The secret of carrier pigeons' unbelievable ability to find their way home has been discovered by scientists: the feathered navigators follow the roads just like we do.

Scientists now believe the phrase "as the crow (乌鸦) flies" no longer means the shortest most direct route between two points. They say it is likely that crows and other day birds also choose AA-suggested routes, even though it makes their journeys longer.

Scientists at Oxford University spent 10 years studying homing pigeons using global positioning satellite (GPS) and got a surprising result. The birds often don't use the sun to decide their directions.

Instead they fly along motorways, turn at crossing and even go around roundabouts (绕道) , adding miles to their journeys.

"It really has knocked our research team sideways to find that after a decade-long international study, pigeons appear to ignore their inbuilt directional instincts (本能) and follow the road system," said Prof Tim Guilford, reader in animal behavior at Oxford University's Department of Zoology.

Guilford said pigeons use their own navigational system (导航系统) when doing long distance trips or when a bird does a journey for the first time.

"But once homing pigeons have flown a journey more than once, they can fly home on a habitual route, much as we do when we are driving or walking home from work," said Guilford.

"In short, it looks like it is mentally easier for a bird to fly down a road. They are just making their journey as simple as possible."

1.What would be the best title of the passage?

A. How Pigeons Find Their Ways Home?   B. Why Pigeons Can Fly long Distance?

C. Birds Follow Roads as We Do.             D. Why Crows Fly the Shortest D stance?

2.What does the words "the feathered navigators" refer to?

A. The crows.       B. The pigeons.     C. Day birds.       D. Animals that can fly.

3.Scientists used to think that homing pigeons often find their directions ____.

A. by global positioning satellite              B. by the sun

C. by the road system                  D. by following other birds

4.Why do homing pigeons tend to follow the road system daring the r journey?

A. Because they don't have their inbuilt directional instincts now.

B. Because their own navigational system doesn't work.

C. Because it is too hard to use their own navigational system.

D. Because it is easier to make journey simple by following road system.

The secret of carrier pigeons' unbelievable ability to find their way home has been discovered by scientists: the feathered navigators follow the roads just like we do.
Scientists now believe the phrase "as the crow (乌鸦) flies" no longer means the shortest most direct route between two points. They say it is likely that crows and other day birds also choose AA-suggested routes, even though it makes their journeys longer.
Scientists at Oxford University spent 10 years studying homing pigeons using global positioning satellite (GPS) and got a surprising result. The birds often don't use the sun to decide their directions.
Instead they fly along motorways, turn at crossing and even go around roundabouts (绕道) , adding miles to their journeys.
"It really has knocked our research team sideways to find that after a decade-long international study, pigeons appear to ignore their inbuilt directional instincts (本能) and follow the road system," said Prof Tim Guilford, reader in animal behavior at Oxford University's Department of Zoology.
Guilford said pigeons use their own navigational system (导航系统) when doing long distance trips or when a bird does a journey for the first time.
"But once homing pigeons have flown a journey more than once, they can fly home on a habitual route, much as we do when we are driving or walking home from work," said Guilford.
"In short, it looks like it is mentally easier for a bird to fly down a road. They are just making their journey as simple as possible."

1. 1.

   What would be the best title of the passage?

   1. A.
      How Pigeons Find Their Ways Home?
   2. B.
      Why Pigeons Can Fly long Distance?
   3. C.
      Birds Follow Roads as We Do.
   4. D.
      Why Crows Fly the Shortest D stance?
2. 2.

   What does the words "the feathered navigators" refer to?

   1. A.
      The crows.
   2. B.
      The pigeons.
   3. C.
      Day birds.
   4. D.
      Animals that can fly.
3. 3.

   Scientists used to think that homing pigeons often find their directions ____.

   1. A.
      by global positioning satellite
   2. B.
      by the sun
   3. C.
      by the road system
   4. D.
      by following other birds
4. 4.

   Why do homing pigeons tend to follow the road system daring the r journey?

   1. A.
      Because they don't have their inbuilt directional instincts now.
   2. B.
      Because their own navigational system doesn't work.
   3. C.
      Because it is too hard to use their own navigational system.
   4. D.
      Because it is easier to make journey simple by following road system.

第二节 完形填空 (共20小题；每小题1分，满分２0分)

The train stopped and a girl got on. As I had become   36   by then, I could not tell what the girl looked like, but I could say she was a pretty girl.

    “Are you going to Dehra Dun?” I asked her as the train   37  . Maybe my voice   38   her. She screamed in a low voice and said, “I don’t know anyone else here.” Well, it often    39  that people with good   40   fail to see what is right in front of them. “I didn’t see you either at first,” I said. “But I   41   you come in.” I wondered if I would be able to   42   her from discovering that I couldn’t see. I thought,   43   I kept to my seat, it shouldn’t be too difficult.

    She was silent. Then I made a   44  . “What is it like outside?” I asked. She seemed to find something   45   in the question. Had she already noticed that I could not see? But her next question   46   my doubts. “Why don’t you look out of the window?” she asked quite   47  . I smiled, “You have an interesting face.” I thought it was a   48   remark as few girls could be tired of hearing that.

She laughed pleasantly. “It’s   49   to be told that,” she said. “But I’m so tired of people telling me that I have a   50   face.” Oh, so you did have a pretty face, thought I, and aloud I said, “Well, an interesting face   51   also be pretty.” “You are a good   52  ,” she said. “But why are you so serious?” Just then, the train   53   slowly into the next station, and the girl said goodbye to me.

