Horse Talk
Do you know horses talk? You can learn to understand "horse talk" if you pay close attention to them.
When horses live in the wild, other animals try to eat them, so a lot of horse talk is about staying alive. Even now, when most horses live on farms, they watch for danger. For this reason, never walk behind a horse. If you surprise it, the horse might mistake you for a lion or wolf and give a dangerous kick.
By watching the ears, you can get clues to what the horse is hearing. A horse can turn each ear in a different direction. For a wild horse, this skill is important for survival. The horse can hear something creeping up behind it while also checking out a threatening noise in front. When a horse lets its ears down, it's feeling safe and relaxed. Though these actions may be natural responses and not deliberate communications, they help you know what the horse is thinking.
Sometimes horses can send definite messages. For example, they know they are safer when they're with other horses. If they become isolated, they "whinny (嘶鸣", calling for company. They're saying,"Where are you? I'm over here!" Domestic horses use the same sounds to stay in they know they are safer when they're with other horses. If they become isolated, they "whinny (嘶鸣)," calling for company. touch with other horses.
If a horse snorts (打响鼻儿),it's not communicating anything. It's just clearing dust or grass seed out of its nose. But if it snorts while holding its head high and staring at something, it's saying, "That looks dangerous. Get ready to run!" When two horses meet, they put their noses together and smell each other’s breath. It’s their way of asking, “Are you a friend?” Horses also “blow,” breathing out the air loudly through the nose, when they meet something strange. They are asking, “Is this safe?”
Horses have a language of their own. Now you know a bit of what they might be saying!
1.Horses in the wild "talk" mainly to_____.
2.It is dangerous to____.
3.A horse's ears are special because they can___.
4.When a horse's ears are down, we know that it is_____.
5.From the text, we know that horses_____.
第1题:
【文章大意】马语
你知道马会说话吗?如果你密切关注它们,你可以学会理解“马语”。
当马在野外生活时,其他动物会试图吃掉它们,所以很多马的话题都是关于生存。即使是现在,当大多数马生活在农场时,它们也会注意危险。出于这个原因,永远不要在马后面走。如果你吓到它们,马可能会将你误认为狮子或狼,朝你踢腿,十分危险。
通过观察耳朵,你可以了解马所听到的内容。马可以将每只耳朵转向不同的方向。对于一匹野马来说,这项技能对生存很重要。它们可以听到后面有什么东西爬上来,还可以识别前面危险的声音。当马放下耳朵时,它会感到安全和放松。尽管这些行为可能是自然反应而不是刻意交流,但它们可以帮助你了解马的想法。
有时马可以发送明确的信息。例如,它们知道和其他马在一起时更安全。如果它们被孤立,它们会“嘶鸣”,呼唤陪伴。它们说:“你在哪里?我在这儿!”家马也会待在原地发出同样的声音,它们知道和别的马在一起更安全。
如果马打响鼻儿,那不是在交流。它只是从鼻子里清除灰尘或草籽。但如果它昂着头盯着某样东西打喷嚏,那就是说:“这看起来很危险。准备奔跑吧!”两匹马相遇时,鼻子凑到一起,闻着对方的气息。这是他们询问的方式,“你是朋友吗?”马也会“吹气”,当它们遇到奇怪的东西时,会通过鼻子大声呼出空气。它们会问:“这样安全吗?”
马有自己的语言。现在你知道他们可能在说什么了!
【原文考查】事实细节题
【选项释义】
马在野外“说话”主要是为了_____。
A.生存
B.交朋友
C.寻找食物
D.保持清醒
【解题思路】根据第二段第一句"When horses live in the wild, other animals try to eat them, so a lot of horse talk is about staying alive."当马生活在野外时,其他动物会试图吃掉它们,所以很多关于马的谈话都是关于生存的。故本题选A。
【干扰项排除】B、C、D选项均未在文中提及。
第2题:
【原文考查】事实细节题
【选项释义】
____很危险。
A.触碰马的耳朵
B.在农场骑马
C.在马背后吓马
D.在前面盯着马
【解题思路】根据第二段第三句和第四句"For this reason, never walk behind a horse. If you surprise it, the horse might mistake you for a lion or wolf and give a dangerous kick."因此,不要跟在马后面走。如果你吓到它,马可能会误以为你是狮子或狼,并会踢你。故本题选C。
【干扰项排除】A、B、D选项均不符合题意。
第3题:
【原文考查】事实细节题
【选项释义】
马的耳朵很特别,因为它们可以___。
A.发送信息
B.转向不同方向
C.感受温度
D.清理灰尘
【解题思路】根据第三段第二句"A horse can turn each ear in a different direction."马的两只耳朵可以转向不同的方向。可知马的耳朵的特别之处是可以转向不同的方向。故本题选B。
【干扰项排除】A选项不是马耳朵的功能;C选项未在文中提及;D选项是马鼻子的作用。
第4题:
【原文考查】事实细节题
【选项释义】
当马的耳朵向下时,我们知道它是_____。
A.被孤立的
B.放松的
C.生气的
D.焦虑的
【解题思路】根据第三段第五句"When a horse lets its ears down, it’s feeling safe and relaxed."当马垂下耳朵时,它感到安全和放松。故本题选B。
【干扰项排除】A、C、D选项均不符合题意。
第5题:
【原文考查】推理判断题
【选项释义】
从文字中,我们知道马____。
A.是危险的动物
B.在野外几乎不能生存
C.更喜欢群体生活。
D.有不同的语言系统
【解题思路】根据第四段第二句和第三句"they know they are safer when they're with other horses. If they become isolated, they 'whinny (嘶鸣),'calling for company."他们知道和其他马在一起更安全。如果他们变得孤立,他们就会嘶鸣,以此来召唤其他马。可知马更喜欢群体生活。故本题选C。
【干扰项排除】A、B、D选项均不符合题意。