老托福閱讀真題及答案：passage12

1、老托福閱讀真題及答案： PASSAGE 12Among the species of seabirds that use the windswept cliffs of the Atlantic coast of Canada in the summer to mate, lay eggs, and rear their young are common murres, Atlantic puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, and northern gannets. Of all the birds on these cliffs,the black-legge

2、d kittiwake gull is the best suited for nesting onnarrow ledges. Although its nesting habits are similarto those of gulls that neston flat ground, there are a number of important differences related to the cliff-nesting habit.The advantage of nesting on cliffs is the immunity it gives from foxes, wh

3、ichcannot scale the sheer rocks, and from ravens and other species of gulls, which have difficulty in landing on narrow ledges to steal eggs. This immunity has been followed by a relaxation of the defenses, and kittiwakes do not react to predators nearly as fiercely as do ground-nesting gulls. A col

4、ony of Bonapartes gulls responds to the appearance of a predatory herring gull by flying up as a group with a clamor of alarm calls, followed by concerted mobbing, but kittiwakes simply ignore herring gulls, since they pose little threat to nests on cliffs. Neither do kittiwakes attempt to conceal t

5、heir nest. Most gulls keep the nest area clear of droppings, and remove empty eggshells after the chicks have hatched, so that the location of the nest is not given away. Kittiwakes defecate over the edge of the nest, which keeps it clean, but this practice, as well as their tendency to leave the ne

6、st littered with eggshells, makes its location very conspicuous.On the other hand, nesting on a narrow ledge has its own peculiar problems, and kittiwake behavior has become adapted to overcome them. The female kittiwake sits when mating, whereas other gulls stand, so the pair will not overbalance a

7、nd fall off the ledge. The nest is a deep cup, made of mud or seaweed, to hold the eggs safely, compared with the shallow scrape of other gulls, and the chicks are remarkably immobile until fully grown. They do not run from their nests when approached, and if they should come near to the cliff edge,

8、 they instinctively turn back.1. What aspect of the kittiwake gull does the passage mainly discuss(A) Its defensive behavior(B) It interactions with other gull species(C) Its nesting habits(D) Its physical difference from other gull species2. The word rear in line 2 is closest in meaning to(A) visit

9、(B) watch(C) reverse(D) raise3. The word scale in line 8 is closest in meaning to(A) climb(B) avoid(C) approach(D) measure4. The word immunity in line 9 is closest in meaning to(A) distance(B) transition(C) protection(D) reminder5. Why is it difficult for ravens to steal the kittiwakes eggs(A) The k

10、ittiwakes can see the ravens approaching the nest.(B) The ravens cannot land on the narrow ledges where kittiwakes nest.(C) The kittiwakes eggs are too big for the ravens to carry.(D) The female kittiwakes rarely leave the nest.6. The author mentions that eggshells litter around the nests of kittiwa

11、kes inorder to(A) demonstrate that kittiwakes are not concerned about predators(B) prove how busy kittiwakes are in caring for their offspring(C) show a similarity to other types of gulls(D) illustrate kittiwakes lack of concern for their chicks7. According to the passage , it can be inferred that which of the following birds conceal their nest(A) Bonapartes gulls(B) Atlantic puffins(C) Kittiwake gulls(D) Northern gannets8. The word it in line 17 refers to(A) location(B) edge(C) nest(D) practice9. The word conspicuous in line 18 is closest in meaning to(A) disordered