A
All across the nation, in Americans’ backyards and garages and living rooms, wild animals kept as pets live side by side with their human owners. It’s believed that more exotic animals live in American homes than are cared for in American zoos. The exotic-pet business has drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates and wildlife conservationists alike, who say it’s not only dangerous to bring wildlife into households but it’s cruel and criminal. Yet the issue is far from black or white.
The term exotic pet has no firm definition. It can refer to any wildlife kept in human households or simply to a pet that’s more unusual than the common dog or cat. Privately owning exotic animals is currently permitted in a handful of states with no restrictions in America. Adam Roberts of Born Free USA keeps a running database of deaths and injuries caused by exotic-pet ownership: In Connecticut a 55-year-old woman’s face was permanently disfigured by her friend’s lifelong pet monkey; in Ohio an 80-year-old man was attacked by a 200-pound kangaroo；in Nebraska a 34-year-old man was strangled(勒) to death by his pet snake. And that list does not include the number of people who become sick from coming into contact with zoonotic(动物传染的) diseases.
Some people see wild animals as pets as a way to connect with the natural world. Other exotic-pet owners say they are motivated by a desire to preserve threatened species. They believe climate change and human population growth could wipe out a species in record time, so having a backup population is a good idea.
But some groups like Born Free USA and the World Wildlife Fund say that captive breeding(圈养) of endangered species by private owners—whether for commercial, conservation, or educational reasons—serves only to continue a booming market for exotic animals. That, in turn, results in a greater risk to animals still living in their natural habitat.
21. Which word can replace the phrase “far from black or white” in Paragraph 1?
A. contradictory B. ridiculous C. controversial D. universal
22. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?
A. The reasons for keeping exotic animals as pets.
B. The concerns about the endangered wild animals.
C. The different opinions between people who keep exotic pets.
D. The disadvantages of privately owning exotic animals.
23. The last paragraph of the text is intended to_______.
A. introduce some animal protection groups
B. argue against keeping exotic animals in captivity
C. warn people of the danger of animals being caught
D. prove captive breeding can encourage exotic-pet business
【答案】21. C 22. A 23. B
【解析】
这是一篇议论文。文章主要讲了一些美国人在家里饲养野生动物，动物福利倡导者和野生动物物种保护者认为把野生动物带入家庭很危险，各界对此事件充满争议。
【21题详解】
词义猜测题。根据上句说The exotic-pet business has drawn criticism from animal welfare advocates and wildlife conservationists alike，who say it’s not only dangerous to bring wildlife into households but it’s cruel and criminal.可知，外来宠物业务引起了动物福利倡导者和野生动物物种保护者的批评，他们把野生动物带入家庭不仅很危险，而且是残酷和罪恶的。由此推知这个问题有争议，“far from black or white”意思是“有争议的”，A. contradictory矛盾的；B. ridiculous荒谬的；C. controversial有争议的；D. universal普遍的，故选C。
【22题详解】
主旨大意题。根据第三段内容一些人认为把野生动物当宠物是与自然世界联系的一种方式。其他外来宠物的主人说，他们的动机是希望保护濒危物种。他们认为气候变化和人口增长可能在很短的时间内消灭一个物种，所以有一个后备种群是一个好主意。由此推断出第三段主要讲了人们把野生动物当宠物饲养的原因，故选A。
【23题详解】
推理判断题。根据最后一段That，in turn，results in a greater risk to animals still living in their natural habitat．（反过来，结果在一个更大的风险中，动物仍然生活在它们的自然栖息地。）由此推断出，最后一段的目的在于反对圈养野生动物，故选B。
