Unit 2 Wildlife Protection单元话题阅读理解练习-2025-2026学年高一英语人教版必修第二册

Unit 2 Wildlife Protection 单元话题阅读理解 Unit 2 Wildlife Protection单元话题：野生动物保护 本资料共10篇专题训练，从上到下依次按照难度分为基础语篇巩固练和重难语篇提升练 基础语篇巩固练 Recently, scientists said that two important Acropora corals (鹿角珊瑚) that have grown well across Florida’s reefs (礁) for more than 10,000 years are now “functionally extinct” off the southern coast. A study in Science suggests that their long-term role has come to an end: so few remain that they can no longer play an important part in the living system. “This living system is forever changed,” says study co-author Ross Cunning, a coral biologist (生物学家) . That does not mean scientists are giving up hope on either species, he says, but what scientists do from now on “needs to basically change”. Over the past few decades, Florida’s corals have been hit again and again by bleaching (白化) events, which occur when rising water temperatures cause corals to remove the symbiotic algae (共生藻类) that provide the corals with food and colour. But the 2023 heatwave, which happened with record temperatures that drove bleaching around the globe, hit Florida harder than what scientists had seen before. Ocean temperatures were recorded above 31℃ for nearly 41 days-up to 4 degrees higher than the usual level in some areas. This made the reefs get much more heat-two to four times more than what we’d recorded before. Although many corals survived the event, death rate among 98-100% of Acropora corals was found across most reefs from the west through to the east. In the area off the coast of Miami, and farther north, more than 40% of the corals died. The 2023 heatwave was deadly not just for Acropora corals, but also long-term protection work that has focused on raising these corals in laboratories and then planting them back in the ocean, says Nedimyer. Their efforts are now changing towards other types of corals that have survived the bleaching events, such as brain and star corals, while also working to protect the variety of Acropora corals. 1．What makes Acropora corals “functionally extinct”? A．They are few in number. B．Their locations are limited. C．They are influenced by other corals. D．They are surrounded by too much algae. 2．What is the key cause of coral bleaching in the passage? A．The changed color of seawater. B．The overgrowth of symbiotic algae. C．The pollution from human activities. D．The increase of ocean water temperature. 3．What should be done according to the last paragraph? A．Take measures to slow global warming. B．Change the research focus to other types of corals. C．Stop the research on the variety of Acropora corals. D．Raise the public awareness of protecting Acropora corals. 4．Which of the following is the best title for the text? A．The Silent Disappearance of Marine Life B．Record Temperatures and Coral Research C．Heatwave: A Turning Point for Florida’s Coral D．Corals’ Future: When Protection Meets Its Limit Liu Yang, a professor at the School of Ecology at Sun Yat-sen University, is one of the country’s most accomplished bird-watchers, and has a sight-list of about 1,330 species. Since childhood, Liu has been keen on studying the nests of house swifts, an interest that aroused his love for nature and biodiversity. During high school in 1994, he started his birdwatching journey. While others were attracted by collecting stamps or matchboxes, Liu was attracted by the unique characteristics of each bird. Hence, observing and identifying all the birds he saw and keeping a record, which is also known as a“ life list”, became his “small goal”. Combining bird- watching with science always excites Liu. In the summer of 2008, while collecting research samples at the Beishan National Farm in the Huzhu Tu autonomous county in Haidong city in Qinghai province, he came across birds that looked similar to the Red-flanked Bluetail, a species that normally appears in the spring and autumn. Surprisingly, they were breeding. This discovery challenged what people knew. Liu and his team collected and analyzed DNA and acoustic (声学的) samples, leading to the recognition of two additional species, the Qilian Bluetail and the Taiwan Bush Robin. Beyond his research, Liu Yang also places great importance on popular science. “Scientific research and popular science should not be seen as separate fields,” he explains. “Research questions come from looking closely at nature and life, and the findings should be shared with the public in a way that is easy to understand.” Besides writing bird guides, LiuYang is active in sharing his knowledge. He gives lectures and helps in different bird- watching programs. His main goal is to create a benefit for both people and birds. Liu praises the increasing number of data collected by bird- watchers.“ Many bird- watchers not only observe birds but also photograph them, using their cameras to document the birds “status and behavior, which plays an important role in protection,” he says. 1．What inspired Liu Yang’s love for nature and biodiversity? A．Watching and identifying all the birds. B．Recording the unique characteristics of each bird. C．Studying the nests of house swifts in childhood. D．Collecting stamps and matchboxes in high school. 2．What can we learn about Liu Yang’s 2008 discovery? A．It was made in spring. B．It confirmed the known research findings. C．It led to the discovery of the Red-flanked Bluetail. D．It was based on DNA and acoustic sample analysis. 3．Why is Liu Yang active in sharing his knowledge? A．Because he needs to sell his field guides and books. B．Because he wants to help bird-watchers collect more data. C．Because he hopes to train more professional bird researchers. D．Because he tries to create a win-win situation for both people and birds. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．China’s Top Bird Lovers. B．Bird-watching and Book-selling. C．New Bird Species Found in China. D．From Bird-Watcher to Scientific Explorer. In Washington, D．C．, early in the morning, Stephanie Haley, a volunteer, is walking through the city’s downtown, looking for birds that might have collided (碰撞) with windows. On the sidewalk next to an office building, there is an olive-green songbird. It’s an Acadian flycatcher, no doubt on its way to Central or South America when it hit a window. This scene is repeated across the country. Each year, up to a billion birds are killed by window collisions in the US. Most of these birds are migrating (迁徙), flying at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour when they hit the glass. For birds, glass — whether clear or reflective — presents a major danger, and this is especially true in cities, where buildings are full of glass. Each night during the migration season, hundreds of millions of birds take to the skies, flying through the night to take advantage of the evening’s cool, stable air. They navigate with the help of the moon and the stars, and come down in the morning to rest. That’s when they can meet glass, which they don’t know how to avoid. If it’s clear, they think they can fly through it. If it’s reflective, they can mistake the reflections for real trees and sky. These collisions happen mostly near the ground, not high in the air. The issue gained national attention after hundreds of birds died in one night at McCormick Place in Chicago in 2023. This event led to a meeting of experts, who formed the Bird collision Prevention Alliance. Their goal is to find better ways to protect birds from glass. In Chicago, using special films on windows can reduce (减少) bird collisions by up to 95%. Homeowners can also help by treating their windows. By taking small actions, like covering windows, people can reduce bird deaths at home. These efforts may not fix the problem entirely, but they are a step in the right direction for saving millions of birds. 1．Where does the volunteer find the Acadian flycatcher? A．At an office. B．On the driveway. C．At her house. D．On the sidewalk. 2．What is the main reason birds collide with windows? A．They are attracted to foods. B．They are confused by the lights. C．They fail to recognize glass. D．They fly too high while migrating. 3．How do the birds fly at night during the migration season? A．They use the moon and stars. B．They look for trees in the country. C．They follow the lights in cities. D．They turn to other animals for help. 4．Which best describes the act of applying special films to windows to save birds? A．Difficult. B．Workable. C．Pointless. D．