Question

    We've certainly seen a dog nursing a wound, or a deer calling out in pain. But many animals suffer in silence. The most silent sufferers in the animal world may be fish.

Do fish feel pain? A new study from the University of Liverpool has found that fish feel pain in a way that's "strikingly similar" to humans. For the study, Lynne Sneddon, from the university's Institute of Integrative Biology, reviewed the existing body of research 98 studies in all and concluded that they feel pain just as sharply as we do."

When subject to a potentially painful event, fish show changes in behavior such as stopping feeding and reduced activity, which are prevented when a pain-relieving drug is provided. In fact, like us, they breathe heavily and stop eating when they're hurting. They will even rub the part of their body that aches." Sneddon notes in a university release.

To understand pain in other species, scientists look at nociceptors (疼痛感受器), which send signals to the brain when the body is being damaged. Humans have them throughout their skin, bones and muscles. Nociceptors have also been found in many other species, including even those tiny fruit flies.

Fish have the same means to detect pain signals and the equipment to receive them. Besides, the fishermen's opinion that fish feel no pain just doesn't add up from an evolutionary view. Pain is an efficient messenger that tells, us that we've got a problem. An animal that can't feel it won't get that memo (ER), even if it hurts itself.

"If we accept fish experience pain, then this has great significance for how we treat them," Sneddon says. "Care should be taken when handling fish to avoid damaging theirs sensitive skin and they should be humanely caught and killed."

1.What can we learn about fish?

A.They are insensitive to pain. B.They are able to sense pain.

C.They won't react to painkillers. D.Their brain is the first to send pain signals.

2.What will a fish do when its lips get hurt?

A.It might rub its lips. B.It will keep its mouth open.

C.It will swim around like crazy. D.It will keep eating to forget pain.

3.What is the significance of the study according to Sneddon?

A.People will treat fish in a kinder way.

B.People can understand evolution better.

C.People can develop more drugs to save fish.

D.People will think of more ways to catch fish.

4.What does the underlined part "add up" probably mean?

A.Disappear. B.Put forward.

C.Make sense. D.Happen.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.A

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章讲述了一项研究，研究表明鱼可以感觉疼痛，鱼感到疼痛后做法与人相似，会停止进食和减少活动；科学家们观察了其它物种疼痛感受器，了解了疼痛感受器是如何运作的，Sneddon呼吁人们人道主义地对待鱼。

1.细节理解题。由第二段的句子“For the study, Lynne Sneddon, from the university's Institute of Integrative Biology, reviewed the existing body of research 98 studies in all and concluded that they feel pain just as sharply as we do.”可知，在这项研究中，从现有的98项研究得出结论，鱼类和我们一样感到疼痛，说明鱼能感受疼痛，B项切题，A项排除；由第三段的句子“When subject to a potentially painful event, fish show changes in behavior such as stopping feeding and reduced activity, which are prevented when a pain-relieving drug is provided.”可知，鱼受伤会停止进食和减少活动，而当提供止痛药物时，这些都会被阻止，所以对止疼药有反应，排除C项；由第四段的第一句“To understand pain in other species, scientists look at nociceptors (疼痛感受器), which send signals to the brain when the body is being damaged.”可知，当身体受到损伤时，疼痛感受器会向大脑发送信号，不是大脑发送的，排除D项。故选B项。

2.推理判断题。由第三段地句子“In fact, like us, they breathe heavily and stop eating when they 're hurting. They will even rub the part of their body that aches.”可知，鱼受伤时和我们一样，呼吸沉重，停止进食，甚至会摩擦身体疼痛的部位，可以推理出鱼的嘴唇受伤时鱼会摩擦自己的嘴唇。故选A项。

3.推理判断题。由最后一段“"If we accept fish experience pain, then this has great significance for how we treat them," Sneddon says. "Care should be taken when handling fish to avoid damaging theirs sensitive skin and they should be humanely caught and killed."”可知，Sneddon说：“如果我们接受鱼的痛苦，那么这对我们如何对待它们有着重要意义。”在处理鱼类时应小心，避免损坏它们敏感的皮肤，并应人道地捕获和杀死它们。”说明研究鱼会让我们更小心地对待鱼，尽量避免鱼感受痛苦。故选A项。

4.词句猜测题。add up本意意为“相加、合乎情理、说得通、积少成多”。由倒数第二段的句子“Besides, the fishermen's opinion that fish feel no pain just doesn't add up from an evolutionary view.”可知，另外，渔民们认为鱼不会感到疼痛的观点，从进化论的角度说不通，所以add up在此处意为make sense（说得通）。故选C项。