It's very early in the morning and I'm sitting outside. It's also very cold and dark. With me is Jim Nightingale, and he is the reason I'm up so early. He passes me a hot cup of coffee. "Not long to wait now," he says. I hope he's right.
After a few minutes there is a very weak light in the east, and then I hear a bird singing. It sings very loud and very clear. "That's the robin(知更鸟)," says Jim. A few more birds start singing with the robin and Jim knows the names of them too. Half an hour later, there are more and more birds singing, and it's very loud! Suddenly, all around us the air is full of the sound of birdsong. This is the dawn chorus(晨鸣), and it's beautiful.
"Wow, this is amazing!" I tell Jim, who is smiling. "Is there a dawn chorus every morning?"
"Birds can sing any time of the year but the best time is the end of winter and during the spring. This is when the birds sing most."
"Really? So, why do they sing?" I ask.
"Well, there are two reasons," explains Jim. "Most of the songbirds who sing are males. They want to find a female(雌性)so they sing to show how strong they are. The females listen and choose the best singer! The birds also sing to tell other males to go away. They need their own area; they don't like sharing with another male."
I listen to the birds; the songs seem too much to me. "Do the birds sing a special song in the morning?"
"That's a good question," replied Jim. "The successful birds have many kinds of calls and songs. Sometimes they copy the songs of other birds. This makes it sound like there are many birds in that place already and other males stay away. Also the female likes songs with different notes. Some birds, for example the European wren, have songs that contain over 700 different notes per minute!"
So, how does Jim know so much about birds? Well, he works as a volunteer for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. He is trying to help the birds live in the modern world. "More and more of the birds' habitat disappears every year. The sparrow, for example, was a very common bird in the UK, now it's in danger."
By now the sun is up and the birds are quiet. It's light so they can start looking for food, they need a big breakfast after all that singing.Why does the writer get up early in the morning?
A.To visit her friend. | B.To drink hot coffee. |
C.To see different birds. | D.To hear birds sing. |
A bird sings early in the morning mainly_______.
A.to call a female's attention | B.to fight with other males |
C.to find a place to live in | D.to start looking for food |
According to the text, which of the following statements is true?
A.At first the writer is happy to be up so early in the morning. |
B.Male birds have their own ways of fooling other birds. |
C.It's easier for the birds to find food early in the morning. |
D.Jim has a job with the Royal Society for the Proteciton of Birds. |
The text is mainly about_______.
A.the robin's songs | B.the birds' habitat |
C.why birds sing | D.how to protect birds |
This is an advertisement ______________ on the Cats Day.
A.for a talk on pet cats |
B.for the prettiest cat show |
C.to sell unwanted cats |
D.to find owners for unwanted cats |
The Cats Day activities will last ______________.
A.a whole day | B.half a day | C.four hours | D.a whole afternoon |
Taking a cat home from the center should be a family decision because __________.
A.the cost has to be paid by the family |
B.the cat will become trouble for the family |
C.other family members may hurt the cat |
D.it is the duty of each family member to care for the cat |
After listening to the talk by Dr. Smith, you may ___________.
A.raise the prettiest cat in town |
B.know more about your cat’s gestures |
C.learn more about the cat supplies |
D.be able to build a cat house by yourself |
You will NOT be able __________ on the Cats Day.
A.to win 150 dollars on the show |
B.to buy toys for your cat |
C.to take a picture with your new cat |
D.to take your child to the fun games |
请阅读下面这篇文章,根据所提供的信息,完成信息卡,把答案写在答题卡指定的位置上。
Life in China Every day, News on TV, radio and online brings you stories from across China. Have you got a story about life in China? If you do, please put your story here. |
![]() Since the winter last year, the haze(雾霾) has happened a lot of times. It has done great harm(伤害) to our daily life. More and more people have to go to see the doctor because the serious disease caused by the haze. Many traffic accidents happened and quite a lot of flights have to be put off just because of the haze weather. On Oct.30, 2013, in 16-car chain collision (连环相撞) on the highway in Tangshan, many people were hurt and some even died. Beijing International Airport canceled or put off nearly 76 flights on Oct.6, 2013 as the result of the weather. (Wu Hai, Shantou) |
It’s reported that 293 pedestrians(行人)die of traffic accidents every day in China. I myself ever experienced a very terrible accident.![]() Early last Thursday morning, I was walking on my way to school as usual. A little boy ran past me. He ran so fast when crossing the street that he didn’t notice a speeding car came round the corner. I was scared and shouted to him to stop, but it was too late. The boy was knocked down by the car. I hurried to the boy, crying for help. The boy was taken to the hospital as soon as the policemen and doctors arrived. Later, I learned the boy died because he lost too much blood.(Li Lan, Guangzhou) |
Information card
Main ideas of the two stories |
The first story is about air pollution, the second one is about |
Harm that the haze does to our daily life |
It may cause Many flights have to |
The number that pedestrians die of traffic accident every day |
|
The reason why the little boy died |
He |
配对阅读。左栏是对5个人想参加的活动的描述,右栏是7个电视栏目的简介,请为每一个人选择最适合看的1个节目,并将答案写在答题卡指定的位置上。
E. YCSXTV: The programmes tonight are as follows: 18:30 World News, 19:00 Pop Songs, 19:30 Animal World, 20:20 Science and Life |
Everybody hates rats. But rats may soon be man’s new good friend.