Expensive. Best Friends Animal Society is an animal organization that has been rescuing animals since 1993. After a unique event, the society has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to help cats across the USA get adopted (收养). “Over the past month, our cats have been walking, sitting and lying on computer keyboards that have been catching the keystrokes (键击). Through an AI program and pictures of the cats, the keystrokes of the cats have been turned into cat-produced paintings of themselves,” said Erin O’Connor from the organization. Viewable in an online gallery (画廊) where visitors can digitally meet the animal artists and learn more about them, all the artists are up for adoption. “All adopters of cats who created AI art will be able to download their new cats ’artworks as well as papers that prove the creators behind them,”O ’Connor said. Each artwork was named by the cat. Best Friends Animal Society has paired each cat-produced artwork with a written explanation provided by another AI program, ChatGPT. For example, the artwork titled krvff is described as a happy sound made by the cat, which is often a sign of the cat being pleased and relaxed. It’s like giving a voice to the cat, letting us know it ’s in a state of satisfaction and comfort. “A keyboard, with its series of buttons and the satisfying click sound when pressed, can be especially attractive. Cats are born explorers, and they are often drawn to unfamiliar objects. We think this allows them to make use of technologies like AI, ” Samantha Bell, a cat expert from Best Friends Animal Society, said. AI image-producing tools require a text prompt (提示) from a user. By letting the cats walk all over the keyboard, the team at the organization let them create their own“prompts”. “Now more than ever, animal homes are seeing larger animal populations. And presenting cats ’creativity using AI will hopefully find them homes,”Bell added. 1．What does the AI program enable cats to do? A．Receive typing training. B．Exercise to keep healthy. C．Try relaxing group activities. D．Create art with daily movements. 2．What does the example of krvff imply about the use of ChatGPT? A．It aids people in understanding cats ’feelings. B．It proves AI’s popularity in animal protection. C．It reports the technical skills mastered by cats. D．It shows the satisfying living in animal homes. 3．What probably makes cats connect with AI according to Samantha Bell? A．Cats’ interest in AI. B．Cats’ natural curiosity. C．Cats’ closeness to humans. D．Cats’ excellent brain power. 4．What is Bell’s attitude towards the organization’s new practice? A．Worried. B．Supportive. C．Unclear. D．Confused. Science research doesn’t always go as planned, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. Recently, Australian scientists learned something unexpected about magpies (喜鹊) when they tried to tie trackers (跟踪仪) to them. The birds the scientists hoped to study were Australian magpies. The researchers wanted to try a new tracker on the magpies. They hoped to learn more about how far the birds flew and what they did during a normal day. It’s hard to find the trackers that work well on birds. Either the trackers are too heavy, or they don’t last long enough. The new trackers were light and could be recharged while they were still on the birds. To keep the trackers on the birds without causing flying problems, the researchers developed a special harness (背带). It was strong, so it wouldn’t come off by accident. And this harness allowed the scientists to free the bird from it at a special bird feeder, without having to catch the bird again. The researchers placed the trackers on five magpies using their special harnesses. But just ten minutes after setting up the last tracker, they noticed something unusual: an adult female magpie was helping another magpie get free from its harness. By the third day, none of the birds had trackers anymore. “The birds outsmarted us,” said Dominique Potvin, one of the scientists. The scientists were disappointed about the trackers, but they realized that the magpies had taught them something else: magpies are able and willing to help each other out, even if the bird that is helping doesn’t get a payback. This is called “rescue behavior”, and it’s not that common in the animal world, especially among birds. The researchers think this is the first time rescue behavior has been reported on Australian magpies. The researchers are glad they’ve learned about the rescue behavior of magpies. But now they need to try again to come up with a good way to track these clever birds. 1．What did the Australian scientists want to do in their research? A．Learn more about magpies’ habits. B．Find out magpies’ clever behavior. C．Design a better tracker for their research. D．Research magpies’ problem-solving ability 2．Why did the scientists make the special harness? A．To control the magpies. B．To fix the trackers. C．To power the trackers. D．To feed the magpies. 3．What did scientists find about the magpies? A．They enjoyed being helped. B．They were hard to catch later. C．They were good at finding food. D．They all broke away from the trackers. 4．What is a suitable title for the text? A．Scientists Find Out Magpies’ Habits B．Magpies’ Different “Rescue Behavior” C．Scientists’ Clever Ways to Track Magpies D．Magpies Teach Scientists Unexpected Lessons For many of us, the closest we get to wild animals is at a zoo. These places let us see amazing animals — from big cats to tiny lizards — and what they are like. It’s an enjoyable and educational experience for us, but is it the best environment for these animals? Long ago, people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum. Later on, live animals were captured by explorers, brought home and put on show to the public in menageries (野生动物园). Animal welfare was not a priority. Modern zoos, however, have changed the living environments for animals, making bigger enclosures, removing bars, and — to some extent — copying their natural habitats. Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals in cages for fun, but zoos are keen to show that they help wildlife by educating us about protection. In the UK, the introduction of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 also required zoos to educate the public. Well-managed zoos are now also involved in supporting and funding protection programmes. Probably the biggest claim from zoos today is that they help protect species in the wild that are under threat due to climate change. Robert Young, Chair in Wildlife Conservation at Salford University said: “There are quite a lot of different species around the planet which we wouldn’t have today if it wasn’t for zoos.” Some zoos have captive breeding programs which help to preserve the future of species that would otherwise face extinction (灭绝). Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently praised Chester Zoo in the UK for its conservation work. It brought “a rare fish species back from the dead” after breeding and releasing (释放) a school of golden skiffia fish back into their native river. While the debate about having zoos continues, new opportunities to meet wildlife are being explored, like virtual reality. Jon Coe, a zoo designer, told the BBC: “Taking a walk through a herd of elephants in the Serengeti, I think, is going to be possible pretty soon.” 1．What is paragraph 2 mainly about? A．The ways of caring for animals. B．The benefits of modern zoos. C．The introduction of menageries. D．The historical change in treating wild animals. 2．Why does the author mention the Zoo Licensing Act of 1981? A．To show the educational role of zoos. B．To explain why zoos began to help wildlife. C．To introduce methods of protecting wildlife. D．To state the need for stricter rules of zoos. 3．What’s Robert Young’s attitude toward having zoos? A．Unclear. B．Worried. C．Doubtful. D．Supportive. 4．What did Chester Zoo do to protect animals according to paragraph 4? A．It studied ways for humans to meet wildlife. B．It raised money for captive breeding programs. C．It brought back and released a rare fish species. D．It increased public awareness for animal protection. Dolphin (海豚) communication has always interested scientists. The intelligent creatures use a range of noises to work together and stay connected. Some sounds even act like names, helping dolphins recognize one another. Now, researchers at Google and Georgia Tech hope to understand dolphin speech — and maybe even talk to them — with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scientists began by training an AI language model called DolphinGemma, which used 40 years of data from a group of Atlantic dolphins in the Bahamas. The recordings and videos were collected by researchers at the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP). They got not only the sounds dolphins made but also the situation in which they were used. Once ready, DolphinGemma can produce sounds analogous to the recordings. About half are just ocean noise. The rest are dolphins’ clicks (短而尖的声音), whistles (口哨声), and burst pulses. Burst pulses are spaced clicks that sound like a machine. Dolphins use them to talk, play, and find their way. The next step is to test if these sounds produced by DolphinGemma work on dolphins. To do this, the team is building a device (装置) named CHAT. Once ready, two divers will wear CHAT and swim alongside the dolphins. CHAT will play a dolphin’s whistle produced by AI to “ask” for an object, like a bottle. At the same time, the divers will pass the object back and forth. If a dolphin copies the whistle, the divers will reward it with the bottle. Thea Taylor is the director of the Sussex Dolphin Project. She warns that the researchers must be sure the dolphins are communicating — not just making the sounds to get the object. “We have to think whether that’s actually an understanding of language — or whether it’s the same as teaching a dog to sit because they get a reward,” Taylor said. Regardless of the result, the DolphinGemma team hopes their project will show how smart dolphins are. Learning more about their communication could change how we see and treat them. 1．