题文
Scientists have been puzzled by the phenomenon that migrating birds fly not just in groups all the time, but in "V" formations and they have tried to figure out what benefit birds get from this particular formation. Now, a research group from University of London may have found the answer ― migrating birds fly in a "V" to save energy, according to a study published in the journal Nature.When a bird flaps(振翅) its wings, it stirs the air around it and causes it to move indifferent directions. Scientist found in the study that the air creates an upward-moving wave at the tips of the wings, which means that if a bird flies around the wingtips of another bird, it can get a boost（抬高） from the rising air and therefore use less energy to stay in the air.
Apart form the "free ride" strategy, scientists were also surprised to observe that migrating birds timed their wing beats and adjusted their positions in a very precise way to maximize the lifting effect while avoiding areas where the air move downward.
"They're able to sense what's going on from the bird in front, where this 'good air' is coming from and now how to position themselves perfectly in it," lead researcher Steven Portugal told BBC.
In fact, the "V" formation has long thought to help birds fly more efficiently(效率搞地). A previous study showed that birds' heart rates went down when they were flying together in a "V" formation. Jet fighters were also found to be able reduce their energy use by up to 18% by staying near the wingtips of other jet fighters. Both of these findings led scientists to suspect that the "V" formation had an efficiency purpose, but until now they still lack proof.
"For scientists, the new study provides an insight into an interesting natural phenomenon. But it could mean even more for aircraft companies — helping them understand how they can imitate that with their plane formations to save fuel, said Portugal."
小题1:What is the author's purpose in writing this article?A．To explain how birds benefit from migration.B．To introduce how migrating birds find their way.C．To tell some applications of migrating birds' "V" formations.D．To report new findings about migrating birds' "V" formations.小题2: According to the recent study, when birds migrate .A．they don't change their lead birds during the whole journeyB．they fly in "V" formations to protect themselves against enemiesC．they form the shape of a "V" to make best use of the lifting effectD．the air they stir around makes it hard for the birds behind to fly fast小题3:What is the significance of the new study according to this article?A．It might inspire aircraft companies to think of ways to improve efficiency.B．It has proved that the "V" formation can improve in efficiency in many fields,C．It has led scientists to discover that birds' heart rates go down when they fly in a "V".D．It shows that the best formation of jet fighters in battle should be a "V" formation.小题4: The underlined word "imitate" in the last paragraph most probably means " ".A．useB．copyC．changeD．learn 题型：未知 难度：其他题型
答案
小题1:D
小题2:C
小题3:A
小题4:B
解析
本文介绍的是一项新的研究，是关于候鸟使用V字形飞行的原因。以此对我们的飞机制造有些启发作用。小题1: D
【试题解析】推理题。根据文章主题段第一段最后一句Now, a research group from University of London may have found the answer ― migrating birds fly in a "V" to save energy, according to a study published in the journal Nature.可知本文是对候鸟使用V字形飞行的原因的研究的新的发现。故D正确。
小题2: C
【试题解析】推理题。根据文章第三段Apart form the "free ride" strategy, scientists were also surprised to observe that migrating birds timed their wing beats and adjusted their positions in a very precise way to maximize the lifting effect while avoiding areas where the air move downward.可知候鸟按照V字形飞行是为了更好地利用鸟儿拍打翅膀带来的lifting的影响，让飞行的效率更高。故C正确。
小题3: A
【试题解析】推理题。根据文章最后2行. But it could mean even more for aircraft companies — helping them understand how they can imitate that with their plane formations to save fuel, said Portugal."可知飞机制造商可以利用这一研究结果来提高飞机飞行的效率。故A正确。
小题4: B
【试题解析】猜测词义题。根据本句But it could mean even more for aircraft companies — helping them understand how they can imitate that with their plane formations to save fuel, said Portugal."可知这一新发现能够帮助那些飞机制造商，更好地理解他们如何模仿鸟儿的这一飞行特点来改造飞机以节省燃料。该该词是指“模仿”，故B正确。
【长难句解析】
Scientists have been puzzled by the phenomenon that migrating birds fly not just in groups all the time, but in "V" formations and they have tried to figure out what benefit birds get from this particular formation.
