B
Wild beavers(海狸) are back! Experts (专家) say that the wild beaver families are doing well. The beavers are even
boosting wildlife and the environment!
Over ten years ago, a family of beavers turned up in a part of the river Otter, in Devon. No one knew where they came from. It was a big surprise, as wild beavers hadn't lived in England for around 400 years!
In 2015, the government allowed the beavers to stay there as part of a trial (试验). They wanted to see if these animals could be reintroduced to the wild. The trial lasted for five years. Some scientists from the University of Exeter say the beavers help the wildlife in the area. One scientist called it “an amazing story”.
A lot of this is because of dams (坝). Beavers build dams along the river. This creates deep pools in the riverbed and slows the water down. Scientists say this is perfect for many different types of plants and animals! Many plants are growing near the beavers. The number of different types of animals is also becoming larger in the river. Beavers also help reduce flooding, scientists say. The beavers' dams slow down the running of the river, especially (尤其) after heavy rain.
There are, however, some problems. Beavers gnaw (咬,啃) on trees and this can harm them. Sometimes, their dams can also create floods on people's land.
Beavers aren't the only animals that are reintroduced to the wild! In 2019, red squirrels were brought back to an area of the Scottish Highlands. Further away, the world's rarest duck, the Madagascar pochard, is making a comeback. It was set free into the wild on the African island in 2019 and is doing well.
Who knows what other animals might be making a comeback?
(
A
) 5. The underlined word “boosting” in Paragraph 1 most probably means “______”.
A. helping
B. spreading
C. harming
D. inventing
(
D
) 6. Why did the government want a trial first?
A. To grow more plants along the river.
B. To introduce the beavers to the wild.
C. To build dams for the beavers in the wild.
D. To see if the beavers could be reintroduced to the wild.
(
D
) 7. What are the good things about wild beavers living on the river Otter?
A. They bring heavy rain and floods.
B. They gnaw on trees and harm them.
C. Their dams create floods on people's land.
D. They help plants grow and stop flooding.
(
B
) 8. How do you think animal lovers feel about the news?
A. Angry.
B. Satisfied.
C. Sorry.
D. Worried.