Farmers,as we all know,have been a hard time of it lately,and have turned to new ways earning income from their land.This involves not only planting new kinds of crops,but some （31） ways of making money,the most unusual of （32） has got to sheep racing.Yes,you heard me （33）!A farmer now holds sheep races on a regular basis,and during the past year over 100,000 people have turned up to （34） the race.“I was passing the farm on my way to the sea for a holiday,”one punter(赛马经纪人)told me,“and I thought I'd have a look.I didn't believe it was serious,to tell you the truth.”According to a regular visitor,betting on sheep is more interesting than betting on horses.“At proper horse races everyone has already studied the form of the horse （35）,and there are clear favorites.But nobody has heard anything about these （36）!Most people find it difficult to tell one from another in any case.”I stayed to watch the races,and I must admit that I found it quite （37）.In a usual sheep race,half a dozen sheep race down hill over a course of about half a mile.Food is waiting for them at the other end of the （38） just to give them some encouragement,I ought to add!The sheep run surprisingly fast,（39） they have probably not eaten for a while.Anyway,the crowd around me were obviously enjoying their day out at the races,（40） by their happy faces and the sense of excitement. 31（）

A. common
B. strange
C. swift
D. illegal