Question

Laughing gulls (鸥) are seen along the coasts of the United States during the summer months. They are those black-hooded birds that dip and wheel at the beach. For years, scientists believed that laughing gulls, like all other birds, used their bodies to communicate, or exchange messages, with each other. But recent studies seem to show that these birds have at least three levels of vocal (有声的) communication.

    The first level is a simple note, like the sound of a spoken vowel (元音) or consonant (辅音). The second level puts two or more notes together, like combining vowels and consonants to form a word. The third level consists of several notes, like combining a few words to make a phrase.

    In human speech, inflection, or voice pitch, can change the meaning of the message. In writing, inflection can be shown by changing the punctuation (标点), for example,“No?”and “No!”. Gulls use different inflections, too. They also change the order of their notes. Like a human's word order, a gull's note order can change meaning, for example,“You are my mother.”and“Are you my mother?”. There can be anywhere from 2 to 15 notes in a call. Studies show that it is the first quick notes that appear to identify the bird. For example, a chick will recognize and answer only the call of its own parents.

    1. The word that means "voice pitch" is ________.

    A. communication  B. inflection　　　　   C. language　　　　    D. vowels

    2. The second level of vocal communication is like ________.

    A. putting words together to form a sentence

    B. putting vowels and consonants together to form a word

    C. the sound of a single vowel or consonant

    D. combining a few words to make a phrase

    3. Studies seem to show that the call of the laughing gull is ________.

A. a simple arrangement of bird calls

B. a complicated arrangement of notes.

C. a simple arrangement of words and letters

D. only a call for food

    4. According to the story, which of the following statements is probably true?

    A. Calls are different for each bird.　　   B. Birds recognize each other by sight.

    C. All birds answer the same call.　　　　 D. A chick can only understand its sister’s call.

    5. Which of the following shows a change in inflection?

A. I’m tired. I’m not tired.

B. You are late! Are you late!

C. Are you my mother? Are you my mother?

D. He is tall! He is tall?

 

Answer 1

答案：BBBAD
提示：

1. In human speech, inflection, or voice pitch… 与voice pitch意思最接近的是B。 2. The second level puts two or more notes together, like combining vowels and consonants to form a word. 3. 参见文章第三段。 4. Studies show that it is the first quick notes that appear to identify the bird. 5.与文中的例子“No?”and“No!”类似的是D.