四、阅读理解
What do you do as spring sets in? Taking off your warm winter coat, and putting it away? For humans, taking off winter coats is a one-minute task. As it turns out, not all animals are so capable.
Snowshoe rabbits live in the mountain ranges of North America, and have a pure white coat during the wintertime to match the snowy surroundings and to help avoid being caught. And they take off winter coats for a darker brown fur colour to match the dirt and leaves after the snow melts in the spring. Sounds like a great way to escape from their natural enemies, right? However, concern begins when scientists begin looking at how the warming climate will impact the rabbits.
There are more and more white rabbits in the middle of a brown habitat, where the snow has already melted away. This is a problem for them, as they are more easily seen by their natural enemies, giving them a “mismatch” problem. Snowshoe rabbits time the coat change in spring from white to brown based on the change in day length, not the temperature or the presence of snow in their habitat. Nowadays, the snow is melting a week on average before the change in day length signals the change in coat colour, leaving the rabbits exposed to their natural enemies.
Some predictions put the rabbits in up to 8 weeks of a white coat in a brown, snowless habitat by the end of this century. This timeline could spell doom for their populations, as their natural enemies will have nearly two months of easily spotting them.
Fortunately, scientists have found areas with snowshoe rabbits in colour from white to brown in the same place, meaning the timing of the coat change can be influenced by the environment. Snowshoe rabbits reproduce quickly, and if the colour change timing is passed down then it is possible for rabbits to change coats accordingly. By protecting areas with variable ones, we can give snowshoe rabbits the opportunity to adapt to the changing climate.
()1. Why does the author mention humans’ taking off winter coats?
A. To imply the cleverness of humans.
B. To stress the influence of climate change.
C. To lead to the problem of snowshoe rabbits.
D. To show the bond between humans and animals.
()2. What has made scientists worry about snowshoe rabbits?
A. They are active in freezing winter.
B. They fail to keep their white colour.
C. They can’t get rid of white fur when snow melts.
D. They are easily caught by hunters on snowy days.
()3. What can be inferred from the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?
A. More rabbits will be killed.
B. Rabbits’ enemies are stronger.
C. The rabbit population will explode.
D. The rabbits may die out in the near future.
()4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Snowshoe Rabbits: Masters of Coat Change
B. Snowshoe Rabbits: Survivors of Illegal Hunting
C. Snowshoe Rabbits: Victims of Climate Mismatch
D. Snowshoe Rabbits: Witnesses of Natural Selection

1~4 CCAC
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章通过对比人类换衣与雪靴兔换毛的差异,说明气候变化导致雪靴兔因毛色与环境不匹配而面临生存危机,并探讨其可能的适应机制。
1. C 解析:推理判断题。根据第一段中“For humans, taking off winter coats is a one-minute task. As it turns out, not all animals are so capable.(对人类来说,脱下冬衣是一分钟的事。事实证明,并非所有动物都有这种能力)”和第二段中“And they take off winter coats for a darker brown fur colour to match the dirt and leaves after the snow melts in the spring.(春天雪融化后,它们脱下冬衣,换上深棕色的皮毛,与泥土和树叶相匹配)”可知,作者提到人类脱掉冬衣是为了引出雪靴兔换毛的问题。故选C。
2. C 解析:细节理解题。根据第三段中“Snowshoe rabbits time the coat change... exposed to their natural enemies.(雪靴兔在春季根据日照长度变化而非温度或栖息地积雪情况,将皮毛从白色变为棕色。如今,积雪平均比日照长度变化提前一周融化,这使雪靴兔暴露在自然天敌面前)”可知,让科学家担心的是当雪融化时,雪靴兔无法摆脱白色的皮毛。故选C。
3. A 解析:推理判断题。第四段画线部分后文“as their natural enemies will have nearly two months of easily spotting them”指出雪靴兔的天敌有近两个月的时间可以轻易发现它们,这说明更多的兔子会被杀死。故选A。
4. C 解析:标题归纳题。通读全文,尤其根据第二段的内容“雪靴兔栖息于北美山脉,冬季时它们会换上纯白色的皮毛,以与雪地环境相融合,从而避免被捕食者发现。到了春季积雪融化后,它们又会换上深棕色的皮毛,以适应泥土和落叶的环境。这听起来似乎是躲避天敌的绝佳方式,对吗?然而,当科学家开始研究变暖的气候将如何影响这些兔子时,担忧也随之而来”可知,本文主要说明气候变化导致雪靴兔因毛色与环境不匹配而面临生存危机,并探讨其可能的适应机制,所以C选项“雪靴兔:气候不匹配的受害者”适合作文章标题。故选C。