3．The writer mentions the fact that “none of the stolen cars have been returned” to show 　　　　.

A．how easily people get fooled by criminals

B．what Chen thinks might be correct

C．the thief is extremely clever

D．the money paid is too little

2．The “lazier and more inventive” criminal refers to 　　　　　.

A．the car thief who stays at home 　　

B．one of those who put the ads in the paper

C．one of the policemen in Changwa 　

D．the owner of the pigeons

1．After the car owner received a phone call. He 　　　　　

A．went to a certain pigeon and put some money in the bag it carried

B．gave the money to the thief and had his car back in a park

C．sent some money to the thief by mail

D．told the press about it

4. The writer asks visitors and drivers to look around when traveling because______.

A. wild animals may attack cars

B. wild animals may jam the road

C. they may see wild animals in the park

D. they may see wild animals on ecopassages

4

Taiwan police cannot decide whether to treat it as an extremely eleven act of stealing or an even cleverer cheat (诈骗). Either way , it could be the perfect crime (犯罪), because the criminals are birds-horning pigeons !

The crime begins with a telephone message to the owner of a stolen car : if you want the car back, pay up then, the car owner is directed to a park, told where to find a bird cage and how to attach money to the neck of the pigeon inside . Carrying the money in a tiny bag , the pigeon flies off .

There have been at least four such pigeon pick-ups in Changwa. What at first seemed like the work of a clever stay-at-home car thief, however , may in face be the work of an even lazier and more inventive criminal mind-one that avoid (避免)not only colleting money but going out to steal the car in the first place . Police officer Chen says that the criminal probably has pulled a double trick: he gets money for things he cannot possibly return . Instead of stealing cars , he lets someone else do it and then waits for the car-owner to place an ad (启事) in the newspaper asking for help .

The theory is supported by the fact that , so far , none of the stolen cars have been returned . Also, the amount of money demanded-under 3,000 Taiwanese dollars –seems too little for a car worth many times more .

Demands for pigeon-delivered money stopped as soon as the press reported the story. And even if they start again, Chen holds little hope of catching the criminal . “We have more important things to do, ” he said .

3. When the writer says that animals seem “to be catching on”, be means________.

A. animals begin to realize the dangers on the road

B. a fence built for the safety of the area

C. a bridge for animals to get over a river

D. a pass for animals to cross the road

2. From the news story, we know an ecopassage is _____________.

A. an underground path for cars　　

B. a fence built for the safety of the area

C. a bridge for animals to get over a river　

D. a pass for animals to cross the road

1. The writer uses the example of “ocelots” to show that________.

A. wild animals have become more dangerous

B. the driving conditions have improved greatly

C. the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work

D. an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents

4. The passage mainly tells us about ________ in UK.

　 A. the history of bird watching　　

　 B. a growing passion for bird watching

　 C. the impact of media on bird watching　

　 　D. bird watching as a popular expensive sport

3

Special Bridges Help Animals Cross the Road

--Reported by Sheila Carrick

Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.

Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road.

　“Millions of animals die each year on U. S. roads,” the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots, an endangered wild cat, exist in the U. S. today. The main reason? Roadkill.

　“Ecopassages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. “These ecopassages can be extremely useful, so that wildlife can avoid road accidents, ” said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society.

But do animals actually use the ecopassages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an ecopassage that went under a highway. This showed that the lions used the passage.

　Builders of ecopassages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses.

The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal overpass!

3. Which of the following CANNOT be true according to the passage?

　 A. Television wildlife programmes started the popular pastime of birdwatching.

　 B. The network service has contributed to the rapid development of birdwatching.

　 C. Birdwatching in Britain was long considered a sport with a small group of followers.

　 D. The current situation of birdwatching may promote the protection of the environment.

2. What happened after the message of seeing a Vermivora chrysoptera was put on the network?

　 A. Birdwatchers helped the rare bird settle in Kent.

　 B. Large numbers of birdwatchers went to view the bird.

　 C. Many birdwatchers logged on to the website for details.

　 D. Birdwatchers showed their determination to protect the rare bird.