    “She was an interesting girl,” I said to a new   54   and then I asked him, “Did she keep her hair long or short?” “I don’t remember,” he replied, sounding   55  . “But she was completely blind. Didn’t you notice?”

36. A. sleepy    B. blind     C. hungry D. dull

37. A. pulled out                         B. pulled in                 C. left off                    D. sent out

38. A. annoyed         B. cheered        C. shocked        D. touched

39. A. appears B. turns    C. proves D. happens

40. A. intension        B. eyesight       C. power  D. ability

41. A. watched         B. heard   C. observed      D. forgot

42. A. prevent B. cheat   C. protect         D. hold

43. A. unless    B. until     C. if           D. though

44. A. promise B. plan      C. trick     D. mistake

45. A. interesting          B. difficult                 C. strange               D. unfamiliar

46. A. removed              B. canceled           C. disappeared                    D. added

47. A. simply                       B. naturally           C. nervously       D. calmly

48. A. special   B. popular         C. safe      D. familiar

49. A. boring                       B. fortunate     C. confusing          D. nice

50. A. pretty    B. common       C. similar D. blind

51. A. must      B. should        C. can       D. shall

52. A. liar          B. talker   C. neighbor      D. passer-by

53. A. dragged          B. slipped          C. entered        D. drew

54. A. conductor        B. passenger             C. waiter            D. policeman

55. A. excited       B. disappointed           C. puzzled           D. indifferent

Taiwan police cannot decide whether to treat it as an extremely act of stealing or an even cheat. Either way, it could be the perfect crime, because the criminals are birds—homing pigeons !

The crime begins with a telephone message to the owner of a stolen car: if you want the car back, pay up. Then, the car owner is directed to a park, told where to find a bird cage and how to attach money to the neck of the pigeon inside. Carrying the money in a tiny bag, the pigeon flies off.

There have been at least four such pigeon pick-ups in Changwa. What at first seemed like the work of a clever stay-at-home car thief, however,  may in fact be the work of an even lazier and more inventive criminal mind—one that avoids not only collecting money but also going out to steal the car in the first place. Police officer Chen says that the criminal probably has pulled a double trick: he gets money for things he cannot possibly return. Instead of stealing cars, he lets someone else do it and then waits for the car-owner to place an advertisement in the newspaper asking for help.

The thought is supported by the fact that, so far, none of the stolen cars have been returned. Also, the amount of money demanded-under 3,000 Taiwanese dollars–seems too little for a car worth many times more.

Demands for pigeon-delivered money stopped as soon as the press reported the story. And even if they start again, Chen holds little hope of catching the criminal. “We have more important things to do,” he said.

1.After the car owner received a phone call, he _______.

2.The “lazier and more inventive” criminal refers to _______.

3.The writer mentions the fact that “none of the stolen cars have been returned” to show _______.

4.The underlined word “they” in the last paragraph refers to ____.

5. We may infer from the text that the criminal knows how to reach the car owners because _______.

Taiwan police cannot decide whether to treat it as an extremely eleven act of stealing or an even cleverer cheat . Either way , it could be the perfect crime (犯罪), because the criminals are birds—horning pigeons !

The crime begins with a telephone message to the owner of a stolen car : if you want the car back, pay up then, the car owner is directed to a park, told where to find a bird cage and how to attach money to the neck of the pigeon inside . Carrying the money in a tiny bag , the pigeon flies off .

There have been at least four such pigeon pick-ups in Changwa. What at first seemed like the work of a clever stay-at-home car thief, however , may in face be the work of an even lazier and more inventive criminal mind—one that avoid (避免)not only colleting money but going out to steal the car in the first place . Police officer Chen says that the criminal probably has pulled a double trick: he gets money for things he cannot possibly return . Instead of stealing cars , he lets someone else do it and then waits for the car-owner to place an ad (启事) in the newspaper asking for help .

The theory is supported by the fact that , so far , none of the stolen cars have been returned . Also, the amount of money demanded-under 3,000 Taiwanese dollars –seems too little for a car worth many times more .

Demands for pigeon-delivered money stopped as soon as the press reported the story. And even if they start again, Chen holds little hope of catching the criminal . “We have more important things to do, ” he said .

1．After the car owner received a phone call. He          

A．went to a certain pigeon and put some money in the bag it carried

B．gave the money to the thief and had his car back in a park

C．sent some money to the thief by mail

D．told the press about it

2．The “lazier and more inventive” criminal refers to          .

A．the car thief who stays at home     

B．one of those who put the ads in the paper

C．one of the policemen in Changwa  

D．the owner of the pigeons

3．The writer mentions the fact that “none of the stolen cars have been returned” to show       .

A．how easily people get fooled by criminals

B．what Chen thinks might be correct

C．the thief is extremely clever

D．the money paid is too little

4．The underlined word “they” in the last paragraph refers to          .

A．criminals            B．pigeons

C．the stolen cars    D．demands for money

5．We may infer from the text that the criminal knows how to reach the car owners because     .

A．he reads the ads in the newspaper  

B．he lives in the same neighborhood

C．he has seen the car owners in the park 

D．he has trained the pigeons to follow them