7.San Francisco has its cable cars.Seattle has its Space Needle.And,Longview has its squirrel bridge.The bridge,which has attracted international attention,is now a local landmark.
The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder,Amos Peters,to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.
The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds.Before the bridge was built,squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels.Many times,Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.
One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth,and that day's coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety.The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council(市政会).The Council approved,and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge"Nutty Narrows."
After architects designed the bridge,Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction,They built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose(消防水带).It cost 1,000.
It didn't take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started.Squirrels were even seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes.The story was picked up by the media,and Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world.
In 1983,after 20 years of use,Peters took down the worn-out bridge.Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced.The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983,hundreds of animal lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge.
Peters died in 1984,and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project.
67.The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in order toD.
A.offer squirrels a place to eat nuts
B.set up a local landmark
C.help improve traffic
D.protect squirrels
68.What happened over the coffee break discussion?B
A.The committee got the Council's blessing.
B.The squirrel bridge idea was born
C.A councilwoman named the bridge
D.A squirrel was found dead.
69.What does the underlined phrase"teaching them the ropes"probably means in the text?D
A.passing them a rope
B.Directing them to store food for winter
C.Teaching them a lesson
D.Showing them how to use the bridge.
70.Which of the following is true of the squirrel bridge?C
A.It was replaced by a longer one.
B.It was built from wood and metal
C.it was rebuilt after years of use
D.It was designed by Bill Hutch.
71.What can we learn about Amos Peters?A
A.He is remembered for his love of animals.
B.He donated $1,000 to build the bridge
C.He was a member of the City Council
D.He was awarded a medal for building the bridge.
分析 本文是一篇说明文,介绍了Longview的名胜Nutty Narrow Bridge的由来.因为Peters发现经常有松鼠因为横穿马路被车压死而萌生了为松鼠建一座桥的想法,经过议会批准,他和其他人建成了这座专为松鼠通行的桥,他也为此而受到人们的纪念.
解答 67.D.细节理解题.由第二段中的to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars可知,修建Nutty Narrow Bridge的目的是保护松鼠安全地过马路.注意不要选A,因为这座桥不是给松鼠提供吃干果的地方.故选D.
68.B.细节理解题.根据第四段中的…and that day's coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety…cooked up the squirrel bridge idea可知,在某一天喝咖啡时间的讨论中,Peters和其他人萌生了给松鼠建座桥的想法.故选B.
69.D.词义猜测题.根据前面的guiding their young,可以推断此处应该是松鼠教它们的孩子如何使用绳索,而不是给它们递绳子,也不是给它们一个教训.故选D.
70.C.细节理解题.根据文章倒数第二段中的In 1983,after 20 years of use,Peters took down the worn-out bridge.Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced.可知,绳索用了20年后,Peters进行了修缮,并替换上了新的绳索.文中没有涉及是否替换的绳索更长;第五段中提到绳索是铝制的,而且是一个architect设计的,只是说Peters和Hutch开始建设,因此可以排除其他选项.故选C.
71.A.推理判断题.根据最后一段中的…a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project.可以推断,Peters因为爱动物,倡导修建这座桥而被人们记住.文中没有提到他是否因此得到奖章,因此可以排除D.故选A.
点评 本文考察学生人文地理类阅读水平.做这类文章时平时就要注意了解国内外地理,掌握一定背景知识,对这类文章的叙述特点及内容安排有一定了解,还要扩展这方面的词汇.阅读这类文章,要抓住文章的核心,即文章整体和各段主要在说什么,也要注意段落之间的逻辑关系.