HIGH-FLYING HELPERS

Drones, created as tools of war at first, are now performing important tasks to help people around the world.

Sending medical help to hard-to-reach places has been a problem for years. In Rwanda, some small hospitals don’t have enough medicine. As a result, many people die. A local company is trying to use drones to solve this problem. Drones can quickly provide healthcare service to the hospitals around Rwanda, and more people receive life-saving medicine. Drones also help after natural disasters. In 2015, a heavy storm hit Vanuatu, leaving many people homeless. Drones took pictures for the rescue (救援) teams. This helped the teams judge the situation quickly and offer help to the areas that were hardest hit.

Drones are also helping environmental organizations. Every year, poachers (偷猎者) kill many endangered animals. To stop them, the WWF uses drones. “They help us see things that we can’t,” says Colby, who works for the WWF. Drones can easily identify (识别) poachers in the dark. As well as finding poachers, these tools can be used to follow and protect animals. Scientists at a university plan to use them for a project: recording wildlife and identifying animal groups. The project leader believes drones will become widely used. “I think we will have plenty of drones flying over forests,” he predicts.

A tool made for war is now being used to save lives. “Drones can be good for both humans and animals. There’s nothing that can take the place of a good scientist. But now, thanks to drones, scientists are able to finish projects they’ve never imagined before,” says Kike, a man who cares about the environment.

1.1.What do drones do for the people in Rwanda?

A They take clear pictures.

B They help the homeless in time.

C They send medicine fast.

D They judge the situation carefully.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。文中提到 Drones can quickly provide healthcare service…more people receive life-saving medicine. 无人机快速运送药品。A 拍照片、B 帮助无家可归者、D 判断灾情，都是在瓦努阿图风暴中的作用。

2.2.What does the underlined word “They” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A The drones.

B The poachers.

C The animals.

D The organizations.

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。前文 “the WWF uses drones”，后面讲无人机能看到人看不到的事物，所以 They 指代 drones 无人机。

3.3.What are drones mainly used for in Paragraph 3?

A Starting a project.

B Finding lost people.

C Protecting animals.

D Recording daily life.

解析：选C。C 主旨大意题。第三段核心：识别偷猎者，追踪保护濒危动物。选保护动物。

4.4.What can we infer from Kike’s words?

A Wars have brought many problems.

B New technologies need improvement.

C People should protect the environment.

D Drones can help scientists do more things.

解析：选D。D 推理判断题。凯克原话：thanks to drones, scientists are able to finish projects they’ve never imagined before。无人机帮助科学家完成更多工作。

5.5.In which section of a magazine can we read the text?

A Nature

B Technology

C Health

D Travel

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。文章介绍无人机这项新技术及其应用，属于Technology（科技）栏目。Nature 自然；Health 健康；Travel 旅行。