Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in order to cut he greenhouse gases they send out, which are thought to be responsible for global warming.
Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence(肠胃气胀)contains no methane(甲烷)and scientists want to transfer that bacteria to cattle and sheep who produce large quantities of the harmful gas.
While the usual image of greenhouse gas pollution is a billowing smokestack (烟囱) pushing out carbon dioxide, farm animals’ passing wind contribute a surprisingly high percentage of total emissions (排放物)in some countries.
“Fourteen percent of emissions from all sources in Australia are from enteric methane from cattle and sheep,” said Athol Kleve, a senior research scientist with the Queensland state government.
“And if you look at another country such as New Zealand, which has got a much higher agricultural base, they're actually up around 50 percent, ” he said.
Researchers say the bacteria also make the digestive process much more efficient and could potentially save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.
But it will take researchers at least three years to isolate (分离) the bacteria, before they can even start to develop a way of transferring it to cattle and sheep.
Another group of scientists, meanwhile, has suggested Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.
The idea is controversial (有争议的), but about 20 percent of health-conscious Australians are believed to eat the national symbol already.
“It's low in fat, it’s got high protein levels and it's very clean in the sense that basically it's the free-range (放养的) animal,” said Peter Amp of the University of New South Wales's institute of environmental studies.
小题1:Scientists intend to put bacteria into cattle and sheep _________.
A．so that they can make full use of special bacteria
B．to help Australian farmers to earn more money
C．so that they can protect Australian ecosystem
D．to prevent them from sending out harmful gases小题2:Athol Kleve seems to believe that ________.
A．cattle and sheep produce more carbon dioxide
B．less cattle and sheep are raised in New Zealand
C．farm animals are responsible for greenhouse gases
D．New Zealand has the most animals in the world小题3:What do the underlined words “the idea” in paragraph 9 refer to?
A．Australians should farm fewer cattle and sheep and just eat more kangaroos.
B．The bacteria could make the digestive process much more efficient.
C．Australians should give kangaroo - style stomachs to cattle and sheep.
D．The bacteria could save millions of dollars in feed costs for farmers.小题4:Which of the statements is the advantage Peter Amp lists about kangaroo?
A．it is rich in protein
B．it is cheaper than beef
C．it is high in fat
D．it is more delicious than sheep