【翻译】科学家对于这一现象感觉很困惑，候鸟飞行的时候不仅仅是一直都是一群鸟儿一起飞而且是按照V字形在飞行。他们一直都想知道从这种特殊的飞行模式中鸟儿能够得到什么样的好处。
【分析】本句中有一个同位语从句that migrating birds fly not just in groups all the time, but in "V" formations，对前面的名词the phenomenon进行解释说明，that在这个同位语从句中不充当任何成分，只是一个引导词而已。同时动词figure后面还有一个由what引导的宾语从句，what在宾语从句中做主语。
考点
据考高分专家说，试题“Scientists have been.....”主要考查你对 [科教类阅读 ]考点的理解。科教类阅读
科教类阅读的概念：
科教类阅读主要考查考生对书面语篇的整体领悟能力和接受及处理具体信息的能力。试题的取材，密切联系当前我国和世界经济、科技等方面的变化，有关数据的来源真实可信。
科教类文章阅读技巧：
一、材料特点：
这类文章的总体特点是：科技词汇多，句子结构复杂，理论性强，逻辑严谨。具体说来它有以下几个特点：
1、文章中词汇的意义比较单一、稳定、简明，不带感情色彩，具有单一性和准确性的特点。这类文章通常不会出现文学英语中采用的排比、比喻、夸张等修辞手法，一词多义的现象也不多见。
2、句子结构较复杂，语法分析较困难。为了描述一个客观事物，严密地表达自己的思想，作者经常会使用集多种语法现象于一体的长句。
3、常使用被动语态，尤其是一些惯用被动句式。
二、命题特点：
科普类阅读的主要命题形式有事实细节题、词义猜测题、推理判断题以及主旨概括题等，其中推理判断题居多。
三、应对策略：
1、要想做好科普英语阅读理解题，同学们就要注意平时多读科普知识类文章，学习科普知识，积累常见的科普词汇，从根本上提高科普英语的阅读能力。
2、要熟悉科普类文章的结构特点。科普类文章一般由标题(Head line)，导语(Introduction)，背景(Back ground)，主体(Main body)和结尾(End)五部分构成。标题是文章中心思想高度而又精辟的概括，但根据历年的高考情况来看，这类阅读理解材料一般不给标题，而要同学们选择标题。导语一般位于整篇文章的首段。背景交待一个事实的起因。主体则对导语概括的事实进行详细叙述，这一部分命题往往最多，因此，阅读时，同学们要把这部分作为重点。结尾往往也是中心思想的概括，并与导语相呼应，命题者常在此要设计一道推理判断题。
3、在进行推理判断时，同学们一定要以阅读材料所提供的科学事实为依据，同时所得出的结论还应符合基本的科普常识。
科普类阅读应试策略：
【命题趋势】
阅读理解题主要考查考生对书面语篇的整体领悟能力和接受及处理具体信息的能力。试题的取材，密切联系当前我国和世界经济、科技等方面的变化，有关数据的来源真实可信。因此科普知识类文章是每年的必考题。分析历年的科普类文章我们不难发现以下特点：
1、文章逻辑性强，条理清楚，语法结构简单，用语通俗。
2、文章内容注重科技领域的新发现。内容新颖，从而使文章显得陌生，内容抽象复杂。
3、命题方面注意对具体细节的准确理解和以之为依据的推理判断。
4、以人们的日常行为或饮食健康入手，探讨利弊，诠释过程，阐述概念。
【应试对策】
许多考生在考试时感到困惑的是：为什么一些没有超越中学语法和词汇范围的篇章，读起来却不能正确理解，或者要花费很多时间才能读懂呢？这种现象的产生与阅读方法有很大的关系。例如，有的考生在考试时一见到文章就立刻开始读，结果读了半天，还不知道短文讲的是什么，试题要求了些什么，结果浪费了大量的时间，而阅读效果并不好。那么，怎样读效果才好呢？任何一种阅读方法或技巧的使用，都是由篇章特点和试题本身的要求决定的，应根据不同的体裁和试题要求采取不同的策略。
1、浏览。浏览的主要目的就是确定文章的体裁。如果文章属于人物传记、记叙文、故事、科普小品和有关社会文化、文史知识的文章，一般来说，应该先看看文章的试题考查内容，对题目类型做到心中有数，针对不同问题，在通读时有粗有细地去阅读，这样不仅能把握篇章的基本结构和逻辑线索，也能做好有关具体事实信息考查的试题。
2、挖掘寓意，掌握中心思想，推出结论。任何文章，作者在行文时都有一定的写作目的和主要话题。在通读篇章时应该吃透作者的写作意图，抓住文章的主题句，充分发挥自己的想象力和概括力，作出对中心思想的归纳和结论的推断。
3、把握篇章结构，利用上下文进行推测。高考中的阅读理解篇章往往是一个较完整的短文，其结构、思想，前后上下连贯统一。考试时应充分利用这一特点推测一些生词、短语在句中的含义，切莫盲目孤立猜测。
4、综观全篇，前后呼应。这是阅读理解的最后一步，在做完阅读理解题后，要立足于文章整体，再迅速读一遍短文，短文中的问题和答案的设置前后都是相关联的，有着一定的连续性，体现着文章的基本脉络。
