noisy arena(舞台). They impress the crowd with tricks they have been forced to learn—things they’d never do in the wild.
At marine parks, orca whales—measuring up to 25 feet long and weighing thousands of pounds—splash(溅出水花) out of the water and do amazing tricks, drawing cheers from the audience.
Sure, it’s fun to watch these wild animals up close—but many people wonder if it’s really fair to the animals? After all, an orca whale in the wild has the entire ocean as a home. They live in family groups and may travel 100 miles in a day. Is living alone swimming around in circles in a small pool a good life for an orca?
In the wild, elephants also live in close family groups. They travel long distances to find food. They’re very smart and look after each other and play together—things they can’t do as circus performers.
Today, more and more people are saying that things should change. They believe the animals deserve to live a more natural life and not be used for entertainment. And now some companies are beginning to listen.
In March 2015, Ringling Bros, and Barnum and Bailey announced that they would no longer use elephant acts in their circuses. And on May 1，2016, the elephants performed their last show, signaling an end to a long history of elephants in circuses and traveling shows.
A year after the Ringling announcement, SeaWorld Theme Parks promised to give the orcas in their parks a better life as well. The company announced that it would begin to phase__out shows featuring orcas performing tricks. Instead, they will highlight(突出) more of the whales’ natural behaviors. SeaWorld also said they wouldn’t add any more captive(被俘的) orcas to their parks.
These are first steps toward putting an end to using captive wildlife for entertainment. And these changes were made after many people spoke out loud and clear to say that wild animals deserve to live wild and free.
【解题导语】 本文是一篇议论文。马戏团里的野生动物表演为观众带来了很多乐趣，然而这种强迫动物表演杂技的做法对动物公平吗？
1．Why does the author mention elephants and orca whales in the first two paragraphs?
A．To introduce the subject.
B．To show they are very smart.
C．To stress the great fun they bring us.
D．To encourage readers to watch animal shows.
A 解析：推理判断题。作者在第一、二段中提到大象和虎鲸表演杂技动作，引来观众的欢呼和喝彩，紧接着作者在第三段中写道it’s fun to watch these wild animals up close—but many people wonder if it’s really fair to the animals，由此推断，作者提到大象和虎鲸的表演是为了引出主题。
2．What does the author say about circus animal performers?
A．They are well treated.
B．They lead an unnatural life.
C．They are relaxed and carefree.
D．They compete with each other.
B 解析：推理判断题。由第一段中的．..they have been forced to learn和第三、四段中对野生虎鲸和大象及其马戏团里同伴的生活对比可知，作者认为马戏团里的动物表演者都过着非自然的生活。
3．What does the underlined part “phase out” in Paragraph 7 mean?
A．Put on. B．Figure out.
C．Gradually stop. D．Creatively improve.
C 解析：词义猜测题。由第六段中的they would no longer use elephant acts和第七段中的promised to give the orcas...a better life和Instead, they will highlight(突出) more of the whales’ natural behaviors.可知，海洋世界主题公园宣布将会开始逐渐停止虎鲸的表演；由此推断，phase out 意为“逐步淘汰，逐渐停止”。
4．What would be the best title for the text?
A．Last Chance for Animals
B．Tons of Fun: Not for Everyone
C．The Welfare of Wild Animals in Circuses
D．The State of Entertainment：Disappearing Acts
B 解析：标题归纳题。马戏团和海洋公园里的动物表演赢得观众阵阵喝彩，然而这种强迫动物表演杂技的做法对动物公平吗？因遭到公众的质疑，美国玲玲马戏团宣布于2016年5月完成最后一场演出后彻底谢幕，一年后，海洋世界主题公园也宣布逐步停止动物表演。B项作标题能概括文章主旨。
