Question

【题目】Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy.

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.

Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male animal, considers as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species(物种) are welcome. Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and frighten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting(筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

Birds sing loudest in spring when they are trying to attract a mate and warn others not to enter the territory of theirs.

You can see that birds have a language of their own. Most of it has to do with attracting mates and setting up territories.

【1】Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually _____________.

A. an expression of happiness B. a way of warning

C. an expression of anger D. a way of greeting

【2】What does the underlined word “territory” mean?

A. An area which a bird considers to be its own.

B. An area for which birds fight against each other.

C. A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.

D. A place where families of other species are not welcome.

【3】Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A. Because they want to invite more friends.

B. Because they want to find outsiders around.

C. Because they want to express their happiness.

D. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

【4】How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A. By telling a bird’s story.

B. By describing birds’ daily life.

C. By reporting experiment results.

D. By comparing birds with human beings.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】B

【2】A

【3】D

【4】D

【解析】

试题分析：这篇短文主要分析了鸟儿唱歌的不同的原因。文章讲述，鸟儿的叫声并非全都是在唱歌，而是一种发出的警告，警示同伴或是吓退入侵者。

【1】B细节理解题。根据短文“Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory”的描述可知，很多的鸟儿唱歌是警告别的鸟儿，故应选B。

【2】A词义推测题。根据短文“A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称) as its own.”的描述可知，territory是指鸟儿认为是自己的领地的地方。故应选A。

【3】D细节理解题。根据短文“you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season.”的描述可知，它在筑巢期叫的原因是帮助吓退入侵者。结合选项可知应选D。

【4】D推理判断题。文章很多地方都拿人与鸟儿进行比较，如“Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and frighten you, you might shout.”、“If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him.”故应选D。