Continuation from the previous task.
Read the article about a unique bridge. For questions 1-4 choose the answer which you think fits best based on the text.
A BRIDGE JUST FOR SQUIRRELS
Situated on the border of Oregon and Washington, Longview, a small tourist town, may not be the most popular town in the state, but it still offers green and often unusual experiences similar to Washington State itself. Tourists from all over continue to visit Longview because it is near Castle Rock, which is the entrance to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It is an opportunity to see the regenerating natural landscape and learn about the eruption of a volcano and its environmental impact. There are several trails for hiking, photography, and a chance to observe nature’s strength.
Of the nearly 8000 bridges across the State of Washington, not all are used for motor vehicles, particularly in Longview. Thanks to a man named Amos Peters, the town has a unique bridge just for squirrels, the Nutty Narrows Bridge, which quickly became a new international attraction.
As a local builder in Longview, Amos Peters spent a lot of his time outside. One day, while working in the city’s park, Peters and his co-workers noticed a number of local squirrels attempting and unfortunately failing to cross Olympia Way, a busy crossroad. Why were those squirrels trying to cross the road? Because an office building across the street regularly left out food for their furry friends. This situation highlighted the challenging relationship between the natural world and urban development. Moreover, the observation showed that the community was unaware of its impact on the wildlife. The squirrels, driven by their instincts and hunger, were unaware of the dangers presented by the busy roads.
Using metal piping and an old fire hose, Peters, together with local architects Robert Newhall and LeRoy Dahl, engineer Donald Kramer, and construction worker Bill Hutch, built a 60-foot-long (18 metre) suspension bridge. Altogether, the project cost a total of $1000, and it didn’t take long before proving its success. Almost immediately, squirrels began trekking across the Nutty Narrows Bridge to gather food before returning to the park, even bringing their kits along with them. The Nutty Narrows Bridge didn’t just become popular with squirrels. The mini-bridge gained international attention with the team receiving countless letters from people all over the world thanking them for saving the local wildlife. The bridge’s fame spread due to its unique purpose and the heart-warming story behind it. It represents community involvement in dealing with urban wildlife issues. And in 1983, when Peters briefly took the bridge down for restoration, Disney’s Chip and Dale and Mickey Mouse showed up in Longview to help restore it. Their presence boosted public interest and awareness, attracting volunteers and supporters, which sped up and energised the restoration efforts.
The Nutty Narrows Bridge continues to stand today. Locals even put lights across it during the holidays. _(A)_ Its popularity has not decreased either. _(B)_ The bridge has actually ‘grown’ since its creation in 1963, not in size but in numbers. _(C)_ Longview added a sister bridge in 2011, another in 2012, and three more since then, making a total of six squirrel bridges. _(D)_ This shows the city’s commitment to continuous improvement and community engagement. This also shows how a small, original idea can evolve and strengthen a community’s ties, improve local culture, and potentially inspire other cities to take up similar wildlife-friendly initiatives.
A BRIDGE JUST FOR SQUIRRELS
Situated on the border of Oregon and Washington, Longview, a small tourist town, may not be the most popular town in the state, but it still offers green and often unusual experiences similar to Washington State itself. Tourists from all over continue to visit Longview because it is near Castle Rock, which is the entrance to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. It is an opportunity to see the regenerating natural landscape and learn about the eruption of a volcano and its environmental impact. There are several trails for hiking, photography, and a chance to observe nature’s strength.
Of the nearly 8000 bridges across the State of Washington, not all are used for motor vehicles, particularly in Longview. Thanks to a man named Amos Peters, the town has a unique bridge just for squirrels, the Nutty Narrows Bridge, which quickly became a new international attraction.
As a local builder in Longview, Amos Peters spent a lot of his time outside. One day, while working in the city’s park, Peters and his co-workers noticed a number of local squirrels attempting and unfortunately failing to cross Olympia Way, a busy crossroad. Why were those squirrels trying to cross the road? Because an office building across the street regularly left out food for their furry friends. This situation highlighted the challenging relationship between the natural world and urban development. Moreover, the observation showed that the community was unaware of its impact on the wildlife. The squirrels, driven by their instincts and hunger, were unaware of the dangers presented by the busy roads.
Using metal piping and an old fire hose, Peters, together with local architects Robert Newhall and LeRoy Dahl, engineer Donald Kramer, and construction worker Bill Hutch, built a 60-foot-long (18 metre) suspension bridge. Altogether, the project cost a total of $1000, and it didn’t take long before proving its success. Almost immediately, squirrels began trekking across the Nutty Narrows Bridge to gather food before returning to the park, even bringing their kits along with them. The Nutty Narrows Bridge didn’t just become popular with squirrels. The mini-bridge gained international attention with the team receiving countless letters from people all over the world thanking them for saving the local wildlife. The bridge’s fame spread due to its unique purpose and the heart-warming story behind it. It represents community involvement in dealing with urban wildlife issues. And in 1983, when Peters briefly took the bridge down for restoration, Disney’s Chip and Dale and Mickey Mouse showed up in Longview to help restore it. Their presence boosted public interest and awareness, attracting volunteers and supporters, which sped up and energised the restoration efforts.
The Nutty Narrows Bridge continues to stand today. Locals even put lights across it during the holidays. _(A)_ Its popularity has not decreased either. _(B)_ The bridge has actually ‘grown’ since its creation in 1963, not in size but in numbers. _(C)_ Longview added a sister bridge in 2011, another in 2012, and three more since then, making a total of six squirrel bridges. _(D)_ This shows the city’s commitment to continuous improvement and community engagement. This also shows how a small, original idea can evolve and strengthen a community’s ties, improve local culture, and potentially inspire other cities to take up similar wildlife-friendly initiatives.
1. What is one reason tourists visit Longview?
2. Where would be the best place in the fifth paragraph to use this sentence?
“It has become a symbol of the town’s pride and creativity.”
“It has become a symbol of the town’s pride and creativity.”
3. What broader issue does the Nutty Narrows Bridge help illustrate?
4. What conclusion can be drawn about the success of the first bridge?
Atsauce:
https://www.viaa.gov.lv, Centralizētais eksāmens par vispārējās pamatizglītības apguvi angļu valodā 9. klasei, 2025
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