问答题
5. In recent years, targeted grazing has become popular in certain areas. Essentially, herds of animals are used to control the growth of brush and weeds on tracts of land. Goats, which consume nearly every type of plant, are the most commonly used animals for this method of plant control, which first gained widespread media coverage in 2009 when the Internet company Google used a herd of goats to control the growth of brush on its grounds. These days, there are many businesses which rent herds of goats for targeted grazing.
One of the numerous advantages of targeted grazing is that it enables people to avoid using loud, gas-guzzling lawnmowers and other similar pieces of equipment, thereby reducing both noise and air pollution. Additionally, goats require no maintenance. In that way, they are unlike machines, which often break down and need repairing. Studies have additionally proven that renting a herd of goats is a cost-effective measure in comparison to using machinery for brush and grass cutting.
Goats are versatile brush and grass removers, too. They eat a wide variety of plants, especially weeds, which are troublesome to control. Thistle, blackberry, poison oak, poison ivy, and kudzu are merely a few of the plants which are resistant to traditional cutting methods and herbicides but which goats eat with relish. Furthermore, goats can climb up hillsides and over rocky terrain to eat brush that is difficult for machines and people to reach.
An additional benefit is that goats fertilize the ground while they are eating. They urinate and defecate on the ground, and both their urine and feces act as fertilizers when they are absorbed into the earth. Thus organic waste from the goats helps produce more plant life in an area soon after goats clear it.
One of the numerous advantages of targeted grazing is that it enables people to avoid using loud, gas-guzzling lawnmowers and other similar pieces of equipment, thereby reducing both noise and air pollution. Additionally, goats require no maintenance. In that way, they are unlike machines, which often break down and need repairing. Studies have additionally proven that renting a herd of goats is a cost-effective measure in comparison to using machinery for brush and grass cutting.
Goats are versatile brush and grass removers, too. They eat a wide variety of plants, especially weeds, which are troublesome to control. Thistle, blackberry, poison oak, poison ivy, and kudzu are merely a few of the plants which are resistant to traditional cutting methods and herbicides but which goats eat with relish. Furthermore, goats can climb up hillsides and over rocky terrain to eat brush that is difficult for machines and people to reach.
An additional benefit is that goats fertilize the ground while they are eating. They urinate and defecate on the ground, and both their urine and feces act as fertilizers when they are absorbed into the earth. Thus organic waste from the goats helps produce more plant life in an area soon after goats clear it.
【正确答案】Sample Note-READING
goats are good for targeted grazing
1 better than machines
-don't pollute environment like lawnmowers
-don't break down like machines
-are more cost effective than machines
2 are versatile
-eat wide variety of plants, especially ones resistant to cutting and herbicides
-can climb up hills and rocky terrain to eat plants→hard to get to with machines
3 fertilize ground while eating
-urinate and defecate→get absorbed into earth
-act as fertilizer
Sample Note-USTFNING
are many problems using them as lawnmowers
1 no financial savings
-goat herd takes days to cut land
-need to rent for long time+provide food and water for goats
2 are too efficient at eating
-eat flowers and plants people want→must monitor closely
-don't eat evenly
-stubborn→go wherever they want, not where people want
3 are messy
-dig up ground
-droppings and urine→smell bad
Sample Essay
According to the professor, some people use goats as lawnmowers to cut grass and to get rid of weeds these days. Although the reading passage supports using goats for targeted grazing, the professor finds several problems with this practice.
He begins by pointing out that hiring a herd of goats does not save money. This is in opposition to the reading passage, which asserts that renting goats is cheaper than using machines such as lawnmowers. The professor, however, describes some hidden costs such as the need to rent the goats for several days and the necessity of providing food and water for them. He notes that those costs make goats expensive.
While the professor concurs with the reading passage that goats are good at eating all kinds of plants, he claims that they are too good since they eat everything, including plants people don't want eaten. Thus goats need to be watched carefully. He adds that goats are stubborn and only go where they want to, so they do not trim yards evenly.