What did researchers use DolphinGemma to do first? A．To copy the sounds of dolphins’ speaking. B．To identify every dolphin’s name. C．To analyze decades of ocean sounds. D．To collect more dolphins’ recording data. 2．What does the underlined word “analogous” mean? A．Clever. B．Noisy. C．Similar. D．Strange. 3．What is the main purpose of using CHAT in the experiment? A．To train dolphins to perform tricks. B．To test if dolphins understand sounds made by AI. C．To feed dolphins in a natural environment. D．To compare the speeches of dolphins and humans. 4．What’s Taylor’s attitude towards using CHAT? A．Positive. B．Doubtful. C．Confident. D．Favourable. The dry land in Gir National Park and Wildlife Reserve (保护区), located in India, is the proud and only home of the Asiatic lion. By the early 1900s, however, their populations had decreased for habitat loss and hunting, leaving fewer than 50 alive. Though their numbers have risen over the past several decades — climbing to around 670 in 2020, a successful story — the lions are still considered endangered. One of the biggest challenges to keep the lions’ future is to track them, hard work. Some animals, like tigers and zebras, have special coat patterns that provide useful marks to the researchers. But for the Asiatic lions, researchers must look elsewhere. In 2019, Banerjee, who worked for India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority, developed an AI system to recognize the lions with high accuracy (准确性). The AI program, SIMBA, has been applied in practice. “It will be a fantastic tool for long-term lion monitoring,” says Banerjee. He adds, “It could help forest officials arrive at a more accurate estimate (评估) of Gir’s lion population. In a few years, the group will have a rich collection of information — how many lions are male, female, how many will bear babies and how many are dead.” Despite the advantages,  Banerjee also adds his worries. He suggests certain rules be made to prevent main information from being stolen. “Where tools like SIMBA really shine,” he says, “is in helping researchers develop monitoring plans that are keys to the protection of at-risk animals,” he says, “otherwise, all your efforts will be useless.” 1．What is the greatest difficulty in protecting Asiatic lions? A．Stopping them from being killed. B．Setting up natural reserves. C．Protecting their living environment. D．Keeping track of them. 2．How does SIMBA help researchers? A．By providing accurate information. B．By locating lions’ homes. C．By monitoring the animal stealers. D．By tracking other animals. 3．What’s  Banerjee’s opinion about the AI program? A．It needs to be widely used. B．It has saved the endangered animals. C．Its possible risks should be considered. D．Its disadvantages can be ignored. 4．What is the text mainly about? A．The biggest challenge of an AI system. B．The measures of protecting Asiatic lions. C．The application of AI on protecting animals. D．An AI program for the endangered Asiatic lions. 重难语篇提升练 From his office in New Haven, Yale ecologist Jeremy Cohen experiences the full range of the four seasons. It occurred to him that many of his research subjects — North American birds eschew the seasons, instead seeking the same weather conditions all year long across their migratory (迁移的) routes. To better understand how different species of North American birds track these preferred climatic conditions, Cohen determined the environmental conditions using satellite weather data, which allowed him to assess how those conditions experienced by each species change throughout the seasons. This analysis was the first to consider the importance of weather change in determining how bird species track their habitats across seasons. Past studies had evaluated only the average weather conditions, leaving vital knowledge gaps about both the ecology and potential danger of birds. “We found that some migratory species can track temperature or rainfall throughout the year, going out of their way to experience the same weather all year long, while others experience strong changes in seasonal conditions throughout the year,” said Cohen. Long distance migratory birds, such as the prothonotary warbler, are excellent habitat-trackers. Their migration means they can seek out preferred conditions. Small-bodied birds, such as vireos, and insect-eaters, such as flycatchers, also tend to closely track their habitats over the year, while large-bodied birds are able to bear a wide range of conditions over the year. Revealing these patterns was no simple task. For the study, Cohen had to combine data from millions of current records for over 600 bird species along with 22 years of weather data. Such a task would not have been possible even a decade ago. “It’s important to understand how wildlife is handling the consequences of speeding up climate change so that, as climate change speeds up, we can prevent the fall of ecological communities and biological diversity while avoiding the loss of ecosystem services,” Cohen said. 1．What does the underlined word “eschew” in Paragraph 1 mean? A．Search. B．Avoid. C．Endure. D．Forecast. 2．Compared with previous researches, Cohen’s study is novel because ______. A．it records daily behaviour via satellite data. B．it links body size with migration distance. C．it tracks weather change beyond averages. D．it surveys 600-plus bird species worldwide. 3．Why are varieties of birds in Paragraph 3 mentioned? A．To indicate distance links with latitude. B．To prove body size decides migration route. C．To highlight the urgency in climate change. D．To show tracking skill differs among species. 4．What can we infer from Cohen’s words in the last paragraph? A．Satellite records alone can save threatened birds. B．Ecological collapse is now beyond human control. C．Without big-data insight, timely protection may fail. D．Climate change mainly threatens large-bodied species. Did you know that long ago, Singapore was full of wetlands, lakes, and small villages? Even today, animals like wild pigs, monkeys, and snakes sometimes enter cities looking for food and shelter. This can be dangerous for them, especially on busy roads. Singapore wants to become a “City in Nature” by 2030. The city is finding ways to protect natural spaces. Scientists are creating solutions to help wildlife live safely alongside people. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is key to these ideas. Animals often cross highways and risk being hit by cars. Experts use technology like cameras and sound devices to study animal movement and decide where to build safe crossings. In 2019, the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) built a 140-meter-long bridge over a highway just for animals. Cameras showed that over 100 species used it. MWG also built fences to guide animals and rope bridges to help those living in trees move safely. Singapore is also teaching communities how to keep animals safe. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) receives over 1,000 calls each month to rescue wild animals in cities. “Often, we teach people how to handle the situation themselves,” said Karina Lim from ACRES. “This helps them feel more confident and respect animals more.” Wildlife expert Kiran Sujanani added, “Wild animals are usually shy and scared. If we give them space, they will often leave on their own.” To live together peacefully, people need to understand why animals come near them and how they behave. Animal welfare groups advise people to do their part to avoid attracting wildlife to their homes. This includes not carrying visible plastic bags in areas with monkeys and storing waste properly. Education is the first step toward change. As one expert said, “Harmony begins with respect.” By learning about animals and respecting their homes, everyone can help protect them. Singapore’s journey shows that with community effort and STEM, people and wildlife can share spaces peacefully. 1．How is STEM primarily used to protect wildlife in Singapore? A．By building more roads and bridges. B．By planning more natural parks for animals. C．By using cameras and devices to frighten animals. D．