Question

Birds that are half-asleep—with one brain hemisphere (半球) alert and the other sleeping—control which side of the brain remains awake, according to a new study of sleeping ducks.
Earlier studies have documented half-brain sleep in a wide range of birds. The brain hemispheres take turns sinking into the sleep stage characterized by slow brain waves. The eye controlled by the sleeping hemisphere keeps shut, while the wakeful hemisphere’s eye stays open and alert. Birds also can sleep with both hemispheres resting at once.
Decades of studies of bird groups led researchers to predict extra alertness in the end-of-the-row sleepers which tend to be attacked more easily. Sure enough, the end birds tended to watch carefully on the side away from their companions. Ducks in the inner spots showed no preference for gaze direction.
Also, birds napping at the end of the line depend on single-hemisphere sleep, rather than total relaxation, more often than inner ducks did. Turning 16 birds through the positions in a four-duck row, the researchers found that compared with 12 percent for birds in internal spots, outer birds half-asleep during some 32 percent of napping time.
“We believe this is the first evidence for an animal behaviorally controlling sleep and wakefulness at the same time in different regions of the brain,” the researchers say.
The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. The preference for opening an eye on the lookout side could be widespread, he predicts. He’s seen it in a pair of birds napping side-by-side in the zoo and in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.
Useful as half-sleeping might be, it’s only been found in birds and such water animals as dolphins, whales, and seals. Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.
Studies of birds may offer unique insights into sleep. Jerome M. Siegel of the UCLA says he wonders if birds’ half-brain sleep “is just the tip of the iceberg.” He supposes that more examples may turn up when we take a closer look at other species.
【小題1】According to the passage, birds often half sleep because ______.

A．they have to watch out for possible attacks

B．their brain hemispheres take turns to rest

C．the two halves of their brain are differently structured

D．they have to constantly keep an eye on their companions

【小題2】What is implied about the example of a bird’s sleeping in front of a mirror?

A．An imagined companion gives the bird a sense of security.

B．Birds prefer to sleep in pairs for the sake of their security.

C．The phenomenon of birds napping in pairs is widespread.

D．A single pet bird enjoys seeing its own reflection in the mirror.

【小題3】 While sleeping, some water animals tend to keep half awake in order to ______.

A．a(chǎn)lert themselves to the approaching enemy

B．emerge from water now and then to breathe

C．be sensitive to the ever-changing environment

D．a(chǎn)void being swept away by rapid currents

【小題4】By saying “just the tip of the iceberg”, Siegel suggests that ______.

A．half-brain sleep has something to do with icy weather

B．the mystery of half-brain sleep is close to being solved

C．most birds living in cold regions tend to be half sleepers

D．half-brain sleep may exist among other species

Answer 1

【小題1】A
【小題1】A
【小題1】B
【小題1】D

解析【小題1】細節(jié)題：從第六段的句子：The results provide the best evidence for a long-standing assumption that single-hemisphere sleep evolved as creatures scanned for enemies. 可知鳥類半睡眠是為了注意敵人。選A
【小題1】推理題：從第六段的句子：in a single pet bird sleeping by a mirror. The mirror-side eye closed as if the reflection were a companion and the other eye stayed open.可知想象的同伴給了鳥類安全感。選A。
【小題1】細節(jié)題：從第七段的句子：Perhaps keeping one side of the brain awake allows a sleeping animal to surface occasionally to avoid drowning.可知是為了從水里浮出來呼吸。選B。
【小題1】根據(jù)引號內(nèi)容很快找到原文相關部分，其后的內(nèi)容必是對該問的解釋。第二句中說加州大學洛杉磯分校的Ferome M.Siegel推測鳥類的半腦睡眠現(xiàn)象只是冰山露出來的一角。第三句說如果我們對其他物種作進一步認真仔細的觀察，可能會發(fā)現(xiàn)更多的例證，所以D正確。因此考生只要理解第二句、第三句的意思即可選出正確答案。D