IntheAfricancountryofTanzaniaacompanyfromBelgiumcalledAPOPOtrainsAfricangiantpouchedrats(非洲巨袋鼠)tofinddangerouslandmines(地雷)leftoverfromwars.Theratsaretrainedtosmelloutsomeofthechemicalsinthemines.After8-12monthsoftrainingtheratcanfindminessotheycanbesafelydestroyed.
TraineddogsoftenperformthisimportantworkbutAPOPOdirectorBartWeetjensrecentlydiscoveredthattheAfricangiantpouchedratcostsfarlessmoneytotrainandcarefor.Theseratsmayseemhuge.Theirbodiesare12to16incheslongnotincludingtheirtails.Buttheirsizesuitsthejob:Atoneandahalfto3poundstheyaretoolighttosetoffthelandmines.
Ratsandtrainerssearchonesmallareaatatime.Whenaratsmellsminesitletsthetrainersknowbypawing(用爪子抓)atthedirtinthatspot.Thetrainersmarkeachspotonamap.Latertechniciansexplodetheminessafely.IntheAfricancountryofMozambiquenearlyhalfthepopulationisyoungerthan15yearsold.Alotofkidsareindangerastheyplayorwork.
“InthetownofVilanculoschildrenhadbeenplayingonthefootballfielduntiltherewasanaccident”BartWeetjenssaid.APOPOratsandtrainershelpedotherorganizationsmaketheareasafe.“Thefootballfieldhasbeenopenedagainandthereisnodangeranymore”Weetjenssaid.
About80millionlandminesareburiedoutofsightinmorethan60countriesaroundtheworld.AsAPOPO’sprogramgrowstheratheroesmighttraveltheglobe!
1．Theunderlinedword“they”(Para.1)refersto_____.
A．thetrainers B．themines C．thewars D．therats
2．Whyareratschosentobetrainedtofindthelandmines?
A．TheyarenativetoAfrica B．Theyaresmarterthandogs
C．Theyarecheaptokeepandtrain D．Theyarequicktoescapefromdanger
3．Whatisthetaskoftheratsinthejob?
A．Tomarkamap B．Tofindthemines
C．Tosetoffthemines D．Topawattheground
4．WhathappenedonthefootballfieldinVilanculos?
A．Alandmineexploded B．Aplayerwasinjuredduringthetraining