UNIT 5 单元仿真验收性评价
(时间:100分钟 满分:120分)
第一部分:阅读(共两节,满分50分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题2.5分,满分37.5分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Some of the First National Parks in China
Sanjiangyuan National Park
The first national park to be trialed as part of the new system was Sanjiangyuan, the source of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.Situated in Qinghai Province, it covers 190,700 sqkm of high altitude wilderness.A variety of protected species can be seen there.
Wuyi Mountain National Park
Both a Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site,Wuyi Mountain is one of the world's largest subtropical forest systems.Its dramatic gorges and rivers are home to thousands of types of protected wildlife like migratory birds and rare amphibians (两栖动物).And many visitors come to explore the archaeological (考古的) remains of Han City as well as numerous 11th century ancient buildings.
Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park
Situated in the Changbai Mountains along China's border with Russia, this park covers the wild habitats of the big cats and since 2017,12 Siberian small tigers and 11 new leopards have been born here.Nearby is Jingpo Lake National Geopark near Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang Province, with lakes, volcanic craters and ancient lava flows.
Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park
Preserving the tropical ecosystem of Hainan Island, China's southernmost province, this national park is home to the world's rarest primate (灵长类), the critically endangered Hainan gibbon.The national park includes many existing reserves,offering visitors the chance to be immersed in the rainforest and spot rare creatures in the wild.
1.What can people do in Wuyi Mountain National Park
A.They can experience tropical forest systems.
B.They can go to visit dramatic gorges and rivers.
C.They can expose themselves to the habitat for gibbons.
D.They can feed some small tigers and leopards.
2.Where can young people who are interested in volcanology go
A.Sanjiangyuan National Park.
B.Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park.
C.Jingpo Lake National Geopark.
D.Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.
3.What type of writing is the text
A.A guide. B.A review.
C.A notice. D.A report.
B
A year ago, I decided to create a more environmentally friendly kitchen, focusing on reducing the single use products such as plastic bags and paper towels.I'm not going to sugarcoat my experience.It takes commitment and willingness to change long held habits.In creating my kitchen, I tried a lot of different alternative products and some old common sense. The result, however, has been worth the effort.I'm recycling more and relying less on single use products and I'm saving money, too.
I'm not kidding when I say that I used to really love plastic storage bags, so this was, perhaps, the biggest challenge for me.Switching to reusable storage bags is a financial investment, but the cost is reasonable considering that I previously spent at least D|S100 annually on single use plastic bags and wrap.I will check online regularly for recycling updates, where a zero waste box for kitchen items is offered, from party supplies to mixed material food containers.
I'm a clean freak (狂热爱好者) and used to go through an amount of paper towels on a daily basis, but it's easy enough to cut up some old T shirts or towels to wipe down surfaces.I'm also a fan of bamboo paper towels, which have the look and feel of traditional paper towels.They are made from a highly renewable source and also break down in just 45 days.Better yet, they can be reused up to 100 times.As for kitchen sponges (海绵擦), I keep an eye out for those made with natural and recyclable materials.
When purchasing household items online from companies, I will ask to have them shipped in as few boxes as possible or as small a box as possible if a single item is to be sent.I'll let the company know that they should pay more attention to how to package items for delivery.
4.What is the author's main purpose of creating her kitchen
A.To save as much money as possible.
B.To change her long held habits.
C.To reduce waste and recycle more.
D.To make it cleaner and more practical.
5.What does the underlined word “sugarcoat” in paragraph 1 mean
A.Pay attention to. B.Get rid of.
C.Get interested in something. D.Make something attractive.
6.What does the author do in the process of creating her kitchen
A.She begins to recycle more single use plastic bags.
B.She checks online regularly to buy zero waste boxes.
C.She chooses to use the recyclable or reusable kitchen items.
D.She uses a large amount of paper towels on a daily basis.
7.What can we learn about the author from the text
A.She is accustomed to using traditional paper towels.
B.She has strong environmental awareness.
C.She has a good knowledge of financial investment.
D.She prefers to have her purchases packed in small boxes.
C
When scientists talk about recent extinctions, birds and mammals (哺乳动物) get most of the attention.But the first global analysis of its kind finds it is twice as many plants that have disappeared as birds, mammals, and amphibians combined.
