(09·湖北B篇)

Three years ago, five parrots were set free in a wild place of Arizona, thousands of miles from the Channel Islands in Jersey sher they had been looked after by zookeepers. No evolutionary strategies informed them how to behave in this new Landscape of mountainous pine forest unoccupied by their king for 50 years. To the researchers’ surprise, they failed to make contact with a group of wild parrots imported from Mexico and set free at the same time. Within 24 hours the reintroducing ended in failure, and the poor birds were back in cages, on their way to the safety of the Arizona reintroduction programme.

Ever since then, the programme has enjoyed great success, mainly because the birds now being set free are Mexican birds illegally caught in the wild, confiscated （没收） on arrival north of the border, and raised by their parents in the safety of the programme. The experience shows how little we know about the behaviour and psychology（心理） of parrots, as Peter Bennett, a bird researcher, points out:” Reintroducing species of high intelligence like parrots is a lot more difficult. People like parrots, always treating them as nothing more than pers or valuable ‘collectables’. ”

Now that many species of parrot are in immediate danger of dying out, biologists are working together to study the natural history and the behaviour of this family of birds. Last year was an important turning point: conservationists founded the World Parrot Trust, based at Hayle in Cornwall, to support research into both wild and caged birds.

Research on parrots is vital for two reasons. Forest, as the Arizona programme showed, when reintroducing parrots to the wild, we need to be aware of what the birds must know if they are to survive in their natural home. We also need to learn more about the needs of parrots keot as pets, particularly as the Trust’s campaign does not attempt to discourage the practice, but rather urges people who buy parrots as pets to choose birds raised by humans.

55. What do we know about the area where the five parrots were reintroduced?

A. Its landscape is new to parrots of their king.

B. It used to be home to parrots of their kind.

C. It is close to where they had been kept.

D. Pine trees were planted to attract birds.

56. The reintroducing experience three years ago shows that man-raised parrots ______.

A. can find their way back home in Jersey

B. are unable to recognize their parents

C. are unable to adapt to the wild

D. can produce a new species

57. Why are researches on parrots important according to the passage?

A. The Trust shows great concern for the programme.

B. We need to knows more about how to preserve parrots

C. Many people are interested in collecting parrots.

D. Parrots’ intelligence may someday benefit people.

58. According to the passage, people are advised_______.

A. to treat wild and caged parrots equally

B to set up comfortable homes for parrots

C. not to keep wild parrots as pets

D. not to let more parrots go to the wild

Some people make you feel comfortable when they are around. You spend an hour with them and feel as if you have known them half your life. These people have something in common. And once we know what it is, we can try to do it ourselves.

How is it done? Here are several skills that good talkers have. If you follow the skills, they’ll help you put people at their ease, and make friends with them quickly.

First of all, good talkers ask questions. Almost anyone, no matter how shy he is, will answer a question. One well-known businesswoman says, “At business lunches, I always ask people what they did that morning. It’s a common question, but it will get things going.” From there you can move on to other matters—sometimes to really personal questions. And how he answers will let you know how far you can go.

Second, once good talkers have asked questions, they listen to the answers. This point seems clear, but it isn’t. Your questions should have a point and help to tell what sort of pers on you are talking to. And to find out, you really have to listen carefully and attentively.

Real listening at least means some things. First it means not to change the subject of conversation. If someone sticks to one topic, you can take it as a fact that he’s really interested in it. Real listening also means not just listening to words, but to tones of voice. If the voice sounds dull, then, it’s time for you to change the subject.

Finally, good talkers know well how to deal with the occasion of parting. If you’re saying good-bye, you may give him a firm handshake and say, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting you.” If you want to see that person again, don’t keep it a secret. Let people know what you feel, and they may walk away feeling as if they’ve known you half their life.

63. Asking questions might be a quite good and suitable way _______.

A. for you to make more and more new friends

B. to get the conversation going smoothly

C. to begin your business talks

D. for you to make a deep and lasting impression on others

64. After having asked somebody a question, it’ll be polite of you to _______.

A. make clear what kind of person he is

B. wait quietly and patiently for his answer

C. listen to his reply attentively

D. go on asking him more questions

65. Generally speaking, good talkers are persons who _______.

A. are good at making any topic interesting

B. never talk too much or too little

C. always speak in a gentle way

D. know how and when they should change the topic of the talk

66. If you really take delight in meeting someone again, _______.

A. it seems necessary for you to let him know it

B. you may take him as your lifelong trustworthy friend

C. it’s proper for you to give him a second handshake

D. it’ll be helpful for you to have further understanding of him