Question

    For many years, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species.

That might sound like an impossible dream, but Bexler turned it into a reality.

In December 2015, he and a team of Australian scientists explored an isolated rainforest on the island of New Guinea. They were the first people to enter the region. “As time was limited, we were dropped in by helicopter. Once we were on the ground, there were no trails anywhere; it was really hard to get around,” Bexler says.

Within minutes of landing, the team spotted a black chicken-like bird with strange orange skin hanging from its neck. The scientists soon determined that the unusual creature was a type of honeyeater — the first new bird species to be sighted on New Guinea in 60 years.

The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species — 13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, four butterflies, and five palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before.”

The newfound species didn’t shy away from the scientists. Two long-nosed echidnas — primitive egg-laying mammals — let the visitors pick them up and take them back to camp to study them.

Bexler thinks the animals weren’t frightened because they had never seen humans before. “In almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviors of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.”

Scientists believe the area is probably the largest untouched forest in Asia. Bexler and his team did not have enough time to study the area completely. They hope to return to record more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.”

1.Which word best describes Bruce Bexler?

A.Modest. B.Adventurous.

C.Optimistic. D.Confident.

2.What does Bruce Bexler mean in Paragraph 5 when he says the scientists “were like kids in a candy store”?

A.They didn’t have enough food and were hungry.

B.They were very excited about what they saw.

C.They were behaving like naughty children.

D.They knew that if they kept searching, they’d find sugar.

3.Why did some of the animals allow the scientists to pick them up?

A.The scientists seemed to be very friendly.

B.The scientists were good at handling animals.

C.The animals had been well-trained by the local people.

D.The animals had no experience or fear of people.

4.What can we conclude about the area Bruce Bexler explored?

A.The best way to explore the area is by helicopter.

B.The area has not been visited by scientists for many years.

C.The area still contains many plants and animals unknown to science.

D.The locals are unwilling to allow the scientists to enter the deep woods.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了Bruce Bexler和一支澳大利亚的科学团队探索了一座人迹罕至的岛屿，在那里发现了许多从未见过的生物。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段“For many years, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species.”可知，Bruce Bexler一直梦想着去人类没有去过的地方，探索一些未知的地方，由此判断出他是一个喜欢冒险的人。故选B项。

2.推理判断题。根据划线句后一句“Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before.”可知，在他们所看到的地方都是从未见过的神奇事物，其实就是表达科学家们面对新发现时的兴奋、激动之情。故选B项。

3.细节理解题。根据第七段第一句“Bexler thinks the animals weren’t frightened because they had never seen humans before.”可知，这些动物们不惧怕人类是因为它们根本没见过人类。所以为什么动物允许人类把它们带回来是因为这些动物没有接触过人类，不怕人类。D选项“这些动物没有接触过人类，不怕人类”符合文意。故选D项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中“They hope to return to record more undiscovered species.”和Bexler所说的“We just scratched the surface”可知，文中科学团队在无人岛屿上发现的物种还只是冰山一角，仍然有许多动植物是未知的。由此判断出，这个地区仍然有许多科学上未知的动植物。故选C项。