Researchers reviewed published research, international databases, and museum specimens such as grasses from Madagascar, finding that 571 plants species have gone extinct in the past 250 years.One reason why the total is higher than that of the well studied animals is that there are simply more species of plants.Looking at percentages, the situation is worse for mammals and birds.An estimated 5% of those species have gone extinct, compared with 0.2% of plants.
The loss includes the Chile sandalwood tree in the South Pacific, which was cut down for its fragrant (芳香的) wood.It was last seen on Robinson Crusoe Island in 1908.The extinction rates among plants have been highest for trees and shrubs on islands, which often have species that occur nowhere else, and in regions with rich diversity, especially the tropics and in Mediterranean climates.
Just a few years later, the world lost the banded trinity (Thismia americana), a leafless plant that grew entirely underground except for its flowers.Most species of this kind of plant grow in rainforests, but this plant was first described in 1912 in a sandy wetland in Chicago, Illinois, and was wiped out by development.
According to the team's report in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the total of 571 extinct plant species is four times higher than the official listing kept by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.Even so, it is probably still an underestimate (低估), as less is known about the status of plants in Africa and South America than on other continents.Many of these species may disappear, too.A major review of the status of global biodiversity recently estimated that more than a million species, including 14% of plant and animal diversity, are threatened with extinction.
8.What caused the extinction of the Chile sandalwood tree
A.Climate change. B.The market demand.
C.Environmental pollution. D.The decline of the habitat.
9.What do we know about the banded trinity
A.It flowered without bearing seeds.
B.It disappeared during the 19th century.
C.It was a flowering plant without leaves.
D.It was a rare plant growing underground.
10.What can we infer about the plant species from the text
A.Their current situation is more worrying.
B.About one plant species dies out every year.
C.More plant species will keep alive in the reserve.
D.They would be replaced by other new species soon.
11.In which section of the newspaper can we find the text
A.Sports. B.Nature.
C.Entertainment. D.Figures.
D
Soil creates life from death.The production of more than 95% of the food we eat relies on soil.But this precious resource is eroding (侵蚀) at a global average of 13.5 tons per hectare per year.Instead of nourishing crops, fertile topsoil is washed and blown away, ending up in inconvenient places such as ditches and oceans.
Jo Handelsman and Kayla Cohen try to make readers care about soil in A World Without Soil. Their prologue (前言) takes the form of a letter to the government.With the letter, they hope to make soil management a federal priority.The following chapters cover the basic science of soil as well as the causes and consequences of its erosion.In the last part of the book, the authors turn to possible solutions — many of them simple, and some centuries old.They describe about traditional soil management techniques, including planting diverse crops in rotation (轮种), increasing organic content, ploughing as little as possible, etc.With these techniques, farmers are able to produce rich agricultural production while maintaining deep banks of fertile soil.
Why, then, is fertile soil being allowed to be washed and blown away The answer, not surprisingly, rests in global capitalism.Farmers' profit is thin, forcing farmers to plant the highest profit crop from field to field every season.To ensure food security, Handelsman and Cohen urge the world to demand a real top down change in how agricultural production is managed.“The burden of protecting soil cannot be shifted to farmers and environmental activists,” they note.Governments must begin to move towards a model in which farmers are less independent business people growing and selling food, and more government supported land workers managing both food production and soil protection.This should be the core of agriculture.
Our land and soil are too precious to be destroyed by the market price of crops.We must invest deeply and thoughtfully in our farmers so that they can invest deeply and thoughtfully in the land.This is the future of farming.
12.What is paragraph 1 mainly about
A.The gradual process of losing soil.
B.The worrying situation of soil erosion.
C.The alarming decrease of food output.
D.The great significance of soil protection.
13.What do we know about the book A World Without Soil
A.It targets federal officials as its main readers.
B.It puts forward some practical solutions to soil loss.
C.It advocates changing traditional farming techniques.
D.It blames governments for not taking care of farmlands.
14.What do Handelsman and Cohen suggest farmers do
A.Invest in the most profitable crops.
B.Grow and sell food all by themselves.
