Unit 4 Reading Plus The Brave Homing Pigeon 巩固练习-2025-2026学年人教版（2024）英语八年级上册

该初中英语巩固练习围绕“信鸽Army助船求救”故事展开，构建“词汇积累—阅读理解—主旨归纳”的学习支架。先通过文本原句及新语境词汇填空巩固Atlantic Ocean、captain、engine等核心词汇，再依托细节题、推理题及主旨题提升阅读理解能力，形成从语言输入到综合应用的学习脉络。 资料以故事为载体，词汇练习分层设计（原句巩固→新句应用），阅读理解题覆盖细节查找、因果推断及主旨概括，助力语言能力提升。通过动物英雄故事渗透文化意识，习题设置注重思维品质培养（如分析Army成功原因），体现“以语篇促理解，以练习强能力”的学科特色学习方法。

Unit 4 Reading Plus The Brave Homing Pigeon 巩固练习 (Adapted from Ernest Seton's Animal Heroes)（改编自欧内斯特·西顿的《动物英雄》） Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, 1862. The captain sighed. This was the thickest fog he had ever seen. They were over 330 kilometers from the closest land, so he didn't know where to go. The ship was on its way to Europe. Just ten hours ago they left New York, but now the engine stopped working. Clearly, they needed help! Suddenly, the captain remembered the homing pigeons. He ran to them quickly, wrote a message for help, and tied it to Big Blue's leg(蓝色巨人). Big Blue flew up and then returned almost right away. The captain became more worried. "You are our last hope, little guy," said the captain as he tied a note to Army, the smaller and younger of the two pigeons. The captain threw him into the air. Army flew around and around, higher and higher. Soon, the bird was away from the ship, and the captain couldn't see Army anymore. "That's a good sign," said the captain with more hope. Almost 340 kilometers away, Billy heard fast - moving wings come into his building and go straight to the water bowl. "Hi there, little guy. Well, aren't you the thirstiest bird!" Billy smiled. Then he saw the note. Billy knew what to do. He took the note, running as fast as he could to the company office. There, he learned Army had flown in fog and over the sea, for more than four hours. Thanks to Army, people sent help to the ship. The captain later explained, "Army really is the most amazing bird!" A.Vocabulary Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text. Atlantic Ocean captain sighed thickest Europe engine pigeons tied right away sign straight explained 1.Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, 1862. 2.The captain sighed. This was the thickest fog he had ever seen. 3.The ship was on its way to Europe. 4.Just ten hours ago they left New York, but now the engine stopped working. 5.Suddenly, the captain remembered the homing pigeons. 6.He ran to them quickly, wrote a message for help, and tied it to Big Blue's leg. 7.Big Blue flew up and then returned almost right away. 8."That's a good sign," said the captain with more hope. 9.Billy heard fast - moving wings come into his building and go straight to the water bowl. 10.The captain later explained, "Army really is the most amazing bird!" Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text. Atlantic Ocean captain sighed thickest Europe engine 1. The car stopped suddenly because its ________ had a problem. 2. The Atlantic Ocean is one of the largest oceans in the world. 3. In winter, the_________ snow in the mountain can reach up to one meter. 4. After years of hard work, Tom’s father became the captain of a big plane. 5. When she heard the bad news, Mary ________ and looked down at her hands. 6. Every summer, my aunt travels to different cities in Europe with her friends. Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text. pigeons tied right away sign straight explained 7. The math teacher explained the difficult problem to us again and again. 8. Every morning, many pigeons come to the park to eat the food people give them. 9. There is a big sign at the park gate that says “No Smoking”. 10. Go straight along this street, and you will find the school on your left. 11. The farmer tied the cow to a tree to keep it from walking away. 12. If you feel sick, you should go to see the doctor right away. B.Comprehension: Multiple Choice 1.When and where did the story happen? A. In 1826, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean B. In 1862, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean C. In 1862, somewhere in the Pacific Ocean D. In 1826, somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean 2.Why did the captain feel worried at first? A. The ship was too close to the land B. The engine of the ship stopped working C. He couldn’t find the homing pigeons D. The fog was too thin to see clearly 3.What did the captain do first to ask for help? A. He tied a message to Army’s leg B. He ran to the company office C. He tied a message to Big Blue’s leg D. He called for help with a radio 4.Why did the captain become more worried after Big Blue returned? A. Big Blue flew away and never came back B. Big Blue didn’t bring any help C. Big Blue lost the message D. Big Blue was hurt by the fog 5.What can we know about Army from the passage? A. It was bigger than Big Blue B. It was older than Big Blue C. It was smaller and younger than Big Blue D. It was the only homing pigeon on the ship 6.How long did Army fly in fog and over the sea? A. For more than 2 hours B. For more than 4 hours C. For more than 6 hours D. For more than 8 hours 7.Who helped send the help to the ship finally? A. The captain B. Big Blue C. Billy D. The ship’s crew 8.What did the captain think of Army? A. It was a common bird B. It was an amazing bird C. It was a lazy bird D. It was a scared bird C. Main Idea 1.What is the main idea of the passage? A. It tells how the captain fixed the ship’s engine in the fog. B. It tells how a homing pigeon named Army helped a ship get help. C. It tells how Billy fed the thirsty homing pigeons in his building. D. It tells how Big Blue became the hero of the ship. 2.What can we learn from the whole story? A. Homing pigeons are not useful for asking for help at sea. B. The captain didn’t try his best to save the ship. C. Army’s hard work helped the ship get help successfully. D. Fog is always good for ships to sail safely. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $