Question

HUMPBACK WHALE FACTS Every humpback can be identified from the unique marking on the underside of its tail. They can dive for up to 45 minutes and can reach depths of 600 feet. Humpbacks can weigh two tons at birth . A full-grown whale can be 45 feet long and weigh up to 40 tons. Nearly 40 percent of a humpback’s body weight is muscle. They can see up to 400 feet underwater. They can blow out air from their blowholes at a speed of 300 mph . Their lungs can hold 2,500 gallons of air.

When Lady Gage releases a catchy new single , it quickly goes around the world.

Now scientists have discovered the same thing happens with the songs of another exotic（外来的） creature the humpback whale.

The mammals become interested in new tunes just like people do ,and the most popular original whale songs spread globally like hit singles. The discovery has astonished marine experts who say it is the first time such a large., “ population-wide cultural exchange” has been seen in the animal kingdom.

Male humpback whales are famed for the loud , long and complex songs they make during the mating season . Scientists are unsure why the males sing . Some believe it is a way of advertising themselves to females , others that it allows migrating whales to stay in contact.

Each song lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and the males can sing continuously for 24 hours . At any period of time , all the males in a population sing the same song . But a study ,published in the journal Current Biology , shows that this song changes over time and spreads around the oceans . Dr Ellen Garland , of Queensland University , said :“Our findings reveal cultural change on a vast scale. Songs move like cultural ripples from one population to another , causing all males to change their song to a new version.”

Researchers recorded songs from six neighboring populations of whales in the Pacific over a decade. They found that new versions of the songs appear over time and always spread from west to east.

Dr Garland believes that a small number of whales may migrate to other populations carrying the new songs with them , or that they are heard by passing whales.

Dr Garland said, “We think this male search for song novelty（新奇） is in the hope of being that little bit different and perhaps more attractive to the opposite sex. ”

66. What can we learn from the facts of humpback whales?

A. They can travel at a speed of 300 miles per hour.

B. They always stay at a depth of 600 feet in the sea.

C. All of them differ from each other.

D. Approximately 40 tons of a grown humpback whale is muscle.

67. The author mentions Lady Gaga to 　　　　.

A. Prove the popularity of her hit singles

B. show the whale’s songs also spread quickly

C. emphasize humpbacks are as famous as her

D. provide readers with a new way to learn her songs

68. The word “population ” in this passage probably refers to 　　　.

A. the spreading of the humpback whales’ new versions of the tunes

B. the number of male humpback whales singing in the sea

C. the place where certain amounts of humpback whales live

D. the migration of humpback whales from one place to another

69. The discovery is very astonishing to experts , because it reveals　　　 .

A. the existence of cultural change

B. the reason why male humpbacks sing

C. the novelty of the songs of humpbacks

D. cultural exchange on a vast scale

70. According to the passage , Dr Garland wants to tell us 　　　　.

A. all female humpbacks also change their song during the mating season

B. whales have their own tunes that spread around the world for a decade

C. whale’s songs always spred from east to west in the Pacific Deean

D. male humpbacks adopt new songs to make themselves unique and attractive

Answer 1

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