What’s the deadliest animal? Trick question. Sure, the shark in Jaws is terrifying — but you’re way more likely to be killed by the animals you see every day. That’s according to a study published in February in the journal Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.

Don’t Sweat the Scary Stuff

The study looked at mortality data in the United States from 2008 to 2015 and compared the number of deaths caused by animals to a 2012 study that looked at the same elements in prior years. In this new study, researchers found a total of 1,610 animal-related deaths in the U.S., including deaths as a result of bites, contact, attack, or envenomation (venom injection). The majority of those deaths were related to nonvenomous animals, coming out to about 2.8 deaths per million people.

Surprisingly, most of the fatalities they found weren’t related to wild animal attacks: The largest proportion of animal deaths were caused by large mammals, especially horses and cattle. According to a press release, other studies have found that most of these deaths occur on the farm, and accidents with horses and cattle account for a whopping 90 percent of farm accidents.

The next largest group of animal-related fatalities were caused by a group called Hymenoptera, or hornets, wasps, and bees, accounting for just under 30 percent of the reported fatalities. According to the press release, “Africanized” honeybees, which are found most often in the southern and western U.S., can be particularly lethal when they swarm.

The third largest group? Man’s best friend: dog﹣related fatalities occurred at a rate of about 4.6 deaths per 10 million people. The study showed that young children are most vulnerable: The rate of children under age four killed by dogs was twice as high as the next most vulnerable age group, people older than 65, and four times as high as other age groups.

“The most common animal﹣related fatalities are from large mammals, like cattle or horses, but when you’re looking at attacks from wild animals only, the most common cause of death are due to venomous animals, like wasps or bees,” lead investigator Dr. Jared A．Forrester told CNN in an interview about the 2012 study. “I think people have in their mind that the most dangerous animals are cougars, bears or alligators, but a bee is more dangerous if a person is sensitive to its poisoning components.”

Protect Yourself

So how can you minimize your risk? Part of it may be due to your location and age group: the 2012 study found that people in the South experienced about 47 percent of all animal-related attacks in the U.S., Dr. Christopher Holstege, one of the authors, told CNN. In addition, infants and young children up to four years of age are most vulnerable, he said—especially when it comes to dog bites.

Researchers recommend more public health initiatives and awareness to help prevent farm fatalities. As for bees and hornets, it helps to be aware of your allergies, carry an EpiPen, and try to avoid provoking bees. As far as dogs go, your best bet is to not leave them alone with the very young or the very old.

But still, there isn’t too much reason to worry. “In many ways, the data is pretty reassuring,” Forrester told CNN. “The most common cause of death are not the scariest things, necessarily, but they are the most common interactions we have with farm animals and they are preventable.”

41．What’s the function of the “shark in Jaws” mentioned in paragraph one?

A．To attract readers’ attention and introduce the topic.

B．To explain to readers the danger of sharks.

C．To compare sharks with animals that are dangerous around our daily life.

D．To highlight the unnoticed danger of animals in everyday life.

42．What’s the underlined word “venomous” mean?

A．small                     B．poisonous               C．dangerous               D．devil

43．What can we learn from the article?

A．Bees are the most dangerous insects you may ever encounter.

B．People who are allergic to bees can hardly survive if they’re not treated immediately.

C．There is no worry about the danger of daily animals.

D．People in the South experienced nearly half of animal attacks in the U.S.

44．What may be the best title of the article?

A．The deadliest animal in your life.                B．The danger of small insects.

C．The ignored killers.                                    D．New risk of being killed by small animals.

18．What did the scientists do to the road？

A．They repaired it.                 B．They painted it.                  C．They blocked it

19．Why are young birds drawn to the road surface？

A．It's warm.                          B．It's brown.                         C．It's smooth.

20．What is the purpose of the scientists' experiment？

A．To keep the birds there for a whole year.

B．To help students study the birds well.

C．To prevent the birds from being killed.

The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and some big land masses as far south as Newfoundland. While they are rare north of 88°, there is evidence 61． they range all the way across the Arctic, and as far south as James Bay in Canada. It is difficult to figure out a global population of polar bears as much of the range has been 62．(poor) studied; however, biologists calculate that there are about 20,000-25,000 polar bears worldwide.

Modern methods 63． tracking polar bear populations have been employed only since the mid-1980s, and are expensive 64．(perform) consistently over a large area. In recent years some Inuit people in Nunavut 65．(report) increases in bear sightings around human settlements, leading to a 66．(believe) that populations are increasing. Scientists have responded by 67．(note) that hungry bears may be congregating(聚集) around human settlements, leading to the illusion(错觉) that populations are 68．(high) than they actually are. Of 69． nineteen recognized polar bear subpopulations, three are declining, six 70．(be) stable, one is increasing, and nine lack enough data.

Diets have changed in China — and so too has its top crop. Since 2011, the country 66．（grow）more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over 67． past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.

A taste for meat is 68． (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn's rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice 69． (improve) water quality. Corn uses less water 70． rice and creates less fertilizer(化肥) runoff. This switch has decreased 71． (pollute) in the country's major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.

According to the World Bank, China accounts for about 30 percent of total 72． (globe)fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005—when the government 73． (start) a soil-testing program 74． gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers - and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7.7 million tons. That prevented the emission(排放) of 51.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. China's approach to protecting its environment while 75． (feed) its citizens "offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policymakers worldwide." says the bank's Juergen Voegele.

  I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.

I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl(猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.

I examined the chick(雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree.

The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.

Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.

A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all — LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.

61．What is unavoidable in the author’s rescue work according to paragraph 1?

A．Efforts made in vain.

B．Getting injured in his work.

C．Feeling uncertain about his future.

D．Creatures forced out of their homes.

62．Why was the author called to Muttontown?

A．To rescue a woman.

B．To take care of a woman.

C．To look at a baby owl.

D．To cure a young owl.

63．What made the chick calm down?

A．A new nest.

B．Some food.

C．A recording.

D．Its parents.

64．How would the author feel about the outcome of the event?

A．It’s unexpected.

B．It’s beautiful.

C．It’s humorous.

D．It’s discouraging.