People were to find that some species were go...

People were 　　　　　　　　　 to 　find that some species were going extinct, which was a ______ trend.

A.astonishing; disturbing B.astonished; disturbed

C.astonishing; disturbed D.astonished; disturbing

高一英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析

Scientists from Australia declared that they were able to find out how some species of birds managed to develop the ability to recognize each other’s language. Together with his partners from the School of Botany and Zoology at the Australian National University in Canberra, Professor Robert Magrath discovered that fairy-wrens (细尾鹩莺) can learn the alarm calls produced by other species of birds.

Although scientists had known that some birds could understand the alarm calls of other species and use their ability to escape danger, it was unknown how they developed this ability. There were several assumptions.

Some researchers suggested that some species of birds were able to understand the alarm calls of other species due to the fact that they were born with the ability to react (反应) to calls that are somewhat similar. There was another assumption that all birds could learn alarm calls from different species over a certain period of time.

In order to find out which assumption was closer to the truth, scientists played the sounds of alarm calls of white-browed scrubwrens (白眉丝刺莺) to fairy-wrens that live side-by-side with white-browed scrubwrens in Canberra. Alarm calls of the two species are somewhat similar. The second step was playing recordings of alarm calls of white-browed scrubwrens to fairy-wrens that live 600 km away from Canberra, in Macquarie Marshes, the region where white-browed scrubwrens don’t live. The experiment showed that fairy-wrens living in Canberra fled (逃跑) but Macquarie Marshes fairy-wrens didn’t, which, according to Magrath, had to do with learning.

Another experiment involved playing recordings of a different alarm call produced by New Holland honeyeaters. Researchers said that after hearing the calls, the fairy-wrens fled, which means that they can learn calls completely different from theirs. “They have a very sharp perception (领悟力) of other species’ calls.” said Magrath.

However, some scientists had different opinions. For example, Professor Gisela Kaplan considered that learning was not the entire reason why birds fled after hearing the alarm calls. She considered that birds’ brain features an emergency pack which includes pre-programmed (预定程序) reactions at birth. The pack may be constructed of neurons that produce a basic reflex (反射作用) when it is touched off by auditory (听觉的) reactions.

“It could be that a certain sound, like a 6 kilohertz high-pitched frequency (频率), causes that basic reflex. Where the learned part comes in is the key to correctly tell whether somebody else is simply making a high-pitch call or whether it is an alarm call,” said Kaplan. She added that her team played the same recordings to magpies (喜鹊) at various distances and discovered that their reaction was different. “It depends on whether the bird’s sound is coming from within the magpie’s territory (领地). The difference can be as small as two meters,” she said.

1.According to Paragraph 2, alarm calls produced by birds mean _____.

A. they need to flee

B. there are visitors

C. there is something to eat

D. they need help to kill their enemies

2.From the experiment in Paragraph 4, we can infer that _____.

A. birds only understand alarm calls similar to theirs

B. birds are born to understand alarm calls of other species

C. birds understand alarm calls of other species by learning

D. white-browed scrubwrens are not enemies of fairy-wrens

3.Which of the following does Kaplan agree with?

A. Magpies react violently to a 6 kilohertz high-pitched frequency.

B. Magpies learn how to tell a high-pitch call from an alarm call.

C. Birds tend to give alarm calls if danger is within two meters.

D. The location of alarm calls is important to magpies’ reactions to them.

4.What’s the main idea of the passage?

A. How do birds escape danger?

B. Birds can learn other species’ languages.

C. Birds have a sharp perception of alarm calls.

D. How do birds understand each other’s language?

高一英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析

For many years, Bruce Bexler dreamed of going where no human had gone before. He wanted to cut a path through unexplored lands and discover rare species.

That might sound like an impossible dream, but Bexler turned it into a reality.

In December 2015, he and a team of Australian scientists explored an isolated rainforest on the island of New Guinea. They were the first people to enter the region. “As time was limited, we were dropped in by helicopter. Once we were on the ground, there were no trails anywhere; it was really hard to get around,” Bexler says.

