In what’s probably the craziest headline I’ve ever written, I’ve reported that 26 in livestock protection happening with scientists painting eyes on the butts of cows. The experiment is based upon the idea that farmers who’re protecting their herd from lions would shoot and kill lions in an effort to protect their livestock. While this makes a lot of sense, it results in many lion deaths that 27 would have been unnecessary. Researchers in Australia have been 28 and testing a method of trickery to make lions think they are being watched by the painted eyes on cow butts.

This idea is based on the principle that lions and other 29 are far less likely to attack when they feel they are being watched. As conservation areas become smaller, lions are increasingly coming into contact with human populations, which are expanding to the 30 of these protected areas.

Efforts like painting eyes on cow butts may seem crazy at first, but they could make actual headway in the fight for conservation. “If the method works, it could provide farmers in Botswana—and 31 —with a low-cost, sustainable tool to protect their livestock, and a way to keep lions safe from being killed.”

Lions are 32 ambush(埋伏)hunters, so when they feel their prey has 33 them, they usually give up on the hunt. Researchers are 34 testing their idea on a select herd of cattle. They have painted half of the cows with eyes and left the other half as normal. through satellite tracking of both the herd and the lions in the area, they will be able to 35 if their psychological trickery will work to help keep farmers from shooting lions.

A) advances B) boundaries C) challenging D) currently E) determine F) devising G) elsewhere H) nevertheless I) otherwise J) predators K) primarily L) retorted M) spotted N) testimonies O) wrestle

答案解析：

根据空格前的系动词are”和空格后的介词短语in livestock protection”，可知此处需要填入一个复数名词，作主语。句意为“我报道过，科学家在奶牛臀部画上眼睛图案，这是牲畜保护领域取得的一项进展。”。“advances”意为进步，进展”，是复数名词，符合语境。所以选 A。

根据空格前的many lion deaths that”和空格后的would have been unnecessary”，可知此处需要一个副词来修饰整个句子。句意为”这导致了许多狮子的死亡，而这些死亡本可以是不必要的”。”otherwise”意为否则，不然”，在此处引申为在其他情况下”，符合语境。所以选 I。

根据空格前的have been”和空格后的and testing”，可知此处需要填入一个动词的现在分词形式，与”testing”构成并列关系，共同构成现在完成进行时。句意为“澳大利亚的研究人员一直在并测试一种欺骗的方法”。“devising”意为设计，发明”，符合语境。所以选 F。

根据空格前的lions and other”和空格后的are far less likely to attack”，可知此处需要填入一个复数名词，与lions”并列。句意为“这个想法基于一个原则：狮子和其他在感觉被注视时，攻击的可能性会小得多”。“predators”意为捕食者，食肉动物”，符合语境。所以选 J。

根据空格前的the”和空格后的of these protected areas”，可知此处需要填入一个名词。句意为“随着人类保护区越来越小，狮子与人类种群(这些种群正扩张到这些保护区的)的接触越来越多”。“boundaries”意为边界，分界线”，符合语境。所以选 B。

根据空格前的in Botswana—and”和空格后的破折号，可知此处需要填入一个副词，与in Botswana”并列。句意为“如果这个方法有效，它可以为博茨瓦纳及的农民提供一种低成本、可持续的工具”。“elsewhere”意为在别处”，符合语境。所以选 G。

根据空格后的ambush hunters”，可知此处需要填入一个副词来修饰这个名词短语。句意为“狮子是埋伏型捕食者”。“primarily”意为主要地，根本上”，符合语境。所以选 K。

根据空格前的their prey has”和空格后的them”，可知此处需要填入一个动词的过去分词形式，构成现在完成时。句意为“当狮子感觉到它们的猎物已经了发现它们，它们通常会放弃捕猎”。“spotted”意为发现，认出”，符合语境。所以选 M。

根据空格后的testing their idea”，可知此处需要填入一个副词来修饰动词testing”。句意为“研究人员正在一个特定的牛群上测试他们的想法”。“currently”意为当前，目前”，符合语境。所以选 D。

根据空格前的they will be able to”和空格后的if their psychological trickery will work...”，可知此处需要填入一个动词原形。句意为“通过卫星追踪，他们将能够他们的心理诡计是否奏效”。“determine”意为确定，查明”，符合语境。所以选 E。