TheBrownBear

MywifeLauraandIwereonthebeachwiththreeofourchildrentakingpicturesofshorebirdsnearourhomeinAlaskawhenwespottedabear.Thebearwasthinandsmallmovingaimlessly.

JustafewminuteslaterIheardmydaughtershouting“Dad!Thebearisrightbehindus!”Anagreesivebearwillusuallyrushforwardtofrightenawayitsenemybutwouldsuddenlystopatthelastminute.Thisonewassilentanditsearspinnedback----thesign(迹象)ofananimalthatisgoinginforthekill.AnditwasacoldAprilday.Thebearbehavedabnormallyprobablybecauseofhunger.

Iheldmycameratripod(三脚架)inbothhandstoformabarrierasthebearrushedintome.Itshugeheadwaslevelwithmychestandshouldersandthetripodstuckacrossitsmouth.ItbitdownandIfoundmyselfsupportingitsweight.IknewIwouldnotbeabletoholditforlong.

EvensothiswasafightIhadtowin:Iwasallthatstoodbetweenthebearandmyfamilywhowouldstandlittlechanceofrunningfasterthanabrownbear.

Thebearhitatthecameracuttingitoffthetripod.Iraisedmyleftarmtoprotectmyface;thebeastheldtightlyonthetripodandpresseditintomyside.MyarmcouldnotmoveandIsensedthatmybonesweregoingtobreak.

DrawingbackmyfreehandIstruckthebearashardasIcouldforfivetosixtimes.ThebearopeneditsmouthandIgraspeditsfurtryingtopushitaway.Iwasactuallywrestling(扭打)withthebearatthispoint.Thenassuddenlyasithadbegunthefightended.Thebearmovedbacktowardtheforestbeforereturningforanotherattack-----ThefirsttimeIfelfpanic.

Apparentlysatisfiedthatwecausednofurtherthreatthebearmovedoffdestroyingafenceasitwent.Myarmwasinjuredbuttheoutcomeforuscouldhardlyhavebeenbetter.I’mproudthatmyfamilyremindedclear-headedwhenpaniccouldhaveledtoaverydifferentoutcome.

【小题1】Thebrownbearapproachedthefamilyinorderto_______.

A．catchshorebirdsB．startanattackC．protectthechildrenD．setupabarrierforitself【小题2】Thebearfinallywentawayafterit_______.A．feltsafeB．gotinjuredC．foundsomefoodD．tookawaythecam