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B
The science of why insects gather around lights at night has never been nailed down.
Popular theories propose that moths and other insects navigate（导航） by the moon and
mistake lamps for moonlight, or that the insects fly towards light to escape coming danger.
Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer: contrary to current theories,
insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source.
According to Dr Sam Fabian, study co-author and Imperial College London entomologist, moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt(倾斜) their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution.
Fabian and his colleagues filmed insect flight paths around lights in the lab. The videos reveal that time and again, moths and dragonflies turned their backs to artificial lights, which appeared to greatly change their flight paths. If the light is above them, they might start orbiting it, but if it’s behind them, they start tilting backwards and end up flying in circles or diving toward the ground.
Researchers have long warned that light pollution is a big driving force in the dramatic decline in insect populations. Moths and other insects that become trapped around lamps become easily caught by bats. The artificial lighting can also fool them into thinking it is daytime, causing them to bed down and skip a night’s feeding.
There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. “What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we’re facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,” Fabian said.
()5. What do the underlined words “nailed down” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. Popularized widely.
B. Discussed openly.
C. Defined accurately.
D. Explored academically.
()6. Fabian’s study found that moths circle around the lamps endlessly because .
A. they can’t keep their balance
B. they use improper flight attitude
C. they lose track of which way is up
D. they are attracted to lights from far away
()7. What is the significance of the research finding?
A. It may lead to better conservation of insects.
B. Natural enemies of insects will be got rid of.
C. Artificial lighting will be greatly reduced at night.
D. It may raise concerns for insects’ eating behavior.
()8. What is the text mainly about?
A. Why insects lose their ability to fly at night.
B. Why artificial light and evolution trap insects.
C. How artificial light impacts insect populations.
D. How insects evolved distinct strategies of flight.
The science of why insects gather around lights at night has never been nailed down.
Popular theories propose that moths and other insects navigate（导航） by the moon and
mistake lamps for moonlight, or that the insects fly towards light to escape coming danger.
Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer: contrary to current theories,
insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source.
According to Dr Sam Fabian, study co-author and Imperial College London entomologist, moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt(倾斜) their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution.
Fabian and his colleagues filmed insect flight paths around lights in the lab. The videos reveal that time and again, moths and dragonflies turned their backs to artificial lights, which appeared to greatly change their flight paths. If the light is above them, they might start orbiting it, but if it’s behind them, they start tilting backwards and end up flying in circles or diving toward the ground.
Researchers have long warned that light pollution is a big driving force in the dramatic decline in insect populations. Moths and other insects that become trapped around lamps become easily caught by bats. The artificial lighting can also fool them into thinking it is daytime, causing them to bed down and skip a night’s feeding.
There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. “What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we’re facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,” Fabian said.
()5. What do the underlined words “nailed down” in paragraph 1 mean?
A. Popularized widely.
B. Discussed openly.
C. Defined accurately.
D. Explored academically.
()6. Fabian’s study found that moths circle around the lamps endlessly because .
A. they can’t keep their balance
B. they use improper flight attitude
C. they lose track of which way is up
D. they are attracted to lights from far away
()7. What is the significance of the research finding?
A. It may lead to better conservation of insects.
B. Natural enemies of insects will be got rid of.
C. Artificial lighting will be greatly reduced at night.
D. It may raise concerns for insects’ eating behavior.
()8. What is the text mainly about?
A. Why insects lose their ability to fly at night.
B. Why artificial light and evolution trap insects.
C. How artificial light impacts insect populations.
D. How insects evolved distinct strategies of flight.
答案
contrary to current theories,
insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source.
According to Dr Sam Fabian, study co-author and Imperial College London entomologist, moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt(倾斜) their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution.
Fabian and his colleagues filmed insect flight paths around lights in the lab. The videos reveal that time and again, moths and dragonflies turned their backs to artificial lights, which appeared to greatly change their flight paths. If the light is above them, they might start orbiting it, but if it’s behind them, they start tilting backwards and end up flying in circles or diving toward the ground.
Researchers have long warned that light pollution is a big driving force in the dramatic decline in insect populations. Moths and other insects that become trapped around lamps become easily caught by bats. The artificial lighting can also fool them into thinking it is daytime, causing them to bed down and skip a night’s feeding.
There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. “What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we’re facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,” Fabian said.
