Like other penguins, African penguins have white feathers covering their chests and black feathers covering their backs. They have lifelong mates, and they live in huge numbers —so, scientists wondered how the birds were able to identify their partners among a sea of black-and-white birds. To find it out, they studied 12 African penguins at a marine park called Zoomarine Italia.
In one test, they hung two life-size photographs of the African penguins. One is selected randomly(随机选择地), while the other is the test subject’s mate. The scientists recorded their interactions with the photos: How long did they spend looking at each photo, as well as how much time did they spend standing near each one? The penguins spent more time looking at the photo of their partners—about 23 seconds longer, on average —than looking at the other photo. They also stood next to the mate’s photo for twice as long. Then, the researchers covered up the heads of the birds in the photographs, and the penguins still stayed near their partners’ photos.
In another experiment, the researchers hung up two photos of a bird’s mate —but, in one, they had digitally removed its spots(点). In this case, the penguin again spent more time looking at the photo with the spots. In the third experiment, the researchers hung two penguin photos with digitally removed spots—one of the test subject’s mate and the other: a random penguin. In this case, the penguins did not appear to recognize their partners—they spent almost the same time looking at or standing near both photos.
Together, the research results suggest African penguins are zeroing in on their partners’ spots and using them like name tags. Scientists say: “Our results prove birds recognize their mates by specific visual patterns and all sensory modalities(模态)should be considered in the study of animal communication.”
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?| A．African penguins live independently. |
| B．African penguins have special ability to recognize partners. |
| C．African penguins have when feathers covering their backs. |
| D．Scientists studied 12 African penguins from the wild. |
| A．Their partners’ voice. | B．Their partners’ heads. |
| C．Their partners’ back feathers. | D．Their partners’ spotted bodies. |
| A．Losing sight of. | B．Taking delight in. |
| C．Paying attention to. | D．Speaking highly of. |
| A．In a science report. | B．In a travel brochure. |
| C．In a biology textbook. | D．In a fashion magazine. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】For some people, there’s no better companion than mans best friend-a dog. This four-legged pet can bring comfort and joy and provide much- needed exercise for you when it needs walkies! This probably explains why dog ownership increased last year because people spent more time at home during he CovID-I9 lockdown.
However, as demand for a new dog increased, so did the price tag. Popular breeds, such as Cockapoos and Cocker Spaniels, saw even sharper price increases, and puppies have been selling for $3,000 or more.
Animal welfare charities fear that high prices could encourage puppy farming, smuggling (走私) or dog theft. An investigation found some breeders have been selling puppies and kittens on social media sites--something charities have called “extremely irresponsible”.
But despite some new owners purchasing a dog legally, maybe from a rescue center or registered breeder, they’ve proved to be ill-prepared for life with a new pet, and the pet itself has found it hard to come to terms with life in a new home.
Looking to the future, there are concerns about the welfare of these much-loved pets. Lan Alkin manager of the Oxfordshire Animal Sanct uary in the UK, notes: “At the moment, the dogs are having a great time, but separation anxiety could still surface when people go back to work.” And Cliare Calder from the UKs Dogs Trust rescue charity says, “The economic situation also means that some people may find they can’t afford to look after a dog.” The message is not to buy a dog in haste and to pick one that fits into our lifestyle.
1. The greater demand for dogs can cause the following problems except ________.| A．illegal trade of dogs | B．less dog farming |
| C．high prices of dogs | D．online sale of dogs |
| A．Fit in with | B．Go in for | C．Make up for. | D．End up with |
| A．Despite the problems, dogs are living happily. |
| B．The writer has a positive attitude towards dogs future. |
| C．Experts are worried that dogs will be unaffordable to people. |
| D．The writer advises people to think twice before keeping dogs as pets. |
【推荐2】Why did the little boy throw butter out of the window? He wanted to see the butterfly! That’s an old joke you’ve probably heard many times. Butterflies always carry away children.
