Last weekend I visited a zoo with a friend. When we were there, we debated whether or not zoos were a good thing. When I was little, I liked going to zoos. Now, at the age of 20, I still enjoy visiting them. However, I am aware that there are lots of people who don’t support these establishments.
Animals welfare is a growing concern in today’s society. There are many people who believe that zoos are cruel. They argue that it is cruel to remove animals from their natural habitats and keep them in cages. An animal kept in a zoo will lead a life different from an animal that lives in the wild. For example, animals in zoos don’t have to hunt for food. Additionally, some animals become unhappy in zoos because there isn’t enough space. Zoos exhibit animals from places all over the world must therefore adjust to different climates and seasons, depending on the location of the zoo in relation to where they come from.
For human visitors, however, a trip to the zoo can be an educational experience. When students learn about endangered species and are able to see them in a zoo, they are more likely to support projects designed to save these animals from extinction. Zoos are involved in many conservation projects: supporting zoos provides essential funding for these projects. Due to threats such as illegal hunting, there are many species which would be extinct if they weren’t kept in zoos. Moreover, many zoos attempt to replicate an animal’s natural habitat: a range of material is used to create a space that is similar to what would be found in the wild. Lots of toys are usually put in exhibitions to prevent animals from getting bored. Animals that live in tropical countries are typically housed indoors in heated tanks which are kept at a temperature similar to that of their natural habitat.
Every zoo has a slightly different approach to animal care and welfare, but overall I think zoos are a good thing. Seeing animals in their natural habitat isn’t always possible and I think zoos offer a good alternative. A trip to the zoo is both educational and fun —I’ll definitely continue to visit zoos!
【小题1】Why do many people think that zoos are cruel?| A．Animals have to leave from natural habitats and stay in cages. |
| B．Animals don’t have plenty of food and enough space. |
| C．Animals don’t have the ability to adapt themselves to different climates. |
| D．Animals have to face the cruelty in the zoo. |
| A．Students have the chance to see endangered animals. |
| B．Students will establish programs to raise money to support zoos. |
| C．Students will learn how to keep endangered animals. |
| D．Students are likely to support the project to save the endangered animals. |
| A．Copy. | B．Replace. | C．Adjust. | D．Assist. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Uninterested. | D．Disapproving. |
