Question

There are about 5,000 different kinds of ladybugs(瓢虫)in the world. They are also known as lady beetles or ladybird beetles. They come in many different colors and patterns, but the best-known in North America is the seven-spotted ladybug, with its shiny, red-and-black body.

In many cultures, ladybugs are thought to be good luck. Most people like them because they are pretty, lovely and do no harm to human beings. But farmers love them because they eat aphids and other plant-eating pests. One ladybug can eat up 5,000 insects in its lifetime!

Most ladybugs have dome-shaped bodies with six short legs. Depending on the kind, they can have spots, stripes, or nothing at all. Seven-spotted ladybugs are red or orange with three spots on each side and one in the middle. They have a black head. Ladybugs are colorful for a reason. They tell the enemy: “Eat something else! I taste terrible.” When threatened, they may play dead. Birds are ladybugs’ main predators(天敌), but they are also eaten by frogs, spiders, and dragonflies.

Ladybugs are happy in many different places, including grasslands, forests, cities, suburbs, and along rivers. Seven-spotted ladybugs are native to Europe but were brought to North America in the mid-1900s.

Ladybugs are most active from spring until fall. When the weather turns cold, they look for a warm place to hibernate, such as in rotting logs, under rocks, or even inside houses. These hibernating places can have thousands of ladybugs.

The name “ladybug” was given by European farmers who prayed to the Virgin Mary when pests began eating their crops. After ladybugs came and wiped out the invading insects, the farmers named them “beetle of Our Lady”. This later was shortened to “lady beetle” and “ladybug”.

1.The underlined word “aphid” in Paragraph 2 is probably a kind of_______.

A. pest    B. bird    C. plant    D. tree

2.From the third paragraph we can infer(推测) that_______.

A. all ladybugs have spots

B. the colorful body can protect them

C. most ladybugs are red or orange

D. frogs are not one of the predators

3.The following are all used to describe ladybugs EXCEPT_______.

A. ladybugs can live along rivers

B. seven-spotted ladybugs were brought to Europe from North America

C. ladybugs are very active in autumn

D. the name “ladybug” came from “beetle of Our Lady”

4.Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A. Seven-spotted Ladybugs

B. The Development of Ladybugs

C. The History of Ladybugs

D. Ladybugs

Answer

1. A

2. B

3. B

4. D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了瓢虫的信息，包括瓢虫的生活习性、人们对瓢虫的看法、瓢虫身上颜色的作用等。

1.猜测词义题。根据本句“But farmers love them because they eat aphids and other plant-eating pests.”中“other plant-eating pests其他一些吃植物的害虫”，可知aphid是一种害虫。故A项正确。

2.推理判断题。根据第三段5，6句“Ladybugs are colorful for a reason. They tell the enemy: “Eat something else! I taste terrible.””可知瓢虫的颜色是为了保护自己。故B项正确。

3.细节理解题。ACD三项都是描述瓢虫的生活习性以及名称来历。根据第四段最后一句“Seven-spotted ladybugs are native to Europe but were brought to North America in the mid-1900s”可知七星瓢虫来自欧洲，后来被引进到北美洲。B项内容与之相反。故B项符合题意。

4.主旨大意题。本文是一篇说明文，主要介绍了瓢虫的信息，包括瓢虫的生活习性、人们对瓢虫的看法、瓢虫身上颜色的作用等。故D项正确。