C.Shoulder the burden of protecting soil.
D.Work the land with government support.
15.Which of the following is the best title for the text
A.A Call to Save Soil
B.Tips to Reshape Agriculture
C.Ways to Enrich Farmland
D.An Appeal to Guarantee Food Supply
第二节(共5小题;每小题2.5分,满分12.5分)
阅读下面短文,从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
It's estimated that families in the UK create more than six million tons of food waste each year.With food prices rising, it's a good time to become a food waste fighter.__16__ After all, growing, packaging and transporting food uses a lot of Earth's resources such as energy and water.
___17__First, it's a good idea to find out just how much food goes into your rubbish can.Keep a diary and note down the foods that get thrown most often, and why.
Planning meals for the week can save time and money.Meat from a Sunday roast could go into sandwiches on Monday.Bananas that are brown and soft can be baked into banana bread at the weekend.__18__
Cooking the correct size helps too.Weigh out pasta or rice you need before you cook it.Before you pile your plate, check how hungry you are.__19__
It's hard to keep track of food that's gone to the back of the fridge.You could label a shelf an “Eat me first” spot for anything that has been there a while.__20__You can freeze leftovers in a sealed container for another day.But heat any leftovers put in a fridge thoroughly before eating.
Finally, use your senses.Some UK supermarkets have taken “best before dates” off fruit and vegetables.This can encourage people to use their nose and eyes to work out if something is still fine to eat.Ask an adult for help.Don't forget to update your diary to see how much change you can make.
A.Your freezer is another way to save food.
B.Not only will it save money; it is good for the environment.
C.This may prevent you from leaving food because you're too full.
D.Potatoes and carrots last a long time if kept in a cool, dark place.
E.Apples, bananas, and potatoes are the most common wasted items.
F.Read the instruction carefully to make sure that you use it properly.
G.Here are some simple tips that can help you become food waste fighters.
第二部分:语言运用(共两节,满分30分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分)
阅读下面短文,从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
On a cold winter, I relaxed myself on the sofa after dinner.Flicking through (浏览) the pages of the newspaper that ___21__ my eyes, I noticed that Taronga Zoo was in need of volunteers.
I'd studied __22__ and taught at the Interpreter School in Switzerland, then __23__ as a secretary in international business before moving to Australia.But because of being a stay at home mum to my teenage son, my related skills had ___24__.
I thought helping out at the zoo would be a great way to __25__ and improve my German, Swiss and French.So I handed in my application and was __26__.Then I learned about animals' diets, behavior and how the zoo operated by attending __27__.We were also taught how to give animal tour talks.
On my first day, when __28___for visitors to gather for a tour, an overseas tourist approached.Feeling nervous, I held my notebook __29__, took a deep breath and took him from the koalas to the kangaroos and then on to the bird zone.I loved __30__my new found knowledge.Seeing visitors' eyes and face light up when visitors watched a kangaroo playfully boxing the air or heard a lion __31__ a strong roar (吼叫) was a treat and filled me with __32__.It became my favorite day.Now, many years have passed and I love it just as much as the first day!
I'm__33__ to say it's a privilege (荣幸) to be able to __34__ the zoo and its animal protection work.I find it very __35__ to meet people from all over the world and help them to learn about the wildlife.
21.A.filled B.followed
C.caught D.touched
22.A.languages B.science
C.management D.animals
23.A.considered B.described
C.served D.maintained
24.A.developed B.fallen
C.changed D.lost
25.A.identify B.replace
C.realize D.practice
26.A.memorized B.suggested
C.accepted D.expected
27.A.lectures B.interviews
C.challenges D.adventures
28.A.applying B.waiting
C.caring D.asking
29.A.angrily B.successfully
C.freely D.carefully
30.A.planning B.ignoring
C.sharing D.keeping
31.A.let out B.work out
C.set out D.point out
32.A.worry B.surprise
C.tension D.joy
33.A.brave B.proud
C.sharp D.frightened
34.A.rent B.protect
C.support D.settle
35.A.beneficial B.shocking
C.confusing D.horrible
第二节(共10小题;每小题1.5分,满分15分)
阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Wetlands are known as the “kidneys (肾) of the Earth”, providing a variety of ecosystem services such as water conservation and climate regulation and having __36__ (exception) carbon capturing (捕捉) ability.They can store 50 times more carbon __37__ rain forests do, helping to keep the greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere.