Within minutes of landing, the team spotted a black chicken-like bird with strange orange skin hanging from its neck. The scientists soon determined that the unusual creature was a type of honeyeater — the first new bird species to be sighted on New Guinea in 60 years.

The honeyeater wasn’t the only surprise for the scientists. They discovered more than 40 previously unknown plant and animal species — 13 birds of paradise, 20 frogs, four butterflies, and five palms. “We were like kids in a candy store,” Bexler recalls. “Everywhere we looked, we saw amazing things we had never seen before.”

The newfound species didn’t shy away from the scientists. Two long-nosed echidnas — primitive egg-laying mammals — let the visitors pick them up and take them back to camp to study them.

Bexler thinks the animals weren’t frightened because they had never seen humans before. “In almost all parts of New Guinea, animals are hunted for food, and because of this, they are very cautious of people,” he explains. “This area gives scientists a place where they can go to study the behaviors of animals that have not yet learned to be afraid of people.”

Scientists believe the area is probably the largest untouched forest in Asia. Bexler and his team did not have enough time to study the area completely. They hope to return to record more undiscovered species. “We just scratched the surface,” Bexler says. “Anyone who goes there will come back with a mystery.”

1.Which word best describes Bruce Bexler?

A.Modest. B.Adventurous.

C.Optimistic. D.Confident.

2.What does Bruce Bexler mean in Paragraph 5 when he says the scientists “were like kids in a candy store”?

A.They didn’t have enough food and were hungry.

B.They were very excited about what they saw.

C.They were behaving like naughty children.

D.They knew that if they kept searching, they’d find sugar.

3.Why did some of the animals allow the scientists to pick them up?

A.The scientists seemed to be very friendly.

B.The scientists were good at handling animals.

C.The animals had been well-trained by the local people.

D.The animals had no experience or fear of people.

4.What can we conclude about the area Bruce Bexler explored?

A.The best way to explore the area is by helicopter.

B.The area has not been visited by scientists for many years.

C.The area still contains many plants and animals unknown to science.

D.The locals are unwilling to allow the scientists to enter the deep woods.

高一英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

As wildfires continued to sweep across Australia, the loss of life in the area was reaching astonishing numbers. Ecologists (生态学家) at the University of Sydney said that nearly half a billion animals and plants had been wiped out since the fires began several months before. Images and videos from the area showed kangaroos trying to escape from burning forests and charred (烧焦的) bodies of koalas lying on the ground.

Koalas, which had been already under threat because of significant habitat loss, were hit particularly hard compared with other animals. Ecologists said nearly 8,000 koalas—about one-third of the population in their primary habitat-were believed to have died from the big fires. Professor Dieter Hochuli from the University of Sydney said it wasn’t just the well- known species, such as kangaroos, koalas and emus(鸸鹋), that were in danger. Insects also suffered losses. Additionally, many rare plant species might have disappeared completely.

While animal hospitals were taking in as many animals as possible to treat burns and nursed them back to health, services had overall struggled to keep up with the amount of care needed. And the animals that had survived would have trouble finding food and shelters among the ongoing flames, so they were still in a dangerous situation.

“We’re getting a lot of lessons out of this and it’s just showing how unprepared we are,” Dr. Sussan Ley said. “Now Australia is burning and national parks and our native animals are being destroyed. People have lost homes. People have died. Firefighters have been killed defending communities, most recently last night. There’s no protocols (拟定草案) in place even wildlife carers dont’ have protocols for when they can go in after fire. It’s our national government that is failing us.”

1.What’s the purpose of the second paragraph?

A.To explain why there were so many rare animals in Australia.

B.To show the terrible effect Australian wildfires had on species.

C.To further confirm Professor Dieter Hochuli’s’unique opinion.

D.To warn people to take good care of wild animals and plants.

2.Why were the animals still in danger after surviving the fire?

A.They failed to recover from serious burns.

B.They might be hunted by people for food.

C.They were short of food and shelters.

D.They were unable to get nursing services.

