专题5 阅读理解_40
(2016·北京)阅读理解。
CaliforniaCondor’sShockingRecovery
CaliforniacondorsareNorthAmerica’slargestbirds,withwing-lengthofupto3meters.Inthe1980s,electricallinesandleadpoisoning(铅中毒)nearlydrovethemtodyingout.Now,electricshocktrainingandmedicaltreatmentarehelpingtorescuethesebigbirds.
Inthelate1980s,thelastfewcondorsweretakenfromthewild,andtherearenowmorethan150flyingoverCaliforniaandnearbyArizona,UtahandBajainMexico.
Electricallineshavebeenkillingthemoff.“Astheygointorestforthenight,theyjustdon’tseethepowerlines,”saysBruceRideoutofSanDiegoZoo.Theirwingscanbridgethegapbetweenlines,resultinginelectrocution(电死)iftheytouchtwolinesatonce.
Soscientistshavecomeupwithashockingidea.Tallpoles,placedinlargetrainingareas,teachthebirdstostayclearofelectricallinesbygivingthemapainfulbutundeadlyelectricshock.Beforethetrainingwasintroduced,66%ofset-freedcondorsdiedofelectrocution.Thishasnowdroppedto18%.
Leadpoisonoushasprovedmoredifficulttodealwith.Whencondorseatdeadbodiesofotheranimalscontaininglead,theyabsorblargequantitiesoflead.Thisaffectstheirnervoussystemsandabilitytoproducebabybirds,andcanleadtokidney(肾)failuresanddeath.SocondorswithhighlevelsofleadaresenttoLosAngelesZoo,wheretheyaretreatedwithcalciumEDTA,achemicalthatremovesleadfromthebloodoverseveraldays.Thisworkisstartingtopayoff.Theannualdeathrateforadultcondorshasdroppedfrom38%in2000to5.4%in2011.
Rideout’steamthinksthattheCaliforniacondors’averagesurvivaltimeinthewildisnowjustundereightyears.“Althoughthesemeasuresarenoteffectiveforever,theyarevitalfornow,”hesays.“Theyaretrulygoodbirdsthatarewortheveryeffortweputintorecoveringthem.”
【小题1】Californiacondorsattractresearchers’interestbecausethey.A.areactiveatnightB.hadtobebredinthewildC.arefoundoninCaliforniaD.almostdiedoutinthe1980s【小题2】Researchershavefoundelectricallinesare.A.blockingcondors’journeyhomeB.bigkillersofCaliforbniacondorasC.restplacesforcondorsatnightD.usedtokeepcondorsaway【小题3】AccordingtoParaghaph5,leadpoisoning.A.makescondorstoonervoustoflyB.haslittleeffectoncondors’kidneysC.canhardlybegottenridofformcondors’bloodD.makesitdifferentforcondorstoproducebabybirds【小题4】Thepassageshowsthat.A.theaveragesurvivaltimeofcondorsissatisfactoryB.Rideout’sresearchinterestliesinelectricengineeringC.theeffortstoprotectcondorshavebroughtgoodresultsD.researchershavefoundthefinalanswerstotheproblem