Two residents who recently moved to the small village of Aarwangen in the Swiss Alps, which has a population of just 4700 people, filed complaints with the village council about the constant ringing of cowbells. They asked for the cows’ bells to be removed at night so they could sleep. Long-term residents, and the village’s remaining farmers — just five or six, according to the village mayor — were mad at what they felt was an attack on their traditional culture. A petition (请愿书) was organized and soon had 1000 signatures. It read: “We, the Swiss want to preserve and maintain our lived traditions in the future”.

Cowbells have been used in rural Switzerland for centuries. They were once useful for tracking herds eating grass high on steep slopes in the Alps in summer. Older farmers say they can hear each individual cow by the sound of its own bell. Another resident, Mr Andreas Baumann, said cowbells were an essential part of the Swiss soul. “As soon as I hear them, I know I’m back home,” he said. 

Aarwangen has seen many changes over the decades, with new homes built close to the meadows where the cattle eat grass. The village mayor said that most people who have recently moved are “not necessarily from cities, but from urban outskirts (郊区), and are     ▲    with the agricultural way of life”.

This year’s battle is not the first time residents have complained about cowbells. In 2015, a Zurich appeals court ordered a farmer to remove the bells from his 27 cows from 10pm to 7am, since they were safe in a paddock (围场) and keeping the neighbors awake.

Next month, Aarwangen’s villagers will gather for a public meeting to vote on the future of their bells. They will decide how the sound of the bells can continue without breaking noise pollution laws. And what about the residents who complained? According to the news report, one of those who objected to the noise has withdrawn their complaint and the other has moved away.

1.What did the two residents complain about?

A The cowbells were keeping them awake at night.

B The cows’ bells were ringing constantly during the day.

C Long-term residents defended their traditional culture.

D Remaining farmers wanted to keep traditional cowbells.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第一段的“They asked for the cows’ bells to be removed at night so they can sleep.”这两个居民要求在晚上把牛的铃铛拿掉，这样他们晚上就可以睡觉，可知，他们向村委会投诉的是奶牛脖子上的铃铛响使他们夜不能寐。故选A。

2.What’s Mr Andreas Baumann’s attitude toward cowbells?

A Doubtful.

B Disapproving.

C Uncaring.

D Positive.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Mr Andreas Baumann, said cowbells were an essential part of the Swiss soul.”可知，居民安德烈亚斯·鲍曼先生认为牛铃是瑞士灵魂的重要组成部分，即他对牛铃持支持态度。故选D。

3.Which of the following can be put back into the “ ▲ ”?

A less familiar

B more strict

C much busier

D less concerned

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据前面的“most people who have recently moved are ‘not necessarily from cities, but from urban outskirts…’”村委会主任说，大多数最近搬来的人“并不全都来自城市，而是来自城市郊区”，由此推断，他们对乡村的农业生活方式不是很熟悉，空白处应该填less familiar。故选A。

4.What are Aarwangen’s villagers attempting to do?

A To gather for a public meeting.

B To keep cowbells on their cattle.

C To get the complaint withdrawn.

D To stop new residents moving in.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“They will decide how the sound of the bells can continue without breaking noise pollution laws.”他们将决定如何在不违反噪音污染法的情况下让牛铃继续发出声响，即他们想继续让牛铃戴在牛的脖子上。故选B。