By researching animals and creating secure passages. 2．What can be inferred about ACRES’s work from the text? A．It wants to move all wild animals out of the city. B．It encourages people to keep wild animals as pets. C．It mainly focuses on finding new homes for wild animals. D．It believes people should learn to deal with wildlife properly. 3．What is one suggested way to avoid attracting wildlife to residential areas? A．Making loud noises to scare animals away. B．Feeding animals regularly to keep them calm. C．Storing waste properly and keeping plastic bags out of sight. D．Building higher fences and setting barriers around homes. 4．What is the main purpose of the passage? A．To discuss the dangers wild animals face in cities. B．To explain how STEM helps humans and wildlife coexist. C．To encourage readers to visit the natural parks in Singapore. D．To introduce the history of wildlife conservation in Singapore. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ Unit 2 Wildlife Protection 单元话题阅读理解 Unit 2 Wildlife Protection单元话题：野生动物保护 本资料共10篇专题训练，从上到下依次按照难度分为基础语篇巩固练和重难语篇提升练 基础语篇巩固练 Recently, scientists said that two important Acropora corals (鹿角珊瑚) that have grown well across Florida’s reefs (礁) for more than 10,000 years are now “functionally extinct” off the southern coast. A study in Science suggests that their long-term role has come to an end: so few remain that they can no longer play an important part in the living system. “This living system is forever changed,” says study co-author Ross Cunning, a coral biologist (生物学家) . That does not mean scientists are giving up hope on either species, he says, but what scientists do from now on “needs to basically change”. Over the past few decades, Florida’s corals have been hit again and again by bleaching (白化) events, which occur when rising water temperatures cause corals to remove the symbiotic algae (共生藻类) that provide the corals with food and colour. But the 2023 heatwave, which happened with record temperatures that drove bleaching around the globe, hit Florida harder than what scientists had seen before. Ocean temperatures were recorded above 31℃ for nearly 41 days-up to 4 degrees higher than the usual level in some areas. This made the reefs get much more heat-two to four times more than what we’d recorded before. Although many corals survived the event, death rate among 98-100% of Acropora corals was found across most reefs from the west through to the east. In the area off the coast of Miami, and farther north, more than 40% of the corals died. The 2023 heatwave was deadly not just for Acropora corals, but also long-term protection work that has focused on raising these corals in laboratories and then planting them back in the ocean, says Nedimyer. Their efforts are now changing towards other types of corals that have survived the bleaching events, such as brain and star corals, while also working to protect the variety of Acropora corals. 1．What makes Acropora corals “functionally extinct”? A．They are few in number. B．Their locations are limited. C．They are influenced by other corals. D．They are surrounded by too much algae. 2．What is the key cause of coral bleaching in the passage? A．The changed color of seawater. B．The overgrowth of symbiotic algae. C．The pollution from human activities. D．The increase of ocean water temperature. 3．What should be done according to the last paragraph? A．Take measures to slow global warming. B．Change the research focus to other types of corals. C．Stop the research on the variety of Acropora corals. D．Raise the public awareness of protecting Acropora corals. 4．Which of the following is the best title for the text? A．The Silent Disappearance of Marine Life B．Record Temperatures and Coral Research C．Heatwave: A Turning Point for Florida’s Coral D．Corals’ Future: When Protection Meets Its Limit 【答案】1．A 2．D 3．B 4．C 【导语】这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了佛罗里达存活超 1 万年的两种鹿角珊瑚因 2023 年创纪录热浪引发的白化事件近乎灭绝，生态角色终结，科学家现转向保护其他存活珊瑚种类。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段“Recently, scientists said that two important Acropora corals (鹿角珊瑚) that have grown well across Florida’s reefs (礁) for more than 10,000 years are now “functionally extinct” off the southern coast. A study in Science suggests that their long-term role has come to an end: so few remain that they can no longer play an important part in the living system.( 最近，科学家们说，在佛罗里达州的珊瑚礁上生长了一万多年的两种重要的鹿角珊瑚，现在在南部海岸“功能性灭绝”了。《科学》杂志上的一项研究表明，它们的长期作用已经结束：它们已经所剩无几，无法再在生命系统中发挥重要作用。)”可知，鹿角珊瑚数量锐减使鹿其“功能性灭绝”。故选A项。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段中“Over the past few decades, Florida’s corals have been hit again and again by bleaching (白化) events, which occur when rising water temperatures cause corals to remove the symbiotic algae (共生藻类) that provide the corals with food and colour.( 在过去的几十年里，佛罗里达的珊瑚一次又一次地遭受白化事件的袭击，这是由于水温上升导致珊瑚清除了共生藻类，而共生藻类为珊瑚提供了食物和颜色。)”可知，海水温度升高致使珊瑚排出共生藻类，进而引发白化现象。故选D项。 3．细节理解题。根据最后一段中“Their efforts are now changing towards other types of corals that have survived the bleaching events, such as brain and star corals, while also working to protect the variety of Acropora corals.( 现在，他们的努力转向了在白化事件中幸存下来的其他类型的珊瑚，比如脑珊瑚和星珊瑚，同时也在努力保护各种鹿角珊瑚。)”可知，他们应该将研究重点转移到其他种类的珊瑚。故选B项。 4．主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章核心围绕 2023 年热浪展开，阐述了此次热浪导致佛罗里达鹿角珊瑚功能性灭绝，还改变了相关珊瑚保护方向，热浪是推动佛罗里达珊瑚命运发生转变的关键因素。由此可知，这篇文章最好的标题是“热浪：佛罗里达珊瑚的转折点”。故选C项。 Liu Yang, a professor at the School of Ecology at Sun Yat-sen University, is one of the country’s most accomplished bird-watchers, and has a sight-list of about 1,330 species. Since childhood, Liu has been keen on studying the nests of house swifts, an interest that aroused his love for nature and biodiversity. During high school in 1994, he started his birdwatching journey. While others were attracted by collecting stamps or matchboxes, Liu was attracted by the unique characteristics of each bird. Hence, observing and identifying all the birds he saw and keeping a record, which is also known as a“ life list”, became his “small goal”. Combining bird- watching with science always excites Liu. In the summer of 2008, while collecting research samples at the Beishan National Farm in the Huzhu Tu autonomous county in Haidong city in Qinghai province, he came across birds that looked similar to the Red-flanked Bluetail, a species that normally appears in the spring and autumn. Surprisingly, they were breeding. This discovery challenged what people knew. Liu and his team collected and analyzed DNA and acoustic (声学的) samples, leading to the recognition of two additional species, the Qilian Bluetail and the Taiwan Bush Robin. Beyond his research, Liu Yang also places great importance on popular science. “Scientific research and popular science should not be seen as separate fields,” he explains. “Research questions come from looking closely at nature and life, and the findings should be shared with the public in a way that is easy to understand.” Besides writing bird guides, LiuYang is active in sharing his knowledge. He gives lectures and helps in different bird- watching programs. His main goal is to create a benefit for both people and birds. Liu praises the increasing number of data collected by bird- watchers.“ Many bird- watchers not only observe birds but also photograph them, using their cameras to document the birds “status and behavior, which plays an important role in protection,” he says. 1．What inspired Liu Yang’s love for nature and biodiversity? A．Watching and identifying all the birds. B．Recording the unique characteristics of each bird. C．Studying the nests of house swifts in childhood. D．Collecting stamps and matchboxes in high school. 2．What can we learn about Liu Yang’s 2008 discovery? A．It was made in spring. B．It confirmed the known research findings. C．It led to the discovery of the Red-flanked Bluetail. D．It was based on DNA and acoustic sample analysis. 3．Why is Liu Yang active in sharing his knowledge? A．Because he needs to sell his field guides and books. B．Because he wants to help bird-watchers collect more data. C．Because he hopes to train more professional bird researchers. D．Because he tries to create a win-win situation for both people and birds. 4．What can be a suitable title for the text? A．China’s Top Bird Lovers. B．Bird-watching and Book-selling. C．New Bird Species Found in China. D．From Bird-Watcher to Scientific Explorer. 【答案】1．C 2．D 3．D 4．D 【导语】这是一篇记叙文。文章主要介绍了中山大学生态学院教授刘阳的观鸟经历和科研成就，以及他对科普的重视。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“Since childhood, Liu has been keen on studying the nests of house swifts, an interest that aroused his love for nature and biodiversity.(刘阳从小就热衷于研究雨燕的巢，这种兴趣激发了他对自然和生物多样性的热爱。)”可知，刘阳童年时研究雨燕的巢激发了他对自然和生物多样性的热爱。故选C。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“Liu and his team collected and analyzed DNA and acoustic (声学的) samples, leading to the recognition of two additional species, the Qilian Bluetail and the Taiwan Bush Robin.