Who would have thought that millions of people would buy a product containing living ins

Who would have thought that millions of people would buy a product containing living insects？A businessman named Milton Levine did. He created the Uncle Milton Ant Farm more than half a century ago. Today, grandchildren of the first ant colony owners are watching ants working hard on the farm.Milton Levine was not trained in the study of insects, also known as entomology. But he knew a lot about ants, and he designed an appealing way to share his knowledge.

Mr Levine began his career as a maker of unusual toys after World War Ⅱ. He had returned to his birthplace in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania，after serving in the United States military.He got the idea for his future career from a business newsletter, which suggested that the best chances for jobs at the time were in toys. He decided to make toys. They understood that American society was about to change. The huge population increase known as the Baby Boom was beginning. There would be a huge demand for children's toys.

One day, he saw ants parading around a swimming pool.The sight made Mr Levine remember how much he had liked watching ants as a boy on his uncle's farm. Those thoughts gave him the idea for the Uncle Milton Ant Farm.

Milton Levine developed a narrow, green plastic container. The top looked like a farm, showing a farmhouse, a barn, a bridge and a windmill(风车)．Under those images was a divider that separated the ants' underground and above­ground areas.Under that was the sand where people could watch the ants digging passageways.

The first Uncle Milton Ant Farms were an immediate success.They were sold in 1956.Two years later，two million of the educational toys had been sold.

Through the years the toys continued to attract ant­watchers. People buy Uncle Milton Ant Farms from stores and order from websites. During his life, Mr Levine saw the sale of more than twenty million of his ant colonies.

The Uncle Milton Ant Farm tells far more than how to care for the ants. For example, people receiving an Uncle Milton Ant Farm learn that the little insects are strong. Some can carry loads fifty times heavier than they are. A writer remembers owning an Uncle Milton Ant Farm when he was about five years old.He says he became very good at numbers by counting the ants.

16．Which of the following words can best describe Milton Levine?

A．Strong.  B．Creative.

C．Loyal.  D．Humorous.

17．________ may be studied in the science of entomology.

A．Roses  B．Butterflies

C．Tigers  D．Sharks

18．Milton Levine got his idea from the following EXCEPT ________．

A．a business newsletter

B．the Baby Boom

C．ants parading

D．a farmhouse

19．What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．How to care for the ants.

B．Ants are strong and diligent.

C．The Uncle Milton Ant Farm is more than a toy.

D．The Uncle Milton Ant Farm is very popular.

本文介绍了Uncle Milton Ant Farm蚂蚁农场玩具的发明者Milton Levine。

16．B　推理判断题。从他设计玩具Uncle Milton Ant Farm的相关信息可以看出他极具创新精神。

17．B　推理判断题。根据第一段中的“Milton Levine was not trained in the study of insects，also known as entomology.”可知entomology是“昆虫学”之意。根据常识可知只有butterflies(蝴蝶)属于昆虫，会在昆虫学中学到，故B项正确。

18．D　细节理解题。根据第二段中的“He got the idea for his future career from a business newsletter.”“The huge population increase known as the Baby Boom was beginning.There would be a huge demand for children's toys.”以及第三段中的“…he saw ants parading around a swimming pool.”等信息可知，他从商务通讯、婴儿潮及蚂蚁搬家中得到启发，发明了这个蚂蚁农场玩具。D项没有提到。

19．C　段落大意题。根据最后一段的中心句“The Uncle Milton Ant Farm tells far more than how to care for the ants.”可知，本段主要讲这个蚂蚁农场玩具除了告诉大家怎么去照顾蚂蚁外，还有更深层的教育功能。