Question

Think Before Keeping Pets

More and more people like to keep pets. In their eyes keeping pets has many advantages. It can teach people a sense of responsibility. What’s more, it can drive away the loneliness. It can also reduce people’s stress. But I’d like to voice different opinions.

A recent survey in the United States showed that the common family spent more money on its pets than on its children. Although to some degree unbelievable, it should not surprise anyone who has seen the doggy parlors (客厅) where loved pets rest. Are Americans different from others in treating their little friends in this way? No, the English, too, pay more attention to their pets.

This can clearly be seen when we look at pet foods, which often provide more vitamins (维生素) than human food. They certainly cost much. Last year the British public spent two hundred million pounds on pet food alone, to say nothing of medical bills or animal furniture (家具). It is difficult to feel happy about this when considering what that money could do for the hungry and the poor, so it is not unusual for me to get hot under collar when I read an old man left all his money to his dog instead of his children.

There are some reasons why I find pet-raising worrying. They lead to physical problems. An example of this is New York where it is difficult to deal with the mess that dogs leave on the streets. Many people find this funny, but in a number of large cities it is a big problem. Animals can cause illness, too.

Another problem is the carelessness of pet owners. Most little children want a dog or a cat, and they continually push their mothers and fathers until they get one. It is only when the “sweet little thing” has been brought home that the parents realize how much time and money must be spent on “Rover” or “Bonzo”. Then they just leave the pets they keep. As a result, they are allowed to run free. English farmers lose hundreds of sheep a year, killed by someone’s pet and you must have read of children being hurt by some pets of their own.

So please have a second thought before you keep a pet.

1.According to the passage, keeping pets have many advantages except ______.

A.reducing the stress

B.driving away the loneliness

C.being good for the environment

D.teaching a sense of responsibility

2.The doggy parlors are mentioned in the 3rd paragraph to show ______.

A.how much money pet owners spend on pets

B.how much pets depend on their owners

C.why children love their pets so much

D.where Americans keep their pets

3.In the 4th paragraph “get hot under the collar” probably means ______.

A.staying cool

B.feeling very angry

C.becoming excited

D.getting quite satisfied

4.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A.Pets can do harm to people’s health.

B.The writer thinks it is good to keep pets.

C.Pet owners can take good care of their pets all the time.

D.Americans spend more money on their children than on pets.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇议论文，作者讲述现在养宠物非常普遍，但作者呼吁大家养宠物之前一定要三思。

1.细节理解题。根据第1大段“It can teach people a sense of responsibility. What’s more, it can drive away the loneliness. It can also reduce people’s stress.”养宠物能教给人们责任感，能驱赶孤单，还能减轻人们的压力。可知，养宠物的优势不包括C。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第3大段“A recent survey in the United States showed that the common family spent more money on its pets than on its children. Although to some degree unbelievable, it should not surprise anyone who has seen the doggy parlors ”美国的最近研究表明普通家庭花费在宠物上的钱比他们的孩子还更多。虽然有些程度难以置信，但是看到狗狗修饰的客厅并不使人吃惊。可知，主要是为了说明养宠物的花费很贵。故选A。

3.词义猜测题。根据第4大段“It is difficult to feel happy about this when considering what that money could do for the hungry and the poor,”当想到金钱能为饥饿的人和穷人做什么的时候，很难感到开心；再理解“so it is not unusual for me to get hot under collar when I read an old man left all his money to his dog instead of his children.”所以当我听到一个老人把所有的钱留给他的狗而不是孩子的时候我生气是很正常的。可知，是生气的意思。故选B。

4.推理判断题。根据第5大段“They lead to physical problems”他们会引起身体问题，可知A正确；根据第7大段“So please have a second thought before you keep a pet.”所以养宠物前请三思可知作者并没有说不好，故B错误；根据第6大段“It is only when the “sweet little thing” has been brought home that the parents realize how much time and money must be spent on “Rover” or “Bonzo”. Then they just leave the pets they keep”当有新的宠物或者意识到宠物上花了很多时间和金钱后，他们就会离开他们养的宠物，可知，不能一直照顾宠物，故C错误；根据第3大段“A recent survey in the United States showed that the common family spent more money on its pets than on its children.” 美国的最近研究表明普通家庭花费在宠物上的钱比他们的孩子还更多。故D错误。故选A。