Question

Everybody hates rats. But rats may soon be man’s new good friend.

What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue(援救)dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.

How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal(信号). This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.

Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. “Robots’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark, they are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity!

The “rat project” is not finished, but a scientist says, “It would be great. A rat could get into spaces we couldn’t get to, and a rat would get out if it wasn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).

1.In the writer’s opinion, rats may become man’s new friend because          .

A. they can be food for people 

B. they can help rescuers to find living people

C. they are lovely           

D. they can completely replace man’s rescue jobs

2.What does the underlined word “this” mean?

A. An earthquake.

B. The rat has smelled a person

C. The rat has smelled that someone is alive            

D. The rat has found a robot.

3.Which of the following is NOT true?

A. Rats don’t need electricity.   

B. Rats are better than robots when smelling.

C. Rats are as clever as radios.   

D. Rats can see things in the dark when doing rescues.

4.Why does the “rat project” sound great according to the passage?

A. Because rats can get into very small spaces.  

B. Because rats have better noses than dogs.

C. Because rats don’t like robots.

D. Because rats are brave.

5.Which is the best title of this passage?

A. Ways of saving people  B. Rats and robots  C. After earthquake D.Rats for rescue

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.C

4.A

5.D

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要讲述老鼠将来可能成为人类的好朋友。文章介绍，老鼠通过驯化，可以比狗和机器人更有利于在地震中搜寻生命迹象，也更有利于自身脱离险境。

1.a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.的描述，可知老鼠可以帮助救援人员找到地震中的幸存者。故选B。

2.词义猜测题。根据短文the rat is trained to smell people的描述，可知当老鼠通过驯化能够闻到人的体味的时候，老鼠的头脑就会发出信号。故选B。

3.细节理解题。根据短文第四段的描述可知，选项A、B、D与短文描述相符，但是没有提及老鼠是否比无线电灵敏。故选C。

4.A rat could get into spaces we couldn’t get to, and a rat would get out if it wasn’t safe.的描述可知，因为老鼠可以进入狭小的空间，还可以脱离险境，所以老鼠研究真的很棒。故选A。

5.标题归纳题。联系上下文，文章主要介绍老鼠通过驯化，可以比狗和机器人更有利于地震救援，故应选D。

考点：科普类短文阅读。