Question

【题目】 For a long time, scientists believed that only humans were left-or right-handed. However, recent studies have shown that this isn’t true. Just like people, animals favor one side or the other.

In Ireland, scientists studied a group of 42 cats. They gave them three tasks. One was to get a delicious piece of fish out of a bottle. They found that the male cats preferred to use their left paw, and the female cats preferred to use their rights.

Being left-or right-handed isn't limited (有限的) to arms and legs. It can include eyes, ears, claws, and even tails. In Italy, scientists discovered that dogs wag their tails to the right when they see something that they like. When they see something that they don’t like, their tails go to the left.

There are lots of fun examples. Left-handed dolphins swim in a different direction around the pool. Elephants like to swing their trunks in one direction. Even snakes prefer to curl up only one way.

Many people believe that polar bears are left-handed. They say, for example, that polar bears cover their black nose with their right paw, which helps them hide in the snow when they are hunting. Then they can sneak up(慢慢靠近) on a seal, and their left paw will be free to catch it.

Scientists, however, disagree. Some have watched polar bears for thousands of hours. They never saw the bears cover their nose during a hunt. They also saw no evidence(根据) that they were left-handed. Without taking any notice of this, many websites continue to say that polar bears are left-handed.

Scientists are still learning about animals and their behaviors. The next time you see an animal, whether it’s your pet cat or an elephant, try figuring out yourself which it prefers - left or right.

【1】The underlined word"favor"in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to .

A.giveB.findC.seeD.prefer

【2】In paragraph 2, we can get the information about .

A.an Irish scientist who studies catsB.a study about cats and its findings

C.three tasks done by male and female catsD.an introduction on how cats get fish

【3】Which one of the following statements is true about polar bears?

A.It's believed that polar bears are left-handed for they use their left paw to cover their nose.

B.The findings that polar bears cover their nose while hunting is supported by scientists.

C.Scientists disagree with the popular belief that polar bears are left-handed.

D.The information from many websites that polar bears are left handed is believable.

【4】The purpose of this passage is mainly to .

A.introduce recent studies of animalsB.explain why some animals are left-handed

C.tell us which side animals preferD.learn about animals in different countries

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】C

【4】A

【解析】

本篇文章难度适中，主要讲述不但人有左撇子和右撇子，动物也有左撇子和右撇子。并列举了猫、海豚、狗以及北极熊等例子。

【1】词义猜测题。根据For a long time, scientists believed that only humans were left-or right-handed. However, recent studies have shown that this isn’t true. Just like people, animals favor one side or the other“很长一段时间以来，科学家们认为只有人类是左撇子或右撇子。然而，最近的研究表明这不是真的。就像人一样，动物也有偏爱的一面”可知，动物也有喜欢的一面，故选D。

【2】主旨大意题。根据In Ireland, scientists studied a group of 42 cats. They gave them three tasks. One was to get a delicious piece of fish out of a bottle. They found that the male cats preferred to use their left paw, and the female cats preferred to use their rights“在爱尔兰，科学家们研究了一组42只猫。他们给了他们三个任务。一种是从瓶子里拿出一块美味的鱼。他们发现，雄猫更喜欢使用它们的左爪，而雌猫更喜欢使用它们的右爪”可知，主要讲述一项关于猫的研究以及研究的发现，故选B。

【3】细节理解题。根据They say, for example, that polar bears cover their black nose with their right paw“例如他们说北极熊用他们的右爪盖住他们的黑鼻子”可知，不使用左手遮住他们的黑鼻子，排除A；根据They never saw the bears cover their nose during a hunt“在打猎期间，他们从未看见看见熊遮住他们的鼻子”可知，科学家不支持“当他们打猎时，他们会盖住鼻子”这一观点，排除B；根据They also saw no evidence(根据) that they were left-handed. Without taking any notice of this, many websites continue to say that polar bears are left-handed“他们也没有发现他们是左撇子的证据。许多网站没有注意到这一点，继续说北极熊是左撇子”可知，许多网上有关北极熊是左撇子的信息是不可信的，排除D；根据Many people believe that polar bears are left-handed“许多人相信北极熊是左撇子”以及Scientists, however, disagree“然而，科学家不同意”可知，科学家们不同意北极熊是左撇子的普遍看法。故选C。

【4】推理判断题。根据For a long time, scientists believed that only humans were left-or right-handed. However, recent studies have shown that this isn’t true. Just like people, animals favor one side or the other“很长一段时间以来，科学家们认为只有人类是左撇子或右撇子。然而，最近的研究表明这不是真的。就像人一样，动物也有偏爱的一面”以及Scientists are still learning about animals and their behaviors. The next time you see an animal, whether it’s your pet cat or an elephant, try figuring out yourself which it prefers - left or right“科学家们仍在研究动物及其行为。下次你看到动物的时候，不管是你的宠物猫还是大象，试着自己找出它更喜欢哪一个——左边还是右边”可知，本篇文章的目的是介绍动物最新的研究，故选A。