13.Over millions of years,penguins(企鹅)have developed a keen sense of where to find food.Once they're old enough,they set off from the shores on which they were hatched for the first time and swim long distances in search of tasty fish like anchovies and sardines.But they don't search directly for the fish themselves.
For example,when young African penguins head out to sea,they look for areas with low surface temperatures and high chlorophyll(叶绿素) because those conditions signal the presence of phytoplankton(浮游植物).And lots of phytoplankton means lots of plankton(浮游动物),which in turn means lots of their favorite fish.Well,that's what it used to mean.
Climate change plus overfishing have made the penguin feeding grounds a mirage(海市蜃楼).The habitat is indeed plankton-rich-but now it's fish-poor.Researchers call this an"ecological trap."
"It's a situation where you have a signal that previously pointed an animal towards good quality habitat.That habitat's been changed,usually by human pressures.The signal stays,but the quality in the environment deteriorates."
Richard Sherley,a zoologist at the University of Exeter and his team used satellite imaging to track the African penguins from eight sites along southern Africa.Historically,the birds benefited from tons of fish off the coasts of Angola,Namibia and western South Africa,but now they're going hungry.
"I was really hoping we'd see them going east,and finding areas where the fish had moved to but it ends up being quite a sad story for the penguins."said Richard.
The researchers calculate that by falling into this ecological trap,African penguin populations on South Africa's Western Cape have declined by around 80percent.
Some research groups are exploring the idea of moving chicks to a place where they can't get trapped,like the Eastern Cape.But Sherley thinks that a longer-term solution means making and carrying out rules to create more sustainable(可持续的) fishing industry,something that he says needs public support.
32.How do penguins find their food?A
A.They discover fish with their keen sense.
B.They swim long distances directly for fish.
C.They make signals to each other when finding fish.
D.They look for warmer and greener areas.
33.What is an ecological trap for the African penguins?B
A.A trap set to catch penguins.
B.A good fish habitat with few fish.
C.A habitat unsuitable for fish.
D.A mirage on the sea.
34.What does the underlined word"deteriorates"in the fourth paragraph mean?A
A.Get worse.
B.Get better.
C.Stay the same.
D.Become suitable.
35.What can be done to help the penguins in the long run?C
A.Move the penguins to other places.
B.Create nature reserves for penguins.
C.Keep a balanced fishing industry.
D.Increase the population of penguins.
分析 本文是一篇科教类阅读.文章主要介绍了企鹅是如何找到食物的和企鹅现在所面临的问题.在非洲一个鱼的好栖息地却只有很少的鱼,企鹅会面临生态陷阱.我们可以通过保持渔业的平衡来帮助企鹅.
解答 32-35 ABAC
32.A.细节理解题.根据"penguins(企鹅)have developed a keen sense of where to find food."可知企鹅是通过敏感的感觉来找到食物的.故选A.
33.B.细节理解题.根据"The habitat is indeed plankton-rich-but now it's fish-poor"可知非洲企鹅所面临的问题是在一个鱼的好栖息地却只有很少的鱼.故选B.
34.A.词义猜测题.A.Get worse变糟糕;B.Get better变好;C.Stay the same保持不变;D.Become suitable变得合适;根据"The signal stays,but the quality in the environment deteriorates"并联系上下文可知此处是说环境变得糟糕.故选A.
35.C.推理判断题.根据"But Sherley thinks that a longer-term solution means making and carrying out rules to create more sustainable(可持续的) fishing industry,something that he says needs public support."可知保持渔业的平衡能够帮助企鹅.故选C.
点评 本文是一篇科教类阅读.文章主要介绍了企鹅是如何找到食物的和企鹅现在所面临的问题.此类题型主要考查学生的细节理解、词义猜测以及推理判断能力.细节理解题是针对文中某个细节、某句话或某部分具体内容设置问题,所以在做细节理解题时要结合原文和提干有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析,再结合选项选出正确答案.在做词义猜测题时要联系上下文并结合选项准确猜测题意.在做推理判断题时不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实,要联系上下文根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断.