(刘阳及其团队收集并分析了 DNA 样本与声学样本，最终确认了另外两个新物种——祁连山蓝尾鸲与台湾林鸲。)”可知，刘阳2008年的发现是基于DNA和声学样本分析的。故选D。 3．推理判断题。根据第四段“Besides writing bird guides, Liu Yang is active in sharing his knowledge. He gives lectures and helps in different bird- watching programs. His main goal is to create a benefit for both people and birds.(除了编写鸟类指南外，刘阳还积极分享他的知识。他举办讲座并参与不同的观鸟项目。他的主要目标是为人类和鸟类创造利益。)”可知，刘阳积极分享他的知识是因为他试图为人类和鸟类创造一个双赢的局面。故选D。 4．主旨大意题。文章主要介绍了刘阳从小对观鸟感兴趣，后来在观鸟过程中取得了科研成就，还积极进行科普，所以标题可以是“从观鸟者到科学探索者”。故选D。 In Washington, D．C．, early in the morning, Stephanie Haley, a volunteer, is walking through the city’s downtown, looking for birds that might have collided (碰撞) with windows. On the sidewalk next to an office building, there is an olive-green songbird. It’s an Acadian flycatcher, no doubt on its way to Central or South America when it hit a window. This scene is repeated across the country. Each year, up to a billion birds are killed by window collisions in the US. Most of these birds are migrating (迁徙), flying at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour when they hit the glass. For birds, glass — whether clear or reflective — presents a major danger, and this is especially true in cities, where buildings are full of glass. Each night during the migration season, hundreds of millions of birds take to the skies, flying through the night to take advantage of the evening’s cool, stable air. They navigate with the help of the moon and the stars, and come down in the morning to rest. That’s when they can meet glass, which they don’t know how to avoid. If it’s clear, they think they can fly through it. If it’s reflective, they can mistake the reflections for real trees and sky. These collisions happen mostly near the ground, not high in the air. The issue gained national attention after hundreds of birds died in one night at McCormick Place in Chicago in 2023. This event led to a meeting of experts, who formed the Bird collision Prevention Alliance. Their goal is to find better ways to protect birds from glass. In Chicago, using special films on windows can reduce (减少) bird collisions by up to 95%. Homeowners can also help by treating their windows. By taking small actions, like covering windows, people can reduce bird deaths at home. These efforts may not fix the problem entirely, but they are a step in the right direction for saving millions of birds. 1．Where does the volunteer find the Acadian flycatcher? A．At an office. B．On the driveway. C．At her house. D．On the sidewalk. 2．What is the main reason birds collide with windows? A．They are attracted to foods. B．They are confused by the lights. C．They fail to recognize glass. D．They fly too high while migrating. 3．How do the birds fly at night during the migration season? A．They use the moon and stars. B．They look for trees in the country. C．They follow the lights in cities. D．They turn to other animals for help. 4．Which best describes the act of applying special films to windows to save birds? A．Difficult. B．Workable. C．Pointless. D．Expensive. 【答案】1．D 2．C 3．A 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要揭示了美国城市玻璃建筑导致候鸟撞窗死亡的严峻现实及相应的防护措施。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中“On the sidewalk next to an office building, there is an olive-green songbird. It’s an Acadian flycatcher, no doubt on its way to Central or South America when it hit a window.(在办公楼旁边的人行道上，有一只橄榄绿的鸣禽。这是一只阿卡迪亚捕蝇鸟，毫无疑问是在飞往中美洲或南美洲的途中撞上了一扇窗户)”可知，志愿者在办公楼旁的人行道上发现这只捕蝇鸟。故选D。 2． 细节理解题。根据第二段中“For birds, glass — whether clear or reflective —presents a major danger, and this is especially true in cities, where buildings are full of glass.(对鸟类来说，玻璃——无论是透明的还是反光的——都是一大危险，在城市里尤其如此，因为那里的建筑物都是玻璃)”及第三段中“That’s when they can meet glass, which they don’t know how to avoid. If it’s clear, they think they can fly through it. If it’s reflective, they can mistake the reflections for real trees and sky. These collisions happen mostly near the ground, not high in the air.(这时他们会碰到玻璃，他们不知道如何避免。如果是透明的，他们认为他们可以飞过。如果它是反射的，他们会把反射误认为是真实的树木和天空。这些碰撞大多发生在地面附近，而不是高空)”可知，鸟类无法识别玻璃才是撞击事件的主要原因。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中“They navigate with the help of the moon and the stars, and come down in the morning to rest.(他们在月亮和星星的帮助下航行，早上下来休息)”可知，鸟类在夜间迁徙依靠月亮和星星导航。故选A。 4．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中“In Chicago, using special films on windows can reduce (减少) bird collisions by up to 95%.(在芝加哥，在窗户上使用特殊薄膜可以减少高达95%的鸟类碰撞)”可推断，在窗户上贴膜来保护鸟类的做法切实可行。故选B。 Best Friends Animal Society is an animal organization that has been rescuing animals since 1993. After a unique event, the society has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to help cats across the USA get adopted (收养). “Over the past month, our cats have been walking, sitting and lying on computer keyboards that have been catching the keystrokes (键击). Through an AI program and pictures of the cats, the keystrokes of the cats have been turned into cat-produced paintings of themselves,” said Erin O’Connor from the organization. Viewable in an online gallery (画廊) where visitors can digitally meet the animal artists and learn more about them, all the artists are up for adoption. “All adopters of cats who created AI art will be able to download their new cats ’artworks as well as papers that prove the creators behind them,”O ’Connor said. Each artwork was named by the cat. Best Friends Animal Society has paired each cat-produced artwork with a written explanation provided by another AI program, ChatGPT. For example, the artwork titled krvff is described as a happy sound made by the cat, which is often a sign of the cat being pleased and relaxed. It’s like giving a voice to the cat, letting us know it ’s in a state of satisfaction and comfort. “A keyboard, with its series of buttons and the satisfying click sound when pressed, can be especially attractive. Cats are born explorers, and they are often drawn to unfamiliar objects. We think this allows them to make use of technologies like AI, ” Samantha Bell, a cat expert from Best Friends Animal Society, said. AI image-producing tools require a text prompt (提示) from a user. By letting the cats walk all over the keyboard, the team at the organization let them create their own“prompts”. “Now more than ever, animal homes are seeing larger animal populations. And presenting cats ’creativity using AI will hopefully find them homes,”Bell added. 1．What does the AI program enable cats to do? A．Receive typing training. B．Exercise to keep healthy. C．Try relaxing group activities. D．Create art with daily movements. 2．What does the example of krvff imply about the use of ChatGPT? A．It aids people in understanding cats ’feelings. B．It proves AI’s popularity in animal protection. C．It reports the technical skills mastered by cats. D．It shows the satisfying living in animal homes. 3．What probably makes cats connect with AI according to Samantha Bell? A．Cats’ interest in AI. B．Cats’ natural curiosity. C．Cats’ closeness to humans. D．Cats’ excellent brain power. 4．What is Bell’s attitude towards the organization’s new practice? A．Worried. B．Supportive. C．Unclear. D．Confused. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．B 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇新闻报道。主要介绍美国挚友动物保护协会借助人工智能技术，让猫咪通过日常动作创作艺术作品，助力其被收养的创新举措。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段中的““Over the past month, our cats have been walking, sitting and lying on computer keyboards that have been catching the keystrokes (键击).Through an AI program and pictures of the cats, the keystrokes of the cats have been turned into cat-produced paintings of themselves.(在过去一个月里，我们的猫咪们在电脑键盘上走来走去、静坐或趴卧，而这些键盘一直在记录它们的按键动作。通过一个人工智能程序和猫咪的照片，猫咪的按键操作被转化为它们自己创作的绘画作品。)”可知，人工智能程序能将猫咪行走、坐卧等日常动作产生的按键记录，转化为艺术画作，即让猫咪通过日常动作创作艺术。故选D项。 2．推理判断题。根据第三段中的“For example, the artwork titled krvff is described as a happy sound made by the cat, which is often a sign of the cat being pleased and relaxed. It’s like giving a voice to the cat, letting us know it’s in a state of satisfaction and comfort.(例如，名为krvff的画作被描述为猫咪发出的愉悦声响，这通常是猫咪开心、放松的表现。这就像给猫咪赋予了表达的声音，让我们知道它正处于满足舒适的状态。)”可知，ChatGPT为猫咪的艺术作品提供文字解读，帮助人们理解猫咪的情绪状态。故选A项。 3．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Cats are born explorers, and they are often drawn to unfamiliar objects. We think this allows them to make use of technologies like AI.(猫咪是天生的探险家，它们常常被陌生的物体吸引。我们认为这让它们能够利用人工智能这类技术。)”可知，猫咪天生的好奇心（对陌生物体的兴趣）使其能够与人工智能产生连接。故选B项。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“And presenting cats’ creativity using AI will hopefully find them homes,(通过人工智能展示猫咪的创造力，有望为它们找到家，)”可知，Bell认为这一创新举措能帮助猫咪被收养，对该做法持支持态度。故选B项。 