Most insects do not migrate(迁徙), because their life is not long enough. Except for one particular butterfly species-the monarch butterfly. Each November, monarch butterflies land on an unbelievable cross-country migration from the United States and Canada until they reach Mexico, where they overwinter until it’s time to begin their migration back home in March. The butterflies spend their time in concentrated areas of forest where they stick to the branches of trees, forming beautiful vast crowds. Monarchs are a truly important species-and they’re in danger.
Just like living things, plants, insects or animals on the planet, monarchs play a vital role in the survival of our ecosystems. Butterflies-just like bees, also in great danger-help pollinate(授粉) plants, making them a significant contributor to crop growth and food production. They also serve as a food source to birds and other animals. The population of monarch butterflies has dropped a lot over the past few decades—a destructive 96. 5 percent. This has placed monarchs in danger of moving toward dying out. Several causes have contributed to the monarch’s decline. Climate change, loss of reproductive homes, and deforestation in Mexico’s forests where monarchs overwinter have all affected the butterfly’s migration pattern and home. But the most significant danger is the decline in milkweed, the plant where monarchs lay their eggs, and that serves as the only food source for caterpillars(幼虫). Much of the milkweed decline is due to agricultural practices that either remove this vital plant or destroy it through pesticides(农药).
1. Why do monarch butterflies move to Mexico?| A．To survive the cold weather. | B．To escape from being hunted. |
| C．To take advantage of the flowers there. | D．To cooperate with the bees there. |
| A．They help birds to catch their food. | B．They produce seeds for wild plants. |
| C．They contribute to crop production. | D．They bring food to other animals. |
| A．Monarch Butterflies Migrate | B．Butterflies Attract Children |
| C．Fight to Save Monarch Butterflies | D．Monarch Butterflies Are in Danger |
| A．Why monarch butterflies decline. |
| B．How monarch butterflies can be saved. |
| C．How monarch butterflies reproduce. |
| D．Why monarch butterflies migrate. |
【推荐3】Imagine looking out of your window and seeing a whale swim by.That's the sight that surprises New York City residents recently.In the past years,humpback whales have been spotted in the two rivers surrounding the island of Manhattan,the Hudson River and the East River.
Experts say that river cleanup efforts have improved water quality and led to an increase in the number of fish there.Fish are on the humpback's menu.
By the middle of the 20th century,hunting whales for profit had nearly wiped out many whale species.In 1973, the U.S. set up the Endangered Species Act.People were no longer allowed to hunt them in the U.S. waters.In 1982, the International Whaling is illegal worldwide.
| A．Those efforts to save whales are paying off. |
| B．People are frightened when seeing whales in the river. |
| C．Last year,one even swam past where the mayor lives. |
| D．Today there are about 100,000 humpback whales worldwide. |
| E．The extra food in the rivers is mainly what’s attracting the whales. |
| F．Scientists have carried out further research on the number of the whales. |
| G．Scientists say that the focus needs to be on the whales that are still struggling. |
【推荐1】Most birds, in particular, exhibit some degree of patterns and colours. Australia’s zebra finch (斑胸草雀), for example, was so named because of the zebra-like black and white bars on its tail. But it also has many other colours and patterns, from a bright orange bill to fine white spotting along its reddish-brown sides.
The zebra finch is Australia’s widely distributed grass-finch species, occurring throughout most of mainland Australia. It’s a common and familiar bird in the drier parts of the country.
When we see such a highly patterned bird we presume all individuals of that species have their spots and bars in the same places. But look closer and we’ll see that the quantity and design of these patterns varies between individuals. And every now and then a bird exhibits a more obvious feather variation. Occasionally, we see one that has larger than usual pale areas of feathers or, more rarely, has lost its normal patterning altogether.
Colouration and patterning in all animals is caused by a range of pigments (色素). Melanin (黑色素) is responsible for blacks and browns, and a lack of this pigment can cause a partial or total loss of an individual’s dark patterning. The two main terms that describe these abnormalities are albinism (白化病) and leucism (白色亚种). Both conditions are genetic and both can lead to a very similar physical appearance. Leucism, however, causes a lack of the pigment cells that produce melanin. But albinism causes the production of melanin pigment to be reduced or absent.
