Mary Krupa became friends with the grey squirrels during her first week at Penn State University, after spotting them running around and idly(漫不经心地)wondering what they would look like with tiny hats on their heads. Today, everyone at the university knows her as the “Squirrel Girl”.
Mary started bringing them food, and gradually they began to trust her. She managed to put a hat on a squirrel and take a picture. Thinking that she could do something to lift up people’s spirits, she started posting similar photos on Facebook. The response was greatly positive, and before long Mary and her squirrels became an Internet sensation.
Growing up in a neighborhood outside the state college, Mary was always fond of birds and animals around her home, but she didn’t interact with people very much. She was later diagnosed with Asperger syndrome(阿斯伯格综合征), but the squirrels changed that. “The squirrels are actually a good way to break the ice, because I’ll be sitting here patting a squirrel and other people will come over and we just start feeding the squirrels together and chatting about them,” “she said. “I am a lot more outgoing.”
And in case you’re wondering how Mary is able to get the squirrels to do what she wants for her photos, it has a lot to do with food. For example, whenever she wants them to hold or play with something, she puts peanut butter on the prop(道具), and they’ll grab it. But getting to that part took a while. In the beginning, she would throw peanuts up the trees on campus and invite the squirrels to come down and get them, but they hesitated to approach her. She had the patience to earn their trust, though.
This year, Mary is graduating with degrees in English and Wildlife Sciences. She wants to be a science writer and educate people on how to preserve the environment. As for her furry friends, Mary plans to stay in the area and visit them as often as she can.
【小题1】What kind of change do squirrels bring to Mary?
A.She is healthier than before. |
B.She became interested in animals. |
C.She is more sociable than before. |
D.She began to love taking photos. |
【小题2】How did Mary manage to take photos of squirrels wearing hats?
A.By putting them in cages. |
B.By playing music to them. |
C.By attracting them with colorful food. |
D.By building a close relationship with them. |
【小题3】Which words can best describe Mary?
A.Patient and caring. |
B.Confident and strong. |
C.Sociable and healthy. |
D.Traditional and hard-working. |
【小题4】What can be the best title for the text?
A.Mary’s experience in university |
B.Making friends with wild animals |
C.The “Squirrel Girl” of Penn State University |
D.The bridge between Mary and squirrels |