China's wetland __38__ (cover) represents nearly 10% of the global total.In China about 300 million people depend on wetlands __39__ survival.Wetlands are vital for the food production of the country.
This year marks __40__ 30th anniversary of China's joining the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.China has made great efforts to preserve wetlands.Xixi National Wetland Park, lying in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, __41__ (approve) as China's first national wetland park in 2005.Now, there are 901 national wetland parks in China, 90% of __42__ are open to the public for free.Among the 43 “international wetland cities”, 13 __43__ (be) in China, the most in the world.
And on June 1, 2022, the country's first law __44__ (devote) to wetland protection came into effect.The country's goal is __45__ (bring) 55% of wetlands under protection by 2025, and become a leader in global wetland conservation and restoration by 2030.
第三部分:写作(共两节,满分40分)
第一节(满分15分)
假定你是李华,你校将举办主题为“保护海洋动物,人人有责”的英语演讲比赛。请你写一篇演讲稿参赛,内容包括:
1.保护海洋动物的意义; 2.保护海洋动物的举措。
注意:1.写作词数应为80左右;
2.可以适当增加细节,以使行文连贯。
第二节(满分25分)
阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。
December 1952 in Wisconsin was bitterly cold.A curious 7 year old, I was in hesitation when my father arrived home from work with something hidden in his jacket.“Guess what I have,” he said.He slowly unwrapped the jacket to take out a frozen owl.He'd found the frozen bird on his car when he left work and guessed that it had flown into the windshield (挡风玻璃).
Dad thought it might be alive and wanted to let it warm up.My mother agreed to let the bird stay overnight, so Dad and I took it to the basement and carefully laid it near our coal stove.I was the first one into the kitchen the next morning for a bowl of cereal (麦片).I found the owl resting on the sugar bowl as if waiting for its breakfast.I hurried to tell my parents that the owl was alive and sitting at the kitchen table.Mom didn't like that it was in the kitchen and wanted it out of the house.
Dad instructed me to open the back door while he forced the owl toward me.I heard the flapping of wings, but before I could direct its flight outside, the owl turned around away from the cold air coming in the door and flew past me, down the stairs into the shelter of the warm basement.Resting in the space near the top of the basement, the owl was safely beyond our reach.We tried driving it out with a broom, but it calmly flew to the far side of the basement.Soon Dad and I were laughing too hard to continue, and we realized there was no way we could drive the owl out if it wanted to stay.Mom agreed to have it in the house until Dad could catch it when it became weak from hunger.But that never happened.
注意:1.续写词数应为150左右; 2.请按如下格式作答。
The door didn't shut properly, which allowed mice into the basement.
As spring arrived, we knew it was time for the owl to leave.
