疫情催生美国人“养鸡热”
疫情催生美国人“养鸡热”

Some chicken feeders say the coronavirus has led more people in the United States to start raising their own chickens. The practice provides people with a new interest, animal friendships and fresh eggs.
Businesses that sell young chicks and chicken houses say they have seen an increase in need since last March. That is when U.S. health officials ordered people to stay home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Allison and Ron Abta live in Marin County, California. They had talked about setting up a chicken house for years. They finally did so this summer. The couple’s three children were excited when their parents finally agreed to buy chicks. “These chickens are like my favorite thing, honestly,” said 12-year-old Violet. “They actually have personalities once you get to know them.” The baby birds lived inside the family’s home for six weeks before moving into their yard. It now houses the five hens and protects them from foxes and other animals that could hurt them.
Mark Podgwaite is a chicken feeder. He said he and other feeders have noticed an increase in need for chicks since the coronavirus began. The Abta family bought their chicks from Mill Valley Chickens. The farming business sells chickens, feed and supplies. It also builds chicken houses. Owner Leslie Citroen offers classes for first-time chicken keepers. She says her sales grew 400 percent in 2020.
Citroen said most of her buyers in 2020 were first-time chicken keepers. Some of them are parents looking for something to keep their children busy while at home. Others are “preppers” —people who want their own supplies of things if the world falls apart.

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1.When did U.S. health officials order people to stay home?

A Last March.

B In April.

C This summer.

D In October.

解析：选A。细节理解题。根据文章第二段的内容可知，出售小鸡和鸡舍的商家说，自去年3月以来，他们看到需求增加了。当时，美国卫生官员要求人们待在家里，以帮助阻止冠状病毒的传播。故选A。

2.Who was excited about raising chickens?

A Allison and Ron Abta.

B Violet.

C Mark Podgwaite.

D Citroen.

解析：选B。细节理解题。根据第二段The couple’s three children were excited when their parents finally agreed to buy chicks.可知，这对夫妻的三个孩子对养鸡感到很兴奋，而根据said 12-year-old Violet可知，Violet是他们的其中一个孩子。故选B。

3.What does the underlined word “house” mean in the passage?

A 房屋.

B 家务.

C 覆盖.

D 居住.

解析：选D。词义猜测题。该句意为：现在它为五只母鸡提供了住所，并保护它们免受狐狸和其他动物的伤害。注意该词在句中是动词，而不是名词，意为：为……提供住所。故选D。

4.Mill Valley Chickens helps a lot about raising chickens except _______.

A helping build chicken houses

B selling chickens, feed and supplies

C protecting chickens from being ill

D offering classes for first-time chicken keepers

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第三段The farming business sells chickens, feed and supplies. It also builds chicken houses. Owner Leslie Citroen offers classes for first-time chicken keepers.可知，这家企业出售鸡、饲料和其他用品，它也建造鸡笼，为第一次养鸡的人开设了课程，但不包括为鸡预防疾病。故选C。

5.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A The chickens become Americans’ pets.

B The advantages of raising chickens.

C The farming business, Mill Valley Chickens.

D Chicken-raising has been popular since coronavirus started.

解析：选D。主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了自从新冠病毒爆发以来，很多美国人开始自己养鸡。故选D。