Question

Humans’ invention of zero was vital for modern mathematics and science, but we’re not the only species to consider “nothing” a number. Parrots and monkeys understand the concept of zero, and now bees have joined the club, too.

Honey bees are known to have some numerical skills such as the ability to count to four, which may come in handy when keeping track of landmarks in their environment. To see whether these abilities extended to understanding zero, researchers trained 10 bees to identify the smaller of two numbers. Across a series of trials, they showed the insects two different pictures displaying a few black shapes on a white background. If the bees flew to the picture with the smaller number of shapes, they were given delicious sugar water, but if they flew toward the larger number, they were punished with bitter-tasting food.

Once the bees had learned to consistently make the correct choice, the researchers gave them a new choice: a white background containing no shapes at all. Even though the bees had never seen an empty picture before, 64% of the time they chose it rather than a picture containing two or three shapes, the authors report today in Science. This suggests that the insects understood that “zero” is less than two or three. And they weren’t just going for the empty picture because it was new and interesting. Another group of bees trained to always choose the larger number tended to pick the nonzero image in this test.

In further experiments, the researchers showed that bees’ understanding of zero was even more complex: for example, they were able to distinguish between one and zero-a challenge even for some other members of the zero club. Advanced numerical abilities like this could give animals an evolutionary advantage, helping them keep track of predators（捕食者）and food sources. And if an insect can display such a thorough grasp of the number zero, write the researchers, then this ability may be more common in the animal kingdom than we think.

1.According to the trials, the researchers have found that bees ________.

A. have the same intelligence as parrots and monkeys

B. can count many numbers after being trained

C. can identify the smaller number quickly

D. understand the concept of zero

2.The researchers trained another group of bees to ________ .

A. confirm the bees are able to identify the smaller number

B. find the big difference between the two groups of bees

C. prove the bees are interested in new things

D. show the bees can be distinguished easily

3.What do the researchers suggest in further experiments?

A. Bees should be trained more.

B. Numerical abilities could help predators find bees.

C. Insects are better at understanding zero than animals.

D. Animals may display a thorough grasp of the number zero.

4.What is the best the title for the text?

A. New Findings About Bees’ Concept of Zero

B. Experients on Bees’ Numerical Skills

C. Complex Trials About the Zero Club

D. A Science Report of the Species of Bees

Answer

1. D

2. A

3. D

4. A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了研究人员通过试验发现蜜蜂能够理解数字零的概念。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“This suggests that the insects understood that “zero” is less than two or three.”可知，根据试验，研究人员发现蜜蜂能够理解零的概念，故D项正确。

2.推理判断题。第二段说研究人员训练十只蜜蜂来识别两个数字中较小的那一个，再结合第三段中的“Another group of bees trained to always choose the larger number tended to pick the nonzero image in this test.”可知，另一组训练总是挑选较大数字的蜜蜂倾向于选择非零图像，研究人员训练这组蜜蜂的目的就是为了证实蜜蜂能够识别较小的数字，故A项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“And if an insect can display such a thorough grasp of the number zero, write the researchers, then this ability may be more common in the animal kingdom than we think.”可知，进一步的研究表明动物能够完全掌握零的概念，故D项正确。

4.主旨大意题。通读全文，特别是第一段中的“Parrots and monkeys understand the concept of zero, and now bees have joined the club, too.”可知，本文介绍了研究人员通过试验发现蜜蜂能够理解数字零的概念，故A项正确。