UNIT 5 单元仿真验收性评价
第一部分
语篇解读:本文是一篇应用文。文章介绍了中国最早的一些国家公园。
1.选B 细节理解题。根据Wuyi Mountain National Park部分中的“Its dramatic gorges and rivers are home to thousands of types of protected wildlife like migratory birds and rare amphibians (两栖动物).”可知,人们在武夷山国家公园可以参观壮观的峡谷和河流。
2.选C 细节理解题。根据Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park部分中的“Nearby is Jingpo Lake National Geopark near Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang Province, with lakes,volcanic craters and ancient lava flows.”可知,对火山学感兴趣的年轻人可以去镜泊湖国家地质公园。
3.选A 推理判断题。根据文章标题“Some of the First National Parks in China”及下文对四座国家公园的介绍可知,文章主要介绍了中国最早的一些国家公园。由此推知,文章可能是一篇旅游指南。
语篇解读:本文是一篇记叙文。作者为了减少一次性产品的使用,创建了一个环保厨房,并且改变了自己的很多生活习惯,使用更环保的产品。
4.选C 细节理解题。根据第一段第一句和最后一句可知,作者创建环保厨房的主要目的是减少浪费,循环利用可回收利用之物。
5.选D 词义猜测题。根据第一段最后两句可知,作者对自己采取的措施还算满意,但也不想粉饰这一次经历。另外由构词法可知,sugarcoat表义为“糖衣”,应表示积极的方面。由此可推知,sugarcoat 表示“使……有吸引力”。
6.选C 细节理解题。根据第一段第一句和后三段中的具体例子可知,在创建这个厨房时,作者选择使用可回收或可重复使用的厨房用品。
7.选B 推理判断题。根据第一段第一句以及下文中的叙述可知,作者为了减少一次性产品的使用,创建了一个环保厨房。由此可知,作者是一个环保意识很强的人。
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一项新的研究发现。该研究表明消失的植物数量是鸟类、哺乳动物和两栖动物总和的两倍。
8.选B 细节理解题。根据文章第三段第一句可知,智利檀香树是因为其芳香而被砍伐。由此可知,市场需求导致了智利檀香树的灭绝。
9.选C 推理判断题。根据文章第四段第一句可知,美洲水玉杯是一种没有叶子的开花植物。
10.选A 推理判断题。根据文章最后一段可知,该团队认为因为人们对非洲和南美洲植物状况的了解比其他大陆的要少,所以灭绝的植物物种总数被低估了。由此推知,植物种类的现状是令人担忧的。
11.选B 推理判断题。根据文章第一段以及全文内容可知,这篇文章和自然相关。由此推知,我们可以在报纸的自然版块找到这篇文章。
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章提及土壤侵蚀的现状,介绍了Jo Handelsman和Kayla Cohen所著的作品内容和他们针对土壤流失提出的建议。
12.选B 段落大意题。根据文章第一段第三、四句可知,第一段主要讲述土壤侵蚀的状况严重,令人担忧。
13.选B 细节理解题。根据文章第二段第五句可知,B项“针对土壤流失,它提出了一些实用的解决方法”正确;C项“它主张改变传统的耕作技术” 是第三段中Jo Handelsman和Kayla Cohen的观点;而A项和D项“它指责政府不照顾农田”在文章中并未提及,所以A、D项不正确。
14.选D 推理判断题。根据第三段倒数第二句可知,农民应在政府的帮助下从事农业生产,所以D项“在政府的支持下耕种土地。”符合题意。
15.选A 标题归纳题。根据文章尾段第二句并结合全文可知,作者发出呼吁,保护土壤,所以A项为最佳标题。
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述了在家里如何节约粮食,减少浪费。
16.选B 上文号召我们做一个与食物浪费做斗争的战士, B项“这不但省钱,而且对环境有益”解释了这样做的意义。
17.选G 下文列举了与食物浪费作斗争的具体做法,G项“下面给你一些小窍门,帮助你如何与食物浪费做斗争”可以引起下文。
18.选D 上文列举了有效利用剩余食材或即将腐坏的食物的具体做法, D项“土豆和胡萝卜如果存放在凉爽、阴暗的地方能保存更久”与前文内容构成并列关系。
19.选C 上文提到做饭之前应先估计一下所需食物的数量,C项“这能让你不会因为吃太饱而剩下食物”承接上文,符合语境。
20.选A 下文举例说明如何利用冰箱来存放本来可能被丢掉的食物,A项“冰箱是保存食物的另一种方法”与下文是例证关系 。
第二部分
语篇解读:本文是一篇记叙文。文章主要讲述了作者在塔龙加动物园做志愿者工作的经历。
21.选C 根据下文“I noticed that Taronga Zoo was in need of volunteers”以及下文内容可知,报纸上的这则消息吸引了作者的注意力。短语catch one's eyes意为“吸引某人的注意”,符合句意。
22.选A 根据下文“taught at the Interpreter School in Switzerland”以及“I thought helping out at the zoo would be a great way to ______ and improve my German, Swiss and French.”可知,作者曾经学过各种语言。
23.选C 根据上文“taught at the Interpreter School in Switzerland”可推测,空处指的是作者在搬到澳大利亚之前做过国际商务秘书。短语serve as意为“担当”,符合句意。
24.选B 根据上文“because of being a stay at home mum to my teenage son”可推测,由于作者要居家照顾孩子,所以作者认为自己的专业技能生疏了。
25.选D 根据下文以及常识可知,作者认为在动物园做志愿者可以练习自己学过的语言。
26.选C 根据下文可推断,作者的申请通过了,作者被录取为志愿者。
27.选A 根据空前的“I learned about animals' diets, behavior and how the zoo operated”可推测,作者通过参加讲座来了解动物的相关知识。
28.选B 根据空后的“for visitors to gather for a tour”可知,作者是在等待游客集合。
