Question

Climate change will force exhausted birds migrating to Europe from Africa to travel further, with possibly disastrous consequences, according to a study.

The annual voyage of some species, which fly north in search of food and suitable habitats, could increase by as much as 400 kilometers (250 miles), the research found. “Marathon migrations for some birds are set to become even longer,” said Stephen Willis, a professor at Durham University in Britain and the main architect of the study. “This is bad news for birds like the White throat, a common farmland bird. The added distance is a considerable threat. As temperatures rise and habitats change, birds will face their biggest challenge since the Pleistocene era (更新世), which ended 11,000 years ago,” he said in a statement.

Some 500 million birds migrate each year from Africa, some weighing as little as nine grams (three-tenths of an ounce). To complete a voyage that can be thousands of kilometers long, birds have to fatten themselves up to twice their normal weight. Some even shrink their internal organs (收缩内脏) to become more fuel efficient, so any additional distance may be dangerous.

The study finds that from 2007 to 2010, nine out of 17 species examined are going to face longer migrations, particularly birds that cross the Sahara Desert. Some birds travel the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea in a one go, while others have a break in northern Africa before crossing. Many fly at night, when temperatures are cooler.

A few — such as the Blackcap — have started to adapt by spending winters in Britain, but such behavior remains exceptional, the study said. The study forecasts that the migration distance of the Orphean Warbler will jump from 2,700 kilometers (1,700 miles) to between 3,050 and 3,350 kilometers (1,900 and 2,100 miles), with even longer increases for the Subalpine and Barred Warblers.

1.What does traveling extra distance mean for some migrating birds?

A. Better living conditions.    B. Better physical health.

C. Stronger ability to fly.    D. Bigger threat to life.

2.To complete the marathon migrations, some birds have to do the following except ______.

A. have a break in the Sahara    B. put on more weight

C. reduce the size of internal organs    D. fly at night to avoid the heat

3.What can we infer from the text?

A. Birds have to migrate from Africa to Europe in winter.

B. Global warming is bad for all birds worldwide.

C. Birds that are of small size don’t need to migrate.

D. Some birds have to migrate unless they adapt to climate change.

4.What’s the best title of the text?

A. Climate change leads to disastrous consequence

B. The annual voyage of some species

C. How birds migrate for longer distances

D. Climate change pushes birds to migrate farther

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.D

4.D

【解析】本文告诉我们：气候变化迫使候鸟迁徙的更远。

1.D细节理解题。根据第二段中的“The added distance is a considerable threat”可知，多飞的行程对于一些候鸟来说是个很大的威胁。故选D。

2.A细节理解题。由第三、四段可知，一些候鸟为了完成马拉松式的迁徙路程需要做的事包括了B、C和D三项。故选A。

3.D推理判断题。根据最后一段“A few—such as the Blackcap—have started to adapt by spending winters in Britain”可推知，候鸟若不能适应气候变化就必须迁徙到适合其生存的地方。故选D。

4.D标题归纳题。第一段的信息点明了文章的主旨。即：气候变化迫使候鸟迁徙的更远。 故选D。

【名师点睛】

弄清文章的大意，关键是找到主题句。主题句的位置：主题句通常在文首、文末或首尾呼应，有时也在文中，或没有主题句，需根据文章所述内容进行归纳。各段的主题句也常在该段的首句或尾句。议论文和说明文一般有主题句，但记叙文通常没有主题句，需要归纳。本题第4小题，第一段的信息点明了文章的主旨。即：气候变化迫使候鸟迁徙的更远。 故选D。