Can we distinguish between the two conditions without the help of a cellular biologist? Yes. Albino animals have fully unpigmented red eyes. Leucistic animals, on the other hand, never completely lose pigment from the eye, although they can have blue eyes due to a partial loss of pigment.
Why don’t we see more albino or leucistic birds? Because the lack of melanin reduces the strength and lastingness of the affected birds’ feathers, making them more easily broken. Additionally, the birds’ vision and hearing is negatively affected, making them less able to hunt. The brighter feathers and lack of patterning also make them easier for attackers to see.
1. What can be learned about Australia’s zebra finch?| A．It is one of the rarest birds in Australia. |
| B．It is mostly covered with bright orange feathers. |
| C．It acquires its name from its tail colours and patterns. |
| D．It has the same spots and bars in the same places. |
| A．Recall. | B．Suppose. | C．Deny. | D．Recommend. |
| A．By setting assumptions. | B．By presenting opinions. |
| C．By giving explanations. | D．By drawing conclusions. |
| A．They have quite good hearing. | B．They have completely red eyes. |
| C．They have easily broken feathers. | D．They have excellent hunting skills. |
【推荐2】For more than a hundred years, the fossil (化石) of Tanystropheus (长颈龙), an ancient animal, has puzzled scientists. Scientists have long known that the species once lived in Switzerland’s Monte San Giorgio basin during the Middle Triassic period. They also knew the 20-foot creature had an incredible long neck, which was half of its entire length. But the remaining details surrounding Tanystropheus remained confusing and have been much argued. Did these animals live on land or in water? What did their young look like? And how did they interact with the other species in their environment? Nobody knew, until now.
Scientists used CT scan technology to digitally reconstruct the head of the Tanystropheus’s fossils, finding evidence that these animals lived in water. Researchers also found evidence that they were likely to use their long necks to approach prey (猎物).
Scientists were also able to clear up puzzles about one smaller and one larger of these animals, whose fossils were both found in the same area of modern-day Switzerland. Previously, it had been thought that the smaller fossils were the baby version of the fully-grown Tanystropheus. The smaller one looked very similar to Tanystropheus but were only about 4 feet long. But researchers could ascertain that they are, in fact, two different species by examining the growth rings in the cross sections of Tanystropheus bones. The fossils further showed the two species had different types of teeth, which led to the conclusion that they used different strategies to catch prey.
Food resources in an ecosystem are limited, and animals that look similar often develop different strategies to survive. This is called “Niche partitioning (利基分割)”. They shared the same habitat but didn’t get in each other’s way too much. “Niche partitioning” in such a highly specialized, extraordinarily long-necked animal showed a less competitive side of evolution during the Triassic period. Scientists said that’s an important ecological phenomenon showing the adaptability of Tanystropheus and the complexity of ecosystems at that time.
1. What does the author intend to tell us in paragraph 1?| A．The exact birthplace of Tanystropheus. |
| B．The change in Tanystropheus’s body shape. |
| C．Some other species related to Tanystropheus. |
| D．Some unsolved puzzles about Tanystropheus. |
| A．By analyzing the type of its prey. |
| B．By studying its original head fossils. |
| C．By examining its incredibly long neck. |
| D．By comparing its bones with other animals’. |
| A．Doubt. | B．Criticize. | C．Determine. | D．Deny. |
| A．Saving enough food resources. |
| B．Contributing to biological diversity. |
| C．Speeding up the evolution of animals. |
| D．Driving animals to compete with each other. |
【推荐3】People who frequently eat fruit are more likely to report greater positive mental health and are less likely to report symptoms of depression than those who do not, according to new research from the College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University. The team also found that people who eat savoury (咸味的) snacks such as crisps (薯片), which are low in nutrients (营养) , are more likely to report greater levels of anxiety.
Published in the British Journal of Nutrition, the study surveyed 428 adults from across the UK and looked at the relationship between their consumption of fruit, vegetables, sweet and savoury snacks, and their psychological(心理的) health. The research found that both nutrient-rich fruit and nutrient-poor savoury snacks appeared to be linked to psychological health. They also found that there was no direct association between eating vegetables and psychological health. Based on the survey, the more often people ate fruit, the lower they scored for depression and the higher for mental health, independent of the overall quantity of fruit intake. By contrast, there was no link between these everyday memory lapses (差错) and fruit and vegetables intake or sweet snacks, suggesting a unique relationship between these nutrient-poor savoury snacks, everyday mental lapses, and psychological health.