29.选D 根据上文“Feeling nervous”以及下文“took a deep breath and took him from the koalas to the kangaroos and then on to the bird zone”可知,作者此时感到很紧张。由此可推测,作者是小心地抓着笔记本。
30.选C 根据上文“We were also taught how to give animal tour talks.”可知,作者需要学习如何进行动物之旅演讲。由此可知,作者喜欢和游客分享这些关于动物的知识。
31.选A 根据空前的“heard”可推测,空处指的是狮子发出吼叫。
32.选D 根据下文“It became my favorite day.Now, many years have passed and I love it just as much as the first day!”可知,这一天给作者带来的是喜悦。
33.选B 根据下文“it's a privilege (荣幸) to be able to _________ the zoo and its animal protection work”可知,作者感到很自豪。
34.选C 根据全文内容可知,作者是动物园的志愿者,作者的工作是支持动物园及其动物保护工作。
35.选A 根据上文“I thought helping out at the zoo would be a great way to ________ and improve my German, Swiss and French.”以及空后的“to meet people from all over the world and help them to learn about the wildlife”可知,作者认为这份工作是非常有益的。
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章介绍了湿地的重要性以及中国在湿地保护方面做出的重要贡献。
36.exceptional 考查形容词。 空处修饰后面的名词ability,应用形容词形式。exceptional“非常好的”。
37.than 考查比较状语从句。根据前面的“50 times more”可知,此处应用than引导比较状语从句。
38.coverage 考查名词。空处作主语,被 wetland 修饰,应用名词。coverage“覆盖范围”是不可数名词。
39.for 考查介词。 depend on/upon ...for sth.“依靠……获得某物”。
40.the 考查冠词。序数词前面用定冠词 the。
41.was approved 考查时态、语态和主谓一致。 由时间状语“in 2005”可知,此处应用一般过去时;动词approve“批准”与单数主语Xixi National Wetland Park是被动关系,应用被动语态,故填was approved。
42.which 考查定语从句。此处是“数词+介词+关系代词”引导的定语从句。先行词为物时,介词后用which。
43.are 考查时态和主谓一致。此处描述客观情况,应用一般现在时;主语13指代的是13个国际湿地城市,是复数含义,故be动词用are。
44.devoted 考查非谓语动词。be devoted to“致力于”在此处作定语,故填devoted。
45.to bring 考查非谓语动词。 当表示“目的、希望、目标等”的名词作主语时,通常用动词不定式作表语,故填to bring。
第三部分
第一节 参考范文:
Good afternoon, everyone!
Nowadays many sea animals are in great danger or even going to die out due to human activities. However, the relation between marine life and humans is close, and protecting marine life is equal to protecting our human beings.Therefore, it is necessary for us to take action to protect them.
First, we can tell people about the importance of protecting the sea and the animals in it.Also, we should stop polluting the sea and try our best to make it clean.Let's work together to save the sea animals!
That's all.Thank you!
第二节 参考范文:
The door didn't shut properly, which allowed mice into the basement.In the days that followed, the owl caught the mice in the basement and enjoyed every meal of them.Before long, it became so fat that Dad might have easily caught it.But he didn't.Even Mom never asked him to drive it out of the house.I usually showed my friends the owl that lived in my basement and explained its eating habits.Time passed quickly and three months went by before we knew it.
As spring arrived, we knew it was time for the owl to leave.On a warm afternoon, we decided to set the bird free.I opened the door, though I hated to do it.The owl seemed to read our minds and flew out into the tall pear tree in our backyard.We observed it around the neighborhood for a few more days and then it was gone.We felt a sense of loss.We took comfort knowing it was free and healthy, if a bit overweight.