1．Australian cities can keep their native wildlife-but only if they can kick their habit of urban sprawl （無(wú)計(jì)劃的擴(kuò)展）．That's the finding of a new study by leading Australian environmental researchers Jessica Sushinsky，Professor Hugh Possingham and Dr Richard Fuller of The University of Queensland．
"While urban development usually reduces the number of birds in a city，building more compact （緊湊的） cities and avoiding urban sprawl can slow these reductions greatly，"says lead author Jessica Sushinsky．"Compact housing development leaves birds'homes untouched，leading to fewer losses of birds．"
The researchers surveyed native and wild birds in Brisbane's urban areas，including living and industrial areas，public parks and gardens，major roadways and airports．They then used statistical modeling to find out what will happen to the birds as the city grows．The first setting was compact growth-where multiple homes are built on land that previously had only one house．The second setting was sprawling growth-a familiar pattern where homes are built here and there beyond the city's current boundaries．
The team's forecasts showed that a much greater diversity of species was lost over 20years in the sprawling setting compared to the more compact setting．"Urban sprawl resulted in the disappearance of many urban-sensitive birds-birds that only live in areas where there is native vegetation （植被），such as parklands and woodlands，"Ms Sushinsky says．
"On the other hand，we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas．"
Now the Queensland Government has adopted the more compact urban growth strategy，which，Dr Richard Fuller says，is good news for Australia's native birds．These birds are environmental specialists-they need a particular environment to do well．"While compact development means smaller backyards，it can also make our entire cities more biodiverse，"according to Dr Fuller．"The study shows that we should hold on to our green spaces instead of clearing them for sprawling development．"
This is the first time science has modeled the effects of different urban growth strategies on birds，the researchers say．"Statistical models like these are important because they help us to understand the ecological consequences of a particular decision，"says Dr Fuller．
41．The study deals with the relationship betweenA．
A．city development and birds B．the environment and birds
C．humans and wildlife D．climate and wildlife
42．Why is compact urban growth better than the sprawling strategy？D．
A．It makes the cities more beautiful．B．It gives people larger backyards．
C．It is money-saving．D．It is bird-friendly．
43．Dr Richard Fuller thinks the Queensland Government's actionB．
A．is really brave B．is worth praising
C．has an uncertain future D．should be performed nationwide
44．What can we learn about the study from the passage？D．
A．It is based on the statistics in the past．
B．It is strongly against urban development．
C．It criticizes the city environment in Brisbane．
D．It suggests leaving more green spaces for birds．
45．Where does the passage probably come from？A．
A．A news report． B．A travel guide． C．A health magazine． D．A history book．
分析 本文是篇新聞報(bào)道．文章主要講述了澳大利亞研究者發(fā)現(xiàn)：緊湊型的城市發(fā)展能夠使得城市保留大量綠地，為鳥類提供良好的生存空間．
解答 41．A 細(xì)節(jié)理解題．由第二段的"urban development usually reduces the number of birds in a city，building more compact cities and avoiding urban sprawl can slow these reductions greatly"和最后一段可知，該研究關(guān)注的是城市發(fā)展方式與鳥類之間的關(guān)系．故選A．
42．D 推理判斷題．根據(jù)倒數(shù)第三段的"we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas"可知，緊湊型的城市發(fā)展模式有利于鳥類在城市的生存．故選D．
43．B 推理判斷題．根據(jù)倒數(shù)第二段的"which，Dr Richard Fuller says，is good news for Australia's native birds"可知，Dr Richard Fuller稱贊昆士蘭政府的做法．故選B．
44．D 細(xì)節(jié)理解題．由第一段的"kick their habit of urban sprawl"和第五段的"we found the city with the compact development attracted more birds because it kept more of its parks and green areas"及倒數(shù)第二段的"The study shows that we should hold on to our green spaces instead of clearing them for sprawling development"可知，研究人員主張緊湊型發(fā)展，讓城市保留大量綠地．故選D．
45．A 文章出處題．由文章第一段的"That's the finding of a new study by…"可知，本文最有可能選自一篇新聞報(bào)，故選A．
點(diǎn)評(píng) 要求學(xué)生通讀全文，理解問(wèn)題，并根據(jù)已知信息和上下文推理出正確答案．
