Question

Rescue workers and volunteers in Florida worked non-stop to help as many dolphins as they could to return to deep water. Some dolphins made it. About 24 died.

For 35 dolphins in danger there was only one chance for survival―to be sent to the Marine Mammals Care Centre.

The dolphins were placed in a water pool where they have been given care round the clock by hundreds of volunteers who signed up for four-hour shifts (轮班). By the second week in April, only 11 of the original 35 were still alive.

Each year thousands of dolphins, the lovely marine mammals, are found beached or stranded (使搁浅) along coastlines around the world. They can’t get back to the sea and will die if they don’t get help, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society’s website.

Nobody knows what caused the dolphins to strand themselves, but the US Navy and marine wildlife experts are investigating whether the dolphin stranding was caused by sonar (声纳) exercises of ships. And some scientists suggest disease, or human interference (干扰). The reason for stranding isn’t completely understood.

In the pool, volunteers hold the dolphins and keep their blowholes out of the water so they can breathe. A vet injects the mammals with vitamin E to help with muscle cramping (抽筋). Unable to eat on their own, they are fitted with a feeding tube to get them the needed nutrition.

“Today we made the first steps in getting them to eat dead fish and to eat them out of our hands,” Banick said. It’s a race against time and feeding times must be strictly kept to.

 

45. The dolphins stranded on the beach were sent to the Marine Mammals Care Centre, where ________.

A. they were warmly welcomed                           B. they were taken care of and cured

C. they were to be trained                                   D. they would live with human beings

46. How many dolphins had died by the second week in April?

   A. 11.                                   B. 24.                          C. 35.                          D. 46

47. According to the writer, what caused the stranding of dolphins?

   A. Human interference.                                    B. Sonar exercises of ships.

   C. Some disease of marine mammals.                D. The cause is unknown.

48. What does the underlined phrase “round the clock” most probably mean?

   A. As accurately (精准) as a clock.                    B. Day and night.

   C. Fast without delay.                                       D. In time.

49. What would be the best title for this passage?

   A. Volunteers Signing Up for Care of Dolphins. 

   B. Dolphins Stranded on Shores.

   C. Race against Time to save Dolphins.             

   D. Reasons for Dolphins to Strand Themselves.

Answer 1

BBDBC