Three monkeys remained on the loose in rural Mississippi on Wednesday after a truck carrying research animals overturned, leaving authorities scrambling to track them down and raising questions about who owned the animals and where they were headed. The Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said the truck was carrying 21 Rhesus monkeys when it crashed Tuesday along Interstate 59 near Heidelberg. Officials initially believed only one monkey had escaped and that it had been killed, but Tulane University experts who examined the scene later determined three monkeys were still missing.

Rhesus monkeys, which typically weigh around 16 pounds, are among the most widely used primates in medical research. Sheriff Randy Johnson said the monkeys were not infectious, despite early reports from the truck’s occupants claiming they carried dangerous diseases. However, he said the animals were aggressive and needed to be “neutralized” if found. Tulane University said Wednesday that the monkeys had recently been tested and were confirmed to be pathogen-free. The university said it did not own or transport the animals but dispatched a team of veterinarians and researchers from its National Primate Research Center in Covington, Louisiana, to assist in their care and recovery. The center, located about 40 miles north of New Orleans, routinely houses primates used in scientific and biomedical studies. 

Video from the crash site showed several monkeys crawling through tall grass near the highway, with wooden crates (隔条箱) labeled “live animals” strewn across the roadside. By Wednesday morning, law enforcement officers and workers in protective clothing were combing the area in search of the missing animals. The remaining animals were recovered and transported safely back to Louisiana, officials said.

A Facebook post from Jasper County Sheriff’s Department said Tuesday, “The driver of the truck told local law enforcement that the monkeys were dangerous and posed a threat to humans. We took the appropriate actions after being given that information from the person transporting the monkeys.” Tulane University’s primate Research Center wrote on X Tuesday, “Non-human primates at the TNBRC are provided to other research organizations to advance science. The primates in question belong to another entity & aren’t infectious. We’re actively collaborating with local authorities & will send a team of animal care experts to assist as needed.”

The search follows a similar incident last year in South Carolina, when 43 Rhesus macaques escaped from a medical research breeding facility after an employee failed to properly secure an enclosure. Workers from the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee set traps to recapture the monkeys.

1.1. According to the first paragraph, what was the initial misunderstanding by the officials?

A The exact number of escaped monkeys.

B The final destination of the truck.

C The infectious nature of the monkeys.

D The cause of the traffic accident.

解析：选A。A细节理解题。第一段提到官方最初认为只有一只猴子逃脱并被杀死，但后来专家确认三只失踪，因此最初的误解是关于逃脱猴子的确切数量。B、C、D选项的信息在第一段均未提及。故选A。

2.2. The word “neutralized” in the context most likely means ________.

A being captured alive

B being rendered harmless

C being given medical care

D being returned to crates

解析：选B。B词义猜测题题。“neutralized”出现在警长说明猴子具有攻击性的语境中。结合“if found”以及猴子具有攻击性的描述，在此上下文本词最合理的含义是“被消除威胁”或“被处理掉”。A、C、D选项均不符合该语境下的严重性。故选B。

3.3.What does the video from the crash site reveal?

A Law enforcement’s immediate presence.

B The contents inside the wooden crates.

C The severity of the driver’s injuries.

D The monkeys’ state of wandering freely.

解析：选D。D细节理解题。第三段提到视频显示“several monkeys crawling through tall grass”（数只猴子在深草丛中爬行），这直接揭示了猴子在自由活动。A选项是周三早上发生的事，并非视频内容。C和B选项视频中均未显示。故选D。

4.4. What was the primary purpose of the social media statements from the authorities?

A To apologize for the operational delay.

B To justify their initial course of action.

C To speculate on the monkeys’ destination.

D To blame the driver for the accident.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。警长部门的Facebook帖子引用了司机的警告，并说明“我们根据该信息采取了相应措施”，其主要目的是为他们最初（可能包括“就地处理”的指令）的行动方针进行解释和辩护。A（为延误道歉）、C（猜测猴子目的地）和D（指责司机）均未在声明中体现。故选B。

5.5. What is implied by mentioning the similar incident in South Carolina?

A Employee negligence is the primary cause of all escapes.

B The current search operation is likely to be successful.

C Such escapes from research facilities are preventable.

D Recapturing escaped monkeys is an impossible mission.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。提到南卡罗来纳州的类似事件（因员工未妥善关闭围场导致猴子逃脱）暗示，此类事件本可以通过更严格的操作规程来预防。B和D选项过于绝对，原文无法支持。A选项中的“all escapes”（所有逃脱事件）表述绝对，原文证据不足。故选C。