2019届高考英语复习基础阅读理解ADisregardofOurHumanity课文原文及教案.docxVIP

A Disregard of Our Humanity IT IS A LITTLE KNOWN FACT that in 1906, the Bronx Zoo in New York City housed a young man in an iron cage in which monkeys were usually placed. His name was Ota Benga, a Bushman (布须曼人 ) from a southern African tribe who live in the bush. The young Bushman became a popular attraction at once. It was estimated that nearly a quarter of the city ’ s population came out to see him that year. Nowadays we have fortunately moved beyond this kind of outright ( 赤裸裸的 ) cruelty and racial mistreatment (虐待 ). But that is not to say that we have completely given up our mistreatment of other living beings. The use and abuse of wild animals for the purpose of entertainment remains a commonplace across the world. Animals are trained in extremely cruel ways, just so we can see them leap through burning rings or snatch (抢夺 ) a fish from a trainer ’ s hand and soak the crowd with a huge splash. Thankfully, with the public awareness of wildlife protection increasing, some good things are happening. Maybe you have heard that Little White and Little Gray, two star beluga whales (白鲸 ) at Changfeng Ocean World, have hung up their performer hats. Next month, they are heading to the Sea Life Trust Beluga Whale Sanctuary (海洋生物基金会白鲸保护区 ) in Iceland, which is the world ’first open-water sanctuary for beluga whales. As Little White and Little Gray were getting ready to set out for their new homes, about 100 whales, kept in a “ whale jail ” in Russia, were getting ready to be set free as well. These whales were held in small containment areas隔(离区 ) in icy cold waters and were intended for sale to aquariums (水族馆 ). On February 27, the Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio asked his more than 18 million followers on Twitter to sign a petition (请愿书 ) demanding the release of the whales. Under the pressure that comes with worldwide attention, Russian authorities have ordered the release of these animals. Whales are a higher-order thinking species. In the wild, they can li