Squirrels often communicate with whistles, chirps  and chucks, which sound like the word "chuck".  
Whistles and chirps are like the  sounds that many birds make. Now scientists have translated some of
their  squirrel-speak.
     Hare, a professor of zoology at the University of Maniloha in Winnipeg, and his team managed to
record squirrels' alarm calls. The researchers studied the sounds and then  played them back to 60 wild
squirrels, which the scientists approached individually with a video recorder to capture(抓拍)their
responses. Some squirrels lifted their heads up and  became. alert(警惕的). Creatures that were more
frightened simply ran for their lives and dived into caves.
     "In effect then, whistles that mix with chucks say 'there's an enemy of average threat that's here', and
whistles without chucks say 'there's an enemy of seemingly average threat around here somewhere', while pure chirps say, 'I'm hiding here because there's an immediate danger.'" Hare told Discovery News.
     Hare and some other researchers believe such sounds are part of an advanced language that develops
just as all other communication systems.
     Although squirrels risk their lives when they call out to warn others of threats, other squirrels might
admire this behaviour, thus increasingly the caller's social status, like humans who look up to heroes.
Hare added that other animals, such as birds, probably understand at least some squirrel language, since
they also may benefit from the alarm calls.
     In fact, another Canadian study found that deep-voiced, black-capped chickadees  have their own
language too. According to certain research, there are a lot of tidings in chickadees' calls, such as
directing fellows' activities, keeping in contact between mates, and raising alarms.
     While chickadees and other birds are often welcomed into gardens by homeowners, squirrels are
frequently viewed as pests(害獸) . Hare wishes a greater understanding of the complex social lives and
communication systems of squirrels will provide hope that humans will gain a greater appreciation and
stop doing harm to these animals.
1. The text mainly talks about ________.
A. the study on the language of squirrels
B. the comparison between squirrels and chickadees
C. the calling for the protection of squirrels
D. the ways for squirrels to escape from their enemies
2. If a squirrel is in a very dangerous situation, it would probably make ________.
A. whistles with chucks  
B. pure chirps
C. whistles without chucks  
D. repeated chucks
3. The underlined word"tidings"in Paragraph 6 probably means________.
A. difficulties  
B. praises
C. messages  
D. languages
4. What can be learned from this text?
A. Squirrels communicate with each other as humans do.
B. Some squirrels understand the recorded alarm calls.
C. Other animals also well understand the language of squirrels.
D. Birds such as chickadees don't have their own language.
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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

     Whoever has made a voyage up the Hudson River must remember the Catskill Mountains. They are a branch of the great Appalachian family, and can be seen to the west rising up to a noble height and towering over the surrounding country. When the weather is fair and settled, they are clothed in blue and purple, and print their beautiful shapes on the clear evening sky, but sometimes when it is cloudless, gray steam gathers around the top of the mountains which, in the last rays of the setting sun, will shine and light up like a crown of glory （華麗的皇冠）.

     At the foot of these mountains, a traveler may see light smoke going up from a village.

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68. Which of the following best describes the Catskill Mountains?

     A. They are on the west of the Hudson River.

     B. They are very high and beautiful in this area.

     C. They can be seen from the Appalachian family.

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A. hard-working and likes all kinds of work

B. idle and hates all kinds of jobs

C. simple, idle but very dutiful

D. gentle, helpful but a little idle

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     A. Catskill Mountains.        B. A Mountain Village.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源： 題型：閱讀理解

When Paul was a boy growing up in Utah, he happened to live near a copper smelter(煉銅廠), and the chemicals that poured out had made a wasteland out of what used to be a beautiful forest. One day a young visitor looked at this wasteland and called it an awful area. Paul knocked him down. From then on, something happened inside him.

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Paul then went to college to study the science of plants. Unfortunately, his teachers said there weren't any birds or squirrels to spread the seeds. It would be a waste of his life to try to do it. Everyone knew that, he was told. Even if he was knowledgeable as he had expected, he wouldn’t get his idea accepted.

Paul later got married and had some kids. But his dream would not die. And then one night he did what he could with what he had. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Attainable good is often ignored by minds busied in wide ranges.” Under the cover of darkness, he went secretly into the wasteland and started planting.

And every week, he made his secret journey into the wasteland and planted trees and grass. For fifteen years he did this against the plain common sense. Slowly rabbits appeared. Later, as there was legal pressure to clean up the environment, the company actually hired Paul to do what he was already doing.

Now the place is fourteen thousand acres of trees and grass and bushes, and Paul has received almost every environmental award Utah has. It took him until his hair turned white, but he managed to keep that impossible vow he made to himself as a child.

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he had decided never to leave his hometown

the economy of Utah depended wholly on the copper smelter

no laws were made to protect the environment against pollution

he determined to stop the copper smelter polluting the area

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He wanted to find out the best way to save the area himself.

He was interested in planting trees since he was young.

He wanted to get more knowledgeable people to help him.

He thought his knowledge would make his advice more persuasive.

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That it was impossible for trees to grow on the wasteland.

That his normal work and life would be greatly affected.

That no one would like to join him in the efforts.

That he had to keep everything he did secret.

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action speaks louder than words

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God helps those who help themselves

many hands make light work

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    Mom creates a kind of give-and-take relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to fend off the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it’s likely they’ll be knocked down by a family of raccoons (浣熊). Spiders that make their way into the house are captured (捕獲) in a juice glass and set loose in the garden.

    I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for spent (開(kāi)敗的) dandelions (蒲公英) to parachute; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn’t need to lecture; she didn’t need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came compassion and an instinct (本能) for preservation.