3.What is Dr.Sussan Ley’s attitude towards the national government’s deed?

A.Supportive. B.Unconcerned. C.Doubtful. D.Dissatisfied.

4.What is the main idea of the text?

A.Many rare animal species might have disappeared.

B.Measures should be taken to prevent Australian wildfires.

C.Australian wildfires killed nearly half a billion animals and plants.

D.Ecologists have made great efforts to find the causes of wildfires.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Happiness has become a big deal in the past ten years. Hundreds of books, lectures and even the media tell us that happiness is within our reach. All we have to do is follow some simple steps, like meditation, living in the moment and doing yoga.1. In fact, feeling deeply sad is a normal part of the healing(治愈)process.

It's said that if you are going through a hard time, it's important to do what you can to feel better.2. Perhaps they can work for you too.

3.But if you're not anywhere near an ocean, lake or river, looking at images of moving water on TV can make you feel peaceful.

We have to get our happiness where we can find it. If you have lost the ability to find any pleasure in your daily life or the people around you, something deeper is going on.4..

Think about the times you were at your happiest. That may sound a little strange.5.

We can't allow natural and normal emotional low points rule our lives, but we can't ignore them either. They must be processed, so we can move on.

A.Getting close to nature can help cheer you up.

B.You'd better get yourself checked out by a medical doctor.

C.But doing this actually sends chemicals to your brain, and it can make you feel better.

D.Here are some ways that have helped me and many people.

E.Talk with your friends and try to find your happiness from them.

F.But if you are going through. a really difficult time, none of these may feel right.

G.Looking at water while in nature can be calming.

高一英语七选五中等难度题查看答案及解析

Smoking is harmful. But as soon as you quit the habit, everything will be OK, right? Wrong.

New research has found that even if you give up smoking, the damage it has done to your genes will stay there for a much longer time. In the research, a team of US scientists studied the blood of 16,000 people. Among them, some were smokers, some used to smoke, and the rest were non-smokers. Scientists compared their genes and found that more than 7,000 genes of smokers had changed－a number that is one-third of known human genes.

According to NBC News, both heart disease and cancer are caused by genetic changes. Some people may have had the changes when they were born, but most people get them in their day-to-day lives while doing things like smoking.

When you stop smoking, a lot of these genes will return to normal within five years.

This means your body is trying to heal (治愈) itself of the harmful effects of smoking. But the changes in some of the genes stay for longer. They can stay for as long as 30 years.It’s almost like leaving a footprint on wet cement (水泥)－it will always be there, even when you’ve walked away and when the cement becomes dry.

Although the study results may make people unhappy, there is a bright side: the findings could help scientists invent medicine to treat genetic damage caused by smoking or find ways to tell which people have heart disease or cancer risks.

1.The purpose of Paragraph 1 is to______ .

A.raise a question

B.give an example

C.make an argument

D.show the main idea of the passage

2.Most genetic changes happen because of______ .

A.people’s condition at birth B.environmental pollution

C.heart disease and cancer D.people’s bad living habit

3.The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 5 refers to______ .

A.the footprint B.the cement

C.the harmful effect D.the genetic change

4.Which of the following statements is true?

A.The findings are the fruit of more than three years’ research.

B.The findings have prevented more people from starting smoking

C.The findings help to find cures for genetic damage caused by smoking.

D.The findings offer evidence that a damaged gene can heal itself.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

I don’t think I can recall a time when I wasn’t aware of the beauty of the ocean. Growing up in Australia, I had the good fortune of having the sea at my side. The first time I went to Halfmoon Bay, I suddenly had the feeling of not being able to feel the ground with my feet anymore.

For my 10th birthday, my sister and I were taken out to the Great Barrier Reef. There were fish in different colors, caves and layers of coral. They made such an impression on me. When I learned that only 1 percent of Australian’s Coral Sea was protected, I was shocked. Australian marine life is particularly important because the reefs have more marine species than any other country on earth. But sadly, only 45 percent of the world’s reefs are considered healthy.

