Question

    Wolves travel shorter distances and move slower during snowfall events, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists. The effects were most pronounced at night, when wolves hunt, and behaviour returned to normal within a day. Wolf tracks across snow in northeastern Alberta.

“Our findings suggest that there is something about actively falling snow that causes wolves to slow down,” said Amanda Droghini, a former MSc student in the Department of Biological Science and lead author on the study. “We don’t know the exact mechanism behind that. It’s unlikely that they were staying still because they were feasting on a recent kill. Instead, active precipitation（降雪量）might affect wolves’ hunting abilities. Like rain, snow clears the air column of scent molecules. So, maybe falling snow makes it harder for wolves to detect the smell of prey.”

Over the course of two winters, the researchers used remote cameras to disclose snowfall events and estimate snow depth. To study wolf movement, they collected telemetry（测距仪） data from 17 wolves to calculate travel speed and duration, as well as resting periods. It is the first study to examine how large flesh-eating animals respond to snowfall events.

With the effects of climate change on precipitation in the north forest region uncertain, it is difficult to predict the implications for wolf populations. Studies such as these increase our understanding of how large mammals react to normal snowfall events, but the type and amount of winter precipitation will likely have an impact on animal behavior and the energetic cost of movement.

“Winter is already challenging for many wildlife species because moving through snow requires more energy. Snow can also make it harder for animals to access food resources,” said Droghini, who conducted the research under the supervision of Professor Stan Boutin, Alberta Biodiversity Conservation Chair.

“Anything that increases those costs, such as increased rain-on-snow events, could lead to lacking in nutrition, poor body condition, and even starvation as animals are unable to make up for those additional costs. That is one of the worst-case scenarios（设想）but, in truth, we know very little about potential changes to precipitation patterns and how wildlife will respond to those changes.”

1.Which one is the closest to the underlined word “disclose” in paragraph 3?

A. identify B. overlook

C. overcome D. disturb

2.Increased precipitation might have the following effects on animals except _______.

A. poor health B. nutritional shortage

C. hunting ability D. losing appetite(食欲)

3.It can be inferred from the passage that _______.

A. researchers find it difficult to predict the implications for wolves

B. researchers have found the mechanism behind the phenomenon

C. researchers have collected data by using modern technologies

D. researchers will most probably go on studying the phenomenon

4.Where can we probably find this article?

A. tourist leaflets. B. sports newspapers.

C. science magazines. D. advertising posters.

Answer

1.A

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文为说明文。文章主要讲述降雪活动增多时，狼等动物的活动量减少。

1.猜测词义题。第三段在划线部分“the researchers used remote cameras to disclose snowfall events and estimate snow depth…”及后面运用的单词“collected data（收集）” “to calculate（计算）”及最后一句“ It is the first study to examine（查验，检查）…”由此根据该词所在的语境，可猜测出使用远程拍摄来鉴定识别降雪活动和预估降雪量。分析选项A. identify识别，辨别；B. overlook忽略；C. overcome克服； D. disturb打扰。可知A（鉴定识别）符合题意，故选A。

2.推理判断题。A和B项最后一段提及，C项由第二段---active precipitation might affect wolves' hunting abilities.可知D符合题意。

3.推理判断题。由第四段it is difficult to predict the implications for wolf populations可排除A，由第二段We don't know the exact mechanism behind that.可排除B项，由第三段可排除C。 由最后一句话--in truth, we know very little about potential changes to precipitation patterns and how wildlife will respond to those changes.可知，事实上，我们对降水模式的潜在变化以及野生动物将如何应对这些变化知之甚少。因此推断研究人员很可能会继续研究这一现象。故答案为D.

4.推理判断题。本文讲述了降雪活动增多时，狼等动物的活动量减少的现象，属于science report。因此C正确。