Question

    The kakapo, a bird that lives in New Zealand, is not designed for survival. Weighing up to 4 kilograms, it is the world's fattest parrot. It mates (交配) only when the rimu tree is in fruit, which happens every few years. It developed gradually in the absence of land-based natural enemies, so instead of flying above the trees it walks like a duck across the dry forest floor. When it moves unsteadily across something that might kill it, it will stand still.

Such unusual characteristics turned it into fast food for human settlers, and for the cats and rats they brought with them. It seemed to have disappeared by the 1970s, until scientists came across two undiscovered populations in the country's south. These survivors were eventually moved to small enemy-free islands, where researchers have spent decades trying to get them to breed (繁殖).

The scientists' patience is finally rewarded. The rimu was in fruit this year, and more than 80 chicks hatched, making this the best breeding season on record. Many have survived into adolescence, increasing the number of adult kakapos by a third, to 200 birds.

Another danger to the kakapo is a lack of genetic diversity. This is one reason why fewer than half of kakapo eggs hatch. By arranging the genome (基因组) of every living bird, scientists can identify closely-related individuals and put them on different islands. Every bird is fitted with something to track its slightest movement. If a female mates with an "unsuitable” male, the process can be stopped.

All these efforts cost almost New Zealand $1.3 million this breeding season. Yet the kakapo's future still looks unsafe. Earlier this year a severe disease tore through the population. And tiny as the number of kakapos is, space is running out on the two islands where most of them live. New enemy-free settlement must soon be found.

1.Which of the following is a danger for the survival of the kakapo?

A.It is the smallest bird in the world. B.It lacks exercise and usually stands still.

C.It adapts slowly in genetic development. D.It can't respond actively when facing danger.

2.In what way may the scientists' patience be rewarded?

A.They hatched 80 kakapos' eggs this year.

B.They tried to make the rimu tree in fruit this year.

C.Two survivors were moved to enemy-free islands.

D.50 chicks hatched have survived into adults this year.

3.Why did the scientists put kakapo in different islands?

A.To stop closely-related kakapos mating. B.To increase the population of kakapo.

C.To stop females mating with males. D.To hatch more kakapos' eggs.

4.According to the author, the efforts to protect the kakapo in New Zealand are _______.

A.successful B.unsafe

C.doubtful D.inadequate

Answer

1.D

2.A

3.A

4.D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了人们为了保护新西兰的一种濒临灭绝的鸟类鸮鹦鹉所作出的一些努力。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段最后一句When it moves unsteadily across something that might kill it, it will stand still.可知，当它摇摇晃晃地穿过可能会杀死它的东西时，它会静止不动。由此可推知，当鸮鹦鹉面对危险时，它不能做出积极的反应，这对鸮鹦鹉的生存来说是一种威胁。故选D。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中The scientists' patience is finally rewarded. The rimu was in fruit this year, and more than 80 chicks hatched, making this the best breeding season on record.可知，科学家的耐心终于得到了回报。今年的柚木结果了，80多只雏鸟破壳而出，这是有记录以来最好的繁殖季节。由此可知，科学家们的耐心得到了回报，今年有80多只雏鸟破壳而出。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中Another danger to the kakapo is a lack of genetic diversity. This is one reason why fewer than half of kakapo eggs hatch. By arranging the genome of every living bird, scientists can identify closely-related individuals and put them on different islands.可知，鸮鹦鹉面临的另一个危险是缺乏遗传多样性。这就是为什么只有不到一半的鸮鹦鹉蛋孵化的原因之一。通过整理每只活鸟的基因组，科学家可以识别出亲缘关系很近的个体，并把它们放在不同的岛屿上。由此可知，科学家们把鸮鹦鹉放在不同的岛屿上，是为了阻止近亲鸮鹦鹉交配。故选A。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Yet the kakapo's future still looks unsafe. Earlier this year a severe disease tore through the population. And tiny as the number of kakapos is, space is running out on the two islands where most of them live.可知，然而，鸮鹦鹉的未来看起来仍然不安全。今年早些时候，一种严重的疾病在鸟群中肆虐。尽管鸮鹦鹉的数量很少，但它们生活的这两个岛屿上的空间已经所剩无几。由此可推知，作者认为保护新西兰鸮鹦鹉的努力是不够的。故选D。