Science research doesn’t always go as planned, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them. Recently, Australian scientists learned something unexpected about magpies (喜鹊) when they tried to tie trackers (跟踪仪) to them. The birds the scientists hoped to study were Australian magpies. The researchers wanted to try a new tracker on the magpies. They hoped to learn more about how far the birds flew and what they did during a normal day. It’s hard to find the trackers that work well on birds. Either the trackers are too heavy, or they don’t last long enough. The new trackers were light and could be recharged while they were still on the birds. To keep the trackers on the birds without causing flying problems, the researchers developed a special harness (背带). It was strong, so it wouldn’t come off by accident. And this harness allowed the scientists to free the bird from it at a special bird feeder, without having to catch the bird again. The researchers placed the trackers on five magpies using their special harnesses. But just ten minutes after setting up the last tracker, they noticed something unusual: an adult female magpie was helping another magpie get free from its harness. By the third day, none of the birds had trackers anymore. “The birds outsmarted us,” said Dominique Potvin, one of the scientists. The scientists were disappointed about the trackers, but they realized that the magpies had taught them something else: magpies are able and willing to help each other out, even if the bird that is helping doesn’t get a payback. This is called “rescue behavior”, and it’s not that common in the animal world, especially among birds. The researchers think this is the first time rescue behavior has been reported on Australian magpies. The researchers are glad they’ve learned about the rescue behavior of magpies. But now they need to try again to come up with a good way to track these clever birds. 1．What did the Australian scientists want to do in their research? A．Learn more about magpies’ habits. B．Find out magpies’ clever behavior. C．Design a better tracker for their research. D．Research magpies’ problem-solving ability 2．Why did the scientists make the special harness? A．To control the magpies. B．To fix the trackers. C．To power the trackers. D．To feed the magpies. 3．What did scientists find about the magpies? A．They enjoyed being helped. B．They were hard to catch later. C．They were good at finding food. D．They all broke away from the trackers. 4．What is a suitable title for the text? A．Scientists Find Out Magpies’ Habits B．Magpies’ Different “Rescue Behavior” C．Scientists’ Clever Ways to Track Magpies D．Magpies Teach Scientists Unexpected Lessons 【答案】1．A 2．B 3．D 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。科学研究不会总按计划进行，但这并不意味着你不能从中学到东西。最近，澳大利亚科学家在给喜鹊安装跟踪仪时发现了一些意想不到的情况。 1．细节理解题。根据第一段的“They hoped to learn more about how far the birds flew and what they did during a normal day.(他们希望更多地了解这些鸟能飞多远，以及它们在正常的一天里会做些什么)”可知，这个研究的目的是了解喜鹊的日常习惯。故选A。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段的“To keep the trackers on the birds without causing flying problems, the researchers developed a special harness (背带). It was strong, so it wouldn’t come off by accident.(为了让追踪器在不造成飞行问题的情况下跟踪鸟类，研究人员开发了一种特殊的背带。它很结实，因此不会意外脱落)”可知，制作这个背带是为了不让跟踪仪从喜鹊身上脱落。故选B。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段的“But just ten minutes after setting up the last tracker, they noticed something unusual: an adult female magpie was helping another magpie get free from its harness. By the third day, none of the birds had trackers anymore.(但就在设置好最后一个追踪器十分钟后，他们注意到一些不寻常的事情：一只成年雌性喜鹊正在帮助另一只喜鹊挣脱它的挽具。到了第三天，所有的鸟都没有追踪器了)”可推知，所有的喜鹊都摆脱了追踪器。故选D。 4．主旨大意题。根据全文内容尤其是文章首句“Science research doesn’t always go as planned, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn from them.(科学研究并不总是按计划进行，但这并不意味着你不能从中吸取教训)”和最后一段中的“The scientists were disappointed about the trackers, but they realized that the magpies had taught them something else(科学家们对追踪者感到失望，但他们意识到喜鹊教会了他们别的东西)”可知，本文主要介绍了研究人员在追踪喜鹊过程中没有得到他们想要的信息，但喜鹊的表现却让他们发现了意想不到的情况。由此可知，Magpies Teach Scientists Unexpected Lessons(喜鹊给科学家们上了意想不到的课)适合作本文标题。故选D。 For many of us, the closest we get to wild animals is at a zoo. These places let us see amazing animals — from big cats to tiny lizards — and what they are like. It’s an enjoyable and educational experience for us, but is it the best environment for these animals? Long ago, people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum. Later on, live animals were captured by explorers, brought home and put on show to the public in menageries (野生动物园). Animal welfare was not a priority. Modern zoos, however, have changed the living environments for animals, making bigger enclosures, removing bars, and — to some extent — copying their natural habitats. Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals in cages for fun, but zoos are keen to show that they help wildlife by educating us about protection. In the UK, the introduction of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 also required zoos to educate the public. Well-managed zoos are now also involved in supporting and funding protection programmes. Probably the biggest claim from zoos today is that they help protect species in the wild that are under threat due to climate change. Robert Young, Chair in Wildlife Conservation at Salford University said: “There are quite a lot of different species around the planet which we wouldn’t have today if it wasn’t for zoos.” Some zoos have captive breeding programs which help to preserve the future of species that would otherwise face extinction (灭绝). Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently praised Chester Zoo in the UK for its conservation work. It brought “a rare fish species back from the dead” after breeding and releasing (释放) a school of golden skiffia fish back into their native river. While the debate about having zoos continues, new opportunities to meet wildlife are being explored, like virtual reality. Jon Coe, a zoo designer, told the BBC: “Taking a walk through a herd of elephants in the Serengeti, I think, is going to be possible pretty soon.” 1．What is paragraph 2 mainly about? A．The ways of caring for animals. B．The benefits of modern zoos. C．The introduction of menageries. D．The historical change in treating wild animals. 2．Why does the author mention the Zoo Licensing Act of 1981? A．To show the educational role of zoos. B．To explain why zoos began to help wildlife. C．To introduce methods of protecting wildlife. D．To state the need for stricter rules of zoos. 3．What’s Robert Young’s attitude toward having zoos? A．Unclear. B．Worried. C．Doubtful. D．Supportive. 4．What did Chester Zoo do to protect animals according to paragraph 4? A．It studied ways for humans to meet wildlife. B．It raised money for captive breeding programs. C．It brought back and released a rare fish species. D．It increased public awareness for animal protection. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．D 4．C 【导语】这是一篇议论文，文章介绍了是否应该开设动物园这一问题。 1．主旨大意题。根据第二段“Long ago, people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum. Later on, live animals were captured by explorers, brought home and put on show to the public in menageries (野生动物园). Animal welfare was not a priority. Modern zoos, however, have changed the living environments for animals, making bigger enclosures, removing bars, and — to some extent — copying their natural habitats.(很久以前，人们只能在博物馆里看到填充标本的野生动物。后来，探险家捕捉到活的动物，带回家，在动物园里向公众展示。动物福利不是优先考虑的问题。然而，现代动物园已经改变了动物的生活环境，建造了更大的围栏，移除了栅栏，并且在某种程度上复制了它们的自然栖息地。)”可知，第二段的主要内容是对待野生动物的历史转变。故选D。 2．推理判断题。根据第三段“Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals in cages for fun, but zoos are keen to show that they help wildlife by educating us about protection. In the UK, the introduction of The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 also required zoos to educate the public. Well-managed zoos are now also involved in supporting and funding protection programmes.(有些人质疑把动物关在笼子里取乐的残忍行为，但动物园热衷于通过教育我们保护野生动物来表明他们帮助了野生动物。在英国，《1981年动物园许可证法案》的出台也要求动物园对公众进行教育。管理良好的动物园现在也参与支持和资助保护项目。)”可知，提及《1981年动物园许可证法案》是为了强调动物园的教育作用。故选A。 3．推理判断题。根据倒数第二段“Robert Young, Chair in Wildlife Conservation at Salford University said: “There are quite a lot of different species around the planet which we wouldn’t have today if it wasn’t for zoos.”(索尔福德大学野生动物保护主任罗伯特·杨说：“如果没有动物园，地球上有很多不同的物种，我们今天就不会有这些物种。”)”可知，罗伯特·杨对动物园的态度是支持。故选D。 4．细节理解题。根据倒数第二段“Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently praised Chester Zoo in the UK for its conservation work. It brought “a rare fish species back from the dead” after breeding and releasing (释放) a school of golden skiffia fish back into their native river.(演员莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥最近称赞了英国切斯特动物园的保护工作。在繁殖并将一群金色斯基菲亚鱼放回其原生河流后，它使“一种罕见的鱼类起死回生”。)”可知，切斯特动物园带回并释放了一种稀有的鱼类。故选C。 