This statistic is depressing, so it’s important for us to do everything to protect them. The hope that the Coral Sea remains a complete eco-system has led me to take action. I’ve become involved with the Protect Our Coral Sea activity, which aims to create the largest marine park in the world. It would serve as a place where the ocean’ s species will all have a safe place forever.

Together, Angus and I created a little video and we hope it will inspire people to be a part of the movement. Angus also shares many beautiful childhood memories of the ocean as a young boy, who grew up sailing, admiring the beauty of the ocean, and trying to find the secrets of ocean species.

1.From the underlined sentence in Para.1, we can learn the author ________.

A.seldom went surfing at the sea

B.forgot his experiences about the ocean

C.never went back to his hometown

D.had a wonderful impression of Halfmoon Bay

2.According to the second paragraph, Australian marine life ________.

A.is escaping from the Coral Sea gradually

B.depends on reefs for living greatly

C.may be faced with danger

D.is protected better than that in other oceans

3.The Protect Our Coral Sea activity is intended to ________.

A.contribute to a complete eco-system

B.prevent more marine species being endangered

C.set up a large nature reserve for reefs

D.raise more teenagers’ environmental awareness

4.Angus and the author created a little video to ________.

A.urge more people to take action to protect the marine species

B.inspire more people to explore the secret of the ocean

C.share their childhood experiences about the ocean

D.bring back to people their memories of ocean species

高一英语阅读选择简单题查看答案及解析

Fixing photos can hurt

Posting selfies (自拍) online can be a fun way to share your life with your friends and family. But some people take their photos a bit too seriously and spend a lot of time editing them. This not only presents a “fake” image (形象) of those people to the world, but can even make people feel worse about themselves.

Researchers in Australia did a study in which 130 women aged 18 to 30 were asked to look at a series of photos. Some of the photos showed thin women, while others showed average-sized women. Afterwards, the women were asked to take a selfie with an iPad and were then given 10 minutes to edit the selfie.

The women were also asked about their personal dissatisfaction with their bodies and faces several times during the experiment—before and after viewing their images, and after editing their selfies.

The researchers’ findings showed that the longer the women took to edit and post their selfies, the more likely they were to have negative (消极的) feelings about their own appearance. In addition, the more heavily edited the photos were, the more likely it was that the women were dissatisfied with their facial appearance.

People are often pressured to present the best version (版本) of themselves. This in turn creates greater stress as they edit their photos to “perfection”, while they themselves don’t actually change, according to Professor Marika Tiggemann, one of the researchers. The findings show the difficulties people face when using social media.

1.Why do some people spend plenty of time editing their photos?

A.Because they want to show people their fake image.

B.Because they want to make people feel worse about them.

C.Because they want to kill time.

D.Because they take their photos too seriously.

2.Which things were the women asked to do in the study?

①To look at given photos　　　　　　　　 ②To make their selfies

③To comment on given photos　　　　　 ④To express their attitudes

⑤To edit their selfies

A.①②③④ B.①②④⑤ C.①②③⑤ D.②③④⑤

3.Which one of the following is NOT the research’s finding?

A.The longer one edits his selfies,the more likely he feels negative with his appearance.

B.The more heavily edited one’s selfies are,the more likely one dissatisfies with his face.

C.When people post online their best selfies, their stress may decrease.

D.Posting over—edited selfies online can make people feel worse about themselves.

4.What do Professor Marika Tiggemann’s words mean in last paragraph?

A.One’s stress with over-edited selfies actually results from pressure.

B.One’s stress with over-edited selfies is related to his appearance change.

C.One’s stress can lead to his photos’ perfection.

D.One can present his best version of himself under no pressure.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

Australia’s bush fires are threatening the country’s unique wildlife —from koalas to native birds to bees —and researchers fear that some species are being pushed to the brink of extinction. The fires have killed at least 26 people, burned thousands of homes and could shave as much as 0. 4% of economic growth, according to some experts.

More than 13,000 head of livestock have been killed by the fires in New South Wales state, where more than 20,000 square miles of land has been burned. The fires threaten to rage on into February—summer - time in Australia —or longer.