What happens after an earthquake? We send in rescue(援救)dogs. Why? Because they can smell people. Dogs save lives. They help rescuers to find living people. But dogs are big and they can’t get into small spaces. So now a new research project is using a smaller animal to save lives: the rat.
How does it work? First, the rat is trained to smell people. When this happens, the rat’s brain gives a signal(信号). This is sent to a small radio on its back, and then the rescuers follow the radio signals. When the rat’s brain activity jumps, the rescuers know that someone is alive. The rat has smelled that person.
Although there are already robots which can do this job, rats are better. “Robots’ noses don’t work well when there are other smells around. Rats are good at that.” Rats can also see in the dark, they are cheaper and quicker to train than dogs, and unlike robots, they don’t need electricity!
The “rat project” is not finished, but a scientist says, “It would be great. A rat could get into spaces we couldn’t get to, and a rat would get out if it wasn’t safe.” Perhaps for the first time in history, people will be happy to see a rat in a building (but only after an earthquake, of course).In the writer’s opinion, rats may become man’s new friend because.
A.they can be food for people |
B.they can help rescuers to find living people |
C.they are lovely |
D.they can completely replace man’s rescue jobs |
What does the underlined word “this” mean?
A.An earthquake. |
B.The rat has smelled a person |
C.The rat has smelled that someone is alive |
D.The rat has found a robot. |
Which of the following is NOT true?
A.Rats don’t need electricity. |
B.Rats are better than robots when smelling. |
C.Rats are as clever as radios. |
D.Rats can see things in the dark when doing rescues. |
Why does the “rat project” sound great according to the passage?
A.Because rats can get into very small spaces. |
B.Because rats have better noses than dogs. |
C.Because rats don’t like robots. |
D.Because rats are brave. |
Which is the best title of this passage?
A.Ways of saving people | B.Rats and robots | C.After earthquake | D.Rats for rescue |
The Dress That Turns into a Coca Cola Machine
This specially designed dress looks like a normal dress,but if you unfold it and cover yourself,you may look like a Coca Cola vending machine(自动售货机). Because there are many vending machines like that on the street,it must be easy for you to hide.If you feel that someone is following you or there is some danger,you can disappear within five seconds.But don’t use it to scare your classmates.That’ll be rude.
The M-Dress is a nice black dress.It is also a mobile phone.It accepts a standard SIM card and allows the wearer to receive calls without carrying an actual(真实的) phone in their pocket or purse.You just need to bring your hand to your ear when you want to answer a phone call.When you finish talking and release your hand,the call will close.It is fashionable and useful.But it will certainly be an embarrassing moment when your dress rings in public.
Air Conditioned Jackets
You will love these air-cooled jackets in summer time when it is very hot outdoors.The jacket has fans that draw air in.The fan is powered by an inside battery.Now it is possible to spend nearly every second of your day with cool air.What’s the main purpose of the first dress?
A.To protect the wearer. | B.To scare your classmates. |
C.To make the wearer look better. | D.To help sell more Coca Cola. |
The underlined word release in the 2nd paragraph means ________.
A.put up | B.put down | C.put on | D.put out |
The second dress is called M-Dress probably because ________.
A. it is made by men | B.it is made for men |
C. it is medium-sized | D.it is also a mobile phone |
The best title for the second paragraph is ________.
A.A Fashionable and Useful Dress |
B.M-Dress That Is Also Your Phone |
C.An Embarrassing Moment in Public |
D.A Mobile Phone with a Standard SIM Card |
Which of the following is TRUE of the Air Conditioned Jackets?
A.They keep you warm in winter. |
B.The fans must be turned by hand. |
C.The fans in them provide cool air. |
D.The ice in them makes them cool. |