Question

    Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats are disappearing.

The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species and decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development. Building and paving have covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another.

For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic. It flies all the way to Australia and New Zealand. The problem, according to investigators, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don't have a safe place to eat and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey. "They simply perish along the way," says one of the scientists.

Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds.

"Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,’’ one of the scientists says.

The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopover areas for birds that pass through their boundaries.

For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might die.

One scientist who is not involved in the report tells the Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes—like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use—could make a big difference.

1.What’s the major danger for migratory birds according to the passage?

A.They can’t find enough food along the way.

B.They have lost their way because of human development.

C.Human development has occupied their natural habitats.

D.They are sometimes struck by human diseases.

2.What do we know about bar-tailed godwits?

A.They fly from the Arctic south to Australia every year.

B.They can pick out good resting place along the way.

C.They have died out because of human hunting.

D.They have their conserved land in Australia.

3.Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word "perish" in Paragraph 3?

A.Continue. B.Die.

C.Settle. D.Migrate.

4.What suggestion does the scientist say to the Los Angeles Times?

A.Countries working together to protect the sea.

B.Protecting the original habitats for the migrating birds.

C.Reserving some land for the birds to rest along the way.

D.Planting some native plants for the migrating birds to use.

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。城市化建设和工农业发展，使候鸟栖息地遭到严重破坏，这将直接导致大量鸟类物种的消失。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中的The major danger for migratory birds is development. Building and paving have covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another.“候鸟面临的主要危险是发育。建筑和铺路覆盖了大自然，大自然是鸟儿们从世界的一个地方飞往另一个地方停下来觅食的地方。”和第三段中many of these small birds die along their migration because they don't have a safe place to eat and rest.“许多这样的小鸟在迁徙途中死亡，因为它们没有一个安全的地方吃东西和休息。”可知，根据这篇文章，候鸟的主要危险是人类的发展已经占据了它们的自然栖息地。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic. It flies all the way to Australia and New Zealand.“例如，一种被称为巴尾水鸟的鸟从它在北极的繁殖地迁徙而来。它一直飞往澳大利亚和新西兰。”由此可知，长尾斗鸡每年从北极南部飞往澳大利亚。故选A。

3.词句猜测题。根据上文The problem, according to investigators, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don't have a safe place to eat and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next part of their journey.“”据调查人员说，问题在于，许多这种小鸟在迁徙途中死亡，因为它们没有一个安全的地方吃东西和休息。没有地方来恢复他们下一段旅程所需要的体力。没有地方休息吃东西，恢复体力，因此随着时间的推移，他们只会灭亡。由此推知下文划线词的意思是“死”。故选B。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段中He says small changes—like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use—could make a big difference.“他说，微小的改变——比如种植更多的本地植物或让猫远离鸟类可能会使用的地区——可能会带来很大的不同。”可知，科学家对he Los Angeles Times的建议是为迁徙的鸟类种植一些本土植物。故选D。