Question

【题目】Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing or whistle when you are happy.

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.

Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims（声称）as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species (物种) are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting（筑巢）season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

Birds sing loudest in the spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.

You can see that birds have a language all their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.

【1】Some scientists believe that most of the time birds’ singing is actually __________.

A. an expression of happiness B. a way of greeting

C. an expression of anger D. a way of warning

【2】What is a bird’s “territory”?

A. A place where families of other species are not accepted.

B. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.

C. An area which a bird considers to be its own.

D. An area for which birds fight against each other.

【3】Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A. Because they want to invite more friends.

B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

C. Because they want to find outsiders around.

D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

【4】How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A. By comparing birds with human beings.

B. By reporting experiment results.

C. By describing birds’ daily life.

D. By telling a bird’s story.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】C

【3】B

【4】A

【解析】试题分析: 本文是一篇科普短文，主要分析了鸟儿唱歌的不同的原因。

【1】B 细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句“Theirsinging is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory”可知很多的鸟儿唱歌是警告别的鸟儿远离它的领地。选B。

【2】D 细节理解题。根据第三段的第二、三、四句“A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims（声称）as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species (物种) are welcome.”可知答案，选D。

【3】B 推理判断题。根据文章第四段最后两句“So he isscreaming all the time，whether he can see an outsider or not .This screaming is what we call a bird’s song，and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away．”可知在筑巢季节，鸟儿叫主要是想吓走外来者。选B。

【4】A 篇章结构题。A：借助比较鸟类和人类；B借助报道实验结果；C：借助描述鸟类的日常生活；D：借助讲述鸟类的故事。通读全文可知，作者通过比较人类和鸟类展开全文的，选A。