Question

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

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

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

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

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

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

【1】What is a bird’s “territory”？

A. A place where families of other species are not accepted.

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

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

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

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

A. Because they want to invite more friends.

B. Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

C. Because they want to find outsiders around.

D. Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

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

A. By describing birds’ daily life.

B. By reporting experiment results.

C. By comparing birds with human beings.

D. By telling.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】D

【2】B

【3】C

【解析】试题分析：鸟儿为什么会唱歌呢？你可能会认为它们是因为开心才唱歌的。一些科学家认为鸟儿唱歌有一部分原因是因为心情好，但是大多数时候，它们是因为要保卫自己的领地才不停地叫，也就是我们所认为的歌唱。

【1】猜测词义题。根据第三段“A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称)as its own.”可知，territory的意思是动物的“领地”，故选D。

【2】细节理解题。根据第二段“Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.”和第四段“But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting season. So he is screaming all the time,

and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.”可知，鸟儿不停地叫是为了吓走外来者，故选B。

【3】细节理解题。根据第三段“Your yard and house are your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.”和第四段“If so, you have actually scared the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing.”可知，作者拿人类来作对比，一个人的院子和房子是私人领地，陌生人不被允许进入，一旦发现有外人侵犯，他可能会通过喊叫来吓走侵犯者。鸟儿也是通过叫声来赶走其它外来者，故选C。