Question

【题目】Frigatebirds seagoing fliers with a 6-foot wingspan, can stay aloft(up in the air) for weeks at a time, a new study has found.

Since the frigatebird spends most of its life at sea, its habits outside of when it reproduces on land aren’t well-known-until researchers started tracking them around the Indian Ocean. What the researchers discovered is that the bird’s flying ability is unbelievable.

Ornithologist(鸟类学家) Henri Weimerskirch put satellite tage(标签) on a couple of dozen frigatebirds. When the data started to come in, he could hardly believe how high the birds flew.

"First, we found, 'Whoa, 1,500 meters. Excellent,' " says Weimerskirch, "And after 2,000, after 3,000, after 4,000 meters-OK, at this altitude they are in freezing conditions, especially surprising for a tropical bird."

"There is no other bird flying so high relative to the sea surface," he says. "It’s the only bird that is known to intentionally enter into a cloud," Weimerskirch says. And not just any cloud—a soft, white cumulus cloud(积云). Over the ocean, these clouds tend to form in places where warm air rises from the sea surface. The birds take a ride on the current of rising air, all the way up to the top of the cloud.

Frigatebirds have to find ways to stay aloft because they can’t land on the water. Since their feathers aren’t waterproof, the birds would drown in short order. They feed by harassing other birds in flight until they bring whatever fish they’ve swallowed back into their mouth and the frigatebird takes it.

So in between meals, frigatebirds fly higher... and higher.

In one case, for two months-continuously aloft.

One of the tagged birds flew 40 miles without a wing-flap. Several covered more than 300 miles a day on average, and flew continuously for weeks. They are blessed with an unusual body. No bird has a larger wing surface area compared with body weight.

【1】How did researchers feel when data about frigatebirds reached them?

A. Calm. B. Surprised.

C. Hopeful. D. Anxious.

【2】According to the text, how can frigatebirds fly so high?

A. By flying into a cloud.

B. With the help of researchers.

C. Thanks to advanced technology.

D. By following other birds into the sky.

【3】What does the underlined word “they” in the text refer to?

A. Frigatebirds. B. Other birds.

C. Small fish. D. Larger fish.

【4】In what aspect are frigatebirds different from other birds?

A. When they give birth. B. What they feed on.

C. Their body weight. D. Their wing surface area.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】B

【4】D

【解析】Frigatebird的飞行高度无鸟能比，令人难以相信。文章介绍了这种鸟的飞行高度、飞行特点、生活习性以及导致它能连续高飞的原因。

【1】B细节理解题。根据第三段When the data started to come in, he could hardly believe how high the birds flew.可知，当研究者看到frigatebird的飞行数据达到的高度时，感到难以相信，所以是非常吃惊。故选B。

【2】A细节理解题。根据第五段And not just any cloud-a soft, white cumulus cloud(积云). Over the ocean, these clouds tend to form in places where warm air rises from the sea surface. The birds take a ride on the current of rising air, all the way up to the top of the cloud.可知，frigatebird随着上升的空气气流一路飞向云中，故选A。

【3】B猜测词义题。此处指frigatebirds靠扰乱其他鸟类的飞行，直到那些鸟把咽下去的鱼吐出来，frigatebirds吃掉这些食物。句中they指的是其他的鸟，故选B。

【4】D推理判断题。根据最后一句They are blessed with an unusual body. No bird has a larger wing surface area compared with body weight.可知，frigatebird与别的鸟不同之处在于相对于它的体重，它的翅膀较大。故选D。