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Two hours from the tall buildings of Manhattan and Philadelphia live some of the world's largest black
bears. They are in northern Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, a home they share with an abundance of
other wildlife.
The streams, lakes, meadows, mountain ridges and forests that make the Poconos an ideal place for
black bears,have also attracted more people to the region. Open spaces are threatened by plans for housing
estates and important habitats are endangered by highway construction. To protect the Poconos' natural
beauty from irresponsible development, the Nature Conservancy (大自然保护协会) named the area one
of America's "Last Great Places"
Operating out of a century-old schoolhouse in the village of Long Pond, Pennsylvania, the
conservancy's bud Cook is working with local people and business leaders to balance economic growth
with environmental protection. By forging partnerships with people like Francis Altemose, the Conservancy
has been able to protect more than 14,000 acres of environmentally important land in the area.
Altemose's family has farmed in the Pocono area for generations. Two years ago Francis worked with
the Conservancy to include his farm in a county farmland protection program. As a result, his family's land
can be protected from development and the Altemoses will be better able to provide a secure financial future
for their 7-year-old grandson. Cook attributes the Conservancy's success in the Poconos to having a local
presence and a commitment to working with local residents
"The key to protecting these remarkable lands is connecting with the local community," Cook said. "The
people who live there respect the land. They value quite forests, clear streams and abundant wildlife. They are
eager to help with conservation effort. For more information on how you can help The Nature Conservancy
protect the Poconos and the world's other"Last Great Places," please call 1-888-564 6864, or visit us on the
World Wide Web at www.tnc.org.
1. The purpose in naming the Poconos as one of America's " Last Great Places" is to ________.
A. gain support from the local community
B. protect it from irresponsible development
C. make it a better home for black bears
D. provide financial security for future generations
2. We learn from the passage that _______.
A. the population in the Pocono area is growing
B. wildlife in the Pocono area is dying out rapidly
C. the security of the Pocono residents is being threatened
D. farmlands in the Pocono area are shrinking fast
3. What is important in protecting the Poconos according to Cook?
A. The setting up of an environmental protection website
B. Support from organizations like The Nature Conservancy
C. Cooperation with the local residents and business leaders
D. Inclusion of farmlands in the region's protection program
4. The passage most probably is ________.
A. an official document
B. a news story
C. an advertisement
D. a research report
