身价430万美元，全球最贵奶牛在巴西，以纯白毛发著称
A 4-and-a-half-year-old Nelore breed cow known as Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis was recently priced at $4.3 million, making it the most expensive cow in the world by a large margin.
One-third of the ownership of the cow was recently sold at an auction in Arandú, Brazil for 6.99 million real ($1.44 million), putting its total value at a staggering $4.3 million. Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis had already been named the world’s most expensive cow last year when half of its ownership was auctioned off for around $800,000, which was another record-breaking price at the time.
Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis price is considered a new milestone for the Nelore, a cow breed highly valued all over the world for its qualities. Characterized by their bright white fur, loose skin, and a large bulbous hump above their shoulders, the Nelore is primarily known for their naturally high resistance to hot weather. Their white fur plays a big part in this, as it reflects most wavelengths of light, as does the fact that their sweat glands (腺) are twice as large and 30 percent more numerous than those of most European breeds.
Nelore cattle, named after the Indian district of Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, also have a very efficient metabolism, which allows them to grow well even in low-quality situations. Incredibly hardy, the Nelore can resist a number of parasitic infections (寄生虫感染) and their tough skin is much harder for insects to get into. The breed also breeds very easily.
According to a report by the Guardian, sperm (精子) from the most valuable Nelore bulls can cost $5,000 per 0.55 ml dose. There are around 167,000,000 Nelore cows in Brazil, around 80 percent of the cattle in the South American country.
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1.What does the underlined word “staggering” mean?
A Unbearable.
B Ordinary.
C Natural.
D Unbelievable.
解析：选D。D词义猜测题。根据划线部分后面的“Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis had already been named the world’s most expensive cow last year when half of its ownership was auctioned off for around $800,000, which was another record-breaking price at the time.”可知，去年，Viatina-19 FIV Mara Imóveis的一半所有权以约80万美元的价格被拍卖，这是当时另一个破纪录的价格，当时它已经被评为世界上最昂贵的奶牛，因此这头牛总价值达到惊人的430万美元。故选D。
2.What does the third paragraph mainly talk about?
A The introduction of the Nelore.
B The development of the Nelore.
C The process of the auction.
D The history of the Nelore.
解析：选A。A段落大意题。根据第二段关键词句“is considered”“Characterized by”“Their white fur”等可知，该段主要介绍了世界上最昂贵的一种奶牛，这种牛起源于印度内洛尔牛。故选A。
3.Which word can describe the Nelore?
A Sensitive.
B Tough.
C Enthusiastic.
D Miserable.
解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第四段的“which allows them to grow well even in low-quality situations. Incredibly hardy, the Nelore can resist a number of parasitic infections and their tough skin is much harder for insects to get into.”可知，这种牛即使在低质量的环境下也能生长得很好，它们可以抵抗许多寄生虫感染，它们坚韧的皮肤更难被昆虫穿透，由此可知这种牛很顽强。故选B。
4.What does the passage focus on?
A 167,000,000 Nelore cows are growing well in Brazil.
B The Nelore can resist a number of parasitic infections.
C World’s most expensive cow is priced at $4.3 million.
D The Nelore is known for high resistance to hot weather.
解析：选C。C主旨大意题。本文主要介绍了“维亚蒂纳-19”这头纯白色奶牛以430万美元总身价打破了全球纪录！故选C。