B
People use the words "mouse" and "rat" when talking about small, furry animals with big ears, a small nose, and a long tail. However, there are many different kinds of rats and mice, such as the Norway rat, black rat, house mouse, and deer mouse. The most common rat that people usually see is the Norway rat, while the house mouse is the most common mouse that people find in their homes.
If you don't know the differences between a rat and a mouse, you are not alone. Norway rats and house mice both come from the same relative, which lived millions of years ago. As a result, they have a lot in common. Both Norway rats and house mice have long tails, whiskers(胡须), and round ears. They can also be similar colours, including gray, brown, white, and black.
However, there are many differences between Norway rats and house mice. The Norway rat is much bigger than the house mouse. A Norway rat can weigh over ten times as much as a house mouse and is usually three times as large. Also, a Norway rat has big feet and small ears compared(相比) to the size of its body. But a house mouse has small feet and big ears compared to the size of its body. And its tail is longer than its body, while a Norway rat's tail is shorter.
Now the next time you see something scurrying around the corners of the room, you can tell whether it's a rat or a mouse before you yelp and scare it away.
()36. According to the passage, what's the same about Norway rats and house mice?
A. They have the same size.
B. Their tails are shorter than their bodies.
C. They always live together in people's homes.
D. They both have long tails, whiskers, and round ears.
()37. Why does the writer say "you are not alone" in Para. 2?
A. Because rats and mice always live in groups.
B. Because scientists don't know the difference.
C. Because most people find it hard to tell them apart.
D. Because it's dangerous for you to play with them.
()38. Which of the following pictures may be a house mouse?
A. B. C. D.
()39. What does the underlined word "scurrying" mean in the last paragraph?
A. Moving quickly.
B. Flying slowly.
C. Sleeping soundly.
D. Laughing happily.
()40. What is the main purpose of the passage?
A. To compare Norway rats and house mice.
B. To discuss the history of all rats and mice.
C. To explain why people are afraid of rats and mice.
D. To provide advice on keeping rats and mice as pets.

36.D 37.C 38.A 39.A 40.A

【分析】
做此类英语阅读理解题，需先通读全文把握主旨，再针对每个小题的问题，回到原文定位相关语句，逐一分析选项的正误，排除不符合原文的选项，选出正确答案。
【解析】
36题：根据原文第二段“Both Norway rats and house mice have long tails, whiskers, and round ears.”可知，二者的相同点是都有长尾巴、胡须和圆耳朵，对应选项D。A选项“相同大小”与第三段“Norway rat is much bigger than the house mouse”不符；B选项“尾巴都比身体短”与第三段“its tail is longer than its body, while a Norway rat's tail is shorter”不符；C选项“都住在人们家里”仅家鼠符合，挪威鼠未提及，故排除A、B、C，选D。
37题：第二段前一句“If you don't know the differences between a rat and a mouse, you are not alone.”结合语境，此处指很多人都分不清二者的区别，对应选项C。A选项“群居”、B选项“科学家不知道区别”、D选项“和它们玩危险”均与原文无关，选C。
38题：根据第三段“a house mouse has small feet and big ears compared to the size of its body. And its tail is longer than its body”，家鼠特征为大耳朵、尾巴比身体长。观察图片，A选项动物有大耳朵，符合家鼠特征；B是松鼠、C是狐狸、D是小耳朵老鼠，均不符合，选A。
39题：最后一段“scurrying around the corners of the room, you can tell whether it's a rat or a mouse before you yelp and scare it away”，结合语境，老鼠在房间角落的动作是快速移动，“scurrying”意为“快速移动”，对应选项A。B“慢慢飞”、C“熟睡”、D“开心笑”均不符合，选A。
40题：全文围绕挪威鼠和家鼠的异同展开，目的是介绍二者的区别，对应选项A。B“讨论所有老鼠的历史”、C“解释怕老鼠的原因”、D“建议养老鼠当宠物”均与主旨不符，选A。
【答案】
36.D 37.C 38.A 39.A 40.A
【知识点】
英语阅读理解细节理解、词义猜测、主旨大意
【点评】
本文是科普类阅读理解，围绕挪威鼠与家鼠的异同展开，考查学生原文细节定位、词义猜测及主旨归纳能力，难度适中，需学生结合原文信息逐一分析选项。
【难度系数】
0.6