Dolphin (海豚) communication has always interested scientists. The intelligent creatures use a range of noises to work together and stay connected. Some sounds even act like names, helping dolphins recognize one another. Now, researchers at Google and Georgia Tech hope to understand dolphin speech — and maybe even talk to them — with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scientists began by training an AI language model called DolphinGemma, which used 40 years of data from a group of Atlantic dolphins in the Bahamas. The recordings and videos were collected by researchers at the Wild Dolphin Project (WDP). They got not only the sounds dolphins made but also the situation in which they were used. Once ready, DolphinGemma can produce sounds analogous to the recordings. About half are just ocean noise. The rest are dolphins’ clicks (短而尖的声音), whistles (口哨声), and burst pulses. Burst pulses are spaced clicks that sound like a machine. Dolphins use them to talk, play, and find their way. The next step is to test if these sounds produced by DolphinGemma work on dolphins. To do this, the team is building a device (装置) named CHAT. Once ready, two divers will wear CHAT and swim alongside the dolphins. CHAT will play a dolphin’s whistle produced by AI to “ask” for an object, like a bottle. At the same time, the divers will pass the object back and forth. If a dolphin copies the whistle, the divers will reward it with the bottle. Thea Taylor is the director of the Sussex Dolphin Project. She warns that the researchers must be sure the dolphins are communicating — not just making the sounds to get the object. “We have to think whether that’s actually an understanding of language — or whether it’s the same as teaching a dog to sit because they get a reward,” Taylor said. Regardless of the result, the DolphinGemma team hopes their project will show how smart dolphins are. Learning more about their communication could change how we see and treat them. 1．What did researchers use DolphinGemma to do first? A．To copy the sounds of dolphins’ speaking. B．To identify every dolphin’s name. C．To analyze decades of ocean sounds. D．To collect more dolphins’ recording data. 2．What does the underlined word “analogous” mean? A．Clever. B．Noisy. C．Similar. D．Strange. 3．What is the main purpose of using CHAT in the experiment? A．To train dolphins to perform tricks. B．To test if dolphins understand sounds made by AI. C．To feed dolphins in a natural environment. D．To compare the speeches of dolphins and humans. 4．What’s Taylor’s attitude towards using CHAT? A．Positive. B．Doubtful. C．Confident. D．Favourable. 【答案】1．A 2．C 3．B 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了研究人员利用AI模型DolphinGemma和装置CHAT研究海豚交流方式的项目及相关情况。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“The scientists began by training an AI language model called DolphinGemma, which used 40 years of data from a group of Atlantic dolphins in the Bahamas. (科学家们首先训练了一个名为DolphinGemma的人工智能语言模型，该模型使用了巴哈马群岛一群大西洋海豚40年的数据)”和第三段中的“Once ready, DolphinGemma can produce sounds analogous to the recordings. About half are just ocean noise. The rest are dolphins’ clicks (短而尖的声音), whistles (口哨声), and burst pulses. Burst pulses are spaced clicks that sound like a machine.(一旦准备就绪，DolphinGemma便能生成与录音类似的声音。其中约一半只是海洋噪音，其余部分则是海豚的咔嗒声、哨声以及突发脉冲声。突发脉冲声是由间隔性的咔嗒声组成，听起来像机器发出的声响)”可知，研究人员一开始用DolphinGemma来模仿海豚的交流声音。故选A。 2．词句猜测题。根据第三段中的“About half are just ocean noise. The rest are dolphins’ clicks (短而尖的声音), whistles (口哨声), and burst pulses. Burst pulses are spaced clicks that sound like a machine. (其中约一半只是海洋噪音，其余部分则是海豚的咔嗒声、哨声以及突发脉冲声。突发脉冲声是由间隔性的咔嗒声组成，听起来像机器发出的声响)”可知，DolphinGemma生成的声音中，一半是海洋噪音，另一半是海豚的尖短的声音、哨声等，这些声音与原始录音存在相似性。由此猜测analogous意为“相似的”，与similar相似。故选C。 3．细节理解题。根据第四段中的“The next step is to test if these sounds produced by DolphinGemma work on dolphins. To do this, the team is building a device (装置) named CHAT.(下一步是测试 DolphinGemma 产生的这些声音是否对海豚有效。为了实现这一目标，该团队正在建造一种名为 CHAT 的装置)”可知，实验中使用CHAT的主要目的是测试海豚是否能理解AI发出的声音。故选B。 4．推理判断题。根据第五段中的“She warns that the researchers must be sure the dolphins are communicating — not just making the sounds to get the object.(她警告说，研究人员必须确定海豚是在进行交流——而不仅仅是为了得到物体而发出声音)”可知，泰勒对CHAT的使用持怀疑态度，担心海豚的行为并非真正理解语言。故选B。 The dry land in Gir National Park and Wildlife Reserve (保护区), located in India, is the proud and only home of the Asiatic lion. By the early 1900s, however, their populations had decreased for habitat loss and hunting, leaving fewer than 50 alive. Though their numbers have risen over the past several decades — climbing to around 670 in 2020, a successful story — the lions are still considered endangered. One of the biggest challenges to keep the lions’ future is to track them, hard work. Some animals, like tigers and zebras, have special coat patterns that provide useful marks to the researchers. But for the Asiatic lions, researchers must look elsewhere. In 2019, Banerjee, who worked for India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority, developed an AI system to recognize the lions with high accuracy (准确性). The AI program, SIMBA, has been applied in practice. “It will be a fantastic tool for long-term lion monitoring,” says Banerjee. He adds, “It could help forest officials arrive at a more accurate estimate (评估) of Gir’s lion population. In a few years, the group will have a rich collection of information — how many lions are male, female, how many will bear babies and how many are dead.” Despite the advantages,  Banerjee also adds his worries. He suggests certain rules be made to prevent main information from being stolen. “Where tools like SIMBA really shine,” he says, “is in helping researchers develop monitoring plans that are keys to the protection of at-risk animals,” he says, “otherwise, all your efforts will be useless.” 1．What is the greatest difficulty in protecting Asiatic lions? A．Stopping them from being killed. B．Setting up natural reserves. C．Protecting their living environment. D．Keeping track of them. 2．How does SIMBA help researchers? A．By providing accurate information. B．By locating lions’ homes. C．By monitoring the animal stealers. D．By tracking other animals. 3．What’s  Banerjee’s opinion about the AI program? A．It needs to be widely used. B．It has saved the endangered animals. C．Its possible risks should be considered. D．Its disadvantages can be ignored. 4．What is the text mainly about? A．The biggest challenge of an AI system. B．The measures of protecting Asiatic lions. C．The application of AI on protecting animals. D．An AI program for the endangered Asiatic lions. 【答案】1．D 2．A 3．C 4．D 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了AI程序SIMBA助力保护濒危亚洲狮的情况。 1．细节理解题。根据第二段“One of the biggest challenges to keep the lions’ future is to track them, a hard work.(保障狮子未来的最大挑战之一是追踪它们，这是一项艰巨的工作)”可知，保护亚洲狮最大的困难是追踪它们。故选D。 2．细节理解题。根据第三段“In 2019, Banerjee, who worked for India’s National Tiger Conservation Authority, developed an AI system to recognize the lions with high accuracy (准确性). The AI program, SIMBA, has been applied in practice. “It will be a fantastic tool for long-term lion monitoring,” says Banerjee. He adds, “It could help forest officials arrive at a more accurate estimate (评估) of Gir’s lion population. In a few years, the group will have a rich collection of information-how many lions are male, female, how many will bear babies and how many are dead.”(2019年，在印度国家老虎保护局工作的Banerjee开发了一个人工智能系统，可以高精度地识别狮子。该人工智能程序SIMBA已在实践中得到应用。班纳吉说：“这将是长期监测狮子的绝佳工具。”。他补充道：“这可以帮助森林官员更准确地估计吉尔的狮子数量。几年后，该小组将收集到丰富的信息——有多少狮子是雄性、雌性，有多少会生下幼崽，有多少已经死亡。”)”可知，SIMBA通过提供准确信息来帮助研究人员。故选A。 3．推理判断题。根据最后一段“Despite the advantages, Baneijee also adds his worries. He suggests certain rules be made to prevent main information from being stolen.(尽管有优势，Banerjee也表达了他的担忧。他建议制定某些规则以防止主要信息被盗)”可推知，Banerjee认为应该考虑AI程序可能存在的风险。故选C。 4．主旨大意题。文章第一段介绍了亚洲狮的生存现状，第二段指出保护亚洲狮面临的最大挑战是追踪它们，第三段介绍了Banerjee开发的用于识别亚洲狮的AI程序SIMBA及其作用，第四段提到Banerjee对AI程序的担忧。整体围绕用于保护濒危亚洲狮的AI程序展开。故选D。 重难语篇提升练 From his office in New Haven, Yale ecologist Jeremy Cohen experiences the full range of the four seasons. It occurred to him that many of his research subjects — North American birds eschew the seasons, instead seeking the same weather conditions all year long across their migratory (迁移的) routes. To better understand how different species of North American birds track these preferred climatic conditions, Cohen determined the environmental conditions using satellite weather data, which allowed him to assess how those conditions experienced by each species change throughout the seasons. This analysis was the first to consider the importance of weather change in determining how bird species track their habitats across seasons. Past studies had evaluated only the average weather conditions, leaving vital knowledge gaps about both the ecology and potential danger of birds. “We found that some migratory species can track temperature or rainfall throughout the year, going out of their way to experience the same weather all year long, while others experience strong changes in seasonal conditions throughout the year,” said Cohen. Long distance migratory birds, such as the prothonotary warbler, are excellent habitat-trackers. Their migration means they can seek out preferred conditions. Small-bodied birds, such as vireos, and insect-eaters, such as flycatchers, also tend to closely track their habitats over the year, while large-bodied birds are able to bear a wide range of conditions over the year. Revealing these patterns was no simple task. For the study, Cohen had to combine data from millions of current records for over 600 bird species along with 22 years of weather data. Such a task would not have been possible even a decade ago. “It’s important to understand how wildlife is handling the consequences of speeding up climate change so that, as climate change speeds up, we can prevent the fall of ecological communities and biological diversity while avoiding the loss of ecosystem services,” Cohen said. 1．