Laws to stop tigers, camels, zebras and snakes being used as performing animals in circuses have been announced by the government.
The environment minister, Jim Paice, hoped the laws would be brought in before the end of the parliament in 2015, which is the main law-making institution of the UK. At present between 35 and 50 wild animals are thought to be used by circuses in England and Defra offered to help find new homes for the retired performers.
The announcement follows a campaign by animal charity organization for the ban (禁令), which became worse when a video appeared last year of a circus elephant being beaten by a worker. Campaigners were angry when Paice previously announced tougher licensing instead.
Circus Mondao, whose website shows zebra and camels, said it would probably challenge the suggested ban. The circus is a member of the European Circus Association, which previously challenged Austria's ban, saying there was no scientific evidence (证据) that the animals were harmed by the travelling or conditions. On its website, Mondao says that when it travels animals are the last to be loaded and the first to be unloaded; they are moved to tents within an hour of arriving, and are usually moved 20-50 miles.
Animal charities weled the move, but called for ministers to speed up the laws. Asked why circuses would be banned from keeping wild animals but not domestic animals such as horses, a Defra spokesman said a key difference was that domesticated animals were more used to conditions such as travelling. Wild animals aren't domesticated: we feel it's not right ethically (伦理上) for wild animals to perform, he said.
【小题1】What is the proper order of the following events ?
a. Tougher licensing was announced by the environment minister.
b. A campaign for a ban was launched by an animal charity.
c. Laws were announced by the government.
d. The suggested ban was challenged by Circus Mondao.A．b, d, c, aB．c, b, a, dC．b, a, c, dD．c, a, d, b【小题2】According to the text, which of the following is TRUE? A．Retired performers are taken good care of in their new homes.B．The environment minister expected to introduce the law during the present parliament.C．Austria’s ban has been seriously challenged by all the European circuses.D．Animal charities were not satisfied with the suggested laws at all.【小题3】“Domestic animals ” are probably .A．animals that provide meat for peopleB．animals that are introduced from other countriesC．animals that are well trained by a circusD．animals that live on farm or in people’s homeC
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(答案→)C
解析：文章讲述的是英国政府即将实行禁止动物园使用动物进行表演的决定，及其原因和一些看法。
【小题1】事实细节题，根据故事发展顺序可知。
【小题2】推理判断题。根据第二段The environment minister, Jim Paice, hoped the laws would be brought in before the end of the parliament in 2015可知，before the end of the parliament 就是指during the present parliament(国会，议会）.
【小题3】推理判断题。根据给出的例子horses马，可知是指人们在农场里或者家里饲养的动物。