Question

A new argument has been put forward as to whether penguins are disturbed by the presence of tourists in Antarctica.

Previous research by scientists from Keil University in Germany monitored Adelie penguins and noted that the birds’ heart rates increased dramatically at the sight of a human as far as 30 meters away. But new research using an artificial egg, which is equipped to measure heart rates, disputes this. Scientists from the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge say that a slow moving human who does not approach the nest too closely, is not viewed as a threat by penguins.

The earlier findings have been used to partly explain the 20 per cent drop in populations of certain types of penguins near tourist sites. However, tour operators have continued to insist that their activities do not adversely affect wildlife in Antarctica, saying they encourage non-disruptive behavior in tourists, and that the decline in penguin numbers is caused by other factors.

Amanda Nimon of the Scott Polar Research Institute spent three southern hemisphere summers at Cuverville Island in Antarctica studying penguin behavior towards humans.  “A nesting penguin will react very differently to a person rapidly and closely approaching the nest,” says Nimon. “First they exhibit large and prolonged(延长) heart rate changes and then they often flee the nest leaving it open for predators (掠夺者) to fly in and remove eggs or chicks.” The artificial egg, specially for the project, monitored both the parent who had been ‘disturbed’ when the egg was placed in the nest and the other parent as they both took it in turns to guard the nest.

However, Boris Culik, who monitored the Adelie penguins, believes that Nimon’s findings do not invalidate his own research. He points out that species behave differently — and Nimon’s work was with Gentoo penguins. Nimon and her colleagues believe that Culik’s research was methodologically flawed（使无效） because the monitoring of penguins’ responses needed capturing and restraining（控制） the birds and fitting them with heart-rate transmitters. Therefore, argues Nimon, it would not be surprising if they became stressed on seeing a human subsequently.

1.According to the passage, what overall message is presented?

A. No firm conclusions are drawn.

B. Neither Culik’s nor Nimon’s findings are of much value.

C. Penguin reduction is closed related to tourist behavior.

D. Tourists are not responsible for the fall in penguin numbers.

2.Which ONE argument of the following is stated in the passage?

A. Penguins are harder to research when they have young.

B. Tour operators should encourage tourists to avoid Antarctica.

C. Not all penguins behave in the same way.

D. Penguins need better protection from tourists.

3.What do you notice about the views presented in the passage?

A. They are groundless.B. They are factual.

C. They are descriptive.D. They are conflicting.

4.What does the underlined word (final line) probably mean?

A. later onB. calmly

C. separatelyD. in the same place

Answer

1.A

2.C

3.D

4.A

【解析】

试题分析：文章讲述的是关于人类活动是否对企鹅产生了影响，出现了不同的观点，并对不同观点进行了说明。

1. 推理判断题。通读全文可知，文章并没有给予明确结论。故选A。

2. 推理判断题。根据第四段A nesting penguin will react very differently to a person rapidly and closely approaching the nest可知，不同的企鹅反应不一样。故选C。

3. 推理判断题。根据最后一段的however可知，文章观点相互矛盾，冲突。故选D。

4. 猜测词义题。根据内容可知，企鹅先被人类抓住，所以后来再看到人类就不感到惊讶了。故选A。

【名师点睛】

任何一篇文章中的句子在内容上都不是绝对孤立的，都跟句子所在的段落及整整篇文章有关。利用上下文提供的情景和线索，进行合乎逻辑的综合分析进而推测词义，是阅读过程中的一大关键，这也是近年来高考考查的热点。最常见的就是利用上下文语境、常识和语法关系推断词义。1.抓住所需推断词汇前后的“mean”或系动词或破折号等直接定义该词的部分。2.抓住文章主旨与该段所表达的中心。特别对于议论文要牢记论点与论据的相互支撑关系。5.猜测词义题。根据内容可知，企鹅先被人类抓住，所以后来再看到人类就不感到惊讶了。故选A。

考点：考查科普类阅读