Question

    Perhaps you spotted them on La Cienega Boulevard, flying north by the thousands near the Westfield mall. Maybe you saw them in Santa Anita crossing a quiet street in a thick line. You may have even driven with hundreds of them along the 105 Freeway, where they violently beat their small wings as if they were trying to catch a flight at Los Angeles International Airport. People may mistake these black — and — orange insects for moths (飞蛾) or monarchs (黑脉金斑蝶)due to the appearance. Actually, they are called painted ladies, and these butterflies are flying by the millions across the state.

The migration((迁徙)itself is nothing new. What's unusual this year is the number of butterflies making the journey. James burg, the director of Palm Desert, came across a pack of butterflies while riding a bike lust week. "They were Hying with me, as I rode," he said. "It was absolutely magical. I felt like a Disney princess."

The painted lady's appearance is a welcome exception to California's current butterfly crisis. The number of butterflies in the state has been in a loss for decides, reaching historic lows in 2018. A monarch count led by the Xerces Society found only 28,129 of monarchs wintering along the California coast. That figure represents an 85% drop from the previous year and a 99.4% fall compared with 40 years ago. Other butterfly populations have been hit even worse.

No one is certain what is causing butterflies in California to disappear, but researchers have pointed several likely factors. They include the general loss of open spaces, which means fewer flowers and leaves for food, as well as changing agricultural practices that have reduced the number of butterfly-friendly plants along the edges of crop fields. The climate change plays a role, which produces higher temperatures that can dry plants out and make them uneatable.

Scientists say the reason for this year's painted ladies' appearance can be summed up in one word: rain. And more specifically, rain in the desert. “The more plants, the more butterflies," James Burg said.

1.What can learn about painted ladies from Paragraph 1 ?

A.They enjoyed flying in the sky.

B.The liked chasing the drivers.

C.They and moths look much alike.

D.They were big trouble to the airport.

2.What is special about painted ladies' migration this year?

A.Their quantities. B.Their destination.

C.Their flying route. D.Their flying distance.

3.How is Paragraph 3 mainly developed?

A.By giving examples. B.By quoting a statement.

C.By analyzing cause and effect. D.By listing accurate numbers.

4.Which can best summarize the main idea of Paragraph 4?

A.Open spaces in California decrease greatly.

B.Changes on agriculture affected butterflies.

C.Lack of food makes butterflies disappear.

D.Climate change drives butterflies away.

5.In which section of a magazine will you probably read the passage?

A.Travel. B.Nature.

C.History. D.Health.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.C

5.B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。本文主要讲述加利福尼亚蝴蝶数量数年来减少，分析了减少的原因。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段的“People may mistake these black — and — orange insects for moths (飞蛾) or monarchs (黑脉金斑蝶)due to the appearance. ”可知，因为它的外观，人们可能会把这些黑橙色的昆虫误认为是飞蛾或者黑脉金斑蝶。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段的“What's unusual this year is the number of butterflies making the journey. ”可知，今年的这种蝴蝶的数量是不同寻常的。故选A。

3.推理判断题。根据第三段出现的“only 28,129”“an 85% drop”“a 99.4% fall”“compared with 40 years ago”可知，本段列举具体数字来说明加利福尼亚蝴蝶危机，故选D。

4.主旨大意题。根据第四段的“They include the general loss of open spaces, which means fewer flowers and leaves for food, as well as changing agricultural practices that have reduced the number of butterfly-friendly plants along the edges of crop fields. The climate change plays a role, which produces higher temperatures that can dry plants out and make them uneatable. ”（它们包括开放空间的普遍损失，这意味着有更少的花卉和树叶作为食物，农业习俗的改变减少了庄稼地边缘的对蝴蝶友好的植物的数量。气候变化起着一定的作用，它会产生更高的温度，使植物变干，使它们无法食用。）因此推断，本段主要讲述缺少食物使得植物消失。故选C。

5.推理判断题。纵观全文可知，本文主要讲述加利福尼亚蝴蝶数量数年来越来越少，分析了减少的原因。因此推断本文属于自然的范畴，故选B。