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When you were trying to figure out what to buy for the
environmentalist on your holiday list, fur probably didn't cross your mind. But
some ecologists and fashion(时装)enthusiasts are
trying to bring back the market for fur made from nutria(海狸鼠).
Unusual fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn have showcased
nutria fur made into clothes in different styles. "It sounds crazy to talk
about guilt-free fur—unless you understand that the nutria are destroying vast
wetlands every year," says Cree McCree, project director of Righteous Fur.
Scientists in Louisiana were so concerned that they
decided to pay hunters $5 a tail. Some of the fur ends up in the fashion shows
like the one in Brooklyn last month.
Nutria were brought there from Argentina by fur farmers
and let go into the wild. "The ecosystem down there can't handle this
non-native species(物种). It's destroying the
environment. It's them or us," says Michael Massimi, an expert in this
field.
The fur trade kept nutria in check for decades, but when
the market for nutria collapsed in the late
1980s, the cat-sized animals multiplied like crazy.
Biologist Edmond Mouton runs the nutria control program
for Louisiana. He says it's not easy to convince people that nutria fur is
green, but he has no doubt about it. Hunters bring in more than 300,000 nutria
tails a year, so part of Mouton's job these days is trying to promote fur.
Then there's Righteous Fur and its unusual fashions. Model
Paige Morgan says, "To give people a guilt-free option that they can wear
without someone throwing paint on them—I think that's going to be a massive
thing, at least here in New York. "Designer Jennifer Anderson admits it
took her a while to come around to the opinion that using nutria fur for her
creations is morally acceptable. She's trying to come up with a label to attach
to nutria fashions to show it is eco-friendly.
(1)
What is the purpose of the fashion shows in New Orleans and Brooklyn?
A . To promote guilt-free fur.
B . To expand the fashion market.
C . To introduce a new brand.
D . To celebrate a winter holiday.
(2)
Why are scientists concerned about nutria?
A . Nutria damage the ecosystem seriously.
B . Nutria are an endangered species.
C . Nutria hurt local cat-sized animals.
D . Nutria are illegally hunted.
(3)
What does the underlined word "collapsed" in paragraph 5 probably mean?
A . Boomed.
B . Became mature.
C . Remained stable.
D . Crashed.
(4)
What can we infer about wearing fur in New York according to Morgan?
A . It's formal.
B . It's risky.
C . It's harmful.
D . It's traditional.
答案: A
A
D
B