Question

    A new study has found that North American migratory birds (候鸟)have been getting smaller over the past 40 years. Researchers say the finding suggests a warming climate could be affecting bird growth in North America - and across the world.

The study involved data on nearly 80,000 birds killed from 1978 to 2016 in the city of Chicago, Illinois. Researchers measured the size of the birds. The birds included in the study had died after crashing into buildings during the spring and fall migrations.

Fifty-two species of birds were studied. Most were different kinds of songbirds. These birds reproduce in cold areas of North America and spend their winters in areas south of Chicago. Over the 40-year period, body size decreased in all 52 species. The average body mass fell by 2. 6 percent. Leg bone length dropped by 2. 4 percent. The one area of growth was the wingspan, which increased by 1.3 percent. The researchers said the wing growth likely happened to permit the birds to continue making long migrations with smaller bodies.

Brian Weeks, a biologist at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability, helped lead the research. He told the Reuters news agency that he believes the results show a clear link between a warming climate and the growth of the birds.

The study found a direct link between the average summer temperature and the body size of the birds. Dave Willard works with Chicago's Field Museum, which was in charge of measuring all the birds. He said nearly “ everyone agrees that the climate is warming, but examples of just how that is affecting the natural world are only now coming to light.” The study provides new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.

A study published in September documented a 29-percent drop in the bird population in the United States and Canada since 1970. The study said this represented a net loss (净亏损)of about 2. 9 billion birds. Weeks said the new study is the largest examination yet to measure body size reactions to warming temperatures involving a large, diverse group of species. “We had good reason to expect that increasing temperatures would lead to reductions in body size, based on previous studies,” Weeks added. “The thing that was shocking was how consistent it was. I was incredibly surprised that all of these species are responding in such similar ways.”

The researchers plan to continue studying the Field Museum data in an effort to find additional evidence to support their findings. They will also further examine the idea that an individual's physical development can change to fit changing environmental conditions.

1.In the study, the size and mass of birds fell but the wingspan increased, which    .

A.permitted birds to fly higher and stronger

B.made birds' long migration with smaller bodies possible

C.could protect birds from being extinct in the world

D.made North American migratory birds more beautiful and charming

2.Which of the following statements about Dave Willard is CORRECT?

A.He conducted a research which proved the climate is warming.

B.He provided new evidence of worrisome developments for North American birds.

C.He works with Chicago's Field Museum and is in charge of measuring all the birds.

D.He agrees that evidence proving a link between global warming and nature is just revealed.

3.According to the text, what made Brian Weeks astonished?

A.All species are responding to global warming similarly.

B.His study was surprisingly consistent with other scientists' research.

C.Birds got smaller in all parts of their body with the temperature increasing.

D.All species surveyed became smaller in response to increasing temperatures.

4.What would be the best title for the text?

A.Birds Are Going to Die Out

B.Migratory Birds Are Getting Smaller

C.Climate Change May Be Causing Smaller North American Birds

D.Brian Week, A Great Biologist, Published A Study about Birds

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了全球变暖对于候鸟的影响—身体变小。

1.细节理解题。根据第三段中“The researchers said the wing growth likely happened to permit the birds to continue making long migrations with smaller bodies.”可知，研究人员说，翅膀的生长可能恰好允许鸟类继续用较小的身体进行长距离迁徙。所以在这项研究中，鸟类的体型和体重下降了，但翼展却增加了，这使得鸟类以较小的身体进行长距离迁徙成为可能故选B。

2.细节理解题。根据第五段中“He said nearly “ everyone agrees that the climate is warming, but examples of just how that is affecting the natural world are only now coming to light.””可知，Dave Willard表示，每个人都知道气候正在变暖，但有关于气候变暖如何影响自然界的例子直到现在才为人所知，所以他也认为，证明全球变暖与自然之间存在联系的证据刚刚被揭示出来。故选D。

3.细节理解题。根据第六段中“We had good reason to expect that increasing temperatures would lead to reductions in body size, based on previous studies,” Weeks added. “The thing that was shocking was how consistent it was. I was incredibly surprised that all of these species are responding in such similar ways.””可知，根据之前的研究，我们有充分的理由认为，气温升高会导致鸟类体型缩小。令人震惊的是在全球变暖的情况下，几乎所有的物种都以相似的方式进行变化。所以所有被调查的物种都因气温升高而变小使布莱恩·威克斯感到惊讶。选D。

4.主旨大意题。阅读全文，尤其是第一段A new study has found that North American migratory birds (候鸟)have been getting smaller over the past 40 years. Researchers say the finding suggests a warming climate could be affecting bird growth in North America - and across the world.可知，一项新的研究发现，过去40年来，北美候鸟的体型一直在变小。研究人员表示，这一发现表明，气候变暖可能会影响北美乃至全世界的鸟类生长。所以 短文的最佳标题为“气候变暖影响鸟类的生长”。故选C。