Question

    Researchers have recorded penguins making sounds underwater for the first time — the first time such behavior has been identified in seabirds. These animals, like other seabirds, are highly vocal on land. They are known to communicate when their heads are above the water in the ocean, possibly for the purposes of group formation.

However, until the latest study — published in the journal Zoological Science — it was not known whether penguins made sounds underwater, like some other air-breathing marine predators, such as whales and dolphins. For their research, a team of scientists led by Andréa from Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, wanted to investigate this issue. To do so, they fitted adult penguins from three species with video cameras featuring built-in microphones.

To the surprise of Andréa and her colleagues, the team recorded a total of 203 underwater vocalizations from the penguins in the underwater footage they captured over a month-long period in 2019. These are the first recordings of seabirds producing vocalizations underwater. “I couldn’t believe it. I had to replay it many times,” Andréa said.

The vocalizations that the team recorded — which sound like rapid whoops — were very short in duration, lasting about 0.06 seconds on average. And all of these sounds were emitted（发出）during dives in which the animals were searching for food. Currently, it is not clear why the penguins are making these sounds; however, they only produce them while hunting. In fact, more than 50 percent of the vocalizations were immediately preceded by an acceleration movement or followed by an attempt to hunt.

According to the researchers, this suggests that the sounds are related to hunting behavior — especially because the penguins tend to be alone when they make them, indicating that communication was not the purpose. The researchers guess that the penguins may be using the vocalizations to stun(使昏迷) their prey. However, much more research is required to determine why the penguins make these sounds, the scientists note.

1.How does Andréa’s team conduct the study about penguins?

A.By recording penguins’ sounds on land.

B.By fixing electronic devices on the penguins.

C.By observing penguins’ activities underwater.

D.By catching different kinds of adult penguins.

2.What can we infer from Andréa’s words in paragraph 3?

A.Penguins’ sounds are too low to hear.

B.She doubts if penguins could make sounds.

C.Penguins seldom make sounds underwater.

D.It’s not easy to obtain penguins’ sounds underwater.

3.When do penguins probably produce sounds underwater?

A.When they take a deep breath.

B.When they dive to hunt for food.

C.When they teach their babies diving.

D.When they communicate with their partners.

4.What is the scientists’ attitude towards the research results?

A.Cautious. B.Negative.

C.Supportive. D.Indifferent.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.B

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了研究人员首次记录到企鹅在水下发出的声音，他们猜测企鹅可能是在用发声来击昏猎物，然而，科学家们指出需要更多的研究来确定企鹅发出这些声音的原因。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中的“they fitted adult penguins from three species with video cameras featuring built-in microphones.”可知，他们给三种成年企鹅安装了内置麦克风的摄像机，由此可知，安德里亚的团队是通过在企鹅身上安装电子设备而进行研究的，故B项正确。

2.词句猜测题。根据第三段中的“These are the first recordings of seabirds producing vocalizations underwater. “I couldn’t believe it. I had to replay it many times,” Andréa said.”可知，这是第一次记录到企鹅在水下发出的声音，“我简直不敢相信。我不得不重放了很多遍”，安德里亚说，因此安德里亚的话表明记录到企鹅在水下发出的声音是很不容易的，故D项正确。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中的“And all of these sounds were emitted（发出）during dives in which the animals were searching for food. Currently, it is not clear why the penguins are making these sounds; however, they only produce them while hunting.”可知，所有这些声音都是动物在潜水寻找食物时发出的，目前，还不清楚为什么企鹅会发出这些声音；然而，它们只在捕猎时发出这些声音。由此可知，企鹅可能会在潜水觅食的时候才在水下发出声音，故B项正确。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“The researchers guess that the penguins may be using the vocalizations to stun(使昏迷) their prey. However, much more research is required to determine why the penguins make these sounds, the scientists note.”可知，研究人员猜测，企鹅可能是在用发声来击昏猎物。然而，科学家们指出，还需要更多的研究来确定企鹅发出这些声音的原因，特别是“much more research”表明科学家对研究结果持谨慎态度，故A项正确。