Scientists say at least six species are in danger. “There’s great concern that these fires may have pushed species closer to extinction or potentially over,” said Deakin University wildlife ecologist Euan Ritchie. “We won’ t know until we get into the areas,” he said.

Some scientists are concerned about a metallic - green bee that lives exclusively in areas that have been ravaged by fire, along Australia’s east coast and on Kangaroo Island in the south. Researchers suspect the green carpenter bee has been wiped out on Kangaroo Island.

“The species is likely to be in terrible conditions, as all of its habitat has now either burnt or is threatened by fire,” said Katja Hogendoorn, a bee expert at the University of Adelaide, who has been working for half a decade to preserve the population of green carpenter bees on Kangaroo Island.

1.What can we learn from Paragraph One?

A.The wildlife is well protected in Australia.

B.The fires also damage Australian economy.

C.The bush fires have lasted for a long time.

D.The bush fires are frequent in Australia.

2.How might Euan Ritchie feel about ecological losses?

A.Curious. B.Concerned.

C.Unexpected. D.Surprised.

3.Why are scientists worried about the metallic - green bee?

A.It will all be burnt to death. B.It is gradually dying out.

C.It might lose its natural home. D.It will move to other places.

4.Where might you find this text?

A.In a story book. B.In a textbook.

C.In a newspaper. D.In a traveling guide.

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析

They may have text, email, Facebook and Twitter, but young people are still lonelier than any other age group. The Loneliness in New Zealand report, published by Statistics New Zealand, shows under 30s are more likely to feel lonely than older people because loneliness decreases with age.Loneliness and poor mental health were strongly related across all ages. Young people were not as likely to feel lonely because of financial hardship, but among older people, lack of money was a significant influence on loneliness. Women were more likely to feel lonely than men.

Philip Walker, spokesman for the General Social Survey, said because it was relatively new it was hard to know whether loneliness among young people was a new trend. But overseas research has found that levels of loneliness in youth today are growing.

Walker said the finding needed more exploration, including looking at the role of technology and social media. “It could be that people's expectations of connection have gone up, so we expect increased levels of connection.” he said. “While technology like cell phones could help young people stay connected, on the other hand for those who do get bullied, especially bullied online, it's quite isolating. A lot of the time potentially it is a big contributor to loneliness.”

Figures from online dating website Find Someone also confirmed more young people were looking for love. Manager Rick Davies, said younger dating hopefuls were the fastest growing group on the site.

Mr. Davies noted that since the report data was collected in 2010 there had been huge growth in smart phones, which meant people were online even more. He believed online tools, such as Skype, could help people stay connected. “People can keep in touch with a wide range of friends from all over the world much more easily now. It's like you're sitting in your living room having a chat with them.”

Bemardine Reid, operations committee chairwoman for Samaritans, which operates a free helpline, said many of their calls came from people who were lonely. “It might be that they've got some problem, just like all the things people would normally talk to a friend about, but people who are alone lack those normal contacts.” The Statistics New Zealand report also showed people who didn't have face-to-face contact with family and friends were more likely to feel lonely, as were those who lived alone.

1.Which of the following may Mr. Walker agree with?

A.High technology may become a reason for loneliness.

B.People shouldn't use the Internet to get to know strangers.

C.It's hard for people to get enough connection online as expected.

D.Social media should play an important role in helping lonely people.

2.From the last two paragraphs, we can conclude that　　　　　　 .

A.Internet can keep people free from loneliness

B.people chatting a lot online tend to be optimistic

C.people living alone tend to have more connection online

D.people communicating less in the real-world risk loneliness

3.It can be inferred from the passage that　　　　　　　 .

A.Find Someone is a website where you can find old friends

B.without technology, young people would not feel lonely

C.high technology results in the older being lonely

D.those cheated or hurt online tend to feel lonely

4.What is the best title of the passage?

A.Loneliness around You B.Young People Online

C.Young but Lonely D.E-times and Young People

高一英语阅读选择中等难度题查看答案及解析