What does the underlined word “eschew” in Paragraph 1 mean? A．Search. B．Avoid. C．Endure. D．Forecast. 2．Compared with previous researches, Cohen’s study is novel because ______. A．it records daily behaviour via satellite data. B．it links body size with migration distance. C．it tracks weather change beyond averages. D．it surveys 600-plus bird species worldwide. 3．Why are varieties of birds in Paragraph 3 mentioned? A．To indicate distance links with latitude. B．To prove body size decides migration route. C．To highlight the urgency in climate change. D．To show tracking skill differs among species. 4．What can we infer from Cohen’s words in the last paragraph? A．Satellite records alone can save threatened birds. B．Ecological collapse is now beyond human control. C．Without big-data insight, timely protection may fail. D．Climate change mainly threatens large-bodied species. 【答案】1．B 2．C 3．D 4．C 【导语】本文是一篇说明文，主要探讨了耶鲁大学生态学家Jeremy Cohen关于北美鸟类如何通过迁徙追踪全年相同气候条件的研究。研究发现不同鸟类物种在追踪栖息地气候条件方面存在差异，并强调了理解这一机制对于应对气候变化和保护生物多样性的重要性。 1．词句猜测题。根据划线词后面“instead seeking the same weather conditions all year long across their migratory (迁移的) routes (而是在迁徙路线上寻找全年相同的天气条件)”可知，instead后面说鸟类在迁徙路线上寻找同样的气候条件。instead前后转折，推测划线单词eschew的意思为“躲避”，与avoid意思一致。故选B。 2．细节理解题。根据第二段中的“This analysis was the first to consider the importance of weather change in determining how bird species track their habitats across seasons. Past studies had evaluated only the average weather conditions, leaving vital knowledge gaps about both the ecology and potential danger of birds. (这项分析首次考虑了天气变化在确定鸟类如何跨季节追踪栖息地方面的重要性。过去的研究只评估了平均天气条件，留下了关于鸟类生态和潜在危险的重要知识空白。)”可知，该研究首次考虑到了天气变化的重要性，而之前的研究仅关注平均的天气情况。故选C。 3．推理判断题。根据第三段中的“We found that some migratory species can track temperature or rainfall throughout the year, going out of their way to experience the same weather all year long, while others experience strong changes in seasonal conditions throughout the year, (我们发现，一些迁徙物种可以全年追踪温度或降雨量，全年都会经历同样的天气，而另一些物种则会全年经历季节性条件的强烈变化)”和“Long distance migratory birds, such as the prothonotary warbler, are excellent habitat-trackers. Their migration means they can seek out preferred condition. Small-bodied birds, such as vireos, and insect-eaters, such as flycatchers, also tend to closely track their habitats over the year, while large-bodied birds are able to bear a wide range of conditions over the year.(长距离迁徙的鸟类，如蓝翅黄森莺，是极好的栖息地追踪者。它们的迁移意味着它们可以寻找首选条件。体型较小的鸟类，如维丽俄鸟，和食虫动物，如捕蝇草，也倾向于在一年中密切跟踪它们的栖息地，而体型较大的鸟类能够在一年内承受各种各样的条件)”可知，本段通过列举长距离迁徙的鸟类、体型小的鸟类、食虫鸟、体型大的鸟类，是为了说明不同鸟类有不同的迁徙技能。故选D。 4．推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“For the study, Cohen had to combine data from millions of current records for over 600 bird species along with 22 years of weather data. Such a task would not have been possible even a decade ago. “It’s important to understand how wildlife is handling the consequences of speeding up climate change so that, as climate change speeds up, we can prevent the fall of ecological communities and biological diversity while avoiding the loss of ecosystem services,” Cohen said.(在这项研究中，Cohen必须将600多种鸟类的数百万份当前记录数据与22年的天气数据结合起来。这样的任务甚至在十年前都是不可能做到的。Cohen说：“了解野生动物如何应对气候变化加速的后果非常重要，这样，随着气候变化的加速，我们就可以防止生态群落和生物多样性的崩溃，同时避免生态系统服务的丧失。”)”可知，Cohen强调“十年前无法完成的百万级数据整合今日已成可能”，并指出唯有弄清野生动物应对气候的方式，才能“及时防止生态群落和生物多样性崩溃”，由此可推知，若无这些大数据洞察，及时保护或将落空。故选C。 Did you know that long ago, Singapore was full of wetlands, lakes, and small villages? Even today, animals like wild pigs, monkeys, and snakes sometimes enter cities looking for food and shelter. This can be dangerous for them, especially on busy roads. Singapore wants to become a “City in Nature” by 2030. The city is finding ways to protect natural spaces. Scientists are creating solutions to help wildlife live safely alongside people. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is key to these ideas. Animals often cross highways and risk being hit by cars. Experts use technology like cameras and sound devices to study animal movement and decide where to build safe crossings. In 2019, the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) built a 140-meter-long bridge over a highway just for animals. Cameras showed that over 100 species used it. MWG also built fences to guide animals and rope bridges to help those living in trees move safely. Singapore is also teaching communities how to keep animals safe. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) receives over 1,000 calls each month to rescue wild animals in cities. “Often, we teach people how to handle the situation themselves,” said Karina Lim from ACRES. “This helps them feel more confident and respect animals more.” Wildlife expert Kiran Sujanani added, “Wild animals are usually shy and scared. If we give them space, they will often leave on their own.” To live together peacefully, people need to understand why animals come near them and how they behave. Animal welfare groups advise people to do their part to avoid attracting wildlife to their homes. This includes not carrying visible plastic bags in areas with monkeys and storing waste properly. Education is the first step toward change. As one expert said, “Harmony begins with respect.” By learning about animals and respecting their homes, everyone can help protect them. Singapore’s journey shows that with community effort and STEM, people and wildlife can share spaces peacefully. 1．How is STEM primarily used to protect wildlife in Singapore? A．By building more roads and bridges. B．By planning more natural parks for animals. C．By using cameras and devices to frighten animals. D．By researching animals and creating secure passages. 2．What can be inferred about ACRES’s work from the text? A．It wants to move all wild animals out of the city. B．It encourages people to keep wild animals as pets. C．It mainly focuses on finding new homes for wild animals. D．It believes people should learn to deal with wildlife properly. 3．What is one suggested way to avoid attracting wildlife to residential areas? A．Making loud noises to scare animals away. B．Feeding animals regularly to keep them calm. C．Storing waste properly and keeping plastic bags out of sight. D．Building higher fences and setting barriers around homes. 4．What is the main purpose of the passage? A．To discuss the dangers wild animals face in cities. B．To explain how STEM helps humans and wildlife coexist. C．To encourage readers to visit the natural parks in Singapore. D．To introduce the history of wildlife conservation in Singapore. 【答案】1．D 2．D 3．C 4．B 【导语】本文是一篇说明文。主要介绍新加坡通过STEM技术和社区努力，打造“自然中的城市”，实现人类与野生动物和平共处的举措与实践。 1．细节理解题。根据第三段中的“Experts use technology like cameras and sound devices to study animal movement and decide where to build safe crossings.(专家们使用摄像头和声音设备等技术研究动物的活动，然后决定在哪里建造安全通道。)”可知，STEM主要通过研究动物习性并建造安全通道来保护野生动物。故选D项。 2．推理判断题。根据第四段中的““Singapore is also teaching communities how to keep animals safe. The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) receives over 1,000 calls each month to rescue wild animals in cities. Often, we teach people how to handle the situation themselves,” said Karina Lim from ACRES. “This helps them feel more confident and respect animals more.” Wildlife expert Kiran Sujanani added, “Wild animals are usually shy and scared. If we give them space, they will often leave on their own.(新加坡也在教导社区居民如何保护动物安全。动物关怀研究与教育协会（ACRES）每月接到超过 1000 个求助电话，内容均为救助城市中的野生动物。ACRES 的卡里娜・林说：“我们经常教人们如何自行处理这种情况。这能帮助他们变得更有信心，也更尊重动物。” 野生动物专家基兰・苏贾纳尼补充道：“野生动物通常胆小又害怕。如果我们给它们空间，它们往往会自行离开。”)”可推知，ACRES认为人们应该学会正确应对野生动物相关情况。故选D项。 3．细节理解题。根据第五段中的“Animal welfare groups advise people to do their part to avoid attracting wildlife to their homes. This includes not carrying visible plastic bags in areas with monkeys and storing waste properly.(动物福利组织建议人们尽自己的一份力，避免吸引野生动物到家中。这包括在有猴子的区域不携带可见的塑料袋，并妥善存放垃圾。)”可知，妥善存放垃圾且不外露塑料袋是避免吸引野生动物到居住区的建议方法之一。故选C项。 4．推理判断题。通读全文，尤其是第二段中的“Scientists are creating solutions to help wildlife live safely alongside people. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is key to these ideas.(科学家们正在寻找解决方案，帮助野生动物与人类安全共处。STEM（科学、技术、工程和数学）是这些想法的关键。)”以及最后一段“Singapore’s journey shows that with community effort and STEM, people and wildlife can share spaces peacefully.(新加坡的历程表明，通过社区努力和STEM技术，人类和野生动物可以和平共享空间。)”可知，文章核心是解释STEM技术如何帮助人类与野生动物共存。故选B项。 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $