Question

Some spiders hunt on the ground, others build webs to trap their food, but the grass water spider catches its prey by running along the surface of the water.

This special water spider lives on the grassy banks of streams where mosquitoes, damsel flies and other insects come to feed and breed.

Although it is one of the largest spiders in New Zealand, it has an unusual ability. It doesn’t disturb the water as it waits for its meal, and there is barely a ripple(波纹) when it skims(掠过) across the surface at lightning speed to catch its prey.

Grass water spiders deal swiftly with larger insects like damsel flies by pulling their heads under the water and holding them there until they drown.

After a meal, the grass water spider spends up to half an hour grooming(修饰) itself. It wipes its eight eyes, brushes its antennae(触角), and takes special care to clean the hairs on its body.

It is the hairs that trap tiny bubbles(泡沫) of air so that the spider can run down a blade(叶片) of grass and stay underwater for up to an hour when it is frightened. The hairs also keep the spider dry, even underwater.

It is only when the female spider is caring for the young that she does not hunt on the water. After mating, she produces a large egg sac(囊), which she carries around for five weeks. Once the eggs start to hatch, she attaches the sac to some blades of grass or a thistle. She then tears the sac open and releases the tiny spiders into the nursery web.

1. How does the grass water spider kill its prey?

A. in a web     B. by drowning      C. by poisoning     D. with its antennae

2. the writer describes the special spider as “special” because _______.

A. it walks on water                    B. it has eight eyes　　

C. of its hairy appearance             D. of the way it produces its young

3. The passage tells us that the spider ______.

A. feeds grass and thistles to its young.　　　　

B. lives on blades of grass under the water

C. lives in the grass on the banks of streams　　

D. eats a meal once every five weeks

4. The purpose of the passage is to _______.

A. convince readers that spiders are dangerous　　

B. indicate that the grass water spider is endangered

C. list all of the spiders that can be found in New Zealand

D. describe the characteristics of the grass water spider

Answer 1

1--4      BACD

解析:

本文介绍了一种水蜘蛛的生活情况。

1. B。细节题。根据文章第4段描述by pulling their heads under the water and holding them there until they drown.可推知此题答案为B。

2. A。细节题。根据文章第1段后面的并列分句by running along the surface of the water.可推知此题答案为A。

3. C。细节题。根据文章第2段第1句This special water spider lives on the grassy banks of streams可推知此题答案为C。

4. D。主旨题。主文主要介绍了这种水蜘蛛的生活情况，由此可知作者的目的是要读者了解水蜘蛛的特征，所以选D。