Thousands of years ago, Britain was covered by thick forests, home to many animals which no longer live in the United Kingdom. There were wolves and bears, many different kinds of deer and large wild cows. There were less than four million people. They lived in small villages protected by wooden walls from the animals outside.
All this has changed, of course. Now the population of the United Kingdom has increased to sixty-five million. Three-quarters of Britain is covered with fields, towns or cities. Although 25 percent of land is countryside, new methods of farming mean that there are fewer birds and small animals living in fields than ever before. The United Kingdom is one of the few countries in the world that do not have a large wild animal that eats meat. In Scotland there are only 400 wildcats, but these are much smaller than wolves.
Some people would like to change things, however! Some organizations and writers say that Britain needs to become more natural again. They suggest that trees and plants that grew in the UK before towns and cities were built should be allowed to grow again. They even say that large wild animals which have not lived in the UK should be helped to return and live wild. They call this “rewilding”.
Not everyone agrees. In the last twenty years, over one million trees which at first grew in Scotland have been planted and there are plans for more — but wild animals? Some people ask if wolves will attack sheep or even humans. They are also angry that rewilding might mean an end to walking in the hills which so many people enjoy. So far there are no wolves or bears in Britain’s forests — but soon there might be!
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1.What was the population of the UK thousands of years ago?
A About 25 million.
B Over 65 million.
C More than 61 million.
D Not more than four million.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第一段There were less than four million people. 可知，几千年前英国人口还不到四百万，故选D。
2.Why are there fewer birds and small animals in fields in the UK?
A Because more trees have been planted.
B Because there are more large wild animals.
C Because pollution is much worse than before.
D Because people use new methods of farming.
解析：选D。细节理解题。根据第二段…new methods of farming mean that there are fewerbirds and small animals living in fields than ever before. 可知，因为人们使用新的耕种方法使得生活在田野里的鸟和小动物比以前少了，故选D。
3.Which paragraph gives opinions from “rewilding” supporters?
A Paragraph 1.
B Paragraph 2.
C Paragraph 3.
D Paragraph 4.
解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第三段They call this “rewilding”.可知，故选C。
4.What are some people against?
A Living closer to nature.
B Planting more and more trees.
C Helping large wild animals return.
D Building more villages and towns.
解析：选C。推理判断题。根据第四段They are also angry that rewilding might mean an end to walking in the hills可知，他们还感到愤怒的是，野性回归可能意味着许多人喜欢在山上行走的结束。因此一部分人反对的是帮助大型野生动物返回，故选C。
5.What’s the best title for the text?
A Making Britain wild again
B A trip to wild Britain
C An introduction to Britain
D Protecting the environment
解析：选A。主旨大意题。通读全文以及最后一段So far there are no wolves or bears in Britain’s forests — but soon there might be!可知，文章是围绕rewilding（野性回归）展开的，故选A。
