Задание
Прочитай текст и выполни задания 12–18. В каждом задании запиши в поле ответа цифру 1, 2, 3 или 4, соответствующую выбранному варианту ответа.
The Three Roosters
I learn a lot by watching animals. They have tales to tell and lessons to teach for anyone who has the openness to listen, watch, and learn. Here are some of my latest observations and musings that I hope will demonstrate what I mean.
We have three roosters, each with a different personality and a different voice. Stew often sings at 4 am to herald the dawn before this part of the globe has even thought of circling to it. I will never put him in the stew pot, but he got his name because of his exuberant pre-dawn concerts. Stew is most definitely a lead rooster. He has the "perfect" rooster voice, suitable for featuring in a movie. He also has movie-star looks, as roosters go. He is quite the handsome fellow with bright red plumage. Typical of his kind, he is well aware of his prowess and stature. He struts around and looks after the hens, knowing that he has important work to do.
Another of our roosters is Smoker. His call is not quite like Stew's. It starts out strong and vibrant, then finishes with a crackle that makes him sound as if he is about to go into a smoker's coughing fit. He knows he's not the lead rooster, but he is the one I most often see doing sentry duty. He is the one who typically looks for danger and sounds a sort of hiss to alert the flock when he thinks there's a predator nearby. He isn't as bright and handsome as Stew, but he doesn't seem to mind — or even notice. Smoker may not have "The Look" or "The Sound", but he takes his place in the order of things without giving evidence of envy or ingratitude. He struts around with the others and sings out when the mood to do so is upon him.
The third rooster is colourful Rocky. His gorgeous high-riding tail feathers form an elegant arch. He is most likely the youngest of the three. He tends to let the ladies push him around and nudge him away from the cracked corn. One of the hens in particular — a snowy-headed compact lady — evidently thinks Rocky should be chased when he's in her vicinity. Rocky rarely asserts himself. He lets the women have their way most of the time.
About two weeks ago, Rocky made various chickenley sounds but never crowed. One morning, I heard a sound that made me dash out of the house. I thought one of the birds was in horrible pain. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Upon hearing the strained "oh!", I realised that Rocky was learning to sing. Two black hens stood nearby. I urged him to sing out and keep practising. None of the other chickens or roosters laughed at him or told him to be quiet. None of them said, "Stew sounds so much better than you do."
Rocky didn't seem upset that his call was more a moan than a crow. He sang out several more times that day. In fact, the next day his call sounded a bit less pained. It even had two parts to it instead of just one.
His call is still not the quintessential rooster crow, but perhaps it will get there in time. Maybe Smoker will find a vigorous finish to his call one day too.
But even if Smoker forever sounds like he has emphysema and Rоcky always sounds like he's in screaming agony, it just wouldn't be a morning without the calls of all three of the roosters. I enjoy hearing them all, even if Stew often wakes me up and the other two sound ill.
Perhaps no human choir would accept a member with such a voice as Smoker or Rocky, but as the song says, "All God's critters have a place in the choir."
Everyone has unique gifts, and nobody is better than anybody else because of our talents. Some people have beautiful bodies. Some do not. Some people have the talent to sing or write a story or create magnificent artwork. Some have the talent to help others feel secure. Others are just finding out what talents they have to offer.
We can learn a lot from nature if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and brains enough to pay attention.
12.Stew…
1) is a movie star.
2) is a responsible rooster.
3) is a handsome slacker.
4) tells everyone what to do.
13.What is Smoker's role in the flock?
1) He is a really good singer.
2) He is a herald of the sunrise.
3) He is a watchman.
4) He is a breadwinner.
14.The word nudge ("...nudge him away from the cracked corn…") in the 4th paragraph means…
1) to rise slowly.
2) to punish.
3) to encourage someone to do something.
4) to push.
15. How did the other birds react when Rocky was learning to sing?
1) They kind of made fun of him.
2) They started pecking at him to make him stop.
3) They encouraged him to keep going.
4) They took his attempts for granted and did nothing.
16.When Rocky started learning to sing, he sounded as if…
1) he was sick.
2) he was enjoying it a lot.
3) he was badly hurt.
4) he didn't like it at all.
17.What does the phrase "All God's critters have a place in the choir" mean?
1) In our world, there is room for everyone.
2) Every person is blessed by God.
3) Different voices are needed in the choir.
4) Even people without talent have a right to live in our world.
18.What does the author imply in the last paragraph?
1) Nature needs to be saved.
2) By observing nature, you gain a lot of knowledge.
3) Nature can also see you, hear you and watch you.
4) Paying attention is important in learning how to sing.