(
A. Popularized widely.
B. Discussed openly.
C. Defined accurately.
D. Explored academically.
(
A. they can’t keep their balance
B. they use improper flight attitude
C. they lose track of which way is up
D. they are attracted to lights from far away
(
A. It may lead to better conservation of insects.
B. Natural enemies of insects will be got rid of.
C. Artificial lighting will be greatly reduced at night.
D. It may raise concerns for insects’ eating behavior.
(
A. Why insects lose their ability to fly at night.
B. Why artificial light and evolution trap insects.
C. How artificial light impacts insect populations.
D. How insects evolved distinct strategies of flight.
answer:B
5.C 6.C 7.A 8.B
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一项对昆虫夜晚趋光的研究。研究发现,进化后的昆虫会被人工光源吸引,误认为是天空的自然光源,从而无休止地围绕人工照明转,这启示我们可以通过改变人造光的方向,更好地保护昆虫。
5. C 解析:词义猜测题。根据画线短语下文"Popular theories propose that moths and other insects navigate by the moon and mistake lamps for moonlight, or that the insects fly towards light to escape coming danger. Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer"可知,对于昆虫为何会在夜间聚集在灯光周围这一问题没有标准答案,即没有明确的解释。由此可推测,画线短语 nailed down 意为"明确解释",与 defined accurately 意义相近。故选 C。
6. C 解析:细节理解题。根据第二段中的"... moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution."可知,法比安的研究发现,飞蛾在灯周围无休止地盘旋,因为它们不知道哪条路是向上的。故选 C。
7. A 解析:细节理解题。根据最后一段"There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. 'What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we're facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,' Fabian said."可推知,这项研究结果的意义是告诉我们,可以通过改变人造光的方向,使昆虫不被困住,从而更好地保护昆虫。故选 A。
8. B 解析:文章大意题。根据全文内容,并结合第一段中的"Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer: contrary to current theories, insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source."可知,文章主要介绍了一项对昆虫夜晚趋光的研究,研究发现,进化后的昆虫会被人工光源误导,以致无休止地围绕人工照明转,这启示我们可以通过改变人造光的方向,更好地保护昆虫,所以 B选项"为什么人造光和进化会困住昆虫?"符合题意。故选 B。
insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source.
According to Dr Sam Fabian, study co-author and Imperial College London entomologist, moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt(倾斜) their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution.
Fabian and his colleagues filmed insect flight paths around lights in the lab. The videos reveal that time and again, moths and dragonflies turned their backs to artificial lights, which appeared to greatly change their flight paths. If the light is above them, they might start orbiting it, but if it’s behind them, they start tilting backwards and end up flying in circles or diving toward the ground.
Researchers have long warned that light pollution is a big driving force in the dramatic decline in insect populations. Moths and other insects that become trapped around lamps become easily caught by bats. The artificial lighting can also fool them into thinking it is daytime, causing them to bed down and skip a night’s feeding.
There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. “What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we’re facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,” Fabian said.
(
C
)5. What do the underlined words “nailed down” in paragraph 1 mean?A. Popularized widely.
B. Discussed openly.
C. Defined accurately.
D. Explored academically.
(
C
)6. Fabian’s study found that moths circle around the lamps endlessly because .A. they can’t keep their balance
B. they use improper flight attitude
C. they lose track of which way is up
D. they are attracted to lights from far away
(
A
)7. What is the significance of the research finding?A. It may lead to better conservation of insects.
B. Natural enemies of insects will be got rid of.
C. Artificial lighting will be greatly reduced at night.
D. It may raise concerns for insects’ eating behavior.
(
B
)8. What is the text mainly about?A. Why insects lose their ability to fly at night.
B. Why artificial light and evolution trap insects.
C. How artificial light impacts insect populations.
D. How insects evolved distinct strategies of flight.
answer:B
5.C 6.C 7.A 8.B
【语篇解读】本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了一项对昆虫夜晚趋光的研究。研究发现,进化后的昆虫会被人工光源吸引,误认为是天空的自然光源,从而无休止地围绕人工照明转,这启示我们可以通过改变人造光的方向,更好地保护昆虫。
5. C 解析:词义猜测题。根据画线短语下文"Popular theories propose that moths and other insects navigate by the moon and mistake lamps for moonlight, or that the insects fly towards light to escape coming danger. Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer"可知,对于昆虫为何会在夜间聚集在灯光周围这一问题没有标准答案,即没有明确的解释。由此可推测,画线短语 nailed down 意为"明确解释",与 defined accurately 意义相近。故选 C。
6. C 解析:细节理解题。根据第二段中的"... moths and many other insects that fly at night evolved to tilt their backs to wherever is brightest. For hundreds of millions of years, this was the sky rather than the ground. The trick told insects which way was up and ensured they flew level. But then came artificial lighting. Moths found themselves tilting their backs to street lamps. This caused them to circle around the lamps endlessly, the insects trapped by their evolution."可知,法比安的研究发现,飞蛾在灯周围无休止地盘旋,因为它们不知道哪条路是向上的。故选 C。
7. A 解析:细节理解题。根据最后一段"There are, Fabian believes, helpful lessons from the research. 'What this tells us is that the direction of artificial light matters. Could we change lighting environments to not trap insects? For we're facing a massive decline in insects around the world, and artificial light at night is one of the factors that could potentially be leading to this decline,' Fabian said."可推知,这项研究结果的意义是告诉我们,可以通过改变人造光的方向,使昆虫不被困住,从而更好地保护昆虫。故选 A。
8. B 解析:文章大意题。根据全文内容,并结合第一段中的"Now researchers believe they have a more convincing answer: contrary to current theories, insects are not attracted to light from far away, but become trapped if they fly close to an artificial light source."可知,文章主要介绍了一项对昆虫夜晚趋光的研究,研究发现,进化后的昆虫会被人工光源误导,以致无休止地围绕人工照明转,这启示我们可以通过改变人造光的方向,更好地保护昆虫,所以 B选项"为什么人造光和进化会困住昆虫?"符合题意。故选 B。
