Exercises Main Idea 1
Exercises Main Idea 1
2. European zoos of the late 19th and early 20th centuries incorporated the visual
cultures of their animals’ native homes into ornate buildings - reflections of
their nations’ colonial aspirations. The Berlin Zoo’s ostrich house resembled an
Egyptian temple, with large columns flanking the entrance and scenes of
ostrich hunts decorating the exterior. Berlin’s elephant enclosure was built in
the spirit of a Hindu temple; the home for its giraffes adopted an Islamic
architectural style. Zoos in Cologne, Lisbon, Antwerp, and Budapest, among
others, created similar exhibits. These zoos were no home for subtlety: The
animals they contained were exotic to most visitors; the buildings that did the
containing reinforced the sensation.
Which of the following best states the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Buildings in the late 19th and early 20th European zoos emphasized the
exotic origins of the animals they housed
B. Many buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries European zoos were
built to resemble Egyptian temples
C. European zoos in the late 19th and early 20th centuries sought to evoke
subtle emotions in their visitors
D. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, most of the animals in
European zoos came from outside of Europe
3. Though fun to watch, chimpanzees should not be kept as pets. They are
dangerously stronger than any NFL lineman. Adult chimps weigh only 100 to
160 pounds but have been measured pulling six to nine times their own
weight-----with one hand. Thus, to match the strength of an average chimp, a
human being would have to be able to register a two-handed pull of about a ton
it takes a very strong man to pull a quarter of that. Combined with this strength
is the fact that a chimp is capable of losing its temper for reasons known only
to the chimp. Chimps signal their feelings with subtle cues of behaviour that
aren't apparent to most humans. It is quite possible for a chimp to be on the
verge of violence while its owner sits unaware or even unknowingly continues
to provoke. Furthermore, it's not wise to keep a cute young chimp and release it
into the wild when it becomes dangerous. Wild-raised chimps will routinely
gang up on and kill those raised in captivity
4. Weather reporters have to give out a lot of information. That's why they use
pictures. The pictures help them tell us about the weather without using so
many words. Weather reporters need to know where the cold air is. They need
to see where the warm air is. They have to know where it is raining and what
types of clouds are in the area. Their reports need to be correct, but they also
need to be short. The pictures help weather reporters get the information out in
a fast way.