Lead author, PhD student Nicola-Jayne Tuck commented, “Very little is known about how diet may affect mental health, and while we did not directly examine causality here, our findings could suggest that frequently snacking on nutrient-poor savoury foods may increase everyday mental loss, which in turn reduces psychological health.”
“It is possible that changing what we snack on could be a really simple way to improve our mental health. It is also possible that the future limit of processed (特殊处理的) snacks at checkouts, could not only improve the country’s physical health, but mental health too.”
“Overall, it’s definitely worth trying to get into the habit of reaching for the fruit bowl.”
1. Which may lead to greater level of anxiety?| A．Savoury snacks. | B．Fruit. | C．Vegetables. | D．Grain. |
| A．Rich fruit appears not to be linked to psychological health |
| B．The more fruit people eat, the lower they score for depression |
| C．There is a relation between the nutrient-poor snacks and mental health. |
| D．There is a direct link between eating vegetables and psychological health |
| A．The relation between fruit and vegetables. |
| B．The relation between exercise and health. |
| C．The relation between snacks and mental health. |
| D．The relation between diet and mental health. |
| A．Eating habits can prevent disease |
| B．Eating unhealthy snacks often is harmful to health |
| C．Eating vegetables often can improve mental health |
| D．Eating fruit often may contribute to mental health |
【推荐1】For more than 5,000 years, chopsticks have been the preferred dining utensil (用具) of a sizable swath of humanity. Nowadays, around a third of the global population uses chopsticks daily. This is both a fact of life and these implements are often single-use, a serious environmental problem.
Every year, around 80 billion pairs find their way to landfills. “In Vancouver alone, we’re throwing out 100,000 chopsticks a day,” says Felix Böck, founder of the Vancouver-based startup ChopValue. “They’re traveling 6,000 or 7,000 miles from where they’re manufactured in Asia to end up on our lunch table for 30minutes.”
Since 2016, Böck has been on a mission to rethink disposable chopsticks. Rather than try to eliminate them, the engineer has been building a circular economy by giving them a second life. In their home base of Vancouver, company staff pick up around 350,000 used chopsticks from 300-plus restaurants every week, all of which become book shelves, cutting boards, coasters, desks, and custom decorations. According to Böck, the startup has saved more than 50 million pairs of chopsticks from landfills since its launch.
“Once you see the volume, you think maybe that little humble chopstick can be the start of something big,” Böck says. “My expertise is in bamboo, so I always looked at chopsticks differently. I used to joke to my friends that I would make something out of chopsticks, since most of the ones we use in North America are made of bamboo.”
Chopsticks are far from the only disposable dining implement to come under scrutiny in recent years. From plastic straws to polystyrene takeout containers, many components of our food cycle sacrifice environmental impact for convenience.
“I think change starts small, and change can be a very relatable thing that we all know from daily life,” Böck says. “Right now, we’re focusing on the chopstick because it’s a very powerful story.”
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?| A．The excessive use of the disposable chopsticks can cause a serious environmental problem. |
| B．Using chopsticks presents a threatening environmental issue. |
| C．Chopsticks aren’t preferred dining tool for people until nowadays. |
| D．Chopsticks can’t be used many times. |
| A．To destroy them | B．To recycle them. |
| C．To decorate them. | D．To resell them. |
| A．knock out | B．kill off |
| C．throw out | D．remove completely |
| A．A book review. | B．A medical journal. |
| C．An environmental magazine. | D．A biography. |
【推荐2】Music is said to be a universal language. But for Chase Burton, a deaf filmmaker from Texas, music has always been a totally different experience.
“When I was a kid, I’d lie on the floor so I could feel the vibrations (震动，颤动) from my brother’s band rocking out below my body, ” the 33-year-old man said. “That was one of the first times I began building a relationship with music.”
