文章大意:这是是一篇记叙文。文章主要描述了Bruce Bexler梦想着去从没有人去过的地方,开辟一条未经探索的土地,发现稀有的外来物种。这个梦想在2015年实现了,他和一支科学家小组进入新几内亚岛上的热带雨林,发现了许多未被发现的物种。
For many year, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species. That might sound like an impossible dream, but Bexler turned it inot a reality.
In December 2015, he and a team of Australian and American scientists explored into a remote tropical rain forest on the island of New Guinea. They were the first people ever to enter the mist-covered region. “As time was limited, we were dropped in by helicopter. Once we were on the ground, there were no trails (踪迹) anywhere; it was really hard to get around,” Bexler says.
Within minutes of landing, the team spotted a black chicken-like bird with strange orange skin hanging from its neck. The scientists soon determined that the unusual creature was a type of honeyeater — the first new bird species to be sighted on New Guinea in 60 years.
The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species — 13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, 4 butterflies, and 5 palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before.”
The newfound species didn’t shy away from the scientists. Two long-nosed echidnas-primitive egg-laying mammals — let the visitors pick them up and take them back to camp to study them. An echidna looks like a hedgehog and is also called a spiny anteater.
Bexler thinks the animals weren’t scared because they had never seen humans before. “In almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviours of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.”
Scientists believe the area is probably the largest untouched forest in Asia. Local people called Kwerba hunt and collect plants from outer-edges of the forest but told Bexler that not even their ancestors had gone so far into the woods. The wooded area is approximately a 10-day walk from the nearest village.
Bexler and his team did not have enough time during the expedition to study the area completely. They hope to return and expect to record many more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.”
4. Which word best describes Bruce Bexler?
A.Adventurous. | B.Cautious. | C.Optimistic. | D.Gentle. |
5. What does Bruce Bexler mean in Para. 4 when he says the scientists “were like kids in a candy store”?
A.They were acting like naughty children. |
B.They were very excited about what they saw. |
C.They didn’t have enough food and were hungry. |
D.They knew that if they kept searching, they’d find sugar. |
6. Why did some of the animals allow the scientists to pick them up?
A.The scientists seemed to be very friendly. |
B.The scientists were skilled in handling animals. |
C.The animals had no experience or fear of people. |
D.The animals had been well-trained by the local people. |
7. What can we conclude about the area Bruce Beler explored?
A.The best way to explore the area is by helicopter. |
B.The area has not been visited by scientists for many years. |
C.The area still contains many plants and animals unknown to science. |
D.The locals are unwilling to allow the scientists to enter the deep woods. |