The author of the reading passage points out that goats' urine and feces fertilize the land the goats clear, but the professor remarks that they create bad smells which last for several days. He also comments that goats dig up the ground, so they make a mess while they are grazing.
goats are good for targeted grazing
1 better than machines
-don't pollute environment like lawnmowers
-don't break down like machines
-are more cost effective than machines
2 are versatile
-eat wide variety of plants, especially ones resistant to cutting and herbicides
-can climb up hills and rocky terrain to eat plants→hard to get to with machines
3 fertilize ground while eating
-urinate and defecate→get absorbed into earth
-act as fertilizer
Sample Note-USTFNING
are many problems using them as lawnmowers
1 no financial savings
-goat herd takes days to cut land
-need to rent for long time+provide food and water for goats
2 are too efficient at eating
-eat flowers and plants people want→must monitor closely
-don't eat evenly
-stubborn→go wherever they want, not where people want
3 are messy
-dig up ground
-droppings and urine→smell bad
Sample Essay
According to the professor, some people use goats as lawnmowers to cut grass and to get rid of weeds these days. Although the reading passage supports using goats for targeted grazing, the professor finds several problems with this practice.
He begins by pointing out that hiring a herd of goats does not save money. This is in opposition to the reading passage, which asserts that renting goats is cheaper than using machines such as lawnmowers. The professor, however, describes some hidden costs such as the need to rent the goats for several days and the necessity of providing food and water for them. He notes that those costs make goats expensive.
While the professor concurs with the reading passage that goats are good at eating all kinds of plants, he claims that they are too good since they eat everything, including plants people don't want eaten. Thus goats need to be watched carefully. He adds that goats are stubborn and only go where they want to, so they do not trim yards evenly.
The author of the reading passage points out that goats' urine and feces fertilize the land the goats clear, but the professor remarks that they create bad smells which last for several days. He also comments that goats dig up the ground, so they make a mess while they are grazing.
【答案解析】 [听力原文]
Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
M Professor: Managing plant growth, uh, particularly that of weeds, is a difficult endeavor. Lately, some people have been experimenting by using goats as lawnmowers. Goats, you see, consume grass and weeds, so people don't require lawnmowers and herbicides. But, um, you know what...? While many people think using goats as lawnmowers is a fantastic idea, I say there are some problems.
To begin with, there are no financial savings. Let's see...If you have a few acres of land, it'll take a herd of thirty goats approximately three days to clear it, but a few people with lawnmowers can do the same job in several hours. Now, uh, if you rent a herd of goats for three days, you've got to stock water and food for them. That's right. I said food. They need food since they don't get enough nutrition from the plants they consume. So you're going to wind up paying much more money than you expected.
Honestly, it would be cheaper to use lawnmowers.
Now, uh, I agree that goats are efficient eaters. In some ways, however, they're too efficient since they eat flowers and other plants you don't want eaten, so they must be closely monitored. Oh, and goats don't eat the grass evenly, so don't expect to see a well-trimmed lawn. Nor will goats go where you want them to. They're stubborn animals that go wherever they want and consume whatever they want.
Finally, goats are messy. They dig into the dirt under the grass to make places to rest, so your land will have plenty of brown spots. And don't forget about their droppings and urine. Your land will smell awful and be unpleasant to walk on for several days until the ground absorbs everything.
Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
M Professor: Managing plant growth, uh, particularly that of weeds, is a difficult endeavor. Lately, some people have been experimenting by using goats as lawnmowers. Goats, you see, consume grass and weeds, so people don't require lawnmowers and herbicides. But, um, you know what...? While many people think using goats as lawnmowers is a fantastic idea, I say there are some problems.
To begin with, there are no financial savings. Let's see...If you have a few acres of land, it'll take a herd of thirty goats approximately three days to clear it, but a few people with lawnmowers can do the same job in several hours. Now, uh, if you rent a herd of goats for three days, you've got to stock water and food for them. That's right. I said food. They need food since they don't get enough nutrition from the plants they consume. So you're going to wind up paying much more money than you expected.
Honestly, it would be cheaper to use lawnmowers.
Now, uh, I agree that goats are efficient eaters. In some ways, however, they're too efficient since they eat flowers and other plants you don't want eaten, so they must be closely monitored. Oh, and goats don't eat the grass evenly, so don't expect to see a well-trimmed lawn. Nor will goats go where you want them to. They're stubborn animals that go wherever they want and consume whatever they want.
Finally, goats are messy. They dig into the dirt under the grass to make places to rest, so your land will have plenty of brown spots. And don't forget about their droppings and urine. Your land will smell awful and be unpleasant to walk on for several days until the ground absorbs everything.