Question

    Guide dogs are going to be available for the children who are unable to see normally in the UK for the first time, as the age limit is to be removed. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is to begin training dogs to help blind people under the age of 16.

The association says too many youngsters with impaired eyesight are lacking in independence. They have only a limited social life because of their disability. Giving some of them guide dogs at a younger age is intended to help them to widen their range of activities and to improve their sense of self-confidence and independence. Guide dogs for these teenagers will begin to be provided from next year. There has been an experimental project to test the use of guide dogs with younger people.

Charlotte, aged 14, was among the youngest guide dog owners. She had been gradually losing her eyesight since the age of eight, and lost her eyesight completely this year. She has been assisted by a two-year-old guide dog. Charlotte used to have a long stick to help her move around, but having a guide dog allows her much more freedom and makes her feel safer.

However, the association says there is a worryingly patchy supply of services for the young blind people across the UK, and it calls for a sharp increase in the number of guide dogs all over the country. As with adult blind people, only a small number of them are likely to be considered suitable for a guide dog. Most will continue to rely on extra help and training from education and social services.

1.What can we learn about guide dogs from the text?

A. They have been provided for teenagers in the UK.

B. They are beneficial to blind children’s development.

C. They became possible in the UK recently.

D. They are quite popular in the UK.

2.What does Charlotte’s example tell us?

A. It is necessary to carry out the experimental project.

B. Guide dogs can get along well with disabled people.

C. The association’s opinion is not quite right.

D. Youngsters need companions and friends.

3.What does the underlined word “patchy” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A. Endless. B. Perfect. C. Inadequate. D. Diverse.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A. Blind people need guide dogs’ assistance in their daily life.

B. Age limit for the blind to have guide dogs is to be removed.

C. More guide dogs will be trained in the UK.

D. The project of using guide dogs is to begin.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.B

【解析】

本文属于说明文，讲的是拥有一个导盲犬对盲童的发展是有好处的，所以盲人拥有导盲犬的年龄限制将被取消，在实验项目和制定全国统一的标准后，盲童可以享受更好的生活。

1.推理判断题。根据文章第二段Giving some of them guide dogs at a younger age is intended to help them to widen their range of activities and to improve their sense of self-confidence and independence.可知拥有一个导盲犬对盲童的发展是有好处的，选B。

2.推理判断题。根据文章第二段There has been an experimental project to test the use of guide dogs with younger people.可知，Charlotte 的例子表明有必要做一些实验的项目来测试盲童使用导盲犬，选A。

3.词义猜测题。从文章最后一段的句子and it calls for national standards to be introduced.这些设备需要全国统一标准，可知“patchy” 的意思是“Inadequate” 不充足的，不适当的，选.C。

4.主旨大意题。从全篇文章和第一段的句子Guide dogs are going to be available for the children who are unable to see normally in the UK for the first time, as the age limit is to be removed.可知这篇文章讲的是盲人拥有导盲犬的年龄限制将被取消，选B。