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Millions of people go to vote on important issues—like cow and goat horns. Sunday’s referendum is part of a decade-long campaign by farmer Armin Capaul, 67, on whether to encourage farmers who leave their cows’ and goats’ horns grow naturally, said Kaspar Schuler, the campaign director.
Schuler says around 90% of Swiss cows, which are a national symbol, are dehorned or genetically hornless. Some support dehorning say it reduces injuries to animals, but the farmer wants to change that as he believes cows can communicate with each other with their horns, Schuler said. Capaul wants the government to pay farmers $191 annual for per every horned cow or goat. The government is against the plan, saying it would cost tens of millions to pay farmers.
Capaul’s journey began nine years ago when he gave control of his cow farm to his son in northwestern Switzerland and began suggesting horns on livestock. “We must respect cows as they are. Leave them their horns. When you look at them they always hold their head high and are proud. When you remove the horns, they are sad.”
When suggestion failed, Capaul managed to collect the 100,000 signatures needed to begin a national vote. Schuler said that no one expected him to collect that many signatures.
Some believe that the farmer’s campaign will be backed by animal welfare groups against dehorning—which sees a calf’s horn burned with a hot iron. But Capaul is not convinced the “yes” campaign has their vote: “Swiss animal protection organizations said they would think it again because they just wanted a ban on the ironing or cutting of horns.” Nonetheless, latest results numbers show Schuler is uncertain of a win.

1.What is the aim of Sunday’s referendum by Capaul?

A To require farmers to feed cows.

B To encourage farmers letting cows and goats have corns.

C To show how people like to vote.

D To ask farmers to begin a campaign.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第一段第二句Sunday’s referendum is part of a decade-long campaign by farmer Armin Capaul, 67, on whether to encourage farmers who leave their cows’ and goats’ horns grow naturally可知这个提案是想鼓励那些能让奶牛和羊长角的农民。故选B。

2.Why do some people support hornless animals?

A They are the national symbol.

B They are genetically changed.

C They can communicate well.

D They won’t harm each other.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第二段第二句的Some support dehorning say it reduces injuries to animals可知一些人支持动物没有角是因为他们认为去掉动物的角会减少伤害。故选D。

3.Why did Capaul think cows should have horns?

A Cows wouldn’t communicate well with horns.

B Cows shouldn't be protected.

C Cows would have mental disorder without horns.

D People liked cows with horns.

解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第三段最后两句When you look at them they always hold their head high and are proud. When you remove the horns, they are sad.可知他认为奶牛没有角可能会出现心理障碍。故选C。

4.What’s the Swiss animal protection organizations’ attitude towards the campaign?

A They just objected the way of dehorning.

B They wouldn’t think it twice.

C They doubted between “yes” and “no” campaign.

D They believed the cows would not suffer at all.

解析：选A。观点态度题。根据第五段倒数第二句的Swiss animal protection organizations said they would think it again because they just wanted a ban on the ironing or cutting of horns.可知那些动物保护组织只是不同意给奶牛去掉角的方式。故选A。