In 2016, his ability to experience music changed dramatically, thanks to California-based technology company Not Impossible Labs. It designed a vibrating suit that enables deaf people to “feel” music through their skin. Consisting of a body harness (背带), ankle and wrist belts, the suit translates audio into a range of vibrating pulses that are felt at 24 contact points. Burton has been trialing the suit for four years.
“The sound hits different parts of your body, ” said Burton. “Maybe it will strike me down in my ankles first. And then I’ll start to feel the vibrations in my back. And then I’ll feel some pulsations in my wrist.”
The creators want to extends the tactile (触觉) musical experience beyond the deaf community. In 2018, they gave out 150 of the suits at a rock concert in Las Vegas where half the audience members were deaf and half were able to hear.
Since then, Not Impossible Labs has been working to improve the technology and says it’s ready to go to market soon. Eventually, the creators want the suit to become a consumer product, accessible to all. The company’s talent and business development director, Jordan Richardson, said that the technology could be used in live sports broadcasts, video games and theme parks.
As a writer and director who’s been working to make the movie world more accessible, Burton hopes that the vibrating suit will be available to his film audiences in the future. He believes the suit can enhance emotions while watching a movie – for hearing as well as deaf people. “I see the tech as a real opportunity to help people understand that music for movies doesn’t always need to be enjoyed through the ears”.
1. Why would Chase Burton lie on the floor when he was a kid?| A．To feel some pulsations in his wrist. |
| B．To feel the vibrations from his brother’s band. |
| C．To expand the tactile musical experience. |
| D．To begin building a bond with films. |
| A．It was started by Chase Burton in 2016. |
| B．Its products have been used in live sports broadcasts. |
| C．It is a technology company based in California. |
| D．Its administrative director is Jordan Richardson. |
| A．create | B．express | C．cover | D．strengthen |
| A．Vibrating Suit Allows Deaf People to “Feel” Music |
| B．Tech Company Provides Free Suits for Deaf People |
| C．Deaf People Enjoy Rock Music with Free Suit |
| D．Movies Need to Be Enjoyed Through the Ears |
【推荐3】Millions of people pass through the gates of the Disney parks in California, Florida and Tokyo, Japan each year. What makes these places almost universal attractions? What makes foreign kings and queens and other important people want to visit these Disney parks? Well, one reason is the way Disney serves their “guests”.
All new employees, from vice-presidents to part- time workers, begin their employment by attending Disney University and taking “Traditions”. Here, they learn about the company’s history, how it is managed and why it is successful. They are shown how each department relates to the whole. All employees are shown how their part is important in making the park a success.
After passing “Traditions”, the employees go on to more specialized training for their specific jobs. No detail is missed. A simple job like taking tickets requires eight-hour days of training. When one ticket taker was asked why it took so much training for such a simple, ordinary job, he replied, “What happens if someone wants to know where the restrooms are, when the parade starts or which bus to take back to the campgrounds? We need to know the answers or where to get them quickly. Our constant aim is to help our guests enjoy themselves.”
Even Disney's managers get involved in the daily management of the park. Every year, the managers leave their desks and business suits and put on special service clothes. For a full week, the bosses sell hot dogs or ice cream, take tickets or drive the monorail, and take up any of the 100 jobs that make the park come alive. The managers agree that this week helps them to see the company’s goals more clearly.
All these efforts to serve the public well have made Walt Disney famous. Disney is considered by many as the best mass service provider in America or the world.
1. What do all new employees do on the first day they come to Disney parks?| A．They begin by receiving on-the-job training. | B．They must learn several jobs. |
| C．They begin as ticket takers. | D．They have already attended Disney University. |
| A．To learn all parts of the business. | B．To see that their guests enjoy themselves. |
| C．To be able to answer all kinds of questions. | D．To keep their important guests happy. |
| A．To set a good example to employees. |
| B．To remind themselves of their beginnings at Disney. |
| C．To gain a better view of the company's objectives. |
| D．To replace employees on holiday. |
| A．How Disney employees are trained. |
| B．The history and traditions of the Disney enterprises. |
| C．Why Disney enterprises make a lot of money. |
| D．The importance Disney enterprises place on serving people well. |
