大学英语 第三版 第三册 听力原文及答案1(7)

Dog Plays "Mother" to Tiger Cubs

People at a zoo in China have used a dog named Balu to play mother to three newborn Siberian tigers.

The newborn tigers at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park, including one male and two females, were abandoned by their mother. They were very much in need of being breast-fed and the zoo called for Balu.

The first time the 7-year-old bitch acted as a tiger's mother was five years ago when a Siberian tiger became too sick and weak to feed her four babies and the park had to place an advertisement for a replacement.

Since then the animal owned by a farmer from Nanhui has been asked to play mother for 12 tiger cubs on four occasions.

Officials from the park came calling for her services two months ago shortly after she had given birth to her own two puppies. Park spokesman Su Feilong recalled: "She was very strong at first sight. Though the tiger cubs were much bigger than her, she regarded them as her own children and fed them wholeheartedly."

Balu has now taken to breast-feeding both her own and "adopted" babies, according to Shanghai Daily.

Mr Su told the paper: "She is a loving mother, especially to those tigers. When those naughty cubs fought against her own puppies, she never got angry with them but tried to make them quiet with a gentle hug."

1. Where does the story take place? C

A.

B.

C.

D. In a park in Northwest China. In a zoo in downtown Shanghai. In a wild animal park in Shanghai. In an amusement park in Nanhui.

2. What can we learn about a female Siberian tiger in the park?

B IPS

. She gave birth to three babies recently, one female and

two males.

A. She gave birth to three babies but left them.