Question

【题目】 Last summer, bird-watchers confirmed the discovery of a new species of bird in Cambodia（柬埔寨）: the Combodian tailorbird. It was not an event of particular biological significance but it was striking for one reason: This species of tailorbird was discovered not in an unspoiled rain forest but within the limits of Combodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.

We don’t typically think of the city as a likely habitat for natural life except rats and pigeons（鸽子）, let alone as a hiding place for an undiscovered species of bird. But a new paper, published last week in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, proves it incorrect. A team of 24 researchers has studied birds and plants in 147 cities, and found that cities much more closely resemble their native habitats than they resemble each other.

It’s also true that in the world of birds and plants, as in human society, there is such thing as a world species who feels equally at home in Francisco, Milan and Beijing. Four birds appear in more than 80 percent of the cities studied, and 11 plants in more than 90 percent of the cities. On the plant side, those include meadow grass, shepherd’s purse, weeds. In the air, it’s the usual species: the pigeon, the house sparrow and the European starling（惊鸟）. They all have become completely adapted to urban life.

However, not all cities are equal protectors of plants and animals, though. City design plays an important role in greening a city. In fact, the amount of green space is a stronger predictor of the biodiversity than a city’s size.

In a world where architecture, food, language, fashion and commerce are increasingly globalized, a city’s native plants and animals are considered as a kind of city identity. Cities tend to become similar, but their natural environments stand differently apart.

【1】What does the author think of the discovery of the Cambodian tailorbird?

A.It is just an exception.

B.It is a wonder for the Cambodians.

C.It is an amazing biological event.

D.It is very common in the world.

【2】Weeds and sparrows are found in many cities. This seems to be a result of ________.

A.complete adaption

B.natural selection

C.good urban design

D.rapid globalization

【3】We can learn that while cities tend to become similar, their natural environments ________.

A.are becoming worse

B.remain diverse

C.are expanding in size

D.stay unchanged

【4】What would be the best title for the text?

A.The Discovery of New Species of Bird in Cambodia

B.The Similarity of the Habitats in Different Cities

C.City’s Native Plants and Animals—A Kind of City Identity

D.City—Protector of Native Plants and Animals

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】A

【2】A

【3】B

【4】C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。本文主要讲述的是城市的本土植物和动物是城市的一种身份象征，体现了城市的自然环境的多样性。

【1】

推理判断题。根据第一段中的“It was not an event of particular biological significance…”可知，这不是具有特殊生物学意义的事件。即柬埔寨剪裁鸟的发现只是一个例外而已。故选A。

【2】

细节理解题。根据第三段中的“They all have become completely adapted to urban life.”可知，它们都完全适应了城市生活。即在许多城市发现杂草和麻雀是它们完全适应了城市生活的结果。故选A。

【3】

细节理解题。根据最后一段中的“Cities tend to become similar, but their natural environments stand differently apart.”可知，城市趋于变得相似，但其自然环境却截然不同。即虽然城市趋于变得相似，但它们的自然环境仍然是多样化的。故选B。

【4】

标题判断题。通读全文尤其是最后一段可知，在建筑，食品，语言，时尚和商业日益全球化的世界中，城市中生活的动植物被视为一种城市身份。城市趋于变得相似，但其自然环境却截然不同。由此可知，本文主要讲述的是城市的本土植物和动物是城市的一种身份象征，体现了城市的自然环境的多样性。即C项（城市的本土动植物是一种城市身份）可以作为文章的标题。故选C。