2018年河南专升本英语真题阶段测试——阅读11

Homing pigeons are placed in a training program from about the time they are twenty-eight days of age. They are taught to enter the cage through a trap and to exercise above and around the loft(鸽棚) , and gradually they are taken away for short distances in willow baskets and released. They are then expected to find their way home in the shortest possible time.
　　In their training flights or in actual races, the birds are taken to prearranged distant points and released to find their way back to their own lofts. Once the birds are liberated, their owners, who are standing by at the home lofts, anxiously watch the sky for the return of their entries. Since time is of the essence, the speed with which the birds can be induced to enter the loft trap may make the difference between gaining a win or a second place.
　　The head of a homing pigeon is comparatively small, but its brain is one quarter larger than that of the ordinary pigeon. The homing pigeon is very intelligent and will persevere to the point of stubbornness; some have been known to fly a hundred miles off course to avoid a storm.
　　Some homing pigeon experts claim that this bird is gifted with a form of built-in radar that helps it find its own loft after hours of flight, for hidden under the head feathers are two very sensitive ears, while the sharp, prominent eyes can see great distances in daytime.
　　Why do homing pigeons fly home? They are not unique in this inherent skill; it is found in most migratory birds, in bees, ants, toads, and even turtles, which have been known to travel hundreds of miles to return to their homes. But in the animal world, the homing pigeon alone can be trusted with its freedom and trained to carry out the missions that people demand.
41. This passage is mainly about_______.
　　A. homing pigeons and their training
　　B. how to buy a homing pigeon
　　C. protection of homing pigeons against the threat of extinction
　　D. liberation of homing pigeons
42. According to the passage, what happens to homing pigeons when they are about a month old?
　　A. They are kept in a trap.　　B. They enter their first race.
　　C. They begin a training program.　　D. They get their wings clipped and marked.
43. According to the passage, the difference between a homing pigeon and an ordinary one is_______.
　　A. the span of the wings B. the shape of the eyes
　　C. the texture of the feathers D. the size of the brain

44. The author mentions all of the following attributes that enable a homing pigeon to　　return home EXCEPT_______.
　　A. instinct B. air sacs　　C. sensitive ears D. good eyes
45. Why does the author mention bees, ants, toads, and turtles in the last paragraph?
　　A. To describe some unusual kinds of pets.
　　B. To measure distances traveled by various animals.
　　C. To compare their home-finding abilities with those of homing pigeons.
　　D. To interest the reader in learning about other animals.
　　答案ACDBC

People's tastes in recreation differ widely. At a recent festival of pop-music in the Isle of Wight, crowds of teenagers flocked to listen to their favorite singers and musicians. They went with single railway tickets and slept in the open, a very risky thing to do in the climate of Britain, even in August. They were packed together like sardines for four days. There were innumerable thieves, a gang of roughs tried several times to break things up, and police were everywhere. At the end of the festival many young fans found themselves broke, with no money left,and they had difficulty in getting back home. Most people would consider these conditions a nightmare of discomfort; the fans appeared to enjoy it all enormously.
 　　Even in the overcrowded United Kingdom there are large tracts of open un-spoilt country, where people with more traditional tastes can go for quiet, and for the sense of freedom they derive from contact with nature. In the national parks especially, modern development of housing and industry is strictly controlled. Visitors may walk for miles through landscape of the greatest beauty and wildness, and often of considerable historic or scientific interest. Along the coasts of some of the maritime counties, public pathways have been created; these paths stretch for many miles along cliffs that look out on the Atlantic Ocean or the English Channel. Another path,lying inland, goes along the range of mountains in the north of England. It is called the Pennine Way. Here, the long-distance waller and the nature-lover can find much to enjoy, without feeling disturbed by large numbers of their fellows.
　　 Yet few people make full use of the national parks established for everyone's benefit. The commonest thing nowadays is for family groups to motor out to a beautiful spot and park their cars in a lay-by ( 英国的路旁停车带 ). A picnic basket is produced, along with a folding table and chairs, a kettle and a portable stove. They then settle down to a picnic in the lay-by beside the car. Apparently their idea of enjoyment is to get into the fresh air and amongst the country sights and sounds without having to wall a yard. They seem almost to like to hear and to smell the traffic.

46. In Britain it is very risky to __________.
A．go with a single railway ticket   B．listen to pop-music at the festival 
C. sleep in the open    D．pack together in crowds

47. At the end of the festival, many young fans__________.
A．were arrested by the police  B．had spent most of their money 
C．were sleeping out        D．became quite penniless

48. Even in the overcrowded United Kingdom there are large__________.
A．tracks through the open country   B．areas of country without soil 
C．areas of countryside not developed   D．expanses of land where nobody works

49. Public pathways are created for people to__________.
A．commute to work    B．enjoy long-distance walking 
C. wall to maritime counties     D．visit the historic or scenic sites

50. Family groups nowadays like to__________.
A．have meals out of doors by the road-side   B．go for a walk away from home 
C．drive out past the beautiful places      D．hear and smell the animals

答案：CDCBA