Questions 01-10

Top

Questions 11-21

Top

Questions 22-32 The characteristics that make crows diffcult to study (全對！)

      Crows are probably the most frequently met and easily identifiable members of the

native fauna of the United States. The great number of tales, legends, and myths about

these birds indicates that people have been exceptionally interested in them for a long

time. On the other hand, when it comes to substantive -- particularly behavioral --

information, crows are less well known than many comparably common species and,

for that matter, not a few quite uncommon ones: the endangered California condor, to

cite one obvious example. There are practical reasons for this.

      Crows are notoriously poor and aggravating subjects for field research. Keen

observers and quick learners, __they are astute about the intentions of other creatures__,

including researchers, and __adept at avoiding them__. Because they are so numerous,

active, and monochromatic, it is __difficult to distinguish one crow from another__. Bands,

radio transmitters, or other identifying devices can be attached to them, but this of

course requires catching live crows, who are among the wariest and most untrappable

of birds.

      Technical difficulties aside, crow research is daunting because the ways of these

birds are so complex and various. As preeminent generalists, members of this species

ingeniously exploit a great range of habitats and resources__, and they can __quickly adjust

to changes in their circumstances. Being so educable, individual birds have markedly

different interests and inclinations, strategies and scams. For example, one pet crow

learned how to let a dog out of its kennel by pulling the pin on the door. When the dog

escaped, the bird went into the kennel and ate its food.

22.What is the main topic of the passage?

   (A) The ways in which crows differ from other common birds

   (B) The myths and legends about crows

   (C) The characteristics that make crows difficult to study

   (D) The existing methods for investigating crow behavior

23. According to the first paragraph, what evidence is there that crows have interested people for a long time?

   (A) The large number of stories about crows.

   (B) The frequency with which crows are sighted

   (C) The amount of research that has been conducted on crows

   (D) The ease with which crows are identified

24. The word "comparable" in line 5 is closest in meaning to

   (A) interestingly

   (B) similar

   (C) otherwise

   (D) sometimes

25. In line 6, the author mention the endangered California condor as an example of a species that is

   (A) smaller than the crow

   (B) easily identifiable

   (C) featured in legends

   (D) very rare

26. The word "them" in line 10 refers to

   (A) crows

   (B) subjects

   (C) intentions

   (D) researchers

27.According to the second paragraph, crows are poor subjects for field research for all of the following reasons EXCEPT

   (A) They can successfully avoid observers.

   (B) They are hard to distinguish from one another

   (C) They can be quite aggressive.

   (D) They are difficult to catch.

28. In the second paragraph, the author implies that using radio transmitters would allow a researcher who studies crow to

   (A) identify individual crows

   (B) follow flocks of crows over long distances

   (C) record the times when crows are most active

   (D) help crows that become sick or injured

29. According to the third paragraph, which of the following is true about crows?

   (A) They seldom live in any one place for very long.

   (B) They thrive in a wide variety of environments.

   (C) They have marked preferences for certain kinds of foods.

   (D) They use up the resources in one area before moving to another.

30. In line 19,the word "inclinations" is closest in meaning to

   (A) tricks

   (B) opportunities

   (C) preferences

   (D) experiences

31. In lines 19-21, the author mentions a pet crow to illustrate which of the following?

   (A) The clever ways that crows solve problems

   (B) The differences between pet crows and wild crows

   (C) The ease with which crows can be tamed

   (D) The affection that crows show to other creatures

32. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage?

   (A) Crows have relatively long lives.

   (B) Crows have keen vision

   (C) Crows are usually solitary

   (D) Crows are very intelligent.

註釋

• Paragraph 1: when it comes to substantive -- particularly behavioral -- information, crows are less well known

  There are practical reasons for this:

  • Paragraph 2: Crows are poor and aggravating subjects for field research
    • they are astute about the intentions of other creatures, and adept at avoiding them
    • it is difficult to distinguish one crow from another (because they are so numerous, active, and monochromatic)
    • they are among the wariest and most untrappable of birds (so hard to attached radio transmitters to them)
  • Paragraph 3: the ways of these birds are so complex and various
    • exploit a great range of habitats and resources
    • can quickly adjust to changes in their circumstances
    • have different interests and inclinations, strategies and scams

題解

CABD DCABC AD

22. 第一段提到: "when it comes to substantive -- particularly behavioral -- information, crows are less well known"，

      less well known 也就是因為 difficult to study，然後二、三段就是在講原因

23. The great number of tales, legends, and myths about these birds indicates that people have been interested in them for a long time.

24. comparable ≒ similar

25. not a few quite uncommon ones: the endangered California condor, to cite one obvious example，rare 就是 quite uncommon

26. they are astute about the intentions of other creatures, including researchers, and adept at avoiding them.

27. 根據上面題解 的 Paragrap 2，(A)、(B)、(D) 都有提及

28. "Bands, radio transmitters, or other identifying devices can be attached to them, but ..."

      其實是承接上面一句："it is difficult to distinguish one crow from another"

      用來說明:「雖然裝 radio transmitters 可以解決 diificult to distinguish 的問題，但是 ...」

29. they can quickly adjust to changes in their circumstances

30. inclinations ≒ preferences

31. (B) difference (C) tamed (D) affection 都沒有提到

32. (A) long lives (B) vision (C) solitary 都沒有提到

單字

• fauna 動物群 (植物群： flora) all the animals living in a particular area or period in history
• exceptionally 例外地;異常地;特殊地 extremely
• substantive 表示實在的 dealing with things that are important or real
• for that matter 關於那件事,進一步說 (用於補述前面的話)

  used to say that what you are saying about one thing is also true about something else

• not a few 不少的,相當多的 (quite a few, a good few, not a few)

  a fairly large number of things or people

• condor 兀鷹
• notorious 惡名昭彰的,聲名狼藉的 famous or well-known for something bad
• aggravating 惱人的 to make someone angry or annoyed
• astute 敏銳的,精明的,機敏的 able to understand situations or behaviour very well and very quickly, especially so that you can get an advantage for yourself
• adept at 熟練的,內行的 good at something that needs care and skill
• monochromatic 單色的 (mono-: 單一) in shades of only one colour, especially shades of grey
• wary (wariest 是最高級) 謹防的 someone who is wary is careful because they think something might be dangerous or harmful

  be wary of (doing) something

• daunting 令人怯步的;使人氣餒的 frightening in a way that makes you feel less confident
• preeminent 卓越的 much more important, more powerful, or better than any others of its kind
• generalist 通才 a person who knows about many different things and can do many things well
• ingeniously 有才能地 works well and is the result of clever thinking and new ideas
• expolit 利用 to use something fully and effectively
• habitat (動物的)棲息地;(植物的)產地 (inhabit) the natural home of a plant or animal
• markedly 顯著地 (remarkable) very easy to notice
• inclination 傾向;意向;愛好 a feeling that makes you want to do something
• scam 騙錢;陰謀 a clever but dishonest way to get money
• kennel 狗舍

用法

• to cite one obvious example
• to distinguish one crow from another

Top