Question

Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy.

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.

Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称) as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your house is your territory where only your family and friends are welcome.If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you

might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

1.Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually _______.

A. an expression of happiness    B. a way of warning

C. an expression of anger    D. a way of greeting

2.What is a bird’s “territory”?

A. A place where families of other species are not accepted.

B. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.

C. An area for which birds fight against each other.

D. An area which a bird considers to be its own.

3.Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A. Because they want to invite more friends.

B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

C. Because they want to find outsiders around.

D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

4.How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A. By comparing birds with human beings.    B. By reporting experiment results.

C. By describing birds’ daily life.    D. By telling a bird’s story.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】短文大意：本文是一篇科普类的短文，主要分析了鸟儿唱歌的不同的原因。

1.B细节理解题。根据文章第二段最后一句Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory可知很多的鸟儿唱歌是警告别的鸟儿，故B正确。

2.D词义猜测题。根据短文第二段第二句A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims as its own领土是一种动物，通常是雄性的，宣示自己的领地，可知这个单词的意思是“领地”，鸟类认为属于自己的区域。故选D。

3.B细节理解题。根据文章第四段But he expects an outsider almost any time，especially at nesting(筑巢) season．So he is screaming all the time，whether he can see an outsider or not This screaming is what we call a bird’s song，and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away．可知在筑巢季节，鸟儿叫的原因主要是想吓走外来者。故B正确。

4.A细节理解题。根据第二段和第三段第一句的描述可知，作者通过人与鸟作比较，来解释鸟的鸣叫。故A正确。