    I am slowing down and it isn’t because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I’ve begun to save glass jars and re-use packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other through the palm (棕櫚樹(shù)) leaves above my porch (門廊).

    Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands. Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with a sweetness I immediately wanted to share with my mom.

Why does the author say Earth Day is connected with Mother’s Day?

A. Because Mother’s Day falls shortly after Earth Day.

B. To stress that all the older women in her family are environmentalists.

C. To stress how much her mother cares about the environment.

D. Because on Mother’s Day her mother shows her how to be friend to nature.

According to the fourth paragraph, which of the following is the author’s mother NOT likely to do?

A. When she came across a lost dog, she helped it to find its shelter.

B. In spring, she spent some time watching the plants growing in the garden.

    C. She joined in the campaign to encourage the public to contribute actively towards a better environment.

    D. She walked to a nearby shop which was within ten minutes’ walk rather than drove there.

What can we conclude from the article?

A. The author’s mother is very patient with her children.

B. The author’s mother knows how to live in harmony with nature.

C. The author’s mother always took care of the wildlife that came into her yard.

D. The author’s mother used to remind her to slow down to protect the environment.

We can infer from the article that ______.

A. the author thinks that too many people now label themselves environmentalists   

B. the author’s mother knows how to get rid of the wildlife in her yard   

C. the author believes that only by learning to slow down, can we enjoy life

D. the author realizes that she should teach her children by example as well

What is the main idea of the last three paragraphs?

A. How the author taught her children to protect the environment.

B. How the author’s mother influenced the author.

C. What inspired the author to slow down and enjoy life.

D. How the author spent her time with her children.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2010年山東省新泰一中北校區(qū)高一第一次月考英語(yǔ)卷 題型：閱讀理解

Some mammals migrate（遷徒）. One of these is the caribou（馴鹿）. They travel to the tundra（苔原）every summer to eat the rich grasses that grow there. When the weather becomes cooler, they migrate to the warmer forests and spend the winter there. Another mammal that migrates is the humpback whale. They spend the winter in Hawaii, and the summer in the Arctic（北極的）waters. They travel to the Arctic to eat millions of small shrimp（蝦）.
Anther habit that some animals have to survive the cold winter is called hibernation. Animals that hibernate, rest or sleep during the winter. While they are hibernating, their bodies use up the fat layer that they have put on by eating large amounts of food during the summer. Some animals that hibernate in the Arctic are small animals called lemmings（旅鼠）, squirrels（松鼠）and bears.
There are two habit adaptations that animals in the Arctic have all year round. These are called herding and pack life. Caribou are example of animals that live in herds. A herd is a group of animals that lives together for most, or all of their lives. A herd of caribou can have a thousand or more animals in it. They live in herds for protection. It is easier for caribou to protect themselves when they are together than it is when they are alone. This is because the meat-eaters hunt in packs.
A pack is a small group of animals that lives together. It is usually controlled by a head male and a female. All the members of the pack must obey them. Packs have a very definite social structure. Each animal in a pack has a different position, or importance. Animals in a pack are usually meat-eaters. They live together for protection and hunting purposes.
【小題1】According to the first paragraph, the humpback whale         .

A．travels to the Arctic for shrimp in summer
B．spends the winter in the Arctic
C．lives in Hawaii in summer
D．has the same living habits as the caribou
【小題2】What kind of animal doesn’t hibernate in the Arctic?
A．The caribou.B．The bear.C．The squirrel.D．The lemming.
【小題3】 Caribou live in herds in order to         .
A．use up their fat layerB．find foodC．protect themselvesD．hunt in packs
【小題4】 What do we know about pack life according to the last paragraph?
A．Animals in pack are usually grain-eaters.
B．All animals are in an equal position in a pack.
C．It is either controlled by a head mate or by a female.
D．Each animal has its own different role in a pack.

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科目：高中英語(yǔ) 來(lái)源：2015屆四川省高一4月月考英語(yǔ)試卷（解析版） 題型：閱讀理解

San Francisco has its cable cars. Seattle has its Space Needle. And, Longview has its squirrel bridge. The bridge, which has attracted international attention, is now a local landmark.

The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars.

The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over.

One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day’s coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council(市政會(huì)).The Council approved, and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge “Nutty Narrows.”

After architects designed the bridge, Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction, They built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose(消防水帶). It cost 1,000.

It didn’t take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started. Squirrels were even seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes. The story was picked up by the media, and Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world.

In 1983, after 20 years of use, Peters took down the worn-out bridge. Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced. The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983, hundreds of animal lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge.

Peters died in 1984, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project.

1.The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in order to ________.

A．offer squirrels a place to eat nuts

B．set up a local landmark

C．help improve traffic

D．protect squirrels

2.What happened over the coffee break discussion?

A．The committee got the Council’s blessing.

B．The squirrel bridge idea was born

C．A councilwoman named the bridge

D．A squirrel was found dead.

3.What does the underlined phrase “teaching them the ropes” probably means in the text?

A．passing them a rope

B．Directing them to store food for winter

C．Teaching them a lesson

D．Showing them how to use the bridge.

4.Which of the following is true of the squirrel bridge?

A．It was replaced by a longer one.

B．It was built from wood and metal

C．it was rebuilt after years of use

D．It was designed by Bill Hutch.

5.What can we learn about Amos Peters?

A．He is remembered for his love of animals.

B．He donated $1,000 to build the bridge

C．He was a member of the City Council

D．He was awarded a medal for building the bridge.

 

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