5.High in the sky,a group of birds fly past.The 5-foot-tall creatures are whooping cranes,the tallest birds in North America noted for its loud call.The wild animals appear to be following much larger birds.But those aren't birds at all.They are three-wheeled aircraft called trikes,and the pilots flying them are wearing white helmets and white gowns.That plan might sound like a stupid idea,but it's not.The pilots are from an organization called Operation Migration.They are helping the whooping cranes learn to migrate,or move from one area to another when the seasons change.The cranes are endangered.In 1941,the species had dwindled(减少)to roughly 20 birds because of hunting and habitat loss.US wildlife officials counted 149 whooping cranes in November 1995,the most since the American government began taking censuses(统计)in the 1930s.Today,about 380 remain.
In the fall,whooping cranes are supposed to migrate south.However,many of them don't know how."With so few birds left,young whooping cranes typically don't have parents around to teach them,"explains pilot Joe Duff.
That's where the trikes come in.Each October,pilots dress up as whooping cranes and take to the skies in Wisconsin.The young birds follow them because they think the trikes are big whooping cranes.
It takes about three months to reach south-with plenty of rest stops on the way.The pilots lead the cranes to refuges,or protected areas,in Florida.
This spring,the birds will migrate north by themselves-no trikes needed!"It's nice because you know the birds are going to make it,"Duff told WR News.
41.We can learn from the passage that whooping cranesC.
A.are the tallest birds in the world
B.aren't birds at all
C.are increasing in the past 15 years
D.have no team spirit
42.The three-wheeled aircraft serve asA.
A.adult cranes
B.food suppliers
C.temporary habitats
D.hunting tools
43.It can be inferred from the passage thatA.
A.the aircraft make a great difference to the cranes
B.the aircraft don't have an effect on the cranes
C.the cranes get lost frequently
D.the cranes fly to Florida nonstop
44.According to the passage,which of the following is TRUE?D.
A.Whooping cranes are famous for their height.
B.The pilots wear helmets and gowns to attract people's attention.
C.Whooping cranes want to migrate north in the autumn.
D.Whooping cranes will migrate on their own this spring.
45.What's the main idea of the passage?B
A.Baby whooping cranes don't have parents around.
B.Pilots show baby whooping cranes how to migrate.
C.Whooping cranes are becoming endangered.
D.Whooping cranes are a clever species.
分析 本文属于说明文阅读,作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了飞行员显示婴儿高鸣鹤如何迁移,帮助鸣鹤增加生存率,成功学会迁徙.
解答 41.C.推理判断题.根据第一段US wildlife officials counted 149 whooping cranes in November 1995,the most since the American government began taking censuses(统计)in the 1930s.Today,about 380 remain可知鸣鹤的数量正在增加;故选C.
42.A.细节理解题.根据第三段That's where the trikes come in.Each October,pilots dress up as whooping cranes and take to the skies in Wisconsin可知三轮飞机充当成年鹤;故选A.
43.A.推理判断题.根据第四段pilots dress up as whooping cranes and take to the skies in Wisconsin.The young birds follow them because they think the trikes are big whooping cranes可知这架飞机与一般的飞机有很大差别;故选A.
44.D.细节理解题.根据最后一段This spring,the birds will migrate north by themselves-no trikes needed可知今年春天美洲鹤会自己迁徙;故选D.
45.B.主旨大意题.文章主要讲了飞行员显示婴儿高鸣鹤如何迁移,帮助鸣鹤增加生存率,成功学会迁徙;故选B.
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力,做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句,和题干进行比较,再做出正确的选择.在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实,要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断.