Упр. 4. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

The History of the Bison

The original ecosystem in the central portions of North America was a prairie dominated by a few species of grasses. The eastern prairie, where the moisture was greater, had grasses up to 2 meters tall, while the drier western grasslands were populated with shorter grasses. Many different kinds of animals lived in this area, including prairie dogs, grasshoppers, many kinds of birds, and bisons. The bison was the dominant organism in the area. Millions of these animals roamed the prairie regions of North America with few predators other than the Native Americans, who used the bison for food, their hides for shelter, and their horns for tools and ornaments. The relationship between the bison and Native Americans was a predator-prey relationship in which the humans did not significantly reduce bison numbers.

When Europeans came to North America, they changed this relationship drastically. European-born Americans sought to convert the prairie to agriculture and ranching. However, two things stood in their way: the Native Americans, who resented the intrusion of the “white man” into their territory, and the bison. Since[21] many of the Native American tribes had horses and a history of warlike encounters with other tribes, they attempted to protect their land from this intrusion. The bison was a competitor in the eyes of the settlers, since it was impossible to use the land for agriculture or ranching with the millions of bison occupying so much area. The U.S. government established a policy of controlling the bison and Native Americans: Since bison were the primary food source of Native Americans in many areas, elimination of the bison would result in2 the starvation of many Native Americans, which would eliminate them as a problem for the frontier settler3. In 1874, the Secretary of the Interior4 stated that “…the civilization of the Indian was impossible while the buffalo remained on the plains.” Another example of this kind of thinking was expressed by a Colonel Dodge, who was quoted as saying5, “Kill every buffalo you can, every buffalo dead is an Indian gone.” Bisons were killed by the millions. Often, only their hides and tongues were taken; the rest of the animal was left to rot. Years later, the bones from these animals were collected and ground up to provide fertilizer. By 1888, the bison was virtually eliminated.

A few bisons were left in the Canadian wild and remote mountain areas of the United States, while others were present in small captive herds. Eventually, in the early 1900s, the U.S. government established the national Bison Range6 near Missoula, Montana. The Canadian Government also established a bison reserve in Alberta. These animals have proven to be useful since many people now desire meat with a lower fat content. Crossbreeding cattle with bison has led to a new breed of cattle with reduced fat content known as a feefalo. The animal that was barely7 saved from extinction by a few thoughtful individuals may contribute to better health for all.

Упр. 5. Выберите слова, соответствующие тексту, из данных в скобках:

1. The eastern prairie had grasses (taller, shorter) than the western grasslands.

2. The number of bisons roaming the prairie regions of North America was (great, small).

3. The Native Americans used the bison (for food, for food and other purposes).

4. (A lot of, few) different kinds of animals lived in this area.

5. Native Americans killed (a lot of, not many) bisons.

6. (The bison, the Native Americans) prevented the settlers from using the land for agriculture.

7. (Bisons, other animals) were the main food source for the Native Americans.

8. When millions of bisons were killed people often used their (meat, hides, horns).

Упр. 6. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту:

1. Why did the eastern prairie have taller grasses than the western grasslands?

2. What was the dominant animal in the central part of North America? Why?

3. What did the North Americans use the bison for?

4. Who changed the relationship between the bison and Native Americans?

5. What did European-born Americans search to convert the prairie to?

6. What was in their way?

7. What policy did the U.S. government establish, concerning the tribes?

8. Why were bisons killed by the millions?

9. What was done to the bones from bisons?

10. What did the Canadian government do to save the bison from extinction?

11. Why do people think that feefalo is good for health?

12. Are there many bisons in our Republic?

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