A. Using a key to unlock a door.

B. Telling parrots from other birds.

C. Putting a ball into a round hole.

D. Grouping toys of different shapes.

6. What does the follow-up test aim to find out about the cockatoos?

A. How far they are able to see. B. How they track moving objects.

C. Whether they are smarter than monkeys.

D. Whether they use a sense of touch in the test.

7. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A. Cockatoos: Quick Error Checkers

B. Cockatoos: Independent Learners

C. Cockatoos: Clever Signal-Readers

D. Cockatoos: Skilful Shape-Sorters

【答案】4. B 5. C 6. D 7. D

【解析】

【导语】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一种会识别形状的凤头鹦鹉。

【4题详解】

细节理解题。根据文章第一段“Though not known to use tools in the wild, the birds haveproved skilful at tool use while kept in the cage.(虽然人们不知道这些鸟在野外会使用工具，但事实证明，它们在关在笼子里时就能熟练地使用工具)”以及“the birds were given fivedifferently shaped “keys” to choose from. Inserting, the correct “keys” wouldlet out the nut.(研究人员给了这些鸟5把形状各异的“钥匙”供它们选择。插入，正确的“钥匙”会让坚果出来)”可知，在实验中，凤头鹦鹉是通过使用工具从盒子里取出坚果的。故选B。

【5题详解】

细节理解题。根据文章第二段“In humans, babies can put a round shape in a round hole fromaround one year of age(在人类身上，婴儿从一岁左右就可以把一个圆形的物品放进一个圆形的洞里)”结合选项，可知，一岁儿童最有可能完成“将一个球放进一个圆形的洞里”的任务。故选C。

【6题详解】

推理判断题。通过文章最后一段“The next step, according to the researchers, is to try andwork out whether the cockatoos rely entirely on visual clues, or also use asense of touch in making their shape selections.(根据研究人员的说法，下一步是尝试弄清楚凤头鹦鹉是完全依靠视觉线索，还是也使用触觉来选择它们的形状)”可推知，后续测试的目的是了解凤头鹦鹉在测试中是否使用触觉。故选D。

【7题详解】

主旨大意题。通读全文，再结合文章第一段“Coffin’s cockatoos, a kind of small parrot native toAustralasia, have been shown to have similar shape-recognition abilities to ahuman two-year-old.(科芬的凤头鹦鹉是一种原产于大洋洲的小鹦鹉，它的形状识别能力与两岁的人类相似)”可推知，本文主要介绍了会识别形状的凤头鹦鹉。D项“Cockatoos:Skilful Shape-Sorters (凤头鹦鹉：识别形状的熟练工)”符合文意，最适合作为本文标题。故选D。

C

As Ginni Bazlinton reached Antarctica, she found herself greeted by a groupof little Gentoo penguins(企鹅) longing to say hello. These gentle, lovelygatekeepers welcomed her and kick-started what was to be a trip Ginni wouldnever forget.Ever since her childhood, Ginni, now 71, has had a deep love fortravel. Throughout her career(职业) as a professional dancer, she toured in theUK, but always longed to explore further When she retired from dancing and hersons eventually flew the nest, she decided it was time to take the plunge.Aftertaking a degree at Chichester University in Related Arts, Ginni began to travelthe world, eventually getting work teaching English in Japan and Chile. And itwas in Chile she discovered she could get last-minute cheap deals on ships goingto Antarctica from the islands off Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of theSouth American mainland. “I just decided wanted to go,” she says. “I had no ideaabout what I’d find there and I wasn’t nervous, I just wanted to do it. And Iwanted to do it alone as I always prefer it that way.”In March 2008, Ginniboarded a ship with 48 passengers she’d never met before, to begin the journeytowards Antarctica. “From seeing the wildlife to witnessing sunrises, the wholeexperience was amazing. Antarctica left an impression on me that no other placehas,” Ginni says. “I remember the first time I saw a humpback whale; it justrose out of the water like some prehistoric creature and I thought it wassmiling at us. Yocould still hear the operatic sounds it was makingunderwater.”The realization that this is a precious land, to be respected byhumans, was one of the biggest things that hit home to Ginni.

8. Which of the following best explains “take the plunge” underlined inparagraph 2?

A. Try challenging things.

B.Take a degree.

C. Bring back lost memories.

D.Stick to a promise.

9. What made Ginni decide on the trip to Antarctica?

A. Lovely penguins.

B.Beautiful scenery.

C. A discount fare.

D.A friend’s invitation.

10. What does Ginni think about Antarctica after the journey?

A. It could be a home for her. B.It should be easily accessible.

C. It should be well preserved. D. It needs to be fully introduced.

11What is the text mainly about?