On Christmas Eve, two little ducks were found frozen on a pond in Smithville, Ohio. They flapped their wings, fruitlessly struggling to free themselves on the ice until two locals spotted them and helped set the animals free. The two ducks were later named Olaf and Elsa, characters from Disney’s Frozen, and sent to an animal rescue organization.

“Every year in springtime, particularly at Easter, many people buy ducklings on impulse as gifts, often for their kids. People associate baby animals like ducklings, chicks, and bunnies with springtime,” says John Di Leonardo, an anthrozoologist. “But months later, animal rescuers routinely see a rise in abandoned ducks in local parks and ponds.”

Elsa and Olaf’s tough situation highlights the reason why domestic ducks always show up in local parks and ponds. Assuming they can live, their case is pretty similar to going to Yellowstone National Park and seeing a wolf and such like. “Oh, if this wolf can live well, my dog can do too,” says Adison Smith, president of Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue. “Those ducks lack hunting instincts, and many quickly starve to death or fall sick. A majority cannot fly because of small wings. They don’t migrate, so they can’t survive winter. They’re literally sitting ducks for predators (捕食者),” John Di Leonardo adds.

Since the issue is largely due to a lack of awareness, Adison Smith has started a campaign and hung more than 50 signs in a dozen cities to remind parkgoers that getting rid of pet ducks tends to be disastrous to them and can be illegal by the state law, “Our goal is to get the problem at its source,” Adison says. Most people tend to buy ducklings at stores for less than a dollar each, or kids take them home from school hatching projects.

“Though most abandoned ducks live short, miserable lives, Olaf and Elsa are an exception — they’ll spend their remaining days at Lasa Sanctuary in Wooster, Ohio, in a shelter with other ducks, clean hay, and protection against predators,” John Di Leonardo says.

【小题1】Why did Olaf and Elsa appear on a frozen pond on Christmas Eve?

A．They starred in the film Frozen.	B．They practised their hunting skills.
C．They escaped from an animal shelter.	D．They were abandoned by their master.

【小题2】What does John mean by his words in Paragraph 3?

A．Animals share a lot in living habits.	B．Pet ducks are less adaptable in the wild.
C．Yellowstone is a great place for wildlife.	D．Animals can get along well with each other.

【小题3】What is Adison’s campaign aimed at?

A．Increasing the selling prices of ducks.

B．Reminding people to save our resources.

C．Educating people about the animal protection.

D．Appealing for the establishment of new animal laws.

【小题4】What does John Di Leonardo think of the present life of Olaf and Elsa?

A．Dangerous.

B．Easeful.

C．Restricted.

D．Exhausted.