People have always wanted to speak with animals.There are many books about this, especially children books.Now there are also movies, such as Dr.Doolittle.When you watch animals, it seems clear that they can communicate with each other.Many people wonder why people can’t also communicate with them.
Scientists know how some animals communicate.Bees, for example, use their bodies.They do a kind of dance to give information about food.Birds, on the other hand, share information with sounds.They use certain sounds to protect their homes and to stay together when they fly.Some male(雄性)birds use lovely songs to attract a female(雌性).Other animals communicate with both body movements and sounds.For example, dogs wag(摇摆)their tails(尾巴)when they are happy, and they bark(吠)when they are excited.
People used to think it was possible to teach human language to animals.Parrots and other birds, for example, can learn to say words.But the birds just repeat the words.They don’t understand them.Some American scientists tried to teach English to chimpanzees, close relatives of human beings.However, this was impossible.Chimpanzees can’t move their mouths the right way.They could never learn to speak like people.
Then scientists tried to teach human language to chimpanzees in other ways.Some tried with American Sign Language(ASL).Others tried with a simple computer.But chimpanzees could only learn to use a few words.They could never learn to use grammar.Their brains are very different from the brains of human beings.
Now some scientists are studying the same points between human and animal language.In fact, some animals use sounds like people do.Dogs, for example, use an unpleasant, low sound to tell other dogs to stay away.People, too, use that kind of voice to say the same things.A dog’s noisy bark communicates that something is happening.People use the same high tone when they shout,“Watch out!”
Scientists want to understand the language of other animals, such as whales and bears.To do this, they go out to the animals’ natural homes.They watch the animals for days or even years.They take pictures and make tapes recordings and share the information with other scientists.In this way, they hope to learn more about the way animals communicate, and maybe someday we’ll be able to communicate better with them.
(1)
Some birds can learn to say words, ________.
[ ]
A.
but they don’t really know the meaning
B.
and they make up new words, too
C.
and they use grammar, too
D.
but they forget them quickly
(2)
Dogs and people use ________.
[ ]
A.
words when they communicate
B.
different sounds to mean the same thing
C.
a low sound to keep others away
D.
a high sound to keep others away
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE?
[ ]
A.
Bees communicate by making a noise
B.
Dogs wag their tails when they are angry.
C.
Chimpanzees can learn to use some grammar.
D.
Birds use sounds to stay together
(4)
This passage is mainly about ________.
[ ]
A.
how scientists communicate with each other
B.
how scientists are studying animals’ communication
More than seven hundred years ago, the Prince(王子)of Wales had a very big and brave dog called Gelert.One day the Prince wanted to go hunt-ing(打猎)with his men.He told his dog to stay at home and look after his baby son.The baby was in a wooden cradle(摇篮), which was like a small bed.When the Prince came back from hunt-ing, Gelert ran out to meet his master(主人).He wagged his tail and jumped up to put his paws(爪子)on the Prince's chest.Then the Prince saw the blood(血)on Gelert's jaws and head.
"What have you done? " the Prince said.He rushed into his house and looked for his baby son.The cradle was lying on its side on the floor.The clothes were torn(撕坏)and there was blood on them.
"So you have killed my son? " the Prince said angrily."You unfaithful dog! " He took out his sword(剑)and killed the dog.Just as Gelert was dying, he managed to bark.Then the Prince heard a baby call to the dog.
The Prince ran out of the house and saw his son lying on the ground unhurt.Near him was a dead wolf.Then the Prince knew that Gelert had defended(保卫)the baby and killed the wolf.
The Prince ran back into the house but he was too late.Gelert was dead.The Prince was very sad indeed.Tears ran down his face when he realized 'he had killed his faith-ful friend.The Prince carried the body of his brave dog to the top of a mountain and buried(埋葬)him there.After this, the Prince never smiled again.Every morning, he walked up the mountain and stood by the dog's grave(墓穴)for a few minutes.
If you go to Mount Snowdon in Wales, people will show you where Gelert is buried.There is a sign by his grave.It reminds peo-ple of a brave and faithful dog.
(1)
Gelert was the dog of the Prince of ________.
[ ]
A.
Scotland
B.
England
C.
Ireland
D.
Wales
(2)
The Prince told the dog to ________ when he was leaving.
[ ]
A.
watch the door
B.
take care of his baby at home
C.
welcome his friends
D.
stop the strangers
(3)
The dog was very ________ when his master came back from hunting.
[ ]
A.
glad
B.
fearful
C.
afraid
D.
tired
(4)
The Prince was surprised to see blood on Gelert's ________.