Question

On the island of New Zealand, there is a grasshopper-like species of insect that is found nowhere else on earth. New Zealanders have given it the nickname weta, which is a native Maori word meaning “god of bad looks”. It’s easy to see why anyone would call this insect a bad-looking bug. Most people feel disgusted at the sight of these bulky(笨重的)，slow-moving creatures.

Wetas are natural creatures; they come out of their caves and holes only after dark. A giant weta can grow to over three inches long and weigh as much as 1.5 ounces. Giant wetas can hop up to two feet at a time. Some of them live in trees, and others live in caves. They are very long-lived for insects, and some adult wetas can live as long as two years. Just like their cousins grasshoppers and crickets, wetas are able to “sing” by rubbing their leg parts together, or against their lower bodies.

Most people probably don’t feel sympathy for these endangered creatures, but they do need protecting. The slow and clumsy wetas have been around on the island since the times of the dinosaurs, and have evolved and survived in an environment where they had no enemies until rats came to the island with European immigrants. Since rats love to hunt and eat wetas, the rat population on the island has grown into a real problem for many of the native species that are unaccustomed to its presence, and poses a serious threat to the native weta population.

1..According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

The weta is a newly discovered insect species.

The Maoris nicknamed themselves “Wetas”.

The Europeans brought wetas to New Zealand.

Wetas are unpleasant to the eye.

2..The strange thing about wetas is that they can produce pleasant sounds by ________.

A. rubbing their body parts

B. moving slowly on the ground

C. hopping up to two feel at a time

D. coming out only at night

3.Which of the following descriptions of wetas is accurate?

A. They are quick in movement.

B. They are decreasing in number.

C. They are very active in the daytime.

D. They have a short lifespan for insects.

4.The underlined word “its” in the last paragraph is the closest in meaning to “_________”.

A. The dinosaur’s B. The weta’s

C. The island’s D. The rat’s

5.From which of the following is the passage LEAST likely to be taken?

A. A science magazine. B. A travel guide.

C. A business journal. D. biology textbook.

 

Answer 1

1.D

2.A

3.B

4.D

5.C

【解析】新西兰岛上，有一种在地球别处没有的蚂蚱般的昆虫，叫做weta。虽然人们不太喜欢它，但因为老鼠而濒于灭绝，人们还是应该保护这一物种。

1. 细节题。根据第一段的It’s easy to see why anyone would call this insect a bad-looking bug.Most people feel disgusted at the sight of these bulky(笨重的)，slow-moving creatures.可知它们看起来不招人喜欢。故选D。

2. 细节题。根据第二段wetas are able to “sing” by rubbing their leg parts together, or against their lower bodies.可知它们会摩擦肢体发出类似“唱歌”的声音。故选A。

3. 细节题。根据第三段they had no enemies until rats came to the island with European immigrants和poses a serious threat to the native weta population可知，老鼠是它们的敌人，并给它们的数量带来了严重的威胁。说明它们由于老鼠的入侵而减少了许多。故选B。

4. 根据上下文猜测题。根据语境“the rat population on the island has grown into a real problem for many of the native species that are unaccustomed to its presence, and poses a serious threat to the native weta population”可知岛上的老鼠数量对于那些不习惯老鼠存在的本地物种来说是一个严重的问题，并对weta这一物种造成了威胁。因为老鼠之前是不存在的，所以 “its presence”指的是“老鼠的出现”。故选D。

5. 文章类型题。A science magazine：科学杂志A travel guide：旅游杂志A business journal：商务杂志 biology textbook：地理杂志。比较可知这篇文章最不可能选自“商务杂志”。故选C。

考点：考查说明类短文阅读